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.

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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.

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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.

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The 1940s saw pink switch to girls and blue to boys, probably due to another marketing endeavour. This was critiqued only twenty years later, by women refusing to be defined by one colour. When science gave us the ability to identify the sex of the baby prior to birth, colour was chosen over words to communicate the news. And so pink for a girl and blue for a boy became cemented in our minds despite the gendering of colours barely being a thing at all when compared to the history of all civilisation.

So, whoever you are, it’s time to release your inner flamingo and give your Barbie collection centre stage as you embrace pink interior design.

Pink interior design is for your bathroom

Bathrooms can be neglected in favour of keeping them utilitarian and easy to clean, so. pink interior design is the perfect excuse to give your bathroom some love.

Marble is highly practical for a bathroom, resistant to the humidity of your typical bathroom environment. To match, you’ll want to consider durable blinds for your pink bathroom, so check out our PVC range of fabrics. They’re easy to keep clean, as are our moisture-resistant roller blinds. Faux wood Venetians will look lovely amongst the pink, and when it comes to controlling your light and privacy – crucial in a bathroom – Venetians are an excellent choice.

Pink interior design is for a north-facing room

What better way to warm up a north-facing room than adopting a pink interior design? You automatically add warmth and cosiness as well as a pinch of fun. Steer clear of cool pinks, that’s purple pinks, and focus on warm pinks, for example, a peachy pink.

If your north-facing room is dull and dim, you might want to consider using a very light or soft pink instead of a classic neutral. Let pink do the job of a warm white. A dusky pink is a fun and light alternative to a beige or brown. Say goodbye to white ceilings just because it’s a ceiling. Pink interior design can make a room cosy and sophisticated.

Pink interior design is bold!

Do you have the guts to make pink the primary colour in your pink interior design? Whatever the colour pink means to you, its vibrancy, its vividness, its very pinkness is a statement. So how do you approach this cheeky colour in all its glory?

Muted pinks as well as soft and light tints will allow you to have a surprising amount of pink without it overwhelming you or your room. Once again, pink can take the place of a neutral to increase the pink, or you can combine a classic neutral with lighter or more vivid shades of pink to keep things fun yet stylish. It’s all about the balance between the tints and shades you use.

Pink interior design means a little goes a long way

You may not want or need pink as the primary colour in your pink interior design, but you don’t want to miss out on the fun. With pink being such a playful colour, pink might be the perfect accent colour for an otherwise grumpy person.

Neon pink cushions, curtains and blinds will bring some daring pink into your scheme. Whether you choose a luxurious crimson for your curtains or a gentle blush for your blinds, you’ll find pink can be indulgent and elegant.

The psychology of pink interior design

If pink isn’t about gender, what does it stand for? It’s the colour of nurturing, care and love. It’s warmth and friendship. It’s hope and optimism. You’ll be hard-pressed to stay blue (which goes beautifully with pink) when surrounded by pink interior design.

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Oh, something’s stopping you? Are you not allowed to decorate? Have you been struck with chromophobia? Maybe you don’t trust yourself with colour.

Please don’t expect this simple blog to help you overcome patterns you’ve inherited, probably from a parent, which now guide you and drive all your decisions on an unconscious level and have done all your life. Instead, consider this a very tiny step on your journey to discovering how to bring colour into a room, and therefore the rest of your life.

How to have the confidence to bring colour into a room

Confidence doesn’t just happen. It took me twelve weeks. Yes, I did do a course. And just to assure you that you can do something about your confidence levels, I had none for more than forty years. Yes, that was quite the course. I only went on it because I was desperate. You may not be desperate to bring colour into a room, but if you lack the confidence to do something a lot more important in your life, bringing colour into a room could be the baby step you need.

But how do you take that first step?

Just do it.

That’s incredibly unhelpful, isn’t it, If you could do it, you would have done it. But that’s what it comes down to. I didn’t want to go to that introductory evening to build my confidence but I had to and I ended up on the 12-week course. When it comes to taking that first step, you have to take it.

So …

How to bring colour into a room with accessories

Start with soft tones. A lilac throw or some sage green cushions are a gentle starting point. If a bejewelled lamp is too much, pick something a little bit shinier than you’d normally choose to bring colour into your room.

And your windows? With the wide range of fabrics available, you can pick a muted colour with a subtle pattern to enhance your environment. You can have that classy Roman blind, or modern Roller blind, something understated that still brings colour into your room.

How to bring colour into a room when you’re looking to make big changes!

You’re ready to bring all the colours into all of your rooms now?! You want lime green walls and golden chandeliers hanging from black ceilings? You need a tetradic colour scheme.

Using this scheme for guidance, you can have a rich colour scheme without making your room look like a unicorn crime scene. The tetradic uses two complementary pairs of colours, giving you four colours to play with.

How to decide on which two pairs of colours? Take the colour wheel. Pick one colour. Pair it with one of the colours on either side of it. That’s one pair and the other pair are the two colours directly opposite. This could give you two shades of orange and two shades of blue. Start on a different segment of the wheel, and it can give you green, yellow, purple and pink! Or, pick one colour, miss the next segment, and partner it with the segment after that. Again, this pair will be directly opposite the second pair. This could give you blue, green, orange and red to play with. Alternatively, pick a colour and jump over two segments so you partner your first colour with the third one along. Again, the two colours opposite are your second pair. You could end up with yellow, blue, purple and orange!

To bring these colours into your room, it’s recommended you choose one as the primary colour, one as the contrast colour, and then have two accent colours. And they don’t all have to be the same intense vibrancy. Play with the different tones and shades and find the balance that works for you as you bring all that colour into your room.

How to bring colour into a room when you love neutrals

When you have different textures and patterns bringing depth to your calm neutral room, why do you need any additional colours? Maybe a little something just to highlight the neutrals all the more? Nature’s colours slip seamlessly into a neutral scheme. Greens, browns or the violet of a sunset will bring a warmth and dashing touch of colour into your room, making it all the more cosy while still keeping things neutrally serene.

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With so many colours to choose from, how can you even figure out where to start? Whether you want a technicolour dreamcoat or a monochrome look, read on to discover how to keep things simple, or embrace a love of colour you daren’t reveal before. Either way, you can choose a colour scheme that simply suits you, or indulges the rainbow of your soul.

How to choose a colour scheme when you really don’t know where to start

If you have too many favourite colours to choose from for your colour scheme, you may need to ask yourself what you like about each colour. Assuming they don’t all have a special meaning for you, this should help you eliminate some of them.

What kind of environment do you favour? If you love the woods, the beach or the city, take your inspiration from the surroundings you crave. Greens and browns, sea blue and citrus yellow, or sophisticated or smokey greys can become the primary colour when you choose a colour scheme.

Perhaps a beloved object, an heirloom, or a piece of art can inspire you. I came pretty close to basing my decor on my cat. A bicolour Ragdoll, Callie is the perfect palette for a neutral scheme as calming as her temperament. But in the absence of cute cats, a favourite item, a rug, a picture or a favourite blind can inspire you.

What do you mean you don’t have a favourite blind? Don’t you know that’s the in thing? Your classically patterned and cosy Roman blind, or your neat and modern roller blind may influence the colour choice and style for the room.

Failing all that, download some decorating shows. There are only seven hundred million to choose from. You’re bound to find something that gets the creative juices flowing that will help you choose a colour scheme.

How to choose a colour scheme when you don’t know what colour goes with which 

It can be daunting, daring to make hot pink the primary colour for your entire house. Some may call you intense. Damn right you’re intense, intense for your love of hot pink! And you want the whole world to know.

But how will you break up all that pink? Easy. Consult a colour wheel. Available from all paint suppliers, or more immediately from the internet, just see what colours sit alongside pink, or opposite, depending on whether you want an analogous design or a complimentary one. Either way, you’ll be choosing a colour scheme that’s harmonious.

How to choose a colour scheme when tastes differ

My sister said she hated yellow and it gave her a headache. She said this several years after I painted the kitchen yellow. Nowadays, she says she wants yellow in our living room. The kitchen was a somewhat vibrant shade. We’re looking at more mellow yellows for the living room. So when your cohabiter says they hate a colour, which tone or shade are they talking about? A happy compromise just might be reached and you both get to choose a colour scheme for your home.

How to choose a colour scheme for specific spaces

How do you want to feel in a particular space? Let blues and greens help you off to the land of nod in your bedroom. Elegant neutrals, with accents of something vibrant, will make you feel stylish and your guests jealous, and at home, in your entertainment areas. Bright citrus colours will keep you alert and stimulated in your home office. There are colours for every occasion. Choose a colour scheme that will help you concentrate or rest, depending on your needs.

How To Choose A Colour Scheme when one space must be many things to many people 

Have you had to squeeze your home office into your children’s play area? Does your own bedroom floor double up as the children’s play area? Move! And if that’s not practical for you, then look to those different tones and shades to help you get the right balance in your clearly complicated living arrangements. You can zone away as you choose a colour scheme to help bring a little sanity into your life.

You can at least include faux wood Venetian blinds to go with your chosen colour scheme. Stylish and durable, you’ll be able to control light, and privacy, with a tilt of the slats. Faux wood Venetians will go with just about any colour scheme of your choice.

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If art itself cannot be defined, then where do we even begin for a blog about different types of wall art? All we know is that it’s the kind of art that can be hung on a wall. (Read on for more profundity of this quality.)

And what if you want to take it up a notch, beyond paintings, posters and photos? Is it time to express a different part of yourself by hanging different types of wall art? Where do you even start when art is something you only know you like when you see it? Here are a few tips, and may inspiration strike!

Different types of wall art allow you to express yourself

Reveal a whole new side of yourself. Indulge your crafty side and spread it all over your walls. Collage? Macrame? Sculpture? Yes, sculpture. Why take up floor space in your petite palace when you’ve got walls? You don’t have to buy those cute mass-produced metallic animal heads. Hang something unique, made by your good self. Let your different type of wall art be truly different. And let’s face it, what’s talent got to do with it? This is about self-expression, not skill. And I’m serious about that.

Different types of wall art can have a function

Why buy a different type of wall art when you can use what you already have? I’m talking about your furnishings. A chair isn’t just a chair, it can be sculpture. Ask any minimalist. Is a red roller blind really that much different from a Rothko? Okay, that’s an overstatement, but a curtain or blind with a colourful botanical print will be as vibrant as any van Gogh. Yes, that is another overstatement. But blinds and curtains made with fabrics of specific prints, textures and patterns have as much vibrancy or simplicity as can be found in the art world, only they’re millions of pounds cheaper!

Do you see shelves as a different type of wall art? They can be. You can combine storage and show off your knick-knacks as if you’re curating a different type of wall art collection. Don’t tell me you’ve just been sticking stuff on shelves?! Re-arrange your bits and pieces and viola! You – yes, you – have created a different type of wall art from your own, you know, stuff.

Do I even have to mention mirrors as a different type of wall art? They come in all shapes and sizes and the same can be said of their frames. So I’m not mentioning mirrors. I won’t insult you.

Different types of wall art for any style of decor

Do you have baronial tastes? Hang a tapestry. Hang it in three modern frames and you’ll have a triptych. You can bring an olde worlde aesthetic with a contemporary twist to your walls.

If you can hang a tapestry, you’re just one step away from hanging a rug. And why not? Why would you want to wear out a beautiful expensive rug by traipsing all over it? See, you can have nice things, and exhibit them as different types of wall art.

Different types of wall art can take up the whole wall!

This type of wall art could be a very large piece of art, but I was thinking more about mural wallpapers. Have you seen mural wallpapers? You can have an entire vista on your wall – on all your walls. Surround yourself with a totally different environment. Watch your soaps from the heart of the jungle, a rose garden, or outer space!

Different types of wall art can bring the outside in

How about a living wall for your living room? Living walls aren’t just for the exterior of buildings. Not only will a living wall be a very different type of wall art, it will also improve the quality of the air you breathe. It’s been well-documented how much nature improves our mental health, so with a living wall you’ll never be far from natural serenity. A living wall also adds insulation and acts as a sound barrier. You’ll be hard-pressed to find a more practical, beautiful, healthy and different type of wall art.  And you thought you couldn’t have a garden!

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Light green interior design for zest!

You’ve managed to drag yourself from your bed and made your way to the bathroom. Can you handle lime tiles first thing? Wake up to some zest in your light green interior design to get you set for the day!

Partner your lime green with vibrant tones of lemony yellow or coral pink and you can fully wake up to all the cheery colours. The brighter the colours you use, the more light will be reflected, so keep those tiles glossy. They’ll mist up, but mirrors are necessary in a bathroom as well as adding to the reflective surfaces. And that mist will be the perfect atmosphere for the right plant. Green naturally invites the use of plants and flowers, bringing vitality and health into your space.

For your window dressings, roller blinds made from moisture-resistant fabric will be ideal for the extreme temperatures of the bathroom environment. The last thing you need is mold to interfere with your light green interior design.

Light green interior design for elegance

Green suggests the fertility of nature and, therefore the likelihood of food. Literally feeding this basic psychological drive, green helps us relax and feel safe and secure, letting us know we’re in a land of plenty. So what better colour for your dining room? Your guests will salivate and feel safe as they dine surrounded by your light green interior design.

Combine with earthy browns and stone. You’ll be tapping into the primal drives with these natural neutrals while still providing your guests with a sophisticated ambiance.

A simple modern chandelier will provide the perfect touch of elegance and contrast. Keep patterns and textures subtle to add depth while keeping things refined. Shutters, classic yet modern, will be the finishing touch to your light green interior design.

Light green interior design for a restful space

Science will tell you the colour green operates on a short wavelength, and that’s why it promotes a sense of calmness and serenity. Yeah, I don’t understand it either, but it is why light green interior design is perfect for the bedroom.

Add pastel colours, especially lavender, the colour and the fragrance, and you’ll be asleep in no time. Combine with neutral grey and you’ll further enhance the sense of tranquility of your light green interior design.

To help you along to a restful night’s sleep, look to window dressings made from blackout material. How you hang curtains or blinds will determine how much of a blackout effect you can achieve. You can decrease the light that seeps in by hanging blinds outside of the recess, and by having curtains run past where the window ends.

Light green interior design for small rooms

Light green will help make your small room appear bigger, as will any lighter tone of colour.

Furniture should be kept to a minimum. Pieces may be utilitarian, but their form can still add grace and beauty. A bold pattern will work well and allow a small room to punch above its weight. Texture and pattern will add character without having to add more stuff. A mirror in the right place, especially a tall one, floor to ceiling, will make the room feel larger and give the illusion of depth. A tall floor lamp will draw the eye up, adding height to the room. For a modern look, an LED panel may be the answer to lighten up your light green interior design.

To keep things neat in your petite room, a Perfect Fit blind will literally fit perfectly. By clipping directly onto the uPVC or aluminium frames, they take up minimum space. You even have a choice between Venetian blinds, roller blinds or cellular blinds (perfect for saving energy) to go in your Perfect Fit frames.

No matter the purpose of the room, light green interior design is surprisingly adaptable and can suit any room or mood you wish to work, rest or play in.

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Unexpected red theory in interior design

While researching for this blog, I came across this nonsense. The so-called unexpected red interior design theory states that if you use red in a room, it immediately becomes better. A quick scan of no more than a couple of articles confirmed that I needed to stop reading this rubbish. It basically says use red as an accent, like on the handles of doors! Or cushions! Or one chair! And use a colour wheel. Well, duh. Maybe I missed something in my very quick scan because I went into these articles thinking them a waste of time … Nope, I was proved right.

Red is perfect for accents in your interior design

Of course such a bold colour is perfect for accents! Whether bright or an especially deep shade of red, red interior design will add an almighty pop to your muted or neutral scheme. Together, they’ll bring a sophisticated contrast of colour to your home.

Blinds and curtains offer an excellent opportunity to bring a dash of red to your space. From the patterned burgundy and gold of our Surreal Vintage fabric for a curtain or a Roman blind, to a plain but scarlet-coloured Roller blind, we have a variety of fabrics to provide that dash of fun, or timeliness, to your red interior design. How about a muted red cheque for that cottagey feel? Or for a modern wall of glass, our Allusion blinds now come in a variety of vibrant colours, including red. For a blind that will help keep you warm in winter and cool in summer, how about a cellular blind in Tangerine or Ginger Spice?

Can red be my primary colour in interior design?

Of course it can! Would you rather your huge dining room was more intimate? Red as the dominant colour will help with that. A muted red tone, paired with purple, or perhaps a darker shade matched with a cooling grey, will help you achieve the right mood – opulent or elegant – for your space.

As a primary colour, red may dominate approximately 60% of the colour scheme, but it doesn’t have to be the same shade. That 60% can be made up of different reds, and will be further broken up by the textures of the materials involved, and by pattern also.

Surely red interior design will make me angry!

People who drive red cars have more ‘accidents’. If you wear red, you’re looking for romance. Or to win a race. And when the red mist descends, you’re not responsible for your actions (although the law says otherwise. And also, I am not a lawyer and this should not be taken as legal advice.).

Red also represents strength and power. Put on your red robes (okay, your dressing gown), lounge in your red chair and remind yourself of all your accomplishments. Roll out the red carpet and dress accordingly (in red) to take on those important responsibilities – and win. Let your red interior design inspire you.

Perhaps you’re looking for a more homely feel with your red interior design. How cosy are terra cotta walls? The cosiest! Red may seem like the most vibrant of colours, but its muted tones, like rust or brick red, are neutrals, and so are a perfect backdrop for other combinations of colours.

Which rooms are best suited to red interior design?

Red in the office will help you meet that deadline. It can also contribute to feelings of confidence in the face of a challenging task. Red can increase your appetite, so in addition to being warm and welcoming, red interior design in your dining room will encourage your dinner guests to indulge and enjoy themselves. Red attracts, whether it’s for romance or you want to sell something. Due to its energising properties, red will also work in the bedroom. If you struggle to get up in the mornings, let your red interior design fuel you for the day ahead – or maybe you need to escape it because it’s giving you a headache – not that that will happen! Used in the right shades and tones for you, you can use red in interior design wherever you wish.

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What’s meant by ultimate country style interior design?

When I think of country style interior design, I imagine warmth, cosiness, rugs, checks and florals, well-loved furniture, and a place that looks cluttered but isn’t. Shabby chic, as they used to say.

And yet there are more modern takes on country style interior design too. There’s also farmhouse country and French country. And Tuscan and Scandinavian country. And what’s meant by country style anyway? Do we mean a cottage or a country house as in Downtown Abbey? Apparently we mean the former, because with all the different styles of country style interior design out there, casual and cosy tends to be the overriding consensus.

Let the architecture contribute to your country style interior design 

If you’re in an actual country house, there’ll be some beautiful features that will be doing some of the work for you: the wooden beams, wooden floors, fireplaces and stone walls.

If your home doesn’t have these natural attributes, you can create them. A mantlepiece will still add that country style to your urban home. Limewash paint will add a soft texture to your walls, enhancing the plaster and bringing a rustic feel to your environment.

Furnishings will make your country style interior design

If you haven’t already got a window seat, now’s the time to add one to your bay window. You’ll want the right window dressings to surround you and shade you while you sit, read and share a drink with friends. Both curtains and Roman blinds soften, perfect for a country style interior design. That’s not to say Roller blinds are out of the running. Roller blinds may be seen as more modern, because of their sleekness, but a Roller blind made with a fabric with a traditional pattern would still fit in beautifully with a country style interior design. Here at Blind Technique, we offer a wide variety of fabrics, including the Chatham Glynn range Country Cottage Checks – perfect for country style interior design.

All of this doesn’t mean your decor can’t be modern. You can have a classic blind style like a Roman blind and have a modern pattern. Shutters, as modern as they are traditional, would also be an excellent choice. We can even have them painted to match your choice of Farrow and Ball paint, whose cosy and classy muted colours will be perfect for your design. We also supply solid wood shutters to create that traditional farmhouse feel.

Mixing patterns can be a staple of country style interior design

Maybe it’s the notion of generations living in the same cottage that makes one think country style interior design is a mesh, or mess, of patterns from throughout history clashing together. But of course patterns can be mixed and share the limelight.

Classic or abstract? Have both. As long as patterns have room to breathe, the eye won’t become overwhelmed. So a selection of different patterned cushions will work on a plain sofa.

If a long bank of curtains, or all four walls are going to have a bold pattern on them, let them be the star feature. Follow through on the colours from those items, and be as different or similar in smaller clusters of patterns as you wish. By keeping the colours down to three, you won’t overwhelm the space.

Colour will make your country style interior design too

There’s a colour scheme for all tastes when it comes to country style interior design. Neutrals and muted colours immediately conjure up a country style interior – and so do brighter colours. Of course primrose yellow and bright florals belong in this scheme. Your own personal tastes need never be limited within a specific style. Earthy tones and pastels can come together. A terracotta wall and silk yellow cushions will contrast beautifully. You can have it all with country style interior design.

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