// Dorm Room Decor

How to style your uni room on a student budget

1.// Quote Pillow 2.// Fluffy Pillow 3.// Jacquard Pillow 

4.// 'Get Shit Done' Notepad 5.// Art Print 6.// Throw 7.// Light 

8.// Rug 9.// Laundry Bag 10.// Door Mat 11.// Basket

Whether you are just arriving this weekend or have already had the past week to settle in, you will have quickly realised that your student room is seriously lacking in style and comfort.

But don't fret, with a few co-ordinated budget buys, you can quickly transform your dull and lifeless room into a homely and comfortable place to hang with your new friends and start your studying. 

Here are my tips on styling your student room:

1.// Pick a style/colour and stick to it - 

As in the above picture, you can see that choosing co-ordinated pieces can quickly bring a small room together. 

2.// Buy lots of cushions and throws - 

Make your room inviting to friends with comfy cushions and cuddly blankets for box set marathons (trust me, you will have lots of these). 

3.// Stylish storage -

Lots of clutter can make small rooms seem very messy, very quickly. Try and keep your surfaces clutter free with some stylish storage. Buy or DIY some statement boxes or baskets to keep your nick-nacks in on top of your selves. Or even make a display out of your accessories with a quirky jewellery stand. 

4.// Statement walls -

Perk your wall space up with some on-trend prints or posters. Either stick them up with washi tape for an extra bit of pattern or colour, or frame them and 'hang' them up on the walls with this amazing invention (super strong, but easily removable sticky strips)

5.// Extra seating -

Bean bags and pouffes are great for when you need some extra seating when your mates hang out in your room but also as the perfect reading spot when you don't want to sit at your desk a minute longer!

6.// Mood lighting - 

Buy a statement desk lamp for an added wow factor or string up some fairy lights over your bed for some evening ambiance.  

Enjoy the best three years of your life!

Helena xxx

// Pattern in the Powder Room

Would you go bold in the bathroom?

My partner isn't quite as adventurous as me when it comes to decorating, so I tend to relegate the crazy prints and colours to artwork, cushions and accessories.

But I just can't keep the need for a big expanse of pattern at bay.

So this was my thinking..letting myself go crazy with the downstairs loo! 

It's the perfect plan.

(birds, dalmatian)

Can you imagine the wow factor your guests would get?!

And look at that dalmatian print paired with the malachite mirror. I die.

(zebra, flowers)

I mean who doesn't want zebras all over their walls right?

Here are a few of my favourite wallpaper prints:

(1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.)

Which one is your favourite? 

I'm in love with the bees. Can someone make me a notebook in this print?! If you've got the skills, seriously, let me know. 

Helena xxx

// Pattern Play

1.// mirror - marks and spencer 2.// bookends - alexander&pearl 3.// armchair - stuart scott 
4.// pillows - Idyll Home, Heals 5.// Light - alexander&pearl  6.// Artificial flowers - Habitat 7.// Coffee table - Heals 
8.// Rug - House of Fraser 9.// Print - Heals 10.// Chair - stuart scott

For me, 2014 is all about bringing pattern, pattern and MORE PATTERN into my home. Use contrasting prints mixed with statement pieces, such as the Sputnik-style chandelier from Alexander & Pearl to make a big impact this season.

// Spring Interior Trends

1.// Chopping board - John Lewis 2.// Plate - Marks & Spencer 3.// Le Creuset cookware - House of Fraser 4.// Floor lamp - Homebase 5.// Bowls - Idyll Home 6.// Pillow - Habitat 7.// Towel ladder - John Lewis 8.// Mug - Heals 9.// Blue vase - John Lewis 10.// Bluebellgray rug - John Lewis

1.// Floral art - Laura Ashley 2.// Cup & saucer - Laura Ashley 3.// Bluebell gray pillow -John Lewis 4.// Cupboard - Laura Ashley 5.// Bell jar - Marks & Spencer 6.// Lamp - Homebase 7.// Armchair - Marks & Spencer 8.// Paper decorations - Laura Ashley 9.// Coffee table - John Lewis

1.// Print - Heals 2.// Candlebra - Habitat 3.// Pillows - Heals 4.// Light - Alexander&Pearl 5.// Mirror - Marks & Spencer 6.// Copper candle holder - H&M 7.// Mug - John Lewis 8.// Basket - Habitat 9.// Coffee table - Heals 10.// Rug - Debenhams 11.// Lamp - Heals

// Christmas Gift Guide: For the Homemaker

1.// stag head jewellery holder: £25 Urban Outfitters 2.// measuring cups: £32 Anthropologie 3.// 'Sup' doormat: £32.75 Nordstrom 4.// Decorating with Style : £16.99 Abigail Ahern - Anthropologie 5.//  Jo Malone Peony and Blush Candle:  £39 Selfridges 6.// love me love my dog cushion: Barbara Coupe - Selfridges 7.// cake stand: £6.99 H&M 8.// faux fur blanket: £49.99 H&M 9.// faux roses tray: £45 Next 10.// limited edition cups: £8 Anthropologie 11.// glass jewellery box: £15 Urban Outfitters

I've finally put my procrastination to good use and have created a series of gift guides for those of you struggling/hesitant to find the time to waste hours trudging around the shops during the year's busiest retail period.

Each guide covers purse friendly to purse stretching items and hopefully cater for a variety of tastes. I have to admit, that compiling these was definitely a struggle for my self-control. Pretty much everything I have included (bar a few of the 'For Him' gifts) I would quite happily receive myself. Always a key determinate for a good gift. 

This first compilation is my favourite. As previously mentioned in an earlier post, I have recently moved into my first home. So this is basically more of wish list for me. Any friends and family reading this...THIS IS A GIGANTIC HINT. Especially the limited edition alphabet cups. Oh and the faux fur throw, and the stag jewellery holder, and the hipster doormat..OK, just everything alright!