katie.lacy@letsgetcoffee.co.uk, Author at Modish Living

Give your bedroom a sleep make-over (sleepover!)

Figures estimate that around a third of us will struggle with getting to and staying asleep. Occasional sleep troubles usually pass, but when sleep problems persist, it’s time to take a look at your bedtime routine as well as the bedroom environment itself.

Update your bedroom

The sleep environment is important. It needs to be calm and quiet and not just physically either, but in its décor too. And sometimes, making a complete change to the bedroom environment can be one way of improving the quality of your sleep.

Choose a style that you find calming, comfortable and warm

Our personal choices vary and so what one person finds calming, another may find stark. The rustic style is a fantastic choice for the bedroom. Reclaimed wood furniture oozes mystic, especially as it mingles with carefully chosen accessories.

Keep storage at the forefront of your mind

A common issue that people find clouds the bedroom space is clutter. It may be hidden but those piles of boxes under the bed or items stored on top of the wardrobe all contribute to a less than perfect bedroom. Consider a rustic large chest of drawers with a complementing wooden bedside table to keep your bedroom essentials close at hand, but out of sight.

Pay close attention to the bed

A soft yet supportive mattress is key to waking refreshed and ready for the day ahead, but the bed frame also plays an important part. A reclaimed wood bed fits right into the rustic bedroom style, creating a warm and inviting space. You’ll find all the stylish piece you need in our ever-popular Beam Rustic Furniture Collection.

Paint the walls

Against a neutral backdrop, the pieces of from the Beam Collection will stand out beautifully. Neutral tones will also be the perfect choice for creating a warm and relaxing bedroom too. Opt for warm creams or even a pale pink or very light yellow for the rustic bedroom, staying away from colours that have cool undertones such as blue.

Keep textures calm too

We often assume that plenty of fluffy textures is the way forward to creating a cosy rustic bedroom, but you might find that ‘busy’ textures aren’t quite what you need. Smoother textures are ideal against reclaimed wood furniture in the bedroom, as too as ‘quieter’ patterns.

Settling the mind before sleep

With the bedroom updated to bring a calmness and serenity to it, you now need to add the touches that help to settle a racing mind at the end of the day. There are a few ways of doing this;

Calm the senses – SMELL – a pleasant, calming aroma in the bedroom can help to settle the mind before sleep. Gentle scent is top of the list and so look for diffusers that release their scent gently. The same is true of scented large candles too.

Calm the senses – VISION – ditch the electronics as the blue light stimulates the retina and that means the brain is reawakened at a time when you need it to calm.

Calm the senses – TOUCH – warmth is important but you don’t want to be too hot or cold in your bedroom. As well as setting the temperature in the room, opt for layers of throws on the bed which can you removed when needed

Always room for one more with our Amalfi Oak Tables

If there is one common frustration with some dining tables it is the inevitable banging of legs against the table legs and the restriction of how many people you can fit around the table edge. But we two different types of dining table legs that could be a solution to this entertaining dilemma – the decadent spider leg acting as a central pedestal leg and the u-bar dining table.

The white spider leg dining table

Increasingly popular are our spider leg dining tables – and no wonder, as this luxury oak table doesn’t limit the number of people you can sit around the edge!

Everyone is welcome and there are few limitations when it comes to movement too. Styling the Amalfi white spider leg table is easy. It’s a simple matter of placing an accent on its two main features – the white spider legs and the beautiful grain of the oak tabletop.

As well as leather dining chairs, our Colette reclaimed wood metal open display unit is the perfect supporting partner and ideal for mounting your accessories. A pendant light hanging above the dining table is very on-trend and bohemian or Ibiza villa style with a bamboo pendant light – take a look at the Sergia large pendant light, for example. When the time comes to dress the table, we think nothing says casual elegance more than chic white linen napkins.

The U bar dining table

Whilst the detailing of the spider legs helps the Amalfi table to stand out, it doesn’t mean that the u-bar version of the oak dining table is any less elegant or chic.

In fact, if you heavily favour the industrial style, then you may prefer the thicker set legs which sit at either end of the table. The positioning of the legs around this 6-seater dining table, mean you can use all sides of the table in comfort and with greater movement.

The Amalfi u-bar oak dining table is a beautiful piece of dining room furniture that works so well with many of our industrial-inspired pieces.

For example, when it comes to complementing pieces, we don’t think you can get much better than the Chelwood reclaimed wood bookcase. Light in tone and texture, it mirrors the darker tones of this industrial dining table perfectly.

How to style it best

Alongside some well-chosen accessories, upholstered dining chairs should invite diners to loiter a while. We’ve opted for the Luxe Daisy chairs in taupe velvet. Velvet dining chairs must surely be one of the most decadent of choices but one that doesn’t jar against the utilitarian approach of the industrial style. The luxurious velvet fabric in a light colour makes for the perfect partners around this table.

As with the spider leg dining table, we opted for a pendant light so that the grain of the oak tabletop is brought to life, a warming sight to see on any occasions. Harking back to the natural roots of this style, the large woodchip pendant light completes the scene.

And finally, to round off the look we opted for a Louis de Poortere rug in a sand colour, the perfect balance to the blackness of the U bar legs, but also ideal for pulling together with the taupe velvet dining chairs.

Both as inspiring as the next, it’s impossible to choose a favourite between these two stylish interiors.

Set a modern farmhouse scene with the Worcester reclaimed range

Dorset reclaimed wood trestle dining table

The farmhouse style is a perennial theme that will never date. Its familiarity oozes warmth, which is why as a style, it is often seen as a fail-safe option. But that doesn’t make it predictable. Staying true to the roots of this popular style, we take a look at styling a calm, yet refreshing farmhouse look.

The Worcester dining set at its centre

The dining room or area is the space around which everyone congregates, a close second to enjoying the kitchen. The Worcester dining set is the perfect choice for styling your kitchen diner along with the farmhouse look because it has lots of interesting twists and turns. The sublime combination of white paint against bare wood is surely the epitome of this popular style.

But so too is the mix of wooden dining chairs and dining bench. It brings to the fore the versatility of the style. Better still, the set has an option of an extendable table too.

The farmhouse style has function and practicality at its core, so making sure the space flows and works are just as important as choosing the right pieces for the scheme.

Large sideboard and bookcase as supporting acts

A white large sideboard makes the perfect addition against the white dining table. The assumption would be to add a dresser to the farmhouse dining area, but switch things up a bit with a sideboard and reclaimed wood bookcase. Again, as reclaimed wood furniture goes, the display unit is the ideal companion in any room.

Staying true to the style roots

The use of natural materials and colours is at the heart of the farmhouse style. Originally, materials that were to hand would have been used. Hence, wood would have been reclaimed from redundant items, much like we do today.

Against a white-washed backdrop, the beauty of the wood stands out, and thus with refinements over the years, the use of wood and other natural materials have remained prominent. A modern natural material that also fits is bamboo.

Fast-growing and sustainably sourced, the long bamboo pendant light over the reclaimed wood dining table is perfect in this setting. The white shade sits delightfully with the white dining table and wooden dining chairs and dining bench.

The small details

Adding texture is the small but oft-forgotten detail in many design schemes, but it shouldn’t be ignored in the farmhouse dining room. Linen is a natural fabric that has many properties with its flat weaved texture fitting right into this room.

The linen table cloth can be both a covering and a table runner (simply fold several times along its long edge) and with matching linen napkins, you have the perfect place settings too. Keep the colours light and natural in shade such as misty shades of blue and light green and pastel yellow.

Finish the room with additions such as lush, green houseplants as well as softly textured rugs and cushions but don’t overcrowd the room with busy patterns and too many different textures as this crowds and clutters

Multi-tasking sideboards with a rustic edge

The rustic style is based on the use of raw natural elements within a room, usually set against a white backdrop from which your chosen pieces can stand out. In the living room, dining room and the kitchen and the rest of the home, the rustic style is a popular interior design choice.

Within the scheme will be different items of furniture that are pulled together to bring a balanced, symmetrical appeal to a space. In the rustic kitchen and dining room, there is a particular piece of reclaimed wood furniture that ‘fit’ the style…… the reclaimed sideboard.

Why opt for a sideboard?

A combination of cupboard space and drawers or a simple cabinet, the sideboard is worth its weight in gold. Perfect for storing dinner service and other items, the sideboard is a functional piece of furniture that also helps frame the room and the dining table.

But what are the style options?

Small, simple, effective

A small sideboard is just as functional as a larger one, so don’t assume that you have to opt for the biggest you can ‘fit’ into the dining room. A white, slightly distressed look is perfect within the rustic dining room. The storage it offers is versatile too – two drawers and a two-door cabinet.

Natural wood colour

You don’t have to opt for white painted reclaimed wood furniture for a room to be styled along rustic notes. Plenty of wood tones look just as beautiful. Again, similar to the previous sideboard, a dark wood small reclaimed wood sideboard would be just as at home in the rustic style dining room, complementing the rustic dining table excellently. Lighten the room with plenty of ‘natural’ accessories, such as plants and bamboo. Ceramics and stoneware are equally a great addition in the rustic-styled landscape.

Charm in the details

We often think of the rustic style as having an unrefined edge to differentiate it from the farmhouse look. However, adding charming details is not off the list.

Cream and wood are a timeless, elegant combination, which you’ll find in this small rustic sideboard from the Worcester Collection. As well as being softer in its hue, the small details such as metal, half-moon handles on the drawers set it apart from the others, whilst offering the same versatility and practical storage options as other rustic sideboards.

Go large

If you have more space to play with, a large sideboard brings so much in terms of storage, but you want one that stays true to the rustic style. We love many things about reclaimed wood furniture, one element of which is the romance that the wood and its untold story bring.

This is never more visible than with this large sideboard from the Collette range. It has detail and character, a charm and elegance as well as an air of mystery with the markings it brings from its past. Again, within the rustic style setting, it brings function and form, perfect for framing with a reclaimed glass table lamp and, just as you would with a reclaimed wood coffee table, a beautiful piece of wall art or mirror.

Give your classic country dining space a style refresh

Farringdon Reclaimed Wood Trestle Table and Chairs

We love the country farmhouse rustic look. It never dates, but simply morphs to embrace new trends to stay current. This season, it is all about adding individual quirks and charm to the small details of this familiar and popular style and the Farringdon Collection has everything you need to create a beautiful farmhouse rustic dining room or kitchen diner.

Start at the centre

The kitchen is the hub of the home, so it’s no wonder that in the country farmhouse and rustic styles, the dining room or area is of such importance. The same applies to the dining table, which is a vital piece of functional furniture, around which family and friends gather.

The centrepiece of any dining room or kitchen-diner must surely be the dining table and chairs. When it comes to the farmhouse or rustic style, a reclaimed wood dining table should be at its heart.

The Farringdon reclaimed wood dining table set comes with a range of options, including a 6 seater dining table, perfect for when you need a little extra space every now and then. You can opt for wooden dining chairs or a dining bench or why not go for a mix of both.

Sideboard elegance

Adding detail in this dining room is the small sideboard, a delightful piece of reclaimed wood furniture that offers hideaway storage in the dining room. But, like all pieces of furniture in a room, it needs framing. As well as houseplants (note how we’ve used two to balance the room), a piece of wall art or, as in this case, a beautifully detailed round wall mirror sets the sideboard in its position.

It adds texture and style with the merest hint of decadence, something that is also afforded to the room by the beautiful rustic cabinet in the opposite corner. As well as storing glasses and other dining ware, it also makes for a fantastic drinks cabinet. Its textured surface is simply delightful too.

Dressing the rustic country farmhouse dining room with the detail

With the main players in place, you now need to dress the room, adding the detail that lifts it to become a welcoming, stylish and functional space.

We’ve mentioned a key accessory previously – that is, houseplants. Evergreen plants with lush foliage are a must for any room, adding a wonderful injection of colour that is simply wonderful.

Alongside the extendable table, there is also the lighting to consider. In this case, we have opted for a pendant light, a functional layer of light that fills the room with a soft glow. Remaining true to the natural aesthetics of the country farmhouse and rustic styles, we opted for a bamboo pendant light. A raw material light in colour until it is dyed, this light fits perfectly within the landscape we have created.

And finally, the brown rug adds warmth to the room. By offsetting it against the 6 seater extendable reclaimed wood dining table, we allow the table to shine and the room to have a symmetrical, cohesive finish to it.

Create a dining look oozing with industrial glamour

Lansdowne Industrial reclaimed wood dining table and chairs

Practical streamlined and functional it may be, but it is possible to add hints of luxury to the industrial style.

Opt for reclaimed wood dining table

The industrial style is a fusion between metal, especially steel and iron, with the beauty and warmth of reclaimed wood. This Lansdowne industrial dining table is a perfect example of this. Sleek and understated, it sits perfectly with two different seating options. You can opt for one or the other or mix them should the mood take you. For example, this wooden bench is from the same collection as the table, perfect for marrying with an extendable table in your luxurious industrial style dining room.

faux leather dining chairs add texture and warmth, as well as a depth of colour.

Set against white walls, you can see how this luxurious industrial dining room is beginning to take shape.

Supporting acts

As you can see, the room is not devoid of character as there is plenty of space and display areas for key accessories including plants, a must in any stylish dining room. The reclaimed sideboard is perfect as closed storage and for framing the industrial extendable table in situ too.

Open display shelving is ideal for showcases those little luxurious touches. A reclaimed wood bookcase that emulates the reclaimed wood dining table and sideboard both in colour and style creates the cohesive backdrop that turns this dining room landscape from ordinary to opulent.

The accessories

Aside from well-chosen accessories and this season’s must-have greenery of plants, there are other additions you can consider to add a luxurious spin on the room.

Lighting is key, especially layers of light which is exactly what is on offer with the black bamboo pendant light hanging over the table. It is a stunning centrepiece as too is the large table lamp adorning the reclaimed sideboard. The black shades of both balance the dining room with the recycled glass base of the lamp marrying perfectly with reclaimed wood furniture and adding a touch of drama we just adore.

Contributing to layers of light is the beautiful Heath large wall mirror hung behind the sideboard. As well as reflecting both natural and ambient lighting, the mirror also serves an important role in framing the sideboard in its place. It also makes the room feel taller, adding a decadent accent to the tall fronds of the plants and the height of the table lamp.

Dress the table

And finally, for a luxurious industrial dining room you need to add texture and hints of colour, but be careful not to over do it and distract the eye from the larger details. Linen is a wonderful fabric for the industrial look. There is a coarseness to it that fits the industrial nature of the room but this texture also adds luxury too. Use the linen tablecloth as a runner, a way of staying true to the functional approach of this style.

Collectively, this dining room stays true to the industrial style roots, but the addition of luxurious textures, such as linen and bamboo, recycled glass and the like, make for a beautiful dining room exuding in style and luxury.

Turn your small kitchen into a beautiful space

Lansdowne reclaimed Bar Table and Grey Faux leather bar stools

The industrial style is a combination of raw materials such as stainless steel and iron with exposed brick and reclaimed wood. What sets it apart is a bohemian spirit, a dash of character that lifts it from the glossy pages of a magazine to be your home. Uncluttered but with detail, the industrial style is perfect for the small kitchen and when it comes to function, a bar table in the kitchen is perfect too.

Why choose a bar table for the small kitchen

When space is limited, you need to be clever not just in the choice of furniture but in how you style and dress the space. When it comes to a small kitchen, function and practicality are at the top of the list.

For these reasons, choosing a piece of reclaimed wood furniture that fits right into the industrial style and the space you have available come in the perfect dimensions and appeal of the kitchen bar table.

It allows for comfortable dining for yourself and a few guests, as well as being a practical space for food prep too. Is there another piece of kitchen furniture that delivers like this?

Add bar stools

The second ingredient in this perfect small kitchen industrial style recipe is the barstools to complement the kitchen bar table.

There are, as you would expect, numerous choices. Don’t forget that a key essence of the industrial style is marrying the practical with your notes of added character which is why these two ideas for bar stools are ideal…

Bar stools with back are undoubtedly more supportive for the lumbar region and with faux leather bar stools you get an added dash of practicality with wipeable seats without compromising on warmth and texture.

Another choice when it comes to a bar table and chairs are the lithe, elegant proportion of bar stools with backs in dark grey faux leather, completed with splayed legs. There is a certain understated glamour to these bar stools that makes them a firm customer favourite.

Adding spice

And now you need to season the small kitchen industrial scene with additional details that add flair and spice.

Reclaimed wood furniture is an integral and accepted part of the industrial style and this is no different in the kitchen. Oozing in style and function, a small reclaimed sideboard would be the perfect addition.

Add hints of steel and iron with a large metal wall clock, perfect for framing the kitchen bar table and stools by hanging it above it and in the centre. By doing so, you attract the eye which then drops and lingers on the kitchen bar with its complementing and stylish bar stools.

And finally, add another focal point with pendant lighting, perfect for illuminating the small kitchen table. It is possible to add detail without clutter as this bamboo triple pendant light clearly shows. By using bamboo, a natural material, you are staying true to the roots of the industrial style but adding your own dash of bohemian character.

Styling tips for an industrial round dining table

Standford Round Reclaimed Wood Dining Table and Leather Chairs

A round table is ideal for any living room but if you want to bring a hint of industrial style to the dining room landscape, follow these styling ideas to create a contemporary setting that will work in the dining room and kitchen.

Start with a dining room rug

It may be functional but that doesn’t mean the industrial style can’t have hints of luxury. The best way to add a sumptuous note is with texture, so start with a beautiful blue rug to act as a soft platform on which to style the round industrial dining table.

Choice of round industrial dining table

There are many tables from which to choose including a large round dining table, perfect as a versatile 6-seater dining table for the dining room or kitchen diner. However, on this occasion, we’ve opted for the elegant proportions of the industrial reclaimed wood dining table . If there is one genre of style that reclaimed wood furniture comes into its own, it is the industrial style.

The beauty of brown leather dining chairs

There is a cool, elegantly sumptuous feel to leather upholstered items whether it is a brown leather sofa or these delightful brown leather dining chairs, and they make the perfect accompaniment to the industrial round dining table. Adding detail without clutter – the mantra of the industrial style – they bring just enough pizzazz to the setting.

Supporting players – the drinks cabinet

The industrial style brings pared-back elegance and luxury to any room. There are plenty of opportunities for sumptuous notes of detail – in other words, the industrial style is far from boring. If there is one piece that brings decadence it is this attention-grabbing cocktail cabinet. The height brings a layer of drama, as does the design of the front doors. Reminiscent of the decadent 1920s, nothing says old-school glamour more than a cocktail cabinet, don’t you think?

Statement pendant lamp

Too much sparkle and glitz would jar against the essence of the industrial interior design style, which is why we’ve opted for the black bamboo pendant ceiling light. Bamboo may not be an ‘industrial’ material, but it is a natural one. Sustainably sourced, bamboo has industrial qualities about it – long-lasting, lightweight with a cool beauty of its own. Create a style synergy with the bamboo pendant light paired with lush green plants nestled in bamboo pots in the dining area.

Dress the table

From white crockery to black cutlery, dressing the table with an industrial tinge is more than possible. Consider using a linen tablecloth for more formal occasions but when the atmosphere is relaxed, add softness (and practicality!) with blue linen napkins, an ideal connection with the beautiful blue rug we started with.

With white walls as a blank canvas backdrop, everything in this setting is given the opportunity to shine at certain points. With so much layering of detail, it really is the perfect industrial style dining room setting.

Lights that will stylishly brighten your home office

Working in natural light is the best option but when the skies are grey or you work late at night, what kind of lighting in the home office illuminates without dazzling? The answer lies in pendant light, a single or cluster of lights that hang from the ceiling, casting a practical glow around the home office. But how do you style the lights in the home office? Do you opt for large pendant lighting choices, or smaller, more subtle choices? And what else makes a difference to your lighting.

1. Position is the most important factor

Whether you want bright lights or a soft, warm glow, the single most important factor of sure-fire in the home office is position. Never work in shadow but also don’t opt for a bright light directly in your eyeline either. Hanging a light in front of your home office desk where it neither dazzles nor cast shadows is the better option.

Don’t want to go to the expense of moving lighting? Pendant lights are ideal as they can use the current ceiling fitting but the long cable means the light itself can be stylishly hooked into a different position.

2. Size of lighting

Pendant lights and shades come in different shapes and sizes. Essentially, this is a personal choice but one that closely linked to the style of your home office.

For example, an industrial style home office will be chic and almost-minimal in appearance, a great style for the industrious nature of the home office.Modern pendant lighting would fit right in. There are other styles too, of course, such as a bamboo pendant light that would fit well within the Scandinavian style in the home office (and other rooms too).

3. Consider colour too

The previous on size of the pendant light leads nicely onto choosing colour. It may be that you want the light to stand out (or maybe you don’t!) but there is one sure-fire way of achieving this: colour.

Natural bamboo or wicker tends to blend into a room but a black pendant light will slot perfectly into an industrial style. Standing out doesn’t always mean bright, gregarious colours – take this white pendant light, for example, and the statement it could make in your home office.

4. Material

Just because it is a functional item in a functional space doesn’t mean that the pendant light in the home office has to be boring. Far from it! Which is why we have a range of materials on offer with all our lights. For example, what about woodchip modern pendant lighting, perfect for adding a touch of ‘something different’ for an item in your home office that is functional? Perfect for sitting alongside your reclaimed wood desk and sumptuous leather office chair.

5. Desk lamp complement!

As well as a ceiling light, don’t forget the difference a desk lamp could make. Again, a desk lamp can be anything but boring such as this beautiful recycled glass lamp that will work in the home office and be just as much at home in the hallway, the living room, the bedroom or any other room you could possibly think of!