Accent furniture is a statement piece that stands out from the rest of the room by adding colour, definition, or drama to a living space. It’s a perfect way to add some personality to your home with new colours, textures, or shapes. Plus, accent chairs are versatile enough to be used anywhere such as in your lounge, bedroom, office, hallway – or perhaps a quiet nook where you might like to take a seat and have a few minutes of peace.

So, in the hunt to find your perfect accent chair, we’ve pulled together some things to consider…

How will I use it?

Alexander chair | Henley tallboy

If you’re creating a reading nook, then depending on the space, you might want a chair that is a little bigger to relax in. If the chair is to be a focal point in your living room and is likely to be used quite regularly then you could consider something that reclines, or perhaps team it with a matching footstool for a bold style statement.

In the bedroom, a chair can create a cosy ambience but probably needs to be a bit smaller to allow free movement around the room. Likewise, for a hallway or any other high-traffic area in your home, a smaller, more compact chair would be most suitable.

You could also use your accent chairs as extra seating for your dining table. The perfect way to cater for additional or unexpected guests, without the need to have spare dining chairs stored away or having to get the wobbly stool out of the cupboard! Ensure that you select firm, sturdy chairs that are the correct height for the table to allow your guests to reach the table comfortably – as a guide, a chair that has a seat 16-18 inches from the floor works best.

What colour armchair should I choose?

Harris chair | Richmond nest of tables

Now here comes the most fun part of choosing new furniture.

Since you want your accent chair to create visual interest in a room, it’s a good idea to choose something that contrasts with the existing decor – think ‘opposites attract’. If you have a room that is full of colour or pattern, then choosing a simple plain piece can add variation and depth.

Alternatively, if your room is decorated in a more muted style, a striking chair that picks out a colour or tone in the room can bring a pop of colour. Or throw total caution to the wind and choose a colour that is completely different to make a statement. In a nutshell, when it comes to colour there are no rules, anything goes!

Do I need to consider the fabric?

Aside from colour, it’s also worth considering the fabric you choose. If the room has a lot of woven fabrics, perhaps a leather chair would offer a bit of variety and provide a durable, hardworking solution for busy rooms. Similarly, if leather isn’t your thing,why not go for a plush velvet to add an interesting texture?

How do I pick a style of armchair?

Halle chair

As you have probably guessed, we favour contrasting our accent furniture with the rest of the room, whether that be through colour, fabric, or even style. A modern, fresh, and minimal room will look fantastic with a traditional wingback or curvaceous chair in a paired back colour, adding an interesting silhouette to the room. When it comes to choosing accent furniture, then the possibilities are endless!

We’d love to see how you use accent pieces in your home. Don’t forget to share your photos with us by tagging us on Instagram or using #OakFurnitureland #GrowYourHome.

The post How to choose an accent chair appeared first on Oak Furnitureland Blog.

It doesn’t have to be back-breaking or time-consuming, just follow these spring cleaning hacks from influencers and experts and you’ll have a spotless home in no time.

What is the fastest way to clean a house?

Newton coffee table | @livingwith_sienna

We all want to spend less time on housework and more time doing the things we love. The best way to spend less time cleaning is to keep on top of it in the first place, with storage organisation and quick daily cleaning sessions that maintain your house on a regular basis. That said, there are ways to speed up the process if you’re not starting from an already clean jumping-off point.

Tackle the worst thing in each room first to get it out of the way and make the biggest impact. Taking care of that will give you a sense of accomplishment and motivate you to carry on.

How do I deep clean my house like a pro?

Highgate triple wardrobe | @somerford_manor

Professional cleaners use certain tricks of the trade to consistently get homes to look and smell fantastic. Their number one tip is to declutter first, then work from top to bottom as you clean. If you start by tackling ceiling cobwebs and dusty high shelves, any dirt and debris will be shifted to the floor, where it can be picked up by sweeping, vacuuming, or mopping as your last step.

In addition to moving from top to bottom, the pros also work in sections. They move from the back of the room to the front or visually divide the room up by pieces of furniture. By focusing on just one area at a time, they can clean it effectively and move on to the next section efficiently.

Cleaning hacks for kitchens

St. Ives dining set | @athomewiththepurcells

Start with your hob as it’s often the worst part. To clean grease off a flat-top hob, sprinkle bicarbonate of soda across the surface and lay lukewarm damp tea towels over it to soak. After about 15 minutes, you can use the tea towel to wipe off the bicarbonate of soda and all of the loosened grime.

Plus, the tea towels can go straight in the washing machine with any other load, as there aren’t any harmful chemicals involved in this cleaning hack. A similar method can be used to clean your oven as well, all you need to add to the soda is some vinegar and dish soap for this handy TikTok tip.

How to clean Tupperware

If you want to reuse greasy plastic take away boxes or have Tupperware that’s stained and difficult to clean, then you need to try this TikTok hack from @uzy-au. Just put some hot water, a pump or two of soap and a piece of kitchen roll in the box. Then close the lid, shake it around for 30 seconds, and voilà, they’re now beautifully cleaned ready for a rinse and dry, and then perfect for storing leftovers.
Keeping your cleaning clean…

Make sure you’re not spreading germs around the kitchen with a dirty sponge. Put a damp kitchen sponge in the microwave for 90 seconds to disinfect it. Studies show this will reduce bacteria by up to 99%. This trick saves you creating a small pile of sponges from just one clean while still keeping your home as germ-free as possible.

Easy ways to remove limescale

If you’re worried about the chemicals in traditional limescale removers, this might be a great alternative to try. Buy a large bottle of lemon juice or white wine vinegar, and every time your kettle needs descaling, fill it up halfway with either solution and boil it. Leave to cool and if there is still some limescale left, repeat the process again. Once you’re happy with the results, empty and boil it once or twice more with tap water and you’re all ready to go.

If you live in a hard water area, adding some white vinegar to your dishwasher will also prevent your glasses from getting mineral build-up, which can often be difficult to remove.

Cleaning hacks for bathrooms

Pexels | Karolina Grabwoska

Stay on top of your bath or shower cleaning with weekly wipe downs. Ideally, you want to quickly remove limescale and soap residue before they build up. However, if you’re too busy for a daily clean, you can tackle the hard-to-shift limescale using WD-40 as demonstrated by @rubycleansthings on TikTok.

Use what’s at hand

If you want to fit in some more regular cleans but don’t want to store cleaning products in the bathroom, then this surprising hack might be for you. Some experts say shaving foam works great for breaking down the limescale on shower glass. Just pop it on, wait 15 minutes and wash it off.

Go eco without the effort

If you’re trying to stick to eco or DIY products (or just don’t have time to nip to the shops) try this lemon and salt hack. Dip half a lemon in salt and scrub the limescale residue. The acid of the lemon and the abrasive salt work together to break it up. As a bonus, your shower will smell lemony-fresh too.

A bath of bicarbonate

We’ve already talked about how useful a dash of bicarbonate of soda can be when it comes to effective cleaning hacks around the home, so this one might not come as a surprise.

If there is a stain or build-up you just can’t get rid of, then try this trick. Just mix some washing up liquid with bicarbonate of soda and sponge it onto those hard to shift areas. Give it 10-20 minutes and then rinse it off, and you should be left with a sparkling clean bath.

Cleaning hacks for living rooms

Morgan sofa | @51stinthemanor

Living rooms are the cosiest room in the house, but they’re also a magnet for dust and hair. It’s easy to forget to clean fabrics as well as furnishings, but make sure you give your sofas, blinds, lamps and cushions the attention they deserve. Use a lint roller or vacuum brush attachment to clean them properly.

When it comes to cleaning your sofa, consider investing in a carpet cleaner or renting one to give it that extra fresh spruce. And, if you’re looking for the products you need to take proper care of your sofas, check out our fabric and leather care kits.

Cleaning hacks for bedrooms

Parquet bedside table | @new_build_forever_home

Your bed is one of the largest pieces of furniture in your home, and it’s where you’ll spend a good chunk of your time. Although we change and wash our bedding regularly, most of us overlook the mattress itself.

Freshen up your mattress on a monthly basis by sprinkling bicarbonate of soda on it and allowing it to sit for a few hours. When you vacuum up the bicarbonate of soda, it will have soaked up any odours and made them disappear.

How to get fresh sheets everyday

We all love that feeling of getting into freshly washed sheets, but there’s a surprisingly easy hack that can help give you that feeling every day. Buy some fresh smelling tumble dryer sheets, and pop one or two under your bed sheet in a place you don’t sleep on (like the top corner). This will give a faint but refreshing scent to your sheets for longer.

It’s also worth keeping in mind that if you make the bed as soon as you wake up, it might actually be better to wait and let it cool before doing so. Studies have found that an unmade bed could help get rid of dust mites and potentially reduce allergy or asthma symptoms. While not conclusive, you could try making your bed towards the end of the morning instead of the beginning and see if it makes a difference.

Cleaning hacks for dining rooms

Parquet dining table | @hausfifteen

In most households, the dining room has become a central hub for family life. In recent times it’s become truly multi-functional as a home office, a home work and crafting station and more. As it’s such a hive of activity, the dining room’s biggest challenge is being adaptable and tidy enough to accommodate all of these different purposes.

When it comes to cleaning your dining room, the top-to-bottom rule applies here. Dust cobwebs and light fixtures, cabinets and wall art, and then move on to the table, and finally hoover right at the end.

If you’ve got young kids or just love a good cocktail party, it’s easy for fabric dining room chairs to get messy. If you’ve run out of a proper fabric care kit, you could always try using fabric upholstery spray for cars, as this is often extra tough on stains. Watch @daysharae’s TikTok tying this to see just how impressive the results are. If it doesn’t remove the stain the first time, you might just need to do another round, so don’t give up.

Ready for a full spring declutter?

Malvern Sofa | @_homebyalessia

Let your pre-loved pieces find a new purpose with the help of our British Heart Foundation partnership which offers a complimentary furniture collection service. Schedule a slot at your convenience, and let the local heroes from BHF whisk away your items to be resold and raise money for this incredible charity.

We hope these cleaning hacks are useful for giving your space a new year refresh. If you’re loving how these hacks make your space look and feel, share images with us by tagging #OakFurnitureland on Instagram. We can’t wait to see your homes sparkle!

The post Simple steps to a spring clean appeared first on Oak Furnitureland Blog.

Asian-inspired décor highlights calm, peach and tranquillity – the perfect combination for a relaxing bedroom. From full-bloom florals to rich energising colours, if you are ready to get zen with Oriental-inspired décor in your home, today’s post will show you how to use these elements in a modern bedroom.

Mix and Match Style

Oriental décor takes its cues from various Asian cultures – from the simplicity and balance of Japanese styles to the more ornate and embellished Chinese offerings and even the explosion of colour and life found in Indian homes. While I would never recommend sticking rigidly to any ‘theme’, elements from any of these cultures can create a more worldly, curated look. I’d encourage you to dip in and out of what appeals most to you to create a look all your own.

Elements of Nature

Source: Diane Hill

One of the most prominent themes in Asian-inspired décor is nature. You will often see hand-painted cherry blossoms, birds and trailing leaves as a backdrop to a space and this is a wonderful way to create a nod to Oriental style in your space.

Combine it with more traditional or contemporary furniture and keep the colours more neutral, allowing the design to shine.

Balance

Source: Murals Wallpaper

In many Asian cultures, symmetry and balance are keys to creating a calm and tranquil space. Consider using matching bedside tables and lamps on each side of the bed for an understated elegance. Symmetry is easy for our brains to process and creates balance so take advantage of this trick for easy Oriental style.

Floral Motifs

Source: Swoon Worthy

Of course, you don’t have to stick with neutrals to create modern Oriental style. Consider a bold oriental-inspired wallpaper in a vivid hue and carry that look throughout your bedroom by using tones in the same colour family. In the bedroom above, a bold turquoise wallpaper is combined with a striking royal blue headboard in a more traditional style.

The eclectic mix of patterns could feel chaotic but sticking with a colour palette of blues throughout provides a sense of calm and makes it much easier to live with. If you wish to use a more saturated palette, consider choosing tonal shades to achieve a similar effect.

Oriental-style Furniture

And finally, consider more contemporary takes on traditional Oriental style furniture. You don’t need to fill your room with black lacquer to get the look – natural wood furniture gives a nod to Japanese culture of our Bevel range.

Using natural furniture keeps the look from appearing overly themed for the perfect balance of old and new.

Show us in your oriental inspired bedroom decor using #oakfurnitureland on Instagram!

The post Oriental Décor in a Modern Bedroom appeared first on Oak Furnitureland Blog.