When career opportunities drew this couple to London in 2014, they went on the hunt for a house big enough for their family to grow into. ‘We wanted something we could add value to by extending,’ says the owner.
‘We had only ever lived in period properties, so liked the look of this red-brick house, close to the high street. Even though it was in a state of total disrepair, and hadn’t been updated for 40 years. But, its period features and character were too good to pass up.’
There were going to be no easy fixes in this real home transformation. Every room had to be taken back to the brick, rewired, replastered and have new windows fitted.
Exterior
Image credit: Future PLC/ David Giles
This five-bedroom Edwardian semi in Northeast London was definitely a doer-upper. ‘With no central heating, a leaking roof and a very dysfunctional layout, we knew it would be a mammoth task!’ explains the owner.
‘We carried out a loft conversion first, mainly because of the hole in the roof, and this gained us an extra bedroom, en-suite and dressing room.’
Kitchen diner
Image credit: Future PLC/ David Giles
‘Once we had saved up enough, we started work on a kitchen extension too. We lived on site during the eight months of work, with a camping stove in the living room and a sink in the garden for washing up. The dust got everywhere and we didn’t have anywhere to retreat to for peace and quiet. Not easy with a baby!’
The cooking area is fairly compact, but the couple have made the most of the space with floor-to-ceiling storage.
Living room
Image credit: Future PLC/ David Giles
As well as a sagging ceiling and rotten window frames, the existing living room had dated yellow walls, green carpets and red curtains. ‘We wanted this space to become more of an adult zone, so I chose a calming colour palette and lots of soft touches to make it a relaxing and comfortable space,’ says the owner.
Copper touches bring a sense of warmth to this grey living room idea. The oversized floor lamp provides direct lighting in the evenings. ‘I have an ever-growing cushion collection and love to mix and match different textures like velvets and shaggy faux furs,’ she says.
Dining area
Image credit: Future PLC/ David Giles
The couple added an extension to the back of the house, that created space for a kitchen, dining room and family room.
‘We moved the kitchen into what was a second reception room,’ says the owner. ‘I knew I wanted the island unit to face out onto the garden, so that dictated the rest of the kitchen layout.’
Image credit: Future pLC/ David Giles
By zoning different areas of the kitchen with a central shelving unit, the space works for the whole family with dining room and play area functioning side-by-side.
‘I wanted the family room to have a fun feature and to feel connected to the garden outside the picture window, which this wall mural certainly achieves it,’ says the owner. The show-piece dark green velvet modular sofa stands out in the neutral, open-plan space and defines the casual seating and play area adjoining the kitchen.
Bedroom
Image credit: Future PLC/ David Giles
‘When we moved in, the main bedroom had red floral wallpaper on every wall and needed to be stripped right back,’ the owner says.
She chose a dark green paint as the base colour, as she wanted this space to feel sumptuous. A mix of plain and patterned bed linen gives the bed a layered look. ‘The pink velvet headboard and brass details provide the luxurious finish I was after,’ she says.
Guest bedroom
Image credit: Future PLC/ David Giles
The loft extension is used as the guest bedroom. ‘We spent a fair amount on glazing, so it’s really light and airy,’ says the owner of the stylish attic bedroom idea. ‘We kept the look neutral to maximise its calm feeling.’
Explains the brilliant DIY headboard idea the owner says, ‘My husband built a headboard from reclaimed boards for a rustic vibe.’
Nursery
Image credit: Future PLC/ David Giles
The owner wanted to have some fun with the nursery idea. ‘As this room is a little on the small side, I decided to keep the walls white and instead add colour to the ceiling with a quirky cactus wallpaper,’ she says.
Bathroom
Image credit: David Giles
The family bathroom is one of the owner’s favourite rooms. ‘It’s a combination of fun and luxury and sums up my design personality perfectly!’ she says.
‘I wanted the room to be in keeping with the property’s age, so chose wall panelling and a claw-footed bath, but to make it more fun, I picked patterned floor tiles and painted the bath.’
‘We still have some work to do on the garden, but the house really suits life with the boys and we’ve given an old property a new lease of life,’ says the owner. ‘Renovating on such a large scale taught us so much about our personal style and how to cope with the stresses of a project.
There were days when the number of decisions to make and issues to deal with was overwhelming, so I had to keep reminding myself to focus on the end result.’
Blue is such a versatile hue to work with. One minute exciting and decadent, the next restful and easy to live with, blue can be anything you want it to be depending on the shade you choose. Our blue living room ideas are some of our favourites examples of how to use this gloriously diverse colour.
‘Historically, blue was a colour that was one of the most expensive to produce and spoke of the wealth and extravagance of the homes it appeared in,’ explains David Mottershead, managing director of Little Greene.
Blue living room ideas
Smart and sophisticated, navy and teal blues are the warmer way of embracing on-trend dark hues. They also have a luxurious feel – and for very good reason.
By contrast, sea blues and duck egg blues are all calm and serenity, making them the perfect antidote to our 24/7 lives. You don’t need a home by the sea to enjoy them, though they do work best with simple Shaker and country style furniture in whites and very pale timbers.
Read on to find the hue of blue that’s perfect for your living room idea.
1. Invigorate your space with sky blue
Image credit: Dulux
This brilliant shade of blue has just been revealed as Dulux’s colour of the year 2022 – Bright Skies. This uplifting shade of pale blue offers a much-needed invigorating breath of fresh air for our homes. Reminiscent of a clear sky filled with promise the gentle blue reminds us to ‘look up’ and feel optimistic as we emerge from darker times.
It’s a lighter, brighter and more refreshing colour than that of last year’s Brave Ground, yet it still has a deep connection to nature. Enhance the feeling of nature by pairing this hue with warm wooden furniture and plenty of house plant ideas to welcome further elements of nature into your living room.
2. Mix soothing pastels
Image credit: Future PLC/ Dominic Blackmore
As the colour of the year announcement shows powder blues are having a moment – a refreshing alternative to grey, cool blue brings with it a calming and serene energy. A pastel shade works well when used to decorate a south facing room to maximise the feeling of light and space. Mix a palette of soothing pastel shades to add depth to the look, introducing the tones via soft furnishings.
3. Coordinate with colour
Image credit: Future PLC/ Polly Eltes
The key to creating the perfect feature way with colour is keeping it coordinated. Built-in furniture painted in the same block colour as the fireplace and the wall creates a sleek, cohesive look – solidify that one wall as one complete wall, rather than a broken space of shelving and chimney breast space.
4. Balance a blue colour scale
Image credit: David Brittain
Create a sophisticated blue living rooms by layering tones, to strike the right balance between a dominate colour to run through a scheme without it feeling overwhelming. This blue living room idea introduced a pale shade, almost blue-grey, on walls with a more pure pastel blue with the curtain fabric.
The look is enhanced with the introduction of royal blue in the form of a statement armchair. The rest of the room is kept neutral with white-washed wooden floors and white furniture to make sure the blue remains undiluted by other accent colours.
5. Make a statement with a rich palette
Image credit: Simon Whitmore
Enrich a deep blue living room with the addition of luxurious textures and materials in a range of equally rich accent colours. In this striking blue living room deep blue walls are enhanced by a large papered art on the wall and glam metallic furniture finishes and accessories.
Luxe velvets in deep shades of burnt orange punctuate the cocooning blue beautifully, creating a moody, decadent vibe.
6. Be bold with on-trend paint
Image credit: Future PLC/ Georgia Burns
Create a strong colour block theme throughout by painting all the skirting boards and above the picture rail in the same colour as all four walls. Keep ceilings painted white for a dramatic contrast.
‘Blue and white is a classic combination and will stand the test of time. The colours contrast beautifully but pick an off shade of white – a true brilliant white already has more of a blue undertone, so paired with navy it can be cold,’ says Cathy Dean, Interior Designer
7. Choose dusky tones for a sophisticated finish
Image credit: Future PLC/Chris Snook
Look to a mid-tone blue with grey undertones to keep the look bold but bright. Pair with touches of aged brown leather and brass to welcome an added feeling of warmth. This striking yet understated colour combination creates a sophisticated take on a blue living room idea.
8. Add a seascape feature wall
Image credit: Future PLC/ Philip Raymond
Set the scene for your blue living room with a feature wall. This striking wall mural has an ‘under the sea’ vibe that creates a lush serene feel to the overall scheme, which is already tranquil with pale blue-grey walls with a light grey rug and gentle pink sofa to contrast.
9. Be daring with dominating dark blue shades
Image credit: Ryan Wicks
Where a room can take it, if the light quality is right and the dark colour will enhance the size, be daring by taking all four walls to the dark side.
The key when decorating with such bold colour is to embrace all surfaces, so include skirting boards and framework into the colour scheme. Otherwise you run the risk of white woodwork from standing out like a sore thumb – totally distracting from the statement effect of the blue. Add equally bold accent colours to inject pops of contrasting colour, such as this mustard yellow.
This look oozes luxury so opt for velvet finishes for cushions, curtains or upholstery. Brass accents and gold threads for accessories and occasional furniture are an instant shortcut to glamour. Pick rich wood finishes in matt rather than a glossy polish.
For a little old school glam, bring in the signature curves of chic twenties style with globe lighting and a round mirror. Fan and tropical palm prints still look the part and whilst dramatic colours are key to the look, swap out classic black and red for sapphire blue and emerald green.
11. Add some animal attraction
Anya Large Sideboard £549; Jungle Luxe Navy Wallpaper £12; Mila Magenta Rug from £45; all Dunelm
Pick a wallpaper with a midnight blue backdrop to really showcase tropical scenes. The rich tone adds instant depth and smart sophistication that evokes Art Deco opulence.
This Neo Deco style has adopted a number of animals from tropical climes. Incorporate wallpaper, lighting and accessories featuring big cats, monkeys, zebras and exotic birds into the scheme. Gilded finishes just add to the air of eclectic glamour.
12. Accent with pink
Vivian Cocktail Chair; £149, Dunelm
Lift the dark finishes like rich teal and midnight blue with blush pink and intense fuchsia. The warm pastel shade and bright jewel tone will soften the moody vibe and add a light hearted edge to the palette. Cushions and rugs are an easy way to inject the colour, or try some pink pampas grass for some statement texture.
A fluted, shell shaped accent chair in blush velvet will match a panelled wall with a chic silhouette while neon touches add a playful punch to the scheme.
13. Pick a sofa in a contrasting colour
Stella sofa in Paprika, £1840; Houston 5 light linear ceiling pendant, £260, Sofa.com
Orange sits opposite a blue on the colour wheel, so setting this bold tangerine against a deep blue will really make the most of both features.
Annie Sloan has some words of advice on which accents colours work with a blue scheme: ‘The complementary of blue is yellow. As you move round the colour wheel you find orange, hence why brass and copper works so well, too.’
‘Just a small amount goes a long way. For something quieter, colours like pale pink and grey greens look amazing.’ With that in mind, you might also want to see our pink living room ideas.
14. Go immersive
Plush large chaise sofa in dark blue velvet, £1,199, DFS
For a sophisticated feel, go for mid to dark tones of blue on the wall that will really envelop a room. The deeper the colour, the richer and cosier the effect. Painting skirting and woodwork in the same colour as the walls, creates a smart, seamless finish.
When designing a room in a block colour, it’s important to avoid a flat space, so a velvet sofa and curtains not only create a luxe look, but lift the space with texture and create some depth.
15. Make it modern coastal
Venus Bilbao Vinyl, £18.99 per sq m, Mirage Abstract Blue Rug, from £63.99, Carpetright
Forget the classic stripes. An inky watercolour mural will evoke seascapes whilst avoiding the cliche coastal prints. There’s no need to stick to one shade of blue either, combine everything from a sky blue to indigo, with a denim sofa and cobalt chair, to create a softer, blended scheme.
Work in a casual vibe using rattan and seagrass pieces to channel a far flung sense of coastal style.
16. Pick a heritage inspired print
Tapestry Floral Dark Seaspray wallpaper £40 per roll; Chatsworth Button Back Large Sofa in Seaspray £2,150; Laura Ashley at Next
Dip a toe into a maximalist look with a feature wall, or go for total drama by using living room wallpaper ideas on all four walls. The dusky, restful shade and the tonal blue sofa, woodwork and furniture, softens the overall look so the busy print won’t overwhelm the space.
A contemporary twist on a traditional Chesterfield, the button back sofa bring a modern silhouette whilst still maintaining classic grandeur to complement the heritage wallpaper.
17. Give smart maritime blue a crisp white stripe
Image credit: Little Greene
A nautical palette of blue and white has always been a firm decorating favourite, and this smart band of white gives a whole new take on the traditional sailors stripes! Pairing it with a soft tan leather sofa and adding washed wood furniture brings a softness and warmth to this smart colour palette
18. Mix in bottle green and accents of coral
Image credit: Future PLC/Chris Everard
Greens and blues have always been a popular colour combination and can sit effortlessly together. Using colour blocks of blue on the walls and green on the sofa grounds the room with a classic combination, whilst the addition of a pop of dark coral gives the room an extra design dimension.
This leaf green sofa and matching footstool gives the room a grown up, sophisticated feel, whilst the pops of coral on soft furnishings and ceramics gives it a modern twist. Oversized lampbase, vases and decorative jars in the same mix of colours adds a contemporary edge.
19. Layer textures on a backdrop of pale aqua
Image credit: Future PLC/Carolyn Barber
This season’s delicate shades of blush pink and pale aqua bring freshness to any room, while low-level furniture and soft linen drapes keep the look light. With a palette that is all about combining pale colours (with little or no pattern) try mixing textures to prevent the scheme becoming flat.
Don’t be afraid to combine velvets, linens, and boucle fabrics on soft furnishings around the room. Create a seamless backdrop my matching curtains to the wall colour too.
20. Contrast an exposed stone wall with midnight blue
Image credit: Future PLC/ Polly Eltes
A midnight blue velvet sofa has been contrasted with the distressed white stone wall in this living room in a converted barn. The sumptuous blue rather than looking cold against the white walls, creates a warm and inviting space to cosy up in. The rich blue colour scheme has been continued in the rug, and home accessories such as the vase and blanket.
21. Pair maritime blue with white for a look that’s cosy and bright
Image credit: Future PLC/ David Giles
Painting the walls a dark blue is a wonderful way to build a look that’s cosy and homely. So that the look isn’t gloomy, keep the walls, ceilings and window dressings light – ideally white – to balance things. Mirror-finish furniture will also maximise the light in a dark-painted room.
22. Use midnight blue with grey for a modern rustic look
Image credit: Future PLC/ Simon Whitmore
You might think of blue as a cool colour, but the deepest, darkest shades will create a cosy, cocooning look, as evidenced here.
Greys and blush pinks are the ideal bedfellows – or should that be sofa fellows? – for this opulent midnight shade. They both soften and brighten up the room, while a woodturning stove, tongue and groove panelling and pale wood furniture enhance the rustic feel.
23. Try teal blue for a traditional update
Image credit: Future PLC/ Simon Whitmore
There’s a fine line between traditional and tired, but it can be completely avoided if you are confident with colour. This strong teal brings a certain amount of heritage to this living room, but it simultaneously feels fresh.
Matching the sofa and the walls emboldens the look and creates a strong backdrop where it’s possible to mix up antiques with modern pieces without the overall effect being messy.
24. Pick a pastel blue
Windmill Wings in Regal Select Matte, from £23.00 for 0.94ltr, Benjamin Moore
Introduce a splash of sky blue to enliven a small living room idea. A soft pastel shade welcomes colour without overwhelming the space. Combine cool, airy, pastels with the clean lines of modern furniture and contemporary textiles to bring it right up to date.
25. Give country style a fresh twist
Credits: Platform Medium 2 Seater Sofa £1,699; Hendricks Loveseat £599; Tuck Armchair £349, Cushions from £12; Jute Pouffe £79, Skye Jute Rug, £80, all John Lewis & Partners
Bright shades of blue are the perfect companion to warmer, fruity orange hues, so instead of the soft pastels that sum up a traditional country look, team a zingy turquoise with sunbleached hues to update the look.
Dip into some Tuscan tones of sun soaked coral, golden ochre and for warmth and vibrancy. Flowy, full length curtains are the perfect way to introduce an energetic shot of colour.
26. Warm up the contrast
Walls painted in Scotch Blue and Snow White, Estate Emulsion, both £49.50 for 2.5ltr, Farrow & Ball
Balance the feel of a rich blue with a splash of neutral white. ‘You can turn up the temperature by using a darker tone of blue and punctuate the space with energy’, says Natasha Petitt, Colour Designer at Craig & Rose.
27. Make pink feel grown up with inky blue
Image credit: Future PLC/ Georgia Burns
Backed by any other shade, this pink sofa might look a little too sugary for many people’s taste. But with a dark inky blue behind it, it’s the ultimate in sophistication, enhanced by the coffee table’s brass legs and accessories.
Also framed in brass are three blue prints, which break up the blue without detracting too much from its effect. Warm wood flooring and a pale rug keep things bright yet cosy underfoot.
28. Start with a blue sofa
Image credit: Future PLC/ Dominic Blackmore
Here, a vibrant turquoise blue sofa pops against a soothing backdrop of denim blue, for our take on modern coastal.
Stonewashed blues like these are the perfect foundation for classic styles of furniture, the white dresser being a prime example. It’s a good idea to reflect them in the accessories in display.
29. Tile a blue feature wall
Image credit: Future PLC/ Colin Poole
You’ll need to have a healthy budget, but a feature wall formed of cement tiles can look truly spectacular and – despite the rustic nature of their material – glamorous. Velvet chairs in a deeper blue enhance this effect, and again, accessories in a similar turquoise are accents that bring the room together.
30. Experiment with pattern
Image credit: Future PLC/ Dominic Blackmore
The golden rules for making this formal look work are to stick to a neutral hue for the walls and floor, and then to keep with a strict palette, which will allow you to play with pattern.
No two motifs are the same, yet they work harmoniously with each other and create an eclectic, global-inspired look, rather than a contrived seaside scheme.
Are blue living rooms popular?
Blue living rooms are more popular than ever, thanks to the recent announcement of Dulux’s colour of the year 2022 Bright Skies.
Marianne Shillingford, Creative Director of Dulux UK, says, ‘Right now, people want to feel revitalised and enjoy the freedoms that are returning to them, to look out and bring in new ideas. What better inspiration can we take than the endless skies around us?’
‘It is widely known that nature makes us feel better. And taking steps to bring the outside in enhances our sense of wellbeing’ Marianne adds. ‘So whether we are working or relaxing, it is essential to have a space that reflects the optimism and desire for a fresh, new start that is top of the agenda.’
Additional words by Michela Colling, Nicky Phillips
Create a nursery scheme your little one will love, from their early days to toddler years and beyond. Baby boy nursery ideas are no longer constricted by notions of traditional blue colour schemes only. We live in a day and age when any colour and pattern goes – meaning there’s even more choice, which can make decorating decision all the harder to choose.
We have looked for imaginative ways to decorate nursery ideas for baby boys, to inspire your decorating journey.
Baby boy nursery ideas
Colour is a key design aspect when preparing a nursery for your new arrival. Different colours can have differing effects on the feel of the space, and therefore can affect how content baby feels in the surroundings.
‘When designing a child’s bedroom, keep things simple’ advises Arlene McIntyre MD at Ventura Design ‘Go for timeless colours – blues, greys or neutrals – which will enable you to be more playful with soft furnishings and artwork, whilst ensuring the room won’t have to be repainted as the child grows.’
1. Captivate with a bold wall mural
Image credit: Ventura Design
‘Wall murals are a clever way of bringing the room to life’ enthuses Arlene McIntyre MD at Ventura Design. ‘One-wall murals create a welcome focal point to the space. Capturing the child’s imagination or celebrating their passions. ‘
A statement wall mural, whether you opt for a papered design or feel brave enough to do a DIY job, is a brilliant way of injecting fun into the decor, firing up young imaginations. Theme the rest of the room around your chosen design, so in this case the safari vibes are enhanced by the menagerie of stuffed toy animals.
2. Make a nursery colourful and characterful
Image credit: Future PLC/ Lizzie Orme
Decorate a little one’s room with a riot of colour to enliven their senses and make the small room feel uplifted and vibrant. Add a feature wall of accent colour, one which is echoed throughout your chosen wallpaper design. Here the punchy turquoise wall reflects the bold colours in the playful zoo print wallpaper on the opposite wall.
Choosing a wallpaper with characters is both educational and fun, surrounding them with familiar faces.
3. Create a timeless appeal with white and grey
Image credit: Future PLC/ Colin Poole
A neutral colour scheme will always be a winning choice, for boys or girls, because it won’t date quickly. This colour combo is super easy to live with and easy to add accents of colour to, if and when the mood takes you.
A white and grey nursery idea is best executed with white walls and furniture choices to act as the more dominate colour, with grey being picked up through the carpet and soft furnishings.
4. Give baby a view by wallpapering the ceiling
Image credit: Future PLC/ David Giles
Look to decorate the ceiling to give your little one a view as they lay on their back in a cot or on the changing mat. The ceiling, also known as the fifth wall, is so often forgotten when it comes to decorating – given a simple splash of white paint and that’s it. But as this fine example shows, it’s a great way to have fun with a bedroom wallpaper idea. it’s especially great for a nursery idea because babies spend so much time on their backs, with only the ceiling as a view.
Use a decorative wallpaper to create a real point of interest, for their eyes to focus on as they develop. As they grow you can evolve the decor by changing the colour on the walls, keeping the ceiling paper.
5. Add wooden touches for warmth
Image credit: Future PLC/ Colin Poole
If you’re looking to add subtle tones to a white nursery idea without having to add an accent colour look to wooden furniture to do the job. Natural wooden finishes help to add warmth to the look without the need for adding colour. This fine example shows how a wooden cot and wall shelving made in wood can instantly inject interest to an all white room. This beautifully styled scheme is ideal for a gender neutral nursery idea.
6. Pair a sophisticated colour combination
Image credit: Future PLC/ Simon Whitmore
Create a more grown up scheme for your little one by picking warm neutrals form a more sophisticated colour palette. This light taupe colour on the walls and the built-in furniture creates a timeless appeal, one that feels familiar to a more formal neutral living room idea. To enhance the decor choose richer shades for furniture choices, such as mahogany and walnut to echo a more classic scheme. Adopt this darker wooden tone for floors to create a cohesive look that doesn’t jar.
As this is a nursery, albeit a grown up one inject a fun and fabulous wallpaper such as this Fox design by Scion. The ground colour on the wallpaper design matches the scheme perfectly, to make it feel well polished.
7. Mix and match pattern and colour
Image credit: Future PLC/ Simon Whitmore
Break up a safe white base with an injection of pattern on one wall and through soft furnishings. Add hints of colour with painted furniture to add another dimension to the overall colour scheme. Keeping the main baby furniture pieces in white, such as the cot means it’s easier to sell on once you need to upgrade to a toddler baby.
8. Make more of a monochrome scheme
Image credit: Future PLC/ Colin Poole
Stick to a minimal colour palette to make a subtle yet stylish statement, using it well to make the most of the space. Here a monochrome colour scheme is jazzed up by the introduction of a light grey and a zesty yellow. Because the look is muted and simple it doesn’t feel too far removed from a monochrome palette, but the grey goes a long way to make it feel less stark than brilliant white – perfect to soften the look for a baby’s room.
The strong yellow accent adds vibrancy and fun to perk up the overall feel of the room. White furniture choices provide a timeless appeal that works well with a muted backdrop.
9. Zone the room
Image credit: Future PLC
Give your little one a clear indication on how to use the room, once they are big enough to navigate for themselves. Paint a feature wall at half height to draw attention to the bed to create a sleep zone, keeping the paint line at their level makes it more beneficial for them to feel inclusive within the room. Place toy storage ideas in one area and create a study/learning area with a small desk and bookshelves to create zones for learning, resting and playing.
10. Stencil the walls to create a landscape
Image credit: Future PLC/Dominic Blackmore
Make your nursery idea feel fun and creative with simple paint ideas, from landscape murals to geometric patterns and zig zags. Choose uplifting colours to inject a statement contrast. To achieve this DIY and decorating idea skilfully use masking tape to get precision lines, no matter the pattern you’re looking to create.
11. Create a blank canvas with all-white
Image credit: Future PLC/ James French
From the best white paint on the walls and simple white furniture to all-white bedding, create a gender neutral look with this timeless colour scheme. The blank canvas needn’t feel clinical, add touches of black to punctuate the blank white canvas to give the look a monochrome edge. Keep the flooring light to match the paired-back scheme, but avoid anything too unpractical. A white-washed grey is perfect to strike the right balance of practical but pretty.
12. Stick to blue
Image credit: Future PLC/ Dan Duchars
Don’t shy away from using blue for your little boy’s room if you love the colour. Mix different shades of blue to add depth to the tonal look. Use a punchier shade for a feature wall, adding lighter tones throughout – adding a patterned wallpaper to have fun with the colour. Stick to punch white furniture choices to make the blue stand out.
13. Seek plentiful storage
Image credit: Future PLC
Ensure their room has enough storage, to make the most of the space – which more often than not is a smaller room. ‘With any kids room, plentiful storage is paramount’ Alice explains.
‘To give as much room for running around and being creative, opt for built-in shelving, under-bed baskets or classic toy boxes to allow for all toys, books and other objects to be played with and stored with ease.’
After enduring an exceptionally wet summer, which has brought damp and flooding to many homes, you may be noticing peeling paint on your walls. Peeling paint is most common in bathrooms, but very humid conditions may contribute to peeling in other areas of your home, including conservatories and even bedrooms.
Peeling paint is one of the most common paint problems found in UK homes and is becoming more so. In fact, according to recent data*, online searches for peeling paint have increased by an astonishing 675 per cent over the past year – a testament to how changing weather patterns are affecting our homes. It is usually easily prevented or fixed, although in some cases it may indicate that something’s awry with your home’s plumbing. Use these expert tips to identify the source of the problems and decide on an appropriate course of action.
Identify the reason for the peeling
First of all, if you’ve notice peeling paint in your home, you should ‘figure out what the source of the problem is’, says Adam Leech, Owner of Showers Direct. If the problem is in your bathroom, or anywhere near a radiator, ‘there could be water damage’. Obviously, this will also be the reason if your home has suffered flooding.
If water damage and leaks have been ruled out, ‘you may be using paint that doesn’t adhere well to surfaces’, or the paint job wasn’t well done. Adam’s top tip is to ‘use the best quality paint you can afford and always use a primer before painting. Let paint dry completely before painting another coat, and keep the surfaces as dry as possible.’
Sometimes a bad paint job conceals worse sins, especially in older homes; this may include ‘plaster peeling off or cracked walls’, in which case these will need to be fixed before repainting.
Touching up peeling paint
Don’t delay touching up any paint that’s already peeling, Adam advises. Start by scraping off ‘as much loose paint as you can with a putty knife. Be sure to scrape along the side and top of the peeling paint because it will often come off in an uneven pattern.’ Next, ‘sand down any rough areas until the surface is smooth and free of any remaining loose paint. Once you’ve done this, you can apply another coat of paint using a brush or roller.’
Image credit: Milton Cogheil / Alamy Stock Photo
If the peeling is accompanied by flaking off the wall, ‘use an abrasive scouring pad or an old toothbrush with baby powder to remove loose paint.’ Fixing isolated areas of peeling paint is not difficult – but if you have multiple areas, then most likely you’ll need to strip off the paint and redo the whole wall to prevent further peeling.
