The perfect backdrop for a vintage inspired room - Dulux Colour of the Year Fire Cracker 4 21/436.

All this week Marianne Shillingford, Design Director at the Dulux Design Service, has been offering her tips on detoxing your home.

Vintage is a key trend that’s been around for a while now and is set to continue to be popular over the coming seasons.

It’s a style that’s sure to appeal to the many hoarders out there – the perfect excuse for not only keeping all your old stuff but also displaying it around your room, stylishly of course!

But when it comes to vintage style, it’s important not to over clutter. By all means scour second hand shops for knick knacks and seek out family heirlooms but the trick is to not to take it too far. You don’t want your room to become a shrine to the past, or just look messy. Instead choose some key pieces – ones that you love or that have importance to you – and let these take centre stage. Then mix and match with up-to-date items to provide contrast and also a little modern comfort!

Explains Marianne: ‘Your home should tell the story of you. The beauty of hiring a Dulux interior designer is that they will work with you to help create a living scrapbook in your home. They can help you make the most of what you’ve already got and create a feature of the things that really matter, like collections of old toys, souvenirs from favourite places and pictures of the ones you love. They’ll suggest colours to uplift the look – perhaps the Dulux 2012 colour of the year on the walls to make this look, a fresh, fun and fabulous spin on ‘Vintage’ chic.’

Back to Hillarys and we’ve gorgeous vintage inspired fabrics within our Roman and Roller blind ranges. Elegant shutters would also look fantastic against this vibrant shade.

Remember, there’s still time to enter our facebook competition to win a design consultation from the Dulux Design Service.

Make the most of natural textures available to you and complement with a subtle shade on the walls like Dulux Heritage Georgian Grey

Texture is a key trend for the year ahead that you may have begun noticing towards the end of 2011. Exposed brick and stone work, stripped floor boards and open beams are perfect for adding interesting texture to a room. Set off with chunky knits – throws and cushions – textured blinds – we have a lovely Roman fabric called Bosworth available in four beautiful shades that will go with this look. You can even get textured wallpapers – great if your walls are less than perfect!

If you like the idea of this trend for your home it’s worth listening to this advice from Marianne Shillingford, design director at the Dulux Design Service.

‘It’s not what you put in – it’s what you leave out that really matters so much in successful interior design. 

‘This room is pared down and perfect with the addition of just a few well chosen pieces rather than lots of needless ornament and decoration. Expert interior design advice from Dulux, will help draw on a buildings strengths, recommending colours and materials that breathe life into a space and fill it with interest rather than dominating it.’

There’s still time to enter our facebook competition to win a design consultation from the Dulux Design Service.

Have you got a theme for your Christmas decorations this year?

Getting your home ready for Christmas sounds straightforward enough. Sort out a tree, add a few twinkly lights and a wreath plus maybe some more shiny bits dotted here and there and that’s it – nice and easy.

Of course there’s so much more to it than this. When it comes to the tree do you opt for a real one or a fake, and if you’re going for a fake one are you a traditionalist or do you prefer something more contemporary – white, black and pink have all be on-trend in recent years.

Are you a wreath person, or is this a little too traditional for your taste? Do you love tinsel, or is that a little too tacky (sorry tinsel lovers) for you. Is vintage style bunting more for you? And how do you feel about novelty lighting? You know the kids will love it but you’re not quite sure…

Perhaps you think I’m making too much of this. But if you’re a true home-lover you’ll know how important it is to get everything just right, especially at this time of year.

So, to help, I’ve put together a few inspirational ideas for your home this festive season.

Like contemporary living? Then how about a fresh and airy look? Silver venetian blinds add a gorgeous sparkle, with the pale green walls and off-white furniture creating a feeling of space. Here a white tree suits the mood perfect, finished with simple silver baubles.

Prefer a cosier feel? This gorgeous room simply oozes style, with simple grey walls, wood floors, pale furniture and deep purple Roman blinds. When working with grey be careful things don’t appear too cool. The simple silver tree features baubles that contrast with the rest of the room.

Or are you a traditionalist? There’s nothing better than a real tree (although don’t put it up yet if you still want needles in place for Christmas day). And a real tree suits this look perfectly, offering classic style that’s timeless. Roman blinds again perfect the perfect backdrop.

If you’re short of ideas, I hope this has been helpful. Enjoy your decorating!

Everyone's a winner with our advent calendar!

Advent calendars seem to have been in the shops for what seems like months now. If, like me, you’ve put off buying yours until ‘closer to the time’ you’re probably having a slight panic now because, of course, you’ve only gone and forgotten. But don’t worry! Enter our competition instead.

Every day between now and 24 December, we’re giving away a fabulous range of goodies including iPads, iPod shuffles, vouchers for made-to-measure blinds and much, much more in a very lovely facebook advent calendar.

Unfortunately not everyone can bag themselves one of these great prizes. But the beauty of our advent calendar is that everyone is a winner with vouchers offering free upgrades and accessories for blinds you buy from us behind every door.

We’re giving away free stylish metal chains on roman or roller blinds. Free shaped hems on roller blinds. Free poles and pulls on roller blinds. Free beading or braiding on roller blinds and free beading on roman blinds. Plus there are money off and 10% off vouchers too!

So today I’m going to take the opportunity to encourage you to think about ways to personalise the blinds for your home. Take a roller blind for example. This is often thought of as a functional blind that’s ideal for a kitchen or bathroom. But add sparkly beading or braiding and you instantly have something a little more glamorous that will work just as well in a living room or bedroom.  Or why not simply add a twinkle to your bathroom window?

Co-ordinating beading on stylish Roman blinds gives them a boho-chic edge, just perfect if your tastes are a little more eclectic. And of course a sleek metal chain can co-ordinate with door handles, light switches and other accessories such as curtain poles (if you have them) in your room.

Your advisor will be more than happy to show you all of the accessories in our range – and don’t forget to make the most of your free vouchers. You’ll be pleasantly surprised with the end results I’m sure.

Win this gorgeous Charnwood Country 4 woodburning stove in our facebook competition.

Times are increasingly hard at the moment with household budgets being squeezed to the limit. So you’re probably like me and on the lookout for money saving tips, and if these can be super stylish too, all the better!

Woodburning stoves are currently experiencing a resurgence in popularity. This is in part to do with the trend towards creating a warm and welcoming home. Gone are the days of minimalism, instead think vintage style or the modern rustics trend that combines the best bits from country style and contemporary convenience. We’ve recently launched two capsule collections in our Roller blind and Roman blind ranges that reflect these trends beautifully. But it’s also in part due to the increasing cost of gas and electricity. Everyone’s aware of the huge price increases in keeping our homes warm over recent years to the extent that this now accounts for a significant chunk of our incomes.

The brilliant thing about wood is that it is cheaper and more sustainable than coal, gas or oil.  But these aren’t the only benefits of a woodburning stove. They’re also incredibly energy efficient. 70-90% of the heat from a woodburning stove stays in the room compared to an open fire, which loses around 80% of its heat up the chimney. And that’s no use to anyone!

Now let’s talk about the looks. A real fire burning in a room is so welcoming – throw in the stove and you really are making a style statement.  Woodburning stoves come in all shapes and styles from traditional to ultra-contemporary. And don’t think black is the only colour option. Cream, red, blue, grey, green and many more are all available to suit your room.

We’ve teamed up with the lovely people at Charnwood Stoves to offer you the chance to win the fab Charnwood Country 4 woodburning stove in a fantastic facebook competition. You’ve got until 11 December to take part. So if you’ve not entered yet, do it now!

And if you’re hankering after a cosy approach to your interior décor scheme, arrange an appointment with your local Hillarys advisor and take a look at our Family Favourites Roller blinds and Modern Rustics Roman blinds.

Carefully chosen lighting can make all the difference to a room.

At this time of year, when it’s dark by the mid-afternoon, the lighting in your home becomes incredibly important. We all think of lighting as key to setting the mood of a room but it’s crucial to get the level just right. You don’t want your home to be so dull that you can’t see where you’re going! But equally you don’t want things too bright for relaxing.

Yes, lighting of all things, can be very complicated! And there’s so much to choose from too. See if this guide can help.

Pendant lighting

Pendants come in all shapes and sizes, not to mention a whole host of different materials from metal, glass and wood to fabric, jewels and shell. There are designs ideal for contemporary as well as traditional homes and perfect for tastes as wide-ranging as minimalist and boho chic.

Pendants provide the main source of light in a room, and should be complemented with other types of lighting to create a welcoming mood.

Chandeliers

A glamorous alternative to pendant lighting, a chandelier is perfect for making a statement in a room. Again there are traditional and modern versions in all kinds of colours to suit your style.

Floor lamps

Forget the standard lamp that took pride of place in the corner of your grandparent’s room. Floor lamps are hugely fashionable right now and offer so much choice, from retro styles with a twist to lovely arched versions, perfect for reading. It’s important to choose a size and shape that will fit the size and shape of your room too – too small and it will look lost; too big and there won’t be much room for anything else!

Table lamps

Perfect for creating a mood, table lamps are great for providing soft lighting in key places around a room.

Wall lights

These lights are ideal if you don’t have the room required by a table lamp. They’re perfect for highlighting features of your room such as a favourite picture or piece of furniture.

Desk lamps

This functional type of lighting needs to be practical but it can look good too. Industrial style is a big look right now so there are plenty of designs in this theme to choose from.

Blinds that maximise the natural light

Now you’ve got your lighting sorted let’s turn our attention to blinds. During these short days we want to maximise the light we do see. Roller blinds that pull up all the way are brilliant for this. If you are overlooked and need something at your windows at all times, try a sheer blind. We have lovely designs in our roller and pleated blinds ranges. Remember, we can fit blinds half way up the window too, providing privacy while allowing direct light in through the top half of the window.

There's loads you can do to personlise your blind, such as adding beading as we have done here.

If there’s just one thing we can take away from the current trend for vintage style, it’s that today’s interiors are all unique and individual. No longer is there one look that everyone aspires to or one ‘must-have’ piece of furniture that sells out no sooner than it arrives in the shops. Not at all. Instead our homes are much more individual than they’ve been for a long time. We’re actually scouring flea markets, antique fairs and charity shops on the lookout for unusual items and when we find them we’re adding our own touch by painting them or with accessories.

We’re really pleased that our range of blinds reflects this trend for personalisation. Did you know we have more than 850 blind fabrics to choose from? But that’s not all. There are so many individual touches that can be made, which extends the range even further. So you can be sure there won’t be thousands of homes around the country with exactly the same windows as you.

Fancy a shapely bottom?

If a straight bottom edge is a little straight laced for you, take a look at the shaped bottoms available in our Roller blinds range. Two also come with poles. As well as these there are eyelets, pulls and braids including a lovely beaded range that adds a sparkle. With such a choice there are loads of possibilities for your windows.

How about a sparkly Roman?

Beaded braids are available on our Roman blinds too in a range of colours designed to co-ordinate with the fabrics beautifully.

Wood you believe it!

Gone are the days when having wood venetians at your windows meant choosing from a range of natural stains. Now we offer painted shades and colour washes in distressed whites, sophisticated greys and comforting creams. Plus tapes for an extra dash of luxury and metal pulls if you prefer too.

Let’s mix things up a little

Our new Harmony blinds cleverly combine a wood valance and bottom rail with a venetian blind slat and they are finished very neatly with stylish tape, usually reserved for our wood venetian blinds only. 14 co-ordinating and contrasting variations are available to create a practical yet unusual and elegant blind for your home.

Get the layered look

More than one blind at a window can be a practical choice, especially if one is a blackout blind. But combining two blinds at one window can look super-stylish too and it’s completely up to you to decide the combination you prefer.

So be inspired to try something a little unusual at your windows. There are so many options, it shouldn’t be hard to find something unique.

Vintage isn't just about chintzy florals and pastel shades. There's plenty of options to suit all tastes.

The trend for all things vintage has been around for a while now, and it looks as though it’s here to stay for the next few seasons at least.

So where do you stand if chintzy florals, pretty pastel shades and shelves crammed full with knick-knacks isn’t really your thing? Is the vintage look one style you just can’t get on board with?

Well not necessarily. There’s so much more to vintage than this. First things first and let’s stop using the ‘V’ word. It conjures up images of the perfect 50s housewife and while this is a lovely comforting image to some it may not be in keeping with your particular lifestyle.

Instead think in terms of being inspired by the past. There are so many ways it can influence your style.

1.Pick your favourite era. The 50s may not be for you but do you like styles influenced by another decade? The roaring 20s perhaps? Or the stylish 30s, swinging 60s or even the disco 70s? Browse the interiors magazines and you’ll see hints of  how different time periods impact on interior styles.

2. Mix things up a little. Don’t make your home a shrine to one particular decade. Instead choose a few pieces you particularly like or that have a sentimental attachment and combine with up-to-date touches for a style that has loads of character and is as individual as you are.

3.You may not like ‘vintage’ style but you could be inspired by the vintage ethos of ‘buy once, buy well’. Invest in one special item for your room that you absolutely love knowing it will continue to look great for years or even decades to come.

4. If you’re struggling to picture how retro could look in your home, take a look at the high street. Clothing is incredibly cyclical – how often do parents and grandparents tell teenagers of the outfits they wore when they were young that were exactly the same as what the shops are selling now. Of course clothing designers and retailers are very clever and know just how to give an up-to-date twist to styles that are decades old. The trick is working out how you can do this in your home.

 So there you go. A quick guide to making vintage style work for you. Go on give it a go – you may find a style you absolutely love and that is unique too.

Layer blinds at your windows for a lovely cosy effect.

Clothing fashions and interior design often go hand in hand, each being inspired by the other. At this time of year, when we’re swapping our summer wardrobe over to one more suited to autumn and winter, there’s one trend that really comes into its own. And that trend is layering.

Think about it. It’s a cold, blustery day and you’re about to venture out to work, to do the school run or to get the shopping in. You don’t want to be cold but you also don’t want to go into meltdown when you get indoors. What do you do? Layer up of course. T-shirts, jumpers, cardigans, scarves, coats, plus skirts, leggings and boots – there are so many combinations that are fantastic at keeping you warm and they look great too.

So why not transfer this to your interior décor?

Layering up at home is all about creating a warm and welcoming environment for relaxing in. It’s not hard to go wrong but follow our advice and you’ll be off to a flying start!

1. Blankets and throws are a brilliant starting point. Perfect for creating a lovely comfy bed, they’re also fantastic for tossing over the back of a chair or sofa (and perfect for snuggly under during the evening).

2. Cushions work well too. Again, pile them up on your bed for real designer style or scatter on your seating for extra comfort. Don’t be mean though! Choose contrasting patterns and colours for added interest and cram as many as you can on there for a real luxurious feel.

3. If you have a shelf or bookcase load it up with knick-knacks, trinkets and other things such as photos that are important to you. The layered look isn’t about keeping things to a minimum – as long as it fits and looks good too, it’ll work!

4. Books are often beautiful in their own right and can add interest to a room. Stack on a shelf or even pile up on the floor for a lovely focal point (if you still have vinyl, these make a great feature as well). 

5. Coffee tables can be a living room essential – pile up your favourite glossy magazines or go one step further and replace the table with a stack of vintage suitcases or luggage chests for a unique and quirky effect. 

6. Your windows are ideal for getting lots of layers together in one place. Blinds and curtains make a lovely cosy combination – perfect for bedrooms. And you can also layer blinds together too. Think of adding a blackout roller bind behind a feature blind for an extra dark room at night-time. Or combine two complementary fabrics together to create a lovely, luxurious effect as we have done in our room. We’ve picked out the red of our check design and added a plain blind in this shade to make a real feature of the window.

Of course, there’s lots more you can do when it comes to layering in your home – it really is an organic process that develops over time. These tips should get your started. Enjoy!

One option that should undoubtedly feature is a PerfectFit roller blind from Hillarys, which is designed with both aesthetic and practical qualities in mind.

The company's PerfectFit range can be implemented on many of its blinds in various colours and styles.

Should you choose PerfectFit, you will find the blind has no cords and is fitted to sit flat against the wall it is attached to.

There is no need for drilling or any other form of DIY and the blind is secure in its position, from where it is safe from wandering hands.

At Hillarys, we think the best range to select when using PerfectFit is the rollers, as these can be customised in any way you so desire, providing something truly unique and special for your baby's bedroom.

We offer eight pulls and 29 braids that you can choose from when it comes to decorating your roller blind.

There are also a number of poles that can be hung from the window covers as an alternative stylish feature.

Among the metals available are chrome, nickel and brushed gold, which is just right for creating that classy and sophisticated look you are sure to wish to associate with your abode.

You may even find that while roller blinds solve the problem in some rooms or for some windows, they are not suitable throughout the home.

Well, do not fear. Hillarys will tailor your roller blinds to match a set of vertical blinds so you are guaranteed a smart finish.

You can even snap up a blackout material just to make sure your little one gets all the sleep he or she needs each night.