It is surprisingly easy to make a striking statement with an all-white theme.

White can also help your home feel lighter and brighter and can give the impression of space, airiness, clarity and purity.

It can be a difficult colour to live with as it is obviously unpractical if you have children, pets or live in a muddy area.

White can also sometimes make a room look sparse or cold.

However, if used in the correct way, white can be a highly successful theme.

Here are a few tips for using white:

1)     Add interest in ways other than colour. Choose unusual pieces of furniture and mix different styles.

2)     Look at different variations of the colour white. There is obviously bright white, but you can also go for a more muted white or even branch into creams and greys. These can take the edge of the starkness which can sometimes result from an all white theme.  

3)     Add some neutral colours to the floor or window treatments. Wicker and wood are good at warming up your white design scheme.

4)     Go for floaty voiles for your curtains and match with light furniture to give an airy impression.

5)     Texture is very important. Mix smooth and glossy furniture with fluffy rugs and cushions.

6)     It can also be a good idea to add some colour, while keeping the overall theme white. An accent of red, purple or even black can make a bold statement.

The combination of black and white together can leave you with a dramatic look. Using black to accentuate certain accessories, light fixtures or furniture can sharpen any decorating scheme and add elegance.

If you think a completely black and white theme is a bit too dramatic, then try adding touches of another colour such as pink, yellow or purple, while still keeping black and white the prominent colours.

A further advantage of having a white theme is it’s an extremely good base for any future decorating ideas. It can be simple to subtly alter the overall look by ading a colourful rug, changing the window treatments, or adding throws and cushions. A white theme is one which can be continually updated without having a complete overhaul of your house.  

The style or theme of your home can be based on anything from personal taste, to something you’ve seen in a magazine, to your favourite country or time.

Choosing a style for your home can be about making a statement regarding yourself or personality. As such, make sure you choose something which not only represents you, but a style which you truly love and something you will be able to live with for a while.

Also, you have to decide whether you want an overall theme for your home or is it just one or two rooms in need of re-decorating?

It can work quite nicely to use more than one style throughout your home, but it is important to try and keep some consistency - don’t try and mix too many looks at once!

Key areas to think about when choosing a theme are:

1)      Do you want your home contemporary or old-fashioned?

2)      Is it a country retreat or a modern townhouse?

3)      Are you inspired by your travels?

4)      Do you want something quirky or unique?

5)      Do you want the overall look to remain neutral or do you want statement colours?

If you can’t decide on an overall theme, it can be quite a successful look to go for eclectic interior design. This, in essence, is a mishmash of different looks, but is probably the best way to express your own personal taste.

However, make sure you don’t go too over-the-top with this look, you want to achieve a harmonious balance of different designs and not end up with a junk yard theme!

Try and use different furnishings and accessories from different times, countries and styles. Including all things that are personal to you – but don’t over clutter. Each object in the room should have the feel that it’s on display.  Also, having a focal statement piece in your room works well i.e an antique table, an exotic rug or a unique piece of furniture which immediately captures your attention.

Also, you can still have an overall colour scheme. Consider the flooring, walls and furniture and try and keep some consistency here. If your furniture is bright and bold go for something similar in the curtains and keep the floors and walls more neutral, so the room is not overloaded with too much colour. Having a neutral background will also emphasise the antiques and treasures you have on display.

This is also a style that can evolve and be constantly updated. Especially if you keep the walls, carpet and curtains neutral, you won’t need a major overhaul every time you want to change your home’s look.

Happy decorating!

When thinking of decorating ideas for your home, what better place to get inspiration from than nature…

Decorating in this style should also mean a commitment to using eco-friendly materials, such as materials which are recycled or sustainable.

Here are some tips of how to bring some of the beautiful, peacefulness of nature into your home:

THE BASIC MATERIALS YOU WOULD NEED

• Essential materials to use include cork, bamboo and wood flooring.
• Natural materials for bed spreads, curtains, draperies such as linen and natural cotton.
• Wicker, willow and natural untreated wood furntiture and accesories.

DECORATING THE WALLS AND FLOORS

• The overall colour scheme of your house should be neutral – think cream, stone, beige.
• If you want to add detail, choose wallpaper, curtains or furniture with birds, butterflies, flowers, plants or leaves in the detail.
• Accent colours could include green, gold, turquoise, or pink, red if there are flower details on any fabric/furniture/wallpaper.

FURNITURE

• It is important to keep the furniture compatible with the rest of the look.
• If you have chosen a particular theme or pattern for the walls, try to keep it consistent with the furniture.
• It works well to find a plain colour within the pattern and use that for the furniture, or visa versa. If you want floral sofas and curtains, them choose a plain colour for the walls.
• Wooden furniture compliments this look nicely. Try shopping in vintage shop and antique shops for unique pieces.  

EXTRA ACCESORIES

• For a nature-inspired look it is always a nice touch to bring some real plants into your home.
• If you are feeling quite adventurous try a white painted bird cage.
• Anything with butterfly motifs or flowers works well with this overall look.

 

~Have fun and enjoy the sophisticated and beautiful final outcome~

A dark or badly lit room in your house can give the impression of feeling cold and unfriendly.

However, it doesn’t have to be like this. There are easy ways to transform a dark room into a lighter, brighter, cosier room - a room which you will actually look forward to spending time in!

This transformation can be anything from a major overhaul to the structure of your home, to a few subtle changes that can make a world of difference.  

A good first step to solving the dark room problem is to establish what this dark room could be used for.

 A room such as the sitting room or dining room is compatible with a badly lit room, as these types of rooms are mainly used at night-time. Make sure rooms that have easy access to the light are reserved for the kitchen, study and bedrooms.

Overhaul of structure

If your intention is to alter the structure of your home, in order to bring more light in, there are various ways you can go about doing this.

This includes building larger windows or adding extra windows or skylights if possible. You could also knock down internal walls or doors and add a glass partition or panel.

Of course, these drastic renovations can be a very expensive option. There are a lot cheaper ways to add more light to a dark room.

Lighting

A key consideration to any dark or dingy room is the lighting. Try avoiding a single pendant light in a dark room. More effective lighting could be a chandelier as this will cast more light. However, if the dark room is particularly small, or has a low ceiling a chandelier could look over-the-top. Spotlights are another option, although they tend to leave spots of light and the rest of the room still remains in darkness.

You can always add a lamp to brighten up a dark corner. Keep adding lights until you find a suitable level of lighting that is right for your room.

Window treatments

In order to allow every bit of natural light in, don’t clutter up your windows with fussy, over-the-top curtains and make sure you choose a light fabric that will still let some light in, even when the curtains are closed. Also, if possible extend the curtain rails beyond the edges of your windows so your curtains can be pulled right back. This can also make your windows appear larger than they are.

Furnishing and Decorating

When choosing furniture for your dark room always go for pale colours such as whites, creams and pastels. Shiny surfaces and a shiny floor are also useful, as they will reflect any available light around the room. A mirror can do wonders at achieving this too. A large mirror, especially if it’s opposite or near the window, will enhance any available light. However, make sure you try and keep the whole look warm and bright – try including welcome tones or accents of cheerful yellow or orange.

Or…Embrace the darkness!

There is also a simpler solution to a dark room and that is to embrace it and make the most of its dark tones. A living room can be complimented with the use of dark tones, as long as you keep it warm as well. Use rich colours such as orange or plum to make the space feel cozy and choose elegant furniture and decorations. Add candles and atmospheric lighting to give the room a further luxurious or romantic feel.

Hope this helps solve your dark room problems!

 

 

You have many options available to you when deciding on blinds or curtains.

Key things to consider when making your decision: your budget, the purpose of your blinds or curtains, colour/size/style of your room, the setting of the room and the area of the window. 

If you are the sort of person who regularly changes the appearance of a room, blinds may be a better option as they are more versatile. If you have an old house with tall ceilings, curtains would probably suit the overall look better.

Also think about what room you require the window treatments in. In the bedroom the main purpose is to block out light, so a blind might be preferable. 

On the other hand, for a window above the kitchen sink, curtains would probably be more suitable as you would want to have more access to natural light. For bay windows, meausuring to fit blinds can be very complicated, so curtains are usually a more suitable option.

There is also always the possibility of using both blinds and curtains. Blinds can keep the light out and curtains can be added as an accent.

Advantages of blinds:

• Can easily match the style of the room, regardless of changes to decor, wall colour or furniture
• Depending on the style, they usually a more inexpensive option
• Variety of styles– including roman blinds, venetian blinds, roller blinds, pull up blinds, black out blinds
• Various materials ranging from fabric, plastic, metal, bamboo
• Effective at keeping light out

Disadvantages of blinds:

• Are more fragile than curtains – so can break more easily
• Not suitable for all windows, i.e. for very large windows a blind might be impratical as it would be very heavy to pull up and down
• Sometimes can be hard to clean

 Advantages of curtains:

• Available in many different fabrics, styles and lengths that can be designed to perfectly match your room
• Can be more efficient at keeping heat in, especially if the curtains have thermal or blackout lining
• Depending on style they can easily transform rooms to create airy or cosy atmospheres

Disadvantages of curtains:

• Unless they are in a very neutral fabric, they can be difficult to co-ordinate if you make frequent changes to the room colour, furniture, wall hangings
• Can be a more expensive option
• Take up more space so not always a good option in a small room

Feng Shui is the art and science of living in harmony with the environment.

 Its purpose is to help people live a prosperous and healthy life, by blocking out negative energies that might have detrimental effects on one’s future happiness.

In essence, Feng Shui is a complicated theory and to practice it fully requires a lot more of an in-depth study into the art.

However, here you will find a few basic tips to get you on your way to creating harmony and balance in the home.

1) The most essential and first step to giving your home a feng shui makeover is to clear out all the clutter. This is necessary to create the harmonious feng shui energy in your home. Clearing away clutter is a time and energy consuming process and as such it will feel very theraputical.

 2) Make the entrance of your home welcoming and inviting for any visitors. Also keep it clear, with no obstructions such as shoes lying in the hall.

 3) For you Living room/Dining Room no furniture should face with its back to the door. Always have an even number of seats in both these rooms.  Do not keep dried flowers in your home, as once they are no longer fresh they can have a negative impact on your home.

 4) The bedroom is a private space for relaxation. Try not to have too many electrical devices and keep no exercising equipment in this room. Try to keep the decor of your bedroom light, to create a calming and relaxing atmosphere. Also try and open your bedroom window at least once a day to allow fresh chi to come in.

 5) The Kitchen is the heart of the home. As such it should be kept in a good working order which encourages the family to spend time together. The kitchen should be built around the primary activities of cooking and chatting. The kitchen counter should be clear of clutter and all appliances should be put away in storage.

 5 Fresh and innovative ideas to give your home a new look, without breaking the bank

 1)      Invest in a stylish throw/rug.

A simple way to upgrade tattered, out-of-date sofas or armchairs is to buy a stylish throw. This can instantly change the look of a whole room. Also, the options for look and style are endless as there are countless designs for fabrics. This a much more preferable option compared with buying entirely new furniture, unless your sofas are completely on their last legs. If this is the case, and you have to buy new ones, always opt for durability rather than fashion. You can also revamp a room simply with a new rug, which is also useful if your carpet is looking rather worn-out and rugs can cover-up unsightly stains.

 2)      Curtains/Blinds

Another easy and affordable way to upgrade your home’s look is to focus on new window treatments. By changing the style and colour of your curtains or blinds, you can make a noticeable and positive change to your living space. Furthermore, new window treatments can control lighting and heat, which can save you money on heating and electricity bills.

 3)      Lighting

By updating the lighting in a room, you can transform the appearance. For example, simply add a lamp to a dimly lit room. Likewise, toning down harsh lighting can add warmth. If you are unsure of what lighting would best suit your room, dimer lights are very useful as you will be able to change the setting to suit specific desires.

 4)      Paint

Adding a new coat of paint will make everything look cleaner and brighter. It is also easy to change the overall appearance of a room entirely by simply painting it a different colour. This makes it possible to transform a room from small and stuffy to open and light. It is also a good way to modernise the overall look of your home.

 5)      Clear away clutter

By getting rid of random junk and re-organising what you do want to keep, and possibly investing in some attractive storage baskets or containers, you can give your home a complete overhaul. It is completely free to do this, and you might even make some money if you sell some of your more valuable pieces to thrift stores, or have a car-boot sale. Clearing away clutter will also be immensely satisfying once completed, and when the task is done, your home will look and feel radically better.

Most interior designers work their rooms around where the light comes from, so if you’ve got a window, chances are  it’s a focal point. It is imperative, therefore, that you dress your windows properly, considering a number of factors before you make your final decision. Below is a short guide to help you make the right choice for your curtains.

Tone

The first consideration you might make is the overall formality or intended casualness of the room. A formal living or dining room with elegant furniture requires equally well-dressed windows. Classic drapes in silk damask or velvet with swags or tie-backs over sheer netting is appropriate for this level of formality, whereas a simple, natural, slouchy Tab-top would better suit more laid-back surroundings.

Detail, Coordination & Contrast

Silk fringe or rosettes, and other fancy trimmings are often used in living and dining rooms, but if you prefer a clean, simple line, then by all means use what you like. If you’re a minimalist, you won’t be happy living with fussy details.

For a more casual, but still sophisticated room, panels or drapes of natural silk in colors which coordinate with the floor coverings and upholstery make a nice statement. Wool blends and linen are also chic in this setting, and should meld with your chosen furnishings. For example,  a softly draped wool panel is superb with an overstuffed couch, and dark polished wood tables.

Materials

You’ll need to decide what fabrics and materials best suit the environment, tone and function of your room. For example, if you’re furnishing a bathroom window, it is wise to select a material that is fairly water resistant, like cotton, wool or hemp. If you’re decorating for a bedroom, consider a blackout lining and a heavier fabric to block out the light. Drafty hallway? Interline your draperies with thermal lining to lock in the heat and save on your energy bills. Think carefully about light too. Silk curtains, for example, fade easilly when exposed to harsh sunlight, so if you are going for the luxury look in a naturally illuminated area, be sure to line the material carefully.

Exhibition or Privacy?

A fourth factor to consider is the windows themselves. Think about how you plan to use the windows. Is there a beautiful view, and lots of natural light that you would like to make use of? Or do you live in a city with a view of an alley, and a need for privacy? Voiles and semi sheer fabrics are the chicest way to get the ‘net curtain effect’ with an element of style, allowing you to see out, but preventing others from seeing in.

Tastes, Preference & Fashion

A fifth factor is your own personal likes and dislikes. If you like an eclectic, or even eccentric, look, use the colors and fabrics that you like the best. If you choose colors in the same value, that is all pastels or all brights, and patterns in the same size range, you can mix and match fairly easily. Busy room? Go easy on the paterns and stick with block colour.

Houseplants are a great addition to any home. As well as serving to beautify your interior, houseplants provide oxygen and help to clean the air. Specially selected plants are even used in orbiting spacecraft because of their beneficial air purifying properties. However, keeping houseplants healthy and fresh can be a troublesome task. That’s why we’ve listed a top number of tips to help you keep your greens green and hassle-free.

The first step is to select the correct plants for your climate region and your specific home.

Plants are fascinating life forms. They utilize photosynthesis to create organic compounds from carbon dioxide, unlike animals that need to consume other living organisms to produce energy in order to survive. However, plants use light as their energy, to transport water up through their stems and extract minerals from the soil using their roots.

Different plants need different levels of light. Choose low light plants for areas that are far away from the window, or suffer from a particularly dark seasonal climate. You can use shadows to measure the strength of light in a particular area. For example, if the shadow of the plant is hard to detect, then the light in that area is low. If the shadow is detectable but not sharp, then light is medium strength. If the shadow is sharp, then light is bright and plentiful.

Think about using sheer curtains to increase the amount of light entering the room. However, you should be careful about placing plants between a curtain and a window during cold weather spells, especially if the plant species is not very tolerant of low temperatures.

Plants tend to bend towards the direction of light, ao make sure you turn the plants regularly to keep them growing in an attractive shape. Note that some plants do not tolerate excessive sunlight, so it pays to do your research before ordering.

Plants that come from rainforest environments are often the easiest to grow indoors because they are adapted to living under a canopy with limited sunlight. Such plants include the Ficus, Cheese Plants, Rubber Tree Plants, Dracaeana and Begonias. However, these plants are also adapted to plenty of moisture as they come from the Rain Forest, so they will need frequent watering.

As  many houseplants are tropical species, they tend to like humidity. They also prefer warm environments. However, generally humidity is more important than temperature, so you will need to take this into consideration when thinking about the right environment for your plants.

If your houseplants are losing leaves or yellowing, then lack of humidity may be the cause. Heated rooms tend to be dry, although steam and water heaters are less drying than air heaters. The correct humidity for most houseplants ranges between 50 to 70 per cent. To raise the humidity in a room, increase the number of plants you have (each plant generates humidity of its own). Placing jars of water in the room will also work, or you can set plants in a tray full of wet gravel. Misting plants regularly is also beneficial (unless they have fuzzy leaves). You should mist at least once a day, and for many plants several times a day is better. And, if you’ve got the cash to flash, purchasing a humidifier that pumps water vapour into the air may be the answer.

Never allow temperatures to dip below 50 degrees F, as most houseplants are not adapted to cold weather. Also remember that windows tend to be colder than other areas of the room because of poorer insulation. You might want to consider double glazed windows for their extra insulation.

Soil is another important element in keeping houseplants healthy. Make sure you use fresh soil and only use fertilizers that are specifically made for houseplants. Use fertilizers only during the spring and summer, a bit in the autumn, but not in the winter. You can also groom plants by trimming off withering parts, or faded flowers to keep them in good-looking shape, and encourage re-growth.

Keeping your houseplants fresh is fairly simple once you have taken time to learn about specific types, and have started a regular routine. The benefits however, both aesthetic and health-related, are well worth the effort!

Whether you treat your home as your refuge from the hustle and bustle of the daily grind, or use it as an office for a small business, your interior environment plays a much more important role in maintaining your physical and mental health than you might think. While there are several ways one can enhance their own well-being from their surroundings - see our blog on decorating according to colour psychology below - one of the best ways is getting in touch with nature, and bringing the outside into your home. House plants offer a range of benefits to the occupants of any living space. They can lift your spirits, purify and detoxify the atmosphere, and generally improve your quality of life.

Plants act as a filter for pollutants that can otherwise harm health, promoting cleaner air in the space they occupy. They increase the oxygen content of the air you inhale, allowing you to breath more easily and think more clearly. Simply having plants around and caring for them  too can be very therapeutic, and has found to reduce stress in human beings.

Think back to science class, and you might remember that all plant life survives and grows by taking carbon dioxide from the air around itself, incorporating the carbon into organic substances for itself and returning pure oxygen back into the atmosphere. We humans as well as other animals breathe in oxygen from the atmosphere and utilize it in our respiratory cycles to burn food for energy and create organic molecules of our own. In turn, we exhale carbon dioxide. Plants utilize it for their own purposes, and thus the cycle continues. Oxygen is a key component in a healthy lifestyle, if an obvious one. If we don’t get enough, breathing becomes more difficult, slowing down our bodily functions and inducing feelings of fatigue.

Harmful pollutants such as micro particles, airborne chemicals and allergens may be present in the air we breath; some have the potential to cause ill health. Many homes, regardless of when they were built, contain traces  - sometimes dangerous levels - of benzene, ammonia, carbon monoxide, trichloroethane, xylene and other industrial chemicals. Research has suggested that having a variety of plants in your house can reduce respiratory diseases, tiredness, and illness by stripping the air of dust and other contaminants.

Flora at home can create a harmonious sense of well being and create a more natural, peaceful, and nurturing environment that is more conducive to productivity and serenity. Studies have shown that simplybeing around other living things can liven your mood considerably. Much like pets, plants make us feel connected to nature and the natural world we are intended to be a part of. Living in a completely sterile and mechanized environment can have an alienating effect on a person.

So, which plants should you incorporate into your surroundings? Of course, it is a matter of choosing in accordance with your own personal tastes, in addition to where you live and your own unique micro climate. For instance, if you want more of a house tree, a Ficus Benjamina might be something you’d be interested in. It survives well in a diverse array of environments. Similarly, Peace Lilies are both attractive to the eye, and are great at purifying air. Spider Plants, Boston Ferns, and Palm Trees are also common and popular choices to spruce up your home. Whatever your choice might be, make sure to take care of them on a regular basis, and check that their species is compatible with the climate of the room you intend them to live in.

Making houseplants a welcome addition to your family can improve your life on a variety of levels.  They can increase the quality of your health, sleep, and general mood. Aside from the pleasant aesthetic of vibrant colours and the organic feel of living things to offset the unnatural indoor environment, they are great for your peace of mind and your body as well. Why not take a trip to the local greenhouse or find seeds online today and plant your own? Happiness is just a shoot away.