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Getting Spring Ready With Floor Bay Flooring
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Looking for Inspiration for the Brighter Months
Clear out the cupboards, bag all the winter woollies and prepare for that trip to the skip; it’s time for the spring clean to take effect!
Schools are about to reopen in March (fingers crossed) and the sun is making its grand return, so naturally this is where we start shaping up the home for the year ahead even if you are still set to work from home.
So if you are like a lot of homeowners looking to spring into action on the home front, what kinds of things can we look at to brighten up our lives for the year ahead?
Effective Mood Lighting
With the days set to get longer and we near that period where the sun stays out until 10pm, we find that we will not be using as much lighting as we have over the winter months.
This could also play a hand in your design by changing to some mood lighting or artful lighting pieces. As you won’t be using room lights or lamps as much as you were, you can choose energy efficient lighting or even candle lights when it does get dark, saving you some extra money through the summer.
Take up the Rug
Your rug has probably provided plenty of warmth during the cold nights, but as things get warm you won’t want that providing even more warmth.
Roll it up and store it away, otherwise if you no longer feel it to be a required part of the room you can look into alternatives. Carpets are great but hey take a lot of care, and no doubt they have had their fair share of extra attention in the past year due to all that time at home.
There is fantastic durability within luxury wood effect vinyl flooring that not only provides the comfort and style, but also greatly reduces those instances of clean up due to anti stain, anti-scratch and water resistance. It’s a relatively cheap option too, but not on quality.
If you want a floor that's durable and stylish you should check out lowest price Amtico flooring.
Provide Under Stair Storage with a New Life
A lot of people tend to have that under stairs storage space as a place for shoes, coats, umbrellas and those boxes of items you just have not found a use for yet.
Why not find a unique solution for that storage space by providing it with an organised alternative use such as a small office space or a learning area for your kids. It sounds a little crazy but decluttering that area and installing a small desk in there with a chair can provide a unique space for getting your work done away from family activity or a room simply to hold Zoom meetings away from the usual distractions around the house.
Simple small ideas that play a big part in freshening up your home for the year ahead, from use of space to installing the cheapest Amtico flooring in the UK, and the best Amtico Signature and Spacia flooring, to saving on those electricity costs for the year ahead.
3 Christmas Trends No Matter What The Rules 2020
3 ideas to keep the Christmas Spirit alive in lockdown.
Image Source Unknown
The C word. It’s coming and it’s probably going to be the strangest Christmas any of us have ever experienced. Here in the UK the next few months are looking bleak for freedom but I have found 3 trends we can all embrace no matter what the rules.
Photo by Valentin Petkov
Photo by Monika Grabkowska
This humble and wholesome trend is all about embracing and appreciating the small things and relishing in the season’s simple pleasures, an idea which has become especially important during lockdown. Baking, crafting, gifting - there are so many ways to do a homemade Christmas. Celebrate those new skills learnt during lockdown and make something with love to gift to your treasured people.
Homemade decorations will also be big this season, especially if the whole family gets involved. And another form of self care - in my opinion - is attending a Christmas related workshop. DIY wreaths and centrepieces are the perfect escapism from the real world.
nostalgia
noun
a wistful desire to return in thought or in fact to a former time in one's life, to one's home or homeland, or to one's family and friends; a sentimental yearning for the happiness of a former place or time:
a nostalgia for his college days.
Photo by Markus Spiske
A natural response to bad events is a desire to return to simpler times. Childhood memories of Christmas are no longer something to be embarrassed about but something to embrace. Dig out the family heirlooms and decorate the tree. Make your Grandma’s Christmas pudding recipe. Or create new family traditions which can be passed down to future generations.
after hours
adjective
occurring, engaged in, or operating after the normal or legal closing time for business:
an after-hours drinking club.
Photo by Kevin Fitzgerald
Curfews, restrictions and mixing with strangers. Even before the pandemic there was a massive rise in home entertaining and FOMO became JOMO. This Christmas, our homes will be the place to hang out whether we are allowed to invite guests in or not. Think homemade cocktails, fairylights and dinner parties for 2. Staying in is the new going out.
So no matter what happens, I hope you have a lovely Christmas! Happy Holidays!
5 Micro Trends for Summer
I’m writing this on a dreary Monday afternoon as the winds howls and the rain lashes down so it’s hard to believe that we’re in Summer and not in Winter like it feels. It still is British Summertime technically so I thought I’d share some of the mini trends that are flying around in the interiors world at the moment. These are all trends designed to make you smile and spark joy, which is something we all need after the dismal start to 2020. So without further ado…
Corona Virus cancelled all plans for 2020 from just meeting your friend for a coffee to going on holiday. The Staycation trend is all about bringing the holiday to your home instead. Think Mallorca vibes as you liven up the dreary living room with a candy coloured cushion. Channel your inner Ibizan with a rattan shade over the breakfast bar. Bring the tropical inside through prints and colours - make that holiday feel last all year round. Below are some of my top picks for this trend which won’t look out of place mixing in with your current decor.
Statement Vases
Vases are no longer just an after thought for the bunch of flowers you impulsively bought out and about. They no longer live at the back of the cupboard only to be brought out on birthdays. Vase are a decorative item in their own right and can be displayed with or without flowers. I constantly have vases on display long after the flowers have died. They can add to that perfect shelfie or be a centre piece on the table all on their own. The trend for statement vases is all about going bold. Pick vases that represent your personality and are ornaments in their own right.
Dried Flowers
The following bouquets were loaned from The Flower Lounge for this blog. See my Instagram for a chance to win one of these bunches.
Once banished to your Nan’s parlour to collect dust, dried flower bouquets are having a bit of a renaissance at the moment. And for good reason too; they are low-maintenance (just need a bit of dusting every now and then), they are also eco-friendly as they last longer than cut flowers plus aren’t made of plastic like the faux varieties.
For this summer, it’s time get bold - the bolder the better in my opinion. Mixing bright, clashing colours in a variety of shapes gives an instant focal point to any room. The long stemmed dried grasses can add height and fill those statement vases which is sometimes hard to do with fresh flowers.
There’s also room for the lovely neutral grasses which would love fab in any Scandi environment and The Flower Lounge also have a vast array of those too. They are now offering UK wide delivery so it’s no longer just us Manchester folks who get to shop the beautiful creations Sian and the team make.
Arches
Arch shapes are nothing new but they became very prominent at the Salone Del Mobile in 2019 and have since ventured into all aspects of homeware. With the popularity of the NHS rainbow symbol that swept the world, Arches are now popping up in prints, vases and even lights. The softness of the curve adds a sense of playfulness to the home and this trend shows no sign of slowing down anytime soon. I have linked some quirky items which are the epitome of the trend in my eyes.
Home Comforts
It will come as no surprise that Home has a more important meaning than ever. This trend is all about making home feel comfortable for you. Whether that’s a treasured teapot or a chunky throw, home comforts are personal and should bring you joy. It’s all about the senses, touch, smell, sight…anything to bring happiness into your space is perfect.
So that’s it. 5 micro trends I predict will be big over the summer months. Which one is your favourite? Will you be trying any of these ideas out in your homes? Let me know in the comments below :)
Also don’t forget to pin this graphic below in case you want to come back at a later stage! Have a good day!
Image Creds
1: https://www.facebook.com/tellemeretellefillefr/photos/a.193602790771717/1950101751788470
2: https://www.rockettstgeorge.co.uk/girl-power-vase.html
3. Northern Styling Image
4: http://inagblog.com/2019/07/simon-kaempfer/
5: https://www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/672866000557411838/feedback/?invite_code=a87f1325945a4861b4f8df062e28f6ef&sender_id=299067368913528949