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Choosing a colour scheme

January 19, 2012 By

When you look around your home, do you feel that you’re in need of a change? As the old saying goes, a change is as good as a rest, so go with your instinct and make some changes to the look of your home.

It’s best to tackle one room at a time, otherwise the process can be overwhelming. Depending on how far you’re taking your renovation project, working on more than one room at a time can be hard on your budget, too.

However, if you do plan to go through the whole house, then before you start, consider the colour scheme you have in mind and whether this is something you want to run through the house or not.

The living room is often the best place to start. Most people spend a lot of time in this room – for some it’s a sanctuary to relax and watch TV, for others it’s the place they invite the world and his wife into, and use it as a space to entertain in.

If yours is your sanctuary, it’s a good idea to pick calming colours and tones. Neutrals are great, as are soft blues, greens and yellows. Bear in mind how the light falls from the window though – if it’s a north facing room then blues and greens can look a little cold. Pick a warmer hue if that’s the case.

If your living room is your entertaining space, then you might want to pick some bolder, more vibrant colours. Reds and oranges are quite daring, but can give the room a completely different kind of energy. Again, consider how daylight will affect your colour choices.

Finally, decide if you want the colours to come from the walls, the flooring or the furniture within the room. There is a great supply of cheap furniture available online and on the high street, so if you pick something loud and then aren’t so sure when you get it home, you can always return it to the store. It’s better to avoid this when possible as it’s more hassle than you think to get something like a sofa ‘undelivered’. Visit a sofas sale and take your time trying out the different models – it’s better to take your time choosing, than buy in haste and regret your choice.

Once you’ve got the living room finished, you’ll be able to move onto the rest of your house, knowing you have one perfect room to relax in while you’re working on the others!

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Ten Top Tips for House Movers

December 17, 2011 By

Moving house is a massive upheaval for everyone involved, and is right up there with bereavement and divorce for the amount of stress it can cause. Somehow it is never straightforward, and there is always something which pops up on a report or a problem further down the train which thwarts what ought to be a fairly simple operation. If you are currently in the process of moving house then my heart really does go out to you. To help you out – especially if you are making your first purchase, here are ten things you need to think about when buying a house:

  1. Get your finances in order before you start looking. Find out what you can afford on a monthly basis for a mortgage, and don’t forget to consider all the other regular expenses such as council tax and energy bills.

  2. Don’t forget how much it costs to move either by the time you have paid solicitors fees, the estate agent and house movers. Get it right so you don’t have to do it again soon!

  3. Sell your current property before you start looking for your perfect new home. It sounds obvious but many people get giddy and immediately start planning where they will put their bed accessories in the first house they view and by the time they have sold it is off the market. Don’t get ahead of yourselves!

  4. Decide on a geographical area. This might be to do with where you work, good schools or just somewhere you fancy. Agree in advance with anyone you are buying with to save arguments.

  5. Always buy the best you can afford. Even though property prices fluctuate the typical trend is for them to rise in the long term so invest wisely but don’t over stretch.

  6. Consider the amount of DIY involved. If you are handy with a hammer then great – if not be wary of massive projects.

  7. Don’t cut corners. Get all the proper surveys and paperwork done so you don’t end up buying a dud; and don’t ignore any issues raised just because you love the place.

  8. Don’t forget to think about what you might need to buy to furnish your new home – it is all extra costs. Beds to fill those extra bedrooms might be best purchased on finance: see Sleepmasters.co.uk for a great range.

  9. Suss out the neighbours. If you are going to live somewhere for a long time it really does matter who lives next door.

  10. Go and view the house as many times as you want before you make an offer: don’t be apologetic about repeat visits, the vendor should accommodate you if they really want to make the sale.

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How to care for your leather sofa

December 6, 2011 By

If you’re planning to treat yourself to a leather sofa in the January sofas sale, make sure you know how to care for it as well.

Leather needs special care and should be conditioned or moisturized to prevent it from cracking and peeling, and to keep its shine.

First off – give your leather sofas and chairs a thorough vacuuming, and only ever brush them with the softest of fine bristled brushes.

Then wipe the leather with a soft duster without using any products at all at this stage. Now make up a very gentle solution to wipe it down with – using a tiny amount of detergent in warm water – or even a moisturising soap as you’d use in the shower. Clean the furniture gently by wiping it all over with a cloth slightly dampened in the solution, then repeat this process with clean non-soapy water to rinse it, and dry it, again with soft cloths.

You can see that leather furniture is like looking after your own skin. Because it is skin, at the end of the day.

So when it’s dry, it’s time to moisturise the leather. Be sure to read the supplier’s instructions at this point. If your leather furniture came with a moisturiser, then it’s safest to use this and to buy more of the same brand when needed. If not, check with the seller whether the leather has been treated or if it’s natural. If it’s the latter, just follow the manufacturer’s guidelines.

If your sofa wasn’t supplied with a moisturising solution, or if you have an old or second-hand one, then there are lots of specialist products available out there. You can even use actual moisturisers intended for skin, or Vaseline. Just try a small test area first in an area that won’t be seen.

Gently rub the moisturiser into the lather and wipe and wipe away any excess with a soft clean cloth. This should help your leather last for many years.

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Home improvement step by step

November 10, 2011 By

Making home improvements is vital if you’re looking to increase the value of a property with a view to selling at some point, but it can sometimes seem like a mammoth and never-ending task. Tackle each element one at a time however, and you’ll soon find it’s not as daunting as it first seems.
Whether you’re looking to make home improvements because you wish to increase the value of your house with a view to making a sale sometime in the future or simply because you want it to look nicer just for you, there is plenty you can do to improve the look of your home.
Of course, there are the big jobs, such as loft extensions, conservatories, and patios. These large jobs will take time and money and will usually require the assistance of experts. But there are plenty of home improvement jobs you can do yourself without spending huge amounts of time and money.
Start with the interior décor. Does your wallpaper need redoing or is there paintwork that’s chipped and peeling? Fixing issues such as these will make your home much more inviting and appealing to prospective buyers, and to you!
Next, consider the furniture in your home. If your living room is in serious need of a pick-me-up in the home furnishings department, see what great bargains you can track down in the next sofa sale. And if your dining room is looking neglected, consider investing in a new set of dining furniture. Look at each room in your house and decide what the priority in that room is, and plan your purchases accordingly.
Making small changes to your home on a room-by-room basis like this will soon see the overall look of your home improved no end. As a result, you’ll find you have a much more attractive property, both for any potential buyers, and for you!

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Hire a house painter or not?

July 12, 2011 By

Nothing lasts for ever and this obviously includes house paint. After some time, a mix of daylight, moisture and exposure to the elements causes house paint to skin away from the exterior and become ugly. So far as DIY repairs are concerned house painting isn’t technically hard for a householder to perform, however it can be time-intensive, sloppy and physically demanding. Hiring a pro house painter could seem like a realistic alternative, and in numerous cases it is. But the services of a pro house painter don’t always come at cheap prices, and finding a trustworthy house painter in the height of construction season is not necessarily straightforward. [Read more...]

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Painting Cement and Concrete Floors

July 7, 2011 By

Cement or concrete floors are sometimes covered with carpeting in houses. If it is tricky to keep carpeting clean or you’re trying to find a cheaper option to purchasing new carpeting, a cement floor can look neat if you paint it. [Read more...]

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