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Published: 30 January 2023

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Small is Beautiful. Tiny Room Ideas

Just because a room is small, it doesn’t mean it can’t be stylish or practical. Many people have homes that are smaller than average, or rooms that are tiny or an awkward shape, yet these spaces can soon be transformed into a comfortable, Instagrammable space.

Here are some tips when decorating or furnishing a tiny room.

Draw Up A Floorplan

Once you’re standing in the room, it can be difficult to find a way to make everything fit. One way you can design a room is to draw up a floorplan, then measure your furniture and see where it might fit. This can also help you decide what’s essential in the room and which pieces you can do without.

Find Furniture with Hidden Storage

When you furnish a tiny room, smaller pieces are always going to work better, for example, cuddle couches rather than three-piece suites. Even better, look for furniture that has hidden storage, as this will make it much easier to organise your room. Stores such as IKEA are good for finding storage solutions, and they sell bed bases with fitted wardrobes or chests of drawers. While you may not have used one since you were a child, cabin beds are also very handy in small rooms, as lifting your bed off the floor gives you plenty of extra space. Some beds open up to reveal hidden storage, which can be useful for storing spare sheets, shoes, or even books. You can also find sofa beds that include ottomans, which allow you to store your duvet and pillows during the day.

Save Your Floor Space Where Possible

The problem with tiny rooms is that you often have to go through an obstacle course to get around them. Any floor space that you can save will make the room feel more spacious and make it more practical to use. Avoid things like bookcases and big wardrobes, opting for shelves and hanging rails instead. In very small spaces, you may even want to look for solutions such as a pull down bed, which will fold into the wall when you’re not using it.

Keep Things Simple

If a room is tiny, then nothing is going to make it huge and spacious, but you can make the most of the space by keeping things simple. Choose neutral colours with a few pops of pattern or colour to draw the eye in. If you think neutral looks too plain, then add some textures in similar tones, which will give the room a luxe look.

Use Light and Mirrors

Mirrors are convenient in small rooms, as they fool the eye into thinking the room is bigger. Light is also very important. Never block a window, even partially, as this will make a room feel gloomy and claustrophobic. You should also make sure the room is well-lit, but don’t use huge light fittings or floor lamps. Wall-mounted lights take up less space, and up-lighters can draw the eye upwards.

Choose the Right Shape Furniture

Tiny rooms are often awkwardly shaped, so you need to find furniture that fits into the room nicely. For example, if you have an area with a sloped ceiling, find an L-shaped corner sofa that fits into that nook and create a living area. If your room is long and thin, place a sofa that fits snugly into the width of the room, which will make it feel wider. While it may sound expensive, bespoke furniture can be a good solution for tiny rooms, as it allows you to design something functional and just the right size. Look online for some furniture designers in your location, and you may be surprised that they’re not as pricy as you think.

Switch Rooms Round

When you move into a house, don’t feel like you have to keep the same layout as the previous tenants or owners. If a bedroom is far too small, for example, you may want to turn the dining room into a spare bedroom, then have a combined kitchen/diner. Tiny rooms often work better for nurseries, home offices, and spare bedrooms, rather than somewhere like a living room or adult bedroom, so think about switching around if possible.

A tiny room doesn’t have to compromise on style. Many people now live in smaller homes and have less space, so many new design solutions have been created to help. From adding storage space to removing bulky furniture, there are many ways to make a small space work efficiently for you.

For no-obligation advice on buying or selling a home please contact our expert property team at Warren Powell-Richards or call in and see us. We look forward to seeing you.

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Published: 30 January 2023

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How to Pack for Moving House

Sealing the deal for your new home is about as exciting as it gets. It’s the chance for a fresh start and the opportunity to put your stamp on a completely new property.

However, before you can pop open the champagne and raise a toast to your new home, you first need to pack up your old one.

Very few people, if any, enjoy the process of packing, especially the lengthy ordeal of having to pack up everything you and your family own in the whole world when moving home.

Unfortunately though, it has to be done. However, there are ways in which you can make this undertaking a little bit easier, quicker and less stress-inducing.

From using a colour coded labelling system, to picking the right boxes, to systematically making your way through your home; keep reading to discover our top tips on how you can effectively pack for moving house and avoid any potential packing disasters.

Start by decluttering

Everybody has items in their house that they no longer want or need. They may have been hidden in a drawer or under a bed for some time and you may be surprised at just how much unwanted clutter you have squirreled away. These items should be thrown away or donated immediately as you do not want to have to pay a removal company to deliver things to your new home that you don’t even want.

Make sure you are thorough with this process and clear out your entire home including your loft, basement, garden and any other exterior spaces.

Scrutinise your new floorplan

You may have been provided with a brochure containing a floorplan of your new property when you originally viewed it, complete with the exact dimensions of all of the rooms. This is a handy document to keep as you can then inspect this plan and use it to help you decide which furniture you can comfortably take to your new home, plus you can check measurements for elements such as curtains, blinds and rugs.

The earlier you undertake this task, the sooner you can sell any items that will not fit or are not needed in your new home.

Make an inventory list

You should make a comprehensive list of any of your valuable and smaller belongings that you will be taking to your new home. This is important for ensuring that nothing gets lost while being transported, as well as helping to work out how many and which type of packing boxes you will need.

Pick a reputable removals company

You can choose to rent a van and carry out your move yourself, however, be warned, this is a tough job, especially if you have a lot of heavy or delicate items to move. Therefore, most people will decide to save themselves the stress, and outsource this job to a local removals company.

As you are entrusting all your worldly possessions to this company, you will want to ensure that you pick a reputable one that has received a lot of positive reviews. If in doubt, ask family and friends for recommendations.

Start packing

Now you can actually start packing up your belongings. It is a good idea to purchase high quality packing materials including sturdy boxes, bubble wrap and tissue paper to avoid any breakages. You can also utilise scrunched up paper to prevent items such as TV and computer screens, mirrors and picture frames from becoming scratched.

You should work your way systematically through your house, starting at the top of the property and completing each room before you move onto the next, as this will help prevent you from forgetting any items.

The most effective labelling system is using colour coded labels to identify different rooms in your home, such as blue for bathroom items, yellow for kitchen accessories and so on. This will make the unpacking process in your new home a lot simpler.

Other packing tips include:

• Pack heavy items in smaller boxes
• Clearly label boxes that contain breakables or valuable items
• Utilise blankets and pillows for packing delicate items
• Pack important documents such as passports, marriage and birth certificates in one box together

Prepare an overnight bag

You may not want to start unpacking straight away when you arrive at your new home, especially if you have had a long journey. Therefore, you should pack an overnight essentials bag so that you have clean clothes and toiletries on hand without having to start opening securely taped boxes.

In your overnight bag you may want to include:

• Clean clothes
• Nightwear
• Essential toiletries
• A kettle with coffee/teabags
• Snacks
• Plates, cutlery and a cloth
• A first aid kit
• A torch
• A small tool kit

It is also a good idea to pack a small bag for the journey that includes any important documents you may need such as the details of your removal company, bottled water and a selection of snacks and in-car mobile phone chargers.

For expert home moving advice, contact our team of professionals at Warren Powell-Richards or call into our office. We look forward to welcoming you.

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Published: 30 January 2023

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5 Things That Make a Great Home Office

For many UK buyers and renters, home office space keeps bagging the top priority spot. Remote working is on the rise and it looks like it’s here to stay. That means that staging a home office in the right way for buyers is more important than ever. At Warren Powell-Richards, we’re here to help your home office stand out from the crowd. Here are five tips on what makes a great home office.

1. Natural light

Natural light is always a great selling point for homes. But when it comes to an office, it’s worth more than the aesthetic value. That’s because home offices with lots of natural light are good for your health and productivity. Studies[1] found that natural light in working environments leads to better sleep, fewer headaches, and a boost in overall mood.

If you only have a small window in your home office, think of ways to maximise the light coming in. Add mirrors to the walls and consider opting for a white desk. These will reflect the light and make it appear brighter. Also, try to install light-coloured blinds that let lots of sun in.

2. A deep desk

It’s no surprise that people want a comfortable home office. If you’re a remote worker, you’ll likely be sitting at your desk for long periods. A small desk squeezed against the back wall may make the room look bigger, but it won’t give remote workers enough legroom.

Adequate legroom is one of the most desirable features for home offices right now. If you have the space, position your desk in the middle of the room. If space is limited, just pull the desk away from the wall slightly. It will make the area appear much more comfortable.

3. Plants

A golden rule for staging a home is having plants in every room. The office is no exception! But the rule for home offices isn’t just about aesthetics. Plants are scientifically proven[2] to make people happier and healthier. They can filtrate chemicals from the air in your home to reduce headaches and drowsiness. Many studies[3] have shown that just looking at greenery can make us feel calmer, happier and more productive.

Adding plants is one of the best ways to decorate your home office. If there isn’t enough light to keep a plant alive (or you’re a terrible plant parent), opt for a plant that doesn’t need much maintenance or an artificial plant.

4. Storage

Think of all the things you need in a home office…chargers, lamps, coasters, laptop, keyboard, mouse, stationery, paper, notepad etc! These items can add up. If there’s one thing people don’t like in their home office, it’s clutter!

One of the best ways to decorate your home office is to add plenty of storage space. Floating shelves look appealing and are great for storage. Cabinets are excellent for messy paperwork and small baskets are fashionable for storing stationery.

5. Neutral wall colours

The atmosphere of a work environment – whether at home or in a corporate building – can have a huge impact on energy levels, creativity and the ability to focus. It’s important to pick colour schemes that are in line with your individual tastes. But if you’re looking to sell your home or stage a rental, neutral wall colours are highly popular for home offices.

Certain shades are highly recommended and they can help reduce stress[4]. For the best results, opt for pale greens, cloudy blues, light greys and off-whites.

Want more home styling tips?

Warren Powell-Richards are your local property experts in the area. We can help prepare your home for sale the easy way.

Get in touch for a chat or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

[1] https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2352721817300414

[2] https://spinoff.nasa.gov/Spinoff2007/ps_3.html

[3] https://www.psychiatricnursing.org/article/S0883-9417(18)30298-X/fulltext#s0120%20at%20a

[4] https://www.elledecor.com/design-decorate/color/news/a8927/best-office-colors/

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Published: 30 January 2023

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7 Tips for a Smooth House Move With Children

You’ve been looking at houses, dealing with potential buyers, managing the purchase of your new home and selling your old place, and now it’s finally setting in that a big move is coming. Even if you’ve found your dream home in the perfect area, the whole experience can still be stressful, especially when you’re moving home with children.

Uprooting your life might make sense to you, whether it’s for a new career opportunity, to be closer to family, or for a necessary lifestyle change. Your kids, however, may not be as understanding, since everything they know and are comfortable with is about to change. But, the process of moving with children doesn’t need to be a nightmare for the whole family. There are a few tips you can use to help the move go as smoothly as possible.

Tell Your Children As Soon As Possible

Some parenting experts recommend telling your children as soon as you can. It may be difficult to hide for very long anyway, as you’ll most likely have potential buyers popping in and out of your house, and your children will pick up on the fact that something is going on. You don’t want to hide anything from them because that will only add to the stress for all of you, so tell them early to help them feel included. If they’re up for it, you could also involve them and make it more exciting by letting them help choose the new house and plan what they want to take with them. However, some experts recommend only telling them a month before the move, as it gives them enough time to prepare but not too much time so that they ponder on it for too long. Whatever you decide, make sure to keep them informed and feel as though they’re being involved, even if the decision to move was your own.

Allow Them to Get Upset

It may be heartbreaking to watch, but when your children cry or throw tantrums, you need to remember this kind of reaction is normal and to let them be upset. Their entire lives are changing, and the move may be separating them from friends, beloved family members like grandparents, or a childminder they have known their whole lives. Be understanding rather than angry that they aren’t accepting the changes right away. Each child is different and accepts change at their own pace, but it usually takes around six months for kids to get comfortable with their new life in a new place.

Talk About What Will Remain the Same

With so much change happening, the stress can be overwhelming for your kids. Instead of focusing on what’s going to be different, remind them of everything that will stay the same. Their rooms may be different, but all their belongings will be the same. Their school may be different, but all their after-school activities will stay the same. It may still be hard for them to focus on what’s the same, so do your best to remind them as much as you can.

Keep Your Old Routines

Just because you’re in a new place, it doesn’t mean your old routines should change. Remember, you need to keep some aspects of your old life constant for your children to help them adjust, and one great way of doing that is to keep at-home routines going. If you have a family game night, keep that consistent. If they have specific after-school routines, make sure to follow them as best you can, even if some aspects change slightly.

Get Everyone Ready

Don’t let moving day sneak up on you unprepared! Starting the moving process as early as possible will help avoid a last-minute rush to pack and clean and will make your whole family feel prepared. It’s also helpful to make a ‘moving week plan’ with your family, down to the last detail, including what meals you’ll eat and where, who will be travelling in which car, and which belongings they can bring for the car journey. It’s also useful to pack an overnight bag for everyone for both the last night in your old home and the first night in your new one, so you don’t have to worry about immediately unpacking after a long day when you get in.

Have ‘To Do’ Lists

If your kids are old enough to handle simple jobs, create to-do lists for them to help them feel included and get some of the easier tasks off your own list. They can help with packing up their own belongings into colour-coded boxes or help with cleaning. If you have a to-do list, and they have one as well, it will feel like you’re all in this together.

Let Your Children Voice Their Opinions

Giving your kids a say in the entire moving and packing process will help them feel like they have more stability and control over the changes in their environment. Ask them what their opinions are about things like what to pack and how to decorate their new rooms, but also make sure that they feel heard and considered.

But, it’s not enough to just ask – you must also follow through and listen in order to make them feel comfortable and to ensure your move with children is as smooth as possible.

For helpful advice on all aspects of moving home, contact our friendly team at Warren Powell-Richards and we will be delighted to help. You can call us or drop into our office.