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Creative Ideas For A Better Bedroom

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Whether you are moving into your own place, heading off to stay in shared halls or a shared house at university or desperate to revamp your current abode, there are many different creative design ideas that can be implemented to make your bedroom, no matter how small, into a trendy and spacious living area. Leaving those home comforts behind need not be a worry with the following handy tips to both personalise and maximise your boudoir.

Personalise the walls

Add character to your room by decorating your walls in creative and unusual ways. Most student accommodations and landlords will allow tenants to paint rooms as long as everything is restored to its original condition at the end of the tenancy.

There are many student websites that provide great ideas for wall decorations such as using different shades of blackboard paint to create a wall-sized, grid-like calendar – an especially resourceful idea for students with busy schedules. Funky murals, patterns and even graffiti can be painted on walls to create a more personal feel to such a private domain.

However, painting the walls to make a bare room a home is not the only way to personalise your space. Sticking up collages of photographs may be more of a traditional choice for covering bedroom walls, yet it does help to relieve homesickness and being surrounded by your favourite snaps certainly adds an element of cheer to a new home. Alternatively, use CDs or pages from old books or magazines for a more original choice of wall covering.

Add some striking colour

You can make your bedroom appear bigger than it actually is by opting for light and bright colours rather than darker hues. Pastel shades are perfect for more feminine bedrooms, creams and beiges offer a subtle, more mature feel and bold reds, greens, blues and yellows are on-trend, loud and fun. Rugs, bed linen, curtains and light-shades can all be either mixed or matched to suit your own individual tastes and trendy throws and cushions are perfect as finishing touches.

Some fantastic ideas for adding flashes of colour to any bedroom include painting the sides of doors and drawers and is a unique and exciting way to brighten up the most unlikeliest of places. Using coloured tape to decorate clothes-hangers is another fabulous idea, especially if your wardrobe is exposed or open-fronted.

Maximise the space

Clever tricks such as using mirrors to make a bedroom appear larger or only painting the walls halfway up to make the ceilings appear higher are great for creating an illusion of space. You can also maximise the space in a small bedroom by being a bit more creative. To get more out of the corners of a room, use rods, rails, shelves and pegs to create extra storage space in out-of-the-way places whilst making your bedroom organised and individual. Putting your bookcase behind your bed is a unique way to store your things and at the same time, save on space. The lower shelves covered by your bed can be used as storage for things you do not use on a regular basis. Risers for underneath your bedframe is another great idea as they provide extra under-the-bed storage space. If you want to browse a selection of top quality bedframes then this site could help.

So, when moving into a new bedroom that needs to be stamped with your own individual personality, try out a few of these ideas and create a relaxing and comfortable living space that will show off your unique character.

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This article was produced by leading interiors and lifestyle blogger coming straight out of South East UK – Jamie P.





How To Give Your Living Room A Facelift On A Budget

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Sometimes the desire to redesign your living room will just hit you. You’ll be lying on your sofa, staring at the ceiling or walls of the room or even just at the furniture and just think “it’s about time I changed this room up a bit”. However, not everyone can afford to make really expensive changes and buy new furniture but whilst this is unfortunate, it is not the end of the world.

 

It is entirely possible to redesign your living room on a budget, so below are some handy tips which will help you do this.

1. Analyse what you currently have and what you really need

A lot of people will just go out and spend money on things they like…not things they actually need. Therefore it’s a good idea to make a list of everything you currently have and then see if you’re willing to get rid of anything (sell it for a small sum) and then it will be clearer as to what your living room is now in need of.

Keep in mind all that you plan to keep will have to fit in with your new theme or style, so be stringent but also beware of getting rid of things you might be able to customise or revamp later on. (Discussed in point 4)

2. Spend less, buy more

Many people are snobbish about buying furniture or fabrics at sales or at online auctions but that’s just silly. Just think about how much money you will be able to save through buying in the sales or from buying second-hand goods. A lot of sites like eBay, Gumtree and Freecycle offer thousands of products that have hardly been used but are at hugely discounted prices.

Buying second-hand furniture also means your goods have a bit more history to them, rather than buying brand new from the store, where they have no history at all. You need to be prepared to do a lot of digging before you find exactly what you are looking for though, so be patient because there are so many good deals out there.

3. Change the room’s layout

This is, without a doubt one of the cheapest options when it comes to redesigning your living room; this costs nothing! You’d be amazed at just how much a room’s outlook can change when you just shift the furniture around a little bit. For instance don’t be afraid to place furniture at angles or even completely remove certain furniture from the room, both of which will totally change the room’s look.

It’s a good idea to have a think about how you are going to be able to create the most space in your living room. Living rooms always look and feel nicer when they are open, so do a few trials before deciding on what your favourite layout is going to be.

4. Customise and revamp

Before getting rid of any furniture and spending any money to replace what you’re getting rid of, think about whether you can revamp your goods. Often, people will throw out sofas simply because the colours no longer match the colour scheme of the room, or the sofa covers have become a bit old and tattered.

It can often be cheaper to reupholster your old sofas than it is to buy a whole brand new suite so look into the costs involved in reupholstering. Alternatively if you’re up for a challenge, buy the fabric you want and do it yourself. With wooden furniture, it’s also very easy to revamp. All you need to do is sand down the varnished finish and re-varnish to make furniture looks as good as new, or even paint it to fit in with the new look of your living room.

5. Create a focal point and add accessories

One of the cheapest options for redesigning a living room is to paint it. Paint is very affordable and can really make a huge difference to how a room looks. It’s always a good idea to give your living room a lick of paint every few years or so anyway, just to keep it looking fresh. However, keep in mind you can really make your room stand out by adding a focal point. You can do this very cheaply by just painting one wall a different colour.

You should also look at adding a few accessories here and there, such as lamps, rugs, artwork and cushions. Not only can you pick up all of these kinds of accessories for very reasonable prices, thus saving a lot of money but they will also really make your living room look lovely and homely. You can also inject a whole range of new colours into the room, as well as make old furniture look a lot nicer, i.e. by using new throws and cushions.

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Laura writes for Jaga vertical radiators. When not blogging, she can often be found switching out her radiators on a whim.

Enjoy Small Space Living With Three Simple Steps

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Many individuals, couples and families these days are finding themselves in smaller homes and apartments. With poor organization, oversized furniture and too much clutter, a small space can easily feel even smaller. Taking any of these three steps will simplify your home and help your small space feel organized, controlled and even more spacious.

Master the Clutter

An essential element to a simplified and well-organized home lies within your ability to de-clutter. There is no need to hang onto items “just in case” or because your Great Aunt Martha gifted something to you. If you don’t need it, get rid of it.

Take a look through cupboards and drawers, and as you come across excess silverware, Tupperware with no lids, cookbooks you never use and clothes you don’t wear, ask yourself these two questions:

Is it one of five things I would save if my house caught fire?
Have I used it in the last year?

If you can’t answer “yes” to at least one of these questions with various items in your home, then you can consider them merely space filler. Get rid of them. It may hurt at first, but you’ll feel much better in the long run.

You have likely heard the saying, “A place for everything and everything in its place.” Everything in your home needs a place to “live” whether it’s your car keys, mail, the kid’s crayons and artwork or extra toilet paper. If everything does not have a place to live, it is more likely to get left out and lost among the piles that inevitably build up on counters and coffee tables creating confusion and added stress.

As you de-clutter, avoid the temptation to multitask. Focus on one space at a time and see the de-cluttering and organizing through to completion.

Furniture for Small Spaces

When it comes to living in a small space, the right furniture can play a huge role in the effectiveness and comfort of your home. As you de-clutter cabinets and drawers, you may also realize that a couch or bean bag chair have to go to make room for something else.

The key to making a small space feel larger is having the right furniture. If you shop around the internet, you will find several companies that sell amazing multi-functional furniture that will maximize every inch of any small space with ceiling mounted beds, collapsible tables and chairs, or all-in-one furnishings such as a kitchen table that transforms into a computer desk in the morning and a bed at night.

Simplify Your Home with Apps

When designing your small space, consider adding current technology to simplify your living quarters. For starters, a truly user-friendly home automation system allows you to control features from a touchscreen module placed in your home as well as remotely from any internet source such as your smart phone or office computer.

Electronic locks ensure that your home can easily be locked up at the touch of a button. You can also unlock your house just as easily to let a friend in while you aren’t home.

Additionally, some home automation systems allow you to turn simple home appliances off or on. This can come in quite handy on the mornings you forget to turn off the coffee pot, television or curling iron as you run out the door to work.

Another great feature you can find with home automation is the capability to turn lights on or off as well as the thermostat up or down from anywhere whether you are at the office, on vacation in Barbados or watching a movie on your couch.

As you bring in more multi-functional furniture, eliminate the clutter and take advantage of the latest in home automation technology, you will find your home feeling larger and smarter so that you can enjoy more of what life has to offer.

About the Author: Lindsey Patterson is a freelance writer who specializes in technology and home automation. For more information on home security systems check out Vivint reviews.

Update Your Decor For Spring

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Officially, spring started on Wednesday, March 20th. However, many of our minds are likely already filled with thoughts of upcoming warm weather activities at home and on the road. While spring is a good time to hit the road with your family for a few days, it is also a good time to take care of those projects around your home that may have been put on the shelf during the cold winter weather. One of those may even include updating the décor of your home. Below are some of the main areas you may want to consider when thinking of changing the look of a single room or your entire home.

Wall Treatments

Perhaps one of the easiest and most cost effective ways, to change the look of a space is by adding a new coat of paint to it. If your walls are currently the egg shell white that most of us see as a blank canvas, grab your supplies and get to work. However, if there is currently color on the wall, make sure you get a primer that will cover the color prior to you applying the new look.  Keep in mind if you have a feature like vaulted ceilings it may be best call in a professional to handle the height and specific challenges of those ceilings.

Flooring Treatments

Updating the look of your floors may cost a significant amount depending on the size of the area you are looking to change. Prior to shopping for new flooring consider the type that will compliment your desired outcome the most and work best for the use of the room. For example, if you are redoing your living room and have young children, you may want to consider carpeting to limit the risk of any possible injuries. Once you decide on the type of flooring, measure the space to determine how much it will cost.

Window Treatments

Another fun way to update your décor is by changing out the window treatments. For example, you may want to consider comfortex cellular shades. This type of treatment has a honeycomb cell construction and is good for rooms that need extra insulation.

Changing the décor of your space can be a fun and exciting way to start the spring. Do a little planning prior to shopping to determine exactly what you need and most of all enjoy the new look!

Heather B is always looking for the next thing to do on her house. She enjoys sharing ideas for home improvement with others.

Essentials For The Modern Small Bathroom

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These days the bathroom has taken much more significance when it comes to planning a home’s look.

Before, they were often overlooked as a lot of our UK bathrooms are a little on the small side in truth, so many people didn’t really think about them as anything more than a quick stopping point during the day.

Nowadays though people have realised that the bathroom is a great room in the house, whether it be for seeking a moment of solitude in an otherwise hectic day or just as another room to add the homeowner’s own unique styles to.

Combined Vanity Furniture

You want to have everything in your bathroom, cupboards, toilet, sink – the lot, but alas space is not really a luxury you can afford in a small bathroom.

Combined vanity furniture is the way to go when it comes to saving room. As the name implies, it is the combination of your usual toilet essentials into one space saving whole – perfect when you’re operating in a small space.

Bi Fold Shower Enclosure

The only thing you then need in order to make sure your small bathroom has all the usual essentials is a place to wash.

Bi fold shower enclosures are great as a space saving option as the way the door folds in the middle and swings inwards and across the shower, means the door doesn’t have to swing outwards and hence use some of the space that you could otherwise utilise in other ways.

Bathroom Furniture

The use of a vanity unit may then enable you enough room for a further piece of bathroom furniture if you are lucky – this can be used to store your remaining every day essentials.

Perhaps to better utilise the space instead of going for a separate mirror and cabinet, you can combine the two with a mirror cabinet.

Towel Radiators

In smaller bathrooms a nice sized radiator was often impossible to go for due to the size it would take.

However towel radiators are becoming increasingly popular. Not only do they provide the heat the room requires, it warms up your towels nicely, and most importantly doesn’t take up a lot of room.

Towel radiators come in electric as well as more traditional options, meaning they can operate independently from your overall central heating unit and they come in a range of designs too.

A few Accessories to finish

Depending on the remaining space available, you can then opt to pick up a few extras such as toilet roll holders, a bin for every day waste, dispensers to add a little extra style to the room and maybe even a bathroom mat.

You might only have a small bathroom then, but thanks to space saving towel radiators, showers and vanity units, you can still give your bathroom a great modern look.

Louisa Jenkins is an interior design expert. She offers advice on a number of topics including ways for people with small bathrooms to still give them a modern look – she believes that towel radiators and other bathroom essentials can still be used in a bathroom, whatever the size,  to make them one of most eye-catching rooms in the entire house.

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