How to hang wallpaper

Furnishings-Direct sells a great deal of wallpaper. This means that we want to make sure you're investment is not ruined by poor application of the wallpaper.

Preparation

The first thing you need to check is that all your rolls are from the same batch (check the batch number) and the they are the same colour and shade. This probably all sounds very obvious, but with paler colours it can be more difficult to tell if they match perfectly. Ensure than you check them in daylight. Before you begin papering, consider whether you are going to use lining paper. It is great on dodgy walls, but unecessary on those that are better constructed.

Whatever you choose, when it comes to the actual  papering, you need a proper pasting table. Don't be afraid to spend money on a pasting table, as a sturdy one will make your papering far better and will last much longer. When pasting, use a roller rather than a brush; check on the wallpaper specification what kind of paste is best to use (as they can differ). Also have ready a plumb line, a stepladder, some PVA glue, both a big and little paintbrusg and a pencil,, scissors, some small Stanley blades and, last but not least a wallcovering smoother.

The Papering

1. The first step is to 'size' the wall. This involves filling a bucker up, half with water and half with PVA and applying the mixture to the walls with a brush before letting it dry properly. There is a point to this; the wallpaper paste sticks far better to the glue than it does to a bare wall.
2. The second step is to give yourself a perfect straight line along which to hang your wallpaper, ensuring it stays straight. Along each wall, hang a plumb line against the wall and draw along its vertical line. Do this at regular intervals on each wall, as walls tend to be uneven.
3. Next you must cut your wallpaper to size by measuring the floor-to-ceiling height of the marked walls along the vertical lines you just drew. Once you have the height, you can mark your table so you know the correct length. Don't do too many at once though, because you may need to recut them.
4. If you are using lining paper, obviously put this up first. It can have the important effect of covering structural imperfections and providing a smooth base for your wallpaper. Whichever you use, stretch the wallpaper flat along the table. Keep one edge level with the table edge. Also,  place weights at each end to keep the paper down. Spread the paste on top of the wallpaper.
5. Actually pasting the paper to the wall requires it to be "concertina-ed". Lift the wallpaper and pull it back to create a fold with the left edge (lift about 50cm from the left edge). Repeat this process until all the wallpaper is folded into a concertina, 50cm wide.
6. Take the wallpaper and attach the first pasted fold to the wall where it meets the ceiling. Don't be afraid to go higher than the wall and then to trim off any excess.
7. Gradually unfold the wallpaper down the wall, manouvering it for the best fit. Make sure the strips do not overlap but instead line up perfectly . If the corners of the paper appear to be lifting, apply more paste to the edges with a small brush and then use the smoother to flatten it and get rid of bubbles.
8. When you are removing excess wallpaper, score a mark in the paper using the edge of some scissors. Pull the paper back and cut along the mark. This can work for tricky corners too. If in doubt you should use too much paper and then cut it back. Stanley knives give a sharper cut.
9. If you have used lining paper, please ensure that it has dried before you apply the wallpaper. If there are imperfections after applying the lining paper, tap them out with a hammer.

Furnishings-Direct supplies designer wallpaper at great prices!

Japanese Interior Design

A romanticised view of Japanese culture has long been an important cultural force in the West, as have the imported traits of Japanese architecture and design. But what exactly is Japanese interior design? How do we incorporate it in our homes? There are several key truths about Japanese design and to understand them, you must understand something of the history and philosophy of the Japanese.

What is recognised as the Japanese aesthetic comes from the ideals and tenets of Taoism, a way of thinking brought from China in ancient times. The culture of Japan is extremely varied and diverse, yet in the field of interior design, the aesthetic is consistently one of simplicity and minimalism.

Laozi, a Taoist philosopher, believed that the true beauty of a room came from the empty space within the roof and walls - the aesthetic ideal of emptiness. The Taoists suggested that the mood should be captured in the imagination, not by what is physically there. Elaboration, craftsmanship, beauty and delicacy was the basis for Japanese designs and is still valued today!

The use of natural materials is an important theme in Japan; their simplicty highlights the minimal and natural decoration, which in turn connects the room to nature.. It is common for materials like wood, bamboo, silk, rice straw mats, and paper shōji screens to be used. Similarly, natural colour schemes are common with neutral palettes of black, white, off-white, grey and brown. In using these materials, the designs are concious of using resources efficiently. Rooms are designed to be flexible in use and multi-funtional. The shōji screens allow rooms to be opened up or closed down.

The shōji screens are made of paper and then attached to quite thin wooden frames that roll away on a track when they are pushed. Shōji are also  meant to allow light through. This is an important aspect to Japanese design. Paper translucent walls allow light to be diffused through the space and create light shadows and patterns.

There are other common design features in the Japanese tradition:

Bamboo is frequently present in the Japanese home, being used both for decorative and functional purposes. Bamboo blinds, sudare, replace shoji in summer to prevent excess heat inside and also offer greater ventilation. Country dwellings and farmhouses often use it for ceilings and rafters. The natural properties of bamboo, its raw beauty with the knots and smooth surface, corrrspond to Japanese aesthetic ideals of imperfection, contrast and the natural.

The use of paper, or washi, in Japanese buildings is a main component in the beauty and atmosphere of the Japanese interior, the way variation of shadow combines to create a “mystery of shadows”. A range of papers are used for various purposes in the home.

Wood is generally used for the framework of the home, but its properties are valuable in the Japanese aesthetic, namely its warmth and irregularity.

A recessed space called tokonoma is often present in traditional as well as modern Japanese living rooms. This is the focus of the room and displays Japanese art, usually a painting or calligraphy.

We hope this article has been both helpful and informative! Japanese minimalism is an attractive design for your home, don't be afraid to try it!

Furnishings Direct sells designer wallpaper at reduced prices and other homewares.

Top Tips for Living Room Design

The most important room for expressing your personality to the world is the living room. Whilst your bedroom may be a more truthful representation of your intimate nature, the living room, being where guests visit and you spend a great deal of time, allows you to project whatever aspect of your personality you like.

Firstly you should browse (be it online, in our home decor section for example) for a single item that you adore. This could be absolutely anything: a fabric for a sofa or chair, a carpet or flooring, or it could be the curtains or drapes, or even an accessory – a cushion, a rug, a throw. It doesn't matter what the item is; the only rule is to make sure you love it because the entire colour scheme for the room will be based off it.

Next Up - colour scheme. Take a long, hard look at the decor you've just selected. Consider how you would like the room to look in relation to them. Do you want a smooth pallette of colours that blend and create a peaceful wash in your living room, or would you rather work with variations on a single strong colour? The safest and easiest method is probably to choose 2 or 3 main, complimentary colours. Creating a feature wall by papering just one wall with an interesting patterned wallpaper is very fashionable at the moment. If you take this route, ensure that the other walls have a smooth colour to them that goes well with your feature wall. The skirting board should either compliment or match the wall colours.

When choosing paper for a feature wall, bear in mind that the wallpaper can be louder and more outre (if you wish) than it could be if you were papering the entire room. Whether covering one wall or the whole room, remember that smaller patterns create space and larger patterns can make rooms seem smaller.

The Third Step is all about texture. Your choice of wallpaper may have already led to some texture being in the room, however it is important to realise that texture creates layers in a room and is an interesting way of keeping your colour pallette flowing throughout without making your living room look boring. Ideas for textures? Try: velvet, suede, sheer, fake fur, flocked cotton, silk and chenille/crewel.

Step four: At this point in your living room designs, you should step back and make sure that the room isn’t going to seem overcrowded. A busy room is completely different to a loud room. Loud rooms can still be calming, but busy rooms just look messy and the design is flawed and unpleasant. Too much of a good thing can kill your design. The trick, we find, is to blend well. This blending can be achieved through offsetting small patterns next to large ones, placing stripes next to checks, and using neutral colours to break up louder tones. Equally, ensure that textures do blend and don’t over-do them. Less is more.

Our Tips

• Keep large items (sofas etc.) in plainer fabrics, especially in smaller rooms, to lower the risk of looking ‘busy’
• Consider where your windows are when curtains are bought. Don’t place a line of heavily patterned curtains next to one another. For long lines of windows, use calmer curtains.
• Create a mood board from things you tear out of magazines, or print off online.
• Use borders to pick up the colours of key focal points in the room.
• Place lighting at different heights in the room.
• Swap and change your lamps often, to avoid your room looking stale and boring.
• Custom made curtains, if you have the budget, allow you to pick all the fabrics and there is a noticable difference in effect.

Our Don'ts of Living Room Design

• This is your main entertaining room. Guests are meant to feel welcome, thus position seating in groups and use sofas. Don’t have chairs on their own.
• Hoard old cushions and rugs if repairable or coverable by new material. Otherwise bin them to prevent your room from looking tired.
• Don’t worry what others will think, design for yourself.
• Don’t be afraid of colours or patterns. Experiment and have fun.

Home Crafts: Traditional Christmas Cake

Traditional Christmas Cakes are a great festive treat! There are many variations on the recipe (ours is adapted from a tried and tested and delicious BBC one) and you might have your own methods. However, if you're new to christmas baking, or simply looking for an alternative then try out this recipe.

Ingredients

225g/8oz plain flour
¼ tsp salt
½ tsp mixed spice
½ tsp ground cinnamon
200g/7oz butter
200g/7oz dark brown sugar
2 tbsp black treacle
1 tbsp marmalade
¼ tsp vanilla essence
4 free-range eggs, lightly beaten
800g/1¾lb mixed dried fruits
100g/3½oz chopped mixed peel
150g/5oz glacé cherries, halved
100g/3½oz blanched almonds, chopped
brandy

To decorate

200g/7oz Marzipan

1-2 tbsp warmed apricot jam

Royal Icing

3 free-range egg whites

600g/11lb/5oz sieved icing sugar

1 1/2 tsp liquid glycerine

1 tbsp lemon juice 

Preparation

Firstly, preheat your oven to 150C/300F/Gas 2. Grease all around an 8inch round tin or a 7inch square one and the line both the base and sides with greaseproof paper. Next sieve the flour, the salt, the cinnamon and the mixed spices into a bowl. In a separate bowl, Cream the butter and the sugar and then mix them with the treacle, marmalade and vanilla essence until they are light and fluffy. Crack your eggs and mix them in a bit at a time adding a tablespoon of the flour mixture (first bowl) with the last of the eggs. Following this, fold in the remaining flour mixture until they are well mixed and then add the dried fruit, mixed peel, glace cherries and almonds. Turn the mixture into the prepared tin and make a slight hollow in the centre.

Baking

You must now bake your cake in the oven for 3 hours, testing it with a skewer. If it is not ready bake it for up to another hour, testing it every 20 minutes until the skewer comes out clean. Take the cake from the oven, leaving it to cool in the tin for 15 minutes. After this, turn it out on to a wire rack. Once the cake has fully cooled you should poke a few holes into the cake with a skewer and pour 3 or 4 tablespoons of brandy over the cake, letting it soak in.

The cake is then ready to be wrapped in foil and placed in an airtight tin or plastic container, holes side up. If you want the cake to be rich and moist then spoon on a few tablespoons of brandy every week until you are ready to ice and decorate the cake.

Decorating

In order to decorate the cake, put it on a foil board or plate. Dust your hands and then work the surface with a little icing sugar, kneading the marzipan until it is soft. Roll out half of the marzipan, fitting the top of the cake. The other half should be rolled out in strips to fit around the sides of the cake. Warm the apricot jam, brushing it all over the cake and using it as a glue for the marzipan. Cover your cake with a clean tea towl, leaving it in a cool place for at least a day. In order to make the icing, lightly whisk the egg whites, occasioanlly adding the sugar at intervals. Beat it well until the icing reaches soft peaks, adding the glycerine and lemon juice. Spread the icing all over the cake using a clean ruler or by forming soft peaks. Decorate with Christmas ornaments.

Furnishings Direct sells designer wallpaper at reduced prices and other homewares.

The Gothic Interior Trend

If minimalism was the defining trend of the noughties, then a new gothic revival has been a reaction. Whilst the style isn’t for everyone, for those who dare to be different bringing  the gothic look into your home is an impressive fashion statement.

A common misconception about the style is that it relies on the totally and all consuming presence of black. Whilst this is an option, its far from the only one and we aim to show you a range of ways you can bring this style into your home.

WALLS: For the very adventurous we offer the Skulls Midnight Wallpaper by Barbara Hulanicki. It might be  a bit much to cover an entire room with this paper, but for a few feature walls it suits perfectly and fits very well with dark grey and dark taupe shades of paint.

If skulls are a little more macabre than you can handle, then this Alphabet Peat wallpaper from Basso & Brooke, which features letters of the greek alphabet is perfect, bringing an atmosphere of playful intelligence to any room.

Moving away from grey and black, this vintage flock wallpaper from Kelly Hoppen in purple brings an air of intimacy, seduction and luxury to any room.

COLOUR PALLETTE: The gothic style isn’t just about being macabre and black, but about seduction, glamour and sexiness. Blood reds and crimson, deep, rich purples and, yes, grey and black are the appropriate colours when picking walls and carpets.

FABRIC: Leather. Luxorious black or darkly coloured leather is the ultimate new gothic fabric. When applying this rule to furniture remember too that leather will not be enough, furniture should have a seductive, aristocratic edge, with scrolling wood build etc. Velvet is also a good option, particularly with regard to drapes and curtains.

LIGHTING: Whilst we are not suggesting that you cast your rooms in red light a la True Blood, paying attention to the level of light and what casts it is extremely important. This Opal Lamp is a great example of a gothic light fixture, candelabra, mock chandeliers etc are also wonderful additions. Try not to flood your room with light, but don’t make it look too dank either, especially if you have covered the room heavily in darker shades.

Flock Wallpaper

The use of a form of Flock Wallpaper can be traced back to circa 1000 BCE, when the Chinese bonded natural fibers to fabrics using resin glue; in medieval Germany fiber dust was strewn onto walls coated with adhesive; In the court of Louis XIV of France, flocked wallpapers were the height of fashion. A couple of hundered years later, Flock Wallpaper has been making a resurgence.

Flocking is the application of fine particles to adhesive coated surfaces. Nowadays, this is usually done by the application of a high-voltage electric field. In a Flocking Machine the “flock” is given a negative charge whilst the substrate is earthed. Flock material flies vertically onto the substrate attaching to previously applied glue. A number of different substrates can be Flocked including; textiles, fabric, woven fabric, paper, PVC, sponge, toys, automotive plastic.

The majority of flocking done worldwide uses finely cut natural or synthetic fibers. A flocked finish imparts a decorative and/or functional characteristic to the surface. The variety of materials that are applied to numerous surfaces through different flocking methods create a wide range of end products. The flocking process is used on items ranging from retail consumer goods to products with high technology military applications – notably wallpaper in our case.

On www.furnishings-direct.co.uk  , we offer a wide range of Flock Wallpapers in various colours and patters, such as this gorgeous Superfresco Elizabeth paper in black and white with a classic damask design and large scale pattern, or this Vintage Flock Wallpaper in white by Kelly Hoppen, a classic design with a modern twist, inspired by the decortation of Buckingham Palace.

Brand New Designer Wallpaper Trends

On Furnishings-Direct we are constantly looking at new trends in interior designs, both from suppliers and from the design sphere, in order to bring you the latest looks. This is especially true when it comes to wallpapers - we are always in meetings with suppliers and designers to see what new and exciting trends can be brought to the consumer.

Iconic Dutch designer Marcel Wanders has recently designed an new range of G&B wallpapers. This demure blue flock wallpaper, Forest Muses, features intricate detailing with little flock forest spirits dancing on your wall. The inital dark tone of the wallpaper is livened up by these details

Equally trendy is the Hemingway Design collection. The heritage trend is big in fashion this year, and this 'Loopy Lines' design is influenced greatly by the free-flowing style Sixties. It is a bold wallpaper, and not suitable for every household. However, for those who prefer individuality in their household decoration should look no further than the Hemingway Design Collection.

These are just two stylish examples of the 80 new wallpapers that should be appearing on Furnishings-Direct over the coming days. We constantly update our range so that there really is a wallcovering for every taste and personality.

In the meantime, check out our current range of wallpapers.

Furnishings-Direct is an online retailer of wallpapers, bed linen and curtains.

The Minimalism Design Trend

On Furnishings-Direct we love to help you design your home and take pride in our range of products, which always endeabour to reflect current trends. Perhaps representing the age of austerity, the trend of minimalist design certainly suits the national zeitgeist. For this trend, glamour is out and minimal elegance is in. As a result of the financial crisis, it is only normal to question what we need in our lives. This expunging of the old and desire for something simple and new leads to several key looks:

Sleek and Straight: If this is design is done incorrectly, your house can suddenly look very stark and mechanical. However, if you do it right, the room can look sleek and sharp and sexily modern. If you are decorating a kitchen or bathroom this can be achieved extremely simply through very straight edged fittings. The lounge is simply done through furniture like coffee tables and shelving. Sofas too can be considered in a minimal manner for this look. In the bedroom too, declutter fittings and replace with minimal, straight ones.

Natural Colour Scheme: This theme is easy to achieve - a colour pallette of whites, beiges and tasteful browns can ensure your room looks modern and stylish and these colours all compliment one another very well. That is not to say that bolder colours like stark white, bold red, or deep black cannot be used, but these should be offset stylishly. The key here is not to avoid boldness, but to make bolder designs look quieter and more understated. Whatever your colour scheme, it should be adhered to when buying furniture, fittings and accessories too.  These natural coloured bathroom towels, for example, fit in perfectly with the minimal aesthetic.

Storage and Clutter: Minimal does tend to mean tidy (and that doesn’t include organised mess!), so ample storage is needed in any room. The trick, however, is to make the storage not clutter the room itself. We have already discussed furniture above but with regards to beds and tables etc., the minimal way can tend to focus around modern looking designs, meaning storage is not always possible. Thus, clever boxes like these, that fold flat for easy storage, are perfect. The trick is innovative use of space, in our example the boxes fold away when not in use and so don’t uneccessarily clutter the room.

So thats 3 simple tips for bringing minimalism into your home. A simple maxim that helps is ‘less is more’!

Furnishings-Direct is an online retailer of wallpapers, bed linen and curtains.

How to choose the perfect curtains

Welcome to the brand new Furnishings-Direct blog! We all know that choosing curtains for your home can be difficult: the look and feel of the curtains is very important and if you don't get it right then the look of a room can be ruined. Thus, allow us to give you just a few hard-won tips!

Fabrics/Colours: The fabric for curtains comes in an almost infinite amount of colours and patterns, many with sequins or pearls or other embellishments. This means that the first tip for buying curtains is: don't worry if you can't find the perfect fabric immediately, keep looking and don't compromise on your design too early on - you will find something suitable eventually. When you're buying fabrics online, its often not economical for companies to send out samples, so make sure you like the product before you buy, or at least check out the company's returns policy.

Fabric Type: The texture of the fabric is very important to the finished look of the curtain. Easy opulence can be created through the use of luxurious silks and velvet. Conversely, cotton and linen give a more casual appearance due to their lighter look and feel. Unusual and eccentric fabrics can also be found: faux-leather, metallic mesh, PVC, and fabrics that are resistant to water and flames. It is also extremely important to consider how much light you would like to let into the room - for a bedroom, choose heavy, thick curtains as these block the light and minimise noise and drafts.

Lined Curtains: Another option is lined curtains. These linings protect them against sunlight and provide much better insulation. They also give a more finished look with a smoother hang. However, linings do not wash well, so if you wash your curtains opt for removable linings.

Measuring for your curtains: The amount of fabric required depends entirely upon the size of your window, the style you want for your curtain and whether you want/need extras (like cushion covers or ties).

To care for your fabrics you might be able to wash them - either by hand or in a washing machine. Whichever, they need to be treated with care, perhaps put in a laundry bag. Some fabrics (and all lined with fixed linings) should be dry cleaned. So long as you familiarise yourself with the care instructions of the fabric, your curtains should last a long time.

To start choosing your curtains, why not have a look at our range - a great starting point.

Furnishings-Direct is an online retailer of wallpapers, bed linen and curtains.