9 Tips for Downsizing Your Home

Tops Tips for Making Downsizing Easier

Downsizing isn’t just for retirement or the older generation. Lots of people will choose to downsize or will need to for a number of reasons. If you have had a significant pay-cut or are going through a divorce, you might be forced into downsizing. On the flip side, your kids might have flown the nest and you might simply want a smaller place to live.

Whatever your reasons are for downsizing, you will to think about the best way to proceed. Following our top 10 tips will stand you in good stead if you are looking to downsize in the near future.

1. Plan Properly

Buy yourself a folder, make checklists of what needs to be done and keep everything in one place for easy reference. If you need to sell furniture or buy anything for your new place, you can keep store everything in one place and refer to it as and when you need to. It might seem a bit extreme, but taking it seriously will help to make sure the whole process runs smoothly.

2. Don’t Rush

Don’t become too overwhelmed by the task at hand to the point where you start rushing. If you plan far enough in advance, you won’t need to rush and things won’t be missed or go wrong. As soon as things become rushed they can become overwhelming and you will start to question your reasons for doing what you are doing.

3. Compare Size

Think about how much you will need to get rid of, considering the size of your new downsized place in comparison to your current home. Large pieces of furniture will need to be measured and you’ll need to think about whether they will fit or if they are needed in your new pad. You might be able to pick up a few quid for them if they won’t fit, giving you some extra spending money for new furniture to enhance your new home-to-be.

Don’t try and squeeze large furniture into smaller spaces just because you don’t want to part with it. You’re better off letting go and trying to make your new home look more spacious, especially as it will be smaller.

4. De-cluttering

De-cluttering is key with any type of move. Work out what you want to keep and what you want to take with you.

The charity shops can come in really handy for goods that you don’t use anymore but mightn’t be worth much. For anything else that might be old, damaged or not needed, the tip is a good place to start. De-clutter as much as possible so that your new home doesn’t become full of things you don’t need.

5. Don’t neglect the loft / shed

It might seem safe to leave the shed, loft or any outbuilding areas until last, but there are often the hardest and most cluttered. By tackling the hardest jobs first, you will make the whole process much easier, rather than neglecting the things you don’t want to do.
You might even strike gold with any electrical appliances you may no longer need, such as a lawn mower.

6. Get Rid

Be ruthless with stuff you don’t need or have never used. Things like spare bed sheets, old curtains and towels that have been locked away and never used can go the distance.

Moving to a new house is a good time to change as well - out with the old and in with the new. Your old sheets and curtains might not match the décor in your new place, so bear thought to this before you take stuff with you. If you don’t think you’ll need it, don’t take it ‘just in case’, get rid of it and enjoy having more space in your new home.

7. Multi-use Rooms

Think about how a room can be used for a number of things in your new home. Can your kitchen incorporate a dining area or can a second bedroom be used as an office as well? The key to multi-use rooms is to keep them tidy, which is where storage can come in handy.

8. Consider Built-in Storage

Built-in storage can come in extremely handy, no matter how big or small your home is. Storing items effectively is the key to having a tidy home, so consider having built-in storage wherever you can.

Bathroom storage can be useful for things like toiletries, bathroom cleaning products, spare toilet rolls and even towels. The right storage will be truly effective when it comes to making your new home look neat and tidy.

In the bedroom, consider sliding wardrobes to save space and keep the room looking neat and tidy. The wardrobe interior can be segmented to keep your clothes and personal belongings separate. For all the items you couldn’t part way with, a sliding wardrobe will be an ideal storage solution to keep things organised effectively and tucked out of sight.

9. Leave Books & Paper Until Last

Leave things like books and paper until last and sort through them one box at a time. Often, photos are hard to get rid of, so you’ll want to take your time and make sure you are making the right decision. You and your partner might disagree on what to keep and what to get rid of, so it’s best to do this together and not make any rash decisions.

How to prepare for your new wardrobe

MEASURING YOUR WARDROBE DOOR SIZE

Before selecting your interior doors, it’s vital to get your measurements right, you should ensure that you remember to measure the frame itself rather than the existing doors.

Frame width

In total you should take three different measurements of the doors width, one from the top, one from the bottom and one from the middle of the door frame. The widest of these three measurements determines the width of the new doors.

Adjustments

Allow space for any floor coverings you may have and remember that doors can be planed but not made any bigger. After you’ve taken your measurements you can compare them with the types you may need in your chosen style. At Sliding Robes we provide a bespoke service so we ensure that you’ll find something great that suits your preferences.

Choosing a style

Whether it’s a modern or classic look you’re looking for, at Sliding Robes we have an extensive selection of styles available including…

Budget - Are you working to a budget? The Budget style doors are a great option, they may sound basic, but they are in fact far from it. Our range of budget wardrobes provide a classic feel to any room and they’re also excellent value for money.

Glam - The Glam range is designed to provide a contemporary yet bold finish, they’re a popular design for modern homes and also include different colours and finishes.

Shaker - Our made to measure Shaker products are another popular choice and can provide both a contemporary or traditional feel depending on how you’d like your room to look.

Reflex - Reflex is an exciting and modern wardrobe, they’re made to measure and can also be framed with minimal aluminium which can also incorporate handles.

Classic - The classic wardrobe speaks for itself, whilst being a classic style it also provides a contemporary feel, these wardrobe doors also come in a standard size in either silver or white track sets. The team at Sliding Robes will work with your preferences and your budget, we aim to ensure that you receive a durable, stylish and spacious wardrobe that’s also value for money.

For more information contact our team today.

Making a Statement with a Colourful Bedroom

How to Have a Colourful Bedroom that Makes a Statement

There’s lots to think about when you decorate at home, whether you’re tackling the full house or just one room. Quite often, the size of the room will influence how the room is decorated, without thinking about how the room will feel when you are inside.

Let’s use the bedroom as an example. How can you make it feel unique to you, whilst making it the one room in the house you can relax and unwind in? Size shouldn’t always be the biggest factor when looking to create a homely environment in the bedroom. Colours should certainly be considered when attempting to do this.

A lot of people think of colourful bedrooms as overpowering and tend to avoid big bold colours at all costs. Bright colours can make the room seem smaller or give the impression that there is less light, which is probably why so many people look to avoid them.

With clever colour matching and alternative styling, however, your bedroom can become your own personal haven – the one place where you can feel relaxed and truly at home.

Using Colour in the Bedroom

When people think of colour in the bedroom, their minds will almost always think of paint, with bold, powerful colours that hurt the eyes if looked at for too long. There are other ways that you can use bold colours in the bedroom without painting the walls, though.

It’s Not All About Paint

Just because you think your bedroom needs more colour, doesn’t mean you need to paint the walls. Brighter bedding, colourful curtains or attractive carpet can also do the trick.

Another alternative is to introduce sliding wardrobe doors to the room, an option which will allow you to introduce colour in a practical way. The doors can be used to engulf one wall in colour, providing you with a way to store clothes and other items effectively in one hassle-free location.

Sliding wardrobes are becoming more and more popular among people looking to decorate their bedrooms, with a wide range of colourful options available to help you make a statement.

Utilise The Lower Half

A lot of people will choose to paint a full wall when adding colour to a room. An effective way to avoid doing this is to only paint the lower half of the walls, leaving the upper half free for your light shades that will make your bedroom seem larger.

A single colour that spans the height and width of a room is probably the ‘done thing’, but injecting a little bit more creativity into your room with contrasting colours can help to create the impression of a light, spacious room. With the clever matching of colours, you can make your bedroom a striking place to be, with a boldly coloured featured wall on the bottom half and matching décor. Pick a slightly lighter version of your chosen wall paint colour and use this colour to shop for bedding and curtains that will help to finish the look off.

You Don’t Need to Decorate

Changing the way your bedroom looks and feels doesn’t mean you need to paint every wall, nor does it have to cost a small fortune. Think about the small changes you can make that will deliver the same or similar outcome and you will be able to achieve wonderful things.

A new rug, bed sheets, curtains or light shades will often be enough to change the dynamic of your bedroom and they don’t need to be expensive.

If you have primarily white or light coloured walls, it’s the bold colours that will define the room. The things that we listed above are great starting points, along with lamps, pictures and other subtle pieces of furniture that will help you to go bold without taking over the room with colour.

Striking and Stylish Sliding Wardrobes Ideas

Who said wardrobes can’t be as stylish as the clothes that they contain?

You don’t need a dressing room in order to create fabulous bedroom storage, tackle bedroom clutter through beautiful, bespoke and tailor-made fitted wardrobes. Floor to ceiling built in wardrobes can maximise space as they put dead space the better use. Fitted wardrobes make the most of tight corners and awkward spaces to keep floors and surfaces clear, they can further save space by installing sliding doors instead of doors that open outwards. Built in wardrobes can also create clean, streamlined and uncluttered looks, which is common with regular wardrobes.

Whether they take up an entire wall or just an alcove space, the result will be just amazing.

You can blend the wardrobes in with the rest of the room by painting them in the same shade and covering them in the same wallpaper, upholstering them or you could make something entirely different out of them. You could conceal the wardrobes door in ornate plaster work or wood panelling, or use them to make a statement with brass edges or statement handles.

Whatever your style, today’s fitted sliding wardrobes and bedroom storage come with modern and sophisticated options that can create additional space whilst also contributing to room’s décor.
We take inspiration from some of the best built in wardrobe ideas there is…

Pretty plasterwork

Panelled walls open to reveal hidden storage and screen doors glide seamlessly into wall recesses to separate this sanctuary. You can also incorporate the design style into the skirting boards and curtains.
 

Hidden Handles

Bespoke wardrobes can also include concealed handles or handles which operate by being pushed. This can provide the effect that it’s a wall and not a wardrobe.

Built in dressing table

This is a clever design that includes a dressing table incorporated into your wardrobe, not only does this save space but it can hide a cluttered area away.

Wallpapered wardrobes

Transform a plain wardrobe door by using a patterned wallpaper, this will help to blend in with the rest of the room.

Fresh lilac

New fitted wardrobes are complemented by fresh lilac colours, this can be incorporated into the theme of your room décor.

Wood panels

Use wood panels to add a different dimension to your room, you can use panelling to disguise the wardrobe.

Moody tones

Use calming colours to improve the rooms harmony and synergy, a palette of dark, sleepy colours can be applied to your wardrobe doors.

Brass touches

Add brass, gold or silver elements to the wardrobe doors, this can include handles, this will give a plain wardrobe a stylish edge.

Natural style

Make nature feel like it’s in your room with a natural style, you can incorporate your sliding wardrobe doors and add to the rustic scheme.

Teal appeal

A bright and vibrant colour on your fitted wardrobe can create a feature piece in your room.

Sophistication

Give your bedroom a hotel feel complement a plush rug, upholstered bed with fitted wardrobes to add luxury to your room.

Go Retro

Transform a bedroom with a retro style, retro can combine both traditional and modern touches, use a retro style wood wardrobe to mix it up.

Hands free

Seamless and handle free storage can help keep the space uncluttered, and provides a simple and modern look.

Dramatic finishes

Impressive amounts of storage space can help keep the bedroom clear of clutter, meaning you can concentrate on daring and dramatic edges.

Why Choose a Fitted Wardrobe?

Fitted Wardrobes

A fitted wardrobe is a popular option when talking about storage solutions. As its name suggests, this kind of wardrobe is fitted into the room from floor to ceiling so you avoid awkward spaces in your bedroom. Fitted wardrobes come in all widths and heights. You can choose exactly the one you need. We will show you why and how to choose a fitted wardrobe.

Why Choose a Fitted Wardrobe

Fitted wardrobes are a great addition to any space, allowing you to organise your clothes, accessories and shoes.
The perfect solution for optimising every square inch of your home, floor to ceiling fitted wardrobes will not only free up much needed space, but they can also be tailored to meet your individual requirements. And, if you’re struggling with space in your home or you’re desperately seeking more storage, you’ve certainly landed in the right place! Here’s everything you need to know about fitted wardrobes…

The Pro’s of a Fitted Wardrobe

• As a fitted wardrobe is built exactly into the shape of your room, it creates a more opened look than freestanding wardrobes.
• The best thing about this kind of wardrobe is that it provides you with more space for storage than a normal freestanding wardrobe.
• What is more, a fitted wardrobe offers more adjustable storage options. You can have a wardrobe that is customised specifically to the kind of stuff you want to store.

Factors to Take into Account

When you’re choosing a fitted wardrobe for your bedroom, there are many design aspects to consider.
Doors
One of the most important decisions you will make when choosing a fitted wardrobe is what kind of door you prefer. Mostly, fitted wardrobes either come with hinged doors or sliding doors. Sliding doors are the most popular since they have many benefits over hinged doors. Firstly, sliding doors take up less room since it does not need a space when it is open. They also create a more complex look of a room.
The Inside of a Fitted Wardrobe
You should consider the type of storage space you want it to be used for. Do you need a shoe rack or do you need more rail space than shelves?
Mirrors
Another factor to take into account is whether you’d like the wardrobe to incorporate a mirror. Some built in wardrobes feature mirrored external panels or mirrors on the inside of doors if you want a full-length mirror. Fitted wardrobes that incorporate a dressing table have small mirrors at eye-level which are perfect for applying makeup.
Fitting
Many companies that sell fitted wardrobes offer professional installation services as well, but this is not a condition. It’s possible to fit a wardrobe yourself. However, there are many companies specialised in DIY kits. If you find fitting a wardrobe difficult, it is best to call a specialist.

Types of Fitted Wardrobes

We have made a brief review of fitted wardrobes and their prices. Here are the most common types:

• Pax Fitted Wardrobe - PAX wardrobes can be found as a special kind of fitted wardrobes.
• Regal Fitted Wardrobe - This is a regal fitted wardrobe from Worldstores. It has twin hanging spaces, top shelves, three storage drawers, but you can fit is as you wish. It’s made from a particleboard.

Nordic Wardrobe Fitment and Stool - It has beautiful skirting and detailing. This elegant wardrobe will keep your bedroom organised.

How to Improve your Wardrobe Space

Your Wardrobe Space

From toys and shoes through to handbags and dresses, we accumulate many treasured items that we need to find a home for. That’s why well-designed storage spaces are a necessary feature of any bedroom.

When renovating your bedrooms, one of the most important issues is how to improve your wardrobe space. Depending on the amount of floor area you have available, you can choose to install a walk0in or a reach-in wardrobe.

If you are extending your house to accommodate a larger master bedroom, you may want to choose the walk-in wardrobe option. Make sure you consider the floor layout and the placement of walls and doors carefully at the planning stage, perhaps by consulting and experts in wardrobe design before the house plans are finalised. This will help avoid poor door placement or bad floor planning, so that you don’t end up with an expensive space that can store too few clothes.

Walk-In Wardrobes and Space?

Walk-in wardrobes should be a minimum of 1800mm wide, and the door to the wardrobe should be placed in the middle of the wall. This will give 600mm of space for hanging clothes on each side of the wardrobe, plus a 600mm ‘passage’ space for you to walk through. If the walk-in wardrobe is less than 1800mm wide then you will only be able to hang clothes on one side of it. If you have more space, and can make your wardrobe wider, then you have the option of utilising the back wall for additional hanging, drawers, or shelving for shoes or handbags.

Walk-in wardrobes should not have windows as they take up valuable wall space that could be used for storage. Windows can also allow sunlight which in time can fade your clothes. Ventilation is important and can be provided by ceiling ventilation systems. Lighting should be placed in the centre of the ceiling. It’s best to place the light switch outside the door, so that you don’t have to fumble through your clothes trying to find the switch.

Why Choose A Reach-In Wardrobe?

A reach-in wardrobe has the advantage of taking up less bedroom floor area than a walk-in wardrobe, while still giving an excellent storage capacity. So even if you have the space for a walk in wardrobe you made need to ask; ‘Would I prefer more floor space in my wardrobe or in my bedroom?
Most reach-in wardrobes can easily be improved to give excellent storage. There are many houses which are built with reach-in wardrobes, these wardrobes typically have a single shelf with a hanging rail underneath. They used to be sufficient to hold the small amount of clothing that most people possessed at the time the house was built.

The key challenge for the home renovator is how to increase the storage space in the wardrobe, without having to completely rebuild the house. Reusing the existing floor area, the original builder allowed for the wardrobe is usually the most cost-effective option. In most cases, the storage space of the old-style wardrobes can almost be doubled with a few clever alterations.

How Do You Fit a Fitted Wardrobe?

It is important to look at the access to the wardrobe. Most wardrobes have standard height, hinged doors fitted to them. These doors are usually 1980mm high and between 610mm and 710mm wide. A double wardrobe comes with two doors.

Given that the standard ceiling height in a home is 2410mm and that most wardrobes are a lot wider than their doors, there is plenty of scope to improve access, and that is vital for increasing storage space. So, the first task is to remove the doors and take out the wall areas above and on either side of the wardrobe door, effectively removing the entire front wall of the wardrobe alcove. You'll be amazed at how large your wardrobe looks after you have done this.

You will of course need new doors to cover your wardrobe. Modern sliding door systems are made-to-measure – so it is only a matter of fitting jambs to the sides and ceiling, and the doors can be made to fit. Unlike hinged doors, sliding doors do not swing into the room so do not take up valuable floor space. Make sure the sliding doors are fitted with a proper anti-jump system to prevent the doors jumping out of their tracks.

Depending on the size of the wardrobe, you may need two, three or four sliding doors. Doors can be made to measure up to 1500mm wide and up to 2700mm high. If you have a high ceiling, you can get excellent access to your wardrobe. Having the doors made so you can access the full height and width of the wardrobe space gives you an incredible amount of additional storage, with options for all types of accessories including drawers. This will remove the need for additional furniture in the bedroom, saving space and money.

Tips on How to Organise Your Wardrobe

When it comes to learning how to organise your wardrobe properly, it can save you so much time and energy on a daily basis. We all have to get dressed every day, in some cases more than once depending on the different things you’re going to be up to throughout the day. Without having a system in place, this can become very messy. Take a look at our step by step guide on how to reorganise and declutter your wardrobe…

THE MAIN REASON YOUR ORGANISING YOUR WARDROBE

There’s a few common things that have been said, possibly a few times, but it’s important to be motivated to make sure that you get it organised and sorted properly.

CLEAR OUT AND ASSESS THE LEFT OVER SPACE

Its important to make sure that your wardrobe is completely empty when you start reorganising the space, this will permit you to see exactly what you have in terms of your clothes and the storage space you have to use.

Sort through the items

Pick up each piece of clothing and make a decision about it, do you want to keep it or throw it away, make different piles for different decisions and then you can decide based on the amount of items in each pile, what you’re going to do.

Finding a place for everything

As with any organisation project, you’ll want to make sure that you have all of your items in places that make the most sense for you and the way you live. Assess the amount of clothing you have and the space you have to store them in.

• Clothes that your less likely to wear everyday can be stored out of the way, maybe under the bed or in the loft, so they’re still accessible when you need them.
• When it comes to sentimental items like wedding gowns can be placed into deeper storage.
• Out of season clothes, for example summer clothes and winter clothes that aren’t needed until the season can be kept out of the way too, you can rotate your clothes inline with the weather and the seasons.

Organise each space

You’re now ready to sort out your wardrobe, you have everything you need and want to store in it and you’ve ensured that it’s those items that you’ll use frequently.

Test it out

Now you’ve sorted everything out and your wardrobes and closed are organised, trial run the system and see how it works for you. If there’s any issues or changed that you think will help, then make them and change your wardrobe to suit your requirements.

Make any tweaks

When it comes to evaluating your organisation system, you’ll want to be able to tweak anything that doesn’t work well for you.

Ask yourself these questions…

• Is it still hard to find items quickly?
• Do you still feel like you have too many clothes?
• Are there many ways in which you’ve needed to re-evaluate?