A duvet cover has many functions including protection, temperature control and aesthetic appeal. 

• A duvet cover protects your duvet from sweat, body cells, dirt and spills, by providing a protective cover.
• It also makes it easy to keep the duvet clean. You can simply take the duvet cover off and wash that, rather than the duvet itself, which is much easier and more convenient especially it today’s hectic world.
• Aesthetic appeal is another advantage of your duvet cover. There are so many patterns, colours, styles and materials available, you really our spoilt for choice. This allows you to change the look and feel of your bedroom in a flash.
• Being the right temperature in bed is essential for a good night’s sleep. If you are too cold or too warm, your sleep quality will be affected. Choose duvet covers made of fabrics that breathable or insulating (depending on the season) to ensure a blissful night. (See below about the right type of duvet covers for each season)
• Finally, duvet covers provide convenience. They usually come with either popper, button or zipper fastenings making them easy to take on and off duvets, as well as ensuring the duvet stays in place!

Choose the duvet cover material depending on the season.

• Autumn/winter – Choose heavier weight materials for bedding,  like brushed cotton or flannelettes which provide a good layer of insulation.
• Spring/summer – lighter weight materials like cotton, linen and bamboo which are breathable and wick moisture away keeping you nice and cool.

Caring properly for your duvet cover is vitally important, to ensure both longevity, comfort and maintaining it’s aesthetic appeal.

• Wash your duvet cover regularly and iron if needed.
• Always follow the washing instructions on the label. The label is usually found on the inside of the duvet cover.
• Never use high heat. A embellished duvet cover can potentially be ruined in high heat.
• Use a mild detergent
• Use a fabric softener – especially for first washes

Which type of bedding is right for me?

Choosing the right fabric for bedding is important for both comfort and practicality. Here’s a guide to help you make the best choice based on your needs:

Cotton

Cotton bedding is strong, breathable and soft. It is a great staple and suitable for all seasons. Cotton bedding, especially duvet covers are made in a number of different thread counts. The higher the thread count, the more durable and soft the bedding is.

The best cotton for duvet covers are ones with longer fibres like Egyptian cotton or Pima cotton. These are more durability and softness. Take a look at our 1000 thread count, cotton duvet covers here. https://www.homespacedirect.com/dorchester-cotton-bedding-sets-1000-tc-white

Linen

Like cotton, linen bedding is highly breathable, but is also moisture-wicking, and naturally hypoallergenic. Linen duvet cover and bedding are perfect for warm climates as it keeps you cool at night.

Linen bedding is very modern and gives your bedroom a easy, casual look. It is usually more expensive then cotton, but looks great and has longevity.

Silk

Luxuriously smooth, soft, and naturally hypoallergenic so great for sensitive skin. Silk duvet cover have temperature-regulating properties, keeping you cool in the summer and warm in the winter.

Flannel

Flannelette is perfect for winter. It is soft and warm and made from  cotton, but usually heavier then unbrushed cotton. Extremely comfortable bedding.

Microfiber (and polyester)

We are seeing more and more microfibre bedding available now as we become more budget conscious and advances in microfibre production technology. Microfibre duvet covers and sheets feel incredibly soft and are easy care as they don’t wrinkle much in the washing machine or dryer! The only down side is microfibre is not very breathable so you can feel hot under it.

Bamboo

Bamboo is similar to linen in that it is soft, breathable and above all, moisture wicking. However, bamboo bedding is a sustainable option and it is very eco-friendly, hence getting more and more popular by the day.

The post Why use a duvet cover & types of bedding appeared first on HomeSpace Direct.

Traditional Tweedmill wool throws

Tweedmill Textiles boasts a rich heritage rooted in craftsmanship and dedication to quality. Established in 1971, this Welsh-based textile company has been honing its skills for generations. With a commitment to preserving traditional weaving techniques, Tweedmill Textiles stands as a testament to artisanal craftsmanship.

At the heart of Tweedmill Textiles’ success lies the art of weaving. Meticulously crafted on traditional looms, each throw reflects a harmonious blend of skill, precision, and passion. The artisans at Tweedmill take pride in their work, ensuring that every piece is a work of art that stands the test of time.

Merino wool and lambswool

Tweedmill Textiles understands that true luxury lies in the details. That’s why only the finest materials find their way into the hands of the skilled weavers. From the softest merino wool to the durability of lambswool, each throw exudes warmth and comfort. All in all, the result is a collection of throws that not only enhance the aesthetic of any space but also provide a cocoon of cosiness for those chilly evenings.

Versatility is the hallmark of Tweedmill Textiles’ throws. Consequently, whether your decor leans towards classic, contemporary, or eclectic, there’s a throw that complements your style. From timeless tartans to modern geometric patterns, the extensive range of designs reflects the brand’s commitment to meeting the diverse tastes of its clientele.

Sustainability at Tweedmill

In an era where sustainability is paramount, Tweedmill Textiles remains dedicated to ethical practices. The company sources its materials responsibly, ensuring that the production process has minimal impact on the environment. Therefore, investing in a Tweedmill Textiles throw, you not only bring elegance into your home but also support a brand that values ecological responsibility. Such a brand is one that HomeSpace Direct is proud to work with. We are a verified stockist aiming to supply our customers with the majority of the Tweedmill range.

Tweedmill recycled blankets

When weaving pure new wool blankets, there are a lot of off cuts from each wool throw. These guys had the idea to create a recycled blanket, which uses the offcuts from other throws. Each throw is unique due to the weaving technique and where the materials are sourced from. These Tweedmill recycled blankets and throws are a beautiful addition to any house, cars, picnic and more! Be sustainable in style, and make sure you get your hands on one of these gorgeous recycled wool throws.

Tweedmill Textiles invites you to embrace the warmth, comfort, and style that their throws bring to any living space. Furthermore, a rich history, a commitment to quality craftsmanship, and a range of designs to suit every taste, these throws are more than just textiles—they are a statement of timeless elegance. Transform your living space into a haven of luxury with Tweedmill Textiles and experience the enduring charm of artisanal craftsmanship. Find out more here!

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Bedding for children’s rooms

When buying duvet covers for your children, the two main factors you should consider are design and quality. Choosing a design should be easy. There are a wide variety of designer or generic bed sets ranging from robots, dinosaurs, and sports themed sets to unicorns and enchanted forests. There’s bound to be something your child likes.
Children’s bed sets are usually available in junior, single, and double sizes. It’s often a good idea to buy high quality bedding your child can grow into that will last, rather than an expensive set they will quickly grow out of. To ensure your children get the best night’s sleep you’ll want a quilt cover at least made from polycotton, these materials blend the softness of cotton with the durability of polyester. For a higher quality bed set you can purchase a 100% cotton or brushed cotton flannelette set. These materials are very soft due to their fluffy brushed exterior, while still maintaining a high level of durability.

Throwovers are an excellent decorative addition to a bed while also providing extra warmth during the winter. Choosing a plush lightly quilted throw is ideal for placing on a bed as it gives that extra weight and adds a soft touch. A looser non-quilted material throw is perfect for draping over furniture within the room. Your child can then pick this up whenever they want and use it as a warm blanket.

Curtains for your child’s room

To complete the set you can purchase curtains in the same or similar design, matching curtains are essential for creating a theme. It’s important to ensure the curtains are fully lined. This gives them extra thickness for blocking light to help your children sleep. While also offering insulation to keep heat in during the winter and keep the room cool in the

From space to magical fairy tale castles, it is essential to lay a solid foundation to your new funky bedroom, this means deciding on a theme or colour scheme in accordance to your child’s interests. Children can be very indecisive but it’s always a good idea to discuss with them how they might want their bedroom to look, making a list of potential ideas and offering these suggestions to them can simplify the process.

Decor for children’s rooms

Get creative with colour, instead of just painting the room one colour, think about fun patterns or multicoloured stripes. This can give the room a playful feel and look very stylish. A great tip for fantasy or space themes is glow in the dark paint. Use a stencil to decorate the walls and ceiling with glowing stars and planets. Your children will love this when they lie down at night and see an entire solar system in their bedroom. For toddlers/babies it’s recommended to use soft colours to elicit a warm and cosy feeling to aid their sleep.

Wall art can define a theme; this could mean painting the walls with fantasy dragons or exciting race cars. If you’re not artistically inclined or aren’t fond of the mess involved with stencils, you can also get large removable wall stickers in a variety of fun designs.
Create a play area and tie the room together with a rug, or decorate the bed with a selection of shaped cushions. The smaller elements of a room can often contribute greatly to the bigger picture.

Rugs for children

Children’s rugs vary from plush deep pile shaped animal designs to fun play mats. Featuring miniature printed towns or snakes and ladders games ideal for playtime. Creating a designated play area is important for keeping the room tidier; this means that all toys have a home. Click here to check out our fantastic selection of rugs. Additionally, you can decorate the shelves or bed with a selection of fun cushions in various shapes.

A key aspect of the bedroom should be storage, children will always have lots of toys strewn around the room so you’ll want to create space. Storage chests and boxes are perfect for keeping toys and they come in a variety of fun designs.

Furniture for children’s rooms

It’s important to purchase furniture in alignment with your child’s height. This means storage, shelves, and seating areas all within reach. This can help to teach your child how to be more organised as they tidy their room independently. Children are constantly growing so it is more cost effective to find high quality, hard wearing furniture that they can grow into.
Create a study area within the bedroom; set aside an area of the room with a desk, a chair, and good lighting. Younger children can use it as a creative area while older children can use this area for learning. This is also an ideal place to store a bookcase with all your child’s educational books.

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These dangers are all the more acute at certain times of the year. Obviously, there’s the danger of pollen during spring and summer – but winter, too, poses its share of threats. There are dust mites and mould lurking in the corners of your living space, both of which are potential allergens. And if you’re allergic to animal hair, then the threat posed by your household pets may be greater during the winter – when both dogs and cats are likely growing thicker coats to cope with the elements.

1) Control the moisture levels in your home to prevent allergens

One of the biggest dangers posed by allergies during the winter is the risk of an infection. This risk is more severe at this time of year, as we’re cranking up out heating, and thereby drying out the air. This in turn will dry out our noses, eyes and skin, which will make them much less well-equipped to repel nasty pathogens. The end result of this cycle is often an infection.

So how can we counteract this problem? Well, the most obvious solution is the direct one – apply moisturiser to the affected areas. If it’s the inside of your nose, then you might consider a specially-formulated saline rinse. If it’s your skin, then a general moisturiser will do – though you’ll have to shop carefully, according to your body’s foibles.

You might alternatively invest in a humidifier. This will help to counteract the drying-out effect of your heater. But you’ll have to be cautious, here – many allergens thrive in high humidifies, and during winter, introducing too much moisture to your house can cause it long-term damage. It’s best to keep things conservative, and to keep the humidity setting at lower than 50%.

2) Keep your carpet clean

As well as keeping yourself properly moisturised, you’ll need to wage war on the allergens directly. Unfortunately, there are many places where they might take residence.

If your house is filled with lush, thick carpets, then you’ll provide dust mites with exactly the environment they need to thrive. Now, you might want to dispense with such carpets altogether, and opt instead for hardwood floors. However, if you’re wedded to that velvety, cushioned sensation underfoot, things need to change. You should make sure that you properly maintain your carpet through regular vacuum cleaning, and use carpet cleaner. Or, if you can’t maintain a fully carpeted room, decorate your hardwood floor with a small feature carpet!

3) Keep your bed clean and allergen free

The same is also true of your bed. Between those sheets, a million dust mites can take up residence. Your bed is warm, moist and filled with your dead skin cells – upon which these tiny arachnids will subsist. These mites can be remarkably difficult to excise once they’ve gotten in there. They can survive for months on end, and a female can lay more than a thousand eggs every week.

For this reason, you’ll need to regularly launder your bedsheets at a high temperature. This will help to destroy all of your dead skin cells, and thereby rob dust mites of their food supply.

4) Use hypo-allergenic bedding

If you’re looking for a permeant solution, however, you should consider investing in a hypoallergenic bedsheet. These control the mite population of your bed by forming a barrier between the sleeping person and the mattress. These covers are far more tightly-woven than ordinary sheets. In fact, so much so that the holes are smaller than a 300-micron-wide dust mite. Faced with this lack of food, the mite population in your bed will decline rapidly. Therefore, as will the allergic symptoms they produce. Just install the sheet and wait for the mites to die.

When they were first introduced in the 20th century, hypoallergenic covers were not as sophisticated as they are today. They were made from sheet plastic, and provided a horrible night’s sleep. Modern versions are much more agreeable – and will provide allergy-sufferers a means of doing battle against this microscopic foe.

These days, lots of hypoallergenic sheets and bedding are made from bamboo which is naturally hypoallergenic.

5) Invest in an air filter to remove allergens

Air filters come in all shapes, sizes, powers and prices! Once they’ve worked their magic for a few hours, the air feels thinner and cleaner when you breathe in. Air filters that remove animal hair from the air are really handy for those who love animals, but have adverse reactions to them. My suggestion, when looking at which air filter to get, is look at the reviews. I’ve had my air filter for 2-3 years now, and it works as well as it did when I first got it! Although, I have had to change the filter, it is a small price for clean and fresh air.

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Catherine Lansfield, renowned for style and quality is the label of choice for those who love and value great home fashion. Products are designed and developed in Great Britain and ethically sourced overseas under strict quality control.

Why choose Catherine Lansfield?

Catherine Lansfield is one of our all time favourite go to brands. Not only can you expect to find your products beautifully packed, but once opened, you will find a high quality product tucked up inside. Their in-house designers are at the forefront of global trends, which is reflected in their ever expanding range of stylish soft furnishings.

Catherine Lansfield duvet cover sets

When you choose a Catherine Lansfield duvet cover set, you are choosing style and quality. Their designs cover almost everything from classic florals, to geometric motifs, to embellished masterpieces. A design which has been a Catherine Lansfield bedding staple for many year, is Canterbury. Canterbury begun its takeover of the brand with just one colourway. As it grew in popularity, more and more colourways were released. There have been around 10 colour variations of this classic floral duvet cover design, but none as popular the the original ochre.

Top 6 duvet cover set designs

• Larrson Geo – featuring a retro print with a pop of colour and matching constratsing reverse, the painterly textures within the geometric panels are inspired by the current mark making trend within art and interiors
• Sweet As Can Bee – bring the buzzing bees to your bedroom, with the playful fluffy pom pom design. With a contrasting bright text reverse
• Dramatic Floral – oversized impressionist blossoms and peonies with Japanese woodblock silhouettes
• Sequin Cluster – luxuriously quilted border with sequin embellishment creates an elegant look
• Canterbury – a true classic floral design of beautiful large bouquets in full bloom for an effortless, modern bedroom update with the cute polka dot reverse can transform the look but keep the trend with a flip of your duvet.
• Songbird – featuring charming songbirds sitting gently on floral bunches combined with a blend of soft tones

Catherine Lansfield bedding for children

Bedtime is where dreams of adventure and mischief can begin – why not reflect that in your child’s bedroom? The designs vary from cartoon-like animals, to cute cats and even to some funky happy ice creams! The kids bedding designs come in many colour and are suitable as both girls bedding and boys bedding. Whether they love bedding with animals on it, or bedding with ice creams on it. CL has you covered!

Top 3 children’s duvet cover set designs

• Polka Dot Hedgehog Hug – Our favourite woodland friend wants to give you a hedge-hug! With a cute polka dot and hearts reverse; for the sweetest interchangeable styling
• Roarsome Animal – In a hand drawn Scandi style, fun graphic animals have positive messages for the future with a happy, mini animal reverse, giving you two great designs for the price of one
• Eat, Sleep, Football, Repeat – Does your child eat, sleep, and breathe football? This design features a full front pitch and mini ball reverse; everything you need for the ultimate footie bedroom.

Catherine Lansfield Curtains

CL offer a wide range of curtains designs from plain crushed velvet, to vibrant florals. Whether you are looking for curtains to match bedding, or whether you simply want to spruce up your living room, there are curtains for everyone. Although, there are not many pencil pleat curtains to choose from, thankfully there is a wide range of eyelet (ring top) curtains to choose from. If you fancy changing up your style for the seasons Additionally, CL offers floral curtains for summer, and heavy weight curtains for winter!

Top 3 eyelet curtain designs

• Sequin Cluster – A pair of glamourous statement eyelet curtains with a quilted border and sequin embellishment to create an elegant look.
• Canterbury – a true classic floral design of beautiful large bouquets in full bloom for an effortless, modern bedroom update.
• Crushed Velvet – Striking and luxurious crushed velvet curtains – these curtains can be paired with the bedding set, or hung to create a statement in any room.

Catherine Lansfield Bath Linen and Towels

There is not much nicer than wrapping up and relaxing in a soft and luxurious cotton towel. Bringing you the latest techniques and innovations, their bathroom textiles use only the most high-quality fabrics to help you unwind. Available in a many colours options and textures; there’s a design to suit every scheme. Whether you are looking to revamp your bathroom, or find the perfect beach towel for the holidays. CL has a towel for you.

Why buy Catherine Lansfield products?

CL is renowned for style and quality and their products are ethically sourced overseas and made to strict quality and human-ecological safety standards, in accordance with STANDARD 100 by OEKO-TEX.

See our huge range of Catherine Lansfield bedding, curtains and towels here

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We all know that we should wash ourselves at least once a day. Do you know how often you should be washing your bath linen? Cleaning towels is as important as cleaning yourself. . Let’s look at the subject in closer detail.

Why should I wash bath towels and bath mats?

Whilst it might seem obvious that towels and mats get dirty after repeated use, it’s worth emphasising just how important it is to wash them from time to time. Though you’re usually drying a clean body when you use a towel, then term ‘clean’ is a relative one. Your body is covered in skin cells – which might fall off at the slightest provocation.
The abrasive action of a towel – even a very soft one – can loosen all of those spare skin cells. And where will they go then? That’s right – into the fibres of the towel, where they’ll provide a great source of food for any nasty microbes that might be thriving in the moist, warm conditions there. After several days of repeated use, this can have a cumulative effect. After a few weeks, you’ll have a veritable cornucopia for germs. And then the next time you go to dry yourself, you’ll get a healthy dose of bacteria and grime in return – which somewhat negates the effect of cleaning oneself in the first place. The solution is an obvious one: wash the towel; kill the germs.

How often should I wash my towels?

Now that we’ve established precisely why one should regularly wash one’s towels, it’s worth pondering exactly how regularly this should be. While the answer might vary according to who you ask, and exactly how much use you’re getting from your towel, a good rule of thumb is that a towel should be used around four times before being washed.

Are you supposed to dry towels?

This rule works only if a towel is fully dried between each use. This means hanging a towel up, so that as much of its surface are as possible is exposed to heat and airflow. If you’ve got a special heated towel-rail, then so much the better. Otherwise, you’ll want to hang your towels over a radiator. Specially-designed rails are available for just this purpose, for very reasonable prices.
Do not leave your towels scrunched up in a heap on the floor – this will prevent them from properly drying, and provide mould and mildew with the exact conditions they need to thrive.

How often do you wash bath mats?

You might suspect that bathroom rugs will require less frequent washing than towels. After all, you’re not exposing a bathroom rug to quite so much moisture, and you’re not scrubbing your skin with it. However, if four or five people are using the same bathroom, then the cumulative effect will be that the rug becomes quickly dirty.

Rugs are in an unfortunate position, here, as they’re unable to dry as effectively as towels. Being placed against the wall makes breathability an issue, as well as having to absorb many different sets of wet feet will ultimately cause a rug to become saturated. This creates a safe-haven for mould and mildew. If a bathroom rug is frequently getting splashed, then this problem is greater. For this reason, a rug in a kid’s bathroom will need to more washed more frequently.

What about non-slip bath mats?

Unfortunately, there’s a complicating factor here. Many bathroom rugs come equipped with a rubber backing. This is to prevent them from sliding around on tiled flooring, and preventing slippages. This rubber backing is not well-equipped to deal with the high temperatures of a wash cycle. Every wash will cause damage to the mat, and a balance must be struck between the lifespan of the mat and its cleanliness. You need to dry these rugs by hanging them up, as using a tumble dryer will damage them further. You can buy a rug with a detachable rubber backing. This is removed before every washing session, so you can wash your mat much more frequently without damaging it.

So, how often SHOULD I wash my bath linen?

We can only advise on this, and each household will be different. Personally, I wash all my bath linen once a week. However, there is usually only one or two of us using the bathroom a week. You can decide yourself depending on your situation. Using your towels more frequently = washing your towels more frequently.

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Should sleeping position effect which pillow I should buy?

In short, yes. You need to get a pillow which will support your neck, back and shoulders. After all, that is what they are for. What are the different sleeping positions? You can have back sleepers, side sleepers, front sleepers… and if you’re like me: sleep where you drop sleepers. Now, unfortunately, if you are like me and change you sleeping position every night, then there isn’t a definite pillow you need.

Best pillows for front sleepers

Fronts sleepers have always confused me, personally. How do you breathe? Doesn’t your hair tickle your face? How can you lie on a full stomach? Regardless, there are a small percentage of people who are front sleepers, and thus, there is a pillow out there for you. Pillows for front sleepers need to be able to keep your neck and spine in a neutral position. If you choose a soft pillow, with a filling such as duck feather and down, then your neck is less likely to tip your head back, which leads to back pain. Some people will even have a pillow just for their stomach, in order to support their spine.

The best pillow for back sleepers

Back sleepers make up about 40% of the population, meaning it is a popular position to sleep in, and therefore you have plenty of choice in pillows. Back sleeper pillows tend to be of medium firmness, but, can either be softer or firmer depending on preference. A generously filled hollowfibre pillow is an excellent way to support your head. Medium support allows only a gentle curve from your neck to your spine, and helps to align you head, neck and spine properly.

Best pillows for side sleepers

The most popular sleeping position is sleeping on your side. Side sleepers are a bit more high maintenance than the other sleepers, as they require a larger pillow. Side sleeping is so popular due to the comfort of it and the health benefits. You are more able to digest food in that position, you are less likely to snore, and some even say it boosts brain health! However, the distance from the edge of your shoulder to the side of your head is much larger than from your back to the back of your head. This means side sleepers need a thicker, and firmer pillow. Thicker and firmer pillows tend to be more expensive, but they really are worth the money. I know many side sleepers who swear by their Relyon pillows (Dunlopillo pillow rebrands) and they are certainly not as cheap as the standard hollowfibre!

The best pillow for a restless sleeper

Spoilers: there isn’t one. We really just have to try and find the pillow most comfortable for us. As a child, I hated pillows, I wouldn’t use one because I thought they were so uncomfortable. I would rather sleep either on my side or back without a pillow at all. As I’ve gotten older, I definitely do sleep with a pillow, but just the thinnest slither of a pillow I can find! Granted, I am not like most people, so a medium-soft pillow will probably do you just fine.

If you’re still unsure of what to get, have a look at how to choose the best pillow for you.

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Improve quality of sleep at night in bed

The quality of sleep we enjoy has an enormous bearing on our ability to think, concentrate, remember things and generally function. It can mean the difference between a productive day at the office and a stressful one, or between an exhilarating day spent running around a park and an exhausting one. Sleep is therefore a crucial factor of any healthy lifestyle. Since temperature plays such a large role in determining the quality of our sleep, we should devote careful thought to our choice of bedding.

With that in mind, let’s take a look at some of the things one might consider before investing in bedding.

Synthetic bedding vs natural bedding

Humans need to preserve and exclude heat, but this isn’t a human exclusive. Almost every animal on the planet has evolved some way of maintaining their body heat at an ideal temperature. Earth is full of naturally insulating material. Generally speaking, ‘natural’ bedding comes in the form of feathers and down. In the world of bedding these are distinct from one another.

Feather and down bedding

Down is actually a variety of soft feather which sits underneath the topmost layer of feathers on a bird like a duck. Down feathers are densely-packed, and good at keeping the animal warm. Ducklings are covered in down, as their outer feathers have yet to grow.

In most cases, bedding will be comprised of a mixture of down and feathers. Softer duvets have a large proportion of down, while others are made entirely of down. The location of the source of feathers is important. Geese living in colder climates, like Siberia and Canada, must adapt thicker and lusher down layers that those living in more temperate zones.

What about synthetic bedding?

So where does synthetic bedding enter the equation? They are a cheaper, inferior alternative to natural fillings. But the truth is that modern synthetic fibres, like hollow fibre and microfiber, have come along tremendously in terms of the quality of their feel. Synthetic bedding also has the considerable advantage of being non-allergenic, meaning that sufferers of allergies can rest easily at night-time.

Which tog rating do I need for my bed?

If you’re buying a quilt, then perhaps the most important consideration is how thick it’s going to be. Togs is the thickness of a quilt. Tog rating is calculated using a precise mathematical formula. Specifically, a single tog is equivalent to 0.1 m2K/W, or ten times the temperature difference in centigrade between two sides of material when the flow of heat is a single watt per square metre.

Which duvets are warmest for bed?

If you’re now scratching your head, just know that the higher a quilt’s tog rating, the warmer it will be. A 4.5 quilt will be very lightweight, and suitable for the height of summer. A 13.5 tog quilt, by contrast, will be very heavy, and suitable only for the depths of winter. Naturally, most quilts will be somewhere in the middle.

Of course, you won’t appreciate just how warm you’re going to be beneath your new quilt until you get there. So you’ll need to be a little flexible when it comes to judging a quilt’s tog rating. It’s often best to opt for a quilt that’s slightly thinner than you think you need. If it gets especially cold, you can always lay a blanket across the top of your quilt. Feeling really cold? Stuff multiple thin quilts into the same quilt cover.

Bed time: what bedding should you buy for children?

Finally, it’s worth discussing the options available for children. If you’re buying for a small child, then you’ll need to approach things very differently. Children under 12 months old are never given quilts and pillows – they’re unable to push things away, and may suffocate. Use a special baby sleeping bag, if you want to.

Also, children tend to need much thinner quilts, as their body temperature is much higher during sleep. The first duvet you buy for a child should be very light – just three of four is best. As they get older, you can up the rating gradually.

The post Which bedding should I buy for my bed? appeared first on HomeSpace Direct.

Small spaces and overcrowding the home is a common problem in flats, but it can be an even bigger issue in larger houses. The bigger the house, the more space to fill it with things! Someone with minimalist tendancies, may not quite understand the problem most of us are faced with everyday. Scroll down to see a comparison between a minimalist fireplace design and a maximalist fireplace design.

1) Make a small room look bigger with lighting

These days, the ways to light your home seem limitless. Using lighting to make a small room seem bigger is one of the easiest ways to do that. It is a scientific fact that lighter things look bigger, and darker things look smaller. So, adding light to a dark area, will seem to increase the size. Most bulbs now have a warm setting or a cool setting: warm emits orange hues, and cool emits blue hues. In my house, the ceilings aren’t very high, so in order to make the room seem bigger, I ditched the lampshades!

Lampshades make it seem like the ceiling is lower – switch them out for LED ceiling lights. It makes the room look bigger, and creates more space. If you have windows, get those curtains out the way and open those blinds. Natural light is so much better for your room and your well being than artificial lights. If flinging the lampshades, and opening the curtains aren’t an option – then you will have to start being clever.

2) Using mirrors to add space to a small room

Mirrors have always been a classic example of how to make a room look bigger. Not only does a mirror reflect light around a room, but the simple idea of reflecting a room makes it seem bigger. The larger the mirror, the better, but small mirrors can also brighten up the room. Think of a ballet studio: there is one long wall of mirrors – effectively doubling the size of the studio! Mirrors come in all shapes and sizes now: plain mirrors, framed mirrors, window mirrors and more. There is a mirror out there for every room in your house.

3) Light colours make a space look bigger

It’s a well known fact in interior design that colours can make or break a space. Similar to the idea that more light in a room makes it seem bigger, a light colour on the walls works too. Don’t worry, you don’t need to start painting all your walls renter friendly magnolia. There are thousands of lighter shades of colours that can make a room seem bigger, without offending the eyes. Darker walls makes everything seem smaller, and usually more lustrous – not ideal for small rooms at all. If you’re a fan of Interior Designs Masters on BBC, you’ll notice lots of designers using colour to extend walls and create height. Take a look at our lighter wallpapers to help brighten your room.

4) Utilising multi purpose furniture in a cramped space

So, we’ve touched on how to make a small room look bigger, but what about actually removing clutter from the room? Multipurpose furniture is one of the ways forward, aptly named because each piece of furniture has multiple uses. If you want a floor lamp, but don’t want to waste the space between the bottom and top – get a shelf floor lamp. These are really easy, and great ideas to get rid of that shelf that you keep stubbing your toe on!

A firm favourite is the classic futon: a convertible chair bed. Whether you want to convert your living room for sleepovers, or don’t want the restrictions of having a bed in your only spare room, a futon allows you to have both! Accessorise with throws which are perfect for beds and chairs! Clever shelving is an easy way to declutter a side. Kitchen bakers racks are ideal for storing multiple kitchen appliances, whilst only taking up a small section of the counter top. If you do a quick internet search for multifunctional furniture, you will find many products to help create more space in your home.

5) Bringing in flexible furniture for a small room

Similarlily, you can save a great deal of space by choosing mobile furniture, and furniture which can be folded away. Tables are a great example of flexible furniture, many tables already have a lengthening feature. You can have a small 4 seater table when it’s you and the dog sitting at the table to eat, but when you have guests, this can be opened up to accommodate 6, 7, 8 or more people. Once in an AirBnB in, the studio apartment we were staying in had a bed which folded up into the wardrobe. This left the living space free during the day.

6) Be creative with the space you have

With the right inspiration and joiner, you could have yourself some pretty nifty storage solutions. One of my favourites examples is joiners who have turned each stair on a staircase into a drawer. They’re fabulous in theory, but in practice, most stairs aren’t suitable, it takes quite a long time and is expensive. If you have a space between a wall and the side of a fireplace, don’t just shove a bookcase in the area. Give it some love and creativity. Two great uses of that space can be seen below. Floating shelves high up give you storage, but also leave room on the floor for a lamp and a chair.

7) Time for a declutter

This is the least favourite point of mine, because I just genuinely love stuff! I love the sparkly cocktail stick from my holiday in Marbella 10 years ago, it’s a memory, you know? Those cardboard boxes, I might need those for something in the future, I can’t throw those away. I’ve had that stool for years, yes it is falling apart, and yes I can’t sit on it because it will actually break, but I love it. Sometimes it is time to let go, and although it hurts in the beginning, the result of a clean, tidy and clutter-free house is really unbeatable.

The post 7 Ways to Make a Small Room Look Bigger appeared first on HomeSpace Direct.

What is a pattern match?

A pattern match is what it says on the tin: it is how the pattern will match up when applying to the wall. It is important to understand the difference between straight pattern match and drop pattern match. Not only will it help with deciding which wallpaper to buy, but also how many rolls you need to buy. Random match is usually the easiest to apply, as you do not need to be careful when lining up the design. For ease: lets call each strip of wallpaper a “drop”.

What is straight match wallpaper?

A straight match wallpaper means the pattern or design matches in a horizontal line across strips next to each other. These are usually more intricate patterned wallpapers with the complete pattern starting and ending along the width.

What is the difference between straight and drop match?

So, we’ve learnt what straight match means, but what does half drop pattern match mean? Half drop match is where the top of each drop is staggered relative to the start of the pattern on adjacent drop. If you look at the example below, you can see the wallpaper on the left only matches when the second drop is positioned half way down the first drop. What is an offset match? An offset match is just another way to say “drop match”.

What does random match mean?

Random match patterns are the easiest wallpapers to hang as there is no need to line up any patterns. The design is created in such a way that it is not obvious where the pattern begins and ends, and therefore it does not matter where you hang each drop in relation to each other. Random designs tend to be either block colour, striped or textured wallpapers.

What is the easiest pattern of wallpaper to hang?

Random match is the easiest wall paper pattern to put on your walls, and creates the least about of waste! Random patterns can be the most striking of all wallpapers, especially if you are using textured wallpaper.

What is a repeat in a pattern?

A repeat in a pattern is the length from where the pattern starts, to where it ends. For example: a 53cm repeat means that if you measured from the start of the pattern, it repeats at 53cm.

Types of wallcovering pattern matches

So, there you have it: straight, drop/offset and random match. If you are ever unsure about which wallpaper is best for you, just drop us a message. Not only can we help choose the best wallpaper for your house – we can also tell you so much more! We can tell you what each wallpaper pattern type means and where on the wallpaper the pattern begins and ends. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going wallpaper shopping!

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