Hello, I am writing this blog post to talk about some tips that I would have told my past self and also to give insight into my experience of buying a home as a single woman at aged 30 in the UK. 1) Small steps will get you there The deposit saving was the longest phase of the buying process. I had hoped that I would meet someone during my twenties as it feels as though from a young age we are taught that you meet a guy, buy a house then have a family. However at the end of the day we are responsible for our lives and we can create the lives that we want if we put in enough work towards it. If you are reading this article, please do not feel alone. There are a growing number of women taking matters into their own hands and buying a property on their own. It may take a bit longer but all of the decisions are yours, you can decorate how you want and you can crea...
Hello,
Please see below some tips to elevate and design your space:
1) Read
Read books to help learn about what will work. I purchased Right at Home By Bobby Berk as I loved his make-over's on queer eye and enjoyed hearing him talk about design. If there is someone whose style you admire follow them on their social media platforms, create an pinterest board or borrow books from the local library.
2) Wardrobe
A tip from his book was to think about what you are drawn to, whether it be destinations, colours and to look at what colours/fabrics you have in your wardrobe and try to think about how you can incorporate them into your design.
3) Banish Labels
Avoid having loud labels in your kitchen and bathroom. A way to make a room look sophisticated is to swap out labelled bottles for glass jars. I have used a Hand Wash and Dish Soap Dispenser in the kitchen and a black bathroom set to hide the labels.
4) Plants, Plants Baby!
As someone who struggles to keep plants alive, artificial plants can become a welcome addition to any room to add some colour and also a sense of calm and connection to the natural world.
5) Work with the room
My bathroom is a small space so in order to utilise what I had I decided against using any bold or bright colours and instead opted for a timeless black and white palate to make the room appear bigger and also timeless. You can also create a pinterest board and look at how it flows and if the different colours/products will work together by creating a mood board on Canva for free. It is good to visually see how it will all fit together.
6) White Bed Sheets
Personally, I love going to hotels and seeing white bed sheets- there is just something so clean and fresh about them. Although it may not be the most practical it adds a sense of luxury to a room and potentially you can limit white bed sheets to your main bedroom and the rest of the family can choose theirs. You could also take this further and have white towels in your bathroom.
7) Black fences can help make greenery pop
People can often overlook the garden but I feel that it is important to create a space where you can enjoy having a cup of tea - if the weather allows. Contrary to popular opinion black fences are having a moment and in my local area lots of houses are using this as a way to make the greenery and colours of the garden pop. It may sound counter-intuitive but black provides the perfect canvas for colour and immediately makes a garden appear for elevated.
8) Clutter Free Zones
We all lead busy lives and stepping into a nice clean home is an underrated feeling. I try to put objects back in that place where I got them from and also where I expect them to be so that I do not spend ages looking for it. I also try to limit how much I buy and give myself 24 hours to think about a purchase. Often I do not end up buying the item and I have cancelled by subscription to Amazon Prime to limit my impulse shopping. I would also recommend watching the Minimalism documentary on Netflix. It is an active process and I try to make sure my house is clean and tidy before I go to bed so that I can wake up and not feel stressed out with all the dishes in the sink. This is easier said then done but I never regret it. I feel a lot calmer with less stuff and clutter in my house.
9) Focus on your eye line
I invested in an online interior design course during the pandemic as I was looking for an outlet for my brain during that time instead of sitting around and overthinking. During the course they talked a lot about how the human eye works and how they scan the area. Some of the top tips I look away is that it is good to have balance with a mix of straight lines and curved lines. In the below image you will see that we have the uniformity of the kitchen and tiles but then this is punctuated with plants and wooden textures to make the kitchen more inviting. Also shelves are a great way to draw the eye up in a small space to make it look bigger and to also use reflective surfaces to bounce around light. I would also think about the textures that you want in your house whether it is a cosy furry blanket or nice soft white towels.
It can be overwhelming to think about what you want to do with your space and my advice would be to relish the process and not to get overwhelmed. Please take the time to care for yourself and spend time with loved ones and still have your hobbies/workout routine. It is easier said then done but it will not be forever and one day you will look around your space and feel so proud. It is the small steps each week that will get you there and please do not be too hard on yourself. You can do it! :)
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