If there’s a room in your home that is lacking that certain something but you can’t quite put your finger on what it is, these images below might inspire you to introduce something new!  Adding a new home accessory with a splash of colour can make a world of different at minimum cost to you.

Hanging decorative plates on the wall can be a great alternative to the standard picture frame!

Brighten-up a room and add a bit of colour with a feature wall

Add interesting texture with some quirky cushions

Add a luxurious boudoir feel to your bedroom with soft feature lighting and a large mirror resting against the wall

Images via lovehome.co.uk

Posted by Emily

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No they’re not spaceships… they’re lampshades!  Don’t they look cool?!  So modern, fresh and totally avant-garde.  My favourite is the multicoloured one, however I love the effect the single coloured shades have when mounted on a wall of the same colour.

The collection is called Muse, made in Italy by Axo.  They only use natural material such as Vicenza stone, blown glass, silk and bamboo in their creations.

posted by Emily

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Lighting sets the mood in a home more than anything else, so it is important to get it right! The style of lamp must compliment its surroundings- what colours feature in the wallpaper?  What style is the furniture and what are the surface textures of the materials?  Think about the bulb too- a softer, lower wattage creates a more relaxed vibe. Perhaps consider a dimmer switch so that the lighting can be set to personal taste.  Whatever you chose, aviod coloured bulbs, these should be a no go area!

Hermitage Luxe Lamp, The French Bedroom Company, from £255

 Chrome Arch Lamp, The French Bedroom Company, $220

Lamp, Thomas Paul Louis II, $517

Lamp, Thomas Paul Ting Aqua Goldfinch Aqua, $220

Black Voile Beaded Pendant Shade, Coco Målé £27

Sofie Refer, bouf.com, £68

Allium Table lamp, bouf.com £55

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The rustic chairs and pergola combined here with simple pastel cushions give this garden a cosy, Mediterranean flair. To achieve a similar effect, try our Usha cushion, or our Antiqued white lantern!

This daybed and hammock provide a great retreat for reading and relaxing whilst the beautiful floor lantern not only gives that all-important lighting in the evening but also adds an exotic touch to the room and seems to bring the whole scheme together.

Colour rules in this patio – I love the combination of bright blue, yellow and lime green… The colours really seem to blend in perfectly with the plants at the back. And the cushions scattered on the sofa look very much like our own Cuba cushions! The owners have also been quite clever with their lighting effect, opting for a fire and lots of lanterns and candles instead of proper lights, really helping to create a romantic mood.

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The word ‘candle’ can bring to mind all manner of images. For some of us, the mere mention of candles evokes memories of childhood, blowing out the candles on a birthday cake. For others, the thought of a beautiful romantic candlelit dinner might spring to mind. Some of us (the more pious I guess!) might just think of church candles. In any case, it’s plain to see that candles have many uses.

The one we normally concentrate on in this blog is that of interior design accessory, of course. But I was just thinking that it could be interesting to delve a little deeper into the history of candles and their different purposes.

Did you know for example, that the tradition of putting candles on a birthday cake is said to originate from ancient Greece? Apparently the Greeks used to place candles on a cake and offer it to Artemis, one of the goddesses they used to worship.

The custom of blowing out the candles also has its roots in the olden days, when people used to believe that if they blew out the candle while making a wish, a signal was sent to the god and their prayers would be answered.

Of course, even though the idea of birthday candles is based on superstition, nowadays it’s seen mostly as a tradition and of course, an elegant way of decorating a cake! For children especially, candles are a very important addition to the birthday cake, and it is customary for the number of candles to match the age of the child. For adults (especially those wishing to conceal their age) a single candle is often sufficient, and often preferable. After all, after a certain age, you would have more candle than cake otherwise!

Now, as the talk of cakes is making me really rather hungry, let’s move on to another very important use of candles. I am of course referring to their spiritual applications.

Candles are a prominent accessory in many religions. Christian churches often use candles as their sole source of light. The tradition of Diwali in India is also heavily dependent on candles. The festival of lights is celebrated with the lighting of many candles and lamps, to symbolise finding light in darkness. During the Jewish festival of lights, Hanukkah, one candle is lit on each of the eight nights of the festival. The candles are actually mounted on a special candelabrum, the Menorah. In many other religions also, candles hold a special significance.

Even if you’re not seeking enlightenment and salvation from your candles however, you still can’t help but notice their power. Nothing has the capacity to relax you as much as a hot bath surrounded by a host of scented candles. Well, nothing legal anyway… This could be the reason why candles are considered some of the most important home accessories. And with a choice of hundreds of different colours and scents available nowadays, it is easy to create the exact atmosphere you require in your home.

For a relaxing and calming effect, you could consider some oriental styling and go for simple candles in clean lines and plain colours. To create a more romantic feel, there are plenty of candles around with flower infusions and pretty packaging. You could even make your own candles. There are plenty of sites that will show how to do so. That way, every candle you own could be exactly as you want it!

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