Sometimes change is good, which is why we all need a little refresh in our spaces from time to time. A fresh lick of paint and a few decorative accents is all it takes to give your existing furniture a new lease of life. Here are two schemes to bring the outdoors in and reinvigorate your Ikea Billy bookcase at the same time.

Coastal cool

To achieve a nautical but nice look, paint your space with a calm and serene shade of Coastal Grey.

There’s so much more you can display on your bookcase aside from your paperbacks; from picture frames to plants and treasured objects. Try breaking up your books with interesting shapes and objects to give them a curated feel. West Elm’s Star resin object (£29) is a fine alternative to a boring bookend.

Continue with the sea blues by adding a few decorative vases to your shelves. Look for piece with texture, such as this Siena Indigo vase from Holly’s House ( £18.95) with its crackled, almost sea-sprayed finish.

Into the woods

If you’re more at home in the woods than beside the sea, try a soft green such as Muted Sage, it’ll bring out the natural grain of your shelves a treat.

Dot mini plants between your books to add a splash of colour – who could resist these cute Ceramic Animal Planters by West Elm (£14) to bring your shelves to life?

Finally, bring shape and height to your display with a candle stick or two. These aptly named Lumberjack candle holders from John Lewis (£18) even look like little trees. Timber!

Try these shades out in your own home by ordering a tester swatch today. Or, play with the Dulux Visualizer app to see how they’d look over larger areas.