Posts

Focusing on the soft furnishings among your bedroom ideas is crucial the success of any scheme, but the importance of the room’s carpet can often get forgotten amid the emphasis on comfortable bedding and cosseting curtains. As the first surface you feel when getting out of bed in the morning, bedroom flooring ideas aren’t just about aesthetics – getting the feel of a bedroom carpet right is hugely important, while its look can completely transform a design scheme....

There are so many wonderful balcony garden ideas that will help you to make the most of the space. Consider the potential offered by climbers, screening plants, hanging baskets, and trailing varieties that will tumble over the sides. You will be limited to using potted plants, so seek out the most beautiful container gardening ideas to make a real feature. ‘People often think it’s a good idea to start with lots of little plants on a balcony garden, but this creates so much more work for yourself,’ says Isabelle Palmer, founder of The Balcony Gardener (opens in new tab)....

Plant fruit trees on vigorous rootstock that delivers size quickly or buy ready-trained espaliers for spectacular wall fruit without the wait. Soon you can fill the fruit bowl with your own tasty plums, pears, cherries, and more. These are the best fast-growing fruit trees, according to experts. Best fast-growing fruit trees Just like the best fast-growing trees, these beauties inject the garden with structure and size, as well as gorgeous foliage and flowers....

From early flourishing hellebores, with their delicate nodding heads to cheery daffodils, statement drumstick alliums through to ostentatious dahlias that continually bloom right through to the first frosts, it’s possible to protect your patch year-round. We’ve put together a hot list of the most effective plants so you can grow them around the perimeter of your plot, surround your veg beds or just dot them amongst your borders. Like mosquito-repellent plants, they’re gorgeous to look at and will keep pests (or pets) away....

Where to install one depends on the shape and layout of your kitchen, but you could incorporate a raised or dropped breakfast bar into your kitchen island, or add one to a peninsula or at the end of a worktop – there are so many smart kitchen ideas to consider. Breakfast bar ideas for small kitchens If you always wanted somewhere to indulge in a coffee morning, then you are in luck....

While they may not be the first element that springs to mind when decorating a dining room, many interior designers believe a rug can really transform the look and feel of a dining space, whether as a focal point or a unifying finishing touch. ‘Creating a simple room scheme and then having a big colored or patterned rug can make a room – nothing pulls a room together quite like a rug does,’ says interior designer Penny Morrison....

When it comes to planning kitchen lighting ideas, you may take a step back to observe how your chosen fixtures appear in relation to your wider scheme. And as an extension to your kitchen (both in terms of its position and its uses), your dining room is a natural starting point. However, despite its proximity and similarities, your kitchen and dining room lights may not need to be identical. Whether you’re working with an open-plan kitchen and dining space or you dine in an adjoining room, these expert dining room lighting ideas will help you curate a designer flow instantly....

Are people happier with a clean house? ‘A clean house may not necessarily make you happier but it can contribute to feelings of happiness, accomplishment and calmness, says Abbas Kanani, Pharmacist and Health adviser for Chemist Click (opens in new tab). ‘Many studies have found that having a clean and tidy house can help you to feel relaxed, accomplished, stress free and this could in turn help with any mental health conditions and allow you to feel better and happier....

You won’t get that strong paint smell that you find with other paint finishes plus using them reduces the use of landfill, groundwater and ozone depleting contaminants so it’s better for the environment, too. Not only that but you don’t need to worry that you will be compromising on the color or finished look either, as eco paints offer excellent coverage, are easy to clean and conceal blemishes well. ‘When looking for eco-friendly, you should look for paints that are water-based as these emit less VOCs or volatile organic compounds than solvent based paints....

The family room is an informal area in the home that you can relax, play and entertain in with family and friends. For some, it can be a separate space to a living or reception room, however for others, it can be the main place in the home to sit back and relax in comfort. Once you have picked your family room decor ideas, planning your furniture – and related family room layout – to bring your space to life takes careful consideration and thought in order to make the most out of this multifunctional space....

A floor’s appearance is important, naturally, but so too is how it feels to walk on, how it will stand up to the room’s activities and its atmosphere in the case of kitchens and bathrooms, and how much maintenance it will require. Wood is eternally stylish and popular for many interior design schemes, but there are a dazzling array of additional options that might tempt and, here, we’ve put together flooring ideas for rooms around the home....

Following a major redesign and reworking of the internal layout, the house is unrecognizable from the tired 1950s home the family bought early in 2020. They had real vision for the property, and knew that they would be able to take it down to the studs and rebuild their forever home with a little help from some interior design professionals. Cue the Long Island-based Danielle Rose Design Co (opens in new tab), whose founder and lead designer Danielle Chiprut was enlisted to help improve the functionality of the home....

Aside from all the fun and games, incorporating a gaming station into your bedroom ideas requires a deft touch. While settling into the most comfortable room of the house to watch your favorite shows and play your favorite games is hugely tempting, you need to remember that the bedroom needs to act as a calming space to aid sleep when not used as an entertainment center. This means many people prefer to have a way to conceal a television or games console when not in use, or at least keep its presence fairly discreet....

A well planned girl’s bedroom can grow with her with simple updates taking it from a little one’s sleep and play space to a teenager’s sanctuary. We’ve gathered bedroom ideas for colors, themes and patterns; furniture ideas that will see them through from a young age to their teens; and clever solutions for stashing all their belongings, below, along with design advice from the experts. Girls’ bedroom ideas From pretty in pink retreats to gender-neutral rethinks, take a look at these stunning kids’ room ideas and pick up some tips that will help you wow the young woman of the house....

See our Movers & Shakers section for more makers I grew up in Minnesota, Kansas and Colorado. At school, I was known for daydreaming so I wasn’t allowed to sit near the window, but looking outside was, and is, an aid to my creative thinking. Although I wasn’t good at maths, I understood drawing, colour and shape. I went to Drake University to study fine art, but didn’t complete the course....

Enter: my grandpa for much-needed shed organization ideas. As a seasoned gardener, he was the best person for me to ask for help to get my overflowing garden shed ideas in order. This is what he told me. 1. ‘Take advantage of your shed’s wall space’ ‘It is a wonder you manage to get anything done at all in here!’ I remember my Grandpa chastising me. ‘Look, you have three of the same pair of shears under all of this mess....

A color that is wonderfully versatile in interior design, decorating with green can establish a calming, balanced and harmonious atmosphere - ideal for a hallway where you first step foot into the home. Green can work with an array of different colors, from bright pinks and purples to more subtle neutrals such as cream and brown. So whether you want to create a vibrant scheme or a relaxed space for your hallway color ideas, green can effortlessly cater to both....

If cozy room ideas are currently what your are craving, then consider interior design ideas and looks strike the perfect balance between rustic and homespun; like an escape to the countryside without leaving the city limits. How can I add warmth to a room? Hoping to put some cozy corner ideas to work in your own home? We’ve selected the essential aspects of rustic and warm decor – these practical, expert-approved tips and ideas will ensure your home looks warm and cocooning while also reflecting the chic and modern aesthetic associated with contemporary living....

The rise of eco-heating is an exciting prospect and, although a significant investment, is becoming more alluring as the price of traditional heating and cooling systems continues to rise. As prices hot up, heat pumps seem a more viable option for cutting energy bills in the long run and paying off your investment. We have spoken to experts about heat pumps and asked how you can figure out how much it costs to run one, so you can make the most informed decision....

While you might think you know how to clean a coffee maker, the Keurig requires little – but specific – attention. Add your Keurig into the routine for cleaning a kitchen so the task doesn’t get missed – both the interior and the exterior of the coffee maker need a little care. Limescale can build up inside the machine and compromise the taste and temperature of the coffee, so periodic descaling is essential, and other parts of the machine need regular attention as well....