If you are anything like me then if it’s not written down, it usually doesn’t happen.  Things not added to the shopping list as soon as I think of them are destined never to make it into my fridge and the amount of paper lists I have lost or thrown away by mistake are endless.  The solution?  A home accessory in the form of a chalkboard which now takes pride of place on my kitchen wall.

Big enough to scribble notes as I remember them yet not too big that it dominates the feature wall, it’s the perfect place to keep things visible that I need to remember.  Initially used purely for those food items that I didn’t want to leave off the shopping list, it now doubles up as a diary reminder for important dates and scribbles telling me what day the various kid’s activities fall on.  In between using it as an extension to my mental notepad, the aforementioned kids usually add their own additions in the form of  stick-versions of mum and dad and pleas for a pet dog alongside sad-looking versions of themselves.  And, being a chalkboard, the emotional blackmail is easily solved with a few wipes of the chalkboard eraser! 

Simple, stylish, yet a godsend if you’re trying to stay organised, a kitchen chalkboard is the new must-have home accessory of the moment.

Replacing the furniture in your home for new can be quite expensive, so it is sometimes best to settle on a particular style you like and then buy a few items each month or so until you get the look you want. The furniture alone however does not have to define how the room looks.

Home accessories

With so many home accessories available we thought we would just mention a few of the better ways you can add that shabby chic look to your home without spending a fortune.

Replacement furniture knobs

Changing the knobs on your furniture can really make a difference to how your furniture looks. Adding ceramic knobs or glass or metal knobs can really spruce up that old dresser and tie the piece in with your other furniture items.

Vintage and reclaimed coat hooks

Instead of hanging your coat in a wardrobe or at the end of the staircase, why not buy a vintage styled set of coat hooks or even a reclaimed wood coat hook to tie your hallway design in with the rest of your house? Small design statements can have a big impact on your overall design.

Outdoor design and ornaments

Bring the inside of your home to the outdoors with a range of garden design elements that keep the flow of your design through your living and outdoor space. Adding French reproduction garden chairs or even aged ceramic garden tables can achieve the look you want in a really cost effective way.

When decorating your home, you obviously prioritise large tasks such as painting walls or laying flooring but after this is done, you then need to think about the little details that will make your home unique and personal. Small items such as door and drawer knobs and coat hooks can make a lot of difference if chosen carefully; they can turn your home from a featureless, unimaginative space into a personalised and stimulating environment.

In order to do this, you should opt for vintage styles which have that sophisticated element of ‘shabby chic’:

Hooks
Hooks are available in a staggering variety of different styles and designs. They can be elegant and delicate to suit a bedroom or bathroom environment; where flower designs are incorporated with crystal, gold or ceramics for that hand-crafted vintage look, or they can be sturdy and rustic for the purpose of hanging coats in a hallway. The latter variety is the perfect way to get that ‘shabby chic’ look for your home, as they are often made from reclaimed materials such as wood which have that hard-to-find, genuinely rustic appeal.

Door and drawer knobs
Knobs for drawers and doors can be just as elegant and interesting. For drawers, delicate ceramic flowers can be used for your bedside drawers, whilst square cut glass knobs will provide that clean and stylish look for your bathroom.

Door knobs are a little different; they can be very unique and individual in order to reflect your own personal tastes. You can choose a front door knob with an intricate style in any number of materials, to make that perfect first impression on visitors.