This late autumn, I would like to discuss how to achieve cosiness without clutter. Grey weather, cold wind and rainy days make us buy candles, cushions, blankets etc. Decorating your house with lovely little things is a usual pre-Christmas shopping mania. This short article aims to brainstorm how to make sure we don’t cover ourselves with layers of unnecessary stuff.

First, I think we should understand what cosy means to us and how we perceive it. What is cosy? Comfort, relaxation, warmth, rest, shelter, snug are all words that define this feeling. There are many more too. The key is that it is a tranquil setting that gives us a sense of security and stillness. It can be achieved by rightly organising light, colours, materials and textures.

Natural materials and colours, for instance, chestnut or walnut, create a warm welcoming atmosphere. Tactile experience can be added through textured upholsteries and mood can be controlled by freestanding lamps – both floor and table. A well-chosen rug can be a winning solution, giving warmth to a large area yet not filling the space in an obvious way.

Next, let’s understand how do we perceive clutter. What is clutter? An untidy collection of many different things that communicates a messy disorganised state of being. Some might find being surrounded by clutter stressful, but for others the experience can feel quite comfortable. However, often it is the lack of focused organised action that lets clutter grow. Once all small things start piling up, they create physical and psychological barriers, that make it harder to see the difference between cosy and chaos.

Eventually, having discussed cosy clutter concepts above, here are some conclusions. I propose 4 steps to achieve an organised peaceful setting.

1. Imagine

A helpful thing to start with is to imagine what your perfect space looks like. Can be as easy as closing your eyes and trying to see as much detail as you can, whilst walking through your dream home. Pay attention to colours, textures, objects, both large furniture and smaller accessories.

2. Focus

Once you have had a tour through your ideal cosy space, focus on particular details which gave you most satisfaction and caught your longest attention. What was the light like? What were the colours and how bright was the space? Was there any particular object that you really liked? This will help you identify your first steps and really pinpoint priorities of where to start. It will also be useful when later you will be shopping for new items, or selecting from the existing ones.

3. Filter

Now it is time to look at the real room that you are in and divide your things into 3 groups: starting to choose from what really makes you feel good and brings lots of joy and comfort; second group is things that gave you slight hesitation; and lastly everything that is left behind in this prioritising exercise. However, you don’t have to throw things from the last group away, you can either put them into another room, sell online or gift them away to charity. This will not only clear up your space and give you pleasant restful space to enjoy, it will also do some good by sharing your goods that you don’t need with somebody who does.

4. Apply

Sometimes it is a matter of moving things around and rearranging your existing possessions. Sometimes, it requires more critical action, which you can train yourself to enjoy. Once you are used to having only what really matters around you, it will be natural to appreciate the less crowded space.

With all this in mind, I’m off to have a seasonal clear out and, hopefully, you feel encouraged too. Good luck!

This short article talks about tips & tricks on selecting natural stone surfaces. Often, we experience excessive doubt and lack of clarity when it comes to choosing materials & finishes for different purposes. It is also quite hard to always rely on the judgment and recommendation of suppliers, hence to make it easier we want to discuss factors that are most important.

The most popular choices are marble and granite, however there are many more that can be used including travertine, limestone, slate, onyx and other.

STEP 1: Consider natural stone factors

Every stone is a unique formation from a different location on our planet with distinctive environmental conditions. Hence, every stone is unique in its qualities and how it reacts to various impacts. Mostly acknowledged features are:

GRANITE is a very structurally strong and impact resistant rock. It is a non-porous surface that never fades it colour, so is very good to use as counter tops. However, to maintain these qualities it is important to regularly reseal it as per manufacturers recommendations. The perfect characteristic of this material which makes everyone want if for the kitchen counter tops is that it is bacteria resistant.

MARBLE is widely appreciated for its aesthetic characteristics. But it is not only beautiful, it is rich with physical and technical qualities too. It is resistant to scratching and due to its strength can sustain heavy loads, which is why it is popular to be used in floors. Yet, appearance-wise, it demands knowledgeable care, as various chemicals might irreversibly impact the finish. Hence, due to being prone to stains it is not advisable to be used for kitchen counter tops, even though it is so attractive.

LIMESTONE and TRAVERTINE are both beautiful stones that mature and weather over time. Stone structure is relatively porous and therefore stains easily, so rarely used in interior applications, unless on walls or other vertical surfaces. Externally, though, it is very popular for both walls and floor construction.

ONYX is very distinct for its rich colour and active pattern. It transmits light beautifully but is also very resistant to physical and heat impact. Application-wise, it is practical to apply it to any surface – table tops, kitchen counter tops or walls which can be designed to let the light through from one space to another.

STEP 2 : Selection process

TYPE of stone chosen for the project depends not only on the designed look and feel intentions, but can be very much driven by the budgetary constraints too. Here the estimations must be considered carefully, as often the price is given in two parts: one is the cost of the raw material per/m2, which is then highly increased by the fabricator’s input. The latter includes cutting to size, applying the necessary finish, forming any designed shape and ultimately installing in place.

FINISH depends on the intended use and aspired aesthetics. The list of options is generous enough to make the stone work for you the way you want.

SUITABILITY or intended traffic affecting the stone has to be taken into account, as some are more resistant and hard wearing than others.

Finally, even though some level of MAINTENANCE is expected for any finish, frequency and type of maintenance will really be affected by how well you choose the stone. Sealing the surface of the stone is important as it will be exposed to various physical and chemical impacts. With a correctly specified seal and detailed maintenance programme, the stone will last for a very long time.

STEP 3: Consider the rest of the palette

Stones have got the exquisite power to add luxurious feel to the space. There is the risk of making the space look heavy and old-fashioned if the stone is overused or not matched correctly with the rest of the palette. Stone is a rich material that often is the hero piece or the accent in any room. By adding a very colourful and highly patterned stone, or using too much of it, in the room that is already busy will create a very overwhelming experience and stone will lose its presence.

STEP 4 : Quality checklists

One quality that is very hard to control is the pattern of natural stone. As obvious as it can be that the look of the natural rock at cut is unpredictable, this is something that you must be aware of. Each stone sample is unique, and it will not be replicated exactly in the final pieces. The pattern and direction of veins can be specified in the design stage, but there is another way too. To ensure the best match to the approved sample, it is possible to choose the slab at a quarry and know what to expect. This, however, will inflate the cost dramatically.

Lastly, the lighting in which the stone will be seen is not less important and has to be taken into account. The appearance of colour and tone can vary a lot depending on how it is lit. Therefore, to avoid disappointment, it is safer to look and pick the stone in a similar lighting condition to the one it will live in.

Ultimately, the beauty and charm of natural materials, stone in this case, is that it inherently has the strength and character that makes it a centrepiece. If the application is well designed and the stone is picked correctly, it will bring you joy indefinitely.