I recently came across a bedside table that I can’t stop thinking about. I find good bedside tables hard to find and this one ticked all the boxes for me - solid wood, drawers to hide clutter, pretty handles and a scallop edge - however, it costs a cool £1295 which is totally out of my budget.

In fact, the two bedside tables we have in our bedroom were £10 from a charity shop at the tip and the other free from Facebook Marketplace.

If you haven’t had any success with second hand (and I know it can be particularly hard if you’re after a pair of tables,) then here are my top picks from the high street which are, thankfully, closer to budget than the dream piece. Maybe that will be one to recreate in the future with an upcycle, but for now it will just be saved away under ‘one day’.

Interiors14 June 2024bedside table, bedroom, bedroom decor, bedroom furnitureComment

Eleven UK Interiors and DIY Instagram Accounts to Follow

If you’ve followed me a while you’ll know I am multifaceted - as we all are - and therefore my account reflects that. Whilst the algorithm may reward you for sticking to a niche and I for one ensure 99% of my content is interiors and diy based, there are some things that are too important not to speak out about.

If you’re a lover of interiors and diy inspiration but also have a heart for something more substantial too, here are my top recommendations for other Instagram accounts to follow.

4 June 2024interiors, instagramComment

How to give your walls character with 3D wall coverings or panelling

In an age when home improvement has never been more popular and diy never more accessible than now, many are turning towards products that will add character, setting our homes apart from others.

Amongst many of the trends that have been accelerated by the number of growing home renovation tv shows and interior inspiration online is wall panelling. Whether it’s the more traditional intricate moulding, tongue and groove panelling or a more modern fluted or ribbed panelling, this option provides your walls (or furniture) with interest and personality without the commitment to pattern that wallpaper requires.

Interiors30 May 2024orac decor, press trips, wall covering, wall panelling, walls Comments

How to choose family friendly carpet

Choosing a family friendly carpet is such an important decision when finishing your home as it’s a big investment and something you won’t want to be changing regularly.

It can feel overwhelming with so many different choices from materials and weaves to tufted or polypropylene, however, with a little research, you’ll find yourself ruling out certain options, making it easier to choose the right carpet for you.

27 May 2024carpet, flooring, polypropylene Comments

RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2024 Press Day Highlights

This is my third trip to The RHS Chelsea Flower Show and certainly my favourite so far. Whilst lasts years gardens focused on a freer more wild meadow style of gardening, this show felt like it had an abundance of colour and spectacular flowers on display with serene water features appearing through out.

21 May 2024Chelsea Flower Show, RHS, The RHS, GardensComment

Creating a calm and cosy bedroom with panelling

Our bedroom is relatively small with a sloping ceiling on one side and two doors and a window on the other walls, resulting in only one possible location for the bed. I imagine this is pretty common for most people with ‘normal’ houses and whilst most people would choose to create a focal point behind the bed, when you have a sloping ceiling behind the bed, that is hard to do.

Interiors13 May 2024bedroom, bedroom decor, panelling, dulux heritageComment

The tools you need to get started with DIY

There is so much information online nowadays about every DIY project under the sun - to the point where it can become overwhelming as you scroll from one YouTube tutorial to another. However, if you’re taking on a renovation project or have some tasks you’d like to tackle yourself and you’re wondering how to get started, here’s a list of the tools I use the most.

10 May 2024Comment

Should I paint my exposed wooden beams?

This is a controversial topic and before we begin, I’m not going to pretend to be an expert in restoring houses nor am I someone who will slap paint here, there and everywhere without any consideration. However, our homes are for us to live in and enjoy. They are not monuments to a bygone era and they are not a relic of the past. Yes, we need to make wise choices regarding their maintenance (letting material breathe etc) but I’ve never been a purist and therefore the answer to the paint or no paint on the exposed wooden beams has never been black and white for me.

7 May 2024exposed beams, period house, old house, cottage, thatched cottage Comment