Interior Trends of 2011 – Emotional Austerity

Due to the financial recession the world of interior design believes that people are asking themselves questions to what they believe they need to live well. This is or has led to the emergence of simple living styles, formal or severe designs which mixes the fundamental basics and old with the newest modern and high-tech ideas. To put simply – Vintage, Modern is an interior design trend which will be seen throughout this year.
To get the latest looks you'll need to do some forward thinking by looking back in history as these time periods will be at the forefront of new trends and colours.
Tudor: This era was rich in voluminous velvets, tear-drop pears and tapestry accents.
Mayan, Inca and Hopi: Tribal influences will be seen in the use of geometric floral fabrics, trapezoids and early images of the sun.

1940s: This decade will once again influence interiors by featuring light maple, pecan and walnut, with fabrics such as seersucker, jersey and cable knits for home-made cushions and throws, curtains, blinds and soft furnishings.

Vintage, modern is an eclectic mix of old and new which enables us to revert back to old ways of hand or home-made to save money and be bang on-trend.

Image: atticmag

In High Spirits 2 - Maximising Space in Your Home

As we pack away our festive decorations we also look at the improvements we can do to our homes – maximising space is one of the biggest problems. However, whilst we're still in high spirits and still on the 'wave' our New Year's resolution now is the time to give serious consideration to the space we call home!

The idea of maximising space is becoming more and more common as home owners require space for their work/study area. Open shelving takes up the free wall space and a slim desk fits snugly under the stairwell . Make it all the more seamless and less obstructive by choosing light neutrals over colours. Wherever your windows are, you might need to consider some ready made blinds to have control over the light flooding into your new home office space – this could also be your opportunity to bring in some colour.

You could also use the space under the stairs for storing outdoor gear, shoes and school bags – just do it tastefully rather than throwing it all in the nook! Build into the nook an exact fit unit that has vertical compartments and a bench seat at the bottom which protrudes out from the nook. If you are a family of four for example, four compartments would give everyone their own space to hang up coats and scarves. The bench seat below could even be an Ottoman offering more hidden storage for sports equipment or shoes.

Image: Atticmag

Living Room Interior Design Ideas: Creating Zones

I thought I'd do a little more on creating zones in an open plan living room - or a large living room by giving you a few hints on how to start new interior design ideas.

It could be that you have all your main furniture and are just thinking of ways to arrange it all and make the most of each item. It isn't a bad idea to start with some graph paper and a pencil, downsizing your floor space to fit on your notepad and playing around with the possibilities of floor plans - just focusing on larger pieces to begin with.

Split the main part of your living room into a relaxing area and an entertaining one. The relaxing side may have some extra comfy lounging seats/sofas, a bookshelf, fireplace and small coffee table. Your entertainment half will have more seating, a unit for placing the television,gaming consoles and a clever storage unit with ample lighting provided by an assortment of table lamps UK.

There are some fabulous ideas to take inspiration from; along with colour schemes and how to make the most of what you have by using re-vamping existing soft furnishings by purchasing curtain material online to make cheap cushion covers or Roman blinds. The possibilities are endless if you let your imagination run wild!

Image: belle maison

Are You Wearing Your Curtains?!

I couldn't help but smile when I saw this image! It reminded me of my mother who used to pass comment 'that looks like she's wearing her mothers curtains! Well, how times have changed and today wearing and being inspired by fabrics is bang on-trend. I was obviously born ahead of my time!

There are some stunning curtain fabrics online witch provide a cornucopia of beautiful patterns, styles and colours to make your own soft furnishings, curtains, blinds, cheap cushion covers and if you so wish a dress or a skirt!

The choice of fabrics is also expanding and today we dress our windows with the finest silk curtain fabric, sheer voile curtain fabric or more traditional damask and jacquard patterns, mixing them together to make fabulous window treatments which enhance the look of the windows and the home.

Thank goodness window treatments are also top of the interior designers agendas, rather than being at the bottom as they were in the past; they have become an integral part of room's design and are no longer looked upon as an after thought.

Image: Belle Maison

Beautiful Bedrooms 2 – The Comfort Zone

We all need a good nights sleep to be able to function properly the following day. Today's bedroom are seeing the removal of high-tech gadgets and moving back to bedroom as being a place for relaxation and sleep rather than being overloaded with plasma TVs, DVD players and built in sound systems.

Black out curtains or blinds can be your saving grace when it comes to sleeping at night. Outdoor street lights or going to bed early in the summer months can make it difficult to rest. You don't have to sacrifice style when using black out curtains or blinds as they come in a wide range of colours and patterns as you would find with normal window treatments. You may also consider layering your window treatments and combining wooden Venetian blinds with curtains for a more luxurious and finished look.


More and more contemporary bedrooms are seen with floor to ceiling wardrobes on one wall as opposed to lots of separate drawers, wardrobes and shelving. With everything tidily and conveniently in one space, there is more room to manoeuvre around and less clutter to have in sight. Built in bed storage has also proved to be a clever system to keeping your belongings neat and out of the way – the 'no clutter rule' applies if you want a relaxed mind which is conducive to sleep.

Image: Small Space Style

Can't Find The Curtains You're Looking? - Simple, Make Your Own!

If you're looking for a particular style of window dressing and are fed up with not being able to find exactly what you're after, then why not join this years interior design revival of making your own curtains or blinds? Further still you could even opt for second hand curtains and add your own personal touches with trimmings.

Making curtains is really not that difficult as long as you have the basic skills of being able to use a sewing machine; having said that you could even cheat and use the latest haberdashery and take up hems using iron-on tape! If you want Roman blinds these are available in kit form and all you need is a kit and the fabric!

With those parts out of the way you can begin with contemplating colours and/or patterns for your curtain project. Neutral colours are easy on the eye and can look good in nearly every space - they will also enhance on light or give the impression of light.

Colours create moods too so think about cool tones for bedrooms and bathrooms, warm tones for kitchens and dining spaces. It might be easiest to go with an existing colour palette that you have in your room. With large windows or rooms you have more options when it comes to bold patterns but with a smaller scale you should look for delicate details or stripes.

Image: Absolutely Beautiful Things

An Assortment Of Fabulous Curtains For Sale Online

Soften up your bedrooms with a wonderfual assortment of fabrics and materials of different densities and textures to create a warm and homely feel.

With the fabulous of ready made curtains for sale it's easy to give your bedrooms a fresh new look. Opt for this year's subdued tones and sherbert colours and team with bedding and stacks of cushions!

This look is so easy to achieve and really doesn't take too much thinking about! Although the basic interior design principles say to only use three colours within a room, the bedroom is one place where you can break the boundaries, try something new and exciting to reflect your individuality and personal style preferences.

Ring the changes and use blinds at one window and full length curtains at another to give a new look at each window. If you keep the fabrics the same colours or shades it won't look as if you didn't try to create a stylish look and simply hang odd curtains and blinds. It's the subtle differences which make this relaxed and informal style so appealing.

Add whimsical touches by replaing pictures with a collection of your favourite wardrobe accessories, which you never know quite what to do with or were to store them. This could be silk and chiffon scarves to create a floaty, dreamy look or fascinators and hats to give a quirky and very unique wall display which blends with your bedroom theme.

Image: vickydar.blogspot.

Chic And Contemporary Clean Lines

This has to be the the epitome of a contemporary bathroom using natural stone. Providing an opulent space which is simply stunning, although it doesn't actually look usable! Who would want to spoil the look by adding the necessary bathroom commodities of everyday living?

The use of natural stone in bathrooms continues to be extremely popular, the subtle colour tones make each vanity unit or bath completely unique. Having a bespoke bathroom has to be the dream of many people and yet although this bathroom is fabulous it does lack homeliness in my opinion.

It also demonstrates to perfection the versatility of cheap Venetian blinds and the beautiful light effects they produce. Of course Venetian blinds are the perfect window dressing in any style of bathroom, irrespective of its size. The latest designs have special coatings which make them moisture resistant and ideal for the humid atmospheres of bathrooms, along with providing the necessary privacy from the outside world!

Venetian blinds are infamous for providing clean lines for windows in modern and contemporary homes and although they are still used in work places and offices they have found their way into people's homes in spectacular style!

Image: Haven and Home

Cheap Roller Blinds Made From Bamboo Are The Ideal Window Dressing In All Styles Of Homes

I have to admit that in many ways I am a great lover of bamboo blinds! It's their simplicity and natural look which gives me pleasure and irrespective of how many images you see of them they always look so chic and stylish!

Of course being made from natural material also has its appeal, along with the different light effects one can so easily achieve. This year the trend is to use natural products within out home and many designers are using a combination of cheap roller blinds and ready made curtains to create some stunning window dressings.

For me a bamboo blind is the ideal choice in bedrooms which don't need blackout roller blinds, so unless you don't have an unwanted light pollution entering your bedroom they are an effective and trendy way to dress your windows.

The other great advantage with any wood or natural material used as a window dressing is the gentle warmth they bring to a room, of course they also produce some wonderful lighting effects during the day time, more especially when it's sunny!

Anyone looking for an inexpensive yet chic way to dress their windows should give serious consideration to using cheap roller blinds, particularly bamboo ones!

Image: Two Ellie

Ignore The Cold And Spend Time Looking At Inspirational Ideas To Transform Your Home!

Forget the fact that it's freezing cold outside and spend time in the warmth of your own home looking at inspirations to transform your home in 2010 into the chic and stylish interior you dream of!

One of this years trends is to use as much natural light as possible, this is not only a great way of reducing your electricity bill, it is also a very worthwhile way to look at new ways to dress your windows.

Although we have seen the use of blinds and curtains being used in conjunction with each other for many years, the 2009 trend of using lightweight voile curtains teamed with natural bamboo or wood weave Roman blinds is going to continue this year as well.

Not only do these make very stylish window dressings they are also an extremely cost-effective way to dress your windows. Wood-weave Roman blinds are the perfect partner for white voile curtains, with one complementing the other perfectly.

If you need a little more substance to your window dressing lined voile curtains are also available in a wide range of colours and patterns. Fitting blinds inside the recess of your windows will also help to retain heat as well as providing you privacy at night when internal artificial lighting is being used.

Image: Haven and Home

Let It Shine Even During The Winter!

One of the most popular interior design trends is to use a combination of curtains and blinds as window dressings. Blinds appear to be gradually replacing the humble net curtain which is used basically to prevent passers by being able to see inside your home during the day time.

New trends have a more open approach with the focus being on making the most of natural light whenever possible. This is not only a cost effective way of reducing lighting bills, but also an effective method of reducing your carbon footprint, why use artificial light when you can have light for free!

White is a great reflector of natural light, as such white blinds and curtains are the perfect solution for harvesting free light within your home. You can also use cheap Venetian blinds, if you need privacy, and by slightly angling the slats upwards you can bounce natural light from a white ceiling back down into the room, another great energy saver!

Despite the typical English weather even when its raining natural light is still available, it's just not as intense! Of course blinds are also ideal for reducing heat build up during the summer, especially if you have south facing windows and snow is white which is also a great reflector of natural light! It's a win, win situation all round!

Image: Style Court

Beautiful Bedroom Roman Blinds

Make use of the winter daylight by using beautiful Roman blinds which coordinate with your bedding. The diffuse light effects create a feeling of subtle warmth during the daytime. At night fully lined Roman blinds with a thermal backing are the ideal window dressing in bedrooms creating chic styling with a modern twist on traditionalism.

Ready made blinds are available on the whole host of wonderful colours and patterned fabrics to suit your décor and your budget effortlessly! Opt for this year's hottest colour trends of a combination of subtle dove greys and shades of yellow, try using yellows which have a leaning towards gold for a chic refinement!

For those who love DIY it's even possible to coordinate a chest of drawers by simply gluing the same fabric to the front of the drawers! For those keen on making their own bespoke furnishings Roman blind kits are the ideal solution which enable you to use the same fabric either on furniture, foot stalls and lampshades.

Give yourself some interior design projects to focus on this year rather than wishing you had and never quite getting round to it! Browse online blogs thumb your way through some interior design magazines which are full of inspirational ideas for you to emulate or which will inspire you to try your hand at a wide range of different crafts to make your home totally unique!

Image: {This is glamorous}

Blinds On Blinds!

If you don't want curtains in your bedroom why not take inspiration from the idea of using two different types of blinds?

Venetian blinds fitted inside the recess of the window provides the privacy you need without the use of net curtains, whilst a linen blend Roman blind style breaks the starkness, adding a soft and gentle touch which is ideal for bedrooms.

The great advantage of using two types of blinds is the endless possibilities of colour combinations you can use! White Venetian blinds provide you with a crisp clean look, as well as the versatility of being able to control the amount of light entering the room, whilst you can have a fabric blind which matches or coordinates with your bedding sets to bring the room together and provide a sense of balance.

This style of window dressing becoming increasingly popular as it a great money saver! Not only can ready made Roman blinds be bought inexpensively, you can also make your own Roman blinds which opens up a whole world of wonderful fabrics to choose from. Double layering window dressings is also a good way to help reduce heat loss via your windows, especially if you select a medium weight fabric for the Roman blinds.

Image: two ellie blogspot

Happy Christmas Everyone!

I hope you have a great day in your own chosen way, receive and give presents to friends and family, along with sitting round the table to tuck into your Christmas diner!

You've probably spent ages making sure your home is neat and tidy, especially if you have guests staying with you during the festive season, as well as decorating your home with your own individual design flair and colour combinations!

If you are spending Christmas at someone's else's home you will no doubt inadvertently look at their décor, colour scheme and interior design style – it's an 'inbred' thing which try as you might you can't shake off!

Obviously its wise not to pass judgement, however, making kind comments and remarks about someone's new curtains and blinds may be just the sort of thing they would like to hear, taking notice of someone else's efforts is a great way to build relationships as well as being a great talking point if you can't bear to sit and watch another repeat on the television!

Other people's interior designs can be very inspirational, rather like reading interior design blogs or thumbing through design magazines!

Image: Surroundings

Beautiful Festive Colour Schemes

You have probably already chosen your Christmas colour scheme this year, if you haven't try fabulous turquoise! This gorgeous colour is sure to brighten any home style as well as complimenting neutral décors.

Irrespective of what colour scheme you choose the key is not to get carried away and add so many baubles and tree decorations that your tree looks completely swamped! Remember the less is more 'rule'!

The other thing is to buy a tree which suits and fits comfortably within the size of your room! Placing it in front of your lounge window is a great idea just so long as it doesn't interfere with the opening and closing of curtains or vertical blinds.

Whilst it is the season to be jolly, you also need to be jolly careful that you don't expose your house and its contents to the world as sadly opportunist thieves are prevalent over the festive season, particularly if you leave your curtains or blinds open when you are not at home. Of course if you have Venetian or vertical blinds you can simply adjust the angle of the slats or vanes to give you privacy from prying and inquisitive eyes!

Sounds cynical? Or just a reflection of the times we live in?

Image: House of Turquoise

The Beautiful Colours Of Nature

If the thought of filling your home with tortoiseshell, ivory and horn sends shivers down your spine, you can still have some of nature's finest patterns and colours just as long as it faux (false).

Thinking about where your furniture and soft furnishing come from and the materials they are made from is becoming extremely popular as we are looking at ways to lower our carbon footprint, however, ivory, horn and tortoiseshell, rightly or wrongly, has been used in interiors for many hundreds of years across the globe.

The beautiful browns, creams and orange hues found in natural tortoiseshell make wonderful colour combinations. Cast your mind back to the 70s when teenagers wanted chocolate brown and orange bedrooms, they were the in-trend colours of the time and today these colours may be given fancy names such as chocolate, mocha or sunset glow they are still fundamentally brown and orange!

Nature inspires many interior designs and the use of natural materials which have been sourced from sustainable resources has never been more in demand. If you adore wooden blinds because of their colour, unique graining along with their practicality and versatility as a window dressing check out were the wood to make them has been sourced.

Image: Studio Annetta Blog

Viva Venetian Blinds!

If you like to keep things stylish yet simple within your home Venetian blinds have to be one of the most practical and versatile window treatments you can use.

The old fashioned metal Venetian blinds that clanked and clucked their way into many offices have been re-designed to suit all styles of home interiors perfectly.

White remains one of the most popular colour choices, basically because the colour blends effortlessly with any other colour within the room. Venetian blinds are very practical for use in bathrooms and kitchens as the latest designs have special coatings which make the moisture resistant and some also have coatings which help prevent dust build-up which has to be a big plus for anyone! The controls have also been modified over the years, with easy to use wand controls replaced pull cord systems.

The choice of colours has been greatly improved over recent years and along with the latest in-trend sherbet colours vibrant primary colours and gloss black are now available, even you really want a real change there are some fabulous faux leather Venetian blinds in black or chocolate brown which provide the same versatility with chic and modern design styles to suit modern lifestyles perfectly!

Image: My Notting Hill Blog

Black Venetian Blinds Provide Style And Impact To Modern Interiors

Metal Venetian blinds have been available for years with many people being more used to seeing them in offices than people's homes. However, their versatility and practicality has made them a very popular window dressing in all styles of homes.

Recent manufacturing concepts means that the clanking, noisy Venetian blinds are a thing of the past, smooth operating systems and a diversity of different colours provides a chic and stylish window dressing either when used on their own or in conjunction with ready made curtains.

Black Venetian blinds provides an understated impact to a window and it the perfect choice for creating contemporary monochromatic colour schemes.

If privacy is high on your interior design agenda than Venetian blinds tick all the right boxes! Enabling you to have complete control over the amount of light entering your room, along with ability to tilt the blinds to provide complete privacy from prying eyes without restricting natural light. If you don't have passers-by looking in then you cab simply pull up the blinds to your desired height to provide maximum light along with chic interior styling! Angle the louvres upwards and it is possible to bounce the natural light off of a white ceiling back down into the room.

Image: Little French Nest Blog

Use Curtains In Your Bathroom!

Most homes, irrespective of size, opt to have blinds as their window treatment in their bathrooms. These are easy to install, easy to operate and are available in a vast array of different colours and patterns.

Make no mistake there is nothing wrong with using blinds, far from it! They are a cost effective and practical way to provide privacy as well as letting plenty of natural light flood into the room when they are rolled up. However, if you are looking for something a little more unusual and unique in your bathroom, break from tradition and use full length curtains if you windows is not situated with the sink, bath or loo above it!

Curtains add a touch of chic styling which oozes elegance when the right colour combinations are used! As most bathroom suites are white you have a whole world of gorgeous colours to choose from! For a funky look use vibrant fuchsia pink, lime green or deep purple. If you are after a monochromatic look of course you should opt for black and white. Floral patterns which trail up the length of the curtains will also give the illusion of more height in your room.

Retro looks can also look simply stunning in bathrooms. Look for mirrors with metal or mirrored frames to bring extra light in a stylish way.

The use of free standing baths in-trend enables these looks to be more easily achieved. The other trend of staying in rather than spending on nights out means you will have time to enjoy relaxing and soaking in a bath filled with fragrant bubbles! If you want to create a warm and romantic look scented candles are a good choice, just be careful where you place the candles if you use curtains to reduce the potential fire risk.

Image: Belle Maison

Opt For Chic, Yet Inexpensive Alternatives To Transform Your Home

Mix old with new with furniture as one of the most in-trend interior styles is to have antique or old pieces sitting beside something which is completely new. This trend suits many homes as there are nearly always 'treasures' which you simply can't ignore but are never really sure what to do with! The key is not to over crowd, as this just becomes a jumbled mess rather than a striking interior which shows that it has been carefully and tastefully thought out.

The choice of colours you use should also be given careful consideration. Whilst the latest design are predominately white opt for a modern cream and team with rich reds to bring a feeling of warmth to your rooms.

Rather than have curtains which can block out light in a small room opt for blinds made from neutral coloured fabrics to bring the room together effortlessly. Natural colours are ideal for small rooms without the starkness white sometimes portrays. These colours make a room feel lived in and homely which is what many people strive for. Getting the combination right is a matter or re-adjusting your mind set to a completely new way of looking at interior designs.

Rather than wishing your home could look like it has come straight out of the page of a design magazine stamping your own individualism is what great interiors are all about! We can all wish that we had more space, more ideas and perhaps more money to buy all the wonderful things we long for, take a reality check and opt for chic, yet inexpensive alternatives to make transform your house into a warm and inviting home.

Image: Small Space Style