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Top Tips of Styling a Sideboard

Top Tips of Styling a Sideboard

Sideboards are a home furnishing must-have, but is there a secret to making furniture look good and it’s usually down to some simple styling tricks.

Sideboards are ideal for both storage and display use. Usually in a living or dining room, it’s traditionally used to store dinnerware, but is also perfect for adding storage to any room without compromising on design.

Available in classic, stylish and contemporary styles, sideboards are a must-have storage solution, but what’s on display is just as important as what’s stored inside. Spruce up your living room by making small changes that don’t cost the earth!

1. The Power of Three

Groupings of three work extremely well. It is a magic number and it just simply works.

2. Accessories

Accentuate the warm tones of the sideboard by choosing some accessories. Soft coloured aubergine and chocolate coloured glass vases are blended with white pots and monochrome prints by using lots of greenery and a copper tray.

3. Balance with Height

Try using one lamp on the right side of the sideboard, but balance the height of the lamp with a stack of books on the left. When you start arranging things, always remember to balance objects that take up a lot of visual space.

4. Symmetry

Symmetry is a very important thing to keep in mind when you are adding the final touches. Symmetry is simply pleasing to the eye, so it’s always a great bet to start with a balanced, symmetrical space before. Framed images create a sense of balance to the arrangement.

Check out the video below for top styling tips here by Home Decor

Top 10 Things You Should Know About Sideboards

Top 10 Things You Should Know About Sideboards

Sideboards have been in UK homes since the 18th century and today they remain an extremely popular piece of furniture. A buffet, also known as a sideboard, is a piece of furniture with long, low storage space.

A sideboard placed in the dining room is called a buffet, but once it is moved to the living room, it is referred to as a sideboard. A buffet is an item of furniture traditionally used in the dining room for serving food, for displaying serving dishes and for storage.

Sideboards are more commonly associated with living rooms whereas buffets are associated with dining rooms. Although traditionally a sideboard was intended to be used in a formal, separate dining room, that’s certainly no longer the case, as they now regularly feature in kitchens and living rooms, and even sometimes in bedrooms or hallways. These days one tends to refer to this as a sideboard. It is now known as a sideboard.

It typically has cabinets and drawers for dining-related items like glassware, cutlery, fine china, candles, napkins, and tablecloths. The top surface of a sideboard is often used as a shelf for decorative items you want to be displayed or as an extra surface to place food platters for hosting and get-togethers. Nowadays, you can put almost anything inside it. 

There are 10 benefits of a sideboard. A sideboard has many uses which include serving food, displaying dishes such as silver and for storage. Generally, it consists of a set of cabinets, drawers and has a flat display surface for lighting devices, holding food and serving dishes. In case you are searching for a new sideboard to add to your room décor, you should analyse your requirements before making a decision. There are many advantages to having a sideboard in your room. However, it requires a decent amount of space. Once you have made space for the sideboard and acquired it, you will get ample room for housing your important wares and showcasing your sophistication. Here are our top 10 tips.

  1. It can be used as sideboard storage to display your treasured collections. If you have won a lot of trophies and could not find a place to display them, a sideboard can be a great place to exhibit them. You do not have to invest in a pricey showcase, just stand them tall on the sideboard to show off for the visiting guests. A sturdy sideboard with vintage appeal could be perfect for this task.

     

  2. A place for Lamps and Lights. Keeping your lamps and lights on the flat surface of the sideboard is a great way to illuminate your dining or drawing-room. By installing an electrical socket adjacent to the sideboard for powering your lamp, you can create a wonderful lighting effect and add a new charm to your room’s décor.

     

  3. It can store plates, casseroles and more. Opening a cupboard and finding the right crockery may be difficult when you are in a hurry to serve guests who have arrived without notice. For ease of accessibility, it is worthwhile to use a Sideboard for keeping your dishes, plates and casseroles. It will save precious time and you will be able to concentrate more on serving your guests instead of searching for a perfectly sized plate.

     

  4. Keep your documents, magazines and notebooks away from prying eyes especially if they are personal and confidential. You can keep your documents, magazines, diaries and other reading material in the drawers for ease of accessibility.

     

  5. You can display art with a sideboard. You can place a piece of photography, painting or any picture above a sideboard.

     

  6. It’s a perfect place for a coffee machine. A coffee machine can be easily kept on top of a sideboard. Make sure that you invest in a sturdy and solid sideboard made with durable material for this purpose. You can keep the cups and sugar sachets in the cabinet to avoid clutter on the top of the sideboard table.

     

  7. You can line up your favourite brews and spirits. For people who have a collection of spirits, a sideboard provides a wonderful location for storing their pricey bottles of whisky. You can keep the bottles at the top and store your glasses in the drawers. When a guest arrives you will be ready with the booze without breaking a sweat.

     

  8. Manage clutter so you don’t see the mess. The ample space in a sideboard can be used for organising all the cluttered items systematically. Make a habit of storing sundries like pens, staplers and nail cutters in the drawers and cabinet of a sideboard and provide your room with a neat and tidy look.

     

  9. Lighting on the sideboard creates a decoration. You can get creative and create an amalgamation of style by placing your wares in different lines and patterns on top of the sideboard. Stack up cups, line up your favourite tumblers and glasses. The choices are endless!

     

  10. A sideboard can fit anywhere in your house, for example, living room, bedroom, children’s playroom and even close to the kitchen or breakfast nook, depending on its usage. In or around the kitchen, they can be used to store crockeries as well as place the toaster or the coffee maker on top of it. In a child’s room, it is the best place to organise and store the child’s toys. The sideboard can be used for kids toys storage. A great space for Kids’ Toys Kids not only love to play with their toys, but they also take a certain pride in showcasing them to their peers, just like adults. A lightweight sideboard with a fun design will be just the right purchase for displaying toys.

Top 4 Tips on Fabric Sofas

Top 4 Tips on Fabric Sofas

Sofa shopping can be confusing, to say the least. There are a thousand different choices to make in the quest for the perfect sofa. Among the considerations: modern or classic? High or low back? Fixed or loose cushions? All important questions in terms of style and look can be difficult to choose.

As you might expect, there is no single right answer. And rather than following personal opinions, recommendations, or experiences, it’s best to look at the benefits of each material to help you decide which sofa finish is right for you, your family, and your home. The most important considerations are durability, care requirements, appearance, comfort, and cost.

Chances are, you will use your sofa every day for many years, so take your time with this decision. Assess your, partner or family’s needs and habits. Allow yourself a little time to find just the right piece. You’ll thank yourself later. Here are the Top 4 Tips on Fabric Sofas 

1. Comfort

The feel of fabric sofas varies widely depending on the fabric itself and the support system of the sofa (eg the cushions and frame). However, fabric sofas, on the whole, tend to be much more comfortable than leather sofas for several reasons. First, fabric tends to be an overall softer, warmer material. Fabric is generally softer than leather. You want a fabric that’s soft enough but not too soft, the fabric should keep its shape and not wrinkle or sag when you get up.

2. Color and Pattern Options

Fabrics are virtually unlimited in pattern, texture, and colour, so fabric offers a much better chance of matching existing decor and getting the look you want. This is a great opportunity to express your family’s style: choose a sofa with a fun, bright fabric to grab attention or alternatively, choose one in a calming neutral to anchor a room filled with art or decorative pieces.

3. Cost

You can usually get more for your money if you go with a fabric sofa. Quality fabric and framing are expensive, but the same sofa in leather will always cost more.

4. Care

The wear and tear of fabric sofas most often depend upon the grade of fabric. As you’d expect, high-quality fabrics will withstand wear better. Most fabric sofas are treated with a stain-resistant finish, so when spills do happen, they’re easily cleaned with speciality products or a handheld steam cleaner. Also, the fabric doesn’t get scratched as leather does, so it tends to handle pets’ claws and kids’ homework binders better.

These popular fabric sofas you can find them at Habitat, Made, and this  2 Seater Bloomsbury Sofa by Heals.

 

Image: 2 Seater Bloomsbury Sofa by Heals

My Favourite Two Seater Sofas

My Favourite Two Seater Sofas

Some sofas do not have to be big just to fill a room. Nowadays, you can have 2 seater sofas instead of 2, 3, 4 or more seaters.

The fact is buying a new sofa is a big investment. Shopping for your sofa of choice can be overwhelming with so many sizes, styles, fabrics, cost and colours to weigh up. 

There a number of key things to bear in mind. Firstly, to avoid any problems, ensure you have measured your space accurately and clocked potential pitfalls like hallways, staircases and doors. If space is tight, choose a sofa that can at least partially be assembled in situ, or one with removable arms.

Get a sense of how the sofa will look in proportion with the rest of the room by marking it out on the floor with newspaper. If interested in a reclining sofa, check there will be enough room for it to fully extend. Square arms are the most modern choice and there are plenty of slender options; classic scroll arms can look grand but add a lot to the sofa’s overall width, which may not be practically suited to a city flat.

Look for foam upholstery if you want a firmer and more support required. Feather or fibre-filled cushions are best for those looking for something more casual, who don’t mind turning them regularly. Buying something classic is always a good shout as you don’t have to worry about your sofa looking dated. If you’re in need of some style but short on space, choose one of my favourite two-seater sofas.

Hackney 2 Seater Leather Sofa in Tan

Image: Hackney 2 Seater Leather Sofa in Tan

A leather sofa is always without a doubt be timeless classic furniture. It will never be dated and this beautiful tan DFS French Connection looks like a vintage piece that has gone back in time! It is 100% Leather and my one of my favourite sofa around.

The square arms sit at a natural level and are wide enough to lean on and the legs are hidden away, giving the sofa an illusion of floating in space. This stylish piece of furniture looks like it would take centre stage in your living room, backed up by other retro touches. It would look great with wooden floorboards and a rich, earthy-toned rug. It also comes in a three-seater sofa, an armchair, a footstool and there are other colours in black, brown or conker-stained leather. 

Its great value for the price tag, giving two people plenty of room to stretch out. The frame and springs are guaranteed for 15 years, so you can enjoy it worry-free. When leather aged, it gets its character from use. Use a special leather cleaner to get out a stain and dab rather than rub. 

Fenner Velvet Orange Sofa

Image: Fenner Velvet Orange Sofa

This Habitat Fenner Velvet Orange sofa deep seat and thin frame creates a large seating area. Available in a choice of fabrics, colours, sizes and configurations

Made in Italy, made exclusively for Habitat, the Fenner Velvet Orange has slender cushioned arms and soft, feather-wrapped fibre seat and back cushions. It has removable frame cover.

The sumptuous sofa combines a classic box frame with loose covers for a softer look and has button detailing on its cushions, which acquire a relaxed, comfortably lived-in look over time.

Guaranteed to appeal to fans of mid-century furniture.The seat is deep, offering plenty of space, and its long enough for three people to fit if you don’t mind squeezing in. The arms are equally slim. If you would like to buy the whole collection, the Fenner also comes as a three-seater sofa and an armchair, with a choice of 15 different fabrics and colours.

Richmond Smart Velvet Teal Sofa

Image: Richmond Smart Velvet Teal 2 Seater Sofa

This is a stunning classic design in its simplicity teal velvet sofa from the high street favourite shop, Heal’s. Heal’s Richmond Smart Velvet Teal 2 Seater sofa has a luxurious rich in colour square arms elegantly slope down and are so silky soft you’ll be stroking them like a cat. There is ample space on the sofa for you sit on. Do not worry about stains as the material is water repellent and much more hard-wearing than you might think.

The smart legs are made from durable ash and come in natural, tinted or black finishes. Choose black for a more streamlined look with the teal. If you want something bigger, this British made sofa is also available as a three and four-seater sofa and an armchair and also with a whopping ten-year guarantee on the beech and birch frames.

You can also choose from different styles and colours such as cotton, linen, wool and felt in a range of colours online. 

5 Top Tips why a sofa bed is better than a sofa

5 Top Tips why a sofa bed is better than a sofa

If you’re looking for reasons to buy a sofa bed rather than a sofa, search no further. Here are the 5 Top Tips why a sofa bed is better than a sofa.

 

1. If you live in a small house or flat, sofa beds are great for small living rooms areas giving you a spare bedroom at the very last minute when you need it sometimes. Having a sofa bed in the living room, TV room or in a bedroom makes perfect sense for families in larger homes, too, where guests might be frequent.

 

2. If you have a small budget, buying a sofa bed can save you money because you can use one single piece of furniture for two jobs: seating and sleeping. And, you need not spend a fortune on a good quality sofa bed either. 

 

3. Gone were the days when awful memories of sleeping on a terrible sofa bed, right? The mattresses are terrible and you can feel the bed frame beneath. Those were old sofa beds. Those days have gone. Now, thanks to advances in manufacturing technologies and, no doubt, consumer demand, sofa beds are made for comfortable sleep, and the best are made for permanent sleep, so should provide you with as much support as a proper bed. Other than a well-made frame and base, a sprung or foam in particular a memory foam mattress of a decent depth will be a real bonus. 

Image: Made Haru Sofa Bed

4. Now sofa beds come in various shapes and sizes! There are beds in a box, loveseats, two-seaters, three-seaters and L-shaped, all of which can be easily converted to suit your space and guest numbers. Function-wise, there’s plenty of choice to choose from, for example, pull-out sleep surfaces to sofa beds with backs that fold backwards to provide an instant double bed. Choose one that suits you best.

 

5. Approach buying a sofa bed just like you would a sofa, checking its frame and fillings for both quality of construction and how it matches your personal preferences. Sofa beds do tend to feel firmer than sofas, so picking one with a combination of softer cushion types fibre seat cushions and feather back cushions, for example will give you the best balance. Look for a sofa bed with ideally a hardwood frame that’s screwed and glued. 

The Chesterfield Style Sofa

The Chesterfield Style Sofa

Chesterfield is one of the most popular classic designs of sofas, the style has been around for centuries starting in Britain and becoming a global trend. Originally the sofa was rich in brown leather with button tufting but throughout the years it has been modernised into different versions adapted from the original, so there are a lot of styles to choose from.

For nearly 300 years, the Chesterfield sofa can truly be called a timeless classic. Whether upholstered in rich leather or patterned cloth, the design has been continuously been reinvented to show that it belongs in many spaces other than dusty old gentlemen’s clubs. 

Chesterfield sofas are like the riding boots of the furniture world. They have got British roots, most famously come in rich brown leather, have been around for centuries yet continue to be relevant in both style and function and are an object of the modern era’s fascination. 

The Chesterfield sofa is a distinctly recognisable furniture design with its high arms, and tufted leather upholstery the most notable features. It’s spent most of its life within the walls of English gentlemen’s clubs, aristocratic homes, and tony businesses (Queen Victoria and Sigmund Freud were both fans), but the Chesterfield has become a more widely sought after piece of furniture, being adapted for more modern spaces in the last few decades.

So what exactly is a Chesterfield sofa? The Chesterfield sofa is one of the most popular and well-known sofa designs. In fact, in Canada (receiver of many British exports), the term chesterfield came to mean a sofa of any design. But when you’re talking about the original, here’s what that means: a Chesterfield sofa is a large couch with rolled arms that are the same height as the back. A quintessential Chesterfield is upholstered in dark leather, with deep button tufting all over and nailhead trim. More modern takes on the sofa typically lighten up the hefty original with velvet or other cloth upholstery, taller legs and a slimmer back and arms.

So Where Did The Chesterfield Sofa Come From? Though it’s not officially documented, in the mid-1700s Lord Philip Stanhope, fourth Earl of Chesterfield, commissioned a piece of furniture that became the ancestor of Chesterfields as we know them today. Lord Stanhope was an admired writer and politician and was also apparently known as a trendsetter of his time. As any proper gentleman would want, he requested a piece of furniture that would allow him to sit upright without wrinkling his suit.

The legend continues that on his deathbed, Lord Stanhope told his butler to “give Mr Dayrolles a chair,” probably asking him to find a seat for his godson. But the butler wasn’t sure exactly what his deceased boss meant, so he literally gave the prototype to Mr Dayrolles, who then showed off the design to his many houseguests, which became a popular icon in years to come.

In this video by  Inspirational Interior Design Ideas, shows how The Chesterfield Style Sofa has been reinvented multiple times in the past years.

Top 5 tips on buying a sofa

Top 5 Tips on Buying a Sofa

There are some people who live with their sofas for a lifetime. Most expect them to last in good condition for around ten years. There’s nothing better than to curl up and relax on a cosy sofa. Of course, this depends on the design and upholstery of the sofa and what you are using it for. It may be that you want a very cheap sofa for a limited time or even just to help sell your house.

At the other end of the scale, some luxury, designer or antique and vintage sofas retail for thousands of pounds. In the middle, you can expect to buy one for between £200 – £800. Remember you can also dress a cheaper sofa up with colourful throws and cushions. So it depends on you and your budget. But buying one that will stand the test of time requires some careful consideration.

The important thing is not to rush into an impulsive purchase, as your sofa will be one of the most used pieces of furniture in your home. A high level of craftsmanship that delivers deep comfort and support is paramount, but then there are other considerations, such as sofa style and shape, upholstery type and durability and the sofa’s suitability to your home and lifestyle. 

Helping to steer you in the right direction, this Top 5 Tips on buying a sofa lists the most essential points to consider so that when at last you make your purchase and sink into your new sofa at home. It will not only provide an exceptionally comfortable experience but will also last for many years to come.

1. Checking and Planning

Many people set their hearts on a certain sofa but don’t think about where it’s going to go. One of the biggest issues is the size. Your sofa needs to fit comfortably in a room so check how much space (length, height and depth) you have before heading off to the sofa shop. You don’t want to get your new sofa into your lounge only to find you then can’t open and close the door! 

Never forget to measure the area you’ve designated for your new sofa very carefully, taking into account the size and shape of the room. Once your heart is set on a sofa that you think will fill the space well, bring its measurements home and mark the sofa’s outline on the floor with string. This way you can be sure the sofa will fit the space and that there will be room to walk around or past it.

It is important how you plan to get your sofa into your living room, especially if your home is small and has only front door access. If you have narrow entries or live in a flat accessed via a lift or stairs, consider whether you will be able to easily manoeuvre your sofa in the lift or through the front door. Otherwise hauling it up to your apartment could end in disappointment and frustration, to say the least.

2. Test, Test, Test!

Spend plenty of time sitting on sofas testing them for comfort, as what you see and more importantly what you feel, is mostly what you get. That said, be aware that a sofa that feels wonderfully supportive now may sag over time. For this reason, ask the store salesperson lots of questions about the sofa, particularly about what’s going on under the upholstery. In terms of quality and craftsmanship, this will ultimately be the real indicator of whether you are buying a sofa for the long or short term.

If you have a large family, including small children, then a white leather sofa probably isn’t the best option. Think about who will be sitting on the sofa, where it will go and what else it might be used for. A sofa bed could be a useful dual-purpose item, for example.

If you have a narrow or small living room, you don’t want to clutter it with a huge sofa that leaves no room for anything else. Long sofas are ideally suited to terrace house living areas that are often open plan.

Image: Inside Weather-unsplash

3. What is Sofa made of?

When out looking for a sofa, also consider how it is made so that you end up with a good quality piece of furniture:

  • Frame – Like a solid building, a well-built sofa is based on a sound frame. Sofas with kiln-dried hardwood frames such as oak or poplar are good options. Kiln-drying removes excess water in the wood so that it doesn’t warp or crack later. You can get cheaper-framed sofas using softwood, plywood or plastic, but expect these to last for a shorter period of time.
  • Construction – A good sofa will have its frame joined using a mixture of dowel, block and glue and screws. Cheaper sofas will be stapled and glued together with lighter weight braces to hold the joints together. See how solid your sofa is by wiggling it gently from side to side. A solid frame should not wiggle!
  • Suspension  – When you sit on a sofa, it’s the suspension system that gives it its bounce. The eight-way hand-tied coil system gives the firmest and most continuous ‘ride’ (how even it is across the sofa). The drop coil system gives a slightly less continuous ride so you could end up sitting in a dip. The sinuous system is often used in low slung seats and is not for those who dream of diving into a soft plump sofa!
  • Cushions – Full down cushions give a very soft feel but need plumping up to reshape them. Semi-sprung, fabric-wrapped cushions give a firmer seat but still a soft feel, foam-filled sofas are the firmest of all. It can be used in anything from cheap sofas to very expensive sleek ones.
  • Upholstery – This is the bit you can actually see. Keep in mind that tightly woven fabrics tend to wear the best – the number of threads per square inch tends to determine the durability and woven patterns last better than prints. 

4. Material

If you want to keep your sofa to last, choosing the right textile for your sofa is as important as making sure the construction standards are high.

 

Hard-wearing cotton and linen are winners, but when mixed with a cheap synthetic, can often pill after a year of wear. High-quality synthetic microfibre fabrics, however, can mimic the weave and handle of most natural fabrics and are stain-resistant, making these textiles excellent choices. They are also less likely to colour fade.

 

Wool is natural, resilient; cotton takes colour well but may tend to mildew. 

Linen works best in natural shades.

Silk is beautiful but fragile; polyester is strong and cleanable. 

Nylon is the strongest and most dirt-resistant of all. 

Leather for its durability is both luxurious and practical, genuine leather lounges tend to complement any home decor. If combined with quality construction, they offer years of comfort and style. Leather is a durable material and gets better with time, but it needs some care. Treat it with a high-quality conditioner every six months to a year.

 

If you have got young children or pets or you’re just worried about general wear and tear, it might be worth getting the fabric of your sofa protected. Sometimes the retailer will do this for you or you can buy products yourself.

5. Colour…?

If you’ve found your dream sofa but are unsure about what colour is going to work in your decor scheme, or haven’t even decided on one yet, stick with a neutral. It will probably work with any of the colourways or patterns you introduce at a later date.

If your plan has a predominately warm palette, choose a beige, mushroom or cream sofa; a grey, charcoal and even white sofa will work best with a cool colour palette. Punchy colour should come from accessory pillows or throw rugs as these can easily be replaced when the next new colour wave trend hits. If you really feel that a colourful sofa will work in your home, choose one in a block of colour that will be easier to style as trends change over time.

 

A new sofa could be one of the most expensive items in your home so remember to take it into account when you’re working out how much home contents insurance to take out. If you also take out accidental damage cover, you’ll be insured against common household accidents, for example, children’s crayons and careless adults!

Banner Image: Nathan Fertig-unsplash