Giving Your Home a Spring Refresh
You feel it when spring hits big cities like London or Edinburgh, don’t you? The parks green up, pavement cafes start buzzing, and suddenly you get that itch to freshen things up at home.
A brilliant place to focus that energy? The bits that frame our view of the city and welcome us back each day – our windows and doors. Especially in London, they’re more than just practical bits; they say a lot about the building’s style, and yours too.
This spring, it feels like it’s all about mixing cool looks with smart, everyday practicality. We want stuff that looks great but actually works for city living. Forget boring – think personality and making your neighbours peek twice (in a good way!).
Colour is huge right now. Sure, white windows (especially good old UPVC) are always chic, but people are getting braver, particularly with front doors. Think of your front door like the perfect accessory – it just pulls the whole look together.
Those deep, moody blues and gorgeous forest greens are popping up everywhere, and they look fantastic against classic brick or stucco. Anthracite grey is still a massive favourite if you want a sharp, modern edge, especially with aluminium frames.
But don’t overlook softer greys for a calmer vibe, or even having a bit of fun with pastels – imagine a dusty pink or sage green door on a terraced house? Loads of charm. And you can never go wrong with classic black – always elegant, always makes a statement.
The material you choose sets the tone, too. Aluminium gives you those sleek, skinny frames that so many homeowners love. They mean more glass, more light – perfect for modern flats or extensions trying to get that cool, industrial-chic (think Crittall style) look.
Timber, of course, is pretty essential if you’re trying to keep the character in an older property, especially if you’re in a conservation area. The good news is modern timber windows aren’t like the draughty old ones – they perform brilliantly these days and you can paint them pretty much any colour you dream of.
Even uPVC has seriously upped its game; you can find ‘flush sash’ styles now that look remarkably like wood, often in lovely heritage colours or convincing woodgrain effects.
It’s also about letting the light flood in. Slimmer frames automatically mean bigger panes of glass, which just makes rooms feel brighter and more spacious – always a win in London, right?
Bi-fold or sliding doors are still super popular for that lovely seamless feel between your living space and the patio or balcony, no matter how tiny it is. Opening up the back of the house like that completely changes how you use the space, especially as the weather gets warmer.
And don’t forget the little finishing touches! It’s amazing what a difference swapping standard handles for something a bit more luxe in brass, matt black, or brushed nickel can make.
A cool door knocker or a sleek, modern letter plate can complete the picture. And maybe think about frosted or patterned glass for downstairs rooms or bathrooms where you want privacy without blocking the light.
Swapping out your windows and doors this spring is a fantastic chance to inject some real style into your city home. It’s about choosing colours, materials, and designs that don’t just look great on their own, but suit your home and how you live in it. Get it right, and you’ll boost that kerb appeal and end up with spaces you genuinely love spending time in.
