In a previous post I hopefully helped you understand how colour can affect your mood and bring out your personality. If you haven’t read it, please click on the link below:

Colour can effect your mood in all sorts of ways

You should have a vague idea of what colours you are wanting to use in your home. The tricky part now is, how do you put them together to give a cohesive and flowing feel throughout your home?

Often people assume paint is the main factor when decorating a room, in fact it is as much about the colour of accessories, furniture and soft furnishings. You should always consider the contrast between them all. When painting a room, remember that paint looks a different colour in the shop than it is in your home, so always take a test sample home with you to try out before buying in quantity! Whatever you do though don’t worry about choosing the wrong colour, walls can easily be painted over.

When using bold and spicy colours, also known as ‘Active’ colours, keep them simple and in small doses so they are not competing. ‘Active’ colours such as yellow, orange and red will stand out in a room and dominate most other colours so should ideally be used against a neutral backdrop.

Using bold colours to achieve a visual effect can also be done by combining neutral colours with different textures, which can be just as visually stimulating. Also lighter, less saturated, natural colours will make a room seem larger than it is, whereas the deeper and more intense range of the spectrum will pull the walls in around you and give a cosier felling.

When mixing and matching colours, natural shades of greens and browns are by far the easiest to use, as you tend to find them in nature. If decorating with a brown colour scheme, adding plants and greenery will lighten up the feeling and bring life to your room.

A flowing feel of colour throughout your home creates a greater impact but can sometimes be quite difficult to achieve. However, simple touches such as using the same colour in the skirting boards and door surrounds can go a long way to pull it all together.

When you have large areas or objects to colour like floors and sofas that generally have a higher price associated. Keeping them neutral will help when tastes and fashions inevitably change. Painting over a few walls is always going to be more cost effective than changing a carpet or sofa. If you don’t have the time or energy to start painting again, the alternative option for your sofa would be loose covers, which are far cheaper than buying new and have the same effect.

People generally forget about ceilings so most often than not are just left white. If you do want to be different then using a lighter shade of the wall colour will usually work quite well, unless the ceiling is over 8 feet then use a darker shade.

Just remember getting used to a new room colour might take a few days. Once you start filling a room with other elements you’ll probably be pleasantly surprised to see that your new colours harmonise

Learn more tips here about how to choose a colour scheme here.

Read Part 1 here….

If you are thinking of buying a decorative rug either for your wall or floor, here are just a few things you might want to consider.

As colour takes on the most fundamental role in any decor, this should be your highest priority when choosing a rug for your home. If a room’s existing colour scheme is very bright and fussy the rug needs to be a controlling natural colour / design. On the other had, if you already have a natural scheme, a nice bright splash of colour and striking design will really make it the centre piece of any room. Sometimes a rug should enhance the existing decor and not stand out, using an already dominant or accent colouration will have this effect.

I’ve written a previous post about how using colour in a room affects you mood, which might be helpful in deciding your colours:

Colour can effect your mood in all sorts of ways

You might also want to consider how much wear and tear the rug will go through, if you have children or pets a darker and intricate patterned rug will fare far better over time. Just remember to make sure any patterns on the rug do not clash with those on the wall-paper or other soft-furnishings.

You might think that you can just go out and buy a rug without giving too much thought into the size and where exactly it fits into your room’s layout. This really depends on the purpose of the rug and which room it will belong. If you are planning on the rug covering the majority of the room then there should be the same amount of floor space on each side, even if the room is an irregular shape then it still needs to have some sort of symmetry.

There are some basic rules when adding rugs to certain rooms, take the lounge for example. If the rug is going to sit under a coffee table then the entire table should be on the run and all pieces of furniture set back from it at equal distances. You should always consider where a rug will be placed in a room in relation to everything else, as long as there symmetry generally you will be ok. If you find it hard visualising where the rug will site, use some masking tape to define the space and play around until you are comfortable with the position.

Just remember that there are a huge variety of styles, and sizes to fit any decor or budget. So make sure you find the right one before buying.

I’ve always thought of a rug to be something that is placed on the floor to add a touch of warmth and comfort along with an touch of colour to a room, even sometimes being more practical rather than decorative.

However there is a growing trend of using rugs as purely decorative features to revitalise a home by hanging them on walls, these are known as decorative rugs / wall hanging / tapestry. Generally having little or no practical value, these rugs are mostly exhibited on walls in the living room or bedroom but can also been used on beds and as table, chair and sofa covers. Although I would always have to recommend made to measure sofa covers if you wanted to restore an old sofa.

If searching online you’ll most likely come across many Persian or Oriental styled rugs from Asia and other countries such as Turkey, Iran & Egypt with a few modern and contemporary designs here and there. I would definitely recommend buying a rug made from natural materials such as silk and cotton not only for quality reasons but also they have less environmental impact. You could also find a number of companies producing bespoke rugs, which are great if you are looking for a specific design, colour or size.

Decorative Rugs can be a stunning addition to your home bringing dramatic effects to every room, you can even change them with seasonal fashions and take them with you when you move.

Use decorative rugs to spruce up your home - part 2

Vibrant colours often extend from nature and objects surrounding us from lush grassy green fields with radiant flowers to pillar box red post boxes and jet black skies with glaring white stars. Colour is something that surrounds us on a daily basis and does influence our lives and moods, I hope I can explain how you can bring certain colours into to your home to compliment your own personality and lifestyle.

Lets take the 9 popular colour groups:

Red - this is the colour we pay most attention to and is associated with several emotions such as love, desire & passion. When using red colours in the decor of a home they should be used as accents or dramatically in rooms that are seldom lived in. If you are a passionate person then the bedroom would be ideal!!

Yellow - most of the emotions evoked by yellow can be classed as positive such as joy, happiness, optimism & hope. Because yellow is a warm colour it often gives the sense of cosiness and hospitality to a room, which is great for casual interiors such as a day room or conservatory.

Orange - being a combination of yellow and red, orange is a warm colour but not as vibrant as red and as calming as yellow. Orange is good for expressing energy and can emote enthusiasm and flamboyancy, by also stimulating conversation orange is a great colour for any living room.

White - often white is seen as a representation of purity, cleanliness and peace but when used in the home it can enhance, energise and beautifully contrast with any other colour. White is the most versatile of all colours being a combination of them all, because of it’s reflective nature it gives a room a fresh, clean and airy feeling.

Pink - like red, pink is associated with love and desire but loses the raw passion red can induce. Romance is never far from this colour and always delivers feel good emotions.

Purple - as purple dye was initially made from the mucous gland of a snail it was only available to the very rich, hence representing royalty and notability. Nowadays, purple is still an exotic and mysterious colour sometimes being thought of as gloomy. Make sure if using purple to keep the tones rich and vibrant.

Green - often being referred to as the most favoured colour, green brings a calming influence to a room with some people giving it healing powers. Being a colour which represents the environment, green it is very much a colour of the moment.

Blue - you can’t get much cooler than blue, which represents peace, tranquillity & calm. Cool colours are seen as dignified and conservative so are more suitable for formal rooms. Blue is also considered a business colour as it reflects reliability.

Black - along with red, black is a very powerful colour bringing out strong emotions such as power, sexuality, sophistication, elegance and wealth. Again like red black should not be used in a dramatic sense but just to accent other colours.

Just remember, paint is only the first step to deciding colour of a room. The next steps are layers of colour with accessories such as upholstery, fabrics, rugs, curtains, loose sofa covers, lighting and plants etc…

When considering a new suite or reupholstery what is the most important question to ask?

For many people the top questions asked are…………

1. Why should I consider covers or reupholstery instead of buying new?
2. Can you cover my style of furniture?
3. Where can I see the finished product before I buy?
4. What is the difference between covers and reupholstery?

1. Why should I consider covers or reupholstery instead of buying new?
The idea of buying covers or reupholstery for your existing furniture is something that many people do not even consider. There is a real need for education here as many people see covers as a cheap stretchy product. In fact the the modern fitted cover in contemporary cotton and linen fabrics is a handcrafted masterpiece made to the exact shape of a piece of furniture.

This is not just cheaper than buying new but is also environmentally responsible.

Many people love their existing furniture but don’t want it to be drab or shabby. Loose covers are the perfect solution.

Reupholstery gives an even more fitted result as the fabric is actually attached to the furniture, cushions and springs are replaced and so on. The end result looks and feels quite literally like a brand new piece of furniture.

So much new furniture these days is of very poor quality. For many people, to consider keeping the furniture they already have and giving it a new lease of life really is worth considering.

2. Can you cover my style of furniture?

This is an easy one to answer. Plumbs can cover or reupholster anything, and probably have in their 45 year history

3. Where can I see the finished product before I buy?

There are thousands of Plumbs customers all over the country. For anyone who is interested we can arrange contact so you can get the full story from someone who has already bought.

There is also a full showroom in Preston plus various mini showrooms around the country.

Finally for those attending the BBC good homes show, please come and say hello - we’ll be there 11-15 June.

4. What is the difference between finest covers and reupholstery?

Finest covers cost a little more and are made from high quality natural, and man-made fabrics, have the look and feel of reupholstery and can be removed if necessary. The original furniture is unaffected.

Reupholstery is more invasive but arguably gives a better finished result. The process involves stripping away all the old fabric, checking the frame and springs, replacing old foams and then attaching the new choice of fabric to the frame.

Turn the sofa round today. You know the one that hasn’t moved in years. And move the chairs to face the garden.

Now Summer has arrived why not shake things up a bit and give your living room a lift. Fresh flowers in the window, and a couple of new cushion covers will make all the difference. What about paintings, photos and ornaments. Why not ask a friend round and have some fun moving things round. Try moving photos into groups rather than covering every surface. This helps make the room look less cluttered and more organised. A couple of scatters can be had for just a few pounds – try the clearance range at plumbscurtainshop website. Or you could get free accessories such as cushion covers when your order new suite covers. Plumbs are running this offer during June. Summer is such a great time for getting out and about with light nights and warm weather. Plus there are so many fabulous events to visit. Local shows, village fetes, friends and family. But it’s lovely too to create a fresh Summer look at home for when you need a rest.

Let the sunshine in and banish the boring same old look. Move that sofa to face the window, and have a great Summer.

Generally the whole look and feel of your dining room is dictated by the dining room furniture, as this usually quite costly and only replaced very few years but fashion changes every season. If you are thinking of buying new, you also have the added headache of moving everything around, possibly building the furniture from flat-pack and even getting rid of the old set.

Well there is a cheap alternative - Loose Dining Chair Covers! You don’t have to go to any trouble in looking, buying or removing any furniture. You can simply re-cover.

Loose Dining Chair Covers can give you dining room a brand new lease of life and give you to ability change the whole decor of the room far cheaper than if you bought new furniture. Also because of how easy it is to change these covers, you can change them for each season or to following the new fashions.

Plumbs have over 350 different fabrics available and 4 different make-up - click here to see the different make-ups.

All our dining chair covers are made to measure to ensure an exact fit to your dining chairs. Plumbs offer a free quotation, free measuring and free fitting service by a fully trained Home Consultant. The Home Consultants will bring along over 350 samples and swatches so that you can match them to your carpets, upholstery and wall colours.

Why not change you Dining Room decor today and request a visit from a Plumbs Home Consultant:

Click here to request a visit

There are many opinions on what will be hot or not in 2008 with probably many of the top designers arguing into 2009. However I hope some of these broad ideas might get your creative juices flowing and give you some inspiration for you home decor this year.

• Apparently no home this year can be considered hot without a wall mural, these “must have” accessories can dramatically change the whole feel of a room instantly. Don’t just go for the same designs everyone else gets either, most companies producing murals will offer a custom service which will allow you to use artwork, a photo or a landscape which is personal to you.
• Minimalism seems to be out this year, some of the worlds top designers say that cosy and over-stuffed comfortable furniture is in, so at long last we can now relax in our living rooms. Bright colourful rooms featuring antiques and upholstered furniture will create this look without sacrificing elegance or beauty. There are many second-hand shops and flea markets where you can pick up some really good antique sofas and chairs at relatively low cost. Even if the fabric is a little dated or worn, as long as the frame is of good quality (made of hardwood) then you can get the piece re-upholstered to suit any decor.
• As we all start to consider the environment and our carbon footprint, it is only natural this should be reflected in our homes. There are many ways in which home products can be re-cycled, re-used and re-furbished, from recovering your sofa in loose covers to using bamboo flooring in your kitchen or bathroom.
• Colour has a very important role to play in any home decor, it can be the difference between a house that flows from room to room complementing each other or a ghastly and possibly costly mistake which makes you curse each time you walk into a room. Both Asian and Spiced colour palettes will be big in 2008 with big influences coming from the Chinese Olympics. There may also be some unexpected colours and combinations such as browns with burgundy and deep purple with red, blue may also turn out be an unlikely candidate.
• Lighting can be just as important as colour to a room by changing how the room is viewed. Using accent lighting and multiple light sources to emphasise key decor highlights such as objects or architectural features will be a big trend this year. But remember to keep green and use energy efficient products.
• People will be looking to indulge their senses this year by adding difference textures into the home such as silks & velvets. Think of the different textures you can give your rugs, curtains, loose covers, sofa throws, scatter cushions and even wallpaper.

No matter what any of the industry expects say this year it is clear that there are many ways for you to make you home individual and personal but the environmental angle does seem to be an overriding factor.

New kitchens can cost an arm and a leg, and them some, which is great if you have a spare £10,000+ to spend. Most of us don’t especially with the current economic climate, so you’ll be surprised how a little bit of money and some elbow grease can go a long way. Here are a few tips on how you can give your kitchen a new lease of life without spending too much:

1. Paint - This must be the easiest and cheapest way to change the look of any room in your home and your kitchen is no exception. If you are fairly inexperienced at DIY like myself I would stick to just painting the walls, if like my kitchen you have limited wall space then changing the colour of the ceiling from that very popular white can make a dramatic difference.

However if you are more of a handy person around the house or have a little bit of money to pay a professional, you could go that extra step and have your cabinet fonts refinished in a different colour. Cabinets in colours can be very exciting in the kitchen: in postal blue, light pastels, whisper grey and sunny yellow can all create surprising results. Decorating magazines often show cabinets in spruce green, Navy blue and weathered or faux finishes.

One of the latest trends is to combine painting and staining in different areas of the same kitchen cabinets, or stain in two different colours. You are only limited by your imagination! If you are not sure which colour to select, your paint professional may offer colour consultations, or you may want to get advice from an interior designer.

2. Cabinet Refacing - To go another step from refinishing your cabinets, you could have them refaced. This will obviously cost more but is still less than a new kitchen.

3. Door knobs and Handles - Even if you aren’t changing the look of your cabinets you can still make a little difference by updating the styles of handles to a more contemporary look.

4. Worktops - This is another item that can make a huge difference but if you aren’t that handy at DIY can cost a lot to get a professional. Also the type of material will also make a huge difference to the cost, from natural stones like granite to tile and concrete.

5. Curtains - Apart from open-plan living room and kitchens it is very rare to find a kitchen without a window, kitchen curtains can be very affordable and easy to fit, even for us DIY novices. Curtains can be a good place to start when deciding on colour schemes from the walls to cabinets and accessories.

6. Accessories - There a wide variety of kitchen accessories you can use to make a nice kitchen into a great kitchen with pictures, plants, contrasting towels, rugs even a bowl of fruit. If you have glass panelled display cupboards, place decorative coloured objects to present a desired effect.

7. Dining Accessories - If you have a dining table in you kitchen or an open-plan dining room / kitchen, make use of accessories available such as table cloths and place mats. Dining chair covers are relatively in-expensive compared to buying new and can transform this area in a matter of minutes.

9. Flooring - One area that people tend to miss the most is floor and can be very easy to change depending on what you already have in place. You don’t have stick with the lino anymore, there are many other choices from Glass, Ceramic Rubber & Cork Tiles to Palmwood & Bamboo.

You don’t even need to follow all these ideas, just a few can achive that effect you are after.

As it’s now been 7 days since the start of spring and with the natural world bouncing back to life, now is the time to use some of this special energy to influence the decor of your home. Many of you will be aware of the influences seasons have on cat walk fashion but many of us don’t, for many reasons, reflect them in our home.

The main reason for this can be cost, however just as there are small changes you can do to give your appearance a touch of sparkle, like a new handbag or the new must have shoes without having to update you whole wardrobe. There are some DIY tricks you can use to pull off the same effect in your home.

Change that Colour

As the gloomy shades of winter melt into balmier, sunlit tones, a palette of soft greens, pinks and purples will reflect the hues of nature, while the brighter days mean you can go for coolers shades of blue and white.

Use those Accessories

Linda Hindle, a Director here at Plumbs and Granddaughter of the founder Thomas Plumbs, says “To really lift a room, try using sunny yellows and golds as they are really good for boosting your sprits. And remember you don’t have to re-paint the whole room to inject some colour, instead go for bold accessories such as curtains, cushions and throws, to get the look”

Make use of the natural sunlight

Make the most of the lengthening days by putting away heavy fabric curtains and opting instead for light draped gauzes in soft, shimmery colours.

Bring the natural world into your home

Spring is all about the re-emergence of nature, so why not let it show in your decor. Floral cushions and accessories are perfect for this time of year and are a great way to add that spring-time freshness. Look for bold geometric patters in stricking two-tone shades for a modern twist on a traditional look. Not only is this trend great for your home, it’s everywhere on the catwalk this season.

Old and New can work

In the name of spring, give some poor piece of well made furniture a new lease of life, if you look in most second hand shops or online and offline auctions there are many pretty pieces of furniture that could use a bit of TLC. You’d be surprised at what a bit of paint, varnish and some new fabric can do. Our craftsmen at here at Plumbs can repair, restore and re-upholster these pieces to their former vintage glory and and the same time bring them up to date using fresh new fabrics.

Brighten up your living room

Don’t put up with tired looking furniture in dark, winter fabrics but switch instead to bright cottons and linens for a much more airy feel. And by using made to measure loose covers on you sofas, chair or suites you can instantly transform your room.

Get rid of the clutter

Unnecessary junk is really draining on your energy and not very feng shui, so either get rid of it or store it somewhere out of sight. Linda, says: “I find that a pretty floor length table cloth is a useful way of hiding stuff underneath, it makes a feature out of necessity and you can change the cloth to create different effects.

So sweep out you fireplace, get rid of the winter ashes or candle displays and fill the spaces instead with big bright spring flower arrangements for that sweet smelling and finishing spring touch.