Going all-white is usually the default choice when it comes to painting ceilings, but there are a number of other options that can set your home apart from others. APT Renovation has looked at some excellent ideas for your ceilings:

Concrete

Opting for a polished concrete ceiling will give you a highly contemporary look in your home, especially if you have pure white walls and high-class furniture. Concrete also makes it seem as if there is more room in your property, and works wonders in open-plan spaces.

Metal

It is true that white ceilings are very useful in spreading more light around the place, but metal is another unique alternative that you can use to the same effect. Not only does metal increase the circulation of light, but it is also fairly cheap to fit and gives off a very modern look.

Wallpaper

Believe it or not, but wallpaper can actually be used on other surfaces other than walls! Having wallpaper on your ceiling may be relatively tricky to implement, but it can work wonders in terms of improving the overall look. You can also create the illusion of taller ceilings if you paint the moulding around the edges the same colour as the walls.

Go Black

If you have a lightly coloured interior and tall ceilings, then going for a black ceiling can create a very striking look. Although the ceiling will appear to be lower, this look goes exceedingly well with cream colours and dark wood.

Timber

Timber is often used for flooring and walls to great effect, but it can also work as a stunning material for your ceiling. With timber, you can choose various different shades to complement your interior design, and whichever tone you go with, you can be sure that it will result in a cosy environment.

Artwork is usually the final touch that gives your home its own unique charm and character. The artwork you choose reflects your own personality and tastes, so you should look to maximise the impact it has on your home. APT Renovation has looked at how you can get the best out of your selected artwork:

Maximise Your Hall Space

Your hallway is generally the area with the largest wall space, but this part of the house is often ignored in terms of decoration. Instead, why not make your hallway stand out, and feature a large selection of art, leading all the way up to the top of the wall so you have something nice to look at when climbing the staircase.

Illuminate Your Art

Sometimes the lighting in a room will not do justice to the artwork that you have up. A great way to combat this is to install some lighting above your art to illuminate it during the evening, so it is just as noticeable as it is during the day. Adjustable lighting is preferable as you can manipulate the lighting to your liking.

Focalise

If your artwork is very colourful and striking, you might want it to be the centrepiece of your room. Consider propping it up to a high and central point in the room, and arrange your furniture around it so that it is always in view. Try to ensure that the rest of the room doesn’t clash with the vibrancy of your artwork, instead opting for more neutral colours and tones.

Jazz Up Your Bathroom

Many bathrooms look generic and lack in style, so adding artwork into the mix is a really effective way to enhance the image. Consider adding some funky pop art to a white bathroom to inject some life into it, or add some Art Deco features to create a more refined finish.

Wet rooms are becoming increasingly popular in British bathrooms, and it is easy to see why. Generic white shower enclosures are starting to be a thing of the past, as wet rooms are a great way to add style and space to a bathroom. Here are some things to consider before you go ahead with a wet room:

Waterproof Everything

Perhaps the most important thing to consider before you make your wet room is to ensure that everything is fully waterproofed. To do this, a waterproof membrane must be laid on the floor and onto the walls in your wet room. Getting this right will mean that you have a fully functioning wet room that doesn’t leak.

Underfloor Heating

Underfloor heating is highly recommended if you decide to go for a wet room, as it helps remove water on the floor by evaporating it. It’s also highly effective in creating a cosy and warm feeling, as tiles usually get very cold.

Select The Right Tiles

Having a wet room means literally just that, your floor is going to be wet after someone has a shower. This is why it is important to select the right tiles that are slip resistant, particularly if you have any children, elderly or disabled in your household.

Correct Drainage

In order for your wet room to work properly, you need the water to drain away efficiently. There must be a soft slope in the floor to let the water travel into the drainage. You can do this by fitting in a pre-formed tray of your existing tiled floor.

Victorian architecture dates back to 1837 until 1901 when Queen Victoria sat on the throne. To this day, Victorian houses are prevalent all over the country. Here, we take a look at the typical features in a Victorian property, and what their defining characteristics were:

No Garages

As cars were first invented towards the end of the Victorian era, architectural designers did not foresee the need for garages. Most people would have travelled by foot, horse and cart or steam train during this period, which is why many Victorian homes to this day have to rely on on-street parking rather than garages.

Tiles

Geometric tiles were heavily used in Victorian properties, particularly black, white and blue mosaic patterns. Terracotta was also a common colour used in kitchen and dining areas, with a range of different shapes and designs.

Small Rooms

As fire was the only means of heating during this period, most rooms would have a fireplace in them. Because of the lack of heating as well, it was unpractical for rooms to be large, so for insulation purposes, rooms would generally be on the smaller side.

Joinery Quality

The more elaborate the joinery was in the fixtures of a property, the higher status this property had. This included ceiling roses and intricate and decorative coving, which were common features in the more luxurious Victorian properties.

Porches & Terraces

Another common feature in Victorian design were the front porches that included steps and gables. Just like the quality of the joinery, the size of the porch had a direct correlation to how grand the property was. Terraces were also designed very compactly and right next to each other, despite the fact that many families had over 8 children in 1 household.

Getting the layout right for any room in your house can be a very challenging task, and the living room is where you definitely want to get it spot on. Here are a few tips on how to create the ideal layout in your living room:

Position Sofa

As the sofa is usually the main seating area in the living room, you will want to select the right size, which means striking the right balance in terms of how many people it can fit, and how it is in proportion to the room. You will want to place the sofa in the best possible position to maximise your comfort, as well as the aesthetics. It may be tempting to have your sofa right up against a wall, but this can create a rather uninviting feeling, so try to leave a little gap instead.

Coffee Table

A coffee table is an essential piece of furniture for any living room, as it lets you place your drinks, food or devices down while you are relaxing. To supplement this level of relaxation, try to get a coffee table that is the same height as the cushions of your sofa. You will also want to select a coffee table the complements the theme of your living room, rather than one that is not in keeping with the décor.

Work Around The TV

Most people arrange their seating to face their television. If you have a large wide-screen TV, then you will want to make sure all your seats are placed accordingly. If you want your living room to be more of a social hub, then you could consider a sliding door to conceal the TV when guests are over.

Artwork / Plants

Putting up some beautiful artwork on your walls can make the world of difference to your living room, and give it its own personality. For best results, you should think about hanging up the art pieces at average eye level. Additionally, adding some plants into the mix is an effective way to freshen up the place and make your living room more inviting.

APT Renovation specialise in creating made to measure wardrobes for your home, thanks to our bespoke joinery. We have looked at some creative ways you can incorporate wardrobes into your rooms:

Raised Wardrobes

A great technique for organising your wardrobes is to raise them above the ground and onto the wall. This will allow you to have even more storage for clothing, and to also free up some much-needed floor space.

Low Wardrobes

If your room is in a loft, or you are lacking in headspace, then the chances are you won’t be able to fit a full-size wardrobe in there. What you can do though, is put a low-hanging wardrobe in there, complete with an easy to access hanging tail and maybe some LED lights for the style.

Integrate With Bed

Some rooms come in awkward shapes, making it hard to fit in a wardrobe that is able to store all of your clothing. If you are finding it hard to fit a wardrobe in because of the obstructive angles, then you could build one directly over your bed. Not only is this efficient in terms of freeing up space, but it also creates a lovely aesthetic.

Shelf Rails

Another great way to free up more space in your room is to create a shelf rail, where you can hang your shirts and jackets up with pegs. This particular style of wardrobe not only allows you ample storage space but it also works very well with minimalist interior designs.

Solid wood is often used for a vast array of surfaces in properties, especially for flooring, kitchen units and furniture. However, there are a few alternatives to use that can sometimes be better suited to your home. APT have looked at some excellent materials that you could use in your home instead of solid wood:

Bamboo

Although bamboo looks like wood, it actually comes from the grass family, and is a highly regenerative plant that grows very fast and is also eco-friendly. Bamboo can be used as a substitute for solid wooden flooring, as it is very durable and can come in a variety of different finishes, much like wood.

Cork

Cork is another durable material that is becoming increasingly popular, as it has many benefits. Not only does it look attractive, it is also eco-friendly as it is extracted from the bark of a tree, meaning no trees are cut down. For flooring, cork has a more warm and softer feeling than any other surface material, and it also has a very distinct, easy on the eye look.

Vinyl

Vinyl is a great substitute to use instead of real wood, and even though it is a synthetic man-made material, it can often look just as real as wood. This material is especially useful to have in your bathroom or kitchen where you want to achieve a wooden look, but don’t want the wood to get damaged by water.

Porcelain / Ceramic

Porcelain and ceramic are other materials you can use to mimic the wooden look for your bathroom and kitchen, as they are perfectly suited to areas of high moisture unlike wood. They also work for extensions such as conservatories where lots of sunlight comes in, as the colour of both these materials never fades.

The kitchen is one of the most energy dependent rooms in a household, and this can be very taxing financially and environmentally. APT Renovation has looked at some of the ways that you can reduce the amount of energy you use in your kitchen:

Energy Efficient Appliances

Kitchen appliances can take up to 30% of your entire energy use in your home, which is why replacing your existing appliances with those that have graded A ratings is so important. Grade A appliances are the most energy efficient, and will be sure to lower your bills each month.

Temperature Regulation

If you want to significantly reduce energy use, then make sure you pay attention to the temperatures in your fridges, dishwashers and washing machines. The ideal temperature of your fridge should be between 3-5°C and your freezer should be around -18°C.

Regularly Defrost Freezer

Because the freezer is constantly switched on, it is naturally the biggest energy user in the kitchen. The best way to reduce this excessive use of energy is to regularly defrost the freezer, as the more ice that builds up, the more electricity is used to keep it cold. Keeping your freezer defrosted can save you up to £200 a year in bills.

Use Energy Saving Lights

Kitchens are where you prepare meals, so they need to be lit up well, more so than any other part of the house. Using inefficient bulbs will quickly consume untold amounts of energy in your kitchen, so you should consider going for LED lights. These come in a variety of sizes and styles, so you can be sure to find some that will suit your kitchen’s décor.

Being faced with the constant challenge of redecorating your child’s bedroom is quite a daunting prospect. As they outgrow toys, furniture and regularly gain new interests, hobbies and tastes as they grow, redecorating their bedroom may seem like a regular occurence.

In order to make your life a little bit easier, think about creating a bedroom that is timeless. A room that can grow with your child and adapt to their ever changing interests.

Here are 4 simple ways to make your child’s bedroom timeless.

Neutral Themes

Selecting neutral tones and colours in your child’s room is a smart move.  Considering children’s favourite things will often change at the drop of a hat – and this includes their favourite colours! Instead of changing the colours of the walls regularly, perhaps, you could include their new found favourite colour in small doses, in accessories or bedding for example.

Use Posters & Stickers

Putting up posters and stickers in your child’s room is a great way to cater to their ever-changing interests. Your child might be into astrology one moment, and then into cars just a few months later, so having temporary posters or stickers is a great way to keep up with them!

Ergonomic Furniture

When your kids are young, you will most likely find them at a lower level, playing on the floor with their toys, but as they get older and grow bigger, they will naturally function at higher levels. This is why it’s a great idea to go for ergonomic and adjustable furniture so you can move things up a notch when needed.

Bespoke Furniture

Going for bespoke furniture will suit the needs of your specific child, and can make for an excellent long-term investment. At APT Renovation, we have our own bespoke joinery that is able to craft beautiful furniture that will adapt to your child as they grow throughout the years.