I’ve been spending a bit of time travelling around recently and as such, I’ve realised that I quite like a hotel room. The simple style and crisp white bedding speak to the minimalist in me and I find staying in a hotel really peaceful.

However, there’s nothing quite like coming home to your own bed after a trip, is there? Sinking into the familiar mattress in your own bedroom is so lovely when you get back home and you always get a great night’s sleep.

So, I’ve decided that the best way for me to combine both of my favourite places to sleep is by refreshing my bedroom to give it a bit of a hotel ambience. This doesn’t mean spending a fortune on remodelling the room to create more space, it’s simply a few touches that make all the difference.

Here’s how I’ve carried on that peaceful hotel atmosphere in my own home:

An upscaled bed

The last time I went away, I realised what it was about a hotel room that makes me sleep so well – the bed. Often in hotels, a double bed is two singles attached together, such as in the last hotel I stayed, which is the room I’m aiming to recreate (above). This means the sleeping space is so much larger than a bed you’d find at home, plus your own movement doesn’t affect the other person in the bed.

There are two factors at play here – the size and the support. I’d previously enjoyed having a king-size bed but the bedframe was too long at the foot of the bed, so I’d always knock my shins on it as I walked past.

I wanted to find a super king size width, but with a less protrusive frame, which led me to the Origin luxe upholstered bed frame. The floorspace it covers is 2340mm x 1880mm, which is actually shorter than my old bed – so it gives me a bit more space in the room, which only adds to the spacious hotel feeling I’m aiming for.

Plus, it just looks really luxurious: the deeply padded headboard is upholstered in a calming oaty linen colour and it provides comfortable back support for sitting up in bed while reading. Having a larger bed feels more opulent, further adding to the hotel look and feel.

The mattress is another key factor in ensuring a wonderful night’s sleep, both at home and away. After trying many different mattresses over the years, I’ve discovered that it’s rather difficult to find the right one to sooth my back issues.

With a sedentary computer-based job combined with a very active lifestyle, I often find myself shuffling into bed at night feeling stiff and sore. I want to wake up refreshed and restored so choosing the right mattress has been key. And I think I’ve finally found the solution with the Origin Hybrid Pro mattress that was recently gifted to me.

I’ve only slept on it for a few days so far but it already seems to have made a big difference to my creaking back and hips. From the very first moment I laid on it, the extra plush pillowtop surface was just so sinkably soft that I didn’t want to get back up.

During that first full night, I fell asleep straight away and slept deeper and longer than I have before – even sleeping-in by an extra hour and needing to set an alarm clock to make sure I got up in time for work! It has 7 ergonomic zones providing enhanced support and pressure relief so I practically bounced out of bed that morning, feeling thoroughly refreshed.

A deep-filled duvet

Of course, I now realise that having a bigger bed means my old bedding and duvet no longer fit. But that’s okay because it was definitely time for me to replace my old duvet – I’d had it for years and it was losing fullness by the day.

To achieve that hotel-inspired feeling, I think the duvet should be puffy, deeply down-filled and heavy; the hallmarks of luxury bedding. When looking for a duvet I decided on a goose feather and down 13.5-tog duvet, crafted from pure cotton for freshness.

This should suit all seasons – even the cold winters we get here at the coast – and it feel thoroughly luxurious. From the moment I started to fluff it up, I could tell it was going to give me the hotel-inspired look and feel I wanted to achieve.

In fact, the big square pockets of natural down and feather filling are so poufy that they’re visible even with the duvet cover on, lending a soft, cocooning feel to the bed that makes you want to dive straight in.

When shopping for new bedding, I also chose a luxurious quilted mattress protector with an advanced allergen defence system that makes it ideal for allergy sufferers. Plus, it helps to extend the lifespan of the mattress, which I certainly want to preserve and protect so that it can provide years of comfort.

Pressed sheets

Crisp white sheets are a staple of all hotel rooms and I love that smooth look of a neatly made bed. The key to achieving that hotel-sheets feeling is that bedding has been ironed – something that makes a huge difference to the look but isn’t really necessary in daily life.

I’m never going to be someone who wants to iron their bedding (or anything else, if I can get away with it!) so, if I’m going to do it in order to achieve a hotel-inspired look, it has to be a quick process.

I bought an easy-care soft-touch bedding set that is quick drying and is super-fast to iron. You can whizz a hot iron over it and it’s done in minutes rather than the hours of pressing and steaming required with crisp linen or cotton. Plus, it dries on the line in no time, saving you the cost of the energy to tumble dry it.

After washing and drying the sheets for the first time, I actually set a stopwatch and timed myself to see if I could iron them quickly. It took me about 7 minutes to press the duvet cover and pillowcases – and most of that time was taken up by ironing out the creases where it had been previously packaged, so I bet it’ll be even quicker next time.

Hotel beds rarely have anything else other than a couple of throw cushions, so I’ve added some bolster cushions (that came with our sofa) to complete the bed. Combined with my floor-to-ceiling wardrobes keeping all my clothing and daily essentials stored out of sight, the room is really starting to feel like a hotel room; clean, crisp, neat and minimalist.

For me, that equals relaxation, so I’m thoroughly happy with how the master bedroom looks after its mini makeover. I didn’t have to redecorate the room or change the flooring to achieve my desired hotel-inspired ambience; it was more about how it feels to sleep in the room and that has certainly been improved by the luxurious proportions of the frame, the comfortably supportive mattress and the fresh natural bedding.

I hope this article has inspired you to refresh your own room to create a hotel-inspired look. Please let me know in the comments below what touches you’ve used to achieve a hotel vibe in your master bedroom and please share your own hacks for enjoying a staycation at home.

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Some items in this blog post have been gifted to me and the pink links indicate a gifted product, affiliate link or information source. All thoughts and opinions in this post are based on my own experience and I am not responsible for your experience

We could all do with some additional storage in our homes, couldn’t we? With more belongings coming into our homes than are leaving, it’s inevitable that we end up with a fuller-than-manageable interior.

This can sometimes lead to feelings of overwhelm and stress, especially if your possessions fill every available surface or have transformed from collections into clutter. And it’s natural to feel anxious in an untidy home – evolution has wired our brains to be stressed by mess.

But don’t despair – even the smallest home has the potential to deliver extra storage space if you know where to look for it.

I’ve personally made the most of every nook in my own home, so I’m here to share some ideas for expanding the storage capacity of your home to accommodate your favourite items, valuables and essentials.

Clothing clutter

This is a category of belongings that tends to get out of hand quite easily. Simply adding a few new pieces to your wardrobe every month can soon make it feel very full.

And if you’re a bargain hunter who loves a rummage in a charity store or a browse on Vinted, your wardrobe may already be filled to bursting.

If you regularly find clothes spilling out onto a chair or maybe you even have a ‘floordrobe’, it’s time to ensure you’ve got enough storage for all your clothing.

I’ve found that a freestanding wardrobe is still a magnet for clutter as you’re likely to push shoes underneath it and pile boxes or baskets on top of it, gathering dust.

So what I’ve done is get a built-in wardrobe from floor to ceiling, which has drawers and rails inside it to offer ample space for everything. You can get a bespoke wardrobe company to supply a built-in closet that fills the available space perfectly, so that every inch is used.

Home office mess

If you’re working from home like me, you’ll know how easily the mess from your work can spill over into your living spaces. This is especially true if you’re working at a dining table or in the kitchen rather than at a dedicated work station.

So, how about fitting a desk, shelves and cabinetry on the landing if you’ve got space, in an alcove or even into the angled eaves of your loft?

Putting cupboard doors on the front of the workspace allows you to shut it away at the end of the working day to keep clutter out of sight – and to prevent you from becoming stressed by your work to-do list outside of office hours.

Entryway excess

I’ve found that a common dumping ground is around any entrance to your home – the hallway, porch, back door and so on. That’s where we throw down bags, pile up papers and kick off our shoes when we get home.

Let’s face it, we just want to relax when we get in and not have to worry about tidying up the things that accumulate around our doorways. So this is a key spot to add some storage.

If you’ve got space in the hallway, a console table with a built-in drawer can house those letters and on-the-way-out essentials. Even the smallest space can hang a key box and shelf on the wall, or you could create a ‘Command Centre’ to keep those items organised, like I did.

Could you create a ‘boot room’ in a porch or utility room, perhaps? Or even under the staircase? Built-in cupboards can keep everything out of sight, from wellie boots and coats to picnic blankets and bags-for-life.

Other secret storage

If you’ve already got those storage options in place, now’s the time to walk around your house and look for every possible space you could use to stow some stuff to keep it out of your eyeliner and lower those clutter-caused stress levels.

An often-overlooked space is above doorways. There’s probably a small strip of wall that you’re not using for anything else, so you could consider adding a bookshelf (with a barrier at the front to keep the books safely stowed) or a small cupboard, like a kitchen wall cabinet.

Do you have bay windows in your home? That’s the ideal spot for a built-in banquette, which could provide seating as well as storage space inside the ottoman.

And that brings us nicely onto adding ottomans at the foot of the bed or some sliding underbed drawers like my DIY ones. In the living room, you could choose a coffee table with a drawer or an upholstered footstool with storage inside it.

It’s possible to get opening side panels for a bath, which has storage inside for cleaning products or toiletries. You can add cabinets and shelves around sinks, or you could cover a whole bathroom wall with a shallow mirrored cupboard that keeps everything tucked out of sight and reflects the light to create a more airy, spacious feel.

I hope these ideas will help you to find some extra storage space in your home so that you can stow your possessions out of sight, thereby creating a tidier and more relaxing interior. Please share your own storage hacks in the comments below, I’d love to hear your DIY storage solutions.

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Seeing as it’s the school holidays at the moment, I thought it would be the perfect time to get your children involved in a decorating project.

There’s never a good time for their room to be turned upside-down during term-time so why not make a plan to makeover their space during the Easter break, half term or the summer holiday?

There are so many benefits to getting your child involved in decorating their own room. Not only will they feel more grown-up and respected when their choices are approved, but it also lets them take ownership of their space and hopefully they’ll keep it tidier as a result..!

Plus, if they’re spending time in a room filled with their favourite colours, artwork and textures, they’ll feel happier day-to-day too.

Allowing your child or teenager to plan and decorate their own room not only lets them get creative and use their imagination, but it also means they’ll need to work out quantities of paint or wallpaper to cover the square footage of the walls – therefore fulfilling some learning objectives at home.

Primary school-aged children will love selecting colours for their room. And, youngsters might want to express their creativity by creating a mural across one wall. It’s easy to achieve this on a budget with tester pots of paint and a bit of imagination. Can you picture just how fun a mural would be for a child to paint?!

You might want to give older children a budget for furnishings so they can create a buying list or a spreadsheet, enabling them to compare the cost of different materials and products and learn how to balance a budget.

Also, while they’re physically completing the decorating project with you – painting, wallpapering, DIYing, upcycling, building flat-packed furniture – they’ll be learning useful life skills for the future. The personal development benefits are endless!

Giving a teenager the freedom to decorate their room allows them to express their personality. They can select artwork that reflects their interests but in a subtle way. You can explore trendy prints and posters from Posterstore to find photographs of locations from films they love, like Harry Potter, inspirational quotes or posters by their favourite artists.

It’s important to allow teens to create a space that makes them feel grown-up. And the added bonus is that the room probably won’t need redecorating again in the future if they choose timeless colours and designs – after they move out, you can simply add a double bed and it becomes a guest room!

I believe that planning and decorating their room is such a fun project to work on together and they certainly won’t get bored – there are so many options available and interesting tasks to take on that they’ll have the motivation to see it through to completion.

I hope you’ll have fun together if you plan a room decorating project with your child or teen. Let me know in the comments below how it turns out and I’d love to hear your hacks for creating a fun room on a budget.

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This article is a sponsored collaboration. The pink links in the content indicate a sponsored link or information source. The blog post reflects my own experience and the sponsor hasn’t had any control over my content

I don’t know about you, but every September I feel the need to clear out and get organised. I think it’s that back-to-school feeling creeping up on me, making me want to declutter and streamline my space. Really, I just want to create a relaxing room, ready for those darker evenings drawing in.

I’ve already been reorganising my wardrobe and have plenty of clothing items to donate for Secondhand September however, creating more space in your bedroom is not just about minimising your stuff – there are other ways to create a more spacious room for relaxing during the autumn.

Compact furniture

The first thing to consider is just how large your furniture is, as this will impact how much space is left within the room after it’s kitted out. A room can be packed full of furniture and practical storage, which is handy in a small space BUT this tends to make it look and feel much smaller.

So, the key is to leave some space around your furniture to create a more airy feeling. I think this is certainly the case in bedrooms – being able to see under a bed with legs gives the illusion of more space. Plus, it means you’re not tempted to stash all your clutter under there.

Also, did you know it’s possible to get a small double bed rather than a double? It’s only about 15 centimetres smaller across the width but that little extra space might mean you can fit in bedside tables where, with a king or double, you might not be able to fit these in.

When I was shopping for my own Simba bed earlier this year, I checked their website for A Guide to UK Bed Sizes to figure out which option would give me enough room to keep my DIY’d bedside units in-situ. These bedside drawers are also a space-saving choice for bedrooms because they only have two front legs so the back can be attached flush to the wall.

If you measure carefully and possibly choose a smaller-than-standard bed, I’m sure you’ll be able to get all the furniture you need into a small bedroom. Be sure to check out my DIY mid-century bedside tables blog post if you want to make your own side units for a compact bedroom.

Organised storage

I know it seems obvious but having sensible storage options in your bedroom will help you to streamline your space. This means you won’t have to clear out and get rid of items that you need – if you need (or love) something and it has a designated home, it’s no longer clutter.

Sure, we all think of wardrobes and chest of drawers when we think about bedroom furniture, but have you considered using those extra spaces in the room, such as alcoves or built-in cupboard? In order to maximise my own space, I turned an alcove into a dressing table with plenty of shelves and storage, which can be closed away behind the door when it’s not in use.

This way, I don’t see any mess in my room, which makes it feel more relaxing – if you’re not confronted with mess, you won’t feel the need to get up and tidy it, so you’ll be better able to sleep in your bedroom with a tidier space.

Let me know if can think of any other ways to create more space in your bedroom this season. I’d love to hear your storage hacks in the comments below.

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Some items in this blog post have been gifted to me and the pink links indicate a gifted product, affiliate link or information source. All thoughts and opinions in this post are based on my own experience and I am not responsible for your experience

We’ve all been there; you’re tired after a busy day and can’t wait to flop into your bed for a peaceful rest only to find yourself tossing and turning, trying to get comfortable but not feeling the level of relaxation you were hoping for.

If this is you, don’t worry – you don’t need to splash the cash on a new mattress. There are quick and easy things you can do to make your bed feel more comfy straight away.

By the way, I’m not saying that you shouldn’t replace your mattress – in fact, it’s good sleep hygiene to replace it at least every 8-10 years. In fact, when I got my Simba Hybrid mattress as part of my new year’s resolution to have a better night’s sleep, it made a huge difference to my comfort levels. However, a new mattress can be quite an investment and, if you’re on a budget, there are other things you can do to get a better night’s sleep.

Mattress topper

Some of the signs of a mattress needing to be replaced include the edges sagging or dips forming, signs of wear and tear (including staining and rips) and, if you’re sharing the bed, movement being more pronounced. If you’re not quite at that stage, you can revitalise your bed with a mattress topper instead.

Whether you need a bed topper king size, double or single, this will be a much more frugal way to bring your bed back to life than getting a whole new mattress, even if you’ve been using your mattress for many years.

Simply adding that extra layer on top of your mattress allows you to feel the benefit of having a refreshed bed; it’ll offer soft foam cushioning and aerocoil support to provide a like-new effect on top of your existing bed. This can be a quick and budget-friendly way to bring your mattress back to life for a fraction of the price of buying a new one.

Bed frame

Did you know that the bed frame can affect how comfortable you feel in your bed? Even the best mattress in the world can be improved if the bed frame is crafted in a way that supports the mattress and your body.

For example, the Simba bed frame I was recently gifted is built with a slat system that automatically adjusts to your sleeping position and bodyweight to support you properly while you sleep. This means the five different zones on the bed base can flex with you, providing different levels of support to areas of your body, such as more cushioning pressure relief around your shoulders and wider slats at the hip area for lumbar support. 

Who would have thought that a bed base could make such a difference? For many years, we used a wooden Vono bed (pic below) that had been inherited from my husband’s grandparents. This has springs on the base which were so springy that they could bounce you off the bed! So every movement in the night made the whole bed move – almost like a water bed – and it would be squeaky until the springs had settled.

So, you can imagine how un-restful it was to sleep on that bed, even with a luxurious and supportive Simba Hybrid Original mattress. If you’ve also got an old bed frame with broken slats, night-time creaks or uncomfortable springs, now’s the time to look at replacing the base and see if a new bed frame actually helps your lovely mattress to do what it’s supposed to do.

The bedding

Did you know that a good night’s sleep can be affected by the things you put on top of your mattress as much as what’s beneath it? I’m talking about the duvet, the bed sheets and blankets. That’s because your body temperature affects how soundly you sleep.

Ever had to poke your leg out from under the duvet for temperature control? If so, you’d probably benefit from a breathable duvet. You can choose an all-season duvet; the type that has a soft and light filling that supports airflow and has a cooling cotton outer for a cool-touch effect. It’ll keep you warm in the winter and ensure you don’t overheat in the summer.

Personally, I’ve always had a 3-in-1 duvet. This consists of a thin summer duvet, a separate mid-thickness duvet for spring and autumn, and the two can be attached together to create a thick and toasty winter duvet. Again, making sure it has a light filling and cotton outer can make all the difference to you being able to maintain a comfortable temperature throughout the night.

Likewise, don’t overlook the sheets you use. Synthetic fibres will always be less breathable and cause you to warm up and sweat on hot nights. Even if it’s cold outside, you might find yourself being unable to sleep because your sheets are too hot. If you’ve ever turned a pillow over to access the ‘cool side’, changing the type of bed sheets you use will help.

I’d recommend going for fresh linen or pure organic cotton. If your only concern is comfort at night, you don’t need to worry about the pattern, embroidery or design of your bedding; it’s only the fabric composition that’ll be important = make sure it’s natural.

Natural fibres help to wick moisture away to keep you feeling fresh and cool while you sleep. Not only are they breathable, allowing heat to pass through them and helping you to regulate your temperature, but they’re also naturally hypoallergenic so you’ll be less likely to be woken up by coughs, itches, sneezes or skin sensitivities.

I hope that these tips will help you get a better night’s sleep without needing to replace your mattress straight away. Let me know what other things you can do to make your bed more comfortable int he comments below – I’d love to hear your hacks for a cosy bedroom.

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Some items in this blog post have been gifted to me and the pink links indicate a gifted product, affiliate link or information source. All thoughts and opinions in this post are based on my own experience and I am not responsible for your experience

If you’ve ever struggled to sleep, you’ll know what kind of effect this can have on your body, brain and even your mood throughout the day. No-one should have to go without sleep so I thought I would share some handy hacks I’ve come across over the years.

I’ve previously written about some lifestyle factors that can help to improve your quality of sleep, including movement, routines and even the timing of your first cup of tea in the morning, but what can you do to make sure you sleep more soundly? There are some practical things you can do to get a better, more restful night…

1. Remove light

If you’ve ever tried to sleep when it’s not dark outside, you’ll know how difficult it is to drift off in the day. This is because the body’s circadian rhythm responds to daylight, helping us to wake up in the bright mornings and to feel drowsy when the sun sets.

Because of this innate sleep-wake cycle, it can be hard to sleep at any time that’s not night – which is not good news for shift workers – and even the slightest bit of light coming in from outside can disturb your sleep pattern. It’s therefore a good idea to choose blackout curtains for bedrooms as the thicker material and blackout lining will help to block out any natural light.

Even the glow from street lighting can cause trouble when you’re trying to sleep and the on-off of the neighbour’s security light can have you waking up with a start, on high-alert. So, anything you can do to keep light at bay will definitely help you to sleep more soundly, whatever time of day it is.

2. Block sounds

If you’ve ever had a baby – or a cat for that matter! – you’ll know that the brain can wake you from the deepest slumber if your child (or kittie, or puppy) makes even the smallest sound during the night. That’s because our bodies are programmed to respond when our offspring needs us, whatever time of day it is.

Therefore, unwanted sounds can be a key cause of sleep problems. And that’s the case whether or not there are children or pets in your home. But, if there are noise around, how can I improve the quality of my sleep? Instead of blocking sounds from within your home, I’m talking more about minimising the noises coming from outside.

Alarms, vehicles, other people and even wildlife like owls, foxes and birds can disturb your sleep. So there are a couple of things you can do to keep exterior noise to a minimum. For a start, double-glazed or triple-glazed windows make a massive difference. If you’ve ever opened the window and heard just how noisy the nearby road is, you’ll know what a difference they make acoustically.

Secondly, if you have the option of choosing a different room to sleep in, you can choose to have your bedroom at the back of the house, away from the road, putting a little extra space between you and the external noises.

Finally, if noise from adjoining neighbours is a problem, you can soundproof your walls. Soundproofing materials are no longer the reserve of music recording studios; you can get acoustic 3D wall panels with a variety of finishes including lovely wooden slats to dampen down the noise levels within your home.

3. Keep comfortable

I didn’t realise what a difference your bedding can make to the quality of your sleep until I tried pure linen sheets. To get a better night’s sleep it’s a good idea to choose bed sheets and duvets with natural finishes such as pure cotton, linen, wool and so on.

Those natural fibres are more breathable than synthetic fibres, which means they’ll help to keep you cool by wicking away moisture. If you’ve ever tried to sleep in a hot room in hot weather, you’ll know how hard it can be to snooze while scorching, so the cooler you can be, the better!

4. Minimise distractions

Finally, and probably quite obviously, you’ll get a better night’s sleep if you don’t have any distractions in the bedroom. I don’t just mean not having a TV in the room – I mean anything that can set your brain on alert. This includes the stand-by lights on appliances and sockets; it’s amazing how much of a glow they create in the dark when you’ve eliminated all other light sources!

Likewise, if you have a phone nearby, even on silent, your eyes and ears will pick up on the slight vibrations or the screen lighting up if you get a notification during the night. And then, once it has disturbed you and you’ve picked up your phone, you might as well say goodbye to sleep.

We all know how easily half an hour can disappear once you start scrolling, so put your phone in another room altogether. If you use your phone as an alarm, now’s the time to get a classic alarm clock – preferably one that doesn’t tick or light up – and set that to wake you in the morning instead.

What else would you add to this list of sleep tactics? Have you found a bedtime hack that works for you? Let me know in the comments below, I’d love to hear your top tips.

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This article is a sponsored collaboration. The pink links in the content indicate a sponsored link or information source. The blog post reflects my own experience and the sponsor hasn’t had any control over my content

While you would love to add extra space to your home, especially your bedroom, this isn’t always possible. Instead, you must find the best ways to make the most of your space so you can ensure you’re comfortable and well-rested every day.

How can you make the most of a small bedroom? If you are dealing with a small space for sleeping, here are some ideas to help you maximise the room without resorting to any renovations or extensions… 

1. Under Bed Storage 

The most common –and best– solution is to make the most of the space under the bed. You can use any space beneath your bed to store things you don’t need all the time, such as seasonal clothes, extra bedding, and even books you want to keep but have already read.

Many beds come with drawers for this exact reason but you can also purchase plastic buckets or baskets with lids that could make it easier to organise everything. In fact, I made some DIY sliding underbed storage using some old drawers and castors so be sure to check out that project for a low-cost solution.

2. Foldable Workstation

If you’re working from home and can only work in your bedroom, you need something that will help you create a home office even if it doesn’t feel permanent. Folding desks can minimise how much space you use during the day. When you finish work, simply fold the desk and chair up and store them in the cupboard or against the wall.

This approach is much better than working from your bed, as this approach can impact your posture AND your sleep quality as you may struggle to switch off when you are trying to sleep. I’ve previously shared my own ergonomic work and sleep tips on my blog so I hope that will help you too.

3. Use All Your Surfaces 

How can you create more space in a bedroom? Many people feel like they only have one surface to work with, but that isn’t always the case. Besides your floor and any tops of drawers or desks, you also have your walls. These mean you can install accessories to make your bedroom more manageable and avoid taking up precious floor space.

A wall mounted clothing rail could be an ideal solution, even if you only use it for work clothes or jackets as they are more easily accessible compared to your cupboard. You could also add shelves and storage boxes in alcoves – I managed to create a whole dressing table in my bedroom alcove.  

4. Multifunctional Items

Multifunctional items can also benefit you and ensure you make the most of the space within your home. You’ve already considered a foldable desk, but you could also use this same desk for eating off. Another option could be an ottoman or a footstool that has built-in storage for books, cables, or even socks.

These items give you the chance to get creative and find innovative ways to maximise your space without. For example, I’ve made a little wooden stool (ideal for a dressing table) that doubles up as a laundry hamper. This has the added bonus of helping to keep the room tidy, which also adds to the feeling of spaciousness. Which brings us nicely on to…

5. Declutter 

If you’re still struggling to make the most of your space, you might have to admit that you have too much stuff, whether that’s clothing, books, cosmetics or trinkets. If there are still too many things in your room to fit the storage you have, decluttering your bedroom is an essential step that will benefit you in the long run.

You don’t necessarily need to give things away forever. You can use a self-storage solution or see if friends or family can look after more sentimental items until you have the space for them. However, it might be better to sell or donate other things that you’re only keeping out of habit. This will give you a nice clean, tidy space, which will feel much more relaxing.

You can’t conjure extra space out of thin air but you can find the best ways to work with the space you have. I hope that these tips will help anyone staying in a small space to find effective and beneficial options to maximise the space they have so they can live and sleep comfortably.

Let me know your own small-space hacks in the comments below, I’d love to hear your storage tips and DIY ideas.

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While you may not have noticed it, your bedroom might not be feeling the freshest at this time of year. Over the winter, we tend to hunker down in our homes and try to create the cosiest spaces possible. It’s lovely to be warm and snug during those dark days but now that spring has arrived, it’s the perfect time to refresh our rooms.

Why should you refresh your bedroom for spring? It’s good for our health and the quality of our sleep to keep our bedrooms clean and feeling fresh so here are some very low-cost or completely FREE ways to create a space that’s crisp and spring-like all year round…

1. Refresh the air

Firstly let’s air the room. It’s understandable that you might not have been opening the windows much during the winter. Let’s face it, who wants to be paying ££s for heating and then letting all that lovely warmth out of the window?

Even so, it’s important to keep rooms ventilated as well as heated. Why is it important to ventilate a room? Well, if these two factors aren’t combined, the room will quickly become musty, get condensation and it could lead to dampness and mould appearing on the window frames and walls.

So, now that we’ve got some sunnier days in Spring, it’s a good idea to throw all the windows open and really let that fresh air circulate around the room. At the same time, give the inside of your windows a clean and make sure that any mould that you spot growing on the glass, blinds or frames is wiped away.

These are all free things you can do to refresh the room, both in terms of the air and the cleanliness. Which brings us nicely on to…

2. Spring cleaning

I love a good spring clean. It really makes a difference to a room and it doesn’t need to take long. Just a quick whizz around with the vacuum, using the brush attachments to dust around the ceilings, walls and picture frames, can make the room feel less fusty in just a few minutes.

What should you do during a spring clean? The key to giving the room a deep refresh is moving furniture. That’s when you’ll find out just how dusty those spaces behind and under your furniture have become over the winter. Keep that vacuum at the ready and have a clean cloth available to wipe down the back of the bed frame, drawers and bedside units.

A clean room really feels refreshed and ready for the next step – creating a comfy, crisp and cool bed.

3. A fresh bed

There’s nothing nicer than slipping into a bed with fresh sheets, especially if it’s in a thoroughly clean room. So pack away those heavy winter blankets, get out the medium-tog duvet and add the freshly washed cotton or linen sheets.

But first, we’ll make sure the mattress is fresh and clean. I’m going to suggest getting the vacuum out again here, but make sure you use the upholstery attachment to suck up any dust and fluff that’s accumulated – and make sure you lift the mattress and vacuum around the edges and into the corners too.

You can carefully spot-clean the mattress according to the manufacturer’s guidelines if you find any marks. How can you make your mattress look as good as new? Some mattresses even come with removable covers that can be washed or replaced if needed. Then, once the mattress is clean, dry and dust-free you can pile on the fresh bedding.

Choosing cotton or linen for your bedding will give you an extra-fresh feeling because the natural fibres are breathable, allowing air to circulate, and they help to keep you cool at night by wicking moisture away from the body while you sleep.

It certainly helps you to bounce out of bed when you’ve had a restful night’s sleep so, if you’re not being disturbed during the night by throwing the duvet off because you’re too hot, you’ll feel the benefit of having fresh cotton or linen sheets.

If you don’t already have bedding in natural fibres, it might be worth investing in some, which shouldn’t cost too much. You don’t need to have expensive sheets with high thread counts or Egyptian cotton to feel the benefit – any cotton or linen bedding will have the same breathable effect.

4. Clear the clutter

One thing that doesn’t help you to feel peaceful in your bedroom is if it is full of clutter. If you have piles of washing and ironing that need doing or stacks of paperwork on your bedside tables, that clutter demands your attention.

That means, when you go into the bedroom at night and spot the piles, you’ll just be faced with a big to-do list of chores that’ll sit in your brain while you sleep. Not the best way to feel refreshed and rested this spring!

So, today’s the day to tackle the clutter. Start with your clothing and make sure that everything you own actually fits into your wardrobe and drawers. If it doesn’t fit, there will always be an over-spill of clothes on the chair, dressing table or floor, so it’s time to donate some of your items and make extra space.

Likewise, have a look at any other items you’re storing in the bedroom; hair products and make-up, paperwork, craft projects, magazines and newspapers. If they don’t fit into the drawers of your dressing table or the shelves in your alcoves, it’s time to clear some of this out for good.

Having fewer items in your room will make it feel more spacious and it’s also easier to keep the bedroom clean in the future if you’re not having to vacuum and dust around piles of items. A quick clear-out is another totally free way to refresh your bedroom for spring – and you could even make some money if you’ve got some clothes to sell online!

I hope that all these ideas will help you to clear and clean your bedroom to give it a quick refresh for spring and will hopefully improve the quality of your sleep, too. Let me know what other ways you like to spring clean your bedroom in the comments below and I’d love to hear your ideas for creating a peaceful space for sleep.

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This article is a sponsored collaboration. The pink links in the content indicate a sponsored link or information source. The blog post reflects my own experience and the sponsor hasn’t had any control over my content

If you’ve only got the drawers left out of an old chest of drawers and have been wondering: ‘How can I upcycle these drawers?’, there are a few things you can do with them, including under-bed storage and creating a work-from-home desk or console table. And smaller drawers are ideal for this bedside cabinet project…

You will need:

• Old slim chest of drawers
• Thin plywood
• Wood glue
• Wood filler
• Rust-Oleum Surface Primer in White
• Rust-Oleum Painter’s Touch in Gloss White
• Set-square
• Hand saw or jigsaw
• Drill with a drill bit to match the screws and wood screws
• Screwdriver
• Sander and sandpaper
• Corner brackets
• Legs and matching screw-plates

Step 1

Remove the middle drawers from an old chest of drawers. You’ll be using the top and bottom drawers and the surrounding frame for this project. Mark the point where the bottom of the top drawer meets the frame. Using a set square, mark this line across the sides and back of the frame.

Step 2

Use a handsaw or jigsaw to cut along the line to cut off the top of the frame. Repeat the measuring and cutting steps on the bottom section of the chest of drawers, this time marking a line at the top of the bottom drawer.

Step 3

Use the top of the frame as a template to mark out a new base piece on thin plywood. Cut out the new base using a hand saw or jig saw. Repeat this step, cutting a second piece to make a top for the bottom drawer.

Step 4

Line up the piece on the base of the top frame and use a drill to pre-drill some screw holes around the frame. Remove the ply wood and add a line of wood glue around the frame before putting it back in place. Screw the base to the frame and allow the wood glue to dry thoroughly. Repeat this step to add the new top to the bottom frame.

Step 5

Give the bedside tables a light sanding all over and then fill all the screw holes with wood filler. Allow to dry before sanding smooth. Wipe away any dust.

Step 6

Give the bedside tables a coat of white primer. Allow to dry before painting with a top-coat of white gloss spray paint. Allow to dry and add a second coat if needed.

Step 7

Attach the leg screw-plates to the front of each bedside table and screw the legs in. Position 2 corner brackets at the very back of the underside of each beside cabinet. Screw into the base, leaving one side of the corner bracket facing downwards. Use this bracket to attach the bedside cabinets to the wall beside the bed.

If you would prefer freestanding bedside cabinets rather than wall-mounted tables, you can add four screw-in legs to each drawer unit.

Top tips

If you only have old drawers but no frame, you can still turn them into a bedside cabinet like I did with in my guest room DIY bedside table project. Simply build a frame to fit around the drawers and add legs to make the cabinet whatever height you wish.

When painting your bedside cabinets, why not go for a bold colour to add a contrasting accent colour to your bedroom? Or simply spray paint the legs in a bright neon or metallic tone to make a feature of the mid-century style legs.

I’d love to see how you get on with your own bedside unit DIY projects so please tag me in your photos on Instagram @cassiefairy.

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Imagine being able to drift off to sleep without any springs digging into your back. Wouldn’t it be nice to roll over without making the bed bounce and dislodging whoever else is in the bed in the process? How lovely would it be to soothe away the aches of the day simply by going to sleep?

All those goals are what I’ve been thinking about this year and I’ve decided that my new years resolution should be to have a more comfortable night’s sleep. But how can I sleep more soundly? That’s where a new mattress comes in.

For too long, I’ve been struggling with a stiff back. It’s my own fault – I work at my desk most of the day and don’t have the neatest posture at the best of times. I’ve upgraded my office chair and I use a sit-stand desk but I still can’t do prolonged periods of work without suffering with aches and pains by bedtime.

And that’s when I most want to lay down and relax – in fact, I need that time to soothe my back and let it feel aligned and comfortable. But in my existing bed, I haven’t been able to do that. Last year I got a memory foam topper in the hope that this would help make the bed more comfortable – and it did BUT it also took away any support from the mattress.

At just the right time, as I was considering my new year’s goal this January, Simba got in touch with me. I’ve been lucky enough to be able to try out the best-selling Original Hybrid mattress and see how it works for me. By the way, anyone can trial a Simba mattress – more on that below..!

Not just a memory foam mattress, it has 2000 Aerocoil® micro springs for full-body support. Not just a sprung mattress, it has open-cell Simbatex® foam for softness and cooling airflow. It’s this hybrid design, created by sleep scientists and experts, that claims to offer exactly the right amount of support and comfort.

The thing that I’m most excited about is that this combination offers perfect spinal alignment as well as providing a hugged feeling and pressure relief. I’m hoping that this will be the start of a much more comfortable night’s sleep for me and perhaps even help to soothe my back pain.

Of course, I haven’t had the mattress for long so I can’t say exactly how well it will work long-term but so far it seems like it will be exceptionally comfy to lie on long-term and provide a very restful sleep. When you get a Simba mattress, you can trial it for 200 nights and, if you decide it’s not right for you, they’ll arrange a free collection and refund.

I was also pleased to learn the the components and the mattresses are manufactured in UK factories and are fully recyclable. Plus, Simba collected my old mattress for recycling when they delivered the new one, which was handy because there was no way I was going to be able to fit an old king size mattress in my little car to take it to the local waste recycling centre.

I also added a mattress protector to my order to prolong the life of my mattress. That said, the breathable top surface of the mattress can be zipped off for easy washing, so I think it’ll be simple to keep my mattress in great condition throughout the ten years of the guarantee.

Let’s hope that this product will ease my aches and pains, helping me to get a more comfortable night’s sleep in the process. Let me know if you’ve made a similar resolution to sleep better or to sort out any alignment issues in the comments below, I’d love to hear your tips to make your new year’s goal a reality.

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Some items in this blog post have been gifted to me and the pink links indicate a gifted product, affiliate link or information source. All thoughts and opinions in this post are based on my own experience and I am not responsible for your experience