Everyone deserves an outdoor haven

Lifestyle

Feb 23, 2014

Everyone needs an outdoor haven but living in an apartment means that you only have a tiny amount of space to work with; however, that doesn’t mean you can’t have fun with it.

Lights
Fairy lights are not just for Christmas and are a great way to create an atmosphere, but just make sure they are outdoor lights. Drape them over potted plants, pin them to the wall or string them through your balcony railings.

Plants
You don’t need to have green fingers to be able to keep a few potted plants alive. Choose brightly coloured pots and fill them full of plants – go for bright flowers with bright petals. Tie ribbons around for added luxury.

Seats
You won’t be able to relax without a few chairs. A plastic one piled with cushions is a cheap way to go. Don’t forget to take the cushions in when the weather changes though.

Candles
Feeling the chill? Invest in some candles. Pick up a couple of lanterns in your local garden centre or line up a few tea lights to create a real relaxing area.

Bliss.

A tour of these amazing celeb gardens will leave you green with envy

Lifestyle

Feb 21, 2014

by Amber Saunders

These incredible celebrity gardens will make you crave your very own outside haven.

Sharon Stone’s Beverly Hills back garden
Stone’s garden is surrounded by fruit trees and even has a relaxing meditation garden.

Mel Gibson’s Connecticut home
You’d want to be pretty strong to play chess with Mel.

Kelsey Grammer’s Malibu garden
The Frasier star has his very own pond – this garden is beyond words.

Valentino’s Chateau in Paris
It seems the Italian designer is not just a dab hand at designing clothes. Wonder if Kimye considered getting married here?

Julianne Moore’s New York City garden
Just because your garden is small, doesn’t mean it can’t be impressive. Julianne even managed to squeeze in a basketball net.

Jennifer Aniston’s Beverly Hills home
We couldn’t miss a sneak peek into this Hollywood sweetheart’s home. No wonder she doesn’t want to leave it.

Place mats are not just for protecting your table

Lifestyle

Feb 19, 2014

by Amber Saunders

Place mats are not just for sitting under your plate – they’re actually pretty handy if you want to decorate your home on the cheap.

Most of them cost less than your bus fare and come in really funky colours and designs. You can pick some up in IKEA from just €0.85, so you can go wild.

Wall art
Pick up four place mats – you can use varying colours or stick to the same ones. All you need to do is fix them to your wall in a creative design or pop them into frames for alternative wall art. The floral one (below) from IKEA would be so pretty on your wall.

Pop of colour
If you fancy a pop of colour around your house, grab a couple of fabric mats and drape them over your sofa or use as a centre piece on your table.

Mouse pad
Add colour to your work or study life by investing in a laminated place mat for under your mouse. Amazing.

Now you have no excuse not to have a fun home, even if you don’t have a huge budget.

L – r: IKEA €0.85, IKEA €1.45, IKEA €3.50, IKEA €2.25

Date night in?

Lifestyle

Feb 14, 2014

by Amber Saunders

Staying in tonight? Well, seeing as it is Valentine’s Day why not make your bedroom that little bit more romantic?

Add a little mood lighting
Candles are the perfect way to create a romantic vibe. Mix tea lights with chunky candles and stick in a few scented ones too.

Plenty of cushions
A bed is irresistible when it looks comfy so pile cushions onto the bed. Make sure you change your sheets though.

Use rose petals
Sprinkle rose petals all over the bed and the floor. Your other half might not like them but hey, it’s your room too.

Play some music
Nothing says romance like the sound of music. Avoid Taylor Swift at all costs.

However, before you go to all this effort, you might want to make sure your room is clean and clutter free. Nothing is more off putting than tripping up on dirty clothes.

The most useful thing you can do with Lego ever

Lifestyle

Feb 12, 2014

by Amber Saunders

This video shows how, even as an adult, you can construct pretty great things out of the small bricks.

It’s time to pull out your secret stash of Lego and put it to good use.

Indestructible houseplants

Lifestyle

Feb 10, 2014

by Amber Saunders

Plants are really important in a home not only to add atmosphere and decoration but also to help purify the air.

It can be difficult with a busy, hectic lifestyle to find the time to care for plants which is why they inevitably die.

We’ve chosen our favourite indoor plants that require little attention and maintenance while still getting all of the benefits of having greenery in your home – perfect!

1. Rubber Plant
This plant requires medium light and is quite a striking plant to have in your home.

2. Peace Lily
The perfect Irish home plant this requires low light and low humidity.

3. English Ivy
This pretty plant requires moist soil and a cooler temperature than many other indoor plants.

4. Jade Plant
This is a really long-lasting plant that requires little watering but bright light so keep it on a window sill for maximum growth.

5. Aspidistra elatior
This plant is nicknamed the “cast-iron” plant as it is virtually indestructible surviving in the hands of even the most negligent of owners. Low light and low humidity.

The perfect bath-time experience

Lifestyle

Feb 3, 2014

by Amber Saunders

Having a bath can be the most relaxing part of many people’s day. What could be nicer in this cold, wet and windy weather than a long, warm soak?

Create your perfect bath-time experience with the following tips and feel yourself unwind.

Decide what type of bath you want; bubbles, detox or fragrant?
A detox bath is easily created with Epsom salts, apple cider vinegar, baking soda and some fresh grated ginger.
Use essential oils to create the perfect aroma for your bath. Choose oils with calming effects such as sandalwood, patchouli, lavender, bergamot or mandarin.
Lighting is an important aspect of your bath time because bright lights will make it hard to relax so make sure the lighting is dim and use lots of candles.
Put on a face mask to rejuvenate your skin.
Put on some slow-paced music on low volume.
Grab your favourite book (just don’t drop it) and maybe leave the Kindle in the bedroom.
Use your spare time in the bath, when not reading and unwinding, to exfoliate your skin with a glove or scrub.

How to use fairy lights to decorate your home

Lifestyle

Jan 28, 2014

by Amber Saunders

Fairy lights can create a cosy and romantic atmosphere in a room – perfect for movie nights and cuddle nights.

Fairy lights can also be a good alternative to lamps in rooms as they are more versatile and can be hung from mantelpieces, beds, ceilings, wherever you like!

Here are some ideas on how you can use fairy lights in the different rooms of your home to add an instant cosy touch.

1. Bedroom

2. Living room

3. Kitchen

4. Hallways

5. Outdoor parties

Carolyn Donnelly for Dunnes

Lifestyle

Jan 10, 2014

by Amber Saunders

Irish designer Carolyn Donnelly has created a beautiful collection for Dunnes Home called Eclectic. Below are some pieces included in the stunning collection.

Donnelly is already a well-known designer in Ireland, having set up the brand Quinn and Donnelly with designer Liz Quinn. She is now the creative director for Dunnes Stores.

Here’s hoping it doesn’t sell out before we get our hands on some!

How does colour affect my rooms?

Lifestyle

Jan 5, 2014

by Amber Saunders

With such a vast range of colours to choose from, it can be very easy to just pick a colour we love rather than thinking about how it affects the room as a whole.

Below are some suggestions for what colours should go in each room and how they can positively affect the people in them.

1. Kitchen

The colour red is known to stimulate the appetite. Good for Mc Donald’s? Definitely. For your home, perhaps not. Warm colours are also generally avoided in a kitchen as they make a room look small and overcrowded. Neutrals such as taupe or beige work very well in kitchen as do muted greens such as sage.

2. Bathroom

The bathroom is a place that should be bright and airy. However it should also be a haven of relaxation. One way to maintain this balance is to paint one or two walls (depending on the shape) a darker, bolder colour, such as a navy or orange and leave the rest a bright neutral colour such as white, which is associated with cleanliness.

3. Living room

This is a room in which you will spend quite a lot of time, so it has been suggested you keep the living room a muted neutral colour that will promote both calming and warming properties. In order to relax it is best to avoid stimulating red and oranges. Muted greens, yellows and beiges would work well in a living room. Rich browns/blues also work well, but they will make a small room even smaller.

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