5 Practical Home Improvements

Ultra Convenient Home Improvement Tips to Improve the Functionality of your Home

Quite often, a homeowner’s emphasis will be on creating a home that looks nice – but what about the functionality?

How can you improve the ‘convenience’ of your home?

There are several ways you can improve the functionality of your home to make it more convenient. Whether you have a large family, a worn-out garden or a lack of space, we look at 5 home improvement tips that can help to make your home a more practical and convenient place to live.

1. Introducing a Sliding Wardrobe

Lack of storage space is a widespread problem for people with lots of ‘stuff’. A new sliding wardrobe can help to create more space in your bedroom, creating a dedicated area for more than just hanging clothes. Shoes, bedding, personal items, accessories, board games and a whole host of other things can live in your sliding wardrobe, in a neat and tidy fashion. Different internal storage can be considered too, with drawers, shelves and baskets all available to help you personalize your wardrobe’s interior.

If you are looking to create more space in your home by giving your possessions a place to live, a practical sliding wardrobe should definitely be considered.

(Image Credit: https://slidingrobes.com )

2. Installing Underfloor Heating

If radiators are causing you problems with your furniture positioning, underfloor heating can always be considered. Your local plumbing and heating company will be able to remove your current radiators and replace the main heat source of your home with an underfloor alternative.

Underfloor heating is a practical home improvement. Not only does it create extra wall space for cabinets, shelves and other pieces of furniture, it provides a more effective way to distribute heat throughout your home. With radiators, you will sometimes get little pockets of hot air around where the radiators are installed. With underfloor heating, heat can be dispersed evenly throughout each room of your home. This means less energy will need to be used to heat a room and you can potentially save money in the long-term.

3. Consider an Additional Bathroom

If you have a family of 4, 5 or even 6, the bathroom situation can be a real nuisance sometimes – especially if you only have one household bathroom for all to use. Waiting to use the loo when someone is in the shower or vice versa can cause sibling disputes and arguments between one another. Hold ups when you need to have a quick shower and go out can cause irritation whilst Dad occupies the toilet and reads the paper.

En-suites and additional bathrooms are a practical addition to your home, creating a secondary area to wash, get ready and you know, do your business. If the bathroom situation causes daily ruckus in your home, it might be worth having an additional bathroom installed in your home. After purchasing a new bathroom suite, you'll need to call your local plumber to install it for you.

4. A New Garden Patio

If your backyard is made up primarily of grass, then you may not be utilising your outdoor living space as best as you can be. The addition of a garden patio can mean you have space for BBQ’s, outdoor furniture, such as swings and seating, and in general more space to live outside.

A garden patio is an excellent way of adding practicality to your home. Your local paving and patio company will be able to provide you with any details regarding patio design and installation.

(Image Credit: http://www.centralpaving.co.uk/ )

5. Additional Plug Sockets

In older homes, you may only get one or two sockets per room, meaning extensions will often be required to let you plug all your electrical appliances in. Not only is this a fire hazard, it is highly inconvenient. Having to unplug one appliance to plug in another is time consuming, tedious and unnecessary.

Having additional sockets installed and evenly dispersed throughout each room means you don’t have to load up extensions or spend time swapping plugs about when you need to do the hoovering or charge your phone. Modern day sockets even come with USB ports, so you can plug your phones and tablets directly into the wall with a USB cable.

Your local electrician will usually be able to provide you with any additional plug sockets you require. They may even be able to discuss rewiring with you if your home is particularly old. Old and worn out wires are another fire hazard that can be avoided by replacing them with new wires – and what’s more inconvenient than a fire in your home?

7 Space-Saving Ideas for Small Bedrooms

If you have a small bedroom to play with, it can be difficult to fit everything you need inside. There are, however, a range of things you can do to save space.

Check out our top 10 tips to help you save space when you don’t have much room!

1. Get a Bed with Built-in Drawers

Getting a bed with built-in drawers can be a real space saver. Any loose items that you don’t have room for can be stored safely underneath your bed in a neat and tidy fashion.

2. Introduce Space-Saving Furniture

Space saving furniture, such as corner desks, nesting tables and sliding wardrobe doors, are a wise idea - all of which have been designed to help save space where there is a distinct lack of.

3. Utilise Wall Space

Rather than using desk or table lamps, consider using lamps that fix to the wall. This will leave more space on your surface-tops for other things. Your TV can also be fixed to wall-bracket.

4. Add Mirrors

Mirrors on the wall can help to expand the sense of space. Sliding mirror wardrobes are also a smart idea, helping you to kill two birds in one stone.

5. Paint the Walls with Bright / Light Colours

Painting the walls with dark colours can make the room seem dull and dingy. Like mirrors, light colours will help to expand the sense of space.

6. Consider Wallpaper

Decorative wallpapers, such as bookshelf wallpaper, will create the illusion that there is more space in the room than there actually is.

7. Think about your Furniture

As well as space-saving furniture, you might want to consider using other smaller furnishings, such as micro lamps, mini book shelves, even a small-double bed instead of a double bed.


Made to Measure Sliding Wardrobes can be introduced to give you a practical storage solution for your small bedroom. If you are interested in a sliding wardrobe to help you save space and keep your possessions tidy, contact Sliding Robes Direct today for more information or use our online wardrobe builder to design your dream wardrobe.

Introducing the NEW Sliding Robes Website

Say HELLO to the brand-new website within the Sliding Robes division: https://slidingrobes.com

Sliding Robes New Website

What’s it FOR?

The site was built with the aim of separating high-end, luxury wardrobes from standard sliding wardrobes.

Slidingrobes.com comes complete with a new, innovative, online wardrobe builder, allowing for easy and effective wardrobe design and creation.

Sliding robes Wardrobe Builder

Create your DREAM! Wardrobe

Experiment with different frame colours, panel layouts, panel colours and additional options to complete your dream wardrobe.

Choose from a wide range of made to measure door options, including:

• Economy
• Flux
• Alpha
• Reflex
• Vega Curved
• Venus Etched
• Tess Minimal

Play with different wardrobe designs to create the wardrobe of your dreams online.

We now give you MORE!

As with Sliding Robes Direct, the new Sliding Robes website provides a wide range of options for tailoring the inside of your sliding wardrobe. Wardrobe interiors and other style-matching bedroom furniture can also be purchased to help you complete the look.

Unique Range

Helpful information relating to delivery, measurements, installation and finance can all be found easily through the ‘helpful info’ section of the website location in the navigation.

Shop online TODAY!

Build a unique, luxury wardrobe with a style that suits your tastes and a price that you can afford. Head over to slidingrobes.com today and check out the exclusive wardrobe ranges we have available.

5 Easy Ways To Rejuvenate Your Property

Rejuvenating Your Property

Just like the clothes in your wardrobe, there comes a time when you need to rejuvenate your property. The longer you stick with the same pieces of furniture or decor style the more boring and tired it will become. If you’re going home and feel down about the way your property looks, then it’s time for an update. Our team have worked together to come up with 5 easy ways that you can rejuvenate your property, some of which are listed below.

( Image Credit: https://www.evergreendirect.co.uk )

5 Ways To Rejuvenate Your Property

1. Property Refurbishment

If you feel like there’s no end in sight with how your property looks, then it’s time to call in the professionals. Having property refurbishment carried out can help to to refresh the look of individuals rooms or the property as a whole. No matter what your property refurbishment needs might be, whether it’s a kitchen renovation or something else, then calling in the professionals is the best way to achieve the results you want.

2. Fresh New Style

Refresh your home with a new style and don’t let the style of property define the style you go for. No longer do you need to have cottage that has to look country look or an apartment that needs to look chic, styles are endless and it will only be you that holds your property back. Breathing a fresh new style into your home that’s different from the norm, will help to rejuvenate how it looks and feels.

3. New Colour Scheme

One of the easier ways to rejuvenate your home is to give it a fresh lick of paint. From bold colours to neutral tones, the options for paint colours are endless. So dare to be different! From feature walls to whole rooms be sure to experiment with bright or even dark colour tones. Painting is one of the most cost effective ways to rejuvenate how a property looks. From the whole home to individual rooms, don’t be afraid to add a splash of colour.

4. Quality Furniture

Whether it’s fitted or bespoke, new quality furniture is a great way to improve the way your property looks. From fitted wardrobes for the bedroom to freestanding reclaimed furniture and much more, you can choose any type of furniture for your property. Whilst fitted furniture is usually more expensive, it will typically increase the value of your home. Freestanding furniture can improve the look of your home and if you ever decide to move you can take it with you as well. Investing is quality or bespoke furniture is one of the easiest ways to spruce up the way your home or particular rooms look.

5. Artificial Plants

There aren’t many people that don’t like having plants or some type of greenery around their home, but keeping it looking great is a different matter. So, why not consider artificial plants? Indoor artificial plants are a great way to bring the outdoors in. Many artificial plants now offer a realistic look and we guarantee most people won’t be able to tell the difference between a real plant and a fake one. Artificial foliage and plants are a great way to improve the way a property looks.

5 Tips for Decorating a Ski Property

When you’re looking for ski properties for sale in Switzerland or ski properties for sale in France, it’s only natural that you will start considering how you will set about decorating yours once all documents have been finalized. It’s all part of the fun. Both purchasing and decorating a ski property is extremely exciting, so it’s worth taking the time to think about how you will decorate your ski property in a unique fashion.

Below, we have provided 5 top tips for ways that you can make your ski apartment or chalet your own with ease.

1. Utilise the Wooden Interior

Most ski properties abroad will have beautiful wooden interiors, so be sure to make the most of yours. Instead of hiding the walls and floors with fancy décor, try and keep things as minimal as possible. The natural wooden interior will do all the work for you, providing you with an authentic ski property feel.

Matching wooden furniture with the walls and floors will help you to maintain the theme of your property, while other wooden utensils and household equipment/items should also be considered to tie in with the overall wooden look.

2. Add Some Warmth

Usually situated in a snowy, cold country, your snow property should be warm and inviting. One of the best ways to promote warmth is by using calm, warm colours using a simple palette. If you would like your wooden interior to remain at the forefront, warms creams and browns should be combined with subtle reds and oranges to ensure this is the case. One or two base colours will be enough for each room, with subtle touches of brighter colours to add warmth and originality to each part of your new ski property.

Decorating your ski property to be warm and cosy is one of the best things you can do in cold countries like France and Switzerland.

3. Make the fireplace the standout Feature of the Property

Most ski apartments, chalets or houses will come with a real log burning fire, to help keep you warm when you are there. When you return from a long day on the slopes, the first thing you will want to do is warm up in front of the fire. This is much easier to do if you fireplace is the focal point of the living area, with comfy couches and chairs situated around it.

4. Don’t forget about Comfort

A well-decorated ski chalet or apartment will usually have furry or fluffy furniture, such as rugs, cushions, chairs and throws. In areas where people stand the most, such as the kitchen and the bathroom, comfort should be a priority!

When you return to your ski property after an exhausting day on the slopes, getting warm and comfy will usually be at the top of your list.

5. Think about Practicality

Most people will forget about how practical things are whilst trying to make their ski property look nice, so practicality should be at the forefront of everything you do. Your ski property will be subject to a lot of wear and tear as you come and go will hauls of equipment each day, so you need to think about how you can keep it practical for your daily skiing routine.

Durable, hard-wearing flooring is a must, to protect from your snowy boots each day, whilst spacious storage should also be considered for you to keep your expensive skiing gear safe.

So there you have it. 5 tops tips for decorating a ski property, apartment or chalet. Whether you are in the process of looking for ski properties for sale abroad, or you have recently bought a property, we hope our short guide helps you moving forward.

Guest post, written by Ski Invest – Specialising in Ski Properties for Sale in France and Switzerland: https://ski-invest.co.uk/

The Top 5 Reasons Your Generator Won’t Start

Back up generators fail more times than they need to, facility and operation managers need to evaluate incident response procedures and plan for regular maintenance of equipment in which they are responsible for on site. We’ve compiled our Top 5 reasons that the can reduce your odds of failure.

Top Tip 1: Battery Maintenance

It is important that emergency power systems specify batteries that are assured with starting power. A common cause of battery performance failure is improper adjustment and operation of the battery charger often having a loose or dirty cable connections due to corrosion. The battery specified must meet the expectations of type, construction, chemistry and classification.

Top Tip 2: Wet Stacking

It is known fact that diesel engines are designed to operate at a certain temperature. Running a generator over a long period of time below optimum temperature can cause the engine to over fuel and leak in turn this could cause damage. An annual load test can prevent this if utilising the building load isn’t an option.

( Image Credit: https://www.bellwoodrewinds.co.uk/ )

Top Tip 3: Fuel Contamination

It is critical to use good fuel quality, something which often becomes neglected. Did you know fuel can become stagnant, stale and contain excess water? Sediments can build up in the bottom of the tanks which in turn chances any damages to the generator, contaminating new fuel. Giving the generator a regular test and polish of fuel as part of a scheduled maintenance assures proper operation.

Top Tip 4: Incorrect Switches and Breakers Position

Scheduled maintenance routines and periodic off load runs, can sometimes mean that control panels are often neglected or checked – making sure that the output breaker is in the proper ready position. It is important to ensure that the generators control panel is in ‘auto’ and the ‘output’ breaker is in the on position.

Top Tip 5: Dirty Filters: Air, Fuel and Oil

Emissions systems require a strict filtration system adding to the side effects of making generators more susceptible to the environment they are in. Older generators typically suffer with high additive and low sulphur of today’s diesel fuel which adds to the clogging of fuel lines or filters by cleaning out a material in the system.

Guest post, written and supplied by: Bellwood Generators:

https://www.bellwoodrewinds.co.uk/

5 Common Reasons Locksmiths are Called Out

There are loads of reasons why you might require locksmith services and some reasons are more common than others.

Here we look at the top 5 reasons why locksmiths are called out, which might help you if you are unsure about needing one yourself.

Let’s begin!

Need Replacement Keys

If you need replacement keys urgently, the first thing you should do is call an emergency locksmith. If you have a spare set that you can have cut, even better, but if you find yourself without any keys at all, getting in touch with a locksmith is a clever move.

Changing Locks

Whatever reasons you have for needing your locks changed, you should call a locksmith straight away. If you have suffered a break in, a damaged lock, you have recently moved house or your locks haven’t been changed for many years, you should consider having your locks changed.

When your locks need changing, search online for a ‘locksmith near me’ and you will find your nearest locksmith to help you.

Lock Repair

There’s no point in having locks that don’t work, so when you have a faulty, damaged, stiff or broken lock, you should look for a local locksmith to help you.

One of the most common reasons locksmiths are called out is because of locks that don’t work. You lock might need replacing completely or if your locksmith is skilled enough or able to, they will fix it for you straight away.

Locked Out of Property

If you are locked out of your home or work then you should call a locksmith company to help you. There’s no worse feeling than arriving home and realising you can’t get in because you have lost your keys or you have locked them inside. Calling a locksmith is the first thing you should do to get back inside, unless you have a friend or relative with a spare set!

Locked Out of Your Car

If you have locked your keys in your car or lost them completely, you may require the services of an auto locksmith to help you moving forward.

Not all locksmiths offer locksmith services for cars, so you might have to make a few calls first before you find one that can help.


So there you have it. The top 5 reasons locksmiths are called out to homes and commercial properties in the UK. If you weren’t sure about whether you needed a locksmith or not, then hopefully this has cleared things up a bit for you.

5 Things to Avoid in your Bedroom

Your bedroom should be a place of rest and relaxation, but there are many things that you could be doing wrong in the interior design of your bedroom. Many elements my have a negative impact on the healthiness of your bedroom, and could take up vital storage space that is pivotal to an orderly room.

So here are the top ways you could be going wrong in your bedroom;

1. Clutter

Clutter and too many possessions are the biggest contractor to an unorganised bedroom. Whether this be under-utilised storage such as sliding wardrobes only be a home for your clothing, or desks and dressing tables taking over your room. Condensing this into single items of furniture used for different purposes is the key. Take a look at your sliding wardrobes, is there a way in which you an utilise the space within them a little better?

2. Lighting 

Lighting is a pivotal part of a bedroom, you need a space that can be as dark as possible on a night and as light as possible on a morning. People often want to make the most of their natural like, understandably. As such, they opt for sheer fabric curtains and white fabrics that let light through. However, opting for heat and luxurious fabrics for your curtains will help block out the light on a night to help you get the best nights sleep possible, giving you a healthier nights sleep. You can double this up with. Sheer fabric underneath for those sunny days where you would like light to bouncy through the room.

3. Bright Colours

Using bright and bold colour for your walls or bedding can be a tough choice to avoid, if those are the colours you naturally a drawn towards, however, they could be interrupting you sleep pattern or ability to relax. Instead opting for neutral colours and natural fibre textiles will help you to relax and create a calm atmosphere that is perfect for that all-important good nights’ sleep.

4. Electric Avenue

Many people cant stay away from electronic devices, whether this be their mobile phone by their bed, a TV at the foot of the bed or a laptop in the bedroom. Many people don’t realise the negative impacts of these devices on you ability to relax, switch off from the world and re-coup after your day.  This is such a popular issue that many people ate getting creative with how they keep their technologies but hide them away. One of the most popular ways to do this is through sliding wardrobe doors. Having an inbuilt sliding wardrobe will give you much more storage and may even mean you can create an area of your sliding wardrobe that is solely for your TV, and TV stand, with plug points for phones and shelves for laptops, with their clothes and shoes being tidied away on either side of the TV.

5. Excessive Furniture

A great way to overwhelm your bedroom is through excessive furniture. Having too many pieces of furniture can create a cramped and closed feel that can inhibit rest and relaxation. Doubling up the uses of furniture i.e. seating with inbuilt storage, sliding wardrobes with a TV stand, a desk that becomes a dressing table or even folds away, can be a great way to save on space, create a fresh environment and help you on your way to a healthier bedroom.

Top things to avoid in your bedroom

As you can see, the interior design of your bedroom should be carefully considered. There are many elements that can contribute to an unhealthy or negative bedroom. If you would like to make a start on overhauling your bedroom, by installing sliding wardrobes, we can help. Contact our team with any questions or queries today.

Top Tips for a Healthier Bedroom 2018

Your bedroom should be your haven from the world, so it should also be the healthiest. Having a healthy bedroom doesn’t just mean a space that is clean, it also means organised, calming and sleep inducing, meaning your bedroom should be a healthy all-round room.

There are many ways that you can create a healthy bedroom, here we go through them to help you achieve the bedroom or your dreams.

1. De-Clutter

De-cluttering your bedroom is the biggest key to creating a healthier space. Psychology experts have studied the effects of mess and clutter on the mind and have concluded that de-cluttering or organising your space helps calm the mind and creates an environment that is easier to relax in. Essential for any bedroom!

De-cluttering can be done in a number of ways from having a quick study, to redesigning the interior design of you bedroom. A major way to help is built in storage. Built in storage helps you pack away everything you don’t need on display in an organised fashion. Adding designed sliding wardrobe doors can take this further, with wooden front doors creating a warm and natural space, with mirror sliding doors creating an environment for light to bounce around and create a fresh and airy area.

2. Dust

Dust can build up in a bedroom in no time! Regularly dusting your bedroom will automatically create a healthier and ‘breathe-easy’ space that you can relax in. If you have allergies, then this pain is even more important. With the build up of dust mites on mattresses and pillows, they can cause nasty side-effects that are avoidable, if you dust regularly.

3. Deep Clean your Bedroom

Deep cleaning your bedroom builds on the last point but takes it further with washing carpets and mattresses, as well as pillows, cushion and mattress protectors and more. Regularly having a deep clean of your bedroom will go a long way towards creating a place that you can relax in.

4. No Added Extras

This point covers pretty much everything from pets to laptops and computers. Having ‘added extras’ can upset the balance of your bedroom. Pets can bring dust and dirty into the room and laptops can distract the brain, making it more difficult to relax and ultimately sleep easy.

5. Be Scent-sible

Scents in a room can have a big impact on the health of your bedroom. Certain smells like jasmine, lavender and vanilla can have long lasting effects on your likeliness for a good nights’ sleep. Some scents are calming and relaxing, whilst others light citrus scents have the opposite affect.

6. Only use you bedroom when you have to

Using your bedroom all of the time for any and every activity is tempting, its one of the most comfortable rooms in the house of course! But, doing everything in your bedroom, breaks the brains connection between the bedroom and sleep. So watching tV, reading, working and more in the bedroom can disturb your body’s ability to ‘switch off’ and relax.

7. Textures and Pictures

Choosing your finishing touches can have a huge impact on the health of your bedroom. Choosing fresh flowers to display will create a calming and airy environment. Choosing artwork the is neutral and calming will have a healthier effect on your bedroom over a loud and bold piece. Choosing textiles that are heavy and luxurious will give you a feeling of sensual calmness, think silks for accents, and heady woven fabrics for curtains to block out as much light as possible for that all-important good night’s sleep.

A Healthier Bedroom in 2018

Taking note of these tips to create a healthier bedroom in 2018 can make a huge difference to you life and sleep routine. If you are opting for the de-clutter option, we can help. We create bespoke sliding wardrobes and sliding wardrobe doors that can overhaul your bedroom. Contact our team today with any questions or queries, we are more than happy to help.

Salvaging Space in your Bedroom

It’s a problem that has been round for a long time and will probably last a while longer yet, but that doesn’t mean that there aren’t clever ways to salvage the space in your bedroom! All you need is some clever interior design tips and tricks. 

We have pulled together the best storage solutions around to salvage back some space in your bedroom.

The bedroom is often a space that can get ignored or used as a storage facility in itself. But with our storage secrets you can transform your bedroom into a tidy, organised space that you can enjoy.

Sliding Wardrobes

First things first, wardrobes don’t just have to be for clothes, and built in wardrobes with sliding doors can add huge amounts of storage without the need for busy doors that take up vital space.

Installing built in wardrobes is a stylish space saver. Gone are the days of bulky, overbearing built in storage of yester-year. Todays built in wardrobes are fitted, available in bespoke sizes and depths, and can feature mirrored wardrobe doors to give the illusion of a larger room, or sliding wardrobe doors in any colour or material to suit the rest of the room. 

Built in sliding wardrobes are often used as an all round storage solution that come with in built show racks, document storage, jewellery drawers and more!

You can build your own sliding wardrobes here at Sliding Robes Direct. Choosing your design, materials, colours, size, fittings and more. 

To help you get measured up for your new storage, we have created a handy guide on how to measure for your sliding wardrobes.

Position of your Sliding Wardrobe

Choosing where to install your built in storage is the key to saving as much space in your bedroom as possible. 

If you have a long narrow bedroom with only a small amount of space on either side of your bed, then you should consider built in storage around the head of your bed. This will triple your storage potential whilst only taking up a small space. At worst, you may need to move your bed down the room a small amount. 

If you have a wider room, then using one end as a storage space will work wonders to store all of your clothes and accessories, documents, bedding and more in one area, opening up the rest of the room and keeping your space, spacious!

Internal Storage in your Sliding Wardrobes

When it comes to storage within your sliding wardrobes, the possibilities are endless. You can install drawers, chests of drawers, shelves, racking, sliding out shelves, hooks and more to store anything and everything you desire. You can even install a pull out shelf that can be transformed into a desk.

Maximising the floor to ceiling space is one of the main benefits of built in wardrobes and storage. 

This type of storage can accommodate awkward spaces in your bedroom from a alcoves to sloping ceilings.

Top tip: Installing mirrored sliding wardrobe opposite a window will bounce light around your room and create an airy, fresh feeling.

Under the Bed Storage

Another great space saver comes from utilising the space under your bed. If you don’t have drawers under your bed, then we recommend installing drawers, or buying storage boxes that fit in the space. If you don’t have space under your bed, you have the option of raising your bed to create your own space. You can purchase bed raisers with inbuilt plug sockets to save even further on space and the overall look of your bedroom by combining the two.

Use your Wall Space

Making use of your walls is another great tip. From floating shelfs to coat hooks on your walls, there are a number of ways you can utilise this space. Some types of shelving can take up a large amount of space, however, knowing where to install the shelving is the key. For smaller bedrooms, many people opt for shelving in areas like alcoves, between sloped was and above the door. 

Double-Up Furniture

Doubling up the use of your furniture can be a great way to save and salvage space in your bedroom. Taking one piece of furniture like an ottoman and placing this under a windowsill with some cushions creates a window seat with storage. Another idea is to mount a large shelf to the wall that can double up as a desk or dressing table. Fitting this with hinges will mean you can fold it away to save even more space!

Space Saving Ideas

There are an array of ideas out there to help you save space. Stay objective. If you don’t need something or can re-organise something to save some space, then start there. When it comes to storage, then opt for built in storage with sliding wardrobe doors for the ultimate space saver.

Contact our team, they can help with the sizing, options available, and fittings that will best suit your room and space available. Alternatively you can build your own bespoke wardrobes with our made to measure builder.

What to Consider Before Buying a Sliding Wardrobe

If you’re considering buying a new sliding wardrobe in 2018, Sliding Robes Direct have some advice on what to do first. From finding the right design to measuring up, we have all the information you need to ensure the best results for your New Year, New Wardrobe.

Wardrobe Design

One of the first things you will need to look into is your wardrobe design. From the style to the layout structure, it’s important to make sure that you pick the perfect wardrobe for your needs. Check out our made to measure and standard size wardrobe range today to browse our available range.

Before you go ahead and purchase your wardrobe, make sure you’ve taken the right measurements of the available space. Our made to measure measuring guide and standard door measure guide will best advise you.

Storage

Something that we understand is crucial in a new wardrobe, is storage. You want to ensure that your wardrobe looks great, but can also store a reasonable amount of clothes. If this is something that you’re looking to achieve with your new wardrobe, then Sliding Robes Direct have you covered. We offer a wide range of wardrobes to suit all our clients taste. On top of that, we also have storage and interior options available to best suit on an individual basis.


Just like the design, the storage in your wardrobe is really important. Not only will you have a stunning new wardrobe, but a storage solution to help with all areas of your clothing and shoes. Our made to measure wardrobes can be built specifically to you, giving you full control on the design, layout, and interior structure of the wardrobe. This gives you an advantage when it comes to needing a new wardrobe, and a better storage solution! It’s just one of the reasons why we’re the first choice for many in search of a Made to Measure Wardrobe.

Helpful Information

For more advise on finding the perfect wardrobe or to receive helpful information please continue to browse the link provided. Here, you can find out more information including: installing, fitting, delivery options, and technical advice. As always, Sliding Robes Direct will always do our best to help in any way possible.

How Cleaning and Organising Your Home Can Improve Health

Physical and Mental Health Improvements from Cleaning

It has been known that organising your home can improve your physical and mental health. On top of that, it can also make you a happier person and improve your relationships. For both physical and mental health benefits, Sliding Robes Direct have some information on how cleaning and organising your home can improve your health.

We have had looked into the benefits of cleaning and organising your home, to find out the improvements it can make on your health. It goes without saying that, a cleaner house can make you much more comfortable at home. On top of that, having your own organisation or system running makes everything so much easier to locate and store.

Piles of endless laundry or an unorganised wardrobe can often set off anxiety or stress. As we look into the benefits of organising and cleaning your wardrobe and entire home, we discover the reasons why it can improve your health. Sliding Robes Direct take health very seriously, so we have came up with a few tips and benefits on how to organise your home for the better.

Benefits of a Clean, Organised Home

It goes without saying that a clean, fresh, and organised home can bring many benefits. From the obvious, a tidy home to it improving productivity, we have a number of benefits of a clean, organised home. See below our top 5 benefits for improving, cleaning, and organising your home…

1. Can reduce stress and depression
2. Boosts productivity
3. Helps in relationships
4. Better motivation for eating better and exercising
5. Makes a house a home

These are our top 5 benefits of having a clean and organised home, but of course there are many more benefits such has, better organisation in your wardrobe and a well presented home for any guests. Regardless of your reasons for cleaning, decluttering, or organising your home, Sliding Robes Direct hope that you enjoy the new benefits that you will experience.

Tips for Organising Your Wardrobe

In our experience, a well organised wardrobe is much more effective, and easier to use and navigate. If your wardrobe is over cluttered, or has one too many tops, Sliding Robes Direct have some tips for organising your wardrobe. Take a look at our top tips on how to make your wardrobe more organised and manageable…

• Write a list
• Clean your wardrobe
• Invest in wardrobe storage or a new made to measure wardrobe
• Organise the wardrobe with a system ie. colours, tops, Winter wear etc.
• Have a good tidy up or clear out

For more advice and information on organising your wardrobe, please visit our blog today.

5 Reasons Why Artificial Grass Can Improve Your Home

New homeowners? Or simply looking for affordable ways to improve your home? Then Sliding Robes Direct can help. Having designed, delivered, and distributed hundreds of wardrobes in our time, we completely understand how small amendments to a home can vastly improve the overall appearance. Our sliding wardrobes are a simple way to improve your home, and they’re fantastic on storage too! If you’re looking for more ways to improve your home, then continue reading as we have a very interesting idea up our sleeve…

As homeowners ourselves, Sliding Robes Direct can second that keeping on top of your garden and the lawn is a difficult job. In Summer it can easily over grow with too much sunshine and in Winter the snow and rain dampens the ground making maintenance impossible to complete. Having battled this fight for many years, we were pleasantly surprised when we came across an affordable, attractive, and appealing solution… Artificial grass! This turf is easy to maintain, looks fantastic, and saves you heaps of time too. It really is the perfect answer to improving your home.

Benefits of Artificial Grass

If you’re weighing up the option to have artificial grass installed in your garden, we have gathered together our 5 top benefits of artificial grass to help with your decision making. Here, you should find plenty reasons why artificial grass is an amazing idea for your properties’ new lawn.

1. Eco friendly
2. Pet friendly
3. Low maintenance
4. Aesthetically appealing
5. Entertainment - no worries of a ruined lawn

Not forgetting one of the most important benefits of artificial grass, the affordability! With artificial grass, you can enjoy a perfect freshly cut looking lawn all year round, with very little maintenance. Instead of spending hours in your garden maintaining the lawn, you can now spend your free time (and money) doing something you actually enjoy.

From animal owners looking for a pet friendly lawn, to party goers looking for a surface that can withstand entertainment evenings, artificial grass is the best option to make. You can enjoy a beautiful looking garden with minimal maintenance, and no worries of your lawn becoming ruined or damaged.

So there it is, our solution to improving your home, artificial grass. This will give you plenty of free time to enjoy doing something of your choice, and also an attractive new outside space that will look great all year round!

Six Home Improvements that will Add Value to your Property

New Driveway

When it comes to the front of your home and your driveway, this is a great way to add value to your property. Investing in a new driveway has a number of benefits, especially when it comes to adding value to your property. Having a new driveway at the front of your home will give a great first impression, especially when considering people’s first look at your property. Should you undergo the correct maintenance for your driveway, this will also help as it will keep it renewed.  Choose a firm like Concrete Imprint Driveways are a a renowned choice for providing top quality drives.


Introduce Sliding Wardrobes

Another great way to increase the value of your property is to have sliding wardrobes installed. Sliding wardrobes are a brilliant investment for your home as they look great, they’re stylish and efficient as they can be installed to fit perfectly into your room. When it comes to your sliding wardrobe installation, it’s a flexible process, you can choose exactly how you want your custom made wardrobe, this alone makes your home more unique as it’s totally bespoke. At Sliding Robes we specialise in offer top quality wardrobes.


New patio

Whilst installing a new patio can be expensive, the benefits you’ll get from it will outweigh the initial price you paid. It will breakup your garden area and add character to the back of your home, making your outdoor space even better and a place where you will want to spend a lot of time. Overall this will help to add value to the worth of your home, especially if you look after your patio so it stays in tip top condition. Choosing a new patio from a popular firm like Classic Paving, means you can trust that the exterior of your home will look excellent, therefore adding value.


Upgrade your roofing and utilize solar panels

Solar panels are another option which can help you to increase the worth of your property. Using solar energy means you’ll save on your usual energy bills, as the panels will generate energy for you from the sun and store it, until you’re ready to use it. They also aim to reduce your greenhouse gas emissions and reduce your dependence on fossil fuel. Having solar panels installed straightway means your house is much more energy efficient, making your home a lot more appealing.

New kitchen

The kitchen area is one of the most used and important rooms in your house, from cooking, to eating family meals, to other activities, for the majority of people, kitchens are the hub of the home. Having a new kitchen installation will help to upgrade your appliances, units and flooring, as well as much more. Keeping up to date with technology in your kitchen will mean it’s instantly much more desirable. Instead of a full kitchen installation, you could always stick to just refreshing the units or replacing the worktops, it won’t cost near enough as a full installation, but will still give the effect of an upgraded kitchen.

New bathroom

Again, the bathroom is another important room in any household as it’s used multiple times on a daily basis. Having your bathroom refurbished is another great way to improve the value of your home, having a brand-new suite installed, as well as your plumbing work serviced and checked means that you’ll know that everything is in working order. This makes your property much more attractive and efficient. Another way to do this at a lower cost is to add new accessories in your bathroom, it will still give the effect of an updated service. When selecting a company like Solutions Plumbing & Heating, they can provide a full bathroom installation service.

Boiler Replacement

Having a new boiler installed is another way to easily add money to the value of your property. Upgrading your boiler to a brand new system will help towards the efficiency of heating your property as well as meaning that your home is equipped with on the latest boiler system technology. At Heatworks UK, their team of professional boiler installers only provide the most up to date and innovative boiler systems, ensuring the heating in your home is as effective and efficient as possible.

Securing your home

Another way to ensure the value of your property is to upgrade your security system. As well as adding value, this will also give you peace of mind as it guarantees that your home is safe and secure. A Locksmith and Security specialist like Keyhole Kate's, have the skills and expertise to provide a full security service in your home.

How a Sliding Wardrobe Can Transform your Bedroom

Unlike the conventional wardrobe, fitted or sliding wardrobes will usually be built into the walls so that they can’t be moved. This is what makes them a permanent feature of your home, as you would be less inclined to take it with you when moving to a new house. With the wide range of wardrobe options out there today, we’d like to explain how a sliding wardrobe can transform your bedroom and why you should consider investing in one for your home.

Benefits of Sliding Doors

Flexibility

Many would say that the biggest benefit of the sliding wardrobe is its versatility and flexibility. Being able to customise doors in a way to suit the theme of your home is a huge benefit, with partitions and storage solutions enabling people to customise the wardrobe interiors too. Panels and frames are also versatile. You can combine a range of designs to find a result that suits the theme of the room. From traditional to contemporary, the design of sliding doors are extremely versatile.

Storage

A sliding wardrobe can act as your all-in-one storage solution, providing you with a means of storing all kinds of personal belongings, from clothes to shoes, bedding and more!

Drawers, hanging rails and shelving can be used to create an interior that works for you. If you have a clear idea in your head of what you need to store, it can make it easier to design your made to measure wardrobe online.

Space

Sliding wardrobes can make use of awkward floor space in unusual shaped rooms, exploiting the opportunity for furniture and storage. When space is limited, sliding doors come in handy. A set of drawers or a free standing wardrobe just won’t cut it when you have lots to store and little space to work with. Doors don’t need to open outwards. Sideways sliding means you can position other furniture closer to the doors than you usually would with a standing wardrobe.

Installation

Installing sliding doors can be made easy if you have a small background in DIY. You don’t need a masters in engineering to install the doors, so you won’t need to hire anyone to do it for you. If you feel condiment enough, take the time to find if sliding doors will fit before making any purchase. This way you can be certain that the doors will fit prior to installation. There are wardrobe experts out there that can fit the doors for you if you are unsure, although we tend to find most customers find installation quite easy when they take the time to learn the steps.

Watch our video guides for help installing made to measure doors and interiors: https://slidingrobesdirect.com/helpful_information/install_made_to_measure

5 Reasons to Love Sliding Wardrobe Doors

The team at Sliding Robes Direct are obvious fans of the sliding wardrobe and everything it has to offer, but with our deep-routed passion comes a certain level of obligation. We feel obligation to share our passion with others and explain why sliding wardrobes are so great and why you should love them too!

Below, we look at the top 5 reasons to love sliding wardrobes doors. Enjoy!

1. They can fit into small spaces.

Despite what people think, you don’t need masses of space to work with when installing new doors. In smaller bedrooms, doors that open outwards can be a bit of a nightmare, hindering certain room layouts and making it difficult to store things. With sliding wardrobe doors, you can create a wardrobe with as little as 65cm’s worth of depth, with doors that slide behind each other to save space!

If you want to learn more about measuring up to fit a sliding wardrobe, you can do so here.

2. They can act as a wardrobe and a mirror combined.

Some sliding wardrobe doors are fitted with full-length mirrors, making it easy for you to look after your appearance. Store your favourite clothes and shoes within the wardrobe and use your full-length mirror to try different combinations.

If you don’t like the idea of a mirrored wardrobe, there and plenty of other designs available. User our wardrobe builder to discover your ideal wardrobe design.

3. They come in a wide range of designs.

With a wide range of designs available, it’s easy to find a wardrobe style you love. A range of panels and frames can be combined to ensure the end result is perfect for you and your home.

4. You can do it yourself.

You don’t need a degree in engineering to install the full system, as sliding wardrobes are surprisingly easy to install. Providing you have the right tools and equipment you should have no problem measuring up and fitting your new doors. http://slidingrobesdirect.blogspot.co.uk/2017/05/how-to-see-if-sliding-wardrobe-will-fit.html

5. You can get creative!

Sliding wardrobes allow you to be creative with your bedroom at home. Being able to store things more effectively means you can utilise space in other areas of your room. We’ve even known people to have secret doors behind their sliding wardrobe doors… Just an idea!

8 Top Tips for Improving your Home

If you’ve been thinking about changing the way your living room or bedroom looks at home, you might be considering how you can do this. Whether you think your bedroom is too cold, you are sick of the old furniture you have or you aren’t happy with the mattress you are sleeping on, we present you with our top 8 techniques for enhancing your home in unusual and inventive ways.

1. Opt for an alternative heating system

Radiators are just there, usually in every room, and quite often taking up your beloved space that could be used in other ways. When you move into a new home you will generally have to position your furniture around the radiators of the house. They are there, as they always have been, and it doesn’t cross your mind to take them out (because we all need heat, right?). But what if there was an alternative heating system that you could use to spread warmth through your home without taking up so much space? Well there is; and it comes in the shape of underfloor heating. It fits neatly beneath your flooring, providing heating for your home without the need for ugly radiators. A plumbing or heating engineer will be the right choice of tradesperson here as they will need to seamlessly install the heating below your carpets. With this type of heating, the temperature is dispersed more evenly than radiators, allowing the heat to move through the whole room, rather than just filling a pocket at one end. Your boilers won’t have to work as hard to heat your house and your home will be the tropical haven you want it to be throughout the chilly winter months.

2. Consider changing the way you store clothing and personal belongings

Clunky wardrobes and chests of drawers can consume a lot of space. Sliding wardrobes, on the other hand, provide a convenient way of storing all clothes and personal belongings in one place. Your clothes can hang neatly on railings, while other storage boxes, shoes and accessories can have their own place to live behind the sliding doors. Understandably, sliding wardrobes aren’t suitable for every home. You need to check first to see if the doors will fit, finding out if you have the space in your bedroom to introduce them. There are several quick steps you can take to find whether sliding doors can be installed in your bedroom. Sliding wardrobes can change the dynamic of a bedroom. By removing other storage solutions and utilising sliding wardrobe doors, you can free up a lot of space to decorate your bedroom in new and exciting ways.

3. Try reclaimed furniture as an alternative

For those of you that aren’t sure what reclaimed furniture is, it is furniture made strictly from recycled woods and other materials that have been rescued. Reclaimed wood can come from a number of unusual places where the timber is no longer required. Roof beams, floor boards, joists, roof trusses, railway tracks, whiskey barrels, old boats and malt kilns are just a few of the places where reclaimed wood can come from, helping companies specialising in this type of furniture to get their hands on the parts they need to build. At this point you might be wondering how reclaimed furniture will improve your bedroom. Not only is reclaimed wood great for the environment (through the recycling of natural materials), it can often be stronger and more stable. Lots of people prefer furniture made from wood that has been reclaimed because they feel it adds character and charm to their homes. Wouldn’t it be great if you could add furniture to your home that has been made from recycled materials, has a story behind it and looks amazing? Well you can, and Heyl Interiors is just one of the many great places where you can purchase such eco-friendly items.

4. Pay attention to your staircase

Staircase neglect is a real thing and homeowners need to wise up to the fact that stair parts don’t last forever. If you have lived in the same house for several decades then chances are your stair parts will look a bit worse for wear – especially households with children! Your stair spindles may be worn and your handrails will undoubtedly be scratched in one place or another. The wood will probably look a lot different in comparison to how it did when you first moved in and your newel caps might have succumbed to a range of knocks and scrapes from staircase users over the years. In short, the older your stair parts, the more likely it is that they will need replacing. Replacing your stair parts is a fantastic way to revitalise your staircase, adding a fresh new look to the hallway and landing in your home. UK Stair Parts is one of the leading choices for stair handrails, spindles and baserails, offering a wide range of oak, hemlock and chrome staircase parts to suit a diverse range of homes.

5. Invest in a more comfortable mattress

If you’ve had the same mattress for many years, it might be that you have become so used to it that you don’t want to try something new - this can be a problem though. You might not realise this, but your naïve mattress attachment might actually be holding you back from getting a better, more comfortable night’s sleep in which you wake to feel more rested and revitalised. Todays mattresses have undergone some serious development and technological changes. Memory foam is just one of the modern-day advancements that has proved to be extremely popular among people that love getting a good night’s sleep. Since then, however, mattresses have jumped even further still, with industry leaders ‘Dormeo’ taking things to the next level with their Dormeo Octaspring mattresses. Octaspring mattresses are, essentially, memory foam and springs rolled into one, specifically developed to support your body better and help you get a better nights rest. So if you have found yourself searching for different ways to improve your bedroom, why not invest in a new mattress that will help you to feel better about going to bed at night and waking up in the morning… and we all know how difficult the latter can be!

6. Think about how a rug could make the flooring feel

Quite often, large bedrooms with lots of floor space can feel empty and cold. Even by making the switch from hard flooring to carpets, a large bedroom can be hard to fill. Of course, most of your furniture will be positioned around the room, next to a wall, neatly in a convenient place. But what on earth do you put in the middle of a large bedroom to fill the void and make it feel more homely? Of course, you could invest in a rodeo bull if have some serious space to work with, but for most of us not living in a mansion, a rug will certainly do the job. Whether you reside in a modern or traditional home, there are plenty of rug options out there to suit your tastes. Selectarug can help you to find the perfect rug to fill your empty floor space, improving the way your bedroom floor looks and feels.

7. Add a bit of glamour to the bedroom

There are plenty of ways you can add sparkle to your bedroom to make it a bit more glamourous. Replacing your lightshades, introducing new curtains (see below) and purchasing new bedding are just a few of the conventional ways you can add glamour to your room, without spending too much money. Introducing a new fancy mirror is another increasingly-popular, glitzy way to improve the way your bedroom looks. Hair, make-up and beauty enthusiasts have turned to Hollywood mirrors with lights to brighten up their lives and add glamour to their bedrooms. The lighting isn’t just for show though. Professional use this type of mirror to ensure even the finest details aren’t missed. If you’re happy with your current mattress or if you already have a beautiful rug, a Hollywood mirror might be exactly what your bedroom is missing. Turn to Reflections of me when you need some more glamour in your life.

8. Replace your curtains

Generally speaking, your curtains will occupy a fair amount of wall/window space throughout each room. When they are open, they will sit delicately either side of your window. Whilst they are drawn, they will protect you from the light outside, enhance your privacy and add colour to your room. Depending on the theme of your home your curtains can either make or break the mood. They can complement your windows and help you to coordinate with other soft furnishings throughout your home. They can also blend into the walls and go unnoticed for many years if left to do so. If a considerable amount of time has gone by since you last updated your curtains, why not consider a change to brighten up the room or enhance the theme you have going on? Blackout curtains are a popular choice among people that like to sleep in total darkness, while fitted blinds can help to improve your privacy without blocking out all the light completely. Dolly’s Interiors are one of the leading choices for made to measure fitted curtains, offering a range of solutions to help you find what you are looking for.

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So there you have it, 8 inventive ways to improve your home and give it a new lease of life. Whether you are looking for extra heat in the winter, space saving solutions or alternative décor, we hope we have helped to point you in the right direction. If you still aren’t happy with the way your home looks, you could always move house…

5 Top Tips for Creating a Calmer Bedroom Environment

Find out how to make your bedroom a more relaxing place to be!

Bedrooms are possibly the most important rooms in the house, but they also tend to be the most chaotic. When arriving home at the end of the day, most people just want to fall into bed. I mean, who can be bothered (or has time) to clean their bedroom after a full day at work? If you’re struggling to keep a handle on all of your stuff, try installing sliding wardrobe doors! They are a lot more effective than you’d think.

1. Find a place for clutter.

The very first thing to do when trying to create a calmer bedroom environment is to establish a place for all the clutter that will inevitably pile up within your room. One of the best places to store clutter is within a sliding wardrobe, although any ordinary wardrobe or cupboard will do just fine. Having a proper storage space for your clothes, shoes, accessories and cosmetics will enable you to have a much cleaner bedroom, helping to create a calming environment (who likes mess? Not us!).

2. Think about changing the décor.

A change to décor can really help to create a calmer bedroom environment. If your bedroom has a lot of bright, vibrant colours, it can have an adverse effect on your sleeping habits (and eventually, your health!). Try using muted colours when you decorate your bedroom, such as blue; blue is proven to be a very calming colour, which helps as your bedroom should be the most calming room within your home.

3. Put down the gadgets and turn off the electronics.

That’s right, put them down! We know it may be hard to completely disregard your phone or tablet, but it’s the best thing to do if you’re trying to create a calmer bedroom environment. It’s so easy to flop into bed, reach for your phone and scroll through social media before you sleep. It may seem like a good idea at the time, but the light from your phone has been proven to keep you awake as it disrupts your circadian rhythm.

If you make a conscious effort to not use electronics when you’re in bed, you’ll feel the benefits almost instantly and you’ll fall asleep a lot sooner.

4. Use blackout curtains to keep street light at bay.

When it comes to having a calming bedroom, blackout curtains are key. When you’re decorating your bedroom, think about changing your curtains to blackout curtains. The light that seeps through normal curtains at night can really disrupt your sleeping patterns, which creates stress when trying to sleep. Blackout curtains are relatively inexpensive, but they are more than beneficial to your home and health.

Remember: Set an alarm if you need to be up early for work, blackout curtains can make you question what time of day it actually is!

5. Ban activities that don’t involve sleeping or winding down.

We understand that people tend to use their bedrooms for many different things; children come in to play, some use them for work and many simply watch television in bed rather than on their sofa. Well, it’s time to stop. All that activity is stressful, and you want your bedroom to be relaxing. Ban all non-sleeping activity from the room and you’ll feel much more relaxed.

We’re on 60 Minute Makeover!

The news is out! We’re going to be on 60 Minute Makeover! We have agreed to feature in a number of episodes of ITV’s hit show 60 Minute Makeover. When we were asked to do this, we were incredibly excited and of course had to say yes. Now Sliding Robes Direct are thrilled to let you all know about this great news and hope that you keep an eye out for us on your TVs very soon.

Now that we’re on 60 Minute Makeover, we feel especially proud of our company. We have worked with a number of high end clients and businesses over the years but to feature on such a television show is fantastic. From the whole of the Sliding Robes Direct team, we would like to say a special thanks to 60 Minute Makeover for choosing us and allowing us to supply our wardrobes.

60 Minute Makeover

We have supplied sliding wardrobes for two homes for 60 Minute Makeover. The first being a 2 door Shaker Sliding Wardrobe with 3 panels in Bronze Mirror and interiors. The second set was a 3 door sliding wardrobe from the Mirage range.

There has been reports and feedback from the ITV to say that the wardrobes looked stunning and the homeowner loved them! This is fantastic news for us and we’re really thrilled to hear that these wardrobes have made a difference to their homes.

Sliding Wardrobes

Below you will see the two sliding wardrobes that we have supplied for the television programme. The first is a 2 door Shaker and the second comes from our Mirage range with 3 doors.

We hope that you’re excited to see our wardrobes on TV, and if you do, be sure to take a photograph and we’ll share it on our social media! Thanks for reading!