living room Archives - Page 19 of 31

Styling a coloured sofa with industrial style chic

Luxe Kensington Reclaimed Wood Coffee Table and Leather Sofa

You love the colour and the shape but worry that once you get your new sofa in situ at home, it won’t blend with the rest of your home.

It’s all down to how you will style your sofa and we have three ways of making the best of your new sofa, using three of our popular sofas to illustrate the point.

Contemporary and uplifting

What we love about a coloured sofa is the statement it makes and so, if you have been wise and bold enough to choose a coloured sofa, for example, then let it shine.

The Padstow sofa comes in the most amazing plush olive velvet colour and fabric, a sheer delight from whichever angle you admire it from. But we understand that as a colour, the olive green can be a beast that is difficult to tame.

Let the colour shine but give it a contemporary and uplifting feel with hints of rustic with a brick red patterned rug to bring out the hues of the velvet sofa.

A round mirror would bring it all together nicely with a reclaimed wood coffee table being the perfect framing piece for the gorgeous sofa.

Add your own scatter cushions with a geometric design keeping the colours similar to that within the rug and the olive sofa. If you think mixing patterns is too big a risk, opt for a rug without defined shapes or pattern, opting for a more abstract finish.

A neutral shade

Is it a biscuit? Is it cream? Is it grey?? However you choose to describe the colour, the neutral tone of the York button-backed sofa is delightful.

Neutral it may be but that doesn’t mean it blends into the background. If you want to make a colour statement, there is no better choice than a light colour and with the iconic Chesterfield shape to it as well, you are on to a winner from the moment its legs hit your living room floor.

As accompaniments to the main dish, serve it alongside grey fabric armchairs with stud detailing, complementing the whole look with a reclaimed wood storage trunk as a coffee table.

Retain the neutral grey and beige tones with a grey floor rug, neatly knitting it together.

Pops of majestic colour

We have long been in love with the Byron sofa. Its plush velvet pile a tactile delight but it is the colours too that attract us, like bees around a honeypot.

From the shimmering depths of amethyst to the midnight tones ebony, this low-backed Byron crushed velvet sofa also comes in charcoal grey and fuchsia.

You wouldn’t think that an industrial styled living room would welcome a coloured sofa but with some clever tweaks here and there, this stunning piece coloured velvet sofa will work in a chic, industrial setting.

The rustic wooded top of the reclaimed wood industrial coffee table would effortlessly frame the Byron sofa, important for placement in the room.

Another way to support the main piece is with side tables and these lush reclaimed oak side tables would look stunning on either side of the sofa, complete with stunningly statuesque side lamps would work fantastically well.

And finally, pull it all together by bringing out the tones of the back in the metal frame of the industrial furniture and the colour of the sofa with a black and white rug. Opt for one with an abstract design.

Be brave. Be bold. Opt for colour!

Our best-selling armchairs to spend a lazy day in

Amazing coffee tables with storage to celebrate Lazy Mom Day

Come Lazy Mom Day on 7th September, every mum should have their feet up and their entire day spent recharging their batteries.

This, of course, means one thing – a suitable space to put their feet up and enjoy the day lazing about catching up on reading, social media and whatever else the mum in your life likes to do.

If you haven’t got one already, maybe for Lazy Mom Day you should consider investing in an important piece of rustic furniture – a rustic coffee table. But, this time, one with an addition that makes it incredibly popular. Our reclaimed wood coffee table range with storage is literally flying out of the door. But, just why is it so popular? And why are these types of coffee table perfect for Lazy Mom Day?

Coffee tables with storage – the inside story

There are many reasons why this kind of coffee table is popular;

Functional

Every piece of rustic furniture in our home needs to tick more than just one box. In other words, it needs to be functional and practical as well as looking great with your existing décor.

The rustic coffee table with storage is universally functional. It suits almost every home and it is deceptively simple, but stylish too.

Size and dimension

A coffee table needs to ‘fit’ the space in which it sits. It should neither be too large nor too small but there is another dimension to consider within a coffee table with storage: depth.

A wooden storage chest can offer a depth of storage that is perfect in some living rooms, whilst in others, the slightly shallower depths of the rustic coffee table may suffice. Which would you opt for? If you’re not convinced by either, then the simple yet elegant mark of the wooden blanket box is another beautiful option – especially if crafting is a hobby – you can store all you need within your ‘coffee table’ if you choose one of these.

Versatile

Any room or any space will benefit from the addition of a coffee table with storage. Consider putting one in the hallway that will double up as a telephone table, or use one or two in the bedroom as a replacement for a bedside table – ideal if you have a low bed.

Longevity

And finally, there is a longevity to the rustic coffee table with storage that makes it such a popular choice. Built to last, and to be well-used, with that use only adding to their charm, it’s no wonder that they are becoming ever more popular in the home, and not just in the living room. Durable and sturdy, they’ll last for years of drawer opening and closing, whether you’re looking for keys in the hallway, or getting out reading glasses for a much-needed book break.

So, wherever mom wants to be ‘lazy’ (and let’s face it, she never is) why not consider looking at bringing a coffee table with storage into any room she likes to relax in – and why not bring her a nice coffee to go with it while she puts her feet up too!

Why every house should have a foot stool

An adaptable, functional and versatile piece of furniture, the worth of the footstool in the modern home is not to be undervalued nor mocked. It is an item that you will wonder how you lived without it by your leather armchair but how do you choose a footstool that is the perfect addition, one that mixes both style and function?

It can be done, and here’s how:

1 Consider all of its uses

The footstool isn’t just for tired and aching feet – it can also act as an impromptu seat for when there are many guests and visitors. It could technically become an occasional coffee table as well as a platform for magazines, newspapers, books and the like.

In this case, a footstool with storage would be the ideal solution. As well as a padded top for your aching feet, this rather delicious brown leather footstool is perfect for hiding away clutter when unexpected guests call or for storage of various items including living room toys, magazines and books.

2 Choose the fabric wisely

There are some fantastic examples of upholstered footstools on the market and this makes sense. Luxurious and soft, they make the ideal space for your aching feet.

BUT, fabric may not be as hardy as you want with coffee stains lasting for eternity, spilt tea and juice, sticky marks and fingers and build up on the fabric surface. All these ca leave you with a footstool that looks and feels jaded before its time.

Create a cohesive leather sofa set, for example, by opting for a matching brown leather footstool. Or, opt for another material completely such as a reclaimed wood coffee table-cum-footstool.

The ideal means of choosing the right material is not just style and budget, but where in your home the footstool will be used;

*Living room – opt for a luxurious looking and feeling footstool, such as plush leather footstool that sits well alongside armchair and sofa.

*Hallway – yes, a footstool works in the hallway too, especially one that acts as a hallway storage unit and occasional stool. It is one of the great small hallway ideas if ever there was one.

*Toy store – a footstool also works well in the bedroom and the playroom, as well as any area of the home in which toys needs to be stored or other items. In this case, and the hallway, choose a material that is robust and easy to keep clean.

3 Matching styles

The footstool doesn’t have to stand out unless you want it to. We think choosing a footstool that is in harmony with its surroundings makes sense.

For example, choose a sofa or small armchair from the fabulous Triumph or Spitfire ranges, and you’ll find a matching footstool to go with both. Or, if you are opting for a certain style, such as the rustic appeal, you’ll be looking for a material that sits well alongside the key elements, whether it is in the hallway or the lounge.

And so, with this in mind, this rather fabulous rattan storage stool with an upholstered top would make the ideal addition to the living room or even the bedroom or any space where you are welcoming the rustic feel.

From a coffee table with storage to a luxurious leather footstool for your aching, tired feet, success is guaranteed when it comes to choosing the right one if you follow the three key elements set out above.

A simple care guide for your leather and reclaimed furniture

Natural materials are hardy – leather can withstand all kinds of rambunctious play and reclaimed wood has already lived longer than most of us and had a long, long story to tell – but every now and then, they need tender, loving care.

Although robust, treated well and with more than a little care and thought, they will age even more gracefully and beautifully.

The beauty of reclaimed wood

Whether it is English beams from ancient lofts or discarded fishing junk from the other side of the world, most of the wood we use is reclaimed and of the best quality.

Woods such as oak have a dense structure and that means they age beautifully but unlike MDF and other timbers, they don’t always welcome a hot cup of coffee on the surface…

·Wipe up spills as soon as they happen

·Clean the whole item each time, rather than small patches or you’ll find different colours and patinas in one area to the other

·Furniture polish gradually builds on the surface so use a damp cloth to wipe the surface instead

·Use coasters and mats

·Don’t allow it to sit in full sun for days, weeks and months on end

·Always lift your furniture, never drag it across the floor

Nourish it

Nourishing it your reclaimed furniture, whether a reclaimed dining table or sideboard is about loving it and using it, but also about adding a little something to it – in this case, waxing it.

Buy a high-quality waxing product – we suggest Mylands Wax, a British wax that works well on our reclaimed wood furniture. Use a clear wax if you want to avoid adding a darker shade to it.

Follow the instructions but they are simple enough – use an old rag and apply the wax generously making sure it gets in all the crevices and the cracks. Rub it along the grain and leave it for half an hour.

With a fresh rag, remove the excess wax and buff it. Now sit back, admire it and fall even deeper in love with it.

Sideboards, a reclaimed dining table, coffee tables and our reclaimed wood bookcases and display units would love a little waxing every now and then.

How often should you wax? Regularly but don’t overdo it. In the first three months you have the furniture, wax it monthly and then alternate months after this.

Leather care

Leather is a cool to the touch material that is deliciously robust, and one reason why investing in a brown leather sofa or armchair is a great move.

But it too needs a little help;

·Gently vacuum leather furniture on a regular basis and flick a duster over it too

·Place the leather sofa or armchair in the right place – that is, away from stark sunlight and radiators, and not too close to the drying heat of the open fire or log burner

·Sunlight fades it, discolours it and cracks the leather too – as does moonlight, so take care placing it in the window

·Treat it with respect! Sit on the seat, not the arms!

·Dyed clothing can rub against the leather leaving a slight mark or staining

·Your aniline leather sofa and armchairs are not standard, so standard cleaning products and polishes don’t cut the mustard – opt for conditioning treatments specifically for leather!

5 Useful tips on measuring the space in your home

When something comes flat-packed, it often isn’t an issue to get the item into the home, through the doors and into its final resting spot. It may mean carrying it in bits, however!

With items of furniture that come readymade, there can be an issue. For example, the large headboard of a bed, a delightful piece of reclaimed wood, beautifully styled and finished may not fit up the stairs if you have a low ceiling height in the hallway.

Or maybe the turn in your stair means getting anything larger than the vacuum up and around the corner is nigh-on impossible.

And then when you do get the item through the front door, getting it into the living room or the kitchen proves problematic because there just isn’t the space…

When ordering readymade, reclaimed wood furniture, we suggest you do the following;

1.Measure the entry doors to your home

Whether that is the front or back door, making sure that the item will fit through the door is important. Measure width as well as height, making note of steps and lips, as well as other issues that could impact on the moving of items into your home.

Items may be readymade but they often arrive in separate component pieces, especially rustic furniture such as the rustic dining table that will need its legs attaching to the table top. But still, the bigger the table top…

Of course, if you have patio or bi-folding doors and we can access them through the garden, it shouldn’t be an issue.

2.The staircase

The staircase in any home can present a challenge when getting items up and into the bedrooms, whether the modern bedroom furniture or rustic bed, or double wardrobe.

For example, the headboards of many of our beds are large and inflexible. Thus, there needs to be the head height to manoeuvre it safely from the ground floor.

With the stairs, take note of its shape and measure the width of the staircase and the height too, important if you have an overhang of the floor above.

Beds require some assembly but the chest of drawers from most of our collections are completely assembled prior to delivery.

3.The kitchen

Access to the kitchen can be easy, depending on its location to the door we are using to bring the furniture in.

But don’t forget, if you have fixed wall and floor kitchen cabinets, manoeuvring pieces into or through the space can be difficult. Some of our items come ready-made, such as the sideboards.

Assembly of items is rarely difficult or problematic. We offer free assembly on items from our Beam Collection simply because items are much heavier to handle.

4.The dining room

Again, access can be an issue so measure the doorway – height and width – and note the position of any other features or items that are immovable. Most pieces come partly pre-assembled with just the legs needing to be adding to large sideboards and so on.

5.The Living room

It’s a similar story in the living room, with sofas arriving without their legs or castors, ready for assembly.

But remember, any sofa, whether it is a two-seater or a three-seater, is not an object that bends! Thus, to get your plush velvet sofa into position, we will need space in the hallway to manoeuvre it into the room.

Measure the hallway, as well as the doorway height and width. Are you confident the items you order will fit through the door?

How to obtain an elegant monochromatic décor

Do you hanker after an elegant colour scheme to your home, making it feel and look like a space that is effortlessly chic?

Have you tried monochromatic décor? You may think it only means black and white but it can mean any colours, in fact, use sparingly and exclusively.

The definition of the word monochromatic leads to confusion as it means one colour but when it comes to décor, a monochromatic is one that uses two contrasting yet complementary colours to produce a finish that if chic, stylish and beautiful.

But how do you get this look right? Surely it’s impossible to go wrong? Or is it?

THINK luxury and simple

To get this chic finish, as well as choosing a colour palette that works well together, you need to think in terms of luxury and simplicity.

Take a look at a traditional black and white finish, and you will notice the clean-cut finish to the whole effect. For example, choose a classic, unfussy grey fabric sofa alongside a classically styled small armchair works well in a traditional black and white monochrome setting.

THINK in patterns

Monochrome décor appeals to people for many reasons but if you feel it looks a little flat and lifeless, give it a lift with pattern.

From patterned tiles in the bathroom or monochrome kitchen, for example, to pattern in the same colours for scatter cushions and window treatments, there are many ways of adding warmth and depth to the style.

THINK lush, green foliage

Another trick for adding an instant lift without stepping too far outside of this style scheme boundaries is to add colour with plants.

A cluster of lush, broadleaf plants, for example, of the hallway console table of the reclaimed wood coffee table in the living room adds a note of interest in the monochrome landscape.

THINK symmetry

The beauty of monochrome décor is that it can fit in any room and across the entirety of the home. And so in the dining room, a natural palette of monochrome sits well with both the oak dining table and upholstered dining chairs.

It’s an incredibly neat and tidy look too, probably why it is so popular and so maintain symmetry with everything well placed within invisible borders. Centre the artwork, use odd numbers of the same accessories such as plants or vases and contrast the textures of the smoothness of the oak dining table with the luxurious feel of upholstered dining chairs.

THINK warmth with wood

If you love the monochrome look but worry it will look too minimal and starkly modern, warm it with wood. Reclaimed wood furniture works well in most décor schemes, the monochrome look included. Mix it with modern materials, such as plastic bucket seats or let it warm the sharp coolness of the industrial style with monochrome décor.

THINK boldness

We achieve less in our comfort zone why break out of its confines and be bold. Go the whole hog and reach the dizzying height of monochrome success with whitewashed walls, black industrial furniture and reclaimed wood furniture as points of interest!

Smart furniture to maximise a small living room

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?