Furnish With A Conscience

Sibella's Tips

• Always take your tape measure and measurements of your home's nook & crannies
• Cover imperfections with cushions or new tops
• Make sure to clean all furniture: both hard & soft
• Work within a colour palette
• Replace scratched glass & mirrors to give pieces a refreshed look
• Work with a theme: whether one you love or that suits your space/architecture
• Cane is so hot right now-spray it in bright colours
• Think in still-life: Select a collection of ceramics in one colour palette
• Keep a list of your room measurements
• Go in knowing what your looking for:to avoid being overwhelmed
• Look to fashion as well: a vintage scarf or teatowel becomes a cushion
• Fabric by the metre or remnenats becomes:
• Pillows, curtains, lampshades depending on how handy you are with a sewing machine.
• Re-upholester, adjust height of tables/book
• Shape is so important for armchairs & sofas when considering if considering simple slip-cover
• Do a wall of vintage frames with existing frames or just use the frame with your own pics & artwork. Collect them over time.
• Keep an eye out for vintage wallpaper: it could be a feature wall in your child's bedroom or stretch over an artist frame for some wall art
• Look for lamp bases & replace the shades for a more contemporary look in your colour choice.
• You can never have too many vases
• Not everything has too match: including plates, cutlery, cushions etc

Tara's Tips

Creating a beautiful home doesn't have to cost a fortune, consider furnishing 'second-hand' style and bring it all together with these tips and affordable ideas

• For one of the hottest looks in home décor right now, shop for new fabrics with bold geometric prints and use them to re-cover older style chairs. It's a cheeky blend of old with new and can bring a room bang up-to-date
• Painting old timber furniture? Invest in a can of stain sealer undercoat. This not only helps the paint to stick but also prevents stains and old yellow varnish from showing through
• Dining chairs with fabric seats are a cinch to update. Remove the pads, cover with new fabric then staple it to the underside.
• Keep an eye out for unusual glass bottles and vases, they're fantastic for adding style and colour to any room
• Big walls to fill but no budget for art? Create your own gallery with an eclectic mix of old prints, fames and paintings
• It's easy to bring a jumble of mismatched furniture together, just paint in your favourite colour and, hey presto, it will all naturally flow
• Plain white dinner sets certainly have their place but for a little fun every now and then, it's nice to add a dash of colour. Brightly coloured tableware can be purchased individually so you can mix and match, as well as add to your collection as often as you like
• Quickly turn an old TV cabinet into a new home office. A hole saw can be used to create an opening for cables, while sliding hinges allow shelves to glide in and out - ideal for a key board. And don't forget hooks, they're handy for tools, papers and pictures too.
• Forget a new dining setting, why not shop for a 'vintage' one instead? Often affordable, well made and full of charm, a second-hand find could be just what you need
• Coloured glass, hidden away in cupboards for years is enjoying an exciting comeback. So popular in years gone by, many styles were mass produced and can be relatively easy to find at great prices. For the secret to styling glass well, make sure it's always sparkly clean and display it near a window or under a lamp, to show off it's patterns and luminous qualities.

Gregory's Tips

• There are no set rules in terms of style; in fact I believe a room is made more interesting by mixing styles and using disparate references. However, the elements do need to work together and not compete, and there should be a thread of consistency between rooms to avoid a home becoming a theme park.
• Proportion is of the utmost importance, and keeping proportions correct. One can play with proportions to add interest to a room, however it must make sense and not appear as if it is a mistake.
• Keep the room classic and as timeless as possible, and then accessorise. Decoration can be changed easily to keep a room up-to-date. This will help the longevity of the design and avoiding the use of gimmicky fads that are so often overdone.
• If there is a concept - it should be done with an attitude. There is nothing less convincing than something half-baked or apologetic.
• Collections help show personality in a room, whether it be old trophies, books, antiques - even garden implements. It is fun to start a collection and Salvos Stores is the perfect place to start sourcing and adding to your collection. Therefore always be on the lookout for another piece to add to it when shopping.
• Never be afraid to mix old and new, it layers a room, which makes it look quirky and lived in.
• A pair of large-scale glass vases could make great table lamps - often using objects in a different context to their original function helps an interior maintain uniqueness and avoids the ‘cookie cutter' look.
• Don't be afraid of using bold colour. If you see a piece that might be the correct proportion but it is in a dull brown veneer - imagine it in a glossy black or red lacquer- it might be perfect.
• When looking for books to fill bookcases, check below the dustcover. Often tattered and stained dustcovers can be off putting, but the linen beneath is fine. Alternatively, cover a large collection of old books in shiny white (or coloured) paper for a quick update to a bookcase.
• Salvos Stores are also some of the best best places to look for old baskets - again this could be for a collection, and baskets are very effective accessories.

Kirrily's Tips

• Learn a few simple DYI tips, such as how to sand something back and how to give an item a coat of paint. Some things are a fantastic shape and size but just nee a lick of paint.
• Don't take to long to decide on something, the good pieces won't hang around long.
• Cushions are usually expensive to buy, keep interesting old pieces of fabric and re-cover cushions for an easy and inexpensive way to brighten a room.
• Silver ware & glass wear are fabulous finds and rarely need anything other than a quick polish. I have found some brilliant crystal and silver pieces that would otherwise have cost a fortune.
• Take a camera with you. It's a great way to ensure something will work in your home or office.
• Buy a few things at once. That way if you need delivery it's economical.
• Think about using clothing, curtains and table cloths for re-covering rather than buying extra fabric.
• Use black Japan. Black Japan is my favourite product. It's a light stain that gives anything wooden an antique dark finish. It's fantastic for absolutely anything wooden.

Akira's Tip

• I encourage everyone look at ways they can be friendly to our environment. Use your creativity and purchase some great items for the Salvation Army to create something unique and green.