Eclectic Home

A lifestyle blog about eclectic style, beautiful home decor, cleaning & crafting

My guide to keeping your rugs & carpets looking spectacular

You’ve spent a small fortune on that new carpet or rug, so undoubtedly, you want to make sure it lasts for a very long time.  The key to keep it looking great is to keep it well maintained.  Extend the life of your rugs and carpets by following my top tips below. GIVE IT A GOOD BEATING ONCE IN A WHILE: Obviously, we’re talking about your rug and not your husband/child/pet!!!!!  Go back to basics: every so often, take your rug outside and hang it over the washing line.  Beat it with a broom or a specialist rug beater.  This is a quick and easy way to dislodge the grit, dirt, and grime that your hoover missed. CARPET DEODORIZER: Does your carpet smell a little musty?  Could it do with a little freshen up?  There are plenty of ways to deodorise your carpet.  You can: ... [Read More]

My 5 top tips for spring cleaning your home

It's chilly outside and the grass is dusted with snow, but we're in the final throws of winter here in the UK.   Spring is just around the corner. Now’s the time for fresh beginnings as flowers begin to bloom. We can look forward to lighter nights and brighter days. However, there is one drawback to the sun streaming through our windows at this time of year!  It illuminates all of those dusty nooks and crannies. We notice that our ceilings are decorated with spider’s webs and the paint on our skirting boards needs a refresh.  It must be time for a spring clean!  Here are five of my tried and tested tips: #1 - Slow and steady wins the race: There’s a secret to spring cleaning: don’t even try to tackle EVERYTHING at once. You’re not going to get your list of jobs done in one ... [Read More]

My perfect summer bathroom: bright, breezy, rustic-coastal

Next year, I'm buying my first house. I've rented properties for the last 14 years and I've never had a landlord that allows their tenants to redecorate. As you can imagine, I'm bursting with excitement at the idea of putting my own stamp on my home. I cannot wait to choose paint colours, put up shelves, go wallpaper shopping, change faucets etc. In fact, I've already created mood boards on Pinterest for my ‘dream’ home. So, when I spotted Designer Radiator Showroom had launched a competition asking people to design their dream bathroom on Pinterest, it only made sense to enter. The prize is £250 to spend at DesignerRadiatorShowroom.co.uk. Pretty awesome, right? I knew what I wanted instantly: a bright and breezy, rustic-style bathroom with a beachy, coastal ... [Read More]

INSPIRATION: 5 loft conversions you’ll love!

Whether you’re planning to extend your family and need an extra bedroom, or you’ve always fancied a second bathroom, a loft conversion is one of the most straightforward ways to add extra space to your home.  Below, we share some of our favourite loft conversions to help inspire you! 1) Kids Play Room If your family home is a little overcrowded and your garden is small, consider converting your unused attic into a kids play area.  The room can be transformed into a study/homework area as your children grow older. 2) Walk-in Wardrobe & Dressing Room Fed up of cramming your suits into small wardrobe?  Want to showcase your designer handbags so you can pick the perfect one to match your outfit?  Then consider transforming your unused loft space into a walk-in wardrobe and ... [Read More]

Bathroom inspiration: glitz and glam

Who says that bathrooms have to be plain and boring?  This area of your home is used countless times per day, making it one of the most important spaces in your home.  Forget dull colour schemes, drab patterned tiles and uninspiring accessories - let’s liven up our bathrooms with plenty of glitz and glam.  Create a bathroom fit for a diva! Today's blog post has plenty of ideas;  perfect if you're looking for a little inspiration - Luxe tiling - Transform your bathroom by installing shimmering tiles.  We love the glittering gold wall (below left) by Polish interior designers Anna Maria Sokołowska and Marta Piątkowska from Dragon Art.  The second bathroom (below right) features a glittering mosaic of copper and bronze tiles, plus a coordinating panel on the wall.  The overall effect ... [Read More]

Four super smart storage ideas for kids bedrooms

Is your home bursting at the seams with children's books, toys, clothing and accessories?  Perhaps you have another child on the way, and space is already at a premium?  Maybe you've spent all weekend decluttering, throwing away anything that isn't essential, but STILL cannot find space for child-related paraphernalia?  Never fear.  To help you, we've rounded up four super smart storage ideas for kids bedrooms. 1) The only way is up: Put your walls to work and do not leave any single space unused.  Take inspiration from Ikea, who've built upwards, adding storage shelves over the child's desk to keep books, folders and schoolwork tidy.  They've also fixed a partitioned box to the wall for displaying trinkets and toys.  The chrome rail keeps backpacks, medals and other "hangable" items ... [Read More]