Must Have Items For Your Hall

Rather than overlook your halls and landings in favour of the rest of your house, it's worth remembering that the hall is the first and last part of your home that you and your visitors will see. To make the most of your hallways and landings, treat them like every other room in the house, and carefully select furniture and accessories to maximise style and practicality.

The owners of this hall have gone for a clean,
minimal approach but still found
space for a handy console table

The furniture you pick depends on the size of your hall - if you are short on space, you may have to stick to slimline furniture such as console tables and bookshelves, although if you take the time to choose these can be stylish and useful and really contribute to a welcoming hall. You can also use mirrors to create the illusion of space. If you have more room, you could maximise the usefulness of your space and bring in a comfy chair to create a comfy nook for phone conversations or quiet reading. If space is available, you can also put in a row of display cabinets so that you can open the door and be welcomed by your most treasured possessions.

Digital photo frames are a great way to display many of your most treasured family photos in one compact and stylish package. Many are available, and it can be hard to find the right one for you, so why not check out which.co.uk's definitive feature on selecting a digital photo frame.

This hall combines spacious style with practical utility

Hall storage is really useful - For the DIY enthusiast, hgtv.com has a great guide to making your own hall tree, giving you handy storage for coats, scarves and shoes.

If you're stuck for ideas on how to decorate your hall, why not take a look at the BBC's design inspiration page.

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How To Create A Contemporary Office

With the ongoing recession causing salaries to be frozen, and with record numbers of applicants for vacant jobs, more and more of us are discovering our entrepreneurial spirit and starting businesses from home. If you have just embarked on a new commercial venture, you'll need surroundings that reflect your new business ideas, so we've come up with some great ideas on how to get maximum inspiration from your home office.

There's no doubting Sir Alan's business skills,
but what about his choice of decor?

If you've ever watched the BBC's show The Apprentice, you'll be familiar with the ultra modern glass-and-steel look of Sir Alan Sugar's boardroom. It makes a useful example of a contemporary work space, as your reaction to its super-sleek interiors will dictate the direction that you want to take with your own office. Some may find the reflective surfaces and unbroken lines of Sir Alan's office to be an inspiration, while others may still yearn for a modern look, but will want more warmth.

If the shiny, clean lines of Sir Alan's board room appeal to you, then you'll want to carefully plan your ultra-modern home office, otherwise it could end up looking like a cheap imitation, and your dreams of running your empire from a sleek, professional workspace may become a nightmare of peeling foil wallpaper and mismatched textures. The key to this style is to keep it simple - avoid flashy wall coverings and stick to a muted slate grey paint for the walls, and pick out a desk in glass or perspex. The only problem with a glass desk is that it works as a kind of display cabinet for clutter - invest in some stylish designer filing cabinets to make sure you have enough storage to keep surfaces clear. One of the keys to getting this look right is lighting - you won't be able to achieve that ultra modern look if you have a traditional lightbulb in the centre of the ceiling. Go for recessed halogen spotlights, with a separate switch for lightng over the desk.

This workspace mixes contemporary design and
lighting with traditional materials for an inviting feel.

If you want a modern workspace that is stylish while still being warm and inviting, why not mix traditional materials with modern style - look for a desk in oak or pine that has been made to a contemporary design, and you'll be able to achieve a harmony between sleek professionalism and homely comfort. Pick matching wooden filing cabinets and shelves to continue the harmonious feel. You can use your wooden furniture to select your wall colour by holding up a paint catalogue to the wood and finding a sympathetic tone. For example, oak contains hints of many different shades, and you can pick out burgundy, umbre, or even flecks of royal blue. This will create a unified and inviting room, where it is easy to concentrate and let yourself be inspired.

This home office manages to combine sleek
modernity with a hint of warmth

If you're having difficulty visualising your new workspace, head over to hgtv.com, where their designers have put together some truly inspirational home offices, including the two above. If you're working to a tight budget, then why not check out the BBC design inspiration site's range of affordable ideas for studies and home offices, and give an early boost to your profit margins.

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Worst Bedroom Designs

The public areas of our homes - our living rooms, halls, kitchens and dining rooms - often receive more attention than the more private areas like the bedroom, but if you neglect your bedroom, you are only neglecting yourself. Because they are not on public display, bedrooms can be more of an individualistic expression of our personalities, and while this can result in some stunning rooms, it can also see the creation of some real monstrosities (check out the first example to see a literal monstrosity in action). As well as misguided attempts at capturing a style, some bedrooms are ruined by sheer neglect, untidiness or poor planning, so read on to see some of the worst bedrooms in existence and learn how to avoid making the same mistakes.

It's easy to go over the top
when furnishing a child's room

This child's bedroom was obviously planned with the best intentions, but instead of being an exciting, inspiring place, the effect is nightmarish as well as impractical - after all, when the occupant of the room starts to grow up, will they still want to sleep in a Tyrannosaurus Rex's mouth?

This room is dark and uninviting,
but it doesn't have to be this way!

It's always a good idea to co-ordinate patterns on textiles and walls, but the owners of this room have gone too far - check out the duvet and the border at the top of the wall. By overdoing the matching pattern, the room becomes dark and unwelcoming, and the heavy, poorly-chosen dark wooden furniture does nothing to lighten the mood. If your room is small and dark, avoid large, heavy beds and pick a well designed modern bed that will help you to maximise your space.

If all these horrendous bedrooms have left a bad taste in your mouth, take a moment to check out the simple, elegant room below, with its carefully co-ordinated textiles and beautiful stripped-back wall. The owners of this room have focused on comfort and simplicity and created a sleeping space that is truly inviting and relaxing. If you want to create a similar effect, keep furniture to a minimum, co-ordinate your textiles and make the most of your room's more unusual features. To really make the most of your space, turn a spare room into a dressing room so that you can avoid clogging up the bedroom with wardrobes and dressing tables. This will also give you the opportunity to create a beautiful space where you can dress in tranquility and peace.

This room combines simplicity, comfort
and style for a truly elegant space.

If you feel you need a little more inspiration, check out the BBC's great selection of bedroom decoration tips and ideas, and transform your room into a welcoming haven.

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How To Turn Your Dining Room French

Think of a French dining room, and what comes to mind? Furniture that is somehow comfortable, rustic and effortlessly chic all at the same time, carefully chosen colours that create an environment that is perfect for long conversations over bottles of wine. If this sounds like heaven to you, why not consider creating your own French-influenced dining room, and bringing some of that unique continental charm to your home.

The centrepiece of any dining room is the dining table and chairs, and to get that distinctive French look, you'll want to go for elegant high-backed chairs to really get that sense of chic. For the table, you have a choice - if you are after the look of a sophisticated Parisian apartment, then go for a dining table with slender legs and a delicate design, and accessorise with matching occasional tables and sideboards on which to place lamps and flowing plants. If you crave the rustic French countryside style of a Provence cottage, then go for a rustic table that accentuates the natural beauty of the wood - distressed furniture can help you to get that lived in look without having to pay the high prices of antiques.

This room uses pale tones and a simple
chandelier to maximise space

Once you've got your furniture sorted out, you'll want to think about the decor. French-style dining rooms can, if they are small, benefit from a traditional lemon yellow or powder blue, which will maximise the light and evoke the sense of space found in a refined French apartment. If your room is larger, why not go for something bold and daring like vertical stripes or even a trompe l'oeil painting (although with this you'll want to go to a professional, as an amateurish attempt is a real fashion faux-pas)

This room uses a rustic dining table to create
a relaxed yet stylish atmosphere

The crowning touch to a French-inspired dining room will be a chandelier, although that doesn't mean you should forget about subtlety. Pick a lighting centrepiece that is in keeping with the scale of the room - a small glass chandelier can be an imposing presence simply because it is the source of light, whatever you do don't go too big, otherwise the sense of space will be lost.

Once you've successfully incorporated a French influence into your dining room, you'll want the food to match. Check out the BBC's piece on the differences between French and British cookery, and create some marvellous dishes to serve to your friends and family.

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Things to Look Out For When Choosing A Console Table

Console tables are highly practical, and can be adapted to many purposes, from serving as a handy hall table where you can keep your keys and where post can be kept to serving as a miniature writing desk in a small apartment. A console table will fit into any room, and as such, you may want to consider choosing one that will suit more than one room in your house should you ever decide to rearrange.

The more traditional style of console table features thin, tapered legs, a slim top, and a drawer for a little extra storage. This look really helps to bring a sense of elegance and chic to a room, and can evoke the unfussy style of a Parisian apartment as well as the traditional warmth of a country cottage. A traditional console table is a versatile piece, and can really make a difference.

This traditionally styled reclaimed oak console
table is perfect for a warm, cosy home

If you're after something that has a little more of a contemporary edge, then why not go for a more modern piece with chunkier legs that may also incorporate some extra storage such as additional drawers? Unlike the more traditional style of console table, a contemporary piece will probably have a chunky design, and will look great when combined with modern decor.

This contemporary oak console table will
fit in with an up-to-the-minute home

If you're after some extra storage for your hall or landing, why not look for a console table that incorporates some extra storage, such as a shelf at the base of the legs that can be used for storing shoes or even presenting houseplants. By ensuring that even a piece of furniture as small as a console table fulfils a practical role, you'll help to keep your home stylishly organised and refreshingly free from clutter.

If you need some inspiration for your hall's decor, and really want to make the most of this often under appreciated space, check out howstuffworks.com's great guide to decorating halls and landings.

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How to Turn Your Bathroom French

We would all love to live in a chic Parisian apartment, or a charming cottage in Provence, which is why we've come up with these handy hints to help bring a distinctively French feel to your home, starting with the bathroom. Over the next few weeks we'll be turning our attention to the other rooms in the house, allowing you to rejuvenate your home with Gallic chic.

1: Don't be afraid to be bold

The French have a passionate relationship with interior design, and classic French-style looks make the most of bold, fresh colour schemes as well as more traditional looks. In the bathroom, which is often a very small room, wall colour can really help to create the illusion of space. For a classic French feel go for Celadon walls with a slightly darker shade of eggshell paint for the skirting boards and other detailing. If you want to go for a modern look, why not try bold vertical stripes?

Even though this room is small, the bold
vertical stripes bring a fresh, airy feel

2: Choose your furniture carefully

French-style rooms make great use of space, and avoid clutter. If your bathroom is small, don't waste space by trying to cram extra cabinets into the corners. Pick one carefully chosen feature piece that looks great, but which also provides enough storage, and accessorise it with a cut-glass perfume bottle for that classic chic look. Try going for a solid wooden bedside cabinet, as these are designed to be compact, but also have ample storage.

3: It's all in the details

If you really want to nail the Parisian look, you'll need to make sure that all your accessories are up to scratch. Think elegant art-nouveau influenced vases, cast iron door furniture and fresh long-stemmed flowers for a really indulgent feel.

If your interest has been piqued, and you'd like to further research the intricacies of French-inspired design, why not visit the Interior Design School Review's site and check out their article on incorporating a French feel into your home.

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Tips to Make the Most of Your Bedroom

A bedroom is a place for rest, relaxation and indulgence, whether you're sleeping off the day's stresses or simply enjoying a lazy Sunday morning lay in with the newspaper and a delicious breakfast in bed. That's why it's so important that you make your bedroom a place that inspires restful feelings, where you can really get away from it all. This handy guide offers five tips that will help you to get the most out of your bedroom, so dive in and get inspired.

1. Make sure your bed is pulling its weight

The bed is the most important part of any bedroom, so it's worth your while taking a little time to make sure that you get the right option for you. Start with the frame, making certain that you pick one that is appropriate for the room - a four poster is great, but only if you have a high ceiling and enough floor space for it. If you make one investment in your bedroom, make it the mattress, as nothing else will have the same impact on your sleep and rest.

This beautifully dressed bed makes this
room inviting and relaxing

2. Get your entertainment options sorted

Sometimes, after a hard day, nothing's better than having an early night and watching one of your favourite films in bed, so it's a great idea to bring some unobtrusive entertainment to your room. Go for a small flatscreen TV, and mount it on the wall so that it doesn't take up floorspace. You can install an extendable bracket so that you can angle it closer to the bed when you want to use it, then fold it away when you don't.

3. Do you have enough storage?

If your bedroom suffers from an excess of clutter, then you may want to consider either storing some of your items elsewhere, or if your room is large enough, investing in some new storage solutions. If you can never find a place for spare blankets and pillows, try keeping a linen chest at the end of the bed. This not only provides great storage, but makes a great place to put a breakfast tray when you've finished with it.

4. Get the arrangement right

It doesn't matter how attractive your furniture is or how well decorated the room, if your bedroom is not arranged well, then it will never look its best. The BBC has a really handy guide to planning the layout of your bedroom, so if you're struggling to come up with ideas, it's well worth a look.

Even though this room is small, the
arrangement gives the illusion of space

5. Maximise your space

Often a bedroom can become overcrowded with furniture, as you cram a bed, bedside tables, wardrobes, chests of drawers and linen chests into the same space. If you have a spare room, why not try using it as a dressing room, so your bedroom can be stripped down to the essentials, helping to create a spacious, tranquil atmosphere where you can dream in peace and quiet.

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