Space at a premium? Clutter taking over your home? Get the most from your space with these versatile storage solutions.
Whether you own your property or belong to generation rent, there are times when we all feel that our home is being held hostage by our stuff. Yet by taking a different approach to storage and display pieces, you can really bring a sense of order to that cluttered or small space.
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Stripped back: George Leaning Mirror, Tra-Ra Clothes Rail (top image), Agnes Long Shelving in Oak (bottom image), Bristol Floor Lamp in Matt Black & Concrete and Zox Flatweave Runner.
Connecting rooms such as hallways and landings can often feel a little bare or even a wasted opportunity, and while it's good to preserve the space, adding a few storage pieces can help to redefine how the room is used. A wall leaning mirror is a great way of opening up the space and alongside a hanging rack turns that thoroughfare that is the hall into a place to get ready before you head out.
On the move: Passe Passe Coat Stand (top image), BrunelLeaning Mirror (bottom image), Brunel Bench with Shelf, Agnes Long Shelving, Bend Table Lamp in Copper and Zox Flatweave Runner.
If you're in need of flexibility or like to regularly give your interior a refresh, go for multifunctional designs (see the Brunel Bench with optional shelf shown above) and pieces that can easily be installed in any room. Freestanding hanging racks and leaning designs provide fuss free alternatives to cumbersome wardrobes and are especially handy when a room lacks built-in storage.
Stripped back: Tra-Ra Clothes Rail (top image), Agnes Medium Shelving in Oak (bottom image), George Leaning Mirror, Agnes Long Shelving in Oak (bottom image), Bristol Floor Lamp in Matt Black & Concrete,Zox Flatweaver Runner.
Designers are always looking to break the rules when it comes to how we use a piece of contemporary furniture, and so should you when designing your decor. Who says a bookshelf should only be used for paperbacks and encyclopedias when it can just as easily provide a practical piece of storage to display your shoes.
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[ INSPIRATION ]
Trends & Lifestyle
Whether its a modern update for a rural retreat or adding some rustic charm to an inner-city space, let our Country Kitchen-Diners inspire your next Modern Dining Room.
With all the technology and modern conveniences that fill our everyday lives, there's something about the back-to-basics feel of a traditional English dining room that remains so alluring. Yet these designs are much more than simply nostalgia pieces, with the shaker influence of functional elegance a staple of the best country inspired spaces. Try these four very different takes on the Country Kitchen-Diner and lose yourself in the rural idyll.
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Cook to Perfection
Functionality is at the heart of the country kitchen-diner as evidenced by the Cooks Dining Table, its large work surface (pictured here in marble but also available in oak or urban concrete top) acting as both a place to prep and eat meals.
This makes it a great piece for both big or small spaces acting as a makeshift island complete with storage drawers and hanging rail. We've paired this classic silhouette with a range of mix-and match chairs from the traditionally bentwood and woven wicker Capra to the sharp timber frame of the Risi.
Update with accents
A touch of colour adds a contemporary twist to traditional British furniture with the mix of painted pieces and natural solid woods providing a bold accent to a country kitchen-diner. Striking the balance between traditional and cutting edge, the modern Atlantic Blue finish of the Pinner range helps the traditional silhouettes stand out especially when placed within a minimal décor.
Contemporary timbers
Think country kitchen-diner and you will undoubtedly call to mind beautiful solid wood worktops and furnishings. Yet placed within a city space, rustic unfinished timbers can provide a modern contrast to the more polished surroundings.
The Tree to Table Dining Table provides a real feature design for the dining room, with each cut from a choice of British grown trees (Ash, Limed Beech or Oak) and paired with traditionally forged and hammered iron legs. The range is crafted in Suffolk by Made by the Forge who are also behind the stunning Farrier's Cage Long pendant shown above.
Mid-century makeover
First designed by company founder Lucian Ercolani in the 1950s, the Ercol Original's range brings together the brands most iconic pieces. Their mid-century take on traditional Windsor furniture means they still look fresh within a modern country kitchen-diner especially in the elegant white and fade finish shown above.
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Tender is the night when spent with a copy of The Great Gatsby, as Heal's Design Consultant Victoria Rowse explains in her first Everyman's Book Club review.
Over the coming weeks Victoria be will giving her own take on five classic pieces of literature, all of which have been beautifully repressed by Everyman's Library, along the way offering insight and advice on how to develop your interior design by building a library of books. “
F Scott Fitzgerald has a rhythm to his prose that leaves me daydreaming as much of the man behind the tale of Mr Jay Gatsby as of Gatsby himself. A short but passionate read, The Great Gatsby not only gives you the joy of a story that develops characters and plot with expert finesse, but also provides a near autobiographical insight into the author and his time.
“And I like large parties. They’re so intimate. At small parties there isn’t any privacy.” Neri & Hu furniture for De La Espada, designs that are perfect for any soirée. Written in the roaring 1920's, the book captures the time in which it was written with such livelihood that you cannot help but believe Fitzgerald himself had tasted those same decadent excesses as his subjects.
The characters come to life with such speed and depth that the reader is left totally invested in the lives of Jay Gatsby, and Daisy Buchanan, their grasps at the “American dream” and the resulting chaos that enfold around them.
“Evoking its own tale of music, it could not suit the Jazz age better.”
What is most striking about The Great Gatsby is the rhythm of Fitzgerald's writing. Evoking its own tale of music, it could not suit the Jazz age better. It is a masterful composition that carries the reader along pianofortes, crescendo and right up to the novels grand finale with a passion and energy that is only befitting for a story of decadence, idealism and tenderness in equal measure.
"It makes me sad because I've never seen such – such beautiful shirts before." Bedroom furniture fit for Gatsby's wardrobe from Riva 1920. Now held as a modern literary classic, The Great Gatsby has never gone out of print since its release in 1925.
This latest edition from Everyman's Library is worthy of even Gatsby’s resplendent bookshelves and with limited space in my, let's say, “quirky” London apartment, this book is a great example of beautiful design that helps make a house a home. ”
In search of somewhere to house your growing library? From decadent designs fit for Gatsby's mansion through to more functional furniture, we have classic and contemporary furniture, bookshelves, storage and reading chairs to suit every home.
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We show you how to create four fresh Scandi inspired Bedroom designs using our exclusive Nordic Bed.
Placing our Nordic King Size Bed at the centre of each shot, we've mixed and matched pieces from our furniture, lighting and home accessories collections to produce four very different interior ideas. Be inspired by our selection of Bedroom settings and shop online to start designing your own. Shop Bedroom
All angles covered
For those with a taste for timeless design, you can't go wrong with the mid-century style of Kay+Stemmer's Agnes Side Table and Eleanor Pritchard's range of contemporary textiles. The new style of Scandinavian design was all the rage in the 1950s and 60s, so it's no surprise our bed sits comfortably alongside the industrial style of Anglepoise, our new Bristol Floor Lamp and our Zox flatweave modern rug.
Nordic King Size Bed £1595 shown with Agnes Side Table £320, Original 1227 Mini Desk Lamp in Black £150, Zox Flatweave Rug from £78, Bristol Floor Lamp in Matt Black & Concrete £185, Egyptian Cotton Bed Linen from £20 and Eleanor Pritchard Cushions and Throws from £110.
Pretty in pink
Colour is definitely on the cards in this bedroom setting, with our exclusive Merino & Cashmere Throw nestled next to Kristjana S William's wildlife inspired silk cushions. Staying on the theme of nature, we've even managed to sneak in a cute faux cactus from Abigail Ahern (don't worry they aren't real prickles) and a natural hide rug from Danish based Linie Design.
Nordic King Size Bed £1595 shown with Nordic Bed Side Table £395 and Tall Chest £895, Crawford Table Lamp £175, Fade Rug from £635, Egyptian Cotton Bed Linen from £20, Merino & Cashmere Throw in Pink & Red £130 and Kristjana S Williams Cushions from £120.
Fun and fancy
Scandinavian design has always had a playful side, so for this bedroom we've injected some fun by teaming the Rockpool quilt and cushion from Safomasi with opulent furniture and lighting. While the McQueen Bedside Table comes courtesy of Matthew Hilton, Danish design abounds with our range of copper lighting.
Nordic King Size Bed £1595 shown with McQueen Bedside Table £2070, Junction Table Lamp in Copper £135, Bristol Floor Lamp in Copper & Dark Wood £200, Egyptian Cotton Bed Linen from £20 and Rockpool Quilt £165 and Cushion£63. Shop Now Back to top
Ever wondered why we need sleep or are you simply tired of restless nights? Let our guide to getting the perfect night’s rest demystify the science of sleep and help you create your very own sanctuary.
We’re all familiar with the old saying ‘there aren’t enough hours in the day’ yet many of us are guilty of not giving our minds the rest it deserves whether that be through lifestyle choice or how much we invest when purchasing Bedroom furniture. So how does sleep improve our day to day lives and what things can you do to make sure you get are getting enough?
The benefits of sleep
While people are happy to shell out thousands of pounds on fad diets, skincare products and their morning coffees, many of us neglect the one thing that is proven to make you happier, healthier, more intelligent, more attractive and add years to your life – sleep! Sleep is something of a biological enigma.
We know we need it but we can’t pinpoint exactly why. Researchers believe that the primary function of sleep is to allow our brains to recover from the stresses of the previous day, however, we also need it to maintain our organs and immune system.
Other ways in which sleep improves our overall well-being: Sleep is important for retaining information – those with good memory recall are more likely to have had a proper night’s sleep You learn during the night – get a good night’s sleep and you’ll be up to 17% better at a task the next day The sleepier you are the more you crave sugary and fatty foods - if you only get half your required sleep you will eat up to 1000 calories more because you are tired (that’s roughly three donuts) Not only are you less motivated to exercise but if you do so when sleepy you are 35% more likely to suffer a sports related injury.
How much sleep do you need?
Sleep is crucial to children’s development and just half an hour less than a child’s required sleep amount can have a negative impact on both mental and physical health. Typically a new born child requires 16-20 hours a night where as a ten year old will need approximately ten hours of sleep.
It is also recommended that until a child is six they should have at least one long nap during the day. Teenagers generally need to sleep longer than adults, approximately between nine and nine and half hours, as they are going through puberty. Once you get to your early twenties, however, your sleep need (the amount of time sleeping) becomes fixed for life. This is different for everyone and can range anywhere between three to eleven hours a night.
The simple test to find out how much sleep you need is whether you feel happy and alert or sleepy and miserable. Try recording how long you sleep each night to get a measure of your mood and it will soon become apparent whether you are a six or eight hour sleeper.
What to look for when buying a luxury mattress
We spend up to one-third of our lives in bed, so investing in a quality made mattress isn’t so much a luxury as a necessity. Everyone’s idea of comfort is different - which is why we recommend laying on a mattress before committing to a purchase so that you can genuinely get a feel for it - however there are a few basic things to look out for.
Does the mattress allow you to easily move?
We naturally move between 40 to 60 times a night not only to relieve pressure on certain parts of the body but also to maintain body temperature by moving to the cooler side of the bed.
Does it provide comfort and support in every position?
The position you fall asleep or wake up in is not the same as the position your sleep throughout the night.
What is it made from?
Natural fibres provide breathability, keep you cool and wick away moisture whereas synthetics materials will lead to overheating during the night.
Are you getting the correct support?
Your spine needs to be straight when laying on your side while on your back the natural curve of the spine needs to be preserved – a good test is whether you can fit your hand underneath the small of your back.
Have you tried it with a pillow?
No sleep specialist worth their salt will try to sell you a mattress without providing a pillow to test it. We even recommend buying your pillows at the same time as the mattress so that you can find the perfect match.
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Creating the ideal environment
It’s not just the furniture that can affect your sleep, but the type of environment you create within your bedroom. Here are a few simple tips for making the space more conducive to rest:
Lights out: the bedroom should ideally be pitch black but failing that as dark as possible. Thick curtains or dark blinds are an effective way of blocking out light.
Keep the noise down: the World Health Organisation claims that anything above 35 decibels will disrupt sleep, so it’s important that the bedroom is the quietest space in the home.
Remove technology: in an ever more connected world it’s becoming harder and harder for us to switch off. The bedroom should be designed solely for sleep, so turning off your phone before bed and removing the television will help avoid any such distractions.
Don’t overheat: our bodies need to drop half a degree in temperature during the night, so the bedroom needs to be cool (between 16 and 18 degrees) while the bed itself needs to be warm. Provided you are sleeping under a Tog 15 duvet, you will rarely need to run your heating overnight in the UK as the temperature is not low enough.
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Now that you know what to look for, you can start designing your own soothing sleep space. Remember, when it comes to getting 40 winks it's not worth sparing on quality something you'll always find in abundance within Heal's Bedroom collection.
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The latest in our Everyman's Library how to's, furniture designer Matthew Elton offers his advice on the perfect storage solutions to put your books to the best visual effect.
Books play an important part in Matthew's furniture designs - he celebrates the way they look and feel, their size, shape and even their smell! With this in mind, we asked him for a few interior tips for creating an eye-catching feature out of your library.
"Organisation draws the eye for all the right reasons – you might want to display your collection alphabetically, by one colour per shelf or even through the colour spectrum along the shelf. Size matters – I find keeping larger art and design books lower down and smaller novels and poetry collections along the top shelves creates balance both physically and visually. Freestanding shelving units are making a huge come-back, allowing you to make a real feature of your favourite tomes, either front on to showcase the cover or side by side to display the spine."
Put Matthew's designer tips to work by shopping our collection of storage and shelving.
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