Creative Ways to Use a Loft Space

The loft: it’s the incredibly chic architectural element you’ve always wanted. In pictures of lofted spaces, you see how a perfectly executed design scheme can make this type of addition both beautiful and functional. 

The only problem is, you’re not quite sure how to make your own loft into a functional yet eye-catching design feature in your home. Fortunately, there are so many ways to use a lofted space, no matter how big or small. Here are some of the most creative ways others have outfitted theirs — ideas you can take into your own home:

Home Gym

Rather than stick a treadmill into the back corner of your living room or in the unused corner of your bedroom, why not dedicate an entire room in your home to sweating it out? A loft gives you just the right amount of space for all you’ll need to build a home gym. You might invest in a few pieces of equipment, or use the floor space to perform the moves shown on your favorite workout DVD.

Game Room

The idea of a bonus space that’s lifted high above the rest of your home imparts your loft with a sense of fun right off the bat. You can take advantage of that funky, entertaining vibe by turning your loft into a game room. You’ll want one gaming centerpiece, like a pool table or foosball table, to tie the space together. Then, add comfy chairs, a fridge for cold drinks and overhead lighting to make it a bonafide billiards room.

Movie Theater

In a similar vein, you can transform your loft into the entertainment area of your home, but with a twist. On one wall, hang a screen onto which you’ll project your favorite movies or sporting events. In front, a line of recliners or one big, comfy sofa will provide seating for everyone you love. Decorate the walls with movie posters or sports paraphernalia and voila: you’ve got a home theater that’s the perfect place to spend your Friday nights.

Home Office

Of course, you can make your home’s lofted space a bit more professional and turn it into a home office. Just be sure you have all the elements of a lofted office: first, you’ll need to make sure you have plenty of storage in the furniture you choose, since most lofts don’t have built-in closet or shelving. 

Some of these filing cabinets and drawers might come as part of the desk you choose for your lofted office, too. Finish it off by choosing a comfy office chair, as well as seating for those who might stop by your workspace for a meeting. A desktop lamp, wall art and office supplies will finish the place off and give you a productive place to work from home. 

Meditation Corner

A smaller loft space might be too small for full pieces of furniture, but too big to leave completely bare. As such, you can use it as the background for your favorite relaxing practice, meditation. 

Meditation imparts a wealth of health benefits with regular practice, and it’s made even more effective when done in a space that makes you feel focused and relaxed. A dedicated corner of your home would be just the ticket, and an unused lofted hallway or bonus room could be the perfect location. Plus, if you fill the space with art, plants and other serene design elements, it’ll look beautiful regardless of whether or not you’re using it to meditate.

Library

The high ceilings in your loft give you all the space you need to build enough shelves to hold your book collection. Not only that, but you can give yourself a cozy recliner or sofa on which you can read the books you pull down. The high-up, private, serene space will be a perfect in-home getaway, an oasis where you can get lost in a book.

Kids’ Playroom

When your kids were little, you watched over them while they played to make sure they were safe and happy. Now that they’re a bit older, they play on their own. The only problem is, that without a dedicated space for their favorite toys, they end up all over the house.

Your loft space could just be the answer to your organizational prayers. Turn it into a playroom and a central place for all of the toys, board games, DVDs and other kid items that tend to get lost in the fray. That way, your kids will know exactly where to find their things, and exactly where they belong after play. Plus, keeping all that in the lofted space means their toys are out of sight.

It’s Up to You

These seven ideas make the most of any loft space, but only if they’re the type of room that’d be useful to you and your family. Think about the activities you love, or think about the type of room you wish your home had built-in; these are the types of ideas that’ll spark the perfect loft use and layout. In the end, it’s up to you to decide how to make the most of your loft and, once you do, you’ll find just how well your loft works for you — both visually and functionally. 

About Author: 

Kacey Bradley is the lifestyle and travel blogger for The Drifter Collective, an eclectic lifestyle blog that expresses various forms of style through the influence of culture and the world around us. Kacey graduated with a degree in Communications while working for a lifestyle magazine. She has been able to fully embrace herself with the knowledge of nature, the power of exploring other locations and cultures, all while portraying her love for the world around her through her visually pleasing, culturally embracing and inspiring posts. Along with writing for her blog, she frequently writes for sites like US Travel News, Thought Catalog, Style Me Pretty, Tripping.com and more!

Follow Kacey on Twitter and subscribe to her blogto keep up with her travels and inspiring posts!

from HMH http://www.homemyheaven.co.uk/2017/12/creative-ways-to-use-loft-space.html

How to Fund Your Dream Self-build Home

The DIY Doctor's Blog
The DIY Doctor's Blog - DIY and Home Improvement Hints, Tips, Help and Advice from The DIY Doctor

How to Fund Your Dream Self-build Home There are some major advantages to building your own home; you have complete control over what you get (within the building regulations and planning approval). The size, quality, configuration are all completely down to you! Another significant benefit is the savings that are possible if the project is Read on...

How to Fund Your Dream Self-build Home

from The DIY Doctor's Blog http://www.diydoctor.org.uk/blog/2017/12/funding-self-build-projects/

How to Style Your Home Like a Pro

Are you moving soon? Do you want to stage your home in a professional and appealing way? Do you have a lot of style ideas, but with no idea how to execute them?

It’s possible to achieve your dream space with what you have, and a few simple style tips can transform your home into the look of the season. You don’t have to be moving to make your home look like it’s been professionally staged. No matter the occasion, you can follow this guide to take your home styling game to the next level.

Style your Home; Image Credit: Pixabay

1. Add Seating to Your Bedroom.

Even if your master bedroom is small, you can still implement this idea to make your room appear much larger. A bench against the window, a chair in the corner, or a small lounge couch with a coffee table can really open up the entire bedroom. Plus, it will make it look more like a hotel room, which is attractive to guests and gives the feeling of a luxurious living!

2. Add Lights at Different Heights.

Lighting is a subtle yet extremely powerful form of decorating that can really make or break the overall look of the room. Ambient lighting can tie a room together, giving it a warm and impressive feel. The best way to achieve ambient lighting is to place lights at varying heights around the room. There’s a big difference between a floor lamp and a table lamp in terms of effect. You can also have ceiling lights, chandeliers, or hanging lights to really give the room some dimension.

3. Repaint the Walls and Ceiling!

Nothing can quickly up the value of your home as much as a new paint job. When it comes to picking colors, it can be overwhelming to find exactly the right shade for your home. Visiting your local hardware store, you may be faced with thousands of different swatch colors.

But don’t fret! You can decide on the best color for your home based on your personal style, and what you want to accomplish with the room. White is a classy and standard color, which can pair well with any skin tone and be versatile with any style. You can switch up the game and go bold with brown or black to give your room a feeling of coolness and sophistication.

4. Add Dynamic Flooring.

Having the perfect flooring to match your home can really make the entire area pop. Wood and tile can make bold statements, and are often easier to clean than carpet. However, there are some elegant carpet options to provide the right accent to your home as well. Get a flooring expert to assess the style and dimensions of your home so you can sample a few different flooring styles.

5. Keep a Variety of Things.

If you have all of the same shape, object, or color tone, your room may come across as boring. In order to keep things interesting, you should have different shapes and sizes all throughout the room. Add decorative pillows to your couch to make the colors pop. Put a rug under your coffee table for dimension and vibrancy. Put out decorations that reflect the moods of the season. There’s a lot you can get creative with!

When you want to decorate your home like a pro, think about all of the hotel rooms you’ve stayed in. What makes them special? What makes them look so elaborate, elegant, and welcoming? You can easily reflect that same sense of style in your own home with wide ceiling lights, dynamic coffee tables, a hardwood floor, or a paint color that makes people feel cool and comfortable at the same time. And remember, above all things, you should make your room interesting so that your guests will want to keep coming back for more!

from HMH http://www.homemyheaven.co.uk/2017/12/how-to-style-your-home-like-pro.html

The 4 Best Tips for How to Store Things in Your Loft or Cellar

The DIY Doctor's Blog
The DIY Doctor's Blog - DIY and Home Improvement Hints, Tips, Help and Advice from The DIY Doctor

Storage is one of those things we simply cannot ever have enough of! These are the only 4 things you need to know to make sure you store your belonging well. The trick is to make the most of the storage that you have, rather than what we all do is revert to trying to Read on...

The 4 Best Tips for How to Store Things in Your Loft or Cellar

from The DIY Doctor's Blog http://www.diydoctor.org.uk/blog/2017/11/tips-on-loft-storage/

Clever Storage Ideas to Help Sell Your Home

Getting on top of storage will help sell your home faster and may even earn a better price.

  A neatly organised house immediately creates the calm atmosphere and welcoming ambiance that buyers find appealing.

Create Space

Most of our possessions probably don’t see the light of day from one year’s end to the next. They lurk in cupboards and drawers, sometimes taking up so much room there is no space for the things we do use.

Those things all mean something. Selling your home shouldn’t mean you have to ditch all the precious, memory-invoking possessions you’ve gathered over the years.

A clever way of decluttering is through self storage. Rooms or lockers are affordable, and there are no long term lock-ins. If you need to create a more spacious atmosphere, but don’t want to permanently lose the things you love but don’t use, this could be your life saver.

Tackle Problem Rooms

Areas such as bathrooms and children’s bedrooms spring to mind. These rooms tend to be home to myriad small items that are hard to control.

Storage in children’s rooms is relatively easy:

·         Beds can be brilliant. Ottoman beds, cabin or captain beds, or divans with drawers can hide many a collection without taking up additional floor space. Choosing a high-rise bed will also provide a desk area, offering space for craft, homework or the TV if your child has one of their own.

·         Stackable storage cubes can be used as stools as well as bookshelves or display areas for figures or other items. Used as bookcases placed in a corner, it’s a neat way to create a ‘quiet’ nook for reading.

·         Colourful coat pegs at child height offer more than just somewhere to hang coats. Dangle baskets or laundry bags to provide homes for small soft toys.

Bathrooms can be a little more problematic, but not impossibly so:

·         A second shower curtain rod installed over the bath but close to the wall, and outfitted with a few S-hooks provides hanging space for bottle caddies or body buffs and loofahs.

·         Fit upside down brackets (the decorative ones that normally go beneath) to the ends of shelves. They look stylish and help stop loose items rolling off or, in the case of stacked towels, draping over edges.

·         Replace a full length mirror with one that doubles as a storage cabinet. Inside is yards of shelving for all your bottles and bathroom supplies.

Use the Vertical Spaces

We tend to neglect wall space above head height, but it’s prime real estate for getting creative with shelving. Layer shelves on top of each other for books or CDs and video games, instead of taking up room with floor standing units, or run a single shelf right around the room at picture rail height to show off groups of collectibles or photos.

Other vertical spaces we ignore are those around doorways, but these often narrow areas can also be turned into storage areas with bespoke shelving. An added charm is that the finished effect creates a recessed doorway look.

Find the Secret Places

All homes have them; you just have to know where to look. Two places you could probably make more use of include under the stairs and under the kitchen cabinets.

Stair cupboards can be dark and cramped, but you can hang hooks in there, run a couple of shelves, or buy a plastic drawer unit to help corral small items. Hang a battery LED light and the space becomes much more useful.

Those areas under the cabinets in kitchens are nearly always closed off with kickboards, but you can remove them and fit hinged or sliding doors instead. The storage space won’t give a lot of height, but it’s useful for long or flat items such as giant roasting trays you hardly ever use but need now and then, kids’ skateboards or bats, or even brooms and mops if there is nowhere else.

It’s all about finding spaces for awkward items so drawers and cupboards look neat and organised. When you’re showing potential buyers around your home, you can never be sure they won’t peep inside cupboards. And if you can show them a neat but homely house, they get the impression the place has plenty of storage and is comfortable to live in.

from Home My Heaven: Home Improvement Blog http://www.homemyheaven.co.uk/2017/11/clever-storage-ideas-to-help-sell-your.html

Can you Replace Window are Doors Yourself – The Rules and Regulations for DIY Window Replacement

The DIY Doctor's Blog
The DIY Doctor's Blog - DIY and Home Improvement Hints, Tips, Help and Advice from The DIY Doctor

It is a relatively common question that people ask us – Can I replace my windows myself, or do I have to get a FENSA approved tradesman to do it? The answer is very simple – Yes, you can do it yourself! The thing is that you must follow the building regulations and get a Read on...

Can you Replace Window are Doors Yourself – The Rules and Regulations for DIY Window Replacement

from The DIY Doctor's Blog http://www.diydoctor.org.uk/blog/2017/11/diy-windows-and-doors/

How to prepare your house for sale using storage

To secure the sale of your home it’s vital that your property stands out from the fray, especially in competitive areas like London. Recent research suggests that clutter is a particular irritation that deters people from making an offer. Luckily, this is easily remedied by maximising the space in your home in a few simple ways, including decluttering and using affordable home self-storage. That’s why we’ve compiled these simple tips below to make sure your journey into the housing market is plain sale-ing.

• Declutter it. Clearing out clutter is a surefire way to free up some extra room in your home and allows you to utilise every nook and cranny inside your property. Remember, moving home is the prime chance to rid your house of any unwanted/unused items and make a fresh start. Sort through your belongings and mark items with one of four labels: keep, store, discard, donate. There’s always the option of trying to earn some cash selling unwanted items on classifieds sites like Gumtree or online auctions like eBay, too. 

• Decorate it. Create an illusion of space by installing mirrors, and paint your walls neutral colours so they don’t provoke a strong reaction. Finally, think about your kerb appeal by trimming the lawns, hedges and trees, and perhaps getting rid of the beloved garden gnome.
  

• Depersonalise it. Stripping down the more personal elements of your home will make it easier for potential buyers to imagine their own belongings in the space, and therefore judge whether they can imagine themselves settling down in your property. Remove family photographs, ornaments and other unnecessary clutter; stow them in convenient self-storage ready for the big move.

• Store it. Properties convey a bigger and better image when unburdened by bulky items of furniture. Carefully select some key pieces to keep in each room, but use storage facilities to store away any excess. Available in a range of sizes for any purpose, storage containers are also a godsend for any other family heirlooms that are crowding your home, therefore acting as the perfect halfway house between your old and new property. Always ensure you choose a reliable storage provider approved by the Self Storage Association (if you’re in London or elsewhere in the UK).
  

• Clean it. The number one rule of home viewing preparation is make sure your property is clean. Big turn-offs for buyers include: smells, stains, dirty plates, unmade beds, dusty surfaces and general grime. Giving your home an intensive clean-through will rid your home of any distasteful elements and make it far more visually appealing to potential buyers.

We wish you good luck on the house sale, and remember – simple sells!

The post How to prepare your house for sale using storage appeared first on UK Home Improvement Blog.

from UK Home Improvement Blog http://www.ukhomeimprovement.co.uk/how-to-prepare-your-house-for-sale-using-storage/

4 Ways To Update Your Living Room On A Budget

Looking for fresh ideas to update the look and feel of your living room? We’ve put together a couple of ways to get you started.

1.      Hand Up Large-Scale Art

Why not create an incredible focal point and give your living room a true wow factor by hanging up an oversized piece of art? You can hang the art up by itself on one of the living room walls to draw attention to it. This look gives a high-impact and ultra-chic effect to any lounge, with very little hassle. You don’t have to spend a fortune, either – scour the flea markets and thrift stores of large pieces and prices you are happy to pay. Or, if you are creative, you could always create your own work of art and stick to a tighter decorating budget.

2.      Downsize on the Clutter

An over-accessorised and cluttered living room can look disorganized, dishevelled, and downright messy. Instead, you can create a sophisticated and chic look by paring down your collection and retaining the pieces that have the greatest sentimental value or those that evoke strong emotions. A more simplified space will leave the remaining pieces to really shine, and it can help to keep you on budget. If you want to add a focal piece of furniture, you could purchase Moroccan furniture in Australia or in your local store to create a rustic, sophisticated, and highly-polished look and feel to your living room.

3.      Consider the Television

Nothing quiet brings down that feeling of chic sophistication and luxury in a space quite like a great big, black television placed right in the centre of a wall in your living room. If your budget can’t quiet stretch to elegant mirrors to conceal the television, you could try to visually minimalize the presence of the screen by creating a salon-style art arrangement or even a gallery wall around it. While it won’t make the screen completely disappear, the frame of your TV will better blend into the background with the artwork, therefore distracting the eye. This is a great idea that works well on a budget.

4.      Make Good Use of Textiles

To freshen up the look of your living room and create a custom look, consider using antique or vintage style textiles to make beautiful throw cushions or cover small pieces such as upholstered stools and seat cushions. You could also add an antique Turkish rug on your floor as a cost-effective and simple way to instantly create intrigue and interest. The unusual and vintage-type fabric will inject the room with a really unique look and feel, therefore personalising your space. Another idea is to add a textural throw to a piece of furniture, be it a char or sofa, to really ramp up the cosy factor in the living room.

Those are ways on how to update the look of your living room. Follow any of those steps and transform your living room from boring to stunning!

from Home My Heaven: Home Improvement Blog http://www.homemyheaven.co.uk/2017/11/4-ways-to-update-your-living-room-on.html

How to match your office design with your brand

We currently live in a digitalworld where most people will visit your company’s website before paying a visit to your office. However, your office design can still tell your visitors a lot about your company, your employees and what you stand for. At the end of the day, your office will always be the first time that potential clients and employees, as well as general visitors, come in to human contact with your business. Therefore, it is important to get your design spot on as first impressions are vital in all walks of life, especially business.

Making sure that your office space reflects your brand can help set your business apart from others. Walking in to a dull office which doesn’t reflect the field of work your company is involved with could be both confusing and off putting. A brand relevant office quite simply gives customers and clients a better idea of what your business is all about and what you stand for. It can sometimes be the difference between the success and failure of your company.

Stick to a plan

Like with anything business related, creating and sticking to a plan when it comes to a modern office refurbishment is vital. There are numerous factors to consider, so it’s incredibly important that you establish a starting point and work from there. One option is to think about what it is you want to achieve from your office refurbishment. When clients visit your office, you want it to send a message about your business. Thinking about what you want that message to say can help. What you don’t want is for the design of your office to not match what your company’s about. For example, a client may not associate a fast-digital media company with an office that looks old and tired. 

Involve your staff

Your brand is more than just a logo. It’s the company’s culture and its workforce as well. When thinking about the design of your office, there are benefits in including your staff in the process. By knowing what their needs are and how they like to work, this will give you a good idea of how everyone views your business. Involving staff gives them a stake in the business and promotes the company brand, not to mention the fact that your staff will be feel respected and trusted by you for allowing them to be part of such a big decision. Also, involving your members of staff means that everyone will be working in their ideal environment, which can only be a positive when it comes to productivity.

Show off your brand

One thing you can do in any office refurbishment is to make use of your brand’s colours. It’s not just about placing logos on office walls. Using the colours from your logo or website, or both, for your office design can send an important message to those who visit the company. It is a way of telling others that your office is not just any office, but an office that no other company could possibly use because it just ‘screams’ your brand. Correctly done, including your brand in your office design can send a message about how you want your employees to behave. It can also project a message about what you want your customers to think about the business. Mixing your brand into your office design can help you set out a unique identity for your business.

Office design has perhaps never been more important with many companies going above and beyond to create engaging, brand relevant places of work. For a high-quality office refurbishment or fit out service click here

from Home My Heaven: Home Improvement Blog http://www.homemyheaven.co.uk/2017/11/how-to-match-your-office-design-with.html

5 Things To Consider When Buying Antique Furniture

 If you are considering investing in some antique furniture, there is much to consider, as these kinds of purchases are never cheap, and unless you know what you are looking at, you could end up paying a lot more than you should. It is therefore advisable to have a basic understanding of what antique furniture entails, and with that in mind, here are some important factors to consider when looking to buy antique furniture.

 

1.      Buy from an Established Dealer – This way you can be sure the item is in fact, genuine, and with so many copies around, it is easy to be duped by a dubious dealer. There is, for example, top quality antique furniture in Brisbane available at Wallrocks, an established dealer who has some excellent items on offer, all at reasonable prices. Approaching an established dealer gives you many options, along with quality guarantees and honest appraisals, and the list of furniture items would be extensive, with something to suit every budget.

2.      Inspect the Item Carefully – One must check for any signs of damage when buying any antique item, and depending on what type of furniture it is, there are places to look. A heavy chest of drawers or wardrobe would be vulnerable at the feet, so check thoroughly for any sign of damage, as this is the most likely place. Chairs might be damaged at the back of the rest, or again, on the legs, and any drawers should be physically removed for a comprehensive inspection that includes looking at the timber runners.

3.      Look For Credentials – There are many online antique dealers, but not all of them are members of relevant associations, and if the dealer is respected in the local fine arts community, this is a good sign. All antique dealers rely heavily on word of mouth recommendations, but having said that, they must also have the right connections with reputable organisations. For more information on the importance of credentials in business, check various references for some further reading.

4.      Practicality – That period cabinet might look wonderful in your dining room, but will it be functional enough to meet your needs? Some pieces are beautiful, yet not very practical if you wish to really utilise the furniture, and this needs to be taken into account. Purchase a piece that is both functional and aesthetically pleasing.

5.      The Investment Angle – Of course, many buyers are looking at the investment properties, and with a careful selection, one can make a tidy profit over the years. Paying a lot of money for a table, for example, doesn’t seem so bad when you consider the value will appreciate significantly, and with some restoration, one can really make a handsome profit, if you know what to look for.

There are online dealers of fine antique furniture, and with the assurance that all the items are genuine and fairly priced, you can enhance your home, while also making a shrewd investment. If, however, you have little or no experience with antique furniture, it is advisable to do some online researching before looking at items. This will ensure that you will not make a wrong decision, and the more experience you gain, the more you will be able to spot a bargain.

from Home My Heaven: Home Improvement Blog http://www.homemyheaven.co.uk/2017/11/when-buying-Antique-Furniture.html

4 Advantages Of Blackout Blinds

The summers bring long, light evenings, but they also bring interrupted sleep due to the longer days. Blackout blinds, though, are a great solution as most light is blocked out, keeping your room darker and cooler.

Some of the most popular types of blackout blinds include roller blinds and Roman blinds. You will find a wide range of high quality made to measure blackout blinds from trusted providers online and in your local area.

With blackout blinds, the blind fabric is applied to a lining, enabling the fabric to look good, hold its internal structure, and to keep out the light.

 

If you’re still wondering whether or not it’s worth getting blackout blinds, check out these benefits.

1.      Preparing the Body for a Good Night’s Sleep

Whether it’s sunny summer or gloomy winter, blackout blinds can help to dim out the light in the evening before you go to bed, preparing your bodies and brains for sleep. What’s more, research shows that cutting out all sources of light while you sleep can stop any interruptions to your body clock. In other words, learning to fall in love with the dark that these blinds provide can in turn prevent changes to your internal rhythm.

In fact, we actually need to be exposed to good kinds of darkness at night if we want to enjoy quality sleep. We’d go so far as to say you may well be surprised at the different blackout blinds can make to your room. Also, placed in a child or baby’s room, these blinds can make a significant different to their quality of sleep, and help them to stop waking up with the sun, or get them to bed when it is still pretty light outside.

2.      Improved Privacy

Typically, blackout fabrics are made from thicker materials than other blinds or curtains, which means that besides blocking out light from your rooms, they also block out any light inside that a person on the outside might see. This makes them perfect for bedrooms and bathrooms where privacy is most required.

3.      Save on Energy Bills

Reducing the cost of your energy bills is a big benefit of blackout blinds, and they have lower impact on the environment. The thickest material helps to greatly retain heat in a room during the winter and reflect the heat out of a room during summer, maintaining a comfortable temperature and creating a relaxing environment. In turn, you stop wasting money on cooling or heating your rooms and you get to be more environmentally friendly, too.

4.      Noise Reduction

Finally, blackout blinds can help to reduce the amount of noise entering a room. So, if your neighbours love nothing more to mow their law at the crack of dawn, or the boat that’s moored next door is hosting a noisy dinner party when you and your family are trying to get some shut eye, the noise can be blocked out to a degree, leaving you to enjoy a good night’s sleep.

With the points we’ve discussed, it is safe to say that every homeowner should invest in blackout blinds.

from Home My Heaven: Home Improvement Blog http://www.homemyheaven.co.uk/2017/11/4-advantages-of-blackout-blinds.html