If your home looks a little like this, some serious decluttering could be in order!

Our campaign to get the nation detoxing their homes continues and this week Richard Hammonds, Chairman of Hammonds Furniture share his advice on sorting, decluttering and generally getting your home looking ship-shape.

With over 80 years’ experience of designing and installing beautiful bedroom furniture, Hammonds really understand how to maximise your storage space. But before you do, Richard’s advice is to work out what you really need. So first things first…

‘Be prepared, and get organised’ explains Richard.

‘Have on hand a supply of sturdy storage boxes, bubble wrap and some packing tape. Whatever area of the house you are decluttering the same simple steps apply. Then take a deep breath and begin by separating your stuff into four categories:

• - things that need repairing
• - those that are headed for the bin
• - those that can be given away or sold at a car boot sale or on eBay
• - and those special or functional items that you absolutely can’t live without

‘When in doubt, ask yourself this question, ‘Is this something I either use or love?’  If not, get rid of it. Remember, each time you get rid of something that has outlived its usefulness, you make room for something new! Or maybe you just make sure that you have enough space to see everything you have and weren’t using / wearing because it was stuffed in the back of a cupboard!’

Continues Richard, ‘Although each room’s clutter will take on a slightly different form, this same approach can be used throughout the house. The hall can often be a real dumping ground for hats and coats, umbrellas, shoes and boots. The sitting room and dining room will usually be cluttered with books, ornaments, CDs, entertainment equipment, dead plants, old magazines and sometimes children’s toys.’ 

More tips from Richard on their way. In the meantime though, visit our facebook page for a chance to win a fabulous prize courtesy of Hammonds.

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.

One small seed – stylishly displayed plants can have a dramatic impact upon your home

One small seed – stylishly displayed plants can have a dramatic impact upon your home

For the next few weeks we’ll be encouraging you all to get detoxing your homes. A general declutter, tidy and brighten up that will not only improve the look of your home but will benefit the way you feel about spending time their too.

We’ve recruited some experts to offer their tips to help you. And today, Marianne Shillingford, Design Director at the Dulux Design Service will be sharing her ideas for injecting some living colour into your home, in the form of house plants!

Says Marianne, ‘Fill your home with living decoration that literally helps you to breathe and sleep more easily. Nurturing and talking to your ornaments is much more enjoyable and relaxing than dusting them too.

‘A Dulux interior designer can help you with interior decoration, furniture and pots to show off the foliage. Try simple pots against soft warm organic colours and pure white furniture.’

To finish the look consider our wood venetian blinds in a natural finish or painted white. Stylish tape that co-ordinates or contrasts with the slat adds an extra dash of luxury – your Hillarys advisor will be able to offer advice on getting a look that’s great for your home.

Visit our facebook page now to enter our competition to win a design consultation from the Dulux Design Service.

All you hoarders out there take note – shelves are key to a stylish display and these ones look great against Dulux Colour of the Year 2012 on the walls 21/436

The start of a new year is the perfect time for a new look, and where better to begin than at home.

There’s no need to break the bank! You can go along way with a lick of paint and some gorgeous new blinds at your windows. Arrange an appointment with one of our advisors and he or she will come to you with our full range. So not only do you get to choose from the comfort of your own home but you’re also able to match fabrics to wall colours, furniture or accessories. It’s the ultimate in convenience!

But if your home’s in need of more dramatic intervention, consider a domestic detox. It’s simple – get sorting, decluttering and generally separating the rubbish from the things that really matter to you.

We’ve teamed up with some very fabulous experts to offer you tips on decluttering and generally brightening things up. From storage solutions to interior design assistance, we’ve got it all covered! Plus, visit our facebook page and you’ll have the chance to enter our detox competition too!

For the next week or so, Marianne Shillingford, Design Director at the Dulux Design Service will be sharing her ideas for detoxing your home.

And today she’s ‘considering clutter’.

Explains Marianne, ‘You don’t have to hire a skip to deal with the clutter in your life, instead why not hire a Dulux interior designer who can help you with some tricks of the trade.

‘Unapologetic hoarders will let stuff pile up in their homes no matter how hard they try not too.  An interior designer can help you display things properly to prevent accessories from overwhelming a room.

‘With plenty of shelf space, and the right storage solutions an interior designer can help you get your colour scheme just right to balance the visual noise.’

This is the time of year when anyone who’s anyone goes out of their way to tell you what trends are going to be big over the next twelve months. Everywhere you look there seems to be a mad dash to find the next big thing, to say what’s going to be new first – in general to be ahead of the game.

In reality, trends don’t actually change that quickly. Interior design hasn’t had a dramatic turnaround since December 2011. So if you’ve recently given a room a makeover, in time for Christmas perhaps, don’t panic, you don’t need to get the paintbrushes out and throw away your tastefully selected accessories!

But if you are planning a redecoration project over the next months, there are some key trends that you may be noticing more of as you browse the magazines and the shops for inspiration.

So what’s do we at Hillarys think is going to be big in 2012.

Well first of all, our love affair with all things vintage is set to continue. We’re not fixated by a certain decade though – really, anything goes from the 20s, 50s, 70s and more. And we’re not looking to recreate the exact look of that time in our home. Oh no. Just a few carefully chosen pieces – maybe a chair, a table, a fabric design or a few knick knacks that really make a statement and create the mood for your room. Vintage is now all about taking the best bits from the past and combining with up-to-date style for a look that’s completely unique to you.

In recent times neutral tones have dominated interiors – they’re comfortable, easy to live with, and great to dress up or down using co-ordinating or contrasting accessories. But now it seems as though neutrals have had their day and colour and pattern has come to the fore. Which is absolutely wonderful news! Colour certainly energises a room, and it can be perfectly offset with bold patterns too. If colour and pattern is new to you, I’d recommend limiting the amount of pattern you use – for example patterned blinds or curtains but not alongside patterned wallpaper please!

Sticking with colour, a big trend that has been emerging in recent months is for bright pastels. I know this sounds a contradiction, so to help, think traditional sugared almond tones with just a little extra oomph! It’s a pretty look that works well in a retro style kitchen, although it’s fab throughout the rest of the home too.

If you like the natural look, you’ll be pleased with the next trend, which has a homespun, wholesome feel. Leafy prints, checks, chambrays and cocooning textures combine to provide a simple yet welcoming feel.

And of course, 2012 is an Olympic year, so expect to see loads of red, white and blue absolutely everywhere.

So there you go. Just a few trends it’s worth looking out for. I’m sure there’ll be something to suit you.

What trends are the latest magazines telling us to watch out for?

We’ve only been back at work for a week or so but already the February monthly magazines have been on the shelves for some time. While the end of 2011 issues were crammed with ideas for the festive season, these latest glossies have much more to say on trends for the season ahead. So, what should we be looking out for?

Well making the most of your home is certainly big news. With the downturn in the property market, moving home doesn’t seem high up on the list of anyone’s agenda for 2012. Instead it looks as though we’ll be improving what we’ve got. Good Housekeeping has a great guide to projects that will not only get your home looking fab but will also add value when house prices do eventually pick up.

Animals, believe it or not, are becoming increasingly influential in interior design. Birds and butterflies have been around for a while. Now keep your eyes open for cats, dogs, horses, hens and even bugs! There are soft furnishing fabrics and wallpaper if you really like this theme but if you prefer the odd touch in your home consider a door mat, mugs or cushions. Country Living and Country Homes and Interiors both have lots of ideas.

Textures too are something to look out for according to Country Homes and Interiors. Checks – tweeds and tartans – chunky knits, heavily woven carpets and even wallpaper help create this look that can be tailored to traditional or contemporary living.

Good Homes offers four key looks for the season. From a simple rustic feel, to bright tones and from pretty florals to exotic designs inspired by far flung holidays, there really is something that will appeal to all.

Good Homes also has some lovely buys for kids rooms.

I’ll keep you posted on what I’m expecting to be big in 2012 soon.

Loads to do before Christmas? Let us take care of your windows.

With Christmas Day now less than three weeks away, are you sitting back and relaxing with your gifts bought, wrapped and hidden, and your tree up and twinkling away?

Or, are you not quite that organised? With all the presents still to buy and the decorations hidden away somewhere you’ll never find, which means buying more again this year? And on top of that, are you cooking for family, who are planning on staying for a few days as well?

Oh dear! It looks as though you have a hectic couple of weeks or so ahead. But don’t despair! If you need a blind for a spare bedroom, or would even like a new look for your kitchen or dining room this festive season, we can take care of that.

Yes, you’ve got until next Thursday 15 December to order your blinds and we’ll get them made and fitted in time for the big day. But it’s even better than that!  Remember, your local advisor will visit you at home, at a convenient time and while you choose from our range (take a short break from all the wrapping), your advisor will take care of the measuring.

When it comes to the fitting, your advisor will pop back, at a time to suit (although be warned – he or she may be very busy) to get your windows looking just perfect with brand new blinds.

Unfortunately your advisor isn’t on hand to pick up a couple of presents en route, but at least you’ll be able to tick one big job off your list of things to do. Good luck with everything else!

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!