letterbox JANUARY
INTERIOR TRENDS THAT WILL STAY IN 2020
3 THINGS TO DO IN YOUR HOME BEFORE LOCKDOWN ENDS
UTILISE WASTED SPACE – WHAT TO DO WITH THOSE SPARE ROOMS IN 2021
4 THINGS TO DO IN YOUR GARDEN TO GET IT READY FOR SPRING
2021
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IN THIS ISSUE OF
FEATURES Don't paint Blue or Pink, here’s what colours to use instead Gorgeous nursery must haves for all new parents in 2021 Poundland have a new Rattan range, and you’re going mad for it on the ‘gram.
TRENDS Are your skirting boards white? Here's why you should change them... Utalize your spare space - what to do with your spare room in 2021
KIDS ROOM
Update your all-Grey home with an injection of these colours
BANG ON TREND – DINOSAUR BEDROOMS PERFECT FOR YOUR LITTLE EXPLORER
OTHER 3 Things to do in your home before Lockdown ends Book Case and shelving Ideas
DON'T PAINT BLUE OR PINK, HERE’S WHAT COLOURS TO USE INSTEAD.
Keep your home warm and toasty – A letterbox Guide.
NEWS
GARDEN
INTERIOR DESIGN MASTERS RETURNS
Cosy & classy DIY Halloween decor
and with a new presenter
Shop it - Halloween Decor
CHARLOTTE-NICHOLE@OUTLOOK.COM
to contact the editor
NEW YEAR NEW HOPE Hello Letterboxers. It may feel late, but Happy New Year!! What a start to a new year already. And whilst it would be really easy to feel like this year will be no different to the last, there is so much hope! With a new year also comes a new wave of interior trends and styles, and that's what we've packed into the very first edition of Letterbox for 2021. Now is a fantastic time to overhaul your personal space, especially if you haven't already. Wow your guests when we can finally invite them back into our homes with a new style! We hope you stay safe, and look after yourself as we hopefully tackle our last lockdown!
charlotte the editor
INTERIOR TRENDS THAT WILL STAY IN 2020 WITH A NEW YEAR COMES NEW TRENDS, STYLES AND OF COURSE POPULARITY. SO, WHAT WILL WE BE DITCHING IN OUR HOMES THIS NEW YEAR?
A new year can often spark a little anxiety, even when it comes to interior trends – ‘has that key piece I just invested in already dated and now off-trend?’ ‘Do I already need to redecorate?’ - There is nothing worse than having a dated home within a year of re-decorating, inventing and styling a space.
So, what has dropped off the on-trend list within the interior world? We have it all covered.
Guest bedrooms Since we haven’t been able to see friends and family, or stay away from home, guest bedrooms have become rather redundant. It seems the days of having a guest bedroom that sits dormant for most of the year are long over. Instead, we will all be making real use of the space we have.
Spare rooms are now being transformed into usable spaces that see traffic. Not sure what to do with yours? We have a feature on page -
Grey Kitchens Was 2020 the last year of Grey kitchens? We think so. Especially when dark colours, including navy and black and bursting in popularity. Not forgetting the newcomer; Green, which is raising attention too!
Whilst Grey is a fantastic colour to adopt in your home, all Grey spaces including the kitchen seem to be falling out of fashion.
Don’t worry, that new kitchen doesn’t need to be replaced already. Instead, using adhesive film can embrace a new colour or trend for a fraction of the cost.
All White Interiors Having been stuck in our homes for both work and play, its unsurprising we all seek interest and excitement, even in our interiors. Unfortunately, all white everything is soooo 2020. Adding colour, pattern and varied materials is the way to a brighter and happier home. We think more of you will be taking your home to deep, dark depths and possible being way more adventurous than ever before.
Open Shelving As beautiful as open shelving is, it’s not all that practical now, is it. And with most of us having brought in plenty of clutter over the last 12 months, open shelving doesn’t lend well to hiding the odd pile of clutter.
Open shelving, in all
forms, including in your kitchen, will be left back in 2020.
Thank god, the dusting of those plates
and glasses was getting boring. Much rather, furniture that hides those messes will be preferred.
Don’t panic though, if you’re
inundated with open shelving in your home, add a lidded basket or jute box to hide the clutter.
Goodbye Mirrored Furniture Yes, it looks like over the top mirrored furniture will be a thing of the past. As many of us are seeking more comfortable and durable materials in our homes, mirrored furniture just isn’t it. There is no denying they help bounce a heck of a light around your room but the upkeep to maintain the shine is just not on our 2021 agenda.
We foresee those more natural pieces taking centre stage like rattan and cane.
Open Plan Living With so many of us using our home for work, play, schooling and relaxation, no longer is open plan living so desirable. The lack of physical division makes it pretty difficult to play all these roles, and offer privacy. Whilst we can’t see people building back up those walls just yet, we can certainly see open plan living being a little more divided in 2021. With a little help, using some key, interior pieces can help symbolize individual spaces, even in an open plan living space. Room dividers, curtains and even rugs can help define particular sections within open plan spaces.
Sterile, unpersonalised spaces We will have all stumbled across so many homes that are clearly just for the ‘gram. Lacking in that personal pizzazz. Once again, COVID-19 has had a huge part to play in diminishing that bare, simplistic, sterile home dĂŠcor, especially in 2021. With many home interiors feeling very standardized, we are so excited for this change. That unprecedented time at home has many of us craving a real personal touch. Gone are the days of universality within homes, much rather many of us will focus on creating spaces that are undeniably us! This new year will see the replacement of excessive co-ordination to a willingness of mixing colours, patterns and textures. Essentially, we will start to see more of us play and experiment within our spaces.
3 THINGS TO DO IN YOUR HOME BEFORE LOCKDOWN ENDS THE LETTERBOX GUIDE
Because this is quite possibly our last lockdown and it’s best to get your home in order, pronto!
You might think us rather optimistic to be chatting the end of lockdown – especially when we are in the middle of our third, but we know that when is all said and done, time wasted in a lock down can feel just that, wasted!
Embrace a new colour scheme Lockdown means painting isn’t seen as such a chore, especially when you’re adopting a new colour. Since you have some time on your hands, now is a great time to brainstorm and inject a new colour scheme into your home.
Upcycle old furniture We all love to buy fresh new furniture pieces, but why, when you could have a secret gem nestled at home.
With a little TLC or a fresh lick of paint, a new
lease of life can be given to almost any piece.
Organise It’s possibly been the job you have been putting off, but honestly, it will be totally worth it, especially when life returns to its normal, busy self. It doesn't have to be a one-day job, but slowly going through old clutter, paperwork, toys and clothes will help you, and your home feel more organised.
Style It
Getting bored of your WFH space?
Update it with these quick tips. You maybe working from that WFH space for a while yet, so why not spruce it up and make it a little more inspiring for 2021.
Is working from home already grinding your gears this year? Us too.
A change of scenery and a little spruce up can rejuvenate your energy in your work space and towards your workload. It’s important any work space offers comfort, good lighting and style. A splash of colour, greenery and interest will help spark imagination, especially on those tough afternoons!
1 : Swap those prints
If you don't already have prints that can swapped and changed, than invest. It makes it super easy to update your space without costing a fortune.
2 : Add a cushion
Be comfy and update your space with a over sized, printed cushion. Inexpensive and your back will be ever grateful.
3 : New Faux Plants
Greenery, whether it be fake or real adds natural feels to your work space. Invest in a few for a uplift.
4 : Stationery
New year = new stationery. Get organised and a new lease of life with a 2021 diary and notepad.
DESK DECOR FOR YOUR SHOP IT WFH SPACE
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ARE YOUR SKIRTING BOARDS WHITE? HERE’S WHY THEY NEED TO CHANGE, NOW! This little top tip will make the world of difference to your room. What if we told you, you can make any space in your home feel and look bigger? What if we told you that you wouldn’t need to spend any more money than what you already do when redecorating? You heard right, and it comes down to painting those skirting boards the same colour as your walls. This simple, often unconventional tip, will make your walls look taller and in turn your space bigger.
Follow @thehappybuild on Instagram today.
Go through the Letterbox of this stunning self build! Only in our May edition read it now
More in the Through The Letterbox Series...
NEWS
INTERIOR DESIGN MASTERS RETURNS – AND WITH A NEW PRESENTER! Home lovers rejoice, BBC’s hit Interior competition returns in Feb, and we are so excited for the new addition. Get yourself through the remaining winter months, and lock-down, with BBC’s Interior Design Masters! If you didn’t catch the first series, it’s like bake off, but with interiors! Ten eager contestants transform offices, hotels, beach huts, salons and luxury holiday villas. Each designer will battle it out, hoping not to end up on the dreaded sofa! The slight difference in series 2? Funnyman Alan Carr will be replacing Fearne Cotton as the host. The new series starts on February 2nd at 8pm on BBC2. Series 1 can be watched on BBC iPlayer.
UTILISE YOUR WASTED SPACE – WHAT TO DO WITH THOSE SPARE ROOMS IN 2021 BECAUSE COVID HAS MADE US REALISE HOW WASTED A GUEST ROOM REALLY IS If Covid-19 has taught us anything, it’s the reality that guests coming and staying is something that doesn’t happen often, and won’t be happening for a while. So why do so many homeowners have guest rooms sitting gathering dust? Are they really a good use of space? 2021 will shape our homes like never before. We have all experienced more time at home than ever, becoming more than just somewhere to come back to after a long day. It’s completely multifunctional, and in ways we never expected. So, having wasted space that could make that work, school, life balance a little better is ludicrous. And even if you have no intention to use spare space for wfh life, there’s still some stellar ideas to make good use of it.
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e m o h x o l# etterb Join the community today
Letterbox Colour Palettes
GREY+
All-Grey rooms are soooo last year. But injecting just some of these colours will overhaul your home and bring it bursting into 2021. Mrs Hinch without doubt sparked that all grey home trend. Grey outsold every other colour in 2020, in every category. Whether you be buying; a new couch, side table, kitchen, bathroom tiles, soft furnishing or wall paint, grey was the colour of choice! But 2021 without doubt will see some much-needed injection of colour. We are all bored of our homes, so adding in some new, exciting, contrasting colour could be just the spice up your home is in need of. The best bit, there isn’t a colour that doesn’t work with grey. No need to panic that you’ll have to change all that grey furniture.
UPDATE YOUR ALLGREY HOME WITH AN INJECTION OF THESE COLOURS
PINK Soft pink hues perfectly compliment a grey space. Dulux Adobe Pink 3 (link to https://www.dulux.co.uk/en/colo ur-details/adobe-pink-3 ), paired with your dark Grey and an offwhite finish creates a new but fairly neutral palette for your home. Consider upcycling your white furniture to black to add extra edge, and masculinity to your home.
NAVY Pink not your deal? Navy is for you! Deep, moody navy works best with light, bright grey spaces. A soft navy like Dulux Breton Blue (link to https://www.dulux.co.uk/en/c olour-details/breton-blue ) is just the colour. No need to alter any home pieces neither as a pop of colour on a feature wall is just the lift your grey home needs.
GREEN Perhaps you would prefer a more natural colour in your home? Then green is the best pairing. Dulux Green Glade (link to https://www.dulux.co.uk/en/colour -details/green-glade ) is a beautiful soft shade that would be a perfect addition to a grey home, and the perfect base when you decide to add more colour.
YELLOW Or mustard to be exact. It’s one of the hottest colours for 2021, so it makes perfect sense to choose mustard as your accompanying colour in a grey home. Dulux Dutch Gold (link to https://www.dulux.co.uk/en/colour -details/dutch-gold-1 ) is a rich, dark colour that will add opulence and luxury to your Grey space. Consider adding some bronze and gold accessories to dress the gold.
BLACK If all the above is not for you, Black is the best option. Go monochrome, without being monochrome by injecting black into your grey home. Black adds a real edge to your Grey space, and can be pretty easy too. Spray your curtain poles and photo frames for an instant chic edge.
So go on, update your grey home and add some colour in 2021.
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NEWS
Poundland have a new Rattan range, and you’re going mad for it on the ‘gram. Rattan is the rage, and Poundland have jumped on the bandwagon with a beautiful 14 piece collection that’s made its way into the country's hottest homes! Prices for the pieces range from just £ 1 to £ 5 making these the perfect affordable update for you home! The collection includes cushions, lanterns, photo frames and more. In stores only and avaliable now!
BOOK CASE IDEAS For that ever-growing collection of Lockdown reads.
Many of us have certainly taken to reading to escape from what madness is going on in the world. But how do you keep them looking good and in keeping with your home?
Many of us have certainly taken to reading, to escape from the madness that is going on in the world. But how do you keep your books looking good and in keeping with your home? Displaying books in any room can instantly add appeal and character. Whether in the form of a bespoke piece or stand-alone shelves, we’ve collated some gorgeous book case and shelf ideas suitable for any home and style.
If you’re not lucky enough to have a designated area for a book corner or nook, adding large shelves to any space you do have is just as good. In a blank canvas like here, it can add colour and interest on a wall that would otherwise be bare. We love how these shelves are high and out of the way, not encroaching on the real purpose of this room.
Low level bookcases and shelves are fantastic for those spaces that you don’t want to close down. This style keeps the area open and bright whilst storing and showcases a large volume of books. We love that it’s a practical storage solution without making the space look and feel small.
Divider storage is a great way to store books and add some separation in open plan living spaces. This is a fantastic option for those with expansive living areas that lack large walls to store books. It also works well at dividing the space whilst maintaining some feel of openness.
Creating a backdrop of your personal library is like an ever-changing wallpaper. Style with small keepsakes and dĂŠcor pieces for a balanced look. We love these bespoke, painted bookcases for a more personal touch.
Keep your home warm and toasty – A letterbox Guide. Insulate your home, keep the warmth in, and make sure you never have a chilly home during winter again with our winter warmer guide.
Keeping the warmth in your home is not only cost effective, but environmentally friendly too! And whilst you might believe your home looks toasty, making a couple of changes or investing in your home can save on your heating bills and retain heat for longer during Winter.
MOVE YOUR FURNI TURE We know many of us cover radiators with furniture, but it can greatly diminish the radius of warmth. Try and move bulky pieces like a sofa or a bed away from your radiator. If your space dictates where you can put key pieces, try and put something less bulky like a desk or table.
HEAVY WEI GHT CURTAI NS Thick, heavy weight curtains can draught proof a window, especially a singleglazed one. Whatever the state of your window, consider heavy weight, lined curtains in your home.
FI LL YOUR FLOORBOARDS As much as we loveeeee exposed floorboards, damn they can let in a draught. If this is happening in your home, an easy DIY fix is to fill the gaps between the boards. Using a filler, seal each gap to prevent cold draughts from sweeping into your home.
PLENTY OF RUGS If filling in those floorboard gaps is too time consuming, or you have a large expansive floor space that is cold, adding a rug or two will help instantly add warmth. Layering rugs is on trend, so no need to worry about finding one huge rug.
I NSULATE YOUR LOFT It is known that heat rises and with an inadequately insulated roof, a home can lose a quarter of its heat. Insulating your loft maybe a little expensive, but it can last up to 40 years and pay for itself many times with the money you save on heating bills!
KEEP YOUR CURTAI NS OPEN TI LL 3PM Whilst it might sound trivial, it’s actually true. Keeping your curtains open during the day till the sun sets will help keep your home warm. Even during the winter months, the sunshine can help generate some much needed, and free, heat in your home!
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D O N ' T P A I N T P I N K , H E R E ’ C O L O U R S T I N S T E A
B L U E O R S W H A T O U S E D .
Whether you’re creating a genderneutral space, or just wanting to adopt a different shade to the usual Pink or Blue, we have you covered. 2021 will be the year gender relative colours will be no more, especially when it comes to baby and child spaces. Blues are Pinks are no longer just for boys or girls, and much rather, any colour can be used to create a loving, bouncy child space.
Yellow Yellow is a bright, airy colour to consider for your babies' bedroom. Suitable for any gender, pairing your yellow with perhaps Green or even Grey is a great alternative to sticking to blue or pink. Soft, muted yellow works particularly well in rooms that need light. Bold, bright yellow works best in small nurseries that need some interest. Gorgeous themes to consider with a yellow nursery include a wild Jungle with lions and tigers, or a soft country theme with bunnies.
Green Whether for your bouncy baby boy or girl, green in any shade is a beautiful nursery colour to use. A soft, subtle green works beautifully with pink. Whilst a deep, dark green looks stunning with navy or even tan. Themes that perfectly suit a green nursery include jungle landscapes or wilderness back drops.
Taupe Neutral colours like taupe make a perfect colour for a baby nursery. Accessorizing with natural materials like wicker and rattan, and injecting other colours like orange and green make a beautifully calming nursery. Bang on trend and perfect for those parents getting baby ready without knowing the gender.
Grey We say it all the time, but Grey literally works with every colour. And as expected, Grey is perfect in a nursery room. If you are eager to still include blue or pink, perhaps Grey is your best option. Use it as your main colour, using either Blue or Pink as your accents.
Undecided? Then why not mix it all up. No room has to have only a few colours, especially when it comes to a young space. Use white as your back drop and various colours as your accent, making the theme a rainbow.
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GORGEOUS NURSERY MUST HAVE’S FOR ALL NEW PARENTS IN 2021
2021 babies deserve those gorgeous gifts and stunning nurseries, so we’ve collated must haves for any new parents to make any nursery truly perfect.
Bang on Trend – Dinosaur bedrooms perfect for your little explorer Take your little one on an exploration, in their very own bedroom. The dinosaur theme is bang on trend and there are some creative and inexpensive ways to adopt the style. With every new fad comes another opportunity to swap and update your little’ns bedroom. A it seems the dinosaur is the latest trend you might want to tap into.
Natural materials Furniture pieces that have raw, natural wood are a perfect back drop for an adventurous dinosaur room. Ikea offer fantastic pieces that will adapt with any theme at great prices. Remember, these pieces could be later painted to suit a new theme or an older child.
Deep Greens That replicate the lush greenery you would find a t-rex, should be the colour palette of choice. Experiment with your paint technique too, like using frog tape to create a mountainous back drop. Using stencils can give you a more detailed look, with just a little paint.
Faux Plants
Wall Stickers
What is a dinosaur themed room
If paint isn’t your game, wall stickers
without some faux plants? Keeping
are the next best thing, there are so
them out of reach on shelves, they are
many to be found that can create the
purely for decoration, but add the
perfect dinosaur wall scape, quickly
extra illusion of being in dinoland.
and easily.
SHOP IT
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4 Things to do in your garden to get it ready for Spring
EVEN DURING WINTER, THERE IS STILL PLENTY TO BE DONE OUTSIDE YOUR HOME.
WE MIGHT STILL BE IN THE MIDST OF WINTER, BUT SPRING IS NEAR, AND SO IS THAT TIME SPENT IN THE GARDEN. DESPITE THE CHILL, THERE IS STILL PLENTY TO BE DONE TO GET YOU, AND YOUR GARDEN PREPARED FOR SPRING. HERE’S OUR 4-STEP GUIDE TO GET YOU PREPPED. STEP 1: TIDY YOUR SHED Start a new season with a tidy and organised shed. When the time comes to get the tools out and the grass cut, it’s best everything is accessible and easy to reach. It will only give you a headache later if everything is still a mess!
STEP 2: INSTALL A WATER BUTT Be eco-friendly this year and use rainwater when tending your garden. Installing a water butt from your property downpipe or shed
guttering
can
help
you
gather
rainwater to use in summer. And it will be full swiftly, since the majority of our rainwater comes from winter! Many plants actually prefer rainwater, so this method of watering could see you plants flourish even more so this year.
STEP 3: CREATE YOUR OWN COMPOSTING AREA If you want to get serious in your garden this year, then creating your very own composting area is the best foot forward. Using your very own organic waste, you’ll create a rich compost your plants will thrive on. Having
a
good
mixture
of
grass
clippings, veg peelings, paper and wood pruning's is a recipe for a perfect home-made compost. Just be sure to keep it aerated by turning It with a garden fork at least once a month.
STEP 4: A GENERAL TIDY UP This is something to be done fairly often, as winter can certainly throw some debris around your garden. Get rid of any debris, prune back your beds and clean your hard landscaping areas like a decking or patio.
Put these ideas in your Summer Garden plans WE ALL KNOW THE VALUE IN OUR OWN SLICE OF OUTDOOR SPACE, ESPECIALLY ONE THAT PLAYS A PART IN THOSE SPRING, SUMMER AND EVEN AUTUMN MONTHS. WHATEVER THE SIZE OF YOUR GARDEN, MANY HOMEOWNERS WANT AN OUTDOOR SPACE THAT SERVES PURPOSE AND OFFERS MORE SPACE TO KICK BACK, RELAX AND EVEN ENTERTAIN.
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An Outdoor workspace As many of us now work from home, perhaps making your own commute out your back door is for you. A log cabin or garden office can be a workspace by day, and entertaining area in your garden by night. Whilst they can be expensive, the investment for more space can be worth more than the outlay.
A Firepit or Outdoor Fireplace Even during the height of summer, we can often suffer some chilly evenings. A fire pit or outdoor fireplace can ensure evening warmth throughout the year. They make a great centrepiece in your entertaining space, and just like indoors, a fireplace can be a stylish whilst practical.
A pond Having a mass of water in your garden can add serenity and even wildlife to your outdoor space. If you feel like you garden has been missing a bit of life, adding a pond or even a water feature will be just what you garden needs. Don’t worry about needing to dig a hole, opt for a above ground pond that can be bought online in a variety of sizes.
WHILST THESE IDEAS ARE IN NO WAY NEW, THEY WILL BE A NEW ADDITION FOR YOUR GARDEN IN 2021. WHAT WILL YOU BE ADDING INTO YOUR GARDEN THIS YEAR?
STUNNING NEW PIECES TO EARMARK FOR YOUR GARDEN IN 2021
SHOP IT STYLE IT IT’S NEVER TOO EARLY TO START PLANNING YOUR GARDEN UPDATES, AND SOME OF OUR HIGHSTREET FAVOURITES HAVE ALREADY LAUNCHED SOME STUNNING PIECES.
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letterbox JAN
2021
|Â ISSUE
NO.15
CHARLOTTE-NICHOLE@OUTLOOK.COM
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