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

How to furnish a small garden to make the most of it

Heyshott Rattan Sofa Set with Coffee Table and Armchair in Garden

From your high-rise balcony to a small yard to the rear or side of your property, any outdoor space you have can be beautiful. But you may think, without the gift of acres of outdoor space, how can you make the most of the smaller garden?

One main item

Whether you have a small balcony or tiny patch of lawn, opting for one main item is excellent for creating a focal point around which the rest of the space revolves. Consider how you use your garden – or how you would like to use it – and build from there.

For example, if you want to grow flowers or veg, a mini cold frame of window boxes are a great place to start. But if you also want to sit and enjoy the space and fresh air, then a rattan sofa set makes sense.

Make more of the ordinary

A garden bench is a brilliant piece of practical furniture – and certainly a worthwhile consideration for the smaller garden – but why settle for the ordinary when you could have something a little different?

A beautiful rattan sofa is an ideal alternative to the garden bench. A simple yet functional item of outdoor garden furniture, rattan along with the metal frame of the sofa, is also just as robust and beautiful as a hardwood such as teak. It also boasts serious sustainability and eco-friendly credentials too.

Foldaway table and chairs

If you have the space for your outdoor dining set to remain permanently in position, all the better but when you have less space to play with, you may want to consider outdoor chairs that can be folded away when not in use.

This is certainly the case when it comes to al fresco dining. A garden bistro set is ideal – like this two-seater and round folding metal outdoor table – for the smaller garden. Not only does it foldaway but the streamline design doesn’t clutter the space either. As well as two colour options – blue and clay – there is also the four-seater garden bistro set worthy of consideration, perfect for entertaining.

Make use of corners or shady areas

With beautiful lights and plenty of seating options – sometimes wooden stools or even a dining bench make for brilliant ad hoc seating for the small garden when entertaining – but a small garden doesn’t mean you can’t have an outdoor bar. Streamline yet beautifully robust and stylish, an outdoor bar is perfect for shady corners or a space that you don’t use as much as the sunnier spots in your garden. Or, you could find an outdoor corner sofa that fits perfectly.

Adding plants in pots with ladder shelving

Plants in pots are great for smaller gardens or on the patio or balcony, but too much ‘clutter’ at floor level can close in the space even more. That doesn’t mean waving goodbye to greenery, pleasantly scented blooms or your herb garden – cluster plants in pots on a smaller outdoor ladder shelf instead. Great for doubling up as a small garden table for cocktails.

You can have it all…

Think you can’t have a rattan sofa set? If you enjoy lounging in the sun (safely, of course, with plenty of protective sun cream), you can, even if the dimensions of your garden are a little on the bijou side. As rattan outdoor furniture goes, is there anything better than rattan loungers with coffee table?

How can I prepare my living room for Airbnb

Leather Coffee Table Union Jack in Living Room with Grey Sofa and Armchairs

Getting your property ready for Airbnb guests may take a little time and effort, but it will be worth it when all the fantastic reviews come in – making your property the place to stay! What special treatment does the living room need to make it into the stylish and welcoming haven that guests are looking for?

Your home is already the epitome of style with reclaimed wood furniture in the living room and beyond. Marrying perfectly with all interior design styles from the modern to farmhouse chic, modern rustic and the industrial style, there are few changes you need to make. But there are some tips that stand you in good stead for creating a living room that will make your home is more attractive to guests.

Declutter

Guests don’t mind small or infrequent personal possessions around the place, but if you leave a whole wall of family photos and personal items in drawers and on display units, they can become uncomfortable. Clearly, this is your home, but when you agree to rent it via Airbnb to guests, there is still an expectation that it will be ‘fit’ for guests. And so declutter the lounge of personal possessions.

Add touches with your guests in mind

With your personal items carefully put away, you need to think as your guests would do. If you were visiting a rental property, what would you expect to see?

Guides – local guides on where to eat and what to do lined up on the slim bookcase in the living room is a great start.
Leaflets and flyers – tourist boards as well as local businesses produce flyers, some of which contain discounts for visitors to use, and these are great for guests. Keep them tidy by either putting them in a folder or keeping them neatly in the drawer of your reclaimed wood coffee table.
Your own welcome letter – as well as local information, welcome your guests with a letter introducing yourselves, as well as where they will find all the essential items in your home (as well as instruction on how to work the TV!)

Style is still important

You want to create a living room that is appealing to the eye, as well as practical for your guests. In some ways, how you build your living room style doesn’t change. From the comfortable two seater sofa to the wingback armchair, you may have the furniture sorted, but what about the positioning?

Frame it – group furniture in pockets of threes but always start with living room rugs as the platform for creating a living room landscape that ‘makes stylistic sense’.
Focal point – don’t make the TV the focal point of the room. Instead, choose another feature, preferably an architectural feature such as the fireplace.
Nooks and pockets – if you don’t have an immediate focal point, the room can lack direction. Thus creating ‘nooks and pockets’ create order. Thus, pull together the living room two-seater sofa with the wingback chairs by using a rug, as well as other items of furniture that contribute to this pocket, such as a side table.

Zones – by creating what is an obvious seating and lounging area, guests will understand how to use the room. Using reclaimed wood furniture to zone room also helps with the order of things. For example, instead of a small sideboard sitting with its back to the wall, why not move it, so that is it at the back of the sofa, great if you have the floor space around it. It just adds a sense of yet more style and design to already stylish living room.
Lighting is very important

From a statement hanging pendant to atmospheric lighting with lamps on side tables, adding different layers of lighting will add different levels of ambience to the living room.

Perfect for when you want you guests to be wowed by your home…

How to prepare your hallway for Airbnb

Luxe Kensington Reclaimed Wood Console Table

It is the first part of your home that Airbnb guests see, and that makes the hallway an important space. It sets the first impression, and when this is less-than-favourable, it can be hard to claw your way back. Styling and adding beautiful touches will create a beautiful space that gets every rental off to the best start. Here’s how…

Give it a facelift

If your hallway is looking tired and hasn’t enjoyed a fresh lick of paint and stylish wallpaper for some time, now is the time to do it. There are various styles and hallway trends at the moment but choosing one that sits well with the rest of your home is ideal.

But that doesn’t mean you can’t ring the changes. Injecting a little Hollywood glamour into the industrial style, for example, gives a sumptuous lift to the hallway, one that we would certainly encourage.

Storage heaven!

EVERY hallway should be a haven of storage options. Essentially, you don’t want guests – or family or friends for that matter – trooping through your home and across designer flat weave rug in the hallway with their outdoor shoes on.

Thus, hallway shoe storage is a must, as too are plenty of other hallway storage options, such as a hallway storage bench. Consider shelving for bags and other small items, as well as hooks for hanging coats. You might also want to consider a tall, elegant barrel in the porch for wet umbrellas and walking sticks too.

Practical AND uber-stylish

With the practicalities sorted, you can now turn your attention to the fun styling stuff: the sumptuous visual details that appeal and draw people in.

Frankly, if there is one piece of hallway furniture that does this, it is the narrow console table. The beauty of reclaimed wood furniture sells itself, but when you want to add more than a hint of luxury, there are various reclaimed wood furniture console tables that pack a serious punch. The Kensington console table, with a metallic leg finish, is perfect for fusing glamour with industrial style or, if you want to add a bit more in the storage with extra shelving, the Maddox industrial console table fits the bill. If you have room, a leather armchair next to it can help to complete the whole look.

Appeal to all the senses

With your hallway visually appealing, you need to appeal to other senses too – and one sense that comes into action straightaway when walking into a home is the sense of smell.

Smell can be both appealing and off-putting. Residual ‘living’ smells are usually a turn-off – wet dog, for example, is not welcoming, and neither is a damp or musty smell.

Thus, making sure you neutralise these smells and replacing them with ‘sweeter’ ones is critical as part of forming that all-important first impression.

As well as plug-in diffusers and other shop-bought fragrances, you could also consider adding cut flowers in a delightful vase. As well as releasing a beautiful scent – opt for in-season flowers such as daffodils in the spring and roses in the summer – they also add colour to the hallway. Place them in a prominent position on the hallway console table next to the lamp, and you have the hallway setting that is both welcoming and very, very stylish.

How to make your bedroom guest ready for Airbnb

Standford Reclaimed Wood Bedroom Furniture

Your summer travel plans are taking shape, and in your absence, your home will be working hard providing an excellent pad for fellow travellers using Airbnb to take in the delights of the country. But how do you create a guest bedroom that is idyllic and welcoming?

Step 1 – Remove all personal items

Your guests know that this is your home and they’ll expect to see various possessions and photos around the place, but the bedroom is slightly different in this respect. By removing personal items, you create a blank canvas against which most guests will feel more comfortable rather than opening a drawer to find your underwear…

Pack away photos, jewellery, personal toiletries and clothing so that your guests have space in the beautiful reclaimed wood furniture for their items.

Step 2 – Cleaning

Spotless. That is the state of cleanliness in your bedroom you are aiming for – in fact, when it comes to the rest of your home, it needs to be spotless too if you are renting out via Airbnb.

Step 3 – Start re-building the bedroom as a guest space

As a guest, what would you expect in a bedroom? By answering this question, you will be able to create a beautiful, relaxing haven for your guests.

Wardrobe – clear the wooden wardrobe of all items, leaving high-quality wooden hangers for your guests’ clothes.

Chest of drawers – as well as being empty, adding pretty draw lining paper with a light fragrance to it is perfect for adding a little extra touch to a large chest of drawers.
Spare bedding – from an extra blanket or two to extra pillows, add essential items such as these to a wooden blanket box. If you don’t have one, the top shelf of a wooden wardrobe makes for a great alternative (and probably the second place people will look if there is no blanket box in the room).

Step 4 – Sumptuous bedding

You want your guests to sleep well in your home, and that means making sure your bed is extra sumptuous.

Mattress topper – adding a mattress topper adds a layer of softness to your bed but also helps to protect your matters. They work on any mattress and any bedframe, including reclaimed wood low bed frames.
Pillows – always a bug-bear is the choice of pillows on a bed. Some people sleep with one, almost flat pillow, others are cocooned in a nest of pillows and cushions, while other guests prefer a firm one to a soft one… it could go on an on. Suffice to say, the safest foot forward is to invest in quality pillows with pillow protectors. Add spare pillows to the wooden wardrobe or the blanket box.
Duvet and sheets – the higher the thread count of bedding, the better quality it is. This makes it softer and looks better too, but also washes better, something you will need to consider as guest bedding tends to be washed more frequently.

Step 5 – The finishing touches

Think 5* luxury. From chocolates left on the pillows to a bowl of fruit on the small side table, the smaller details matter. Information on the local area, where to eat and what to do are the small details that push a 4* review to a 5* one.

4 tips to prepare your garden for Airbnb

Rattan Sofa Set with Coffee Table for Outdoor

Hopefully, the sun will shine from the start of summer and well into the autumn, perfect for your Airbnb guests to enjoy the garden. Just how do you create a garden that is inviting, welcoming and practical to Airbnb guests?

The garden is a beautiful space for your guests to use. Get it right, and it can become the feature that attracts guests, making your Airbnb rental stand out above the rest.

Embrace nature (but be tidy)

There is a difference between a garden that is untouched and one that is ‘manicured’ to make the most of nature. Are there parts of your garden that are under-utilised? Making the most of every inch, whether you have a small garden or acres of land, is essential for dressing your garden to be the outdoor haven your guests will love.

Offer different options when it comes to use

Your guests will be looking to relax and enjoy the outdoor space thus it makes sense to offer different seating options…

Outdoor bar – with an outdoor bar and stools, your guests can lap up the sunshine and each other’s company in an informal social setting.

Alfresco dining – a garden patio set on the patio is perfect for breakfast in the garden, as it is for lunch and the evening meal. If space is limited, a folding garden bistro set with either two or four chairs is ideal. Or you can opt for a chunky hardwood outdoor dining table and chairs if you prefer.

Informal seating – from a rattan sofa set to an L-shaped garden sofa set, informal seating has become really popular in the last few years. Better still, rattan outdoor furniture is the perfect investment simply because it is robust, stylish and from sustainable sources too. Sofas imply lounging, and that means enjoying the garden to relax in.

Give your garden a wow factor

Outdoor space is always a selling point when it comes to Airbnb rentals, but by giving it an extra injection with the wow factor, your bookings will fly off the chart.

A garden room – investing in a garden room or studio is perfect for expanding the potential bookings you could enjoy through Airbnb. As well as being perfect for spending more time in the garden and enjoying your hospitality, it also makes your property an ideal rental for business travellers too.
A peaceful haven for guests and nature – from spectacular waterfalls to pretty ponds full of life, creating a peaceful nook, complete with rattan sofa or garden bench, is perfect for those guests who want to get off the merry go round of life, for a day or two at least.

Invest in garden design

You may not have the budget to do a full Monty Don on your garden, but there is no denying the difference that the professional services of a gardener can make both in the design of your outdoor space and how welcoming it looks.

Plant plenty of fragrant blooms and dreamy climbers and add lights as well as making sure there are plenty of rugs, throws and cushions for the outdoor rattan sofa and chairs for guests to use.

Make the most of every aspect of your garden, from the view at the hedgerow to shade of the pergola.

How to get your kitchen ready for Airbnb

The kitchen is an important consideration when it comes to getting your home ready for your next Airbnb rental. What makes for a great kitchen that is stylish and practical?

Step 1 – Declutter

If you are new to Airbnb rental or its been sometime since your last guest, then starting by de-cluttering the kitchen is a good move. Essentially, you are looking to remove items that won’t be needed or have personal or sentimental value to you (something that can happen with kitchen items).

Step 2 – A thorough deep clean

From rejuvenating the oven so that it sparkles once again to emptying cupboards and drawers to give them a deep clean, there is a clear expectation from guests that the kitchen will be hygienically clean. Some Airbnb rental owners will deep clean and then do it all again to make sure that no spot of grease or ugly stain remains.

Step 3 – A practical arrangement: dining

With the space decluttered and sparkling clean, it’s now time to make the most of the kitchen and how the flow of working and eating in it works, whether with a 4-seater dining table, an extendable table or something else.

Styling it depends on the style across the rest of your home, and so it makes sense to bring in key design elements to the final appearance of the kitchen. Thus, if you enjoy the industrial style, its beautiful, clean lines against reclaimed wood, opting for an industrial dining table with complimentary dining chairs in the kitchen/diner makes perfect stylistic sense.

A round dining table helps the flow, important when space is short, but if you have the space, there is a grandeur to a rectangle dining table.

Choose enough kitchen chairs for the maximum number of guests your rental will take at any one time, but there is nothing to say you can’t mix and match seating type. As well as a four-seater dining table, consider a dining bench or bar stools too for giving hints of how different parts of the kitchen can be used.

Step 4 – A practical arrangement: storage

Clearly, storing items in the kitchen needs to be logical. Things that are used often must be within easy reach such as plates, cutlery etc. and that’s why opting got a large sideboard in the kitchen/diner, as well as the dining room, is an ideal choice. Again, sticking with reclaimed wood furniture allows for a cohesive style throughout your home, as well as adding warmth and beauty of a natural material.

Step 5 – Luxury with texture

Giving your Airbnb rental the wow factor will mean it stands out above all others, earning your amazing reviews that make renting your place a ‘must-do’. Adding hints of sumptuous details never go amiss. How about velvet upholstered dining chairs, for example, to add luxury to the dining table or, if you are unsure how robust upholstered dining chairs would be, leather or even faux leather dining chairs would have a similar effect.

And don’t forget the smaller styling details, such as pretty items on display on top of the large sideboard or the reclaimed wood display unit too.

How to pick the right fabric colour for dining chairs

Celine Green Velvet Dining Chairs in Dining Room

Colour adds depth, drama, texture and – if you let it – stylish sassiness to a room. However, there is a clear issue in terms of longevity when it comes to how on-trend a colour stays, and for that reason alone, many of us are put off from choosing colourful fabric upholstered dining chairs. Can you get it right?

Reclaimed wood furniture is beautiful to work with, adding romance and uniqueness to any room, the dining room included. Alongside this romance, colour works exceptionally well. But colourful upholstered dining chairs doesn’t necessarily mean dark, dramatic colours, although they have their place.

Want darker hues, but frightened of taking the plunge?

We hear you! The Riley purple velvet dining chair is stunning but if you feel this is too big a step in terms of colour in the dining room, why not make these statement velvet dining chairs? In other words, opt for neutral but complimenting neutral fabric colours with the remaining dining chairs making the Riley purple velvet dining chairs the standout statement.

Lighten the shade of your favourite colour

Sometimes, opting for a lighter hue of your favourite colour is the way forward when you want to introduce colour but are erring on the conservative side. Again, using the ‘mix and match’ approach, tone down purple into light pink dining chairs, beautiful to sit alongside neutral colours such as cream dining chairs, white or even grey fabric dining chairs, but also stronger colours such as green.

Style walks hand in hand in with colour

The thing with using colour in statement furniture pieces such as dining chairs is to get the styling around them right. This way, you are not heading into battle with ‘on-trend colours and shades’ that could potentially date before you’ve moved onto your main course.

Reclaimed wood furniture is not just for the rustic style nor for the industrial style which continues to dominate interior design in 2019. Reclaimed wood is just as perfect for the farmhouse look as it is for the fusion of industrial and glamour.

When you have a strong stylistic landscape, coloured velvet dining chairs ‘fit’ right in. But there are occasions, we grant you, when the material is not quite practical enough. Velvet is a short pile cotton fabric that oozes sumptuousness and elegance – as do leather dining chairs but with a more practical element. Easy to keep clean and looking smart, colourful leather dining chairs pack a punch all of their own.

There is no denying that paired with a reclaimed wood dining table, leather dining chairs are simply beautiful. From rube red leather to the elegance of brown leather dining chairs, material and colour combine to bring a style statement to the dining room. The Allegro brown leather dining chair with its ‘simple’ design is one of our most popular, unpretentious and yet so perfect for making an understated impact on the dining room.

Be bold – choose colour!

Choosing colour doesn’t have to mean vivid pink or bright yellow. Brown leather dining chairs make a statement, as do cream dining chairs and grey ones but if you want to add glamour, be bold and opt for pink, purple or green velvet dining chairs as long as they fuse the surrounding style, your dining room will come together is a designer dream.

Get summer-ready with new rattan outdoor furniture

Selborne Double Rattan Lounger Set with grey Cushions in Garden

At the end of the month, we turn the clocks forward, and we know what that means – what we lose in terms of an hour less in bed, we gain in the shape of more daylight hours. With days stretching ever longer, as the temperatures rise, we’ll spend more time in the garden but only if we have the weatherproof rattan garden furniture to enjoy it!

This year, we welcome several key pieces to our rattan outdoor furniture ranges. Made from this beautiful, robust, natural and sustainable material, let us introduce you to five of our latest outdoor garden furniture items, perfect for sitting back and relaxing in your garden.

Beyond al fresco dining – relaxing in the garden

There is more to garden furniture than outdoor table and chairs although we agree these should remain part of your garden furniture set up. But if you enjoy the garden more by relaxing and reclining, it makes sense to invest in the beautiful Heyshott rattan sofa set. The spacious sofa and matching armchair, along with a coffee table would look elegant on any patio.

Weatherproof outdoor living ‘room’

Continuing the theme of relaxing and reclining, we bring you the beautiful Colwell rattan sofa set. Ideal for when you regularly entertain or if you have a larger family to accommodate, the beautiful off-white outdoor cushions of this set are weatherproof meaning that the occasional shower we have come to expect of the great British summer weather is not a problem.

Corner sofa for the patio

The outdoor corner sofa is an item of outdoor furniture that has become a firm favourite in recent years. And no wonder with all the seating it offers as well as the vast expanse of a sofa, perfect for a cheeky snooze on a summer’s afternoon…

We like to think that the outdoor corner sofa has come of age this year with our Hampstead garden sofa set. With a sturdy aluminium frame, it is not only robust and more than capable of withstanding the great British weather, but it is also ideal for the conservatory, sunroom or in the shade of the pergola too. A stunning piece of how the combination of rattan and other materials can come together into a sublime fusion.

Something smaller – the two-seater rattan sofa

A garden bench in a shady nook of the garden is the ideal spot to get away from it all, kick back, read a novel or just enjoy the gentle buzz of nature all around you but swap the hard-outdoor bench for a pretty and robust bamboo bench. Opt for a low-level outdoor table too, and you have instantly created an outdoor reading nook.

Spa-like relaxing

If you’ve spent any time in a spa, you’ll know the importance of reclining and allowing your mind, body and soul to unfurl and relax. We want you to emulate this in your own outdoor space which is why we have decided to include these amazing garden lounger sets. No wobbly sun loungers threatening to collapse at any moment, just deep seating that is so comfortable you won’t want to move. And with a handy matching table with a tempered glass top to match, the garden has never looked so relaxing and enticing.

Make a small garden sociable with a round table

Small Round Table and 2 Chairs Bistro Set in Blue

Size isn’t everything, but it can be hard to dress a smaller area that allows it to be both a practical and functional space. Designing a smaller garden is similar to designing a small interior room: you need to think through your styling, making sure that everything is carefully selected and placed to optimise every inch. Here’s how to achieve this in the small garden.

Start with shade

Just because you have a small garden doesn’t mean you can’t welcome guests over for a spot of al fresco dining. However, no matter what outdoor table and chairs you choose, if it’s in a sunny spot of the garden, make sure there is shade. Why not consider a gazebo or a sail shade for maximum style?

Consider how you will use your smaller garden

From lounging to dining, consider the main activity that will take place in the space and dress it accordingly. For example, if it is an informal play space, then informal, lounge seating such as an outdoor sofa will be your priority in terms of seating.

Opt for a round dining table to maximise space and flow

If dining in the garden is something you enjoy doing during the warmer months, then choosing an outdoor table and dining chairs that are fit for purpose will clearly be top of your list. A rectangle outdoor table will have a solid presence, but if you want to maximise space in the smaller garden, the opting for a small round dining table encourages this with improved flow.

Dimensions and size are important

Just because your garden is Bijou doesn’t mean that you can’t opt for a 6-seater dining table with stylish dining chairs, especially if you have a large family or plan on moving your entertaining from your dining room to the patio. Opt for the largest table you can give your budget, space and dimensions of the patio but a beautiful outdoor dining table and 4 chairs is a great addition to the smaller garden.

Make the most of every corner

Some corners of the garden can be sunny, others in the shade but if you smaller garden is blessed with the morning sun in one area or you can enjoy your evening meal basking in the rays of a glorious sunset, consider opting for more formal dining table and chairs. A bistro garden table set is ideal for as a smaller patio table with two very functional chairs. There is also something very chic about this patio table and chair sets too.

Switch it up with statement dining chairs

Just because you have a small garden doesn’t mean you can ramp it up in terms of style. As well as pretty LED lights gently flickering or a pillar candle in storm glasses, consider notching up the style with statement dining chairs. For example, rattan outdoor dining chairs are ideal for mixing with an outdoor dining table or patio table.

Cushions, throws and rugs

Just like an interior room, framing your patio or smaller garden helps in its appeal and by adding functional details, you add style without clutter. Consider an outdoor rug, for example, perfect for your garden table set to sit on and soften the edges bringing warmth with rugs and scatter cushions for your guests too.

The smaller garden can be a haven of style, a welcome outdoor space in which to relax and dine, more so when you maximise space with a round outdoor table and stylish dining chairs.