Is your other half relentlessly tossing and turning over in the middle of the bed at night? This might sound familiar to every couple who shares a bed together as our darling partners’ bad sleeping habits are the number one bedroom complaint that leads to poor sleep.

Getting a larger blanket could certainly solve the problem of your partner holding the edge of the duvet and rolling away to the other side, but for everything else, considering a bigger bed might be a better solution. Below we have listed 5 interesting facts that show many reasons why you should increase the size of your bed:

1. The British Sleep Council have shown in a recent study that the size of the bed has a significant effect on the quality of your sleep. Obviously, if you have more space to sleep and rest it is less likely that you will be disturbed by your partner’s midnight shufflings.
2. A standard double bed which is 135cm wide only gives each sleeper about 67cm of sleeping space. When you think about this number the individual space given by a double mattress is way less than the total width of small single bed (small single beds are 75cm wide)
3. Americans notoriously like to super size things and this is true of their beds as well. Even our more conservative European neighbours are more clued up on this and a prevalence of kingsize beds over double beds on the continent proves they are ahead of us when it comes it bed space.
4. Contrary to the common belief, a superking bed or king size bed doesn’t cost a lot more than a double bed. Adding a few pounds is a small compromise considering the fact that you will be sleeping in a big bed for many years to come.
5. The last reason, but far from the least, is that you will spend almost one third of your life in bed sleeping and who knows how many years more you will spend reading, watching TV and doing other activities.

Camille is a home furniture enthusiast and writes on behalf of Wedo Beds

DESIGNER KITCHENS ARE NOT ONLY FOR EXPERT COOKS. They are for anyone who sees the true value of the kitchen as the heart of every home.

Whether you’re Jamie Oliver or Joe Blow, planning and creating a beatiful and efficient designer kitchen is not as difficult as you think.

The first step toward creating your dream designer kitchen is to take stock of what you do have. What do you love about your current kitchen? What do you absolutely hate? Are you leaning towards function or fashion? Substance or style?

Following are a few categories to keep in mind:

Storage: What type of food would you like to store, and how much? If always being prepared to entertain is your first priority, make sure to load up on storage space, and make sure it’s easily accessible. Cabinets, shelving, the pantry as well as the fridge and freezer should always have enough space to store your favorite ingredients. You never know when a dinner party might occur.

Preparation: Do you cook alone? Is cooking a team sport for you? Depending on your answer, you should consider designing ample space into your kitchen. No one wants to bump elbows while chopping the garlic. Even if you intend to work alone, multiple work stations would still allow you to prepare different ingredients at the same time. And don’t forget about cleanup: You definitely don’t want to be left wishing you had a dishwasher when the party’s over.

Cooking: Are you the type that reheats everything? Do you fashion yourself a gourmet cook with a six-burner stove and a matching number of aprons? Your cooking habits should determine how much you should invest in your cooking appliances. While top of the line toaster ovens and microwaves may be more appropriate to busy working families, those with more time to dedicate to their craft may choose to do away with such time-saving fare and focus their time (and money) on a commercial stove.

Dining: Anyone who’s ever hosted a dinner party and had friends show up before the food is served knows that it doesn’t matter if there’s a separate dining room, people love to congregate in the kitchen. Keep the dining room ready for formal gatherings but make sure to leave ample space when you’re designing your kitchen for more informal gatherings. Kitchen islands are great for conversation over hors d’oeuvres but there’s nothing wrong with including a dining table or pub table in your kitchen plans.

For more information, see Designer Kitchens by Wren Kitchens.

IF YOU’VE EVER HAD A SATURDAY MORNING slumber interrupted by a five-year old who always wakes up at the crack of dawn, then it’s high time you invested in some blackout roller blinds.

Although you could always opt for traditional curtains, blackout roller blinds are a great alternative if you’re looking to completely block light from the outside.  Whether you’re trying to get a couple of extra hours of sleep on a weekend morning or trying to block out the annoying neighbor’s patio light, ready made roller blinds are the ideal choice.

Not only are blackout roller blinds great for keeping light out, they are also great for controlling temperature.  Keeping light out in the hot daytime hours can help control the temperature within the house, keeping you comfortable in those hot summer months while also saving you money on expensive cooling bills.

Another perk is privacy.  Curtains are great but have you looked at your neighbors curtained windows when it’s dark out and their home is brightly lit?  It’s like watching shadow puppetry being projected on the outside of their homes.  If you paid attention long enough (I don’t recommend it), you’d probably get a good idea of who was in the house and what their daily habits were.

Finally, one big advantage of blackout roller blinds over standard curtains — in addition to their great, minimalist look — is that they, unlike curtains, are not dust magnets.  If you have children with allergies, indoor air quality is likely a very important issue for you, and avoiding allergens is probably at the top of the list of concerns.  With substantially less surface area, blackout roller blinds do not attract dust and pet hair the way curtains might, thereby greatly improving the air quality in your home.

For a large selection of blackout roller blinds, visit Direct Blinds.

IT’S NOT TOO OFTEN THAT WE feature a property on PadStyle.  (This is after all, an interior design blog.)  But this Soho penthouse is so incredible, we just couldn’t resist.  Located at 420 West Broadway in Manhattan and valued at nearly $14 million, this beautiful penthouse isn’t exactly affordable to the regular Joe, but we sure can dream.

Designed and created by Victoria Blau Architects and Nico Rensch of Architeam, UK, this property features a modern, minimalist aesthetic best exemplified by its dramatic double height sunken living room (29-foot ceilings!), modern fireplace, as well as a glass enclosed Zen viewing garden open to the skies that separates the master bedroom from the living area.

Sculpted from raw warehouse space, this duplex loft features 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms, arranged over three levels with approximately 3,500 square feet of interior space and 2,200 square feet of exterior space distributed over three private terraces.

The largest terrace, at the rooftop, features a complete kitchen, an outdoor living room, defined and shaded by a pergola, and a full 360 degree view of the Manhattan skyline.

As if that wasn’t enough, this loft also features:

• Hand-rubbed larch wood
• Blackened steel
• Honed volcanic basalt stone slab floors
• Radiant heat floors in master bedroom and bathrooms

For more information on this, and other, properties, visit Savills UK Estate Agents and browse their online portfolio.

Everyone deserves a good night’s sleep in a comfortable bed. We spend approximately a third of our lives in bed, so whether you’re looking for a single bed for young ones or a double bed or king-size bed for you and your partner, it’s important to choose the right bed and mattress for your needs.

Choosing a mattress

With mattresses, you tend to get what you pay for and scrimping on price is almost always a false economy. For example, if you think $1,000 is a lot to pay for a mattress, bear in mind that if you change your mattress every seven years as advised by The Sleep Council, it will cost you and your partner less than 40 cents a night for a good night’s sleep. Considering all the benefits that sleep brings, it’s a small price to invest in your health and well-being.

Different types of mattresses

The main types of mattresses available are:

• Open-coil mattresses/sprung mattresses
• Pocket-sprung mattresses
• Memory foam mattresses
• Latex mattresses
• Foam mattresses

Each type of mattress will suit different people. For example, if you suffer from allergies you may prefer a memory foam mattress or a latex mattress, whereas if your partner is significantly heavier or lighter than you, you may choose a pocket-sprung king size mattress with a high number of supportive springs over a cheaper open-coil mattress.

Mattress fillings

When buying a new bed, what you can’t see is as important as what you can see. A good-quality mattress filling will allow air to circulate and wick away moisture, which will stop you from getting hot and bothered in the night. Whether you choose pocket springs or memory foam, the key issue is getting great support from your mattress.

Back to bed

Many of us suffer from back problems at some point in our lives and an orthopaedic bed can offer the solution to a good night’s sleep. The best orthopaedic beds will give good all-round support. Don’t presume that you need the firmest bed available: it’s usually better to have a mattress that will support you rather than one that is too firm to mould to your body shape and size.

Sleep in style

Another consideration when you’re selecting a double or king-size bed is how it will fit in with the style of your bedroom. You may want to choose a bed frame or headboard to complement the surrounding décor, whether it’s smart traditional, cosy country cottage or contemporary chic. Match the fabrics or colours of your curtains and bed covers for striking effect. Or you could bring a touch of luxury into your bedroom with a leather bedframe, Egyptian cotton sheets and cushions with matching soft throws to keep you warm in winter.

Believe it or not, flooring is one of the most important features when decorating a room. The floor is a major focal point and it sets the tone as to whether or not the room’s overall appearance will be chic or shabby. That is why the rug that you choose for a room is crucial. Matching the appropriate rug with the theme of the room it is in will tie everything together and complete the look that you want.

Understanding the Different Types of Rugs

Image Source: Girl Meets Glamour

When you are shopping for a new rug, it helps to have a basic knowledge of the different types, sizes, and shapes that you will encounter. Some of the most popular types of rugs include Oriental rugs, rag rugs, hooking rugs, and braided rugs. These often come as either area rugs or runners. Area rugs come in all shapes and sizes and are fit just as their name suggests, in the area of a room. A runner is a long, rectangular rug and typically fits down the length of a hallway.

Rug Fabrics
There are several types of fabrics of rugs and some are sturdier than others. Every rug that you see will either be handmade or machine made. You can expect handmade rugs to be durable and be made with natural fibers such as cotton or wool. Machine made rugs are often made with synthetic fibers, and while the quality isn’t as good, they are often less expensive than their counterparts. When you understand the options you can decide which type of rug you need to buy.

When to Use an Area Rug

Area rugs work great in any room with a lot of space. A large, square area rug works well if you have an open hardwood floor without anything on it. Try to pick a rug that is large enough so that all the furniture can fit on top of it.

If you have a smaller space that needs an accent, a circular area rug might be a good choice. Braided rugs are very popular in the circular style.

Image Source: apartmenttherapy.com

Finally, if you are looking to fill a void or bring a touch of coziness to a long hallway, a runner will do the trick. Just be sure to find one that fits the length of the entire hallway. Runners also work well in rooms as a complement to a larger rug or in a small, rectangular space.

Image Source: Modern-Rugs

Once you understand the type of rug you want to buy, you are ready to shop! To find the best rug for your intended space, you want something that will complement the furniture and walls rather than overpower them. Matching the accent colors is very important when it comes to this. It may be helpful to even bring paint chips or your throw pillows with you when you shop, so you can be sure to get a rug that will work nicely in your room. If the color is off even a little bit, it can distract from the look you are trying to convey.

If you are looking for a new rug and aren’t quite sure where to begin your search, check out iCustomRug. They have a large variety of rugs in all shapes, sizes, and colors, giving you the best chance of finding something that will complement any room in your house.

There are many different types of outdoor furniture ranges available, from traditional wicker patio sets to modern and functional garden tables and chairs. If you’re looking for stylish sofa sets to transform your garden into a comfortable and luxurious outdoor space, a contemporary rattan furniture range will be the best one to choose.

Modern outdoor sofa sets, especially those belonging to contemporary rattan furniture ranges, are no longer made from fragile materials that simply don’t last outdoors. Thanks to the many improvements made in outdoor furniture design and construction, such as the widespread use of synthetic PU rattan, these contemporary rattan furniture ranges are truly innovative in terms of both the way that they are made and they way that they can be used. Those outdoor sofa sets combine contemporary design and style with real functionality, which more than meet the demands that can be placed on them in a typical home.

Outdoor sofa sets are very often the main feature of luxury garden furniture ranges, particularly those that are made from PU rattan. Today’s outdoor sofa sets are just as spacious and luxurious as the ones that are intended for indoor use, and can range from indulgent corner sofas and coffee tables through to more functional small sofa sets that are perfect for entertaining outdoors. With designs that feature clean, minimalistic lines and warm colors that work well in a variety of outdoor (and even indoor!) settings, the outdoor sofa sets that are available in a contemporary rattan furniture range are equally as perfect when placed in landscaped gardens as they are in more modern, decking areas or even roof terraces and patios.

In addition to the aesthetic appeal offered by these contemporary rattan furniture ranges, outdoor sofa sets that are made from PU rattan are so easy to care for. No longer will you have to spend hours varnishing and sealing your outdoor furniture before you can use it. By choosing a sofa set from the right range of furniture you can begin to enjoy its comfort as soon as you received it. All you have to do is find the perfect spot for it in your garden or patio area. And once you’ve placed it there, you won’t have to worry about moving it indoors as soon as it starts to rain, or if the heat gets intense. The outdoor sofa sets are completely weather proof, and aside from covering it if the weather gets too bad you won’t need to do anything else to protect it.

Overall, a modern garden sofa set will set your garden apart and make it the ultimate in style and relaxing living.

Laminate flooring is bit of a kitchen favourite – particularly in the summer months, when being cold underfoot is a real bonus and being able to clean the floor with ease is a necessity as people trample in and out treading dirt with them.

It’s for these very reasons that laminate flooring is becoming a bit of a darling in the interiors world and has moved its way out of the kitchen, into the living room and up the stairs. This is in part due to the myriad of more natural-looking laminate floor designs from the likes of Topps tiles, which offer all the benefits of synthetic materials combined with the appearance of wood or tiling and a sleek modern finish.

Another reason laminate has found favour is the prevalence of allergies, which can be exacerbated by types of flooring that catch dust and other particles. Leading charity Allergy UK recommends that allergy sufferers choose flooring that is easy to clean and fitted tightly around fitted cabinets or to walls. Laminate is great for this – because it is easy to lay with a tight fitting and is often chosen for use in small spaces for this reason; allowing for easy cleaning of spills and stains immediately, even in the most confined of spaces.

In the bathroom where using carpet can encourage mould and house mite growth, laminate is a tried and tested choice, though it’s often wise to use washable cotton rugs to avoid slippage and injury! Despite being hardwearing, this type of flooring is fairly inexpensive, which means you can update it when the mood takes you, though you are unlikely to need to. Unlike carpet, laminate flooring is not sensitive to UV lights, so it shouldn’t fade. It’ also scratch resistant, so if you like to move furniture around regularly, or have pets – it should put up a fight when it comes to wear and tear. Finally, in the event it does befall some kind of accident and your laminate is torn or nicked – you can replace the affected section easily by slipping in some fresh laminate.

Given the bathtub is such a large fixture, its impact on the look and feel of your bathroom is significant. So why settle for an everyday looking bath when there are baths available that are stunning works of art? Whether it’s a modern aesthetic you prefer or something thoroughly royal, nowadays there are enough beautiful baths to choose from that you’re certain to find one that fits your home decor perfectly. Let’s take a look at a handful of outstanding bath designs for a good dose of inspiration.

Freestanding baths have a special elegance that is hard to match and they set a warm mood within the room. Consider this magnificent slipper bath with its traditional roll top and white claw feet. Seen here with classic vintage style taps, alternatively you could opt for a floorstanding tap set for that extra touch of elegance. Claw feet come in a wide range of finishes such as antique gold, chrome or raw cast iron.

For a more modern take on a freestanding bath, look for tubs with sleek sharp lines such as this spectacular bath finished in contrasting black and white. This ever-popular minimalist style does indeed bring a sense of calm and spaciousness to the room promoting complete relaxation and enjoyment, which I’m sure we could all do with a lot more of!

Envisage yourself immersed in this handcrafted regal cast iron bath finished in gold, complete with stunning vintage style taps and book stand. Baths such as this add a tremendous sense of beauty to the room and make for an amazing focal point that will be appreciated by you and your guests. How could anyone not enjoy such an indulgent bathing experience! And the good news is that majestic baths aren’t as expensive as one might think. Look to online bathroom supplies stores for impressive deals on baths and enclosures and be sure to check delivery fees not just the cost of the bath itself.

If you’re asking ”But where’s the bling?” look no further than this truly spectacular double ended slipper bath. You can decorate your bath in a similar way with your own personal artistic style. Many cast iron baths come finished in grey primer ready for your choice of colour, from there it’s just a matter of choosing additional decorative elements to embellish your bath with. Before you know it you’ll have a bath that doubles as a work of art and a luxurious place to bathe – what more could you ask for than that?

Bathtubs come in all shapes and sizes and with a variety of different features such as built in jet systems, tubs big enough for two, steam baths, corner baths and the list goes on. There’s a tub to suit everyone’s taste and budget so add a spectacular tub to your home and transform your bathroom into an opulent spa-like retreat that you can enjoy day in and day out. After all, you deserve a sanctuary of your own to escape to at the end of your busy day.

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.