With a number of homes for sale all around the UK offering the potential for a new move and a new start, you better get your house in order if you want a quick move.

De-clutter

Buyers want a blank canvas and they also want to see the true potential of a property. When you show people round if you’re hearing the words “It’s a bit small isn’t it?” but it probably isn’t, you’re just not maximising the space. If the spare bedroom has become a glorified wardrobe and spaces are crammed full of clutter you’ve become blind to, you need to get wise to it. As soon as it goes on the market think of it as a show home. You may not be too comfortable for a while, but it’s sure to sell quicker.

De-personalise

It may not be the easiest thing for you to do, but removing all your personalised trinkets from the home will stand you in good stead for a quick sale. Think of it as a blank slate – let the buyer’s imagination play. A clear wall shows a promising space they can make their own. A tired family photograph could just put them off. Remember you’re not making it nicer for you to live in – you don’t want to live there anymore!

Where to start

There’s no hard and fast rule of how to make your home more appealing, but there are a few places where most homeowners can make a start.

If your home is full of knick-knacks that hold  sentimental value , you want to see them and be reminded of them. But a buyer doesn’t. Don’t throw them away if you can’t stand to part with them but keep a memory box and tidy them into there.

Bills bills bills. We hate looking at them and most of the time, dump them on a book shelf with a heavy sigh. And there they stay. But put yourself in the shoes of someone viewing the home for the first time. They want to see how the shelves could be used. Store your bills away. De-clutter by chucking away tired worn paperbacks. Maybe position the stereo on the middle of the shelves – it will give the room much more balance.

Remember it’s not about you anymore; it’s about the home.

What Should My Tiles Be Made Of?

Your kitchen sees a lot of traffic, so you should always try to choose a hard-wearing tile for your kitchen floor. Porcelain tiles are a classic choice, but natural stone is also highly durable and can bring a warm, rustic look.

What About Size?

In general, small tiles look best in small kitchens, while large tiles can look very well in larger spaces. Small tiles allow you a lot of variation and you can even experiment with a mosaic in your splashback area.

Choosing a Colour

This very much comes down to personal choice, as different colours and finishes of tiles can give a very different look. In general, you should think about the existing design aesthetic and choose colours that complement your fixtures and fittings.
- Pure white tiles
If you are concerned about hygiene pure white tiles can be a good choice as they will show up every speck of dirt. However, this can be quite a clinical look, so consider alternating with bold primary colours for contrast.
- Black tiles
For a chic, modern look black tiles can’t be beaten, especially when combined with shiny chrome appliances. Bear in mind that this colour choice needs good lighting and a large space to avoid looking claustrophobic.
- Warm beige and terracotta
This classic colour scheme conjures visions of warmth and cosiness. A family kitchen with wooden tables and chairs will always feel homey with this choice.
- Rustic stone tiles
If you are going for a country-kitchen look then natural stone tiles make a beautiful backdrop to your kitchen.
- A statement wall
Tiles in a bold bright red along one of the walls of your kitchen will draw the eye and serve as a focal point. Try not to go overboard – this scheme works best in a limited area.

There are seven different types of radiators to consider when making a choice:

1) Hot water

2) Hot water baseboard

3) Steam

4) Fan-assisted

5) Portable

6) Underfloor

7) Towel radiators

1. Hot Water:

This type of radiator uses a sealed cast iron container filled with hot water that is heated by convection (movement), gravity feed or a pressure pump. The hot water circulates through cylinders, cools and falls to the bottom and is forced out at one end. Homes built in the 1950′s and 1960′s used hot water radiators. Knocking sounds that are common in hot water systems have anti-hammering devices installed.

2. Hot Water Baseboard:

Cast iron radiators are no longer used as heat conductors in homes. Hot water baseboard heaters made of copper pipes and aluminium fins that increase the heating surface have replaced them. These operate on forced hot water.

3. Steam:

No pumping is necessary with a steam heater because steam flows through the pipes under its own pressure. Tall buildings are easier to heat with steam, but the high temperatures produced by steam makes it inefficient and heat loss can be expected.

The banging sounds in steam systems are caused by water condensing in sections of the piping. The steam picks up the water and throws it at high speed into a fitting and causes a loud hammering noise and places a great deal of stress on the pipes. The hammering is a result of buildings settling and the condensation in the system no longer tilts back towards the boiler.

4. Fan-assisted:

The fan-assisted heater operates by hot water. A fan blows over the heat exchanger to circulate warm air throughout a room. An advantage of this type of system is that it provides even heat distribution. Whereas the disadvantages are that it has a loud fan noise and needs a separate electrical source and heat supply.

5. Portable:

This is the system of which most consumers are familiar with. The portable radiator is popular because of its ability to be moved from room to room as a temporary source of extra heat in any part of the house. These heaters are electrically powered and heat directly or heat an element such as quartz, or heats oil contained in the cylinder and uses convection to circulate.

6. Underfloor:

Underfloor radiant heat uses tubing for water heat or heating cables buried underneath the flooring. The tubing or cable system is installed and concrete is poured over them during new construction. Since heat rises, this is an efficient way of heating a home; however, maintenance and repair is a challenge. Heated flooring in bathrooms has become particularly popular in recent years.

7. Towel Radiators:

Towel radiators are ideal option when it comes to adding heat to any bathroom. They play a triple role of not only adding heat to a bathroom, but also warming towels and adding style and elegance to the decor.

Company Profile:

Screwfix is the UK’s largest direct and online supplier of trade tools, accessories and hardware products. With over 30 years’ experience in the industry, we despatch tens of thousands of parcels every week for next day and weekend delivery to tradesmen, handymen and serious DIY enthusiasts all over the UK.

To view the full range of radiators from Screwfix customers can visit our website here – http://www.screwfix.com/c/heating-plumbing/radiators/cat830960.

You have to also remember that there is a difference in the size of the bed frame and the size of the mattress that will fit it. You need to be sure that the two match up, as well as to the bedding you choose to buy, so it is a good idea to familiarise yourself with the various measurements that make up UK bed sizes.

The standard single, one of the two most common bed types, is measured at 3’ by 6’3”. A standard double is not, in spite of its name, double that; instead it measures 4’6” by 6’3”. Already we have missed out several important bed sizes, including the toddler bed (70cm by 140cm) designed for very young children, and the small single (2’6” by 6’) similarly for those below average size.

You may be aware that a double bed can also be referred to as a queen sized bed – following this pattern, an extra large double is a king sized bed, whilst a small double or three-quarter bed, lying in between the single and double, is sometimes called a prince sized bed. The largest bed widely available in the UK is the super king, 6’ by 6’6”.

There are some other sizes available in the UK, but many have to be specially ordered. Some mainland European basic sizes are becoming more common in the UK, so be sure to check whether the bed you are buying is in accordance with UK or Europe measurements. Weather you are looking for cheap bunk beds, double beds, sofa beds or specialist beds look no further than our friends at dreams, head over to dreams.co.uk to see the full range.

But, since you have been so diligent for so long, and your floors, rugs and carpets remain in tiptop shape for your efforts, do not give up this fight. Instead, how about placing a decorative basket near your entryway door filled with extra slippers. Upon greeting your guests you can refer them to the basket, with an expectation that it is just too good an offer to refuse. For, the likelihood will be that they have never encountered this sort of hospitality before. Any of the old excuse they would normally rely upon just won’t seem to cut it. After all, nobody will see their mismatched, hole ridden socks inside the nice snuggly slippers, or those runs in the toes of the stockings held together with clear nail polish. At the least you will have put up a good fight against damaged floors and rugs, and you will look very much the part of the perfect happy homemaker.

Padded seats are constructed with high density foam to give superb comfort, and are usually upholstered in soft faux leather or genuine leather. Faux leather is the most popular choice for stools, providing the look and feel of leather but at a much lower price and with enhanced durability, perfect for an active environment such as a kitchen or dining room. Faux leather is used on all types of design, from the modern to the classic styles, and is a chic choice that comes in a huge range of colours, from conservative black and brown to zesty green and orange.

ABS and acrylic Perspex resins provide a fashionable alternative to padded seats. ABS resin is a hard-wearing, high impact plastic that is used for gloss finish shells, paying homage to 60′s and 70′s design. ABS is used either for the outer body of the seat, surrounding a padded interior, or is ergonomically designed and moulded into single piece seats formed to your body. Acrylic stools are coloured but translucent for a new-age touch, making these stools perfect for smaller locations as they keep the look light and airy, and also bask the surrounding location in colour if light is shone through.

Wood is another popular choice for bar stools, an evergreen material with a superb range of styles. The classic four legged designs provide practicality and a natural touch for an established look that will never date, whilst curved bentwood stools are beautifully crafted into sinuous forms that catch the eye. Wooden stools were conventionally offered only with hard seats, but many modern designs utilise padded sections on the seat and backrest to add comfort, allowing you to use these stools for longer periods.

Aside from the plethora of materials available, the seats themselves are a diverse range that come with a whole host of features that help to define their character, making each desirable in their own way. Having a supportive backrest is often a key feature in choosing a bar stool, but even backrests can vary significantly, starting off at low lips at the rear of seats for added security all the way to wall, wraparound backrests for hours of relaxing comfort. Mid height backrests can be found, reclined backrests and also curved ones for superb support.

Many of these stools also showcase armrests to either side, either integrated as part of the backrest for a uniform design, or made prominent as a design feature all by themselves. Padded armrests provide an arm chair like feel, whilst metal arms give an ideal place to rest your elbows and add to the visual impact.

Therefore, over the years I have searched for the most effective way to quickly chill the bottles of wine that are presented to me. And I have tested out altogether too many recommendations. However, there is one way to do it that I am most fond of, and believe it to be the best of those I have tried.

Let me share it with you so you can give it a try, and I know you are going to love it too. Take a linen dishtowel and thoroughly wet it with cold water. Wring out the excess water, and wrap it around the wine bottle. If you are really strapped for time, place it in the freezer, otherwise you can expect it to be done within twenty-five minutes in the fridge.

That little tip has really come in handy for me on several occasions, and I bet it will for you as well. Even if you do not feel compelled to serve the wine your guests have brought.

As any parent of more than one kid will tell you, they are all different. One might adore reading, like arts and crafts and collect shells, while another will be a real sports enthusiast, with a gift for making model airplanes and catching bugs. Taking these preferences into account before decorating their rooms will prove to be exceptionally valuable once the squeals of joy over the themed items have been concluded.

Your little Tommy may tell you that what he would like more than anything is to have a Snoopy bedspread with pillows with the rest of the Peanuts gang on them. Or, your tiny Sally might bring to your attention that she really really wants a Princess room painted bright pink, with pink carpet, pink drapes, and anything else pink you can get your hands on. But, what they will not tell you is what you will ultimately find most pertinent, and as such it is up to you to figure out.

It is your place to conclude that your child with the interest in painting, drawing, and jewellery making will benefit from a six drawer cabinet completely dedicated to these art supplies. The organisation of his or her paint brushes, apron, paints, paper, scissors, pencils, beads and whatever else they use to make their masterpieces in one area will make creating easier for them, and pick up better for the both of you.

But, in the case of the child who is into rugby, football, and every other sport under the sun a cabinet with two super sized drawers to house equipment discretely is what will make the most sense. Not having balls lying all around, or gloves shoved in nooks and crannies will positively make you happier, and being able to go to one cabinet to find the very items needed before running out the door to play will keep your child calm cool and collected when in a hurry.

Of course there are tons of ways to set up Sally and Tommy’s space so that it works for them, and you. However, getting it just right will not happen by chance it requires forethought on your behalf, and then the purchase of the proper furniture.

Some of the top picks for items to decorate your garden inspired kitchen with are birdhouses, birdcages, painted watering cans, vintage garden statues, and garden trellises from which you can hang pots and pans. With a nice collection of the very things that fill your garden, all you need to do is give the kitchen a quick coat of vibrant paint to tie it all together. In the winter, we expect that nothing will refresh your spirits faster than this special space.

I started doing just that by taking out the bath paints that never rally entertained my young children. They were actually in the garbage can because I had done a deep cleaning of the kid’s bathroom. I took out a paint bush and went into each bathroom in our home and began to paint holiday scenes and greetings on the mirrors.

I used as much as I wanted, because it felt great to be saving the products from the bin. When everyone came home from a day of work and school they each happened upon the artwork in their own time. Not only did I get lots of compliments for the creativity, everyone agreed that they made the restrooms smell amazing too.

The way I see it, I did the right thing by retrieving the items that had been discarded, and it paid off. Now I am inspired to find more things to make new decorations with for the holidays.