Converting a barn into a home is not for the faint-hearted. However, if done properly, you can make it suit your needs to perfection.

A barn with its original oak beams left in place will enable you to colour co-ordinate the rest of the fittings around the beams. Oak flooring, for example, is ideal for throw rugs in neutral shades. If the building has no loft area which would normally be used for storage, one idea would be to construct fitted cupboards or storage racks in the upstairs rooms that will be placed neatly alongside the eaves bottoms to make use of the previously unusable space. To allow them to merge seamlessly into the walls, they should be painted a neutral colour.

Downstairs might benefit best from an open plan living area. The lounge space would flow through naturally to the dining area, then to the kitchen. Shelving units arranged along the walls in the diner will give more floor space in the lounge.

Barns sometimes have quite small windows, which can make the interior seem gloomy. This problem can be solved by using pale wooden window frames and white walls. If you are going to furnish your new home with white or tones of the same colour, remember to break it up by using different textures and subtle shades of colour that will act as a contrast. This will prevent the room from looking too flat.

Wooden venetian blinds make for a perfect finishing touch, as they will fit in with the rest of your home’s décor.