By the time we reach our late 20s, many of us have established a sense of personal style that is more mature and considered than the one we had as teenagers.
But how many of us pay the same attention to the way we put together our homes?
British interiors experts spoke to FEMAIL about the trends that should be ditched before your 30th birthday in order to make your home feel more ‘grown up’.
Posters, for example, should be replaced by framed art, while futons, should be traded up for a comfortable sofa bed for guests staying the night.
Here, experts from leading British design brands like Wayfair and Furniture Choice have spoken to FEMAIL to add their opinions…
British interiors experts spoke to FEMAIL about the trends that should be ditched before your 30th birthday in order to make your home feel more ‘grown up’. Pictured, a room that illustrates interiors sins, including posters, a bare floor and hand-me-down furniture
FUTONS
Futons, with their compact design and affordable price tags, have long been a favourite of teenagers, students and 20-somethings looking for a quick and easy place to put guests staying the night.
However they are far from the most comfortable piece of furniture and should definitely be replaced in the interest of keeping guests on side into your 30s.
Vlatka Lake, marketing manager at UK-based storage company Space Station, said: ‘As you hit your 30s, you’ll be busier than ever so may be more picky about house guests. For those you DO want to invite, make sure they have a comfy place to sleep.
‘Now is the time to swap the blow up beds and uncomfortable futons for a comfortable spare bed that your friends and family will actually enjoy sleeping in.’
DVD UNITS
Rebecca said: ‘Displaying your DVD collection within easy reach might have been a good idea when you were 22, but with many people using subscription services with huge libraries of films, it’s just not necessary to keep hold of them and can make your home décor look especially young and dated.
‘Store any DVDs you don’t want to sell or donate somewhere less intrusive and use shelves for books and ornaments instead. Remember; the neater you arrange the books, the more mature your shelf will seem.
‘Add trailing plants for a final touch or low maintenance succulents if you’re bad at remembering to water them.’
POSTERS
From teenage heartthrobs to superheroes, posters are a cheap and easy way for children and teenagers to quickly declare their interests and passions.
But, while they might still be loved, these posters, stuck onto the wall, need to be re-imagined once you enter your 30s.
Rebecca Snowden, Interior style advisor at FurnitureChoice.co.uk, said: ‘Nothing says “teenager” quite like a movie poster haphazardly hung with blu-tack to the back of a door.
‘The good news is you don’t have to part with your favourite posters and prints – simply framing them and placing them in the right parts of the home is enough to completely transform their effect.
‘And instead of a wall of various photos and mementos stuck up with tape, frame those pieces too and create a gorgeous gallery wall instead.’
BRIGHT CEILING LIGHTS AND BASIC BLINDS
Living in student halls, rented accommodation or your first flat share with friends often means having to make do with basic fixtures: including harsh and unflattering strip lights. The experts suggest swapping these bright ceiling lights for flattering ones like the ones seen above
Living in student halls, rented accommodation or your first flat share with friends often means having to make do with basic fixtures: including harsh and unflattering strip lights.
Replacing these, or softening the glare with other light sources, is a quick and easy way to transform your space and give it an immediately more ‘grown-up’ feel.
Kris Manalo, Senior Upholstery Buyer at Heal’s, said: ‘Many of those stepping into their thirties see this as a time to introduce calm into their lives and home.
‘Swap out bright ceiling lights and integrate soft LEDs into your scheme to help you wind down after a busy day, and opt for sculptural fixtures to weave in a sense of sophisticated elegance.’
Rebecca added: ‘If you own your own home take advantage of being able to add personal style touches like curtain rails and light fixtures. Swapping out a basic blind for curtains is a great way of making your room feel more grown up with the bonus of letting more daylight inside. Likewise, choosing interesting light fixtures instead of sticking with a basic shade can make your room feel like you’ve given it a lot of attention which automatically makes it feel like a mature space.
DOOR MIRRORS
Mirrors to hang on the back of a door or inside a cupboard make a practical purchase for teenagers and young people dealing with limited living space.
However as you move into your 30s, experts suggest investing in a mirror with a little more purpose and ‘wow’ factor, whether it is a standalone mirror with a statement frame or a quirky small mirror that you hang at eye level over your dressing table.
Best of all, good mirrors can be cheap – take a look on eBay and second-hand sites for stylish second-hand options.
Vlatka said: ‘Mirrors are such a vital part of getting ready every morning or before a night out. You may have put up with any old mirror for the last few years, but as you reach your 30s it’s important to look and feel your best, so ditch any unflattering mirrors and donate them to charity.’
BARE FLOORS AND WALLS
‘To completely transform your home from generic to grown up, introduce colour by painting over plain walls or adding a feature rug to your living area,’ Rebecca said.
‘Nothing says “I’m a mature adult who knows what I want” like a carefully selected colour palette. There is no hard and fast rule when it comes to choosing colours, but try to work around any pieces of furniture you plan to hold onto for a while.
‘If you rent, be sure to check with your landlord first before painting to make sure you’re both on board with painting the living room red.’