Don't Restrict The Use Of Blinds Just For Windows!

The humble blind has more uses than purely window treatments. With a little ingenuity and the necessity to either keep the sun light out along with prying eyes, blinds of all types can be used throughout your home.

Roller or Roman blinds are ideal to use on back doors which are half glass. Wonderful country cottage looks can be achieved using either a plain neutral colour or a beautiful floral fabric, whilst modern homes look equally stunning with bold stripes or patterned blinds.

Blinds are also a great way to cover shelving in alcoves in older styles of home as they are easy to operate along with giving full exposure to the space when it needs to be utilised. Venetian blinds can work equally as well to give a contemporary look when the latest mirrored or perforated designs are used.

Swag and tail curtains typically are used in conjunction with a roller or vertical blinds as this enables privacy at night without having to disrupt the glorious chic look of the curtains. Homes which have pristine window dressing, such as swags and tails, which always look immaculate are created by always leaving the curtains exactly in place! This 'trick of the trade' can also be used to have stunning window dressings without having to have the usual amounts of curtain fabric, however once you have made the choice just to have swags and tails for show only, you will not be able to close them completely even if you wanted to, so give careful consideration as to the disadvantages this may have particularly during the winter months when you need to reduce heat loss through your windows by closing the curtains at night.

Image: My Notting Hill

Inexpensive Bathroom Makeovers To Beat The Winter Blues!

One of the latest design trends is 'colour clashing' or choosing colours which are not usually recognised as being compatible. An excellent example of this is lime green coordinated with plum or aubergine or burnt orange teamed with ochre. Therefore if you have an old style bathroom suite colour of sage green coordinating with white tiles along with stripped floorboards, also painted white, and replacing your current window dressing with a white blind will provide a striking style which will not appear so out of fashion!

Likewise if you have a powder blue bath opt for a contemporary look by decorating the room with a vibrant contrasting colours such as post box red for a trendy and fun look. Of course you can always opt for a vintage look by coordinating powder blue with candy floss pink, along with a floral theme which provides a country cottage style with touches of pale green or cream.

Change the blinds for styles with spotty fabric in sherbet shades and add a chair with the seat recovered in a candy coloured stripes. Include vintage pieces such as large jugs and bowls to add focal points to the room, along with subtle touches of cohesion by having towels edged with the same fabric as the chair seat or blinds.

Above all have fun mixing colours and rather than be depressed by your old bathroom suite turn it to your advantage by simply adding new aspects which will lift your morale and beat the winter blues!

Image: Belle Maison

The 4 C's ! Create Colour Coordinated Chic!

You have probably heard of the three R's in the UK, but have you ever heard of the 4 C's?
* Create
* Colour
* Coordinated
* Chic

Interior design styles which are easy to achieve and inexpensive can easily be put together if you think of the 4 C's!

Create: How you create your interior design style reflects your personality and shows people more than you may expect about yourself and your preferred lifestyle! Therefore think wisely about your choices, don't merely opt for the latest fashion fad in interior design, create styles which you enjoy and love being in!

Colour: The colours you choose says a lot about you! And whilst you may not be one for old wives tales and past folklore, colour therapists will beg to differ as the colour used in your home has hidden meanings whether you are aware of them or not!

Coordinated: Coordinating does not necessarily mean everything has to match. What it does mean it that to create a coordinated look to your home you should choose colours which compliment each other, along with a strong accent colour. The term 'strong' does not have to be taken literally, meaning you have to have at least one controlling shade or tone! Soft pastels such as soft candy pink or duck egg blue can be excellent accent colours for white or ivory rooms. Use accent colours for blinds, curtains, cushions and rugs and you will pull the room together to give a sense of balance and cohesion.

Chic: This term may be open to debate and misinterpretation as one person's perception of chic may be miles apart from someone else's! The basic principle here is to keep rooms purposeful and meaning full. You can mix colours and designs to create a chic interiors which ooze stunning style, as long as they work well for you and you are comfortable living with them!

Images: Habitually Chic