But are there ways of making a moderate sized bathroom appear bigger and feel more comfortable? Here are 5 top tips to creating a more spacious feeling bathroom:

1. Let the light in – nothing opens up a room more than natural light. Choose a wide window with no obstructions that can block the entrance of sunlight. Don’t choose heavy blinds or anything too dark and keep the window clutter free. If your bathroom does not have a window, be sure to choose some bright spotlights or substantial lighting solutions.

2. Choose light colours – neutral colours are a great way of making your walls appear larger and your ceiling feel higher. Choose fresh, light shades that can make your bathroom feel airy and open. Whether you love the sea-fresh blue hues and ocean shades or you want something a little warmer with a touch of peach or pink, there are so many options even if you choose a neutral shade.

3. Avoid borders – whether you’re tiling or painting, avoid using borders anywhere along your wall. Borders will break up your wall, dividing up continuity to the human eye. When placed around the middle, borders will make your entire room appear smaller, or when placed at the top, they can create the illusion of a shortened ceiling. To avoid this effect, keep your walls as open and as clutter free as possible.

4. Use Illuminated mirrors – illuminated mirrors are great because they can bounce light around the room during the day by reflecting it, and light up the room with LED at night. An illuminated mirror also has a very luxurious look to it, giving your bathroom a fantastic modern revival. View the Diamond X Collection of Bathroom Mirrors from Illuminated Mirror for some modern design inspiration.

5. Avoid opaque – replace frosted or opaque shower doors or bath screens with clear glass. This will help you reflect natural light around the room.

Make Your Own Natural Solution Rather Than Use Detergents

You can start mixing water, vinegar, ammonia and some baking soda to make a strong cleaning detergent for walls and ceilings. This is very effective especially if you are dealing with walls stains (crayons, paints). These solutions can also be used individually but using them together is strongly recommended as long as you know how to make the right solution. Use a soft cloth, soak it with your mixed solution and star wiping stains off your wall and ceiling.

Have a Game Plan When Cleaning

Do not just start cleaning wherever you want to. Start from the top going down hence it is better to start cleaning on your ceiling then go down to the wall. There are types of walls that doesn’t need too much cleaning and can be ruined when cleaned with a mixed solution or detergent hence make sure to know which part of the wall needs some wiping and not. Decorative tiles for once don’t need to be washed with detergents because a simple damp cloth will do to clean it.

When cleaning your walls and ceilings avoid cleaning everything along the way. Focus on the part of the house that needs cleaning. Set aside the furniture for other time if they need cleaning too. If you are cleaning your room’s ceiling, take out the furniture first and move around your bed to avoid adding dirt to it. The same thing when cleaning your walls, focus on the wall and do not touch your furniture along the way. This can save you more time when.

If you want to keep your home protected from burglars, there are a few steps you can take to reducing the risk of a home burglary.

Take a look at our helpful hints below and protect your property against organised crime in your neighbourhood.

Ways to Protect Your Home from Burglars

Here are some ways you can protect your property from falling victim to the rising number of UK burglary crimes.

1. Install a burglar alarm – there is no better protection against burglars than a burglar alarm. Not only can the sight of an alarm on the exterior of your house act as a deterrent for criminals but bell alarms will frighten intruders on the spot if the alarm is triggered. Alarms can also notify the police straight away. To find out more take a look at the burglar alarms @ Quicksafe.

2. Join Neighbourhood Watch – joining Neighbourhood Watch can help improve communication between you and your neighbours and it’s sometimes the simplest things that can help you come up with solutions. Being joined up with your neighbourhood means that you can help each other watch out for suspicious acts.

3. Install a security camera – security cameras are great because they can give you and your family peace of mind whilst also scaring away any burglars or intruders. Seeing that your house has high security will act as a crime deterrent and if they should persist, you can capture your intruder on camera, giving you evidence to hand over to the authorities.

4. Keep Valuables Hidden Away – flash cars or expensive electronic goods are all tempting for burglars so you should never have these on show. Store your motor in your garage over night if you have one, keep your curtains drawn in the evening and do not leave anything expensive or valuable visible by your window or glass doors. Never leave unwanted cardboard boxes for TVs or electronics out in your garden as these will reveal exactly what you have inside your home.

Cutting back on energy usage isn’t as difficult as you may think and you don’t need to rethink your entire energy sourcing solution if you want to reduce your carbon footprint.

Here are some great tips on how to save energy consumption and money:

1. Energy saving lightbulbs – energy saving lightbulbs are the quickest and easiest way you can conserve energy in your home. Replace all of your lightbulbs with energy efficient bulbs and you will eventually see a big difference over time. Energy saving bulbs can reduce your monthly bill outgoings  and are cost effective solutions that can be installed in a matter of minutes.  If you would like to find out more about energy efficient lighting solutions such as LED lights or GU10 spotlights, visit the experts over at www.energenie.co.uk.

2. Energy efficient appliances – if you are shopping for new appliances for your home, make sure you look out for the energy star labels which are approved by the Environmental Protection Agency. Investing in these appliances can help you reduce your annual utility costs and can help you cut back on energy consumption in the long term.

3. Improve insulation – insulation is a great way of saving money and reducing your carbon footprint. Over 50% of energy in your house is used to heat and cool during the winter or summer months so if you improve insulation in the home, you can really help to make a saving on your bills.

4. Save water in the home – saving water in the home is very important. If you can save water usage around the house, you can make considerable and noticeable savings with your gas or electric bills. There are so many ways you can save water in the home, from taking showers instead of baths, timing yourself whilst showering, or being careful with the amount of water you use when washing up the dishes and doing more efficient laundry loads.

Let the Air In

To have a cooler environment, proper ventilation is needed. Aside from the ceiling fans that you can install and use, the windows plays a huge role in achieving the desired outcome. A small window will not let the air in, so if you have the budget, you should consider replacing it with bigger ones. There are many types and designs that you can choose from; it is up to you as a homeowner to see what suits the theme of your house, as well as your personality.

For the time being, you can remove the blinds and curtains to let the breeze in. If you are worried that your neighbors will see your activities, and you are hesitant to open the windows because of security reasons, you can always invest in reflective window films to maintain privacy while lessening the glare and heat of the sun. You can simply match it with your bigger, better, newly replaced window to make your house feel and look cooler.

Your Friendly Neighborhood Installers

Replacing your window is not an easy feat, especially if you do not have the know-how. By getting the right contractors or installers to do it for you, you will not have any problems with this process, plus they will advice you regarding the best window you can use for proper cooling and even insulation. Do not hesitate to contact them anytime because they will install it better than anyone else.

Summer is a stone throws away, and you do not want to experience that icky feeling that you are dreading. Stay cool during this season by simply following the tips mentioned. Installing a new window is by far a cheaper and more permanent solution than turning that AC on.

Brands such as Villeroy and Boch are well known for featuring some of the most stylish and luxurious bathroom tile collections in the industry. In order to keep your tiles looking wonderful for years to come, make sure you apply the right care and maintenance.

Generally, very little maintenance is required for bathroom tiles and tiles can withstand even the most wet and damp conditions. But there are a few things you can do to ensure that your tiles stay beautiful for longer.

Take a look at some top tips on caring for luxury bathroom tiles:

1. Regular cleaning – giving your bathroom tiles a once over with a cloth after every use in the shower / bath is a great way of keeping them maintained and protected from water damage for years to come. If this isn’t possible, it’s important to clean the tiles regularly, either with a damp cloth or a sponge.

2. Scrub away dirt – dirt and grime can build up easily on your bathroom tiles and shampoos / shower gels are some of the biggest culprits when it comes to colouration on your nice white grout. Use a toothbrush to get all that difficult-to-reach dirt and keep your tiles free from grime build up, and don’t forget that you may need to re-grout if the seal is no longer there.

3. Use a good bathroom cleaner – bathroom cleaning products are great because they include bleach and/or antibacterial agents. This is a great way of killing germs that can build up around your shower or bath area and is the best way to maintain the best hygiene levels in your home.

4. Inspect your tiles regularly – inspect your bath and shower area for leaks, mould or unwanted grime. Make sure you check regularly to avoid problems with damp. Keep an eye out for broken spigots, broken spigot covers or faulty shower doors / bath screens. Inspect thoroughly to make sure you don’t miss any cracks or holes where water can leak out of. If these problems are detected early on, you can avoid the hefty bills of replacing parts or tiles for your bathroom.

If you have been considering reclaimed flooring for your property, you will be surprised at how many different looks and design styles can be achieved.  Visit The Reclaimed Flooring Company for more information about installation and prices.

Here are just a few interior design styles that could look fabulous with reclaimed wood flooring:

Shabby chic

The shabby chic design look has been a hugely popular theme amongst homeowners across Britain. Inspired by the French country cottage look and the laissez faire approach to elegantly simple furniture, the love for distressed furniture pieces and reclaimed designs has developed over recent years.

Reclaimed flooring can bring your property back to its primitive state, creating the perfect blank canvas for a shabby chic design. There are so many furniture retailers specialising in French look furniture, including original vintage and French style furniture.

The Natural Home

One of 2013’s biggest interior design trends includes a natural and unfussy theme which celebrates the beauty of untreated, uncomplicated design. Think natural wood finishes, natural materials, neutral colours and décor that puts you back in touch with the natural world. Reclaimed wood flooring has such an unrefined and raw look and feel to it, making it ideal for this design theme. Choose light coloured wood, whites and neutrals to form your colour palette and take inspiration from the outdoors.

English Country Cottage

Traditional English homes have been inspiring today’s modern interior design trends, with chintz and China pattern still having a high-design stamp of approval. Choose from light coloured woods or darker shades for a cosy look.

Rough Luxe Interiors

‘Rough luxe’ is hard to pull off in most properties but if you can get your hands on a converted building, the rough luxe look could work perfectly. This design theme brings together elements of rustic furniture, a concept of design deconstructivism and a touch of modern luxury; this involves taking a room at its raw, unfinished state and embracing these unrefined elements then contrasting it with something beautiful, contemporary and luxurious.

Unsex décor can be incorporated so that any guest can enjoy the room. The man of the house can do this project. There are different designs available online that can be used to come up with a habitable room. The stairs down the basement must have a railing for ease of movement. The room can be touched up with a coat of paint when the guest is expected. Wallpapers take a little time to put up to clean up walls that may have aged.

Double Decker beds are very convenient as more than one person can sleep in the room. If you have a family visiting which has young children, this can be ideal, as the children will not be separated from the parents. A fridge with food placed in the basement, so that they can have a snack if they choose. A comfortable couch and television set can also be included in this bedroom so that they can catch up on the programmes that they watch while they are at home. Guests are welcome when they do not inconvenience the host. The basement bedroom is out of the way so that the guests can have their rest; they come out when they are ready to socialize with the host.

A careful balance needs to be struck between the quality of the improvements, the extent of them, and how much you spend. Big improvements don’t always translate into sales- there is no guarantee that it’ll up the price or confirm a sale.

Refresh Your Home

The simplest improvements help the buyer to imagine themselves living in the property. Neutral decor, clean and uncluttered rooms and a fresh coat of paint can mean that your house looks well presented and looked after. Focus on the condition of your interior and potential buyers will know that you have cared for your home.

Bigger Projects

If you’re really serious about selling your home for a good price and will increase your chances of a quick sale, then projects like installing central heating, double glazing, insulation, a new kitchen or bathroom. These types of projects often add value to your house above what they actually cost. Generally speaking, they can add twice the value of the work to the price of your property.

Avoid DIY Disasters

With such a large profit margin, it is tempting to do most of the work yourself. If however, you are attempting a project that you don’t have the skills for, you should definitely get a professional in to do the work from the beginning. A project could end up going horribly wrong and you’ll have to get a professional in to fix it anyway, so it wouldn’t add any more on to the value as you’ll have already spent the profit on a pro.

Selling Your House Quickly

If you’re still having trouble selling your house, or you can’t afford to do any of the repair work that desperately needs doing, then you should consider a company such as Property Rescue. Property Rescue sells houses fast and will buy them whatever condition so you’re guaranteed a sale.  There are no hidden charges, no chain and no upfront fees. This is great for those who need a quick, stress free alternative to the red tape and the bureaucracy of the housing market.

A way of maintaining your positive mood throughout the summer, coming home to a bright and fresh home every day can ensure your elevated mood stays with you long after the sun has set.

There are many ways in which you can ensure your house reflects your new bright outlook without having to spend vast sums of money.

Spring Clean

This is one of the most well known forms of house care and maintenance. A typical chore most women indulged in throughout the years, welcoming the spring days by cleaning away the negativity of the winter. Making sure every nook and cranny in the home is clear of dust and positively sparkles is the best way to turn your back on the winter. A house can look completely different in the darker days as it does in the sunlight. Cleaning your surroundings can make you feel energetic and relaxed when returning home and will support the idea of the house being a place to escape to.

New Furnishings

If you have the budget, new furnishings can completely rejuvenate a home and transform its look. Something simple to a new coffee table or a new three piece suite can be good investments and begin to change the look and feel of a house in the most subtle of ways. Not every item of furniture needs to be changed to achieve this, just small pieces even as small as a cushion or throw and can be done in any space to change the appearance of the room.

Re-Arrange Rooms

If you just can’t part with current items within a room, or cannot afford to replace them, simply changing the layout of the furniture can give the room a new feel. Whether it makes the most of the space, creates a cosy feel or just gives the room a refreshed ambience, it doesn’t matter as long as the look you wish to create is achieved. This is by far the most cost effective of all revamping methods, although can be slightly time consuming and may require someone to do the heavy lifting!

Complete Re-decoration

The most time consuming and expensive choice, a complete home or room overhaul is an option that all would ideally love to do if money and time were not serious considerations. There is nothing nicer than having an entirely new room or home with freshly painted walls and brand new furniture. Although an expensive project, it is still cheaper than moving to a new residence. It may even be worthwhile hiring painters, decorators and even an interior designer for those with no budget considerations. A new look and style can be achieved entirely either in one room, selected rooms or the entire house. A fresh look, for a fresh season.

The bedrooms, of all household rooms, are typically the first choice when considering a new look and freshen up for the summer months. The bedroom is probably the most important room in the house with so much time being spent it and the desire to be re-energised after leaving it. Changing bedding, furnishings and colour are the best ways to overhaul its current appearance.

See the latest bedroom offers from Betta Living for styles, which meet all needs and designs with key looks for 2013 being added to the vast collection regularly. The design team are able to offer you support and guidance to help you create your dream space.