3 easy ways to improve your living room

3 easy ways to improve your living room

You’ll likely use your living room more than you would many of the other rooms in your home, so it can experience a lot of wear and tear. It can quickly end up looking scruffy and uncared for; you’ll want to make everything look fresher and more attractive, but you mightn’t know how to improve your living room.

If you don’t, it could seem like a long and complicated process. It doesn’t need to be. Instead, it can be relatively simple, and you’ll only have to focus on a few particular areas. To get the most bang for your buck, it’s worth focusing on three specific tips if you want to improve your living room.

How to improve your living room: 3 top tips

1. Add some new shelves

Shelves can be a great addition to a living room; choose between wall mounted or free-standing options, depending on the space with which you have to play. If you have a large, clear area, a floor-standing shelving unit could act as an attractive room divider as well as a place for displaying your homewares such as vases, books, candles etc.

If you have a lot of free wall space, and happen to need more storage space, shelves could be a great choice. Perhaps you have an alcove either side of a fireplace – these nooks are the perfect place to erect a few shelves. It’s also the kind of task that you can DIY, so it wouldn’t be too expensive a job.

2. Update the fireplace

The fireplace is often the centrepiece of a living room, so it’s worth putting effort into making sure it looks and functions as well as possible. It could be worth updating your fireplace to improve the look and comfort of your living room. Bespoke Fireplace Designs can be an effective option to take advantage of this.

By updating your fireplace, you give the living room a fresh focal point, tying the entire room together.

3. Get low-maintenance plants

Plants can be a great addition to any room, and that’s especially true when it comes to your living room. Not only do they add visual appeal, they can also improve the air quality. You don’t need to choose types that take a lot of time and effort to look after. Instead, low-maintenance plants could be a better option, especially if you aren’t a green-fingered person. You’ll get all of the benefits of indoor plants without needing to put much time or effort into them. They can be placed practically anywhere – hung from the ceiling or put on a windowsill, letting you take full advantage of the visual appeal they can offer.

How to improve your living room: Wrapping up

If you don’t know how to improve your living room, it can seem like a complicated process. You may think that you’ll need to get a few renovations done, but that isn’t necessarily the case. Instead, it could simply be a matter of following a few simple steps.

Getting low-maintenance plants, adding some wall shelves, and updating the fireplace can all be recommended for this. They don’t need a lot of effort, and they’ll be relatively quick and affordable while making a significant impact on your living room.

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Auction alert: Auction of Books for charity

David Gentleman's London by David Gentleman

There’ll be an online-only auction of books being sold on behalf of the Michael Sobell Hospice charity. It will be held by Chaucer Auctions on Wednesday 2nd November 2022 from 10am.

300 lots of vintage books on subjects such as art & design, fashion & jewellery, music and nature. We’ve selected 8 lots below that we’d love for our own library. Soft and hardback books by illustrators that we admire and have featured here on our blog, including David Gentleman and John Burningham.

Chaucer’s buyer’s premium stands at 19.95% with an added online commission of 3%.

We combine shipping on all lots. Single book £5.99 UK, £7.99 Europe, £9.99 ROW. We can ship a parcel up to 20kg which will take approx. 40 books in UK £12, EUROPE £39.99, ROW, £59.99

Online bidding is also available via Invaluable, Live Auctioneers and The Saleroom. Please check each of these websites individually to find any additional fees that they charge.

David Gentleman's London by David Gentleman

Lot 4: David Gentleman’s London by David Gentleman 1986 First Paperback Edition
Softback Book with 192 pages. Published by Weidenfeld and Nicolson Ltd some ageing good condition.
Estimate: £6 – £8

England by John Burningham

Lot 15: England by John Burningham 1992 First Edition Hardback Book
Published by Jonathan Cape Ltd some ageing good condition.
Estimate: £6 – £8

Industrial Design by Raymond Loewy

Lot 21: Industrial Design by Raymond Loewy 1979 First UK Edition Hardback Book
With 250 pages. Published by Faber and Faber Ltd some ageing good condition.
Estimate: £6 – £8

British Butterflies and Moths by W Furneaux

Lot 44: British Butterflies and Moths by W Furneaux 1923 Fifth Edition Hardback Book
With 350 pages. Published by The Library Press Ltd some ageing good condition.
Estimate: £6 – £8

Lots 103 & 104: A History Of Everyday Things in England 1733 – 1942 by M and C H B Quennell 1945 Third Edition Hardback Book
With 214 pages. Published by B T Batsford Ltd some ageing good condition.
A History Of Everyday Things in England 1066 – 1799 by M and C H B Quennell 1945 Eighth Edition Hardback Book
With 224 pages published by B T Batsford Ltd some ageing good condition.
Estimates: £6 – £8

The Beatles Illustrated Lyrics 2

Lot 265: The Beatles Illustrated Lyrics 2 Edited by Alan Aldridge 1971 First Edition Softback Book
With 123 pages. Published by Dell Publishing Co Inc New York some ageing good condition.
Estimate: £40 – £60

And Miss Carter Wore Pink by Helen Bradley

Lot 275: And Miss Carter Wore Pink by Helen Bradley 1971 First Edition Hardback Book
With 31 pages. Published by Jonathan Cape Ltd some ageing good condition.
Estimate: £6 – £8

Property spotlight: North Norfolk

Hickling property

Today, we’re excited to be launching a new blog series entitled Property spotlight. Every week, we’ll be looking at a selection of homes currently on the market; each time, in a different part of the UK.

North Norfolk mapWe begin with North Norfolk; an area that we enjoy visiting, especially the coastal town of Wells-next-the-Sea and Holt – a pretty Georgian market town.

Selected below is a trio of properties ranging from £100k to £2.5 million. A sweet studio bolt-hole that currently lacks a bathroom, a characterful chocolate box thatched cottage and a stunning town-house with sea views, oodles of space and a home cinema in the vaulted basement.

See what your budget can get you in North Norfolk.

Hickling property

£100,000 – Hickling

  • The plot measures approximately 80ft x 20ft
  • Reception room / kitchen 14′ 9″ x 8′ 2″ (4.5m x 2.49m)
  • Woodland setting
  • Fitted kitchen
  • Potential shower room opportunity
  • Off-road parking

Catfield property

Catfield property

Offers over £350,000 – Catfield

  • Thatched cottage
  • Detached
  • Exposed beams
  • Feature fireplaces
  • Cottage garden

Wells-next-the-Sea property

Wells-next-the-Sea property

Wells-next-the-Sea property

£2,500,000 – Wells-next-the-Sea

  • Historic Grade II listed town house
  • Panoramic views over Wells harbour
  • Vaulted contemporary kitchen/breakfast room
  • 3 principal reception rooms
  • 6 bedroom suites
  • Converted cinema room
  • Enclosed private walled garden

The property was originally built for the towns wheat merchant who, it was rumoured, was a smuggler

Information essential for solar panel set-up

Information essential for solar panel set-up

Back in the mid-1960s, solar energy was mainly used by the well-to-do. Recently, however, more and more people have embraced the idea of installing a solar panel set-up, which can then be used to power homes, cars and other electric devices. Solar energy systems, with a starting price of around $400,000, have been bringing common sense back to a power source that had become neglected and expensive.

Enhancing the performance of solar power systems

For initial entry into solar energy use, composite photovoltaic arrays are a great choice. In other words, you won’t be able to generate power without the help of a solar panel company, batteries and other such gadgets. Power is supplied steadily by the grid throughout the day, and the cells kick in once the sun goes down.

When a net metering system is set up, any excess energy may be sold back to the grid. Changing to solar energy is the greatest alternative if one has the resources to do so. You’ll save money on energy costs over time and open up new avenues for making money.

How to enhance efficiency while minimising costs

If you live in San Jose, CA, take note that a reliable rooftop solar supplier would be happy to provide advice on which inverter or battery is best for your needs. If you’ve been looking for trustworthy solar companies in San Jose, you may have noticed that they recommend the best products even when they don’t actually provide them.

Another method for making the switch to solar power is to utilise a combination of photovoltaic and conventional electricity. Unlike the utility grid, which can only provide electricity when you need it, solar panels can keep your lights, security system and other necessities functioning at all times. Once you’ve figured out the best set-up, adding more solar panels and batteries will enable you eventually cut all ties with the power company.

Advice on how to reduce initial set-up costs

Make sure you’re contacting the right solar businesses from the get-go to begin reducing costly installation costs. Prevent taking unnecessary risks due to misplaced overconfidence. By reading this article, you’ll be better prepared to locate knowledgeable solar panels companies who can recommend the best solar energy service for your needs.

The next step is to conduct a site inspection and estimate the required quota of power. Because you won’t want to install energy systems that don’t live up to their full potential, this step is vital. Instead, consider whether or not a net smart meter configuration would be useful based on the square footage of your roof. A larger roof may be able to take more panels, meaning it will generate more energy. In general, any excess production can be sent straight back to the power provider. Credible providers of solar panel systems will provide you with options from which you can choose.

Obtain the assistance of a professional

Research and cautious thinking are required before purchasing a solar module, or any other home utility for that matter. One of the most common misconceptions about switching to solar power is that it can be done without any professional help.

If I install solar panels, can I qualify for a tax break?

It’s also important to note that many governments provide financial incentives to residents who install solar panels. The rewards for eco-friendliness vary from country to country, but in certain places you may reduce your tax bill or even get a tax refund. You should also consider whether or not you qualify for federal tax incentives for citizens. Leasing solar panels does not qualify for this rebate, though.

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