Whether you rent or own your property, a home is so much more than simply a physical space. Feelings of comfort, security and familiarity, being surrounded by our own style, transforms any place you live in into your home.

Without items that look homely, a space can seem sterile, clinical and detached. If you want to inject a bit of warmth into your home, here are a few ideas that could help.

Think Pictures

Whether you’re an art fan or simply love being surrounded by photos of the family, pictures can really transform a space.

Artwork on the walls adds a personal stamp of style, and can complement and accent your chosen furniture. You don’t need a big space to embrace art; a series of small frames can have quite a magnificent effect.

Photos of family and friends are another way to instantly change the feel of your abode. It’s the difference between a show house and a home, and creates the impression of cosiness. If you don’t like lots of photos scattered around, a multi-picture frame on the wall makes an ideal alternative.

Display your belongings

Whether you are a collector of knick-knacks or just have a few choice items, everyone has personal possessions which looks good on display.

You don’t need to have a large home to be able to accommodate this; opt for space-saving shelving and you’ll have the best of both worlds.

It’s up to you exactly what you choose to display. Some people opt for sentimental items, or belongings from their childhood. Others prefer stylish accessories that complement the decor. Whatever camp you fall into, having a few choice items on display can really add depth to your decor.

Offer comfort

A home shouldn’t just be beautiful to look at, it should be comfortable to live in too. Therefore, when you’re creating your perfect space, think about the items that will make you feel snug, cosy and relaxed.

This could be extra cushions on the sofa, a chunky knit throw, or perhaps a stylish lamp that you can switch on to enjoy a soft glow at night. Homes are more than purely functional, they should be a place to feel safe and secure; a few choice items will easily achieve this.

Show yourself off

Whatever your personal taste, your home should be an expression of yourself. Whether you prefer a modern and minimalist style or a traditional and classic look, there are lots of ways to get your personality across and create a home which really is homely.

If your home feels like it’s bursting at the seams, but extending your property or moving isn’t an option, don’t give up. There are some ingenious tricks you can try to help provide the illusion of space – and make you and your family feel more comfortable.

Here’s a few ideas to get you started.

Remove walls

If you can’t stretch to a full extension, but you have multiple rooms in your home, you might want to consider a radical re-organisation. Walls don’t just restrict the amount of light that comes into the room, they also gobble up a surprising amount of space.

If you’re able to knock down walls to create a more open plan area, you could be amazed at the difference it makes. Not only will the rooms feel more light and airy, but the extra inches created by the removal of the wall can help significantly too. By removing the wall and creating a much larger room you’ll have more options to arrange furniture, and it could mean you have more space to move around.

Rethink your furniture

Many people move from one property to another with their furniture and never stop to think about whether it still really fits. The sofa and armchairs may get replaced from time to time, but how about the rest of your furniture? Have you ever considered the dresser, cabinet, table or bookcase, and whether it still works?

By taking a step back and re-evaluating all your furniture, you could find yourself decluttering on a much bigger scale. While you might not want to get rid of useful storage, if there’s large and clunky furniture which could be replaced with smaller and more streamlined pieces, there’s an opportunity to easily gain more space.

You could also consider dual use furniture such as sofas with storage. This will reduce the number of items you need in your home without compromising your options.

Get creative with storage

If the space around you is sucked up with essential clutter, it may be that you simply need more storage. There’s lots of different ways to achieve this from utilising under sofa space to hanging hooks on the wall, or even through erecting more shelving. Try and use statement pieces to bring life into a room – through pops of colour or vibrant details.

By making space for your items, you’ll find it much easier to keep everything tidy, instantly creating a far roomier and less crowded feel.

Most people love a bargain, but does buying something cheaply mean you’re simply wasting your money? There’s a real difference between getting a good deal and paying out for something that won’t last. The trick is being able to spot the difference between the two.

When it comes to furniture, it pays to shop around for the best price – but compromising on quality is never a good idea.

Being Savvy With Your Spending

Being smart with money isn’t just about knowing how to save a few pennies; it’s also about knowing when you need to splash the cash. While you might be willing to take a risk or two with low cost items, when it comes to the bigger purchases, it’s a different matter.

Buying cheap furniture may seem like the savvy option, but when it falls apart after a short time and you have to replace it, the price tag will suddenly seem quite expensive. To be truly money-wise, it’s important to understand the purchases which are worth investing in, because they’ll repay what you spent. Furniture falls into this category: by investing in high quality items, they’ll last a long time – and you won’t have to keep spending out on inferior items that aren’t really up to par.

When Quality Matters

A cheap piece of furniture might look good in the showroom, but somewhere along the line, costs will have been cut. It’s simply not possible to create the same high quality finish at a much lower price.

It’s worth considering where the cuts may have been made. Are the sofa cushions thick, plump and soft? Or are they thin and cheap, likely to wear down after just a short time? And how about those cupboards – is the wood of a high quality? Or is it likely to splinter and break once your belongings are all stored away?

High quality furniture is about far more than simple aesthetics. Cheap and cheerful may look the part, but once you start to use it, the inferior materials, manufacture and design will soon be evident.

Make Your Furniture The Focus

If you like to switch up your decor regularly, getting new furniture may seem appealing – but there are ways to change your look without sacrificing quality.  

Put the furniture at the heart of your decor and design your room around it. You might want to move the furniture around, add a new detail or feature piece like a radiator cover, paint the walls or buy new cushions; there are lots of ways to change the appearance of your home while still keeping the same core staples.

Indulge Yourself

You deserve far more than cheap furniture which is lumpy, thin and poor quality. When you buy cheap furniture, you buy twice – with no exceptions. Treat yourself by investing in high quality furniture that you love – and it will be part of your home for many years to come.

Everyone likes to feel warm and cosy, and radiator covers are the ideal option – adding up to 30% more heat into your home. Attractive and practical too, radiator covers provide a beautiful veneer to cover up the boring metal appearance

However, although the design of radiator covers may be hard to resist, you might be worrying about how to install the cover without professional help. Never fear! Help is at hand with this guide below – but you’ll soon realise that installing a radiator cover is much less hassle than you thought…

Measuring up

Never assume you know the dimensions of your radiator; before investing in high quality radiator covers make sure you know exactly the size you need.

Many modern radiators come in a standard size, but this isn’t always the case. Some homes may have had smaller or larger radiators installed, leaving you with the need for a made to measure cover. Similarly, older homes may include radiators which are a different size. It’s therefore essential to get out your tape measure before purchasing what you need.

When you’re measuring your radiator, don’t forget to make sure you allow enough room for the nozzles and valves you want to be covered too. The height is measured from the floor up; it’s not just the height of the actual radiator itself.

Once you have your full set of dimensions, you should add around 2.5cm to get the size of radiator cover to buy. This provides the necessary air circulation around the radiator while it’s in use.

Fitted or free-standing?

Many types of radiator cover come in a flatpack and must be assembled before being fixed in place. You should also find out if they come with their own mounts, making it simple to attach your radiator cover to the wall, even if your DIY skills are fairly basic.

Some types of radiator cover are freestanding. This means that once you’ve put all the pieces together, it simply slides into position and doesn’t need to be attached. Although this design is obviously much simpler, there are limitations. Freestanding radiator covers aren’t as secure and are therefore unsuitable for many other uses, such as shelving or storage.

Attaching a radiator cover to the wall may mean a little more work at the outset, but in the longer run, you’ll appreciate the extra options it provides.

Choose your design

Browse through the enormous selection of radiator covers we offer here at Jali, and you’re certain to find the design that matches your decor. With bespoke and made to measure radiator covers too, why not speak to a member of the team today to get yours ordered?

A radiator is a cost-effective means of heating a room, providing an affordable solution and consistent warmth, right where you need it.

Radiators have traditionally always been placed on an exterior wall, typically below a window, and most people don’t ever consider moving them. However, it’s now surprisingly easy to relocate a radiator in your room, providing more options than ever before. Here are a few ideas about the best place to position a radiator.

Out with tradition?

If you’re keen to have your radiator relocated into a different part of the room, there’s nothing to stop you making the switch. Nevertheless, there are some benefits to having your radiator below the window, so it’s worth thinking about it carefully.

The exterior wall, and the window above, are usually the coldest spots in the room. Having a radiator here helps to prevent cold air from entering, and immediately dropping downwards.

Although a radiator can help to counteract the seepage of cold air, in reality double glazing and good insulation means that this is far less of a problem. If you’re in an old, draughty property, keeping your radiator below the window might be a good idea, but for modern homes, it’s far less essential.

Get creative

Improvements with technology mean that you can now place your radiator wherever you want in your room, without the need to be hampered by piping. Relocating a radiator isn’t a big task and provides lots more flexibility with the design of your space.

Where possible, try to locate the radiator so that it won’t be behind any large items of furniture. Ideally, the space in front of the radiator will be clear and free of clutter. This provides the best chance of heating the room effectively.

Curtains can be another problem for radiators; long or mid-length curtains can seriously affect the amount of heat given out.

Decorative yet functional

Wherever you decide to place your radiator, investing in a radiator cover could be a smart move. You can get bespoke and made to measure radiator covers which are surprisingly affordable. These match with radiators which aren’t the standard shape or size, and can even fit snugly into alcoves or recesses.

As well as improving the appearance, a radiator cover can help cut down costs. One of the biggest factors for deciding where to position your radiator is the loss of heat. A radiator cover prevents the heat from moving backwards, and instead forces it out into the room. This creates a far more effective method of heating, saving you money in the process.

Radiator covers offer the solution to getting the perfect position for your radiator, keeping more of the warmth directed into your room. If you need any help or advice about radiator covers, contact Jali for free information and guidance, and a no-obligation chat about how we can help.