IKEA Gallo shelving | Design on a budget

I've been lusting after the Scandinavian design classic, "the string" (shelving system), for ages now. So you can imagine how happy I've been to fairly recently discover the IKEA equivalent - the Ekby Gallo. If you squint they look almost exactly the same!!  I'm seriously considering putting a couple of these sets together as desk spaces in the kids rooms, so have been looking around for some inspiration - and thought I would share.

First, here are a few pictures of the String, so you can see what we are comparing to.

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And the rest are the IKEA Gallo. They really do look great, especially when they are styled with all your Scandinavian bits and pieces. 

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And this is the desk type arrangement I'm considering for the kids' rooms, although I would choose white shelves probably. 

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So what do you think - would you still spend up big on the String or are you sold on the IKEA Gallo? For me, once again IKEA comes to the rescue :)

Have a great day! x

How to style your home like a pro - 10 on trend must haves to create the wow factor (Part 2)

Today is the second in a two part post taking a look at how to style your home like a professional designer or decorator. In yesterday's post (see it here) I looked at geometric throws and blankets, graphic cushions, statement lighting and more. I talked about spending more on your big ticket items that you won't turn over so often like your big furniture and then buying less expensive accessories and styling bits and pieces that you can swap out as your mood changes. Below I've listed my final five styling must haves to create the wow factor in your home.

Image credit

But first, here are some of my top tips, as used by the styling pros: 

• tuck in throws on the sofa or lounge. Fold them neatly then tuck them down the back and behind cushions
• for a cohesive look, pick a neutral colour palette as your base and if you want to add colour do this with cushions, throws and accessories. That way, when you're sick of the colour you haven't got a bright red couch that you have to replace!
• use a colour thread to bring together multiple spaces. For example, if you have an open plan living, dining area, pop some yellow vases and vessels in the middle of your dining table, and pick up on the yellow again with a cushion on your couch, some yellow flowers on the side board and some lemons and bananas in your fruit bowl.
• when creating a vignette (a group of objects), always place in groups of ODD numbered items. 3 vases, not 2, 5 not 4 - you get the picture. For some reason it always just looks better that way. 
• group a collection of otherwise non-cohesive items together on a tray (in an odd number!). It will make them look like they are meant to be together. 
• Don't forget to put some tall and short together to bring height and difference. So a tall vase can be offset with a smaller object in front, for example. 
• For a modern look, display a big bunch of the same flower in the same colour, rather than a mixed bouquet. Try a big bunch of white peonies - so gorgeous! 

Overall less is more. As stated by the always glamorous Coco Chanel "it is always better to be slightly under dressed" and the same goes for styling your home. Be careful not to over accessorize every little nook and cranny. It is better to put a few of your best pieces on show and hide the rest away (or swap them around regularly to keep things interesting).

Now we've covered that, let's move on to the final 5 styling items to have in your home styling 'wardrobe'.

6. Something living

Having something living in your space really brings it to life - not to mention the healthy oxygen it produces for you and your family. If you're like me and were born without a green thumb then the best options are to get hardy succulents or, if you're wiling to sacrifice the extra o2 then you could even get a fake plant - there are some seriously realistic replicas on the market. Try IKEA if you're on the hunt for fake.

For storing your new living item indoors there are a few options. A washable paper bag always looks really good (see picture 3) - you can get one from Uashmama or try a DIY option like the gold succulent planters in picture 2 or the vintage crates. 

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7. Vases and vessels 

A group of vases and vessels can create interest through height, colour and texture, but area also a great way to fill up a space you don't otherwise know what to do with, like on the TV unit or in the entrance hall. Try a mix of the same colour palette and vary height, width and texture. 

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8. Art (it doesn't have to be expensive!)

An expensive piece of art is always on my wish list, but never in my budget. So I have to think of other options. There are so many cheap prints and even downloadable printables around these days in every colour, pattern and style (try Etsy). There is no excuse for not having something up on your walls. If you're a renter, or less committed to a particular piece, a great trend around at the moment is a picture shelf. The best part of this is you can mix and match your art without having to ruin your paint work and you can change it up as often as you like. You can create one of these by buying an inexpensive Ribba picture ledge from IKEA then framing up your new purchases in coordinating frames and leaning them against the wall (IKEA area also great for cheap frames). Voila - simple and affordable art. 

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9. Storage and arrangements

Trays, baskets, boxes and bins are a great way of tying together a vignette or putting away your more unsightly objects (think phone chargers, keys, daily paperwork) that would otherwise be lying around. Getting a dedicated box or tray for Hubby to put his keys and coins in by the front door is also a good idea if you would rather he didn't empty his pockets all over your kitchen bench or dining room table! 

A tray is a great way of tying together a group of objects - and can easily be lifted around as needed. Storage baskets can store toilet paper in the bathroom, rolls of long wrapping paper, kids toys, the list goes on. Put a top on it, like in some of the photos below, and you've doubled the storage as a side table - great for tiny spaces! 

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10. Now put in bits and pieces you love

Now that you've got all the styling basics, my final suggested styling item is to inject your personality into the space and bring it to life. Put out the objects and finds that you've collected over your life time and show off your personality. The trick is to be selective about what you put on show. You don't need to have everything out at one time, change things up and move things around as your mood changes. Have fun with it! 

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I hope you now have lots of great inspiration and ideas for how to style your home like a pro. Once you have a few tips and tricks up your sleeve it is easy to create a photo-worthy home. 

Leave me a comment below if you have more great styling tips that I've forgotten! And if you missed yesterday's post, check it out here. 

Enjoy your day! x

How to style your home like a pro - 10 on trend must haves to create the wow factor (Part 1)

Do you ever wonder how interior designers and decorators manage to make the houses they work on look so effortless? Today I'm bringing you the first in a two part post that will give you the tips of the styling pros. You don't have to have a huge budget, nor do you have to have the most amazing house, but with these 10 must have styling items, along with your imagination and a bit of flair, you'll be able to create the wow factor from the magazines and blogs you love.  

Today I'm bringing you the first five of my top 10 styling items. Think of your furniture and larger pieces as your wardrobe 'basics' and these 10 items as the styling bits and pieces you would update each season. Like you might do with your shoes, bags, t-shirts and accessories. The aim is not to spend too much on these bits and pieces so you can swap them out as your mood changes or the trends shift.

1. A geometric throw

Right on trend at the moment are geometric throws and blankets. I've featured the Pia Wallen blanket before on the blog (here) and love it. But if crosses aren't your thing there are plenty of other options around. Some of my other favourites are the Donna Wilson Blah Blah Blah throw or the triangular "Remix" blanket from Ferm Living.

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2. Graphic cushions

My next styling must have is a collection of inexpensive, graphic cushions. Different patterns look great mixed together so don't be afraid to get creative! But to keep it cohesive select a colour palette and stick to it (black and white is obviously my favourite!). If you're not feeling brave enough to go all out with the grapics, another tip is to choose a few graphic cushions and mix them in with a selection of plain colours you might already have.

My absolutel favourite cushion at the moment is the "Gran" cushion from Fine Little Day. In fact I've recently bought one for our informal living area (Picture 3 with the Tin Tin poster) and have mixed this in with one from Danish design company Oyoy. If you don't want to spend too much on cushions, I often find really good graphic options at IKEA. Or if you're really handy, grab some fabric from IKEA and knock up your own.

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3. Candles

Candles are one of the most inexpensive ways of creating an inviting atmosphere and if you can't afford anything else, a collection of simple votives with tealight candles in them will look great. But if you're up for spending a bit more there are some amazing scuptural candle holders around at the moment, like the Finnish designed Kubus below. Or Menu are also making some really nice options as well.  

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4. Show your style and personality with coffee table books

Coffee table books can be really cliche and boring, so my suggestion is to buy books that mean something to you and reflect your personality and interests. Books can be more expensive and you are less likely to swap these out each season so I also suggest, where possible, buying with your room colour palette in mind if you're planning on putting them on display. With the increase of technology there are less and less bookstores around these days, but some really good online stores are popping up all the time, and you can often get a great bargain. So start googling your favourite topic and see what pops up.  

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5. Statement lighting

Rounding out the Part 1 of this post (don't forget to come back tomorrow for the second instalment) is statement lighting. Again, this is going to be something you are likely to spend a bit more money on and will last you a few years at least if you get it right, but buying some statement lamps, table lamps or pendants will really help your home stand out from the rest.

On my wish list at the moment is the adorable Milk table lamp, as seen below. But I also love the fluro pink light in the second picture, which is actually a DIY project - so follow the link to get all the instructions on how to make one of these for yourself!

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Hopefully you have some ideas for how to improve the styling in your home. And don't forget to come back tomorrow where I'll be giving you the remaining five ideas, including storage ideas, ways to display your art and more!

Have a lovely day! x

Interior styling | My favourite IKEA hacks

A few weeks ago I did a post on how to upgrade the IKEA Besta storage unit (read it here) and it proved to be very popular! So today I thought I would bring you some more IKEA hack inspiration. 

I'm the only one in my family who likes to visit IKEA and my husband really objects to the flat packs (actually I would go so far as to say hates them) - so I sometimes sneak out there while the kids are at school just to walk around and take in the ideas - and I often have to assemble the stuff myself. I always love a bit of IKEA inspiration and there are some super creative people out there doing some pretty awesome things - so today I'm bringing you 15 of my favourite IKEA hacks. 

First is this IKEA Malm bedframe, which has been added to with some stick on wood. I'm not sure if it would look quite as good in person as it doesn't in this picture, but it has a pretty effective look here. Perfectly styled with a Pia Wallen blanket (look alike I think?). You can read all about the Pia Wallen Crux blanket here. 

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Next are these coffee table hacks with concrete tops. These are pretty serious DIY projects that involve casting concrete and making casting moulds out of timber etc. - way beyond my skills that's for sure. But they look pretty great if you have a handy person around you who could help with this. 

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More in keeping with my DIY abilities would be this marble coffee table using the Klubbo. Would you believe this has been done using marble adhesive paper. Again, not sure if it would have the same effect in person, but it has a pretty great effect in these pictures. 

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Next is the PS metal cabinets. These have been an IKEA classic over the past few years, and although I own two of them, I'm getting a bit sick of them. But how good do they look painted matte black with a wood top? I am seriously tempted to try this with ours and see if I can bring some new life to them. 

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Or a different idea for the PS cabinets. 

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And what about these ideas for the kids? First the Malm drawers with adhesive wall dots. I love the look of these and these are a really cheap way of bringing some fun to your child's room. 

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Or how about this dolls house made from very inexpensive Lack shelves?

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Next is this little person's desk made from Linnmon table top and Frosta legs. Really clever and cheered up with the bright wall paper and mini Panton chair. You could even take this a step further and paint the legs in a bright colour. 

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A painted blind and step ladder, both from IKEA

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The Vikare bed frame - turned Jeep - complete with custom number plates! My son would just love this! A definite thought for my littlest bub who will soon be moving from his cot. 

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Or how about cutting out a cute cloud shape from an inexpensive IKEA doormat?

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And the final idea are these pendants hung from IKEA shelf brackets. This is a great idea for renters who might want to hang a pendant light, or for people who don't want to spend money on electricians to get a pendant hung. They also make really modern looking wall fittings, which can often be tricky to find. 

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I hope you've enjoyed today's IKEA inspiration. If you enjoyed this, don't forget to subscribe to the blog for daily inspiration to your inbox. 

Have a great day! x