Patterns

Geometric patterns are right on-trend and using them in the bedroom is a great way to give it an instant up-lift. Go for geometric patterns on wallpaper, bedding, the headboard cushions or curtains, but be selective about which of these you choose, having a pattern on all and you’re eyes and mind won’t stop racing around the room which is hardly conducive to getting a good nights sleep. Be bold though, don’t shy away from something more unusual and use patterns so that they work in your favour.

For example, bedroom curtains which have a repeat pattern travelling up the length (weft) of the fabric is a perfect way of making your window appear taller. The same principle also applies to narrow windows, choose a pattern that runs horizontally (warp) to make your windows look wider than they really are.

If you prefer plain bedding, and many people do, then you can use pattern on flooring. Area rugs with a bold pattern are great for giving a bedroom a new look. Use colours which compliment your room along with a geometric pattern to give a modern look which isn’t too overpowering or invasive.

Colours

Go for colours which are relaxing, they don’t have to be wishy-washy as bold greens and blues can be incredibly relaxing when they’re used in the right qualities. Blue curtains can look stunning next to base colours of white, cream or grey. White curtains are perfect for black and white monochromatic colour schemes, or go for black if you’re feeling bold or the bedroom needs a nod towards masculinity.

Theme

Go retro to bring a bedroom alive with bold geometrics, if you want to step back in time adopt an Art Deco style and use gorgeous geometric patterns inspired by this era.

There’s lots of ways you can perk up your bedroom; be bold and a little daring by trying something new such as bold geometrics. You never know it may just give you the impetus to try new styles in your other rooms.

Colours

Brighten up your home using colours associated with Summer sunshine. Warm reds, oranges and sunny yellows are ideal and can be teamed with soft creams or white for a fresh look.

Flooring

Fitted carpets are out and natural wood flooring is in. If you don’t have floor boards some of the laminate flooring options resemble natural flooring and are a good alternative. Add colour by way of area rugs if your floor space is large to break up the monotony.

Windows

Your choice of window dressing should compliment the style and theme of your room. Choose coloured curtains or Roman blinds which have a sunny look to them. Floral patterns are another effective way of bringing a touch of Summer into your home. Look for repeat patterns that travel up the weft of the ready made curtains to give the illusion of more height.

You also need to make sure that your window dressing lets as much natural daylight into the room as possible to give the feeling of bright Summer days even when the weather is miserable.

Walls

Wallpaper is back on-trend and is a great way of bringing a Summer feel to a room. If you use a patterned wallpaper be mindful when choosing patterned and coloured curtains as you don’t want to two to sit next to each other and vie for attention; they should sit comfortably next to one another to bring calm and harmony to the room.

Wall art is another great way of bring a fresh Summer look to a room. The latest floral images offer a range of designs and styles, so you’re bound to find one that suits the style of your room.

Soft Furnishings

Scatter cushions with Summer themed prints are an inexpensive way to bring a new look to a room. Choose colours, patterns and textures that tie in with your overall theme. Throws may no longer be needed for warmth but they add a pop of colour to a sofa or chair and are a great way to hide any blemishes or stains.

Floral fabrics for sofas and chairs will bring a touch of Summer into your home all year round. Bold prints are perfect for modern and contemporary homes while chintz is ideal for a traditional home.

Smooth Landings

Landings are a great place to use as a home office, more especially if you have a window. This space is generally used and although not the most spacious of places a chic table placed in front of the window may be all the office space you need.

Under the Stairs

This is another area which can, with a little ingenuity, be transformed into office space. Do away with an existing cupboard to open up the space; you’ll be surprised just how much room you’ll have to put a table and some storage. As there’s no window make sure you provide plenty of light. Angle lamps are ideal for directing light where you need it most.

Crafty Cornering

Corners of living rooms or dining rooms are a great place to pop a small home office into. If you live in an older style of house which has a chimney and alcoves either side use the alcove nearest the window so that you have as much natural light as possible. It’s also wise to open the curtains as much as possible to maximise light; simply by extending your curtain poles or track you’ll be able to open the curtains fully. If this isn’t possible consider swapping ready made curtains for Roman blinds. High storage via shelving or a bookcase is the perfect way to keep things neat and tidy.

Sharing

Many people make space and share office space with another room. Making the division between the two can be a subtle as you like. Allocate one wall to show that distinction between the two may help you feel as if you’re going to work. If you want a more discreet approach use the same style and colours, you can also hide your office away when you’re not using it by housing your computer inside a cabinet which has a drop-down section.

Go Outside

If you really don’t have the space for an office inside your home then why not go outside? Sheds can make wonderful office spaces which give you plenty of room to move and plenty of light. You’ll need to install electricity if there’s no power supply in place and you’ll also have to ensure that the shed is water tight.

With a little imagination and clever thinking you’ll find that when needs must you’ll be able to find a place to put your home office without it cramping the style of your home.

Texture plays a vital role in the overall looks and dynamics of a room whether you’re aware of it or not. For example you may get the feeling that a room looks and feels flat and lifeless, this is most likely due to its lack or variation of textures. With wood and suede topping this year’s ‘must have’ material charts it’s a good idea to use these as a starting point.

Trendy eyelet curtains in suede or with a suede band are an easy way to introduce this tactile material into your home. Whether you opt for genuine suede or take the faux suede route is down to personal preferences, the latter providing an almost identical feel and look but being less expensive.

If you don’t fancy suede there are plenty of other tactile fabrics that will provide you with plenty of touch and visual experiences. Velvet has never really gone out of fashion and is perfect for full length curtains to provide a visual warmth along with a super-soft touch.

Other touchable fabrics include silk, faux silk, voile, organza and satin. Each have their own distinctive qualities and touch-ability factors. All can be used for window dressings and soft furnishings and bringing a mixture of these into your rooms is one way to stop it from looking flat and downright boring.

Wood is also returning ‘big-time’ into our homes. The trend is to use real wood from managed or sustainable sources rather than laminates or faux effect wood, but again this is down to personal choice and budget. Natural wood is the ideal medium to use for flooring and enables you to co-ordinate a room by using like-for-like woods for furniture, curtains poles, coffee tables, storage etc.

Opposites attract and this goes for textured materials, smooth silkiness sitting next to a hard surface such as a window casing, floor or table with provide you with an on-trend look which will stimulate your sense of touch and vision.

It’s not just the jewelled colours which can be introduced into your home, stunning patterns and rich materials should also be incorporated to get the look.

India inspired prints can be found on curtain fabrics as well as ready made curtains. Go for beautiful chartreuse if you’re not too keen on gold itself. Chartreuse is far gentler on the eye and with a pale cream pattern your windows will look sumptuous.

Paisley patterns will also work well with Indian inspired themes. Emerald green paisley pattern on a white background offers a fresh look with out being too overpowering. Use matching cushions to bring a sense of cohesion to the room.

Silk is an ideal fabric to give the taste of India, however, it can be a little slippery to work with if your making your own curtains or blinds. Using a lining fabric will give a little more stability but it may also make the silk less fluid which will spoil the whole effect. Try draping silk over curtain poles, you may have to use a fancy know or bow or the fabric will slide off, rather than making curtains with them. Teamed with a matching or contrasting lightweight Roman blinds your window will have a soft, dreamy look.

In bedrooms statement headboards are still very trendy, why not make your own in a shape that is representative of India. Cover it with co-ordinating fabric to match your bedroom curtains and bedding. Jewelled tones are perfect for these soft furnishing projects, ruby pink, pale sapphire blue, pale green peridot and of course emerald green will all look stunning when used either as an accent or your main base colour. A spattering of gold or silver could also be used to further enrich the look.

Embellishments should also be considered. Beaded tie-backs and fancy tassel tie-backs will lift the look of plain curtains, you could also attach a row of beads at the bottom of the curtains. This extra weight at the bottom will also help curtains to hang correctly.

1. Keep curtains in proportion.
You should choose a window treatment which fit in with the proportions of your rooms. For instance, if you have a room with a high ceiling and tall windows full lengths curtains will add elegance. Shorter length curtains will look out of proportion, as if you’ve skimped on the size which won’t do your window dressing any justice. If you do want to use a shorter length use a fabric with a bold central pattern which guides the eye to focus on this rather than the length.

2. Add a touch of glamour to plain curtains
If you want to use plain ready made curtains you can easily glam them up by adding your own detailing, such as a bottom boarder in a contrasting colour or fancy lace trims to compliment your bedding or wallpaper.

3. Instant up-dates
Curtain accessories are an affordable and effective way of giving your curtains a fresh new look. Fabric tie backs are ideal and provide you with endless opportunities to keep your curtains look on-trend. If you’ve always used fabric tie backs why not change to tassels or the latest metal hold backs which match a new metal curtain pole and end finials.

4. Go formal
Add plenty of volume to narrow windows by using luxury curtains with fancy headings. Alternatively you could use the trendy two layer look using different coloured sheer voile curtains. Gather them up in the centre and sweep them to one side rather than dividing them in two. This one-sided window dressing gives a decadent look which oozes chic style. You can also experiment a little further and team patterned curtains with sheers. Add a sheer panel to either side of the curtains for a classy look, this style works particularly well on large or bay windows.

Spring cleaning isn’t a new craze or fad, it’s been carried out for hundreds of years for exactly the same reasons as we do – the only difference is that we don’t have old straw to throw outside and for many of us we don’t have to content with sweeping chimneys and getting rid of coal dust.

So, when it comes to cleaning windows where do you start? We have some practical tips to guide you.

Step 1:
Take down your curtains or blinds. Decide whether you’re going to put them back up once cleaned or replace them with new or lighter weight curtains.

Step 2:
If your curtains need to be dry cleaned take them to the cleaners so that you don’t have to have bare windows for too long.

Step 3:
Thoroughly wash your windows inside and out. Do this on a cloudy morning or afternoon otherwise your cleaning solution will dry too quickly in the sun and leave streaks on your windows. The cleaning solution you use is a personal choice; you can use modern ready-made liquids or go down the tried and trusted route of vinegar diluted in water or washing-up liquid – there’s various options so it may be a matter of trial and error if you don’t already have a preferred method.

Step 4:
Wash down paintwork or PVC using the manufacturer’s recommended products or just plain soapy water. Don’t forget to open the windows to clean the places which are usually unseen.

Step 5:
If your ready made curtains or blinds aren’t sufficiently dirty to warrant washing or dry cleaning use the upholstery nozzle on your hoover to get rid of dust. If you have sheers or voile eyelet curtains try putting them in your tumble drier on a low setting with a fabric-conditioner sheet – they’ll come out dust free and smelling sweet.

Step 6:
Re-hang your curtains, drapes or blinds – some of the chemicals used in the dry cleaning process can be toxic so make sure you have the windows open to ventilate the room properly.

Follow these 6 easy steps and you’ll have clean window dressings in no time at all.

Contemporary and minimalist interiors see the use of bold stripes, typically black, white or red, to make the stripes stand out against a plain coloured background and make a statement within the room without them becoming visually disturbing.

Striped fabrics and wallpapers have been used from the early 1800s, with the Regency stripe being the most well known. These patterns weren’t just plain stripes many design alternated floral designs on one stripe while the stripe sitting next to it was plain. These same techniques are used today to keep striped fabrics up to-date. Variegated stripe widths are also popular and give the classical stripe a fresh, modern look..

The trend of mix and matching patterned fabrics also comes into play, as you can now use stripes next to florals or checks for example to create a stunning visual effect which oozes chic styling. Sherbet and candy coloured stripes are ideal for modern homes, children’s and teens rooms; while those with navy, red and white are perfect for rooms with a masculine feel or a nautical theme. Classical black and white, green and red or navy and cream offer an air of refined elegance.

The art of illusion is used throughout successful interior design. In the case of window dressings illusion is used to make small windows appear large, narrow ones wider, as well as being able to give the illusion of more height to a window.

Using curtains with vertical stripes will make windows appear taller as the eye is automatically drawn up the warp of the fabric. Curtains with a horizontal stripe can make narrow or small windows appear wider as the eye follows the weft and stripe line of the fabric.

Modern eyelet curtains are ideal for showing off vertical stripes. The natural wave effect pleats fall gracefully, following the stripes. Traditional ready made curtains with a pencil pleat heading can also produce this visual effect, however, you need to be a little careful as too many stripes side-by-side can make the stripes blurred and provide a visually pleasing look.

Using floral and botanical inspired fabrics undoubtedly brings a feminine and romantic touch to a room, but you can also use large bold prints with deep colours which nod towards the more masculine side without jeopardising the overall affect.

With Spring just around the corner floral curtains, cushions and throws will give a tired looking room an instant up-lift. Based around green, the most prevalent colour found in nature, you can bring a variety of different botanicals into the mix. If you don’t like floral fabrics per-se then opt for those which only have leaves and stems. Typically these types of patterns wend their way up the warp of the fabric and can be used to make curtains which can make windows appear taller and longer.

There are plenty of ready made curtains which have a botanical print which is particularly useful if you don’t want to make your own window dressings. In modern homes eyelet curtains are a great choice. The heading provides a wave effect pleat which is soft and gentle on the eye. For a more traditional style pencil pleat curtains are abundant and can be used in all styles of homes.

While talking about styles of homes we can mention here that it would be logical, and sensible, to choose a botanical print which is in keeping with your interior design style. For example, if you have an Arts & Crafts interior it doesn’t need us to tell you that William Morris prints are the most appropriate choices. In a modern and contemporary homes you can select patterns which are packed full of on-trend colours and even go for digital reproduced prints. While a more traditionally styled interior will look comfortable using the more usual floral prints.

In a nutshell, whatever the style of your interior and home you’ll find botanical prints to suit. You can use them abundantly throughout a room or just as subtle injections of colour; one thing’s for sure if you want to be on-trend you’ll need to use them somewhere in your home.

Facing direction
The direction your bedroom window faces can make a huge difference in the style and choice of fabric you make. As the sun rises in the East any window facing this direction will be brightly lit as the sun rises. If you don’t want to be woken at the crack of dawn heavy weight curtains or blackout curtains will reduce the intensity of light entering your bedroom in the morning.

On the other hand windows which face West can also have the problem of too much light during the evening, especially during the Summer months. Again, thick curtains, or medium weight curtains with a blackout lining can be useful in children’s bedrooms.

North facing windows tend to have less light; therefore if you don’t want total darkness opt for medium or lightweight curtains. They may also be cold as there’s little, if any, sunlight to warm them up. Thermal linings are one effective way to help keep a North facing bedroom warm, especially if they’re added to heavy weight curtains.

Finally South facing windows. These will provide you with plenty of light, but they can also cause heat build-up during the warmer times of the year – so you’ll need to consider ways of reducing the heat build-up. Closing the curtains during the day is one solution, but if you don’t want permanently closed curtains, blinds and curtains are a good window dressing option for windows which face South.

Town or country?
If you live in a town or city then light pollution may be responsible for you not getting a good night’s sleep. Use blackout linings and heavy fabrics for your bedroom curtains to cut out as much unwanted light as possible.

On the other hand those who live in the country may find that there bedroom is too dark, this can be scary for young children, if this is the case you’ll be able to use lightweight curtains will allow for moonlight to enter the room providing you with ‘free’ subtle lighting.

Great expectations
When choosing your bedroom curtains you have to be realistic. Voiles may be on-trend but if they don’t tick all the right boxes in terms of doing their job efficiently you may be disappointed. Weigh up all the pros and cons of each style and type of bedroom window treatment before you make your final decision.