If you manage a stadium, arena, conference venue, or multi-use hospitality space, you already know the feeling after a big event: the lights come up, the crowd is gone, and the place suddenly looks much larger and much messier.

Period homes have a bit of character, don't they? The original floorboards, the uneven walls, the older underlay, the odd draught in the hallway - all part of the charm.

If your sofa looks a little tired, your dining chairs have picked up everyday grime, or a favourite armchair has developed that dull, lived-in look, you are not alone.