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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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.

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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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Windows are excellent inventions – without them, life indoors would be a great deal more depressing. They allow you to see outside, and allow natural light to filter in; thereby raising your spirits and making you feel good about the world. Measuring windows for curtains, however, does not seem to raise spirits.

But of course, you might not always want your window to do this. There are some instances where you’d perhaps prefer a little privacy. At night, you might not want not want the outside world to be able to look at you. There are also economical disadvantages to windows. They’re much poorer insulators than solid brick walls, even if you decide to opt for double or even triple glazing.

What is the purpose of curtains? Are curtains necessary?

This is where curtains come in. Draw them over your window and you’ll get the privacy you need. You’ll also slow down the escape of heat, thereby saving on your energy bills. Why are energy bills going up so much? In short: supply and demand (and a sprinkling of greed). You can find out from your local council about any energy bill saving schemes. For now, we can try and reduce our usage as much as possible.

Enter: curtains…

Before you install your curtains, you’ll need to choose a pair that match your window. Let’s take a look at some options, and see how you can measure your windows for curtains at home.

How do I know what size curtain to buy?

Depending on your choice of style, you’ll need different lengths or widths of curtain. If you’re looking at pencil pleat, or net curtains, then double-fullness is called for. If you’re looking at other, thicker curtains, then one-and-and-half is sufficient. What this means is that, if you measure your curtain rail at three metres, you’ll need to buy two curtains of three metres each. This will provide double-fullness, and allow for an attractive concertina effect. Be sure to measure the rail itself and not the window.

Note that if you’re buying a pair of curtains, you’ll need to allow for an inch or so of overlap in the centre. This will allow your curtains to fully cover the window, and thereby prevent any irritating light leaks in the centre.

Eyelet curtain pole and pencil pleat tracks

Curtain rails, generally speaking, come in two different forms: poles and tracks. The former are long, usually wooden cylinders, around which run a series of round hoops, which in turn hold the curtain aloft. The latter, meanwhile, are long, angular things, from which the curtain is suspended via a series of clips, which slide along the length of the track freely. The advantage of the latter is that they can bend around corners, allowing for two separate lengths to overlap one another slightly in the centre. The clips are affixed to the rear of the curtain, meaning that the track is obscured when the curtain is drawn.

How do you measure for curtains width?

You’ll need to measure your window slightly differently depending on which sort of rail you have. A pair of tracks will overlap slightly in the centre, in order to allow the curtain to fully cover the window, and prevent light from entering the room. Measure the entire length of both rails, including the overlap in the centre. This will ensure that your curtain is large enough to cover the entire window.

In the case of a pole, you should measure between the two finials – the bulges at either end of the rail. When you come to actually install your curtains, then you might want to leave one hoop on the other side of the finials. This ensures that the curtain stretches over the entire window, rather than sliding loosely around.

Where is the drop of a curtain measured from?

You’ll also need to measure your heading differently. If you have a curtain pole, then you should measure from the bottom of the ring. If you have a track, then you should measure from the top of the track, which the curtain will rise slightly above, and thereby obscure.

When it comes to measuring the length and heading of your curtain, it’s best to proceed using a metal tape measure. Plastic ones tend to warp and stretch when you’re measuring – and they often won’t remain rigid enough to measure a window without asking a friend to hold the other end – which often means that stress will be placed on the line when it’s pulled taught.

If this seems like a lot to remember, then don’t worry – once you’ve got your new curtains in place, it will all be worth it. You’ll improve not only the look of your home, but lower the cost of running it, too.

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Whether you are looking to celebrate Valentine’s Day, with a significant other or your friends, we have some fun ideas for you to try. Take a look at our COVID friendly Valentine’s Day dates below.

Date ideas for lockdown at home:

Why not spend the night in? Blow the dust off those cookery books and learn to cook a new meal together. It might be an idea to put away all phones and gadgets whilst you’re eating, so you can be in the moment completely. After a delicious meal cooked together, you can decide between board games (which in our experience can usually make or break a relationship). Alternatively, if you are wanting a tamer end to your night: a good rom-com film never goes amiss.

Are you looking for something to do during the day but the weather just isn’t playing fair? Indulge yourself in your own person spa day! Spa days don’t have to be expensive when you are at home. All you need is: candles, fresh towels, face cloths, face masks, a warm relaxing bubble bath and bath salts. Additionally, grab anything else that makes you feel happy and relaxed (we find chocolate is very good for both of those things) . You might even find a willing candidate to give you a massage or two.

Lockdown date ideas outside

Although it is rare in the middle of February in England, let’s hope the weather will be beautiful. If the sun is shining, why not explore nearby parks, fields, country parks, and hills? In Greater Manchester, we are very lucky to be surrounded by amazing countryside and views. To the east we have the Peak District and to the west we have Cheshire & Merseyside. There are some real hidden gems around us, tucked away in the small villages and hills. Likewise, you can explore and find a hidden gem near you. Remember to bring the essentials on your walk: water, snacks (lots of them), a blanket, a hot drink flask (with hot drink included). In fact, if you want to wait up to watch the sunset, remember to take a warm scarf and gloves with you!

If you are stuck at home alone, or without those you love and you need some Valentine’s day date ideas for lockdown. We’ve rattled our heads together to come up with a few ideas for you! Obviously, depending on your location and restrictions, you may be able to go for a socially distanced walk with someone. On the other hand, if you were looking for some zoom date night inspiration, look no further.

Zoom call date ideas:

How well do you know your significant other? Try a fun quiz to see who knows who better! From favourite colour to best memory together, I am sure you can think of some things you really want to know about them. If you are over 18 and want to make it more interesting, create tipple shot related punishments for wrong answers!

If that seems a bit too personal (and maybe dangerous if you have a particularly forgetful partner), why not search Youtube for pub quizzes or more general knowledge quizzes which you can play along to? Better yet, create fun forfeits. For example, the loser has to buy the next meal when we are finally allowed out to restaurants (just make sure you win that round…).

Some people are just happy to see, sit and chat with a loved one without the distraction of games, videos and music. Does this sound like you? If so, plan your evening around each other. Make your favourite meal and have a romantic zoom meal for two, and afterwards cosy up with your favourite blanket and chat the night away.

Don’t have zoom? You can download it here

Lastly, we all know that nothing is ideal at the moment, we are missing loved ones, and even missing those we hadn’t realised we would. Above all else, we just have to stick together and get through this. At HomeSpace Direct, we wish you a very happy Valentine’s Day and remember to #staysafe.

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 If Covid-19 has you stuck in doors, it is a great opportunity to give your house a spring clean. See our blog about spring cleaning. https://www.homespacedirect.com/blog/spring-cleaning-bedroom-5-things-list/

5 quick ways to get your home summer ready.

1. Give doors and skirting boards a quick lick of paint. Paint on woodwork tends to fade over time, and a coat of paint can really brighten up a room or hall.
2. If you have the budget, changing your curtains to a lighter weight and brighter colour can make a huge difference not only to your mood, but how warm your room looks. Lighter weight curtains will let the sun shine through and brighten the room of a morning.
3. Changing bedding and cushions/throws is also a good, quick and low cost way of adding summer colours to your rooms.
4. Get planting – plant seeds and bulbs so they are ready to come up in the summer. Prune rose bushes and cut back dead wood on other trees/bushes so they flourish stronger in the summer.  If you didn’t plant bulbs in the winter, the shops will have many daffodils for you to either plant in to your garden, or straight in to a pot for the conservatory.  You can also buy plants now that will be ideal for growing in-doors over the summer.  We all know the positive effects of plants in a room – whether it be for the Oxygen they transpire, being a focal point or just making us feel better.
5. Tidy up the garden. Pull out those winter weeds, clear the rubbish.

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1. Give a fresh lick of paint to rooms that are starting to look a bit tired or drab. Don’t forget the skirting boards, as they will help bring the colour out of the paint/wallpaper on the walls.

2. Give your kitchen a makeover – changing your kitchen unit doors to the latest fashion, whether it’s high gloss or dark oak, will make your kitchen look like a brand new kitchen. A splash of paint and new blinds or curtains will give your kitchen a relatively inexpensive new look.

3. If you want to be a little bit more adventurous, add a conservatory or orangery. These have become very popular recently, and are a good way of adding to your living space. Use windows with high thermal ratings which will help you save on fuel bills, as well as being a good investment for when you want to sell your house. Furnish your conservatory with soft furnishings like cushions, throws and rugs to create a cosy room.

4. You can also create extra living space by converting your basement if you have got one. This is another popular trend currently. Basements can be converted to a home gym or office, games or play rooms. As well as giving you extra space, it will be a great investment for when you want to sell your house. Prospective buyers will see the benefit of the extra space which in turn should increase your house valuation.

5. If you can’t go down, go up. For the same reasons as basement conversions, a loft conversion can add thousands of pounds to your property. A loft conversion can be used for the same purposes as basement conversions, but it can also be an ideal bedroom. If you have got enough space to add an en-suite bathroom up there, you can create a fabulous bedroom.

6. Whilst we are talking about improving the value of your home, think about installing double glazing if you haven’t already got it. Glass with a high thermal rating will not only save you pounds in fuel bills, but a perspective buyer will see the benefit.

7. If space allows, and depending on the type/size of your home, add an extra bathroom. Two bathroom properties are always more attractive and buy-able then one bathroom properties where there are 3 or more bedrooms. The extra bathroom does not have to be upstairs. If you have got a large space under the stairs, or have a small annex or unused utility room, you can always add a bathroom there. Even though a bathroom is a functional space, try to make the bathroom stylish. Nice tiles, colour co-ordinated bathroom suits, towels and bath mats, will all help.

8. Finally, don’t forget the outside. A lick of paint, edging your lawn boarders and a general garden tidy up, will all add to the attractiveness of your home and be a welcoming sight for you when you get home.

The post Brightening up and adding to your living space in time for spring appeared first on HomeSpace Direct.

Towels are used to fulfill a multitude of tasks, from drying us to wiping muddy feet and floors to drying the dishes. One would think that a towel is a towel, or every towel is the same. That is not so. Towels vary hugely in the way they are manufactured, the material that is used, and their weight (ie how much material is used). Each factor affects the absorbency, softness, longevity and overall quality of the towel.

Manufacture

The most common material used for bath towels and bath sheets is cotton.

• Long Staple Cotton

Like long staple cotton used for bedding, this cotton used for towels has similar properties and virtues. The fibres are longer than conventional cotton and tend to give a softer, and more durable end product. The more of this cotton that is used, the tighter the “knit” and therefore the softer the towel. Bath towels are usually defined in terms of their weight (GSM), which gives an indication of how much cotton is used. A high GSM (eg 600) indicates a towel where ample cotton has been used, and will be nice and weighty.  Heavyweight Egyptian cotton towels are the creme de la creme when it comes to this.

• Carded Cotton

Carded cotton has an additional step in the manufacturing process, which refines the cotton, to remove impurities. Again, this will result in a softer and stronger end product.

• Combed Cotton

Combing is yet another step in the manufacture of some towels. The combing is just that. The cotton is combed to separate the fibres, which untangles them, and removes impurities as well as discarding shorter cotton fibres.

• Zero Twist Cotton

Zero twist cotton bath towels can only be constructed from long staple cotton. This is because the fibres are not twisted at all during manufacture. Zero twisting means that the yarns have a maximum surface and so towels made this way have very high absorbency, and also allows them to dry quickly.  These properties make Zero twist towels very luxurious, and so when you buying these towels, you know you are getting a good quality, durable towel, totally suited to modern living.

• Ringspun

The opposite to Zero twist, towels manufactured in this way have fibres twisted tightly together. This makes the towel very strong and durable, but does have a negative impact on softness and absorbency.

• Jacquard

Jacquard is a type of weaving (invented by Joseph Marie Jacquard in 1790), where weaves from different sources/colours can be used in one process. This makes this technique ideal for towels that have a design rather than the one colour plain dyed options.  During weaving, fibres are woven in strips of colour. Only one colour can be used per strip, and each strip is either raised or lowered during manufacture, to produce the desired pattern. This type of manufacture is only suited to long fibre staples.

Material

Cotton, of varying qualities is the most common material used for towels and other bathroom soft furnishings. The best quality cottons are Egyptian (which originates from the Nile Delta), Supima (very silk like and grown in the USA), and Suvin cotton (which has a beautiful, luxurious feel).

• Organic cotton

This is about the way the cotton is grown rather than type of cotton. Organic cottons are grown (a bit like organic vegetables) without the use of harsh pesticides, and using high quality fertilizers.

• Bamboo

Made from bamboo and usually blended with cotton.  Bamboo towels have a superior absorbency, and are also incredibly soft and silky. Bamboo is environmentally friendly as it is naturally renewable and also grows a lot quicker then cotton.

• Hydro

Sometimes referred to as hollow, these cotton yarns have a hollow core to help absorbency and faster drying.

• Modal

A relatively new type of material, and is semi synthetic. Cotton is combined with cellulose from beech trees. Modal towels are very soft and far more absorbent then 100% cotton bath towels.

Weight

The weight of bath towels is measured in grams per square metre (GSM).  As the name suggests, its about how many fibres there are per each square metre of the towel. The higher the GSM, the more fibres there are in the towel, which help absorbency, softness and durability. Towels with low GSM (less 400) will be thinner, and less absorbent. 400-600 GSM towels are the ones that should be used for everyday bathroom use. They are also perfect for the guests. Towels above 600 GSM are the most luxurious and heavyweight. If you can afford them, always get these. They will last longer than the lower weight ones, and will be a good investment.

Take a look at the vast range of towels in our bathroom department https://www.homespacedirect.com/bath-linen/bath-towels.html

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There is no definitive answer as to which mattress is right for you.  The mattress that you choose will depend on your weight and size (and the weight and size of your partner) and sleeping styles, but one thing is certain, your mattress must be supportive.

There are many different types of mattresses, varying in the way they are made, the materials that are used, and the quality they offer. We briefly look at some of the most popular ones currently available.

Types of mattresses

1. Open sprung mattresses. These mattresses have one continuous shaped spring which extends throughout the mattress.  The spring moves as one, so if you are sleeping with a partner, you both will feel each other’s move. Because there is only one spring, this type of mattress will “wear” quicker than others, and will need replacing more frequently. However, in the early years, the fact that it is one, stronger spring, the shape will be retained better.   Open sprung mattresses are generally at the budget end of cost.

2. Pocket sprung mattresses. Pocket sprung mattresses contain many individual springs, encased in individual fabric pouches. This allows the spring to move independently, and so react to the weight and pressure they are individually under. This ensures that the right amount of support is given to not only different areas of your body, but the springs will move independently of your partners. Naturally, the more springs in a mattress, the better.

3. Memory foam mattress. Also known as visco-elastic, memory foam mattresses use material that moulds to the contours of your body. The moulding depends on your weight and is aso sensitive to body heat, providing the right amount of support for your body. These mattresses are also great for those who suffer from allergies. One point to note, some people find that memory foam mattresses to tend to be very warm and that can be uncomfortable at times)  Memory foam was first developed by NASA for their space programme, but now a days is used more and more for every day uses from mattresses and pillows to cushioning in-soles.  (Memory foam mattress toppers are also available for you to put on top of your existing mattress to provide a layer of memory foam support. Whilst not as good as a full mattress itself, they can provide a short term solution of budgets are tight).

4. Gel infused mattress . These mattresses are very similar to memory foam (they are memory foam infused with gel particles), but proponents say that they provide support that is superior to memory foam.  The gel particles also take longer to heat up, and so the mattresses are more comfortable then their memory foam counterparts.

5. Latex mattress. Latex mattresses are also similar to memory foam, and are great for people who suffer from allergies. Like latex pillows offered by Dunlopillo, latex mattresses provide good support, moulding to the contours of your body and a good quality one will feel like new for many years.

Mattress firmness

There is no right or wrong answer when it comes to firmness. It really depends on what you find the most comfortable, but below is a rough guide

1. Soft – great for light weight adults or children, and for those who prefer to sleep on their side.
2. Medium – ideal for average weight people and those who like to sleep on their backs or fronts, as the extra firmness gives more support.
3. Firm – better for those who are over average weight as the firmness gives extra support. The extra firmness is also good for those who have back or joint issues .

Industry experts suggest that you should change your mattress between 7-10 years. However, this does depend on the type and quality that you buy  in the first place.  There are also suggestions to replace the base of the bed at the same time as the mattress or to at least ensure the quality of the base reflects the quality of the mattress. A top grade mattress with a lousy base to support it won’t work so well.

Care for your mattress

Once you have bought your perfect mattress, it is essential that you care for it to ensure it’s longevity.

1. Flip – flip your mattress at least once a month.  This ensure that you do not sleep in exactly the same spot all of the time, thereby causing the spings/latex/memory foam/gel to experience more wear in the same spot. Fliping ensures the wear is distributed evenly.

2. Mattress protectors – there are many types of mattress protectors on the market – including quilted, waterproof, polycotton and terry towelling, all designed to help protect your mattress from wear, and also dust mites, bacteria, and dead skin. The mattress protectors can be whipped off and washed regularly, ensuring your mattress stays as fresh as possible.

3. Mattress toppers – you can also buy mattress toppers (you can get them with various types of fillings ranging from feather and hollowfibre to memory foam) to act as an extra layer of comfort between you and your mattress. You should not need topper if you have got a brand new mattress, but as the years of your mattress progress, you may like a little extra support.

4. Bedding – once you have got your perfect mattress and base, you need to decorate it with perfect bedding. Again, the type of bedding (look, finish) that you go for is a personal choice it is worth bearing in mind that different materials will provide different levels of comfort. For duvet covers, cotton materials , especially 100% cotton with a high thread count, will provide a lot of comfort, cooling in the summer (cotton has absorbing qualities and is naturally aerated) and warmth in the winter. A high thread count will also provide silk like softness.  Also, in my opinion, nothing beats a feather duvet – whether it be goose or duck feather. This provides all the warmth that you need, whilst being very light to sleep under (the light feathers work by trapping heat). However, feather duvets are not for everyone, especially animal lovers or allergy suffers!

Finally, size matters!  A standard UK double bed only allows enough space for two people as they would get in a cot or small bed. If you can afford it and have the space, go for a bigger size, either a king or get the luxury of a super king bed.

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