However, designing a kitchen can seem like a difficult task. As the most used room of the house, a kitchen needs to be functional and practical. Hence, our article discusses kitchen design ideas perfect for your home.

Storage

Most people tend to want a minimalistic home, so they like to hide away clutter and belongings in cupboards. However, within the kitchen, an exposed pantry can help you to achieve a rustic and cosy feel.

If your kitchen is small, it can be handy to use the walls as storage with shelving and boxes. Adding decoration within the open shelves can distract from any mess and create a trendy statement piece.

Alternatively, standalone furniture like a glass cabinet can be an affordable and neat way of adding extra storage space to your kitchen.

Countertops

If you’re lucky enough to have a kitchen island, you will want it to be the centre point of the room. Hence, the worktop of the island must be eyecatching and stylish to draw attention to the focal point.

Mismatching the countertop of the island to the rest of the kitchen worktops can make a statement. However, matching the floor and the countertops can create a sense of unity and can tie in the colour scheme.

Why not build in an extra-large sink to your countertop? Not only are they practical, but they look modern and luxurious too. They can work in both traditional and contemporary kitchen designs with their sharp edges and added texture.

Splashbacks often get overlooked when it comes to kitchen designs. However, mosaic-style tiling to the walls above the countertops can add a stylish element to any kitchen whilst maintaining practicality.

Dining Table

Not everyone will have the luxury of a kitchen island that can double as a dining table. However, this doesn’t mean you can’t add a sense of luxury with an actual table instead. Place it in the centre of the room to create a cosy country feel that will suit both traditional and contemporary kitchen designs. Utilising a tall dining table can also add an extra countertop to your kitchen.

The post Kitchen Design Ideas appeared first on Windows Manchester.

The rituals and quirky beliefs that come with owning lucky items are a way of letting old wives’ tales live on and bring charm to your home. We have developed a list of the luckiest items you can have in your home to ease those superstitions you may have. What’s wrong with a little bit of spirituality within the home?

Fresh Flowers

The laws of feng shui suggest that having a fresh bunch of flowers in the home will bring positive energy and aura to the house and those within. So the next time you are at the supermarket, don’t forget to treat yourself to this so-called lucky item.

Horse Shoes As A Lucky Item

A popular symbol of luck is a horseshoe. Hence, the Irish strongly believe that a horseshoe that creates a U shape should be hung above your front door. Moreover, doing so will mean your luck will never run out. However, the French argue that hanging the horseshoe upside down is luckier, as the luck will rain down on all who pass the threshold.

Dreamcatchers As A Lucky Item

Native Americans believe that keeping a dreamcatcher above your bed will capture the evil spirits whilst you speak and will encourage good fortune for you. If nothing else, dreamcatchers are a lovely addition to any bedroom.

Paint Your Front Door

Another law of feng shui suggests that any south-facing front door should be painted a bright red or shade of orange. However, north-facing doors should be blue or black. West-facing doors should only ever be grey or white, whilst east-facing front doors should stick to a brown or green colour. Doing so will encourage good luck.

The post Lucky Items To Keep In Your Home appeared first on Windows Manchester.

House prices are currently on the rise as supply is low but demand is high. When you purchase a property, you pay down your mortgage so the mortgage amount decreases monthly. Increases in house prices are often a good thing because the equity then increases too, meaning the difference between your house value and outstanding debt changes. Having a good amount of equity will let you up-size as the equity can equate to a deposit on a new property. Mortgage providers see you as a safe option if you have a smaller mortgage, as you are lending and owe less. Our article discusses all the terminology you need to know for joining the housing ladder. 

What Is A Deposit? 

A deposit is an amount of money that gets put down on a property. You essentially pass this money over to the bank in order to secure a mortgage. 

Deposits can differ depending on the price of the house and the amount the buyer can afford. However, the more you put down, the less the mortgage will be and the cheaper the interest rate will be. 

Moreover, deposits aren’t just for buying property. They are often required when buying a car on finance, or when booking an appointment or making a reservation. 

What Does ‘Loan To Value’ Mean?

Loan to value is a percentage ratio that refers to the deposit that is put down and the amount left on the mortgage. Hence, if a property costs £100,000 and a £10,000 deposit is put down, the loan to value percentage would be 90%. 

The lower the percentage, the better. The larger the deposit, the easier it is to get a lower interest rate on the deposit as the risk to the mortgage provider is less because you owe less. Hence, monthly payments can be more affordable. 

What Is Housing Ladder Equity?

Equity is vital when it comes to the housing ladder and the property market. It changes when making payments towards the mortgage or when housing prices change. Hence, if a property is worth £100,000, and the amount left to pay is £70,000 then the equity totals £30,000. 

Negative equity occurs when the value of the home is less than the loan owed. Moreover, this occurs when house prices drop. It can make selling the home difficult or remortgaging more expensive. 

The post What Is The Housing Ladder? appeared first on Windows Manchester.

However, to run electric cars, the car needs to be charged. Charging points are popping up across the country. There are more charging locations than petrol stations these days. 

In recent weeks, the government have announced plans for all new build homes to come with an EV charging point too. 

What Are The Advantages Of Electric Cars?

• Lower running costs
• Smoother to drive
• Quieter – so reduced noise pollution
• Low carbon emissions – so cleaner environment
• No congestion charges

Electric cars have a better impact on the environment and don’t emit any exhaust gases. In some major cities and towns, there are congestion charges through the introduction of Clean Air Zones. An electric car is exempt from the charges. 

EV’s are cheaper to run, cheaper to service and maintain, and often do not need taxing. Moreover, they have better handling, comfort and safety than most petrol or diesel cars and are more responsive to acceleration and braking. 

How Long Does It Take To Charge An Electric Car?

Charging an electric car can take from 30 minutes to 10 hours. How long it takes depends on the battery size, the miles that the car usually does between charges, and the power rating of the charger. 

A slow charger is usually around 3 kilowatts and is used to charge the vehicle overnight at home or work. It can take from 8 to 10 hours to fully charge. 

A fast charger is 7 kilowatts or 22. These are located at car parks and supermarkets and can take 3 to 4 hours to fully charge a vehicle. 

Rapid chargers are 43 kilowatts and are often located at service stations or petrol stations. These can take as little as 30 minutes to fully charge but aren’t compatible with all electric cars. 

Should I Upgrade Now?

A lot of people are wary of upgrading to an electric car due to the lack of charging points – despite there being more than petrol stations. People are also cautious due to range anxiety, as the car may need charging often and might not be able to reach as far without stopping to recharge. 

However, improved battery technology, the installation of new charging points and accessibility has made it clear why you should consider upgrading to an EV early. 

The post Electric Cars appeared first on Windows Manchester.

But you don’t need to neglect your front door when it comes to decorating. Looking for Christmas door ideas? Look no further!

Traditional Christmas Door Wreath

Spruce up your front door with a traditional and festive wreath. Moreover, this traditional decoration is back in fashion and doesn’t have to be green and red. 

Tie the wreath in with your interior colour scheme to make your home look contemporary. 

Christmas Door Garland

Door garlands are becoming more popular year after year. These can be shop-bought, custom-made or you can have a go at making one yourself. 

Decorate a garland with some tinsel, baubles and pinecones. You could even use candy canes and lights for a modern twist. 

Christmas Lights

As the nights draw in, the streets light up. Especially by Christmas lights throughout December. Dangle some icicle style lights above your canopy or over your windows. 

Alternatively, place some fairy-style lights around the door frame for a more subtle touch. 

Bells On Your Christmas Door

When you think of Christmas, you’ll think of Christmas carols and bells ringing. Why not add a festive bell to your door, and let the bells ring out for Christmas? 

Christmas Trees

Adding some potted Christmas trees to your front garden or doorstep can spread the festive spirit. You can decorate your mini Christmas trees the same as you would your main tree. 

Santa Stop Here Signs

If you’re working to a budget but still want to get into the Christmas spirit – why not invest in a simple Santa Stop Here sign from the supermarket? Moreover, these can be stood in the grass in your front garden or placed in a plant pot. 

The post Christmas Door Ideas appeared first on Windows Manchester.

Or maybe you’re a landlord selling your portfolio? No matter what, you will want the best estate agent in your area.
But with so many agents around, how do you choose who to go with? Picking the right estate agent can be difficult, so let us help you out.

Advertising

Before you go ahead with an estate agent, you need to fact find. You will more than likely ask them to come and carry out an appraisal of your property. When they attend, this is the best time to ask your questions.
One of your main questions should be about advertising. Check out their website and the portals they use. Furthermore, you will probably want your property marketed on as many platforms as possible. Do they use Rightmove and On the Market? Do they use Zoopla? Moreover, they might advertise in the local newspaper or on social media.
If you’re happy for a sale board outside of your property, check they can provide one. Furthermore, this way passers-by know you are selling.

Estate Agent Pricings

The valuation of your home and the price it’s going to cost you to sell is one of the main factors to consider.
Most agents have a selling fee of around 1% + VAT. However, you might find an agent who can offer you a better deal or who are offering a discount.
Moreover, the valuation they provide you with needs to be broken down. Ask the agent what they have sold recently and if anything similar to your property has been on the market. Furthermore, ask how long they think it will take for your property to be snapped up.
A positive yet honest agent is better than someone willing to beg for your business.

Estate Agent Recommendations

Estate agent recommendations is a two-sided coin. On the one side, we are referring to whether the estate agent is highly recommended by others.
Have a look on Google for some reviews but bear in mind that not everyone who has a good experience will leave a review. Moreover, they are worth looking at – but maybe take with a pinch of salt.
The other side of the coin is what does the estate agent recommend? Ask the estate agent what will enhance the price of your home or the likelihood of selling quickly.
Estate agents sell hundreds of properties in your area every year. They know the market and they know what buyers are looking for. Furthermore, they will know how to sell your home if they are reputable and experienced.

Summary

Selling your home is a massive decision. Choosing a trustworthy estate agent is crucial as you need to be able to rely on them throughout the process. Make sure you complete your research and ask any questions before signing on the dotted line.

The post Estate Agent: Choosing The Best To Market Your Home appeared first on Windows Manchester.

People tend to focus on their blinds and curtains when it comes to decorating their windows. But the window sill often gets left out. Our handy guide will help you choose window sill decorations to modernise your home. 

Living Room Window Sill Decorations

The beauty of living rooms is that they sometimes benefit from having bay windows. Furthermore, this means that the windows and sills can be styled with both furniture and trinkets. 

Placing furniture within the bay can make the sills look decorated. Moreover, whether you have a bay window or not, you can place potted plants on the window sills to style the room. Cactus plants are ideal for brightening up a room. 

Alternatively, plants can be hung from curtain rails at different heights to really add to a room. 

If you’re not a fan of plants, why not style the sill with some books or magazines instead and use the sill like a table? 

Kitchen Window Sills

Much like the living room, kitchen window sills are ideal for plants. Especially herbs. 

Moreover, you could grow a small herb garden in your kitchen, or store crockery or spices instead.

Bedroom Window Sills

Similar to the living room, if your bedroom has a bay window – why not make it into a seat with some cushions? Moreover, this would be the perfect place for relaxing with a book. 

On the other hand, you could use the window sill to house candles or photo frames with your favourite memories. 

Bedroom window sills can also be used as a dressing table, storing your jewellery or mirror and make-up bits. 

Bathroom Window Sill Decorations

Bathrooms tend to be small. Thus, bathrooms tend to lack storage space. Where better to store your toothbrush and toothpaste or shampoo and conditioner than on your bathroom window sill? 

Add a few candles to make the ultimate relaxation zone.

The post Window Sill Decorations appeared first on Windows Manchester.

Many British homes are expensive to heat during the winter. Some houses are difficult to heat too. Furthermore, a lot of these homes even suffer from damp due to their poor insulation.

Energy costs rarely decrease. Moreover, heating costs are likely to keep on rising over the next few years. Alongside this, home insulation can be an expensive investment.

But, you don’t have to break the bank to stay warm this winter.

Close The Doors

Shutting off rooms works wonders in trapping in heat, and rooms heat up quicker too!

Draught Excluding

So, you’ve shut the doors. But is the heat now escaping under the doors? Draught excluders are one of the cheapest buys. They prevent a breeze from coming in and the heat from leaking out.

Draughts can also sneak in from floorboards, cracks in walls and through windows. Carpets and rugs can absorb the draught from beneath your feet. Re-plastering over cracks in walls can be a quick and cheap fix too!

If you only have single-glazed windows, upgrading to double-glazed can be costly, especially when working to a budget. But it’s a worthy investment. Furthermore, the money it will cost you to replace will save you hundreds each year off your energy bill. If you are looking to purchase double-glazing, why not check out our article on the most popular window styles.

However, there is a short-term alternative. Window film kits start at around £10. Plus, this involves placing a layer of plastic film on the frames and using a hairdryer to smooth it out. Try shopping around for similar ideas.

A more traditional option is thick thermal curtains or Venetian blinds.

Both can help to exclude draughts from your windows, helping to keep the heat in your home.

Shop Around

There are plenty of comparison websites when it comes to finding the best deal on your energy bill. They are a quick and easy way of seeing if you could save more money. Unless your current provider offers you a better deal, there’s no harm in switching each year.

Other Alternatives

There are loads of other ways to budget on home insulation. Bleed your radiators and let trapped air out. Or, turn the thermostat down a touch on your radiators or boiler. Doing so can save you money each month, and you probably won’t even feel the difference in the temperature.

Home insulation doesn’t have to cost a fortune!

The post How To Maintain Home Insulation On A Budget appeared first on Windows Manchester.

However, the thought of having to declutter your home can often make you put up with the mess instead. Here are five simple steps to help you to declutter your home! 

Declutter Your Home One Room At A Time

Have you ever started a task and later wished you hadn’t? Well, don’t let this happen when you declutter your home. The last thing you want to do is try to tackle the whole house in one go. Your belongings will end up everywhere, and your patience won’t last very long. 

Set yourself goals. Write yourself a to-do list. Aim to declutter your home one room at a time. Try to tackle one room each week or a few rooms each weekend. Focusing on one room at a time will help you have a clearer image as you start to declutter your home. Furthermore, you will have a better idea of how you’re going to organise your belongings too! 

Declutter Your Home By Piling And Bagging

As you get going, you’ll start creating ‘keep’ piles and ‘bin’ piles, and ‘charity shop’ piles and ‘not sure’ piles. Piling everything up can cause mayhem in the middle of the room. You’ll begin to lose sight of what you’re keeping and throwing. Furthermore, you’ll end up with the same clutter but in a different part of the room.

Grab a bin bag and get throwing what you don’t want in there. Another bin bag can hold whatever you’re taking to the charity shop or rehoming. 

Declutter Your Home Brutally 

It can be hard to declutter your home when you’re attached to your belongings. You won’t want to throw away things that carry meaning to you. However, you must be honest. Are you going to use those items again? Ask yourself when you last used them and whether they’ll get used again. 

If you can’t bring yourself to get rid of something, find a way of storing the sentimental items safely instead. For example, if you keep an old newspaper for one article, try cutting it out and putting it in a frame or a scrapbook instead. 

Declutter Your Home And Get Digital

Let’s be honest. We’ve all got old VHS tapes and a rack full of CDs but no CD player. Moreover, we’ve probably all subscribed to film, TV series and music streaming companies too. Furthermore, every book you own is more than likely available as an e-Book instead. So, as lovely as your filled bookcase looks, do you need it?

Immerse yourself in the same entertainment that you love, but go digital instead. 

Storage Ideas

So you’ve pretty much done the tricky bit. You’ve sifted through your clutter. Now you’re left with what you’re keeping. Instead of shoving them back where they were before, invest in vacuum packs. These devices can shrink down and slot into smaller places, like under your bed or in cupboards. 

If you have any storage boxes, you could start filling these as a more permanent storage solution. Moreover, storage boxes are great for housing things you want to keep but don’t need yet. 

However, if you find that lots of your old things remain, or you can’t bring yourself to let go of them yet, why not rent a storage unit? A lot of storage units are available in different sizes and for different prices. You can access them almost whenever you need to. Think of it as a home from home. 

Summary

This guide is all you need to declutter your home. Don’t forget to separate your stuff into ‘keep’, ‘bin’ and ‘charity shop’ piles. Be brutal when getting rid. However, don’t forget there are always other ways to store your belongings tidily. 

The post How To Declutter Your Home In 5 Simple Steps appeared first on Windows Manchester.

If you don’t have the luxury of having a spare room in your house, we have plenty of home office ideas for small spaces. 

Turning A Wall Into A Home Office

When you don’t have much space, it is important to utilise what you do have. One idea is mounting a storage unit to the wall. If the storage unit has fold-away compartments, you can fold the shelves flat to the wall when not in use. Moreover, this provides you with plenty of space for both a desk and storage.

As an alternative home office idea, you could conceal your desk inside a cupboard. Doing so is ideal if you’re wanting to avoid your work computer taking over your living space. You can shut it away once you are done for the day too.

Floating Desks

A floating work desk can be mounted pretty much anywhere – whether it be in your bedroom, living room, or kitchen. You can pop a mirror on it so it can double as a dressing table. Or you can dress it up with ornaments when not in use.

Floating desks are ideal for keeping your home office minimal. Furthermore, this idea works well for keeping floors clear and the space tidy. Moreover, this can help the room look bigger, which is ideal if your house is small. 

If you have an open-plan kitchen, use a dividing wall as a computer station. A tall and narrow desk will house a laptop, and the space underneath will be ideal for storage. You can even use a breakfast bar stool or dining room chair at the desk. 

Cornering Off Rooms For Your Home Office

If you’re a fan of a freestanding desk, then corner off a section of your living room or kitchen and set up there. Offices usually keep you shut away from your social life. These days, social lives and work lives go hand-in-hand.

Creating a home office in the corner of a room is an ideal way to use space. Sloping roofs in attics make it tricky to fill the space. Yet, this home office idea makes the perfect place for a desk with shelving. 

Vertical storage solutions are also ideal for your home office. Be sure to make use of bookcases and shelving units, especially in any alcoves. 

Summary

You can set up your home office in any room of your house – from your kitchen to your attic. 

However, if you have a work surface and a comfortable seat, you can get back to your 9 to 5 from the comfort of your home. 

The post Home Office Ideas For Small Spaces appeared first on Windows Manchester.