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When it comes to renovating your home, the kitchen is the biggy, and can be a real money pit. My top advice would be, if you your home is yo... -
I love Etsy for home decor, gifts and seasonal decorations. This year it's more important than ever to support small businesses where w...
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When it comes to home decor for me the devil is in the detail. When remodeling or decorating a space it's best to plan and research. I have notebooks full of plans, drawings and lists from when we did our kitchen. Not achieving the finish you want is not only frustrating but can be costly to rectify. Stripping back a space is the perfect time to make sure everything is perfect, you may as well get all the mess out the way in one go, this is the time to have electrics moved or added or light fittings changed. It's not just about choosing paint colours or wallpaper think about how you are using the room, do you need more sockets, do you want spot lights or statement light fittings.
The little details count, even if you are just decorating a room think about and plan what finish you want for your switches and sockets match them to other finishes in your home for a cohesive look. We had Black nickel sockets and switches added in our kitchen remodel and we planned to take that same finish throughout the home, which is now what we have done. Also think about door handles and carpet door bars. We are planning on changing the doors and handles throughout our home, to oak doors with black handles like we have in the kitchen. The room thresholds will also be changed from brass to a complimentary finish. Its the small things that make a space look thought out and cohesive.
It doesn't have to be expensive to add these all important details with switches and sockets from Elesi starting at £6.95 you can change all the fittings in one go or do a room at a time. We have been really impressed with the finish and my husband had no issues fitting them.
A mood board or scrapbook is a great way to plan your room as well as lists. I have lists, paint charts and fabric swatches coming out of my ears, but find them super helpful when planning decorating in my home. Pinterest and Instagram are great for inspiration and can really help you solidify ideas and plans.
Home decor it's all in the detail
Ad/ gifted products
When it comes to home decor for me the devil is in the detail. When remodeling or decorating a space it's best to plan and research. I have notebooks full of plans, drawings and lists from when we did our kitchen. Not achieving the finish you want is not only frustrating but can be costly to rectify. Stripping back a space is the perfect time to make sure everything is perfect, you may as well get all the mess out the way in one go, this is the time to have electrics moved or added or light fittings changed. It's not just about choosing paint colours or wallpaper think about how you are using the room, do you need more sockets, do you want spot lights or statement light fittings.
The little details count, even if you are just decorating a room think about and plan what finish you want for your switches and sockets match them to other finishes in your home for a cohesive look. We had Black nickel sockets and switches added in our kitchen remodel and we planned to take that same finish throughout the home, which is now what we have done. Also think about door handles and carpet door bars. We are planning on changing the doors and handles throughout our home, to oak doors with black handles like we have in the kitchen. The room thresholds will also be changed from brass to a complimentary finish. Its the small things that make a space look thought out and cohesive.
It doesn't have to be expensive to add these all important details with switches and sockets from Elesi starting at £6.95 you can change all the fittings in one go or do a room at a time. We have been really impressed with the finish and my husband had no issues fitting them.
A mood board or scrapbook is a great way to plan your room as well as lists. I have lists, paint charts and fabric swatches coming out of my ears, but find them super helpful when planning decorating in my home. Pinterest and Instagram are great for inspiration and can really help you solidify ideas and plans.
Ad / sponsored post
Interior design and home decor has become big business and we all want a slice of style in our homes. Home decor and decorating equipment has been one of the big sellers of the last year, and it's no wonder, we can't look at social media without seeing gorgeously styled homes, and with TV shows too, interior design is everywhere.
So how can we make a visual impact in our homes with interior design?
Colour is the most obvious way to add real impact to a space, really think how you want the room to feel and function, also the dimensions of the space and whether the room gets plenty of light or not will really affect what works in your space. Dark colours can add real drama to a room, and can be used to bring in the dimensions of a large space to make it feel more welcoming and cosy, whether used on one wall , all four or whether you use the ceiling as a fifth wall, colour really counts. Of course if you want to create a calm, light room you may want to tone down the colour palette, neutrals are big news right now, so light and bright doesn't have to mean white. Oatmeal and biscuit shades add a restful feel to a room along with warmth meaning light spaces don't have to feel stark. Colour can also be used for zoning spaces, adding a colour block above a desk creates a work area, or maybe create a play area in a living room with zoned colour choices.
Lighting is an effective way to add visual impact to a room, and help to create the mood for a space, bright lights for tasks, like spotlights in the kitchen work for practical reasons, dimmed pendants or lamps work great in a dining room making a more informal relaxed space for enjoying a meal with friends. Lighting can also be used to draw attention to areas of the room, like an uplit statement plant or lamps to light up art works or photographs really make a visual statement in any room.
Art is a really personal way to add visual impact to any space, and can often be created easily by yourself without having to be particularly artistic. Slogan artwork is everywhere and is so easy to create yourself with Freebies from font bundles , make your own design with phrases that mean something to your family, and frame yourself at home for instant art at a fraction of the cost. Or maybe grab yourself a canvas and some paint samples and create your own abstract art, fun to do and an inexpensive way to make a statement in any room of the house.
Mirrors are fantastic way to add visual impact to any room. I love a bold mirror, I am coveting a large round one, just need to find a place to put it. Forget boring rectangular mirrors, think crittall designs, round or even freeform shaped mirrors that add style to your room and that's without the light and feeling of space a well placed mirror can create.
Textures can really create depth and visual impact in a room, for me soft furnishing can really bring a room to life. I'm a very tactile person and love the feel of plush fabrics like velvet on a sofa or a soft rug under foot. Adding layers of textures is easy with soft furnishings like cushions, blankets and throws, they really elevate a space and add the all important cosy factor.
5 ways to make a visual impact with interior design
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Interior design and home decor has become big business and we all want a slice of style in our homes. Home decor and decorating equipment has been one of the big sellers of the last year, and it's no wonder, we can't look at social media without seeing gorgeously styled homes, and with TV shows too, interior design is everywhere.
So how can we make a visual impact in our homes with interior design?
Colour is the most obvious way to add real impact to a space, really think how you want the room to feel and function, also the dimensions of the space and whether the room gets plenty of light or not will really affect what works in your space. Dark colours can add real drama to a room, and can be used to bring in the dimensions of a large space to make it feel more welcoming and cosy, whether used on one wall , all four or whether you use the ceiling as a fifth wall, colour really counts. Of course if you want to create a calm, light room you may want to tone down the colour palette, neutrals are big news right now, so light and bright doesn't have to mean white. Oatmeal and biscuit shades add a restful feel to a room along with warmth meaning light spaces don't have to feel stark. Colour can also be used for zoning spaces, adding a colour block above a desk creates a work area, or maybe create a play area in a living room with zoned colour choices.
Lighting is an effective way to add visual impact to a room, and help to create the mood for a space, bright lights for tasks, like spotlights in the kitchen work for practical reasons, dimmed pendants or lamps work great in a dining room making a more informal relaxed space for enjoying a meal with friends. Lighting can also be used to draw attention to areas of the room, like an uplit statement plant or lamps to light up art works or photographs really make a visual statement in any room.
Art is a really personal way to add visual impact to any space, and can often be created easily by yourself without having to be particularly artistic. Slogan artwork is everywhere and is so easy to create yourself with Freebies from font bundles , make your own design with phrases that mean something to your family, and frame yourself at home for instant art at a fraction of the cost. Or maybe grab yourself a canvas and some paint samples and create your own abstract art, fun to do and an inexpensive way to make a statement in any room of the house.
Mirrors are fantastic way to add visual impact to any room. I love a bold mirror, I am coveting a large round one, just need to find a place to put it. Forget boring rectangular mirrors, think crittall designs, round or even freeform shaped mirrors that add style to your room and that's without the light and feeling of space a well placed mirror can create.
Textures can really create depth and visual impact in a room, for me soft furnishing can really bring a room to life. I'm a very tactile person and love the feel of plush fabrics like velvet on a sofa or a soft rug under foot. Adding layers of textures is easy with soft furnishings like cushions, blankets and throws, they really elevate a space and add the all important cosy factor.
We have all been at home a lot this last year, I for one get bored of my surroundings quickly but find a good faff and a few cheap updates can really make my house feel more homely. I'm not talking redecorating, or spending lots of money on furniture or décor, its all about inexpensive updates that will lift your spirits.
*Click to follow on bloglovin
- Plants, there is nothing like bringing living plants into your home to instantly add life to your space. You don't have to be particularly green fingered, just choose plants that are easy to take care of and right for your room, eg if you have a sunny room buy plants that enjoy light, or buy plants like succulents, cacti, aloa that require very little care. Garden center's or online plant sellers often have information about the best plants for your home and how to take care of them. You can even get app's that help you take care of your planty friends. If you really struggle with plants, fake it to you make it and buy faux plants, many of them are so good you would never know they are not real without close inspection. Try The Range, Matalan, Dunelm and Ikea for faux plants that wont break the bank.
- Scent is a great way to personalize your home, whether you use candles, wax melts or infusers, scent can really uplift your spirits and give your senses a boost. I love a selection of wax melts, I find them a great inexpensive way of changing up the scents I use in my home, without the commitment and price of a larger candle jar. Whiffywax sells tons of scents, so you can mix and match scents depending on your mood or the feeling you want to create. I also have a code giving you 20% off your order just use HOME20 at the checkout.
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- Flowers instantly make me feel happier, just an inexpensive bunch of tulips or some sunny daffodils in the kitchen windowsill can really brighten your space. Or of course you could splash out on a bouquet but its not necessary to spend a fortune on flowers, you can often pick them up at the market or when getting your grocery shop.
- Art is personal and really makes your house feel like you, filling a wall with prints that reflect your style can really add to your home. Art is also easily available these days to even those of us on a small budget with big brands like Desenio, posterlounge and Iamfy selling prints in loads of styles and a range of prices. More individual and unique pieces can be found from small businesses on Instagram and Etsy, I have discovered some great artists that way, I enjoy supporting a small business knowing my order is making a difference to someone.
- Photographs are the ultimate unique way to make your home more homely. Photos of our loved ones, or pictures taken on holidays really bring a space to life and just evoke happiness, especially when we may be missing family or travelling, bring the holiday to you and remember the beach, mountains or architecture you love.
5 inexpensive updates to instantly make you feel at home
We have all been at home a lot this last year, I for one get bored of my surroundings quickly but find a good faff and a few cheap updates can really make my house feel more homely. I'm not talking redecorating, or spending lots of money on furniture or décor, its all about inexpensive updates that will lift your spirits.
*Click to follow on bloglovin
- Plants, there is nothing like bringing living plants into your home to instantly add life to your space. You don't have to be particularly green fingered, just choose plants that are easy to take care of and right for your room, eg if you have a sunny room buy plants that enjoy light, or buy plants like succulents, cacti, aloa that require very little care. Garden center's or online plant sellers often have information about the best plants for your home and how to take care of them. You can even get app's that help you take care of your planty friends. If you really struggle with plants, fake it to you make it and buy faux plants, many of them are so good you would never know they are not real without close inspection. Try The Range, Matalan, Dunelm and Ikea for faux plants that wont break the bank.
- Scent is a great way to personalize your home, whether you use candles, wax melts or infusers, scent can really uplift your spirits and give your senses a boost. I love a selection of wax melts, I find them a great inexpensive way of changing up the scents I use in my home, without the commitment and price of a larger candle jar. Whiffywax sells tons of scents, so you can mix and match scents depending on your mood or the feeling you want to create. I also have a code giving you 20% off your order just use HOME20 at the checkout.
|
| PR Product |
- Flowers instantly make me feel happier, just an inexpensive bunch of tulips or some sunny daffodils in the kitchen windowsill can really brighten your space. Or of course you could splash out on a bouquet but its not necessary to spend a fortune on flowers, you can often pick them up at the market or when getting your grocery shop.
- Art is personal and really makes your house feel like you, filling a wall with prints that reflect your style can really add to your home. Art is also easily available these days to even those of us on a small budget with big brands like Desenio, posterlounge and Iamfy selling prints in loads of styles and a range of prices. More individual and unique pieces can be found from small businesses on Instagram and Etsy, I have discovered some great artists that way, I enjoy supporting a small business knowing my order is making a difference to someone.
- Photographs are the ultimate unique way to make your home more homely. Photos of our loved ones, or pictures taken on holidays really bring a space to life and just evoke happiness, especially when we may be missing family or travelling, bring the holiday to you and remember the beach, mountains or architecture you love.
While shopping in person for homeware is impossible at the moment, that need not stop us updating our homes with new pieces, lets face it most of us are spending more time at home at the moment so why not if you can, add some new bits and pieces to your environment to cheer up your space. You need not spend much a new vase for flowers in the kitchen can really make a difference, or new candles for the mantlepiece or maybe something pretty for your home office. So here are my favourites from Amazon currently in my wish list, Of course all reasonably priced, and most available on prime.
These stoneware type vases are having a moment and fit in perfectly with the trend for neutral decor. They would look amazing on open shelving in a living room or great on the kitchen table with a cheerful bunch of flowers picked up on the weekly shop. And a banging price for 2 vases.
I love the drama of classic candlesticks with tapered candles, of course they look amazing on the dining table, but also look great on a fireplace or shelving,
A product I absolutely love and use everyday is my Essential oil diffuser £32.99, I use it to help create a really calming atmosphere something we could all do with at the moment. I love the wood effect and white design, and the reassurance of the safety cutout if it runs out of water.
We all love storage and a basket or two never goes a miss, I have a couple of these felt baskets £13.69 under my side tables in my living room they are great for storing bits and bobs, I have candles, tealights and my endless supply of paint colour charts in mine. They would be great for storing craft items, like wool or crocheting bits, or even for kids bits n bobs.
Another basket I have got my eye on is this Stuff jute basket £11.99, how cute is it. I'm not sure where I would put it yet but I am tempted to order it !
Talking of jute, jute rugs £26.00 look great in a neutral design room, I have one in my conservatory which I love, and I'm annoyed it was much more expensive then this one.
I have had my eye on this Garden Trading Wash up caddy £19.99 for a while for my new kitchen, its sad I know but I keep thinking about it.
I hope you liked my picks and maybe you spotted something you would like for your home, let me know if you see anything you are temped by.
*Click to follow on bloglovin
*Affiliate links
These stoneware type vases are having a moment and fit in perfectly with the trend for neutral decor. They would look amazing on open shelving in a living room or great on the kitchen table with a cheerful bunch of flowers picked up on the weekly shop. And a banging price for 2 vases.
£24.99
I love these black candlesticks, £14.99 but if you prefer gold £17.95 this set is also lush.
We all love storage and a basket or two never goes a miss, I have a couple of these felt baskets £13.69 under my side tables in my living room they are great for storing bits and bobs, I have candles, tealights and my endless supply of paint colour charts in mine. They would be great for storing craft items, like wool or crocheting bits, or even for kids bits n bobs.
Another basket I have got my eye on is this Stuff jute basket £11.99, how cute is it. I'm not sure where I would put it yet but I am tempted to order it !
Talking of jute, jute rugs £26.00 look great in a neutral design room, I have one in my conservatory which I love, and I'm annoyed it was much more expensive then this one.
A kitchenware brand I just discovered on Instagram sells the most amazing colourful pieces. I am obsessed with the teapots £22.59 which come in a range of shades and would be a real statement in any kitchen.
I have had my eye on this Garden Trading Wash up caddy £19.99 for a while for my new kitchen, its sad I know but I keep thinking about it.
I hope you liked my picks and maybe you spotted something you would like for your home, let me know if you see anything you are temped by.
My top Amazon homeware picks
While shopping in person for homeware is impossible at the moment, that need not stop us updating our homes with new pieces, lets face it most of us are spending more time at home at the moment so why not if you can, add some new bits and pieces to your environment to cheer up your space. You need not spend much a new vase for flowers in the kitchen can really make a difference, or new candles for the mantlepiece or maybe something pretty for your home office. So here are my favourites from Amazon currently in my wish list, Of course all reasonably priced, and most available on prime.
These stoneware type vases are having a moment and fit in perfectly with the trend for neutral decor. They would look amazing on open shelving in a living room or great on the kitchen table with a cheerful bunch of flowers picked up on the weekly shop. And a banging price for 2 vases.
I love the drama of classic candlesticks with tapered candles, of course they look amazing on the dining table, but also look great on a fireplace or shelving,
A product I absolutely love and use everyday is my Essential oil diffuser £32.99, I use it to help create a really calming atmosphere something we could all do with at the moment. I love the wood effect and white design, and the reassurance of the safety cutout if it runs out of water.
We all love storage and a basket or two never goes a miss, I have a couple of these felt baskets £13.69 under my side tables in my living room they are great for storing bits and bobs, I have candles, tealights and my endless supply of paint colour charts in mine. They would be great for storing craft items, like wool or crocheting bits, or even for kids bits n bobs.
Another basket I have got my eye on is this Stuff jute basket £11.99, how cute is it. I'm not sure where I would put it yet but I am tempted to order it !
Talking of jute, jute rugs £26.00 look great in a neutral design room, I have one in my conservatory which I love, and I'm annoyed it was much more expensive then this one.
I have had my eye on this Garden Trading Wash up caddy £19.99 for a while for my new kitchen, its sad I know but I keep thinking about it.
I hope you liked my picks and maybe you spotted something you would like for your home, let me know if you see anything you are temped by.
*Click to follow on bloglovin
*Affiliate links
These stoneware type vases are having a moment and fit in perfectly with the trend for neutral decor. They would look amazing on open shelving in a living room or great on the kitchen table with a cheerful bunch of flowers picked up on the weekly shop. And a banging price for 2 vases.
£24.99
I love these black candlesticks, £14.99 but if you prefer gold £17.95 this set is also lush.
We all love storage and a basket or two never goes a miss, I have a couple of these felt baskets £13.69 under my side tables in my living room they are great for storing bits and bobs, I have candles, tealights and my endless supply of paint colour charts in mine. They would be great for storing craft items, like wool or crocheting bits, or even for kids bits n bobs.
Another basket I have got my eye on is this Stuff jute basket £11.99, how cute is it. I'm not sure where I would put it yet but I am tempted to order it !
Talking of jute, jute rugs £26.00 look great in a neutral design room, I have one in my conservatory which I love, and I'm annoyed it was much more expensive then this one.
A kitchenware brand I just discovered on Instagram sells the most amazing colourful pieces. I am obsessed with the teapots £22.59 which come in a range of shades and would be a real statement in any kitchen.
I have had my eye on this Garden Trading Wash up caddy £19.99 for a while for my new kitchen, its sad I know but I keep thinking about it.
I hope you liked my picks and maybe you spotted something you would like for your home, let me know if you see anything you are temped by.
When it comes to renovating your home, the kitchen is the biggy, and can be a real money pit. My top advice would be, if you your home is your long term "forever" home like us, it is 100% worth spending the money and getting exactly what you want, you will be living with it for years to come, and long term it will no doubt add value to your home. If however your property is an investment property you plan on staying in only a few years, do not blow the budget as in the short term you may not see a return on your investment.
* For us the biggest chunk of our budget was spent on tradespeople, which as we had extensive work done to the room, including removal of a wall, new electrics, changes to plumping and plastering was not a surprise. However if you are planning a pretty straight forward, like for like remodel and you are DIY savvy you may be able to save yourself £££ by doing it yourself, although saying that always get in qualified people when it comes to electric and gas. Most of the large DIY chains sell kitchens that you can assemble and then install yourself at a fraction of the cost of employing someone to do it.
*When it comes to new kitchens the amount you can spend is infinite, so do your research. Think about what you want from the room and the look you want to achieve, and remember large show rooms cost money to run so expect to see that in the cost of your kitchen. We used Howdens who sell directly to trade only, and do not have sprawling show rooms to pay for, which I believe meant we could afford a quality kitchen. All units are delivered assembled which saves your builder time and you money.
* Worktops are a place you can save yourself serious money, laminate worktops come in loads of designs and effects and can save you a shed load of money compared to real wood or expensive granite or quartz. The quality these days is amazing, you can achieve a high end look without the price tag.
*Tiles is another area you can save money especially if your kitchen is a DIY kitchen on a budget. All the chains like wickes, b&q, homebase ect sell budget friendly tiles for a fraction of the price of more high end styles found in specialist tile shops and online. We went for a statement tile, but for us it was an expense we felt was worth it for the over all look achieved. Another way to keep the cost down, is to scale down the tiled area, and maybe only going for a splash back behind the hob, rather than tiles around the whole kitchen.
* Appliances, the chances are when replacing your kitchen you will need new appliances, but if you can reuse it will save you money, especially if you are on a small budget. If you do buy new ones, shop around, do your research, sometimes just a change in the model number will save you money, often newer models are more expensive with very little difference in performance. Don't get sucked in by website deals make sure that really is the best price you can buy that appliance for, often one companies deal is not a deal at all compared to another. I also saved money by using my Topcashback account when ordering my appliances and earnt myself nearly £100 back, so defiantly worth doing, as it's free money after all.
*Decorating is another place to save money, for starters do the painting yourself rather than using a decorator it will save you hundreds of pounds. Paint can be pricy but with the likes of valspar in b&q and the decorating centre online, you can have paint colours from more expensive brands mixed for a fraction of the cost. We used a valspar own colour and we love it, the colour is beautiful and the paint easy to work with.
*Decor is a place you can save serious pounds, vases and plant pots, faux plants and the like can all be picked up from stores like Matalan, H&M and TKmaxx for a few quid and will add style and personality to your room, without blowing the budget.
I hope this little guide was helpful, if you haven't read my other kitchen posts, I've added links Kitchen renovation reveal and Planning a kitchen renovation.
Join Topcashback and earn free £5 bonus, I love it, it costs nothing to use, just log into the topcashback website and click through to your chosen store ,shop as normal, and earn money on your purchases.
How to save money when renovating a kitchen
When it comes to renovating your home, the kitchen is the biggy, and can be a real money pit. My top advice would be, if you your home is your long term "forever" home like us, it is 100% worth spending the money and getting exactly what you want, you will be living with it for years to come, and long term it will no doubt add value to your home. If however your property is an investment property you plan on staying in only a few years, do not blow the budget as in the short term you may not see a return on your investment.
* For us the biggest chunk of our budget was spent on tradespeople, which as we had extensive work done to the room, including removal of a wall, new electrics, changes to plumping and plastering was not a surprise. However if you are planning a pretty straight forward, like for like remodel and you are DIY savvy you may be able to save yourself £££ by doing it yourself, although saying that always get in qualified people when it comes to electric and gas. Most of the large DIY chains sell kitchens that you can assemble and then install yourself at a fraction of the cost of employing someone to do it.
*When it comes to new kitchens the amount you can spend is infinite, so do your research. Think about what you want from the room and the look you want to achieve, and remember large show rooms cost money to run so expect to see that in the cost of your kitchen. We used Howdens who sell directly to trade only, and do not have sprawling show rooms to pay for, which I believe meant we could afford a quality kitchen. All units are delivered assembled which saves your builder time and you money.
* Worktops are a place you can save yourself serious money, laminate worktops come in loads of designs and effects and can save you a shed load of money compared to real wood or expensive granite or quartz. The quality these days is amazing, you can achieve a high end look without the price tag.
*Tiles is another area you can save money especially if your kitchen is a DIY kitchen on a budget. All the chains like wickes, b&q, homebase ect sell budget friendly tiles for a fraction of the price of more high end styles found in specialist tile shops and online. We went for a statement tile, but for us it was an expense we felt was worth it for the over all look achieved. Another way to keep the cost down, is to scale down the tiled area, and maybe only going for a splash back behind the hob, rather than tiles around the whole kitchen.
* Appliances, the chances are when replacing your kitchen you will need new appliances, but if you can reuse it will save you money, especially if you are on a small budget. If you do buy new ones, shop around, do your research, sometimes just a change in the model number will save you money, often newer models are more expensive with very little difference in performance. Don't get sucked in by website deals make sure that really is the best price you can buy that appliance for, often one companies deal is not a deal at all compared to another. I also saved money by using my Topcashback account when ordering my appliances and earnt myself nearly £100 back, so defiantly worth doing, as it's free money after all.
*Decorating is another place to save money, for starters do the painting yourself rather than using a decorator it will save you hundreds of pounds. Paint can be pricy but with the likes of valspar in b&q and the decorating centre online, you can have paint colours from more expensive brands mixed for a fraction of the cost. We used a valspar own colour and we love it, the colour is beautiful and the paint easy to work with.
*Decor is a place you can save serious pounds, vases and plant pots, faux plants and the like can all be picked up from stores like Matalan, H&M and TKmaxx for a few quid and will add style and personality to your room, without blowing the budget.
I hope this little guide was helpful, if you haven't read my other kitchen posts, I've added links Kitchen renovation reveal and Planning a kitchen renovation.
Join Topcashback and earn free £5 bonus, I love it, it costs nothing to use, just log into the topcashback website and click through to your chosen store ,shop as normal, and earn money on your purchases.
If you saw my last post you will know my kitchen renovation was finished right before Christmas, in case you missed it, I've linked it here for you Kitchen renovation reveal , check it out for plenty of before and after shots.
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In that post I promised to share my tips for planning a kitchen renovation project. My top tips are.........
- Research research research, a kitchen is a massive and expensive project and you don't want any costly mistakes. Really think about the style of kitchen you like, check out Instagram, Pinterest, kitchen brochures/websites and magazines for ideas. Do you want a sleek modern design or a more traditional look, how will the kitchen tie in with the age and style of your home. Also think how you use the room, are you a big cook or baker, or do you like to entertain all these factors will influence how you want your kitchen to look and function. One of the best tips I had was, choose something you love, not something high fashion or something safe, choose a design and colour scheme that reflect you, that way you will love your kitchen for years to come.
- Budget, in my experience however much you decide to spend you will need more, renovations sometime uncover issues which where not obvious in the planning stages. So make sure you cost the job up with quotes from your kitchen company, and builder than make sure you have a contingency fund that allows for those extras.
- Shop around for deals, especially when buying appliances, often the exact same product can be vastly different in price from different websites. Research the appliances and check out reviews, some items are worth spending more money on, for example we spent more money on the oven and hob, as we had specific requirements and ideas, but saved on the built in appliances like dishwasher and washing machine as they are behind a cupboard door, so it didn't matter to much on appearance, we just made sure they had the settings we would use most. Another good idea is to sign up to cashback websites, we used Topcashback and earnt money on many of our big kitchen buys.
- A good builder is a must when getting renovations and personal recommendations I think are the best way to find a good one. Ask friends and family for recommendations or maybe your kitchen supplier. Howdens help with finding a reputable builder in your area, and for us that was invaluable as Ken our builder was fantastic.
- Décor, once the hard part of choosing your kitchen is over, comes the fun part of decorating and styling your new room. Something I think people often forget is lighting, our room had one pendent light in the middle of the room, which was quite frankly useless. Our electrician fitted us spotlights in the ceiling meaning the room is now bright on even the darkest days, along side under cabinet lighting which is great for a more cosy feel of an evening, and perfect for popping on to make a cuppa or eating dinner. Tiles are a great way to add colour and personality to your kitchen. My pink tiles gave me some sleepless nights I can tell you, as many people scrunched there faces up when I told them I wanted pink tiles, but I am so glad I went with my instincts and got them because I love them, and I've had so many compliments. Our tiles came from porcelain superstore and I couldn't recommend them enough. Our tiles are excellent quality and we where able to order samples before commiting to a choice. We already plan to use them for our bathrooms and hallway. When it comes to styling your space the world is your oyster, with so many homeware stores offering kitchenware. I recommend Dunelm, for crockery and cutlery, Ikea for storage jars and containers and TKmaxx/homesense for one off cute things like vases, tea towels, ect. We also added shelves from Funky chunky furniture, in an oak shade to tie in with our flooring and door they make the perfect spot to display cute pieces that add personality to our room. Etsy is a great place to shop art and décor pieces, as well as H&M and Iamfy.
I hope you found this post helpful, let me know in the comments if you have any renovation plans for this year?
Planning a kitchen renovation
If you saw my last post you will know my kitchen renovation was finished right before Christmas, in case you missed it, I've linked it here for you Kitchen renovation reveal , check it out for plenty of before and after shots.
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In that post I promised to share my tips for planning a kitchen renovation project. My top tips are.........
- Research research research, a kitchen is a massive and expensive project and you don't want any costly mistakes. Really think about the style of kitchen you like, check out Instagram, Pinterest, kitchen brochures/websites and magazines for ideas. Do you want a sleek modern design or a more traditional look, how will the kitchen tie in with the age and style of your home. Also think how you use the room, are you a big cook or baker, or do you like to entertain all these factors will influence how you want your kitchen to look and function. One of the best tips I had was, choose something you love, not something high fashion or something safe, choose a design and colour scheme that reflect you, that way you will love your kitchen for years to come.
- Budget, in my experience however much you decide to spend you will need more, renovations sometime uncover issues which where not obvious in the planning stages. So make sure you cost the job up with quotes from your kitchen company, and builder than make sure you have a contingency fund that allows for those extras.
- Shop around for deals, especially when buying appliances, often the exact same product can be vastly different in price from different websites. Research the appliances and check out reviews, some items are worth spending more money on, for example we spent more money on the oven and hob, as we had specific requirements and ideas, but saved on the built in appliances like dishwasher and washing machine as they are behind a cupboard door, so it didn't matter to much on appearance, we just made sure they had the settings we would use most. Another good idea is to sign up to cashback websites, we used Topcashback and earnt money on many of our big kitchen buys.
- A good builder is a must when getting renovations and personal recommendations I think are the best way to find a good one. Ask friends and family for recommendations or maybe your kitchen supplier. Howdens help with finding a reputable builder in your area, and for us that was invaluable as Ken our builder was fantastic.
- Décor, once the hard part of choosing your kitchen is over, comes the fun part of decorating and styling your new room. Something I think people often forget is lighting, our room had one pendent light in the middle of the room, which was quite frankly useless. Our electrician fitted us spotlights in the ceiling meaning the room is now bright on even the darkest days, along side under cabinet lighting which is great for a more cosy feel of an evening, and perfect for popping on to make a cuppa or eating dinner. Tiles are a great way to add colour and personality to your kitchen. My pink tiles gave me some sleepless nights I can tell you, as many people scrunched there faces up when I told them I wanted pink tiles, but I am so glad I went with my instincts and got them because I love them, and I've had so many compliments. Our tiles came from porcelain superstore and I couldn't recommend them enough. Our tiles are excellent quality and we where able to order samples before commiting to a choice. We already plan to use them for our bathrooms and hallway. When it comes to styling your space the world is your oyster, with so many homeware stores offering kitchenware. I recommend Dunelm, for crockery and cutlery, Ikea for storage jars and containers and TKmaxx/homesense for one off cute things like vases, tea towels, ect. We also added shelves from Funky chunky furniture, in an oak shade to tie in with our flooring and door they make the perfect spot to display cute pieces that add personality to our room. Etsy is a great place to shop art and décor pieces, as well as H&M and Iamfy.
I hope you found this post helpful, let me know in the comments if you have any renovation plans for this year?
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I'm Kate, Lover of clothes, skincare, makeup and chocolate biscuits, reader, not necessarily in that order Want to work with me email at k8te1976@gmail.com
