Simple ways to update your bedroom that gives the wow factor

I am currently in the throes of a much-needed mini upgrade of my bedroom. I'm pulling off the outdated wallpaper, the old carpet is being pulled up (I hate carpet), and hopefully I can repair the floorboards so they are usable as well as repainting the walls and redesigning the space in the hopes of creating a calming and welcoming space.  A lot of the process I am planning to do myself to help keep the budget down and only bringing in tradesmen when needed and I think it's also important to know when to do that as there are somethings that are beyond my skill level and at those times I don't have an issue paying for the skills of a builder or capenter and getting the finish I really want.  However, there are plenty of simple and easy ways to update your bedroom space  1. Make a statement with paint and artwork A fresh coat of paint can do wonders to any space but when adding a bold colour or accent wall, it can really add something special. It's also a room to have a b......

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3 Tips for Sharing Wardrobe Space with Family or Significant Other

As a child, you were taught to share with others, a good life skill that is needed into adulthood. As an adult, there should be nobody easier to share with than our significant other, child or family member. Yet when it comes to something like wardrobe space, which for most of our lives has been ours and ours alone, suddenly having to share it can come as a shock. I live in a very small home, space is limited, so at the moment I'm sharing my larger wardrobe with one of my children and yes we make it work but it did take time to adjust, in the same way it would if your sharing yours with a partner for the first time.  It also brings challenges with it. It is almost certain that one of you will have more things than the other. Then, there will likely be disagreements over how things should be stored. You might also have different needs, for example, if one of you just wants to find what you need quickly, sling it on and get out the door, while the other likes to take time getting dre......

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Making the Most of a Smaller Space: Tips for Downsizers

*This post contains affiliate links With the price of energy, food and fuel starting to pinch, many are looking at ways to make their money go further. One common way to do this is to downsize your home, but this can cause a few problems if you’re not prepared to deal with having less space. When you downsize your home, it’s important to make the most of the smaller space you have, so with a little bit of effort, you can turn a cramped and cluttered house into a cosy and inviting home. Here are a few tips to help you make the most of your smaller space. Get clever with space-saving furniture A smaller home may not be suitable for larger items of furniture, so it’s important to invest in space-saving furniture instead. Look for pieces that serve multiple purposes, like a sofa that doubles as a guest bed or a coffee table with a shelf underneath. Folding dinner tables can also be handy – they fold out when you want a big family meal, but fold away when you’re not using them. If you’re sh......

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5 Tips for Organising Kids' Wardrobes

*Contains affiliate links  Organising a child’s wardrobe is something that may seem small and unnecessary but can really help save you time, money, reduce stress and help keep your kid's space tidy. Clothes are often the first thing that ends up on the floor or the bed and making sure they have a spot for everything will keep the clutter to a minimum. Not only that, but it will get them in the habit of putting things where they should be, which they will carry for the rest of their lives. If you think that’s an impossible task, don’t be afraid. Here are a few tips you can follow to organize your kids’ wardrobe. Take Inventory of What they Have Having two boys I do this fairly often as I reuse all my eldest son's clothes for my youngest. You should start by looking at what they have and what they don’t need anymore. This could allow you to clear the wardrobe, but also check what they may need at the moment. Give away anything that is still salvageable. If there are some things ......

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How to thrive while working from home

Now more than ever people are working from home, in fact we are being encouraged to do so. I've been a self-employed freelancer for a few years now and have been working from my small but adequate office space in my home for over 6yrs now so I feel well versed in the work from home lifestyle. There are certainly pros and cons to working from home but it offers a lot of freedom once you get into a good routine and I find it works really well for me. So I thought I would share a few tips I've learnt along the way and if your making the switch to working from home hopefully these will be useful. 1. Create a daily to-do list Having a structure to your workday is really important and having a clear idea of your daily objectives will really help you to stay focused and productive. Without having anyone physically there to supervise or oversee your work, motivation has to come from you so knowing your deadlines and prioritising the most important tasks is key. You can also break your ......

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Easy ways to keep your kids room tidy

*Contains Affiliate links  I'm tired of constantly tidying up after the kids, the cat, all the toys, so anything I can do to minimalise this I will and there are a few simple ways to make life a little easier. While unfortunately, house chores can unavoidable there are ways to reduce the amount of time you spend doing them. I thought I would share a few key tips on how to help keep your children's room clean and tidy for longer. 1. Declutter This is one of the most important steps to take and yes it can be time-consuming but it's worth it. As children get older they will naturally grow out of some of their toys and this is a time, together, to say goodbye and rehome some of their toys and clothes. The more you can give away the better and there is a reason why so many people rave about the minimalist trend being good for mental wellbeing. 2. Organise Once you have done a major declutter it's time or really organises where things should go - it's im......

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Creative ways to reinvent your garden Shed

Contains affiliate links  Most homeowners who have a garden usually have a shed and one would probably assume that it was for storing tools or garden equipment and you would more than likely be right. Storage sheds in a person's backyard are notoriously used for these things and quickly become cluttered with stuff that rarely sees the light of day. However, these little structures can be so cute that it is a shame that they are not used for more creative things, you could even  You can add a cute sliding barn door that can make it useful for just about anything . The backyard sheds have so much potential instead of just being an extension of the home for storage clutter. It is all about waving goodbye to unused and unwanted clutter and instead of making spaces useful and practical so here are just a few different ways in which you can use storage sheds.  A shed not only provides more useful and practical space to gardens but can be a design feature in itself, espe......

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How to declutter your home and life

*Contains affiliate links  We all go through stages where you can feel a bit bogged down in the baggage of life. The best place to start with a declutter is in your very own home and in turn that will affect your overall lifestyle. Here’s how to declutter your house (and your mind) in an easy and satisfying way. Be Systematic The first place to start is to plan what you want to get rid of, in what room, and in what order. Treat it like a house move , which often helps as you’re often against a final deadline to make decisions. Make a list of rooms from the kitchen to the bathroom and decide in what order you’ll tackle the house. Some suggestions for ordering include top to bottom, bottom to top, or tackling the most used rooms first. Tackle each room in 20-minute bursts with a break in between, so you don’t get declutter fatigue. This is also a good time to donate unwanted goods to charity shops, friends or sell on ebay and make a little bit of extra money. Spring Clean......

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5 ways to declutter & refresh your kitchen

If you keep up with current trends you may have already heard about the fantastic positive effects of minimalising our clutter and getting rid of anything we don't need or use while at the same time creating more space and a calmer living environment, I've written a post about how it can improve your life. The kitchen is a room that all of the family use and because of this can attract a lot of clutter and mess which adds to the chaos, especially at meals times. I am still in process of getting my kitchen to exactly how I want it but it's not far off and I thought I would a few tips on keeping your kitchen feel more spacious, organised and a place to enjoy good food or have a quiet moment rather than chaos.  1. Firstly reduce what you have It's so easy to hold onto things we don't use or accumulate gadgets that never see the light of day, so it's worth having a really good sort out as that alone could free up a lot of storage and surface space. You......

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5 Ways to Save Money for a Family Holiday

Are you long overdue a family holiday? Even if it's just a weekend camping trip, staycation or you have dreams of long haul destinations it can be hard if you don't have some kind of budgeting plan in place especially if you have children. Life in general can be so busy, hectic and draining finically but it's also really important to step away from it all every now and then so having a travel kitty you can contribute towards to during the year is key and really will add up over a period of time and take the stress off planning a trip away. I thought I would share 5 easy ways to help save for that family holiday so do check it out even if you have already paid for most of it in advance it's always good to have some extra spending money. If you already know where your going check out my other post about how preparation and booking at the right time can save you loads. 1. Declutter and Ebay what you don't need I often do this before we are going away somew......

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Simple Interior ideas for simple living spaces

Living in or near a city does often mean a compromise on space but that doesn’t mean you have to compromise on having beautifully designed interiors. I'm hoping this blog post will go a little way in  helping you to achieve the designer-style you see in glossy mags and Pinterest boards but on a minute  scale as I share a few of my favourite products at the moment. The simplicity of scandi-style lends itself to smaller spaces where you are tight on space. The furniture is slim, with clean lines and generally comes in lighter colours. The main key the seasons is to declutter, simplify and also bring things into the home that are multidirectional and can be used for more thane purpose such as this shelf-come-desk below which is an example of an ingenious space-saving design. This shelf ladder is ideal for achieving a scandi inspired look while saving room and creating an office ‘space’ all rolled into one. Dwell have a version you can purchase here . The simple a......

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10 ways to bring simplicity to your home

So as some of you may already know I've set myself a Minimalist challenge for 2017, which means our family is having a major sort out in the aim of cleaning our home , minds and leave behind only what truly makes us happy and things that bring joy into our lives. A few weeks in and I am already learning a lot about myself and the reality of trying to minimise a whole home that is crammed with not only toys, books, DVD's and everything else in-between but also lots of memories and sentimental things, but what I can say is once you start to sort through things it does slowly get easier, letting go becomes easier but it's not something you can do overnight so I thought I would share my top 10 ways to simplify your home this year and make it a place that is calm away from the chaos. 1. Get rid of Stuff Daily - Okay so yes this may seem obvious but there is one thing talking about it and another thing actually putting this change to practice and even a small declutter ......

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5 small changes to rejuvenate your home

As most homeowners know big renovations cost a lot of money as well as planning and when your feeling like a change big is not always the way to go, in fact there are many budget friendly options to inject some life into your home and rejuvenate a space that may be looking a little tired or outdated. Most of these suggestions are also doable in terms of DIY even if you have never picked up a paintbrush before with some simple instructions you could discover you have a new talent as well as save money hiring professionals. Of course if your nervous or short of time getting a carpenter in or a painter may be the best foot forward but make sure you get a range of quotes to find the best price. 1. Declutter - It's so easy overtime to collect, accumulate and hold onto things that we don't actually need or hold that much of a purpose. When our spaces become cluttered so do our minds and often our own productivity can go down because of it. It's also hard to see ......

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5 easy ways to improve your Apartment

When I first came over to the UK I lived in Edinburgh, a city I absolutely adore. What I always loved about the city was all the beautiful old flats above the shops right in the heart of the city and I was over the moon to find a wonderful two bed flat only 15mins walk from the hughstreet which I rented with a friend. Since then I have rented a few different flats and apartments and as we gear up to sell our house apartment living is still not out of the question as there is something really appealing about living right in the heart of the city in a stylish flat. I thought I would share a few tips about styling and apartment and that interior decoration doesn't have to be overly expensive. 1. Declutter    As apartments are usually a little smaller than houses the first step you should take is to bring down the clutter and simplify every room. Get rid of all trinkets and unneeded paraphernalia, and bring accessories down to the basics before trying to come up wit......

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