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How to Make a Bath Bomb: Ingredients, Smells and Types

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to make your own bath bomb? Well, in this blog post we will talk about how to make a bath bomb. There are five easy steps that you can follow in order to create the perfect bath time experience for yourself or someone else. We will discuss ingredients, smells and types of bath bombs. 

Bath bombs have been popular since the early 1900s when they were first created by an American company called “Luna.” They became more mainstream after 2000 and now there is a huge market for them!

What ingredients do I need to make bath bombs?

  • Baking Soda – This is an alkali that loosens dirt and grime in the pores. It also fights odours, so it can be used to make your bath smell fresh!
  • Citric Acid – This ingredient will provide a citrusy scent for you when you’re scrubbing away at those rough spots on your skin. The acid also helps with breaking down oils and fats from food and other substances which makes some of them dissolve better than others. Citrus fruits contain citric acid naturally, but if you don’t want any brightening effects (or prefer not to use products made with natural ingredients) then this is something we recommend avoiding since it’s one of the main factors that causes discolouration.)
  • Coconut Oil – This is a nice addition to your bath bomb because it helps with moisturising the skin. It also has antibacterial properties, which means that you can use this oil for disinfecting and soothing minor burns.
  • Essential Oils – These provide fragrance (and therapeutic benefits) but they come in many different scents such as lavender or peppermint! Lavender offers calming qualities while Peppermint provides an invigorating experience!
  • Glycerine – This ingredient will give your skin some extra moisture when combined with coconut oil! It’s usually found near products like soaps and lotions. Glycerine is used in these instead of water because it maintains its consistency better over time.
  • Gelatine – Flavourless starches like gelatine help bind ingredients together because they act as thickening agents when mixed with water or liquid. They also make bath bombs softer which leads to better shape retention (i.e., not flattening out).
  • Mica Powder – This powder gives off sparkles in the tub, but it has many more benefits besides just being pretty! It’s used as a moisturiser, it has a cleansing effect on your skin because of the abrasive particles that are in it.
  • Almond Oil – This is a great choice for both sweet and savoury scents! It’s also good to use when making bath bombs with soothing essential oils because almond oil will help strengthen and soothe any fragrances you’re trying to create. Plus, this ingredient can moisturise dry skin as well!
Coconut Oil in Clear Glass Jar
Coconut Oil in Clear Glass Jar

How do you make a simple bath bomb?

To make a bath bomb, you will need:

Mix the baking powder, citric acid and Epsom (or sea) salts together in a bowl. Add to this mixture your desired colourant of choice, whether it’s food colouring or powdered clay! Next add oils from a few different scents because smelling like flowers all day can be overwhelming sometimes. 

Mix these ingredients until they are fully combined and then roll them into balls with small amounts of water at room temperature for about three minutes before chilling in the refrigerator for hours on end. When chilled enough, take them out and package as desired.

If you want an even more moisturising bath bomb, feel free to add in a few tablespoons of cocoa butter or shea butter!

Read our previous article on how to clean a dressing table with sugar soap

Other ways to make bath bombs

Use a candy mould to make your bath bomb. You can use any type of candy that is hard and will hold the shape (i.e., rock candy, chocolate or clear). The downside with this method is you have less control over ingredients since it’s already mixed together in the moulds. Plus, some people don’t like eating their bath bombs!

If using these types of moulds, I recommend adding cocoa butter for moisturising purposes too!

Instead of rolling them into balls before chilling in the refrigerator, add all your dry ingredients and oils into a bowl first then pour boiling water over top before mixing at room temperature until combined – then let it chill overnight instead.

Silicone Cake Moulds
Silicone Cake Moulds

Are bath bombs toxic?

Bath bombs are not toxic in any way.

There are a few different types of chemicals that can be used to make bath bombs, and the only ingredients you should be worried about when it comes to toxicity is baking soda.

Baking soda is something that I would personally avoid or use sparingly if sensitive skin – especially because some people find them itchy. The fragrances and dyes are the most common ingredients that may cause irritation for some people, but if you don’t have sensitive skin then they should do just fine. 

Bath bombs are safe to use around kids and pets as long as you’re careful with them – especially because bath time is a lot of fun for everyone!

Do you need baking soda for bath bombs?

In order to make a bath bomb it is necessary to have baking soda.

Baking soda is the main ingredient of bath bombs and for them to work you need it in there so that they can dissolve quickly.

Otherwise, your bathroom will be covered with a powdery mess! Without this chemical other ingredients would not do their job but you can use alternative ingredients.

What can you use instead of baking soda for bath bombs?

Instead of baking soda you can use Epsom salts or baking powder.

Epsom salt is a type of mineral that has been used for its medicinal purpose in therapeutic baths and soaks since the 19th century! It’s known to help relieve muscle aches, joint pain, swelling, and even reduce fever.

Bath bomb with Towel, Salt and Candle
Bath bomb with Towel, Salt and Candle

Tips

What Does a Diverter Valve Do?

Toaster radiators, hot water, and steam showers are all essential things in most homes, and a combi boiler makes it easier to switch from one to another thanks to a diverter valve.

A diverter valve diverts water to the faucet you need it. Therefore, if this crucial component starts to malfunction, then you will experience intermittent heating, lukewarm water, or even no heating at all.

It is, therefore, important to understand what a diverter valve is and how it works so that you can be in a better position to understand how to fix it in case it becomes faulty.

In this guide, we discuss what a diverter valve does, how it works, and how to know when it is at fault.

Let’s get started…

What Does a Diverter Valve Do?

The diverter valve in your combi boiler is a valve that opens and closes to allow heat to your radiators or hot water to your faucets.

In other words, when you turn on your hot tap, it is the diverter valve that directs hot water to the faucet. This means you get hot water instantly whenever you want it. Also, if you switch on your central heating unit, then hot water will be sent to your radiators.

However, it is important to mention that the diverter valve prioritizes hot water to your faucet over radiators and thus will close the heating supply until you switch off hot water taps. Once you turn off hot water taps or shower, the hot water will be directed to your radiator.

How Does A Diverter Valve Work?

As we mentioned earlier, the diverter valve responds to your hot water requirement, whereby it makes water available to your shower or hot taps whenever you need it.

In terms of how it works, we can simply say that it acts as a gatekeeper for hot water, whereby it sends water that is heated in your combi-boiler to where you need it at that moment.

This means that when you switch on hot water taps, the diverter valve closes off the central heating supply and sends water to the plate heat exchanger for heating, and this is how you get the hot water in your tap or shower.

When you turn off the hot tap or shower, the diverter valve closes off the water supply and directs it back to the plate heat exchanger to feed your radiator with hot water.

Check price for this Combi Boiler 3 way Diverter here

Common Diverter Valve Problems

Thanks to our friend and boiler installation specialist Ben Race from the Easy Boiler Company for the facts below.

To execute its function of diverting water to where it is needed, the diverter valve is fitted with several moving parts that control water flow and direction. These parts tend to degrade over time. Here are the common issues that can signify there is a problem with your combi-boilers diverter valve;

Having lukewarm water in your hot taps and shower

If the water coming out of your showers and taps is only lukewarm, this can be an issue with your diverter valve. In most cases, the problem comes because the valve is getting stuck, which means that hot water that should go to the showers and tap is getting lost.

This may cause an increase in annual energy bills as more heat is getting lost. If this happens, you will want your valve to be repaired as soon as possible.

You have hot water but no heat

Another indicator that your diverter valve has a problem is when you have hot water in your showers and taps but no heat from your radiators.

This often indicates the diverter valve is stuck on the hot water side. As we mentioned earlier, the diverter valve prioritizes hot water in your faucets over radiators. Therefore, when it gets stuck on the hot water side, then you will have hot water coming out of your taps, but the radiator won’t heat.

No hot water

This is the clearest indicator that your diverter valve is at fault. If the water won’t heat up, even after letting it flow for some time, then there is something wrong with your diverter valve.

In most cases, all these problems result from the diverter getting stuck due to the build-up of limescale or moving parts getting worn out.

Check Prices Of Diverter Valves Here

How do you fix a faulty diverter valve?

If you are experiencing hot water issues emanating from the diverter valve, we recommend that you call a registered plumber or gas engineer to fix the problem.

A professional will assess the heating system and see whether the diverter valve is to blame or there is a serious underlying problem. They can advise you on the way forward.

A detailed look at how diverter valves work

Exterior Decor

Monocouche rendering: what is it?

Rendering your house is a very popular option for many people. There are lots of different rendering options, such as sand and cement, K-rend, pebbledash, wet dash, and monocouche rendering. Monocouche means “one coat” in French, and unlike other rendering options such as sand and cement, it can be applied in one go. But what exactly is monocouche rendering? And why is it so popular?

Monocouche rendering: what is it?

This and other types of rendering have been described in much more detail by Render Hero who are exterior rendering specialists from Newcastle from whom we have gathered most of this information but we are going to simplify it a little.

Monocouche render is a dry powdered render. It sometimes confused with cement render, but its properties are actually quite different. While it does have cement as an ingredient, it uses white cement rather than the grey cement that is used in traditional rendering. This gives it a very different finish.

Because of this difference in materials, monocouche rendering has through colour. White cement is more porous than grey cement, and this allows the render to be pigmented in whatever colour you want. And it never needs to be painted.

Monocouche render can also be finished in a variety of ways (although it is usually scraped to give a pitted effect) and it provides a chalkier flat finish overall. This can make the exterior of your property look crisp and fresh. This crispness as well as its low maintenance makes it a popular choice for new-build homes but it can also be applied to older homes to refresh them.

a house rendered with through coloured monocouche render

What are the benefits of monocouche rendering?

If you’re considering whether monocouche rendering is right for your home, there are lots of elements to consider.

1) It is convenient

Monocouche rendering can be applied in one go. It is applied in two passes, and can be troweled (or sprayed) and scraped on the same day. This is obviously an advantage both in terms of how long it takes to finish the project and in terms of reducing costs such as scaffolding and labour.

2) It is less prone to cracking

One of the big downsides of using sand and cement render is that it is fairly inflexible. Your home will expand and contract depending on weather conditions, and because sand and cement render is inflexible, this can make it prone to cracking. In contrast, monocouche render is flexible, meaning that it can expand and contract with the house without cracking.

3) It is durable

Monocouche render is guaranteed to last at least 10 years. So once it is on your home, you don’t have to worry about rendering for at least that long.

4) It is low-maintenance

Sand and cement render isn’t capable of holding any pigmentation because of the type of cement used, so requires painting around every four years. Painting a whole house of render is a big job, and can sometimes be costly. With monocouche render, you never need to paint it because it has through colour. This means that the colour goes all the way through the render. So even if you get any scrapes or scratches on it, the same colour will show through and they will be barely noticeable.

5) It has a lot of variety

You can choose exactly how you want your house to look with monocouche render. There is a huge range of colours available, and also a range of finishes. These include scraped, roughcast, or dry-dashed, and you can also make ashlar and quoin features using it.

6) It is weatherproof

As we all know, the weather in the UK can be dismal at times, so you really need your home to be able to stand up to all sorts of weather conditions. Monocouche render is both waterproof and weatherproof, so will protect your home from the elements, whatever they are.

7) It is insulating

Another important feature of monocouche rendering is that it is insulating. What this means for you is that you won’t need to use your central heating as much to heat your home. And not only will this save you on your energy bills, but it is also better for the environment.

In summary

Monocouche rendering can be a really good choice for all sorts of different homes, from new-builds to much older houses. It is convenient, less prone to cracking, durable, low-maintenance, weatherproof, insulating, and there is a lot of variety in terms of colour and finish. There is a good reason why it has become one of the more popular rendering choices in recent years.

D.I.Y

How To Upcycle Your Old Dressing Table

If you’re struggling to find exactly what you’re looking for, you want to save a bit of money or you’re desperate for a new project, then upcycling an old dressing table could be for you. You will save lots of money and have plenty of fun in the process. So, before buying something new, look for an old piece of furniture that will have more character than anything you can buy in the shops and get started!

Find A Dressing Table

For those of you who don’t already have an old dressing table to upcycle, it’s time to find one! Contact friends and family, search online or try flea markets to find a dressing table that is full of character and has lots of potential. Shop around to find what you’re looking for and you will save so much money in the long run.

Make Any Repairs

Now that you have your dressing table, it’s time to start the upcycle! Pre-loved pieces of furniture are likely to have been around for a little while, so might need some TLC. It’s best to repair any broken or damaged bits before starting the rest of the upcycle. You may need to use wood filler to help get rid of any large scratches or dents that won’t be removed with sanding. Maybe you need to fix a stuck drawer or a broken leg, too. Once you have painted your table, you won’t want to have to be worrying about these things, so making any repairs at the beginning is the best way forward.

Clean With Sugar Soap

Once you’ve repaired any broken bits, it’s time to start cleaning. The first step is to remove any metal handles as they will be cleaned separately, then get out the sugar soap. Sugar soap is a cleaning product that prepares surfaces for repainting, as it gently washes any unwanted chemicals from the top layer of your furniture. With any cloth or sponge, clean the entire dressing table with the sugar soap and wipe afterwards with warm water. It is non-abrasive so won’t damage the dressing table, but it gets furniture in the best possible condition to give you a smooth finish once it is painted.

Bring Handles Back To Life

If the metal handles are dirty, grimey or generally very dirty, you’ll need to give them a good soak in equal parts of tomato ketchup and vinegar. Yes, this sounds really strange, but the acidic content of the two products helps to dissolve any grime. Leave to soak for a few hours before cleaning well (very well) and you’ll have brand new looking handles. For those of you with handles beyond repair, invest in some new ones that will bring the dressing table to life even more!

Sand It Down

Next, get some medium-grit sandpaper and go over the entire piece of furniture. It’s so important not to leave any lumps or bumps as they will be even more obvious when painted. Try to get things looking as even as possible all over, but it definitely won’t look perfect at this stage. Take a wet cloth to wipe away all the dust and leave to dry properly before moving on to the next stage.

Apply Primer

Whilst this stage isn’t essential as some paints have primer built in, applying a separate primer will ensure you have a nice smooth surface before painting, that the paint will stick to really well. Primer also helps to keep the paint intact for longer, meaning you won’t need to do another upcycle for a good few decades!

Firstly, put a sheet or newspaper underneath your dressing table in case things get messy. Take a small brush to get into any fiddly areas and use a larger brush for the open areas. Don’t expect a perfect coat the first time, as this is only a base for when you start applying the top layers of paint. Just take your time and evenly cover the entire dressing table. Once you’ve finished, leave it to dry according to the instructions on the paint and once dry, gently sand down any drip marks or lumpy bits and wipe away all the dust.

Time To Paint!

Once your primer has completely dried, it’s time to start painting. Now, when it comes to choosing a colour, your options are endless. In another post we written it included Dulux chic shadow silk & Dulux goose down paint which has been in trend for a couple of years now and still looks great. You could go for a simple white, a sleek black or add a pop of colour with pastel pink, sage green or teal blue. The darker you go, the more coats you might need, but you shouldn’t need any more than 3, especially with the primer.

Follow the same steps as with the primer, using the smaller brush for areas that are intricate and a bigger brush for the larger surfaces. Take your time and gradually work your way around the dressing table. Again, the first coat won’t be perfect, but you will notice such a big difference after the second coat. No matter how many coats it needs, repeat the same process. It is so important that you leave enough time for the paint to dry properly in between coats, or you risk ending up with bobbly and lumpy areas of paint.

Try using a colour that contrasts the rest of the dressing table on the drawers or on the top. If you’re feeling brave, why not try using stencils to create something completely unique? This is your chance to be creative, so find some inspiration and go wild. Reattach your handles or fit your new ones, and you’ve got your brand new dressing table!

Delux chic shadow silk paint in grey

Check Dulux chic shadow paint here

Dulux Goose Down Paint Matt

Check Dulux goose down paint here

Summary

So, there you have it! A brand new piece focal point for your room that everyone will think is from a designer furniture shop. Taking some time and care to renovate an old piece of furniture into exactly what you were looking for is not only cost effective, but extremely environmentally friendly. Prepared to feel proud every time you enter the room when you look at your new dressing table.

Tips

How to Keep House Smelling Good With Pets

Pets are more than just animals roaming in our homes – they are part of our family. They keep us company and entertain us. Dogs further offer protection, while cats ensure there are no rodents in the house. Unfortunately, it is not all rosy with pets. This is because they can leave an undesirable odor behind. Although you may get used to pet odor in your house, visitors will notice the uncomfortable smell, which you do not want. Therefore, you must know how to deal with this odor. Below are some helpful tips on how to keep your home odor-free.

Keep everything clean

One effective way to keep pet odor at bay is to clean all your pet’s supplies. Wash their dishes, launder their bending, and clean pet collars. Also, be sure to clean all areas that your pet may come into contact with such pillow beds and couch. To make the cleaning easy, remove the seat cushions and pillows and vacuum your furniture.

Use shampoos and deodorants

Another great way to keep pet smells at bay is to bath the pet using shampoo. However, bathing pets can be too much if you have to do it daily. This is because some pets are playful and enjoy playing in the mud and dirt, which may necessitate bathing the pet twice a day. While it is essential to bath your pet, keep in mind that too much bathing can result in skin dryness, which is not suitable for your pet.

shampoo your dog
shampoo your dog

Carpets are a big problem with pets they will cling onto the fibers for months even after the pet has left says John from ACS – an Alex carpet cleaning company. We use a range of stage by stage pet friendly chemicals to treat the carpet to stop it holding a scent as much.

Using a pet deodorizer is a good option as well. However, note that you should only use the deodorant after bathing the pet. This is because spraying fragrance on the pet without bathing will only prevent the odor for a while but not deal with it. But bathing and applying deodorant works better. The plug in air fresheners by Ambi Pur for pet odor removal have had good reviews and can be found readily on Amazon.

Ambi Pur 3Volution Pet Odor Remover

https://amzn.to/2ZGomUu

Absorb and avoid cover-up

While using plug-in candles is a welcome idea when dealing with pet odor, it does not remove bad smells but instead covers it up. The result will be a mixture of odor smells that can be irritating.

air freshener with pets in the house
air freshener with pets in the house

Therefore, consider using natural neutralizers to eliminate the bad smell when your pets wee or defecate accidentally, but not as a preventive measure.

https://amzn.to/3e19rsZ

Clean the Walls

Pets enjoy lying down against walls, leaving behind their natural oil, and this can be smelly. If you have a whitish wall, you can see these oils and stains. Therefore, you need to clean the wall as this pet oils could result in bad odor. In some cases, you may need to repaint the wall. Consider using sealants if the odor is trapped in bricks, paneling, and any other masonry or woodwork. Applying a seal will trap the smell and keep your home fresh.


https://amzn.to/2VON6ZC

Use air purifier

Air purifiers work by filtering air particles to improve air quality in your indoor space. Through purification, the air purifier lessens dust and sanitizes the air by removing bad smells. A HEPA filter best for people with allergies and will as well make your home smell fresh. The best part is that most purifiers are not expensive, and you can find the right size for your home even if you’re on a budget. With the right purifier, you can keep your pets without worrying about pet odor provided you perform other necessary cleaning procedures.

Pet grooming

Since pet hair and dandruff can result in odor, be sure to brush your pets regularly to minimize shedding. This way, you can take control of where they shed their fur. You can dedicate a few hours weekly to grooming your pets and keep your home clean and odor-free. Besides, grooming your pets will keep then good looking. You will as well bond with your pets as you groom them.

https://amzn.to/2O5X2t7

Keep windows open

While this sounds obvious, many people do not know that it helps keep a house with pets fresh. By opening the windows regularly for as many hours as possible, you will be letting in the fresh air, which will make your home feel fresh. This, combined with pet deodorizer, air purifier, regular pet grooming, general cleaning, etc. will keep your house smelling fresh, and you will never have to worry about pet odor. With all these tips, you will have an easy time dealing with pet odor in your house.

D.I.Y

How to Wire a Light Switch?

You may want to know how to wire a light switch? Light switch wiring can be simple or notoriously fiddly, so you have to know what you are doing somewhat and keep in mind the safety aspects and concerns of wire lights. If you are unsure – it may be better to get an electrician to do this task or someone similar that is trained. Electricity is not something to be messed with – it can be incredibly dangerous and fatal if not done right. But do not let this put you off. It is a creative thing to learn and can save a lot of money.

  • lightbulb
    lightbulb

RCD Protection

Adding a new light from scratch or a completely new switch now requires the circuit to have RCD protection. This often requires that the fuse board is upgraded to a modern consumer unit.

How to Wire a Ceiling light

Here are some tips to follow on how to wire a light switch uk. How to wire a one way light switch is sometimes more difficult than it seems. But let’s find out how to do it. Firstly, the most important step on Wiring a lighting circuit:

Safety:

  • Make sure you switch off the mains power at the fuse box. This way you will be ensuring you do not cut through a live mains cable that could cause serious damage. 
  • Use a voltmeter, and/or a socket tester so you can be sure there are no mains running through the wires.
  • When you are finished, also use a socket tester or multimeter before you switch the mains back on. 

How to Wire a light?

Wiring a light switch uk could not be easier. Here we shall run through the steps. For a one-way switch, firstly you must earth the switch. This will make sure if there are any power surges, the power will be directed away and be dispersed in a safe manner. To do this you must open the switch and draw a light wiring diagram. This diagram will help you remember where to place the wires back and if you need a future reference of this light fitting. 

  • Secondly: You must connect the correct cores to the correct terminals of the new switch and tighten the screws. 
  • Third: Make sure you earth the switch and cover with some green/yellow sleeving. 
  • Fourth: Check everything is secure and cover over with the face plate. 

This is basic ceiling light wiring. Wiring a ceiling light can be very rewarding and ultimately save a lot of money if you do it right. The thing is – because it is quite tricky and there is not much margin for error, it can often go wrong. Sometimes you may want to get an electrician so they can check over your work and teach you a little bit more, so you can be confident. Check out our article on covering boiler pipes for more.

How to wire a double 2 way light switch

This is slightly different to 1 way light switches. Multi way switching needs an extra core so the current can run around the circuit in different directions in various ways. Because of the arrangement of the switching, these wires can be live at all times, so they require an extra brown safety flag on the wires to alert people to this fact, because it can be very dangerous. 

How to Wire a Double Light Switch

2 way light switch wiring needs to be done with an air of caution. They should all take power from the same circuit, but if not wired correctly, they may take power from different circuits. There could still be live cables if it is in a neutral position. This does not necessarily mean they are wrong, but may require an expert to take a look at them to make sure nothing is untoward. 2 wire light switches may require bigger wall mounts, so make sure you look out for this. 

Double light switch wiring is useful however, and is worth it. It is mostly used in larger rooms, like a long narrow hallway or a room with two entrances. Two way light switch wiring is useful here because sometimes, one can enter a room and not exit it the same way, so it makes it a better user experience throughout the whole house.

How to wire a light fitting with 3 cables

This is the same. Most all light fittings have 3 cables or more. A live, earth and a neutral. How to wire a light fitting with multiple cables is often asked, but it actually the same for multiple as it is for the two cables. This would also be the same advice for how to wire a light fitting with 4 cables.

Light switch wiring diagram

You probably will have seen a lot of wiring diagrams. But these can be confusing if you do not know what the symbols mean. What do the symbols mean??

Wiring a light switch uk diagram can be different to the EU and the USA, and everywhere else, so which is right? 

Light wiring colours:

We know the black or red means current, white neutral wires, silver or copper are the ground wires which are disconnected last.  The actual light, is represented by a circle sometimes with a cross in it, and the switch itself is represented by a line with a 45 degree line coming out of it (as if the switch is off at the moment). Next time you see a light wiring diagram uk, you may know what you are seeing!

Hopefully you have learned how to do wiring a light fitting uk ! Make sure you read other articles and follow safety precautions when you are doing this because it can be dangerous. Here is an article on tidying the home.

DIY Interior

How to Create Additional Storage in Your Bedroom

Have you ever found that your bedroom is just overrun with items that don’t have a place to go? If so, you may want to consider how to best improve or enhance the way storage is installed in your bedroom. Added storage, in small or large amounts, can improve the way your bedroom functions as a whole. For that reason, here are some ideas on how you can work to create additional storage in your bedroom: 

Install Shelving 

There is one surface that massively under performs in your bedroom; the walls. Often these are left bare and empty even though in every other area of your home you would have shelves. That is why, then, installing shelves in your bedroom can be a simple way to increase your bedroom storage. 

Shelving can also be extremely decorative depending on your choices. As you can either use the shelves for practical use or art, decorative features or otherwise as well. Your shelving choices don’t necessarily have to be wooden planks on a wall either. 

shelving
shelving

Try quirky shelving choices that will catch the eye, for example, a selection of hangers linked up can be both interesting and good to store various items (not only clothing), you could also add a storage trunk underneath the shelf in the unused space making even more room. The more creative your shelving choices are, the more interesting it will be and the more storage you can inject into the room. 

Beds with Storage 

A bed is the biggest item of furniture in your room and so can be severely underused. If you don’t have storage under your bed or a storage bed, then you are missing out on a very lucrative storage space. 

This can be done via DIY as you can easily create your own under-bed storage boxes. You can either re-use old boxes, cutting them down to size, or create brand new ones bespoke for the space you have available. Though this fully depends on your level of DIY skills and whether you have the urge to create something yourself. 

Of course, you do run the risk of making under your bed a little bit of a cemetery of unused items or knick-knacks. So, the best practice is to make sure you sort or clear through your under-bed storage at least once a year. This way you don’t waste space in the long-term either! 

Optimise Your Wardrobe 

The wardrobe is a big space and a necessary part of our bedroom storage options. However, it can be very badly used in terms of saving space and optimising storage opportunities. The fact is that your wardrobe is more than just hanging space and one or two shelves. 

First things first: clean out the wardrobe. Get rid of old clothes you haven’t worn in years, clean the accumulated dust and make sure that it is all sorted before attempting to put anything back in. 

Then, you can work on adding more storage. A good first step is to add an extra hanging rod. You may have one already, but don’t be afraid to add a double-decker of hanging rods to optimise that side of your wardrobe. If it’s particularly tall (in the case of an in-built wall wardrobe especially) this can be a simple way to add more hanging space. Next, you can consider adding more shelving as well – though you should be a little more liberal with this. And if you do have shelves, make sure your clothes folding is optimised for the best use of space. 

Another good idea is to have a seasonal shift in clothing. Your winter wardrobe doesn’t need to be hanging up through the warm days of summer, pack it away out of sight instead! And then switch it back in once the chill starts to set in again. 

Also, don’t forget that your wardrobe doors also have plenty of room to have extra storage installed there. You can buy or create a shoe storage hanger, for example, which can be used for a variety of other knickknacks and storage. View more ways to creatively hide the ugly parts of your home!

Storage Boxes/Bench 

When it comes to the bedroom, freestanding pieces of furniture need to be limited; otherwise, you end up with a very cramped space. That is why you may do better with a number of storage boxes instead of a dedicated piece of furniture. As these can often be tucked away or stored in out-of-the-way spots. 

Or, for example, you could invest in a storage bench. These come in many shapes and sizes, as well as in fabrics such as luxury velvet furniture pieces or even leather – it depends on your overall bedroom decor or theme. 

Use A Storage Facility

I have noticed a lot of self storage services pop up around the country like Henfield Storage where people can store away their things in a secure unit and even hold their own key. Some of these services offer a free pick up service too if you hire storage over a certain period of say 3 months. This is not ideal for things you regularly use but serves a purpose for a few situations.

Install Organisers in Drawers 

Is your sock drawer a little bit of a mess? Socks bulging, underwear falling out whenever it opens or something along those lines? Then your drawers may need a little bit of organisation. A drawer organiser can help to create neat, simple, partitions in your drawers which can actually be very useful. 

chest-of-drawers
chest-of-drawers

A drawer partition can separate your socks from your underwear, but it can also be used in several different drawers as well. You can separate your pyjamas from your day clothes, your t-shirt from your shorts, you can even separate your knicks from your knacks. A drawer partition can also be easily made with a few simple pieces of wood as well. Or there are a few shops which may have a solution that fits as well. 

And there you have it! Lots of different techniques that you can use to add more storage space to your bedroom, either in isolation or collectively, depending on your storage needs. With both DIY and shop-bought options, there’s no reason you should be lacking space in your bedroom. So, start increasing your storage today. For more decluttering info, check out our ultimate decluttering guide!

Garden

How to Organise Your Garden Shed

Organising your garden shed is often harder than it sounds. Garden sheds sometimes turn into a dumpsite for garden equipment and items we don’t want to store in the house, but don’t want to do away with completely either. However, the accumulated items in our garden shed can be very inconvenient, especially if we’re looking for something important. Freeing up shed space can also help you be a more efficient gardener.

So let’s have a look at the best ways to organise a garden shed.

Start with decluttering

The first step to organising your garden shed is by tackling the clutter. Start by taking everything out of the shed, and be ruthless in weeding out the things you can part with. If you haven’t used the item in over a year, it’s safe to say it’s fine to give or throw away. The English Garden recommends devoting a whole day to cleaning your shed to ensure that the decluttering is done properly. In setting aside a good amount of time to organise your shed, you save yourself the hassle of constantly looking for items in the future. In the long-term you will save yourself a lot of effort.

What not to store in your shed

When you’re deciding what to keep and what to throw away, it is best to know which items shouldn’t be stored in a shed. Country Living explains that temperature and moisture must be considered when storing something in a shed. Insulation, mould and humidity means that there are some household items that won’t store well. Canned food, wine, photographs, paint and glue are all subject to damage due to the temperature and humidity. Clothing and bedding can also be damaged by moths, and electronics run the risk of rusting. When decluttering your shed, make sure that none of these items are left behind. If you are using your shed as a storage space it should be functional and not a dumping ground.

Making the most of storage space

After you’ve decluttered your shed, the next step is to create storage space. There are many DIY upcycling projects that can create more effective storage units for your shed. Instead of placing small wooden crates on the floor, consider hanging some of them on the wall by suspending them on sturdy hooks. You can place anything from small tools to plants in them for easy access. You can also use hooks to hang larger tools on the wall, giving you more floor space. If you have fruit crates, you can also consider mounting them to the wall for extra shelves. With a fresh coat of paint and some woodwork, you can also transform an old ladder into shelves for a storage unit that maximises vertical space.

Storing valuable items

If you are leaving valuable items such as bikes or expensive garden equipment in your shed, it’s best to make sure that they’re properly stored and protected. This may mean upgrading your shed, especially if the current structure needs a lot of repairs. Investing in or building a metal shed is the best way to keep these types of items safe. Screwfix’s collection of metal sheds details how most models come with multiple padlock points for extra security. Aside from keeping your valuables secure, metal sheds are much harder to break into from the sides compared to wooden structures. This is something to keep in mind if you want to keep valuables safe and secure in your garden shed.

Repurposing a garden shed

With a decluttered and properly organised garden shed, you should consider using it for more unique purposes. You can transform freed up garden sheds into a small home bar, a tiny summer house, an indoor garden, or even a hobby room—the possibilities are endless. When it comes to DIY shed building creating or repurposing a shed on your own means that you have complete control over the design. However, it’s still vital to be thorough in order to achieve quality results. Being hands on with organising your garden shed means that you now have free reign on how to make the best use of your space. Just be careful that bad habits don’t creep back in and a year later you are back to square one.

D.I.Y

Ultimate Decluttering Guide

Decluttering is one of the habits that you should want to have in your life. There are already millions of homes filled with so much clutter that their houses already look like a hoarder’s. For generally clean people, this is not a problem but for the majority of us, clutter is a serious problem.

We all want clean and spacious houses but the truth is our lifestyle and consumer behaviour does not allow us the ideal situation. The idea of decluttering can be quite too much especially when you realize the sheer amount of items that you have.

According to the LA Times, the average households over 300, 000 items. This is an astounding number of items given that the average space of a house is just getting smaller and smaller.

A minimalist lifestyle is ideal especially for young professionals who still have no kids. Most of them need only the bare essentials so it would only be best to start decluttering from now.

Here is a comprehensive decluttering guide that you can follow to ensure that your house does not look like a hoarder’s house.

Start Small

Decluttering can be overwhelming. Items piling up do not get rid of themselves and often, this clutter can hold up to months and months of unnecessary items. Start off with a small space just to get yourself going. Tackle a kitchen counter or a dining table first and then work towards the bigger space afterwards. You need a sense of motivation to keep yourself inspired. Cleaning can be a boring, back-breaking task and keeping yourself motivated will be hard.

Perhaps starting with only your walls can help, since this is the first thing that draws everyones attention, this way you’ll be motivated to do the rest of your home once you start noticnig the benefits of decluttering. Because you’ve now got free wall space, how about expanding your room with wall mirrors and creating a space that feels large, warm and not so claustrophobic anymore.

Work Slowly and in Increments

Work Slowly and in increments so you do not burn yourself out. Instead of using up the entire day just for decluttering, make it a habit instead. You can do an hour or two per day just for cleaning up or you can spend an afternoon on a free day. Don’t rush yourself. It’s better to have steady progress than a rushed success.

Get Organized

After cleaning and organizing each area, decide immediately what you want to do with the items that you’ve deemed unnecessary for your daily life. Create 4 piles: For Self-Storage, to throw away, to donate and to sell. One mistake that often occurs from people deciding to declutter is that after they declutter one area, they just bring the items to another area. Make sure that the items you decide to throw out goes straight to the trash or you’ll just end up with a big pile of stuff that you can’t throw away.

Rent a Storage Facility

     “One of the best actions to do when decluttering is to rent a storage facility” – WhatStorage?

Let’s face it. We all have items inside our homes that we can’t really part with. These items hold too much sentimental value to us or may still be useful in the future. However, keeping them inside our houses can be too troublesome. Renting a cheap storage facility to store them in would be the best solution for you. Self-storage facilities are a cheap and versatile solution to your storage problems. You can find a storage facility almost anywhere.

Enjoy Decluttering

Try to enjoy the little things about decluttering. For example, having a spacious house afterwards. Once you start enjoying, decluttering would very much be easier and faster. Focus on what is important and always remember why you decided to declutter.

It may be hard to let go of your items especially those with special memories associated with them. However, there is an adage, “Keep the memory but let go of the items.” This means that you can still reminisce without having to keep your house filled with unnecessary items. Here are some tips to help you let go of the items that you have.

Whilst decluttering, don’t forget to take into account what else you may need to add to your home now that you’ve freed up plenty of space. One great way is by Re-Designing your Home with Hand Carved Furniture to give it a more complete look now you’ve removed all the useless items from your interior.

Be informed of the 80/20 Rule

The 80/20 rule is the phenomenon that occurs in most people. It states that out of the 100% of items that we own, we only generally use 20 percent of it in our day to day lives. This can hold true for clothing, games, computer parts, books, tapes, toys, etc. Now that you are aware of this, make sure to get rid of the 80 percent that is basically just clutter.

Don’t Think About Their Past Value But Their Present/Future Value

The Wall Street Journal recently published an article that on average, Americans spend over $1.2 trillion annually on unnecessary items — this ranges from decorative items to stuff that they impulsively buy and do not use.

Often, people don’t get rid of their items because they are aware of the item’s past value. However, this should not be the case. Look at your stuff with its present or future value instead. There is no use in thinking of value that has long past.

Is the item still worth anything to you? Does it still have utility? If not, then what is it even doing inside your house?

Check Your Appliances If They All Work

Another factor that adds up to the clutter in our homes is broken appliances that “we swear to fix on our free day.” Let’s be real. Most of these appliances are too broken to fix or would cost less to buy a brand new one. Throw them out and enjoy the extra space.

D.I.Y

Home Improvements: What to do with shells from the beach

When you think of home improvements, you would most probably think about them costing you a dime or two. Well it doesn’t have to be that way, all it takes is getting your hands dirty, some elbow grease and our help to improve your home in a number of ways by using the seashells from your favourite beach.

You’ve most probably collected shells before with your little one, perhaps for one of their own art projects or easy shell crafts they can do at home. But we bet you’ve never collected them to improve your home. There are plenty of ways you can use shells to add attention to detail in a bathroom or dining area, keeping you up to date with the latest home decorating trends 2019.

Here are just some of the things you can do with them.

But before we get into that, you’ll want to know how to properly clean your shells so you can get a spotless look which will match perfectly with the rest of the home…

How to Clean Shells from the Beach

There’s actually quite the debate always going on about how to clean seashells from the beach, do you use baking soda? Regular fresh water? How about the water the shell was found in?

There are many different opinions across the web, here is ours;

MURIATIC ACID, shells will finally have their natural colour back and you’ll see a more beautiful side to them!

But don’t worry, muriatic acid for those of you who don’t know is just another word for hydrochloric acid. Which can be found in many household products such as toilet bowl cleaner and tile cleaner. This exact acid can be used to clean your shells.

Here is a safe solution for you and your shells and how to get them clean;

  • ¼ cup of muriatic acid and ¾ cups of water.
  • Dip for a maximum of 3 seconds and neutralize in fresh water straight after.
  • Avoid contact with skin and stainless steel

If you want to see the process of cleaning shells from the beach and you want to be mesmerized by the dirty to clean to shells, check out the how to bring back color to seashells tutorial.

How to make Seashells shine

It’s one thing cleaning your shells and making them look like they would in the sea, but it’s another thing completely to have them featuring their natural shine. With some mineral oil, you’re going to want to rub over the shell to give it a deep clean, it does 2 things:

  • It restores the natural shine of the shell
  • It preserves the shell

How to keep Seashells shiny

Finally you’ve got that shine back, but how do you go about keeping that beautiful shine so that after you’ve created your masterpiece, you can be happy knowing nothing is going to ruin ti design?

You can spray satin-finish polyurethane or coat with clear nail polish. Although this may be a lengthy process for each shell you have, you’ll be able to reverse the shells organic shiny look and give it an even extra glossy shine.

Decorating with Seashells in a Bathroom

Just like using old storage pallets to create your very own DIY furiture, there are plenty of ways you can use seashells to bring out a natural vibe in your home, especially in the area of your bathroom where these shells will fit the most.

Here are some end results, from the people who are already using this cost efficient way of bringing stylish design to their homes.

Seashell Display Jars

You’ve probably seen plenty of these from the image above, seashell display jars are one of the most common and probably the most stylish way of bringing the beautiful gems of the ocean into your home. Without compromising on the design of your home.

The best part about beach in a jar is that there is no limitation to what you can do and no two jars look the same so this way you can have something unique that only you own.

Jars with sand and shells are not limited to a bathroom, although we think they do look the best in there, these wonderful creations can also work to work with their environment, making them great in kitchens and lounge areas that feature ocean colours.

Now, we bet you’re excited to go ahead with going to your local beach, picking out some decorative shells and making your own sand and shells in glass jars. But we also know you’re probably wondering how the hell you go about gluing your shells to glass? Or how you even managed to get the sand to stick without it looking complete without purpose?

Read on to get some pro tips on how you can achieve your seashell in a jar dreams.

How to Glue Shells to Glass

Less is always more, as they say. Applying glue to shells is no different, there are many different techniques and practices for going about this. You’ll need some form of hot glue, typically that will from one of the craft glue guns from your local craft store.

Once acquired, you’ll want to squeeze a sizeable amount of glue on the outside of the glass, then you’ll want to take your best looking seashell and press down firmly on the glue. Hold for a minimum of 60 seconds to ensure the glue can harden around your shell. Repeat this process till you’re happy with your final design.

How to Glue Sand in a Jar

It’s important you get the consistency right, with to much glue you’re going to look you made this with a blindfold on, alternatively with not enough glue your sand won’t stick to the glass and you won’t get the desired effect.

To get the desired look, you’re going to want to follow our golden rule:

For every 1 cup of sand, you’ll want to have 1 cup of glue.

Doing this, you should get a thick mixture, with a little mixing you’ll be ready to add your gooey sand to the surface of your jar, spread out evenly for a balanced finish.

Other creative uses for seashells in your home

Beyond the basics of using shells and sand to make glass shell jars, there are other creative uses for seashells that you can use within your home, outside of the bathroom area.

As a side note, seashell crafts for adults is fun but it’s even more enjoyable once you get your kids involved. Allowing them to help you create something that is going to be a cherished part of your home for potentially many years.

Seashell Display Case

For collectors out there, this is one of the ways you can proudly put your favourite seashells on display.

These seashells were probably left over from your glass jar projet, you’ve probably thought to yourself ‘these are just too beautiful to use’ and instead just threw them in a draw never to be seen again.

Making something out of them and putting them on display gets you the best of both worlds. You can admire a natural resource whilst adding a personal touch to your home, wherever you choose to feature your brand new display case.

There are many ways you can come up with to add shells to a display case, one of them would be to use a wooden, sort of like a larger display cause would be used from and assigning compartments for your favourite seashells. Maybe in order of size, type, or even colour.

We have yet to cover how you’re going to manage to add shells to the display cabinet, so here’s how to glue shells to wood.

How to Glue Shells to Wood

Just like glueing to glass, you’re going to want to get a hot glue gun from your local craft store, so that the shells you attach will stay attached. However it is advised that you clean your wood before hand as dust and other particles can be visible even after the job has been completed, mostly this goes unnoticed with glass surfaces.

Seashell Shadow box

Similar to display cases, using a shadow box to display your shells will offer you another way of bringing in the natural design. However, these should be used as an alternative if you truly take pride in the design of your home, and you’re looking for a way to add shells that won’t compromise the general design.

This is because, unlike display cabinet, shadow boxes feature a more organized finish making them ideal for people who like to have a modern home looks like each decor piece was placed with purpose.

Shell Shower Curtains

You’ll most probably see some form of shell shower curtains in your home, but I bet they are all printed designs and not the real thing. Well why not use the real thing and create some fabulous curtains from them?

Whether you start off with a blank curtain or you use a shell design that is going to compliment the actual shells which you’re going to feature. However you choose to go about this fun craft, make sure to glue everything down properly and have some fun with it.

Seashell Animal Crafts

With seashell crafts, with usually think about larger designs, whether that’s shell curtains or seashell jars. But what about little dinky ornaments that can fit on any tableside in your home that can bring you some unique style that has been made from seashells?

These little dicnky ornemants are seashell animals, whether you’re a lover of foxes, ladybirds or any other animal in existence, we are sure you can achieve the design with a couple of sea shells, some paint and a great deal of imagination.

How to make Seashell Animals

Now, this would depend on what sort of animal you’re looking to create. Thankfully we live in the age or internet so having resources for this information won’t be too hard to find, however we want to give you a head start, here are some tools you’re going to need if you want to create one of these beautiful pieces for yourself.

  • Hot glue gun
  • Some of your favourite paint and paint brushes.
  • And a creative mind

If you’re unsure what to create, perhaps you don’t have a favourite animal or you’re just looking for a unique idea, here is over 100 seashell animal crafts to inspire you.

Broken Seashell Crafts

When we’re looking for seashells, we usually look for the most pretty and eye catching ones, I mean that’s just the way we are naturally as humans to seek out the most beautiful thing as possible.

But that means we waste materials that could add to our home, such as broken seashells.

Broken seashell crafts are unique in the sense that they take something that seems to be at the end of its life time, soon to be washed away or thrown away and turn it into something that is elegant yet charming and a piece that could become a great addition to a bathroom, lounge or bedroom area in a home.