Arab Aviation Summit returns to Ras al Khaimah
The ninth Arab Aviation Summit will take place in Ras al Khaimah this week. The Al Hamra International Exhibition & Conference Centre will welcome the show for three days from today.
The best drawer organisers for a tidy home – for your cutlery, clothes and your makeup
A drawer organiser or two is a must-have if you find yourself constantly rummaging through your drawers and cursing yourself for not tidying them up earlier. They can save precious minutes when you’re trying to locate a specific kitchen utensil as you cook dinner, or the lipstick you had in mind as you rush to get ready in the morning. Plus, you’re guaranteed to get a sense of satisfaction every time you open your drawer and you’re greeted with a calming oasis of organisation.
We use our drawers to store things away and reduce visual clutter, but their usefulness decreases when we start chucking things in them with no sense of structure or arrangement, promising ourselves that we’ll tidy them properly in the future. That’s when a drawer organiser can come in to help you create and maintain order in your drawers, whether they are storing your cutlery, clothes, or office supplies.
Before purchasing any type of drawer organisation system, you’ll need to think about the current contents of your drawers and where you think an organiser would be the most useful. We’ve selected some of the best drawer organisers on the market that will help your day run a little smoother, covering all the bases from your kitchen, workspace and even dressing table.
Buying a drawer organiser is just one of the many solutions to help you squeeze more things into your home – and to help tidy the areas that are hidden away. If it’s your bedroom that you are focusing on, then drawer organisers can definitely solve the issue of having a small chest of drawers. However, for clothes that need to be hung, a wardrobe organiser would be undoubtedly handy.
Here are the best drawer organisers out there for a neat and tidy space.
The best drawer organisers for a tidy space and a tidy mind
Kitchen drawer organisers
Tiny kitchen? Small amount of cupboard space? First thing’s first: invest in a kitchen drawer organiser to make more space for dinnerware, oven trays and much more.
Joseph Joseph Drawerstore Expanding Cookware Organisers: £27.99 from Amazon
This adjustable rack from Joseph Joseph is designed to store the bulky kitchen items that are often the biggest source of mess in our drawers. It’s great for storing pans, lids, and baking tins, and comes with scratch-proof wire dividers that can be inserted anywhere along the length of the unit, providing easy access for difficult to reach items.
Uppdatera Pegboard Drawer Organiser: £15 at IKEA
This one’s great for those of you looking for an organisation system that can be easily adapted according to your kitchen drawer’s contents. Alongside a mat to cover the base of the drawer, this set contains 32 pegs which can be placed anywhere on the mat to divide your utensils. Ideal for pots, plates and bowls, the Uppdatera Pegboard Organiser will stop your larger kitchen items from moving around and becoming disorganised.
Lakeland Chrome Plated Bakeware Organiser: £14.99 at Lakeland
Baking trays and tins are often the utensils that end up precariously stacked on top of one another with the imminent threat of toppling over as soon as we shut the drawer. This Chrome Plated Bakeware Organiser from Lakeland is a great option for deeper drawers that can hold larger utensils, and the rack has differently-sized slots so all your cookery can be kept neatly together.
Makeup drawer organisers
Store your lipstick collection in style and in safety with help from a makeup organiser, specifically these ones below. It’s the only way to keep your dressing table tidy.
Unique Impression Set of 11 Drawer Organiser Trays: £14.99 at Amazon
The transparent design of this 11 piece organiser set is ideal for storing makeup because it gives you a clear overview of where everything is. The compartments come in a variety of sizes, so you can store all your makeup and cosmetics in one place, from eyeshadow palettes to foundation brushes and lipsticks. And bonus, the drawers have been designed with anti-slip silicone feet so that they stay put.
The Home Edit & iDesign Angled Drawer Organiser: £13 at John Lewis & Partners
Opt for this angled drawer organiser if you want a clean, clutter-free look in your makeup drawer. The angled design makes products easy to view and reach for as you’re getting ready, and it’s ideal for keeping your favourite products close to hand. Plus, aesthetic palettes and bottles look great when displayed on this too.
Dragan Extendable Bamboo Storage Box: £17 at IKEA
Place this bamboo storage unit inside your drawer to keep your cosmetics organised in a slightly warmer way than the clear makeup storage units. This one from IKEA looks great in bathroom drawers, plus it works well in vanity units too.
Desk drawer organisers
Whether you have a dedicated home office or you work in a corner of your living room, in order to keep on track of paperwork and your growing stationery section, you’ll need a desk drawer organiser. This understated home office storage idea is one that can make a drastic change to your workday.
KUGGIS Insert with 8 compartments: £7 at IKEA
This easily inserted organiser from IKEA is great for keeping your office supplies in compartments, so that chaotic desk drawers can be avoided. The sections are sized differently so they can store smaller stationery pieces alongside notebooks, cables, and headphones. It enables a good overview of your desk drawer so you can quickly locate what you need, and is really affordable too.
EasyPAG Mesh Drawer Organiser: £11.99 at Amazon
Your desk drawer has never looked better with this sleek, mesh-look organiser from EasyPAG. Your stationery will stay neat and tidy, and there will be no more frantic searching for a pen every time you need to jot something down, as a quick glance will give you a clear overview of where everything is.
Cutlery drawer organisers
We’ve got plenty of kitchen storage ideas to share, including the use of a cutlery organiser to help keep this drawer looking neat and tidy.
Maison & White Bamboo Extending Cutlery Drawer: £17.99 at Amazon
With 6-8 adjustable compartments, this bamboo cutlery drawer can be extended to fit a range of differently sized drawers. Perfect for separating your utensils and offering space to keep larger spatulas and tongs organised too.
Addis Kitchen Sense 6 Compartment Drawer Organiser: £10 at Dunelm
This no-fuss cutlery tray is an easy addition to any kitchen drawer, and a fail-safe way of keeping your kitchen utensils organised. There are 6 compartments and the tray has silicone grips at the base so that it stays put when your drawer opens and closes. This is a great affordable option for those of you looking for a simple yet effective way of tidying up your cutlery.
Clothes drawer organisers
If you are searching for bedroom storage ideas, then an easy way to make space in your chest of drawers is with help from a clothes drawer organiser or two.
Periea Drawer Organiser for Closet: £17.99 at Wayfair
This set from Periea contains 3 drawer organisers, ideal for storing underwear, socks, and accessories. They will provide a home for individual items that would otherwise end up disordered and messy, and allow you to quickly see what pieces are available to wear as you get ready for the day.
DEEDPF Foldable Clothes Drawers: £10.99 at Amazon
Jeans and trousers can be amongst the tricker items of clothing to keep tidy, whether they’re hung up on a rail taking up a good chunk of our wardrobe, or stacked on top of each other in a drawer. These foldable clothes drawers from Amazon are spacious enough to neatly stack jeans and trousers against each other, and provide an alternative method for organising your clothes.
The post The best drawer organisers for a tidy home – for your cutlery, clothes and your makeup appeared first on Ideal Home.
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Shower bath ideas: 10 brilliant space-saving solutions
Brits are renowned for loving a soak in a hot bath, however most of us enjoy the invigorating effects of a shower too. The bathroom is often the smallest room in the home, so it’s not always possible to have a separate bath and shower. Thankfully, there are plenty of shower bath ideas that allow you to combine the two options and still make your space feel like a sanctuary.
Part of the appeal with walk-in shower ideas, is the element of luxe it brings. Yet it’s entirely possible to add a sense of luxe to the daily lather with these space-saving shower bath ideas.
Shower bath ideas
Whether your preference is for a freestanding tub or a fitted bath, you can incorporate attractive shower ideas too. Consider stylish shower heads, eye-catching tiles, designer screens or elegant curtains. These are the details that will turn a bathroom from basic to beautiful.
1. Make it the centrepiece
Image credit: Future PLC/ Colin Poole
Having a shower bath doesn’t mean you’re limited to standard fitted models. If you have your heart set on a freestanding tub, this can still form the centrepiece of your bathroom idea, and incorporate a shower. There are some gorgeous traditional-style shower rails, which can be suspended to allow you to hang curtains around the entire tub to prevent water splashes.
‘We all aspire to the sumptuous free-standing bath in the middle of a large room,’ says Phil Etherden, managing director, The Albion Bath Co. ‘However, consider that most bathrooms, even in large houses, are no more than 12 square metres!’
Plan carefully and you can still create a stunning result. There is a great range of versatile, over-bath shower systems available meaning one can achieve a luxurious spa-like feel which is still practical for family life too.’
2. Include a luxurious ledge for storage
Image credit: Future PLC
One way to give your shower bath spa-style luxe is by cladding it with textured stone tiles. This is especially effective if it’s the type you see in high-end hotels such as split face slate or quartzite stone. When it comes to shower storage ideas, this type of surface deserves more than a wire basket stuck to the wall with suction pads. Take things up a notch with a luxurious ledge for displaying shampoo and soap.
This is easier than it sounds, as bathrooms often require a false stud wall to hide the plumbing behind. This then presents an ideal opportunity to include a recess for storage and even atmospheric lighting (adequately IP rated of course).
3. Choose a P-shaped bath
Image credit: Future PLC/ Lizzie Orme
Instead of a regular rectangular bath, a P-shaped version is a modern option that enables a more generous shower area, without encroaching too much on the available floor space.
‘A shower over a bath provides an excellent solution for bathrooms where space is at a premium and having a separate shower isn’t an option,’ says Jay O’Neill, Director, Bathroom Mountain. ‘They work particularly well for families where younger children often prefer to take a bath. P and L shaped shower baths provide much more room for showering than a conventional straight bath.
‘Some have screens that are fixed to the top of the bath and this creates a permanent seal to prevent water leakage, whereas those that pivot open have a flexible plastic seal on the bottom that does the same job.’
4. Install a sliding rail
When you’re considering shower ideas, the height of the shower head is important, whether you’ll be standing in the bath or on a shower tray. This is particularly pertinent if it’s a shower that the whole family will need to use. As glamorous as fixed overhead showers are, this may not be the best choice if it’s where the kids bathe too.
‘When it comes to selecting the best shower to use over a bath, it’s important to first consider how the space will be used,’ says Jeevan Seth, CEO of JTP. ‘Homeowners with pets may prefer a hand shower which can be easily adjusted as required.
‘Those with young children may choose an adjustable rail, so they can easily slide the shower head up and down to suit individual body heights. For family homes or those with multiple occupants, we always recommend a slider rail so the shower is accessible to all.’
5. Tuck a freestanding bath into a corner
Image credit: Future PLC/ David Giles
In a tight spot, instead of boxing in a fitted bath with a side panel, choosing a freestanding tub and situating it in a corner can give the illusion of more space. This style tends to suit a shower curtain idea rather than a screen, which gives a roomier feel too.
‘With a smaller bathroom, the trick is to maximise the visible area of the floor, so use a free-standing bath on feet or a plinth,’ says Phil Etherden, managing director, The Albion Bath Co. ‘If possible, position your bath so it’s the first piece seen when you open the door. Bath tubs are now considered decorative as well as functional, so use the bath as a feature piece.’
6. Go for digital controls
Image credit: Future PLC/ David Giles
The height of luxury is not having to wait for the water to warm up before stepping in to the shower. Opting for digital controls allows you to set the water temperature so it’s just right. It also enables you to set a maximum temperature. This is great if kids will be using the shower, as it means they’re unlikely to scald themselves on hot water. It also means you don’t waste a drop.
There’s also a timer and a clock on most models which alerts you when it’s time to jump out. This is great for saving water and energy. Current suggestions are for a four-minute shower to keep your bills down.
7. Add impact with monochrome
Image credit: Bathroom Mountain
A great way to add impact to a shower bath scheme is with a dramatic black and white monochrome palette. It’s also an easy palette to get right. Once you’ve chosen the best location for your shower bath and selected your sanitaryware, you can then choose your wall and floor tiles, and paint shades.
‘Using different sized or styles of tiles can add interest to an interior; it allows for the creation of a pattern without being too busy,’ says Colin Lincoln-Evans, Buyer at Tile Mountain. ‘Colour and finish is a consideration; paler colours will help in bathroom where there is little or no natural light, and gloss finishes help reflect light.’
8. Choose the right shower screen
Image credit: Future PLC/ David Giles
If you like sleek shapes and clean lines, an L-shaped shower bath will give a contemporary look. For a softer style, P-shaped shower baths are curved at the wider shower end. Whichever you opt for, make sure you choose the right screen.
‘Glass shower screens work really well in a shower bath and are available in different shapes to match bath styles,’ says Jay O’Neill, director, Bathroom Mountain. ‘For example an L shaped bath requires a screen with a small return on it so as to prevent splashes. The P shaped baths have curved screens.’
9. Mix tile styles
Image credit: Future PLC/ Lizzie Orme
There are plenty of gorgeous shower tile ideas to choose. If you can’t decide on one style, mixing different tiles can be a highly effective solution. Laying tiny mirrored mosaics across an entire wall adds glamour and provides an interesting focal point.
Teaming these small shimmering tiles with large-scale plain matt tiles creates balance and prevents them overwhelming a small space. A clear glass screen and simple polished chrome fittings are all you need to complement their eye-catching iridescence.
‘When putting together tile designs, there are three main things to consider: colour, texture and size,’ says Louise Swannell, head of creative design at Walls and Floors. ‘Think about the bathroom as a whole and choose a shower tile that complements the entire space. If you have a neutral scheme, you could continue this into the shower. Or opt for a bolder tile to make a feature of the space.’
10. Introduce an overhead shower
Image credit: Future PLC/ Rachael Smith
Add a touch of luxury to a family bathroom by including an overhead shower, as well as a handheld shower on a sliding rail. This makes it easier to switch the room from ‘kids space’ to a more grown-up zone when you or your guests want to use the shower.
‘For those looking to add a touch of luxury, a fixed overhead shower will add comfort and create the spa-like feel desired by many,’ says Jeevan Seth, CEO of JTP.
What is a shower bath?
Shower baths combine the luxury of a bath with the functionality of a shower. This makes them a great space-saving solution for smaller bathrooms. Of course, you can install a shower over most types of bath. However new shower bath models are specifically shaped to be slightly wider at the shower end. They are generally P-shaped or L-shaped, so you have more room to manoeuvre without having a separate shower and bath.
Is a shower over the bath a good idea?
Yes, particularly in small bathrooms where it’s not possible to have a separate walk-in shower and bath, as it offers flexibility and saves space. ‘Bar valves and bath shower mixers are popular choices for over-the-bath, as they are practical and easy to use,’ says Kate Lovell, Head of Marketing, Aqualisa. ‘Bath shower mixers can be deck-mounted (to replace existing taps), while providing the added benefit of a shower. They can also include an adjustable rail kit for full shower functionality, be wall mounted or have a handset that can be placed in a docking station.’
If you know how to install a shower head, it’s a task a good DIYer could take on themselves. If the pipework has already been installed by a qualified plumber it’s relatively easy to upgrade an old shower head.
What’s the best shower for over a bath?
‘Choosing the best type of shower for over a bath can depend on available space,’ says Jay O’Neill, Director, Bathroom Mountain. ‘A ceiling mounted shower can provide a larger shower head but will require additional installation work. A wall mounted shower can be easier to install especially when choosing an exposed shower system.’
‘For a little luxury and convenience we recommend a three-way shower. This comprises an overhead fixed shower head, a hand held shower for convenience and a bath filler, removing the need for mounting separate taps on the side of the bath.’
The post Shower bath ideas: 10 brilliant space-saving solutions appeared first on Ideal Home.
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