1
Your personal style
“ Your entrance hall is the first place your guests will see when they enter your home . Despite this the hall tends to be one of the areas that we all forget about . Usually it ’ s a largely utilitarian space over-crowded with coats , bags and muddy shoes . But it doesn ’ t have to be this way ! Built-in storage is a marvellous solution to tidy away all of those raincoats and boots . Also , create a focal point . Many Victorian homes feature stunning tiled floors , which could be sitting hidden beneath a tattered carpet . If you ’ re not that lucky , go for statement pendant lighting instead to welcome your guests .”
5 tips on …
IMPROVING YOUR HOME FOR CHRISTMAS
The festive period is often the busiest couple of weeks our homes endure all year . With friends and family travelling from all over to visit for Christmas lunch , a New Year ’ s Eve shindig or just a festive reunion , we want our homes to look and feel their best !
Opun ’ s expert interior design Trade Partner , Nicola Taylor , gives her top five suggestions for how to create the perfect Christmas home .
2
The guest bedroom
“ Guests tend to get stuck with the lumpy pillows and worn-out bedding that no permanent resident of the home wants . But good-quality linens can be purchased inexpensively and will make a world of difference for any overnight visitors . Unless you have overnight guests most weeks , try to make the guest space multi-functional , too . A pullout desk and built-in storage is a simple and cost-effective way to make the guest bedroom double up as a home office or library .”
3
Perfect your TV viewing spots
“ For many homes , one of best things about this time of year is all the brilliant movies on TV . So now is the time to perfect these spaces for the whole family to enjoy . There ’ s no excuse to not have wall-mounted your TV by now . No matter how nice your living room looks , trailing wires and cables will always be a big turn off , so try to hide them . If you don ’ t want to put the television on the wall , then go for a dedicated TV cabinet to keep those pesky wires invisible .”
4Refresh your dining area
“ Christmas is one of the few times of the year we spend a large amount of time in the dining room so the festive build up is a great time to make some improvements . While a lick of paint can breathe new life into a dining room , don ’ t be tempted by green or blue hues , which – believe it or not – have been proven to make food less appetising psychologically ! Ambient lighting is a must , so fit a dimmer switch . If you opt for the classic pendant light , hang it much lower than you think you should , so it just floats above people ’ s heads while they ’ re seated around the table .”
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