How To Create A Contemporary Bathroom

There's nothing like the serene, relaxed feeling of slipping into a deep bath in a beautifully designed bathroom. We've prepared this handy guide to help you to create a contemporary style bathroom that is alive with elegance and style.

It's a good idea to take the time to consider different arrangements in your new bathroom, so why not use a piece of chalk to mark out potential positions for your bathroom suite, and let your whole family contribute suggestions? By taking the time to consider your options, you can be more certain that you will pick the right one, and avoid having to redecorate in a few years' time.

This bathroom uses wooden panelling
to give its sleek lines a touch of warmth

Contemporary bathrooms have an emphasis on space and sleekness, so it's worth while spending some time working out exactly what you do and don't need. Many modern bathrooms do away with traditional cabinets, and if you decide to go this way, but later find that you need more storage, you can choose a wooden bedside cabinet or small chest of drawers for the room without compromising on style.

The key to a contemporary bathroom is the bath itself - modern manufacturing techniques allow far more interesting shapes to be created than the traditional bath design, and if you want to get inspired, simply check out the range of bathroom suites that are available online.

The innovative shape of this bath is
contrasted with the natural wood shelves

In order to make your room relaxing, and prevent it from looking too cold, it's worth contrasting the sleek white textures of your bath and sink units with natural wood, which both brings a touch of traditional character to the room and also allows you to be creative in your storage choices. Why not use a wooden blanket box to provide storage for towels and guest toiletries?

Channel4.com have a great page filled with ideas for a contemporary bathroom, so if you're still on the lookout for inspiration, why not check it out?

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How to Use Ceilings to Enhance Your Furniture

Despite being the single largest surface in almost any room, we seldom think of our ceilings, and often miss out on exciting ways to bring a new style to our homes. This handy guide offers hints and tips on making the most of your ceiling, with decorating tips and examples for you to draw on.

If your ceiling has sloping sections, these can be painted to match the walls, breaking up the line between wall and ceiling and giving your room a unique look. Alternatively, sloping sections can be painted in a contrasting tone for a bold expression of your style. For example, in a room with a royal blue wall and white ceiling a sloping section can be painted red, or if this is too much, slate grey. This is perfect for creating an environment to show off contemporary furniture, as the emphasis on lines and shapes will fit the clean aesthetic of modern furniture. Try installing recessed halogen spotlights to really nail that up-to-the-minute look.

The Sistine Chapel ceiling,
painted by Michaelangelo

If you're going for a traditional look, then why not consider a ceiling rose? Plaster roses (sometimes called ceiling medallions) can be bought from DIY superstores, although it's recommended that you have a professional do the installation. Once installed, you have a choice of paint options. The traditional choice is white, the same as the rest of the ceiling, but you can get a refined, relaxed-yet sophisticated look by painting it in a patina of bronze, copper or even gold. Ceiling roses really set off a traditional room, and you can create a great effect by accessorising traditional wooden sideboards, console tables and bookshelves with matching bronze, copper or gold ornaments.

The exposed beams in this room really
contribute to its relaxed style

If you are lucky enough to have exposed wooden beams in your ceiling, it's worth taking the time to make sure they look their best. You can go for the old-fashioned, Tudor-style option of painting them black or deep umbre, and pairing this with a white or cream ceiling. If you want a more modern look, strip your beams back and give them a coat of Danish oil for a light and airy feel. This look is perfect for setting off chunky oak furniture, and can really bring out the grain in pieces with large surfaces, such as coffee tables.

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How To Protect Your Pine Furniture

Pine is a soft wood which continuously 'respires' when there are changes in the temperature and the environment. Pine will always feature some small irregularities, such as slight shrinkage and minor defects like small cracks in the wood's surface and knots, although many of these apparent imperfections actually enhance the look of the wood, making furniture unique.

The first thing to remember when caring for your pine furniture is that sunlight can have a dramatic effect on both the colour and surface of the timber. It's a good idea to keep untreated pine out of direct sunlight, although lacquered or waxed pine has much better resistance to cracking and discolouration.

In order to prevent the wood from bowing or cracking, it's a good idea to make sure that it is in an area with a constant temperature, as rapid changes can cause the wood to dry out, expand, and crack. It's also advisable to avoid placing hot or cold items directly onto the wood.

Rubber protectors can prevent moisture
damage, as well as damage to floors

As well as temperature, pine is susceptible to damage from moisture. If you are planning to place your furniture in a room with a tiled or laminate floor, make sure you use rubber protectors placed under the feet to stop the wood from soaking up any accidental spills or condensation, as moisture can cause splitting and discolouration.

Always be gentle when cleaning your pine furniture

When cleaning your pine furniture, it's important not to use soap or detergent, or any polish that contains silicone, as this can affect the appearance of the grain, and may in some cases cause staining. For general cleaning, use a damp duster and gently buff the wood to a shine. If you need to give your furniture a deeper clean, then try looking in your local hardware shop for lemon oil or another soft polishing oil treatment.

If you are using an oil based polish, it's worth testing it out on an out of sight area in order to make sure that it doesn't alter the natural colouring of the wood. If you need a bit more in depth advice on finding the right products for your furniture, check out Ronseal's website, which features some really handy how-to-guides that will help you get the most out of your pine furniture.

Properly cared for, pine can be a beautiful presence

One of the most effective ways to keep your pine furniture looking its best is to use a furniture wax. Much pine furniture will come ready-waxed, although it's worth reapplying the finish every year or two to ensure that the wood remains fully protected, especially if it is a feature piece such as a coffee table or dresser.

Of course, with all the preparation in the world, it's impossible to avoid accidents, so here's a handy tip to deal with minor dents, especially useful for dining tables - boil a kettle, and pour a very small amount of hot water onto the affected area then mop up excess water with a cloth. The moisture should cause the dent to plump out. If the wood swells too much, place a heavy, flat object on top of the bump, and give it a day to dry out.

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How To Create A Rustic Bedroom

There is nothing more welcoming and relaxing than a delightful, rustic bedroom, filled with the colours of autumn and spring. With a little planning, you can create a stunning rustic look that will totally transform your bedroom, so check out this handy guide to decor, furnishing and accessories, and bring a little countryside charm to your sleeping space.

To get that great rustic look, start by considering your decor. You'll want to get a classic farmhouse style, but be warned, it's easy to go too far and end up with a room that is a caricature of the rustic style. Check out the picture below for an example of a room that is certainly rustic, but not exactly pleasant.

This room takes the rustic theme too far

When it comes to selecting your furniture, pick a bed and matching wardrobe, blanket box and bedside cabinets made from an appealing natural timber. Oak is the best choice for the traditional farmhouse look, with its deep grain and distinctively rustic colouring. Ash and elm can also be used to bring a rural tranquility to your bedroom.

If you're in need of a bit more inspiration, then why not check out countryliving.com's brilliant guide to farmhouse style interiors, and plan your room's new look.

This rustic bedroom combines great
design with beautiful furniture

And if you're on a budget, remember that a rustic style can be accessorised with free, natural found objects, so why not venture out to the countryside and see if you can find some interestingly shaped branches and wildflowers to place in large vases. You can use bowls of pine cones to decorate the top of a chest of drawers, and decorate the walls with framed photos of your favourite countryside spots.

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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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