Ideal Home |
- Upcycled furniture ideas – 17 easy to do DIY revamps and repurposing projects
- You can now shop Poundland online! Everything we know about the new service
- See how this chest of drawers was transformed with lollipop sticks - it's genius!
- 8 best sofa beds 2021: the most stylish sleeper sofas around
- Kitchen island ideas to create a focal point for cooking, eating, socialising and even working
- 6 best chair beds 2021: Sit and sleep in style and comfort
- Sarah Beeny reveals her top tip to get the most out of a decorating budget
| Upcycled furniture ideas – 17 easy to do DIY revamps and repurposing projects Posted: 29 Apr 2021 08:40 AM PDT There’s a revolution happening in the world of interiors! The movement is one of upcycled furniture ideas to reduce waste and create a more sustainable future. Whether you call it revamping; repurposing; reclaiming; reimagining or salvaging it doesn’t matter, it’s all upcycling – the process of giving old furniture a new lease of life. So what exactly does upcycling mean? Who better to explains than the king of upcyclying himself, designer Max McMurdo. In his new book ‘Upcycling’ he explains, ‘The key part of the word ‘upcycling’ is UP – unlike recycling, which takes a material backwards in the chain to its original properties. Upcycling adds value to the item through clever design to make it more desirable, financially, aesthetically and emotionally.’
Upcycled furniture ideasAll it takes is a little imagination and a few simple tools to repurpose old to new – saving money and most importantly saving waste. From upcycling sideboards into fashionable statement pieces to making a bathroom vanity unit using an old table, there’s an easy to follow DIY project for all. Let our upcyled furniture ideas inspire your next DIY project… 1. Turn a plain sideboard into a captivating cane creation image credit: Furniture And Choice It’s hard to believe this was once a plain white sideboard?! This incredibly impressive transformation is the work of the team at Furniture And Choice who gave the cupboard a lick of paint, staple-gunned cane webbing to the back of the doors and changed the handles. Now it’s an incredibly stylish addition for any hallway, living room or even bedroom – and at a fraction of the price of buying a similar design from scratch. 2. Use a stencil to give old furniture a new look Image credit: Annie Sloan A sizeable piece of furniture is never cheap to buy new, so where possible try to recycle rather than replace. If you have an old sideboard or chest of drawers that is perfectly functional but perhaps no longer to your taste, consider giving it a makeover. A stencil is the perfect way to leave your own stamp in the process. View now: Countryside Bird Stencil, £12.95, Annie Sloane 3. Construct a table from salvaged scaffolding Image credit: Max McMurdo/Brent Darby Designer and upcycling expert Max McMurdo shares his brilliant Scaffold-board kitchen table idea.’I'm a huge fan of flat-pack and modular furniture – these scaffold fixings allow you to create your own’ he explains. The table is entirely constructed using scaffolding materials; the top is boards, the legs scaffold poles held together with scaffold mounts. ‘With just the twist of an Allen key (hex wrench) you can remove the legs of this table, offering flexibility and convenient storage. Scaffolding is designed to support the weight of a team of workers, so it lends itself particularly to table construction. The industrial aesthetic contrasts the rustic boards with the cool metal poles for a robust yet stylish dining solution.’ 4. Paint and wall-mount wooden boxes Image credit: Dan Duchars Packaging crates become so much more when you give them a coat of colour and wall-mount them – as this example shows! Use them to curate thoughtful wall displays or as bookshelves. Just be sure to secure them safely, don’t overload them if the wall fixings aren’t strong enough to take the weight. 5. Update old chairs with a splash of colour and pattern Image credit: Annie Sloan Look away now if you LOVE Mid-century furniture (sorry!). But if older design is not your thing, try updating any inherited old furniture with a touch of colour and pattern. Using a specialist furniture paint you can add personality to a wooden frame and give seats a new look with new upholstery – which is easy enough to do yourself with a staple gun. 6. Craft a side table using crates Image credit: Dan Duchars Stack wooden crates, one on top of the other, to create an alternative side table. The open element of the design is ideal for storing everything you’d need to stow neatly beside the bed, from books to sleep apparatus. The distressed nature of the wooden crates is stylish as it is, but that’s not to say you couldn’t gently sand them down and give them a coat of paint to suit your bedroom colour scheme. Attaching castors for feet allows easy movement and will reduce the imprint on the carpet. Because that’s never fun is it? Read: Lynsey Queen of Clean shares genius hack to remove furniture carpet dents using ice 7. Add playful patterns and colour to pieces for kids rooms Image credit: Douglas Gibb Perhaps you have a piece that has served you well for years in a living room or bedroom but you wish to give it a makeover fit for a child’s room. Painting patterns on the front of the drawers is enough to totally revamp the look. If you are artisitic you may be able to draw the patterns on first freehand, alternatively you can make a stencil using card or source one to buy. You can keep costs ultra low by using sample pots to carry out this savvy furniture makeover – making it cheerful and cheap at the same time. 8. Pretty up an heirloom wardrobe with a coat of pink paint Image credit: Heather Young Do you have an old wardrobe that could use some TLC? How about giving it a totally new look with a simple coat of paint? Let this fine example inspire your own DIY upcycling project. This wardrobe transformation is the work of Ideal Home’s Editor Heather Young who has upcycled an old family heirloom for her young daughter’s room.
A few coats of Frenchic furniture paint has totally transformed the outdated wardrobe into a vision in pretty pink. View now: Dusty Blush Al Fresco Paint, £17.95 for 750ml, Frenchic 9. Make your own washstand using an old table Image credit: David Giles Refitting a bathroom is an expensive job, therefore saving money where you can is a welcome bonus. If you can’t afford or even find an off-the-peg design that suits your space, why not consider repurposing a piece of furniture you already own? This gets the exact look you want and helps to cut costs. The first rule of thumb is choosing a piece which is solid and sturdy to support the weight of the basin – remember that it'll be much heavier once it's filled with water. This characterful vanity unit is simply a repurposed kitchen table but consoles, dressing tables and desks all make ideal bases for a basin. Find out more here: How to upcycle a vanity unit – to create a super-stylish piece of furniture 10. Save salvaged wood for shelving Image credit: David Giles Give simple storage extra finesse by using salvaged planks of wood to add character. Choose your desired length and cut to size before placing on wall brackets – which you can buy affordably from all good DIY retailers. 11. Give bedside tables a makeover Image credit: Laura Crombie @LauraCCrombie A set of bedside tables can go from bland to brilliant with a coat of pretty pink paint and new gold handles. Th paint of choice for this upcycling job is Frenchic, in a beautiful on-trend shade of Dusky Blush pink. We advise a light sanding then using a foam roller, apply a light first coat, being careful not to get any drips on the corners. Once this is fully dry, apply a second coat of paint.
12. Hang homemade storage hooks Image credit: Colin Poole Any piece of salvaged wood has the potential to be a stylish set of wall hooks. Allowing the beauty of layers of paint on a plank of old wood there’s no need to sand or treat, simply source hooks to suit your taste and attached them to the length of wood. Secure to the wall and store in style. 13. Build bespoke furniture solutions with offcuts Image credit: Colin Poole Bespoke furniture is always a great way of utilising awkward spaces, such as alcoves, but building on specification is not a cheap option. That is unless you are handy with DIY and can try your hand at an upcycling idea, such as this corner seating area. Using offcuts of wood from other projects, or sourcing wooden planks second hand, you can create a totally bespoke seating arrangement. Make comfy cushions using material scraps and wadding sourced from a local haberdashery. 14. Reuse a ladder for savvy storage Image credit: David Brittain Give an old unused ladder a new lease of life by repurposing it as simply storage. Ideal as extra storage in bathrooms for towels or in kitchens for tea towels and table runners, a simply ladder is an attractive solution for somewhere to hang textiles. Give the ladder a fresh coat of paint to coordinate with the walls, to make it seamlessly blend in with the decor. 15. Create a bathroom caddy out of an old pallet Image credit: Colin Poole Remove the top plank from a wooden pallet and attached it at the bottom to fashion an enclosed shelf – and hey presto, you have a cheap upcycled bathroom storage caddy. Due to teh nature of bathrooms being damp you are best to give the wood a coat of wood protection, to ensure it’s better suited for the humid environment. 16. Craft a coffee table using offcuts Image credit: Future PLC For this simple coffee table idea you'll need to cut a pallet in half, stack one piece on top of the other, then add offcuts to create a mosaic-effect wooden tabletop. Nail and glue together and just like that you have a low level coffee table for indoor or out. With the simple addition of castors the table becomes mobile. 17. Repurpose crates for savvy storage Image credit: James Merrell The ‘purpose’ is what makes this an upcyling project, you don’t have to do any work at such – unless you choose to give them a coat of fresh colour. Give a room a whole new savvy storage solution by upturning crates and mounting them to the wall. What paint should I use to upcycle furniture?The best paint to use to upcycle furniture is one that doesn’t require a primer and one that’s durable. Chalk paint is the primary paint for upcycling furniture thank to the winning qualities – chalk paint very rarely requires any preparation, such as sanding or priming, and can be used indoors or outside, on just about any surface. The most classic is the range at Annie Sloan, the original home of chalk paint for DIY projects. Artist Annie Sloan developed her unique furniture paint back in 1990, revolutionising the world of decorative painting at that time. But as our appetite for upcycling grows so does the paint offering. There are now several popular furniture paints we see time and time again used for upcycling projects. The one that has grown in popularity across social media is Frenchic Alfresco paint, as used by our Ideal Home team members above. What can you make out of old furniture?What can you make out of old furniture is best answered with what can’t you make out of old furniture. If you have the imagination pretty much anything is possible , as out ideas above prove. You can make old furniture look as good as new with a simple coat of paint. You can even use old furniture as planters and much more!
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| You can now shop Poundland online! Everything we know about the new service Posted: 29 Apr 2021 04:15 AM PDT Poundland is one of our go-to shops for bargain items for our homes, from oil burners to DIY tools. Now the discount retailer is trialling sales online.
So, what does this mean for us? Will we be able to shop Poundland online too?  Image credit: Alamy Not just yet, but we may not have too long to wait. It was announced this week that Poundland has launched a trial home delivery service to 18,000 lucky staff members and ‘selected guests’. Over 2,000 products will be available to order from Poundland for home delivery for the first time ever. The trial will be run at a store in Cannock, Staffordshire. ParcelHero says Poundland has been planning the service since last July. According to the home delivery experts, the real surprise is that Poundland has resisted online sales for so long.  Image credit: Alamy 'The pandemic has taken its toll on our town centres and there's no going back,’ says ParcelHero's Head of Consumer Research, David Jinks MILT. ‘17,500 chain stores have closed forever since Covid hit the UK and 46% of shoppers told us they will never return to their former High Street spending habits,’ he says. David adds that stores like Poundland, Primark and B&M, which don’t have an online service, must join the revolution or be lost along the way. Although this online trial is low-key, it shows potential for a big shift in how Poundland works as a business, with more of a digital presence. Poundland will also be trialling in-store click & collect and monetising its own website.  Image credit: Alamy Poundland has said the online service will be open to everyone in due course. ParcelHero expects to see it launched nationally within months, so watch this space. It might not be long until we can pick up our favourite cleaning products for some spring cleaning, and budget bathroom ideas online. Speaking of budget items, we recently shared Sarah Beeny’s top tip to get the most out of a decorating budget – and it’s super simple.
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| See how this chest of drawers was transformed with lollipop sticks - it's genius! Posted: 29 Apr 2021 04:00 AM PDT We’ve seen wardrobes updated with rattan panels and sideboards upcycled with wood batons – but this is the first time we’ve discovered a piece of furniture that’s been given a revamp with lollipop sticks!
Inspired by the trend for strip-wood furniture, 36-year-old science teacher Laura Deller decided to give her IKEA chest a fresh new look using a clever lollipop stick DIY hack. Not only does it look fabulous, but the whole make cost her less than £20! Bedford-based Laura has been busy renovating her home, a 70’s fixer-upper, and showed off the clever hack to her followers on Instagram where it went down a storm. The clever upcycler received over 14.3k likes and 680 comments! For more budget decorating ideas visit our dedicated gallery. Lollipop stick DIY hack Image credit: Laura Deller ‘I’d already given the chest a makeover once before,’ she says, ‘but I wanted to update it with a more textured, natural look this time.’ After removing all the handles on the drawers, Laura had a clean base on which to start – but what made her choose lolly sticks? ‘I decided to use a sustainable resource for the project,’ Laura tells us. ‘I wanted it to have a textured, natural look. I was after the look of strip wood, but at a fraction of the price.’ Applying the lolly sticks Image credit: Laura Deller Next up, Laura marked a centre line on the drawer front. She then added a thin layer of adhesive to each lolly stick in turn and placed it on the drawer front, at a 45-degree angle from the centre line. ‘I alternated positioning sticks either side of the centre line,’ she says. ‘You get a couple of minutes to reposition the sticks if you need to.’ Laura used a spirit level on the ends of the pattern to keep the herringbone formation straight. ‘When you get to the edges, lay your lollipop stick against the chest, mark it with a pencil and then cut it with sharp scissors to make it the right length,’ she says. Buy now: Unibond No More Nails White Grab adhesive, £4.50, B&Q Buy now: 1000 natural wood lollipop sticks, £8.90, Amazon Adding a border Image credit: Laura Deller Once you’ve finished all the herringbone pattern, it’s time to lay a flat border to edge the drawer front. Laura used a double row to edge all the way round on each drawer, cutting off the rounded ends of the lolly sticks. ‘You need patience in abundance,’ she says, ‘but it’s worth it.’ Finishing touchesUsing a sander, Laura smoothed the edges and fronts of the drawers, so there was no overhang or catches. ‘You could use a wood filler to grout inbetween the sticks if you wanted,’ she says. ‘I didn’t, but it’s personal choice.’ Lastly, Laura took some lip handles, sprayed them black and then attached them to the chest.  Image credit: Laura Deller Buy now: Billsbro handles, £4 for two, IKEA You’d never know that those drawer panels were lolly sticks would you? It looks totally unique and works well with Laura’s neutral colour palette, boho aesthetic and other natural textures in the room.
Laura’s Instagram is full of renovation news, interior decor and furniture upcycle ideas, and you can find her over at @houseproject_36 here. Will you be trying this hack at home? The post See how this chest of drawers was transformed with lollipop sticks - it's genius! appeared first on Ideal Home.  |
| 8 best sofa beds 2021: the most stylish sleeper sofas around Posted: 29 Apr 2021 02:00 AM PDT Looking for the best sofa beds available? We’re here to help with our round-up of the most stylish and comfortable sleeper sofas. Whether you’re searching for a spacious corner sofa bed that is comfortable enough for everyday use in the living room, a compact sleeper sofa to squeeze into the home office, or the most affordable option for conjuring up extra sleeping space in a guest bedroom or children’s playroom; we’ve narrowed down the options to help you find the best of the bunch. What is the most comfortable sofa bed?Before choosing the best sofa bed for you, it’s worth considering the two main types: Fold-out: A foam fold-out – where the sofa itself unfolds to become the sleeping surface – is usually the most affordable sofa bed option and generally takes up the least space. However, these designs can be very low to the ground and quite firm to sleep on. So although they’ll be fine for sprightly guests who are just staying for a night or two, they may not be the best option for elderly relatives or longer visits. Pull-out: A pull-out sofa bed generally features a raised bed base that pulls out from under the sofa cushions, leaving the back and arms of the sofa in place. This means the sleeping surface is higher from the ground – more like a traditional bed – but does mean the sofa bed is likely to take up more room. The mattress frame of a pull-out sleeper sofa can be a simple metal mesh or a sprung or wooden-slatted base for more comfort. It’s also important to be aware that there can be a big difference in mattress types and thicknesses between pull-out beds. How to choose from the best sofa bedsSo, what to consider when searching for the most comfortable option? Sofa size It may sound obvious, but it’s important to consider how much seating room your sofa bed needs to offer. If it’s not going to be your main living room sofa, then you can get away with a more compact version, but if it needs to seat the entire household on a daily basis then investing in a chaise sofa (that often also has hidden storage for bedding) or a corner sofa bed is probably a decision you’re not going to regret. Mattress size It’s also important to check the mattress measurements. Many sofa beds are marketed as doubles, and although they will fit two people, they can sometimes be a snug sleeping experience. So if you regularly have more than one guest staying at a time – and they stay for a good length of time in one go – they will thank you for opting for the roomiest sofa bed your budget allows. Sofa comfort If a sofa bed is going to get everyday use as your main seating, then, of course, it’s important it’s comfortable to sit on. As a rule, most sofa beds are going to feel a little firmer to sit on than the best sofas you can buy due to their hidden mechanisms. But, there are ways to increase comfort. The cheapest sofa beds are generally made of solid foam which is likely to provide the firmest sitting experience. If budget allows, then look for options that offer a sprung or webbed seating base, plus feather-wrapped cushions for extra comfort. Mattress comfort As with the sitting experience, a foam fold-out is likely to provide the firmest sleeping surface. A pull-out sofa bed can come with a range of different mattress types, including more affordable foam, and more comfortable – although generally higher priced – pocket-sprung or memory foam mattresses. It’s also well worth checking the mattress depth; a 6cm mattress is likely to be less comfortable than a deeper 10cm mattress.
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| Kitchen island ideas to create a focal point for cooking, eating, socialising and even working Posted: 29 Apr 2021 01:22 AM PDT Looking for kitchen island ideas? With the move towards larger, open-plan kitchen extensions, the kitchen island has become an essential feature. And it’s not hard to see why, given an island unit has so much potential to add useable value to a kitchen design. The first you need to think about when considering a kitchen island is the main purpose. Are you looking for extra extra prep space, or to form a boundary between the cooking zone and the living/dining area? Once you have an idea of how you’ll use the island you can start exploring different designs to suit your needs.
Kitchen island ideasA shaped island unit can also help direct the flow of traffic away from busy hotspots. An island can be long and slim, running parallel to the work area; neat and round in a compact room; or big and broad, housing a sink and appliances. Almost all kitchen islands incorporate seating – even the smallest space can usually accommodate an overhang of worktop and a set of bar stools. Alternatively, you could pick a long kitchen island with integrated low-level, table-style seating at one end. Functions aside, the change of pace offered by a kitchen island often encourages a variation in material. You can afford to be braver here with a bolder finish or colour, or perhaps a more expensive material that would be prohibitive across an entire room. For a show-stopping centrepiece, look to luxury materials, from deeply veined marble and mottled granites to exotic timber veneers and gleaming mirrored glass or burnished metal. There’s also a trend towards more textured materials – think raw or rough-sawn wood – as well as a contrast of colour or finish between the island and the rest of the kitchen. And don’t forget kitchen island lighting ideas to turn a good-looking unit into a showstopper of a kitchen centrepiece. Read on for more fabulous kitchen island ideas… 1. Maximise the use Image credit: Harvey Jones This thoughtfully designed kitchen island offers a dining table and island hybrid. More than a breakfast bar this design extends the wooden worktop down onto a fully-fitted dining table. The wooden worktop is ideal for use on an island where the purpose is primarily entertaining thanks to the softer qualities. 'A wooden worktop is a soft material which can become scratched or scorched during wood preparation. Confine the use of wood to soft-use areas such as breakfast bars for eating or entertaining’ advises Melissa Klink at Harvey Jones. ‘Use a harder surface which is easy to clean, such as granite or quartz composite, for food prep areas.' 2. Balance practical purposes Image credit: Polly Eltes Where you have the space, in the case in this open-plan kitchen extension idea, use a kitchen island to bridge the gap between functional kitchen space and social dining elements. Do this by ‘dividing’ the island in half in terms of usage, with purposeful kitchen elements such as integrated fridges and induction hobs one side and a breakfast bar with stools on the other. A multifunctional design helps to unify the different uses within the space, while still clearly zoning each purpose. 3. Go for scale image credit: Harvey Jones Choosing the right size to scale is key when it comes to planning a kitchen island, because while you want it to be the focal point you don’t want it to be overbearing on the layout as a whole. Matt Baker, kitchen designer at Harvey Jones offers his advice, ‘The most important element has to be the walkways around the island. As a rule of thumb they need to be 1000mm wide in order to be safe and practical in a kitchen.’ ‘Many seem to think the bigger the better. Wide islands are sure to make an impact, however they’re not the most practical solution because you have to be able to reach the middle when cooking. Try to keep it no deeper than 1400mm front to back.’ 4. Thoughtfully position appliances Image credit: Future Plc If you’re putting an island into an open-plan kitchen you’re most likely looking to create an engaging and inviting space for entertaining. It therefore might not make sense to position cooking appliances on the outside facing walls of the space, meaning you’d have your back to guests for the majority of the time while you cook. Incorporating the oven and hob into the island facing towards to the social space will help create a more engaging environment while hosting. 5. Shine a spotlight on the centre Image credit: Future Plc As far as kitchen lighting ideas go the island is one of the most important focal points – some would say the star of the show. While you want the entire kitchen to be lit for your needs it’s imperative to make sure the island fits perfectly within the lighting plan. As it often serves as the main food prep station and the hub of entertaining it needs to be well-lit, most likely by multiple lighting options. Whether that’s overhead spotlights or lanterns, which you can dim for intimacy or brighten for practical task lighting, ensure the main focus for good lighting is the centre of the island. 6. Contrast with on-trend colour Image credit: Joanna Henderson Personalise the space by welcoming an injection of sophisticated colour to highlight a kitchen island. Use this multifunctional kitchen design to invite a warming splash of on-trend colour to uplift an otherwise neutral colour scheme. 7. Blend in a breakfast bar Image credit: Future PLC Multifunctional is all-important when it comes to kitchen design, to make the space as efficient as possible – large or small. An ideal multifunctional kitchen island is one that functions as a food prep space with a sink, a storage space and a social space with a breakfast bar. 8. Make a kitchen island work for your lifestyle Image credit: Optiplan Kitchens ‘As the heart of the home, plenty more goes on in a kitchen space than simply cooking and eating’ explains Andy Briggs, interior designer for Optiplan Kitchens. ‘A kitchen island enables you to perhaps work or have children close by whilst preparing meals. It also offers a popular 'standing workspace' for those working from home or doing hobbies – this is meant to be better for your posture than continuously sitting.’ ‘The height of an island is also ideal for families with small children, as a high chair can be pulled up and little ones can enjoy meal times at the same level as their family.’ 9. Curve the edges for better flow Image credit: Lizzie Orme If you’re trying to fit an island into a smaller kitchen, it’s a good idea to choose a design with rounded edges. This will inevitably cost more, but there will be no sharp corners to catch against as you and your family manoeuvre around the space. 10. Add an alternative worktop Image credit: Brent Darby Create a hybrid of styles within your kitchen scheme by adding an alternative worktop to your kitchen island. Use a different material to indicate a change of function for that portion of the kitchen island. In this stylish kitchen space a hearty wooden worktop is extended out – over the granite worktop covering the remainder of the island – to form a dedicated dining area. Simple placement with bar stools helps to enhance the signals for its dining function. 11. Inject a bold accent colour on the island Image credit: Magnet A kitchen island is the perfect place to welcome a brave colour choice in a kitchen colour scheme. While the colour is permanent it’s not as daring as choosing a whole kitchen with coloured cabinets. You could always repaint the island at some point down the line, should you have a change of heart with the bold hue. 12. Power up your island Image credit: Richard Gadsby It’s vital you include ample plug sockets on your island. They’re not only useful for powering small appliances like stand mixers and food processors, they’ll also be handy for charging phones and laptops – as working from home continues to be a way of life. The timber stools have bags of character, and work beautifully with the pale blue island, giving the overall scheme a subtle coastal feel. 13. Make smart choices when it comes to power supply image credit: Harvey Jones More than just ensuring the island is connected to the power supply – think about the right kind of power. Harvey Jones kitchen designer Matt Baker advises, ‘If you need power points in an island cabling will need to laid before screed is put down. Sockets can then be fitted before the worktops are installed.’ He goes on to add, ‘I would personally urge every customer to go with sockets that have USB slots in them these days, as most of our tech uses these to charge.’ 14. Raise the bar Image credit: Rachel Smith Adding an elevated shelf to one side of the kitchen island transforms the space into a functional dining area. Lifting the bar to a higher level than the island helps to define it’s purpose as a dedicated dining space. Equally the higher height might suit as a working from home space, if standing is preferred. 15. Go with the flow in open-plan kitchens Image credit: Veronica Rodriguez Open-plan living spaces often benefit from identifying dedicated spaces within the layout, for different purposes. Floating a kitchen island doesn’t interrupt the flow of the floor plan, but it does clearly define the kitchen functionality within the space. Same as a dining table sets the scene for dining. 16. Choose compact for a small kitchen layout Image credit: Colin Poole Even the smallest of kitchen spaces can welcome an island. Ensure the design is compact enough to fit but sizeable enough to fulfil its purpose. Just ensure you have enough area to accommodate space between any hot kitchen apparatus and guests enjoying the breakfast bar. Read more: Small kitchen ideas – to turn your compact room into a smart, super-organised space 17. Balance a layout Image credit: David Giles Welcome an island into a kitchen to enhance the form and function of the space. The extra unit provides more work surface for food prep and dining when paired with barstools. Continue a colour scheme in an all-white space by choosing the same design for the kitchen island as that of the main kitchen design. The splash of central colour in the room helps to cement the look further. 18. Compliment colour throughout Image credit: Chris Snook Create a cohesive colour scheme throughout by using the same colour for every detail in a kitchen space. From the island to the wall cabinets, from lighting to the accessories make it match to uniform a space. 19. Add in a shelf for cookery books Image credit: Colin Poole The best place to store cookery books? In the kitchen of course! Adding a few book shelves into your island will ensure all your favourite cookbooks are easy to hand. This is an easy hack for adding personality and colour into a neutral kitchen. 20. Drop in a kitchen sink Image credit: Ti-Media A large sink in a kitchen island might be a little controversial, but is a great solution if you’re struggling for space and looking for smaller kitchen ideas. In this kitchen, the space that the sink would have taken up against a wall worktop has been transformed into much needed storage leaving the sink in the easily accessible island. 21. Dazzle diners with gold Image credit: Veronica Rodriguez Make a freestanding island stand out all the more with the addition of a luxe finish. A touch of gold on the underside helps to make the island take on a role of function and fabulous form. 22. Strike a balance with storage and seating Image credit: James French Work with a smart design that provides optimum storage space for all your kitchen needs on one side, while providing a bar of seating along the other side. 23. Create multi-functional storage with seagrass baskets Image credit: Colin Poole Deep shelves in an island can be tricky, however with the help of some seagrass baskets they can be transformed into picture-perfect storage. To recreate this glamorous vintage theme, alternate the shelves with storage baskets and your favourite vintage-style crockery. 24. Position an island opposite a window wall Image credit: Alasdair Macintosh Floor to ceilings sliding windows in a kitchen extension look gorgeous but can cut down on the space available for storage. An easy solution is to introduce a slick island with space for drawers and cupboards just in front of the window. Not only does this double the work surface and kitchen storage ideas, but you can also hide breakfast bar stools behind it to keep the space looking slick. 25. Install a fridge in your kitchen island
A small undercounter fridge is a great addition in a large workstation. It can hold fresh food to be prepped on the island or be filled with drinks for guests to help themselves to, without disturbing the chef. An extra fridge in a central island is perfect for keeping fruit, vegetable and salads cool and close at hand for prepping. Lunch and breakfast time ingredients – jams, butter and cheeses – are best kept in this fridge for quick and easy meal preparation. 26. Go for a classic colour combo Image credit: Richard Gadsby Choose a Shaker-style island in on-trend navy blue and create a country kitchen with a very modern twist. This design features a built-in sink, cupboard storage, a marble top, staging-style shelving and one side dedicated to breakfast bar seating. Combine with grey wall units and a range cooker for the perfect mix of classic and contemporary. 27. Make a statement with bright bar stools Image credit: Richard Gadsby New cabinetry is a big investment. So it’s understandable that you might not want to be too experimental with colour. If that’s the case, why not introduce a brighter shade through accessories that are easier to switch out if you get bored – like these statement bar stools? For something even less permanent, a vase of flowers will do the job! 28. Fashion bespoke bookends Image credit: David Giles Create your own book ends with a bespoke design. Either side of your seating, allow enough space to fashion shelving that can act as mini bookcases. The wooden stools in the same material as the bookcases helps to add warmth to the otherwise cool scheme. 29. Make it as multifunctional as possible Image credit: Darren Chung Look closely at this classy, understated kitchen island and you’ll discover it serves a multitude of purposes – a place to wash, prep food, with a neat breakfast bar to eat at with tucked-under stools. There would be plenty of space to add a hob if you wanted, too. 30. Keep it tidy with drawers Image credit: Brett Charles Echo the homely feel of a country kitchen with a pastel blue centrepiece island. In an otherwise neutral scheme, this island adds a subtle injection of colour and draws the eye to its charming display of drawers and white knobs. Fill them with everything you need to lay the table, but leave a few empty so that you have somewhere to hide clutter when unexpected visitors arrive. 31. Squeeze in a slimline island Image credit: David Giles You don’t need a vast kitchen to fit in an island, as this skinny design proves. It even doubles as a breakfast bar, courtesy of a simple overhanging work surface. Tongue and groove panelling integrates the piece with the rest of the Shaker-style scheme. 32. Upcycle your own mini island Image credit: Jamie Mason For an easy and affordable way to create a pretty and practical feature in a kitchen, upcycle a vintage table and use it as an island. Choose any paint colour you wish to transform your centrepiece – this sunny yellow is a particularly cheery choice – and add a stool in a contrasting colour to complete the look. 33. Go large Image credit: Nicholas Yarsley If you’ve got the space, why be afraid to use it? At the heart of this spacious open-plan kitchen is an immense island with a glossy white worktop and dramatic dark grey Shaker-style cabinetry. This multifunctional unit has everything, including the kitchen sink! There’s infinite space to prep food, abundant storage and even an integrated dining area. If you have a generous kitchen that craves a show-stopping centre piece like this, think big, useful and above all, striking. 34. Upcycle reclaimed wood Image credit: Matthew Williams Remember those railway sleepers everyone used to put in their gardens? Well now they’re creeping into kitchen design. The chunky proportions make them ideal for craggy, rugged shelving and their solidity works well for a breakfast bar too. More upcycling ideas: Second hand kitchens – how to buy used kitchen units and worktops that are big on quality 35. Supersize an island to make a big impression Image credit: Veronica Rodriguez If you have the space, fill it with a kitchen island. This produces a very modern kitchen design with an expansive countertop that serves as a casual eating spot as well as a practical worksurface for food prep. Emphasise its importance with a run of low-slung industrial-style pendants on high and leather-upholstered stools below. 36. Update an existing kitchen with a traditional butcher’s block Image credit: Polly Eltes This simple way to add more prep space and storage is also extremely elegant. A chunky end-grain surface will take a lot of culinary punishment and the open shelf at the bottom provides easy access to cookware. What’s more the design would work just as well with slab-style units. More food for thought: Kitchen cabinets – what to look for when buying your units 37. Hide the clutter Image credit: Holly Joliffe A taller, or ‘flying’ breakfast bar like this one serves two purposes. Firstly, its height is great for more casual eating and drinking. And second, if you do make a mess in the kitchen, it’s obscured from view of guests by the bar. Genius, no?! 38. Make a statement with mosaics Image credit: Dominic Blackmore Make the island shine bright with a generous helping of iridescent tiles. Not only will they add decoration, they provide an easy to clean surface, ideal for a kitchen. 39. Pick out an alternative finish Image credit: Colin Poole A freestanding kitchen piece of furniture allows you not only the freedom to incorporate an accent colour, it also allows you to add a different material and surface finish. If your kitchen units are classic Shaker-style you could introduce a panelled island to add further rustic charm. Painting the wooden island in a shade of fresh mint green adds another design element of classic country style. 40. Disguise the design Image credit: Katie Lee There’s no saying a kitchen island has to always be a block that stands out, as this example proves. This smart kitchen island feels more like a wooden dining table, where the worktop has been seamlessly continued over to form an extended dining area. This clever idea eradicates the need for a separate dining table in the kitchen, yet it doesn’t feel like you’re sat at the kitchen worktop for fine dining. 41. Double the size for dedicated dining Image credit: Robert Sanderson Go all out on a bespoke design to allow for ample dining space. There’s nothing worse than a kitchen island that doesn’t cater to your needs. If the heart of your home is a space for entertaining, ensure the island design is tailored to accommodate this. 42. Set tasks to one side Image credit: Simon Whitmore Allow the use of your kitchen island to be a totally separate area from your everyday cooking area. Set it up as a Bake Off-style bench where you keep all your large kitchen appliances like stand mixers to one area. Use the storage space within teh island to house all your baking tools, away from the everyday utensils draw. A great idea to avoid the ‘now, where did I put that balloon whisk attachment?’ 43. Think outside the box for the shape Image credit: Darren Chung Think outside the box when it comes to kitchen island shapes . Make it your own with a total bespoke design. If you want to create a space that intrigues and breaks confirming kitchen design trends, go freestyle with your finished kitchen design. Working with your chosen kitchen designer, work up a creative shape that suits your style tastes and fulfils the needs of your kitchen. 44. Float an island when wall space is limited Image credit: Tom Meadows Kitchen islands are the ideal solution when the space is limited on walls to utilise. A kitchen island can float in the middle of a space, meaning it doesn’t need to be anchored to a wall. It allows for storage and more all without interrupting the flow of the open-plan space. 45. Put an extra sink in place Image credit: Alistair Nicholls Putting in a extra, small sink is a great idea for a kitchen that loves to entertain. Consider this the ‘bar’ area, where the sink is used additional to the main sink. Or the hand washing station, to save garden dirt or germs from being anywhere near the sink you wash groceries in. This can also be a great idea for safety measure, in kitchen that features a hot tap for instance, allowing the children to use the separate sink– safe in the knowledge they can’t accidentally use the wrong tap. 46. Take a stand with an imaginative design Image credit: James French Tulip-style dining tables are a popular choice for retro interior design choices. To make your kitchen island fashionably unique and imaginative why not base your kitchen island design on the same style principles. Only instead of the Tulip base supporting a round table top, it will instead form the foundation for a quirky kitchen island. 47. Break up the layout with an accent colour Image credit: David Parmiter Where the rest of the kitchen is safe in neutral shades the island is where you can afford to have fun with an accent colour. Especially if you have a design that can be painted with ease, should you change your mind on the chosen accent colour. Wood panelling is the ideal design choice, if repainting for future makeovers. Contrasting the worktop choice with the surrounding kitchen surfaces will help to signal the island as a standalone piece – one that is not made to match. 48. Create curves within the space Image credit: Richard Gadsby Add interest to your kitchen space with a curved kitchen island design. Enhance the quirkiness further by mixing materials and finishes, to highlight the curvature. 49. Allow for a change of purpose Image credit: Douglas Gibb Incorporating open elements to the kitchen island design will give freedom to change how the storage space is used. Whether you buy new appliances or new cook books, the way you choose to style the kitchen may evolve – so best to keep space free to suit. 50. Position with a practical path in mind Image credit: Fiona Walker-Arnott Position a kitchen island thoughtfully, making the most of an outside space. Thinking how handy the extra space will become when the doors are thrown open, proving plentiful surface space to aid alfresco entertaining. Even during the colder months, when the doors stay closed, the freestanding piece can welcome a break from the wall of glass doors. What is the best size for a kitchen island?What is the best size for a kitchen island will depend on the size of the kitchen. But even the smallest of kitchens can allow for a kitchen island, it will just be more compact. Once your determine the size of floorspace free to allocate for a kitchen island you can begin to plan the size based on needs. When it comes to picking the size of your island, measure your floor to make sure it will fit. ‘When planning your kitchen be careful not to be over ambitious with freestanding elements,’ advises Ben Burbidge, managing director at Kitchen Makers. ‘Ensure you precisely measure your floor so that an island will fit comfortably within your space. ‘When placed in the centre it should leave enough floor for you to manoeuvre around and access the rest of the kitchen. The area under the islands worktop is also essential as it offers amply space for storage and kitchen essentials such as low fridges and deep drawers.’ If you require storage from the island design you will need to factor in the dimensions – because this will determine whether there’s enough space to allow legroom underneath, so the island can double up as a breakfast bar. How do you make an inexpensive kitchen island?How do you make an inexpensive kitchen island if on a budget? A great budget kitchen idea for creating an island is to buy an inexpensive freestanding piece of furniture, such as a butchers block. IKEA is the ideal place to head, with the retailer offering a whole variety of affordable freestanding furniture pieces. This cheap option also gives you the freedom to move things around, as the pieces are moveable – most commonly designs feature castor wheels on one side for easy movement.  Image credit: IKEA Buy now: Vadholma Kitchen Island, £299. IKEA How do you style a kitchen island?How you style a kitchen island will be determined by the proposed use. If the island is focused on function it’s best to style with storage, from compact cupboards to open units filled with woven baskets. If the island is more about creating a dining area style the space with inviting elements, such as comfortable seating complete with cushions. Will you be adding a kitchen island to your cooking space using these kitchen island ideas? The post Kitchen island ideas to create a focal point for cooking, eating, socialising and even working appeared first on Ideal Home.  |
| 6 best chair beds 2021: Sit and sleep in style and comfort Posted: 29 Apr 2021 12:25 AM PDT Looking for the best chair beds? A great solution for putting up an overnight guest – even if space is super tight – a compact sleeper chair is the perfect multifunctional piece of furniture. Unlike a sofa bed which is going to take up a good amount of floor space, a chair bed’s small footprint means it’s far easier to add to a guest room to create an additional sleeping space, a home office where it can double up as a comfortable lounge chair when not in use, a kids bedroom for impromptu sleepovers or the living room as a far more comfortable alternative to a blow-up bed when guests descend. Of course, a chair bed is only going to cater to a single guest, so if you regularly have more than one overnight visitor at a time, take a look at our guide to the best sofa beds to find the ideal option for you. The best chair beds1. Made.com Haru chair bedBest chair bed for the bedroom
This pretty design is almost undetectable as anything other than a stylish occasional chair. The combination of luxurious velvet fabric, featuring delicate button detailing, and pale wooden legs creates a flawless on-trend design – stylish and practical in equal measure. The feminine nature of this design, in this chosen colourway is perfect for a boudoir. The design is additionally available in Sapphire Blue, Marshmallow Grey, Sherbet Blue, Butter Yellow, Cygnet Grey, Flame Orange and Pine Green. Chair dimensions: H78 x W77 x D86cm Buy now: Haru Single Sofa Bed, Now £199, Made.com 2. Dunelm Macy chair bedBest chair bed for a teenagers room
With its contemporary retro-inspired design this timeless chair bed is ideal for any space. With an easy-to-use folding mechanism, the Macy Chair Bed is crafted in two shades of grey, or a blue or teal woven fabric. The sponge foam design makes ensures it’s comfortable, whether used as a chair or a mattress. Complete with three adjustable positions for sitting and sleeping, the part assembly chair bed is constructed with a sturdy pine frame and includes a foam-filled pillow for extra support. Not only it is a great space-saving piece it’s super easy to use. It requires very minimal effort to transform into a bed complete with a pillow for a headrest, then restore it back as an armchair the morning after. Chair dimensions: H81 x W78 x D89 cm Buy now: Macy Chair Bed, £299, Dunelm 3. IKEA Lycksele chair bedBest chair bed for everyday use
A chair by day, a comfortable single bed by night. It’s no wonder this easy-to-use chair bed is IKEA’S best-selling design. The simple yet stylish design is a great space-saving seating and sleeping solution. IKEA assures shoppers this simple, firm foam mattress is perfectly suitable for use every night. A number of different covers are available to make it suitable for all rooms and all decors. Those include Ebbarp Black/White; Ransta White; Vallarum Cerise and Vallarum Turquoise. The choice of extra covers means it’s easy to give both your chair and a room a refresh. Even better the fabric covers are machine washable. so much so in fact they’ve been tested the extreme by the IKEA design team. Who say, ‘ this fabric’s ability to resist abrasion has been tested to handle 30,000 cycles. A fabric that withstands 15,000 cycles or more is suitable for furniture that should withstand everyday use in the home.’ Chair dimensions: H87 x W80 x D100cm Buy now: Lycksele Lovas Chair Bed, £160, IKEA 4. John Lewis & Partners House Kix II single chair bedBest chair bed for living rooms
This smart design is the one you want for a living room, when you don’t want people to know there’s an option to sleep over. Technically it’s been named a sofa bed but it’s more of a pouffe in our eyes because of its compact cube aesthetic. Which we feel also qualifies as a seat. The on-trend blue fabric gives this design a sophisticated finish, not one you’d normally associate with a furniture piece of this nature. The stylish footstool-cum-chair-cum-bed design is a must-have chair bed design for small living rooms. The ingenious design easily folds out to act as an occasional bed making it ideal for spare rooms, living rooms or bedrooms. In a living room the design can go undetected as a bed, acting as a generous footstool instead. Chair/footstool dimensions: H41 x W60 x D60cm Buy now: House by John Lewis Kix II Single Sofa Bed, £179, John Lewis & Partners 5. Furniture Village Newman chair bed with footstoolBest chair bed for the home office
The simple shape cuts a clean-lined silhouette and the on-trend grey colourway with chrome feet is super cool and contemporary. This design is ideal for the modern living room that doesn’t want a chair bed to look anything like a bed. The footstool helps to disguise the bed element even further, because it’s a detachable living room accessory – you’d never suspect it helps to make a single bed. Cleverly the back support of the chair drops down to extend the length. When paired wit the footstool it equates to single mattress in size. This design is great alternative to a standout sofa bed alternative. Chair dimensions: H88 x W78 x D58cm Buy now: Newman Fabric Chair Bed with Footstool, £439, Furniture Village 6. DFS Velocity CuddlerBest leather chair bed |
| Sarah Beeny reveals her top tip to get the most out of a decorating budget Posted: 28 Apr 2021 11:00 PM PDT We spoke to TV host and property expert Sarah Beeny for some tips on decorating our homes. As well as considering who is using the space and how you want it to feel, your budget is of course a crucial factor.
Sarah has shared one key piece of advice for making the most out of your decorating budget. She says we should always focus on making one room amazing, rather than attempt to tackle more than one space at once.  Image credit: Tile Giant Sarah Beeny’s budget tip‘If you’ve got a budget, and you try and spread it throughout everywhere, I always think that’s a mistake,’ she begins. ‘You’re better off thinking, “I’ve got this budget, I’ve got one room I’m going to do really, really well, and it’s going to be fabulous!” Rather than trying to spend a little bit of money everywhere,’ Sarah adds. She argues that there’s simply no point trying to decorate the whole house on a tiny budget. Instead of being overly ambitious, Sarah recommends we go all-out with one room.  Image credit: Ripples Bathrooms Ltd, BC Designs boat bath Later down the line, you can move on to do another room. The simple tip will help us to slowly transform our homes into spaces we just love being in – without breaking the bank. If it’s your living room that you’re hoping to give a new lease of life, our living room ideas page is brimming with advice. Plus, our bathroom ideas hub will provide plenty of inspiration, from tiles to tubs and the latest trends. Talking of mistakes, she also says that it’s essential to get the foundations of the building right first and foremost – this might swallow a chunk of your budget, but this is not an area you want to scrimp on. ‘You need to start with the structure. You have to start with making sure the building is watertight and sound, making sure your plumbing and electrics are good.’  Image credit: Tile Giant If your house has damp, read our guide on how to get rid of damp, condensation and mould.
Sarah Beeny’s new show Renovate Don’t Relocate is on HGTV and available to stream on discovery+ Which room will you be decorating first? The post Sarah Beeny reveals her top tip to get the most out of a decorating budget appeared first on Ideal Home.  |
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