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.

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.

But is the very idea of yellow interior design simply too much? How about a shade that suits the season more, like a nice warming mustard, or perhaps a sumptuous dark gold?

However you wish to counter winter’s icy fingers, a yellow interior design will help warm you up. And promote creativity, yet induce calm, while also inspiring you. As usual with these things, it’s not so much the colour itself but the tint or shade you bring into your yellow interior design that will lift your mood, bring serenity to your space and match your existing decor.

Yellow interior design to lighten your mood

Reds, oranges and of course yellows pump up your energy and your happiness levels. All three combined might also give you a migraine, so it’s possible you may need a bright vibrant yellow to lift your mood, but only in small doses.

A cheery yellow is just the thing for a front door. What could be more welcoming? Keep that yellow going in your hall, so it can bring a smile to your face as you leave for work, or a welcome huzzah when coming home from a horrible day at the office.

A dark blue will offset your jolly-inducing yellow interior design, and a grey will calm it down a bit. And if you want the happiest hallway in the street, then let rip with the reds and oranges to make your yellow interior design quite the feast for the senses, and an antidote to the blues.

Yellow interior design for a north-facing room

The colour of sunshine is just what a north-facing room needs. Keep the colour combinations light too, to give this dull room a fighting chance. Add some bejewelled tones to both brighten the room and warm it up. Chrome for contrast or brass and copper accoutrements to match will help pull the room together, all thanks to yellow interior design.

Yellow interior design for a child’s room – or your home office!

Are you called upon to come up with creative solutions for your boss? Do you want your child to reveal their inner Jackson Pollock? Yellow is the answer to both these conundrums. Lemony zest tastes great, makes your floors shine and will keep yours and your child’s brain firing on all cylinders. When you need to strike a serious mood for Zoom meetings, turn your computer to face the duck egg blue wall of your office. Or turn your child towards their sky-blue wall for nap time. Yellow interior design is nothing if not versatile.

Yellow interior design is for the bold!

You better believe yellow interior design is for the bold. If you want to splash gold all over the place, have long flowing gold velvet curtains to go with the gold chandelier and gold cushions, you can break it up and still keep things warm with deep complimentary colours such as burgundy, cherry or garnet. Yes, yellow and red don’t have to be a headache-inducing combination.

For a softer but still very yellow extravaganza, softer tints will bring the mellow yellow is associated with. A very warm white with plenty of yellow in it will keep things cosy and smart.

Yellow interior design is for the judicious

A little bit of yellow interior design goes a long way, so by making yellow a refreshing accent colour, you can make several small impactful bursts of joy.

A neat and discreet roller blind with a touch of a yellow pattern can add a subtle distinction to your space. A cellular blind in pale gold will add gentle warmth in winter, keep you literally warm, and merge with the sunlight and help keep you cool in summer. If you want something more vibrant yet in moderate doses, you could indulge in some yellow for some Roman blinds. With a range of fabrics to choose from, from soft to brilliant yellows, plain, textured or patterned, you’ll find yellow interior design, whether on a big or small scale, might actually be your thing.

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

Make money with glam home decor on a budget

There’s a neatness to glam. Glam isn’t sweatpants. Glam is put together. I’m saying you need to declutter. What you can’t sell via apps, online marketplaces and car boot sales can go to your local charity shops. What they refuse to take can go in a box to Oxfam. They’ll accept anything. If you’re serious about having glam home decor on a budget, you need to say goodbye to the things you forgot you had and haven’t even thought about for the past ten years.

Achieve glam home decor on a budget with shiny things

Did you keep back some knick-knacks to give them a new lease of glam life? It’s amazing what a spray can of metallic paint can do. There’s no need to spend your budget on sparkly bits and bobs when you can upcycle your own. Instead of duplicating some shop bought fashionable item, you’ll have unique yet familiar objects d’art for your in-crowd to fawn over.

Any shiny or reflective object will bring a literal sparkle to your glam home decor. It’s just one reason why mirrors tick design boxes, ornate frame or not. And how about reflective furniture? Attractive and shiny, but how to achieve that on a budget? Transform your old wooden chest of drawers with a roll of adhesive contact paper or vinyl wrap. Add new handles or knobs and voila, you’ll literally save hundreds of pounds bringing in your glam home decor on a budget.

Make glam home decor on a budget possible with colour

You can save money and get yourself some glam home decor on a budget simply by choosing glam colours. It’s not that any one colour is more glamorous than the rest. It comes down to the tint and shade of colour you choose. Emerald green, ruby red, plummy purple and other bejewelled colours are made for luxuriating in.

If you prefer a more simple approach to colour, then you wont want to overlook the simple and classic glam a monochrome design brings. One colour can do a lot of the heavy lifting for you. For the price of a couple of cans of paint, you can have glam home decor on a budget like the canny person you are.

Accessories will help you realise glam home decor on a budget

Same old couch but new satiny cushions and a couple of faux fur throws transform it into a crucial fixture in your luxurious den. Go crazy with the curtains. From floor to ceiling, your velvet bejewelled curtains will make your room both scrumptious and cosy. How about some Roman blinds to make your windows the most glam windows in town? Heavy, decadent, top quality fabric will cost, but your budget will be well spent on quality and the whole room will be uplifted. Buy quality items that will last as opposed to something cheap that will need replacing sooner rather than later. Broken glamour is a tragedy!

The right shops provide glam home decor on a budget

Have a good wallow at the expensive end of the market and be inspired. Then shop around and you’ll probably find something similar at a reasonable price.

There are all sorts available online, from eBay to Amazon and Marketplace where you can find something surprising and suitable for upcycling. Secondhand stores and auctions will be worth a visit. You can pick up bargains galore. This way, you can all too easily have glam home decor on a budget.

The post The Best Choices For Glam Home Decor On A Budget appeared first on Blind Technique.

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.

The post How To Bring Colour Into A Room! appeared first on Blind Technique.

How to stop draughts from windows with cheap quick fixes

If your time and budget call for a cheap quick fix to stop draughts from windows, then so be it. They are still effective. They also have their drawbacks. So let’s get this necessity out of the way and then we can enjoy other practical but longer-lasting and more attractive options.

To stop the draughts from windows you can caulk up the holes, but this can be unsightly if done poorly. You’ll also only want to caulk if you are planning never to open that window again. Foam tape is another option, just bung it over the gap. However, this is not a permanent solution, and it can leave a residue on the window frame.

How to stop draughts from windows with money

To stop draughts from windows with money, fold those bills tight and – No. To stop draughts from windows, you can invest in double-glazing. It’s one of those things that border on being a necessity. Yes, you’re looking at several thousands of your hard-earned pounds disappearing from your bank account in one fell swoop, and that’s because of all the advantages double-glazing brings. You’ll be saving heat, and saving money too in the long run. Double glazing also adds value to your property. You’ll be spending money to save money and to stop draughts from windows giving you the chills.

How to stop draughts from windows with style and elegance

When it comes to stopping draughts from windows, curtains are the practical and stylish option. The very idea of drawing thick and heavy luxurious curtains across your windows to protect you from the dark and cold of winter warms the heart and your body. Curtains won’t just warm you, they bring both indulgence and cosiness, and there aren’t many things you can say that about.

Whether you choose one of our fabrics or provide one you’ve sourced yourself, we can whip up the curtains of your dreams. The addition of a lining will also add an extra layer of insulation. Our curtains will enhance your home and stop draughts from your windows with panache.

How to stop draughts from windows with blinds

When it comes to stopping draughts from windows with blinds, there are a couple of styles that will do the job for you: Roman blinds and cellular blinds.

Both of these blinds will need to be hung outside the recess, to ensure they are stopping the draughts from your windows. Roman blinds are made from similar scrummy fabric that we make our curtains from, and will therefore have the same draught-excluding abilities. However, due to their honeycomb design, cellular blinds were literally designed to keep you warm in winter and cool in summer. Available in a wide range of colours, you’re sure to find something that melds beautifully with your decor.

I’ve mentioned hanging the blind outside of the recess to ensure you block the draught from the windows. Another alternative is to hang the blind in the recess and as close to the window as possible. Where you choose to hang your blind will depend on where exactly the draught from your window is coming from.

How to stop draughts from windows with multiple window dressings

Voiles and curtains go together, and so do curtains and blinds. You may need one window dressing to provide privacy and another to allow in enough light, and together they combine to stop draughts from windows. One window dressing can’t necessarily solve all your window/decor/privacy/shade/warmth demands. So it’s okay if you find yourself needing more than one window dressing. Besides, it’s also a fine way to bring opulence into your home.

Whether you choose a temporary quick fix, double glazing, or splash out on some new curtains and blinds to invigorate your home, you can stop draughts from windows and feel comfy and toasty in your home.

The post How To Stop Draughts From Windows appeared first on Blind Technique.

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.

The post How To Choose A Colour Scheme  appeared first on Blind Technique.

Before we start, let us delve into why you like green so much.

It’s green, like nature, so you relax. Okay, that was not much of a delve.

How to decorate a green bedroom when you want it all green!

So, you really love green. You want to sleep amongst your green duvet set in your green pyjamas under a green canopy. And you already know that decorating a green bedroom means there’ll be many shades of green involved – but wait! Lime and sage are duelling tones. How about you keep your shades of green reasonably close together? Add a totally different colour for a very poppy accent, and you’ll still have your passion for green on full display in your especially decorated green bedroom.

And don’t forget the doorway. What is this business of painting ceilings and woodwork white? Your bedroom doorway should also be decorated green, to lead you into the green bedroom that is your green haven.

Decorating your bedroom green, or any other one dominant colour, helps blur the edges of your room, and therefore makes a small room appear bigger. It also highlights any furniture you want on display, such as the new bed you treated yourself to since you’ve gone to the effort of decorating your green bedroom, you have quite rightly treated yourself.

How to decorate a green bedroom with a theme

Now that you’ve decided to take the plunge and decorate your bedroom green, you may still be looking for inspiration on how to put your different greens together. Having a theme – like, well, nature – helps. Plants are an obvious accessory for a decorated green bedroom. They may even go to sleep and wake up with you. How’s that for settling your natural rhythm?

For a country feel, add wall panelling. The bed itself could be a statement. The headboard alone can do a lot of the work here. Green and the colours that go with it – from blue to pink – will make it easy for you to throw in some Art Deco-style furniture. Maybe your obsession with Dorothy dictates an homage to the Emerald City. Bejewelled colours always go well together, ruby or otherwise, to see you off into an opulent night of slumber.

Having a theme, from nature to the city, will help you make decisions, as well as marking your decorated green bedroom, and therefore yourself, with a distinct style.

How to decorate a green bedroom and include other colours

Once upon a time, timid souls used to say that blue and green should never be seen. Of course blue and green are beautiful together. Just look at any horizon!

Pink, yellow and orange offer a vibrant and pretty contrast. Brown is a natural neutral to go with your decorated green bedroom, especially in regard to floors (duh) and furniture. Yes, that old fuddy-duddy brown furniture is actually a gorgeous rich brown, maybe with red undertones, adding warmth and cosiness to your decorated green bedroom.

Which window dressings will go in my newly decorated green bedroom?

Faux wooden Venetians are going to look so good in your freshly decorated green bedroom. Not only will they seamlessly blend in with a nature theme, they’re highly durable too. If this is for a children’s green bedroom, be sure to motorise them to avoid the cord becoming a hazard to any child or pet in the vicinity.

If you find Venetian blinds aren’t right for your newly decorated green bedroom, perhaps Duo Vision blinds will fit the bill. Made from delicate fabrics, Duo Vision blinds consist of one sheer and one opaque fabric which slide over each other to give you the same control over light and privacy Venetians give you, perfect for a bedroom.

Roman blinds, both chic and charming, can be made to your specifications. The right set of curtains pulls off being both elegant and cosy. Shutters, whether in green or a complementary colour, offer a modern take on these classic window dressings. However you wish to decorate your green bedroom, we can help with our bespoke blinds, shutters and curtains.

The post How To Decorate A Green Bedroom appeared first on Blind Technique.

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.

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

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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