The key to the success of these colours is to get the balance right. Use plenty of white to make a marked distinction between the blues and greens which marries them together rather than making each try and vie for attention. Of course white can also be seen to represent the white foam and spray from waves making the trio of colours compliment each other. So that the room doesn’t become bland and uninspiring make use of patterns on walls, cushions, throws and curtains. Tactile textures and material will also help to give the room depth and character.

It’s also a good idea to make as much use of natural light as possible by using voiles or lightweight ready made curtains; if you need privacy (as voiles and lightweight curtain fabrics can become transparent once internal artificial lighting is turned on), blinds in a oceanic blue or green will not look out of place. For daytime privacy double lightweight curtains offer a new twist on window dressings. Simply use a voile panel which is left in place and a second layer of either another coloured voile or lightweight fabric which can be pulled open in the usual manner.

If you’re using lightweight curtains narrow diameter curtain poles or tension rods are all that’s needed to hang the curtains. Look for white curtain poles so that they are unobtrusive and blend into the background. Be choosy when it comes to selecting the end finials for curtain poles, pretty hand-blown glass in blues or greens would be ideal or if you want the ocean theme scrolls that resemble seahorses or delicate shells wouldn’t be over the top.

Oceanic colours are bright and refreshing while at the same time being relaxing and comforting. Blue and green are know to be soothing colours and although blue is often referred to as a cold colour when used with green and white the coldness is diluted and becomes energising, creating a modern, chic and stylish look for living rooms.

Invisible window dressings are available in two basic ways – blinds which are completely hidden behind or inside header rails during the day or sheer lightweight voiles with concealed tracking give the impression that the window isn’t dressed. While the thought of undressed windows may seen an unlikely prospect for the vast majority of us, we can still choose stylish ways in which to dress our dining room windows.

Full length eyelet curtains which form natural wave effect pleats are ideal for contemporary dining rooms, adding elegance and refinement to even the largest of windows, as well as being perfect choices for walls made entirely from glass. You make like to consider using remote controlled curtain tracks if you have entire walls made of glass.

For large picture windows you may find it a little challenging to find ready made curtains with sufficient length, however, made to measure curtains will bridge that problem very nicely – after all if you can afford to live in a luxury, designer styled contemporary home you’ll definitely be able to afford made to measure curtains and beautiful curtains poles with contemporary hand-blown glass finials for your dining room!

As for colour, well, neutrals, off-white and creams will coordinate with most colour schemes, and if you want to inject colour into the room then go for bold, bright colours which say ‘look at me!’ Patterns can also be used and will bring depth and new dimensions to the room. Don’t forget that last year’s single blooms are on the wane and more overall repeat patterns are on-trend. Light coloured backgrounds to patterned curtains will help keep the room light and airy, whereas darker background, while making an impact, can also make rooms feel more enclosed and intimate.

You can also use your curtains to compliment your other soft furnishings – particularly if you like a fully coordinated look to your home. Dining chair seats or slip covers can have matching fabrics or you can use the colour of your window dressing to match chairs and flooring. The same goes for curtain tracks and poles – choose the colours, styles and design which harmonise with your soft furnishings and dining room furniture.

Or maybe you’re one of hundreds who have a country cottage as a holiday rental or if you’re luck (in my opinion) you actually live in a rustic cottage all the time. Irrespective of how, why or when you use a country cottage from an interior designer’s point of view you have to sympathetic to its roots to get the correct style and ambience.

As the dining room will probably be used for other pass times (flower arranging, hand-made jams etc.) as well as eating the room has to be practical, functional and high on the style stakes. Undoubtedly to be true to the cottage’s origins natural materials will play a large part of the design. Wood, clay, ceramics, metal and stone are the most common materials to include.

Wooden tables with rustic charm, lightweight curtains made from linen with tab tops or ribbon ties look stunning hung from narrow diameter metal curtains poles, look for curtains poles which have a cottage look rather than modern – black metal poles are ideal, end finials should also be in keeping with the cottage theme, shepherds crook finials are perfect – it’s a good ideas to include a mixture of natural materials to keep the room alive and interesting.

As you’re (hopefully) in the middle of nowhere, privacy shouldn’t pose a problem – however, we’ve become accustomed to guarding our privacy, particularly in private rooms such as bathrooms, toilets and bedrooms. So, if your dining room over looks a public right of way or the village high street, use linen roller blinds or Roman blinds to keep prying eyes out and the cottage charm in, especially during the evenings.

Chose and use accessories wisely, ceramics are perfect, while a large chandelier compliments the rustic style to add a little fineness and chic styling.

Today we see global influences in a different light all together, and while animal print rugs are in-vogue, this interior design theme is more concerned about retracing our roots and using the colour palettes, patterns and materials linked to a specific country than having animal’s heads mounted on our walls.

Global means what it says and allows you to be inspired by any country in the world, however, when a global interior design style is talked about it typically has associations with Africa. Using the natural colours of the earth, such as clay and terracotta brings a warmth to dining rooms, likewise materials including bamboo for matting and window blinds adds to the look.

Wood from Africa is also used in the manufacture of dining room tables, chairs and sideboards. There are many different types of woods used with the 5 most prominent being Ebony, Mahogany, Rosewood, Padauck and Ironwood. Some of these woods are more suitable for flooring, while others are used to produce dining room furniture. Although you may have your own stance and view point as whether you want these woods to be included within your home and each of us has to make our own decisions regarding deforestation and climate change.

In the UK we also use wood (imported or native) to make furniture and of course soft furnishings such as wooden curtain poles or wooden blinds, and there aren’t many homes who can honestly say they are ‘wood free’.

When creating a global interior design style pick a country which suits the style of your home, for example a contemporary interior may prefer to use an unusual type of wood and compliment this by using colours associated with the region. The great advantage of global is that isn’t any right or wrong, there is of course colour schemes, patterns and materials to take into consideration to achieve a balanced and cohesive look. While you don’t necessarily have to have all the same type of wood within your dining room, close colour matches can look very refined or complete opposites will offer a new perspective.

Circular tables are perfect in small and medium sized dining rooms and like King Arthur round tables mean that no particular person sits at the head of the table – this in itself suits modern lifestyles and protocols perfectly.

If you like a touch of formality rather than too relaxed and informal there are ways to get the look which don’t take up too much time or cost a small fortune. The biggest saving you can make is the cost of a dining room table and chairs – it may be nice to have real wood or the latest contemporary design but these usually have a high price tag attached. Wooden tables don’t have to be expensive if you choose woods which are cheaper, such as pine; likewise you don’t necessarily have to have matching chairs, although these will look more formal.

The days of traditional sideboards may be on the wane, and this is another area you can make savings, simply by using a stylish serving table, with a couple of cutlery drawers will look modern and less stuffy than oversized sideboards used in the past. In fact you don’t have to have a sideboard at all if your dining room is small – too much furniture and the room will look overcrowded and cramped, and you’ll less likely to use it on a daily basis.

When it comes to choosing a window dressing you can make your dining room look wider and taller simply by choosing full length curtains, which will add height to the room, and using extendable curtain poles which run across the entire width of the wall. Alternatively two identical curtain poles can be used over the windows and a patio door. Opt for curtains with a neutral colour rather than anything too bright – formality doesn’t mean boring but it does mean that you have to be a little staid in your colour choices and use of large patterns. For modern dining rooms full width silent glide curtain tracks will also add a touch of formality to your dining room and compliment the overall style of the room.

We start with a relaxed and casual style which will suit both traditional and modern houses to a T. This style allows you to add your own personal touches as well as enabling you to use salvaged tables and chairs if you wish, and still achieve a beautiful dining area which is inviting and homely.

We mustn’t forget that although the table and chairs are the focal point in the room the remaining décor and accessories have to coordinate. Light colours are ideal for small dining rooms, as they’ll help to give the feeling and look of more space. Go neutral and you’ll also be able to use a wide variety of china-ware and dinner services with fear of them looking out of place.

The style of window dressing should also coordinate with the style and colour scheme of the room. While you may think that having a wooden table would automatically steer you towards wooden curtain poles, however, metal curtain poles can also be used, more especially if your accessories have a metal theme running through them.

One aspect that you must also take into consideration is the size of curtain poles you use. It stands to reason that the heavier your curtains the more robust the curtain poles have to be; as you can easily obtain large diameter poles there won’t be a problem finding the size and style to suit the weight of your curtains. Also make sure that you have sufficient wall brackets, the longer the curtain pole, typically in excess of 2 metres, the more brackets you’ll have to use to help prevent the poles from sagging in the centre – this applies to medium and heavy weight curtains, lightweight voiles and sheers rarely cause the potential sagging problem.

The end finials of your curtain poles will also need to compliment your accessories and rooms’ style. From classical acorns for wooden poles and Shepherd’s Crook for narrow gauge metal poles to the latest hand blown glass finials, there’s an enormous number of end finials to choose from to suit the style of your dining room.

The same principle applies to soft furnishings and while you may think that bathrooms don’t have soft furnishings don’t forget window treatments, rugs and accessories. All should be taken into consideration when planning a new or up-dating an old bathroom if you want the end result to be as you imagined.

Today bathroom window treatments are wide and varied. You are not longer limited to the choice, colours and style. Venetian blinds remain the most popular choices for bathroom windows; they offer chic styling along with all important privacy.

However, as bathrooms are now becoming large rooms with free standing baths we have the option of using curtains as well as blinds to dress out bathroom windows. If you do decide on using curtains you should ensure that you choose quality curtain poles or curtain tracks. This is where quality really counts as curtain poles made from plastic and painted may look the part, but only for a short time – longevity isn’t included!

However, metal or wooden curtain poles made from high quality materials will serve your purposes well; this doesn’t mean that you have to pay a small fortune as cheap curtain poles offer you the nest of both worlds – quality and longevity.

If you go down the blinds route you should also look for blinds which have been designed specifically for hot and humid atmospheres. These blinds have special coatings applied to help prevent blinds from warping and distorting due to extreme temperature changes. Aluminium Venetian blinds are a good example of the changes that have been made to them over the years to meet consumer demands. They’re no longer the clanking blinds which were used in offices and soon began to look shabby. Today Aluminium Venetian blinds are the ideal bathroom window dressing choice which suits all styles of bathrooms and window sizes as they can easily be trimmed for a perfect fit.

Is it really that easy being an energy saver?
Everyday we can all make an effort to turn off lights and stop leaving electrical goods on stand-by and these little efforts can all add up over the course of a year to help you save money. Nut we’re here to talk about interior design, so it’s your soft furnishings we’ll be focusing upon.

Thermal linings to curtains and blinds will certainly help to lower your heating bills even if you have got double glazing. Research has proven that most homes lose heat via their windows despite them fitting correctly. In a similar way that we put a cardigan or sweatshirt on to keep warm the same principles can be easily be applied to your window dressing. For example, if you already have fully lined curtains you can add Roman blinds with a thermal lining to add another layer and without it being unsightly or inconvenient.

Curtains fitted in hallways to cover front doors is another proactive way to help reduce heat loss from your home – make sure you draught-proof your letter box as well!

Do we really have time?
How long is a piece of string?! It doesn’t take very long to install Roman blinds, however, it’s even quicker to use another pair of lightweight curtains (thicker than net curtains) close to the glass by using tension rods or net curtain rods. These sprung loaded lightweight rods don’t require any fixing or drilling – they really are that easy!

Cost concerns:
As the saying goes ‘you have to speculate to accumulate’ and this is true. Cheap thermally lined blinds and full length lined curtains which fit correctly can help you to save money; they’ll also bring a fresh new look to your home, which in turn means you can ‘kill two birds with one stone’ – save money and update your home!

Conclusion:
Energy saving is a priority for most of us and while we need to think about ways to save energy we need to keep in mind that we also enhance the look of our homes inside and out.

It it really that easy recycling and up-cycling?
As we’ve already discusses in our previous posts this month there are always two sides to every coin. There are those who are consciously making an effort to recycle whenever they can. While there are others who believe that recycling doesn’t or won’t make that much difference within the overall picture of things – with many claiming it uses more energy to recycle than it does dispose of waste.

Do we really have time for recycling?
Again this is a contentious issue, with those who take the time to recycle and/or up-cycle arguing vehemently that everyone should make time, while there are those who simply can’t be bothered. Maybe we do all recycle or up-cycle without even realising it – how many times have you moved some of your soft furnishings to another room where they will be put to better use? Isn’t that recycling in it’s most basic of forms? For example, curtain poles which no longer fit within a new colour scheme can be re-used in another room.

Cost concerns:
In a home environment it can make a big difference if you really want to save money, and up-cycling may be an effective way of re-using your soft furnishings. However, there are other ways you can make huge savings when dressing your windows and that’s to shop online at discount retailers such as Curtain Wizard. With genuine discounts and price match promises you can make saving on all curtain tracks, poles and blinds.

Conclusion:
We’re leaving you to draw your own conclusions! We all have our own stance and opinions – we will leave you the fact that whether you recycle, up-cycle or simply want to save money without having to make any compromises on quality, there are various paths to choose from, and let’s be honest it would be boring if we all followed the same route wouldn’t it!

Is it really that easy being eco-aware?
This depends on which side of the fence your beliefs are. There’s little doubt that everyone’s feeling the pinch as the cost of living continues to rise; so if being eco-aware means that you can save money then it’s certainly worth considering all the options.

It’s certainly not viable for everyone to have their own wind generator, and even though last weeks news told us about individuals who are sinking bore holes to find their own water supply (it’s not quite as simple as that, but you get where I’m coming from!) there are plenty of other ways to save money and in turn become more eco-aware.

Within the world of interior design we can also make conscious decisions to use furnishings and furniture which has been sourced from renewable or sustainable sources; many online retailers openly promote their eco-products and their stance on helping consumers make informed decisions.

Do we really have time?
With the amount of information available online and provided by retailers it doesn’t really take any longer to find products which promote eco-awareness. For example, bamboo roller blinds are made from a renewable source making them the ideal window dressing. Wood-weave blinds are also becoming increasingly popular as these are also made from reeds and other lightweight woods which grow at an alarming rate, making these wooden blinds amongst the most eco-friendly styles available.

Roller blinds with thermal properties can also be classed as being eco-friendly as they’ll help lower the amount of heat being lost via your windows.

Cost concerns:
The cost savings can be quite considerable depending on the style and design of the blinds you choose. Bamboo roller blinds are amongst the cheapest blinds available; other styles and designs can also be found at extremely low prices.

Conclusion:
All in all it’s down to personal choice to which style of blinds you choose, however, with so many styles available to help you save money and help save the planet can only be a good thing.