Inviting Hallways (Make an Entrance).

How many times have you walked into someone’s home and thought, ‘oh’ (and not in a good way)? First impressions are lasting so if you’re doing up your house, it’s worth giving your entrance hall some careful thought and attention. Plunking a pot plant on an old table just doesn’t cut it these days, I’m afraid. It needn’t cost the earth – beautiful wallpaper will make a big impact, while a striking mirror, a set of themed pictures or an upholstered chair will add character. Ultimately, an entrance hall should have a certain wow factor and also provide practical storage for hats, coats and… shoes – as this example so perfectly demonstrates.

Do you have a hallway in your house...how inviting is it? Let me know, also you can share Pictures too :)

Tips on bathroom towels. (What to consider)

Bathroom towels not only bring colour and pattern to the bathroom, they are an everyday essential that's worth getting right, so here's our top tips on finding the right towel for you.

How many towels do you need? 

Consider what combination of towels you need and whether you want a matching set. Towel bales are cost-effective sets that usually offer 2 face cloths, 2 hand towels and 2 bath towels, but if you want larger bath sheets you'll have to buy individual towels.

 Standard towel sizes are usually:

Bath sheets 100 x 150cm

Bath towel 70 x 125cm

Hand towel 50 x 90cm

Face cloth 30 x 30cm

You should aim to allocate each member of the family two bath sheets, two bath towels and two face cloths, so they alway have a clean one when one is in the wash. Hand towels can be limited to one per bathroom, and of course always have plenty of spare towels of all sizes for guests.

What type of bathroom towels are there?

Egyptian cotton towels are the most luxurious and absorbent as they have a long, thick loops. They are also the most expensive towels so consider them as a long term investment.

Supima cotton towels are a good alternative to costly Egyptian towels, as they are also soft and very durable, but are less luxurious and this is reflected in their price.

Waffle towels have a textured surface and their lightweight nature makes them handy for travelling.

Standard towels are made from synthetic fibres and are therefore less absorbent and are a lesser quality than cotton towels, however they are low-cost and are ideal if you're planning to change them frequently.

 What colour and design should you choose?

Plain white towels will bring a hotel chic look to any bathroom and will complement any scheme, dark or light.

If you want your towels to make a statement choose a contrasting colour or pattern.

For a more subtle look, choose towels that tone with the tiles and flooring.

Patterned towels can be used to bring style to the bathroom. Floral or polka dotted towels can add a country-chic touch, while stripy towels bring a contemporary feel.

How to care for bathroom towels

Always wash bath towels for the first time before using them.

Don't use fabric softener as it will decrease the towel's ability to absorb water.

If you can, put your towels out on the line to dry to give them extra freshness. Driers are also great for adding extra softness. Don't iron towels as this can make them stiff and scratchy and also make them less absorbent.

Use housetohome's product finder to locate the right towels for you.

Find local bathroom retailers with housetohome's directory.

Vegetable Garden Ideas

There is no doubt that gardening can involve hard physical work, but think of the fitness advantages. You don’t often see many keen gardeners who don’t look fit and healthy!

So why not build muscle tone and lose extra flab by doing something really constructive, its much more satisfying than the gym and far less expensive.

Revamping your outdoor spaces

Summer is here and its high time you rejuvenate your outdoor lifestyle by revamping your backyard, patio or balcony. 

These inspirational ideas will help you select the perfect summer style. sit back and look at this different Images and see which fit your yard and make it yours.

Kick your outdoor with this looks.

Creative kids room ceilings design ideas.

The children 's room all may be unusual and a bit more daring than in other rooms of the house. It can translate any fancy your child and what you are dreaming of a child.

As for the ceiling, even at a very early age kids often pay attention to it. It's - the sky above his personal little world. And it, too - the object of fantasy. That is why, if the opportunity arises, it is worth to come up with something really unusual or funny, but always understandable to the child.