A cozy feel can be evoked by the sense of sight, but also by touch and even the sense of smell. Natural materials are key – from the more rustic to luxurious choices. And layering is also crucial with the elements of a cozy bedroom combining to make it feel intimate and cocooning. How to achieve the magical combination? We’ve asked design experts to share the secrets of how make a bedroom cozy to inspire your own cozy room ideas....
However, a fallen peace lily is no cause for significant concern, as you can quickly restore its former glory with the right peace lily care advice. Asking ‘why is my peace lily drooping’ is the first step to success – as you inevitably need to address the problem before beginning the revival process. However, when you have discovered what is causing the droop (whether that is through over or under-watering or incorrect light levels), you can bring your plant back to life with the right care and attention....
While it always makes sense to choose paint colors that appeal to you personally, there are factors that will affect your view of a particular hue. Natural light, for example, varies according to the way your room faces, and to the time of day. Some areas of your room will be brighter, others dimmer, while your furniture, rugs and other soft furnishings can also affect how you see the shade....
Natalie Hoare owner of the renowned Japanese Garden in St Mawgan, Cornwall says, ‘azaleas come a little later than traditional cherry blossom and tend to stay for longer, offering a wonderful variety of color to the garden as we enter spring and summer.’ Azaleas make for a stunning addition to your flower bed ideas. Smothered in vibrant star-shaped blooms in every shade from pink, orange, red and yellow, these shrubs are also deliciously scented....
Flower shapes vary widely in their complexity and size and include the large, multi-layered ruffles of the ‘Illumination’ series to the single, smaller and undeniably classy bergonia ‘glowing embers’ and ‘firewings pink’. The flowers of begonia semperflorens – aka wax begonia – are much flatter and simpler. Made up of four petals, two big and two smaller with dramatic central stamens these blooms are instantly recognisable. Happy growing en masse or filling a small planter, they are perfect flower bed ideas for bringing color and interest to an unused patch of land....
Knowing how to get rid of wasps in all parts of the home may feel like a pressing issue, but your porch is one of the most important places to keep insect-free. This space is often frequented by your family, friends, and guests – so you’re going to want to know how to keep this species away. Why are wasps attracted to your porch? ‘During the summer months, wasps are desperately trying to find a place to place a nest....
Perfect for year-round home-fragrancing, the twiggy base is also perfect as a Christmas wreath idea, into which seasonal foliage can be substituted. Make yours now for Christmas then refresh for spring, Easter and beyond. It’s super easy to make with just a few store-bought basics, willow twigs and star anise. Why not have a go? How to make a star anise wreath You can easily make a Christmas wreath like this very quickly and with very few ingredients....
Accuracy in measuring could be the difference between success or failure – and it will certainly prevent a waste of both materials and time, especially if you’re approaching a large project, such as wallpapering a room. Our guide has all the details necessary to get measurements right, as well as the lowdown on the additional information with which a tape measure can provide you. How to read a tape measure In the US, a tape measure generally uses the imperial system, although it may also show metric measurements, and we’ll provide you with details on the latter, too....
The good news is that in most cases, it’s relatively simple to restore the surface to its smooth former glory, meaning that you won’t have to plaster a ceiling in its entirety. ‘You can usually scrape away any cracks or holes in the plaster using a putty knife and then repaint the area. Another option is to patch up smaller areas that are damaged using drywall compound or spackle. If the damage is particularly severe, replacing the ceiling altogether might be the best route to go down’, says Luke Lee, co-founder of Ever Wallpaper (opens in new tab)....
This pool idea is one of the most important things you can do to get your garden ready for summer – and with the right advice, the process is refreshingly simple. We caught up with the experts who shared the method they are using throughout the summer. Why shock a pool? While the term ‘shocking’ may make you think of a dramatic, transformative process, the activity is not as intense as you may expect....
If you are looking for ways to sleep better over the festive period, you are not alone. In fact, studies by Serta Simmons Bedding (opens in new tab) have shown that Christmas hosts lose around two-and-a-half hours of sleep per night when preparing to host friends and family in their homes. Here, we have rounded up sleep experts’ best tips for how to sleep well on Christmas Eve, and during the festive period....
Orchids belong to one of the largest families of flowering plants, a diverse group that runs to 28,000 different types. They are found pretty much everywhere in the world, and come in all shapes and sizes. Some even grow as tall as three metres. But what really distinguishes these indoor plants is, of course, their fantastic flowers. They come in a huge range of shades from magenta and purple, to yellow and orange, as well as pure white....
They can also maximize the light that reaches interiors, and provide great views to the backyard. But whether you opt for sliding, folding or French doors, or options such as pivot doors or pocket doors to complement your patio ideas, it’s important to get in the know about the steps necessary for a successful installation. Here, we provide the details on how long the project will take, what it will cost, and finding a supplier....
Offering far more than mere practicality, a good kitchen lighting scheme is a decorating tool in its own right. Light can make a room feel larger and airier; it can play with proportions and disguise unfavorable aspects; and it can radically change the mood, running the spectrum from dramatic and invigorating to soft and relaxing. Here are just some of the kitchen lighting ideas and golden rules to follow to bring a new dimension and depth when planning kitchen lighting....
So, we asked some of our favorite designers to provide remodeled kitchen before and afters so that we could show you what can be achieved using the right mix of kitchen ideas and advice. Kitchen makeovers – before and after Below, we showcase kitchen remodel ideas that have become reality, with expert comment from the interior designers who created these stunning spaces. You’ll see old kitchens that are dated and cramped become light, airy and contemporary kitchen makeovers....
The right freestanding shelving unit can transform a whole living room. It’s a place to store your collections as well as display your treasures. Whether you want a striking statement unit that will provide a focal point or a more discreet design that will blend in effortlessly, there’s a model out there to suit your space and style. Below we explore our favorite living room shelving – perfect for adding impact and intrigue to living room ideas and blank walls....
Now, many of us search for gender neutral nursery and kids’ room ideas – partly, perhaps, because we don’t want our boys or girls conditioned from early on, but also because it gives us greater decorative freedom. These nursery ideas are designed to suit all tastes, and while they are mostly gender-neutral, there are more traditional boys’ and girls’ nursery ideas to browse, too. Nursery ideas These are our favorite nursery ideas – covering everything from the basics to color scheming and adding details to organizing a nursery....
But the other benefit of good organization is a clutter-free room you enjoy spending time in. As part of a home and with many of us spending long hours in home offices, an environment with a look we love is essential, and excess stuff will compromise that style. Here, we’ve put together the best ways of arranging and ordering a home office and organizing a desk, and asked the experts to share their wisdom, too....
What could be more magical and festive than being greeted by twinkling lights, beautiful foliage and glorious garlands as you arrive at your front door? Often, we spend so much time planning our Christmas decor ideas for the inside of our homes that we forget that our outside spaces deserve just as much love and attention. But these outdoor Christmas decor ideas are not only a great way to greet your guests on arrival for festivities, they can also set the tone and style for the Christmassy magic that awaits inside, too....
Our gardens can become powerful tools for promoting biodiversity and helping local wildlife, and an important element of wildlife garden ideas is choosing plants that will encourage bees, butterflies, wasps, hoverflies, and other pollinators to visit. We not only cater to them, but also all the birds that eat them, and the plants that need pollinating to set fruits and seeds. Plants for pollinators There are many great plants for pollinators that we can grow in our gardens....
