Category Archives: family

Creating A Living Room The Whole Family Will Love

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Spring is the season of refreshing and renewing, at least in my house it is. So you’ve just finished your spring cleaning but aren’t happy with the look and feel of your lounge? Don’t panic; it just needs a little makeover, that’s all. Your lounge should be somewhere that you love spending time in, alone and with your family. If it’s not a space that you love, then it’s time to rethink it a little.

The great thing about transforming your living room is that it doesn’t have to be a big project. Many people don’t realize it, but you can easily update your living room with just a few simple changes – all you need to do is get creative. To give your some living room design ideas, I thought I would put together this handy guide. Have a read, take these tips and ideas on board, and you can create a family living room that you love.

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Look carefully at your flooring

Your choice of flooring is important to the look, the comfort and the warmth of your home. A classic carpet is still hard to beat when it comes to a little luxury beneath your feet, but if you want the look and style of a carpet, but are worried about the cost of fitting, or the maintenance, you could instead opt for carpet tiles.

JHS carpets create tiles that can be used in offices, but because they have cool, quirky colourways, and are hard working, they are also great in residential settings, especially if you have children or pets. Another good choice of tile is gradus genus, which is also known to be hard wearing and comes in stunning colours including Winter Fjord, a glorious dark blue shade.

Get the decor spot on

For a living room, you enjoy spending time in, getting the decor just right is important. If possible, avoid decorating in bright, bold colors, instead keep the decor neutral. You can add color and style later with accessories and furniture. It’s best to keep the space neutral so that should you decide to change the look of the space, it’s just a case of switching the accessories. If the paintwork doesn’t need redoing but you want to make the space feel a little different, consider adding an accent wall. This is a great way to change the look and feel of the space, without too much work. For inspiration have a browse on Pinterest.

Make it a comfortable, cozy space

The most important thing you can do to make your living room a space that the whole family loves, is ensure that it’s as comfortable and cozy as possible. This means selecting a sofa that fits everyone on and is family-friendly. Your best bet is to opt for a leather or faux leather design, as these types of sofas are easy to keep clean as they’re wipeable. If you need to add extra seating, consider investing in large floor pillows, bean bags, or an ottoman. Dot cushions around – you can use these to add style to the space, as well as blankets and throws.

Add a few little luxuries

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If your living room is going to be somewhere that the whole family enjoys spending time in, it’s worth adding a few little luxuries. To create a space that everyone loves, it’s important to think about the needs of each family member. For instance, your husband and kids would probably love a big, flatscreen TV. Especially if it has a fantastic Sky package on it that caters to the whole family. You can guarantee that should you buy sky, your husband’s first question will be, “What channels are on Sky Sports?”. Or if for instance, you’re a big reader, add a lovely, large bookshelf to the room, so that you have plenty of books to choose from when you’re relaxing.

Make storage a priority

Last but not least, in a family living room storage should always be a priority. Kids make mess; that’s a fact, but that doesn’t mean your home has to be a mess. Ensure that your lounge has adequate storage space for your children’s toys, so that they can be easily put away. This is important as your living room needs to feel like an adult space, not a children’s play room.

 

Want to create a beautiful living room that you and your family will love? Then make sure to take the tips and advice above, on board.

Garden tips for small spaces

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I have recently developed a love for gardening, and consider myself very lucky to have a large garden space, big enough for a double patio, and a large lawn area for Joe. My garden is now turning into a lovely riot of colour, as the plants I bedded in spring have now sprouted and grown.

But you don’t need the space of Kew Gardens to be able to have a lovely garden area, or to get a thrill from growing your own fruit or flowers. A small backyard, or even a balcony if you live in a flat or apartment, can give you a space to make beautiful. Gardening is a hobby that has therapeutic and relaxing qualities so it is well worth setting some time aside to create your ideal space, whether it be through large pruned bushes or small potted plants.

Grasslands, the garden hedging specialists,  have created an eBook titled “How to make the most out of a small family garden” , which is full of useful hints and tips that could be helpful if you don’t have the biggest of garden spaces. The e book focuses on design tips for your garden such as which garden pots and plants are easy to maintain, but also looking at the scarier aspects of gardening,  looking specifically at which plants are to be avoided as they can be poisonous or cause irritation.
 A small garden can also need some clever design in order to make the most of the space that you have. The design of your garden,  can, for example, be helped by the garden furniture that you choose, and how you place it around your garden to maximise space. For instance, if you position your furniture in a corner facing onto all your space, your area will feel much larger and will give the impression of lots of space, even if the reality is much different.
Lots of pots can also be used,maybe to develop a small vegetable patch or a herb garden, and it is also great to get your children out into the garden, maybe giving them their own pots in which to grow their very own plants. A fairy garden or a bug box can also be a lovely idea to help your children fall in love with the garden, and see it as somewhere other than a place to throw or kick a ball.

With gardening said to help relieve stress and lower instances of depression, it seems sad to not get involved due to a lack of space, or a proper garden area. You literally just need to make the most out of what you’ve got.

 

 

 

 

 

The Day Before Moving Essential Guide

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1 Day to Go!

There is just one day to go until you move into your new home.  So here are some hints and tips to make that move easier.

  • You need to make sure you have gotten ride of any unwanted large items of furniture. These cannot be left in your former home, so using a house clearance company is a much better option, these can take all your unwanted larger items and avoid having a skip on your front garden, which can cause issues when strangers decide to dump their unwanted items in it too.
  • Make sure you have the keys to your new house secure and at hand. Pack a refreshments box for the family and removal men/helpers. All liquids and oils should be secured properly and any items not already packed and boxed need to be. All white goods should be disconnected now (if these goods are hard wired then you may need to hire an electrical to disconnect these from the mains), and the gas, electric and water meters should be read.
  • A Top tip is to take a photo of the readings with your smartphone/camera for future reference. All plumbed items such as washing machines need to be properly disconnected (see below for tips on carrying this out yourself). For larger electrical goods such as TVs, computers, etc., take photos of the back connections to help you install them properly.
  • If you have any doubts about moving larger items in the capital then it’s vital you look for a Removal Company, they can provide the experience you need to transport any large or fragile items without any worry.
  • It is also a good idea to make sure you have a toolkit with you and some old towels or rags at hand just in case you need them during the move.
  • Ensure you take your soft furnishings with you. Curtains are a must for your new home as most people take these with them when they move.
  • Triple check with the removals company that they are coming in the morning, and keep the kettle handy for a last minute cup of tea on the day of the move. This is one of the most important pieces of equipment during your house move!
  • Make sure you notify the neighbours in the new area that you are moving into your new home tomorrow and apologise for any noise or road blocking that may occur. This is also the best time to find out if there is sufficient parking and road access for that day (i.e. no road closures are planned) and ensure you have the route confirmed.
  • Finally, ensure the children are looked after for the move, then get as good a night’s sleep as possible!