Are you renovating? Will you be spending your weekend searching for authentic original bricks to rebuild walls? Can you learn seventeenth century lace weaver techniques so you can accurately repair the worn-through curtains which would have been common for the time? Renovating refers to the repairing of that which is already there and making it work as it should. So if your Grade II homestead is being routinely flooded with rain because of the hole in the roof, you will be renovating. If you’re looking to add an extension and put in a new kitchen diner, you are planning a refurbishment.

Does it matter if I’m doing an old home renovation or refurbishment – or a bit of both?

Not so much nowadays. Once upon a time, if a wall fell down on a listed building, the owner could only use bricks from the correct time period and area to rebuild. Later, conservation thinking changed to allow the use of modern materials. This then became a part of the story of the building, as different materials and methods reflected the building’s history.

Where to start with an old home renovation

If you’re looking to sell, then be aware of what today’s homeowners and renters are looking for. Buyers will tear out kitchens and bathrooms and make them their own, so you’re better off getting them deep cleaned. The roof, on the other hand, is something you need to fix. Any damp will also need to be addressed. As long as the bones are sound, you’re in good shape. Anything else is just cosmetic.

If you’re looking to live in the old but neglected family homestead, especially while the work goes on around you, first, nail some stress release techniques. Then move bathrooms and kitchens to the top of the list.

You may want to consider having a home survey done. Having recently purchased a house, I was surprised by what the home buyer survey revealed – very little in the way of facts. They basically look at things closely, which is what I did when I saw the house. They coach things in a lot of ‘maybe’ sentences which I suspect can be copied and pasted from one report to the other. So go crazy and fork out for the developer’s report. It will tell you the horrible truth about the structure of the house, and if you’re spending money on an old home renovation, you need the truth, whether you can handle it or not.

Old home renovation combines with technology

Obviously you’ll be enjoying traditional design with modern conveniences with your old home renovation, like plumbing and up to date electrics. It’s also the perfect time to invest in eco-friendly devices.

When it comes to keeping heat in, your windows will be key. But what if you’ve been forbidden to install triple glazing in your Grade II listed ancestral homestead? All is not lost, thanks to cellular blinds. By trapping air in their honeycomb design, and combined with a reflective backing, cellular blinds will help keep heat in when it’s blisteringly cold, and reflect heat away on a hot summer’s day. With cellular blinds, you can keep your energy bill down without compromising your old home renovation.

Finishing touches to your old home renovation

Furnishings and accessories will be the finishing touches to your old home renovation which can bring the whole new old look together. It’s what accessories are for.

You’re aiming to stay in character, whether that’s PVC blinds for your 70s house or shutters for your Victorian villa. Shutters never go out of style. That explains why they’re as popular as ever. You can keep your old home renovation looking as it should, while benefiting from the more durable faux wood shutters available today. Our Java range is also waterproof and will enhance your dream bathroom, going perfectly with your dream bathtub.

Roman blinds and lush curtains will add luxury to your old home renovation. Once again, you can take advantage of a classic style of window dressing in modern fabrics.

The post What Are The Best Old Home Renovation Techniques? appeared first on Blind Technique.

There’ll be many decisions to make, and utmost in your mind will be home attic installation. You want to jump straight to colours and textures and imagine yourself studying the stars through your attic window. But before all that, you need to contemplate budget, check if an attic conversion comes under permitted development, and accept that if you’re going to do this, you might as well do it properly, not just for today but for the future, and that means exploring home attic insulation trends in interior design.

Home attic insulation so you can get the most out of your space

What do you need from the extra space your home attic insulation will give you? Is it your new home office? Is your partner vying for a games room? Has an in-law been dropping hints for their own guest bedroom with an ensuite? Is your eldest child wanting the same thing? Forget the home office. You’ll carry on working on a crate under the stairs. This attic is going to be your art studio!

Modern home attic insulation trends 

Forget foam, fibreglass and, er, asbestos. Home attic insulation trends have eco-friendly energy and money saving alternatives for you.

Recycled denim is just one of them. Some enterprising soul has taken the waste produced from denim manufacture and turned it into a highly effective insulator not just for temperature but also for sound. Then there’s the much thinner Aerogel, which is especially useful when space is at a premium, such as for smaller attics or if the attic is to have multiple purposes so a bulkier home attic insulation isn’t on the cards. Aerogel is also four times more effective than traditional insulators. Unfortunately, these benefits are reflected in the price. If your attic is where you’ll be spending most of your time, it might be worth it to invest in this modern home attic insulation.

However, if your budget can’t stretch to the latest space age technology (which is how Aerogel came to be developed in the first place) there are other home attic insulation options.

Home attic insulation trends for your windows

When it comes to insulating your dorma windows, the scope of blinds and curtains available is yours for the asking. Thick heavy curtains are always going to offer excellent home attic insulation. If you require something more compact for space, Perfect Fit cellular blinds are the winner. Their honeycomb design traps air to keep you warm, and the reflective backing on the fabric will reflect heat away in the hot summer months. In their Perfect Fit frames, cellular blinds are neat as a pin as well as being highly effective home attic insulators.

For a multi-purpose space, you may find you need to double up on the window dressings. Curtains or cellular blinds will keep you well insulated, while stylish real or faux wood Venetian blinds allow you more control over how much light you let in. Two window dressings for one window may seem extravagant but it’s a practical solution, especially if your attic is to be a multi-purpose space.

Home attic insulation for your Velux windows made very easy

Velux have made ordering Velux blinds as easy as possible, and when it comes to home attic insulation, their thermal range fills the role perfectly.

On the frame of a Velux window, usually at the top and on the right, is a code. This code means you don’t have to faff about with a tape measure to ensure you have the correct measurements. The code determines the exact size you need. You just need to select the colour you want and you, and the home attic insulation for your windows, are sorted.

If you can’t find what you’re looking for in the Velux range, you’re still in luck. With our bespoke service, we can advise you and supply you with the best blinds to give you the home attic insulation as well as the shade, privacy and style you need in your santuary/home office/guest bedroom/art studio – whoever wins the right to the converted and insulated attic will have some big decisions to make.

The post Exploring Home Attic Insulation Trends in Interior Design appeared first on Blind Technique.

Perhaps you’re okay with the unvarnished truth, that you’re a slob and you’re not bothered what your surroundings look like as long as it’s warm and there’s room for your five thousand piece jigsaw puzzle.  But we are multi-faceted human beings and the joy of using accent pieces is that you can say a lot about yourself with as little as you wish. As well as allowing you to express yourself and make the most of your space, an accent piece can suit your needs with a practical function, as well as making your chill zone a decorative and relaxing place to be.

Accent pieces compliment your decor

So you have a puzzle table big enough for that five thousand piece jigsaw. That is your accent piece! Surely your hobby matches your taste in decor? Not to profile you … Okay, I’m profiling you. The person who wants to spend their evenings putting a five thousand piece jigsaw together likes the quiet life. You embrace challenges and you’re also very patient. You love a comfy and cosy vibe. Your accent piece, if it hasn’t already, will lead you to burnt orange and mellow brown and big comfy chairs on thick carpets and rugs. By letting your passion guide you in your choice of accent piece, you’ve made yourself a home.

Accent pieces are decorative

Decorative pieces can be anything, from artwork and photos to a living wall courtesy of a display of plants. Your accent piece can liven up your space, show off what you love, and be a talking point and therefore an entryway into the very depths of your soul.

Alternatively, you could just have fun with texture and colour. Faux fur throws or brightly coloured cushions are accent pieces that will give two very different impressions of the same sofa. With accent pieces, you can change the feel of your room to suit each season with very little outlay. That’s how you make accent pieces work for you.

Accent pieces are practical

You need shade, you need privacy, so why not let your curtains, blinds or drapes be your accent piece just by doing what they were going to do anyway?

First, let’s address the elephant in that sentence. Curtains or drapes? It turns out there’s a difference. Drapes are usually made from heavier material and pool on the floor. No, seriously, that’s a drape, not a curtain. So it turns out drapes were made to be accent pieces. Even a plain fabric will make a statement hanging like that. And what better way to insulate yourself on a cold winter’s night than drawing those velvet-red drapes to keep the chill at bay?

Curtains and blinds make an impact as accent pieces too, with patterns and textures galore available. Roman blinds are an accent piece in and of themselves, combining a classic style of blind with a modern fabric and pattern. And your blinds could be quite the talking point if they’re practical but attractive like Duo Vision blinds, or are practical and chic like Allusion blinds. When it comes to accent pieces, blinds will deliver above and beyond.

Accent pieces call for boldness

Accent pieces are an opportunity to experiment. Have you been dreaming of copper-coloured ceilings, all the better to accentuate the glow from your chandeliers? Have you also been stopped in your tracks from living this dream because you fear what the neighbours will say? So maybe you’ll start with some burnt orange cushions, so close to traditional terra cotta, who on earth would kick up a fuss over that? Something shiny then can sneak in, some candlesticks perhaps. How classic. Now that deep purples and blues cover your furnishings, it’s time to bring everything sumptuously together and get that copper ceiling to top it all off.

Accent pieces can bring a room to life, give it a focal point, or lead to a whole new outlet for you to express yourself in your home. It’s time for you to have fun with accent pieces.

The post How to Make Your Space Come Alive With Accent Pieces appeared first on Blind Technique.

Spring cleaning tips to get your home ready for the new year?! Do you know why New Year’s resolutions fail? Because there’s nothing new about the new year. It’s still winter. The Christmas decorations are still up. This is why Spring is the time to put your New Year resolutions into practice. It’s the actual start of a new year.

And yet, you’re geared up to want to start something new on or around 1st January. So here you go then. Here are some spring cleaning tips to get your home ready for the new year, the new you and your new life.

Spring cleaning tip number one: make a plan

This isn’t just a spring cleaning tip, it’s a necessity. If you don’t make a plan, you’ll be overwhelmed from the get-go. Let day one be you walking into all the rooms and acknowledging you have a big job. So, how do you tackle big jobs? Here’s another spring cleaning tip: chunk it down. That huge job is going to become lots of little jobs you can easily cross off your list. How satisfying.

Don’t forget the equipment you’ll need – dusters, detergents, housecoat, old clothes, bags for rubbish, bags for the charity shops and a box for Oxfam (they’ll take anything, so that’s a valuable spring cleaning tip right there to help you save the planet and not send anything to landfill).

Spring cleaning tip number two:  decluttering

What kind of spring cleaning guide would this be without me telling you to declutter?

Open that wardrobe. How many of your clothes have you actually worn this year? Like the rest of us, you wear the same few items time and again. Accept the fact that you’re going to spend several hours trying on clothes, and be delighted at how many items you get rid of.

And are you going to re-read those books? Or watch those DVDs again? I know, your books are literally your identity. They’re also dust collectors. As are your knick-knacks. How often do you stop to look and enjoy your stuff? If you no longer notice it, you can live without it.

As for sheds and garages, when’s the last time you went looking for something in there anyway? Make quick work of these huge jobs. Hire a skip and be done with it.

Spring cleaning tip number three:  leave no task behind

You’ve already gone further than you thought possible. Now go further. Hoover under the furniture and not just around it. Clear out those kitchen cupboards. You never did eat those lentils, and it’s too late now.

Scrub that oven clean. Wash the washing machine. Soak the mugs in bicarb to shift those tea stains. And dust the insides of your lampshades. Yep, these spring cleaning tips take things to a whole new level.

You will wash those curtains! I know! Do it once, and then keep on top of those opulent dust collectors with regular vacuuming. Roller blinds require a flick of a duster, and a feather duster deals nicely with Venetian blinds.

Spring cleaning tip number four: spring clean your mind

Never again will you have to do such an extensive, all-encompassing spring clean because once you’ve done it, you will keep on top of things. You will declutter every quarter. You will check in with yourself every 6 months to ensure you declutter every quarter. When something breaks you will make an immediate decision to get it fixed or dispose of it, and whichever one you choose will be acted on within a week. Finally, each Christmas and on your birthday, you will immediately decide who to re-gift to any present you don’t actually want or need. If necessary, it will be re-gifted to the one who gave it to you. Harsh, I know, but otherwise they’ll never learn. That may be the harshest spring cleaning tip ever. But then, spring cleaning in the dead of winter is serious stuff.

The post Spring Cleaning Tips To Get Your Home Ready For The New Year appeared first on Blind Technique.

You probably have some ideas about how to make a box room look bigger. You already know having too many items in there won’t help. But you need some furniture so your box room is a functional room. Your box room can be a cheerful place to work or a cosy place to sleep, and any issues you have with your box room will not be down to its size once you’ve read this blog on how to make a box room look bigger.

How to make a box room look bigger with furniture

The less furniture you have in your box room, the less cluttered it will be and the box room will look bigger. But there are some things you need in a room so that it serves a purpose.

If the box room is a bedroom, place the bed against the farthest wall to give the feel of space. If it’s a low-slung bed, it will add height to the room. Alternatively, a bed with inbuilt drawers will provide a storage solution without the need for additional furniture. A neat rack may suffice for certain items of clothing.

A bedside table is always useful. To take up the minimum amount of room, consider a floating shelf rather than a more traditional cabinet or table. Slippers can easily be stored directly underneath. Make any other furniture as slim as possible, and if it’s the same colour as the walls, they’ll blend smoothly into each other, all of which will make a box room look bigger.

How to make a box room look bigger with accessories 

You may be wondering why you’re adding accessories when your aim is to make a box room look bigger. Not only is there room for accessories in this scenario, they’re also necessary, even though it’s wise to keep them to a minimum.

So what is a necessary accessory? You’ll still need shade and privacy, so you’ll want window dressings that keep things neat and simple. Instead of billowing curtains taking up what little room you have, Perfect Fit blinds are the most economical blinds when it comes to space, as they clip directly onto the uPVC or aluminium frame. They come in a range of blinds, including Roller blinds, Day and Night blinds and Venetian blinds, all as neat as a pin to help make a box room look bigger.

How to make a box room look bigger with reflective services

This doesn’t just mean mirrors. Although, on the subject of mirrors, one thin mirror, from floor to ceiling will elongate the room and give the allusion of a lot more space so you won’t feel hemmed in. Beyond mirrors, any reflective service will offer a similar service. So look at lacquered services and chrome accessories such as uplighters. Incorporate exposed pipes in an industrial look. Paint them shiny and make them part of a theme.

On the subject of uplights, sconces on the wall will be a more useful choice than a free-standing lamp that will clutter up your limited floor space. Uplights also draw the eye upwards, again making things seem more roomy as the focus is taken off the dark floor.

How to make a box room look bigger with painting and decorating

We’re not just talking paint and wallpaper here. When it comes to how to make a box room look bigger, we’re talking colour, texture and pattern.

Tricks with colour include painting the walls and ceiling the same colour. This way the corners of the room seem to disappear, making a box room look bigger. As for what colour to choose, if you’re not going for a white or another neutral, choose a light colour. Darker colours make things nice and cosy, but if you’re already competing with a lack of space, let the lighter colour open up the box room.

An overly busy pattern might feel claustrophobic, so it may seem counter-intuitive but big subtle patterns can help a box room look bigger. Textured wallpaper, suede or linen, will bring cosiness to your room without taking up space and causing too much distraction to the eye.

With these simple tools, you can make a box room look bigger. You can enjoy being in it, instead of feeling like Gulliver in the land of the Lilliputians.

The post How To Make A Box Room Look Bigger appeared first on Blind Technique.

How to refresh a room – and your psyche

The obvious way to refresh a room is by a simple decluttering – if only it were that simple! It can be a wrench to part with things, and you might uncover deep psychological drives that caused your hoarding –  I mean, collecting impulses in the first place. So, how do you refresh a room when you could be coming face to face with your shadow self? (Who knew a blog on how to refresh a room could go so dark?) And once you’ve overcome those blocks, will you then develop a new neurosis as you discover you’re hopelessly overwhelmed by all the space you suddenly have?

The Swedes call it Death Clearing. Actually, they don’t. Swedish Death Clearing is decluttering because you’ve reached a certain age and you don’t want to leave that job to your loved ones. But doesn’t Swedish Death Clearing sound like it should lead to a dark night of the soul brought on by decluttering?

How to refresh a room on a budget

If you’re looking to refresh a room on a budget, you might want to change just a few small things. By changing one big thing, you might feel you’ve left the rest of the room behind. So focus on little touches such as lampshades, cushions, rugs and throws to refresh your room. These accessories can easily be coordinated, perhaps by colour or style, so together they will make a big impact. If your budget allows, you might want to consider window dressings, with cost-effective roller blinds being a good option. You’ll be amazed how much a combination of small changes, especially when coordinated, can refresh a room.

How to refresh a room by rearranging the furniture

You don’t need to hurt your credit card by buying new furniture. Refresh a room by rearranging the furniture you already have. Just keep in mind where your electrical points are, and whether monitors will suddenly be at the mercy of sun glare. Although the latter can be easily fixed with any slat or louvre-based window dressing. Tilt the louvres or slats of your Venetian blinds, vertical blinds or shutters to any angle you wish, and you’ll be in full control of how you balance your need for light and privacy in your refreshed room.

If you are buying new furniture to refresh a room, it might be worth investing in one large piece, such as a statement dining table or couch. Then so as not to leave the rest of the room behind, smaller pieces can be refreshed with cushions and throws which in turn can be coordinated by colour or style with the new larger piece. That way, your room gets a lot more refreshment with less investment.

How to refresh a room just by changing your window dressings

Changing the style of your window dressings will have a big impact on your room. This may depend on how large your windows are. The window dressings for a wall of glass or bifold doors are going to make a very different statement compared to how you dress that tiny hatch in your attic.

But how do you refresh a room if you want to ditch the fusty curtains for sleek roller blinds? Or are you looking to ditch the old Romans for modern voiles? Yet again, it’s the issue of incorporating a change into the status quo without it jarring. Thankfully, classic Roman blinds and curtains can be made from fabrics with contemporary designs. Smart and sleek roller blinds can be made from fabrics with time-honoured patterns. You can change the style of your window dressings to refresh your room and they’ll still come together with the rest of your decor. And you can’t go wrong with shutters. Their timeless appearance will fit in anywhere. It’s surprisingly simple to refresh your room just by changing your window dressings.

The post Simple Tips On How To Refresh A Room In Your Home appeared first on Blind Technique.

Any blind can be a motorised blind

Any blind can be motorised, even angled conservatory blinds, only we won’t do that because it’s more trouble than it’s worth. So apart from that, all other blinds can and will be motorised by us. That includes blinds you already have installed. Roller blinds, Roman blinds, Vertical blinds and Venetian blinds can all become motorised blinds.

Here at Blind Technique, we’re one of the few suppliers in the country to offer motorised Allusion blinds. And excuse the humble brag, but, as far as we’re aware, we’re the only ones who can provide our customers with motorised cellular Perfect Fit blinds. How is that even possible? Since we manufacture our own blinds on-site, our Tech Director had a muck about in the factory and figured out how to do it. Yes, our customers are lucky to have us.

Motorised blinds are the safe option

Motorised blinds are the safest option when it comes to children and pets. There are regulations and laws when it comes to the length of a cord on a blind. It must be 1.5 metres off the ground, to ensure small children don’t become entangled and hurt themselves. There have been deaths, which is why there are now laws about it.

However, this can be an issue for the more petite amongst our customers. As stated, the length of the cord is required by law, so we are prohibited from lengthening the cord for you. In this case, motorised blinds may be a necessity for you.

By having motorised blinds, you can also avoid damaged and snapped cords. Whether it’s children trying to swing on the blinds or Madame Coco the chocolate Burmese making herself comfortable on the window sill, you won’t have to worry about members of the family damaging your blinds once they’re motorised.

You can choose how to operate your motorised blinds

Once you have your motorised blinds in place, you have options on how you wish to control them. A remote control can be programmed to control your blinds separately or for groups of blinds to be controlled together. Alternatively, if you are bringing your home up to scratch Smart wise, you can program your blinds into your Smart Home hub. It’s likely the motors and your hub will be compatible, but if not, there’s likely to be a relay device available to make it so.

You’ll also be able to control your blinds via an app on your chosen device. Whether you need to check if you left a blind open, or wish to control your blinds when you’re away, you’ll be in full control of your motorised blinds.

Motorised blinds are perfect for roof blinds

Any blind that’s high up or in a hard to reach place will be so much easier to control if motorised. Rather than being forced to leave the blind as it is when it’s simply too much effort, you can enjoy the full benefit of your blinds when they’re motorised.

The two disadvantages of motorised blinds

The benefits of having motorised blinds far exceed the two issues they might cause you. The first is, if they’re battery-operated, you will need to charge them. This is easily resolved. Just put a note in your diary to charge your blinds twice a year, and you’ll never find yourself with a stuck blind. Alternatively, you can have your motorised blinds hard-wired. The only warning we can offer there is beware of power cuts. So, putting aside future wars between city-states fighting over water let alone energy, why wouldn’t you have motorised blinds?

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Luxuriate in turquoise interior design

Turquoise brings depth and richness, making turquoise interior design perfect for a plush and luxurious feel. So where better place to start than your sanctum, your haven, that is to say, your bedroom. Make turquoise the primary colour and add bejewelled ambers and gold accessories for that lush appeal. Go for deluxe window dressings such as Roman blinds. Alternatively, add further warmth with woody notes, perhaps with shutters, or how about a faux fur throw for your bed? Your bedroom will be your turquoise haven.

Turquoise interior design can be practical

Rather than neglect the most practical room in the house by keeping it as utilitarian as possible, turquoise interior design will make your bathroom sing. Lounge in your bubble bath surrounded by turquoise tiles, offset with brilliant white. A Mediterranean spa has nothing on your bathroom. Our Java range of shutters is waterproof and can easily withstand the humidity of your relaxing yet magnificent bathroom spa.

Turquoise interior design for warmth

As turquoise is such a warm colour, it can always be summer in your living room. Combine with dusky pink and golden yellows and orange accents to bring that sunset feel, and these vibrant colours will chase away the winter blues.

To literally keep the warmth in, curtains and Roman blinds will add style and lavishness, as well as a cosy feel. Cellular blinds are made to keep the heat in with their honeycomb design. Again, shutters will add a stylish and classical look. Available in a range of colours and styles, they’ll fit right into your turquoise interior design.

Turquoise interior design for the sake of your creativity

Invigorating and calming, inspiring and creative, blue combined with the fertility of green – yep, turquoise interior design just might be the perfect colour for a home office. The comfort of being at home with the get-up and go to get the juices flowing for work, turquoise interior design for the home office is literally the biz.

For full control of your light and privacy, to thwart industrial spies and to keep the glare off your computer monitor, Venetian blinds are an excellent choice. Wooden or faux wood brings style, warmth and professionalism. For the more devil may care, there’s also a choice of aluminium slats in shiny metallic colours, a stunning and fun accompaniment to the natural shimmer of the glamorous colour that is turquoise.

Turquoise interior design for your health

Can one colour make you healthy? Nope, and certainly not all on its lonesome. What it can do is put you in the right mood and inspire you to pursue that healthiest of lifestyles with Mediterranean cuisine. Yes, turquoise interior design in your kitchen will do that! Turquoise interior design will inspire you to eat the healthiest food on the planet and make your guests turquoise with envy. Pop open that jar of olives (yuk!), grill the halloumi (yum!) and crack open a bottle of Cyprus wine (because it counts as one of your five a day) and dare your guests to be unhappy in your turquoise kitchen/diner.

Durable faux wood Venetian blinds will add warmth, style and practicality to the humid environment of your kitchen. If you prefer roller blinds, they’re available in moisture-resistant and flame-retardant fabrics. They’re even easy to keep clean, requiring little more than a flick of the duster, and at most a wipe down with a warm cloth. Your turquoise interior design can’t help but deliver on all fronts.

The post Popular This Month: Turquoise Interior Design appeared first on Blind Technique.

While we ponder for several hours over which bargain to snatch up to save 50p, we decide to buy a house within seconds. Minutes later, we’re imagining our first Christmas in our new home, where we’ll put the tree, how we’ll be baking gingerbread cookies in the kitchen and figuring out how much Baileys and wine can be stored in the drinks cooler the former owners are leaving behind.

Since I have no idea where the Christmas tree is going. I’d better write on as I’m in desperate need of tips for that first Christmas in my new home.

Getting the house ready for your first Christmas in your new home

New window dressings are usually a must in a new home, unless you’re that enamoured of the former owner’s taste. But are you only now discovering interesting things about the boiler you’ve inherited? Do you not have double glazing on all the windows? You might want to consider cellular blinds. With their honeycomb design, they’ll help keep the heat in so you can have a toasty first Christmas in your new home. Classic curtains or elegant Roman blinds are also good contenders, as they keep draughts at bay and give your new home a Christmassy cosy feel.

Where will the tree go for your first Christmas in your new home?

Celebrating your first Christmas in your new home can be full of pitfalls. You have a new space to navigate and decorate, on the one hand with permanent decor, and on the other with temporary lights, tinsel and crepe streamers. New decorations may be called for. And how are you for electrical points? Can the tree’s fairy lights be safely plugged in without causing a trip hazard? And let’s just say it right now, friends and family will probably gift you with a ‘first Christmas in your New Home’ ornament so leave plenty of room on the tree for them all.

Start new traditions for your first Christmas in your new home

New house, new traditions – Who are you going to be in this new environment? With yet another year coming to an end, what better time to reinvent yourself? Don’t wait until the new year. That’s a terrible time for resolutions. Either start your resolutions in the Spring, at the start of a literal new year, or just do it now!

Will you initiate a bauble swap as a way to introduce yourself to your new neighbours? Maybe you wish to put your new kitchen to use and make jam as homemade gifts for everyone. How about wreath making? Do you really have so much time on your hands? There’s always time for cheese, so a cheese and wine party will be a great new tradition to kick off your first Christmas in your new home.

Make peace with your new neighbours for your first Christmas in your new home

After you’ve sent your lactose-intolerant neighbours to their bathrooms, maybe you don’t want to provoke them further by revealing your 10,000 outdoor lights Santa Extravaganza!

What’s the vibe of the neighbourhood? Are you looking to rebel or fit in? It’s your home, your sanctuary and you need to be you. Maybe we should have met the neighbours prior to moving. That should be a thing. Find the right neighbours, not the right house!

Practical tips for your first Christmas in your new home

Do your friends and family even know where to find you for your first Christmas in your new home? Now’s the perfect time to ghost people you don’t want to hear from again. For those you still wish to associate with, make sure they have your new address. Then you can happily exchange litter – I mean, Christmas cards and wish each other season’s greetings and a happy 2025!

The post Tips For The First Christmas In Your New Home appeared first on Blind Technique.

Winter interior design trends that aren’t necessarily trends

I put it to you that winter interior design trends to create a cosy feel are more about your own personal tastes and psychological drives, as opposed to fashion trends themselves. What makes you feel cosy?

I doubt I’m alone feeling cosy by being physically warm. Whether it’s a blankie or one of those electrically charged ponchos I’ve heard good things about, feeling toasty means feeling cosy. On the subject of toast, crumpets make me feel cosy. So does having a cat in my lap, although her tiny but sharp claws tearing at my skin can detract from the experience.

Ideally, you’ll have functioning central heating and double glazing to keep you cosy. You can add an extra level of insulation to your windows with highly practical and attractive cellular blinds. Their honeycomb design traps air to keep you warm. Available in a range of colours, you can keep up with winter interior design trends by choosing from a smokey grey to a Tuscan hue. Cosy indeed.

Winter interior design trends are about colour, pattern and texture

Layers, people, layers! You’ll be layering up before leaving the house, and when you return home you can sink between layers of soft knitted blankets, faux fur throws and velvet cushions.

Plummy purple, burnt orange and emerald green will ease you into the splendour you deserve. Deep earthy colours like terracotta or forest green will help keep the chill at bay. If that’s all a bit bold for you, dusty pinks, sage greens and other muted tones will still bring comfort as you snuggle under your angora throw.

Texture and pattern will add personality and therefore warmth to your winter interior design trends. Wallpaper may add only a thin extra layer of insulation in practical terms, but in flavour it adds character and depth. If you don’t care for patterned wallpaper, textured wallpaper can be a great option.  In linen or suede, textured wallpaper will bring a warm ambience and a subtle beauty, perfect as a winter interior design trend, like winter itself, apparently bare, but there’s so much to love when you really look.

Curtains are an obvious choice for winter interior design. They don’t just add insulation to your home, they add a touch of luxury. Indulgence is cosiness, and never out of fashion, especially when it comes to winter interior design trends.

The aromas of winter interior design trends

Winter interior design trends smell! Of orange and cinnamon and cloves. Who doesn’t want to wake up to the smell of baking bread and coffee on a cold chilly morning? And so we’re back to toast. And crumpets.

As for that aroma coming from your fire burner or open log fire, cedar wood, oak and birch will lift and comfort you as you huddle around the naked flames in your home. For further fire hazards, don’t forget scented candles. Winter interior design trends are about feeling cosy, and safe, so don’t leave those kids and pets by themselves around those flames.

Get cosy with winter interior design trends in lighting 

Winter is cold, miserable and dark, so let’s use that. Aren’t things more cosy because we’ve just come in from all that unpleasantness? As soon as the clocks fall backwards, that’s when tiny twinkly lights should come out, to light your way and bring joy to your home. Candles, with or without scent, bring beauty, ambience and a surprising amount of light.

Strategically placed lamps will create soft yellow and amber glows wherever you wish their gentle pools of light to gather. To finish this classic look, how about some shutter blinds for your windows? Stylish through all times, shutting those blinds against the cold night will make your winter interior design all the more cosy, and right on trend.

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