Posts in category: Interiors

The kitchen can be the best part of any household if it’s done right, but it can be a tricky space to work with. There’s a theme to stick with, and a lot of kitchen decorations can be quite expensive.

Trying to redesign your kitchen with simple ideas isn’t easy, but there are actually plenty of great ways you can do it.

You don’t need to break the bank, and you don’t need to have weeks’ worth of renovations done just to have your kitchen feeling new again. It’s time to get creative and save yourself chunks of money.

The centrepiece

Usually, if you’ve got a big open space in the middle of your kitchen, you’d want something functional to have there. Something that belongs, and not just unused space!

Typically, if you didn’t have a tight budget, you would consider having an island installed. They’re a great way to match the theme of the kitchen while providing more worktops as well as a place to eat.

Well, as an alternative to that, dining tables can work just as well – and you can use them to display your centrepiece just as easily. It’s nowhere near as expensive as having an island installed, and all it takes is to assemble the table.

Wall mounted racks

Another functional addition you could make to your kitchen is the use of mounted racks! Spice racks, utensil racks, anything that helps to take up those empty wall spaces.

Not only is it functional and great for freeing up space on your countertops and in your cupboards – it gives your kitchen a more lively look. Everything is much easier for you to reach, too – so your cooking experience will be much smoother.

Overall, it’s easy to install these racks, and they’re inexpensive ways of getting more storage space in your kitchen. Perfect for kitchens of all sizes and homeowners of all budgets!

Repainting

The one thing your kitchen might be missing is a new paint job. If it has been a while since you’ve painted, the colour might have started to fade, or it might just be outdated.

Your kitchen can feel fresher and more modern with a fresh coat of paint. Something more vibrant, something that you feel represents your feelings more. Of course, it’s important to consider the theme of your kitchen, as well as the colour theory and feelings that they represent.

If you’re going to be there every day, you don’t want something that’s too distracting.

Have fun with it

Your kitchen is still a part of your home. Not everything you put in it has to be functional, and if you have the space, it could be a great place to accessorize!

Put up paintings, keep house plants, and do anything that makes your space feel more alive.

You’d feel much happier in the kitchen if it was filled with the things that you enjoy, so make sure you think about how you can make your kitchen more fun.

Disclosure: this is a collaborative post

Modern life can be stressful in a whole range of ways. When you come home after a hard day’s work, then you want to make sure that you’re walking into a space that will allow you to relax, unwind, and generally recharge your mental batteries in time for the next day.

If your house is set up with relaxation in mind, then this should be achievable. If it isn’t, then you might find that stress accumulates when it’s meant to be dissipating – and that you end up suffering in the long-term.

Let’s take a look at a few of the ingredients that make for a relaxing home environment.

Storage

Being surrounded by clutter can be mentally taxing. This is where the right storage solution can be invaluable. Ideally, it should help you to make the most of the available space. A fitted wardrobe might be especially useful if your bedroom sits in an awkward space with an angled ceiling.

But, as well as the right storage, you’ll also need the habit of using it. Tidy up regularly, and get out of the habit of dumping clothes on the floor. Instruct your cohabitants to do likewise!

Curtains

Getting maximum natural light throughout the day can be essential to your mental health. At the same time, if you’re sleeping during the day, you want as little light as possible.

Dress your windows appropriately with a combination of blinds and blackout curtains.

Paint

Certain shades of paint are naturally associated with relaxation. These tend to be the more muted, pastel shades. Blues and greens, which we find in abundance in the natural world, make a great match, but beiges and magnolias work well, too.

Remember to factor in your personal taste. If you dislike a given colour, then it’s not going to work in your space, regardless of what the research says.

Plants

Getting out into green space can be enormously beneficial to your mental health. At the same time, gardening will expose you to sunlight, and provide physical exercise benefits.

If you don’t have access to a garden space, however, then you can do the next best thing and dress your interior in as many plants as possible. Keeping hanging vines in your eyeline while you’re working at the computer can be hugely beneficial.

Pictures

While you might be tempted to hang wall art around you, it’s a good idea to choose photos of family and friends, instead. This will engage you on a deeper emotional level.

A little bit of nostalgia can go a long way to helping you to unwind. Pick out a photo that was taken on a favourite holiday, and hang it somewhere prominent.

Disclosure: this is a collaborative post

If you have fallen in love with the country chic style interior of homes, here are a couple of ways to add a touch of countryside dwellings to your home. 

What is country chic?

Millions of people are finding ways to bring a more traditional and relaxed feel to their homes, and one of the ways that happens is to look at the natural landscapes. Country-style living has a big focus on rustic charm, natural materials, a neutral colour palette and freshness. Often filled with vintage or vintage replica items. 

So, what can you add to bring that into your home?

Patterns 

One thing that you will notice is a big thing in most country chic homes is that there are a lot of traditional patterns. Flowers and checks are both big ones and are usually found on the sofas and other soft furnishings in the home. 

If you don’t like the idea of a patterned sofa, you can opt for curtains or a rug that has that rustic vintage style pattern. 

Natural colours 

You can work with the natural light that your home gets in different areas. Some rooms might get the soft morning light and suit lighter tones like an eggshell and soft greens, while others might see the deep reds and oranges of sunset. 

Before you add any colours in, especially those big ticket items like sofas and other furniture or paint the walls, do some patch testing to see what really makes the most of the light. 

Windows 

You’ll want to allow in as much natural light as possible, but give yourself the option of blocking it out completely or having more privacy. Interior shutters instantly give that beautiful country look with minimum effort.

There are many different styles, but you can stick with a classic white to allow the rest of the room to shine. 

Greenery 

One of the easiest ways to add a real natural feel to your home is to have plenty of plants and other natural colours. We often think about green when we speak about plants, but you can mix and match with real or faux flowers in a range of softer hues to bring in a natural feel. 

Wallpaper, upholstery, flooring, and more can all have these garden-perfect landscape colours. Keep in mind that the natural landscape changes over the seasons, so you can choose the season that speaks to you the most. For example, if you adore spring, then brighter spring florals and plants might be better. 

Don’t discount driftwood, stones, shells, and other naturally occurring materials. 

Kitchen 

Arguably the heart of a country home is the kitchen. If you are looking for a more traditional way of life, then many people spend much of their time in the kitchen.

While you might not want to be chained the aga, special care should be put into how the kitchen looks. For a kitchen makeover, check out these tips: How to make the most of the space in your kitchen – This glorious life. 

Disclosure: this is a collaborative post

Making sure you get a good night’s sleep is so important for your health and wellbeing, so you need to do whatever you can drift off easily and sleep well all night.

A big factor in how well you sleep is how your bedroom looks and feels, and you can make a big impact no matter what your starting point is.

Whether you have a large home with big bedrooms, maybe even with room for a fitted dressing room, or are making the most of a small amount of space and need to get more creative, here are 5 things you can do to make your bedroom a more restful place to be.

1. Choose the right bedding

Set yourself up for a great night’s sleep by picking out bedding that you love the look and the feel of.

Aim for calming colours like blue, green, and lavender, or go for neutrals like cream and grey. And pick out fabrics that make you want to stay snuggled in bed all day.

In the winter months try adding some soft blankets to up the cosiness factor or a weighted blanket to really help you drift off to sleep.

2. Declutter

It’s almost impossible for your bedroom to feel restful and relaxing when it’s full to bursting with stuff.

So spend a weekend decluttering. Sort through everything and see what you can throw out, recycle, or donate to charity.

3. Tidy up

Once you’ve decluttered as much as you can from your bedroom, give the space a good tidy and a bit of a spring clean.

The aim is to keep the bedroom free of anything that doesn’t belong there, so tidy any rogue items back to their homes. Then tidy away the rest of your belongings so that all the flat surfaces are as clear as possible.

Once everything’s tidy you can wipe, dust, polish, and vacuum to get the room nice and clean and calm.

4. Find storage solutions that work for you

If, after all your decluttering and tidying efforts, you still find that your room feels busy and full then try rethinking your storage solutions.

Traditional wardrobes taking up too much space? Try installing some fitted wardrobes with sliding doors, like these from Urban Wardrobes – https://urbanwardrobes.co.uk/services/sliding-wardrobes.

If you have loads of seasonal clothes that you need to store then look into under bed storage or invest in a new ottoman bed. Vacuum storage bags are also amazing for reducing the amount of space big winter coats and extra bedding take up.

To create a restful atmosphere in the bedroom you want to reduce the amount of visual clutter in the room, so look for storage options that let you hide things away when you’re not using them.

5. Keep work out of the bedroom

The last thing to do to make sure your bedroom is a relaxing place to be is to keep work out of it.

If you sit in bed on your laptop all day, it’s really hard to then switch off and see your room as a place for rest. So move your work to the kitchen table or a spot in the lounge, don’t check work emails on your phone in bed, and try to keep your bedroom dedicated to rest and relaxation.

Disclosure: this is a collaborative post