LiveIn|LiveOut

If you are like us at LiveIn|LiveOut, you will no doubt appreciate the finer things in life. Now, this doesn’t mean that you have to spend the earth on finishing details but it really just does come down to having the right ‘eye’ for things and shopping correctly. Lighting clearly ‘makes’ a place special, inviting and calming. We want you to relax in your space when you finish a long week at work whether it is during the summer months or in the cosy winter ones.

Your house is your home – meaning that you need to be able to relax there, and by choosing the correct lighting you will be able to achieve this with no problems and at very little cost. Outside lighting is just as important as getting your inside lighting right, especially if you like to spend as much of your time as you can outside, gardening or simply just relaxing on your hammock with a beer. Creating the correct ambiance with lighting is simple, and depending on your taste I hope that we have come up with some solutions for you below.

Think about the space you have outside and what may lend itself to being decorated with some sort of lighting feature. Do you have a tree that could act as the focus of your outside space or alternatively, do you have a patio decked with a set of tables and chairs? Patio umbrella lights are ideal to keep the warm, cosy feeling of the hot sun going through into the evening.

If we focus on the patio umbrella as an option for you, we’ll take you through a few options you may like to try.

Your Options for a Lighted Patio Umbrella

Before you start deciding on what style or type of patio umbrella lighting you require, you will need to measure your space in order to get the correct size of umbrella. This may sound obvious, but if you need the umbrella to go up underneath some sort of awning or pagoda, then you will need to know the height you will require as well as the circumference. Lighted patio umbrellas can come as a set – Built in lighting into the actual umbrella unit will help to take away any of the unnecessary faffing with wiring etc. A patio umbrella with lights can come in many forms.

• A patio umbrella light is an umbrella with a single built in light situated on top of the ‘spokes’ of the erected umbrella. These lights can be solar powered, which is really useful in terms of fixing and ascertaining where the wire or plug will have to go, not to mention the hazards of trailing wires. Thegreenhead.com have on sale a solar powered example like this. It works by recharging the tiny LED light from drawing power in from the solar panels that are positioned on the top of the weather proof upper side of the umbrella.
• An umbrella with heater units fixed to the underside of the umbrella. This again is solving more than one problem. The heated units are perfect for keeping off the chill when you have more breezy evenings. This type of unit will work as a umbrella to shade during the day and keep you warm at night, together with decorating your space with attractive lighting. Try researching into this type of umbrella with a built in patio heater. 
• An umbrella with a line of small battery operated lights which are positioned on all of the underside spokes.  This is a really nice option, because of the rechargeable factor.
• An alternative is to decorate your already existing patio umbrella with a set of lights. You can now buy battery operated string lights which you can twist and place where you like. These can be suitable for outdoor use, but be sure to check this before you buy. If you are able to safely store a wire (perhaps under your patio itself) then you may want to bear in mind more permanent options – The only thing I would say about this, is that if the wire needs replacing for example, it may be a bit of a headache to fix problems.
• Think about different colours to change the mood of your surroundings. There are so many different options for you to experiment with, just be careful to give all of things a thought so that you choose the right set for you and your family.

We hope this has been helpful to you, and has given you some extra ideas as to what to do in your outside space. We believe it is all about the lighting so even during the winter we make sure the garden has some sort of accent lighting to brighten it up and make it look more inviting and inspiring!

A corner sofa bed is a unique piece of furniture that not only looks great but is also very functional. If you live in a smaller home without a second bedroom but like having guests over to stay then you may well be consider buying a sofa bed. LiveIn|LiveOut recently looked at five tips for buying a corner sofa and all of these tips still apply to corners sofa beds, but there are additional factors to consider. To start off with lets just summarise the five tips for buying a regular corner sofa:

1. Left or right handed – You need to decide whether the sofa is to be left or right handed.
2. Leather or cloth – Leather is a great hardwearing material for sofas.
3. Do you want it to be a sofa bed – well that’s what this article is looking at
4. Modular – Do you like to move things about or does your home have limited access?
5. Consider whether you want and L-shaped corner sofa or a curved corner sofa.

Do you want extra storage for bedding?

The one big advantage that a corner sofa bed has over a regular sofa bed is that more often than not they will have a large amount of space that you can store bedding in. Although some sofa beds do offer this as an option it will come at the expense of the comfortableness of the bed. If the sofa bed you are looking for allows for storage of bedding then it will probably not have a very thick mattress. A corner sofa bed with storage however has the ‘other’ seats available where you can store pillows, duvets and even guest towels if you so wished and the bed mechanism will then be stored under the other seats. This allows a generous amount of space for a good quality thick mattress.

Do you want to have a generous sleeping area?

Corner sofa beds do tend to offer a much larger sleeping space compared to the non-corner type of sofa bed. Obviously they will take up more room as a sofa – but if you are opting for a corner sofa anyway then you have probably already thought about the space requirements. If you regularly have the same guest over to stay then you may as well make them as comfortable as possible.

What type of sofabed action do you want?

There are at least ten different mechanisms available for sofa beds but the three most popular are:

• A 3-fold metal action
• A slide and lift mechanism
• A modular pouf and sofa

Which mechanism you decide upon will be largely dictated by how often you expect the bed to be used. If you frequently have guests over and expect the bed to be used one or two times per month then the 3 fold metal action may well be the best option. Similar to the traditional camp bed, it is a tried and tested method of providing a stable and supportive sleeping area, you may think that this doesn’t seem very sophisticated but what you should really be worried about is the mattress that will sit on top of the system as this is the main point of contact for any guests.

The second method of turning the sofa in to a bed is that of the slide and lift mechanism and It’s a very slick and easy mechanism to use. When it is unfolded it provides as good as support as the 3-fold mechanism however it’s sophistication means that there is much more to go wring with it. That said if you are only going to be using your corner sofa bed a couple of times a year then there is certainly nothing wrong with this option at all.

The third main action for creating a bed from a sofa is comes in the form of a modular sofa that comes with a pouf. It is the least sophisticated method of creating a sofa bed. Effectively the pouf fills in the gap in the ’L’ which in turn makes the sofa in to a rectangle and consequently a bed. There is certainly nothing to go wrong with this option but what you do need to consider is the material that the sofa is made from. The pouf being a fixed element will not be able to be turned over for people to sleep on so you may have to take in to consideration the wear and tear of the fabric. A leather corner sofa bed that also has a leather pouf would be a much better material to use if this was the type of bed mechanism that you wanted. The main draw back to this type of sofa is that you obviously need a pouf so when the bed is not made up – which most of the time is not – then where are you going to put the pouf?

Hopefully this short guide will have given you something to think about and allow you to make an informed decision when you are out shopping for a corner sofa bed.

Choosing a sofa can be a costly and time consuming business. There are so many choices out there to confuse; it can be a mental mind field to ensure that you choose the right one. The requirements as individuals that we specify can be a long endless list so that the sofa will be suitable for our particular families needs.
 
If space is an issue though, you may want to consider a 2 seater sofa – either one that can double up as a sofa bed or one that just serves the simple purpose of a seating solution. 2 seater sofas can be the ideal solution to your space saving needs and would slot in to a small space more comfortably than a cumbersome 3 seater sofa. Other options you could have are perhaps to buy a 2 x 2 seater sofa – These can be split up and placed in different spaces or rooms and brought together when required.
 
In order to save you more time on researching LiveIn|LiveOut have done that for you, and  have come up with a list of the top five producers of 2 seater sofas. We have included in this list a range of companies spanning from the U.K across Europe and worldwide in order for you to find quality and reasonable pricings. I have also added to this list, examples of companies that specify in 2 seater sofa beds and I have also tried to keep the styling varied to help a wider span of people. We hope that you find this useful.
 

IKEA

If you are looking for a cost effective solution I would always start by looking at IKEA. IKEA have recently had bad press in terms of making your home look over ‘IKEAed’ but with a bit of selective choice, this retail giant can provide you with comfortable 2 seater sofas at a reasonable price. I would however suggest that you drop by to your local store and try them out for comfort, as you cannot guarantee comfort over the internet. IKEA is a great place to begin your search, and here you have a choice of various styles and materials so that it will be easier to find the perfect solution for your needs. Choices of 2 seater leather sofas and 2 seater sofa beds are on offer, so get yourself to your local store. Stores are world wide.
 

DFS

DFS was established 40 years ago and is a successful and growing business, which is now the largest company of its kind in Europe. It prides itself on its quality products and offer a great range of different styles of sofa. Whatever type you are looking for – no matter how strange DFS will endeavour to source the correct piece of furniture for you. The website offers you ranges from corner sofas, leather and fabric or a mixture of both, varying colours and styles, modular, recliners and sofa beds. You are sure to find something suitable for your needs here. It may be worth a trip to your local store again if you find something on their site of interest to you, as in store they constantly have offers and many money saving options for you to take advantage of. The best thing to do is to use the internet as a starting block for your research, and then visit the selected store to try it out for comfort.
 

John Lewis

Here at John Lewis you can be assured of quality and comfort. You will find many if not all of the leather sofas are hand made from Italian leather and will come with a more prestigious price tag. Buying from a reputable company will offer you peace of mind and the delivery service is an added bonus. You may find the sofas in store for you to have a look at, but again first start your research at home to find the correct style. In the leather section there is a beautifully designed red leather retro sofa which is specific to their online purchases but again, you will find design at its finest and if you are thinking of investing in a well made piece of furniture you must stop by and have a glance at their choices.

 
The Chesterfield Company

If you are looking for style, tradition, class and comfort all bound together by well trained English craftsmen then look at The Chesterfield Company based in Manchester, England. These iconic British masterpieces have been reproduced using the traditional styling of the 1800s. On this site they have branched out and supply to all over the world a range of traditional and contemporary designs to fit in with your personal choice of décor. You also have the option of returning it within 7 days if you are not completely satisfied. They will give every customer a personal service and endeavour to keep the British name of Chesterfield a great one. If you are looking for either a 2 seater leather sofa that combines British heritage with style then be sure to check out this site.
 

The Futon Company

If you are looking for specifically a 2 seater sofa bed then you will be well advised to check out this company. The products are well made and have a contemporary, conservatory feel about them. The style is Scandinavian and they have heavily put a lot of emphasis on wood as a material. Their key requirements are (as the name describes) the fact that a sofa or seat can be doubled up to be used as a sofa bed or futon.

Corner sofas can really transform the appearance of your home from bland and boring to fantastic, but you really need to be careful when choosing a corner sofa for your home. LiveIn|LiveOut has five tips for you to consider when buying the corner sofa of your dreams.

Choosing a Corner Sofa: Tip1 – Left or Right Handed

If this is the first time you’ve looked at info on picking the right sofa for your home you may be surprised to learn that they come in left hand and right hand versions – and this point is critical for choosing the right corner sofa. This may leave you feeling a bit confused but it really is simple, when you are sat on the sofa, do you want the piece that sticks out to be on you left side or right side? I would suggest that you look at the layout of your room before you make the decision.

Choosing a Corner Sofa: Tip 2 – Leather or Cloth

What do you want the sofa to be made from? If you know that your sofa will be getting a lot of use but you still want it to stand the test of time, I would highly recommend that you get a leather corner sofa. If you have children or pets then a leather corner sofa is certainly the most practical option for you – leather is easily kept clean by giving it a wipe with a damp cloth, and because of it strong durable nature it cannot easily be snagged by pets claws. Leather comes in a huge variety of colours so you should be able to easily find a sofa that matches your interior.

If you are looking for a sofa that isn’t going to get a lot of heavy use though – or you know it is not going to be used by children or pets – there are some very nice cloth based sofas. Cloth/material sofas come in a wider variety of styles than leather sofas cloth comes in various textures and patterns. Do be careful however when choosing a patterned sofa as it is more difficult to match it with the style of your home.

Choosing a Corner Sofa: Tip 3 – Sofa Bed?

Nowadays any sofa does not just need to be a sofa and you will find that many sofas also come as sofa beds. If you do not have much room in your home but do have guests then looking for a sofa that can convert to a bed would be a great option. Many of the corner sofas that convert to beds will also store the bedding and therefore are a very efficient use of space. The way that a corner sofa bed will convert are numerous so be sure to visit a shop and check out the mechanism to insure that you are totally happy with it before you part with your cash.

Choosing a Corner Sofa: Tip 4 – Modularity

Some corner sofas will be modular, so if you are the type of person that likes to change around your living space frequently then a modular corner sofa may well be the ideal choice for you. Usually the arms of the sofa will bolt on so that you can swap the side of the arm and therefore whether the sofa is left or right handed. Having a modular sofa also makes it much easier to transport and to get in and out of small places, therefore if you are currently renting and are thinking about moving soon then you should perhaps consider a modular sofa.

Choosing a Corner Sofa: Tip 5 – Curved or L Shaped?

The style of corner sofas vary dramatically but it is fairly safe to say that the majority of corner sofas are modern and contemporary in style. However, how they actually create a corner can vary dramatically, for example, some corner sofas can curve around to create the corner but the majority will merely be formed by a right angle. If you only have a limited amount of room in your home then you will more than likely have to opt for the right angle type of corner sofa as these are a much more efficient use of space. If however you have a large room or your home is open plan in design than a large sweeping curved sofa can make a real statement and look fantastic.

These five tips on choosing a corner sofa will hopefully point you in the right direction in choosing the perfect sofa for your home. Most corner sofas are a great use of space and create a homely atmosphere for when you have guests or sit down in an evening as a family.

String lights transform a space. They turn plain, boring and uninteresting into a magical atmosphere. They are easy to install, cheap to run and look fantastic in whatever way you chose to use them. They were once reserved for Christmas and festive use but they have proved so popular that they are now used year round. LiveIn|LiveOut have taken a look at how you can get some string lights in to your home.

Four ideas for string lights in your home

1. Think of any dark corner in any room that needs a bit of a lift and perhaps place them into a large, tall glass vase. This adds instant glamour because you will find that in a glass the light tends to reflect around the material and looks simply stunning. It is best to use battery operated string lights for this purpose, as you will not be able to see the power source quite so easily once the string is bundled into the vase. Not having a cable going to an illuminated vase only enhances its beauty.
2. Why not add them to a bunch of willow? This looks amazing propped up in a corner adding interest to a porch, bathroom or bare corner of a living room. If where you choose to use them does not have a power point near by such as in the bathroom the battery powered option would be better.
3. Another way you could display your string lights is in your houseplants. This will require some of you more hardy plants and nothing too weak. Even though LED string lights are lighter in weight you will have to concentrate the majority of the weight around the ‘trunk’ or ‘stalk’ of the plant just so it doesn’t add too much strain on them.
4. String lights are great idea to add some fun into your child’s room. Children are visual and highly sensory beings when they are young. They learn and respond to lighting, so a simple and relatively cheap way of adding some creativity into their lives is to place some string lights around the room. The lights will create shapes on the walls giving your child hours of enjoyment and a sense of wonder … LED string lights are low heat so they are safer around small people. You can get them in a myriad of colours and they also come in a colour changing option. Great to stimulate those senses and relax the baby at night so you can have a better nights sleep. Do bare in mind though that any type of cord or string is a potential hazard for young children, so do make sure that they a fixed safely and securely out of reach.
   

Four ideas for string lights in your garden

1. For outdoor use you simply cannot beat solar string lights. The fact that they do not need to be plugged in, or have batteries gives you instant flexibility on where you can place them.Like inside the home, string lights look great in a feature plant or tree out of the front of your home and will add a bit of interest not only to the front of your home but also the entire street. Solar lighting does tend to take on more of a white/blue light as opposed to a more ambient warmer white light – but these can be purchased if you specifically require them but you will find that they cost a little more than the wired versions.
2. Another great place to put some string lighting is around your patio area. It is somewhere you like to sit and enjoy your garden so why not create more of an ambiance by some beautiful lighting solutions. Patio string lights like all types of outdoor lighting would be specifically for outdoor purposes and these are a little more expensive as they need to be of a certain IP rating (an IP rating general dictates how waterproof an electrical product is). You could perhaps wrap these around your table umbrella in order to create a perfect setting for those cosy summer nights watching the sun go down – you can even get dedicated patio umbrella lights.
3. The third place that you could put outdoor string lights would be in a pergola or archway. Delicate paper lantern type string lights do not have to cost a fortune and really enhance your garden.
4. Willow and reed screens have become very popular in recent years but at night their beauty is lost. If you can get small enough string lights you can poke them in between the willow sticks from behind so that they create a beautiful starry effect at night. This is possibly may favourite use of outdoor string lights.

Ideas for different types of string lights

Now that you have some ideas of how you might use string lights in and around your home, lets take a look at the different types of string lights there are available. You may or may not be aware that there is a multitude of different shapes, sizes, lengths and looks of string lighting on today’s market that are suitable for both indoor and outdoor usage.

I know that if you were looking at creating a Japanese feel into your garden you may want to get some paper lantern string lights – obviously if they are to be used outdoors look for the plastic/ paper look material! These are great – they look colourful and stylish adding sophistication into your space. I recently went to a home show and saw a fairly new design that looked like a string of lit leaves; they were beautiful and came in a fair few colours to match any interior.

If you are looking for a softer option for your bedroom, feathered string lights are in fashion. They look feminine and pretty and simply look at home draped over your mirror. Tube rope light is another option taking on a spaceier feel. The tubing is less unobtrusive during the day as it is clear rather that having lengths of wire cluttering up your home – at night they come to life casting a rather spectacular glow around the room.