Planning your next caravan trip? These holidays can be great fun with the whole family and there are lots of places to consider, but you need to make sure that you are well prepared. This is particularly true if you are setting off during the colder months of the year, so here are a few of the most important items to pack for your next trip.
You do not want to suffer in the cold on a caravan trip and keep in mind that the temperature drops even during the warmer months once the sun goes down. This is why everyone should have blankets and jumpers that they can wrap up warm in for cosy evenings in the caravan or sitting outside.
A generator is essential for a caravan trip so that you can enjoy power throughout the holiday. When power from the mains is not available, you can use generators to power everything that you need for a fun and comfortable trip. You can find generators online and it is important to work out the right type for your specific needs and what you will be powering.
A caravan holiday gives you the chance to reconnect with nature and there are lots of ways to stay entertained, but you should also make sure that you have toys and games to enjoy for the times that you are relaxing in the caravan or sitting outside. You want toys and games that the whole family can enjoy to spend quality time together and make new memories.
You also need to stock up on bathroom supplies for the trip and it is a good idea to take more than what you think you will need. While you can always buy more bathroom essentials, you might find it difficult to go to the shops at times so you want to have more than enough available.
You should also consider food and what you will be eating each day. Again, you want to have more than what you think you need to ensure no one goes hungry. If you have cooking facilities, you will want to take along pots and pans, plates, cutlery etc to enjoy hot meals in the caravan.
You will be surprised at how messy and unclean a caravan can get, especially if you are spending a lot of time outside. This is why you should take cleaning products and supplies with you and try to keep on top of everything with a quick clean each day.
You want to be able to enjoy time outside when the weather permits, so foldable furniture is hugely important and can make a big difference to your trip.
These are a few of the key items that you will need for your next caravan trip that will hopefully give you the best experience.
Whether it’s dancing the night away or going to a fireworks display, we all have a different way of celebrating our entrance into the new year. London is one of the best places to spend your last day of the year; the city is vibrant and thriving, especially on New Year’s Eve.
No doubt you’ll want to plan something exciting, which is why we’ve come up with our guide to help you plan the perfect New Year’s Eve that you’ll remember for years to come. All you need to do is find suitable accommodation and organise your train to London Kings Cross station.
What better to go see than the famous firework showcase that takes place near the London Eye each year? After a two-year hiatus, the stunning display is back by popular demand and starts at midnight, accompanied by the sounds of Big Ben.
Whilst tickets may now be sold out, you can still get close to the action without having to pay. Just outside of the ticketed zone is Cannon Street, which provides a great view of the riverside. Make sure to get here early, however, as the area becomes very busy later on. You can also go to Primrose Hill, one of the highest points in the city, where you are met with a panoramic view of Central London.
Celebrating the New Year on a cruise along the Thames is another great way of spending time with family and friends in London, and an alternative way of watching the fireworks. There are numerous cruise types to accommodate everyone, including a family cruise for children, a party cruise for the socialites and an evening meal for the hopeless romantics.
Pantomimes and theatre shows are a tradition in London during this time of year, and there’s no place better to go see a show than in the West End Theatre District. These world-renowned theatres consistently put on spectacular performances, including a variety of musicals, and most will showcase a matinee performance on New Year’s Eve.
Taking the children to a performance during the day is ideal to keep them entertained but make sure to always purchase your tickets directly from the theatre beforehand to avoid counterfeits.
Somerset House is an 18th-century property that has now become a public space. During the festive period, the central courtyard hosts an ice-skating rink and a 40-foot Christmas tree. On New Year’s Eve, the rink is usually open from 10 am to 4 pm but there is a special event at 7 pm, which includes a DJ, a selection of food and a fantastic view of the fireworks.
Amidst the cost of living crisis and rapidly increasing oil and fuel prices, it’s never been more important for families to cut costs wherever possible. Although the rocketing value of petrol and diesel seemed to slow in recent months, the average price per litre now stands at 162.78p and 182.17p respectively. If you’re looking for cost-effective ways to reduce your transport outgoings each month, consider taking these economical family cars out for a spin:
What to consider to save money – Even with rising costs and volatile oil prices, it’s still possible to save money on transport each month. Important factors to consider if you’re looking to make savings include your choice of car, your choice of insurance (third-party isn’t always cheaper) your choice of fuel (it’s best to avoid paying extra for premium), how often you drive and your regular routes - by simply changing just one of these, you could dramatically affect your balance at the end of each month. By regularly checking and maintaining your car and covering your vehicle with gap insurance in case the worst should happen, you should be able to avoid preventable financial loss and make your money go further on the roads. Let’s take a closer look at 4 economic family vehicles that could help you to save cash:
1. Skoda Octavia - This practical and relatively cost-effective family car has been Skoda’s biggest-selling vehicle since first launching as a hatchback. While the Octavia has become known as a premium family car over the years (being compared favourably to the Audi A3 and Mercedes A Class), it’s still considered in the same bracket as mainstream models such as the Ford Focus and Seat Leon.
2. Audi A3 - Inspired by the angular aesthetics of classic Italian supercars, the Audi A3 is as sleek and stylish as a family hatchback can get. While the last generation of A3 was championed for its outstanding status as a family car, the newest model provides familiarity and extra flexibility - drivers may choose either a petrol, diesel, mild-hybrid or plugin-hybrid engine for the vehicle.
3. Peugeot 308 SW - This compact and robust family estate has been a popular choice with drivers looking for more bang for their buck in recent years. The Peugeot 308 SW enables buyers to choose a petrol, diesel or plugin-hybrid engine, with a potential pure electric driving range of 37 miles - this could help you to make significant savings when it comes to running your vehicle.
4. Vauxhall Astra Sports Tourer - This family-friendly estate is a roomy and stylish vehicle that also enables drivers to pick their own type of engine: petrol, diesel or plugin-hybrid powered. Boasting plenty of boot space and a roomy interior, this attractive family car is a cost-effective choice whether you’re looking to drive to work, set out on a family holiday or go cruising on the motorway.
Flu season is upon us - and with it often comes chaos. It means workplaces are anticipating people being off work, resulting in staff having to take on additional responsibilities in the interim – it’s an intense time of year for everyone. The UK is no stranger to annual outbreaks of flu, but this year, cases have begun to rise early. Understanding how germs can be spread is the first step in knowing how to tackle them.
To help us get an idea of how we may be able to nip nasty germs before they become prolific, we took a look at a study by instantprint who recently surveyed 1,000 employees about spreading germs in the office.
Out of the 1,000 UK employees surveyed, it was found that 45% of people are more aware of unhygienic office habits since the pandemic. When asked which germ-spreading habits should be banned for good, the top, most burgeoning answers from most to least were as follows:
#1 Not washing your hands after visiting the toilet
#2 Coming into work with a cough/cold
#3 Kiss greetings
#4 Hugs
#5 High fives
#6 Pen chewing (we’ve all done it!)
The importance of hand washing (42.9%) became particularly prominent in the early stages of the Covid-19 pandemic - but it’s always had its place. If someone doesn’t wash their hands, there’s a risk of germs spreading to other parts of their body, as well as to other people through surfaces and even food. You can reinforce the importance of handwashing in the office with educational posters in the loo and by providing hand sanitiser around the office to encourage people to use it after sneezing or coughing as well.
To call or not to call? Many workers feel guilty about calling in sick, despite knowing that they will struggle to do their job as well. We don’t want to let our colleagues or our managers down and instead, try to battle through it. While people may assume that Covid has changed the stigma around doing this, many still feel the same. There may also be a fear that not coming into work may hinder progress and development in the workplace. If you are experiencing the symptoms of flu, you should stay at home to prevent spreading germs.
Various greetings also appeared on the list. This includes hugs (27.8%), kiss greetings (32.9%) and high fives (23.3%). Anything that involves close contact with another person poses a risk of spreading infection. Hands carry a lot of germs and even breathing the same air can lead to others inhaling infectious particles. Some even argue that fist-bumping is a more hygienic way to greet others! Boundaries should be respected across workforces regardless, but particularly during flu season.
A national health survey revealed that one in two Brits don’t eat healthy meals because they find healthy food boring. And even if people try to observe a healthy diet, the majority of these individuals end up going back to their old eating habits after an average of three months because they eventually tire of the restrictive approach they were following.
However, healthy eating habits don't have to be boring, bland, or restrictive. As a matter of fact, you don’t necessarily need to deprive yourself of any of the foods you love to have a healthy diet. To actually start eating healthily, it's better to think of what you can do versus what you can't. In line with this, here are four easy ways that you can start eating healthy without any deprivation.
Although all vegetables are good for your body, it’s best to include more green vegetables in your diet since they contain the most nutrients. These include vitamins K, C, and E and minerals like iron, calcium, potassium, and magnesium. Aside from being nutrient-dense, they also have the least amount of calories, allowing you to munch on them as much as you want without feeling guilty. On top of this, the fibre and water content in leafy greens has been found to stave off hunger for longer. Some examples of green vegetables you can eat are Chinese cabbage, collard greens, kale, and leaf lettuce. To ensure that you’re fully reaping the health benefits associated with these foods, it’s estimated that you should consume at least three cups of dark green vegetables per week.
When you’re always on the go, it’s easy to forgo eating your meals. However, one step to healthy eating is not skipping meals, especially breakfast. This is because eating a sufficient amount of food as you start your day allows your body to receive the necessary nutrients and energy to function optimally. Additionally, studies found that those who eat breakfast seven times per week have a reduced risk for cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. This only emphasises why breakfast is considered the most important meal of the day. If you’re not skipping breakfast but thinking of skipping other meals, it is worth noting that there’s no significant research indicating that not eating certain meals helps you lose weight.
Another way you can easily practise healthy eating is by following a personalised meal plan. What’s great about dedicated weight loss programmes is that they are anchored on personalised meal plans rather than blanket solutions. This means that they can help you eliminate the guesswork associated with most meal planning. Apart from this, they can also ensure that what you’re eating suits your nutritional needs and food preferences. Lastly, since you can adjust the objectives of these meal plans according to your current lifestyle, you can consistently follow and achieve your health goals regardless of how busy you may get.
Finally, you can promote healthy eating practices by drinking more water. Our article on healthy eating habits shared that you must drink at least two litres of water daily. Apart from keeping yourself hydrated, drinking water can help maintain your energy levels and relieve constipation by improving bowel movements. One way to guarantee that you drink enough water daily is by having a water tracker application. With these tracking tools, you can monitor how much water you’ve consumed, and they'll remind you to drink your water every once in a while, too. If you're always on the move, having a reusable water bottle handy will ensure you're hydrated, satiated, and energised no matter what.
Learning to drive and passing your test gives you a new level of freedom. Being able to drive and take yourself wherever you need to do will make your life a lot easier as you no longer have to rely on other people to get you places. If you are currently learning to drive then you will know how difficult it can be to pass your test. However, there are some tips that can help you along the way. In this article, we will go over some tips and tricks that can assist you in passing your test. Want to know what they are? Keep on reading to find out more.
Once you pass your test, driving in bad weather like rain and snow will be inevitable, so you should take the opportunity to practice this on your test. Most driving instructors will try and get you to drive in bad weather, just so you have some experience, so make sure you take full advantage of that and practice driving when the weather is bad. Although it may seem scary at first, it is much better to get some experience with your instructor first so that you are prepared once you are driving on your own.
Another tip that can help you pass your test is to practice outside of the lessons. Sometimes it can be difficult to book driving lessons, especially if your instructor is super busy, so practicing outside of the lessons can be a good way of keeping up with what you have learnt so far. If you do plan on practicing outside of your lessons and you will be using your own car, then you must ensure you have learner’s insurance. Learner's insurance will help keep you and the other person in the car protected should something go wrong. You can get learner’s insurance in NI from CompareNI.com by going online and checking their quotes.
If you find that taking lessons every few weeks is not enough for you to learn properly, then it could be a good idea to instead take a crash course. A crash course is essentially an intensive driving course which aims to teach you how to drive within a short amount of time. You can book an intensive two-week course that will teach you everything you need to know in a condensed amount of time, which can help you pick up driving a lot easier.
One of the best things you can do to help you pass your test is to study in your spare time. Your theory test is just as important as your practical, so you must make sure that you are revising the test and taking a practice test to help you learn. Although it may not be the most fun way to spend your time, it will end up saving you a lot of money as it means you won’t have to redo your test.
Roofing on a typical home has to be replaced every 30 years. Exactly what are the benefits? Roofing is an expense that homeowners often only incur a few of times in their lives. That's great news since replacing a roof is among the costliest renovation tasks. The question then becomes, how can we as homeowners go about locating a reliable roofer? When googling for “roofing companies near me” you can find many online providers.
Get in charge of the situation early on by selecting a reliable roofing contractor. If you choose wisely, you'll find a roofer who not only completes the job efficiently and affordably, but who also provides helpful advice on which materials would work best given your home's design and the local climate. To avoid being taken advantage of by a shady landlord, consider the following before opening your yellow pages or otherwise selecting the first firm that appears.
It's not hard to learn whether a roofer has a history of complaints in your area. Whether you want to know if it is the case, you should look into the company you want to do business with. When evaluating possible contractors, you should read internet evaluations, twitter and Facebook reviews, and Better Business Bureau complaints. Some negative feedback from time to time is to be expected. If you find, however, that the evaluations are consistently negative, you may want to look elsewhere for a business partner.
You shouldn't choose a roofer on a whim. As per experience, I learned that searching for the best roofing companies near me is easier than I think. So, if you desire the jobs completed on your roofing to endure, you'll need to choose a reputable roofing provider. Use the aforementioned advice to locate a reliable roofing contractor. I was wondering whether you were planning any more house improvements. To get the advice you need to complete your tasks successfully, revisit our blog.
Asking around for recommendations for a good roofing contractor is a tried and effective strategy. Has anybody you know had roofing work done over the previous five years? You should compile a list of names, contact each one, and address two issues: was he satisfied with the service, and would he use that contractor again? You can trust personal connections to offer you honest feedback, and testimonials provide the clearest image of what working with a specific firm may be like. Even if you don't know someone personally who works in construction, you may be able to get a lead at a hardware shop.
Assuming you have shortlisted at least three promising roofers, you can begin learning more about each one. Trying to find roofing installers near you couldn't be easier. First, make sure you have accurate contact information for each company. Next, make sure everyone has the proper documentation and insurance. Make sure there are no warning signs by checking with the local business chamber and The Better Business Bureau. And then, lastly, check contractor review sites for feedback.
After you have selected a few candidates, have them come to your house to look at the work site. Don't forget to inquire more about personnel and time required to do the job after discussing building systems and the scope of the work to be done. Be on the lookout for the builder: He has to convey confidence, expertise, and enthusiasm. You are, without a doubt, dealing with a knowledgeable expert on the subject of materials and techniques; but, this should not discourage you from offering input. Before he goes, make sure you've asked a lot of questions and gotten a list of recommendations.
Having the goal of starting a business is great motivation for pursuing a degree. Running your first business, let alone starting one, is not an easy pursuit, and there are plenty of courses available that can improve your chances of success. Whether you’re looking to start your own retail business or one that provides niche services to businesses and other professionals, choosing a good degree to enhance your abilities is extremely useful. To assist you on your journey, we’ve listed four useful degrees that you could consider which will help you start your first business.
This has arguably become the foundation of any great and successful business. As you’ll be aware, marketing is where businesses promote and advertise their products or services to the public, encouraging new demographics to become customers and maintain their current customer base. Marketing is very important for any business, and so having this knowledge and skill as a business owner can give you a great advantage over others. It will allow you to keep tabs on your marketing team and direct it in a way you see fit.
The use of data is a key component to running a business effectively, and knowing what data to gather as well as how to analyse it is crucial. Often, a business owner will employ data analysts in certain departments who will collect and study this data, continuously searching for ways to improve your business and its success. However, this process can be confusing to the untrained eye, and so having the knowledge that a business analytics degree can bring will allow you to better understand this data and how said data can benefit your business. It will allow you to better choose what type of data to study and make use of.
Learning about how to properly manage your money is understandably going to be worthwhile for a business owner. Of course, you could make use of a finance manager or accountant for your business, but understanding this as a business owner is going to be very beneficial as it’ll allow you to keep track of your budgets and the overall finances of your company. You could, for example, complete an online short course in sustainable finance at a reputable university, in which you can learn about different sustainable financial systems and use that newly acquired knowledge to create your own sustainable financial plan for continued, positive returns.
As a business owner, you have a duty of care for your employees, ensuring that they are as happy and healthy in the workplace as possible. However, being fixated on this will distract you from your other responsibilities as a business owner, and this is why it’s so important to have a great human resources team working with you. This allows you to remain confident that employees are being given the attention they deserve without you having to focus all of your attention on them. Of course, it’s also worthwhile having an HR management degree as a business owner, as you’ll be in a better position to precisely understand what your team needs to perform to the best of their abilities. It will also give you a better idea of what your HR team can do and what resources they require to get the best results.
Go on, admit it. At some point during all the furore over sky-high energy prices that has cast a long shadow over the approach of winter, you’ve wondered to yourself - wouldn’t it be cheaper just to switch everything off and disappear to somewhere warmer until spring?
It’s a seductive daydream. But, unless you happen to be retired or in a position where you can pick and choose where you work from (and without the binds created by school-age children), a daydream it must stay.
And assuming it is feasible for you to pack your bags and relocate for most of the winter, boring old reality will still come knocking. Even with average energy prices going up by 27% this winter, it still won’t be cheaper to migrate south to sunnier climes. Not with the cost of flights, accommodation, travel insurance and all the other extras you wouldn’t be paying for if you stayed at home.
That said, what we do know is that heating our homes for the next few months, as well as having lights on a lot more as the evenings draw in, and having to run the tumble dryer a lot more to dry washing etc, is going to lead to some hefty energy bills. If you did decide to head abroad for an extended period of time, you could put the money you save towards the cost of your trip…
So how much are we talking? Is it enough to convince you to start looking up flights right away?
The problem with talking about energy costs is you have to be very general about it. All the talk of an annual price cap on energy bills is actually pretty misleading. What has been capped is the maximum unit rate energy companies can charge for gas and electricity. There’s no cap on what you have to pay. Your bill will depend on the size of your home, how energy efficient it is (for heating costs especially), where you live, what tariff you are on and, crucially, and how much gas and electricity you use.
But let’s for the sake of argument say the £2500 average figure bandied about in the press represents the most you can expect to pay in the next 12 months if you have a three or four bedroom house. To hit that figure, you’d have to be running a gas boiler a lot of the time to keep the house warm, on top of using a moderate to high amount of electricity. Just the kind of energy consumption you’d expect in the coldest, darkest winter months.
So breaking that down, from the three months December to February, you could expect to be paying somewhere in the region of £625. If you live in a draughty, poorly insulated old house out in the country somewhere with a low energy efficiency rating, this might push your bill up to around £650.
In addition, electricity unit prices vary from region to region a lot more than gas prices. According to Moneysavingexpert.com, in the most expensive area - North Wales and Merseyside - electricity is 2p more per unit than the national average, which works out as about 5.5% more. Electricity accounts for around two thirds of a dual fuel energy bill. So on that basis, if your big, draughty old house happens to be in North Wales or around Merseyside, the extra electricity costs would push your bill up to around £675 for the three month period.
So what would you save by switching your heating and electricity off and disappearing somewhere sunnier for the winter? You’d still have to pay standing charges, which now stand at an average of 28.49p per day for gas and 46.36p per day for electricity. There are 90 days in December, January and February, so you’d end up paying £68.36.
That works out as a saving of £557.64 for an average household, and more than £600 for the draughty old country pile! That’s certainly not a bad sum to put towards a winter in the sun. It would pay for your flights to not-so-far destinations like Cyprus, Malta, Morocco, UAE and Egypt for sure.
As for the rest of the costs, well there is more to wintering in the sunshine than saving money on your heating bills. If you feel like renting a villa somewhere warm for a few months to dodge the cold and keep the Seasonal Affective Disorder at bay is well worth the money, you wouldn’t be alone.
Bralettes are very on-trend right now so if you’re thinking of following this fashion trend, here are a few of the many ways you can wear and incorporate a bralette into your outfits to help elevate your style and ensure you look fabulous.
A bralette is essentially an unwired and unpadded bra that can be worn for either supportive or decorative purposes. As they’re designed with style rather than function in mind, bralettes often have more intricate detailing than traditional bras and are worn to be seen or simply for support without wires.
Because they don’t contain underwriting, bralettes are a comfier option for many people and are typically more lightweight and easy to wear than structured bras. This means that bralettes can be a more comfortable option if suffering from breast pain as a result of PMT or hormonal changes, such as when going through Menopause. They can also be particularly useful during pregnancy and breastfeeding when wearing underwired bras can result in breast pain, blocked milk ducts and even mastitis.
For people who have undergone breast surgery, a bralette can offer support without the worry of underwires or straps digging in during healing. Black bralettes are also incredibly versatile, meaning they can be worn with a plethora of styles, whether beneath your everyday work outfit for a casual, comfortable look and feel or styled up for a night out.
Mesh and fishnet sheer tops are often a big hit around party season but they can sometimes leave you feeling overexposed, not to mention a little chilly! Pairing a sheer top with a bralette in a matching colour can provide some extra coverage without detracting attention from the top, so you can feel confident and sexy on your night out.
If you’d rather your bralette was the centre of attention, wear it over a plain t-shirt and pair it with jeans to create a strong statement. For maximum impact, choose a contrasting colour t-shirt, such as white, under a black bralette, for example, and make sure that the necklines don’t clash by opting for a high neck or crew neck tee with a deep-v-neck bralette.
For a big night out in summer or those warmer autumn nights, pairing an intricate bralette with an oversized blazer can help create a chic but sexy business vibe that’s right on trend. Bear in mind that this is a bold, daring look so you’ll need the confidence to pull it off. If you’re unsure about bearing so much skin, you could always button up the bottom of your blazer so that the bralette peeks out over the top.
Most of us will have heard of self-care but that doesn’t mean we all understand exactly what it is or how to practice it in our daily lives. Over time, self-care has been conflated with self-indulgence or the idea of pampering ourselves and ignoring our responsibilities but self-care is much deeper than bubble baths or binge-watching Netflix. Here’s why self-care is important and how you can make it part of your everyday routine.
Self-care is, as the name suggests, concerned with taking good care of yourself. Self-care is about checking in with yourself on a regular basis rather than bottling up your feelings or turning to distractions to numb them. It’s also about accepting your limitations and allowing yourself time to rest.
At its most basic, self-care is about making time for all those things that you know keep you mentally and physically well, whether that’s a long walk in the fresh air or a cuppa with a friend and about seeking help with difficult feelings or situations when you need it.
When it comes to implementing a self-care routine that works for you, here are some of the major factors to consider.
Every area of your life is impacted by your sleep, meaning that implementing a consistent sleep routine is crucial to staying healthy and feeling at your best. If you struggle to drop off to sleep then you should reduce your screen time before bed and take measures to help you feel sleepy, such as reading a book rather than watching television, not eating too late and trying to stick to a consistent bedtime. You could also practice relaxation techniques before bed or try meditation or yoga. There are also lots of sleep aids designed to help you nod off, such as sound machines, blackout blinds, herbal remedies and even sleep podcasts.
If your sleep is disturbed, you need to identify what is waking you so you can best remedy it. It might be that your bedroom becomes too hot overnight, in which case you could try sleeping with the window open or invest in a fan or breathable bedding to help you stay cool. Or if you’re waking because you’re hungry then a small snack before bed might prevent your blood sugar from dropping in the night.
Staying mentally well requires regularly checking in with yourself rather than repressing emotions to make sure you’re being honest with yourself about how you’re feeling. Many of us are so tired after a full day of work that we want to switch off in front of the TV or do something to take our minds off things, such as hitting the gym or pouring ourselves a glass of wine. There’s nothing wrong with any of these things but be careful that you’re not using them as a way to distract from your problems or in place of healthier coping mechanisms.
You also need to take time to celebrate small wins and reflect on what’s going well in your life. We all deserve a treat from time to time so indulge yourself as your budget will allow, whether it’s a bunch of fresh flowers to brighten up your workspace, a full weekend off to do whatever you want to do or treating yourself to some diamond earrings.
There’s no denying that there are huge benefits to eating a healthy, balanced diet but that doesn’t mean it’s easy to get it right all of the time. Expecting perfection from ourselves in any area of our lives can create negative tension when we fail to live up to our own exacting standards. Instead of setting yourself such narrow parameters, focus on small, consistent changes where you can and find a diet that works for you and improves your relationship with food and how you view your body.
Whether you live in one of your city’s beautiful yet tiny studio apartments, or you just got unlucky and landed the box room in your shared home in the suburbs, it can be difficult to live in a small space, especially when you’re using your room as a home office as well! However, it is possible to use a small room to your advantage. By creating the illusion of more space and taking note of these 4 tips and tricks to utilise your small-sized room to its full potential, you can do more with the space you own, without having to bring the builders in.
Colour is a great way to deceive the eye into thinking a space is bigger than it actually is. Creating a rich and dark feature wall and contrasting it with lighter and brighter tones will quickly open up the space in the room. Equally, off-white is a simple paint choice that will make your room look more inviting and open - especially if you contrast it with more vibrant colours and natural bits of greenery!
When you’re working with a small space, getting the right balance of furniture is important. You don’t want so much furniture that your room feels cluttered, but you also want to do everything you need to do in your space. By downsizing your furniture (for example, switching your double bed to a ¾ bed or changing your sofa to an ottoman) or investing in smart storage solutions like fitted wardrobes, you can quickly free up some extra space.
Struggling to create more space? Why not strip it back to basics by completely changing the layout of your room? A great tip is zoning. Split up your room into different areas so each space has a clearly defined purpose and use; sleep in the darkest corner, put the sofa in the lightest and brightest spot, and add your desk under your shelves to work. This technique will not only bring focus to your small space but makes the smaller area you’ve got work more efficiently for you.
Creating more space in a smaller room is all about the illusion. Trick the eye into thinking your room is way bigger than it actually is by adding mirrors, installing curtain rods a few inches higher than the actual window, and using high shelves to draw the eye up. These are all great and easy ways to create the optical illusion of more space without having to expand.
Want to turn your basement apartment into a penthouse suite? (Or at least, create a convincing illusion?) Use these 4 tips and tricks to make the most out of your small room.
