There’s something about the shift into autumn that makes you want to get your house together. After a Bermuda summer of beach bags by the door, sand finding its way into every corner and the general clutter that comes with longer, busier days, home starts to need a little attention.

But making your space feel fresh, polished and even a little more expensive doesn’t require new furniture or a major decorating budget. Often, it’s the simplest changes that make the biggest difference. Before you start shopping, try these seven easy ways to make your home feel more considered for the season ahead.

1, Start with a really good clean

Before buying anything, clean what you already have. And not just the regular sweep and mop — windows, baseboards, fans, behind furniture, kitchen cupboards, all the places that get ignored. If the budget allows, bring in a cleaning service for a proper deep clean. After a long Bermuda summer of sand, humidity and open doors, this alone can make your home feel new again.

2, Give the walls a fresh coat of paint

Probably the biggest transformation for the least money. You don't even need to change the colour. Freshening tired white or neutral walls can make an entire room look brighter and more polished. If you do want a change for fall, warmer whites and earthy neutrals can shift the mood without making a Bermuda home feel dark or heavy.

3, Add an area rug — or two

We don't need or want wall-to-wall carpeting in Bermuda, but rugs can instantly make tiled and wooden floors feel warmer. Try one beneath the dining table, in the living room or even a runner in a hallway. It's an easy way to introduce texture, colour and pattern as we head into the cooler season.

4, Actually print the photos on your phone

We have thousands of photographs and somehow none of them make it onto our walls. Choose some favourites — family, travel, old Bermuda photographs, whatever feels like you — and display them. Spend on professional printing and framing if you want to, or have them printed inexpensively and pick up simple frames yourself. A home that tells your story will always feel more considered.

5, Declutter after summer

Put away the beach bags, coolers, towels, random pairs of slippers and everything else that seems to migrate through the house during a Bermuda summer. Clear the kitchen counters, edit the coffee table and tackle the pile that has been sitting in the corner for three months. You may discover you don't need to buy anything at all.

6, Bring in something green

Plants immediately make a room feel more finished. A large potted plant can fill an awkward corner, while greenery clipped from the garden can work just as well on a table or kitchen counter. In Bermuda, there's really no reason our homes shouldn't have a little bit of the outside inside.

7, Buy yourself the grocery-store flowers

You don't need an elaborate $150 arrangement. Pick up an inexpensive bunch of flowers with the groceries each week, trim the stems and put them in a simple vase on the dining or kitchen table. It's a small luxury, but fresh flowers have a way of making the whole room feel cared for.