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CHOOSING THE RIGHT RUG
Choosing a rug or in fact multiple rugs for your home can be a daunting task, with the options available on the market today. So here we look at how to break it down and make the best choice that will meet all your needs. Even though, like many pieces we choose for our home, we can be led by the heart, it is best to start with practicalities.
Look at the size of the space you are purchasing for, is it a small intimate room or a large family space? Once you know where you’re buying for, look at your furniture placement in the room, decide if you want to create a zone by having all your furniture or seating, comfortably sitting on top, or you prefer to go for something smaller to create an intimate nook. When looking at a seating area at the very least you should try to have all front legs of your lounges, armchairs and side tables placed on the rug. If in doubt go bigger, there is nothing more uncomfortable and aesthetically unpleasing then a floating rug with nothing grounding it to the space. Another good option is to get out the masking tape, always a winning tip, when trying to visualise your space.
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What’s your next priority, this could be price or material? If your budget is healthy and this is an investment piece, you can’t go past wool, it’s not only the ultimate in luxury and the fibre used since the beginning of rug history but when looked after can last decades and some Persian wool rugs for example, actually appreciates in value. A large Wool rug can be a statement piece, a work of art and can bring your whole space together. If your budget is a little more on the skinny side you still have many options, so look at your material preference to narrow things down.
Many people have a strong opinion on Synthetic Fibre Rugs, for all of there hardy, cost effective and stunning design options, the fact that they are not a natural fibre will rule them out, in this instance, a jute or sisal woven rug or a cotton Kilim will give you a good starting point. If your space is on the larger side or you want a to create a statement, layering two rugs is a great option and one Designers often use. A large Jute Rug with a smaller wool or cotton rug on top makes for quite a feature.
If your happy to consider the Synthetic option, there are so many gorgeous designs and colours to choose from. There are many reasons why a synthetic rug should be considered, price is the obvious one, but most synthetic fibre rugs can also be easily cleaned in comparison to some of their natural counterparts, which make them a great option for families with both two and four legged kids. Being cost effective also means that buying a rug that is on trend in regard to pattern or colour is less scary as it can be changed when you want to go in a different direction.
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Now you’ve got to the fun part, deciding on the Colour and Style of your new rug. Like other stables in your home, your lounge or dining table for example, a rug can blend or contrast depending on your personal preference. If you like a more minimal feel, an uncluttered fuss free take on interiors, going for a colour that blends with its surroundings will work well. This can be solid with some texture by choosing a short pile with added silk or viscose, or a long pile that will add layers and interest. A pattern rug can also be a good choice if you stick to the same hue throughout the pattern.
For those who are a little more adventurous or just love having more then one hero piece in a room, look at your pattern options, traditional medallion or watercolour floral, it all depends on the look you want to create. Pick out any current patterns in your room, cushions, curtains, lounge fabric, or even the lines in your furniture or architecture, do you favour the curve of an armchair design or arch doorway, or the sharp clean lines of window shutters or celling panelling, all these observations can help you work out your design style and what rug pattern will work best.
Colour works the same way and should be treated like we do when we consider the colour of our walls or lounge cushions. Look up a colour wheel online and see what colours complement or contrast with your current look, by where they sit on the colour wheel. A hot tip from one of the top Interior Designers, check out your own wardrobe, what colour
do you like to wear? what colour makes you feel good? At the end of the day, your home should be your happy place and evoke the same emotions we have when we put on our favourite pair of jeans or a stunning new dress.
So be brave and most importantly have fun when choosing a new Rug for your home.
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Rugs
1 Noble, Gamma, available at Coconapple
2 Kenya, Ralph Lauren available at Coconapple
3 Moscow in Silver available at Coconapple
All Room images via @pinterest
HOW TO: RESET YOUR HOME FOR THE NEW YEAR
Do you ever wish you had a reset button on your home?
Completing a monthly or even yearly reset can make all the difference in keeping on top of the chaos at home!
Here’s a full list to get you on track to a refreshed start to the new year.
1. Start in the bedroom. After all, it is where we spend 76% of our time at home. When was the last time you flipped your mattress? Rotating your mattress regularly is important because it helps to keep your it comfortable, and means you'll be able to use it longer! Change your linen! Mixing up colours to match the current season is another way to give your space a fresh look.
2. Sort and cull the linen cupboard. This can easily become a place in the home that becomes cluttered and ends up having the doors shut and being ignored. A thorough culling session every couple on months can help you stay on top of this space and avoid the chaos.
3. Restock all of your cleaning products. Keep a back stock of your commonly used items in the laundry for easy access. Commonly used items you can keep extra stock of include; laundry detergents, dishwashing liquid, multi-surface spray, paper towels.
4. Donate old kids toys. Each year with another round of birthdays, Christmas and standard trips to the toy aisle in the grocery store, the kids toys collections can get out of control! Keepsake toys can be stored in plastic storage containers. Out of sight, out of mind!
5. Tackle the fridge and freezer. Check for any expired goods and for food you are just not going to eat. Empty out the freezer at the beginning of the week and create a menu of meals you can create from what's in your freezer. I bet you'll be surprised with what you can come up with! Set yourself a challenge!
6. Tidy the junk drawer. We all have one and we all know this is a space in the house that is often in need of a good cull. Use a cutlery caddy to help section out the space and make organising it that tad easier.
Do you have a house reset routine already in place? We'd love to hear about it in the comments below!
HOW TO: STYLE A BOOKSHELF
6 TIPS FOR CREATING A ZEN BEDROOM FOR BETTER SLEEP
Did you know that your bedroom decor has a direct affect on your quality of sleep? Well, it’s not scientifically proven but it sure does make it easier to relax!
1. A COMFY BED
When was the last time you replaced your mattress? Apparently, we’re meant to replace them every 7-10 years (oops!). Have a think about it. Have you been restless at night? Waking up feeling unrested? Feeling aches and pains throughout the day? Perhaps it’s time to ditch your current mattress and upgrade. Accompanied with great pillows, a super comfy mattress can make all the difference to your sleep!
2. WARM LIGHTING
When it’s time to wind down, switch off the lights, flick on a warm bedside lamp and feel yourself relax. Warm lighting feels natural to us in the evenings and promotes relaxation. Think those deep reddish globes you can find almost anywhere.
3. CANDLES
A good quality candle can warm and purify the space. For the bedroom, think relaxing scents like lavender, chamomile and ylang ylang. Our favourite is the Woodwick Lavender Spa range. There’s a reason why everyone lights a candle during a de-stress ritual.
4. MINIMAL TECHNOLOGY
Remember a good old fashioned alarm clock? Let’s bring them back in 2021 and make an effort to reduce technology used in the bedroom. It has been proven time and time again that spending time on your phone right before bed disturbs the quality of your sleep. Try leaving the technology outside, lighting a candle and reading a book under warm light.
5. NATURAL FIBRES
It has been proven that exposure to nature reduces stress levels. Brining nature in the bedroom is a sure way to add a little zen to your sleep space. Think natural linen or bamboo sheets, wooden furniture, a jute rug and a few living plants (but make sure they’re the type that can survive with minimal light exposure).
6. EARTH TONES
Earth tones are drawn from nature and therefore promote a relaxing environment. Current earth hues on trend include forest green, deep rust, tan, sand and terracotta.
6 TIPS TO ADD TEXTURES INTO YOUR LIVING SPACE
THE ULTIMATE 2020 CHRISTMAS GIFT GUIDE
Struggling on what you should buy your mother-in-law for Christmas? Or the bloke who has it all? What about the nieces and nephews with every toy under the sun already?
Look no further than Coconapple's range of homewares and gifts, perfect for everyone from the smallest of people to the biggest of big kids.
FIVE OF MY FAV'S
DYNAMITE DINING ROOM
This once covered space of the 70's and 80's, home to the funky and glamorous valour dining chair and oh so awesome shaggy rug. Moved on to the 'in your face' animal print combined with bold colours, combined with gold, combined with...(you get the point). One consistent being the absolute need and probably very utilised home bar. This was a place of dinner parties and laughter or showing off your home and family to impress you're new Boss and although we have moved on from those Mad Men to Miami Vice days, there are a few trends we should keep from these impressionable years. Did anyone say 5pm Gin and Tonic???
WHY NOT BLUE
WHY NOT BLUE?
Ok lets talk about blue... Blue is the highest ranking colour on the "lets get to know you conversation" of "Whats your favourite colour?" Personally Im a pink and green girl but in my home, I do love a bit of blue. Being that it's so highly ranked, you cant really go wrong when it comes to choosing an accent colour for your room if you go with this honest and reliable hue.
Blue brings a clean freshness to a room, in its paler shades of baby and powder blue it can be peacefully serene, in its darker form Royally dignified. It works really well with its neighbour on the colour wheel green, especially in more casual areas of the home like the bedroom where you want to promote relaxation. Give your room a good punch with a slight accent of orange (that can be in the form of more burnt orange shades or even light orange toned tan leathers for those who don't want to wear sunnies at home) but any citrus tones will work well with blue. Actually pretty much any colour will go with it although in my opinion and this is just my personal opinion, avoid blue and red, it can look a bit superhero comic looking. Unless you like that sort of thing, no judgement here.
