From time to time we can fell ourselves positively glow with creative interest. This might have been spurred on by someone we know, something we saw or read, or simply waking up one day feeling like this is the best way forward. Designing your home for a new artistic project can be exhilarating, as we not only get to submerge ourselves in a new craft, but to find our very own style within it. Artistic projects could denote anything, but for this article we’re going to focus on the accepted and standard definition of something creative and expressive, such as painting, sculpting, or even something physically expressive like dance.

Heading to a dedicated club can be a great method of meeting new people and becoming introduced to this in perhaps one of the best ways possible. But often, it can also be extremely important to practice at home in order to train yourself in the best manner possible. It can pay to separate a singular room for this activity. The design of which could be helped by the following efforts:

[Photo courtesy of  Daian Gan /pexels.com]

Storage Options

Most hobbies will include some form of expense, and that expense often means equipment or some other form of apparatus to help you conduct your activity. If completing your activity at home, you’ll likely need storage space for these options. A place where you can store your paintbrushes, fold out your floor mat, hide and dry your canvas or simply store your other equipment to help the room serve a dual purpose when you’re not partaking in the activity can all be worthwhile. Consider adding shelving, store cupboards, or storage hanging baskets here. If you look around, you will often consider how purpose-built options can often relate the most comfort in the long term, and this can give you a worthwhile effect.

Considering Your Flooring

Consider your flooring. It can be extremely worthwhile to ensure that it’s are correct. If painting, it might not be the best to have thick shag carpet from wall to wall. Laminate floorboards are great for a variety of reasons, such as being the easiest to clean, the easiest to install, and worthwhile for a variety of uses. If you wish to conduct a physical activity such as yoga in the space, you can always purchase and place supportive mats down on the floor, which might be a little inconvenient to do on carpet. Not only that, but laminate flooring can often be the most cost-effective when redesigning your flooring, and so we needn’t elaborate further

Considering Noise

Noise can sometimes be an annoyance when partaking in your activity. It might be that you can only conduct your hobby to loud music, you want the room to be your peaceful escape from the world, or perhaps hobbies like yoga can be distracted by its presence. If you’re a musical person, it’s not hard to see how this can annoy the neighbours, and get you into a all sorts of personal disputes. Thankfully, soundproof shielding is easy to install on a wall, and can prevent the inpour and outpouring of noise completely. Be sure to install this and experiment with its application.

With these tips, you’re sure to design your home in the best manner possible for whatever project you wish to indulge in.

Now that the winter is finally leaving us, many people are starting to think about projects they can do in the home. You may fancy getting your hands dirty in the garden, ripping out the bathroom or simply painting the walls a fresh new colour.

With it being the first few months of the year it can be difficult for us to afford larger home projects without having to take out signature loans or dip into the holiday fund. However you can still make some fresh changes to your home without having to spend the earth.

Reshuffle

Rather than going out to the furniture store and buying a ton of new items for your home, why not have think of what you already have? Take a look at the way your living room is currently set out. Is there any way that you can move things around to create more space and light? Sometimes, simply moving the TV to the other side of the room can have a massive impact on the way your living space feels.

Lighting Is Key

The right lighting can instantly make a dull room feel so much brighter and modern. If you have an old fashioned light fitting with yellow light beaming into the space, your home will look dull and old. However simply by changing to a modern fitting such as a spotlight and using a cool toned light bulb, you will add a sense of light and space into the room.

Soft Furnishings

If you can’t afford to buy a whole new sofa for your space, don’t fret. You can update your living room easily by covering up your sofa cleverly with soft furnishings. By investing in a soft fleece throw and some brightly coloured cushions you will immediately be able to make the space feel put together.

Mirrors

Mirrors are your absolute best friend when it comes to decorating your home. A mirror can make a huge impact on the look and feel of your living space. No matter how small your living room is, a well placed mirror can add length and depth to your living space. It won’t cost you the earth and can add that missing element to your living room.

Paint Everything

Sometimes all you need to make your room feel brand new is a lick of paint. This weekend try buying a tin of white or pastel coloured paint and using this to revamp your walls and the ceiling. You can even paint wooden floors to add a new design feature to the room. If you have an old or tired bookshelf in your living room, a great way to change things up would be to paint the bookshelf white and then add colour to the back of the shelves. This will make the room feel instantly bigger but also give you a new design features that you will love.

Plants

Every room looks better with a plant in it. If you have some space in the living room which feels as if it is missing something, a great idea would be to add a houseplant. It will make your home feel much more lively and add some texture to your design.

Curtains are part of any home decorating ideas. Their presence can be magical when they create a beautiful artistry in homes, offices and hotels. It is no wonder why interior designers would include the curtains in their top ten lists. A window without curtains looks motionless and boring. Curtains are comparable to your dress and they create a convivial atmosphere with their unique designs and style.

Among interior designers highly recommended curtain style are the pinch pleat curtains. They are the typical curtains that look formal and cool. The pleats are intricately sewn to give the curtains fullness while hanging on a decorative drapery rod. Jacquard, floral and prints are ideal fabric designs for a pinch pleat curtain.

[Photo courtesy of Unsplash/pexels.com]

The simplicity of the pinch pleat curtain makes them ideal for any type of architecture. They do not go out of style if they are adorned in baroque and Gothic inspired homes. What’s more if you adorn them in a contemporary or log house. Their appeal is overwhelming and creates an illusion of wealth and fame.

When your room is adorned with pinch pleat curtains, you can feel the luxurious ambiance of a hotel room. As you wake up each morning, you don’t feel like going out from your room. For bedrooms, choose bold colors to keep the emotions burning with passion while having your romantic interlude with your spouse. The most ideal color is burgundy, crimson or any shades of red.

The kids’ room should be adorned with playful colors such as red, yellow, pink, orange, aqua blue and floral prints to keep the mind active. Students are encouraged to adorn their bedroom with red curtains to stimulate their brain and increase the body processes and blood circulation. Rooms with patients who are suffering with psychosomatic illness are advised to hang yellow curtains to purify their minds from any negative thoughts.

If you have ever been fortunate enough to stay in a fine hotel or upscale resort then you know that hotel style home decor is different than what you have at home – the luxury pillows and bedding enhance the experience and you leave feeling relaxed, refreshed and invigorated. With some savvy shopping it is actually possible to experience many of the best hotel amenities at home in your bedroom and bathroom for less than even the cost of one night in a luxury hotel.

Start with bedding – look for fine quality Egyptian cotton sheets with a high thread count and invest in the very best set you can afford. When you think about it you spend almost a third of your life in bed and the sheets are in direct contact with your skin; this is not the place to cut corners. If you spend money on nothing else than top-quality sheets you will still have invested wisely and will enjoy a more restful and comfortable night’s sleep.

[Photo courtesy of Pixabay/pexels.com]

A mattress pad can help to improve the sleep surface, especially if your mattress has some age to it. There are mattress pads designed to address a variety of issues so if you seek a less firm or more firm sleeping surface you can achieve it. Look for memory foam mattress pads along with mattress pads and toppers designed to reduce motion transfer and relieve pressure points. Much like sheets, mattress pads are available in a variety of sizes ranging from twin and twin extra-long to queen, king and California king.

Pile on the pillows – hotels use lots of pillows to make the bed the focal point of the room plus they are comfortable to lean against while relaxing, reading or watching televise while in bed.

What is it that makes a house feel like home? The people, the decor, or the accessories? It’s probably down to individual tastes, but living in a homely, personalized house is important for our sense of well being, belonging, and relaxation. There is a whole host of different things you can add to your home if you think it still needs a homely touch, from books to rugs, and everything in between.

1. Sentimental photographs

There’s nothing more comforting than being surrounded by people you love, so when they can’t be there, make your home feel special and personal to you by filling it with beautiful pictures of your nearest and dearest. It immediately adds a sentimental edge, which can be both reassuring and grounding.

2. Cozy rugs

Whether you have hardwood floors or carpets, nothing quite says comfort like rugs. Layer rugs of different textures and patterns to create a really comfortable look – faux sheepskins are especially great for this. Bedrooms and living rooms have never been cozier.

3. A fire

Is there anything more romantic than snuggling in front of the fire in a room you love? If your home is fireplace-less, you’re seriously missing out, and this needs rectifying immediately. Check out the fireplaces on this blog to choose one which fits your decor, and see how much difference a fire can make to the comfort of your living room.

[Photo courtesy of Counselling/pixabay.com]

4. Soft layers

Without rugs, blankets, throws, and cushions, homes can see quite sterile, with lots of straight lines and sharp edges. Layer fabrics to soften these harsh lines. It works in any room – dishcloths in the kitchen, towels in the bathroom, fluffy blankets in the bedroom, and you can really go to town with cushions and throws in the living room. Soft layers can really make a house a home and add a sense of luxury.

5. Feature walls

Painting all four walls in neutral colors might be the easiest to coordinate, but it’s not pushing your style to the next level. Consider creating a feature wall as a focal point in a bedroom or living room. Dark or bright paint, wooden cladding, or even a curtain wall all act as a point of interest, making the room feel cozier and more unified in style.

6. Reading nook

Every bookworm’s dream is a reading nook, and every home should have a library, so why not combine the two, while also making use of a little space that’s always been forgotten before? All it takes is a few book shelves, a wall lamp, and loads of comfy cushions to create the reading nook of your dreams.

7. Fairy lights

The soft twinkle of warm fairy lights can make a space really relaxing in the evening, but can also add classy elegance to any space.

8. Something fluffy

Every home needs something fluffy to curl your toes into on a cold winter’s evening. Whether it’s a cat, a fluffy cushion, or a faux sheepskin rug, it immediately brings the home to next level cosiness. Throw in a fluffy housecoat and slippers, and you’ll never want to go outside again.

Fill your home with beauty and things that you love, and you’ll see that making a house a home is as easy as pie.

Part of the excitement of taking a break is that feeling you get when you step into your hotel room for the first time. Just one night spent in the right hotel can lift your spirits, give you a great night sleep and even bring you closer to your partner.

If you have children at home, you’ll know how important it is to create a zone that is peaceful, tranquil and above all tidy! The bedroom is the first thing you see in the morning and the last thing you see at night. So it makes sense to create a place of luxury and class here. It might be worth reviewing Is It Practical To Create A Room Just For Relaxing In after reading this post.

[Photo courtesy of Living Rooms London/flickr.com]

You don’t need a huge budget to make a few changes to a bedroom. One of the most important things about this room is, of course, the statement bed.

Hotel beds are always dressed to impress. Think minimal when it comes to choosing your bedding. White sheets will entice you to crawl in. They look clean and calm. Adding a plethora of cushions may seem pointless when you’re just going to throw them off at bedtime, but every time you step into your room, you’ll feel a sense of pride. You might even start leaving the bedroom door open for your guests to see!

Hotels tend to offer a simple white dressing gown and the fluffiest towels you’ve ever buried your face into, this is probably why people often ‘borrow’ them!

Instead of cluttering up your dressing table with make up and cuff links, leave your surfaces bare placing a couple of neatly folded gems like these bath towels on show, perhaps with your favourite body lotion next to them.

[Photo courtesy of  Thomas Cotton/pexels.com]

A well upholstered chair. There is something wonderful about having a seemingly pointless chair in your room. However a chair placed by a window with a good book laid next to it always entices you to read and even if you don’t get the time, simply knowing it’s there will remind you of the relaxing peace a quiet read can give you. Try reupholstering and painting an old one.

Well hung, contemporary frames with large white mountings and photos of your fondest memories or things you love can have a huge impact on a room. Waking up in the morning to see your kids smiling back at you, kick starts your day the right way. Unlike a miss mash of slightly off centre frames. Be precise.

[Photo credit Abigail Ahern]

Finally, lighting. Lighting can change a room completely. Instead of switching on your ceiling light, invest in a statement lamp like these from Abigail Ahern. If your budget won’t stretch to that, consider something soft which creates an amber warmth. Place in the corner of your room and let it work it’s magic.

It’s time to see your bedroom in a new light. Make small, well considered changes. It’s not about impressing other people. It’s about impressing yourself. Lying in your bed, surrounded by luxury.  

Your home should offer you the highest standard of living. It should make life as easy for you as possible and should be somewhere that you look forward to returning to all day long. If your home is pretty basic in terms of appliances, the chances are, you’re not as in love with it as you could be. You might not realize it, but there are some gadgets and gizmos that every home needs. To give you a better idea of the things your home is lacking below is a guide to all the essential gadgets and gizmos every house needs.

Digital doorbell and wireless security alarm

Let’s start with the entrance to your home. Our homes are our sanctuaries, our private retreats from the world. When they’re breached by an intruder, it can leave lifelong emotional scars. The home that you once loved can become a place of terror and fear, leading to you having to sell up and move somewhere new. The impact of your home being broken in can last a lifetime, so it’s more than worth investing in top notch security.

Photo from Flickr

One of the best security gadgets is a digital doorbell. This is because when it’s pressed, it calls your smartphone and works like a camera. This allows you to see who’s outside your home. You can then talk to them to see who they are and what they want, before deciding to let them in. Or, if you’re out and about, it’s a great tool for seeing who’s hanging around your home. As for a wireless alarm system, these are fantastic because they’re much harder to disable than traditional, ones. And, can even be linked to your smartphone, alerting you when the alarm has been set off. So that you can choose what steps to take, such as calling the police, for instance.

Instant hot water dispenser & water filtration system

Wouldn’t it be nice not to have to wait for the kettle to boil? Well, now you don’t have to, as you can opt to install an instant hot water dispenser. This heats water up in just over 30 seconds, so that by the time you’ve put your teabag in the cup and got the milk out, the water is ready to pour. What could be easier? As well as this option, there are also iKettles that you connect to your smartphone and can boil by using a simple app. These are also a fantastic tool to have in your kitchen. It’s just a case of choosing which you’d prefer.

Image credit

As well as being able to boil water quickly, it’s also important that the water you’re drinking tastes as good as possible. That’s why a water filtering system, like those sold on theberkey.com, is also a must-have gadget. There are lots of makes and models to choose from; it’s just a case of selecting one that is right for your home. Look at your options and pick a system that fits into your kitchen well and isn’t too large for the space.

Intelligent thermostat

Have you ever wished that your home knew when you needed it to be warm and when you needed it to be cooler? Well, now it can do, that is if you invest in an intelligent thermostat. These thermostat learns when you need your home to be warm, such as early in the morning and late at night, and when you want it to be cooler. They’re incredibly effective at keeping your home at just the right temperature. Of course, should it not work exactly as you want it to, you can always control it from a handy app on your smartphone. To learn more about how this would work, check out lifehacker.com.

Picture link

There are lots of other gadgets and gizmos that you could add to your home to improve it, but these are some of the best ones.

Is your backyard dull and bland and crying out for a change? I thought so.

Does doing something different with your backyard require a lot of money? Certainly not. The following are a whole raft of backyard ideas you can try out for yourself that won’t break the bank. So without further ado, let’s get started.

Marble Fence

Does your wooden fence lack a bit of spark? Probably. But fear not.

One cool thing that you can do is drill holes in your fence and then glue marbles into those holes. Dot the marbles at different heights and distances from each other. And play with different sizes. When the sun shines through them, they’ll glow differing colors and look amazing during a sunset. Just remember to ask your kids first whether they mind their marbles being used for decoration.

Make A Floating Cooler

This one is great if you have a pool in your backyard. Get a plastic box, like one you’d put files and folders in. Then glue foam tubes along all the top edges so that when you submerge it in water, it will float.

Then, fill the tub with ice and your favorite drinks and pop it into the pool. On a hot day, the water from the pool will keep the drinks cool, so you don’t have to continuously trek back and forth to the kitchen fridge.

Make A Throwing Game For The Kids

Grab a tarpaulin and cut a few holes in it that are big enough, so a ball to fly through. Label the different holes with different numbers, depending on their size. Bigger holes will have smaller numbers, and vice versa.

Then find two trees in your garden, roughly 15 feet apart. Suspend the tarpaulin between them, so that it is hanging like a picture. Then take aim with a soccer ball and fire.

Use Rope Lighting

Rope lighting is all the rage right now, partly because of its versatility. But it also looks incredible at night as one, continuous line of light.

[Photo courtesy of Hans/pixabay.com]

You can use rope lighting to line your garden, separating different regions from one another. It works well for lighting the edges of paths and for delineating the edges of flower beds.

Use Epsom Salt Fertiliser

Few people know it, but Epsom salt makes an excellent fertilizer. So if your pot plants are looking a little drab, and you don’t want to go out and spend a load of money on fertilizer, use Epsom salt.

It’s simple to apply. Just mix two tablespoons of salt into each gallon of water. Then use this mixture once per month instead of regular water when watering your plants. If you’re planting seeds right now, you can just sprinkle the salt on the soil and wait for the rain to do its job.

Use Pool Noodles For Kickball Croquet

Do you dream of being able to entertain the kids on a dime? Well, now you can, with kickball croquet. Just grab a few pool noodles – the foam tubes that I mentioned earlier for the floating cooler. Cut the noodles in half. The fashion them into an arch before using garden stakes to peg them down into the ground. Then just gather up a few balls and take it in turns to kick them through the hoops, just like you would take turns with a regular game of croquet.

[Photo courtesy of en.wikipedia.org/Pool noodle]

Use Faux Stone Walls

Real stone walls are expensive. Faux stone walls? Not so much. Faux stone walls from sites like www.FauxDirect.com/product-category/stone-2/ go for less than you might think. Usually, faux stone walls are made from polyurethane – a cheap plastic. Yet, surprisingly, they look and feel just like the real thing. And, just like real stone walls, they’re ultra-durable.

Use Fire Crystals

There’s nothing like having the family sit around the fire pit on a long summer evening chatting about life’s foibles. You can spruce up your fire pit with attractive colors by using fire crystals. These burn blue-green and purple, adding a beautiful twist to the already mesmerising fire.

Grow Your Own Summer House

Summer houses have been all the rage since Victorian times in England. But building another house in your garden has never been cheap. Traditionally, it was only something that the rich could do. Even today, wooden summer houses can end up costing thousands of dollars.

But why bother buying one when you can grow your own? It’s easy really. Make a circular shaped flower bed in an appropriate location in your garden. Then plant some meter-long garden stakes in the bed, woven together with some garden twine. In the bed, plant a fast-growing plant like sunflowers, that will eventually grow tall enough the provide a wall and a canvas. And then just let nature take its course.

[Photo courtesy of Donnawetta/pixabay.com]

If you do it right, you’ll end up with a beautiful, natural summerhouse that you and the kids can relax in whenever you like.

Remodel Old Tree Stumps

Most of us have some sort of tree stump, lying around in our back garden. Instead of waiting for it to rot away, why not make use of it. You could transform it into a table if it’s tall enough. Or use it as a planter, if it’s in among the flower bed.

[Photo courtesy of Los Angeles/en.wikipedia.org]

Use Mirrors

Most interior designers will tell you to use mirrors if you want to make a room inside your house look bigger, . But you don’t have to just use mirrors on the inside of your house

If you’ve got a couple of mirrors that you don’t want, you can hang them on your back fence to make your garden look bigger.

Use Glow-In-The-Dark Paint

Gardens in the daylight are stunning. Gardens at night – not so much. But it’s at night when the glow-in-the-dark paint can make a real impact. You can light up just about anything you want using it. But most people opt to highlight just a couple of features. Perhaps you’d like to make your plant pots glow. Whatever it is, glow-in-the-dark paint is an excellent way to instantly light up your garden.

Use Fast-Growing Plants For Ground Cover

Your garden probably has at least one dreary looking paths. It would look a lot better if it were a little greener along its length. You can use plants like sedum sarmentosum to cover patches of dull ground quickly. These little green plants will shoot up in no time and are ideal in harsh conditions. Then all you have to do is place stepping stone conveniently along the path and hey presto – you’ve solved the problem of your boring path.

Plant Lemongrass

You might think that lemongrass is just a herb used in South East Asian cuisine. And you’d be right. But what fewer people know is that the herb is also great at fending off annoying bugs, like mosquitos.

Don’t let mosquitoes ruin your time in the garden. Plant some lemongrass today to keep that annoying buzzing away.

Make A Tarp Splash Pad

Pools are expensive. But you and the kids want somewhere that you can cool off on a hot afternoon in the summer, especially if you live in the South.

The solution is to make a tarpaulin splash pad. Get a hose and attach it to a sprinkler. The place it on top of a tarp, spread out on the ground. The sprinkler will create a cooling splash pad, and the tarpaulin will create a fun, and slippery, surface.

Make A Wind Chime

Wind chimes made from brass are expensive. But if you’ve got a creative streak, you could make yours out of whatever you like. One option is to use a stick, some string and some old keys you don’t use anymore. Just paint the keys, strings, and branch in different colors. The suspend the keys from the branch, using the string.

Here’s another example, using old CDs.

[Photo courtesy of Windell Oskay/flickr.com]

Make A Garden Swing

Got an old, wooden chair lying around that you don’t use anymore? Why not make it into a swing? Just hack off the legs and put to one side. Then throw some rope around a sturdy tree branch, connecting it to a base made from wooden beams. Then attach the chair to the beams, and voila – you’ve got a new swinging chair.

Get Inventive With Pot Plants

When planting, you don’t have to stick to the generic plant pots from the garden center. You can use pretty much whatever you like. Got a rustic-looking crate lying around? Why not fill this with different varieties of plants and put it in your backyard?

Repaint Your Back Door

Perhaps you’ve got a wooden back door. If so, giving it a fresh coat of paint is an excellent way to make your garden look more vibrant. Why not go for a deep gold color paint to complement the summer?

[Photo courtesy of Arpingstone/en.wikipedia.org]

Use Wall Decorations

Walls aren’t always the most attractive feature of a back garden. But you can do a lot to improve their appearance. One cool thing to do is to hang bottles or pot plants, brimming with flowers. And don’t be afraid to use a lot. The more, the merrier.

If you’re looking for a really great DIY project for your home this year, why not consider giving your spare room a makeover? There are lots of things we can use this space for. If you don’t need to use it as a bedroom, why not consider a big change? Perhaps you have a hobby or interest you’re passionate about. You can use the spare room to provide all the space you need to enjoy your hobby fully. Here are some of my favorite uses for a spare room:

Sewing

If you love to create your own home furnishings, then a sewing room could be a perfect choice. Perhaps you love creating your own fashions? Or maybe you enjoy decorative needlework? There are plenty of different ways to enjoy creating when you have your own sewing room. Start by painting the walls a fairly pale and neutral color. This will help maximize the light in the room.

[Photo courtesy of Harlow Heslop/flickr.com]

You could install a good quality worktop along one wall. This could support your sewing machine or other equipment. If you enjoy quilting, consider a wider width to support the larger fabric as it grows. You can find out more about the best sewing machine for quilting online. Check the size and weight before you build your workstation. Don’t forget you’ll need good lamps around the room. A mannequin could stand in the corner. Full-length mirrors will help you see the fabric from all angles.

Music Room

For the budding musicians around you, a music room could be the perfect use of your spare room. Perhaps you have some beautiful instruments you would like to display or hang on the wall? Before you start this project consider some extra insulation or soundproofing. Larger acoustic instruments like pianos are also incredibly heavy. Check if your floor needs a little reinforcing if your room is on wooden supports.

[Photo courtesy of Miguel Mendez/flickr.com]

To create the perfect practice room for you and your instruments you need good light. Some music stands can be fitted with a sheet music light. Alternatively, consider directional spot lights. If you’re setting up a mini recording studio or a digital workstation, make sure you can stack your equipment safely. You may want to build a custom shelving unit. There may be a lot of cables running across the floor of your room. Try to keep them tidy to avoid a trip hazard.

Art Studio

If you love drawing or painting, why not create a studio for your art? A small workbench may be all you need. Then a simple stool and easel near the best light in the room. Natural light from the window is usually ideal. You might want to install a sink and running water so you can clean your brushes and pallets. A blue roll dispenser can save you fiddling about when you’re in a hurry to wipe something clean.

Photography Studio

If you love taking digital photographs, why not set up a photography studio. A small room like the spare room may be all you need if you love portraits or close-ups. Your lighting equipment may get warm, so consider installing air conditioning. It’s not advisable to take on chemical photography or a dark room in a residential house unless you have the correct ventilation system.

[Photo courtesy of Illusive Photography/flickr.com]

You may need to black out the window from time to time so you can fully manipulate the light. Naturally lit portraits can be visually stunning so make sure you can remove the blind easily. Paint the room brilliant white for maximum light reflection. You can always drape material over walls for a background. Consider installing a cupboard for your equipment and props.

Model Building

If you love crafting and building models, then your spare room could be the ideal spot for your hobby. Make sure you have excellent ventilation and natural air circulating if you use glues or paints. You’ll need a full workbench set up with plenty of lamps to supply the light. Sometimes it’s necessary to heat things up like wire or glues. Choose a surface and a lip area on your workbench for this purpose.

Writer’s Studio

If there is a poet or author inside of you, then you should have your own space to put pen to paper. You’ll need soft, focused light over your writing area. You probably have a love for literature, so install some bookshelves. Then you can surround yourself with all that inspires you. Put a big wall planner up so you can see your working schedule and submission deadlines.

Home Office

If you love your work enough to make it a hobby, then you deserve your very own home office space. A good quality desk and a top of the range computer are ideal. You can have your internet router installed in here, and even a second phone line. Why not add a couple of USB ports to your wall sockets so you can keep all your devices on charge? A wall mounted TV tuned to the news channels can keep you up to date too

Cinema Room

If you’re a movie buff, then a cinema room could be the perfect use for your spare room. You’ll need one wall painted white so you can use a home cinema projector. You can paint the other walls black to help reduce the light in the room as you’re watching the movie. It’s a great way to get really immersed in the film. You will also need to block out the natural light from the window.

[Photo courtesy of gsloan/flickr.com]

Add a reclining sofa and a beer fridge so you have everything you might need. Installing surround sound speakers is easier upstairs than downstairs. You can run the cabling from the attic and through the ceiling. Now all you need to do is lay back and let the movie take you on an epic adventure.

Spare rooms often go to waste in our homes. They get filled with clutter and forgotten about. Bring yours back to life and have fun with a new hobby this year.

Updating your home can seem like a huge job to take on. You may think it will involve a lot of DIY projects and decoration. In fact updating your home can be quite a simple and budget-friendly thing to do. If your home doesn’t require any work and you are happy with the decoration, then it’s all just in the finer details. So if you want to update your home without the need to decorate then here is a quick guide for each of the main rooms in your home.

Kitchen

More often than not the kitchen is the hub of the home. It needs to have the right balance between each functionality. It’s a place to cook in, to relax in and dine. There are quite a few different things you can do to update your kitchen without decorating. Perhaps incorporating a new colour scheme would be a great place to start. You could add a vase of fresh flowers in your chosen colour. Update some of the things on your counter shelf life storage pots. Perhaps adding some shelves to a wall so you can put a few pictures on there or some inspirational messages. Adding a touch of colour to this room is all it will take to give it a new lease of life.

Bathroom

The bathroom is often the trickiest room to spruce up. Without adding a new bathroom suite what can you possibly do? There is quite a bit you can do in fairness. Firstly, much like the kitchen, you could incorporate a bit of colour or a theme to the bathroom. Adding new touches like luxury towels, a new toothbrush holder and cup. Perhaps a fancy soap dispenser. Also, as much as we clean our bathrooms, giving it a once-over with a steam cleaner could just be all it takes to make that bath sparkling once more.

[Photo courtesy of Maureen Didde/flickr.com]

Living space

You could add quite a bit to your living spaces. Personal touches like photo frames with new pictures in could be a great place to start. You could also consider a new rug in a different colour. Adding a new colour will give the impression of a freshly decorated room without the need to do any hard work. Alternatively, by changing some of the lighting you could give off a whole new vibe to the room. Adding a few more lamps or candles could create a different ambiance.

Bedroom

Finally, the bedroom. A place to relax and reflect on the day. Changing this room is a lot easier than you would think. It doesn’t require an expensive purchase like changing your bed. But just by changing the bed linen it could make the room look brand new. You could incorporate a new colour scheme in here to. Perhaps add some candles to give it a more romantic feel. Or by adding some different lighting. Things like fairy lights draped over the head of the bed can make the room feel pretty and styled.

I hope this simple guide give you some inspiration to update your home.