Author Archives: dev

4 simple ways to bring feng shui into your home

Feng shui is the ancient Chinese art of creating a positive home environment by balancing the flow of energy. Here are some easy ways you can create a feng shui-friendly home and bring more happiness into your space.

  1. Create an energy flow to the front door

One of the basic rules of feng shui is to ensure there’s a clear flow of energy to the front door. Make sure there’s nothing blocking the energy to your front door or cluttering the entrance.

Instead, create an inviting entry to your home by placing beautiful flowers on a nearby side table or a stylish doormat on the floor. Or maybe it’s time to show your door some TLC, whether it’s repainting it or giving it a thorough clean with a lint-free cloth or sponge.

  1. A feng shui-friendly living room

In general practice, good feng shui involves decluttering your space and the living room is no exception. Keep things clean, airy and filled with beautiful natural light to attract positive energy.

If you don’t have many windows, you can decorate your space with mirrors or layered lighting to help energy bounce around your room. Consider using a combination of floor lamps, table lamps and ceiling fixtures, for example. Also, ff you wanna redesign your living room, Aspley Shopping Centre has a lot of furniture stores that can help you, as a Freedom in Aspley or the Nick Scali Aspley.

Place your couch and tables in a circle in your living room to create a warm and inviting space, while adding mirrors to help energy bounce around the room. One of the rules of feng shui involves also creating a home with beauty in mind. It’s still important to select furniture according to typical design principles, such as working with scale and proportion and choosing the best sized rug or sofa for your space.

  1. Embrace your green thumb

Of course, you already know that indoor plants have many health benefits, such as purifying the air, but they also help to activate positive energy in your home. According to feng shui, the best time to add a new plant is at the beginning of the month or year when it symbolises a healthy beginning for you and your loved ones.

You can place plants within a few metres away from your computer to filter electromagnetic energy or place tall plants in the corners of rooms with sloped or low ceilings to counteract symbolic heaviness. When it comes to choosing plants, look for those with curved or round leaves, instead of spikes or thorns. For example, peace lilies, philodendrons, bamboo and ferns.

Not a green thumb? No worries. Silk plants are great, too – just make sure you dust them and take care of them, but avoid dried flowers, as they represent stagnant energy.

  1. Bring water into your home

Listening to the gentle sound of water is a wonderful way to relax at home, but in feng shui, water means wealth, so it’s a good idea to place a small water feature or fountain in your home, ideally near the doorway to attract extra money in. Your water feature doesn’t even need to be a Chinese design to bring wealth into your home.

It’s believed that the best place to put your water feature is either east, southeast or north corners of your home. Avoid placing it in the bedroom or underneath the stairs.

5 Do’s and Don’ts of Decluttering

Now that the cloudy skies and cold weather have passed and the warmer season is here, it’s time to brush away the cobwebs and freshen up your home with a spring clean.

But where are to start? Here are some of the most common mistakes people make when it comes to decluttering.

Do plan and prepare

So you’ve have had enough of struggling to deal with your disorganised drawers and you’ve decided that in this very moment, you’re going to clean your home immediately. But hold fire!

Consider which rooms and areas need the most attention straight away and how much time it might take to tackle them. This way, you’ll avoid disappointment and have a more realistic idea of what you can actually achieve.

Don’t bite off more than you can chew

Don’t attempt to declutter more than one area or room at a time. Maybe you’ll take care of books one day, then clothes another.

Now is not the time for a scattergun approach – you’ll just end up dissatisfied with the results and frustrated and confused as to what you have and haven’t dealt with. Work your way through one area before moving onto the next.

Don’t procrastinate

Set aside a time and day when you plan to attack your home. Treat it like you would an appointment – don’t postpone it, show up and get started. If it seems like too much work, call a friend to give you a hand.

Need some help?

Enter our competition to win one of 30 professional five-hour spring cleans. We’re giving away spring cleans every day this month until 30 September.

Don’t take a walk down memory lane

As the decluttering expert Marie Kondo herself has instructed, don’t get taken over by nostalgia when clearing your home, as tempting as it may be.

Read one letter your best mate wrote you when you were kids, and suddenly it’s two hours later, you’ve read your teenage diaries and your bedroom is even messier than before. Keep to the task at hand.

Don’t ‘fake’ declutter

Simply creating tidy piles of stuff is not decluttering. Think about what you want to do with your things and where it should go. Your items could go into four different categories: bin, keep, donate or sell.

Do take action

Once you have decided what you want to keep, sell, throw or donate, make sure those items don’t simply hang around your garage.

Throw out what you no longer want, whether it’s taking it down to the hard garbage bins, organising a council pick-up or taking it to recycling. Take the items you want to donate to your local charity or give them to a friend or loved one. Store away the items you do want to keep. And if you’re going to sell your items, think of how you plan to offload them, whether it’s online or through a garage sale or the markets.

For more ideas, sign up to our VIP Style club or visit us in centre today.

 

Image courtesy of Urban Rhythm

Create a stylish home office

Is it your dream to create a stylish home office?

It’s hard to feel inspired or to work efficiently in a dull office. You don’t have to spend a fortune to make small changes that can lift your space from drab to fab with these tips and tricks.

Declutter

Clear your workspace from piles of random papers and folders, books you are not using and other clutter that has made its way into your office. If you have not or will not use the item in 3 months, put it away.

Get organised

There will no doubt be folders or books you will need at hand. Use magazine file holders or stylish boxes to neatly store them. Open rattan baskets available from Bed Bath n’ Table also look great.

Light it up

Add a table lamp to your workspace. It will lift the mood and with the great range of lamps out there, you’ll be sure to find one that can become a feature.

Extra seating

If you have space why not add an occasional chair and create a reading nook. Perfect for off-screen work, you can position the chair to maximise natural light. Pop into Focus on Furniture to choose the perfect chair.

Add more colour

Using an accent colour against a neutral palette can make the room ‘pop’. Denim blues and lush greens are the colours forecast for the year ahead.

Style it

Your bookshelf has so much styling potential. Work it right. While there are no hard and fast styling rules, some great tips are to stack books horizontally and vertically, add a collection of objects, layer objects and incorporate some artwork.

The perfect bedroom accessories

These accessories will complete your bedroom with a refreshing touch.

Adairs

The Adairs at Nunawading is the perfect place to visit for accessories that will complete your bedroom. Pick out your favourite floor rug or mat to enjoy in your bedroom now because they have a huge sale for this range where you can get up to $250 off!

Cushions are a must! They make your bed more inviting and comfortable. Pick your selection of pillows from Adairs for your bed, be sure they suit the colour scheme and texture of your bedroom. The store currently has a sale of up to 50% off on cushions, so don’t miss out!

As a part of the store’s mid-year sale, you can save 30% on lighting. There is a selection of bedside table and floor lamps to choose from.

Spice your bedroom up with some wall art, or perhaps a mirror, you can also save 30% on these accessories. The artwork available are beautiful pieces that will add a splash of colour and life to your bedroom.

If you want a more organic bedroom vibe, discover the pots and plants section at Adairs. There is a range of pots, plants, flower stems and plant stands to choose from, again, saving 30%. Greenery can make your bedroom feel fresh and can create an encouraging environment when beginning your day in the morning.

Finally, for your beloved pet! You can save up to 50% off on mats, pillows, blankets and washing amenities for your furry friend.

Provincial Home Living

For a more sophisticated bedroom atmosphere, come down and visit the Provincial Home Living store.

Here you will be able to find the perfect:

  • Cushions;
  • Throws;
  • Rugs;
  • Mirrors;
  • Lighting;
  • Coverlets;
  • Shams.

To match your style and enhance your bedroom’s theme.

Bed Bath N Table

If you are looking for accessories such as clocks, frames, lanterns, candle holders, vases, wall décor and hooks, home fragrances or other decorative accessories, our Bed Bath N Table store is the place to visit.

They currently have a June clearance where you can save up to 50%!

4 ways to embrace Autumn into your home

It can be hard to farewell summer. Endless sunshine, carefree days, sweet, ripe fruit and relaxed barbecues. Helping make the switch a little easier is the knowledge that every season has its own unique beauty and is rich in traditions to embrace.

Here are a few Autumn ideas to get you inspired.

Colour

There are classics hues which are synonymous with colder weather. From browns to oranges, experts say you should try and replicate the colours which are occurring outside.

The key is to infuse the entire house with relatable and powerful colours, such as purples and dark blues. Not only are they autumn shades, but they are dark and vivid. Plus, they are warm and add an element of cosiness. This was be easily achieve with a selection of throws, cushions or even some new wall art from PillowTalk.

Also, if you want to see items inspired by you, you can go through Decorug at Alexandria Home Centre.

Candle Lit Glow

To set the mood as the coolers month start to approach, introduce some candles around the house.

We love the collection of Ecoya candles from Bed Bath n’ Table there are so many unique scents to choose from.

Rustic Wood

We’re always talking about how the rustic warmth of wood can transform a room but the effects are even more apparent as we go into Autumn and Winter.

To achieve a truly homely look with lots of character, try mixing and matching pieces from different furniture ranges. Koala & Tree have a large range of unique pieces that are collected from all over the world. It is hard not to fall in love with all of them!

Seasonal cooking

One way to shake off the blues of a summer farewell is, naturally, with food.

Autumn brings with it a huge variety of seasonal goodness to invigorate your cooking. In March, look out for pumpkins, figs and apples, April is when we see mushrooms and chestnuts coming on board and May is a great time to enjoy Brussels sprouts and quinces.

Creating space in small bedrooms

Small bedrooms can have a big impact with the right design and use of space. Whether you opt for the illusion of space or embrace what you have, there are endless ways to make a small space livable and chic.

Choose the right colours

Colours can make a world of difference to the look of a small bedroom.

The darker the paint on the walls, the heavier the atmosphere and the more enclosed the room looks. Select light coloured paints, preferably pastel shades to make the room look open, light, and airy. Or you could look at light coloured wallpaper with small light patterns or designs.

Stay Minimal

All rooms tend to collect junk and the bedroom is the worst of them. Take a close look at your small bedroom.

What are the non-essential things in it?

Remove them all and see how much more space you suddenly have. It may not be floor space, but even having an open dresser top or uncluttered bedside table can make the room seem more open.

Creative storage

Optimise your space with creative thinking and creative storage from Howards Storage.

There is space under the bed and at the bottom of the closet that often is lying idle. The space under the beds is ideal for exercise equipment or things that are needed just once on a day. To make access even easier keep your old shoe boxes to use as storage so they can be easily retrieved. High mounted (but not unreachable) shelves on the walls will also free up space below giving the room a more clean and open look.

Lighting

Lighting plays an important role in how a room looks.

This does not mean that brighter is better – a bedroom lit up like a Vegas casino is not a place that you will be comfortable in. But keeping the lighting reasonably bright and using pendant lights or standing lights to focus the lighting ensures that there are no areas that are in shadow or sudden changes from bright areas to darker ones will give the room a feeling of being more open.

Custom Bedding

Investing in custom bedding to suit the size and style of the room.

This will allow you to optimise space while complimenting the look and feel of the room. Bevmarks offer custom beds with nifty storage solutions and decorative bed heads to suit any style!

A breath of fresh air: Our favourite indoor plants

If you are looking for that single, secret ingredient that has the ability to make just about any room look better, it’s a plant. The humble house plant is well and truly back on trend, and for good reason. A splash of healthy greenery instantly lifts a space to make a room feel fresh and welcoming.

If you feel like one of your rooms is lacking a little something, try adding one of our favourite plants for the home and if you feel that you don’t want the responsibility of care for it opt for a fake plant from PillowTalk or Rice Furniture!

Devils Ivy

Also known as golden pothos, fights nasty toxins like xylene, benzene, formaldehyde and trichloroethylene. Just be sure to keep this plant out of reach of your cat or dog as it’s toxic to pets.

Boston Fern

Ferns can typically be quite tricky to care for but the Boston fern is the most tolerant of the bunch. They prefer moist soil, indirect sunlight and humid conditions, so they’re an ideal plant for the bathroom. Not only do they provide a lush green display, they filter out the irritating chemicals, Xylene and formaldehyde.

Chinese Evergreen

This easy-to-care-for plant can survive in most conditions, even with low light and little water. It helps filter out a variety of air pollutants and begins to remove more toxins as time and exposure continues.

Weeping Fig

Often referred to as Ficus (like most plants in the fig family), Weeping fig’s love the light and don’t like being moved so it’s best to find a nice sunny spot in your home for it to stay and only re-pot when necessary.

Peace Lily

This popular indoor plant survives with very little sunlight and only needs watering about once a week, depending on the weather. Peace lilies cleanse your home of pollutants like acetone – a carcinogen commonly found in nail polish and paint. Keep this one away from your fury friends also.

Flamingo Lily

Native to the tropics, this exotic flowering plant prefers a warm and shady environment and daily misting helps to prolong its flowers.

They are known to be effective in removing formaldehyde, xylene, toluene, and ammonia from the air.

4 tips to a well-dressed bed

Looking to the achieve that hotel feel right at home? Get started with these 4 tips:

1. Vary the sizes, colours and textures of decorative pillows

Different sizes and colours provide interest and variation. To achieve thatt hotel feel, go all out with layers of European pillows, multiple standard pillows and at least three decorative cushions to finish it off.

The result is dramatic, plush and polished.

2. Play with colour and patterns for a more casual look

Simple, clean white bedding can be offset with a highly patterned coverlet for an artistic feel. Adairs have a beautiful new range of quilt cover sets and throws this Autumn to help add colour to the bedroom.

3. Invest in good sheets

The easiest way to snazz up your bedroom is to outfit your bed with a gorgeous set of sheets. To keep the hotel room look, go for a crisp, white set of sheets that are at least 1000 thread count. Hotel rooms tend to use sateen or percale sheets, but you should choose the material that feels most comfortable to you. The experts at Bed Bath n’ Table will be able to help you put together the perfect set to fit any look.

4. Consider the lighting

You’ll notice that almost all hotel rooms have lamps or sconces on either side of the bed. This always helps pull the room together visually and also allows you to turn off the overhead light and create a warm and cozy mood in your space.

Our 5 top tips to reduce clutter

1. Have a place for everything

This means your keys, your wallet, your office supplies, etc. If everything has its place, it’s pretty hard to lose anything once you learn where that place is. Files are in the file cabinet, my keys hang by the door, and my wallet goes on the little table in the hall.

There is no mad scramble to get out the door as I know where everything is!

2. One thing in, one thing out

When you get new bright cushions, get rid of the old faded cushions. When your kids get a new toy, help them pick out a toy that they’ve outgrown.

3. Purge twice a year

Make it a point to spend a day or two twice a year doing nothing but purging.

4. Keep a basket in every room

Despite your best ongoing efforts, stuff from one room inevitably finds its way into another. Keep a small basket in each room of the house. Each evening, put the out-of-place items in the baskets, and each morning, return them to their proper place.

5. Limit storage

The more storage you have, the more stuff you’ll keep. Instead, have limited storage and if stuff doesn’t fit in there, get rid of it.

 

3 chic bathroom storage solutions

The bathroom is one of the most high traffic areas in any home. It’s where we go to prepare to take on the day, and it’s where we head to wash up and decompress when the day is done.

Here are 5 easy ways to keep it well organised.

Add a Storage Cart

What a difference a storage cart can make. If you’re like so many who are short on cabinet storage, take matters into your own hands. Howards Storage offer a large range of storage solutions especially designed for the bathroom.

Take it one step further and roll your towels and add a succulent or two, and you’ll feel like you’re in a spa each and every day.

Organise with draw dividers

If you’re like the so many of us who have bathroom drawers overflowing with products, miscellaneous items, and general chaos then pick up some draw dividers from Howards Storage and finished off the look with well organised draws which will make the morning rush much more satisfying.

Get creative with mason jars

When it comes to DIY organisation, the wonders of the mason jar know no bounds!

Present your glosses, cotton balls, and tiny toiletries in the cutest way imaginable by taking advantage of this sweet idea. All it takes is a little paint, glue, and a few animal toppers.