rustic Archives - Page 21 of 45

Want to work from home? Let’s get your home office ready!

You’ve delivered on your New Year resolution to work from home and even if this is only for some of the time, you need to create a functional, versatile and stylish WFH space. Here’s how.

The number of people working from home has doubled since 2009, according to BBC figures, with 1.54 million people working their main job from the cosy confines of their home or apartment. And the trend looks set to continue.

But, it’s important to find the right space in your home and when you do, that you create a home office that is perfect for you.

Unused nooks and corners

In older houses especially, there tends to be space that we don’t use simply because it’s in an awkward place. Don’t waste the space any longer – utilise it as your office.

As well as adding a perfectly proportioned home office desk, invest wisely in the best office chair you can afford so that you are not only supported as you sit and work, but it looks stylish in your home. Leather office chairs look and act the part and are also perfect if you have clients or work colleagues over for meetings.

Focus on light

Whether you are sat at your PC for most of the day or use other equipment, lighting is important. Avoid shade where you can, making the most of natural light (but not harsh sunlight) in the space.

You’ll need to consider layers of light in your WFH space too. As well as a pendant light, opt for a table lamp on your reclaimed wood desk and floor lamps to illuminate darker areas.

Choose your style

We spend many hours ‘at’ work and it’ll be no different when you work from home. There may be times when you spend more time at your desk to deliver a project than you normally would and so getting the right style that sparks and nurtures your creativity or focuses the mind is essential.

As well as the warm but minimal Scandinavian style, the industrial style is popular. Clean lines with a fresh, appealing look, an industrial desk is the perfect place for clever thinking.

Don’t forget accessories and office storage

Forgetting storage means that within a few days, your home office will begin to look cluttered. If there is one thing that stifles creativity and production, it is mess and clutter.

As well as choosing a home office desk that suits you and your work, you need to consider storage. A small sideboard, for example, could offer the storage solutions you need, as too could a shelving display unit and drawer and cupboard space in the desk. There are many options but which one would suit you?

Try something different

Working from home and choosing your own office furniture is a welcome change from the corporate style we are accustomed too. That means you shouldn’t be afraid to experiment. As well as reclaimed wood furniture for the office, why not consider something completely different like a leather writing desk?

Mean business – embrace the outdoors!

If you are blessed with garden space, why not consider a garden office? A fantastic addition to your garden, it may an ideal place to work. With plenty of light, you’ll have all of nature around you to inspire your creativity too. Add insulation and heat, and you have an office space ideal for all year round.

Top Festive Deco Tips on a Budget

Several hanging paper stars with a string of lights

You want your home beautifully decorated for the Christmas season but on the other hand, you don’t want to spend too much on decorations – Christmas is expensive enough as it is. But don’t worry, because we have amazing ideas using nature and natural resources to give your home a wonderfully real and homely festive welcome.

Reuse and repurpose

Adding glitter gives an instant festive feel and you can never have too much sparkle in our opinion. If you kept hold of your white pumpkins and squashes from Halloween, a magical sprinkling of glitter will make a stylish and rustic decorations.

Cluster white pumpkins with pretty lights and green foliage on the slim console table in the hall, on a hallway bench, or on display units in the living room for a wholesome Christmas style.

Repurpose and reuse different kinds of decorations – they won’t look out of place.

Go foraging

When we get crisp winter days, the time is perfect for foraging to your local woodland or park to find all that nature has to offer. Forage for evergreen foliage and pretty winter flowers to make a wreath for your front door. Having said that, a natural woodland wreath is in perfect sync with reclaimed wood furniture too. A perfect addition to the dining table, wreaths are easy to make.

Dried fruits as decorations

There are plenty of winter fruits in season right now which means that their prices drop. Having said that, this is a more cost-effective approach if it means you oven-dry fruit that is past its best.

Pierce the skins of oranges with cloves and dry out in a warm oven. With a needle, thread twine or strong cotton through one end and hang on the tree. The scent is wonderful!

You can also dry sliced orange in the over and use in garlands and wreaths too, a natural look that ties in beautifully with rustic furniture.

Get stamp happy!

Make your own wrapping paper by getting festive with stamping. Local craft and hobby stores stock a range of festive stamps, from Christmas trees to the jolly face of Santa, as well as a range of different coloured ink pads. Stretch out the paper, stamp all over with your chosen stamp, allow to dry and then wrap your gifts.

Use recyclable paper, as well as string and homemade gift tags and you have affordable but chic wrapped gifts for under the tree.

Nature on a plate

Place settings add decadence to the Christmas dining table, but they can be expensive to buy. Making your own is far more cost-effective, takes relatively little time and adds a personal touch.

Pick up terracotta pots from your local garden centre or DIY store and add miniature trees into damp compost. At the end of the meal, your guests can take them home to plant, for more environmentally friendly than all the waste from crackers – and a welcome gift too!

And finally…

Choose your scheme for Christmas well in advance and collect items through the year to make it more affordable. And you’ll find loads of bargains in the New Year sales too.

Spruce up your hallway with these Christmas deco ideas

Small Christmas tree with fairy lights on a dark wooden mantelpiece with three hanging light blue stars

Create a winter wonderland entrance in your home this Christmas with these magical hallway tips and ideas…

First impressions last so spruce up your hallway by making the most of its architectural features and by adding a few well-placed accessories.

Bring the best of winter foliage in

Winter is not a completely grey month. There is colour in nature over the winter months. From the dark green of evergreen holly with bright red berries to other evergreen plants, such as ivy, there are options that make decorating your hallway banister easy – and with a stunning finish. Intertwine fairy lights as you go and it will enjoy an extra festive glow.

Clear away the clutter with a wooden shoe rack

As well as being beautifully decorated and full of a glorious winter scent, the hallway also needs to be free from clutter, which can be hard to do when there are bags, coats and shoes to hideaway. The solution is to invest in hallway storage that works for you.

A wooden shoe rack, for example, is ideal. Shoes are slotted into vacant slots where they remain until they are needed again. You can also keep house slippers in the slots so when guests arrive, they have something warm and soft for their feet.

Add a seat for practical purposes

The hallway is the place that guests pass through as they enter and leave your home. That means there are coats to be stored and outdoor shoes to be stored away too. As well as a unit with rattan drawers, you might also want to consider a hallway storage seat.

Another great option is for a hallway bench. And there are many styles and sizes to choose from. A simple yet stylish wooden bench is a great investment. It’s one of those items of furniture that can be used for many different purposes across the home. When winter arrives and you prepare your home to welcome guests, the wooden dining bench in the hallway is great for bags and coats.

Another option is a hallway storage bench. Similar to a blanket chest in the bedroom, the lid is lifted to so items can be securely stored but with a nice padded seat for guests to sit on.

For even more elegance, go all out with a leather upholstered hallway bench. With button-back detailing, there is something very striking about this style of bench. The design has hints of the iconic Chesterfield sofa about it, making it perfect for the winter wonderland hallway.

Update the hallway console table

The hallway console table is an absolute must. Give it a fresh look with an arrangement of evergreen foliage and winter flowers, as well as a recycled glass lamp to cast a pleasantly warm and welcoming glow to the hallway. The console table would also be perfect for a scented candle or a diffuser too.

Don’t forget the mistletoe

There are many different varieties of mistletoe but the one we know and love at Christmas is the one with thin green leaves and white berries. Hang a sprig or two of mistletoe above your door for a chance to share a stolen kiss or two!

Give your Rustic dining table a Nordic style Christmas

A Christmas gift wrapped in white paper with string

A Nordic style Christmas is about embracing the simple elegance of the Scandinavian furniture style whilst adding warmth and texture to the space. Relaxing and calm, the Nordic style is unhurried and well-thought-out; a perfect antidote to the chaos that Christmas can bring. It provides comfort to any room and when it’s cold and dark outside, it is the ideal style solution for a cosy and relaxing Christmas.

Bring nature inside

The Scandi style embraces nature and so bringing strong hints of the outside in is an excellent starting point. Where you would normally have fresh flowers on a wood dining table in the summer, replace with a glass bowl, filled with pinecones and gently flickering lights.

Choose earthy scents when it comes to scented candles in your dining space. Comforting and nostalgic, they create the right mood, complementing the reclaimed wood furniture in any room.

Wreaths are also a great way of bringing in the winter wonderland to any room. From pinecones to holly, ivy and red berries, your local woods will offer up plenty of materials for easy wreath making. Hanging a wreath horizontally above the dining table makes for a great talking point, perfect for continuing the Nordic style through your home.

Mix the new with the rustic

The Nordic style has a rustic side to it, but not so much that it takes over from the refined edge that it brings to a room. Mixing the new with the rustic is perfect for creating a comforting Nordic style to a room.

Opt for sublime throws and cushions against the backdrop of a leather sofa and armchairs in the living room, for example, and scatter cushions along the dining bench with a Christmas table runner across your rustic dining table.

Natural materials and neutral colours

The beauty of the Nordic style is how it takes lighter colours and blends them with natural materials to create a cosy backdrop to a room.

Alongside your reclaimed wood dining table, for example, incorporate light colours such as white, cream, or even a light sage green.

Layers of light

Lighting is important in any style to create a welcoming ambience to a dining space. Opting for a warm glow will help, but for the full effect, you need to consider light in layers.

As well as a beautiful hanging pendant light – opt for natural materials for the shade such as rattan – you also need to make sure there is a soft glow in dark corners. Add ambient lighting to the dinner table or mantelpiece in a dining room, for example, with twinkling string lights; a perennial Christmas favourite in any design.

Adding the gentle flicker of candles is also ideal for any room, from the centrepiece of the wood dining table to the hallway console table.

Coordinate colours

There is nothing to say you can’t have bright colours with the Nordic style, but they do need to be streamlined, cohesive and symmetrical. Against a neutral backdrop, add dashes of red, dark blue and green or maintain a neutral palette to hit all the right notes.

But it is texture that brings this style to life which is why Scandinavian furniture with its soft curves is so very popular. Use faux furs and large wool knits for cushions and throws. Stack up logs by the fire for a snug Christmas dinner and settle in and enjoy the festivities in this beautiful stylish scheme.

8 Bedroom Design Mistakes & How to Fix Them

A rustic wooden bed with matching bedside tables and white bedding

The bedroom should be a relaxing sanctuary but when styling mistakes are made, it can look cramped, cluttered and far from restful. Here’s how to set eight common bedroom mistakes straight from choosing a wooden double bed instead of a king size to adding bedside drawers…

1. Bed too big

A large king size bed can be the epitome of luxury, but when it swamps the floor space available, it sucks the life out of the room. Measure the room and measure the bed you are considering purchasing to make sure you have ample room to walk around it. It is possible to buy made-to-measure bespoke bed frames, such as our Beam bedroom collection, but remember mattress sizes are standard (unless you have a mattress made too).

2. Not enough storage

When you don’t have enough storage in a bedroom, you risk setting a scene of chaos and clutter. From clothes hanging off the footboard of the bed and the bedroom chair to boxes piled on top of wardrobes and things being lost, the need for storage is clear. Consider open shelving or bookcases for the bedroom for easy to access storage, but for when things need hiding away, you’ll need a chest of drawers or a dressing table with drawers. You may also want to consider hidden storage under the bed or even a wooden blanket box.

3. The radiator taking centre stage

You need it for warmth in the bedroom and so leaving it uncovered makes sense as the heat would be blocked otherwise. But that means the radiator can take centre stage which isn’t what you want. If this is the case, a radiator cover is an ideal solution.

4. The wrong level of lighting

From being too stark to being too dim, bedroom lighting is important to get just right. You need to layer light from the functional pendant light to the softer glow of a bedside table or floor lamp. Add a dash of something different by choosing materials such as stone, as in the rock pendant light, perfect for the industrial style bedroom.

5. Nowhere to sit

A lack of a small armchair will put you at a disadvantage. The truth is, there are plenty of low backed bedroom chairs that will become an instant hit in the bedroom. A yellow velvet armchair adds both colour and texture, whilst a specific style grey velvet armchair can add a statement to a bedroom.

6. Not cosy enough

Talking of textures, when a bedroom is devoid of different textures and shapes, it looks flat and almost clinical. Rectify this problem with cushions and blankets thrown across the bed or draped over the velvet bedroom chair. Add texture and warmth to the floor with rugs on either side of the bed (also great for adding a dash of colour!).

7. Cluttered bedside table

Not just a problem with the bedside table, we grant you, but when there isn’t adequate storage space, ‘things’ tend to gather on the bedside table. Opt for a bedside table with drawers and consider how other items of reclaimed wood furniture in the bedroom can be commandeered to offer the storage you need.

8. Electrical sockets deficit…

… and then they are never in the right place! Common in older properties, you need to think carefully about where you add more electrical points. Do this with a qualified electrician and not through messy and unsafe extensions and the like.

Wondrous Ways to Maximise your Bedroom Space

Reclaimed beam wood bed with matching sideboard and bedside table

If you haven’t got acres of space in the bedroom, you’ll need to think through carefully the items you include in the room, but also the layout, such as where to place items and so on. With these hints and tips, you’ll get the best layout for your rustic furniture that doesn’t cramp bedroom space or style.

Choosing the best size

The luxury of a king size bed is not to be underestimated (or super king bed!) but if this eats into the bedroom space too much, it can feel cramped. Of course, if you are willing to sacrifice floor space for a statement king size wooden bed frame, go for it!

But, bed size is important if you want to fit in other items of furniture in the bedroom and be able to use the space easily and comfortably, so you may wish to consider a twin bed or a double.

At the end of the bed, you need about half metre between it and the wall to be able to move past it with ease. At either side of the bed, you’ll need about 60cm. This allows free movement but also space for when you sit on the edge of the bed. It also means you can fit in a bedside table at either side of the bed, essential for storing items, as well as a lamp.

For two beds, a half-metre gap between the two is recommended, again for comfort and accessibility.

Styling tricks

Sometimes the things we add contribute to the bedroom feeling smaller than it actually is. Adding detail without clutter is key, which is why these stylish tips will help a bedroom feel bigger. Opt for reclaimed wood furniture such as an oak bed that has a low headboard. A large headboard ‘swallows’ wall space, something that will impact on how big or small the room feels.

Having said that, a tall chest of drawers could work in a space such as a small recess that would otherwise be unused, wasted space.

Measure and measure again – wardrobes

Choosing wooden wardrobes for smaller bedrooms can be problematic. On one hand, you need plenty of usable clothes storage but on the other, you don’t want a wardrobe that looms large in the room.

The minimum depth for a wooden wardrobe is 24 inches (2 feet) or around 60cms. This gives the clearance needed for clothes to hang without being cramped or damaged.

For smaller bedrooms, this can feel too big. If this is the case, consider fitted wardrobes. These can be designed around you and the space you have available. The solutions can be ingenious such as hanging clothes facing you rather than side on, as well as shelving space for bulkier items and so on.

Hideaway storage

The other issue is adding extra storage in a way that is unseen, but useful. When storage is at a premium, don’t be tempted to add too many boxes on top of wardrobes or on the floor as this simply closes the space down.

Consider adding drawers beneath the bed. For example, our Beam bedroom range comes with optional drawers. Under bed storage is perfect for bed linen and blankets. If you have room at the end of the bed, adding a blanket box that doubles as a seat makes sense too.

How To Decorate Your Table For Rustic Thanksgiving

Pumpkin pie and a loaf of bread on a rustic dining table with two people around the table

Thanksgiving is a national holiday in the States, a tradition that dates back centuries to when people celebrated the bringing in of the harvest. This year, it is celebrated on 28^th November and is a chance for family and friends to gather. You don’t have to be American to enjoy this festival, so if you are entertaining, here are our tips for creating a sumptuous and welcoming Thanksgiving meal table.

Step 1 – The right dining table

Thanksgiving is about being thankful for what we have, no matter how little that may be compared to others. And for many of us, that means spending time with family and friends.

If you are hosting a Thanksgiving dinner, making sure you have plenty of space around your dining table is a must. A reclaimed wood dining table is perfect – it brings warmth and character to a dining room – but an extendable table really ups the ante. It means you can expand your rustic dining table to accommodate your guests, with no awkward banging of elbows during the meal!

Step 2 – Seating to match

Mismatched chairs can look quirky but if you like a more uniformed style, as well as opting for upholstered dining chairs or leather dining chairs, you might also consider a dining bench.

If, however, you are thinking a bench is hard and uncomfortable, think again. There are some fantastic examples of upholstered, high backed dining benches that are elegant, stylish and very comfortable (as well as practical).

Step 3 – Linen tablecloth and napkins

Before you can start setting the table, you need to get the basics right. Linen tablecloths and napkins are the perfect place to begin and match the effortless style of a reclaimed wood dining table too.

With the tablecloth, fold it several times along the long edge so that you create a table runner for the centre of your table, perfect for when you want texture but not necessarily a cloth hiding the beautiful grain of the wood from view.

Step 4 – Accessories from nature

Thanksgiving is essentially about celebrating the abundance of food from the land so it’s not uncommon to find that many table decorations and centrepieces for this festival are taken from nature – and these match wonderfully with your rustic furniture.

Why not add green, white and orange squashes to the table (you could reuse the ones from Halloween), along with sprigs and berries as additional notes of interest on the table. Stay away from brash colours, keeping these for the Christmas table instead.

Scented candles and diffusers with a light but spicy fragrance are also ideal for dotting about the dining room. Along with soft lighting, you have created the warming ambience you want for your meal.

Step 5 – Upgrade your serving wear and dinner service

From plain white plates and serving dishes for neutral elegance to deep, earthy colours, it isn’t just what you serve but how you serve it that makes a difference. Choose a dinner service that will transcend different styles, including a rustic setting for Thanksgiving as well as a formal dinner party for family and friends.

With all this in place, you now just need to consider what to be thankful for…

Luxe Up Your Reclaimed Wood Furniture

Luxe dining room with reclaimed wood dining table

Reclaimed wood furniture doesn’t have to mean to rough and ready. In fact, many pieces made from reclaimed wood are so skilfully crafted that the new lease of life the wood is given is both refined and detailed. Give your reclaimed wood furniture more than a touch of luxury with these styling ideas.

Add sparkle with mirrors

Mirrors are often seen as a necessity in a room because they reflect and play with natural light. But they are also a worthy addition in their own right, adding a hint of sparkle that we often associate with glamour.

However, adding too much sparkle can detract from the main player in the room – the reclaimed wood furniture – and so a well-chosen mirror can work wonders to throw a spotlight on a piece. Hang a mirror above your small or large sideboard, for example – leave a small gap between the base of the mirror and the wooden sideboards – but don’t go too large or the effect is lost.

This is perfect for throwing light onto the detail of the Glasgow Reclaimed Elm Cabinet, for example. And there’s no reason why you can’t add a dramatic mirror, like our Hatfield Wall Mirror, to attract attention either.

Add texture with upholstered chairs

If you’ve opted for a reclaimed wood dining table you may assume that the dining chairs will need to have the same utilitarian approach. Whilst there is certainly a place for wooden dining chairs – they are great in many stylish dining room schemes – if you want to ramp up the luxe feel of the dining room, you can’t go wrong with upholstered dining chairs.

Velvet upholstered dining chairs certainly add a whole new level of sophisticated glamour (not to mention comfort) to the Luxe Industrial Reclaimed Wood Dining Table, especially when you opt for jewelled colours. In fact, upholstered chairs work great with any rustic dining table, including the many examples of rustic dining tables in our range.

Even neutral shades of upholstered dining chairs can bring glamour merely by offering texture. This approach works with the elegance of the Hoxton reclaimed wood refectory table, for example.

Textures

Reclaimed wood furniture comes with a unique texture all of its own, from the more raw, rustic pieces to the smoother, refined elegance of farmhouse and Scandinavian styled pieces.

Adding more texture is a sure-fire way of adding luxury and glamour. But this doesn’t always mean adding fluffy cushions or deep pile rugs.

Introducing something as simple as a linen tablecloth or napkins to the wooden dining table made from reclaimed wood is an addition that can help up the ante when it comes to luxury.

Velvet dining chairs, with their soft and tactile pile, also fit the bill as do short pile rugs beneath the feet.

Accessories

From tall, lithe vases to an abundance of lush green house plants, the range of accessories that attract attention to your reclaimed wood furniture is almost limitless.

Scented candles and diffusers add both a note of interest in the room as well as a gentle scent.

Depending on your scheme and what you want to achieve, clustering neutral coloured items on a sideboard, for example, can be impressive, as too can a single, tall, elegantly coloured piece of ceramic or glass.

So, to bring out the glamorous features of your reclaimed wood furniture and luxe-up your dining space, use texture, colour and light to bring out its inner sparkle. Stilettos and tiaras optional!

5 steps to hygge happiness with living room storage

Industrial style dining room with reclaimed wood coffee table and TV unit with a zig zag rug and plants

The nights are drawing in and whilst we’ll miss the glorious sunshine and warmth, there is something enticing about returning home on a winter’s evening to a snug and cosy living room. Make your living room extra cosy and appealing with these tips.

1 Keep blankets close to hand

Blankets and throws are perfect for the cosy living room for many reasons. They can add a dash of colour and texture with pattern but they are also a practical addition. Drape it over you as you snuggle down for the evening’s film or soap opera marathon to keep the chill at bay.

But there is the question of how to store them. Draped artfully over the sofa or armchairs is one option but can look messy. A reclaimed wooden blanket box is ideal. Keep your blankets in it until you need them but have a handy coffee table top for drinks and the like.

2 Add candles to your bookshelves

There is no better time to enjoy the gentle flickering candle flame than in the evening. Adding a gentle glow to the living room, candles on bookshelves add instant cosy appeal. Better still, opt for scented candles that allow a delicate fragrance to hand in the air.

3 Add diffusers for all day (and night) scent

Candles should never be left unaccompanied when lit but you’ll want a gentle fragrance to fill the room during the day. Diffusers are an ideal solution. Place these on your rustic coffee table or again, use the diffuser to adorn open shelving in the living room or on your sideboard. As you move about the room, its fragrance will be gently fanned around the space.

4 Opt for a coffee table with storage to hide the clutter

Whether it’s kids’ toys or a steadily growing pile of magazines and newspapers (or matches and other candle and fire lighting paraphernalia), hiding them from view is also a great way of creating a cosy living room landscape.

By hiding things away in a coffee table with storage, you allow your senses to alight on the important things in the room such as the feeling of warmth from the fire, the appealing gentle fragrance of scented candles and the welcoming warmth of cushions and blankets.

There are other options for hidden storage too such as footstools with storage. A leather footstool adds texture and a hint of luxury to the living room and its perfect for resting your weary feet at the end of the day. Equally as appealing and practical is a rattan footstool and can be used as a low-level side table too.

5 Keep lighting low

Layers of light work best in any room but in the living room, soft lighting adds the glow of cosiness you want and need. Switch off the main pendant light and enjoy the soft glow (choose warm white bulbs) in lamps on the rustic coffee table and side tables.

Make sure you don’t have dark corners or shady spots in the living room, however as this will detract from just how cosy the space is.