Tag: decorating

4 touches to make your house homely

4 touches to make your house homely

When it comes to decorating your home and making it your own little haven to return to each day, everyone is different. Where we don’t differ, is the difficulties we come across when trying to get the finishing touches right to make a house feel homely. So, what can be done to achieve this? Have a look below at the things that you can do to make your house homely.

Bare bulb bedside lamp

Think about lighting

Getting the lighting right plays an important role in how your home feels. If you have small windows or are in a space that doesn’t get much sunlight, then adding specific lighting can really help to achieve a bright and fresh feeling. Try using lampshades that are made of reflective materials or are light coloured. Adding adjustable mood lighting means it can be used as task lighting in the day time, then dimmed in the evening to give a warm and cosy feeling. Also consider having matching bedside table lights rather than having a bright central ceiling light.

Colourful rug with Middle Eastern pattern in a living room

Add floor features

When we say floor features were not talking about your standard carpeting, tiles or wooden flooring; were referring to coloured or patterned rugs, doormats and stair & hallway runners. Adding a rug under your living room or dining room table can help to make your house more homely and it’s also an opportunity to add character to the feel of your home. Try adding a rug that includes your favourite colours or maybe one you purchased when you were away on holiday that reminds you of your travels long after you’ve returned home.

Montage of photos pegged to a wall using string

Accessorise

There’s a fine line between accessorising your home and making it cluttered, so you need to be careful when doing this. Incorporate home accessories such as framed pictures to decorate your hallway, trinkets for your dresser and centrepieces for your dining table. There are perfect ways to make your house feel like home. These are other brilliant ways to bring together memories from events, days out or little breaks away. These are windows on your life, so showcasing them in your home is a brilliant way to showcase your personality.

Circular decking in a garden with table, stools & chairs

Think about the outside

When you’re thinking about making your house homely you shouldn’t forget about the outside too. The front of your house is the first impression that people often get of our home. By adding little touches such as a quality door knocker, some eye-catching plants or a pretty pathway you give your house attractive curb appeal. You should also think about your garden, which gives you a potential extension to your home by providing alfresco living space. Try installing decking with some nice seating and cushions so you have somewhere to spend time with friends, soak up the sunshine and chill with a glass of your favourite tipple in the evening.

Do you have any other ways to make your house homely? Please share them in the comments section below.

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7 creative ways to use vintage and retro wallpaper

7 creative ways to use vintage and retro wallpaper | H is for Home

Once upon a time, everyone was painting the walls of their home magnolia. Over the past few years, wallpaper has made a huge comeback. Here are 7 ideas that we’ve come up with for creative ways in which to use vintage and retro wallpaper.

Green Embry wallpaper on a feature wall

Paper a whole room or feature wall

Papering all four walls vertically from ceiling to floor is the usual method of putting up wallpaper – and that might be the right solution for your decorative transformation. However, you could also consider hanging lengths at unusual angles to each other to devise new designs, shapes and perspectives. Or what about juxtaposing two or more different wallpapers to create interesting and unusual colour combinations, patterns and textures?

If you’ve had your eye on an extravagant wallpaper that you think you could never afford, remember, a little could go a long way. Buy a single roll to use on a feature wall… or ceiling. In addition, completely wallpapering a small room such as a cloakroom or loft room –  walls, ceiling and all – can create a stunning impact; you could make it feel like being inside a secret world.

Wallpapered stair risers

Decorate stair risers

A stair riser is the vertical surface between one step and the next. They’re usually overlooked as an area that you can customise. However, amazing results can be achieved by applying wallpaper to these vertical surfaces. It’s quirky and eye-catching – and can truly transform a hall space or corridor.

Drawers of a chest of drawers customised with wallpaper Wallpapered doors on a wardrobe

Personalise furniture

Fancy giving an old piece of furniture a bit of a boost? There are lots of items around the home that can be improved by a little wallpaper makeover; a wardrobe, chest of drawers, headboard or lampshade. Work carefully to ensure a super neat finish for the most professional and impressive results.

Wallpapered cabinet doors

Line kitchenettes & cabinets

And following on from customising the exterior of furniture, don’t forget about the possibilities when it comes to the interior too – think nice lining of a jacket! The inside of cupboard doors – and the base of shelves & drawers are the most usual place to start. Or perhaps you have a cutlery tray, bread bin or storage box that might benefit from a bit of decoration too.

selection of wallpaper samples

Wall collage

Buy a selection of samples, cut them into various shapes and sizes and adhere them to the wall. Coordinate or clash patterns in your collage. You might go for a seemingly random, abstract design – or perhaps you’d prefer long strips of uniform sized pieces. Whatever your ideas, this decorative idea allows for some real personal creativity.

Boxes customised by covering with wallpaper

Cover books and boxes etc

Magazine holders, box files and ring binders can be fairly boring and practical home office storage solutions. Inject some character by wrapping them in pretty wallpaper – perhaps colour coordinating them with the rest of your room’s décor. You could also customise your diary, re-cover hardback books, upcycle shoe boxes and so on.

Wallpaper behind an ornate picture frame

Put it in a frame

Some wallpapers are like works of art, so elevate them to that position. You can create unique, custom-made artworks simply by framing one or more wallpaper samples – or applying to a wall and constructing an in-situ frame around them. As with the feature wall idea, framing might also be the perfect answer if you really love a wallpaper design, but aren’t sure if you could live with the whole room being papered – or if budget dictates that only a single roll of luxury wallpaper is within reach.

Decorating the safe way this holiday season

Decorating the safe way this holiday season | H is for Home

The holiday season is weeks away and that means many people are already preparing for the parties, presents, gatherings and, of course, the fun decorations that make the celebrations even more special.

When choosing decorations for the holiday season, there are a few things to keep in mind. You must purchase accessories that fall within your budget, that are safe and free from hazards, and also items that won’t draw pests in your direction.

Not only could a professional decorator be useful to help with your holiday decorating, you may also find the benefits of hiring a pest control company such as Joshua’s Pest Control Kansas City area. They can give your property a top to bottom check as part of your overall preparations and spruce up.

Family collecting holly

Great holiday decorating ideas

When it’s time to decorate for the holidays, there are many ways to instantly turn your home into a festive haven. Perhaps there are some long-standing holiday traditions that you incorporate into your interior scheme. Yuletide decorating can be a simple, fun way to express your festive spirit and keep customs alive and well.

A lovely tree is usually one of the first decorations added when December rolls around. There’s a range of trees, both real and artificial, in sizes from 2-ft. to 12-ft. high and some that are even taller. Over 3,000 fires occur each holiday season due to Christmas trees catching alight after all those beautiful baubles have been hung. The combination of lights and ornaments can be a fire hazard. Remember to switch the lights off at the wall socket and blow out candles and tea-lights before going to bed at night to reduce risks.

Once the tree is in place, lights usually follow. They can be hung both indoors and outdoors. It’s probably a good idea to call in a professional if you’re installing lights on the exterior of your home. They’ll ensure proper procedures are followed when carrying out the task – and reduce the risk of anything untoward happening.

It’s fun for kids to get involved in creating decorations so why not get the glue and glitter out and help them create those fabulous garlands, ornaments for the tree and other embellishments? Kids of all ages can join in! Working collectively brings family & friends closer together at this wonderful time of year… a shared experience which makes for fond memories that you’ll treasure for years to come.

There are many ways to bedeck your home for the holidays. Many decorations are easy to create yourself but don’t hesitate to pick up the phone to call the pros if the project puts your health and safety at risk… or if you simply want a design or level of expertise that’s beyond your capabilities.

Working on a Merry Christmas illustration surrounded by fir cones and baubles

When to hire a professional decorator

Professional decorators can create inviting holiday décor that really enhances the spirit of the season. Whilst many people prefer decorating their own homes, there are sometimes good reasons why hiring a professional is the better option. Perhaps you lack the same knowledge or eye for detail as a professional decorator, or maybe it’s safety concerns that are important. In either situation, the professional is there to offer their services when needed the most.

As we said earlier – over 3,000 fires occur as a result of trees catching fire every Christmas season. And then there are lights, candles, baubles, textiles, packaging materials, artificial snow and the like. When a trained decorator creates your design, there’s little worry about safety as professionals will ensure potential hazards minimised. Sometimes it’s best to call in the experts… then you can sit back and relax.

Miniature real Christmas tree and lit candle on a wooden mantlepiece

The bottom line

Don’t let pests or other potential headaches rain on your holiday parade. Use the ideas above when it’s time to decorate and create a scene that warms the heart and lifts the festive mood. Know when it’s time to call a professional. Whether it’s a decorator or a pest control expert, it’s important that you know when it’s time to pick up that phone or browse the internet for help.

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Nailing an eclectic look in your home – the ultimate guide

Nailing an eclectic look in your home - the ultimate guide

If you love mixing up different styles, patterns, and colours in your outfits, your artwork and other situations in life, then you probably want to convey that in your home. However, there’s a fine line between showing off your love of eclectic styles, to making your home look like you threw everything together with your eyes closed and just hoped for the best.

Now, it might scare you to know that eclectic décor is actually one of the hardest designs to pull off in your home. This is because it’s all too easy for it to begin looking a mish-mash. That being said, once you do it and make your home look a way that makes you happy, you’ll know you have a design that nobody else can imitate. That’s the great thing about eclectic design! It’s easy to make your home look like a show home, but where’s the fun in that? It can be just plain boring and not very exciting to spend time in!

There are rules and things you can do to nail the eclectic look in your home, and here, we’re going to discuss a few of them. In this guide you should find something to suit any space and any budget, so read on if achieving this is something that interests you!

Without further ado: here’s the ultimate guide to nailing the eclectic look in your home…

Plants in pots on a window sill

Know the meaning of eclectic

First of all, make sure you know the meaning of ‘eclectic’ and what it actually entails. Make a Pinterest board and get a feel of the styles and things you really like – you should begin noticing a common theme and accessories that will work well in your very own eclectic design. You should notice colours, patterns, textures and maybe even accessories that you have pinned a lot so you have a good idea of what you should buy.

Eclectic is the art of being able to mix unusual accessories, colours, and patterns from modern day and past eras. This can create a timeless style of which you’ll never get bored. One of the biggest mistakes you can make is purchasing everything from the same modern era – your home will begin to look dated in a couple of years!

So, how do you truly identify an eclectic looking home? Take a look below:

  • Calm mix of periods and styles
  • Uniqueness in art and furnishings
  • Neutral background colours to stop things looking too busy and crazy
  • Unexpected use of materials and/or items
  • Old seamlessly mixed in with new
  • Handmade items or items with sentimental value

By simply looking at eclectic designs online, in magazines and on Pinterest, you should get a really good idea of what this look is all about.

Don’t forget about your layout – keep it balanced and symmetrical.

Now, when you first start your eclectic design you can get too caught up in the colours, patterns and textures you’re going to include. These things are important, but it’s also crucial to make sure you focus on your layout. Importance should be put on balance and symmetry to ensure that the colours and patterns not only work together, but the different lines and shapes of the furniture, too.

The reason for this? Symmetry helps our minds to simplify the design. It won’t look too busy or overwhelming if we ensure balance and symmetry in the layout, even if many different patterns and colours are used.

Make sure the function of a room is easy to identify, and your eyes will relax and focus on the beauty of a room, rather than seeing it as busy or cluttered.

Create a focal point/feature wall

Every home should have a focal point, and in an eclectic styled home you have a lot of room to get creative. Creating your focal point is very personal, so there are no set or definitive rules on how to do it. You can use frames from Frames.co.uk to encase your favourite artwork, pictures of loved ones or even magazine cut outs to create a gallery wall. Frames of different sizes and shapes can work really well, even frames of different styles.

Your focal point can include paint colour, wallpaper, fireplace, books, clocks, plants and just about any accessory you can think of. Make sure you choose the right space and, if you choose to make your focal point a feature wall, don’t do the same in every room as it can get a little bit much.

Make sure each room flows well

It’s important to remember that, although you’re going for an eclectic design, you shouldn’t have each room in your home completely different, as it’ll be too jarring going from room to room. Instead, make sure each room flows smoothly into the other. You can make them different, but make sure you choose elements that help them to work as a whole, too. This could be a specific colour, your favourite décor style, or something else. You can even incorporate similar things into every room so that they don’t look strange and out of place.

Artworks hung on a green wallpapered background illuminated by industrial style lighting

Pick a ‘go to’ colour

You can use lots of colours in an eclectic home design, but you should make sure you choose your favourite as your go to colour. This acts as a unifying thread that you can always come back to if you’re struggling to bring certain elements together the right way.

Bear in mind that neutral colours used in the background always help to bring an eclectic look together without it hurting your brain.

Put a limit on the number of styles in each room

Although you can choose to have multiple styles in each room, you should still put a limit on the amount that you introduce. This is when things will begin to look a mish-mash and messy if you’re not careful. Two or three styles should be plenty. Make sure you spread them around evenly – you wouldn’t have one corner dedicated to the 50s era and the rest the 70s, for example. You’d make sure everything is evenly distributed. For instance, you’d put a modern table next to an old ornate mirror, and a vintage side table with a modern lamp. You wouldn’t put the modern lamp with the modern table. Do feel free to experiment and see what looks best to you, though, as there are no set rules.

Although you should attempt to distribute your styles evenly across the rooms, make sure you don’t use them in the same amounts. It’s a better idea to use more of one and less of another. It’s a similar idea to the rule of patterns, which works like this:

  • Use 10% of one pattern
  • Use 30% of another pattern
  • Use 60% of another pattern

This helps to stop things from looking unprofessional and haphazard. Keeping things uneven yet balanced is the key to a great eclectic interior – it sounds complicated, and it can be. This is why it’s one of the hardest styles to pull off. However, it’s so worth it once you get it right!

Choose fewer pieces that make a big statement

Your accessories should be chosen carefully. You don’t want to clutter the place up, so take your time when selecting them. Know what you’re looking for and how large you’d like them to be. Lots of small accessories can make your home look crowded and overwhelming. By choosing fewer pieces that make a big statement, you’ll make a greater impact with your home design and won’t get that cluttered feeling in a room.

Often, people choose small accessories and pieces because they don’t have much space and they feel that this is the right thing to do, but this isn’t always the case. In fact, it’s sometimes better to choose larger accessories for smaller spaces, as they help to fill up the space visually and make it look well put together. You need to find the balance when it comes to space. You don’t want so much that it’s overpowering, but you don’t want too little either.

Make sure you love every single piece

You shouldn’t bring a piece into your eclectic interior if you don’t love it. It can be too tempting to choose something just because it looks like it’s the right sort of shape or size, when really, you don’t actually like it that much. Make sure you take your time to source pieces that really speak to your heart so that you enjoy spending time in your home and it becomes a space of which you’re really proud.

Anybody can nail the eclectic look in their home with a little patience and a keen eye for detail. It’s tough, but if you do this, you can be sure you have one of the most unique interiors imaginable, that your home is filled with items you adore, and that you won’t end up decorating every few years as your design is timeless!

Will you be decorating your home in an eclectic style? Leave your own thoughts and comments below!

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