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Single bed sizesThe traditional single mattress sizes in the UK and Ireland are 70-75cm wide x 190cm long for a small single bed, and 90cm wide x 190cm long for a standard single. The smaller size is great for younger children, or where space is tight.A European single mattress will be longer, measuring 90cm x 200cm.Again, you’ll need to coordinate your choices of frame, mattress and bedclothes to avoid unfortunate mismatches.Discover the key dimensions you need for designing a kitchen
Manage your storageYour aim throughout the house should be to achieve storage that’s both convenient and appropriate to what’s being stored. You may despair of your existing storage, but before ripping it out and starting again, ask yourself: could it work harder? In the kitchen, for example, rearranging the contents of existing drawers and adding additional cupboard shelves can free up valuable space. This thinking can be applied to wardrobes, linen cupboards and all other special storage areas around the house. Your main outlay here will be time, not money.
LinenThe secret to great linen storage is shelving that is smaller in all dimensions than you might expect.A clearance of just 25cm vertically between each shelf works perfectly. This allows you to fit a large amount of sheets or towels on each shelf but without the toppling-over effect that results from shelves placed farther apart.Shelves 45cm deep work well, allowing you to stack your linen in one tidy pile. Deeper shelves can mean rummaging for stray items in the nether reaches.
Toy storageWhether you have a dedicated playroom or a corner in your living space, open shelving works well and allows great flexibility in accommodating all manner of toys. Smaller items such as plastic animals and cars can be housed in tubs and baskets, while books and board games can be easily seen and accessed. A shelf-depth of 30cm and a vertical clearance of 33cm between each shelf are useful, all-round dimensions. Allow for at least some shelves at 60cm wide to accommodate board games and larger toys.
BooksA key decision with shelving for books is whether to opt for fixed or adjustable shelves. Fixed shelves have the advantage of creating in-built, visual harmony. Adjustable shelves mean that each shelf can be positioned to suit books of differing heights. This might be important where space is limited and every centimetre needs to be maximised. Shelves 60cm wide will work well here and allow a single book to be removed without the rest collapsing. Adjustable shelves wider than 60cm run the risk also of sagging under the weight of heavy booksNext is the matter of the types of books to be stored. Most books fit happily on shelves 23cm deep. And most books, including paperbacks, need a clearance (ie, the distance between each empty shelf, measured vertically) of just 23cm, with a clearance of 30cm accommodating all but oversize books. These need shelves 30-40cm deep and a vertical clearance of 50cm.While you’ll need to fine-tune the dimensions to suit the context and visual appearance of the shelving, good all-round dimensions for fixed shelving would be a depth of 23cm and a clearance of 30cm.10 of the best bookcase ideas on Houzz
ShoesWith many homes adopting a shoe-free policy nowadays, the matter of shoe storage demands serious thought.Most shoes measure no more than 30cm in length so a simple solution is to create shelves 30cm deep. Making these shelves adjustable in height will allow you accommodate a range of footwear, from slippers to boots. If you prefer fixed shelves, you’ll need to leave 12-18cm clear between each shelf.Placing the shelves at an angle can work well, as it will allow you accommodate shoes in a depth shallower than 30cm.
Match your window framesThe sliding pocket doors in this living room blend in neatly with the rest of the room scheme, thanks to the way they mirror the Crittall-style windows beyond, as well as picking up the dark graphite tones of the bespoke shelving around the doorframe. You can just see a sliver of the glazed doors in this photo, but when pulled across they provide the effect of a window panel. Something like this is a good solution if you want to zone the space and keep the warmth in, but don’t want or need to totally screen the view of the room beyond.
Create a flexi spaceThis open-plan living room and kitchen space has been created from the framework of two separate rooms, and the inclusion of tall pocket doors between the the two areas allows for the space to be returned to its original layout in an instant, with the doors filling in the area where a dividing wall would have been. By taking the doorframe right to the ceiling and as far out to the edges of the room as possible (doubling up the pocket doors to allow for this), the room is almost completely open-plan when the doors are pulled back.
Disguise behind a drawer frontIf you don’t have the space to dedicate a full drawer to storing gadgets, how about a flip down drawer front like this? It pulls out to reveal a couple of sockets and a little cubby to store charging cables. A drawer like this can be squeezed into the narrowest of islands and would provide a constant power supply for a couple of tablets or laptops.
Try a new pop-upIf you don’t fancy having an extractor fan hanging down from the ceiling over an island cooking area, how about installing a pop-up version? This downdraft extractor has been teamed with a gas hob, and not only does it whisk away cooking smells, it acts as a safety barrier for people sitting on the other side of the island, chatting to the chef. When the cooking is done, it can be pushed tidily back into the recess again.
Go for a colourAnother way to fit a standalone bin into your scheme is to make it a feature of the room. Step away from the usual stainless-steel designs and go for something colourful. Choose a muted pastel with a matt finish to introduce a sophisticated accent shade, as here, or, if colour isn’t your thing, go for black or white as a more subtle alternative to stainless steel.How have you dealt with the rubbish in your kitchen? Share your ideas in the Comments section.
Let it shineA slick kitchen, on the other hand, demands a sleek bin. The rectangular shape of this model echoes the other stainless-steel appliances in the scheme, giving a streamlined look. Having a foot-operated pedal to open the bin, as here, also means you don’t have to touch the lid each time you use it.Sorted your indoor bins? Check out these ideas for outside rubbish storage
Place it where you workRather than siting rubbish bins under the sink, this neat bin drawer pulls out from under the food preparation area, making it super-easy to sweep away peel and trimmings ready for recycling or composting. This would be a time-efficient solution for keen cooks, as it minimises trips to the bin and also helps to keep the area tidy as you work.
Make a flickering focal pointNot every home has a fireplace – perhaps yours has been taken out, the flues are unsuitable, or you have a modern home that’s never had one. However, this doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy the flicker of flames. Curate a collection of candles to provide a glowing focal point in your living room. If you’re using real candles, make sure the surfaces beneath are protected against wax drips and heat. Alternatively, use battery-powered candles that will still provide a glow without the worry of fire.
Perk up your tiles with pinkYes, it’s back to the kitchen (and pink), but this unexpected touch of colour just had to be shown. Who knew grout came in such a pretty shade? And who knew it would work so well? The pink highlights the brick formation of the tiles and turns the otherwise ordinary splashback into a feature. See, simple things can make a big difference.Have you used a surprise hit of colour in your home that’s made a big difference? If you have, show or tell us in the Comments section.
Fill the sky with turquoiseCeilings are often the last thing we think about when it comes to decorating. All they require is a lick of white paint, right? Not always. Here, this stylish bathroom has been given a striking twist with a surprise splash of turquoise on the ceiling. The blue softens the brilliant white scheme. It does make the ceiling appear a little bit lower, but it’s not a big deal, as this lofty room can handle it, and the colour actually draws the eye up to the statement pendant.See how wallpaper can transform your ceiling
Brave a rainbow of brightsYellow, fuchsia, brilliant baby blue – definitely not the norm for shelving, but spot-on in this stylish room that works on so many levels: from the different-sized shelving, which adds visual interest, to the way the shelves coordinate with the sofa and soft furnishings. Imagine if the storage weren’t multi-coloured – it would just look a little flat, wouldn’t it? If painting your shelving is going to be a DIY job, any surface is paintable (including laminate, gloss and factory finishes) as long as you use the the right primer. With the materials mentioned, an adhesion primer is best. More ways to get standout shelves
Give your bed a dual purposeHere’s a way to use your bed for both sleeping and storage. The velvet headboard in this master bedroom, designed by Clare Weeks of My-Studio, has shelves and shallow cupboards built into the back of it. As the headboard sits opposite the huge fitted wardrobes, the shelves and cupboards are the ideal place for storing accessories, such as belts. Visit more of this Victorian townhouse with a light-boosting extension
Plan aheadA tip we hear frequently from our decluttering experts is to work out exactly what you own before you plan your storage. In the home of Jenny Ballantyne at Jenny Ballantyne Interiors, we can see that advice in action.“I went through each cupboard beforehand and worked out the exact storage I needed,” she explains. “For example, I love baking, so there needed to be specific storage to organise all the essentials.” The kitchen is now tailored perfectly to the family’s needs, making it efficient and comfortable to use and easy to keep organised.Visit the rest of this interior designer’s bright and cosy family home
Space each side of a double bedA space of 60cm each side of a double bed is perfect for the purposes of both making the bed and of placing a convenient bedside table or locker for each occupant.It is worth choosing a bed size to suit this rule of thumb, as opposed to shoe-horning in one that will leave you feeling constricted.
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