A Lick Of Paint 

It's a wonder what a new splash of paint can do to transform a room. But you needn't paint your entire living room. Save that extra cash for decor elements instead and paint just one feature wall in your living room. The top colours for winter 2020 are champagne, navy blue, olive green, deep red and charcoal. Pick one of these bold colours to spruce up your feature wall or invest in a wallpaper in similar colours. Make sure that this colour will match your existing furnishings, as you do not want to have to purchase a whole new set of chairs and curtains.

Where To Get It?

You may want to consult with a paint specialist too, to find the best quality paint for your wall. Visit Builders Warehouse in store to find a consultant or browse through their online paint selection to find what you're after. Their online paint calculator is super helpful when it comes to figuring out exactly how much paint you will need to get the job done. You can also check out their blog for helpful tips and tricks on all things paint and decor.

Cushions & Comfy Throws

Nothing says luxury comfort like scatter cushions and lush throws. Deck out your living space with a few of these added touches of class this winter. Don't be afraid to mix and match when it comes to the size and pattern of your cushions. Just remember to stick within your colour palette and your upgraded living room will come together in no time.

Where To Get It?

We love @Home's range of scatter pillows and throws. Spoil yourself a little by investing in a couple of their luxury velvet cushions and a mink throw for your sofa. It's these small added accents that can take your living space from dull to daring. Plus, you'll be kept nice and snug throughout the chilly season.

Sweet Scents

Liven up your living space with welcoming scents this winter. Whether you choose to place a few scented candles around the room or a reed diffuser, this simple element can make your living room feel a whole lot more inviting. Seeing as its winter, steer clear of fresh, flowery smells and try out rich, woody scents instead. We personally adore the smell of a cinnamon scented candle burning, but you may consider sandalwood, lavender or sage instead. Not only will your home smell lovely, but these scents can help boost your mood and ensure better sleep during the winter months.

Where To Get It?

Mr Price Home is the place to go for spectacular scents on a budget. Their candle sets and holders are stylish without the added price tag. Order yourself an assortment for your living room through their online store. They have a number of promotions on home decor items and fragrances this winter. Get your hands on 4 for 3 fragrance or candle specials while stocks last!

Quirky Coffee Table

You only need one piece of statement furniture in a room to make an impact. This winter, gift yourself with a new quirky coffee table. Industrial-style furniture is back this season, bringing chic lines and a minimalist feel to your living space. If you are lucky enough to live in a trendy Joburg loft space or an open concept living space, this is the ideal item of furniture to add to your lounge area or TV room. Just be sure to pick something with enough weight and stature to stand up to your new chunky cushions and lush winter throws.

Where To Get It?

Small businesses need your help during these trying times. Show your support by exploring Hello Pretty - a local online marketplace where buyers and sellers meet. Here you can find a superb variety of homeware and decor items, including handcrafted coffee tables. We adore this retro coffee table by Kurve Designs. With its functional book nook and vintage touches, it's the perfect addition to any living space in need of a makeover.

Greenery

Bring the outside indoors this winter by introducing greenery to your living space. A touch of nature can truly transform a dull space into something magical. Indoor plants also increase oxygen levels in your home, improving both your physical and mental well-being. Clear out cluttered areas of your living space to make room for a few ferns, Monsteras or low maintenance succulents. If you've got a green thumb, consider nurturing a pretty orchid this winter. You can transplant it to your garden once spring rolls around, but for now it will provide a delicate touch and fresh fragrance to your living area.

Where To Get It?

There are many wonderful garden centres and nurseries located around Johannesburg. Visit your nearest one to find what you need to up the green space inside your home. But if it's orchids you are after, simply pop into your closest Woolworths store or check out their plant range online. Their orchids come with detailed care instructions to ensure your growing success.

Good luck redecorating! 

Hello Pretty is a unique online market offering original and authentic products from over 1 800 individual designers. Here artists, craftspeople and designers can share their work and sell their goods to potential buyers from across the country. In this way, Hello Pretty benefits small local businesses. To date, the initiative has fed over R8-million into the South African economy through its website. In these tough economic times, this is no small change. You can help grow this amount by purchasing your winter essentials from any one of Hello Pretty's traders.

Because e-commerce is permitted under level 3 lockdown, Hello Pretty is back up and running, full steam ahead. To ensure that your order is delivered in a timely manner and in perfect condition, you will be put in contact with the seller directly. So as the cold weather rolls in, take a peek at Hello Pretty's online offerings. They have everything from clothing, to home decor, jewellery and kids toys. Here are our top picks from their current collections:

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Clothing

Now, we all know just how unpredictable Joburg winter weather can be. While it may feel below freezing before the sun rises, by midday we are rolling up our sleeves to catch a breeze. The solution - layer up! Hello Pretty is your one-stop shop for great T-shirts this winter. Their traders sell everything from graphic tees to hand-knitted tops and shawls. Our favourite is this pretty floral tee with peek-a-boo back from Dandelion Fashion. It's the perfect slash of colour for those dreary winter days. Get it now before it's sold out!

Jewellery & Accessories 

Father's Day is just around the corner. Get ahead of the game by checking out Hello Pretty's range of men's accessories. Dad's are easy enough to shop for, right? All they really want is to be left in peace on their special day anyway. Get your dad something that says 'I love you, Dad', without being overstated, like this Wrap Around Watch from Bamboo Revolution. Or, gift him with a leather belt sold by Wanderer Handcrafted Leather. This is the kind of gift that will last him a good long while, so it's worth the investment.

Home & Decor

Does your home decor need sprucing up? Give your living space an update before winter hits. It could be just what you need to beat the winter blues. Thankfully, many of Hello Pretty's skilled marketers specialise in furniture, decor and even fine art. We simply adore this dark oak coffee table by Kurve Designs. With its industrial powder coated steel frame and unique rectangular shape, this table is ideal for a trendy Joburg loft apartment space. You can custom order your table from Kurve Designs to suit the dimensions of your living space, too.

Food & Drink

Winter is the season for warming teas, rich coffees and sweet treats. Hello Pretty's sellers have just what you need to help you get through the cold. Tea lovers, check out the Lady of the Herbs range of calming teas. They offer a tea to wake you up, a tea to put you into a restful sleep and a tea to soothe aches and pains. Sounds like a comprehensive winter survival kit, if you ask us.

How did you cope without alcohol for those two months in lockdown? Celebrate your new found freedom with a few custom tipples from Hello Pretty's drinks store. Whether you're a gin gal, wine connoisseur or whisky sipper, there should be something to help you get the party started here. We would personally go for the Unibox Gin Box - which comes complete with an unbreakable stemless wine/gin glass, tonic syrups and a bottle of premium gin. Bottoms up!

For More Information

To browse Hello Pretty's full collection of clothing, accessories, home decor, art, furniture, toys and health and beauty products, click here. Also, follow and like them on social media to stay up to date with their latest specials and winter must-haves:

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Contact them via email at [email protected] for queries and support.

By Tarryn Jameson

I will never forget the very first birthday gift that my man (now my long-suffering husband) bought me. It was a box of chocolates (Yay!) handed over in a Checkers packet (Boo!). Don’t get me wrong, I loved the thought that had gone into buying my favourite brand, but the lack of gift wrap somehow made it seem less thoughtful!

It was then I realised how much I adore a beautifully wrapped gift and became determined to pay extra attention to each present I give away in the future. That being said, it can be an expensive business when you factor in the wrapping paper, ribbons, cards, bows and added extras. But not if you know where to shop! Yes, now that I’ve done all the hard work for you, I'm sharing my budget-friendly places where you can stock up on beautiful wrapping supplies for less!

TIP: When buying in bulk, choose items that you can mix and match, so that all gifts look a little different!

Where To Save

Paper Packaging Place

This is probably the best known bulk supplier in Joburg with beautiful showrooms in Olivedale. Personally, I prefer to shop online and have found that one 100m “counter roll” lasts for years! The kids' collection is too beautiful for words – I bought a reversible roll that has tiny feet on the one side and stripes on the other – so effectively it's a two-in-one roll of gift wrap. I also have the Black & White Thin Stripe which pairs beautifully with various Petersham-style ribbons. Also in stock: boxes, tissue paper, packets, carrier bags and more.

Super Floral

My friend Allison introduced me to this amazing gem in 2012, and it remains one of my best-kept secrets. While it doesn’t have as wide a range as the Paper Packaging Place, you will get lost for hours in aisle upon aisle of ribbons, teddies, gift wrap, Easter decorations, Christmas decorations, wedding decorations, containers, candles, baskets and crafts. Trust me, it is worth a visit to Super Floral at Rewlatch in the South of Joburg – just be sure you have more than an hour to spend browsing!

Wrap It

I recently stumbled upon this store. Quite literally. I tripped coming out of Dunkeld Fruit & Flowers, fell straight into the store, and accidentally swiped my credit card. That’s my story and I'm sticking to it!) Apparently, this is just a pop-up shop for an upstairs warehouse – something I had no idea existed. It is an absolute WIN – with beautiful varieties of gift wrap and ribbon all displayed by colour (my OCD loved that) so you can mix and match to your heart’s content. The quality of the gift wrap is VERY good, and you can choose between 10, 20, 50 and 100m rolls. (FYI – they will also custom-brand ribbon on request).

MerryPak

This is always a fabulous option if you’re keen to order online. MerryPak has a good selection of gift wrap for around R90 per 10m roll or roughly R360 for a 100m counter roll. Their ribbon selection is quite extensive with the added bonus of being able to buy per metre. That being said, I do find this a more pricey option.

Where To Splurge

Hello Pretty

If you’re looking for something completely unique and slightly funky, then A Love Supreme might be just the thing for you! Each gift wrapping kit contains five different paper sheets and a pack of five corresponding gift cards. There are 15 designs from which to choose, and the staff can make up your order on request according to the particular designs you have chosen.

Liberty Bespoke

This breathtaking online store will have you sighing with pleasure — definitely one for those not afraid to spend a little more on gift wrap! The gift tags are under R100 for eight, the gift wrap is about the same price for a pack of four sheets. There's a wide range of collections from which to choose, and they are absolutely gorgeous!

By Shelli NT

Are there any gift wrapping stores I’ve missed? Comment below and tell me about them!