Like most people, it’s quite common to have books, DVD’s and LP’s falling this way and that out of crevices, cupboards and covering coffee tables all over the house. If you have just moved home, or are in the process of moving, the problem of having all your personal possessions spread throughout the house or flat can be quite frustrating. Speak to any graduate who has had to move once a year for the past four years; the stress of having enough room will certainly not be lost on them!

So what storage options are there in the world? Besides your average bookshelves, newspaper holders and garage doors hiding your prized possessions, there are a plethora of gadgets, groovy cabinets and expensive storage units which you can utilize for your home or flat or you could just choose to stick with the traditional option and throw everything in your garage and you can check out the garage door trends at ABI garage doors.

Nightstand Fridge

For those of you out there who want to hide your favorite beer from ensuing friends during a house party, the Nightstand Fridge could be the perfect tool for not only cooling your favoured beverage, but also hiding it from thirsty tongues. Available in three differing designs, the nightstand is made to fit a whole range of decors and home designs. Though currently only available in the United States, you may have to pay a few more cents to get your $379’s of fridge to the United Kingdom.

Spiral Wine Cellar

Continuing with the theme of alcohol, the Spiral Wine Cellar is the perfect solution for storing your masses of wine from the more conventional methods, such as boring old wine racks and holders. With your own chic wine cellar you will become the king of parties with sleek glass doors leading the way into a world of fine wine and alcohol. For example, one cellar can hold up to 1,900 bottles and needs not one iota of electricity to run, as the surrounding earth and ingenious air flow systems provide the perfect conditions for your cache!

Underground Garage

If you want to think big, then the underground garage system may be just what you’re looking for. If you’ve just managed to get hold of your dream car or motorbike, or just want to show off (why wouldn’t you?), then the underground garage provides the perfect security solution to keep your vehicle tucked away beneath the ground. Amazingly, all it takes is the single click of a button and your car will rise proudly out of your driveway, much like the old Batman programmes you enjoyed in your childhood!

Hidden Door

Okay, so more of a door than a bookshelf, but it is the combination of the two entities which makes the hidden door to the list of trendy storage options. With the option of faux books if you’re not a big reader, a hidden door into another or secret room is a great security option besides an excellent tool for scaring or pranking your friends with! Available for both domestic and commercial purposes, the hidden door could be your secret gateway into your own gaming room, study or just a place to sit and relax.

With so many styles of bed on the market today, it can sometimes seem a daunting task to choose just one. When choosing a bed you should address what it is that you actually need from the piece of furniture in question.

For example, are you looking for a luxury bed to create a centrepiece in a large room? Do you wish to invest in a bed that utilizes space efficiently? Alternatively do you wish to make a fashion statement with the likes of a futon? Or is your bed there simply to provide you with a comfortable, supportive night’s sleep? Whichever option you choose, you can guarantee that there is a style to suit your every need.

The classic two-person bunk bed is probably the best space saving option as it encapsulates two people in one area. The bunk bed utilises height rather than width, which means you have the rest of the room to play with. There are now several variations of the bunk bed available; these include the likes of futon styles and also loft versions.

Loft beds are a great option for a smaller room, as you are able to utilise the space underneath the bed to your advantage. This space could be used for the likes of a seating area, a cupboard or storage. Many children’s rooms contain the above option and parents tend to place a desk beneath the bed. This space is a great option for a child, as he or she will feel like she has her own grown-up space to do her homework in!

Bunk beds are available in a huge range of different styles and materials. Many of the modern versions are available in metal, whilst the more traditional styles come in the form of pine or other painted or varnished wood.

As long as you team the style of the bed to the rest of the room, everything will generally tie in stylishly together.

With some forethought and a little planning, it is quite easy to create a fantastic bedroom space from a loft environment. Loft spaces lend themselves very well to roomy and spacious bedrooms which be easily designed to be relaxing and stylish at the same time. Most people want their bedrooms to be of a tranquil and serene atmosphere but this does not mean that they also need to be boring! With a few well-placed pieces of furniture, appropriate window schemes and effective use of colour you can transform your loft into an enviably stylish and relaxing space.

Begin by choosing a colour scheme that promotes ambience and relaxation. The way to do this is by either picking neutral, earthy tones which can be complimented by colour accents in furniture and soft furnishings, or, by choosing one wall to make a bold statement upon and then subtly picking up on these tones in the landscape of the room. Take this further by turning your attention to the window scheme. Light, bright atmospheres are great for bedrooms and can be easily created by using Velux window blinds from Itzala. They are a sleek and modern way of decorating a loft window and are available in a huge selection of styles and designs to compliment any window!

Match the cool and modern look of your Velux window blinds by investing in some stylish pieces of furniture to enhance the look of the room. Start with a grand and unique bed frame like a sleigh bed to add glamour and comfort to the room. Embellish this with some retro-style bed covers and pillows for effortless chic. If you have gone with a neutral blind then go crazy with the soft furnishings as a muted backdrop is perfect for bolder furniture and dramatic fabrics. Alternatively, if you have chosen one of the many bolder and outlandish Velux blinds styles, then balance this with softer, earthy looking decor and furnishings.

The really fun part then begins with picking out all the extras! Lamps, bedside tables and lockers, shelving, chairs, cushions, throws, wall hangings and indoor lighting can all work together to create a stunning and cleverly designed bedroom that not only promotes comfort and relaxation, but looks stylish and cool at the same time. There are also tonnes of storage solutions and handy multi-functional furniture pieces you can invest in to reduce clutter and give your belongings a home fit for a king. The only problem is, you may never want to leave!

As mentioned in a previous blog post, buying a bed is a large and significant purchase. The core tips discussed for choosing a bed will be remain the same and will do so for the foreseeable future.
However, unless you are lucky enough to live in a home with a spacious bedroom, the bed itself will take up a significant portion of the room. During the day this space is commonly unused. Wouldn’t it be great to transform bedrooms so they are truly multi-functional?
After attending a recent exhibition in the UK, we were presented with an innovative space saving bed which allows a bed to glide into the ceiling at the touch of a button. This opens up a number of functional uses for the room. At night it can remain a place to sleep but during the day it could be:
• A play area for your children
• A home gym
• An office
• A home cinema!

It’s certainly a cost effective solution compared to building extensions to your home or even moving home if you think your family has ‘outgrown’ it.

What do you think? Would you consider something like the Sleep Space system? Do you prefer traditional space saving ideas?

There is always so much talk about making a small room look larger but what do you do when your room is so big that you can’t seem to make it feel comfortable? Well, with the right furnishings and tricks you can make your extra-large room feel less like a museum lobby and more like a cozy home.

• Color Choice – While you don’t have to have a palette full of dark colors, you do need a few to close the room up a little. Even painting one wall dark will make a drastic improvement to draw the wall in toward the room’s core. Some people even prefer to paint the ceiling a darker shade than the walls as well.

• Scale – Large rooms can accommodate big pieces of furniture. This doesn’t mean that you have to stuff it full but you can choose large sectionals, shelving and pieces of art that would dwarf a smaller room.

• Arrangement – If you have the extra space in your room, why not add extra seating and set up a small reading or game area? What about adding a small bar or using screens to create a room inside a room?

• Accents – Be sure to incorporate the dark colors in your palette into your accents and make sure that they are scattered throughout the room, not just all in one area.

Having a large room can certainly be challenging to decorate if you desire that warm home feeling but with a little extra thought, you can cozy up the space without making it appear cluttered. Also, don’t forget plants! You have space for extra-large leafy greens so take full advantage of this wonderful opportunity to bring live art into your home.

Do you have to sacrifice comfort for style? While many people think so, you certainly do not! Some rooms make you feel comfortable as soon as you enter them, this has a lot to do with not only how soft the furniture is or the choice of decor but the placement as well.

Choosing Your Furniture

Although a trip to the flea market may find you a fabulous end table you can refinish or the perfect garden statue you have been looking for, there are some pieces that you don’t want to skimp on like your sofa or bed. You are not required to break the bank on these purchases but you certainly should make sure that they fill your needs as far as comfort and style go. One quality investment piece can go a long way in a room!

Consider Placement

Before you buy that stunning sofa or stylish dining room table, it is a good idea to take measurements in the showroom or use those that are provided online and map out where that piece of furniture will go in your room. You can lay down a rope outline, use rolled towels or whatever else you have handy, just make sure that it fits your space. An item that is not the appropriate size can cause a room to become uncomfortable quite quickly.

The ideal home where people want to gather is stylish and comfortable, you can easily achieve this by thinking through your choices and making sure that they fit the room properly.

The way a room is laid out can have a huge impact on not only how aesthetically-pleasing it is but on how comfortable it is to be in too! Creating a balance between furniture, accents and the flow of traffic can leave you with a harmonious room.

• Control the Flow – People and pets need to be able to find their way through the room without obstacles or tight, undesirable squeezes. Keeping seating where it won’t interfere with doors and electrical outlets is crucial. Also, take into consideration recliners that may become fully extended or leafs that might be added to tables.

• Have a Focal Point – Every room needs a focal point. In homes with a fireplace, the mantle usually takes over, a contemporary bedroom has a platform bed, etc. The eyes can become lost and exhausted if left to travel aimlessly throughout a room and never reach a focal point. Wall fountains, eye-catching wood burning stoves or even large aquariums all work well.

• Scale – The furnishings need to be reflective of the size of the room. You simply cannot have over-sized furniture in a small space. Choose clean lines and create balance to make the room appear larger.

If you feel a little lost in your room or something is just not quite right, you may just need to rearrange a few things. When the layout of your room is perfect, you will know right away. Sometimes it helps to leave, go get a coffee and then see how you feel stepping back into the room for the first time to determine what is throwing the space off balance.

Just because you have a small space does not mean that you cannot create a completely modern home that you are proud to show off. Sometimes, having a smaller area to work with is actually easier to decorate because you don’t have to be worried about the design of one room flowing to the next!

• Welcome the Sun – Natural lighting will amplify the size of your room. Heavy curtains should be avoided at all costs in small spaces.

• Flexible Furniture – While you want to be able to entertain your guests at a full-size table, this will only take up a lot of space when not in use. Using a drop leaf table is the perfect solution. Also, don’t underestimate seating cubes or footstools that provide a modern appeal and can double as a a coffee table or an extra chair when needed.

• Shelving – Small spaces can really benefit from shelving, not just for aesthetic purposes but for storage as well. Use decorative boxes that accent your decor to hide things you have no room for.

• Minimal Furniture – That overstuffed sectional may look fantastic on the showroom floor but it will dwarf your room size. Keep furniture minimal with nice clean lines.

• Don’t Forget Rugs – For whatever reason, many people feel that need a large space to lay down rugs. This is not true! You can even lay contrasting rugs over one another to give your studio apartment an ultra chic look that will leave your guests wondering if you hired a professional to design your interior.

Whether this is your first apartment or if you are simply downsizing, get comfortable in your space! You will find you may love the smaller area more than you ever imagined with the right accents.

Whether you live in a studio apartment and want to separate your bedroom from your living space or if you reside in a dorm or share a room with someone and you just need more privacy, this can be done quiet easily by hanging fabric. All you need is fabric that will compliment your room or long curtains, curtain rods, drywall anchors, drill, screwdriver, a pencil and a measuring tape.

If you’re using curtains, you’re ready to go, otherwise, you’ll need to sew a loop on the top to feed the curtain rod through and hem the bottom. To determine how long to make your divider, measure from the floor up to how high you want it to go and add five inches. This gives you one inch to hem and four inches to create the loop.

Hang the Curtain Rod

You are going to hang your bracket from the ceiling so use your measuring tape and mark with your pencil where the brackets will need to go. Drill pilot holes first so that you’ll have an easier time installing the screws. Position the brackets over the holes and screw them into place.

Feed the Fabric

Feed curtains or fabric onto your curtain rod and place the rod in the brackets. Step back and make sure everything’s even and if so, you’re done!

Even if you don’t need to divide a room, sometimes hanging a dramatic pieces of fabric, even in a corner, can give a room a focal point it may be missing like an eye-catching piece of art.

Low ceilings can be a challenge when decorating because even a large room can quickly feel dwarfed with the wrong paint and decor. If you have a room that’s barely clearing your head, you can make it look much taller!

• Border – Hanging a border about a foot down from the top of the wall and then painting the wall below the border a darker color will give the illusion of a taller ceiling.  Alternatively, you can paint your darker color up onto the ceiling, making the wall appear taller if you don’t want to use a border.  This can tricky though to keep perfectly even.

• Hang Curtains – Position your curtain rods closer to the ceiling rather than directly over the window and use longer curtains. This will add a significant amount of height to the space.

• Accent Slopes – Have a ceiling that slopes on one side? This is super common in upstairs bedrooms. Why not accent the slope by hanging sheer scarves from the ceiling and then drape them down the slope and use a thumbtack to hold them in place? Fabric will add depth!

• Mirrors – Anytime you are faced with a size issue, hang mirrors. Staggering them at various heights will make the room more three-dimensional.

Low ceilings are certainly not the end of the world. Yes, they pose a bit of a challenge when creating a contemporary room but there are definitely things you can do add height to the space. Don’t underestimate just how charming those slanted ceilings can be either! They give your room more personality than you know.