It is quite hard to make the ceiling in your home look interesting but I have added a filter which seems to make it look like the sky. Anyway, that brings me to day three of my 30 Days of gratitude: having a roof over my head. With the migrant crisis and a rise in homelessness, having a place to call your own is something to be grateful for indeed.
Catch up on other days:
Day 1.
Day 2.
What are you grateful for?
In the bedroom it is best to not have too much stimulation. Here are some great bedroom ideas
Keep it neutral.
Keeping the bedroom in a neutral colour makes the bedroom a calm environment. You can add touches of colour and personality with furniture, bedding and cushions. A colourful lamp or bedding will add a pop. Some artwork is great but nothing too angry.
Keep your work out.
The bedroom should be a place where you sleep or relax. This may not always be possible. Especially in cities where many people live in house shares and rent a room in a house. I know when I lived in a house share I got irritated by all of the ‘the bedroom is only for sleeping’ advice in magazines. And what about weekends in bed? The bedroom should be a place of relaxing, sure, but also for fun and chilling out in general. Try to think of it as a place for recuperation. I often make the mistake of taking work to bed but it always leaves me stressed out. In my opinion the bedroom should be your safe haven from the world.
If the bedroom is all you have.
If you live in a house share then it is even more important that your bedroom is a place that makes you happy. You won’t really be able to separate work from relaxing time but you can still make sure your bedroom is a calm place. There will be a lack of space so invest in storage. Under bed storage is great and you can also invest in shelves and colourful boxes to put your stuff in.
Invest in good quality furniture.
Buying the best you can afford is a worthwhile investment. We still have some furniture that my husband was bought when he was a boy. The furniture still looks amazing today. Maybe we will even pass it down to our son.
Do you have any home hacks to share?
In collaboration with homify
We love X Factor at Frost and have been enjoying the performances. We have also been getting major property envy at the beautiful house the contestants are living in. We can reveal that it is located in one of Barnet’s most sought-after streets, According to Zoopla the property was previously put on the market for £7million when it was last up for sale in 2013.
The remaining XFactor hopefuls can kick back in the lap of luxury in a seven-bedroom mansion in leafy North London ahead of the finals.
Zoopla.co.uk can offer a sneak peek inside the detached new-build residence – which features an indoor swimming pool, a cinema room, and even a state-of-the-art car lift – where the finalists will be living until the winner is chosen in December. Can we move in now please?
As a parent, you already understand that good communication is a necessary skill whether you are talking to a toddler or a teen. If your children are little, you can use communication as a way to teach them how to be safe around cars. This is an invaluable lesson you can teach them when they are out in the garden or when they are with you on the street.
You may also want to teach them that not all strangers are to be trusted. This is particularly useful when they first go to school. If your child is older, then good communication with your child will be instrumental in building up a sense of self-esteem and develop a feeling of mutual respect.
10 Tips to Build Rapport
1. If your child wants to play, let your child know that you are interested in the things that interest them. Agree to help them with their game if they need it.
2. If your child has something they feel important, let him or her know that they are more interesting to you than some form of media entertainment. For instance, if your child is talking to you while you are watching television, pause to. If they have something that they urgently want to say, then turn off the television and give them your full attention
3. If your child is chatting with you when they are sharing something with you, let him or her know that they are more important than a casual telephone call. Rather than excuse yourself when your friend calls, let the answering machine pick up the message.
4. If you get to spend some personal time with your child, let your child know how much you enjoy your private chats with them.
5. If your child does something foolish when you have company, don’t rebuke them in front of everyone. Scolding them in front of others can be embarrassing for them. Public humiliation only leads to a feeling of resentment.
6. If your child has to constantly look up to talk to you, occasionally drop down to their level when you talk.
7. If you are really angry about your child’s behavior, give yourself time to cool down so that you can have an objective talk.
8. If your child is telling a story, don’t correct their grammar or how they narrate the story. Instead, show an interest in the story rather than how it could have been told better.
9. If you get a negative report about your child from another parent or a teacher, don’t simply launch into a tirade. First, listen to your child’s side of the story. They may have behaved badly because they misunderstood the situation and did not know that their behavior would upset others.
10. Be open and receptive to your child’s attempts to communicate and explain their point of view. Encourage your child to communicate by asking leading questions.
5 Ways to Make the House Safe for Kids
While safety in the home can be improved through communicating about dangerous things—like not jumping on the bed, climbing on the pipes, or touching hot plates—safety can also be ensured by taking proactive measures.
Here are some common household dangers that you should either warn your child about or use safety measures to protect them.
1. The danger of scalding when turning on a tap. Teach your child the difference between the hot and cold taps.
2. The danger of falling out of an upper story window. One solution is to install window guards.
3. The danger of falling down stairs. This can happen if your child is learning to crawl or it can happen if your child is rushing around the house. It’s only too easy for a child to roll down a flight of stairs.
4. The danger of leaving your house unprotected. One ADT security company discusses the need for extra precautions for your family. “The list of potential threats that could affect their safety includes burglary, fire, carbon monoxide and flooding.”
5. The danger of medications or poisons. Your curious toddler likes to taste all sorts of things. Make sure that you don’t leave your medications lying around and that you have locked all detergents and garden supplies in a safe place.
From our contributor Jenna.
This August sees the launch of the first home and body range from White Stuff.
The collection of hand and body products, candles and gifting, consists of three scents: Look Lively, Rest Remedy and Blissful Boost, designed to awaken, sooth or stimulate the senses.
The collection consists of hand creams, body lotions, scented candles, body butter, bath foam and gift sets, including:
Look Lively Hand & Body Wash (£8.50)
Look Lively Small Candle (£8)
Look Lively Hand (£7)
Rest Remedy Small Candle (£8)
Rest Remedy Hand & Body Lotion (£8.50)
Blissful Boost Hand Cream (£7
Blissful Boost Large Candle (£15).
The full range will be available from August 17.
Ah, whiter teeth. They really do make a difference. The professional route tends to cost a bomb though. So what to do? Home whitening of course. No, none of that awful bleach stuff and nothing that will affect your health negatively. We reviewed iWhite 2 Instant Teeth Whitening. On the packet it says it is 100% safe. Here is how we got on…
First of all, it is easy to use, if not a little uncomfortable and weird. You just put the pre-filled trays in your mouth for 20 minutes. That’s it. The product can be used for 5 consecutive days.
The results? It does whiten teeth. Not sure about 8 shades whiter but definitely whiter. Results will vary from person to person. We do think it removes stains and it also restores enamel. For the convenience, price (£34.95) and results we say it is worth the money. Especially if you have a big event coming up.
iWhite Instant Professional Teeth Whitening Kit is available here.
When people are asked about the most stressful experiences of their life, predictable answers emerge – childbirth, bereavement, divorce and major illness are all top responses. But there’s another time which consistently makes this list – home moving.
At first it might seem silly, even trivialising, to compare the difficulties of moving home with divorce or more “significant” events. But people don’t just carry their personalities and “self” within the mind – our home and possessions contribute strongly to our sense of identity. In a famous paper, an academic named RW Belk posited the idea of an “extended self” which includes our most prized possessions which shape our self image.
Whenever you move home, part of the extended self is literally torn down overnight as your possessions are thrown into boxes to be carted off. In the same way (psychologically speaking at least) that job loss or divorce can force someone to redefine their identity; so does moving house.
Of course, it isn’t just the identity element of moving that makes the process so difficult. The entire process is expensive, long and tortuous – and prone to last minute failures if a chain falls apart. So what can you do to mitigate the stress?
Firstly, carefully consider what you’ll need immediately once you’re moved in. A bed, clothing and basic supplies will be priority for the first night – so pack them to one side. Bear in mind it might take days to get your furniture reassembled in the proper locations. If you have concerns, it may even be worth investing in an easily transported Zip & Link mattress, which can be easily dismantled and moved.
It is worth paying a premium for a trustworthy removal firm – ask friends for recommendations or search Yelp if you’re stuck. Once you have narrowed your list down to a few different companies you should call them all and ask what they would charge given the details of your move. Asking for moving quotes is one of the best ways to ensure there are no surprises on moving day. Whoever you choose will be in complete control of your life’s possessions for up to several days – knowing they’re in safe hands will be a weight off your mind.
You’ll also be faced with the immediate challenge of switching your address details for each of the dozens of companies who need it. Your local Post Office should be able to redirect mail to your new address as a stopgap, but its essential to update your details ASAP. Banks, utility companies and phone suppliers will be among your first calls but the tax office, driving authorities and doctor will all need an up to date address.
Before you move its well worth gathering and shredding any documents with personal information to avoid the risk of identity fraud. Criminals have been known to search the trash of recently moved families for identifying documents, which can then be used to take out fraudulent loans in your name. To avoid this risk, ensure any personal documents that aren’t coming with you are shredded or even burned.
Moving home will always be a stressful experience but with planning and forethought you can avoid some of the worse possibilities. Last minute packing crises, lost possessions and identity fraud can turn a nightmare move into a genuine tragedy, so plan in advance and don’t fall into those traps!
If you are living in rented accommodation, it’s often tempting to put your interior design ambitions on hold. You may think, for example, that as it’s not your property then any efforts you make will be wasted. However, with a little bit of creativity and ingenuity you can still create a beautiful interior design scheme, one that you’re happy to live with, even if you are staying in a rented house or flat.
Refresh the décor
One option that is quick, cheap and simple is to refresh the paint in the various rooms. Using white or magnolia paint throughout is unlikely to upset the letting agent or landlord, though it always makes sense to check beforehand, especially if you find that the landlord or a previous tenant has made a bold statement by using striking colours or patterns. Generally, property owners will be more than happy to benefit from a refreshed interior that’s free of charge. They will also know that their tenant respects and wants to look after the property.
Personalise the space
Pale, neutral shades will provide a good backdrop for your possessions as these are what will make your rented accommodation feel like it is your own space. This doesn’t necessarily result in a cold or sparse atmosphere as once you add your own personal accessories you can make the space your home. To warm up the rooms add your chosen decorations, such as colourful artwork and family portraits, which will help make any house or flat feel like home.
Make good use of all the storage available, including any shelves. Fill these with your favourite books, games and DVDs as well as other personal artefacts. Even if you are living in a furnished or partially furnished property, you can still cover floors with your own rugs and sofas with your preferred cushions, blankets and throws. By making the most of personal touches, there is no need to consider that rented property necessarily presents a design limitation.
Buy flexible furniture
Remember that every item of furniture you buy for the property (unless you are replacing something that you have broken) is your personal possession and can be taken with you when you go. This means that additional pieces that you like represent an investment. Be sure to exercise caution in this respect, though, as things that might look fine if you are in a spacious property, such as a king size bed, very large wardrobe or enormous sofa, may not fit so easily into a smaller one; as far as seating is concerned, modular sofas or individual statement pieces are much more versatile.
Make it your own
With a splash of paint and a little imagination, you can really make any place into a home. If you love colour, then white or magnolia surfaces provide you with the ideal palette to be dressed by curtains, rugs, cushions and throws. Add to this your favourite artworks and artefacts and you’ll finally feel like you’re really home.
