Combining green and white stripes are a cool kid’s room style which is light, airy and can be achieved the the smallest of budgets. To make a room appear wider use horizontal stripes – either by using striped wallpaper or by painting the stripes yourself, the latter usually being the cheaper option. Use a straight edge and masking tape to paint the stripes so that they are parallel and evenly spaced. If you wish a room to look higher then vertical stripes will give the correct illusion – as with the horizontal striped make sure you get a clean edge and that the stripes are straight!

Maximise space by having a modern bed with storage drawers underneath. Add shelving and a surface area for pc’s and games consoles – depending on the age of your child. Roman blinds are an effective window dressing and can be lined with a blackout fabric if needed. Blackout roller blinds are another window dressing option – it would be wise to use wands or rods to operate the blinds rather than pull cords as these could potentially pose a choking hazard for young and vulnerable children.

If you don’t like the thought of window blinds then simple plain green or green and white striped curtains would also be suitable and in-keeping with the style of the room. Use curtain tie-backs to let as much natural light as possible into the room during daylight hours. Hang the curtains from curtain tracks to keep the chic styling of the room – make sure the tracks are fitted firmly into the wall or window casing in case you have an adventurous child who likes to climb! You should also choose the standard curtain tracks rather than the corded curtain tracks to lower the choke hazard possibility.

By using a mid-range green, such as sage green, you’ll be able to coordinate your soft furnishings without any hassle. This mid-range, muted tone of green isn’t too loud or obnoxious – allowing the colour to compliment the personality traits of children perfectly. For fussy teens you can easily add flashes of a brighter colour via accessories without having to completely re-decorate the room every time another trend or ‘must have’ accessories takes their fancy!

I have to say that the ‘no clutter rule’ has to be adhered to in any bedroom if you want a chic and stylish look. My advice is to ditch the clutter to maximise the space you have and keep the bedroom this way all of the time. If you look at interior design journal or blog you won’t find many if any images of cluttered bedrooms – if you do they’ll typically be the ‘before and after’ makeover shots – it’s the ‘after’ that you need to aim for to get the look.

As I mentioned in my last post choose the shade and tone of green that is befitting to the design style you’re trying to achieve, any deviation and the whole dynamics of the room will change – and not necessarily for the better. So, take you time to choose colours which compliment each other. Use soft white or creams to help achieve the relaxed look.

Add different textures to the room to give it depth and character – start with your flooring, wood or carpet which ever you’re more comfortable with – if your carpet or flooring is looking a little worse for wear then a cost effective solution is to use large rugs in the same hues and the colour scheme. You can also add texture to the room with your choice of bedding, a simple, yet stylish, folded blanket adds interest to the room in a subtle and sophisticated manner.

Don’t forget your window dressing as the wrong choice could ruin the entire look. As this style is down to earth you don’t want anything flamboyant or garish. Plain sheers are a great idea and provide a gentle yet practical way to dress the windows. If you want a slightly less transparent window dressing opt for lined voiles or choose another lightweight curtain fabric such as organza.

Simple white curtain tracks are the ideal way to hang the curtains as they’re unobtrusive, yet functional. You could use curtain poles, I’d opt for cream coloured wooden curtain poles to blend in with the décor, and also use eyelet curtain for a modern touch to the bedroom’s style.

Today’s post concentrates on a classical country style using various shades of green, along with tactile fabrics, materials and clever use of pattern to achieve a bedroom which is warm, homely and inviting.

Using the palest of greens along with soft creams a mellow look is easily achieved. If you keep the walls plain you can add pattern on both the bedding and the window blinds. You don’t have to have everything identical and matching just as long as you keep the tones and hues sit comfortably next to each other rather than one screaming out to be the focus of attention.

Country style also encapsulates the home-made look which is bang on-trend within the world of interior design this year. Roman blinds can be bought made to measure or you can use Roman blind kits to make your own. This style of blind is a stylish, cost-effective way to dress windows and allows you the freedom of choice in the fabric you use.

Due to the nature of Roman blinds they are ideal to use as the sole window dressing in bedrooms. If light pollution causes you a problem you can simply add a blackout lining to the blinds to give you the best of both worlds.

Making Roman blinds isn’t as difficult or as complicated as it may sound, especially if you follow the process step by step. I’ve made my own window blinds and have to say that to get a bespoke window dressing this route is the way to go. If you’re really not handy-craft minded then choose the made to measure blinds option and let someone else make the blinds for you! You’ll still have control over the fabric choices, which means that your window dressing will also be made to your requirements.

Go Natural:
Conservatories are great places to ‘go natural’ – especially if there are lots of plants on display. Wood is a great choice, but do be aware that harsh sunlight can very quickly fade the colour. Use natural jute rugs to help protect flooring, along with suitable window and roof dressing to reduce the fading of your furniture and furnishings.

Use Your Senses:
Sight is the main issue here, and as conservatories are bright you’ll need both roof blinds and window dressings which provide you with sufficient control to enable you to adjust the amount of light entering – especially during the summer months. The type and amount of light you get in your conservatory will be dependent on its location – south facing conservatories will get more bright, harsh light during the summer and therefore window dressings need to be sufficiently robust to help reduce heat build-up. On the other hand north facing conservatories will need window dressings which maximise as much natural light as possible, especially during the winter, if the room is used throughout the year.

Venetian and vertical blinds are the most common window dressings for conservatories. However, they are not your only option. Full length curtains can also be used in conservatories which don;t get too much harsh summer sun. A pelmet can be used to disguise curtain tracks – providing a sleek finish. Curtain poles can also be used, however, you may have to ask advice from the conservatory company on drilling fixing holes – the last thing you want to do is invalidate your guarantee, so it’s wise to check first.

Lighting:
During the day natural light is all you need – during the evenings a central ceiling light can be used along side table lamps to give a softer and cosier ambience.

Accessories:
The accessories you chose will be dependant on what your conservatory is used for. If it’s another lounge then you’ll need coffee tables and sideboards – the conservatory should be treated in the same way as the room’s purpose. Rugs can be laid on the floor during the winter to give a warm and cosy look. If you use your conservatory as a dining room, then add a dresser, bookcase etc.

Go Natural:
Many children are very aware of the environment and ‘go going’ is often taken into consideration in a young person’s mind. Make sure you discuss the changes of their room with them – they may have strong views on the materials used and although they may also ask or prefer to have items which are expensive and out of your budget there are instant makeover items which are both kind to the environment and your pocket. For example jute rugs or wooden blinds can be used and chosen from retailers who endorse products with the recyclable logo or are part of a preservation scheme.

Use Your Senses:
Children’s senses should be stimulated where and whenever possible to help broaden their horizons and learning. Bright colours can be used to liven up a room along with current topics and interests. Visual stimulus via the use of patterns is just one example of how to excite children’s eyes. Touch is another sense which can easily be incorporated into their room by using a range of tactile fabrics for bedding and soft furnishings.

Lighting:
Keep the room bright during the evenings and then when it’s time to sleep try and get the room as dark as possible to enable rest and induce sleep – this is when it’s time not to excite the senses and a good way of establishing a positive sleeping routine. If their room is subjected to outside light pollution blackout roller blinds are a great window dressing choice – chose the styles with operating wands rather than pull cords for safety. If you prefer curtains a combination of curtains and blinds is a choice which gives you the best of both worlds in terms of style and functionality.

Accessories:
Be led by your child or the theme of the room when it comes to accessories. To help keep the room clutter free simple wicker baskets, travelling trunks or toy chests are great options to include within the room. If you’re going to add wall shelves make sure that they situated away from any other piece of furniture to reduce the temptation of climbing!

Go Natural:
Show your guests that you’re doing your bit for the environment by choosing natural elements, fabrics and materials whenever you can.

Use Your Senses:
Don’t allow your guest room to become dank and musty. Regularly open the windows to bring in fresh air. If your not expecting guests in the near future it may be wise to leave the bedding in the airing cupboard. Cover the bed with a bed throw to help keep dust off the mattress.

Lighting:
Always provide a bedside table lamp for your guests, not only will this enable them to read if they so wish it will also prevent them from stumbling around in the dark once the main light is turned off!

Accessories:
Use silk or soft sheer fabrics to make a stylish bed canopy. Buy cheap fabrics online and use curtain poles to hang the fabric – simple strips of fabric will loop gracefully over the bed providing a tent effect!

New bedding is the simplest and possibly the most effective way of giving a quick transformation to a guest room. Look for neutral colours that team with your existing décor. A stylish bed throw may be all you need to give the room an instant pick-me-up. If your beds are low to the ground and you have guests who find it difficult getting in and out of bed try using bed lifts (these are blocks of wood with spaces for the feet of your bed frame to fit into) as they will raise the height of the bed safely.

Choose an appropriate window dressing. Blackout roller blinds are ideal for rooms which are constantly illuminated by outside light. Team with curtains or use them as the sole window dressing – whichever suits the style of your home the best. If you have net curtains make sure they are white and not a dingy grey colour! Either replace them or choose an on-trend café style half curtains held in place with net curtain rods or tension rods – no drilling or fixing required – to give a new look to your windows and room.

Go Natural:
Use plants to help oxygenate the air in your home office. Plants will also help to create an atmosphere which is conducive to work as well as adding colour and texture to the room.

Use Your Senses:
Keep clutter to a minimum otherwise you’re be demoralised every time you sit down to work. Let visualisation be the key to your success!

Lighting:
Make sure that you maximise as much natural light as possible during daylight hours. Too much artificial lighting can cause headaches, especially fluorescent tube lights. Use a window dressing such as Roman blinds or roller blinds which can be pulled to the top of the window. If you have a problem with being distracted and staring vacantly out of the window Venetian blinds are a good idea. Angle lamps are ideal for illuminating your desk and of course can be tilted to suit when needed.

Accessories:
Give yourself plenty of storage space to prevent too much clutter. Simple shelving can work well in alcoves. Liven up your shelving by painting the back in a contrasting colour, you can then use the same colour as an accent for other soft furnishings, such as blinds and cushions to give a balance and cohesive look. Arrange books and files by colour coding and have some books filed with their spines showing and others laying horizontally – this can help to take the tedium out of the office while making it a little more user friendly.

Use wall images which encourage positive thinking and encouragement, it can be difficult to find the memento to keep going when working in isolation so these types of wall art will help you to focus on the job in hand.

Use cork to make a cheap but effective bulletin board which can be personalised to your line of work. For example, if your office is used for creative arts and handicrafts use lengths of ribbon or elastic stretched across the board at angles; for a more formal board, traditional large headed pins can be used effectively.

Go Natural:
What better room to go natural than a bathroom. Use wood wherever you can to create a stylish look which suits all styles of homes. Wooden Venetian blinds or bamboo roller blinds teamed with wicker storage baskets and wooden accessories can transform a bathroom instantly.

Use Your Senses:
Adding beautiful smells to your bathroom is not only on-trend it’s practical. Go for scented candles along with dishes of home-made pot-pourri for a unique look. Open your bathroom window whenever you can as this will not only bring fresh air in and nasty smells out, it will also help to reduce condensation which can be the cause of unsightly black mould.

Lighting:
Sensible lighting is a must for carrying out daily ablutions, however, lower the lighting or use candles to create a relaxing spa styled experience. LED lights can be fitted to highlight specific areas such as shaving mirrors, while the rest of the bathroom can be illuminated by soft lighting to help lower your stress levels while you bathe.

Accessories:
Treat yourself and your bathroom to large fluffy towels, to really get the spa look you should opt for white. Make sure you get rid of any mess. Use stand-alone storage units if you have the room or clear out your vanity unit to store shampoo and shower gel bottles, only leave the prettiest bottles on display.

As bathrooms are typically small it won’t take much effort or money to repaint the walls. Look for semi-gloss finishes which will help illuminate your bathroom, making it look and feel larger. If you fancy tiles choose a few to place randomly rather than tile a whole wall. The look is fabulous and it’s far cheaper!

Get rid of the traditional three piece bathroom rug sets, they’re not only out-dated they aren’t really very hygienic. If you have a tiled floor go for a jute rug which is hard wearing and durable. If you or your family always manage to saturate the floor with water use a rug which is designed for bathrooms and make sure you lift it off the floor each day – you could drape it over the shower door – to enable it to dry out properly, otherwise it could easily become mouldy and smelly!

Go Natural:
Natural stone and counter tops made from granite and marble remain on-trend this year, however they can be very expensive and time consuming to fit. For those of you who are up for a challenge you could visit reclamation yards and find old marble tops and butler style sinks to give your kitchen a whole new look. As we promised quick and inexpensive tips, why not change the handles and knobs on your cupboards instead – fast and effective! You could also paint your cupboard doors if you have the time and the inclination.

Use Your Senses:
The aromas of fresh baking and home cooking is one that few of us can resist. Try baking your own cakes to bring a warm, friendly and homely ambience to your home.

Lighting:
Place LED lights under work surfaces to illuminate your work area, you can buy battery versions which simply stick in place, so there’s no need for an electrician. Use spot lights rather than one central light to create a new look.

Accessories:
One of the quickest and most effective makeovers is to change your kitchen blinds. Look for the latest bright patterns of roller blinds to perk up your kitchen in the evenings or swap net curtains for Venetian blinds if you need privacy. The latest blinds are available in a wide of stunning colours – choose white if you want to create a fresh, clean look which compliments any colour scheme.

Add flowers and plants to your kitchen – try and use fresh because dried or silk attract dirt and dust which you don’t want to encourage in a kitchen.

Add depth and texture to open shelving by lining with coloured or natural raffia – it’s an effective way to bring a whole new dimension to your kitchen. If you opt for natural it will coordinate beautifully with wood-weave blinds.

Use a rug to add a new look to flooring. Striped rugs offer a country cottage look and are a great way to hide less than perfect flooring. Make sure you also add an anti-slip backing otherwise you could end-up skating across your kitchen floor!

Go Natural:
The bedroom is a great place to go natural! Bring in natural textiles and fabrics for bed linen, rugs and window dressings. If you want to ‘go green’ as well use natural fabrics such as cotton and silks. For floors faux sheepskin rugs will add warmth and a sensuous touch for your feet!

Use Your Senses:
The bedroom has to embrace all of the senses if it is to be truly successful. Visual impact has to be balanced, your eyes also need to be able to relax to help you drift off to sleep, blackout roller blinds will stop unwanted light from entering your bedroom. Treat your nose to the aroma of fresh bed linen rather than smelly socks! Taste – this sense can be tricky to achieve, however, use chocolates and colours which remind you of your favourite foods are a great way to go. Sound can be achieved by silence with well insulated windows as well as soft music. Touch, use a variety of tactile fabrics and materials to heighten your sense of touch, you can get as romantic as you wish by using silks, velvet, organza and lace for bed cushions and throws.

Lighting:
Soft, gentle lighting will create a soothing and relaxing atmosphere. Be careful if you use candles, for the sake of safety make sure candles are placed in holders and never place them too near curtains and bedding. Bedside table lamps can be subdued with new lamp shades in muted tones and by using soft glow bulbs. Dimmer switches can replace standard switches as a cost effective way of being able to choose the intensity of artificial lights.

Accessories:
Add wall displays to your bedroom to refresh walls. If you have a specific interest or collection arrange on coffee tables or as wall plaques. Add plenty of storage to help keep the room neat and tidy. If you don’t have enough wardrobe space use pretty hat boxes, wicker baskets or trunks to store shoes and clothing you don’t wear that often. Make sure curtain poles are fixed correctly (there’s nothing worse than a sagging curtain pole!) and proportionate in size to compliment your bed frame and furnishings. Black metal curtain poles compliment iron bedsteads beautifully while wooden curtain poles are idea partners for wooden bed frames or sleigh styled beds.