Where to add colour in your home

Colours that are fashionable come and go, and though this used to be limited to clothing, it now applies to pretty much everything. Just look around at a few sofa sales and you will notice just how many different colours, fabrics and finishes that the variety of sofa shapes come in.

Once upon a time, sofa colours were pretty limited – to plain colours like blue, brown and cream or beige and a few chintzy patterns with flowers on them. Nowadays you can get really loud colours and patterns. Tempting though these might be, though, it’s worth thinking twice before buying a ‘noisy’ colour or pattern for your sofa. This is the place you will want to sit and relax after all, and a bright orange sofa might not be the most relaxing colour to choose.

Also, once you’ve bought a sofa, you’re stuck with it – for a couple of years at least. Although there is a lot of cheap furniture around these days, sofas still cost a reasonable amount so you want to make sure you choose the right one for your home.

Sometimes it’s best to go for something muted and plain, and add splashes of colour elsewhere in your home. You can do this with your choice of rugs for the floor and framed prints for the walls. Brightly coloured cushions on your more sober sofa can add interest. These kinds of items are much cheaper and therefore easier to change more often.

An alternative is to put the colour on one of your living room walls – either with patterned wallpaper or a bright and cheery colour emulsion. Again, this is cheaper and easier to replace than a sofa.

Curtains and Blinds for You

There are many ways to dress the eyes on the world in your home – the windows – and getting it right can make the difference between a successful home interior decorating scheme and a not-quite-right one. Choosing the best curtains and drapes for your home depends on many factors; here are a few things to consider when picking out your options…

  1. Natural light. What is the situation regarding natural light getting into your home? If you have lots of windows and light then you can pretty much please yourself with window dressing – if not then proceed with care.

  2. Darker rooms with a lack of windows. Where you need to maximise daylight make the most of what is on offer and use mirrors to reflect light further into the space. Try white muslin panels or simple wooden slatted blinds.

  3. Large rooms. Grand spaces with multiple windows can stand a bit of drama. Dress them with opulent swags and decadent drapes in bold colours or patterns and accessorise with tassels and tie backs.

  4. Small rooms. Try to remain unfussy and keep your curtains and blinds on the simple side. Visit bed shops with matching ranges of bedding and curtains as co-ordinated fabrics will look fantastic.
  5. Bathrooms and kitchens. Be practical and don’t pick a material which will be easily damaged by humidity. In a white room go for a bright colour to draw attention to the window.

  6. Picture this, picture that. If the best view from your http://www.bensonsforbeds.co.uk super king bed is of the garden then frame it with fabulous curtains to draw the eye outside.
  7. Ornaments for all – don’t forget the windowsill. Connect the outside with the room by using a statement ornament, sculpture or vase on the windowsill. Go for over-sized proportions for a real wow factor.

Cool, Contemporary Colours: Grey

Have you ever thought about decorating your room grey? Sounds crazy? Well actually, there are plenty of ways that grey, silver, gunmetal and all the other permutations can make for a really stylish interior design scheme. Read on and feel inspired to give it a try…

  1. Bachelor pad heaven. All things macho and sleek start with black leather and chrome, so why not take a twist on this classic combination and try dark grey instead. It is softer and more contemporary without being any more feminine.

  2. Bargain buys. Look out for leather sofas, beds for sale and painted furniture in a range of greys and snap up a deal. You will be blazing a trail that others will soon follow!
  3. All things that sparkle. For a different take on tiles for floors or walls look out for grey granite with added glitter. Super-stylish and practical too it will add a different dimension to bathrooms and kitchens alike.

  4. Kitchen chic. Soft grey units in the kitchen in a high gloss finish are ultra-trendy and will go with any accent colour you like. Perfect!

  5. Mix it up a little. Plain old grey a step too far for you? Add a hint of colour and go for nearly greys with a touch of blue, green or lilac.

  6. Lateral thinking on linens. Dress that fabulous new bed from Bensonsforbeds.co.uk in silvery grey bed linen instead of boring old white. Very cool and versatile too.
  7. Metallic gems. Metal is, after all, a type of grey in its natural state so use shiny silver, matt chrome or reflective metallic wherever you like.

  8. Light it up. Careful lighting and the use of mirrors will lift your interior décor if the grey is looking a little dull. If that’s not enough then add a bright featured element such as a sofa or painting to draw the eye.

Which is it to be? Carpets or Wood Flooring

If you are renovating or decorating a property then the floor covering will have a major impact on the success of the overall project. Carpet or wood flooring? It’s a tough decision and one which many people hum and hah over for a while before making a final choice. In order to help you do just that I have written a pro’s and cons list which you might find useful…

Pro’s for Carpet:

  1. It is warm underfoot and will help to keep heat trapped in a room.

  2. It is relatively cheap and so can be changed regularly to suit your decorating tastes.

  3. It is quick and easy to lay – even for a relative novice.

  4. It dampens noise so you won’t hear every footstep from above or below.

Cons for Carpet:

  1. It traps dirt and dust making it a less hygienic type of flooring.

  2. It can look tired and old quickly through wear and tear.

  3. The colour of it will determine a colour scheme for the room.

  4. Your carpet may have to be ordered and delivery times can be long.

Pro’s for Wood Flooring

  1. It is hygienic and easy to clean so perfect for households with pets or allergy sufferers.
  2. Flooring and Doors can match by using the same wood or wood stain.

  3. Neutral wood will match any type of interior design.

  4. Wood floors are an investment and may add value if you want to sell your property.

Con’s for Wood Flooring:

  1. It is more expensive than carpet, particularly if you buy solid wood boards.

  2. It can be difficult to install and bad fitting mistakes are costly to correct.

  3. It can create a colder room and may feel cooler underfoot.

  4. Unless you purchase wood from a renewable source your wood floor may not be environmentally friendly.

Save money on kitchen cleaning products

This is an expensive time of year and many of us are looking for ways to cut our weekly shopping bills in order to spend that little extra on the fun things that make for a good Christmas.

Why not take a look in your kitchen cupboard and work out just how many cleaning products are lurking in there, many of which are hardly ever used? There is a cleaning product for every job and yet multipurpose cleaners are probably every bit as efficient. Also consider whether you could do the job using natural products and not only save money but also the environment? Items such as vinegar, lemon juice and baking soda are a cleaner’s best friend.

Rather than spending three or four pounds on limescale remover, try a piece of cut lemon. Instead of buying a proprietary stainless steel sink cleaner for a fiver, use white vinegar. If your sink is sluggish forget Mr Muscle and make a mixture of baking soda and vinegar. To keep your worktops hygienic and looking sparkling clean wipe them down each day with hot soapy water.

If you’re still intent on buying cleaning products from the supermarket why not have a look on the internet and see if you can find some printable coupons offering money off. Our friends across the Atlantic have been doing this for years and it is gradually becoming popular in the UK too. If your favourite product is on offer then, providing you have storages space, buy in bulk. Many websites allow you to sign up for a weekly email alert meaning you don’t even have to do the hard work.

Downshifting from branded products, such as Fairy Liquid or Mr Muscle to the supermarket’s own make, or from the supermarket’s own to their budget or essential range can save money too. If you look at the list of ingredients you’ll be surprised at how similar they are.

En Suite Luxury

New houses today are always built with a ridiculous number of bathrooms – sometimes more than the number of bedrooms it seems but I’m sure that can’t be true. Are we all turning into a nation of bathing obsessed people!? Or are we just catching up with the rest of the world… If you live in an older house then you may have four or five bedrooms and only one bathroom. One of the things which you can do to add value if you are selling, or just for convenience for your own purposes is add an extra bathroom. An en suite is always a good idea in a larger house as many people will expect it in today’s market and it can be particularly useful if you have specific needs.

To fit an en suite bathroom in later life you may want to consider the potential for a bathroom which is easily accessible and one of the best investments might be walk in showers. If you plan to undertake fitting an en suite bathroom as a DIY project then the first thing to consider is where will the space come from? The easy answer for a large master bedroom is to simply build into the corner however this may not work in every house. Another option is to incorporate an adjacent box room, part of an adjacent bedroom or even take a bite out of the landing – every home will be different.

If your bathroom is going to be tailored to specific needs based on potential loss of mobility in later life then it is always a good idea to get some expert assistance in the design. Speak to Mobility-Plus who will advise you on your options and help you to arrive at the perfect decision for you. An en suite is a luxury so get it right and enjoy it for years to come.

Decorate your home sixties style

Are you thinking of decorating your home but struggling for design inspiration? With so many design ideas out there these days, it can be difficult to know where to start.

The most important thing of course, is to pick a style that suits you and expresses your personality. In this article we will discuss the sixties style of home decorating, which you might find is the ideal solution for you.

The 1960s were an exciting time for interior design, with its move away from the previously favoured cosy, warm and welcoming look. Instead, interiors were all about minimalism, with sleek and slick designs and furnishings very much in vogue. At the same time, and in contrast to the monochrome look, homes in the 1960s reflected pop culture and were influenced by contemporary artists like David Hockey and Andy Warhol, using vibrant colours and patterns.

Whichever approach you take, there are some key items you can search for to give your home that groovy sixties look. To reflect the sixties style in your home, hunt down metallic and glass items that really embody the look. Coffee tables with glass tops are very sixties for example. Try browsing the second hand stores and markets for genuine items, as well as picking up imitation pieces that have a sixties feel, from bigger stores.

In the bedroom, choose sixties style beds with open coil mattresses from Sleep Masters, and decorate the room with well-chosen accessories. Retro rugs and sixties style floor lamps will instantly give your bedroom that fabulous swinging sixties look.

And to really go all out with the sixties theme, pick up a lava lamp and get psychedelic with your colour schemes! This look is pretty overpowering after a while though, and not good if you have a headache! So it’s probably best left to just the one room if you don’t want to suffer from a sixties overload.

DIY: Fit your own ensuite bathroom

When it comes to the world of DIY, one part of the house that many people instantly feel wary about interfering with in the absence of professional assistance is the bathroom. However, should we really shy away from fitting our own ensuite bathroom? Is it really necessary to fork out hundreds, if not thousands, of pounds on top of the original cost of our new ensuite bathroom just to have someone give us a helping hand? Let’s dig a little deeper and find out.

Once you’ve purchased your ensuite bathroom of choice, making sure that it will fit with the dimensions of the room, you’ll need to design the layout. Companies like Wren Bedrooms and Bathrooms can give advice at this stage. Make sure that around each component of your suite, there’s enough standing room to ensure it’s simple to move from toilet to sink, and from bath to shower. The last thing you want is to feel cramped in your new room.

One thing to consider is the electrical component of your new room. Are you going to need special razor sockets? Do you need pull-cord switches within reach of the bath or shower? Make sure you consider this part of the DIY process very, very carefully. If something goes wrong at this stage, it could threaten your entire project.

Before you start with the actual installation, make sure you have everything you need to hand. You should also cover anything that may get damaged near the room, such as your new bedroom furniture. Read through any instructions that come with each part of the suite and remove any old piping that may still be present. Remember to cut off the water supply and leave the taps off.

It is usually a good plan to remove the existing toilet before anything else. Make sure you don’t do any damage to the waste pipe while removing the pan! When it comes to removing the bath, ask a neighbour or family member for help as this can be a tough, physical job.

Once everything has been removed, do a quick tidy-up, sweep the surfaces, and then start the installation! This should be easy enough but a few things to take care over include isolating and checking valves while putting in new pipes, and making sure the new toilet pan is level on the floor and in the exact intended position.

Walk In Bath Time

If mobility is becoming an issue then one of the things which may trouble you is getting in and out of the bath. When bathing becomes a chore rather than a pleasure then it is time to think about a solution and that might well be to invest in a walk in bath. Here are some of the frequently asked questions about walk in baths to help you think about why you might want one:

  1. The first thought you might have is can I afford walk in baths? Well the good news is that there is a wide range of models available with prices to match and all of them are VAT free as mobility aids.
  2. Will the bath fit into a normal sized bathroom? This should not be a problem as walk in baths come in varying widths and lengths so there should be a model to suit you and your room.

  3. Will the door leak? A sensible question as it doesn’t seem right that a bath with a door in it should be water tight! The answer however is yes, and most manufacturers will guarantee their equipment too.

  4. Do I need a shower as well? Often a wall mounted shower attachment is part of the bath system so you can shower whilst sitting in your new walk in bath.

  5. Do they take a really long time to fill and empty? Actually no – contrary to popular belief, many models will fill and empty quicker than a conventional bath tub even though they are larger.

  6. Can I get additional hydrotherapy features? Yes you can on certain models. Review your options carefully before making a final decision.

  7. Who should I talk to about my requirements? Mobility Plus are experts in this area and will be able to explain the options to you clearly.

The joys of moving house

Moving home can be a very exciting time in a family’s life. It can also be a period of upheaval and uncertainty, especially for younger children who may not understand exactly what’s happening.

Although it’s a lot of hard work it’s still possible to make the process an enjoyable one, and to use the opportunity to throw out the old and bring in the new.

Getting the kids involved will also help them to understand what’s happening, and to look forward to the new house rather than be worried about it.

If possible, decide which bedrooms belong to whom in the new house, and if you can, take the kids over to have a look.  This may not be possible, of course, especially if you are moving far away.  If so, sketch out a room plan for them and ask them to think about what they’d like in their room and where.

You can do the same for the main living rooms in the house.  OK, they may not give you much input about the kitchen or bathrooms, but they can get involved in choosing what furniture you’ll have in your living room. Will your old sofa and chairs go well, or are you planning on starting afresh?  Go down to a sofas sale and try out some different shapes and designs.

Corner sofas can make ideal cosy camps for the whole family to settle down and watch a movie, but if you’ve got a large family it can sometimes feel a little too squashed. You might be better off picking two large sofas, if the room can take them without feeling cramped.

If you need the sofa to double up as a guest bed, then a sofa bed sale will give you the biggest range of designs to choose from.  Some also have innovative storage solutions within the frame under the cushions.

Whether or not you go with your kids’ choices is, of course, up to you, but involving them in the process will make them feel a part of this big move and reassure them that it’s something to look forward to.