Tog ratings determine how warm a duvet will be. So for example, 4.5 tog duvets will be lighter and will therefore be more suitable for use in the summer. In addition, the type of filling will determine how breathable to duvet will be. Generally, natural materials will let your skin breathe better than synthetic materials. Goose down duvets would be a great choice in providing a comfortable night’s sleep despite the sticky weather.

Natural fillings may seem a bit more expensive than synthetic fillings, however by buying goose feather duvets you are making a great investment. If cared for correctly, they could last up to three times as long than their synthetic counterparts. Cheaper alternatives are also available from Browns of Weston including hollowfibre versions. These are suitable for people who suffer from allergies and conditions such as asthma. In addition, they are often regarded as being more practical than naturally filled duvets as they can be washed at home in the washing machine.  Of course, as your body will sweat more during the summer it is only natural to want to wash your duvet more so this will come as a bonus.

Like buying anything else, when it comes to buying duvets for the summer choose what suits you as an individual.

Bathroom windows come in all shapes and sizes so it can often be very difficult to find a pair of curtains that will fit without having to be altered. Their main purpose of course is to provide privacy, so if you are waiting for them to be altered this may be a real inconvenience. In addition to this, alterations cost time and money. By buying ready made curtains you can be sure they will fit your bathroom window. Browns of Weston stock a large range of ready made designs in a range of fabrics and colours. As long as you measure your window space beforehand we will be able to help you find the right size for you.

The makeover does not have to stop there as you can buy accessories such as soap dishes and toothbrush holders to match your new drapes. A matching bathroom mat and towels may also help bring the whole look together, making it feel more complete and luxurious.

The colours you choose should complement the bathroom suite and tiling. For instance, if you have a white suite and white tiling, you could choose a bright, vibrant colour to inject some personality into the room. Likewise, darker suites will be brought to life by using pale coloured accessories and fabrics.

What will the room/space mainly be used for?

How regularly will it be used?

What sort of people-traffic will it endure?

What sort of budget can you afford when it comes to a potential replacement?

Leather

Leather makes a bold statement in any room. However the drawbacks are a susceptibility to sun damage, stains and scratches. 

Cotton/Poly-cotton mix

Pure cotton is durable, soft and breathable, but its tendency to stain makes it a risky choice in a living room or a child’s bedroom. Poly-cotton blends are a more thrifty alternative and make a great choice for long-lasting bedding and curtains. Poly-cotton blends are very resistant to creasing, hence their fantastic success as bed linen.

Silk/Rayon

Silk feels and looks stunning, and is great for finishing touches like pillows and duvet bedding, but it’s susceptibility to wear and tear makes it a bad choice for regularly used furnishings. Rayon is a durable silk alternative, however it creases easily so may not be sustainable for heavy everyday use.

Acrylic

Generally, acrylic fabrics hold their colour well, are wrinkle resistant, easy to clean and durable. The budget-friendly price tag tends to give acrylic fabrics the edge in the home décor market.

1. Don’t lose yourself! It’s likely that no room in your house is decorated more than once every few years. In all the excitement of planning and reasearching, it’s easy to become catalogue-obsessed. Before you know it you’ll have simply recreated a strange car crash of several catalogue-looks crushed together, with no trace of your personal tastes or style left. Remember, this is your space – keep it personal and special to you.

2. Don’t ignore the physical limits of your room. A small bathroom can’t accommodate a walk-in airing cuboard. Modular furniture is a great way to compensate for unusual spaces and shapes.

3. Don’t forget about lighting. You may want your whole bedroom to be lit by candlelight or paper lanturns, but the main function of your room may not suit such a thing. For example, if your bedroom is also your office you’ll need access to a bright light source.

4. Don’t choose a colour without testing it under your home lighting conditions – that’s what testers are for.

5. Don’t forget the final touches. Curtains, bedding, bath mats etc. – they all need to work together to create a style you’re happy with. It’s great to be able to switch between your bedding, curtains and bathroom accessories without having to worry too much about clashing colours and patterns – a few key outlandish pieces are fun though.

No matter who we are, occasionally we all need to just stop and relax. Relaxation and time to yourself is important to the health of both your body and mind. For many, their relaxation sanctuary is the bedroom or bathroom.

Bedroom

The bedroom should be your nest, your own personal space for respite from the hectic world outside. Don’t worry about what others may think of your decoration ideas; waking up and seeing your favourite colours should outweigh having a picture perfect catalogue bedroom.

Privacy doesn’t have to be an issue with the inclusion of blinds, net curtains and/or perhaps blackout lining to complement your curtains.

It’s all about finishing touches in the bedroom. Softer textures and colour-hues evoke wonderful feelings of calmness and cosiness. A few candles and lots of pillows can make all the difference. Take a look at our massive online selection of bedding sets for something that complements your room – mismatched, badly cared-for bedding essentials do not make a tranquil hideaway.

Bathroom

A grubby bathroom is both unsightly and unhealthy. When perfecting your bathroom relaxation zone be sure to start with a good clean and some basic maintenance.

Ample storage for bedding, bath towels, bath products, etc. is essential if you want to stay as relaxed as possible after a long, candle-lit bubble bath.

Also, bathroom accessories such as colourful bath mats, sensuous candles and beautiful tiles or wallpaper can really tranform your mood.

1. Everybody has different needs. Start by sitting down with your kids and writing a list of all the things they think they need their bedroom to provide, e.g desk space for study, computer area, bookcase, bedding and space for reading, etc. You may not be able to accommodate their every need, but make sure your kids feel that their thoughts and ideas matter.

2. Everybody needs a little privacy. Simple as it may sound, a little division of space goes a long way. One of our favourite ideas is the use of curtains to split up a room. Cross-bedroom curtain rods are easy to fit and give your kids the option of changing their own space at will. Take a look at some of our ready made curtains online for a few ideas.

3. Neutral colours make a great base. The fickle fancies of most children make it difficult enough to decorate a bedroom with any longevity. A white or light block colour shared bedroom is easy for your kids to personalise over and over.

4. Remember to be as creative as your kids! Have fun with ideas and try to go that little bit further with regard to simple, personal (but temporary) finishing touches.

Tolerance is an admirable quality in any person. Siblings who share a room are more likely to get along well with others when sharing a confined environment. For example, in university halls (where consideration and compromise can make or break your university experience) or when living with a spouse. Other life skill benefits your kids could develop include the confidence to stand up and protect their own interests, and how to negotiate and compromise so that everyone has their needs met in the mini-battleground of the bedroom.

From bedding and curtains to posters and lampshades, the issue of decoration is a great way to get your kids working together, compromising and creating a fun space they’ll both enjoy. In sharing a space your kids will learn from each other, too.

The stereotype of the spoilt child is a tough one to break, but give your kids the space to work out privacy issues and you could see those overindulgent tantrums gradually eradicated.

For younger kids the transition is often less stressful. Young children are less likely to have too much input into the basics of their furniture, etc, but try to involve both kids in more fun peripherals like duvet covers and curtains.

Pillows
Pillowcases evolved, not for decoration, but for reasons of comfort and cleanliness. A separate pillow protector (essentially a thicker pillowcase to go underneath your intended decorative one) helps protect your pillow from dirt, oil and excess moisture (yes, we know it’s not a very nice thought, sorry!)

It’s now possible to wash most pillows in your own washing machine. This is great for cleaning and breathing a bit of fluffiness back into sad-looking, flat pillows. Be careful to rinse and dry pillows adequately, as they can hold a lot of hidden moisture near their centre which could lead to issues with discomfort, unpleasant smells or mould.

Duvets
Homecare for your duvet doesn’t have to be difficult. Whether you own a goose down duvet, hollow fibre duvet, etc. The practicalities of a quick shake and fluff each morning are easy and greatly beneficial.

For those particularly sensitive to smells, a few hours on the washing line will air a duvet nicely without the necessity of a machine wash.

Although your duvet covers should be washed regularly, the duvet itself may only require the attention of your washing machine (or launderette if particularly large) infrequently. As with pillows, duvets can retain moisture much longer than regular household washing. Allow for about twenty four hours drying time.

The Hard Work

White grouting is the most common colour in terms of bathroom tiles. If you’re willing to sacrifice a few hours hard work with a scrubbing brush and grouting pen every now and then, it can really make all the difference, prepare yourself for the flow of compliments on your “new” tiling.

For the more adventurous, re-grouting the whole bathroom may be appealing. This is the time to consider a change in colour. White grouting shows dirt – mull over the idea of black or dark coloured grouting.

Bits and Bobs

Bath mats, bath towels and shower curtains are the absolute easiest way to change the atmosphere of your bathroom. Take a peek at our collections online – changing the colour scheme of your bathroom can be that easy!

Adding a few little touches like flowers bring a wonderful homely feel to your bathroom.

Top tip – If you have curtains in your bathroom, try switching to blinds. Blinds are easy to wipe clean, fitting into the practical function of your bathroom easily.

Light and Airy

A mirror is great for creating the illusion of size in a small room. If possible, position the mirror opposite the window. Keep your windows and mirrors mildew-free using a little lemon juice or some vinegar.

Final tip – be creative! Make your bathroom space a tranquil place to be.

In global terms, beds (in some form) have been around for a long while, but it’s unclear as to when exactly particular types of bedding began to develop especially for comfort. The most probable origin for the use of specific bed sheets is Egypt, where they likely may have used linen material for their bedding.

The fashion of linen as bedding was, historically, always a difficult one to maintain. Almost everything about the cultivation, production and maintenance process was cumbersome and time-consuming. Nonetheless, linen bedding sets remained a mainstay in many homes until the mid-1800s.

At around the same time, cotton-producing mills were refining their techniques, making cotton production safer, easier and much cheaper than linen. Cotton became the fabric of choice for everything from clothing and accessories, right through to your cotton bedspreads.

Environmentally speaking, cotton production has become far more ethical in recent years, with polluting effluvia and cotton lint by-products being greatly reduced by air-jet looms that generate very little harmful cotton dust. One of the largest concerns is that of chemicals used in the cleaning, bleaching, and dyeing of cotton products. At Browns of Weston we have over a century of experience to look back on, and sourcing ethically produced cotton bedspreads is one of our main priorities.