Wednesday 22 August 2012

Colour Schemes For Sliding Wardrobes

Once you know the colour scheme that you are after, you can create your own storage solutions. I started looking at wardrobes and then realised in order to get that ‘perfect’ look, I needed to buy matching cabinets as the wardrobe looked lost on its own in the bedroom.

This is why I started looking at wardrobes in a different perspective and thought of the wardrobe as a main feature. The benefit of sliding wardrobes is that you can have made to measure units which will house all the clothes and add as a feature in any bedroom.  I still needed the samples though in order to get the right look. If you have a look at the different sliding doors available, there is the mirror option of clean mirror, grey mirror and even a bronze mirror.

There is also an option for coloured glass, which can come in a variety of colours which will suit any décor range with the benefit of this being 99% opaque.  If glass is not a preferred choice there is melamine panels which also come is different colours and can have a wood grain effect. 

This other most important part of Doors Direct sliding wardrobes is the frame colour. This is the reason to select a sample so you can view the colour in the room and not imagine it from the website colours. The general advice from Doors Direct, who are sliding wardrobe specialists, is to order a sample of both the frame and panel to compare colours and the contrasts.  

Monday 20 August 2012

Why Ordering Samples Is Important

One of the other key areas to storage solutions is choosing the correct colour scheme to match your home. Thankfully I have not had to rely on my memory and the fact that certain a colour “looks a bit like this”. Although I have used my decorating clothes as a personal colour chart before!! The benefit of ordering samples is great.

If you are ordering online, this becomes even more important, if not essential. The colour you see on the screen or a print out, is often not the same colour that will be delivered. If you have ordered several pots or paint or a pallet load of bathroom tiles and they do not match then costs really can mount up when it comes to sending them back, or trying to get a replacement. 

Paint Samples
Paint is one of the easiest samples to obtain as not only can you get a wide range of colours and brochures, you can also get samples which prove valuable. The key is to choose a sample and place this onto the walls if possible so you can see what the colour looks like. If this not possible (living rooms with blobs of paint can be off putting) try painting the colour onto a plain sheet of white paper and placing that on the wall. 

TOP TIP
Look at the room in different lights and different times of the day, depending on where the sun shines through. This can make a difference to the room and a wall that was once light, may look different when the sun goes down.

Furniture Samples
If you are making a purchase online of a wardrobe or any storage solution, be sure to check that the colours of both the exterior and interior match the existing colour schemes. These are bulky items and need to be right. Samples can be obtained from visiting the showroom or display area, or requesting some samples online. 

Carpet and Flooring Samples
This is definitely one to get right and order some samples. The range and design of tiles can be overwhelming and you do not know what will work in your home without visiting a showroom or ordering tiles and flooring online. A lot of online retailers understand the complexities of choosing flooring and will be able to send samples for a small charge. This can be recouped when purchasing a batch, but it is worth checking whether to visit a store or shop online.

Monday 6 August 2012

Different Wood For Different Homes


One of the key areas to any home is the ability to store items either out of reach or in a presentable and attractive way. The majority of storage solutions are in the form of bookcases, shelves and cupboards.  The shelving units can be made from plastic, glass or wood.

Different rooms obviously have different decors and a set of plastic shelves in a home office, will not look as stylish in a living room or bedroom. If you have the space, then wall-hung shelves can create a stylish and practical way to store books, ornaments or other living room items. These shelves can be fitted into alcoves, corners or on an entire length of wall.  

There are several materials used in shelving, so whatever your need, there will be a shelf to suit;
  • Solid wood - softwood usually contains knots, but some wood like Parana pine is generally knot-free, attractive in colouring and can be sought in wide boards. Hardwoods, such as oak, ash, beech can be purchased at timber yards but do the cost of hardwood their use is often for furniture or special features, rather than shelving.
  • Block Board is a relatively expensive stable man-made board that is constructed from stripes of softwood glued and then sandwiched between two layers of plywood-grade veneer.
  • Plywood is built from veneers. The grain alternates at right angles to provide strength and stability.
  • Chipboard -  This is the cheapest man-made board that is frequently used for the core of manufactured shelving planks. 
 These are just some of the popular choices in wood that can be found in the home.