6 tips for a Minimalist Inspired Christmas

Over the past year I have done a massive de-clutting when it comes to our Christmas decorations, like most I love Christmas but what I don't like is the all the excess which seems to follow through into every part of the festive season. My main goal this year is to create a homely, warm and festive feel but with small simple touches, loved and hand picked decorations I plan to keep for years not ones that are disposable and will land up in the land full at the end of the year. So I thought I would share a few minimalist inspired tips that embraces getting the home ready but focuses on less is more and quality over quantity 1. Decorating the Tree I have minimised our tree decorations down by about 80 percent although each year I pick up one or two special glass babbles to add to the collection. Each decoration has been hand picked and I have to say I love each and every one which in comparison to the mountain of plastic ones we had years before is a welcomed change. It'......

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Christmas Decorations and Advent calendars

Can you believe it's the first of December already! It's officially time to take in all that is festive and Christmassy and start decorating the house (if you haven't already). Each year I keep telling myself that I am going to pick up some really beautiful glass baubles and get rid of the tinsel and anything too garish and invest in some quality Christmas decorations and finally I did just that. I picked up some cute and colourful ones from H&M, traditional glass icicles from IKEA and a beautiful glass start and feathered pheasant from John Lewis, as well as a few other bits and bobs. The first is also the start of Advent and if you have not picked up one I can highly recommend both the chocolate one from Godiva and Hotel Chocolate and if your looking for a sugar free option for kids than perhaps a Lego Advent would be perfect, we picked up one from House of Fraser . We have also started making a few Christmas decorations which is always a fun pas......

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Final Christmas touches for the home

With it being the most wonderful time of the year, here are some Christmas must haves to get your home looking, feeling and smelling festive! A tree Whether you like a pine-coned sweet-smelling fir, or a non-dropping vacuum-friendly artificial tree, you can make it look extra special by choosing a colour theme . Red, gold, silver and green are traditional colours, but blue and purple are popular modern alternatives. Choose two colours and stick with them throughout the house. It’s a good idea to pick up decorations in the January sales and pack them away for next year, but for now you can make it special with your children’s decorations or family baubles that your granny treasured. However you choose to decorate your tree, it should be special to you. Shedding pine needles are a never-ending Christmas battle! To keep real trees alive buy a stand that holds water. You wouldn’t put cut flowers in a dry vase and expect them to live, so extend your tree’s life by positionin......

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Come home to Cosy

With one week of December done and dusted we are now well on our way into the festive season and Advent fun and I don't know about your but we have completely embraced the festive spirit with lots of crafts, decorating and getting the house ready for the big day. I honestly think that it lifts the soul bringing lots of colour into the home, especially during such a cold time of the year, plus with touches of nature in the form of a real tree, wreath or just little autumn and winter finds help create that homely feeling. With so much fun and excitement to be had I am happy to tell you about the interactive advent calendar full of goodies and inspiration that Carpetright currently have on their website, from tutorials to giveaways each day holds something a little different behind each door. The wreath I made last year When it comes to getting cosy I always have visions of a cold winter night with my boys cuddled up on the sofa, lovely thick throws and big mugs of ......

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3 Christmas Colour Palettes For Decorating Your Home

I love the silver and grey shades I came across at Ideal Home Show The Winter season inspires a myriad of colours to redress your home with. Typically, with Christmas and New Years crowning the season, you may feel like wanting to add that extra celebratory sparkle to your home decor.  Gold, silver and reflective materials are all welcome on the tree in tinsel and bauble form, so why not extend this into the colour palette for your home? By co-ordinating the eye-catching with the cosy, you can create a homely, festive feel within your home this holiday season. From the classic to the contemporary, we’ve compiled three Christmas decorating colour palettes for your home decor, each with its own feature pieces and home accessories. Match classic silver with textured greys and cosy creams. If you favour neutral colours in your home, such as pale yellows and white, then the winter months can make your home feel a little cold and bare. Crisp white works wonders fo......

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A festively fitting home

Christmas Day is nearly upon us, so now is the time to ensure your home is ready for the festive season. Whether it is your turn to host the party or you simply wish to revive your home – there are a number of things to consider. But, don’t worry – revitalising your home this Christmas doesn’t have to break the bank. Plan for winter emergencies Planning for any Christmas emergencies is crucial this year! From booking your boiler in for a service to creating a power cut kit and ensuring any draughts are kept at bay is really important this year. If you’ve noticed a winter chill coming in from your windows, it’s a good idea to invest in draught proofing sash windows before it gets any colder. Brighten up your home Before winter is in full swing, set aside a little time to brighten up your home. Whether it is for the benefit of your guests, yourself or your family - adding both colour and warmth to your home will help you to brighten up each and every room even on ......

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Christmas Inspiration and £300 giveaway

Would love Christmas to be this minimal in my house ( image ) It's official, we are now in November which means it's finally okay to start thinking more and more about Christmas. That warm smell of freshly cut pine from the tree, lots of cooking, crafting and all that fun festive jazz. I thought I would go into it lightly with my first Christmasy post but just sharing a few inspirational piccies with you as well as giving one of our readers the chance to win £300 in high street vouchers -which would go a long way to getting those loved ones some lovely bits and bobs this year. Hoping to be organised this year so we can put our feet up a little bit Now to the exciting part - the giveaway. To celebrate more than one million customers signing up to E.ON Rewards , they are giving away a share of one million Tesco Clubcard points to a few lucky customers. To win £300 high street vouchers with E.ON and Side Street Style, simply tell us what you would do with one million......

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5 Ideas to Consider Before you Renovate the Outdoor Area

Beautiful Patio (Image via Pinterest ) The southern hemisphere countries such as Australia have the perfect climate is great for outdoor living and even though her in the UK we don't have constant months of sun it's doesn't mean we don't enjoy our outdoor space just as much. If your home doesn’t have an outdoor area, or if the area doesn’t really facilitate spending lots of happy hours enjoying the fresh air, perhaps it’s time to consider a renovation. Mr A getting ready to tackle our old garden When most people think of renovating they think of adding a spare bedroom or extending the kitchen. Rarely do folks consider renovating their outdoor area and yet it really can be one of the best features of the home. A great outdoor area will improve your lifestyle and will also create an excellent first impression to visitors. There are lots of examples of outdoor areas online, just click here and be inspired. There are a number of things to think about before......

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Happiness is....

For us personally, happiness is spent outdoors with the little man, happiness is, in a nutshell running barefoot across a field as the season changes from summer to Autumn, it's our special time and I want to hold on to it forever. I am feeling particularly nostalgic at the moment as it's my (Laura's) birthday weekend, only one more year and it's the big 30, it's also my son's 3rd birthday this month, so it's pretty much all go in the household at the moment. You can really start to see the Autumn shades come out When my mother asked what I would like to do this weekend for my birthday, with the usual suggestion of going out to eat somewhere nice, I instead opted for a picnic/walk in Roath park with the family, as not having a car at the moment has made me miss the parks we usually explore but are now a bit further away and harder to get to without reliable transport. The weather has suddenly got a lot colder, with a fresh bite in the air, but wi......

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