Author: Adelle and Justin, the H is for Home folks!

Timeless interior design tips for every room

Timeless interior design tips for every room

Interior design is an art that can transform any space into a haven of comfort and style. Whether you’re renovating an entire house or just refreshing a single room, timeless design principles will ensure your home remains elegant and inviting for years to come. This post explores practical and enduring interior design tips for every room, from creating a welcoming atmosphere in the living room to adding those final touches that make your space uniquely yours. By focusing on classic elements and thoughtful details, you can achieve a balanced and harmonious home that reflects your personal taste while standing the test of time.

Living room: creating a welcoming atmosphere

The living room is often the heart of the home, a place where family and friends gather to relax and enjoy each other’s company. To create a welcoming atmosphere, start with a neutral colour palette. Soft greys, beiges and off-whites provide a versatile backdrop that can be easily updated with accessories and textiles. Incorporate a mix of comfortable seating options, such as a plush sofa and inviting armchairs, to accommodate different activities and gatherings.

Lighting plays a crucial role in setting the mood. Use a combination of ambient, task and accent lighting to create a layered effect. Floor lamps, table lamps and strategically placed ceiling lights can add warmth and depth to the space. Consider adding personal touches like family photos, artwork and decorative items that reflect your interests and personality.

Kitchen: combining functionality and style

The kitchen is both a workspace and a social hub, making it essential to combine functionality with style. Start by considering the layout; the classic work triangle – positioning the sink, cooker and refrigerator at three points of a triangle – ensures efficiency and ease of movement. Choose durable materials like granite or quartz for counter tops, which not only look sophisticated but also withstand daily wear and tear.

Cabinetry is another key element. Opt for timeless designs like shaker-style doors in neutral colours, which can adapt to changing trends. Open shelving can be a stylish addition, offering a place to display attractive china and cookbooks. Lighting is critical in a kitchen; under-cabinet lights can illuminate work surfaces, while pendant lights over an island or dining area can add a decorative touch.

Incorporate personal elements such as a colourful splash-back or unique hardware to inject personality into the space. Lastly, ensure that your kitchen is well-organised with sufficient storage solutions to keep counter tops clutter-free, promoting both functionality and a clean, welcoming look.

The versatility of grey: adding a touch of elegance

Grey is a versatile colour that can add a touch of elegance to any room. It serves as an excellent neutral base that complements a variety of styles and colour schemes. From light silvery tones to deep charcoal shades, grey offers endless possibilities for creating sophisticated and timeless interiors. According to Adobe’s blog on grey colour code, this hue can evoke a sense of calm and sophistication, making it an ideal choice for both contemporary and classic designs.

In the living room, grey can be used on walls or furniture to create a chic backdrop for bolder accents like vibrant cushions or artwork. In the kitchen, grey cabinetry paired with stainless steel appliances can result in a sleek, modern look. For bedrooms, soft grey bedding and curtains can create a restful atmosphere. Even in entryways, grey can be utilised to make a lasting first impression, offering a neutral palette that can be dressed up with colourful accessories or natural elements like wood and plants.

Bedroom: crafting a cosy retreat

The bedroom is a personal sanctuary where comfort and tranquillity are paramount. To craft a cosy retreat, start with a soothing colour palette. Soft hues like pastels, muted blues and warm neutrals can create a calming environment conducive to relaxation. Invest in high-quality bedding; natural fabrics like cotton and linen offer comfort and breathability. Layering textures, such as a plush throw blanket and a variety of cushions, adds depth and warmth to the space.

Consider the importance of lighting. Incorporate a mix of ambient lighting and task lighting, such as bedside lamps or wall-mounted sconces, to create a versatile atmosphere for reading or unwinding. Personal touches, such as artwork, family photos and meaningful decor, can make the space feel uniquely yours. Storage solutions like built-in wardrobes or under-bed storage help keep the room clutter-free, maintaining a serene and organised appearance.

Final touches

The final touches are what bring a room together, adding personality and a polished finish. Start by focusing on smaller decor items that complement the overall design scheme. This could include decorative cushions, throws and rugs that add texture and warmth. Incorporating artwork and photographs can make a space feel lived-in and personal.

Consider the impact of greenery; plants not only add a splash of colour but also improve air quality and create a more inviting atmosphere. Lighting is another crucial element; ensure that each room has a mix of lighting options, from ambient to task lighting, to create the right mood and functionality.

Finally, keep an eye on the balance between form and function, ensuring that every piece not only looks good but also serves a practical purpose. With thoughtful final touches, your home will reflect your style and offer a cohesive, inviting atmosphere.

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Mixing modern and vintage: an interiors style guide

Mixing modern and vintage: an interiors style guide 

Creating a unique and stylish home doesn’t have to mean choosing between modern and vintage décor. In fact, combining the two can result in a visually appealing and meaningful space that reflects your personal taste and story. The key is to know how to mix and match the old and the new in a harmonious way. Here are some tips to help you master the art of mixing modern and vintage style.

1: Choose a colour palette

One of the easiest ways to create a cohesive look when mixing modern and vintage styles is to choose a colour palette and stick to it. This could be as simple as using neutrals such as white, black and gray, or incorporating a bold colour like blue or green as an accent. Neutrals work well with vintage pieces because they allow the details and character of the item to shine, while bold colours can add a modern touch to vintage furniture and accessories.

2: Balance old & new

Another important aspect of mixing modern and vintage style is balance. A room that’s too heavily weighted towards one style can feel disjointed or overwhelming. Instead, aim to balance the old and the new in terms of both visual weight and the number of items. For example, you might pair a vintage armchair with a sleek, modern coffee table or mix vintage artworks with contemporary prints.

3: Mix textures & materials

Mixing different textures and materials can add depth and visual interest to a space. Combining rough, natural elements like wood and stone with smooth, polished surfaces like metal and glass creates a dynamic contrast that’s both modern and vintage. Experiment with layering rugs, throw pillows and blankets to add warmth and texture to a room.

4: Make a statement

Vintage pieces often have a lot of character and personality, making them perfect for making a statement in a room. Consider using a vintage sideboard or bookcase as a focal point, or incorporating a vintage light fixture or mirror to add visual interest. When combining vintage and modern styles, it’s important to let each piece shine, so avoid cluttering a space with too many items.

5: Add personal touches

Mixing modern and vintage style is all about creating a space that reflects your personal taste and story. Adding personal touches such as family photos, heirlooms or travel souvenirs can help to tie the two styles together and make a room feel homely. Consider incorporating vintage pieces that have sentimental value or using modern décor that reflects your interests and hobbies.

Conclusion

Mixing modern and vintage style can result in a beautiful and unique space that reflects your personal taste and story. By choosing a colour palette, balancing old and new, mixing textures and materials, making a statement and adding personal touches, you can create a cohesive and visually appealing space that’s both modern and vintage. With a little bit of creativity and experimentation, you can have a home that’s a perfect blend of the past and the present.

The simplest home updates to maximise your interior

The simplest home updates to maximise your interior

Revamping your home’s interior is well worth the investment. Not only will you find more joy and comfort in your home, but you will also be more encouraged to invite guests over and use your space more.

There’s nothing quite like the feeling of relaxation and pride that comes from returning to a beautifully revamped home after a long day at work.

Revamping your décor has many benefits, so here are some simple updates to maximise your interior.

Add indoor plants

Bringing nature into your home is a great way to make the space feel fresher and more inviting. If you’ve visited a friend’s home and instantly felt relaxed, it may be because they have plants and flowers dotted around the home. Not only are houseplants and fresh flowers ideal for making your home smell great, but they bring a touch of nature and life to your home.

Plants work well in any interior. Greenery can add much needed colour to an all-white, minimalist home.  You could add real plants or these faux floor plants to upgrade your interior with a touch of nature.

Create a feature wall

If you don’t want to paint your entire home, you can quickly upgrade any space by adding a feature wall.

Feature walls are ideal if you don’t necessarily want to be surrounded by colour but want to add some interest. If you want to keep your home neutral but add a focal point, a feature wall is great at doing.

You can apply paper or fresh paint to change one particular wall. Although it’s a simple and basic update, you’ll gain amazing results.

Repaint

Speaking of painting, if you have the time and desire, you could repaint your entire home. Whether you want to repaint the walls or the furniture, repainting is a brilliant technique for refreshing your home.

Even if you choose to paint using the same or similar colours, it will transform your home and give it an uplift.

Install new lighting

The lighting you choose for your home can completely alter the mood of your interior. For instance, if you like a relaxed vibe in your lounge, choose table or standard lamps with warm, Edison filament bulbs. You’ll want completely different lighting in your kitchen and other work areas of your home, so opt for overhead and under-counter task lighting with bright LED bulbs that mimic daylight.

Installing different bulbs can help you achieve the different atmospheres that you desire. Also consider investing in new lampshades, as these will make a huge difference to a space. A new glass or crystal chandelier can be a small yet grand feature for your interior. It can transform a basic bedroom or living room into a luxury space.

Update the doors and windows

If your home’s doors and windows don’t maximise your interior design, update them. If you paint the walls, add new furniture, and change the layout yet keep the same doors, the space won’t feel finished.

Your old doors may not align with the interior look you’re seeking. However, you don’t necessarily need to invest in new ones. Stripping down, sanding and repainting the existing doors will give them an entirely new look.

Meanwhile, updating the windows may be necessary if they’re old and ill-fitting. If they’re single-glazed or damaged, they could be making your home cold due to draughts and poor insulation. When this happens, you’ll probably be overpaying on your energy bill. Investing in new or updated windows and doors will save you money in the long run and also upgrade your home’s appearance. If you want to get some new windows fitted, Andrews Glass can help you with that, with glass cutting services also available if you need a bespoke service. 

Add more art

A great design tip to upgrade your home’s potential is to consider adding more art. Blank walls and boring spaces can be instantly transformed by adding a picture or two.

If you aren’t into art, you could find pieces that align with your colour scheme. The art doesn’t necessarily need to speak to you personally, it’s adding a layer of interest that’s important. It needs to work in harmony with the other décor, of course, but if it does so, it can instantly make a room feel more homely.

Personal touches

Nothing is more unique than personal touches. You could hang artworks that your children have created, family and holiday photos or homemade decorations.

These simple, one-of-a-kind touches can transform your home and make it feel more personal. They also make great conversation starters when you host guests.

Your home won’t replicate anyone else’s when you feature personal touches.

Install lighter window coverings

If you aren’t getting as much light into your home as desired, your interior will benefit from new, lighter window coverings.

Blocking the natural light with dark blinds or heavy curtains doesn’t give your home the best look. When you install lighter-coloured window coverings, they let as much light pass through as possible.

If the natural lighting is still restricted, remove the window coverings altogether or hang a light, gauzy fabric. Of course, you may need them in your bedroom and bathroom for privacy and sleep. However, removing them from your living space may be best to achieve maximum light.

Use colour wisely

While you may love colour, don’t drown your home in it. If it works for you, that’s fine. However, your interior may feel overbearing when you add too much colour.

In most cases, it’s best to choose a colour scheme. Choose a palette that helps you feel relaxed and calm, as you don’t want to feel stressed or overstimulated while relaxing at home. Soft pastels, light neutrals and gentle greens are best associated with calmness.

When you choose a soft colour palette, it can help to create a timeless look and feel. Plus, it allows you to add flashes of vibrant décor elsewhere in the home without crowding your space.

Declutter

Decluttering isn’t necessarily a new feature like the other recommendations, but it will certainly update your home.

Too much clutter creates a stressful and chaotic environment. When everything is clear and organised, you’ll likely feel calmer at home and in mind. Decluttering is a fantastic way to organise your home and get it in tip-top condition. If you find your home difficult to manage, with chores overwhelming your to-do list, you may find things much easier when you have less stuff.

The best way to declutter is to start with one room and one cupboard at a time. You don’t need to completely declutter in a single day. Spreading it over several days or weeks may encourage you to get rid of more. When you start small and slowly work your way around your home, the task will feel a lot less strenuous and overwhelming, and it should encourage you to push through until you reach that final room, cupboard or shelf.

Don’t panic about getting rid of your stuff. You can pass it on to its new good home – a friend or a charity shop.

More mirrors

Mirrors are a great feature to enhance the brightness throughout your home. They reflect and bounce light around your spaces, helping rooms feel airer and lighter. Plus, they make great statement pieces if you want to add more quirk to your interior.

Adding mirrors to every room and mirrored objects throughout your home is a simple yet effective way to upgrade your home.

Dress your windowsills

Many homeowners forget to dress their windowsills. Even if you’re a minimalist, dressing your windowsills can upgrade the look of your interior.

If you want a luxury interior, add decorative items to the windowsills to add more personality. We don’t recommend using them as storage, as this will make the home look and feel cluttered.

When you add interior accessories to your windowsills, they’ll feel more refined and well-kept. If you want to add personality and fun to your interior, the windowsills are a great place to add books, candles or houseplants.

Update your soft furnishings

If your soft furnishings are looking a little tired and worn, you may want to consider updating them. Bed linen, towels, cushions and throws can benefit from updates every so often. You don’t need to spend a fortune on these pieces, and they’re quick to upgrade, giving you all the more reason to update them.

If you add new bedding, refresh the cushions and install new lighter curtains, you could quickly transform the entire look of your bedroom. Softer and fresher soft furnishings are an easy way to revamp your home without spending much time or money.

Work on tired-looking furniture

Old-looking furniture needs to be renovated if you want to maintain an impressive interior. While old yet beautiful furnishings add personality, worn pieces do not.

You don’t necessarily need to buy new furniture. Instead, you can revamp and upcycle your existing pieces.

For example, you may have an old dresser that hasn’t had any love for decades. If so, you could revamp it by sanding, painting and installing new hardware. You’d be surprised at the difference a quick furniture update can make.

Update the hardware

Speaking of hardware, it’s a simple update you can do to elevate your interior.

Installing new door handles, cupboard handles and fixings can transform the look of your space. Along with a furniture update and a paint refresh, you could be on your way to achieving a much improved home with a few quick and simple updates.

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Avoiding the cowboys: How to hire a builder

Avoiding the cowboys: How to hire a builder

If you’re a homeowner, at some point you’re likely to need to hire a builder to carry out repairs or improvements. But with all the horror stories you read on the internet, the process can seem scary. How do you avoid the cowboys, and how do you make sure the work done is satisfactory? Here are some tips to help you hire and work with a builder.

Stay local

When you’re trying to find a builder to do some work for you, it can be tempting to cast a wide net, especially if those nearby are busy. But this isn’t recommended unless it’s someone you know or have hired before.

A local builder is easier to call back if issues arise or if you find further work to do. And they’re likely to be more willing to turn up. It can also be harder to check the reputation of someone who doesn’t live locally.

Don’t rush in

Taking time to do your research is key to successfully hiring a builder. Ideally, you want to choose someone with a good reputation, the right skills and plenty of experience.

A good way to start is to make a list of the local builders and building companies in your area. Then, check with family and friends, to see if they’ve used any of them and whether they’d recommend them. Builders may also have lots of online reviews from customers, which can help determine how good they are. They may also have their own website featuring case studies of work they have done in your area. Next, you can check to see if they’re members of the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) for extra reassurance.

Now it’s time to narrow down your list. Some builders and building companies specialise or concentrate on certain jobs, such as renovations and extensions or maintenance and repairs. So, it can be handy to make a list of the jobs you want completing and see which builders on your shortlist are the best match. Looking at the descriptions on their listings and at previous jobs they’ve done should help with this.

Getting quotes

Once you have a shortlist of builders that you’re happy with, it’s time to contact them for quotes. Even if it’s just a small repair job, you want to get at least three quotes.

To make sure that the quotes you get are accurate and fair, invite your shortlisted builders around to assess the job and discuss your options with them. If there’s more than one way to complete a job, ask for separate quotes for each option. Also, ask for detailed quotes, as this makes it easier to compare costs and look for savings.

Sometimes quotes can seem a little excessive or too good to be true. You can check the average cost for most building jobs online, to get a feel for what’s fair. If quotes seem a little low, check that hidden costs such as scaffolding and skips are included.

If a builder says they’ll give you a cheap quote in exchange for cash up front, be very wary. This is a tactic frequently used by cowboys.

Working with a builder

Once you’ve found a builder, and you’ve received a quote that you’re happy with, you need to agree upon a start date. It’s rare that a builder will be able to start right away, so make sure you pin them down to a date, so you can prepare.

It’s also a good idea before they start work to check if you need to do anything such as move furniture or cars out of the way. If there are access or similar issues, make sure they’re aware of them. It’s also wise to check they have all the right paperwork in place. Your builder should have insurance to cover public liability and accidental damage and an insurance-backed guarantee, so the work they do is still covered even if they go out of business.

As you may have guessed by now, communication is a very important part of maintaining a good working relationship with your builder. Make sure you’re clear about what you want, and speak up straight away if you have any concerns. Keep an eye on progress, so you can be confident everything is moving along as you’d expect and that nothing is deviating from the agreed plan.

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