Opening the door to a warm welcome

And in these uncertain, insecure times, what we all need are reassuring, unpretentious sanctuaries, according to interiors author, Caroline Clifton-Mogg.

"There's no doubt that the way we want to live now has changed, the idea of gross excess in all its forms is no longer desirable. Quiet enjoyment – based around the home – is seen as admirable," she points out.

"I think it's the ideal moment to look more closely at our homes and see how we can make them more comfortable without huge injections of cash, without turning everything upside down or bringing in major changes."

Her new book, aptly named The Comforts of Home, includes an inspiring collection of rejuvenating and transformative tips.

Some of the guidance harks back to inexpensive natural remedies, and housekeeping rituals of bygone eras, while other suggestions are ingenious ways to achieve bang-up-to-date styles without breaking the bank.

"The current order of the day is a house that is warm and easy to live in, decorated with individuality and taste, not excess and extravagance.

"There are so many things that one can do to make a place, a room, more comfortable, more pleasant to be in – so many small decorative changes that rely on imagination and style, rather than a deep purse.

"Creating a comfortable home is actually far more about thought than money."

Caroline explains that there are many key areas of the home which you can quickly transform.

HALLWAY

A hallway is an area which is often neglected, but it should be orderly and decorative, advises Caroline

If it's dark, don't necessarily paint it a pale shade, she suggests.

"Very often, a rich, warm colour is more striking and conveys a welcoming impression more effectively."

And, she points out, a hall can be a good place for decorative objects – one wall used as a gallery for family photos, or even shelved to house books so that visitors are instantly greeted with something to interest them.

SCENT

A sweet-smelling house is instantly inviting, says Caroline, but that doesn't necessarily mean putting expensive candles throughout.

She suggests using cut flowers, pot plants, or even herbs in a window box and a bowl of pot-pourri to scent the air.

DISPLAY

A room or house with nothing on the walls not only seems cold but is cold.

"Pictures look better when hung in groups or collections, and you can choose how you arrange them in compatible groups, basing your choice perhaps on subject matter or medium, size or even frame," she suggests.

WARMTH

A comfortable home is a warm home – both physically and mentally, says Caroline

"That doesn't mean you have to have the central heating on all day long, but it does mean conserving the heat you do have.

"Shutting the doors to every room, especially when you're not in, is an easy but effective way to conserve heat, as is having lined curtains at windows and drawing them at night – both far cheaper than double glazing."

The Comforts of Home by Caroline Clifton-Mogg is published in hardback by Ryland Peters & Small, priced 19.99. To order a copy from the Yorkshire Post Bookshop, call free on 0800 0153232 or go online at www.yorkshirepostbookshop.co.uk. P&P is 2.75.

SIX EASY STEPS TO A COST-FREE MAKE-OVER

Copy decorators, who often move their furniture around on a temporary or seasonal basis, or just because they feel like it.

Add new cushions or lampshades, or move existing ones to different rooms to rejuvenate your home.

Ring the changes in the kitchen. If you normally have only table mats, use tablecloths.

Bring new life to the bedroom by bringing out your collection of bedspreads and bed linen and trying different combinations.

Create window seats throughout the house.

Use your eyes and watch how other people do it.