Home Decoring

Although many people today are well educated about home design, and often have great taste in furniture and interior features, many have no idea how easy it is to lift a room instantly, naturally, and at very low cost, using just one element of the room.

That element is natural light.

Daylight is of fundamental importance to life – human beings need it to produce Vitamin D in the body. Furthermore, nothing lifts the mood and revives the spirits like natural light. Perhaps that is why the Scandinavians, who are admired worldwide for their design prowess, use lots of light, bright wall colors and mirrors in their decor – to bounce the light around the room.

So what can be done to increase the amount of natural light in a home?

Lighten up

Some rooms seem dark and oppressive, even if there is actually abundant natural light. Usually, this is because the interior decor and furnishings are dark and heavy. In order to maximize light, wall colors should be light, ideally soft shades or even paler. The same goes for window dressings, furniture covers, cushions, wood (for example that used in furniture or accessories) and carpets/rugs. Light and bright is the order of the day – for colors and for materials.

Window dressings

Window dressings are probably the most important aspect of bringing light into a room. Obviously, any curtains or blinds should be light in color and form, but the best possible way to draw in the sunlight is to remove any opaque barrier between the room and the outside world.

A great way to do this is with shutters – although they give good heat insulation and window coverage at night, they can be thrown open during the day, leaving the windows free for the daylight to flood in. There is a distinct design trend towards the use of shutters right now, and any property can be catered for – homeowners can even buy custom shutters.

If privacy is an issue, frosted or etched glass can be used in a window with or without shutters, or consider an alternative window treatment such as a venetian or roman blind. Clearly, however, the less obstruction there is between the window and the room, the better.
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When interior designers consider the colours that they going to use in a room a lot of thought actually goes into it. Maybe you would like to add energy to a room or perhaps calm the energy down in a hectic room, colour will enable you to do this. Below are certain that colours that Buy-Sofas-Online.co.uk recommend you choose that will enable you to create a truly balanced room through colour.

Orange: Believe it or not the colour orange enables you to expand your thinking and gives you confidence. The colour enables you to express yourself and many people introduce it into their home because it makes them feel younger. We associate orange as the colour of celebration and laughter so introduce it into your home today for a splash of fun. You don’t have to have a lot of it in your room if you think that it is too loud a colour, perhaps introduce it in a small way, such as in alcoves or on a fireplace. The colour orange stands for creativity.

Dark Blue: If you are thinking of introducing royal blue into your room then this shows that you are a person that likes order. It stands for efficiency and allows you to purify your thoughts. Deep blue allows you to make important decisions, but again you don’t have to have it everywhere in a room, simply add it through a lampshade or basket within the room to reap the benefits.
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We could say that it’s not just a table… Designed by architect Alberto Dias Ribeiro of A2OFFICE, this object consists of five distinct parts: a combining core and 4 removable components. Altogether there are 125 cubes, all equal, which are part of a larger cube.
It is a signed piece, handcrafted, in a close connection between creator and performer.
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Oak furniture is classic, timeless and reliable and when it comes to choosing the ideal oak collection for your home, Fortune Woods has everything to offer. From beds to wardrobes, dining tables to bookcases and desks to sideboards, you’ll find it at Fortune Woods. There are eight completely unique ranges to choose from, each featuring different shapes, shades and finishes, so no matter what your home decor, you’ll find the furniture to match. Strong, sturdy and hardwearing, each piece is carefully crafted from only the finest cuts of American oak to feature all the beauty of natural grains and blemishes.

If you’re looking for traditional shapes with a rustic finish then the Country range is for you. These pieces combine straight lines and smooth edges with a brushed oil finish to complement warm decor and create a comforting, homely feel. The drawers are fitted with dovetail joints through time-honoured techniques and curved, brass-coloured handles add that extra note of elegance and charm. Brighten up your bedroom with the Country oak dressing table, with a mirror and stool to match or for that truly traditional touch, consider the Country oak blanket box.

For lighter shades of wood and a more modern feel, the Milano or Tavistock ranges are for you. The pieces in these collections feature squared-off edges and a smooth, blemish-free finish for that understated, contemporary look. Curved metal handles add grace to the Milano drawers while the Tavistock range combines traditional large oak knobs with straight and contemporary, cube shapes. Choose from the elegant Tavistock coffee table and TV unit to match or spruce up your dining room with a Milano extending table and glass door dresser.

If you’re looking for pieces that ooze glamour and really stand out then the Bordeaux collection is perfect. These designs take inspiration from France to inject an air of allure and sophistication into your home. With a lacquer finish, dovetail joints and a warm tone, the pieces retain a traditional look while delicate shapes and rustic metal handles add that touch of prestige. Make a grand impression on your guests with the majestic Bordeaux dining table and chairs or opt for the gorgeous Bordeaux bookcase to store all of your favourite reads.
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Choosing a sofa can be a fairly big task, as whatever you choose, you’ll want it to be a fixture of your home for years to come. As the centrepiece of most living rooms, you want your sofa to be comfortable, to look great and most importantly, to last. Once you’ve established the size you need: two-seater, three-seater, corner, etc., the next big decision is usually the style, which begins with weighing up fabric sofas versus leather sofas. So, when you’re shopping for sofas, just remember to consider the four Cs:

Cleaning

Fabric sofas can be also be easily hoovered clean; and they do fare better than leather sofas if you have a cat that likes to scratch! They also often have removable covers that can be professionally cleaned or simply put in the washing machine to freshen up them up. Although they provide a sleeker, more modern look, any damage to a leather sofa is there to stay, and rips or tears in the fabric are fairly inevitable over time.

Colour

One of the downsides to choosing a leather sofa is that the colours are often a lot more restrictive. The material primarily lends itself to neutral shades like black, cream and brown, complementing minimalist décors best. Fabric sofas, on the other hand, have a much wider choice of colours and patterns – so if you’re looking for a sofa to liven up the room, then fabric will be the better choice.
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More and more, people are hearing about the upcycling of furniture, creating shabby chic masterpieces and saving old bits of wood to create fantastic pieces of DIY furniture.

But why do people do it?

Although it is true that the internet provides a very convenient and often cheaper source of furniture, with stores such as Oak Furniture UK selling solid oak, you can also spruce up, upcycle and even totally repaint old furniture relatively cheaply with a good old bit of DIY.

So what is upcycling?

Put simply, upcycling is the act of taking waste or unwanted materials and through DIY, turning them into something useful, or in the case of furniture, often something great.

Whether you have a cabinet that you can turn into a lovely bookcase or a door that could be converted into a coffee table, the options really are limitless when it comes to upcycling.

Not only do your skills and creativity get put through their paces, but it also means that you can save your pennies for when you really do want to buy a great piece of solid oak furniture.
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You are selling your home! How can you get the highest sale price with minimal investment (time and money)?

Here are the top 3 do it yourself home renovations to increase the value of your home without breaking the bank:

#1. Start with the Floors

What is the Number 1 most requested renovation from homebuyers? You guessed it! Hardwood flooring. Everything appears to be more luxurious and clean with hardwood. The catch is that hardwood floors are expensive. So why not buy wood-like tile flooring instead. It’s cheaper and easier to maintain.

#2. Polish up the Kitchen

Upgrading your kitchen can be expensive. So use a bit of ingenuity and upgrade your cabinets with off of the shelf cabinets from IKEA. Once you have your cabinets up to snuff, then buff up your kitchen counters with household cleaners. Shiny, scuff less counters give the illusion of being new.

#3. CLEAN

A clean home is well cared for home. You can increase the desirability of your home by taking one day and cleaning from top to bottom. That means the ceilings, walls, corners, carpet, floors and especially the bathrooms.

Homebuyers more often renovate the bathrooms, so give the buyer a break by cleaning yours.

One of the easiest ways to renovate a bathroom is to PAINT it. Use a basic white or off-white color so it appeals to everyone. Take off any seat covers on the toilet, and if you need a new toilet seat, replace it.

Most homebuyers request “spa-like” bathrooms which basically means clean lines, fresh smells, and modern accents.

If you have decided to improve your home to list it for sale, it’s sometimes difficult to know where to begin. While you certainly can’t pick the house up and move it to nicer area, there truly are numerous things you can do to improve the resale value of a house.

Simple repairs and upgrades can up the appraisal by as much as 20%. However, you must have a plan and focus on the key areas that will bring you the biggest profit on the sale of your home. This is a list of eight of the most important things to do to increase the value of your home.

1. Keep the Landscaping Manicured

Presenting a positive first impression to prospective buyers is a crucial aspect when selling a home. The very first thing they will notice is the landscaping. Make sure all of the trees and bushes are trimmed and the lawn is mowed. Be sure to neatly edge around the yard, driveway and sidewalk. Keeping the landscaping freshly manicured and green will attract more potential buyers and up the value.

2. Paint the House

A fresh coat of paint on both the interior and exterior of the home will charm more buyers and command a greater price. Remember to use only neutral colors, because many potential buyers find brightly colored walls a bit distracting. Light, warm colors present a pleasant atmosphere that will appeal to a wider range of individuals. Don’t forget to remove all of the wallpaper in your home, because it is not a high selling point and can actually lower the resale value.
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