Dim your lighting, upgrade your cutlery and jazz up your bed. As Christmas approaches, and guests arrive, here are the best tricks to give your space a lift

The end of the year is drawing close, which means chilly weather and, if you’re in the hosting mood, a flurry of visitors (respect to anyone who has signed up to host a Christmas, and even more if you have in-laws coming). And then there’s all that tidying …

It’s also the season for hunkering down and getting cosy. But making your home feel like a sanctuary needn’t cost a lot at this already wallet-wounding time of year. There are plenty of tricks and affordable buys to give where you live a lift. Practical changes can be as good for the soul as looking at something beautiful. After slowly renovating my flat for the past five years, I have many ideas up my sleeve. From easy DIY to choice accessories, here are 50 ways to breathe new life into your home this winter.