Hegra, Saudi Arabia: Candlelight Concert in the desert
A unique duo of candlelight concerts in the UNESCO archeological site of Hegra.
The post Hegra, Saudi Arabia: Candlelight Concert in the desert appeared first on The Travel Magazine.
Modern small living room ideas to make the most of your space
As the name suggests, living rooms are where we spend a lot of our time at home. However, these spaces don’t need to be large in order to make an impact. Modern small living room ideas bring contemporary style to even the most petite spaces.
Living room ideas come in all styles, but modern styling, with its typically less ‘fussy’ looks, works especially well for small rooms. Cleaner lines, bold colour choices and contemporary solutions make the most of smaller living rooms.
Modern small living room ideas
From decorating and styling tips to doors and windows, read on to discover our favourite ways to design a small living room space.
1. Create impact with patterned wallpaper
Image credit: Future PLC/Mark Scott
Wallpaper is always a useful way of injecting personality into a room. ‘Wallpaper has a huge impact on the mood of a room so it’s key to get the design right,’ says Martin Waller, Founder of global design brand Andrew Martin.
One of the best living room wallpaper ideas for small rooms is to choose a medium to large scale repeat for your pattern. ‘When choosing wallpaper, consider the size of a room,’ says Martin. ‘Smaller scale patterns work well in big rooms, but can overwhelm smaller spaces. Larger scale patterns work well in most rooms but think about lighting, as this can affect the look of wallpaper and make a colour appear lighter or darker.’
2. Trick the eye
Image credit: Future PLC/David Giles
There’s not always much you can do to literally in order to increase the size of your living room. Unless you have the time, money and space to start knocking down walls. Instead, use small living room ideas to create the illusion of space.
One of the most clever top modern small living room ideas is to use a trompe l’oeil mural. Depending on which image you choose, this might make the room seem to open up onto a garden, another room, or even go on further.
For outdoor murals, a nifty trick is to set the wallpaper in panels to make it appear to be viewed through windows.
3. Utilise alcoves
Image credit: Future PLC/Douglas Gibb
Contemporary interiors style can work well regardless of the architecture of your home. If you have a period property, make the most of architectural details to gain more space and utilise modern living room ideas.
Alcoves are an ideal opportunity to make the most of the available space in a smaller room. If not already in place, add a few basic shelves into the alcove, and paint these the same colour as the rest of the room, to help blend in. Then you have an extra storage area which doesn’t use up any precious floor space. Easy and breezy.
4. Use tiles to create a focal point
Image credit: Future PLC/Colin Poole
Chimney breasts may be a lovely detail, but they can also seem to eat up space in smaller rooms. Use one of these modern small living room ideas to make it a living room feature wall, rather than an obstruction.
‘Wallpapering the chimney breast in a muted scheme highlights it and creates an element of surprise,’ says Ruth Mottershead, Creative Director, Little Greene. ‘Try painting the fireplace in a contrasting colour to the walls or using decorative tiles to become the room’s feature highlight.’
This may seem counterintuitive in a small living room. However, by placing so much focus on one area, you actually take notice away from the rest of the space. If you keep the rest of the walls in a neutral colourway, these will effectively disappear, creating the illusion of a larger room.
5. Separate work and play
Image credit: Future PLC/Chris Snook
‘If your family room needs to double as an office or guest room, then that’s great news as you are making the most of your space,’ says architect and designer Lynsey Ford. ‘Nowadays, a sofa bed doesn’t mean compromising, while closed storage allows you to shut the door on clutter. I’m loving desks that can be hidden away in a cupboard – work just disappears!’
Keeping work and play separate isn’t just great for mental health and a sense of peace. By having a sleek sliding door, you can tuck way any mess, giving you more space to use when it’t time to switch off.
6. Use paint to lift the ceiling
Image credit: Future PLC/Rachael Smith
Clever use of painting techniques can add height to your your space. An easy option for modern small living room ideas is to choose a bold paint colour for your walls, but not taking it all the way to the top. If you have a mid-height dado rail, use this as the point to stop. If not, pick a space in the top third of the wall height.
Paint the rest of the wall in a bright neutral tone, which will help attract light, but won’t direct the gaze to the ceiling, making it appear higher than it actually is.
7. Add narrow shelves
Image credit: Future PLC/Anna Stathaki
A chic way to add space in a small living room is when decorating behind the sofa. A slim, floating shelf will add more storage without interfering with square footage. Additionally, as you would be looking to add some style to this area anyway, you’re killing two birds with one stone.
Think practically when styling. A table lamp can be added to take the place of a floor reading lamp, for example. Mix and match heights in order to create interest. This is also a fun way to display artwork as you can easily switch around your prints without fuss.
8. Increase natural light
Image credit: Future PLC/Nick Smith
We all know that light makes a space feel larger, so of course it works as one of the modern small living room ideas. If you have large windows already, you’re in luck! If you’re building or renovating, make sure to work out how much light the room will get add larger windows if it’s lacking.
Mirrors help reflect light, so always insure to include one or two in s smaller living room. While we love a dark, cosy small living room, a light and bright painted wall will keep these space looking larger.
9. Zone with paint
Image credit: Future PLC/Jo Henderson
Small sitting rooms aren’t always individual spaces. Open-plan living room ideas come in petite forms, too. Create interest by zoning your spaces with a fun technique, like painting the edge of the divide between spaces.
This helps both to make the space as a whole look larger, and to add some personality. Delineating spaces can also help you switch off, by letting you know you’ve stepped into the living room, even if you haven’t a door to close.
10. Make the most of your corners
Image credit: Future PLC/Colin Poole
Corners can be wasted in many rooms, but when you don’t have the liberty of space to spare, make them involved in your scheme. L-shaped sofas are one of the most popular ways to utilise a corner of a living room, but sometimes you have an extra-awkward corner.
Built-in seating in these spots helps use otherwise dead floor space, while creating extra seating, and a new zone. This way, even the most petite rooms can have their own little reading nook. Add a wall or pendant light to make sure the spot gets enough light to stay useful no matter the time of day.
11. Create cohesion with colour
Image credit: Future PLC/Tim Young
When designing a stylish small living room, curation can go a long way. Without tonnes of space to spare, make sure you really consider every item you have on display. There’s no point in having stuff for stuff’s sake if it just adds meaningless clutter.
If you’re torn as to which items to keep out, try narrowing down the selection through colour co-ordination. Choose two or three colours and only display items in those colour areas. Create full cohesion by linking in your soft accessories, like cushions and throws, too.
12. Find the right storage
Image credit: Shelved
Choosing the right option in living room storage ideas is key for small rooms. Use a combination of open and closed storage. This way, you can display your favourite objects, but hide away clutter and technology.
Media units which surround the wall around a TV are a great way to save on space, and to provide the storage the room needs.
How do you make a small living room modern?
It’s about being clever and investing in quality,’ says Lynsey Ford. ‘Start with a super-comfy sofa that you can all fit on, a rug, thick curtains that you can draw on winter evenings, yet open wide to let in maximum light in the summer, as well as plenty of texture and great lighting.’
Clean lines are one of the easiest ways to add a contemporary feel. Make sure you stick away from clutter, too – curation is key. Touches of metallics add anotehr modern touch, which the reflections help create the illusion of extra space.
How do you make a small living room look bigger?
‘Make it cosy and not cluttered,’ says Céline Erlam, Co-Founder of Indie & Co. ‘Focus on textiles, plants and lighting. When it comes to lighting, vary the source. For reading, use either a table lamp or a floor lamp next to a side table. For watching TV, have wall lights on a dimmer. For play, a central pendant, again on a dimmer, works best.’
Not everyone wants their small living room to look bigger, sometimes it can be all about create a cosy and inviting space to snuggle up in. ‘I go for strong colours to create cosy spaces – and living rooms are made for pattern,’ says Little Greene’s Ruth Mottershead.
The post Modern small living room ideas to make the most of your space appeared first on Ideal Home.
Reading time: 8 min
Insurance for Subsidence: How to Cover Your Home
Subsidence is a word that strikes fear into homeowners. It happens when the ground beneath a building erodes and moves downwards, damaging the home’s foundations.
The movement can cause cracks and structural damage to your property, which can make it unstable. Reconstruction and repair costs a great deal to put right. That’s why it’s important to check that your home insurance for subsidence adequately covers you against this sort of damage to your property.
Insurance for Subsidence explained
Take a look at this helpful Q&A guide that digs deep into the subject of home insurance for subsidence and why property owners need it.
What is subsidence?
The first and most obvious signs of subsidence are cracks that appear on walls in your home. Some cracks are harmless. They’ll often appear as a newly-built house or extension settles downward under its own weight.
Thermal cracking is also common. It happens as a home expands in the heat and contracts in falling temperatures. This sort of movement is minor and easily repaired. It won’t be covered by home buildings insurance.
However, if you spot new cracks that seem to be getting bigger, or that run diagonally, it could be the start of subsidence.
Image credit: Future Plc
In the worst-case scenario, your home may need to be underpinned. Which is construction process that can cost anywhere between £5,000 and £50,000 according to the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS).
What causes Subsidence?
Subsidence can happen anywhere. But it’s more common in areas where homes are built on clay soil which can dry out and shrink in summer or times of drought, causing downward movement and subsidence. Clay soils are particularly prevalent in London and the south-east.
Thirsty trees and shrubs close to properties can also be to blame if they absorb much of the water from the soil. Conversely, subsidence can be the result of poor or faulty drainage or flooding which washes away soil; non-cohesive sandy or gravel soils are particularly prone to this.
Homes built where mining has taken place in the past can also subside because there are open spaces beneath them.
What are the signs of subsidence?
Cracks suddenly appearing on walls can spark concerns about subsidence. But, don’t panic. Minor cracks that measure no more than 2mm are usually nothing to worry about.
Of more concern are cracks that have become wider or longer over time and that measure more than 3mm wide. Look for those that run diagonally, or appear on exterior brick walls – zig-zagged and following the lines of mortar.
Other signs of subsidence can include cracks in concrete floors and garden paths, as well as doors and windows that stick and become difficult to open and close tight.
Image credit: Future PLC/ Polly Eltes
What should I do if I discover signs of subsidence?
Inform your insurer right away, to access what your current home insurance covers. This is where having some independent help – an insurance broker – can be really useful.
‘A good broker will help you with your subsidence claim from the outset,’ explains Steve Moores, client director at Aston Lark Insurance Brokers. ‘If the cracks look suspect, your insurer will send out a loss adjuster to take a look. If they have concerns, then a structural engineer or surveyor will be appointed to visit your home. They will then begin the process of monitoring the cracks, in order to determine if movement is ongoing or has stopped.’
‘The engineer may apply ‘Tell-Tale’ crack monitoring gauges to monitor horizontal and vertical movement across a crack.’
How long does subsidence repair take?
‘Homeowners often think that subsidence will be resolved in a few weeks but it can take months and sometimes years,’ says Moore.
‘Even establishing whether or not there is a problem can take a long time. Cracks will usually be measured every three months over the course of a year or more – and through the seasons – because cracks can widen during dry spells of summer and close after wetter winter months.’
‘If subsidence is confirmed, then the cause will be investigated, and the house made stable in order to rectify the problem, stop movement and to carry out repairs, which can include filling cracks and redecorating. All of this should be covered by your insurance, but policies differ so read your booklets carefully to see exactly what yours includes.’
Do all home insurance policies provide insurance for subsidence as standard?
‘Most home insurance policies will include subsidence cover as standard for properties that haven’t suffered from this kind of movement before,’ explains Steve.
‘It’s important to check exactly what your policy includes. However, the insurer will usually cover the cost of monitoring and investigating the cause of the subsidence.’
This includes rectifying the cause and stabilising the building and repairing the damage done to your home – such as filling in cracks and redecorating.
‘Most policies will also meet the cost of your accommodation should you need to move out of your home if it needs extensive repair. Better policies will give you longer alternative accommodation periods.’
Can I get insurance if my house has previously suffered from subsidence?
Getting insurance for a property that’s been affected by subsidence in the past can be difficult; if it has been underpinned, it can prove even more problematic. Some insurance companies won’t even quote for cover because they see it as too much of a risk that the property will need additional structural work in the future.
Others will consider insuring a property only after a certain period of time has elapsed. For example, if the damage to the home was over 10 years ago and there’s been no movement since.
If you’ve made a subsidence claim, your current insurer should provide continued cover following the claim. But, they are under no obligation, so could refuse you cover at renewal.
If they do continue to insure you, they may push up your premiums or exclude subsidence cover from any future claims. You’re free to look elsewhere for cover, but your choice of insurers will be limited.
‘You can improve your chances of getting home subsidence cover if you have a Certificate of Structural Adequacy or a Structural Engineer’s Report. This shows that the cause of the movement has been removed, and that the structure is now sound,’ says Moore.
‘The documentation will give underwriters confidence to quote. If you don’t have these certificates and need to get a structural survey look for a structural engineer near you on The Institute of Structural Engineers website istructe.org.’
Image credit: Polly Eltes
Do home insurance policies provide insurance for subsidence prevention?
‘Insurers will not normally give cover to stop the problem from happening again, though, as this would count as ‘betterment’.
‘For example, let’s say the subsidence was caused by a tree in your garden that’s dried out the soil and caused it to shrink and sink. Although insurance will cover the cost of removing that tree, it won’t pay to fell another tree, equally as close to your home, but which hasn’t as yet caused damage. An insurer might make it a requirement that the other tree is removed. But the cost of that would likely be down to you.’
In general, policies won’t pay for subsidence damage to surrounding structures. For example, patios, boundary walls, gates, fences and driveways – unless the home is damaged at the same time and by the same cause.
There is usually a separate compulsory excess for subsidence claims – typically £1,000. You’ll need to meet this portion of the claim yourself.
How much does insurance for subsidence cost?
If you’ve been unlucky enough to have suffered subsidence, you might have to pay higher insurance premiums than normal. The market of insurers willing to cover you is smaller, so there’s less competition.
There may be a higher compulsory excess applied if you’ve had subsidence too. The usual £1,000 excess can increase to around £2,500. Or, in some cases, insurers might impose a £5,000 excess or even more.
However, it’s not all about how much home insurance cost. Read the small print in any policy to be sure that the insurance for subsidence you’re getting is good quality.
‘Cheaper quotes are often cheaper for a reason,’ says Moore. ‘Usually a low-cost home insurance policy is cut-price because the extent of the cover is not as good. A good policy will be ‘All Risks’ which gives much wider cover than standard, cheaper policies.’
‘Basic policies are more limited with lower claims limits. Restrictive terms mean that for a claim to be paid, it has to meet the very particular circumstances of the policy wording.’
Should I engage a specialist provider when it comes to insurance for subsidence?
It’s a good idea to go through a broker who’s experienced at working with providers that specialise in insuring homes with a history of subsidence and previously underpinned properties (known as PUPs for short).
A specialist broker can also find the best deals with the widest cover. They will also know and understand the policy coverage to be sure you’re adequately covered if the subsidence happens again.
You can contact an insurance broker through the British Insurance Brokers’ Association (BIBA) for specialist advice.
Image credit: Future PLC/ Polly Eltes
Can subsidence be avoided?
In most cases, subsidence can be resolved fairly easily. For example, by removing trees or cutting them back so they absorb less soil moisture. Or, by fixing plumbing leaks.
Underpinning is used as a last resort. It’s estimated that just 10% of properties that have subsidence need this type of work.
Methods of underpinning include:
- Strengthening the soil by injecting it with a polymer or resin.
- Filling sections of the ground with concrete.
- Installing concrete beams or screw piling systems to support the foundations.
Though you can’t change the type of soil your home is built on, you can cut the risks of subsidence by:
- Cutting back or removing trees planted close to your home. Do not remove trees that are older than the property. This can cause the opposite problem of heave – where the foundations of your home lift. Seek expert advice.
- Maintaining plumbing, gutters, pipes and drains to ensure there are no leaks.
The post Insurance for Subsidence: How to Cover Your Home appeared first on Ideal Home.
Reading time: 8 min
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