5 Surprising Burglary Statistics And Safety Tips

In summer, when the weather is fine, it's so easy to be more relaxed about ensuring windows and doors are locked.  Near us, people have been burgled when having a barbecue in their back garden because they left their front door open.  It only takes minutes for some crafty crooks to relieve you of your property.

This guest post, from SimpliSafe who produce wireless home security systems, is a great reminder that, come the warmer weather, we need to be more, not less vigilant.

A burglary is committed every thirteen seconds according to SimpliSafe, but only 12% of those are pre-planned. According to the British Crime Survey, there are over 1 million burglaries and attempted burglaries each year. However, our technological era makes it easier than ever to outsmart today’s burglars. In order to keep yourself and your family safe, it’s important to take a closer look at the statistics, such as what motivates burglars and how they operate, along with how burglaries are classified in the first place.

Let’s begin by breaking down what constitutes a burglary. According to the Theft Act of 1968, burglary is defined as:

"Entering any building or part of a building as a trespasser and with the intent to steal anything in the building or part of the building in question and/or inflict or attempt to inflict bodily harm on anyone therein. As long as the person entering has no legal right to be present in the structure a burglary has occurred. Furthermore, the structure need not be the house itself for a burglary to take place; illegal entry of a garage, shed, or any other structure on the premises also constitutes household burglary."

Burglary is also broken down into the following four subcategories:

Completed burglary - With or without force, a person without legal right to be present enters a residence.

Forcible entry - Some kind of force, like breaking a window, is used to gain entry to a residence.

Unlawful entry without force - The burglar doesn’t use force to gain entry.

Attempted forcible entry - The burglar attempts to gain entry with force.

Now that we understand what burglary is and its types, let’s take a look at the data, along with what that data suggests are the best preventative safety solutions.

1. Half of Domestic Burglars Know the Victim Personally

Half of domestic burglars are strangers, but the other half are known by the victim. Those familiar to the victim use their knowledge of the home and its surroundings to break in when it is vulnerable, such as when the homeowner is away.

Safety Tip: Share your spare keys and home codes only with those that have earned your trust. Aim to avoid sharing information about you being away from your home on social media. Those following your social media accounts may just be waiting to find out when you’ll be away from your home.

2. 60% of Convicted Burglars Were Deterred By Security Systems

Whether you’re on vacation or not, peace of mind is priceless, and is something security systems designed for today’s threats can provide. Home security is anything but an antiquated protection measure; according to Police.uk, households with simple security measures are five times less likely to be broken into than those without.

Safety Tip: Invest in a technologically-advanced system with comprehensive features that go beyond burglary detection and that include multiple sensors such as motion detection.

3. 72% of Burglars Use Open Windows or Doors, or Force Them Open

Summertime also means that many households are leaving windows open for fresh air flow. that Vulnerable windows and doors are the preferred entry methods. In fact, 15% of burglars get into the household by simply walking through an unlocked door.

Safety Tip: Be mindful of keeping doors and windows shut, locked, and alarmed when you’re away. It’s also a good idea to do some summer landscaping to keep shrubs and trees short, making it difficult for intruders to hide out on your property.

4. Only About Half of Victims Had Their Stolen Property Insured

The property stolen the most are mobile phones (43%), wallets (38%), and cash (37%). And roughly 65% of burglars who stole these items worked to get rid of them immediately.

Safety Tip: On top of making sure burglary is covered in your homeowner’s or renter’s insurance plan (you can often score a discount when you prove you have professional monitoring in place), it’s also not a bad idea to look into modern day options for safes, such as ones that look like other household objects. You should also make sure to turn GPS tracking on your phones and computers to help recover items if they do happen to get stolen.

5. The Number of Domestic Burglaries is Continually Dropping

When compared with 2005 data, the number of burglaries in 2015 has decreased by 35%. This continual decrease is arguably thanks in part to advancing technology that both residents and law enforcement are able to take advantage of; homes are getting smarter, and that includes the modern security systems that people have to choose from. 

We’re getting better at fighting and preventing this desperate crime, but it’s because of the minor investments worth making toward your peace of mind, which is priceless.

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Could Signing for Neighbours' Parcels Land You in Court?

One of the drawbacks of working from home is that you tend to become the local storage depot for other people's parcels.  Even more annoying is when the recipients don't bother to collect their parcel despite having a card pushed through their letterbox.  This means I have to act as postie if I want the space in my porch back.

But this article from international parcel broker ParcelHero has really made me think twice about agreeing to take delivery of others' mail.

Here's what they say:-

We should think twice before signing for neighbour's deliveries says ParcelHero

As home shopping soars by 19% many of us find ourselves taking in neighbour’s parcels. But could being good neighbours harm shopper’s chances of a refund on damaged goods; and could we find ourselves sued if things go wrong? Signing for someone else’s parcels can lead to a legal pass-the-parcel to decide who’s responsible.

ParcelHero’s Head of Consumer Research, David Jinks MILT, says: ‘There’s little more annoying than getting a card saying you missed your delivery and you’ll have to travel miles to a depot that shuts at midday. Many of us are relieved when neighbours sign for our deliveries, and happily do the same for them. But what happens if that parcel is damaged or goes missing? ParcelHero’s new guide for buyers and their neighbours reveals signing for parcels raises some thorny issues.’

‘This year alone one elderly person was threatened with prosecution after accepting a parcel for next door which was then stolen in a burglary; and in another case the retailer even tried to get the buyer to call the police over a neighbour who denied signing for a parcel.’

‘Sellers will argue that goods are their responsibility while they are in transit, until signed for by the buyer or their neighbour. Ideally, therefore, we, and our neighbours, should always check parcels before signing to ensure the contents are intact. In practice, few have the time to check the contents of every package. But, if the package looks in any way damaged, it really is best to refuse acceptance, or at the very least write ‘arrived damaged’ when you accept.’

If the courier has left an item with a neighbour without your permission - even if signed for - you can argue that, by leaving them at a different address, they are still undelivered, and still the responsibility of the seller or courier.

But things are trickier if you gave the seller or courier permission to deliver to a specific neighbour, or are part of Royal Mail’s Delivery to Neighbour scheme, and have nominated a neighbour.

Reveals David: ‘The seller or courier will argue they are not responsible if something goes wrong once the item is accepted by a named neighbour – just as if you took delivery yourself. When Royal Mail introduced its Delivery to Neighbour scheme its former watchdog, Consumer Focus, tried to get it to agree that liability to pay compensation for lost and/or damaged items remains with Royal Mail notwithstanding that the item is delivered to a neighbour. But in practice this is a grey area indeed.’

‘In this case let’s hope the delivery is of goods bought online, as you will still be able to return them within 14 days under the Consumer Contracts Regulations; no matter who signed.’

And even if your neighbour has signed for an item, they haven’t waved away all your consumer rights. It may make any claim smoother to highlight a damaged package at the time; but it is not an absolute legal necessity.

But what happens if the parcel is damaged or goes missing after your neighbour has signed for it? Earlier this year an elderly gent signed for a neighbour’s delivery. He later went out and while he was out this kindly neighbour was burgled; including the package.

Could the neighbour be held responsible? The seller argued that the neighbour failed in their duty of care, because they signed for the parcel but failed to keep it entirely secure. David says: ‘You know the saying: no good deed goes unpunished! The neighbour’s insurance also argued because it wasn’t his property, the goods were not covered. So they were not about to pay up either.

‘But legal experts say that looking after someone's property for them means you are under a duty to take reasonable care of the property; but the risk of loss or damage stays with the owner.’

So much for kindly neighbours, what about less saintly ones? What happens if your neighbour flatly denies they ever received and signed for your parcel– even though the courier has a signature?

In this case the answer is quite clear cut, reveals David. ‘Providing no permission was given to deliver to this particular neighbour, no matter if they flatly deny ever signing, or claims they later left it on your doormat, the retailer must send you a new item.’

'Signing for parcels can be a pain, particularly if you have taken-in large items for neighbours who then take days getting around to collecting them. Add to this the threat of legal responsibility and a few of us will be politely turning away couriers in the future.’

But can we refuse delivery? David explains: ‘You’re fully within your rights to refuse delivery of any parcel a driver tries to talk you into accepting for a neighbour. It is also possible to opt out of the Royal Mail’s Delivery to Neighbour scheme. You’ll need to display a sticker in your window that says you don’t accept neighbours’ mail, and that also means your neighbours won’t be given your mail. That sticker in your window might not make you the most popular person in your street though – and it is not possible to opt out without displaying it prominently!’

Concludes David: ‘”Neighbours should be there for one another”, to quote a well-known theme, but over the issue of parcel deliveries even good neighbours can fall out. If you do decide to sign for a neighbour, ensure, at the very least, that the package doesn’t look damaged before you sign; that you make a note if it is damaged and that you put the parcel in a safe place until they arrive to collect it. That way good neighbours become good friends.’

David’s complete guide to buyers and neighbours’ responsibilities when signing for parcels is online now at https://www.parcelhero.com/blog/expert-shipping-advice/signing-neighbours-parcel.

Are you happy to accept others' mail and parcels for them?

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Quick Tips To Freshen Up Your Living Space This Summer

Everyone wants to stamp their individuality on their living space, don't they? But how do you do that without spending a fortune or resorting to homeware items from the major retailers which, although lovely, might appear on many a coffee table, shelf or nightstand?

Making the most of your budget has never been more important and, whilst we might not have the cash to completely overhaul our living space, there are cost-effective ways to add a bit of verve and pizzazz.

Sometimes a bit of shopping around is all that's needed and with a bit of ingenuity you can completely transform your space and incorporate your own decorative style.

Here's some quick hits to freshen things up.

Change your bedding and curtains

New bedding and curtains can make such a difference and give a room a fresh new look. Now that the weather is hot, crisp white linen or bamboo sheets are best to wick away sweat and keep you more comfortable.

Curtains with a thermal and black-out lining will help your sleep because not only will they keep the room dark, but they will help keep the room cool during the day.

Change your artwork

This doesn't have to cost a fortune.  Why not find some quirky postcards and frame them in ornate photo frames?  Or how about using wall vinyls to create your own, unique, feature wall.  You could use family photos or, if you're a keen photographer, some of your favourite nature or holiday snaps.

If you're artistic yourself, you could create your own artwork - why not try using acrylics to create a textured canvas or get the kids to create a collage.  If you don't mind a bit of mess you could even create your own artwork featuring the children's hand and foot prints.

Change your living room soft furnishings

A very easy way to reflect the new season's trends without blowing the budget is to change your cushions, throws and rugs.

For example you could change your throw pillows (or even just the covers) to reflect the new season's colours and textures.  I am particularly fond of doing this at Christmas when we go all Hygge with festive cushions, candles and faux fur throws, although that doesn't really bear thinking about in this current heatwave, does it!

You can even invest in new mats for the front and back door to add a bit of quirky fun - although I'm not sure I'll be getting the one with the Batman insignia Ieuan has his eye on.

Go vintage

You don't have to buy new of course.  Scouring flea markets and antique fairs is a lovely way of passing a Sunday afternoon and you may find some fabulous new treasures.

Adding a vintage throw to your bed or an antique vanity set to your dressing table can make your bedroom look really special.  

Again, you could find vintage or retro prints and frame these too.  

Change your colour palette

Sometimes a complete change from one end of the spectrum to another can really ring the changes. An easy to way to lighten and brighten is simply to repaint in a white (or a tinted white) or a neutral and add accents of colour via soft furnishings.  This will make your rooms look bigger too.

Or a beach theme is quite easy to do - bright white, navy and shades of pastel blue in stripes.  You could use your favourite seaside souvenirs or even, if your kids are like Caitlin, their vast and ever-growing shell collection.

Don't forget flowers

As you know I am a huge fan of fresh flowers and tend to avoid fake ones as they tend to collect dust. There are great bouquets to be had from the major supermarkets these days - and we usually find a bargain bunch or two at Aldi or Lidl.

Make them extra special by using a quirky vase or ornament and don't be afraid to try a row of single stems rather than the more traditional arrangements.

Decorate the garden too

In this hot weather, your garden becomes an important part of your living space so it's worth investing in some exterior decorations to create a little outside idyll.

Create atmosphere with strings of lights, either battery operated or solar, cute statues and even a fairy garden.  Caitlin has been asking for one of these for ages.  If you have room, the sound of a water feature is always calming and soothing.  You could even create your own meditation corner with a Buddha statue or just a lovely sculpture that talks to your mood.

If you are looking for something a little more unusual, take a look at online retailer, uncommongoods.com who offer unique jewellery, designer decor, tabletop items and handcrafted gifts.

They offer a great platform for artists and designers and each item listed has a link to information about its creator so you understand the thinking behind the piece. And over a third of their collection incorporates recycled or upcycled materials.

I think we're all a lot more thoughtful about our global footprint these days, aren't we?

Will you be freshening up your living space for summer?  

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Win A Pamper Hamper From Ace Stain Removers

It has to be said that with the increased amount of sunlight comes an increased awareness of the sheer level of dinginess that abounds in Chez Hobbis.

Those of us with kids (or sports playing partners) know only too well that battling laundry stains, smelly trainers and sinks covered from car part grease or bicycle chains can be a tad tiring.

A fabulous pamper hamper is up for grabs

Not only that but Ieuan has just started Allstars Cricket for the Under 8's and we're mulling over tennis lessons for Caitlin - grass stains a plenty on the horizon!

But with a bit of help from ACE and their sustainable stain removal products, at least you can do battle with the grime in an environmentally friendly way.

Ace For Whites, Ace For Colours & Ace Multi-Purpose

ACE have designed laundry products to reduce the impact on the environment and they say the most important things we should be doing are:-

- Washing at lower temperatures
 - Using concentrated products
 - Using the right amount of product
 - Washing with full loads

Of these, washing at lower temperatures is the single most important thing we can do to lower our C02 emissions while doing our laundry.

I tried three Ace products.

Ace For Whites 

This is a laundry bleach with a fibre protection system which has been specifically formulated to work better on lighter fabrics.  It helps to brighten dull whites while still being gentle on delicate clothes.  It did the job nicely on Ieuan's Tae Kwon-Do whites.

Ace For Colours

As with Ace For Whites, this is designed to be as gentle as possible on your clothes.  It is fine for everyday use and gets rid of stains such as mud.  At the moment Ieuan needs a clean pair of school trousers every day due to his new found love of footie.

Ace For Colours will also help to prevent fabric colours bleeding or transferring to other fabrics and you can use it with silk, wool and even cashmere.

Ace Multi Purpose Spray

You can use ACE Multi-Purpose Spray around the home and on coloured clothes and it's great for tackling germs, grease and stubborn stains.  It did a lovely job of degreasing my kitchen sink.

To find out more about Ace products, have a look at their website www.acecleanuk.co.uk. There's also lots of advice on stain removal and some helpful videos to show you exactly what to do.  Great for housekeeping duffers like me.

You can also connect with them on Facebook and Twitter.

I also have an Ace Pamper Hamper worth £50 up for grabs (pictured above).  Entry is via the Rafflecopter and the usual terms and conditions apply which you can see on my competitions page.

The hamper contains:-

· Fresh white fluffy towels
· An embroidered white bedding set from Kensington Cotton
· Scented candles from Kenneth Turner
· Some ACE for Whites to keep everything sparkling white 

The giveaway is open to UK entrants only and ends at 11:59 pm on Sunday 9th July.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck!

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Needlite? A Stylish Yet Practical Way To Light Up Your Workspace

What do you do when you work from home and the only space you have is dingy and poorly lit? Or when the existing window gives poor quality daylight?

You might be thinking LED striplighting at this point, or the largest angle-poise lamp you can find, but neither of these options is always conducive to a good working environment - particularly if you are working on detailed documentation, drafting plans or carrying out intricate hobby work such as crafting or model building.

Then there's the effect poor lighting has on our mood. Who wants to sit in a floodlit space or a gloomy cave? And what of those of us who suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)?

If you are lucky enough to hit upon the right solution, it's likely that it is not the most attractive one. How do you blend aesthetics and functionality, or design and practicality?

If you're going to be spending the greater part of your day at your desk, then it makes sense to create as attractive an environment as possible.

Enter Needlite, a small Danish start-up who entered the Nordic market in autumn 2015 with a pretty unique lamp design - a pair of lean and rather elegant desk lamps which shed a comfortable white light across your workspace with true colour reproduction and zero screen reflection.

Needlite's aim was to provide the user with an efficient work light but also provide the much needed daylight at the same time.

We are all aware of the lack of daylight during the winter months in Nordic countries but did you know that all over the industrialized world, people are spending an average of 23 hours indoors - and often in poor lighting - quite a staggering statistic!

We also know that a lack of light can have a severe impact on our performance: energy, mood, digestion, sleep and even our recovery from illness. Some people suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder Seasonal affective disorder (SAD).

Also known as winter depression, winter blues, summer depression, and seasonal depression, this is a condition where people who generally have normal mental health, start to exhibit signs of depression at the same time each year, most commonly in the winter.

Did you know that you need sufficient light to sleep well?  When night falls, the darkness tells our body to increase its melatonin production (known as the 'sleep hormone'). 

When the sun rises, the level of melatonin is suppressed and serotonin (one of the 'happy hormones') is produced. One of the functions of serotonin is to tell us that it's time to get up and get active. Insufficient light during the day will knock this cycle out of kilter.

Note that Needlite are not claiming their invention is a cure for SAD, however, as a replacement for natural daylight, it is likely to help.

The Needlite has also been designed, they say, to encourage use by making it simple to operate and attractive to look at.

The dimensions are width 100 mm, depth 100 mm and height 457 mm - a decent size which makes the Needlite a design feature as well as a practical item. The lamps are easy to set up - simply set the lamps at each far corner of the desk, ideally about 40-50 cm from your computer screen each side.

The design is both simple and modern but best of all it has a touch control on the top of each light which gives off an adjustable, yet no glare daylight.

The Needlite comes with a 2 year warranty and is so stylish that they are featured in the Danish Design Museum in Copenhagen!



There is also an iPhone app which controls the lamps and give the user feedback on light consumption and usage. It will even turn the Needlite off automatically when you leave your desk. You can also monitor your daily light exposure to make sure you are getting enough.

The app was an absolute boon to the Husband whose office is in our loft at the top of a rather rickety staircase. He can now use the Needlite to create enough light to work by in the evenings without the usual full glare which wakes the kids. It also means carrying a laptop and coffee at the same time is now a much safer procedure because he can turn the lights on remotely before he ascends.

One other benefit of interest to our niece who is setting up her own photography business is that the Needlite is highly suitable as a work light for photographers, art directors and other professionals working with pictures or graphics on screen who need to control the surrounding light in strength and colour. Needlite has the exact right colour temperature of 6,500 kelvin and is not reflecting in the screen or in the way when editing.

We found the Needlite to be a step above the traditional desk light.  Retailing around the £350 mark, its ability to create a pleasant working environment whilst adding some style makes it well worth the investment.

We are looking forward to testing it further when the clocks go back and the loft gets even gloomier. For the time being, the Husband's office is certainly a nicer, brighter place to work.

Find out more at Needlite.com and at their UK stockist www.wellworking.co.uk.

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How Has Your Kitchen Changed Through The Decades? Prestige know.

I always think that the kitchen is the heart of the home and, if you're lucky, you have enough room in yours for a table to eat at.

The Husband's curry night - unheard of when I was growing up

It seems, however, that fewer families are eating together or even sitting down to three regular meals a day.  We are becoming a nation of grazers - and that's a shame because if we don't sit down to eat together we lose more than just the chance of a decent meal.

We miss conversation, sharing and the chance to bond and grow together as a family.

Back in April 2015, a study commissioned by Highland Spring into family life discovered that 25% of parents spent just 34 minutes with their kids each day. Six in ten parents said they struggled to get the whole family together and just four meals a week were eaten as a group.  And usually, the kids can't wait to get back to their gadgets these days, can they?

Caitlin helping me bake a cake earlier this year

Not only that, but despite the huge numbers of TV cookery shows, we are cooking less too.  It's all too easy to rely on the popty ping (microwave) as we call it here in Wales.

A study by market research institute GFK in the same year asked more than 27,000 people between the ages of 15 and 60 (from 22 countries) about their home cooking habits. Whilst India was the nation creating the most meals from scratch spending over 13 hours per week cooking, we Brits managed a below average 5.9 hours a week in the kitchen.

Cooking certainly seemed to play a much more important role in family life in previous decades. Our kitchen has always been my mother's domain and as a child of the 60's I grew up on casseroles, pilafs, kedgerees and desserts like Symington's Table Creams, Creme Caramel, Angel Delight, Instant Whip and Dream Topping (all healthy stuff!).

Cheesecakes used to be made with a McVities Digestive Biscuit base, about a foot of Philadelphia Cream Cheese and a tin of black cherries poured on top.

Kitchens very much reflect the trends in cooking don't they?  Nobody had heard of a spiraliser back in the 70's and courgettes were strange relatives of the cucumber to be sliced, covered in salt and olive oil and fried.  The same with tagines or those enormous Parmesan graters - unknown in the majority of British households.  And, as Peter Kay once said "Garlic bread? It's the future.  I've tasted it!"

Prestige have prepared their own homage to the changing face of the nation's kitchens with a fun interactive timeline which revisits the kitchens of decades gone by. You'll see when key innovations such as the microwave or pressure cooker made their first appearance. The timeline can be viewed here http://kitchensthroughthedecades.prestige.co.uk/.

Take a look and take yourself back down memory lane (even my favourite Pot Noodles make an appearance).

Then, why not commit to a family midweek dinner.  Get your Prestige cookware or bakeware out and relive some of your past food favourites.

A look back at Kitchen Design by Decade has been produced by Prestige.

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Make More Of Your Space With Kids' Bean Bags

One of the most popular seating options with children is kids bean bags which not only provide more comfort than a chair, but can be shifted around the house with ease – making them the perfect solution for when extra seating is needed at larger family gatherings.

Kids can use bean bags for gaming, playing, chatting, reading or just relaxing after a busy day. They're great to have when the kids' friends come over and are a lot of fun heaped together.  These days they come in a range of styles which makes co-ordinating them with kids' bedrooms and bedding a breeze.

Bean bags can be a lower cost option to flexing your seating arrangements and are also useful to make the most of smaller spaces.

Here are some of my favourites from family run business Children’s Rooms who stock everything you need to fully kit out and personalise children's bedrooms and playrooms.

Batman VS Superman Beanbag (£21.95)

An incredibly popular film with many little boys, this Batman VS Superman Bean Bag would take pride of place!

Blue Cotton Beanbag (£14.95)

A more neutral bean bag to weather the common changes in ‘favourites’, this is a good quality bean bag which, with its plain styling, should give years of service.

Marvel Avengers Bean Cube (£21.95)

Something a little different, this Vibrant Bean Cube features Spiderman, Hulk, Captain America, Iron Man and Thor.

My Little Pony Bean Bag (£21.95)

Ideal for little girls and a past firm favourite of Caitlin as it features Rainbow Dash.

Peppa Pig Bean Bean Bag (£14.95)

And another firm favourite with the little ones....

Whilst bean bags may not be the best choice for long term seating in terms of posture and back support, there's no doubt that they can be incredibly useful to have about.

Particularly when you consider the cost of upgrading the family sofa instead!

*collaborative post

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Key Spring Interior Design Trends For Your Home

This Spring, say hello to geometrics and exotic motifs.

Spring is finally here, and with it the feeling that better weather is about to come, and with that, Summer! Colour, pattern, and plants are the key to giving your house a new look to welcome the season.

There is a whole new generation of graphic artists taking the design world by storm right now, and they are drawing upon influences that range from geometrics and primary colours to the 80s design movements. Think pop-art, and colours.

When it comes to colour a favourite trend of 2017 is the rise of rich jewel tones. These jewel tones go hand in hand with soft pastel colours. Vibrant greens, purples and ruby reds mixed with soft pinks and blues.

Pastel shades are a great way of introducing subtle colour into a room, they’re brilliantly minimalistic and set the tone for a Bohemian, Romantic style. If pastels aren’t your thing you can always for the bold side and choose earthy colours like powdery pink, terracotta, sand, ochre, or olive green. They will give a great exotic feel to the room and will go great with spring trends.

They provide a great way to introduce subtle colour into muted schemes, so they work brilliantly in minimalist, Scandinavian-inspired homes where brighter shades might jar. They’re both warming and calming, and they look wonderful offset against neutrals. They’re incredibly versatile, too: you could start small by introducing a few earth-coloured ceramics, or go bolder and paint the walls. The mood is all about fun and glamorous escapism.

Introducing Geometric Patterns

To meet the geometric trends of 2017 spring here are a few easy additions to the home that will change the feel without too much hassle.

I particularly like these geometric mirrors by Lisa Angel. With a minimalistic geometric design, they provide the perfect start to a spring refresh. These hexagonal mirror can be easily hang in your living room by their attached sting and are available in multiple sizes. Plus, their simple design means you won’t have to change up your room massively to accommodate it.



If you’re looking for a more bald geometric piece to add to your home, consider lighting. This statement lamp by Fabbian, it comes both with or without suspension and is a great way to add some personality into the room. Suspension lamps are coming back, and personally, They tend to give more style to a room than surface mounted lamps. This design in particular is bit pricey but there are plenty luxury lamps to choose from in LampCommerce.

Exotic and Botanical Themes

This is another favourite spring trend because it is bringing some great patterns with it, I’m specially excited by the Banana Leaf Patterns. I absolutely love, love, loveeeee (did I emphasise that enough) tropical wallpapers. I think, when used properly and only for details, they can really change a room massively by brightening it up and giving it life. Choose a wallpaper that has colour, but be careful with a heavy pattern. Bold choices can be good for a while but a simpler design with fewer colour or clutter will last longer.

If you don’t want to change your walls but like the pattern, why not frame it and hang it in your living room? Or consider instead pillows. Pillows are a great way to contrast colours, specially in living rooms. There are plenty of Banana Leaf Design pillows to choose from in vtwonen and etsy, and come in different sizes and patterns. Framed patterns or pillows are a great quick and easy change to make to your home decor which will make your room feel new without making an entire project out of it. 

A tip I would say is keep to a simple palette with accents, but be brave with texture and layering. Remember, you don’t have to make massive changes to your home to give a spring makeover.

Collaboration with Max Lami

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Quick Ways To Upgrade Your Home This Spring (& A Giveaway!)

It's Spring and there's nothing like the reappearance of sunlight to make everything in your home look a little, well, drab.

All those DIY jobs you've been putting off start to gain an urgency - painting the skirting boards, fixing that leaking tap, repainting, mending curtains. Our list is already quite long - and that's without including the garden!

But there are some quick ways you can freshen up your space without spending a fortune and add some of those finishing touches that make a house a home.

Read on because I have a great giveaway at the end of this post!

* Repaint - but if you are renting you might want to follow these tips to avoid upsetting your landlord!

* Display family photos - you could create a photo wall or mix and match frames.

* Change the curtains - perhaps ring the changes by swopping to a roller or venetian blind.

* Create a cozy corner to read in by adding an armchair to your bedroom. 

* You can also add character to your bedroom with bedding in different textures, colours and fabrics.

* Hang String lights -  pretty at any time of year. Stuff strings of battery operated lights into glass vases to add a cozy glow to corners and mantle pieces or drape over the kitchen or your bed to add some atmosphere.

* Match soft furnishings - it’s amazing how soft furnishings such as cushions, throws, rugs, lampshades and curtains can brighten a room and complement the interior design of your property. While vibrant colours such as red, green, pink, purple and light blue work well against plain décor, blacks, greys and creams can also look stunning in a minimalist environment.

Once you’ve got an idea of what colours work well together, you can then start getting creative in each room giving each part of your home a different style and twist. You don't have to spend a fortune. You can make such a difference with soft furnishings such as throws and cushions. 

We recently discovered the Yorkshire Fabric Shop, an online retailer of upholstery fabric, where we selected this lovely plush large cushion in a soft shimmering grey - Geneva Luxury Fabric Crushed Velvet Cushion In Silver Colour. It's a great size and beautifully made.

I suspect Caitlin has laid claim to my new cushion!

Based in West Yorkshire, Yorkshire Fabric Shop has a warehouse full of upholstery fabrics suitable for sofas, chairs, cushions, boats, beds and whatever else you can imagine. They have 1000's of fabrics rolls in stock and also offer free samples to help you decide on what type or shade of fabric you need before you commit to buy anything. You can also visit their warehouse if you are nearby.

As you can see there is a wealth of fabric choices available.

and we liked the helpful cushion finder.  You can choose from pre-made cushions or select your own fabric and have them hand made.

  

I tell the Husband regularly that you can never have too many cushions.  He doesn't believe this but I am working on him.

Cushions come in 4 sizes - small (28cm x 28cm), medium (43cm x 43cm), rectangle (50cm x 30cm) and large (55cm x 55cm). Prices are around £45 for a small and £65 for a large.

Each cushion has a handmade reversible cover with a zip and a cushion insert filling made from hollow fibre.  You can have up to 6 free fabric samples before you order and you can also buy the same fabric by the metre.

If you want to change the look and feel of your home's soft furnishings, you'll definitely find some new ideas here.

The Giveaway

Now to the giveaway.  Yorkshire Fabric Shop are kindly giving away one large (55cm x 55cm) cushion in the fabric of your choice worth over £60 (the same size pictured above).

Entry is via the Rafflecopter widget below and the usual terms and conditions apply which can be viewed on my competitions page.  UK entrants only and the giveaway ends at 11:59 pm on Sunday 30th April.  

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck!

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Important things to consider when buying a house

A house is probably the largest thing you'll ever invest in and buying a home can be a very daunting experience - even when you are already on the property ladder.

Today, of course, it is becoming more and more difficult for first time buyers to find somewhere they can afford.  We have a shortage of housing in the UK and for many, especially the young, renting may be their only option.

The Government has tried to help by the introduction of the Help To Buy ISA which can give up to a £6000 boost where the buyers save £12,000 and receive a bonus of £3,000 which is topped up by a further £3000 by the Government.

This relies on prospective buyers being good savers too and, in reality, that is what is needed to make such a large investment.  Not easy when you have student loans and debts accrued from your education to pay off as a first time buyer.

It's not as easy either, for those of us already on the property ladder looking to move to a bigger property. Salaries seem to have been pegged or at the very least fallen out of line with inflation and there seems to be a huge gulf between the price of a 3 bed home and a property with 4 or 5 bedrooms.

If you are lucky enough to be in a position to move, you need to make sure that you do your homework and my personal philosophy is to get the best advice you can afford and never cut corners.

Here are my top things to think about when buying a house.

What's your maximum budget?

The cost of the property and the move itself

Before you do anything else you need to know what you can afford.  It's natural to have done a bit of window shopping and spent afternoons pouring over online property portals but it's all a bit pointless if you have not had your property valued and found yourself a reputable estate agent.

If you go to view a property and the seller discovers that your home is not even on the market yet, you are unlikely to secure a purchase, nor be in a position to negotiate a good deal.

You also need to factor in all the other costs of moving, for example conveyancing and legal fees, stamp duty on the property (payable where the value of the property is over £125,000) and the cost of the move itself.

You may also find there are fees to mortgage or remortgage - or there may be a penalty to pay if you are remortgaging in the middle of a fixed rate deal.

You should also seriously consider investing in the fullest survey on the property you want to buy because, for the sake of a few hundred pounds, you may save yourself from a property with subsidence, rising damp or a leaky roof.

The other big question is how will you fund the deposit on your new home?

In the current mortgage market you'll need a deposit of at least 5% of a property's value to get a mortgage. A lender would then lend you 95% of the property's value. So, if you wanted to buy a £150,000 property you would need to save up at least £7,500 and borrow £142,500.

The greater the deposit, the smaller amount you'll need to borrow which means your monthly mortgage payments will be less.

That's a great incentive to start saving as soon as possible.

The cost of your mortgage and monthly bills

Once you have an idea of what you can afford, you need to look at whether you will be able to comfortably pay it back.

You should know what your monthly mortgage payment will be but you also need to know what council band your property falls under (and therefore the council tax bill), plus water rates and a ball park cost of utilities (which the seller should be able to give you an idea of).

Depending on the results of your survey, you may need to budget for repairs such as fixing a roof, new windows or a new boiler.  The surveyor who surveyed our current property advised that the existing roof would need replacing within 5 years - and he was spot on!

You should also factor in the cost of travelling to work.  Will there be an increase in rail fares? Bridge tolls? Fuel?  Parking costs?  If you work from home what is the broadband and WiFi like in the area?

Will you need new furniture?  You don't need to buy new - you can find great bargains on Ebay and Craigslist but you will still need to add these items into your budget.

The best thing to do is to create a spreadsheet (you could use Google documents) and list everything you can think of.

What are your absolute 'must-haves'?

It's very easy to fall in love with a property and let all the things you really need completely slip your mind. A great example of this is a utility room - or at least space for a washer / dryer which I really want the next time I move!

Do you really need an ensuite bathroom when a smaller guest bathroom might be more practical? More and more of us are taking in our elderly parents rather than have them go into care homes and, certainly for us, the adaptability of the property for elder care will be a high consideration.

It's pointless being swayed by a gorgeous garden if you hate gardening and really need off-road parking.

And if you work from home, make sure you have adequate space for your office or at least an area to work in.  In our last property we built a log cabin at the bottom of the garden which became the Husband's second home.  In fact I'm pretty sure this was what swayed the sale of our property as the new owner declared he was going to convert it into a bar!

Sit down and make a list of all the things you really need - both now and in 5 years time.

Location, Location, Location

Kirstie and Phil have drummed the importance of this into us for many years and certainly if you are buying your property as an investment, and not just as a home, then researching desirable areas or, more practically, up and coming areas, makes sense.

What are the local facilities like?  Schools, health centre, shops, transport links? What's the crime rate like? You can find out a lot about your potential new home's location online.

For those of us with kids, the quality of the local schools is very important, as is the proximity of local hospitals and healthcare facilities.

Do your detective work

So you've found a property you like and you've had a couple of viewings.  Your property is on the market and you are pondering putting in an offer.  Better still, you have a likely offer on your own property which means moving imminently is a definite possibility.

You've worked out what you can afford and the impact of the move on your monthly outgoings.

You are pretty sure the area is right for you.

What else?

Actually you can do quite a bit of detective work before the first viewing.  In addition to checking out the local area and facilities as mentioned above, you can check out the property's location on Google Maps. Sometimes it is incredibly revealing.

That house in the quiet cul-de-sac? It backs on to another housing development. The house with the great garden?  That row of hedges hides the M4.

The cottage with the beautiful view?  Those trees hide the wind farm.  I jest. But not entirely.

Sometimes a quick check on Google Maps can stop you wasting your time on a property which is not going to be right for you.

It's also worth contacting your local council to see if planning permission has recently been granted for any large scale developments.

Once you have found your property, viewed it and fallen in love with it then a good trick is to visit it an extra couple of times but not go in.  By that I mean drive by in the early evening or even late at night to see how quiet things are. Thumping music and barking dogs next door?  Possibly not such a great buy then.

Sunday afternoons are another good time to drive by and gauge what the area is like when more people are home.

Don't forget that when you view a property everyone is on their best behaviour - as I'm sure you are when people view your home.

It's always best to view when the owners are out.  It's easier to ask your estate agent bolder questions without worrying about offending the owner who may be lurking around in the hope that you'll make an offer on the spot.

And it's easier for the agent to be frank as well.

In summary, my advice would be to take your time, depending on how many other offers there are on the table for the property you want.  Make sure you have done your sums and are not rushing in because you love the Victorian fireplace or real slate flooring!

If you have worked out your budget, you should know the most you can afford and I would offer a little less than that to give you something to bargain with.

If, however, the seller won't budge on their asking price, sometimes the wisest thing is to walk away.

It's always sensible to have two or three potential properties under consideration so that if this happens you don't have to start the entire process from scratch.

If you are unable to move immediately and need to relocate, you may have to add the cost of rented accommodation to your budget.

That extra expenditure may be a small price to pay if it stops you from over-extending yourself or buying a house that just wasn't right for you.

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The Retro Interior Design Trends Devaluing Your Home

A recent study commissioned by Bathrooms.com of 2000 people aged 16 and above across the UK has discovered 10 retro interior design trends which might lose us money when we come to sell our homes.

Wood panelling, avocado bathrooms and built in bars were named as just some of the fixtures most likely to put UK homebuyers off.

It is estimated that 324,000 UK homes still have an avocado bathroom suite and, on average UK homebuyers would reduce their offer by a massive £5,000 if a property still has one!

Research into the nation’s most hated retro décor trends has discovered the 10 interior design trends most likely to devalue your home are:

1. Wood panelling (46% of UK homebuyers wouldn't buy a property if it still had old fashioned wood panelling)

2. Avocado bathrooms (44%)

3. Built-in bars (41%)

4. Woodchip (41%)

5. Artex ceilings (40%)

6. Heavily patterned carpet (35%)

7. Textured wallpaper (34%)

8. Crazy paving (33%)

9. Brick fireplaces (33%)

10. Built in wardrobes over the bed (30%)

According to the study, UK homebuyers would look to knock £4,877.46 off the purchase price of a property if it still had an outdated avocado bathroom suite. One in six of us (16%) would expect to pay at least £5,000 less and 6% of 25-34 year olds would seek a price reduction of at least £10,000.

Almost three quarters of the UK (75%) think avocado bathroom suites are ugly and three out of four people (71%) say if they bought a new home and it had an avocado bathroom suite, it would be the first thing they’d rip out. But despite this, a fifth of UK homeowners (20%) confess they’ve never updated their bathroom, and around a quarter of the UK (23%) admit to being embarrassed by their outdated bathroom when their friends come over to visit.

Have you got any of the 10 worst offenders?

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Quick Ways To Make Your Rented Accommodation Your Home

When you have just rented a new flat or apartment, the last thing you want to do is have to spend more on furniture or interior decoration.

In June last year, The Guardian newspaper reported that the cost to rent even a one bed flat was soaring and that workers under 30 pay almost half their monthly wages on rent.  For workers in London that figure rises to around 57%.

So what can you do to make a rented property feel like home without spending a fortune?  Here are some tips you might find helpful.

Buy the best quality furniture you can afford

Tempting as it is to dash of to IKEA, if you're looking for a more personal touch then it's worth spending the minimum on basics such as chairs, tables and lamps but investing a little more in your bed, mattress and bedding.

Go Second Hand

Ask your family and friends if they are looking to pass any furniture on.  You could also try Freecycle or there's car boot sales and charity shops, as well as Gumtree.

You may find a bargain - or even a valuable antique!

Be generous with the soft furnishings

My personal philosophy is you can never have too many throws and cushions.  (The Husband does not subscribe to this philosophy so a lot of 'negotiation' goes on)!

Soft furnishings can add quirkiness and warmth to a room, whether it's an unusual curtain design or an extra cosy rug.

Just remember if you hold lots of curry parties to buy things you can clean easily!

Asthma and allergy sufferers may be better off dispensing with old carpet (with the landlord's permission), polishing up a wood floor and adding rugs.

Get the paint brushes out

If you're stuck in a magnolia hell then (again with the landlord's permission), a repaint might be on the cards.  Just remember that dark colours will make a room look smaller whilst lighter colours will enhance the space.

Using mirrors will help make the space look lighter and brighter too.

If you're rubbish at painting (as I am), hold a painting party and reward your mates' artistic efforts with pizza and some chilled beers.

Add some art

Hanging pictures makes a huge difference to a room and if you're arty why not paint a few canvases of your own.  You can make some pretty simple but effective looking paintings using acrylic paints or, again, see if you can find some interesting pieces at local charity or antique shops, craft fairs or sales.

A great way of covering a large area of wall if you don't want to repaint is with a wall mural from Pixers.

There's a vast range of designs to choose from - anything from racing cars to cities like New York and traditional art and landscapes - or upload your own photo.  Simply attach to the wall with the special reusable adhesive supplied.

The wall murals come in a variety of sizes and you can even use the "view your room" function to see what it will look like in your room. Prices start at £18.

Bring the garden indoors

You can get reasonably price bunches of flowers from your local supermarket these days or just keep it simple using one seasonal flower as a theme - Snowdrops for February, Daffodils for March etc. Display them in mismatched vases or vintage glass bottles.

Or create a mini indoor garden by growing herbs in quirky pots and canisters.  Just remember not to leave sensitive plants on a sunny windowsill and remember to water them (something I am terrible at!).

You can't go to far wrong with the student staples of Spider plants and Cacti!

Get a candlelit glow

There's nothing like candles and tea lights for adding atmosphere.  You could even make your own scented teacup candles using your favourite essential oils - they make lovely presents too.

So there you have it - some cheap and cheerful ideas to make your space your own.  Just remember to check your tenancy agreement before you start making any material changes and make sure that you are able to take your new purchases with you when you move on.

What tips would you add to this list?

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Finishing touches that make a house a home

Whether you live in a poky city flat or a spacious country mansion, it’s those finishing touches that really make a house a home. The size of your property is somewhat irrelevant when it comes to adding your personal stamp, so take a look at these unique ideas and transform your living environment into something special, cosy and unique.

Internal doors

Believe it or not, you don’t have to undergo a complete renovation or spend a lot of money to get your home up to scratch. Replacing internal doors, for instance, is a simple, easy and cost-effective way to instantly personalise and upgrade the appearance of your abode. With so many different styles and designs available you won’t be short of choice, but remember to factor this home improvement into your budget to ensure you’ve got enough cash to do the job properly.

Matching soft furnishings

It’s amazing how soft furnishings such as cushions, throws, rugs, lampshades and curtains can brighten a room and complement the interior design of your property. While vibrant colours such as red, green, pink, purple and light blue work well against plain décor, blacks, greys and creams can also look stunning in a minimalist environment.

Once you’ve got an idea of what colours work well together, you can then start getting creative in each room giving each part of your home a different style and twist. Adding those finishing touches should be fun, so take the time to think your ideas through carefully and perhaps draw up a plan before hitting the shops (or internet) for furnishings that will fill your space with character.

Feature wall

Anyone can paint their walls beige or pop up some wallpaper – but what about unleashing your artistic flair by creating a feature wall? There are many techniques you can use from free painting and stencilling to sponge painting and experimenting with tape designs, so have a look online for some inspiration and think about what you want to achieve. When choosing where to paint your design, opting for a middle wall can be a good idea as it helps to give the room a focal point.

Photographs and artwork

Hanging pictures of your family on the walls is a great way to bring your memories to life and relive them every single day. You’ll feel good when you walk past and see them – and when you have guests, those beautiful images of your loved ones are sure to spark up a love-fuelled conversation.

As well as your favourite snaps, you could also think about investing in some artwork which really catches your eye. Not everyone has the same tastes and while some people may prefer expensive artwork painted by the very best artists, others may opt for street art that touches their heart instead – so go with what feels right for you. Before you buy, however, think about where your new pictures will go and take measurements in advance to ensure you make sensible purchases.

Transforming a property from bricks and mortar to somewhere that’s loved can be a wonderful experience, so make the most of it.

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This Year's Hottest Trends For Your Child's Bedroom Decor

It's a challenge to keep both parents and children happy when it comes to decorating their bedrooms, isn't it?

A child's bedroom is a room which comes with a large set of demands. It must be tough enough to be able to withstand vigorous and, let's be honest, occasional destructive playing.

It should also feel both comfortable and secure, crucial elements that allow a room to act not only as a playroom but also as a place of rest and relaxation.

The room must also be versatile in its design and should not only grow with your child as they mature, but should also allow your child to easily keep up with the latest trends and characters from their favourite films and TV shows, with a range of simple to make changes.

The above is a huge ask of any room, and when you're planning the decor, furniture and fittings you need to consider both the look but also the function.

So whether you are decorating a nursery for a baby who will soon be making an appearance, updating a nursery for a toddler, or are just looking to refresh your child's bedroom, family run business Childrens-Rooms.co.uk offer the design and decorating inspiration you need to help you achieve the perfect room.

They are one of the largest independent online retailers for kids bedding, kids curtains and matching childrens-bedroom accessories. They also have the largest selection of toddler bedding sets.

So I asked them what this year's hottest decor themes for kids bedrooms will be and this is what they told me.

Nature & Animals

Whether its safari bedding, butterfly curtains, bird’s bedroom accessories or high definition daisies, we are seeing a huge increase in sales of all things involving nature. It’s possible that these sales represent an increasing effort from parents to get their children interested into the great outdoors! Our predicted best sellers in this category are farm themes, jungle themes as well as forest & flower themes.

Storage

There are a few things which are just timeless, and a clutter free bedroom has to be one of them. To this end, we stock and supply a wide range of children’s storage options, meaning that you (hopefully) never have to stand on another piece of Lego again. The range includes storage bins, storage boxes, toy boxes and bookends, everything your child needs to keep their bedroom in great condition.

Often purchased as part of a full bedroom theme, a number of these kids’ bedroom storage products enhance the aesthetics of a room, as well as serving an important function. One of our favourites has to be our camouflage storage box, the irony of hiding clutter in a camouflage box isn't lost on us!

Feature Walls

A feature wall is certainly nothing new with regards to interior design, they are however becoming increasingly popular in children's rooms, creating a fantastic centrepiece which children love.

There are a wide range of wallpapers which can be used as feature walls - some customers choose colourful stripes and more neutral themes, whilst others dive head first into the amazing array of cartoons and characters from hits such as Frozen, Disney and Marvel.

One of our favourites, and a paper which has already proven itself to be a bestseller this year is the Marvel Avengers Breakout Wallpaper.

With a number of Marvel films due out in 2017 & 2018 including Spider-man Homecoming 2017 Thor Ragnarok and Avengers Infinity War - we are confident in this paper continuing to be a popular choice.

Rooms That Grow

Alongside neutral colour schemes, we are seeing our customers relying on accessories to quickly and easily change the design of a room over time. This method allows a children's bedroom to be almost continually updated with products such as wall stickers, bean bags, rugs, curtains and bedding at a low price point, avoiding the need for total decoration and theme change from age restrictive themes which children very quickly outgrow.

An example of this would be a boy’s bedroom, painted in pastel shades of blues which provides the perfect platform for easy customisation with bedroom accessories.

Miniature Seating

Another range which is increasingly being discovered by parents is ‘miniature seating’. This range typically includes everything your child needs to sit, lounge and relax in their room, either with friends or alone.

Popular seating options include bean bags, as well as inflatable and non-inflatable sofas and chairs. The inflatable options are perfect for smaller rooms, which struggle holding permanent large pieces of furniture. Bean Bags also represent another very flexible option, bright, comfortable and easily stored, they are a popular choice.

Children’s Rooms provide children and their parents with the largest range of top quality children’s bedding, children’s bedroom furniture and children’s bedroom accessories online, at unbeatable prices.

You can visit their website here: www.childrens-rooms.co.uk.

*collaborative post

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