When it comes to home furnishings this autumn textures and bold colours are big news, so think about all of those sumptuous fabrics available from silks through to rich velvets, and materials such as luxurious flocked wallpaper and chunky natural wood furniture.

These bold textures suit the dramatic colour palette for the ideal autumn home, which ranges from vibrant blues and greens through to deep purples and rich reds and oranges, and home owners can either dip conservatively from this palette with a scattering of bright cushions and throws, or delve in deep and cover the living areas of there homes with one of the richest, most decadent looks in recent years.

The rich textured materials of the autumn style range do not come cheap however, with velvet and silks among some of the more expensive fabrics on offer, so create small areas of interest by just scattering a few sumptuous cushions across your couch, or by covering just one wall of the room in flocked wallpaper.

There are many home improvement shows on TV these days that can show you how to make stylish changes to your home living spaces, but many of the wonderful ideas shown are simply not practical or affordable for those home owners on a tight budget.

However there are a number of ways in which you can update and refresh the decor in your home for very little money, and all you need is a few basic supplies from the DIY store and plenty of creativity and imagination. Check out TWENGA for ALL you home decor needs!

Fresh Coat of Paint
If your living spaces are looking a little drab and dull then a fresh coat of paint can really brighten up a room and add a whole new atmosphere.  If you are on a really tight budget then just concentrate on the ceilings and paintwork, and use a coat of brilliant white matt on the ceilings and architraves, and a coat of white gloss on skirting boards, window frames and doorways.

If you have a bit more money to spend you could also try painting the walls in a new, fresh colour as well.

Here is a short DIY guide on how to fix your broken window pane by yourself and save some money in this period of recession

Step One

Spread a sheet on the ground either side of the window and carefully remove the remaining glass from the frame using protective gloves and glasses.

Step Two

Cut away the old putty and also remove old retaining sprigs, taking care not to damage the frame in the process. Clean down the frame and then paint with a coat of primer (wood or metal) to prepare the surface for the new pane.

Step Three

Measure the height and width of the window opening, deducting at least 4mm from each measurement to allow the glass to sit easily in the frame. Get the glass cut for you at a professional glass merchants or DIY store, to ensure the best fit. You can also buy all of the sprigs and putty you will need here to fit the window in as well.

Step Four

Feed the putty into the frame rebate and place the glass in, bottom edge first. Lightly press the pane into the putty and then fix back into the frame with the sprigs. Finish off by feeding putty around the perimeter of the frame, and then remove any excess.

Wallpapering ceilings can be a tricky job, and it does help to have all of the necessary equipment and tools ready and in place, as this can make the whole process much easier. Firstly if you have tall ceilings then you should think about setting up a proper work platform, which will give you a strong, stable surface to hang the paper from. Also you will need a long pasting table, as this will enable you to apply paste smoothly to the lengths of paper you want to hang, and keeps paper smooth and prevents it from creasing or wrinkling.

Secondly it can be difficult to judge whether the paper runs straight, so it is a good idea to use a builders chalk line to mark accurate running lines on your ceiling for you to follow when you are putting up the paper. Also make sure you turn off the power to the ceiling light in the room you are working in, so that you can safely remove the light fittings whilst you are papering.

Causes of Rising Damp

Rising damp occurs when water is drawn up through the exterior brickwork of a building and is absorbed through to the interior walls, causing unsightly damp patches to appear up to a metre high. Rising damp can occur for a number of reasons such as:

· Cracked, leaking downpipes – downpipes running along the exterior walls of your home can be vulnerable to leaking, and this will cause water to run down the exterior brickwork, causing rising damp.

· Blocked, broken gutters – blocked or broken gutters can also cause water to run down the exterior walls of your home encouraging damp interior conditions.

· Dense, thick foliage – a dense concentration of plants and trees growing too close to you home can trap moisture and cause dampness to linger, and climbing plants can also damage brickwork and encourage interior dampness.

Once you have identified a rising damp problem you need to get this sorted out as soon as possible, as continual exposure to dampness can damage the plaster work and surface décor.