Living in a small London apartment can be challenging, especially when it comes to decorating. But one simple trick can make a big difference: painting. Using the right colours and techniques makes your space feel bigger, brighter, and more open. In this blog post, we'll share some painting hacks that will help you maximise the potential of your small London apartment.

Choose light colours

Lighter shades such as white, beige, and pastels create a sense of space and reflect natural light, making your apartment feel brighter and more open. These colours are great for small apartments, making the room more spacious and airy. On the other hand, darker colours can make a room feel smaller and can absorb light, so it's best to stick to light and bright colours.

Paint the ceiling

Painting the ceiling the same colour as your walls is a good idea. This approach can create a seamless transition between the two, giving the illusion of more height and space. Using a lighter colour for the ceiling is essential, making the room feel taller and more open. This is an excellent technique in small London apartments where the ceiling can be pretty low

Use accent walls

Accent walls are a great way to add a pop of colour or interest to a room without overwhelming it. Choose a colour that complements the rest of the room, and don't be afraid to experiment with different shades and patterns. Painting one wall in a contrasting colour can help to create depth and a sense of perspective in a small space.

Go for glossy finishes

High-gloss finishes reflect light and make walls appear smoother, giving the impression of more space. These finishes are great for small London apartments as they create the illusion of more space and make a room feel brighter and more open. However, be aware that high-gloss finishes can also show imperfections more quickly, so ensure the walls are smooth and well-prepared before applying the paint. 

Paint the trim

Painting baseboards, door frames, and window frame the same colour as the walls can make the room feel more cohesive and visually larger. By painting the trim the same colour as the walls, you create an unbroken visual line that makes the space feel bigger and more open. This technique is especially effective when using light colours.

Use vertical stripes

Painting vertical stripes on the walls can create the illusion of more height and make the space feel taller. This is an excellent technique in small London apartments where the ceiling can be quite low. Vertical stripes can also add interest to a room and create a sense of movement. 

Paint furniture

Painting light colours can help it blend in with the walls, creating a sense of continuity and making the space feel less cluttered. This technique can also create a visual break in a space and add interest to a room. Just be sure to choose the right paint for your furniture and properly prepare the surface before painting.

Choose the right sheen

Choosing the right sheen is important when painting a small London apartment. Matte finishes can absorb light and make walls look dull, whereas satin or eggshell finishes have a slight shine that reflects light and makes walls look brighter. Satin or eggshell finishes are great for walls, making the room more optimistic and open.

Keep it simple

Use fewer colours or patterns, making a small space feel overwhelming and cluttered. Instead, please stick to one or two colours and use them throughout the space. This will create a cohesive look and make the room feel more spacious. Keeping patterns minimum is also essential, as they can make a space feel smaller.

Consider painting the floor

Painting a wooden or concrete floor in a neutral colour can make the space feel larger and brighter. A light-coloured floor can also create a seamless transition between the walls and the floor, giving the illusion of more space. Just be sure to prepare the surface before painting correctly and to use a paint specifically designed for floors to ensure durability and longevity. This technique can be especially effective in small London apartments where space is at a premium.

In short, painting is a simple and effective way to make your small London apartment feel bigger and brighter. By using light colours, painting the ceiling, and incorporating accent walls, you can create the illusion of more space and depth. Using glossy finishes, painting the trim, and using vertical stripes can also help to create the illusion of more height and make the room feel taller. Finally, keeping it simple with just a few colours and patterns and painting the floor can create a cohesive look and make the room more spacious. With these painting hacks, you can transform your small London apartment into a comfortable and inviting space.

If you want to hire professional painters and decorators, consider APA Painters and Decorators.

© APA Painters and Decorators

Chances are, you love to spend time relaxing in the shower, but cleaning the bathroom is not a chore you look forward to handling. However, it would be best if you kept the bathroom spotless so that you could truly enjoy those precious moments of true relaxation.

Here is how to make the bathroom sparkle in just six steps:

• Make clutter go away
  No matter the size, the bathroom is extremely prone to clutter. Various bathroom products have probably occupied your vanity section, some past their expiration date. To get more space in the bathroom and simplify cleaning the place, get rid of clutter by throwing away products you never use or things that are no longer fresh. If you store cleaning supplies in the bathroom, check them too. Throw away useless or expired products and arrange things you benefit from in a way that prevents clutter from reappearing.
  
  Clean the shower with vinegar

Among many other cleaning applications, white distilled vinegar works wonders in the bathroom by eliminating germs, bacteria and soap scum in an eco-friendly way. If you want to get the shower tiles fresh and clean without employing chemical-based cleaners, heat some white vinegar in the microwave and pour the ingredient into a spray bottle. Spritz the shower tiles while the vinegar is hot and allow them to sit on the treated surface for a few minutes. Next, wash away the cleaning solution with hot water. If you are faced with stubborn grime, scrub the affected areas with a stiff brush before rinsing.

• Banish mould stains
  Mould and mildew stains in the bathroom are not only unsightly but also unhealthy; that’s why you should never let the bacteria sit on the bathroom tiles for too long. Mould stains are another bathroom problem you can handle in an eco-friendly way, using only baking soda and some water. Make a scrubbing paste with baking soda and water and apply the mixture to the mouldy areas in the bathroom. Let the solution sit for a few hours, then scrub with a stiff brush and rinse thoroughly with warm water.

• Combat hard water stains
  To finally say goodbye to those ugly hard water stains affecting the bathroom faucet; you will have to make a DIY cleaning remedy with lemon juice. Squeeze the juice of two lemons in a bowl, then transfer the ingredient into a handy spray bottle. To boost the cleaning potential of your mixture, add some white distilled vinegar and a little warm water. Spritz the solution on the hard water deposits and let it sit for about 15 minutes. After that, you should scrub with a brush, rinse with warm water and dry with a clean microfiber cloth.

• Make the toilet bowl spotless
  The toilet bowl is where most homeowners tend to apply lots of chemicals to keep clean, but you can deal with the chore using only baking soda. Pour down the bowl a cup of baking soda and let it sit for 30 minutes. If the toilet bowl has been affected by stains, you should scrub the surface with the toilet brush before flushing. That’s all – baking soda has brightening and deodorising powers that will make the toilet bowl look brand-new.

• Don’t forget the floor
  The bathroom floor accumulates just as much dust and dirt as any other surface, which is why you should wipe it clean every week. First, vacuum clean to eliminate dust and large dirt particles. After that, fill a bucket with warm water and pour a cup of white vinegar to make a natural cleaning solution. You can also add a few drops of liquid dish detergent to improve the fragrance of your mixture. Mop the bathroom floor thoroughly, rinse with water and allow it to dry.

Make your beautiful bathroom clean and fresh using these simple-to-follow, all-natural cleaning techniques.

© First Choice Cleaning Company

Mornings are usually the best time to water your new plants, as they can soak up most moisture from your watering. If your water is in the middle of the day, sunlight can negatively affect them, as the water will evaporate too quickly. You can also water the plants in the evening when the sun sets, and temperatures have dropped.

How Often to Water New Plants?

There is no specific and universal formula for watering frequency for all plants. The watering schedule may be affected by several factors, such as plant type, location, soil type and weather. 

Plant Type

Watering new trees and watering new flowers are two things that have different needs. Bigger plants lose water faster and require more nutrients, as trees are larger and have more leaves, so they need more water. If the plant you’re watering has plenty of flowers, you should also give it plenty of water.

Planting Location

Consider restriction of roots when you plant new vegetation. If the plant is boxed in by any walls around it or placed in a container, the water will dry up faster, so more frequent watering will be necessary. Plants in a border will need less watering because more soil means more moisture.

Soil Type

Whenever you water, there is always some water left behind in the soil. No plant can drink it all up, so keep that in mind. Keep away from clay soil as much as you can. It may be capable of retaining much water, but plants find it hard to extract it from within that soil. Sandy soil is the best in this case, as minor and often watering can have the best impact. The plants will get a constant supply of moisture that way. 

The Weather and Seasons

It would be best if you were on the lookout for rainfall. If it’s already raining outside, skip the watering for apparent reasons. The plants won’t need it. Look at the soil before you water, as the top five centimetres need to be completely dry. If they’re moist, then once again, skip watering. If there is too much rain, as is often the case in the UK, you won’t need to water as much. If you have hot and sunny days ahead, keep an eye on the plants and their water needs.

How Often Should You Water?

If you are looking for a general rule, you should water every day for the first week. Reduce the watering frequency to every other day during the second week, and then water the plants a couple of times a week. If the plants are succulents, you should ignore that and water plants every other day, then a couple of times a week, and from the third week, only once weekly.

Signs You’re Under or Overwatering

Your plants will show you if you’re getting watering wrong. New plants that are underwatered won’t grow as well as you might expect. They will not produce flowers or fruit, and their leaves may start to wilt, curl or lose their shine.

Pick up the pot and check out how it feels. If it’s falling over on windy days, the soil lacks moisture and needs more. Brown or yellow leaves, root rot and perforations on the leaves show that you’re overwatering your plants. Your new plants will be fairly safe from overwatering if the soil has good drainage.

© Local Gardeners

Store-bought cleaning products come with many disadvantages you can easily avoid by switching to healthier, eco-friendly alternatives. While most homeowners are used to applying aggressive cleaners to take care of stains and grime around the house.

Here are the Seven Amazing Natural Recipes that can do the Job just as Efficiently without Posing any Threat to Your Health

All-purpose cleaner

You no longer have to search for an all-purpose cleaner that works on multiple surfaces, as a simple mixture of white vinegar and water can tackle even the most stubborn stain you may encounter. Take an empty spray bottle and mix equal amounts of white distilled vinegar and water. Shake the bottle well before spraying the eco-friendly cleaner on a microfiber cloth or directly on the surface. If you want, you can even add essential oils to the solution to improve its fragrance.

Drain refresher

If unpleasant odours are lingering in the drain, you should deal with the problem with eco-friendly ingredients like baking soda and white vinegar. First, pour half a cup of baking soda down the drain, followed by the same amount of white vinegar. After that, you should let the hot water run for a few minutes to wash away grime, together with nasty smells.

Scrubbing paste for the bathroom

Bathroom tiles are tough to keep spotless, as stains always find their way on the beautiful surface. To green-clean the bathroom tiles, you should prepare an effective scrubbing paste with a quarter cup of baking soda and a tablespoon of liquid dish soap. Next, add as much white vinegar as necessary to obtain the desired texture. Apply the paste on the stained surface in the bathroom, allow it to sit for a while, scrub with a stiff brush and rinse thoroughly.

Toilet bowl cleaning remedy

If you need to deep clean a severely contaminated toilet bowl, don’t grab that aggressive chemical cleaner. Instead, pour down a cup of borax and allow it to sit overnight. The following day scrubs with the toilet brush and flush to wash away grime. If your toilet bowl doesn’t require deep cleaning, a cup of baking soda can also do the trick.

Natural hardwood floor cleaner

Hardwood floors are pretty easy to keep clean, yet you should check for stains and get rid of them from time to time. As wooden floors don’t tolerate abrasive or aggressive cleaning products, prepare your gentle cleaning remedy with white vinegar. Fill a bucket with water and add half a cup of white vinegar to make an eco-friendly hardwood floor cleaner. Mop the surface without causing extreme moisture and allow it to dry before using it again. Rely on the same cleaning agents if your floors are tiled.

Carpet deodoriser

Carpeted floors trap all sorts of unwanted smells you can banish with the help of baking soda. Make an eco-friendly carpet deodoriser with a cup of baking soda and 10-12 drops of your favourite essential oils. Make sure you use colourless essential oils, as other types might stain the carpeted surface. With your mixture ready, sprinkle it all over the carpet and let it sit overnight. The following day vacuum clean thoroughly and enjoys a freshly scented carpeted floor.

Cleaner for your coffee maker

The coffee maker could hide lots of germs and bacteria you need to eliminate to keep the appliance clean and healthy. The green cleaning procedure is straightforward – add a cup of white vinegar to the water reservoir of the coffee maker and run a few brewing cycles to eliminate contamination. Don’t worry about the vinegar smell, as it will disappear completely.

Unhealthy chemical-based cleaners are one of many options to keep the house perfectly clean. Try these simple eco-friendly recipes to refresh or disinfect any surface at home safely.

© Domestic Cleaners Ltd

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