Real Home ImprovementThe Home Improvement Blog with real advice

As technology advances and workplace expectations increase in light of the economic downturn, demand for home offices is on the rise and savvy homeowners are taking steps to transform bedrooms or basements into a functional work space. Whether you are creating a home office out of an unused room or are looking to update an existing space, take a look at these top tips for breathing fresh life into a home office with a few modernising techniques.

Store sensibly

If you have a lot of clutter occupying your home office, the best way to organise the space is with slick, modern storage. Built-in cupboards behind tall sliding doors provide optimal space for hiding office stationary and files, as well as electronics when they are not being used. When choosing materials for your new storage surfaces, opt for reflective materials; this will create a contemporary look and also help to reflect light and brighten the room.

Go ergonomic

To help minimise the strain of working long hours at your desk, invest in ergonomic furniture such as specially designed cabinets and chairs. Ergonomic chairs can help to reduce discomfort in the shoulders, neck and back and for many people can aid productivity, while filing cabinets on wheels allow ease of use and can reduce work related injury. When selecting ergonomic furniture, be sure not to sacrifice the decorative theme of the room and opt for designs that match the style of the rest of your furnishings.

Make a statement

Your home office needn’t be a stuffy space full of dull, lifeless furniture. In fact, a pop of colour and interesting artwork can help you to lift your mood and have a positive effect on your attitude to work. It is also important not to neglect your sense of style when kitting out an office space. Add a splash of personality without going overboard by incorporating a single statement piece such as a quirky desk chair or an unusually designed desk.

Keep it simple

Modernism and minimalism go hand in hand, so for a practical but contemporary home office, keep things simple. This is particularly effective if the space is only used occasionally, allowing it to fully function as an office whilst remaining an attractive feature when it is not in use. Choose one or two light shades to colour the walls and decorate the room with a few accessories such as plants and paintings. Make full use of storage and clear away clutter for a simple but chic space.

Homes are becoming more and more sterile. This is down to a few reasons, however technology and neutral colors are the main culprits, creating (whilst modern) rather samey and boring spaces to live. That’s not that neutral sterile colors are bad thing though, do not get me wrong, as they helps to brighten up your home by reflecting light but sometimes, don’t you wish your home was just that little bit more organic? Well, topiary and flowers are a fantastic way to inject some organic pzazz in to your home, at a pretty affordable (depending on the flower type) price.

Now flowers come  in pretty much every shape, size and color imaginable. What type of flowers you like is down to personal choice, however I personally love  large-headed Roses, peach Germini, Lilies, Chrysanthemums and white Lisianthus which create a nice vibrant bunch much like the one pictured towards the top right of this post. Now you can pick up flowers in a number of ways, however due to numerous accidents such as my flowers getting crushed in a car ride, I prefer to order flowers online purely because they remain fresh and guaranteed.

Be sure to check out the different types of flowers online and make sure you enjoy your flowers this winter and remember, bring a natural touch to your home to ditch that artificial feeling.

For thousands of people around the UK making use of plants and flowers in and around the home is common place, however in the past 10 years artificial topiary plants have started to become more and more popular. Now, there are a number of reasons as to why artificial topiary is on the move and finding its way in to homes across the UK and in this article we are going to take a look at what makes artificial trees and topiary a good buy for the average home owner.

Range

There are so many different types of plant in the world that you can safely bet there are an equally different amount of artificial variants. Amongst the most versatile include great looking hanging baskets, silk topiary trees, and regular blocks which can be shaped and made in to a highly modern decorative piece to fit in with the rest of your home.

Cost

Plants can be pretty expensive depending on the type you buy, and with that price also comes the equipment to keep everything in tip top shape over time. What’s more, eventually plants die out or tire with their better days behind them whilst artificial plants and topiary do not; in fact, artificial topiary can last as long as you do as long as it is looked after in order to keep it looking vibrant.

Shelf life

As touched on above, organic shrubs die out over time and a lot of them are also seasonal meaning they won’t look their best until Summer comes by. Now during the seasons of Winter and Autumn in particular, this is the perfect time to invest in some artificial topiary as it will keep your house looking fresh.

Maintenance

When I was younger I used to live in a house with a conservatory, and low and behold, my mum would be tending to plants one heck of a lot. Now whilst I love the smell of fresh organic shrubs, oak tree’s and plants, it was a lot of work to make it look its best. If I knew, I’d have almost certainly pointed out artificial topiary (my favourite’s being silk topiary trees) to her in order to save her some time as quite simply, they do not need watering feeding or spraying (just dusting occasionally).

Overall

So there we go, four pretty good reasons as to why artificial topiary is becoming more and more popular to the average home owner. This type of product in particular is already massively popular within the business sector too, with artificial shrubbery being a hot seller for brightening up the workplace and bringing a bit of outdoors to employees.

Windows are a touchy subject amongst grade II listed houses within the UK however if you manage to get planning permission signed off for structural work, you can bring grade II listed homes practically in check with modern homes in terms of energy efficiency. Many Grade II listed homes feature original windows and frames which, whilst they may be okay to look at, will probably be dated and not very good at keeping the heat in. This is why getting new windows approved by your local council can benefit you in the long run.

Of course, one of the main ways in which new windows can help your home is to provide better energy efficiency. Many older generation sash and case windows make use of single glazed technology, which simply do not have the best reputation for energy efficiency when compared to modern double glazed variants. Another very good reason to upgrade your older generation windows is to improve the value of your home in the long run. Having brand new sash and case windows installed in to your home which are double glazed increase security and style, and can even be tailored to suit the original period of your home.

Key things to look out for amongst window manufacturers’ windows include the energy rating they carry (so A, B, C etc) and whether they are reinforced. Reinforced windows will stand up against storms and debris, and the chances of the windows getting damaged are minimized. Overall we think that upgrading your sash and case windows for your home is a very good idea, especially if you are looking to save money on your energy bills in the long term or selling up within a year or two.

Do you have trouble sleeping at night? Do you wish you felt comfier whilst trying to get to sleep in your bed? Well for years millions of people around the world have shared the same problem and whilst old school remedies such as nice scents and glowing lights do the trick to a certain (but not 100%) extent, changing your mattress can make all of the difference to your sleeping pattern and health, too. Of course, we are talking memory foam here, and whilst for years I have thought of them as an expensive choice and a non-essetial home improvement my friend has though otherwise and decided to buy one to see what’s what.

Overall, he states that the memory foam mattress has honestly changed the way he sleeps. Whilst on a conventional night he would sleep restlessly, he now sleeps perfectly and never wakes up due to having bad back. Overall i’d recommend a new mattress to anybody who needs stress relief and a good nights sleep.