Does anybody want to talk house style with me please?

[BelligerentGhoul]

Our house is generally clean and tidy but looks a bit sparse. It's painted various shades of cream throughout and has neutral carpets all the way through. It also doesn't have a great deal of furniture!

We need to buy:

a chest of drawers for dd2's tiny bedroom

a small coffee table, or trunk, or nest of tables or something for the lounge

some lovely pendant light shades for the hall and landing

new cushions for the sofa in the family room

some sort of v small free standing cabinet for the bathroom

a small armchair for the family room

Any ideas v gratefully appreciated of things that look nice but don't cost a fortune, or ideas for places to look - am already examining M&S and Next.

Try John Lewis. Yes, it can be expensive but you can also get very reasonably priced stuff there too! We got a nice coffee table for £40 and a rug for £39!

Will have a look, thanks. Last time I looked the furniture was very expensive.

I love Next, for accessories/cushions particularly.

For nice light shades, go to a large B&Q, some lovely stuff.

For the furniture bits and bobs, dare I suggest.....Ikea? Go at night when it's quiet.

We don't drive and are a long way from Ikea, so that's not ideal. Next has a couple of nice coffee tables.

You can order online from Ikea.

I have always bought second hand and over time traded up to antiques.

I bid on a table on ebay, had it delivered by courier £27 for the table, £65 for the courier. Its a goergian writing table and worth £450!

Its a great deal more fun than Ikea and I love the challenge.

Could you try ebay, local auctions or even antiques dealers are usually happy to deliver.

I'd look at auction or in second hand shops for chest of drawers/coffee table - ikea stuff just doesn't last in my opinion especially not in a child's room.

Agree ebay is fab for good quality furniture - some real bargains to be had! We've recently used this site www.anyvan.com/ to get items that were pick up only delivered.

Thanks. Would rather buy new or local secondhand tbh as I'd want to see it first. DD2 is nearly 14, so she's not going to trash the furniture! :)

We do have a couple of second hand furniture shops near us, so I'll look at those for a chest of drawers.

Any more please? Would Union Flag cushions be too bunting-cupcake?

What do people think of these as potential shades for the hall and landing? Too twee?

I love union jack cushions - wish the union jack was green and pink instead of red and blue though.

TK Maxx can be good for cushions and lamps/lights.

It depends on how individual you want your house to look. Personally I think Union Jack cushions have had their day, much like the Keep Calm and Carry On posters. If I was you I'd pick bits up here and there when I went shopping. My friend furnished her house from Next and it looks immaculate, but it just looks like a page from the catalogue. There are no personal pieces or anything that makes her home unique or individual.

Use the internet to source shops as local to you as possible, or use local craftspeople to make things for you if budget allows.
Rugs, cushions, throws, photos in eclectic frames and pictures help to make a room feel homely too.

p.s. I like those lampshades

That's what I think re the flag cushions too - but the dds really like them and they are v cheap in Past Times!

Can't stand houses that look styled and ours certainly won't as we have various quirky pictures and pots etc plus lots and lots of books. But I can't be bothered to source everything from Ebay etc!

TK Maxx is a good idea - wouldn't have thought of it.

Thanks re lampshades :)

I think the lamp shades look lovely Ghoul.

Have you got a Laura Ashley near you, some of their fabrics are nice and not too expensive, if you like sewing.

Charity shops are great for fabrics too, I like using the fabrics to make throws and cushions. I've just made an eiderdown with lots of vintage fabrics and the kids have knicked it for their room!

We have got a Laura Ashley but I am rubbish at sewing, I'm afraid! Well done you re the eiderdown.

One of dd2's best Christmas presents was a hand-knitted blanket from my mum, with a tin full of embroidery threads, buttons etc to customise it. Unfortunately the sewing gene by-passed me.

Could you enlist your mum to make the cushions.

I loooked everywhere for cushion covers and couldn't find any. We had the pads which are feather and I resented having to buy the complete cushion when I only needed covers.

Ooh now there's a good idea! :)

Maybe invite her for lunch and have the fabric cut and the sewing machine ready!

I like your style. :)