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.