LiveIn|LiveOut

People love string lights and now that they are so readily available in so many different colours and styles they are used throughout the entire year – not just for Christmas. There are many questions that are asked though about using string lights for decoration and this article looks at answering some of the most common questions.

One of the most commonly asked questions is:

How to put string lights on an outdoor umbrella?

If you are using plug in mains powered string lights make sure that the cable reaches the socket before you start.

• So, to start with plug in your lights and see how far they stretch to the bottom of your umbrella pole, this gives you a starting point.
• Now that you know where to start wrapping, for safety unplug the string lights.
• Now start wrapping your string lights up the pole of you outdoor umbrella, you will hopefully have plenty of lights left once you reach the top of the pole.
• If you have string lights left at this point start wrapping the lights along the arm of the umbrella. Once you reach the end of the umbrella arm take the string lights across to the next arm and start wrapping them along that arm towards the central pole.
• Keep going in this manner until you have used up the entire length of string lights.

You will probably find that you need to try several times to get this right because you run out of string lights. Make sure that if possible you can space the string lights evenly so that you have every other umbrella arm covered in lights if you don’t have enough to do all of the arms.

It is also worth noting that you won’t be able to collapse the umbrella with the string lights attached.

A similar question often asked is:

How to hang outdoor patio string lighting?

There are many ways that you can hang outdoor patio string lights, for example you could weave them through a feature shrub or tree, you could attach them to the outside of you home, or you could put them up in a pergola. All of these ideas will really bring your patio to life.

There are all sorts of string light clips that allow you to attach string lights to all sorts of items see the question below how to use string light clips.

Some people don’t have any of these things in there backyard or garden and therefore another frequently asked question is:

How to build a light post for string lights?

Put simply a light post for string lights is a post in the ground that you can wrap your string lights around. String light posts can look effective on their own but if you create four or five of them to mark a path or lead you eye down the garden they can look fantastic. So how do you build a light post for string lights? There are a number of ways that you can do this:

• The simplest way is to knock a post in the ground. A piece of timber or a metal post about an inch in diameter is ideal. Make you ideally want posts that are 6 feet high and then knock them 12-18 inches in to the ground. If you are using mains powered lights then start out the same way as described above for the ‘How to put string light on an outdoor umbrella?’ question.
• The second, more permanent, more costly but far superior option is to use solar powered string lights and proper fencing posts concreted in the ground. Using 3” square treated timber concreted in the ground you can wrap your solar string lights around the posts and mount the solar panel on top of the post. Although this method will take more time and cost more in the short term, it will cost nothing to run once installed. You will also have the flexibility to position the posts for your string lights wherever you want because you will not need to be close to mains power.

Do you place string lights on a pergola on the inside of wood or the outside?

This question is often asked, and the question you need to ask your self is; who do you want to see the string lights? If you want the garden to look nice for the neighbours’ upstairs windows or your own then put the lights on the outside of the wooden frame. If however you sit under the pergola and you want to make the outdoor area look nice for yourself then put them on the inside of the frame.

Can I install outdoor string lights using a residential plug?

You will find that most outdoor string light will come with a plug attached and are low voltage so you should be able to use them straight out of the box. If you are worried about using them then you could always use plug in circuit breaker so that if there are any accidents the power to the string lights will be cut immediately. Always check on the packaging of your string lights to insure that they can be used outdoors. This question on outdoor string lights is often followed by:

Can I keep string lights plugged in outside?

If you are using specific outdoor string lights and you are using them with a plug-in circuit breaker then there is no reason why not. However, being safety conscious we would always unplug them.

How to hide the cord of patio string lights?

Hiding the cord of patio string completes the look of any string light installation and there are many ways that you can do this:

• You could bury the cable in gravel, bark or other ground cover. Remember though that if they are mains voltage string lights you will need to check you local regulations as the cable will probably need some form of armouring so that you or anybody else doesn’t accidentally put a spade though it.
• If you are using string lights on a wall is there any way that you could hide the cable behind a trellis or screen?
• You can paint the cable using acrylic paint to paint match the background.
• If there is nothing to hide your string lights behind and you are fixing them on a wall then make sure that you run the cable horizontally and vertically in line with any timber of bricks. This simple trick will make the cables less obvious.

Can paper string lights stay outside?

If the paper string lights you own are not intended for outdoor use then we wouldn’t recommend you leaving them outside. After a good down pour you will probably find you’re your paper string lights look more like a papier-mâché disaster. There are paper outdoor string lights though that have a wax coated paper which you can use and leave outdoors. Check on the packaging of your string lights and if it doesn’t say you can uses them outdoors don’t. 

How to use string light clips?

There are number of different string light clips and what you want to attach your string lights to will determine what sort of clip you buy.

• String light clips with nails – these can be used for fixing string light to surface such as timber or plastic or even trees, simply nail them to whatever you want and thread the string lights through them.
• Self adhesive string light clips – this is a little less destructive than using nails and they are often quite sufficient, position the adhesive clips where you need them and attach the string lights.
• Gutter string light clips – these hook over your gutter and allow you to attach string lights to them. These are great for once a year decorations as they are non-destructive and can be easily removed.

If you have any other questions on using or installing your string lights contact us.

Carpet runners around the home are invariably used in high traffic areas, meaning that over the course of a year that get a large amount of wear. It’s important therefore that unless you want to be replacing your carpet runner every year that you make the right decisions when you purchase your carpet runner. This article takes a look at what you should look for when you a purchasing machine washable carpet runners.

Materials

Like normal rugs washable carpet runners come in a multitude of different materials but all are not made equal when it comes to durability. The ideal material for a washable carpet runner to be made from is a man made material such as Polyamide/Nylon, Polyester or Polypropylene. All of these materials are not only washable (at low temperatures) but they are also very resistant to staining in the first place, so you will have to wash it less in the first place. If you prefer to be eco friendly and go for more sustainable materials you can buy cotton washable carpet runners but these will pick up marks and scuffs much easier than the man made material, that said, if you are looking for a carpet runner in a low traffic area then a natural cotton one could be ideal.

Design

Like normal rugs machine washable carpet runners come in all sorts of designs and colours and we can’t really recommend to you what sort of washable carpet runner design would fit in with your home. However there are some features of the washable carpet runners which are best avoided in the home environment. For instance, you will find that almost all of the washable types of rugs come with a latex backing. In some cases this latex backing is used as a design feature and protrudes around the outside of the mat by about an inch, and is usually black in colour. In our opinion this looks just a little bit industrial and you may want to consider a mat that doesn’t have this feature.

The black latex/rubber edge can look a bit industrial

With no latex edge washable carpet runners look much better

Anti-Slip or Non-Skid

The latex backing of these machine washable carpet runners offers another advantage over regular rugs – they grip to any floor really well. In areas where rugs on the floor traditionally posed a hazard – such as rooms with tiled floors – the latex backing of these washable rugs makes them the ideal choice. It is for this reason that you will now find a myriad of anti-slip kitchen carpet runners on the market all of which don’t need an additional ‘non-slip’ map purchasing to go underneath them. Best of all, these anti-slip kitchen carpet runners are machine washable too so you don’t need to spend a lot of money on getting them dry cleaned.

Size

You might think ‘great – the age of machine washable carpet runners has begun I can line my 30’ hallway and not have to go to the expense of getting it dry cleaned…’ However, before you get carried away consider the size of you washing machine – you would be surprised at how bulky some of these washable carpet runners can be. Their latex backing can be quite stiff and therefore squeezing a large rug in to a regular sized washing machine can be a struggle. For a regular sized washing machine we would recommend not buying a rug over 16 square feet.

So to summarise if you are looking to purchase a machine washable carpet runner consider the following:

• Materials – Buy a manmade material such as Polyamide/Nylon, Polyester or Polypropylene
• Design – Unless you are looking for a washable carpet runner to be used as a doormat then avoid the ones with the black latex or rubber boarder.
• Anti-Slip/Non Skid – Machine washable rugs are ideal for areas with tiled or hard floors
• Size – Unless you have a big washing machine don’t buy a washable carpet runner bigger than 16 square feet

In the West a futon is often thought of as a chair or sofa that converts in to a bed and this is where the confusion begins. A futon sofa bed is in virtually every home now as so it easy to see why we think of futons as being a sofa bed. This concept that we’ve got of futon is wrong, a futon bed is actually just that -  a bed, and it was traditionally used only as a bed to sleep on and not as a piece of daytime furniture to sit on.

The futon bed has a long history as it has been in use for over 4000 years in Japan and China. The futon bed came about because Japanese and Chinese homes tended to be a lot smaller than our western homes – some homes consisted or just one room – so the room would need to be used for many purposes such as eating, entertaining cooking and of course sleeping. In the morning the futon bed was rolled up and stored in a cupboard or oshiire as the Japanese would call it so that they could actually use that room in the day.

You can see from this where the west devised the futon sofa bed from – basically it was a temporary bed that could be folded or stored away when not in use to make the most of the space available in the room. The West has therefore taken the principle a little further by having a bed that still folds up to save space but it converts in to a chair or sofa that can actually be used.

That said you have probably arrived at this page looking for information on futon beds and not sofa beds. The ‘futon’ part of futon bed really is referring to the mattress. There were three criteria that the original futon bed mattress had to fulfil:

• It needed to fold up – or at least allow for easy storage
• It needed to insulate from the cold coming up through the floor
• It needed to be comfortable.

It is these three factors that have led to the futon mattress being constructed in layers of wool felt. Today futons though tend to be constructed of layers of recycled cotton and other flame retardant material. Regardless the material the layered construction means that it is easy to fold yet it can still maintain its shape, has very good insulating properties and was is comfortable. Today you can buy your futon bed constructed from as little as 5 layers which is about 100mm thick all the way through to 7 layers and more that are at least 140mm thick. Generally speaking the thicker the futon bed the more use it can withstand – remember though if you do intend to move it around though it will be heavy. If you want something special creating there are places that will custom build your futon bed to your exact requirements.

If you are seriously considering a futon bed as you main be you may want to consider what you place the mattress on. If it will be permanently out you may want to get a frame for it to live on. You will be able to get a frame that suits the interior of your home as they come in many different styles and different types of wood but what they should all feature though is a slatted base so that air can circulate underneath your futon bed and keep it fresh.

If your futon is not going to be a permanent feature of your room though you may just want to roll it out on the floor. This is how the Japanese or Chinese would have used it but they would have been placed it on a tatami mat which is the traditional Japanese floor covering.
Futon mattresses are not just available as a single layer bed and you can find futon bunk beds too. A futon bunk bed may not be to everyone’s taste but they will certainly provide  a hard wearing bed.

String lights make a great addition to any home; whether they are to be used indoors or outdoors they really will turn the space that you live in from a generic cold interior (or exterior) into a place that radiates warmth and that you will want to spend time in.

The Importance of Lighting

You may have noticed from many of our other posts that we believe that interior lighting really can make a house a home. Regardless of the type or condition of the interior of your home if you get the lighting right it will hide a multitude of sins. The best way to get the right lighting is to use multiple light sources and in today world it has never been easier.

String lights used to be reserved for just Christmas and festive periods but this isn’t the case any longer. Whether they are wrapped around a bunch of willow in the corner of a room or all bundled up in a bowl, string lights look great all year round.

What sort of interior style are you trying to create?

It’s unlikely that if you are trying to create ultimate bachelor pad that string lights will feature in your lighting scheme. If you are female however and are trying to create the ultimate sanctuary string lights should be up there on your list of home accessories. Whether you own your home, rent a home or even just have your own bedroom in a place, there is no reason why you shouldn’t try to put your own stamp on it. Sting lights are the perfect way to do this, wonderfully feminine, string lights are the way to add some elegance, grace and warmth in to a room.

String lights also add a strong point of interest in a room, so if you are renting a place and can’t put things on the wall then you could try the methods that I mentioned before – let me recap on them and also add some new ideas.

How to use string lights to add interest to a room.

Many home stores now sell bunches of willow, by getting some string lights that have transparent cables you can weave them unobtrusively through the willow. When night falls and you switch on the string lights the light will bounce off the willow and will give the corner of your room a wonderful warm glow.

A plain glass vase and some battery operated string lights are all that you need to create a ‘wow’ focal point. Try and find some sting lights that are about 5 ft long and with a transparent cord. Stuff the lights in to the vase (making sure that you can get easy access to the on/off switch) and your done. The sting lights look fantastic at night particularly if you find some with a transparent cord as the light refracts through the cord creating a great spectacle.

Similar to the ‘bunches of willow’ tip is that of careful weaving some battery operated string lights through a plant. Instead of creating a warming glow you should get a slightly greenish tinge in the light from the plants foliage.

All three of these ideas are a beautiful way to use string lights to improve the appearance of your home.

Dining room table and chairs are more than just a piece of furniture; it is a place where the family gathers to share time together. Today’s lifestyles have unfortunately taken this special time and minimized it to such an extent that the time that we spend with our loved ones usually comprises of a quick hello in the morning and fragmented meal times in the evening. Just having the presence of dining room tables and chairs gives us more of an opportunity to use it and spend time together.

Not all families have a dining table to eat at and consequently tend to eat with their meals on their laps, which I think is a great shame. Bearing this in mind, if you are on the look out for a dining room table and chair set, there are is certainly a vast array to choose from so you won’t be spoilt for choice.

Dining Room Tables and Chairs for use in a Limited Space

If it is space that is a problem there are space saving options on the market such as drop leaf  tables. A drop leaf table is great if you have a spare piece of wall that the table can be placed flat against when not in use. A drop leaf table will also fit in to the corner or side of your lounge so that when it is not being used as a table. it can be used as a side-shelving unit to put ornaments on. Drop leaf tables can either come as single or double drop version and this means that they can fold down either side to leave a small section in the middle, or they can just fold down one side. The size of dining table when open you require will determine whether you get a double or single fold table. The double is generally going to be bigger though.

Other options for this type of problem would be to get a smaller size of table or a round or circular shaped version. The circular versions, or at least something with a few curves or rounded corners, tend to look more stylish than a straight edged table. Straight edges have their place but I feel that they look quite harsh comparatively and mold into a room less effectively.

Glass dining room table and chairs, look visually less imposing. They create space and are practically undetectable compared to solid oak dining room table and chairs. A glass table is easy to clean and best kept on top of as glass can look grubby but if kept clean it’ll look beautiful. It won’t stain! It is extremely practical for today’s family. Spillages and ‘little Jonny’s’ art session could wreck most tables but glass is ideal for those of you with small children with a passion to create!

Dining Room Tables and Chairs for where Space Isn’t an Issue

Traditional solid oak looking furniture can be a beautiful option. They do look stunning in the right place, especially if you have the space and country cottage feel in your house. They do demand attention though and you will need a large room to accommodate a solid oak dining table and chairs. Turned detailing on this type of furniture is a marvel of the sheer workmanship put into this style and it is indeed represented in the price. This is an investment and a work of art- a center piece in your home.

There are solid oak contemporary options too, which would fit into more modern spaces. These designs do have a blockier feel not in a negative sense, but in a contemporary, simple, Japanese style which can look equally as nice in the right home. Wood is a beautiful option and a real luxury as it looks and feels sumptuous. I will say that it needs looking after and protecting. It will need treating and some need varnishing – I wouldn’t recommend a solid wood version if you do have small children and perhaps the place for this type of table is one for the adults!

Picture lights are available in hundreds of different designs, powered by batteries, mains or low voltage, and can be LED, halogen or fluorescent bulbs.  With all of this variety you are sure to be able to find a light that will suit your needs.

Lighting can make a bland looking room look fantastic. I really cannot stress enough how much good lighting can transform the rooms in your home – if I had the choice between spending my money on lighting or paints, fabrics and wall paper I would go for the lighting every time – it makes a house a home.

You will have no doubt read that to get the best lighting results multiple light sources that can be used in different configurations should be used.  Lighting does not just have to perform a functional purpose it can be used to create an ambience that is unachievable by any other means.

Good lighting also gives a room extra dimensions and the one of the best ways to do this is to use what is known as pool and feature lighting. Pool and feature lighting is a method of lighting and not a type of lighting. So you won’t be able to buy ‘pool lighting’ so don’t go searching for it! What you can search for though is the types of light fittings that are good for creating pool and feature lighting.

As the name suggests pool lighting is ‘pools’ of light and there are many ways of creating them. The easiest way is simply to use  table floor lamps to create different zones/pools of light in your room. Pool lighting does wonders for a room but one of my favourite forms of lighting is feature lighting and picture lights perform this function brilliantly. Don’t however be fooled in to thinking that a picture light can only light a picture – there are many uses for picture lights.

Picture lights can be used to produce beautiful background lighting in your room can produce a wonderful tranquil environment to relax in. What is actually happening is that the light bounces from the picture and into the room picking up some of the subtle colours from your pictures. If you have pictures with warm colours in them then the room will have a warm glow to it.

As with most lights now, the technologies available for picture lights are LED, halogen and fluorescent. LED are the most environmentally friendly but to get a good quality of light you will have to pay a lot of money. Unfortunately for the environment, the best quality of light is produced by a low voltage halogen bulb. The low voltage type of picture light will therefore require a transformer to operate from the mains power. Some picture lights will have the transformer subtly built in to the base, others if they are plug-in will have the transformer at the plug end. If you are having your picture lighting professionally installed the installer and you are having the cables channelled in to the walls will mean that the transformer will be located remotely.

If cables and channelling seem like a little bit too much or if you just want your picture lights to add a bit of interest around the room then you may well opt for a cordless picture light. These battery operated light will invariably be powering an LED ‘bulb’. If this is the route you decide to go down then try to ensure that the LED is a warm white variety – if it just say LED then steer clear as it will probably have a cold blue tinge to it. A cordless picture light is a neat solution to easily add light to areas not near a power source. In term of fixing cordless picture lights some will screw to the wall, some will clip to a picture or unit and others will come with a self adhesive strip. Some types of picture lights will come with multiple methods of fixing the same light.

A word of warning:
If you are using your picture light to actually light pictures then the quality of the light is very important.  Lighting pictures is a specialist area – any distortions in the bulb glass or lens on the front of the light will cast shadows and produce a poor quality of light and may spoil the picture you are trying to illuminate. If the picture you are lighting is of significant value to you – be it financially or sentimentally – speak to an expert as the last thing you want to do is fade, or scorch the picture by using an inappropriate light.

Led garden lights are an extremely popular choice of lighting for the garden. They have become popular due to two reasons; the first is that advances in solar power that have allowed small solar panels to be produced for very little cost and the second is that the are much cheaper to run than the traditional incandescent bulb. With led garden lights being cheaper to run this also means that they are better for the environment which is one of the main factors to be celebrated about led’s.

When it comes to choosing led garden lighting you do need to consider your options carefully as they are not all the same. If you get it wrong your garden can look rather cheap and worse still the lighting will not do the task that you intended it to do. LiveIn|LiveOut has produced this article to guide you through choosing the right led garden lights for your home.

Led Color

Led’s come in many colors, and the color that you choose will depend upon the function that you want them to carry out. If you are looking for a more classic lighting scheme and want something simple then white led garden lights are idea. You do need to be careful when choosing your white led’s as they are not all the same. You will find that cheaper white led lights are very cold looking white which is almost blue. If you are trying to recreate a more traditional light then you will need to look for some warm white led lights which look more similar to an incandescent bulb. If you want something more exciting though and actually want some color in your garden you will be able to find whatever color you desire.

Function – Decorative of Functional

Do you want your garden lighting to be functional or decorative? This is a question that you must ask before selecting garden lights as many solar powered garden lights will only give off an ambient light which doesn’t provide enough light to read by. If you want something more powerful you may have to look at a mains powered variety – see below for selecting a power source.

The vast majority of decorative outdoor patio lighting now features led bulbs. Outdoor string lights will invariable be mains powered and are available in numerous colors. String lights are an idea addition to any garden lighting scheme as they look beautiful all year round.

For a more functional led garden lights you may want to consider those that come in the form as a spot light as these really will provide enough light for you to see with. Some manufacturers of security lights are even switching over to use led’s instead of the power hungry tungsten bulbs. Functional doesn’t always mean bright though so if you only want to mark the edge of a pathway solar patio lights with led bulbs are ideal.

Power Sources

From out other articles on patio string lights you will see that the power sources of garden lights come in three forms – mains power, battery power and solar power. With led garden lights this is no exception but the later is definitely the most popular and this in mainly due to the fact that they are cheap to buy, cheap to install and cheap to run. As mentioned previously if you want a useable light you are far better opting for mains powered led garden lights – these will work reliably 365 days a year.

If you bear the above three points in mind when choosing your led garden lights you should end up with a solution that you are pleased with. Led is still a relatively new technology and as time goes on more and more choices will be available.

Seagrass rugs are a popular choice for people wanting a hardwearing rug whilst maintaining a natural appearance. Their neutral colors make them an ideal accessory for many homes regardless of the décor. Seagrass area rugs look great on carpet, wood or tiled floors and this play a large part in their universal appeal.

What is sea grass?

Many people know what a seagrass rug looks like, but they certainly don’t know what seagrass actually is, so lets take a look…Seagrass is actually a form of sea weed that grow naturally in many shallow costal water where it can get enough light to maintain its self and can benefit from the nutrients in the water and sea bed. It performs many ecological functions and is actually in global decline despite its ability to flourish readily. This however does not mean that you need to worry about the source of seagrass for your rug though as the vast majority of seagrass that make up rugs are grown in flooded paddy fields in China.

When the seagrass is harvested it is dried and then spun in to yarn, at this stage it is ready to be tuned in to a beautiful rug.

Why does it make such a good material for a rug?

Unlike fibrous shag rugs or fluffy flokati rugs a sea grass rug is a hardwearing durable addition to any home. It cannot be described as a pile because is more of a weave than a pile and this is what gives it its inherent strength. It short tightly wove nature makes it an ideal rug to be used in areas of high traffic – any mud or debris can be allowed to dry and then it can be vacuumed out of it. The fact that seagrass is a natural material means that there is variation in the appearance of it and this means that it will hide marks and stains easily. It should be noted however that it is very resistant to stains and marks anyway but if you would like the added security some manufacturers will offer the opportunity of an added stain protection.

Most seagrass rugs come with a latex backing which makes them naturally non-slip so if you have a laminate floor a seagrass rug can make it much more pet friendly. Any rugs in high traffic areas such as hallway rug runners made from sea grass will also benefit from this non slip backing and save the hassle of you having to buy a separated non slip backing.

Styles of seagrass rug?

The color of all seagrass rugs – as you would imagine – tends to be the same because they are made from sea grass. Variation of styles occurs though in the weave pattern and the edging detail. Any good seagrass rug will have an edging stitched in to it which can be up to six inches deep. It is in this main edging that the style of the rug is defined as there are many different options available. Many of the more expensive rugs will have leather or suede edging that is available in multiple colors – be wary of the material that you choose though because it is this part of the rug will stain far easier than the seagrass element of it. Having suede edging in a hallway for example would probably be a bad choice. Cheaper seagrass rugs will have not edging and you will be presented with the raw edge of the seagrass rug. For the more natural home this can look very good.

What are the alternatives?

There are a couple of alternatives to the seagrass material that give the same look and offer the same practical features. Jute rugs for example look very similar but their fibres come from a plant and not seaweed. If you were looking for a contemporary rug for your bedroom you would be well advised to opt for a jute rug because it is much softer to the touch than seagrass.

Sisal rugs are also sometime mistaken for seagrass and are often reffered to as sisal seagrass rugs. Like jute sisal is completely different from seagrass and that term is therefore is a contradiction – there is not such thing as sisal seagrass. Sisal does offer a number of advantages over seagrass – the big one being that it can be easily dyed so you can get it in a number of colors but it will still maintain the hardwearing capability of seagrass. Sisal rugs can also be woven much tighter which makes them ideal for use in an office where caaster will be rolled over them.

In conclusion if you are looking for a natural alternative to the plethora of shaggy rugs on the market at the moment then look no further than a natural seagrass rug. They look beautiful, are easy to care for and very durable.

During these cold winter months we must do all we can to insulate our homes not only for our well being but also in terms of energy efficiency and the environment. Research shows that the key areas of heat loss from our homes come from poorly insulated windows, lofts and doors which of course makes sense as these are the main in/outlets. Even if you are not the most active environmental supporter (which of course you should be), keeping your home insulated efficiently can considerably help lower your bills leaving you a fair few extra pounds to use for other things. So much money is wasted and sent off into the ozone causing bad things to happen. It doesn’t make sense, why contribute negatively to the environment as well as to yourself? By helping one you will in tern help another and the benefits are tangible.

There are many ways you can save here and there, one of which is the use of draught excluders. As I said previously, the doors are a prime target for unwanted draughts so by using door draught excluders will certainly keep your home toasty in these wintry conditions as well as helping the environment and also adding an attractive accessory to your home.

There are so many various types of draught excluder on the market. If you wanted a more functional fitted device there are products that fit to the underneath of your door with bristles that will allow for a certain amount of uneven space under the door itself. Fitting bits and pieces to doors can be a specialist job as millimeters do come in to play especially if fitted on the underside like the draught excluder. Floors can be uneven, the door can also be uneven so a few millimeters can hinder the effectiveness of the door closing. You would be well advised to seek professional help on this one just going on experience!

An alternative would be a material option. Hessian or canvas material is probably more suitable for this job as it is harder wearing – bearing in mind it is going to be placed by your door that invariably opens and closes it will see a lot of movement so it’ll be best to go for a harder wearing material that cotton for example. Material draught excluders can be very endearing – I have seen wonderful ones from a row of sheep to silly snakes but I have also seen just relatively plain or simply patterned ones. Whatever your taste, there is an option to meet your needs. The tartan varieties are timeless but if you wanted to go for something to inject a bit of personality into your home I would research into some of the cute fluffy critters that are coming onto the market.

Why not make your own door draught excluder?

Why not? You don’t even have to have a sewing machine! They are easy to make – This way you can personalise the draught excluder yourself. Whether you want to make a simple sausage material version or get your creative juices flowing by coming up with a more interesting design using old fluffy toys? What a great way to reuse some old items and making them into something useful! I would in this case recommend taking the toys apart (perhaps in half length ways) and stitching the front together with another one side by side etc.. until you have a long line of them. Do the same with the backs (or other halves) and stitch the two halves together so you will end up with a sausage then just stuff it with dried peas or rice or simply just with pillow stuffing and secure the end with a few stitches.
If that sounds like too much effort you could cut out a long strip of your chosen material so that when you roll it it will be enough to create a sausage, turn it inside out and stitch down the one side – You will then end up with a tube. Cut out two disk shapes for either end and stitch one onto the end. Then all you have to do is stuff it and sew on the end of the draught excluder. There may be hundreds of different ways to come up with a draught excluder with a bit of difference you just will need to give it a bit of thought. If you wanted to be able to wash it, it maybe a good idea to incorporate a zip into the seam.

Letterbox draught excluder

This is yet another way precious heat can be lost. The letterbox in your home can be a terrible waste of energy so thinking about options to help retain the heat may be advisable. Again, there are bristle options which will certainly help to keep loss to a minimum but there is also a unit that has a metal plate on the back of your letterbox so that the only time heat can be lost is when the postman delivers and the plate will flap up to allow the post to pass. I think most letterboxes today have this, but some older examples I know of do not. It may be worth looking into solutions. Alternatively a curtain behind your front door will certainly help this problem.

If we were to say painted furniture to you, what would you think of?

We would think of beautiful, creative, individual and different pieces of furniture. It is so easy to go to a leading furniture outlet and just fork out a lot of money for a chair that has also been purchased by millions around the world. To us, there is no personality in this type of furniture. Of course there is a place for this type of furniture – but in your home we believe you need some individuality and something that’s set your home apart from the rest. So why not take a trip down to your local tip shop or your local auction rooms and have a look around for some interesting pieces of furniture that may take your fancy. After purchasing an item, take it home and have a think about how you would like it to look. Hand painted shabby chic furniture is coming to the forefront of interior design at the moment. People don’t have the money to splash out on pricey furniture in the present economic climate, so why not have a go yourself and get creative!

Start by rubbing down your chair with sandpaper. The idea of painting furniture is to recreate and enhance the original beauty of the item you are renovating. Next, you need to choose a colour you wish to paint your item. I can suggest that black is in fashion at the moment. Black, teamed with a floral accent of colour is a stylish and bold, feminine statement. White painted furniture also has a similar effect but with white it portrays more of a country feel. White painted furniture looks great with duck egg blues and olive greens and greys. Whatever colour you choose will certainly breathe a breath of fresh air and individuality into an old and tired piece.

After rubbing the chair down and choosing your chosen colour, paint on a couple of coats so that you can no longer see the base wood. If you have chosen a chair with a solid board section running across the top of the back of the chair- it would look great with a piece of wallpaper – bright and stylish – preferably floral at the moment and cut it to shape to the back of the chair. Once you have cut out the shape, place onto the back of the chair with PVA. In order to protect the paper, cover with a clear varnish. You can get light varnishes specifically used for fragile work, so I suggest you use that.
Once you’ve completed one item it will spur you on to do other items in your home. Why not try and create your own individual style with all your bedroom furniture. If you like the country look, white painted furniture is a must have in your home. It looks fresh and clean and looks great with all colours and woods.

Painting your furniture using a distressed technique is a great way to achieve a shabby chic rustic and country feel. All you have to do to achieve this is choose a white paint or an off white paint and some other colour – like a grey or a duck egg blue – something that will compliment the very stark white. Then, after rubbing down the chair with sandpaper coat your chair with the darker paint first and wait for it to dry. Once dry, find yourself a stiff brush and put on a small amount of white paint. You will find it is rough to put on – almost needing a slight scrubbing motion – which is why it is aptly named ‘dry brushing’. Be careful not to put too much paint on your brush as you want to achieve that half on brushed look for it to look distressed.

Be creative don’t feel you have to go for the easy route by just passing over your hard earned cash…besides…it’s not as much fun!