...Moving
House
When you’ve moved home and all of
your furniture, clothing, pots and pans seem to be cluttering up
your new space its easy to be disheartened and think you’ll
never get everything unpacked and put away in the right
place.
But now that your struggle with estate
agents and removal companies is over we have a few tips that could
help you get on top of things and make the aftermath of the last
few hectic weeks of packing a bit easier and more
enjoyable.
Everyone knows that moving house is the
ideal time to take stock of your belongings and decide what your
going to keep, where they are going to be stored or displayed and
what really need replacing.
-
Does your furniture fit in your new
space?
-
Does the style match that of your new
home?
-
Do you need more storage?
The first thing to do is have a good look
at your new home. In your initial viewing you probably didn’t
take stock of how big the cupboards were or even how many! Explore
every room, including loft space, sheds and garages – you may
even find a few nice surprises!
Bedroom
The first thing to do in the bedroom is
make the beds & hang the curtains. Having fresh clean bed linen
really make a difference and will help you to feel more relaxed and
at home, the addition of curtains means you can slip straight into
bed after a difficult day of unpacking & decision
making.
Bathroom
Ideally, your new bathroom would have
enough storage space to keep your lotions and potions hidden away
and dust free (anything to make bathroom cleaning quicker!). Maybe
somewhere to store towels other than in another room or an airing
cupboard? What about a laundry bin that doubles as a shelving unit?
Making decisions now will save you time & money later
on.
Living Room
Our main living space should be calm, neat
and tidy, but we all know that this is an ideal which is rarely
achievable. Unless you think outside the box – or rather put
things inside! Why not use a coffee table with built in storage
drawers? How about a neat looking cupboard which can hide away all
of your CD’s, DVD’s and books? Maybe a tall thin set of
shelves to provide maximum storage and display area but using very
little floor space.
Above all keep a few simple rules in mind
when arranging your new home:
The golden rule is: if its broken, out of
date, doesn’t fit, no use to you or anyone you
know – throw it away or, these days: sell it at a car
boot, online or in the free papers – make your unwanted items
into cash so you can buy things you need & want for your new
home!
...Decluttering
Life is full of stuff! Everywhere
you look in your home or at work there are things that you need and
use but you don’t really want to see them every day.
It’s time to declutter your life!
It’s a lot easier than you think
too! Make it easy - just take one room or cupboard at a
time.
-
What do I Use?
Make a list of what you use often, seldom and never – then
put all of the “never” items into a drawer or box
– if you haven’t gotten them out of the box in a month
chances are you don’t need them at all. Why do you have them?
This is usually the worst in the kitchen, be
ruthless!
- Grouping
possessions. It may seem like the simplest thing but where is your
CD collection? Is it all in one place, are they easy to view &
select? Or are there some in the kitchen, living room, bedrooms and
some in the office? Are they all in their matching cases? Collect all
similar items together, from CD’s to shoes, from make-up to
DIY tools. You will be amazed at how much you have! Then you can
work out how and where to store them.
- Use them or try
them on. If you have a massive clothing collection that spills out
of your wardrobe and drawers? The best thing to do is spend a few
hours and try everything
on. It may seem a bit drastic but those clothes that do not fit,
are way out of fashion, have buttons missing, holes or marks are
cluttering up your space. Make three piles: keep, charity and throw
away (if your indecisive have a ‘maybe’ pile too
– if you haven’t taken it out of the pile in six months
then you don’t need it)
-
Is it out of
date? Check all of the food items in your kitchen cupboards,
chances are you will have things at the back that are out of date,
remember to check herbs and spices too – we all have some
that we seldom use. Check all of your lotions and potions, many
will be either old or only have a small quantity left in them. Mix
old body lotions, shower gels etc in one tub or bottle if you
don’t want to throw them out.
-
Paperwork. We all
have mounds of paper in our homes. Mostly old bills and bank
statements. Group these together an only keep the most recent year
or 2 years – shred & recycle the rest. Find one place to
keep them tidy, maybe buy a filing box or cabinet – then when
a new letter comes in just file it away with the
others.
Once you’re done you’ll be a
lot more organised, decluttering really helps to simplify your life
– getting rid of those everyday niggles when you can’t
find your car insurance, a certain lipstick or the right
screwdriver.
...How to
create your perfect bathroom
Generally the bathroom is still the smallest room
in the house averaging about 8 x 6ft (2.4 x 1.8m) Therefore it is
important to consider the function of your bathroom: what items you
would like it to contain, the size and position or structural
feature such as doors, windows and radiators and also who uses the
bathroom.
The
bathroom should be a place that is relaxing, uncluttered, organised
and has tons of storage for all of your toiletries, towels, spare
loo rolls and even cleaning equipment. It should be easy to move
around, easy to clean and low maintenance. You should be able to
switch off, unwind and feel comfortable and surround yourself in
nice smells and textures but also be functional for those moments
when you have very little time to get ready.
You
don't need to be an interior design expert or have training in Feng
Shui to get it right - here are our tips:
- Who uses it:
Is your bathroom just
for adults or is it for children too? If you have children then a
small glass sink may not be the way to go, also just having a
shower when you have small children is not a great idea. Think
about who uses the space and for what purpose. Do you have another
separate loo? If so your bathroom can be your relaxing spa. Do you
have small children? If so you’ll need a practical space
that’s easy to move around.
- Items: Apart from
the loo and basin, what other hardware would you like? A bath or
shower, or even both! How about a bidet? Would you like enclosed or
open storage, wall mounted or floor standing? Do you want your
linen basket to be in there? Decide on your ideal items and
research types available. As a rule of thumb a white suite is
always the safest bet for longevity of style as it has the widest
appeal and matches any colour scheme you
introduce.
- Size: Draw a
scale model of your bathroom on paper or on computer; mark the
position of doors, windows, radiators and the existing plumbing.
Now create same scale templates of the hardware you have decided
upon and move them around until you get a layout that you are happy
with. Next make full size templates out of scrap or old
newspaper and try them for real in your bathroom –
it’s the only way to make a fully informed decision. Remember
that strategically placed mirrors can make a small bathroom look
brighter and larger.
- Storage: What do
you keep in your bathroom? Base your storage on what you have with
the capacity for 30% more space, that way you should never run out
of room!
Whatever you decide upon, with a bathroom
its always advisable to buy the best you can afford. You use your
bathroom every day so it has a lot of wear and tear. Better to
spend a little more now than have to replace an item sooner than
you'd bargained for and pay twice!
...How to Use Colour in Your Home
Colour can be one of the most difficult
things to get right. Either you’re confident with colour or
you’re not, there is no in between, where do you start when
redecorating? Here is our easy guide to choosing the right colour
for each room and to match you and your
lifestyle:
BROWN
Brown is the colour of: calm, depth, security,
practicality, natural organisms, nature, richness, stability,
tradition, boorishness, dirt, dullness, filth, heaviness, poverty,
roughness, earth, down-to-earth, stimulates appetite,
wholesomeness, steadfastness, simplicity, friendliness,
dependability.
Good for: living rooms, bedrooms
Bad for: kitchens
TOP TIP: Brown can be a dull, lifeless colour so why not liven it
up a bit by adding a splash or aqua, orange or even hot
pink!
WHITE
White is the colour of: light, goodness, reverence,
purity, truth, snow, peace, innocence, virginity, cleanliness,
simplicity, security, humility, sterility, emptiness, winter,
coldness, holiness, surrender, cowardice, fearfulness, fright,
unimaginative, air, fire, death, hope, silence, safety, weddings,
perfection.
Good for: woodwork, bathrooms, kitchens
Bad for; baby’s rooms as provides no stimulation
TOP TIP: If you like the idea of white but think its too harsh why
not try adding a hint of colour to it which will soften the effect
whilst keeping the purity of the idea.
PINK
Pink is the colour of: femininity, grace, spring,
gratitude, appreciation, admiration, innocence, sympathy,
femininity, health, romance, love, homosexuality,
bisexuality.
Good for: children’s rooms
Bad for: main living areas, hallways
TOP TIP: Pink can be very girlie and twee. To counteract this why
not introduce hints of dark charcoal or black to make it more grown
up.
RED
Red is the colour of: joy, passion, romance, strength,
courage, energy, fire, love, sexuality, excitement, spiciness,
speed, heat, willpower, leadership, embarrassment, masculinity,
power, danger, gaudiness, blood, war, rage, anger, revolution,
radicalism, socialism, communism, anger, aggression, stop, respect,
Christmas
Good for: dining rooms, kitchens.
Bad for: bedrooms, bathrooms, chidren’s rooms
TOP TIP: Red is a colour that projects forward, use it on the end
wall of a long room to make it appear
closer.
ORANGE
Orange is the colour of: Hinduism, Buddhism, energy,
balance, success, encouragement, stimulation, heat, fire,
enthusiasm, flamboyance, playfulness, aggression, caution,
fascination, happiness, creativity, determination, vibrancy,
warmth, cheerfulness, arrogance, attraction, gaudiness,
over-emotion, warning, danger, energetic, desire, health, strength,
endurance, throught to aid digestion.
Good for: kitchens, dining rooms
Bad for: bedrooms
TOP TIP: Like red, orange is an advancing colour and is best used
sparingly on accessories or a feature
wall.
YELLOW
Yellow is the colour of: energy, spring, joy,
cowardliness, tartness, freshness, illness, caution, sunlight, joy,
happiness, earth, optimism, idealism, wealth (gold), summer, hope,
air, liberalism, cowardice, illness, caution, decay, sickness,
jealously, hazards, dishonesty, avarice, weakness, greed,
femininity, intellect, gladness, sociability, summer, friendship,
deceit, hazard signs.
Good for: kitchens, north-facing rooms
Bad for: bedrooms, baby’s rooms
TOP TIP: yellow is a brightening but unsettling colour do not use
in rooms that you relax in.
GREEN
Green is the colour of: nature, bad spirits, spring,
fertility, youth, environment, wealth, good luck, vigor,
generosity, go, grass, aggression, inexperience, envy, misfortune,
coldness, jealousy, illness, greed, life eternal, air, sincerity,
hope, renewal, natural abundance, growth, health, balance, harmony,
stability.
Good for: bedrooms, living
rooms
Bad for: offices, kitchens
TOP TIP: Green is a very laid back, restful colour so be careful
when using it in workspaces.
BLUE
Blue is the colour of: masculine, corporate, sadness,
superiority, freshness, calmness, water, cleanliness, winter, seas,
skies, peace, unity, harmony, tranquility, confidence,
conservatism, ice, loyalty, dependability, technology, depression,
coldness, idealism, obscenity, tackiness, air, wisdom, strength,
steadfastness, light, friendliness, peace, truthfulness.
Good for: bedrooms, bathrooms
Bad for: kitchens, dining rooms
TOP TIP: Blue can be a cold, unwelcoming colour when it has hints
of green choose a blue with a hint of red to warm up your colour
scheme.
PURPLE
Purple is the colour of: luxury, power, mystery, religion,
maturity, and richness, sensuality, spirituality, creativity,
wealth, royalty, nobility, ceremony, mystery, wisdom,
enlightenment, arrogance, flamboyance, gaudiness, mourning,
profanity, exaggeration, confusion, pride, riches, romanticism,
delicacy, power, ambition, extravagance, dignity, independence,
mystery, magic.
Good for: children's rooms,
bedrooms
Bad for: kitchens, main living areas
TOP TIP: Purple is a very strong colour, you either love it or hate
it, use sparingly or use lighter hues.
BLACK
Black is the colour of: modernity, power, sophistication,
formality, elegance, wealth, mystery, style, evil, death, fear,
anonymity, anger, sadness, remorse, mourning, unhappiness,
mysterious, sex, seriousness, conventionality, rebellion, sorrow,
the unknown, strength.
Good for: accessories, trims
Bad for: using as a base colour – use in moderation
TOP TIP: Black can bring strength the other wishy-washy colours.
Use as an accent only
Remember that when choosing colour find
your textiles (curtains, cushions, rugs) first as you can always
match a paint colour to them much easier than trying to do it the
other way round!
...Tricks of the
Trade
How to make
your room appear larger:
- Keep all surfaces the same
colour – including furniture, even large items will seem to
shrink as they blend in.
- Keep your floor light in
colour and only use one type of flooring as it visually expands the
space.
- Similarly the ceiling
should be light as it will appear higher – this is
particularly good in shorter rooms.
- Whatever colour you choose
should be lightest in tone at the top of the room graduating to
darker at floor level.
- Is it best to uses
“cool” colours like greens and blues as they recede and
trick the eye into thinking they are further
away.
- Limit your furniture or
choose smaller, compact pieces – Does your sofa really need
those big chunky arms? Do you really need that many side tables?
Shouldn’t you have just one large storage shelf for all your
bits and bobs?
- Use built in storage in
alcoves or under stairs.
- If you have a flat-screen
TV that can hang on the wall – do it !– it will free up
precious floor space.
How to make
your room cosier or smaller:
- Darker shades on the
ceiling will make it seem lower.
- It is best to use warm
shades such as yellows, oranges and reds as they visually project
forward and appear closer.
- Use shades of the same
colour to create focal point behind a sofa, sideboard, fireplace
etc to draw your eye in.
- Ground your room and
create zones as this will give purpose to areas and break up a
large space – arrange sofas around a large rug with a coffee
table, hang a large photo or painting over an occasional table,
group potted plants together.
- Create levels – a
room will feel much large if all of the furniture is below waist
level – use standard lamps, tall leafy foliage plants and
large artwork to break up the space.
How to make a
long thin hall appear shorter and wider:
-
Paint the end wall a dark
shade and it will seem closer.
-
Repeat wall hangings such
as paintings, photos or mirrors in the centre of the longest wall
in a row to focus your eye on the centre of the space – only
do this on one side as you risk making the room
narrow.
-
If you have wood or wood
effect floors make sure the strips run side to side which will make
the room seem wider and more in proportion.
How to create visual flow into your
outdoor space:
- Try to use the same type
of flooring inside and out – this will create a visual
flow.
- Use plants in similar pots
both inside and out.
- If possible paint a wall
or fence or even a bench or pots in the same colour as your inside
space.
- Create a visual entryway
in your garden directly in front of the doorway from your home or
position a focal point, a fountain, sculpture, specimen plant in
full view.
... Choosing
Furniture
When choosing furniture it’s usually
for one of three reasons: either you are replacing something that
is old, worn or broken, you need more storage / surfaces or you
simply just feel like a change.
Whichever your reason it’s always
best to plan ahead, weigh up all the options and then search for
the best price.
PLANNING AHEAD
Firstly you need to consider where the
item will be situated in your home:
-
If it’s for a bathroom for example
having a wipe-clean none absorbent surface is important?
-
In a hallway then maybe a unit with
rounded corners that is not very deep would be a good idea? Most
furniture can be multi use – a small telephone table is great
in a hallway or living room but equally suits being a bedside table
or could be storage in your bathroom.
-
Will it fit in your room? Measure out the “footprint” of
the item onto a sheet of newspaper or cardboard and position it
where you want it to go. Maybe stack books up at each end to
simulate the height of the item and make sure it doesn’t
obstruct doors, windows, plug sockets or your view of the TV! Check
and double check sizes as there’s nothing more disappointing
then buying the perfect piece and finding out that it just
won’t fit or that it is way too small.
-
Consider your colour scheme and existing
finishes: If it needs to
complement or match existing items then it may be worth asking for
colour swatches or buying items from the same range. Remember
it’s always best to match paint colours to your hard and soft
furnishings as you can always get the perfect matching colour mixed
at your local diy store.
WHAT DO YOU REALLY NEED?
You should always consider what you need
the item for. For example you may think you only want a simple
table, but would a table with an extra shelf near the floor or
underneath the top be better, maybe one with a drawer would enable
you to tidy away your remote controls or TV listing
magazines?
Whatever your needs here are some simple rules:
COFFEE TABLES –
size is most important, make sure you can walk all of the way
around it and if you’re sitting on your sofa your legs are
not cramped. Does it have additional storage?
SIDE / END / TELEPHONE / BEDSIDE TABLES – Again size
is the most important here. Maybe you could use a small set of
shelves instead? Maybe use an upholstered storage pouffe as an
alternative?
CHESTS OF DRAWERS – Make sure you have enough room
to extend each drawer, if you want to use these for media storage
find out the interior measurements of the drawers to see if your
CD’s or DVD’s will fit. Find out what kind of runners
the drawers have – plastic is fine for most purposes but wood
is better if you wish to store heavy items.
SHELVES – Firstly what are they for, displaying or
storage? Do they have open or closed backs? How tall are they
– will you need to attach them to the wall to prevent
tipping? If so are wall fixings included? How deep are the shelves?
Are the shelves fully adjustable? Can you purchase additional
shelves if necessary?
TV / ENTERTAINMENT UNITS - Will your TV fit on top? How
large are the shelf sections, will they fit your audio-visual
equipment? Are they adjustable? Are there gaps at the back for
plugs to fit through? How heavy is it?
SIDEBOARDS / CUPBOARDS – Make sure the items you
want to keep in these will fit – if you want to use as a
drinks cabinet make sure the shelves are adjustable or tall enough
for this. Make sure there is enough room to extend the drawers and
open the doors. How deep is the unit?
DISPLAY CABINETS – The most important thing in
display units is that the height will fit in your room. Will the
door open fully? Are the shelves adjustable & what are they
made from? Does is have an integrated light? Is the glass tempered
(safety glass)
TIME TO GO SHOPPING?
Well now you know where you want it to go,
how big it needs to be and what features it needs you can start
shopping! There are many websites which can help you if you want to
do an online search – Amazon and Ebay being the most popular
and great to use as a starting point – a simple Google search
can be quite helpful too. Otherwise try your local shopping centres
or retail parks – if you find an item you like try searching
for cheaper prices online too – you could save a
bundle.
Just remember the same item may be
available from many retailers for differing prices and many have
mid-season sales so you could pick up a real bargain. Just remember
all of your hard work getting to this point – try not to
compromise too much on what you have already decided will be your
“perfect” item. Don’t be in a rush, take your
time and make sure it’s right, and don’t just buy
something because its cheap if it doesn’t have the drawer you
need or its 10cm too wide or the wrong colour, it won’t look
right and you will regret it in the long run.
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Moving
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