Fun things to do over half term

May half term is when you know summer is on its way, but with school out for a week, it’s difficult not to spend lots of money on keeping children entertained. Here’s a few inspirational tips for fun and cheap things you can do to keep them occupied. Science can be fun With a quick search on the internet, you can find a whole host of easy science experiments that you can do at home, which will not only be fun, but also educational. Try this one below and you’ll have them amazed. A mini Monet Painting – a nice, quiet activity that is guaranteed to keep them entertained for hours. If it’s nice weather, you could stick together lots of pieces of paper to make a giant canvas, and let them run about and get messy (but maybe not […]

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Create a games room in your home

In a recent survey by Sony, nearly a third of adults in the UK would consider paying more for a house or flat with a games room, and it could add an additional 3.2% on the value of the property. Even if you’re not looking to sell any time soon, a games room is a great addition to any house, whether it be for entertaining the kids, entertaining your guests, or even just for your own amusement. Here’s some inspiration on how to create a games room in your home: For starters, pick a room that is relaxing and away from the busy parts of the house (like the kitchen or living room). It could be a spare bedroom that is not used very often, or a converted basement or loft. You can create the space for a games room […]

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Transform your home with great lighting

Whether it’s playing around with natural or artificial lighting, a little bit of thought and imagination can go a long way into transforming a room. Good lighting will set the tone and create an atmosphere, and there’s different types of lighting that you can use in different rooms in order to get it right. Check out below for inspiration on how to transform your home with a few easy lighting tricks. Room by room Spot lighting works best in kitchens, because it’s bright and you can target the work spaces. The living room is used for various family activities, so with this in mind it’s best to have a mix of lighting options to suit your needs; bright, tranquil and cosy. Use a pendant light for the centre of the room to provide the general lighting, and then accent the […]

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Space saving tips for your hobby equipment

There can be times when we purchase something with the intention of using it all the time, however with a lot of sports equipment, this is not always the case. It’s common to have sports gear sitting around the home gathering dust and not being of much use, but there’s some really creative ways you can store it, and even turn them into features within your home. Check out our inspirations below. Skateboard shelves Find you or your children aren’t using your skateboard as frequently as you should? With the flat surface, they make excellent shelves, and you can still take them off and use them whenever you want. Simply install a shelf rack to your wall and stack it up. Surfboard coffee table Surfing, especially in the UK, is almost impossible to do regularly all year round, but with […]

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Thinking outside the box

Noisy neighbours, children learning to play an instrument, or traffic zooming past the window all night – we all know something that we wish we could silence. But do you realise how easy it actually is? Have a look below for some simple hacks on how to get a quieter home. Fill in the gaps If your front door leads out onto a hallway or a busy road, it’s more than likely there will be outside noise from the neighbouring apartments or traffic. Also any holes or cracks that let air in will also let sound in, so have a good look around the windows and doors to find the problem areas. Installing weather-stripping will help keep noise out, and you can patch up smaller holes with filler. Switch it up Simply moving a few bits of furniture around can […]

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Top tips for packing and moving effectively

It’s the prime time of year for moving house. Lots of people decide to sell their homes around this season because bad weather (hopefully) won’t be an issue while moving, there’s no school holidays to worry about, and the sun will make properties look their best. With the excitement of moving house, there also comes a lot of stress. At Big Yellow, we understand this, which is why we like to help lighten the load. When packing up, it’s tempting to think that if you get it all done in one day then it will be out of your way. In fact, we think it’s best to plan ahead. Think about the necessities that you’ll need in your new home from day one. You can use Big Yellow as a half-way house – anything that you don’t need just yet, […]

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Home Improvement Month: Quick & Easy Tips

Research shows us that Brits spend big when it comes to home improvement, with one in three households spending £2,000 a year on it. However, 43% of jobs are left unfinished when DIY-ers loose interest and give up, according to Saga Home Insurance. April is widely known as Home Improvement Month, with many people starting jobs to update their house. To make a difference to your home, remember you don’t have to take on big jobs with big budgets. A few little spruces here and there can really help make your home look fresh. Here’s some tips to get you feeling inspired. Create an illusion Narrow hallways can sometimes feel like you’re in a tunnel. An easy way to avoid this is to paint the end wall a darker shade than the sides, which will help it feel more open. […]

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National Gardening Week: Tips & Tricks

This week is National Gardening Week, and to celebrate we’ve got some great tips to get you in the mood to head out into the garden. Remember, you don’t need to have a garden to do gardening. There’s lots of types of indoor plants, and small potted ones that you could have on your balcony. If you’re just starting out, growing herbs or chillies on your windowsill is fun and rewarding too. Remember to check out our Twitter feed for daily life hacks. Protect yourself Muddy and sore knees are a sign of a keen gardener, however it’s not ideal. Reuse a wall from a cardboard box and wrap it with bubble wrap for a comfy knee protector. Double up A wire basket, which is easy to make if you’re into a bit of DIY, is a great way to […]

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Spring Cleaning Tips & Tricks

Has anyone else noticed that the sun is finally trying to poke his head out and welcome in the season of spring? We have, and it’s a great excuse to get your home looking tip top for all the entertaining you’ll be doing in the months to come. Stock up on what you need – all-purpose cleaners, natural cleansers such as baking soda and vinegar, sponges, brushes – and put on some summer tunes to get yourself in the mood. Here’s some great tips to help you on your way to a fresh home. One by one To help avoid unfinished jobs, do one room at a time. Even if it’s a room a day, the satisfaction of seeing one room complete will spur you on to do the rest. Shower curtain Find that your shower curtain is starting to […]

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Easy & avoidable mistakes while renovating

When thinking about doing a renovation, it’s vital to do your homework and know what you’re getting into before you start. If it’s not you doing the work for yourself, you’ll need to know what to look out for and what your contractor is doing. There’s some commonly seen, easily avoidable mistakes that can make a big difference in a successful renovation. Here’s a few watch outs if you’re planning to do some work to your home. Doing it on the cheap It’s important to realise that when it comes to home renovation, you need to wait until you can afford the decent materials. Many people make the mistake of trying to do it cheaply, but the bottom line is that you will get what you pay for. Also, it’s wrong to think that going green with your home project […]

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