There are a few places in our homes that are often left neglected; the upstairs landing area, the downstairs toilet and, of course, the hallway. All things considered, the hallway is actually a fairly important part of your home and how you and your guests feel about your home. It’s the first thing you see on your way in to your house and the last thing you see on your way out. For this reason we believe it’s vital to make the most of your hallway and make it as welcoming and practical as possible. 

1. Lighting

Us British don’t always have the best natural light but we have more than enough to brighten up your hallway. To make the most of this natural sunlight, make sure your windows are clean and don’t forget to clean the glass in your front door – you want to let in as much light as possible and dirty windows won’t help! If the panes in your door frame or windows are looking old, tatty and warn out, consider replacing them. Not only will new set of windows and a new front door allow in more light, but they will also contain the heat in your home, making it a warmer, more welcoming place to be. 

2. Declutter

We all know that hallways need to be practical. It’s often the home (or dumping ground) for all kinds of things; footballs, tennis rackets, ski jackets, summer jackets, rucksacks etc. If you have no other place to store all of this, consider buying storage units to keep it all tidy and out of the way. If it’s summer, grab all of your winter jackets and clothing like gloves and scarves and put them away in the attic. 

Nobody likes clutter so don’t let it be the first thing your guests see when they enter your house!

3. Paint, Paint, Paint

Paint your hallway with bright and natural colours. This allows the light to bounce around the hallway and will make it seem bigger than it actually it. Avoid brilliant or glossy white as it can be a little harsh; instead, try a warm magnolia or creamy yellow. It’s all about being fresh and airy!

4. Accessorise

Fit a beautiful mirror to reflect natural light around the hallway, it will also make the space look bigger and welcoming. Doesn’t everybody need to check themselves in the mirror before they leave the house?

Also consider a dressing table with flowers. It’s worth the investment of a few pounds to have fresh flowers to welcome you home at the end of a hard day and to make your hallway smell fresh and vibrant. It will also add a touch of colour to your hallway which will instantly make you feel happy to be home! Just remember to replace them every so often; there’s nothing worse than a vase of dead flowers!

The 50s was all about modernism and American “Kitsch” design but things changed rapidly during the 60s. Many would say that the 60s was and still is the pinnacle of home interior design which portrayed the truest sense of freedom and creative expression. Everybody wanted to be different and individual and this was reflected in people’s home design. Interior designers had free reign to shape the way we saw the world and no two homes were ever styled the same. 

The 50s were known for their beautiful pastel shades and clean lines but this was all to change in the 60s. Curves were the new must have interior design trademarks and everything was designed to emphasise this. This was to include curvaceous furniture and accessories. 

60s Iconic Design

Without question, this obsession with contemporary modernistic design was inspired by the rapidly maturing space age and the technology that was being developed at the time. The 60s iconic design was created by using bright vivid colours on the walls and large curvaceous fireplaces with contemporary curved furniture. Externally, even the windows and overall shape of house used curves and futuristic ideas. Front doors and window frames were painted in bright colours and garden gates were fitted to match. Everything was designed to look like it belonged in the future – all be it a very colourful future!

As the end of the sixties approached, psychedelic music and art was taking over the world and bands like The Beatles and Jimi Hendrix were spreading it across Europe and America. Design became increasingly brighter and bolder and everybody wanted to use unusual shapes and outrageous patterns. Lava lamps were all the rage and floral patterned wallpaper adorned the walls. However, the excitement and progression of 60s design was soon to lose steam as the global economy took a battering. As the mood changed, so too did interior design. The brightly coloured psychedelic designs soon became a thing of the past and the world of design was ready for a change.

The Late 70s and a World of Change

As the mood changed, the bright and outrageous colours of the 60s were replaced with more neutral tones. Floral prints continued to be popular during the 70s but with less outlandish designs. Natural shades of green, brown, yellow and orange were set off against shag carpets and leather furniture. As the UK conservative government took control, the country’s mood changed and this was reflected in a minimalist design approach. Home design became less important that home economics and homeowners were investing money into things like double glazed windows and new technology, instead of outrageous interior design. 

The 60s and 70s Golden Age of Interior Design

There has never been such a huge interest in interior design than there was during the 60s and 70s. It’s often labelled as the “Golden Age of interior Design” and for good reason. 

Opinion-leaders get their name for a reason—a lot of what they say and do is usually right. If you really want to discover the best front door, why not buy one similar to your favourite movie star’s? 

Jerry Seinfeld

Seinfeld, most famous for his show, “Seinfeld,” owns a £20 million house including 24 rooms, 13 bathrooms, 13 fireplaces, 2 pools, a tennis court, a bowling alley, a wine cellar, and a gym. Not to worry though, he also has a guest cottage. 

Britain is said to have some of the draughtiest property in the Europe. We’ve all experienced this in our own homes or whilst out and about. If you can feel a cold draught coming in through your windows, there will also be warm air leaving your property. This means that all the money you are spending on heating your home, for yourself and your loved ones, is being wasted. Draught proofing your windows will save money as you won’t have to pay so much to maintain a comfortable living temperature. Typically, a comfortable temperature for most families is around 18 degrees Celsius. 

Problems with Draught Proofing Windows

Housing in Britain is incredibly old and much of it is protected from modern upgrades such as double glazing windows. Another problem for those who don’t have restrictions, and are allowed to install double glazing windows, is that there is an issue with price. Double glazing can cost many thousands of pounds to have installed, money which many families simply don’t have. 

Here are some cost effective ways to draught proof your windows

Draught Proofing Strips

Draught-proofing strips are adhesive tape strips which you can quickly and easily stick around the frame of the window. This fills the gap between the window and the frame. Draught-proofing strips are great for old, single-glazed windows, but are also great for making modern double-glazed windows more efficient. 

Self-adhesive Foam Draught Proofing Strips

Self-adhesive foam strips are the cheapest and easiest to install but often get damaged. A damaged adhesive strip is pretty much useless so if you do use this type of draught proofing, make sure to monitor the condition on a regular basis. 

Metal and Plastic Draught Proofing Strips

Metal and plastic strips are fitted with rubber wipers and/or brushes. These cost a little more money but last much longer. When fitting metal or plastic strips be sure to check that the strip is the right size for the gap in your window. A strip which is too big will get in the way and make it difficult to close the window. This is obviously a bad thing when you are trying to draught proof your windows.  If the strips are too small, there will still be a gap that will let the cold air into your house and the hot air out. 

Draught Proofing Sash Windows

Sash windows, which are very common in old British houses, are not easy to seal with foam strips. To draught proof sash windows, it is best to use brush strips which are more versatile and resilient. 

Draught Proofing Windows That You Don’t Use

It is quite common in older British houses to have one or two windows that are never used. Unless you plan to use them in the future, it can often be a good idea to use a silicon sealant to permanently seal the window. 

IMPORTANT

Remember that it is pointless draught proofing your windows if you don’t also draught proof your exterior and internal doors. Energy efficient doors, such as Yale composite doors, can drastically increase your property’s energy efficiency. It is also important to consider other insulation such as loft and wall insulation. All of which will soon be available via the new Government home improvement scheme; the Green Deal. 

As Mad Men series 5 approaches our screens we take some inspiration from this dreamily seductive era, in all its glory. With Mad Men becoming increasingly popular with every season, fashion has followed suit (pardon the pun). Men are proudly sporting slick-backed hair and earth-toned suits and women across the world have delved into the world of vintage floral-print designs and edgy haircuts. Naturally, home design has been touched by Mad-Men-Mania and more and more people are looking for ways to add that touch of class to their property.

Don Draper’s 60's Colour Palette

Don Draper’s home is full of light and airy, warm-toned colours. Pastel blues, browns and olive greens are set off with clean white borders and natural wooden floors. It really encompasses the “American Dream” and for those of you who really want to live the dream, try adding a white picket fence and a classic red front door. Ahhhh...the good life!

Mad Men Furniture – Progressive 60’s Design

Furniture Design of the 60’s was bold and progressive. 60’s designers created the benchmark for what followed in the 70’s and directly impacted the likes of IKEA and other major furniture designers of the modern world. What we’re really after, however, is the real deal. Original 60’s furniture design.

You can easily recognise its boxy, straight edged lines. Often featuring dark wood panels softened by symmetrical, light brown cushions and brightly coloured pillows. As the space-race took over and the world became obsessed with futurism, chrome replaced the wood grain PVC became the must have furniture. For the Mad Men look, make sure to use neutral colours and accessorise with luxurious items such as crystal whisky decanters and dramatic lighting units. Large table lamps work well with coloured lamp shades on low level tables.

Mad Men Bedroom Styling – 5 Star Luxury

The 60’s was infamous for flower power, peace and never ending summers. However, in Mad Men we see a different side. Driven by success, money, and power, everything about Don Draper is driven by luxury. His bedroom houses a huge bed, with luxurious silk linen, extravagant puffy-pillows and a head board that takes up more space than most of us have.

The key to getting a 60’s, Mad Men inspired bedroom is to go with lots of cream and white bed sheets/covers, contrasted with rich wooden bed stands. Think of an expensive hotel room – that’s what Don Draper would do!

60’s Kitchen Design

Don Draper’s kitchen is a warm, down to earth place where femininity rules. If you want the look, make sure to incorporate lots of wooden features and floral print designs.

Vintage accessories like teapots and coffee cup sets are easy and cheap to find and will instantly give your home the “Betty Draper” vibe.

Energy bills have been rising over the past decade and research done by Ofgem has indicated that customers on the cheapest duel fuel deals have seen a doubling in their annual bill over the past 7 years.

The average dual fuel bill in the UK currently sits at £1200 per household.  We would all like to spend less on energy bills and by following these simple steps maybe we can save some considerable money in the long term.

1.  Use Less

Ok this sounds simple but we all know if you use less gas and electricity then you will spend less on the bill each month.  One way to do this is to know how much you are currently using by having a ‘Smart Meter’. A smart meter will display the current rate of consumption for the gas and electricity that you are using. By closely monitoring which appliances use the most energy you will be able to see where you are wasting energy. Smart meters can identify those appliances that use energy when they are on ‘stand by’.

2. Insulate More

If you have a super insulated house it will cost a fraction to heat it. The fact is that the UK spends far too much on heating buildings that are poorly insulated. Start at the top of your house and work your way down. Do you have loft insulation installed? Is it the right thickness? Loft insulation is a quick and cheap way to save on your heating bills. If you have a flat roofed property these too can be insulated to help save you money.  Check if your property has cavity walls, by insulating them you can save money and increase the internal ambient temperature of your home.  Are your external doors draft proofed? Properly insulated doors are one of the highest ways to gain a good Return On Investment on your heating bills. 

3. Generate Your Own Power

If you can generate your own energy you won’t have to buy energy off generate the power companies.  There are many ways to make electricity and hot water. You could install a ground source heat pump or an air source heat pump to generate power in your own home. Both systems take either the ambient air or ground temperature and increase it, much like the way a fridge works but in reverse, instead of making things cooler they make them warmer. If you have the space and money you could also consider solar power which can both heat and light your home.

4. Shop Around

Switching energy supplier is the quickest and most cost effective way of saving money. If you haven’t switched supplier in the past 18 months then there is most probably a better deal to be had. ‘Switching’ has become a massive market in its own right and there are a multitude of websites to help you switch.

5. Modernise 

If your main source of heating is a gas boiler, how old is it? New boilers are far more efficient at heating and will pay for their costs faster than you think. How do you light your home? If you are still using incandescent light bulbs, things have moved on. Modern LED lights use a minimal amount of electricity, up to 80%.  Lighting control allows you to better manage when your lights come on and off, do you really need a light coming on every time a pet walks across the garden? Could you benefit from a new composite door? Also look at the way you control your heating. Do you have thermostatic valves on all the radiators? By controlling the heat in each room you can add to your savings.

There are ways to save thousands of pounds on your energy bill, but everyone’s needs and budgets are different.  By measuring closely what you spend on your energy bills, you can highlight the areas that you need to concentrate on. Hopefully within in this post we have shown you things that you can adapt for your individual needs. 

I was going to start this off by talking about how difficult it is to sell a house in the current economic climate. The property market has not been at its best for some years now and finding a buyer for your house isn't easy. But then it struck me. It has never been easy to sell a property and there have always been many different aspects involved in generating interest in your property. So why do some people sell their houses quick than others? I believe it's down to one thing; curb appeal!

Curb appeal refers to the very first impression a person gets when he/she sees your property for the first time. Admittedly, selling a house quickly is by no means an exact science, but, if there's one thing that we know for sure is this - good first impressions are vital if you are ever going to sell your property! Here are a few tips to improve your home's curb appeal. 

1. Step out of your skin

Stop thinking of your house as YOUR home. Next time you come home from work, stand outside your house for longer than you would normally. Try to imagine what a potential buyer would think when they see it for the first time. 

2. Make Note of Your First Impressions

What is the very first thing that you see? Is it a good thing or a bad thing? If it is a good thing, try to think how you could emphasise this.

e.g. Do you see a beautiful front lawn? Could you add a border of flowers or shrubs to make it even better? 

Or do you see something really bad? How could you fix this problem so that it doesn't put off potential buyers?

e.g. Do you see mould growing on the front door? Maybe you could easily clean the mould off and make the door fresh again. If it needs more work, do it! If you really want to sell your house, it is worth spending a couple of hours painting your front door!

3. Be Nosey

Potential buyers often get to the property that they are viewing earlier than the estate agent so that they can have a look around the garden and exterior of the house. Imagine you are a buyer looking for a new home. Walk around your house, as the buyer would. Is it clean and tidy? Does the garden need a lot of work? Is there rubbish flying around the path? Are the windows clean? Is it clean and tidy inside if you look through the window? If there is work to be done, DO IT! It is not your home any more, it's a show home!

All of these things add to people's first impressions and most potential buyers will make up their mind about a property, before they even step inside!

4. Improve Your Evening Curb Appeal with Outdoor Lighting

You may laugh and think that installing outdoor lighting is a bit OTT, but think about it. Most potential buyers will go to visit your house after work or in the evening, when the light is poor. If your house looks dark, dangerous or spooky, they won't want to come back to see more. 

Use simple low voltage lights to border your garden and foot path, and use them to highlight any particularly strong features. Make sure the entrance is well lit and looks warm, safe and inviting. Be sure to avoid football pitch flood lights!

5. Be Invisible

When a potential buyer views your property, they are trying to imagine themselves living there and how their lives would be if they bought the house. Get rid of any personal possessions which would make it difficult for them to do so. This includes things like your Manchester United flag or even leaving the drive way empty. They should be imagining their own car parked there and your car may spoil this mental image. 

Quick Tips for Better Curb Appeal

• A new front door and a lick of paint will give your house a major uplift. But if you can't afford this, make sure the front door is clean and that the hardware is polished. You can also clean moss and mould of the front of the house, even if you can't afford to paint it. 
• Even if you can't afford to re-landscape your garden, there is no excuse for not de-weeding and mowing the lawn. This is a must!
• Fresh flowers in the window! - For a few pounds you can make your house look fresh and vibrant!

Choosing a new front door can take serious time and dedication. We all know how important it is to create that all important first impression and there are many factors to take into consideration. Here we will discuss which door colours work well on different colour houses. Hopefully it will help you make your decision!

Door colours that look good on green houses

If you have a light green house, it's likely that you are keen on natural, bright colours. For light green painted houses we would suggest following the natural colour pallet by installing a wood grained door. Keeping things clean and simple, it looks especially nice with a clean white door trim and flowers in the windows. This is great if you want a summer-fresh country feel. For dark green houses,  however,  you could also try a red door to make a bold statement. Try adding a cream door trim to keep things classy. 

Door colours that look good on blue houses

Blue doors are great for houses by the sea or for those that wish to create that classic nautical theme. If you have a light blue house, try a dark red door to warm up the feel of your home and always stick to a white door trim. Dark navy doors also work well on light blue houses but can sometimes make the house seem cold. 

 Door colours that look good on red brick houses

There's nothing more classic than a red brick house fitted with a bold black door. This classic look can be further enhanced with a clean white door trim and brass hardware features. This look is great for those who mean business and want to create an executive feel to their home. 

Door colours that look good on pink houses

Pink houses instantly create a warm, happy first impression but the wrong door colour could easily turn it into a horror story. Avoid fitting coloured doors as it can often be "too much". Instead, opt for a simple black or white door and try to keep the door trim the same colour as the house. This will make sure your beautiful pink house doesn't end up looking like a liquorice allsort!

Door colours that look good on grey houses

Grey houses give off a calm, understated feel which could easily be destroyed by the wrong colour door. The most common mistake people make is fitting an extremely bright coloured door in an attempt to compensate for the lack of colour elsewhere. In reality, the contrast is too strong and the house ends up looking wrong. Instead, try a simple navy blue door with clean white trim. This will offer "just enough" colour. Dark reds of maroons also work well with grey houses. 

Door colours that work well on brown houses

Brown houses give off a warm, homely feel and simple, natural coloured doors work best. Try a simple cream or white coloured door to enhance the warm colour tones or fit a black door to create a stronger first impression. Just be sure to avoid bright colours such as red, blue or yellow. Also, green doors tend to look good on brown houses as they are in keeping with the natural feel of the home. 

Door that look good on yellow houses

Yellow houses instantly give off that summertime-hippy-vibe and remind us of family holidays in the sun. If you have a yellow house, it is important not to add too much colour by adding a brightly coloured door. Instead, aim for for a simple black or white door and allow the colour of the house to do the talking. White doors add to the warm summer-feel vibe and black doors promote a more classic look.  

Doors that look good on white houses

White houses offer the most versatility and almost all coloured doors look great. Choosing a door colour for a white house is more about creating the feel that you want. Black, blue, red or any bold dark colours work well for those that want to create an air of power or social influence. For others who have white houses and want to create a bright, cheerful and warm feel for their home, try lighter toned colours or wood grain effect doors. White trim also compliments the subtle elegance of a white home. 

Remember, Yale composite doors come in a wide range of colours and you can also adjust the door trim and hardware features by using our door configurator tool. This means that you can see what your new door will look like on your home, before you even buy it!

Tools You Will Need to Hang Your Door

• A flat headed or Phillips screwdriver
• A power drill and a steady hand
• A chisel and plane
• A try square
• A mallet
• Something to make marks with - pencil or marker
• A two metre tape measure
• A set of good quality hinges with screws to fit
• Wedges (to hold the door steady)
• Sand paper

At Yale door, we are passionate about our quality and efficient door fitting service. If you buy a composite door from us, we can have the door measured and fitted within a week. However, for those of you who are more adventurous and want to hang your door yourself, here is a little "how to" guide. 

Step 1. - Remove and Measure the Door

Use the appropriate screwdriver to remove the scews from the hinges on your existing door. You may want to use the wooden blocks to support the weight of the door, so as it doesn't fall on top of you. 

Using your tape measure, measure the door frame. Be sure to measure the width and length at more than one point as it may not be perfectly aligned. 

NOTE: Remember to leave 5mm at the bottom of the door to allow for ground clearance. You may need to adjust this if you have a thick carpet. You should also leave 3mm on the top and sides of your new door.

Step 2. - Cut and Sand Door to Required Size

Using a saw, cut the door to the required measurements. This is best done in small stages until the door fits the door frame perfectly. 

NOTE: Remember that you can always shave off extra bits of wood to make the door fit but if you cut off too much, the door will be useless. 

Step 3. - Check the Fit 

Smooth off any rough parts of the door, this is where you can get the "prefect" fit and also make it look pretty. 

Step 4. - Carve the Door to Fit the Hinges

Using a pencil or a marker pen, mark out the hinge positions onto the door. Little by little, use  a chisel to cut out the wood until the hinges are flush against the surface of the door. 

NOTE: Again, remember to shave the wood away in small stages and to check the fit as you go along. 

Step 5. - Fit the Hinges to the Door

Place the hinges where you want them to go and use a pencil or marker to mark where the screws will go. Using a 3mm drill bit, drill holes for the screws. Place the door into the frame (you may need help at this point), add one or two screws and test the door fits correctly. If the door is tight, use sandpaper to make your final adjustments. If you are happy with the fit of the door, screw in all of the screws. 

Home is a place where you and your family should feel warm, safe and secure.  We spend a great deal of time and money, making sure we have everything we need and want in our homes and let's not forget about the emotional energy we invest!

Do you ever think about how much money you have spent on new TVs, furniture, computers and music systems? Even the smallest of houses have thousands of pounds worth of contents and if you include the value of what you keep in your shed or garage, we are talking big money. The problem is that there are people out there who spend a considerable amount of time thinking about the value of what is in your house and how they can get at it. Criminals know what to look out for and what to avoid, they are often well versed in their trade and your warm, cosy home can either attract them in or put them off. What does your home say to them?

Burglary in the UK is a serious problem and it is estimated that a burglary takes place every 37 seconds, with the average burglar getting away with over a thousand pounds worth of stuff. Adding insult to injury, they often only sell it on for pennies, where as you have to pay full price to replace it! However, I think we would all agree that the emotional turmoil this causes is beyond monetary value and you can’t put a price on feeling safe and secure. Knowing that somebody has been in your private space, looking through your personal possessions is heartbreaking and terrifying. People often feel targeted and humiliated after they have been robbed and it really can be difficult to get over.

So here we have a selection of our top tips to help you make your house more secure and discourage those pesky burglars.

1. Don’t Invite Them In

Most burglars are opportunists. If they walk past your house and see an empty drive way with an open window, chances are they’ll jump straight in and take as much as they physically can. In some cases they may even return with back-up to really clear you out! It may sound absurdly obvious but make sure your windows are locked and don’t assume upper level windows are inaccessible. They aren’t called cat burglars for nothing and many of them are as nimble as they are crafty!

2. Put Them On Stage

Most burglaries take place under the cover of darkness which reduces the chances of the burglar being seen. Invest in some automatic outdoor lights which turn on when they sense movement. Chances are, the burglar will be put off by the light and will move on to the next target. 

3. Give Them Lots Of Attention

Criminals don’t like attention. Fit an alarm system and make sure you use it! It may not stop them entering, but it won’t make things easy for them once they’re in. Also, if they see that your house is alarmed, they are unlikely to add you to their to-do-list.

4. Don’t Tell Them Your Plans

Like most industries, burglary has benefited from technology. A sad point is that only 50% of burglaries are carried out by strangers. This means that the other 50% are burgled by somebody they know. It may be hard to not brag about your 3 week luxury holiday to Barbados but be careful who you tell. You never know who is reading your Facebook status or your twitter tweets.  To a burglar, “I’m going to Barbados for 3 weeks tomorrow” translates as “I won’t get in your way if you want to burgle my house at some point over the next 3 weeks”.

5. Keep Them Out

Invest in solid windows and a strong composite front door. Desperate criminals know all the tricks of the trade and can easily break in if they have the right tools. Our doors are all police approved and secured by design which could make you eligible for a home insurance discount. They are incredibly safe and secure and criminals will know to avoid them. Just don’t leave a key under the mat for them!