CHOOSING FLEXIBLE FURNITURE FOR A SMALL FLAT // INTERIOR INSPIRATION

Choosing any piece of furniture for our flat can be a laborious task, as much as I would love to ooh and ahh over the latest trends and designs I always have to ask myself Is this furniture flexible? When living with limited storage and space at home, and especially with a child that likes to leave a trail of toys in his wake I try to be very considered when investing in a new piece.

I often turn to the delights of Pinterest for ideas and inspiration on how to create space and still achieve my style at home. One of my current crushes is the trusty bench, I love how versatile they are and how they can be used at home: To create light and space at a dining table, in the hallway to hide shoes under, as a shelf to display objects on or to create a cosy space to sit and read, there are so many options! Look at these beauties.

So when I was offered the chance to try out the Talia Bench c/o Habitat from their Dining Room Range I was super excited to see how it could be flexible in our home. Available in Warm Grey and White, I knew the clean design would fit into both traditional and contemporary interior making it a piece that would last any interior trends and the Scandi colour would sit perfectly with our palette. 

As we have no dining room theres a lot going on in our lounge, with a collection of sofa, seats and side tables as well as our dining table for meal times. One of my main concerns when decorating the room was how cluttered it would feel with all our furniture with it being a multi-purpose room, and the high backed chairs at the table somehow made it feel a little cramped. 

So first I introduced the bench into the lounge and was surprised at how much lighter the room felt for having a seat that tucks below the table. It gave the appearance of space and I love the idea of little feet all in a line at waiting for pudding, plus F seemed higher up too! 

Also being quite narrow and light the Talia Bench is easy to move around to create extra seating for friends, making it perfect for parties and gathering. As we have no where to store our original dining chairs I wondered how else I could use this piece in our flat and after good few hours lost in the world of Pinterest I decided to try it in the bedroom.

We currently use a battered Ikea chest of drawers as the place to keep piled books and blankets by the bed, and has been on my replace list due to the amount of floor space it takes up. I decided to try the bench at the end of the bed and was super happy with the results. It's perfect for keeping a few books at reach, a blanket or even a morning cuppa, and F loves to sit on it at the end of the bed and chatter or pretend he's on a pirate ship. It also hides all of the storage ugly under the bed *whoop*. 

Would you swap dining chairs for a bench? I think I'm totally converted and love it when one piece of furniture can work in so many different ways. It's making me look at other pieces of furniture and how we can upcycle, sell or replace to create functional space and style.  

WHERE YOU WASH // SMALL BATHROOM INTERIORS

There's one space that always gets neglected in our flat, probably because it's so small with little natural light and that it serves more of a function than a calm space to relax in. Yep the bathroom, it certainly gets a raw deal from us and yet it should be a place of style and tranquility, how often do you read how beneficial a relaxing soak in the tub is or how heavenly a rain shower head looks in those glossy magazines? It's no wonder that I like to take my time when staying at nice hotels, reading in a free standing bath or spending an age in the shower letting my troubles wash away.

Good design should run throughout the home, every space should be thought out, practical and pleasing to the eye, your bathroom should be a haven whether it's used as splash time for the kids or your gentle wake-up morning routine. I've always thought about building my own home, how the bathroom would have great views, light streaming in, a walk in wet room and not to mention a cabinet basin that I can actually use unlike our teeny one. However even a small bathroom can be beautiful with careful planning and so I find myself pinning inspirational interiors for future reference incase I one day renovate my home or buy abroad.

Click read more for tips on creating space in a small bathroom