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Autumnal coloured rugs to keep you warm

Louis de Poortere Vintage Patchwork Yellow Rug

As well as keeping physically warm this autumn, adding colour and texture to your home helps the feeling of being warm and snug in our homes.

As well as cushions and throws, rugs work a treat for adding colour to the home, as well as more than a hint of warmth now that the chilly evenings and mornings are with us. Even better, our rugs can be added to any room too.

Rays of sunshine

A recent arrival to our rug collection is this beautiful bright and golden yellow rug. As soon as we saw it, we knew it would become a coveted bestseller and we weren’t wrong.

This beautiful flat weave rug would suit any room at any time of the year, but the tempered golden hues and slightly abstract design we think make it the ideal rug for autumn.

If you are looking for a modern addition to soften the sharp angles and counter the sparsity of the industrial style in the living room, this yellow rug has just enough detail and the right hue of yellow to make it the perfect addition.

Having said that, it would work well in a rustic backdrop too, complementing perfectly the brown leather sofa or leather armchair.

Muted but with plenty of colour

You will either be instantly attracted to the above yellow rug or you won’t. There are no half-measures.

But as an alternative, this Louis de Poortere brown rug with flecks of yellow would make a perfect choice.

What also makes this a popular and stand out rug in our collection is the patchwork pattern to it. For anyone in love with the rustic or farmhouse look, this is the ideal addition.

As well as the living room, we think this rug nestling under the farmhouse table will bring a welcome not of sunshine for mealtimes when the winter weather has set in.

Shades of copper

When it comes to decadence, there is no other colour that spells out luxury and warmth like hints of copper. And this is what runs through these beautiful Louis de Poortere copper tone rugs.

Dramatic with more than a hint of statement, this rug is to be admired. It will fit a room where there is drama all around it. We have seen it used in the industrial landscape of an open plan living room but have also seen it add a layer of striking drama alongside modern living room furniture.

We have to be honest, this darker shade of copper with black and browns along with its abstract design is also great for the busy family home because it can potentially hide many sins.

Mango brown and red

For the bedroom, we wouldn’t shy away from colour because if there is one room where we want to feel and see warmth, it is when we retire in the evening.

This beautiful deep tones red rug is perfect. The underlay of golden orange and brown – the hint of mango wood colours – make it an ideal opposite against modern bedroom furniture.

In the spring and summer when we need freshness and coolness in the bedroom, clean, minimal and uncluttered lines are ideal. But in the winter, we want to take the starkness away and adding this deep coloured rug is perfect.

How do you add autumnal colours to your home?

9 Tips for choosing the perfect dining room rug

Louis de Poortere Red and Blue Rug in Room

Having trouble deciding on the perfect rug for your dining room? You have no need to worry because we have all the tips and hints you need to get it right.

1 Too big is better than too small

If you have a fantastic reclaimed wood dining table, extendable or otherwise, you want the dining rug to be the perfect platform on which it stands. Too small or not-quite-big-enough will be immediately obvious for all the wrong reasons. So measure, measure again and opt for a rug that is slightly too big – important if you have an extendable dining table.

2 Opt for a flat weave rug or short pile

A rug in the dining room will need to work quite hard. It needs to be easy to clean, repelling food spills without too much bother. A flat weave rug or short pile rug is a more capable and practical rug for the dining room than a deep pile one.

3 Rug first, wall colour second

Trying to match a rug to your wall colour will be a long nightmare that you never really solve but do it the other way around and you’ll find it less stressful. So if you want a coloured or patterned rug, use that as your starting point for the rest of the décor.

4 Be bold with pattern

A dining rug will, no doubt, sit beneath your dining table and no matter what your style – industrial chic or cosy farmhouse, for example – a bold dining rug will make all the difference to the space. You can afford to take a little liberty when it comes to pattern so from faded flowers to geometric gorgeousness, why not be a little more daring in your choice.

5 Easy to clean

Short pile or flat weave rugs are the way forward for the dining room but if you have concerns that your investment rug will take a bashing, you will need to consider how easy it is to clean. From washable rugs to cleaning with a wet/dry vacuum, there are many dining room rugs that can withstand heavy use.

6 Feel before you buy

We think that every piece you buy you should try beforehand which is why we stock our range at our studio – and rugs are no different. Come and see us (check our website for store opening hours) and admire our huge collection of rugs, all of which, in our opinion, would make a fabulous addition to any dining room.

7 Match the room shape

If your dining room is more square than rectangular, choose a squarer rug. This way you get a sense of symmetry throughout the room.

8 You can match the shape of your dining table to the rug shape too

For even more symmetry, choose a round rug for a round dining table and for the extendable dining table with dining bench opt for a rectangle rug.

9 Don’t go too light

Give yourself a break by opting for a shade slightly darker if you feel the rug will take a more than heavier bashing. We have many faded coloured rugs that add a hint of hue without being overly dark.

Use the tips above and you’re sure to find modern rugs or traditional rugs to suit your space perfectly.

How to create a stylish student bedroom

For many freshers, the biggest impact of moving away from home is an unfamiliar bedroom. But with our helpful tips, you can soon make room in your halls of residence feel like home.

1 Surround yourself with familiar photos and accessories

What will immediately hit you as you enter your new bedroom for the first time is the soulless anonymity of the space. In most purpose-built student accommodation, everything is the same – the same furniture and the same layout.

The key to making it feel like home is to personalise it. Start this process by surrounding yourself with plenty of family photos and appealing wall art.

2 Update the lighting

Again, the lighting can be stark and functional, with the bright white light being unforgiving. Or it can be as well lit like a dungeon.

Soften the lighting with soft glow bulbs and energy-efficient LEDs but also give yourself choices when it comes to light. A table lamp, for example, would make a great reading lamp, as well as giving your room less of a stark glow.

3 Add a rug

The texture is important for creating a room and a space that looks three-dimensional. Things that look and feel the same give a flat, uninteresting appearance and so a rug is a great investment that will see you right through to your PhD and beyond.

Modern rugs are one of the most affordable and luxurious additions you can make to your student accommodation. If you are not keen on chevron or geometric patterns, thinking them too obvious for your student digs, then opt for this faded floral patterned rug instead.

4 A comfy, comforting armchair

It’s a big step, leaving home for the first time and there are times when it doesn’t matter if home is around the corner or hours away, all students will need comforting.

And there is nothing better than sinking into the warm depths of the all-enveloping leather armchair. Choose a modern but comfy leather armchair, with a pretty shape that would sit well alongside the other items of reclaimed furniture you choose to add or take with your from home.

5 Up the storage solutions

You get limited storage in most student digs and so upping your storage options means that you are more likely and able to keep your room tidy-ish.

A tall chest of drawers gives you more drawer space for clothing and study materials. And if space is limited, a narrow desk is a great alternative to a large expanse of table.

We have a range of industrial desk options, many of which can be made to a custom size, well worth considering if you plan on being in the same digs for some years to come.

Other quick tips for adding colour, style and home comforts include;

Cushions of all shapes, sizes, colours and fabrics – and the more, the better!
Have plenty of bed linen options – the easiest way to give your room an extra zing is to change your bed linen
Throws – opt for chunky knit woolly throws for an extra layer of warmth and snuggly comfort
A houseplant – you have to water it, talk to it, look after it, something that experts say can help with a sense of belonging.

6 tips for choosing the perfect sofa

You sit on it, nap on it, cuddle on it and lounge in it, with the dog enjoying a sneaky nap on it too – the sofa is an essential piece of furniture, no matter which room it graces.

It needs to tick a lot of boxes from comfort to style. And with such a bewildering choice, from the curved sofa to the Chesterfield, opting for a sofa that can be everything to everyone in your family is tough.

#1 Style

Essentially, you are looking for a style of sofa that complements your home. Hence, if you favour the traditional style, you would do well to look at traditional styles, such as the iconic Chesterfield style sofa.

In a more modern or industrial style setting, you would be looking for a modern sofa with a cleaner style, sharper lines and crisp angles with fewer flourishes and details.

#2 Room size

With a firmer idea of style, you now need to understand how the sofa will fit and complement the dimensions of a room.

Our top tip is to mark out the dimensions of your proposed new sofa and see how it fits the floor space.

#3 Seating space

Sofas tend to come in either small 2-seater sofa options or larger three-seater sofas. The size of the room may dictate which one you choose. If not, it is a question of deciding which option you prefer.

A 2-seater sofa is certainly a cosier option, whilst a three seater could be more practical (and perfect for stretching out on for a Sunday afternoon Nana nap!).

To stop a room looking swamped by a sofa, consider opting for a sofa with less height to it. Low arms and back can help to prevent the room from looking cluttered.

#4 Seating depth

If you want luxury and comfort in both styling and when you use the sofa, then you need to consider the depth of the seating area.

In other words, a narrow, slimline sofa will leave you feeling perched on the edge but one with depth will lure you in and envelop you in softness and comfort.

#5 Leather or fabric

This can be the sticking point for many people – do they opt for the sleekness of leather or opt for the softness of a fabric sofa?

There are pros and cons to both materials. If you want effortless style and beauty, a brown leather sofa is the go-to option.

Fabric can bring depth and texture to a room, as well as feeling pleasant to the touch and ‘warmer’.

Or you could opt for a fabric and brown leather sofa…

#6 Styling tricks

If you have a small room or feel that it looks cluttered and too boxy, we have a clever styling tip:

The Darlton brown leather sofa meets the floor; in other words, there is no gap between the floor and the bottom of the sofa visible to the eye. If you want a cosy feel, complete with clear boundaries then this is the style of sofa for you.

But if you want to create an illusion of more space, you need to accent the gap between the bottom of the sofa and the floor. In other words, choose a sofa in which the legs are visible.

So with these tips in mind, which of our sofas would you opt for?

How to bring home the holiday vibe

Luxe Kensington Reclaimed Wood Round Coffee Tables

Returning from holiday brings most of us down to earth with a bump but you can elongate this relaxed holiday vibe with some well-placed additions to your home.

Here’s how…

1 Blue and white combination

How you noticed how hot, tropical climes col their interiors with cooler colours? Blue and white is a great combination and one that can be easily introduced into your home.

Use soft, white covers for your sofas and small armchairs for example but dial up the notch with a light blue rug that introduces depth into the room. Add light blue accessories, with hints of navy, to give a three-dimensional feel that is beautifully relaxed.

2 Indigo in the bedroom

With light or dark bedroom furniture, indigo is a great colour. Opt for an inky blue rug in the bedroom to create a luxurious and restful feel, just like you experienced on waking at your holiday venue. Stick with traditional rug patterns, with a faded style that suggests age and romance.

Indigo is a dramatic colour, sitting great within every style but if you want to introduce pattern, then do so using geometric shapes, rather than florals unless you stayed in a chic French chateau and this is what you want to emulate.

3 Bring home the sunshine

We aren’t always guaranteed a summer in Britain, dependent as we are on the shifting current of air known as the jet stream.

But when it does shift to the far north, sunshine and heat comes our way and thus, yellow rays of heat and sun are everywhere.

Clearly, bringing home the sunshine would be great but on greyer days, you can recall its beauty and happiness by using yellow accents in your home.

Be brave with yellow because it is a colour that wants to please. A yellow armchair is a perfect accent, both colour and as a stylish addition, in the living room… or anywhere in the home!

4 Hints of the rustic

What was it about it the setting of your holiday that made you unfurl – other than the lack of work and living life to the clock?

The setting, no doubt played a part, whether that was the lush olive groves or the vast plains of the vineyard. But the styling probably helped you unfurl too.

The rustic look is fantastic. The slightly unkempt, not quite refined appearance of reclaimed wood furniture in this style is beautifully relaxed.

A round coffee table in the rustic style is ideal in the living room, an inexpensive addition for holding on to the holiday vibe.

Or what about a wooden side table, complete with flowers in an unpretentious vase and lots of lush green plants.

5 Lighten the colours

No matter which room and no matter how small or large your budget, use lighter colours – be brave and use white! – to lighten the mood and the ambience of a room.

Summer colours tend to be lighter hues of our eternal favourites – the light baby blue, sunset yellow and barely-there greens – and any of these will work just fabulous within your current style.

How to style bold coloured rugs in the bedroom

Louis de Poortere Fairfield Dark Rug in Bedroom

A bold rug, whether that’s in colour, pattern or both can really make a room, but for even the most experienced of interior designers, seamlessly creating a room around it is daunting.

The bedroom is a great place for a multicoloured, bold rug and so with this in mind, we’ve gathered the hints and tips of top interior designers on how to do it successfully.

Choosing the right colour

Firstly, if you are retro-fitting a bold rug into a room, take a look at what the predominant colour is and work with what you have. This way, it won’t look like the rug has just landed.

For example, if you have dark floorboards and a room full of navy and pastel blue shades, then it makes sense to use a colour that contrasts with this. You can either opt for a similar shade or a similar colour, or, ring the changes with a rug in the colour opposite to the room’s predominant colour on the colour wheel.

In a blue room, for example, an orange rug complemented and supported by orange accessories would look simply stunning. This stunning orange and red rug would work a treat.

Try a bold pattern, in a neutral colour

It isn’t always about colour, but pattern, when it comes to installing contemporary rugs in the bedroom. Most of us opt for a neutral, calming space, ideal for relaxing and unwinding after a busy day.

If this is the case, bold coloured bedroom rugs wouldn’t be the option you would plump for. The hint of pink in this contemporary bedroom rug is ideal, or if you want a completely neutral colour to let the pattern stand out, try this Louis de Poortere rug from our collection.

Design the bedroom around the rug

If you are in the fortunate and exciting position of completely renovating the bedroom, then you are in the position that most designers say we should start from – designing the bedroom around the rug.

Darker tones

This allows an explosion of exciting ideas. For example, the dark blues and navy of this blue rug would look simply stunning against the dark, brooding looks of the Winchester bedroom furniture collection.

The turquoise rug would work just as well if you felt you needed a lighter tone to the floor.

Mid-tones

Strong colours don’t have to overpower but they need to make a statement. And so lighter floorboards and bronze accessories are ideal bedroom-fellows to this delightful red rug for the bedroom.

Red can be a tricky colour to get right in any room – too dark and it becomes too earthy for a modern, lighter tone reclaimed wood furniture collection but too pinkish in tone and it could be argued it becomes a little insipid.

Red works well with the industrial look – take a peek at how well red, bronze and the Luxe Elm Industrial collection dovetail seamlessly and you will see why.

Lighter tones

A bright, airy and fresh appeal and ambience to a bedroom is perfect for the spring and summer months but that doesn’t mean a yellow rug is only good for half of the year. This patchwork yellow rug is ideal with lighter tone furniture (and darker tones too), a perfect starting point for anyone wanting to create a farmhouse styled bedroom or even one with a hint of the industrial too.

Is a bold, multicoloured, patterned rug on your shopping list?

Colourful seating to brighten your interiors this summer

2 Dining Chairs with Moon Wool Seating and Dark Wooden Legs

With summer sunshine comes summer colours and there is no better time to introduce pops of colour into the home that during the warmer summer months. But this doesn’t necessarily mean painting the walls or opting for vibrant-coloured cushions – it can mean choosing coloured items for the home, such as dining chairs.

But what if…?

… you invest in coloured items of furniture only to find that comes the following season, the look is out of date?

Adding colour doesn’t mean taking a gamble. It doesn’t mean opting for super-modern. Contrary to popular opinion, there are some classic coloured pieces that fit with not only any home but any style, no matter how they change over the coming months or years.

The Dining Room

With your bespoke reclaimed wood dining table taking centre stage, you don’t necessarily want anything else to grab at its limelight. Instead, you want dining chairs that complement it.

Coloured dining chairs are ideal, adding a hint of classic colour that supports, not detracts from the beauty of your dining room furniture.

If colour makes you nervous, why not add an understated pattern? The elegant roll back dining chairs come in a range of finishes, from leather to coloured Moon wool and Harris Tweed, with exquisite patterning.

The Living Room

The main room where you all socialise and relax deserves more than a hint of colour. And again, mix colour with a classic design and you have a successful amalgamation of colour with your chosen interior style.

From the modern to the minimal, the beauty of red leather is never lost. The exquisite Wellow chair invites you into its comfy confines of rolling arms and deep seat, the perfect place from which to catch the Saturday night movie or curl up with a good book.

And don’t forget texture and colour too. By introducing a different feel to the fabric, you introduce more depth to a pace. A velvet armchair in a fresh, exciting colour would do just fine, wouldn’t it?

The Floor

In any room or space in the home, from the bedroom to the landing, to the hallway to the living and dining areas, the floors are often underused when it comes to adding colour to the home.

Choosing neutral colours and shades is all well and good – they are safe, after all, and outlast any interior design fad – but sometimes, a space just needs something ‘extra’.

And it doesn’t have to be a strong colour or an eye-popping, in-your-face-colour-statement either. Colours that hide and tease a little are perfect, like those shades of blues, sea green and pretty lemon in the Louis de Poortere rug range. How about the cool blue colour, tangled with grey like in the Mad Men blue rug? Perfect. We think, for framing anything from living room chairs to the dining room, the bedroom…

Using Colour the Simple Way

Colour is to be applauded. It brings depth and interest, but summer colours don’t have to be bright and golden. They can be understated, fresh with a touch of luminosity. Enjoy!

Outdoor ideas to steal from the most popular trends of the moment

Chilson Dining Table and Rattan Dining Chairs

As the start of spring/summer finally seems to be upon us, now is the perfect time to start giving your garden a spruce up ready to enjoy the outside in the warmer months to come. Whether you use your garden occasionally for a morning coffee, for a sunny evening glass of wine, or to entertain friends and family, here is a rundown of some of the big gardening trends for 2018.

The British weather may be unpredictable, but that doesn’t stop many of us enjoying the Mediterranean lifestyle over the summer months by dining alfresco. Outdoor entertaining spaces are key this year – not only perfect for spending time outside but also practical if you lack space in your kitchen. Create a sophisticated yet comfortable area on your patio area complete with luxurious outdoor seating and an outdoor table you and your guests can pop a drink and some nibbles.

For those of you that love to inject colour into your interior and exterior spaces, this trend will be right up your street. The ‘Verdure’ current palette is big business for gardens this year and incorporates the colours you would expect to find in lush woodland like redwood, berry-toned purples, green or soft blue.

If you have rattan chairs, why not add some bright coloured cushions? If you really want to make the most of the trend – paint old furniture like your garden table and chairs set that’s beginning to look a bit tired, or the wooden features around your garden – sheds and fences are the obvious choice here and could look great painted in a soft eggshell blue and decorated with an abundance of solar fairy lights (solar lighting is another big trend!).

Mindfulness has become hugely popular in the past few years. This year we’ve noticed that mindfulness – the ancient Buddhist tradition of immersing yourself in the moment – has reached the garden. In order to take advantage of this ‘trend’ we would suggest you opt for elements which stimulate the senses. A water feature is a great option to create a relaxing ambience. If you have the option to install a water feature where you already have a garden set or a couple of outdoor chairs, you are able to create the perfect spot to have 15 minutes to yourself reflecting on your day or reading a book.

Finally, with veganism and sustainability having become a lifestyle taking the world by storm in the past decade, the ‘grow your own’ movement will really grow in popularity over the course of 2018. A greenhouse is a great investment if you are looking to become more sustainable however if you don’t have much space there are plenty of vegetables you can grow vertically, like peas and runner beans! Growing your own vegetables is also a great thing to do if you have younger children slowing watching their precious vegetables week by week before they end up on their dinner plates!

What will you be doing in your garden in the coming weeks and months to get it ready for the British summer we all crave so much?

Category: contemporary