ideal place to store spare bedding, also providing a handy seat.
Children’s Rooms • Kids’ tastes change rapidly as they grow up so, unless you want to redecorate every few years, keep the walls, floors and major items of furniture relatively neutral, just changing accessories, such as rugs, cushion covers, bean bags, blinds and lamp shades, as necessary.
• Add interest to boring walls by covering them with blackboard paint, magnetic wallpaper, peg board, cork tiles, blown-up digital images, maps, flags or wall stickers.
• A high-level bed is great for providing extra space beneath for study, play or storage.
• Fit a dimmer switch so you can adjust the light level from bright for playing or reading to soft and calm at bedtime.
• Storage is all-important. Felt tips and paint brushes can be kept in old baby-milk tins, or any other large, washed-up tin, as long as it doesn’t have sharp edges. Cover in an offcut of wallpaper for a unified look. For storing tiny Lego sets and the like, plastic takeaway boxes, ice cream tubs or
shoe boxes are ideal.
Bathrooms • If you’re on a budget, invest more in the moving parts – taps, shower doors and bath screens – and save on a plain white suite, adding decorative appeal with tiles and attractive accessories.
• Wall-hung WCs and washbasins create the illusion of extra space.
• Hide pipework under floorboards or behind false walls – not forgetting to include access panels where necessary. You can punch shallow shelves into the studwork to create useful storage niches.
• A single light above your washbasin mirror creates really unflattering shadows. Try to fit lights on both sides instead.
• Design your shower so you can turn it on from outside, thus avoiding having to stand under a stream of cold water.
• Chosen a cast iron bath? Check it will fit up the stairs…
Main Image:
Galaxy square mirror with integrated lighting, £200, Astro Lighting: 01279 427001;
astrolighting.co.uk.
18
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44
