Wanting to make some improvements to your home can be an incredibly stressful and expensive time in your life. If you’re lucky enough that money is no issue you’re set! But if like me you have a tight budget then you may be worried that you won’t be able to achieve the dream house you’ve always dreamed of owning. However, don’t worry because there are many clever ways you can have everything you dreamed of and more without having to break the bank. By focusing on these 4 tips you will see massive improvements in your homes decor while also increasing your overall value of your home.

Get new lighting

Updating the lighting around your home with some new quality lights can be one of the easier ways you can revamp your house and give it a completely different feel. Lighting is the most important part of setting the mood, creating your own personal style and can help you bring attention to key features in your rooms. If you want to update your lighting find a clever way to place them as this may lead to house actually appearing much bigger, and who doesn’t want more space! Or even just the illusion of more space.

Create a feature wall

A feature wall in any room of your house will make everything pop and draw in attention to a specific section of your room, usually this has been reserved for front rooms, but creating a feature wall in rooms like the kitchen has now been made easy; you can add an acrylic splashback to a wall to draw the eye to it. As well as giving you new design opportunities companies like Cut My Plastic offer a wide range of colours, styles and offer a service of cutting it down to any shape or size. So adding that feature wall doesn’t have to be expensive and you can get it tailored to what you want!

Repaint everywhere

If you want a change but don’t have enough money to make any drastic changes repainting your most important rooms is a great way to get that new house feeling. Change the colour in your living room, bed room and kitchen and you’ll basically have a whole new vibe to your house. Repainting is relatively cheap and you can even do it yourself. Make it into a family day and enjoy painting your home as a family. Choose whatever colours of paint you like, its your space and you can create whatever vibe you want!

DIY furniture

Reupholstering furniture such as sofas, armchairs or even cushions can be a relatively low-cost home improvement. Chose some nice fabric and do it yourself even. There are many tutorials online which can help you figure it out! You’ll feel super accomplished and can proudly show off your new DIY furniture to all your friends.

So that’s our guide to spruce up your home without having to smash your piggy bank! Hopefully these can help you turn your house into a genuine dream home!

When making a change to our home, whether it is a minor alteration or a major renovation, we do it in the hope of it lasting as long as possible. No-one wants to revisit a cracked and peeling coat of paint after a matter of months. Equally aggravating is a both outmoded and outdated carpet. With the help of this guide however, you should be able to dodge such errors and make changes that are built to stand the test of time.

Trends change over time

If you want to maximise how far your money will go, as well as the lifespan of your interior décor changes, there are two vitally important things to remember. The first is to remember that what is in vogue at that present moment will not remain in vogue forever. Anyone who has had the misfortune of encountering a 70s décor in this day and age, will whole-heartedly agree that statement. Don’t become the fossils that have stuck religiously to the garish décor of a bygone era.

Taste is subjective, and subject to change

A very similar comparison can be made with the concept of personal taste. Art has always been subjective, and will remain to be so, and interior décor is no different – ‘one man’s trash is another man’s treasure.’ For that reason, it is important to remember that everyone does not necessarily share your, no doubt, excellent taste. And even if you remain resolute in your decision to decorate according to your own tastes, it is certainly worth keeping in mind that tastes change too.

The importance of surfaces

Regardless of subjective tastes and trends, there is an undoubtedly objective science to picking the right surfaces in your home, especially when it comes to longevity. One of the most short-lived aspects of any home, are the carpets, with an average lifespan of 8-10 years. So easily sullied and quick to lose vibrancy of colour are carpets that you are far better off instead opting for laminate flooring. With an average lifespan of 25 years plus, laminate flooring has its anti-scratch and stain qualities to thank for its ability to retain its original gloss for decades. Its durability does not come at the price of its visual appeal however, with eerily accurate natural stone and exotic hardwood replications available.

The same logic is applicable to kitchen countertops. While typical countertop surfaces suffer from certain fragilities, quartz countertops are close to invulnerable. Completely non-porous and anti-microbial, it is the perfect surface for preparing food, and it is more than well-equipped to deal with spills.

Creating an exterior that can last for decades

Painting the exterior of your home can be a tricky undertaking – mountains and mountains of paint, dry and warm weather conditions, and a great deal of effort, are all prerequisites. With such a challenging undertaking, you want to be 100% certain of not only the colour, but the quality of the paint itself. That’s where weatherproof exterior coatings come in. A quality exterior coating can battle rain, wind, sleet and snow to last 25 years and beyond.

Over the last year, crafting has become extremely popular. It’s got health, wellbeing and financial benefits – didn’t you know?  Knitting, origami and colouring have come out as the leading crafting trends of late, but if those aren’t for you, there are many other fun and fulfilling crafts out there to satisfy all tastes and abilities.

Our friends at Hochanda, Home of Crafts, Hobbies and Arts, have put together some  ideal reasons to  get crafting now! 

Crafting helps improve a range of physical skills

Hobbies such as knitting, sewing and quilting help to maintain the use of muscles within the hands, which in turn keeps hand-eye coordination and dexterity at a good level; this is particularly important to maintain as you get older.

Crafting helps to keep the brain active

Crafting always encourages you to be creative, which can help keep the brain engaged a lot more than doing something like watching television, which can leave your mind unproductive and drained.

Crafting can be good for mental health too

A repetitive action like crocheting for example, can help to encourage psychological benefits similar to those of mindfulness and meditation.

Crafting can make you feel happier

Spending time on a hobby you enjoy can help to relieve some of the tension and stress caused by the daily grind. This can create a much more positive mental attitude, and can result in a happier outlook on life.

Crafting can be a sociable pastime

Social and emotional loneliness is something many fear. With this in mind, it’s important that those who live alone and who have a tendency to feel isolated, have the opportunity to socialise. Crafting groups can be a great way of enabling people to interact with like-minded people and meet new friends.

Crafting is a way to show you care

Whether it’s for an animal lover or for Valentine’s day, using your crafting ability to make personalised gifts is a fantastic way to show someone special that you care. Not only does making your own gifts and cards mean they are unique and one of a kind, they also prove how much time has gone into thinking about the other person.

Crafting can save you money

Crafting is a great way to help you save money. The materials can be a lot cheaper to source than buying the products you are making, for example a pair of embroidered jeans could set you back £40 – £60 but compare this with buying some of our gorgeous embroidery sets (starting at £9.99) and you can upcycle a pair of old jeans at a significantly lower cost!

Crafting can even help you make money

Crafting also has the opportunity to help you make some extra pocket money. Something which may start off as a hobby could draw interest from others, especially as handmade and unique items are becoming increasingly more popular. Mastering a craft can therefore be a great opportunity for making some extra cash and you’ll be doing something you love!

Everyone is capable of crafting

A hobby like crafting is accessible for everyone. Any age, gender or personality has the potential to find something they really enjoy as there is so much choice available. At Hochanda we offer a wide range of products for all kinds of activities including jewellery making, needlecraft, woodwork and mixed media art to mention a few!

Crafting can keep you feeling young at heart

By exploring new hobbies and crafts and incorporating them into your daily lifestyle, you can keep up with all the latest trends such as DIY fashion which encourages fashion fans to create their own unique clothing through crafting activities such as embroidery.

Read: 6 sustainable DIY home decor ideas from Cleanzen to craft this year

So, the time has come and you’re ready to propose. You’ve asked your future in-law’s permission and everyone is waiting on tenterhooks for you to pop the question. The only problem is: the engagement ring. It’s a piece of jewellery that your wife-to-be will be showing off to family and friends, with reckless, relentless abandon, and that puts a lot of pressure on you. It’s not as if you can walk into a jewellery store and ask for the cheapest one – that would be mortifying. No, buying a ring on a budget is a thoughtful process. So, here are 4 IDEAL tips on how to save money on an engagement ring.

Know Your Budget

You’re the only one who knows what your budget can stretch to. So, it’s important to figure out what you can afford before you start shopping. It’s also vital to know your options. Browse through a few different online stores, visit some bricks and mortar establishments and find out if there are any sales happening within your time frame. You’ll probably already have a specific date in mind for the proposal, so you’ll need to know whether delivery of the ring can be arranged by then. You should also be aware that some rings need to be sent away if they need re-sizing.

Second-Hand

Buying a second-hand ring isn’t as bad as it sounds. In fact, it can sometimes be just as, if not more, romantic. Imagine coming across a beautiful diamond ring in a charity store and knowing that the person who owned it had a long and wonderful marriage. There are many places where you may find a second-hand ring, for instance, a car boot sale, online seller’s stores like Amazon or eBay, even Facebook has selling pages. Always remember to identify real diamonds from fake ones, unless you want a nasty surprise later down the line.

Decrease Size

You could save yourself a significant amount of money simply by decreasing the size of diamond you’re looking for. If your partner has a particular ring in mind, it won’t be difficult to find the same sort of style but with a smaller diamond. You may be worried that she’s not getting the exact ring that she showed you, but the engagement will be much more important than the ring. If you’re not sure what to go for, take a picture of the ring she likes with you to stores and ask for the assistant’s recommendations. Asking could result in you seeing something that isn’t on display yet.

Four C’s

The four C’s stand for cut, clarity, colour, and carat. If you’ve spoken to your bride-to-be about the kind of rings that she likes, the cut is the priority above all else. You can save yourself some money by lowering the colour. The colour of a diamond is usually graded, so going down a grade won’t make much difference to how the ring looks, but it could make a huge difference to how much money is left in your pocket.

Remember, an engagement ring is not a commitment to financial insecurity, but a representation of your love. So be smart, be wise, and be thrifty.

Children are constantly growing and changing, and as they grow you might be finding yourself shopping for a new wardrobe more and more frequently. While it can be tempting to pick the first items you find, putting some extra consideration into your child’s wardrobe is a great way to bond with your little one, and have fun picking out cool new items! To help you out along the way, here are 5 tips on how to create a stylish wardrobe for your child.

Focus on quality

As with any wardrobe, quality is key to looking stylish and presentable. When it comes to children’s clothing and footwear, you’ll want to go for items that are made with quality, durable materials to avoid any rips or discomfort. If you’re looking for the best quality clothing, shop for some kids designer wear to help your child stay smart and super stylish.

Dress their personality

No two children are the same, so why not reflect their personality and interests in their clothing? If your child has a fun personality and an active imagination, go for bright colours and bold prints. Or if you have a little one that’s obsessed with dinosaurs, look for cute dinosaur prints and jurassic colour schemes – you get the jist!

Let them choose

Better yet, let your child choose their outfit themselves to unleash their personality even further. Giving your child freedom to dress themselves is a great way to help them grow and practice independence. Offer a few options for your child to pick out their perfect outfit – you might end up with a slightly more unconventional ensemble than usual, but that’s all part of the fun!

Keep some versatility

While bright, bold clothing is perfect for little ones, you should also try and keep a level of versatility where possible. Shop for quality key pieces like jeans, t-shirts and jumpers in versatile shades and styles. This way, you’ll still have some great outfit picks if your child decides they no longer like a certain colour, and can also easily pass the clothing onto another family member.

Remember comfort

The most important tip of all – don’t forget to look for clothing that’s comfortable and practical. Children get up to all sorts of mischief, so it’s vital to avoid any materials that could cause them discomfort. Look for items in materials such as cotton, linen and wool that are gentle and breathable on their skin, and opt for wipe-clean shoes to let you easily clean up any inevitable messes!

Ever picked up a box that’s far too heavy and felt a horrible twinge in your back- the twinge that causes you to tense up immediately, drop whatever you’re holding, and have to lay in bed for a week? We’ve all been there!

Moving house can be super strenuous. There’s lots of lifting, shifting and maneuvering, and if your body isn’t used to it you could end up in trouble. To make it through moving day, here are some do’s and don’ts that will hopefully help you avoid any slips, trips or twinges.

DON’T THINK YOU’RE SUPERWOMAN

We don’t suddenly become Olympic weightlifters when we’re moving house, so always approach heavy items or boxes with precaution. Take time to assess the weight and shape of an object before lifting and if you need another set of hands don’t be afraid to ask. As the guys at Langelift, suppliers of manual hydraulic lift tables, tell us, ”Routine heavy lifting and leaving over in a suboptimal working position can cause potential back problems.”

Accordingly, if you can’t lift everything by yourself, then hire a reputable removal company, who will have all of the necessary equipment to do the heavy lifting for you!

DO CHECK THE BOX

If you’re reusing cardboard boxes from a previous move, always check their status. Cardboard has a shelf life and it is better to be safe than sorry – the last thing you need during moving day is a box of books collapsing on your toes. Better yet, why not invest in some reusable protective packaging?

DON’T BLOCK PATHWAYS

If you’re carrying bulky items you may not be able to see particularly well, so having a clear route through your house will save any tripping or slipping. Always keep doorways and stairways clear too.

DO INVEST IN SOME DECENT KIT

Removal teams are not only trained in house moves, but they also have specially designed removals equipment to help them along the way. If you’ve haven’t hired a removals team, things like mattress bags, sack trucks, moving blankets and general moving equipment are all available to buy online. Shop around and you’re sure to find some deals. This can also be considered for any cars that you need to be relocated. There are professional businesses like Cars Arrive Auto Relocation who offer car relocation services, so it would be worth looking around for a removal firm that offers these services if you need a car or vehicle to be relocated.  

DON’T OVER DO-IT

It’s very easy to keep on powering on through when moving house, but you do need to take the occasional break. Moving house can be pretty tiring on the body and the mind, and when we’re tired we tend to make silly mistakes. Sit down and take a 15 minute tea break every couple of hours – your body will thank you for it!

Follow these do’s and don’ts, and you’ll be sure to breeze through your house move without a trip to A&E in sight!

Still life photography. It’s a contemporary art form that most photographers will experiment with at some point. Whether you’re relatively new to photography and want to master the art of still life photography, or have been doing it for years and are struggling to find success, here are a few secrets that you need to learn if you want to become a successful still life photographer:

Experiment with Available Resources

It doesn’t matter if you don’t have access to a top of the range studio or fancy equipment. All you need is your camera, some lamps to light the area, a piece of card and a surface to put your subject onto.

Once you have your area set up, it’s time to start experimenting! Try taking some photographs by a window, and some further away. Angle your lamp (if you can) in different directions, move it further away or even bring additional lamps into the area. Keep experimenting until you find your style.

Take Your Time

A cardinal rule that every photographer should follow is this: don’t rush. If you take your images too fast, whether consciously or subconsciously, the quality of them will be effected. You need to put as much time as necessary into each photo you take. Unless you’ve simply got a busy schedule, there’s no reason to rush when it comes to still life photography. If you aren’t happy with one of your images, take it again but this time, pay close attention to the details and don’t take the photo until you’re satisfied with what’s in front of you.

Light Your Subject

Lighting is extremely important for your final images to look attractive. As briefly mentioned above, there’s a lot you can do with light. Using a window as your main source of light is always ideal, but obviously you can’t control the light coming in. This is why it’s better to use lamps if you want to guarantee successful still life photographs.

Don’t Just Choose Any Subject

Some still life photographers will choose their subjects at random, which means that their photos will lack personality. If you choose something that’s personal, you can be more creative with it and connect to what you’re doing. If you care about the subject, you’ll care more about the picture you’re taking. Try to stick to just one subject at a time, rather than putting too much into the frame.

Use Different Techniques

When trying to master still life photography, “experiment” with your camera and set up. I say experiment loosely because it doesn’t mean you should start altering all the settings randomly, it means testing out different techniques to try and vary your images.

For example, you could try it with and without a tripod. When taking still life photographs, ensure you change the position of the camera so the angle/height isn’t the same on all of the pictures. You could also trying altering the exposure, using the shutter release and anything else you can think of that will give you more varied photos. 

Figure out the features which you value the most and hone in a camera which provides those. Alternatively, a great all-rounder, like the Canon Eos is ideal for budding photographers who haven’t yet found their particular style or voice.

Harness The Power Of Post-Processing

In the digital age, post-processing is a vital step in still-life photography. After capturing your images, using an image converter to PNG can be particularly beneficial as this format is known for preserving detail, quality, and color depth, qualities essential for displaying the nuances of your still-life compositions. These tools can also help you make selective adjustments to your images, such as adjusting contrast, brightness, and saturation levels to create the perfect balance.

Hire A Still Life Photographer

If you’re still having difficulty in capturing good still life photos, or require high quality images (whether for personal or business use) that you don’t feel comfortable doing yourself, you can always hire get a professional still life photographer to help you out. Look at the photographer’s portfolio first and consider whether their style is what you’re looking for. If you’re looking for an example, I would recommend looking at Howlett Photography who have a stunning range of photographs to look at.

There you have it! If you keep in mind the above 6 secrets when taking still life photographs, you should have a lot more success. However, if you’re still struggling and need photos taking before a deadline, you may want to use a professional still life photographer instead.

At some point we will all probably find ourselves visiting a loved one in hospital. Although when you’re the visitor you’re arguably the lucky one, taking a trip to the hospital can still be a daunting prospect, especially when it comes to getting your head around the hospital’s rules and regulations.

Even remembering what gifts you can/can’t bring is confusing as there are certain items that may not be suitable for the ward or patient. With this in mind, here’s our guide to 5 ideal gifts for someone in hospital.

Flowers

Who doesn’t love flowers. They are pretty and bright and add natural beauty to any room (especially a hospital ward). For someone who is stuck in hospital and can’t go outdoors, flowers may cheer them up no end.

Make sure you consult a professional flower shop to pick the perfect get-well flowers or flower box. It should have the right colour combination and be easy to maintain. Don’t forget to think about what message you will deliver to your loved one so that he or she can feel calm and relaxed.

However, bear in mind that flowers may be restricted in certain wards, and if your loved one or any other patients in the ward has asthma or is sensitive to pollen, flowers are not a great idea. Always check with the ward’s staff before bringing flowers into the hospital.

Food & Drink

Let’s face it, hospital food is known for being poor. If your loved one has a favourite drink or snack, then taking some to the hospital will be greatly appreciated. Again, it’s best to check with the ward first as their diet may be restricted.

Entertaining Gifts

Hospitals are very dull and boring places and for a patient, it can be difficult to pass the time, especially when visiting hours are over. Bringing books, DVDs and magazines will help keep them occupied when nobody is there to visit them. If they don’t have a TV, you may be able to request one so they can play any DVDs you bring them.

Toiletries

When you’re lying in a bed all day you can feel pretty gross. From face wipes, to dry shampoo and lip balm, little things like toiletries can can make the world of difference. However, avoid perfumes and any highly-scented products.

Comfortable Items

From fluffy socks to pyjamas to a dressing gown, any cozy items to help make a hospital stay more comfortable is a good idea.

If you can’t decide what to give them, why not give them a goodie bag with a little bit of everything? However, keep in mind that space is limited so avoid large items. Here’s some ideas:

Slater and Gordon medical negligence lawyers  want to make sure that visiting a loved one whilst they’re in hospital is as easy as possible and that you know exactly what you should do and prepare for depending on the individual patient.

Therefore we want to hear your ultimate tips. Maybe you’ve been a patient yourself so know first hand exactly what works and what doesn’t. Or maybe you’ve had a loved one in hospital and have picked up some tips that helped make your visits to them as special as possible.

You can find Slater and Gordon on Twitter here:@SlaterGordonUK and Facebook here: www.facebook.com/slatergordonUK