A change of scenery is often prescribed for people who feel stuck in a rut, but recent research reveals many of us take this advice a little too seriously and frequently makeover our homes.

A survey carried out by Graham & Brown found one in five householders redecorate their rooms ahead of a big event, such as Christmas or a birthday party, while two fifths said they feel forced to give tired and worn out areas of their home a revamp every so often.

Mark Radford, design and marketing director for the wallpaper company, commented: "For those people who spend a lot of time in the house, it can get boring staring at the same four walls every day.

"So it stands to reason that on a regular basis people like to make changes to the interior of their homes. Subtle changes don't have to cost the earth, and sprucing things up every 12 months or so will ensure we keep our homes stylish and on trend."

Householders who are thinking of changing their decor but are stuck for inspiration could install a dimmer switch in their dining room or lounge to alter the lighting setup without splashing out on a complete remodelling project.

They could also seek inspiration from TV shows and the homes of their friends, which is what one in ten individuals in the survey do.

Meanwhile, TV presenter and property expert Sarah Beeny has been offering her own home improvement advice, because most people in the current economic times would be financially better off investing in their home to add value than to start from scratch with a new abode.

She pointed out that the trend has moved away from buying ramshackle old properties that require plenty of work to make them habitable and more towards staying put in the current home and carrying out various projects that would jack up its value.