Getting on the housing ladder is no easy feat today. Expensive and hard to get mortgages, combined with high house prices, mean that choices can be limited for first time buyers. Sometimes, you may have to accept that you simply can’t afford to buy your dream home. But what if you could buy a property and then convert it in to the place of your dreams? If that appeals to you then a fixer-upper might be the answer.

What is a fixer-upper?

It’s effectively a property that needs work. The ideal fixer-upper is one that is structurally sound but requires some attention when it comes to interior design. Structural issues could be very expensive to fix and you may also struggle to get a mortgage for a property that is in a really dire state of disrepair. So, if this is the choice you’re planning to make then look for a property that has enough challenge to push the price down but is still within your DIY skills and experience to fix up.

The benefits of a fixer-upper

• You could live in a great neighbourhood. If you’re all about the location then a house that’s seen better days but is located in a perfect part of town provides the opportunity to, one day, be a great home in a great part of town.
• The fixing up process will add value. Any work that you do to the property should add to its value. So, from the moment you begin renovating the bathroom or redoing the floors, the fixer-upper starts to increase in value as an investment.
• You can design the property exactly as you want it to be. With a fixer-upper you’re effectively starting from scratch so you can design and renovate it to suit your own personal tastes. If you have plans to sell it on later it’s worth remembering others may not have the same taste when you’re considering black walls or bright green carpeting.
• You should get more space for your cash. Generally, you’ll pay more for your space if that space has already been beautifully renovated. If the space is a bit of a wreck then the price per square metre is going to be considerably less and so you’ll be getting more space for your money. This could be an important factor if you can’t borrow as much as you would like. If this applies to you then a cheaper fixer-upper home may be your best idea to create extra space.

The potential cons of a fixer-upper

• You may spend more than you planned to. If you blow your budget then you may have to sell almost straight away, which could defeat the object of owning a fixer-upper to get onto the housing ladder.
• You may never finish the project. Living in a building site is not much fun, even if it means you’re on the housing ladder.
• The housing market could take a dive. House prices have proven pretty resilient but if they do take a sharp dip then you may find yourself with a fixer-upper already worth considerably less than what you paid for it.

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Recent surveys have indicated that the bathroom is a key area affecting potential buyers in their choice of home. Here’s how to make the most of your smallest room.

You only have to look at the bathrooms in high-end show homes to know how important the bathroom is in the purchasing decision of a home. New house builders have done their research and even in the smallest homes and smallest bathrooms, they will have made them appealing to our senses and our desire for a little bit of luxury in our bathing experience. Soft towels, scented soaps, shiny taps and gleaming tiles all contribute to the atmosphere of a private haven. The reality of many bathrooms may be far from this ideal with grubby grout and dated, patterned ceramic tiles but the purchase of a new home has much to do with fulfilling a dream.

But, of course, before you can fulfil that dream you will probably have to sell your existing home, and, whilst an attractive bathroom will help to sell a house, similarly an unattractive bathroom will put off potential buyers of your home. So when preparing your home to show to potential buyers make sure you focus some of your time and energy on making the bathroom look as good as possible.

The first area to concentrate on is clearing out the clutter to make your bathroom look as large as possible. Remove children’s toys (maybe keeping just one favourite bath-time toy), and excessive bottles of shower gel and other toiletries; such items not only cause clutter but make the space very personalised and prevent potential buyers from imagining themselves living in the house. Consider buying a few luxury toiletries and fluffy new towels to display when potential buyers are viewing – after all you can take these with you when you move to help you start creating your new luxury bathroom.

If you have a shower curtain then these very quickly become mouldy or discoloured so replace it with a new, clean one – maybe one that complements the colour of your new towels. And make sure that the room is always well-ventilated – damp, musty smells will quickly build up in even the cleanest bathrooms simply due to the constant damp atmosphere created in them every day.

The next area to deal with is cleanliness: scrub the toilet, clean the sink and the bath, and polish the taps. If you live in a hard water area and don’t have a water softener then these cleaning tasks are a real chore and will need to be done every time you have a viewing if you wish the bathroom to look its best – taps in particular really suffer from limescale build up from hard water.

Next, tackle all the tiled areas, both walls and floors. The tile surfaces around the basin, bath and shower area can become dull from the build up of soap scum and mouldy or discoloured grout can add to the neglected look. There is a whole range of cleaning products aimed at returning our bathroom tiles to their original glory so chose the one best suited to you needs, not forgetting good old-fashioned bleach for cleaning the grout.

If the grout between your tiles cannot be rescued by good, old-fashioned scrubbing then consider removing all the grout and replacing it or, in the worst situations, consider replacing dated ceramic tiles with shiny new porcelain tiles. An updated bathroom could just be the thing that clinches your house sale.

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In the mind of a teen, the bedroom is a personal space that reflects independence, individuality, social status, dreams, and so much more. The bedroom is the one place in the universe that adolescents can call their own.

When selecting unique beds, decor and accessories to update your teenager’s bedroom, a collaborative approach is the one most likely to lead to a successful makeover – price, design and functionality – that will allow everyone in your household to rest easy. You may not be able to afford those glossy black Versace designer tiles but, at least, you will have worked together with you teen to find the next best thing.

As you set about working with your teen, keep in mind that 13-year-olds soon become 18-year-olds and their tastes will change much faster than their shoe size. That means building flexibility into every choice, from the colour of paint or paper for the walls to the size of the bed and mattress. Today, your teen daughter may still need space for her dolls and stuffed animals. In the blink of an eye, shoes, makeup, personal electronics, and photos of friends and rock stars will become her dominant companions.

There is an as-yet unnamed law of nature that directly correlates the age of your teen to the ever-expanding amount of storage space that will be required to maintain all of your son’s or daughter’s stuff. Thus, early in the planning for your teen bedroom renovation, you should give ample consideration to not only where you’ll put your teen’s current accumulation, but also where you plan to deposit the inevitable sprawl.

Begin With Storage

For starters, consider buying a hardwood, American-made platform bed from Stuart David Home Furnishings. These durable beds, available in a variety of woods and finishes, can accommodate as many as 12 spacious drawers without encroaching on floor space.

A blanket chest need not be used for bedding alone. Chests make for great catchalls, capable of digesting oversized sports equipment, school art projects, exercise paraphernalia, and memorabilia. When grandma and grandpa drop in unannounced and your teen’s room is a disaster zone, grab whatever is cluttering the floor or the bed and dump it in the chest. As they say, “out of sight, and no one will be any the wiser.”

To stay ahead of the inescapable storage wars that you and your teen will face, Stuart David Home Furnishings offers a selection of uppers and bridges. While those may sound like apparatuses that your orthodontist will recommend along with your teen’s braces, they are actually solid wood, handcrafted hutches and add-on furniture that are designed to frame your teen’s bed, providing ample extra storage and display space. Paired with bookcases and storage towers, all available in multiple woods and dozens of finishes, this collection of furniture for teenagers can make order from just about any teenage jumble.

Experiment moving your teen’s current bedroom furniture around and engage your son or daughter in helping to plan the new layout. Doing so makes for a memorable parent-child experience and also transmits a message of trust in your teen’s judgment.

Furniture for Teenagers

Beyond the bed and storage units, if the available space is large enough parents may want to consider other furniture options for their teenager’s bedroom.

An obvious first choice is a desk, where your teen can focus on homework and other creative undertakings. Investing in a custom quality desk in your new home sends your teens a message of encouragement; that as they grow up and prepare for college, you entrust them to take their studies seriously. For smaller bedrooms, you may wish to add a more compact library table, available with one or two-drawers.

A bedroom loveseat or even a full sofa is optional furniture for teenagers. These provide teens a casual place to read, watch television, listen to music, and chat with their friends. Your teen can focus on style and color while you pay attention to durability and stain resistance.

Accessories can go a long way towards personalizing your teen’s bedroom. Step stools, benches, stereo cabinets, lamps, and rugs all allow your son or daughter to bring a distinctive style to the bedroom. Throw pillows are inexpensive and easily double as floor seating. Like bed linen, you can swap out the pillows to give the bedroom a fresh look as your teen’s tastes mature.

Decorative Ideas

With the major components of your teen’s upgraded bedroom in place, you and your son or daughter can focus your attention on decorations. If your teen is artistic, framing hand-drawn art, paintings, or photography is always a wonderful way to show support for your teen’s creative side.

For those adolescents who excel elsewhere, think about framing and hanging awards, poetry they’ve written, or photos of them with family members and friends. A bulletin board comes in handy for posting to-do lists, a photo calendar, and cards or letters they receive from family members and friends.

Framed posters can totally transfigure your teen’s bedroom. Younger teens may favour actors and other entertainers. But the wall space can also be a great way to introduce your teen to fine or decorative art by purchasing quality, framed reprints.

Not all families have enough rooms in their home to let their teens have their own bedroom. If that’s the case in your house or apartment, it’s no reason that each child sharing a single room can’t make the space reflect his or her individuality. The bookcases, bridges, and uppers from Stuart David Home Furnishings allow parents to specify individual shelves or cubicles that each child in the room owns and decorates. Likewise, giving each child a dedicated nightstand can save lots of squabbling over whose stuff belongs where. Even the bedroom’s walls can be ‘zoned’ for the exclusive use of each child.

Limited on space but want that bookcase look and storage space? A bookcase headboard can always be attached to a footboard to give you the custom look you want without sacrificing your favorite style choice.

Also consider a twin-queen convertible beds for your teen’s bedroom whicht is both practical and able to adapt with constantly changing tastes. Accent it with companion bookcases on one or both sides; you can even attach a return desk to either side!

The usefulness of a convertile bed doesn’t stop there however. Even after your bird has left the nest, you can continue to use it as a guest bed for your new office or sewing room.

If parents could peer into the future, they would see themselves some years from now when their children have moved out and they are standing at the doorway of their teen’s old bedroom, reminiscing about days gone by.

The years do pass quickly, but the furnishings and decorations can bring back a flood of happy memories. Indeed, the time and money you invest now remaking your teen’s bedroom will frame your memories well beyond your children’s teenage years. What you are really designing is not simply a bedroom with accessories. It is a lifetime legacy – both yours and theirs.

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Wet rooms are a fast growing trend in bathroom design, and when created with care and attention they can add real value to your home as well as making it a much nicer place for you to spend your time and, as you get older, a safer more convenient way of bathing.

It is a popular misconception that wet rooms only work well in sizeable bathrooms and rooms with a solid concrete floor. In reality, any size bathroom has the potential to be a fantastic wet room, no matter what the size or where it is located – on the ground floor or upstairs with traditional wooden floorboards. In very large bathrooms, the wet room area can be a feature of an otherwise more traditional bathroom, and in a smaller room, turning it into a wet room can create an illusion of extra space as well as ridding the room of the conventional space hogging shower cubicle and other features.

If you are considering a wet room project in your house, you should make sure you have paid attention to all the major considerations at the early design stages, to avoid costly mistakes or modifications later on in the project.

If you are planning for your old age and wish to stay in you home rather than move into a residential care home then the right type of wetroom is essential. If well-designed it will enable you to opt for live-in homecare rather than a care home later in life. Did you know that the No Place Like Home report from the Live-in Care Hub revealed that 97% of people would rather be cared for in their own homes even when they become frail or ill.

So here are some of the main things to think about when designing your ideal wet room at home:

1. Drainage – The drain should be located at a sufficient distance from the bathroom door in order to avoid water running out of the room.
2. Safety – The tiles for wet room floors need to be safe to walk on when wet, so go for specially designed wet room tiles or non-slip floor tiles.
3. Ventilation – Adequate ventilation is an essential element, so go for an automatic extractor fan, ideally one which is fitted with a humidistat.
4. Layout – A wet room does not need to be one big, wet box. Shower screens make nice features in the room, and can also serve to give the user some privacy as well as preventing other bathroom fittings from getting wet.
5. Flooring – Usually the floor will need to be raised around 5 centimetres to allow for the installation of the waste pipe underneath the floor. It should also slope slightly towards the drain to help the water run in the right direction.
6. Style – The benefits of a wet room are maximised if a minimalistic attitude is taken to the furnishing and layout. If you don’t want to sacrifice completely the traditional bathroom look, then you could consider a large walk in shower at one end of an otherwise regular bathroom.
7. Strength – The room must be able to support the weight of the tiles and other materials. In some properties this may mean strengthening the floor before construction begins depending on the size of the room and the types of tiles chosen. Porcelain tiles are typically heavier than ceramic tiles, although they have many other advantages.
8. Leaks – It goes without saying that water tightness in a wet room is of paramount importance. If you don’t have the skills to ensure your tiling is fully waterproof, then get an expert in to do this part of the construction for you, but if you plan to give it a go yourself – see our further advice on waterproofing below.

Waterproofing a Wet Room

Wet rooms are no longer seen as a luxury and are becoming more and more popular in ordinary homes as waterproofing methods improve. But just how do you waterproof a wet room?

Shower designs are becoming ever more sophisticated and more and more people expect or desire a more luxurious showering experience than would have been typical even just 5 years ago. It is often on their tick list when moving house. Combined with improving technology in waterproofing, tiling products and shower accessories it is now possible for even the humblest of homes to have a stylish wet room installed.

There are different ways to waterproof and install a wet room but if it is being done in an existing house rather than in a new-build (where options are greater because floor levels can be built to suit the wet room) then the most common method is to raise the floor level with a concrete screed and then install a flush concealed former that will help to ensure that the tiled floor surface is the correct angle for good drainage. Wet room formers come in a range of standard sizes but can also be manufactured to any shape and size you desire.

Once the former is in place the whole room, floors and walls, needs to be waterproofed before the tiles are fixed in place. Making sure the room is completely water tight is the most essential part of installing any wet room and whilst ceramic or porcelain tiles with a waterproof grout may be waterproof enough for an enclosed shower tray and surround or for a shower over a bath, they are not considered adequate enough for a shower area without a tray or a surround.

So never skimp on the waterproofing step.

The best way to create a fully water tight area is to use a waterproofing product that creates a barrier between the tiles and the floor or walls. One way of doing this is to lay a waterproof membrane, which is glued to the surface in non-overlapping panels with the joins between the panels then sealed with waterproof tape. The disadvantage of this type of waterproofing is that there is the potential for leakage if the waterproof panels shift over time to expose the joints.

The other option is to apply a waterproofing chemical product (many of which are environmentally friendly mineral-based products) which eliminates any concern about water leaking through gaps as it is applied in a single, continuous coat using a roller or spreader to any type of surface. Different products are available depending on the absorbency of the underlying substrate.

Whatever type of waterproofing you choose it will then be necessary to apply waterproof tape to all the wall-floor joints and corners before the substrate is ready for laying the chosen natural stone, porcelain or ceramic tiles.

Any type of water resistant tiling is suitable for a wetroom but bear in mind that some of the very large porcelain tiles now available might be difficult to cut to the required angle in order to create the correct slope towards the drain. The smaller the tile the easier it is to create the correct gradient; also small tiles, with their proportionally larger areas of grouting, will usually be more slip-resistant than large porcelain tiles.

For this reason mosaic tiles or small ceramic tiles tend to be more popular for the showering area of the wet room. For the design-conscious, large porcelain tiles can be used in the main part of the room and on the walls with complementary mosaics in the shower area.

Use a flexible adhesive to ensure surface stability if there is any movement in the floor over time and an anti-fungicidal, waterproof grout to install the tiles and finally seal all wall-floor joints with a silicone sealant. Most adhesives and grouts are suitable for all types of ceramic tiles, porcelain tiles and natural stone but if you have some very delicate stone check with the supplier for advice as some delicate natural stones are susceptible to staining from certain types of adhesive and grout.

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The whole meaning of life is about trying to find a place for your stuff, according to Carlin – that’s all your house is – a pile of things with a lid on – just a place to keep your stuff while you go out to get more!

What’s more the whole self storage industry has grown up because people need a place to keep the stuff that won’t fit in their houses but they still want to keep.

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A wedding is an expensive business but your first home together is also important. If you’ve spent a lot on your nuptials then you probably have lots of wonderful memories but not much spare change when it comes to your home interiors. Luckily, setting up your dream home together doesn’t have to cost a fortune, as there is plenty that you can do with a limited budget.

You won’t need to borrow money for these simple tips but if you can borrow (or want to) – or better still have parents who’ll help out  then think about investing in a single, statement piece for your home. One or two statement pieces that will inject new energy into your interiors and you can turn your attention to the rest of the space when you have more cash. A designer light fighting could change the feel of a room, for example, or a new headboard could give your sleeping space a freshly luxurious feel.

But back to the cheap, quick tips…

Painting is cheap and cheerful

If you don’t have a lot of spare cash for home décor then painting is a wise spend. A new coat of paint will instantly cheer up tired old walls and can also be used to make a design statement. Try a statement wall in an intense shade or give your whole home a minimal feel with bright white in every room.

Rethink your lighting

If you’re not happy with your current rooms then reevaluating the lighting that you currently have can be a great way to make cheap changes. Lighting makes all the difference to a room – replace harsh overhead lights with standing lamps, spotlights or table lamps and the space will feel totally different.

Don’t underestimate the impact of soft furnishings

Big purchases like a new sofa or a bed can destroy a newlywed’s home décor budget but you don’t have to buy big and brand new to make changes. For example, instead of buying a new bed, try covering your existing bed in colourful, luxurious scatter cushions or add bright pillows to an older sofa to give it a lift. Curtains and blinds can also really make a difference to the feel of a space. If you have dark curtains that are gathering dust then replace these with lighter colours in lightweight fabrics and the room will feel like new.

Get a rug or two

Flooring can be one of the most expensive things to replace in a property, whether you’re treating floorboards or putting down new carpets. For now, until your budget has recovered from the wedding, investing in a rug can be just as effective at giving the room a lift without going to the trouble and expense of a new carpet or a specialist floorboard treatment. Plus, if you get bored of the rug next year then just switch it out for something new.

Buy a mirror

Especially for smaller rooms, one of the best interiors tricks is to add a mirror to one wall to make it feel more spacious. Ideally, place the mirror opposite a light source so that the light bounces off the glass to open the room up.

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When you move home things can be stressful, there’s no getting away from that fact. However, there are plenty of aspects of the move that can be adjusted to run more smoothly, such as ensuring the moving van you use is the right size. The moving van is such an important tool in the moving process if it is too big you pay extra for space you don’t need and if it is too small you are either left paying for extra journeys or you are left with items to transport yourself.

So it definitely pays (literally) to get in the professionals such as specialist packers and movers PackAndGo who will save you time and hassle. But it also pays to know your options so here are some top tips to make sure the moving van you hire is perfect for your needs:

Medium Wheelbase Transit

This is the smallest van you can hire for moving house and it probably isn’t suitable if you’ve got a whole house to move. It is a good option though if you’re moving a bit at a time, or perhaps you’re moving some items into self storage. You can fit around one big piece of furniture like a sofa or bed in the van, or around 25 standard boxes.

Long Wheelbase Transit

A long wheelbase offers you more room than a medium wheel based transit and can take all of the items from one room. It works well for a young couple moving their items to a new home or to cheap self storage.

3.5 Tonne Van

A van of this size can move an entire home with boxes, furniture and other items. This kind of vehicle offers a one-trip move and works well for one or two bedroomed homes.

7.5 Tonne Lorry

This is the largest vehicle available for moving and can move an entire 3 bedroomed home including beds and furniture, plus kitchen items and boxes. You really wouldn’t want to hire this vehicle unless you needed all of this space.

Bigger Options

If you have more to move than a large 3 bedroom house then you will need to use multiple lorries and vans. It may be a case of using several vehicles or making several trips to get the items to your new home or to the cheap self storage unit.

How To Make Sure You Get The Right Size Moving Van

The best thing you can do if you plan to hire the van alone and move yourself is to assess how many boxes and items you need to move, then let the hire company know so they can recommend the right vehicle for you. For larger moves it might be worth using a removal company who will come to your home and assess exactly what you would need to move everything to your home or self storage unit.

Remember to try and be as accurate as possible when it comes to estimating what needs moving. If possible, moving items to a cheap self storage unit in your own time and then slowly moving everything into your new home removes the chance of a manic and stressful moving day where a whole house needs to be moved and in place in 24 hours. With a lot of research and planning you’re more likely to ensure your moving day is as streamlined as possible.

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1. Make a list…..or 6

Writing things down will be your saving grace when you move home. You might not think it now but you will certainly think it as you begin to pack up your belongings and again when you try to find them all in your new house.

2. Keep a record

Create a simple record system so you know what is in each box and where in your new house it needs to go. You may want to colour code this system to make it easy to see what box goes where when you arrive at your new home. Consider storage units for your most unused boxes and make sure they’re taken to their temporary home first.

3. Moving strategy

No matter if you are moving a short distance or relocating to the other end of the country, organising your moving strategy in plenty of time allows you to organise transport and arrange timings for the big day. You may be employing a moving company or just getting together a few helpful friends with big cars; either way, organising early will cut stress on the day.

4. Keep your movers in the loop

If you know you are going to be moving several big and heavy items then it is vital you let your moving team know beforehand. You don’t want your move delayed because they don’t have enough men to lift your grand piano or enough room in the van for your 3 door fridge freezer. Better still use professional packers and movers such as PackAndGo to avoid additional stress and hassle if you have extra large, unusual of valuable possessions.

5. De-clutter

Take this opportunity to get rid of all the clutter and old clothes in your home as you pack. Gives you less things to pack and you can finally get rid of those flairs you’ve been waiting to come back into fashion.

6. Use your luggage

Use suitcases and duffle bags to transport clothes on your move. They are easily recognisable and you can put in all of your favourite clothes so even if unpacking each box takes millennia, you will still have your favourite jeans and hoodies when you want them.

7. Personalised boxes

Grab a couple of cheap, coloured plastic boxes; one for every member of the household. Everyone can then put in some bits they will need immediately after moving such as phone chargers, a towel, toiletries and a set of bedding. Then no matter what time you arrive at your new home you all have at least the basics to last until you can face the mountain of boxes.

8. Keep important paperwork with you

Birth certificates, passports, etc. should be kept with you during the move and not shoved in a box in the removal van to ensure they are safe and you know exactly where they are.

9. Keep pets out of the way

If you have a pet it is a good idea to find someone to pet-sit them for a day or take them to a kennel or cattery just for the day while you organise the move. A pet is likely to be spooked by all the activity and you run the risk of them running away or just being under your feet throughout the move.

10. Keep the tea bags and cups handy

Pack your cups, kettle, tea bags and milk last as moving house is thirsty work! A good brew has the power to make things seem brighter and your moving men will sure appreciate a good cuppa too. Following the tips above can make your house move much e

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When the nights draw in and the weather cools down, we naturally start behaving a little differently. Cooling showers are quickly replaced with long hot soaks in the bath, fresh zesty cold salads are replaced with hot filling stews and soups, and we start spending a lot more time inside the home for cosy nights in on the sofa.

Because of this, the light, airy decor we adored in summer simply doesn’t work anymore, as we desire soft, tactile materials, warm tones and comfort to match the change in season.

If you’re feeling the need to nest and turn your home into a cosy retreat to enjoy while the weather continues to go downhill outside, these easy tips should give you some inspiration:

1. Tartan & Plaid

Tartan and plaid have been big news with hight street fashion over the last few winters, and their appearance doesn’t just stop at clothes. Plaid cushions, throws, laminate floor tiles and even stuffed toys and Christmas decorations have happily formed part of key winter interior design trends in some shape or form, several seasons in a row. If you want to instantly add warmth to your house, add some plaid and tartan.

2. Signature Quilts & Throws

To keep your heating bill down, and to instantly cosy up your bedroom, add a quilt or throw to your bed. With throws, opt for chunky knits or luxury faux fur in a neutral colour that will go with most of your bedding. With quilts, consider investing in a high quality patchwork or unique print that will last you for years, or even consider making your own. If you’re a bit crafty, this could be a great project to enjoy enabling you to make something that will look fabulous on your bed every winter that can be passed down through the generations.

3. Smells

The way your home feels isn’t just about how it looks, its also a lot to do with how it smells. Ever walked into a home that smells of freshly baked bread and instantly warmed to your surroundings? Or walked into a kitchen or bathroom with a strong pine or bleach scent and instantly identified it as being clean? Smells are incredibly powerful, and could be just what you need to add cosiness to your home. Cranberry, oranges and spices like cinnamon all add a warming winter smell to your home. There are plug-ins and air fresheners available, but where possible natural smells are the best. Try piercing oranges with cloves and putting them in a bowl, or adding pine cones to your fire when you’re burning wood.

4. Textures Matter

During summer, we tend to strip materials back to thin cottons and linens that are cooling on the skin. During winter, it’s all about layering up and playing with thicker, warmer textures. Wool, chunky knits, velvet, faux fur cushions, and also opulent looking and feeling fabrics like silks all add to a warmer feel. Try to layer up areas like sofas and beds from the sheets up, putting different textures on top of each other. For example your duvet cover is cotton, and you place a fine knit hanging throw over the top, followed by a thick faux fur throw and a combination of velvet and silk cushions. It is also important to remember this rule with all surfaces. For example; a cold floor tile could benefit from a beautiful chunky rug, or a raw brick or plain wall tile could look great with some 3D art added to it.

, wools, chunky knits, velvet cushions and also opulent looking and feeling fabrics like silks all add to a warmer feel. Try to layer up areas like sofas and beds from the sheets up, putting different textures on top of each other. For example your duvet cover is cotton, and you place a fine knit hanging throw over the top, followed by a thick faux fur throw and a combination of velvet and silk cushions. It is also important to remember this rule with all surfaces. For example; a cold floor tile could benefit from a beautiful chunky rug, or a raw brick or plain wall tile could look great with some 3D art added to it.

Don’t be afraid to play with texture to add depth to your interior design.

Remember, interior design is as much about colour schemes and trends as it is about imagination, creativity and having an open mind. Have fun, experiment and enjoy online image sharing sites as sources of inspiration.

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