You’re looking forward to settling in for the night, but as you reach for the remote control, you trip over the bulky coffee table and find yourself face to face with the rug! If only you had more space in that tiny living room… Guess what? You’re not alone.
Even inhabitants of roomier living spaces often lament that they don’t have a larger area for entertaining, lounging or visiting with family.
The bottom line: unless a remodel is in the budget, we must appreciate the space we have. And there’s no better way to do this than by making some strategic design choices!
City dwellers often crave more space, but the second-best thing is space-saving, flexible furniture. Now manufacturers are finding new ways to shrink, fold and collapse furniture, and many also offer expert advice.
Keep the floor space as clear as possible. Make the walls work hard. Consider fold-down gate-leg tables and extending or wall-hung tables.
Choose beds with built-in storage and sofa beds that fold away. Side tables, coffee tables or stools with lift-up tops provide extra seating and storage.”
Choose furniture that is adaptable and flexible to meet the challenge. Coffee tables that lift to become dining tables, a “smart bed” can store sports equipment, TV units can offer storage and a footstool can open into a bed.
As for decor, you can use visual tricks to create an illusion of space. Where natural light hits a room, paint that surface white, glossy surfaces can bounce the light around.
Light & Space paint reflects twice as much light as ordinary emulsion, and glass-topped tables can increase the effect. Using the same floor coverings can link rooms together.
Christmas is a feeling, more than anything. It is a unique but humanly universal feeling, of childhood memories and joy, of people we love or loved, of places we belonged.
It’s the time to be with family and friends so make sure you get your home looking perfect just in time for Christmas.
Do you need a bigger dining room table and chairs…Just in time for Christmas?
Do you need a new sofa or three piece suite…Just in time for Christmas?
Do you need a new bed or bedroom suite…Just in time for Christmas?
Do you need a few Christmassy accessories for a bit of HO HO HO?
Whilst you take care of the big stuff here are some brilliant and easy ways to make your house full of festive cheer!
That Christmas smell!
Add cinnamon sticks, pine needles, mandarin oranges, cloves and whatever else smells like home and Christmas to you and simmer in a pan of water until your house smells like delicious, Christmassy goodness.
Sparkly footprints!
Presumably you have an elf on the shelf, you’ve chewed some of Rudolph’s carrot for the edge of realism and quite happily drank down Santa’s sherry. So how else can you authenticate the big man in a red suit? How about powdering glitter and icing sugar around a pair of boots near the fireplace so it looks like Santa has just stepped out of your fireplace? It’ll go down a storm with the kids.
Vases full of festive cheer!
Have some spare vases around the house? Instead of filling them with flowers, with not fill them with candy canes, gingerbread and chocolate coins for everyone to snack on.
Table decorations!
Pop some baubles into upside down wine glasses with tea light candles on top to add quick and easy Christmas flair to your table setting.
Outdoorsy fun!
Since those flower pots have been rendered useless in the cold weather, why not pop one one either side of your door, then fill it with spare pine branches, pine cones and a few baubles?
Tasty treats!
Homemade mulled wine and cider will not only go down a treat with your family, it’ll also make your house smell divine, and will probably have your neighbours casually dropping by for a chat and to drink up your reserves. Fortunately it’s extremely easy to make, and Rekorderlig winter cider has to be the best booze for the job!
The best way of spreading Christmas cheer!
Everyone is allowed to have excruciating taste in tunes over the festive period, and so as long as there is something about ‘Santa’, ‘Jingle Bells’ or ‘Merry’, in the lyrics it should be instantly approved. With that in mind, why not try Now That’s What I Call Christmas, or Michael Buble’s Christmas.
G Plan understands everybody’s different. It’s one of the things that ensures nothing compares to the comfort of a G Plan sofa.
Simply close the door, slip off your shoes, lie back, close your eyes and feel your stresses melt away. What’s even more comforting – knowing how durable it is and that it’s been meticulously crafted to last. It’s why we’re more than happy to offer a 1O-year frame and spring guarantee. True relaxation.
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