Give your walls a spring clean

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As the days get longer, the temperatures start to rise and the daffodils show their sunny heads, many of us want to make changes to our homes so they feel lighter and brighter.

Decorating an entire house can be a big job, but by making changes to the walls in your kitchen, living room, bedroom or hallway can have a real impact and create the illusion of complete change.

The way you design your walls can transform cold into cosy, boring into beautiful and take old-fashioned into uber-cool in an instant and we have had a look at how.

Ideas and planning
Before you do anything have a think about the kind of finish you are looking for, what colours and patterns you like as well as how practical your choices are. Social media sites, magazines, weekend supplements and even moving websites can be great sources of inspiration, so use them to work out what would feel best in your home.

Stick it
Peel-off stickers come in a wide range of designs and sizes and instantly transform a wall from a boring background into a world of animals, a space age galaxy or a tranquil garden.

Statements Walls
Broad horizontal stripes or a single wall painted in a bright primary colour can be perfect for playrooms and kids’ bedrooms and give that room a really cool, individual feel.

Map it out
Maps – old and new – not only add a splash of style but they are educational too. You can quite simply paste pages from books, wrapping paper or pictures enlarged on a photocopier, onto a wall and create something totally unique.

Wallpaper
Wallpaper is on trend in the world of interiors right now so there is a lot of choice to decide from. From pure natural woven fibres and light-reflecting metallic paper to hand-blocked papers, three-dimensional designs and digitally printed styles it is hard to know where to start, and sometimes where to stop. Do be aware that wallpaper doesn’t always withstand wear and tear like paint, so be careful where you use it. Vinyl is durable and easy to put up and you can even get washable wallpapers that are wipeable and perfect for families who want a stylish home.stylish home

Mirrors
There are some really beautiful mirrors in the shops but you can also find stunning pieces in antique shops and car boot sales that give a retro feel. Go for a large mirror with a striking framed you will not only add light and dimension to any room but also to add an air of grandeur.

Go for art
Whether you buy from for a local artist, frame prints from the masters or use you kid’s doodles art is a brilliant way to bring your walls to life.

Light it up
Washing walls with light keeps edges bright but also offers a warm glow that lifts an entire room. A picture light not only brighten up a dark space but is a focal point while table lamps spread light across a walls and you will be surprised at the effect under cabinet lighting creates on a kitchen or living room wall.

Prepping your walls
Once you have decided what you are going to do with your walls, you need to make sure they are as clean and smooth as possible.

For a decent base peel away bulging, loose or crumbling plaster, strip off wallpaper and fill in cracks and holes; sanding down the area when it’s dry. Once your walls are ready, prime them using watered-down emulsion and if you are going to be putting up new wallpaper, coat the walls with a sizing solution or watered-down wallpaper paste for a really professional base, then get to work.

Whether you are going for big, bold statements, want to add some warmth or simply need to cover up those sticky finger prints, we hope we have given you food for thought for change.

Team Pure Beauty

De-clutter your home this January

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bathroom, clean, clothes, clutter, cupboard, declutter, dust, home, house, KonMarie Method, living room, sanctuary, space, spring clean, tidy, towels, utensils, wardrobe

 

The new year is upon us and what better time to take stock of your home and create the space you have always dreamt of?

If you’re one of those people who dread the big spring clean, listen up as we have some easy to implement tips for de-cluttering your home. Whether you want to keep hold of every birthday card, all your school reports or every pair of jeans you have ever owned, having endless possessions can be more suffocating than liberating.

Rather than focusing on hiding all the stuff you have in your home, the best way to deal with de-cluttering is by concentrating on the life you want to live and organising the space you have.

So, let’s go:

Set aside a couple of hours and go around your house collecting the rubbish cluttering things up. Old magazines and newspapers, discarded food containers and general litter can go in the bags and taken to the rubbish tip. Reusable items like random toys, old books and clothes can go in bags and taken to the charity shop.

After this top level ‘stuff’ has been cleared away you can then de-clutter your home, one room at a time:

Kitchen
Many kitchens are the hub of a home so this is the perfect place to start your real de-cluttering. Set aside a morning and go thought every drawer and cupboard one by one. You will be amazed at how many pennies, biros and old cans of sardines you will find. Once each one is empty, give it a good clean so it is fresh again and only put back in the items you really need and are in date. If you have endless utensils and appliances that you don’t use, think about packing them away and seeing how long it is before you need to use them. If you haven’t unpacked them in three months, give them away or donate to charity.

The living room
You will be amazed at the number of redundant books, puzzles and films you will find in your living room. Be ruthless, if you don’t use or watch it, get rid of it.

Hoover under all sofas, chairs and tables, dust, wash covers and cushions and open the windows to really give the room a fresh, new feel and a room where you want to spend time.

Bathroom
Bathrooms might be small but they are often home to a tonne of items you just don’t need any more, and have probably forgotten you own. Half empty bottles of bubble bath, a soggy bag of cotton wool and endless cosmetics past their expiry date will probably be found lurking in cupboards. Once again, be ruthless, throw out the old products and towels that have seen better days and give the bath, sink and toilet a really good clean so the room feels really clean once again.

Bedroom
Take out all your clothes and only keep the ones that fit you now, that you love and ones that make you feel great. If you do this you will be surprised at the space that suddenly becomes free in your drawers and wardrobes. All of a sudden it will be easy to decide what to wear in the morning because everything feels and looks great. Marie Kondo’s KonMari Method is a great way to sort out your clothes for good.

When you buy anything new make sure you really need it and love it.

Ensure your bedding is clean and matching, dust photos and pictures and give the whole room a thorough going over so it is sanctuary for rest and relaxation.

Once you have cleared out and cleaned you will feel fresher and lighter and your home will look so much better for 2016.