Get their look: Dark den

 

 
 
 
 
 
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A post shared by Joanna MacKinnon- Isle of Skye (@bealach_uige_bothy)

This dark den is a room in the home of luxury Airbnb hostess, Joanna MacKinnon. The snug space was once the family breakfast room, but I prefer this incarnation.

Regular readers know that we’re massive fans of dramatic, dark grey interiors, and that’s what first drew our attention to the photo. After that, it was the skulls & horns, cane & wicker and tactile soft furnishings – all ticking our interiors boxes.

The selection of striking faux cacti from Abigail Aherne look so real – zero maintenance and zero injuries when you come into contact with the spikes!

If you love Joanne’s style as much as we do and fancy discovering the Isle of Skye – check out her amazing self-catering bothy!

  1. Feather wall hanging
  2. Mila chandelier
  3. Skull Seth
  4. Zebra vases
  5. Faux cacti
  6. Franco Albini wicker stool

Get their look: Dark den | H is for Home

Get their look

Some of the links on our blog are affiliate links. We may receive a small commission - at no cost to you - if you click through and make a purchase.
Prices & links correct at time of publication.

Franco Albini wicker stool
Franco Albini wicker stool
Faux cacti
Faux cacti
Zebra vases
Zebra vases
Skull Seth
Skull Seth
Mila chandelier
Mila chandelier
Feather wall hanging
Feather wall hanging
Franco Albini wicker stool
Franco Albini wicker stool
Faux cacti
Faux cacti
Zebra vases
Zebra vases
Skull Seth
Skull Seth
Mila chandelier
Mila chandelier
Feather wall hanging
Feather wall hanging
Franco Albini wicker stool
Franco Albini wicker stool
Faux cacti
Faux cacti
Zebra vases
Zebra vases
Skull Seth
Skull Seth
Mila chandelier
Mila chandelier
Feather wall hanging
Feather wall hanging

11 Easy ways to upgrade your home

11 Easy ways to upgrade your home

Some people like to decorate their home when they first move in and then leave it for many years, while others prefer to make small, regular updates to stay on trend. If you’re beginning to feel like your home could use an upgrade, you might benefit from reading this post. Below, you’ll find suggestions of different ways that you can upgrade your home and make it feel a lot fresher.

Bland empty hallway

Spruce Up Your Hallway

So many of us forget about our hallways when we’re talking about our homes, but they’re a massive part! We all have to wander through hallways to get to one room or another, so we should really be taking the time to spruce up your hallway a little. You can look into runner rugs that span the whole middle of the space, ensuring that it doesn’t look too plain and boring. You don’t want to make the space too cluttered with pieces of furniture, though, as this will just make your home look messy.

Choosing tiles

Re-tile your kitchen

Getting sick of your kitchen but can’t afford to invest in a new one? A good way around this is to re-tile your kitchen and make it look great. One of the trends that you should consider following this year is the statement tile trend which will stand out in your kitchen. You could pick one bold colour or a pattern that could be made with tiles on one of your walls. You’ll love how this easy upgrade makes the whole kitchen look brand new.

Sky blue front door

New front door

One of the first things that your guests see even before they enter your home is your front door. This is why you should consider getting a new one if you want to easily upgrade your house. Choose a bold coloured front door if you want your home to stand out from your neighbours’. If you can’t afford a new front door then consider painting your current one a new and different colour.

Shower head

Get a power shower

Another easy way to upgrade your home is to install a power shower in your bathroom. This is really easy to do if you choose the shower that matches your bathroom and get the help of a good, local plumber. It’s really easy to get plumber quotes; all you need to do to is find a plumber using a website such as My Job Quote and organise for one to come around and fit your shower. Always use a professional for something like this if you want to make the whole process easier and ensure that the job is done correctly. If you’re in need of a plumber, you can use this page: https://www.myjobquote.co.uk/plumber which allows you to request and compare up to 3 free quotes.

Ceiling light shade with retro filament bulb

Change the lighting

Feeling like your home is a bit dull? It might be time to change the lighting in the various rooms throughout your house. You would be surprised at how much of a difference lighting can make to a room, and how different the colours of light bulbs can be. Make sure to place enough artificial lighting in a room to ensure that you can light it up in the evenings. Take a look at the different shades of bulbs and see what might look best in your home.

Woman sitting bare footed on a emerald green velvet sofa

Get a new sofa

In a living room, the sofa is often the main thing that people look at when they enter. This is why you should think about upgrading your sofa and getting a statement piece. If you have a large living room, you could get a corner sofa which stands out more because of its shape. Ensure that your sofa matches the décor of your room if you don’t want to have to redecorate everything all over again.

Woman using a stapleer on upholstery

Upcycle furniture

If you can’t afford to invest in a new sofa then you could try upcycling your existing furniture. This is a really good idea and it doesn’t have to be difficult to do. Upcycling involves taking older pieces of furniture and reupholstering them, painting them or just adding some wood stain or varnish. You’ll find plenty of upcycling ideas online and you might be inspired by what you see. You’ll love looking at your new piece of furniture that you created yourself and your guests will be impressed too.

Large circular mirror on a wall

Add mirrors

Mirrors are a really easy way of upgrading your home, as they can make a huge difference to how it looks. This might surprise you, but you will actually find that mirrors can open up a space a lot more and make it look bigger. Think about getting a giant mirror for a small room, and you’ll see how much of a difference it can make. If you don’t have room for an oversized mirror, then you could hang a few small ones in the same place.

Collection of framed art on a wall and shelves

Add some art

Art comes in many different shapes and sizes and if you add some to your home then you could make it look a lot better. A large piece will draw the attention of your guests as soon as they walk in, and they may not even notice any tired areas of your décor.

Modern, brushed steel door furniture

New door handles

Door handles are often something which people don’t bother getting replaced, but you might find that this small upgrade can make your home look a lot fresher overall. Go around your home and have a look at your current door furniture. You may be surprised to notice that they’re getting a bit worn looking. Replace the handles and see what a big difference they can make to how your rooms and doors look.

Garden pot plants in front of a purple painted fence

Update the garden

If you’re trying to upgrade your home, then don’t forget to add some periwinkle or flowers to your garden or patio. If your garden is a bit overgrown and messy, then you might find that a simple clean-up job could make a world of difference. Alternatively, if you want to upgrade it in some other way then you could try renovating your shed, adding some new decking or even creating zones. Your outside area is very important – an extra room of the house – so make sure not to overlook it when trying to find easy ways to upgrade your home.

Middle Eastern lantern hanging from a white ceiling

Statement ceiling

A final idea for those trying to upgrade their home is to add a statement ceiling. These are very on trend right now, and they involve creating a ceiling that draws the attention upwards. Ideas include adding multiple chandeliers, parasols or even little pot plants hanging from the ceiling. It’s totally up to you and your imagination how you decorate your statement ceiling but remember – the main point is to make a statement. If you don’t have the room to have something hanging, then you could add bold wallpaper or paint that will look great when you enter the room.

Two people using an electric screwdriver on a piece of wood

Final verdict

There are a lot of different easy ways that you can upgrade your home and if you only try a few of them then you’ll still have made a huge difference. Think about replacing things like your door furniture, your sofa or even your feeble shower. Also remember that your garden is very important and making it look a little more attractive can make a huge difference to how your home looks. Follow the tips that we’ve detailed above, and you’ll find that your home looks a lot better without putting in a huge amount of effort. Bear in mind, though, always get a professional in to fix something if you want to ensure that it’s done safely!

[disclosure*]

Get their look: Vintage industrial kitchen diner

 

 
 
 
 
 
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A post shared by Laura Montgomery-Coleman (@renovating_ethelwolf)

You can follow the progress of this lovely vintage industrial kitchen diner on Laura Montgomery-Coleman’s inspirational Instagram feed.

I love a shelfie shot with lots going on – especially if it involves loads of different-sized glass jars, all neatly organised with embossed Dymo labels. It’s so much more attractive than having a mish-mash collection of cellophane bags of sugar, pasta and dried pulses.

This small area is a reflection of the whole space actually – practical & functional yet great to look at.

Like our kitchen – this one is serious about its coffee; I’m admiring that no-nonsense Sage bean to cup machine!

  1. Sticks pendant light brass 18 bulbs
  2. Guide to coffee drinks print
  3. Caffeinate. Appreciate. Dominate. A5/A4 print
  4. OBSERVATÖR clip-on basket
  5. CISSAN napkin holder
  6. Xavier Pauchard Tolix style metal side chair – gunmetal
  7. Sage The Oracle BES980UK bean to cup coffee machine – stainless steel
  8. Artisan cross leg dining table

Get their look: Vintage industrial kitchen diner | H is for Home

Get their look

Some of the links on our blog are affiliate links. We may receive a small commission - at no cost to you - if you click through and make a purchase.
Prices & links correct at time of publication.

Artisan cross leg dining table
Artisan cross leg dining table
Sage The Oracle BES980UK bean to cup coffee machine – stainless steel
Sage The Oracle BES980UK bean to cup coffee machine – stainless steel
Xavier Pauchard Tolix style metal side chair – gunmetal
Xavier Pauchard Tolix style metal side chair – gunmetal
CISSAN napkin holder
CISSAN napkin holder
OBSERVATÖR clip-on basket
OBSERVATÖR clip-on basket
Caffeinate. Appreciate. Dominate. A5/A4 print
Caffeinate. Appreciate. Dominate. A5/A4 print
Guide to coffee drinks print
Guide to coffee drinks print
Sticks pendant light brass 18 bulbs
Sticks pendant light brass 18 bulbs
Artisan cross leg dining table
Artisan cross leg dining table
Sage The Oracle BES980UK bean to cup coffee machine – stainless steel
Sage The Oracle BES980UK bean to cup coffee machine – stainless steel
Xavier Pauchard Tolix style metal side chair – gunmetal
Xavier Pauchard Tolix style metal side chair – gunmetal
CISSAN napkin holder
CISSAN napkin holder
OBSERVATÖR clip-on basket
OBSERVATÖR clip-on basket
Caffeinate. Appreciate. Dominate. A5/A4 print
Caffeinate. Appreciate. Dominate. A5/A4 print
Guide to coffee drinks print
Guide to coffee drinks print
Sticks pendant light brass 18 bulbs
Sticks pendant light brass 18 bulbs

Get their look: Arty boho spot

This arty boho spot looks like a really great place to chill for a while. Lying on the big, squishy jumbo cord sofa – reading, listening to music or chatting on the phone to a friend.

The bold monochrome geometric prints & patterns work surprisingly well with the bright, cartoonish Thierry Noir prints.

…but I’m sure that open eye cushion is giving me evils!

  1. Thierry Noir prints
  2. Open eye cushion
  3. STOCKHOLM 2017 cushion
  4. Natural fringe cushion cover
  5. Threshold™ jacquard woven throw – black/white
  6. Crosses kilim cushion cover
  7. Black belly basket with pom-poms
  8. Chicago jumbo cord corner sofa
  9. Afaw Berber-style rug

Get their look: Arty boho spot H is for Home

Get their look

Some of the links on our blog are affiliate links. We may receive a small commission - at no cost to you - if you click through and make a purchase.
Prices & links correct at time of publication.

Afaw Berber-style rug
Afaw Berber-style rug
Chicago jumbo cord corner sofa
Chicago jumbo cord corner sofa
Black belly basket with pom-poms
Black belly basket with pom-poms
Crosses kilim cushion cover
Crosses kilim cushion cover
Threshold™ jacquard woven throw – black/white
Threshold™ jacquard woven throw – black/white
Natural fringe cushion cover
Natural fringe cushion cover
STOCKHOLM 2017 cushion
STOCKHOLM 2017 cushion
Open eye cushion
Open eye cushion
Thierry Noir prints
Thierry Noir prints
Afaw Berber-style rug
Afaw Berber-style rug
Chicago jumbo cord corner sofa
Chicago jumbo cord corner sofa
Black belly basket with pom-poms
Black belly basket with pom-poms
Crosses kilim cushion cover
Crosses kilim cushion cover
Threshold™ jacquard woven throw – black/white
Threshold™ jacquard woven throw – black/white
Natural fringe cushion cover
Natural fringe cushion cover
STOCKHOLM 2017 cushion
STOCKHOLM 2017 cushion
Open eye cushion
Open eye cushion
Thierry Noir prints
Thierry Noir prints