Spring clean

This time of year is traditionally associated with getting our home ready for a new season - whether that's giving the front door a lick of paint, or making our winter rooms feel less wintery!    In this blog, we will reveal how to give your home a new look  without breaking the bank.

Declutter

Having a tidy up and a declutter is totally free.  If you have something you haven't used for a year, throw it out or better still recycle it and give it to somebody else.  Living in a tidy, decluttered environment is a positive mood enhancer and with so many ways to make money out of your old stuff you have no excuse.  From garage sales to car boots, from swopping with mates to selling online.  Be bold.

Re-arrange your existing stuff

Now you have a nice tidy room take a fresh look at your space.  Another free way to get a new look is by re-arranging your furniture and moving accessories from one to another.  So, try the sofa under the window and move that chair into the opposite corner.

Next, take all your lamps, cushions and ornaments and put them into the middle of the floor.  Would that reading light in the sitting room look better in the bedroom?  That clock from the hall, could actually look really nice in the dining room.  

Easy update

So now you have a clean, clutter free room with a new look from existing accessories but there is still something missing to pull the room together.  You've guessed it - a brand new rug is one of the quickest and easiest ways to complete a room and give it the finishing touch. What's more a new rug won't break the bank and it's such an easy accessory to select. With 1000s of rugs online at FrithRugs you are sure to find one that suits our new look room.  

What will Prince Louis nursery look like?

When it comes to decorating their new baby's nursery - Kate and William already have experience in making their latest arrival feel welcome.  However, tastes change and so what Kate loved for Prince George, she may re-think for Prince Louis. 

We have had a glimpse of life in the royal household and it's clear that clean, neutral lines are their preferred interiors look.  Another hint that they may love Scandi came when they couple were on their Scandinavian tour and they told Ikea's head of design how they had a few key pieces from the brand in Prince George's nursery. 

So, what are the key pieces for a Scandi nursery?

The basic furniture - cot, nursing chair, changing table, wardrobe and chest of drawers should be white.  

When we take about lighting, most interior blogs will advise letting in plenty of natural light but when it comes to a baby or toddlers room, you need to ensure that when it comes to nap time and bedtime, you block out as much light as possible.  Most retailers now sell black out blinds and curtains.

But we should remember that this is a baby’s nursery and so we don't want a total white out.  Babies and toddlers love primary colours and so adding pops of colour with well selected accessories will make the room fun and playful.

This could be on the bedding or found in favourite toys or books.

FrithRugs has some fabulous kids' rugs which feature bright colours that will liven up the netural room and which your baby and toddler will love.   From sailing boats to teddy bears, from flowers to fish, take a look at our kids' rugs to find inspiration for you baby, toddler and boys and girls.

 

Interior tips for a small room

Thanks to the Internet it's never been easier to find inspiration for your home. However, sometimes the fabulous homes we see online could make you feel green with envy - does everybody else live in a better home than you? No, so let's get real when it comes to home decor.

We Brits live in some of the smallest homes in the Western world and so chances are you you don't have a vaulted ceiling, floor to ceiling windows or room for a grand piano.  But even if you do live in a modest sized home there are tricks that you can use to make the most of the space you have available. 

FrithRugs blogs like to keep you up to date on the latest trends, but that doesn't mean you have to follow then.  Some may not be relevant for your space.  You can introduce the latest trend with some carefully chosen accessories such as a rug - and so country cottage could just mean a floral rug not floral wallpaper.

In a small space you need to be careful about colour.  Red walls will not work - keep the walls and flooring as light as you can, but if you must have red, have a red rug and a few cushions. 

Lighting is crucial in small spaces, let in as much natural light as you can and invest it some good lamps that should be strategically placed.  Large mirrors are also great for reflecting light and making a room feel bigger

You should also think about which furniture to buy and where to place it.  Don't buy a huge sofa that will overwhelm the room, it will only make the space look smaller. The more floor space you can see the bigger you room will look and so if you can move things off the floor then do it.  So ditch the  book shelf for floating shelves and put your TV on the wall rather than on a stand. 

As a general rule when placing your rug in a small room, try to get around 8 inches of floor between the edge of the rug and the wall. And finally, don't forget your space may suit a rug that is circular or even a half moon.

Make neutral beautiful

Our Sophie collection makes neutral beautiful

Here at FrithRugs we love our bold, bright, colourful rugs but we also appreciate, that for many people, home should be a peaceful and tranquil retreat.  Sometimes all you need is neutral and that doesn't mean boring - have you seen our Sophie range?

Essentially, we have taken the idea of neutral and made it beautiful!   The collection features rugs with high/low pile which really brings life and character to the designs and makes them the ideal rug for both modern and traditional interiors.

The collection has taken a typical neutral colour palette of creams and beiges and added a unique twist by adding texture and pattern so that these rugs, while ensuring a calm and peaceful space - also add interest to the room.

To ensure the rest of the room maintains that peaceful environment keep your room tidy – physical clutter will impact on the mind and so make sure you create spaces where you can sweep anything you don’t need, out of the way.

Lighting is also a great mood enhancer so opt for lights that you can dim if possible and place lamps strategically around the room. 

Finally, add in some element of nature, whether that’s plants or fresh flowers – stones or pieces of wood in ornaments or furniture.

And ........ relax.