Wave goodbye to halls and say hello to your new house!
For many first-time renters moving into a little home of their own with friends is an exciting prospect; a cosy living room to snuggle up in rather than squeezing onto a small uncomfy bed, a bath (for some lucky people), a double bed… ahh! With this in mind we at Vision Lifestyle have decided to look into some of the best places to buy ‘home furnishings’ and some ideas on how to spruce up an empty shell into what will become a home.
In order to make your new house warm and welcoming we recommend that you make it as personal as you can; a comfortable atmosphere will ultimately mean a more productive you!
It’s worth checking with your landlords what actually comes with the house as, from experience, if something you feel essential is lacking they seem happy to accommodate. For example our lovely terrace had no table and chairs to eat meals, and feeling this was a necessity we asked if it was possible to pop one in. Subsequently we have been promised a fold-away for when we move in. Otherwise, don’t forget to look at parents’ or friends’ houses for furniture that may be gathering dust in a loft, it will save cash on buying new.
Cushions and throws instantly brighten a drab or worn sofa, giving a homely, more inviting feel to a room – Cath Kidston do gorgeously girly cushions, but at £18 each they are quite pricey. Try IKEA for plain coloured cushions at £2.69 each – an absolute bargain! For small rooms, try to keep colour choice light and bright to widen that illusion of space.
Most personal to you is obviously your bedroom and whilst posters are a good way of making a blank canvas feel ‘you’, we suggest something more creative such as this memo board from Urban Outfitters. If £18 seems too much to fork out – DIY it, ugly pin boards can be brightened up with a nice fabric or wrapping paper (definitely see Paperchase). If a memo board seems too much why not simply wrap paper round a blank canvas for instant artwork!
Photo frames will clutter your desk; why not string your pictures up with wooden pegs, across the wall or above your desk, it’s arty and practical and need not only be used for photographs. Postcards as shown in the picture below look lovely, and as an alternative to string you could also try fabric, ribbon or even white fairy lights.
Plants and flowers, whilst obvious, add a pick-me-up to a dull room creating that peaceful atmosphere. Pick them up cheaply at York market stalls for around £2; its simple, easy and better decor than a pizza box or an empty bottle of vodka.
Ok, so we realise that your house is your home and do with it what you please but accessorizing is fun, especially if you add in a little DIY – why not create a photo montage amongst your housemates for your living room, perhaps of your first year at uni together? That way the memories are always there and the house will feel all the more like your own.
WHERE TO SHOP…
Give a Dog a Bone – Walmgate, York
Next – nice furnishings at pretty affordable prices
Urban Outfitters – general kookiness
Habitat – a little bit more pricey
Cath Kidston – for all the girly girls, obviously
The Works – for your DIY goodies
Lakeland – ‘creative’ kitchenwear
IKEA – this seems quite obvious
Paperchase – huge variation in papers for DIY
Wild Hart – Stonegate, York