June 2015 - Sydney Blinds

Turn your room into a home magazine pull out – all on a budget.

June 19, 2015/in General Category /by Sydney Blinds

Creating a modern look in your home is all about being a minimalist, so if you’re on a budget this look is perfect for you. Remember the only way to accomplish this is to set a budget for yourself and a vision.

Below are six tips to show you how to turn your home into a modern haven at a fraction of the cost.

Tip 1 – Shop Smart

You can pick up amazing bargains if you just shop around; designer styled furniture is always replicated at a fraction of the price. You don’t need to visit up-market furniture stores to find key items, such as cushions and wall art. We’ll show you below just how it’s done.

You could find the same pillow but at two different price points.

Tip 2 – Use the Internet

The upside to using the internet is that you’ll find more bargains online, the downside; you won’t have a touch and feel experience. Sites like gumtree and eBay don’t just house used items, you can pick up a bargain on a never been used item too.

The important thing to remember is your vision – you might see unsightly looking items on Gumtree, but try keep in mind what that item could potentially look like with a bit of TLC, sanding and new coat of paint.

We share some of our favorite furniture makeovers; from disagreeable to beautiful!

Tip 3 – So fresh and So clean

A clean looking room will allow all your key pieces to stand out and feel more inviting. Remember modern settings usually look crisp and clean, so if that’s the look you’re going for keep the rooms clean and clutter free.

Plus, you’ll be sticking to your budget because you’re buying less!

Tip 4 – To the window

New window furnishings are a sure way to makeover a room, replace old blinds or curtains with fresh ones. If you’ve had blinds before why not try something new like curtains or a different style Blind like Romans or Panel Glides Blinds. The belief is that custom made blinds are more expensive, so people usually opt out and purchase ready made blinds which don’t fit or they’re limited by a select range of fabrics. At Sydney Blinds we make custom made blinds right on site and have a wide range of fabrics and products to suit any budget, plus you’re supporting an Australian manufacturer.

Tip 5 – To the wall

Painting and wallpaper is a cost effective way to transform a room without the added expense of replacing everything in it. If you’re renting, get permission first or use removable wallpaper (easy to apply, easy to remove). If you feel it might be too expensive to wallpaper every wall, paint three and wallpaper one as a feature.

Tip 6 – Do IY or Don’t DIY

The choice is up to you, even if you think you don’t have that creative streak, DIY projects are cost effective and don’t require that much creativity, websites such as Pinterest have great DIY ideas for your home. Revamp an old dresser, recover an old chair or turn household items into something incredible.

For all our helpful hints, visit our Pinterest page….

Who said wooden pegs were a thing of the past, they’re back in ladies, and they’re adding a rustic edge to your décor! Why not try making your own mirror:

Adding personality to your Rented Home

June 19, 2015/in General Category /by Sydney Blinds

Being a renter doesn’t mean you can’t make the place your own, renting does have some boundaries. However there are things you can do to make sure you feel comfortable in your rented home.

My Husband and I have been renting since we got married two years ago and being interior design focused I researched ways that I could give my home that designer feel, all while turning it into ‘our place’ without losing our bond.

If you have restrictions with doing any renovations, here are some tips to help you transform your place into a comfortable, warm haven and still keep your landlord happy.

Always ask permission
Doesn’t matter how big the change, from nailing in a hook to hanging your favourite picture or re-painting a room it’s always best to talk to your real estate agent or if you’re lucky enough to have one on one contact with your landlord go straight to them.

Check your blind spot
I remember moving in and being horrified at these beautiful roman blinds that were not taken care of, I pulled them down and ordered new blinds, window furnishings will pick up your home and give it a personal touch – after all you did chose the fabric and design. Just remember to keep the old ones so when you leave you are ensuring the place is exactly as you found it.

We’ve got ideas to suit your taste, click on any of the below links:

Roller Blinds Roman Blinds Curtains Shutters Venetian Blinds

Change your knobs
You might have old doors which you wouldn’t want to pay ridiculous amounts of money to replace, give them a good wipe down and visit your local hardware store to pick up some new door handles or knobs or you can do a DIY door handle – it will make your cupboards and doors look new, the best find would be modern looking designs.

Freshen up
Fresh flowers and indoor plants will freshen up the place, and add colour to your room. Most renters don’t invest in that much furniture so why not fill an empty space with a big fern or plant? Another addition would be to purchase interesting vase pieces – depending on your style; you could pick up some very vintage looking statement vases, or alternatively nice modern simplistic pieces.

Invest in some art
Usually the most frequently asked question is… can I put up a picture? Utilise what you already have if you don’t have permission or invest in removable hooks. You can also try a design concept of leaning mirrors and art on the floor or a desk.

Swing from the Chandelier
We all get stuck with those rental lights, you know, the round frosted glass ones, well you don’t have to be, investing in light fixtures doesn’t have to be expensive, pick your favourite, most lived area and incorporate a beautiful lighting piece, it can be the wow factor in your home, you can also use lights as a display if you don’t want to invest in a lighting fixture.

Again, just remember to keep the old fixture in a safe place for when you intend to vacate the premises. Lights can be expensive, so you’ll want to be able to take your new asset with you when you move on.

Versatility is important
When you purchase your furniture don’t buy for the house, buy for you. Pick out statement furniture that will compliment your home, benefit you in the long run and fits!

Accessorize your place
You want to have small statement pieces, books, candles, throws etc. in your home to give it that personal touch; after all you want to make it as homely as you possibly can. You don’t want it to be a rental showroom, fill it with items you love and that mean something.

Wallpaper… because paint isn’t an option.
Lucky for us we were allowed to get rid of the suede burnt orange in our home and paint the walls, for those who are struggling to get rid of those unsightly colours, invest in easy to apply, easy to remove wallpaper. Create a feature wall or cover every wall the choice is yours.

Rug Up
Throw a colourful or statement rug on the floor; make sure the size compliments your living area. Adding a rug adds a sense of warmth, but too can cover up any impurities on the floor.

Roller Blinds for Spring to Make the Sun Gentler

June 19, 2015/in General Category /by Sydney Blinds

With spring around the corner it’s time to de-clutter, pack away the woollies and embrace the outside warmth.

We’ve given you 6 major, but simple spring steps to get you started.

Get Planting
Most of your plants, fresh herbs and DIY gardens have been somewhat affected by the cold frosty mornings or neglect, it time to revamp your garden or if you don’t have a little patch of produce it’s time to create one. Get your garden ready by cleaning leaves from paths, gutters and surrounding areas and replacing old hoses or watering cans, once the small details are done it’s time to get spring ready.

If you don’t have a backyard, don’t worry, indoor and balcony herb and vegetable gardens are easy, cost effective and don’t take up much room.

Revamp your outdoor living space
Our outdoor furniture doesn’t get a lot of love during the colder months, give the cushion covers, if removable, a good wash, (I have a washable hammock that will find itself in the washing machine before the warm weather pops out) give the table and chairs a wipe down, you want to spend most of your time outdoors, so add some outdoor décor and invest in citronella candles and anything that keeps the bugs away.

Blankets, bedding and jackets oh my!
Throughout winter we tend to pull all the warm things out, the more in our home the warmer it is. Start to wash blankets and other heavy bedding, put them away for next winter and bring out the lighter bedding. While you’re in a washing mood dry clean coats, jackets and other heavy clothing items, these can be stored in vaccumm sealed bags, they keep clothes fresh till next winter and don’t take up much room.

Bring out the brights
I’ve put away yellow cushions that go beautifully with my lounge suite a few months ago and bought out dark throws and left the grey cushions as is, so now it’s time to bring them out again or opt for a new colour, they brighten up the room and look beautiful as little pops of colour, swap your winter darks with some spring brights, cushions, throws and one or two bright décor items.

I love candles in my home all year round, instead of putting them away completely, swap the brown or red cinnamon scent for a gardenia or a soft citrus scent, not only will the colour of your candles change but so will the scent, a simple change will immediately take your home from winter to spring. Don’t forget fresh flowers, invest in a gorgeous vase and make that your display piece in your home, fill it with fresh flowers and you’ve already welcomed the outdoors in.

They don’t call it spring cleaning for nothing.
Get cleaning, throw out pantry items and fridge items that haven’t seen the kitchen bench in a while, wipe down all electrical devices, open windows, tackle every room in the house including the laundry. You’re aren’t a superhero so take time, brace yourself and work through it slowly, that’s why I suggest to start now, by the time Spring comes in you’ll be loving your fresh, clean reavamped home.

Bring the light in
You want as much sun as you can in a room, if you have roller blinds in your home, we recommend a light filtering fabric paired with a block out to give you a good sleep at night and that beautiful warm light during the day all while still maintaining your privacy. Choosing this dual roll system will be cost effective because come winter you’ll want to keep the cold out with your light filtering blind all while enjoying the view.

To see our range of Roller Blinds click here – https://www.sydneyblinds.com.au/blinds/roller-blinds-hollands

These are just small simple steps that will see your home Spring ready by the time winter is through.

Archive for month: June, 2015

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