In winter the only option for drying the washing is usually hanging it up inside, however, an expert has revealed that this could be causing costly damp and mould damage to your home.

This time of year usually sees a spike in search for how to get rid of damp as we juggle the cold, wet weather and saving money on energy bills. However, Lee Devlin, MD at Homecure Plumbers warns you could be creating a serious damp problem for yourself by drying clothes indoors.

Image credit: Sussie Bell

‘Recently washed clothes hold about three litres of water, which as clothes dry, evaporates and dissipates around the home,’ he explains. ‘This humid air can then come into contact with cold surfaces – such as walls and windows – and potentially lead to costly damage, hazardous mould growth, and an increase in dust mites in and around the home.’

If you don’t have any option but to dry your clothes indoors without the aid of a tumble dryer, don’t panic. Fortunately, there are plenty of easy fixes that will minimise any potential damage.

Tips to avoid damage when drying clothes inside

1. Dry clothes in warm and well-ventilated areas

Ventilation is crucial for reducing the moisture in the air and can be done by placing laundry near windows and extractor fans. ‘If you have a spare room, with good ventilation and warmth, it can be an idea to utilise this and create dedicate a ‘washing room’,’ suggests Lee. ‘Ideally using a dehumidifier to help reduce the moisture in the air and help heat the room further.’

image credit: Paul Raeside

2. Never dry wet washing on radiators

While warmth might help dry clothes quickly, Lee warns that this is actually one of the worst things you can do. It makes it harder for the heat to spread around the home, costing you more in heating, meaning washing can ironically take longer to dry. It can also increase the number of cold surfaces in the home which are perfect conditions for damp.

3. Spread out clothes on racks

‘It’s important to spread clothes out enough, and regularly move clothes around to prevent washing in the middle from staying damp for longer,’ says Lee. So if you are tempted to cram a month’s worth of washing onto one clothes horse – just don’t.

Until the summer weather returns drying clothes inside is a necessary evil, however, if you spread the washing out, keep your home ventilated and warm, you should keep any potential damage at bay.

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Everyone loves a comforting kitchen that makes you feel instantly at home. One of the most authentic ways you can achieve this is through the rustic kitchen ideas. Whether you’re going for a full room revamp, or just want to integrate a few rural touches, this style will help add an inviting appeal to your space.

You may feel that your kitchen ideas are limited to the style of your house as a whole, and where it’s situated. However, rustic kitchen ideas work equally as well in a modern house as they do in a classic country abode. While the traditional rustic kitchens include range cookers, Belfast sinks and a solid farmhouse table, there are contemporary aspects which are key to this look, too. For example, sleek Shaker-style cabinetry, industrial finishes and textured, raw materials. Pendant lighting, bar stools and a hint of copper and leather can all bring a fresh new feel to a rustic kitchen.

‘Country-style has experienced a revival, perhaps in part due to the emergence of cottagecore and the stylish rural properties that continue to feature on our Instagram feeds,’ says Alex Main, director, The Main Company.  This desire for a country-inspired interior has evolved slightly, with a softer colour palette and more modern approach to this timeless trend.’

Rustic kitchen ideas

From materials and textures to colours and accessories, these are our favourite ways to work rustic kitchen ideas into your home.

1. Open up your shelving

Image credit: Future PLC/Polly Eltes

‘The almost-defining trait of a farmhouse kitchen is that dreamy pared down feel with closed lower cabinets and lots of open shelving,’ says Al Bruce, Founder of Olive & Barr. ‘They give you a chance to display those unique bits n’ bobs that create a rustic farmhouse feel: decorative plates, cast iron pots, mason jars filled with dried, your rustic wooden bowls and utensils, anything and everything.’

‘Not only will the addition of open shelving make your space feel lighter and brighter, but you’ll also have more opportunities to bring your personality to the forefront.’ It’s also one of the core small kitchen ideas to give the illusion of more space.

2. Add industrial touches

Image credit: Future PLC/Rachel Reeve

The industrial trend is intrinsically linked to rustic kitchen ideas. Feature brick walls, metal detailing and exposed pipeworks all give that rural-with-an-edge vibe.

To keep it on the rustic end of industrial, make sure to mix in with plenty of woods and warm colourways. Rustic kitchens should feel welcoming, so steer away from the ultra monochromatic modern kitchen ideas look.

3. Create a homey scheme

Image credit: Future PLC

Rustic kitchen ideas should be full of inviting personality. Use this space to showcase your favourite colours and objects. A touch of eclecticism is very welcome, so include rag rugs, patterned tiles and mismatched crockery.

In terms of colour, warm neutrals, blues and yellows are most associated with this theme. Stick to one for a more pared back approach, or layer up for a quirkier finish.

4. Consider your flooring

Image credit: Quorn Stone

When choosing rustic kitchen flooring ideas, natural materials are a must, and if you can go for large flagstone tiles, then all the better. ‘For centuries, estates and country homes have used flagstone flooring, thanks to their hardwearing characteristics and classic appearance that have stood the test of time,’ says Isabel Fernandez, Director of Quorn Stone.

‘Now more than ever, people are wanting to create this timeless look in their kitchens by choosing large format flagstones. Most commonly, the ‘free length’ or ‘random length’ tile size is opted for, by which the widths are fixed (usually 500mm or 600mm) and then lengths are a random selection ranging upwards to 1000mm. This free length flagstone has the ability to work in all sized kitchens and gives maximum focus on the beauty of each tile.’

5. Add unexpected pattern

Image credit: Future PLC

Patterned wallpaper isn’t always on trend for kitchens, but it most certainly is one of the heartland rustic kitchen ideas. If you’re nervous about wallpapering the walls, or simply want to limit pattern, then think laterally.

Paper the backs of glass-fronted cabinets and inside drawers for joyful bursts of colour and pattern without your overall scheme being overwhelmed. Plus, this take on kitchen wallpaper ideas is easier and more affordable to change should you get tired of your choice of design.

6. Choose Shaker style cabinetry

Image credit: Tom Howley

‘Regardless of whether you live in a modern renovation or rural cottage, traditional shaker kitchen ideas and cabinetry is perfect for creating a welcoming, lived-in look,’ says Tom Howley, Design Director at Tom Howley Kitchens.

‘Charming cottages and period homes almost always have challenging features such as chimney breasts, sloping ceilings, quaint proportions, quirky nooks and uneven floors. Choosing a bespoke shaker design allows you to preserve and work around these original features, enhancing your space’s look and individuality.’

7.  Add interest with panelling

Image credit: Future PLC/Colin Poole

Panelling is a simple and chic way of integrating rustic kitchen ideas into your space. These sleek lines on your cabinetry will add interest and the subtlest suggestion of pattern. For a more full-on approach, take your panelling up onto your kitchen splashback ideas, too.

8. Think about your lighting

Image credit: Olive and Barr

‘Of all the ways to add a pinch of rustic charm to your kitchen, getting creative with your kitchen lighting ideas is probably the quickest, easiest and most-effective,’ says  Al Bruce, Founder of Olive & Barr. ‘The lights you opt for a great way of adding a touch of country charm to your kitchen. From adding filament bulbs to your industrial-style fixtures to hanging Mason jar pendant lights above your island, to illuminating your prep space with a reclaimed patina light shade that matches the materials used in the rest of your space.’

9. Add a cupboard skirt

Image credit: British Standard by Plain English

Cupboard or sink skirts very traditional way of bringing rustic warmth into your kitchen. ‘Instantly softening, a sink skirt is also a great way to inject colour and pattern into your kitchen or pantry,’ says Karla Patterson, designer at British Standard. ‘Affordable and stylish, it’s also a clever way to conceal any unsightly storage and undersink spaces.’

Choose a contrasting colour to your cabinetry to make a statement, or use pattern to pick up on it if you prefer a more toned down finish.

10. Mix and match materials

Image credit: Future PLC/Polly Eltes

Rustic kitchens shouldn’t feel too ‘done’. One way to make sure it has a lived in feel is to mix and match materials, colours and textures. You’re nearly looking for the kitchen to feel as if it has evolved over time. Sticking to natural materials and a tonal palette is a useful way of guiding your choices so everything still sits together peacefully.

11. Use warm neutrals

Image credit: Future PLC

‘Pale greys, white, cream and black with wooden accents tie things all together into a wonderfully rustic space that looks as perfect in the depths of winter as it does when the summer sun pours through the windows,’ says Al from Olive & Barr. ‘That’s what a neutral colour scheme does for a space.’

Remember that the key to rustic kitchens is an inviting sense of warmth, so tie in joyful bursts of nature-inspired greens and blues.

12. Use touches of burnished metals

Image credit: Future PLC/Colin Poole

Brass can add a new dimension to rustic kitchen ideas. ‘Burnished brass and matt gold handles add a whole new dimension to kitchens,’ says Tom Howley. ‘Brushed or aged finishes can enhance the brightness of white paint finishes. They also echo harmoniously with the ever-popular greys and dramatic dark palettes.’

How can I make my kitchen look rustic?

Rustic kitchen ideas should showcase natural materials, colours and textures. Think warm woods, stone floors and tactile surfaces. They should also feel lived in, a rustic kitchen isn’t a show home. ‘Cottage style kitchens are renowned for their proud displays of cookware and personal objects,’ says Tom Howley. ‘Open shelving can be a great blank canvas for showcasing your favourite antique finds. You can even countrify your shelving by incorporating bespoke brackets or corbels.’.

How do you make a rustic kitchen more modern?

Rustic kitchens can be modernised rather easily. One of the most popular ways of achieving this is through using touches of industrial chic.  ‘We’re seeing many more homeowners experimenting with materials, creating a contrast between the classic and contemporary to create truly innovative and unique kitchen designs,’ says Alex Main, Director, The Main Company. ‘Exposed beams and distressed brickwork continue to remain popular, but these are cleverly off-set by metallic accents, high-specification appliances and eye-catching lighting.”

The post Rustic kitchen ideas to create a warm and welcoming space appeared first on Ideal Home.

A perennial favourite, blue is synonymous with water so it’s a natural choice to use in the bathroom. With so many different shades to choose from, there’s a blue bathroom idea to suit all tastes. Whether it’s a dark cocooning feel, or something light and ethereal, there are lots of ways you can embrace a blue bathroom colour scheme, either using it as a whole room colour or as an accent.

Blue Bathroom Ideas

Finding the right blue really depends on personal choice and how the room is used. Is the bathroom your sanctuary at the end of the day? Somewhere for you to relax where a rich, deep colour would be welcoming? Or does it have to be functional for the whole family – somewhere practical that can take the rigours of the daily family routine?

Blue is a colour that people see differently, one person’s blue is another’s green and vice versa, and it depends on which colour is blended with it, whether it’s lilac for a warm tone, or black for a deep midnight shade, and each shade creates a different mood, so decide on the ambience you want to create then pick a shade that speaks to you and you won’t tire of.

If you have a large room, a stand-alone bath could take centre stage and could be painted blue as a focal point, or in a small shower room, lighter shades might be better, although dark blues do work well in small spaces. Need some help? Then we’ve got 10 great ideas for inspiration

1. Surround yourself in colour

Image credit: Future PLC/ David Giles

Voluptuous, mystical and alluring, deep, royal blue is a fantastic way to create a timeless feel in your bathroom and in a large room like this with good natural light, the way the light plays in the room at different times of the day creates different shades and tones offering an ever-moving palette.

‘Blue is the richest of colours and historically the most expensive to produce’ says Ruth Mottershead of luxury paint brand, Little Greene. ‘it’s a myth that blue is cold or masculine, it can bring a hypnotic allure and luxurious finish to a bathroom and is a colour so intrinsically linked to nature that it’s appeal is timeless.’

Team with a marble bath and basin for a classic but contemporary look and use brass fittings and a brass wash stand with integral towel rail to warm up the scheme and add a touch of luxury.

2. Zone your space

Image credit: Wallandfloors.co.uk

If you have a room like this where the bath is behind a wall and partly obscured, create a focal point of colour with a subtle blend of ocean blue tiles with a deep rich glaze. The natural variations in colour and the rippled effect are reminiscent of the sea, offering a calming feel whilst laying in the bath.

Other materials and textures complement it, such as the herringbone wood-effect tiles on the facing wall, which offer subtle texture, and the classic floor tiles in grey and white which add lightness and prevent the room from feeling too dark.
Buy now: Vernice Abyssal blue tiles, £36.95 m2, Walls and Floors 

3. Welcome blue with wallpaper

Image credit: Woodchip & Magnolia

People worry about bathroom wallpaper ideas because of peeling, but if there is plenty of ventilation and the room is quite large, there is no reason it can’t be used, just keep it away from the wet areas, such as the shower and make sure there is a barrier behind the sink as there is here.

Wallpaper will add instant colour and pattern, and it’s the perfect contrast to the classic white Metro tiles and black and white tiled floor, adding a touch of indulgence and changing the look of the room entirely. A bold, overall design in a green-tinged blue works well and brings nature in too.

Buy now: Mirk wallpaper in Mallard, £85 a roll, Woodchip & Magnolia

4. Introduce a window treatment

Image credit: California Shutters; Blue and white shutters, POA

In a white coastal-style bathroom ring the changes and introduce deep marine blue with custom-made shutters. The shutter frames make an impact at the window and add depth, and means other blue elements can be added too – such as a rug and deep blue, soft towels. You could add more colour by painting the floor blue too.

5. Opt for a coloured vanity unit

Image credit: Future PLC

Introduce blue with wall panelling up to dado height, and paint a vanity unit the same colour, then add a blue and white patterned floor for contrast. A pink painted bath adds a soft touch and bring the outside in with a palm and a jungle print blind.

6. Make the floor the focus in blue

Image credit: Future PLC

Install a new floor to really add zing to a plain bathroom. Geometrics are here to stay and this aqua blue, ochre, pink and white geometric design really stands out, and gives the room an almost Greek feel.

A slender metal unit to hold the washbasin doesn’t take up too much room and because you can see through it, doesn’t block the light. Painting the bath and wall mirror to match enhances the colour scheme. Plain white tiles keep it from looking too ‘busy’.

7. Create a blended scheme

Image credit: Polly Eltes

An easy way to add blue to a bathroom is simply by painting the walls. But rather than painting the whole wall, why not just paint the bottom half up to dado height and finish with a shelf for extra storage.

This smoky blue shade – Stone Blue from Farrow & Ball is similar – adds depth and teams perfectly with the old wood. A unique shelf has been made across the corner to hold toiletries

8. Paint the bath blue

To ring the changes in an existing bathroom, why not paint the bath in your favourite shade of blue. It’s an inexpensive hack and means you could use the colour as a base to add new accessories without breaking the bank.

9. Create a focal point

Image credit: Future PLC/ Polly Eltes

For a clever visual trick, paint the bathroom walls blue and add a large mirror above the basins. The blue walls and glass pendant lights will be reflected in the mirror to make the room look bigger than it really is, creating a wonderful optical illusion. Natural wood is a good contrast to blue, so create a shelf to sit the basins on, with another underneath for storage.

10. Use contrasting tiles

Image credit: Tile Giant

Make a feature of a recessed basin area by using contrasting tiles. Crackle-finish teal Metro tiles are bookended on either side with Moroccan-style designs in a random pattern and a variety of blues for a fresh feel. Grout the Metro tiles in white to really make them stand out, and choose a bevelled edge rather than a flat edge for added interest.

What colours go with blue tiles in a bathroom?

‘Bathrooms are becoming somewhere where people are less afraid to make a unique statement, somewhere that feels personal and tailored to their own tastes and requirements.’ Says Amanda Telford, Marketing Manager of CTD Tiles. ‘With an increased focus on the ‘improve don’t move’ effort, it’s safe to say that it’s an exciting time to be look at bathroom design and trends.’

‘Blue tiles are also having their moment again and work beautifully as a focal point splash back in smaller bathing spaces. Being a flexible and diverse hue, it works beautifully with all different colourways and particularly well with whites, greys and greens, for a fresh and earthy appearance.’

What colours go with a blue bathroom?

‘We all love blue bathrooms – they just work. Bringing in other colours to the scheme can introduce a surprising pop of brightness or even soften the look’ explains Patrick O’Donnell, Farrow & Ball brand ambassador. ’A cooler blue such as Parma Gray can be enlivened with a dollop of red, for example, on a vanity unit in Incarnadine Modern Eggshell – a quick and joyful addition.’

‘Warmer blues with a dose of green, such as Oval Room Blue, will benefit from a more nuanced white on the ceiling such as School House White or the cleaner James White. Dark and dramatic blues like Inchyra Blue will play beautifully with a bright contrast like Arsenic – a perfect introduction to the underside of a bath or tongue & groove panelling.’

‘Soft aqua tinged blues such as Pale Powder will work a treat with stronger tonal colours on all your woodwork, including the window frames.’

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