• DIY
• Interior Styling
• Interiors

The Great Indoors Podcast S1 Episode 5 show notes

Thanks so much to all of you for tuning into our brand new Interiors podcast, The Great Indoors. The popularity of the podcast just grows and grows so thanks to all of you who have left us a rating and review- do continue to leave your comments, we read every one!

So one of things you’ve been asking for is some show notes including useful links and some pictures to help you visualise some of the topics discussed. So here you are, a post dedicated to the key points we covered in episode 5 of the The Great Indoors.

A behind the scenes peek of Kate and I recording this podcast episode in our producer Kate’s rented home.

How to update your rented pad to look fab

• Invest in great accessories. A bold patterned rug or large piece of art will have maximum impact, and you can take them with you when you move.
• Check out removable peel and stick wallpapers. I don’t have any personal experience of using them but you can buy them at B&Q here or you can find some great designs on Etsy here, although many are shipped from the US.
• Create your own graphic wall designs with Haru tape.
• Hang pictures using Command strips, which mean you don’t need to knock nails into the wall.
• Ask your landlord in advance what they will agree to in terms of decoration and improvements and be clear on who is paying for what.
• Invest in quality flat pack furniture that can easily move house with you. The Brunel from Heals is especially designed to be easily flat packed.
• Check out Insta-style for your Living Space by Joanna Thornhill for more styling tips.
• I revealed the tip to remove wall decals is to warm the glue with a hairdryer first. I know this as unbelievably I used to be a rally driver and had to remove stickers from my rally car after every race!

Haru stuck on design from £11

Tower shelving, from £69, Heal’s is easily packed away, moved or reconfigured, so ideal for renters.

Insta-Style for Your Living Space by Joanna Thornhill

Yes it’s true! In the early noughties I was Britains top female rally driver.

Christmas gift guide

• Both of us are agreed that it’s all about the wrapping!
• Build up a group of presents around a theme. Kate recommended coffee beans, a Stelton coffee pot and mug for a coffee lover.
• My plea is don’t buy plastic tat- be discerning at Christmas and buy less plastic
• Dress up vouchers with some supporting presents. For example cinema tickets go with a bag of popcorn and a reusable cup for drinks.
• Consider buying from local or small entrepreneurs and designer makers. There is a great edit of present ideas with sustainability in mind on the Etsy Good Store.

Design Crimes

Vertical Blinds

Up for discussion was whether vertical blinds are indeed a design crime? Kate kept them out of the Room 101 on the basis that they look good in 60’s houses or in modern extensions.

Bella vertical blinds, The Fabric Box

Also try….Decora, Luxaflex, Hilarys, Olivia Blinds, Decoshaker

Colour coded book displays

Again we disagreed on this one. I’m totally down with styling your books in order of the colour of their spines as I think it makes a great display in your room while Kate thinks it sacrilege!

My colour co-ordinated display and Kate’s very organised library

How to plan the guest bedroom

• My recommendation is to go bold on the scheme, as this is a room you can unleash your wilder side on. Go for that wallpaper or bold colour that you love but chicken out of elsewhere in your home.
• Hang a peg rail in the bedroom for guests to hang clothes, rather than a bulky wardrobe
• Often guest bedrooms are mufti-tasking rooms. Seek out multi functional furniture, like sofa beds and style the room so it can shift easily from home office to bedroom.
• Invest in fresh linen or freshen up your existing linen with scented linen water
• Pop a dish of hotel sized toiletry samples for your guests to use

Dazzling Blue 100% Linen Bed Linen, duvet cover from £95; pillowcase from £18, Secret Linen Store

Thanks once again to Dfs for sponsoring our podcast. Episode 6 will air on the 13^th and you can catch up on previous podcasts by following the link to your podcast platform here. And please do rate and review the podcast while you are there!