WHY do well-dressed people stand out from the crowd?

It’s not just the clothes they wear, but the way they incorporate little finishing touches like a scarf, belt or jewellery which make them eye-catching.

The same surely applies to rooms – and the most successful are “well dressed” with decorative details, be they mirrors and art work, cushions or books.

Caroline Clifton-Mogg, interiors specialist and author, is a definite believer. “We have all been to houses where ‘stuff’ is everywhere, lying around almost at random and looking definitely unloved,” she says.

“But in another house, the same things are arranged in such a way that lifts the spirits and makes you want to go home and rearrange all your possessions.” All too often, she says, the power of those details is underestimated.

“That’s such a waste as they make a space a home and give it a personality. When someone new comes to our home, the first things they notice aren’t the semi-permanent pieces – the fitted kitchen or the wet room.

“What they focus on are the pictures and the way they are hung, the decorative objects, flowers on a table or the way books are arranged on the shelves.”

So if your possessions are randomly displayed and the look is cluttered rather than classic, Caroline's new book, All In The Detail, could be a boon. It’s packed with 400 imaginative finishing touches and practical advice on how to achieve them.

Caroline says: “I simply want to show people the value of finishing touches, and how to make them count. We all have possessions that we’ve bought, been given or inherited.

“The joy is that properly treated they can truly transform a home making it pleasant, warm, and visually stunning, and it won’t cost you a penny!”

Why not follow this top tip? Stand back and try to see your possessions as a visitor would. It will help you re-evaluate them with a fresh eye. Take some photos of your rooms, as it will make it clear which objects are working for you, and which aren’t.