As the days get gradually longer and hotter, the cool comfort of home offers a welcome retreat. Liven up those sultry summer days with our fresh take on city living: the Urban Greenhouse trend.

It’s all about clean, stripped-down surfaces and tactile textures: think reclaimed wood, exposed brick, raw concrete and galvanised zinc, perked up with bursts of citrus and green tones. Banish the dark colours, roll away the rugs, store the heavy winter throws and create a summer retreat that’s fresh, bright and cool.

A few quick seasonal fixes can make your home come alive. Rejuvenate your living room with cushions in tangy hues of lime green and acid yellow. Use indoor plants to make any space come alive, though it can be a challenge to keep them thriving and lush when the temperatures climb into the dreaded 40s. For perennial green spots that soothe the eye, consider our range of artificial plants in trendy metal planters; they add zing to your home without the maintenance hassles of watering and fertilising.

Juxtapose these green beauties with cool, shiny metal accessories that are sure to put the sparkle back into a tired living room. Choose from our range of delightful bowls, platters and trays, which can be set on a coffee table, added to a wall unit or placed on the dining table; they’re versatile too, you can use them to catch those wandering remotes or as ultra-glamorous fruit bowls. Why not change your picture frames for the trendy hammered metal surrounds our stores now stock? They make great gifts.

Transform your bedroom into a crisp, cool relaxation zone with our line of cotton bed linen. The lighting should be soothing, too; choose from our new line of stylish bedroom lamps that represent the epitome of clean, contemporary luxury. If you want to make a statement, look no further than this stylish tripod lamp with a white base. Alternatively, if you’d rather add a note of Zen appeal, opt for this clear glass lamp with a natural bamboo shade.

Fresh flowers are a delightful indulgence for your home when it’s unbearably hot outside. Keep them blooming in our range of chic vases in organic shapes, that suggest flowing brooks and reflective pools.  These vases are so pretty that you don’t always need to keep flowers in them, they look great on their own.

If you need more decorating inspiration and ideas this season, just walk into any one of our stores. Our staff members will be happy to show you just what you need for an instant update or a major makeover.

See you at Home Centre.

Our Gifting Guide for Mother’s Day

Mother’s Day – celebrated in the UAE and throughout the region on 21 March – is fast approaching, but there’s no need to worry. We’ve handpicked some thoughtful gifts to ensure your mom feels special and spoilt.

• Relive happy family memories with a selection of photo frames.
  
• Tell mum how extraordinary she is with a bouquet of freshly cut flowers in an elegant vase. Or get her an artificial bouquet that can brighten up her bedside table for days to come.
  
• Make a tasty gourmet snack for your mother with an eclectic set of fun fondue pots.
  
• Declare who makes the house rules with a ‘Her Highness’ coffee mug.
  
• Ensure mum has some much deserved rest and relaxation by getting her a plush and comfy chaise longue.
  
• Brighten up her day with a choice of elegant lanterns, lamps or tea-light holders.
  
• Freshen up her senses with a selection of scented candles, aromatic potpourri or home fragrances
  
• For a mom who loves looking great all the time, a jewellery box or cosmetic mirror for her dresser top can be a perfect addition.
  

Whether your mum’s a magician in the kitchen or a woman with an eye for a stylish home, we have the perfect gift to make her day complete. Choose from crockery and serveware, decorative home essentials and even smart storage solutions – all designed to delight every mother.

"Love is when the happiness of another person is essential to your own." - Robert Heinlein 

Setting the mood

 

Nothing creates an aura of romance better than a cluster of fragrant candles. Spread lots of tea-light holders or create a dramatic corner with different-sized hurricanes and pillar candles, or recreate a warm, candle glow with a moody lamp. 

 

Don’t forget to let some music in; there are lots of lovey-dovey playlists on the Internet, or you can get creative by making your own list that’s studded with memories. And another benefit of celebrating at home: you can share a dance when your favourite number comes on. 

 

Table themes

 

Are you a traditionalist? Going the Victorian way will give your table the old-world charm of pure romance. We’re thinking fine china, embroidered table linen, baroque candelabras, roses in a ceramic vase.

 

If your home’s contemporary and modern, go with the setting and play it chic with an adjustment or two; monochromes with a splash of red or burgundy will do nicely. The idea is to keep it simple yet sophisticated with clear glassware, modern cutlery and white crockery and serveware. A couple metallic elements like sequins and table ornaments will add some glitz.

 

If you want to create a really special setting, make the most of the pleasant weather and set up a table in your garden or patio. Add some floor lamps, flameless candles or hang a few lanterns and you’ll have a truly memorable Valentine’s Day. 

 

The main course

 

Artists have said that love keeps you alive, but what’s a Valentine’s date without a lovely meal? Cooking a five-course extravaganza might not be for everyone, but trying your hand at a recipe or two will make the evening memorable. You could bake heart-shaped cookies or prepare an appetizer with ingredients you both love. No matter how simple the recipe might be, you can enhance the experience by choosing serveware that suits a romantic setting or have some fun by adding personalised messages on cookies or a cake. And if it’s not perfect, don’t worry: it can only ensure your better half reserves his attention for you. 

 

For perfect meal ideas and interesting recipes from tables across the world, keep an eye on our Facebook page. You could get yourself a copy of the collector’s cookbook from Home Centre.

Each new year, we cast a thought or two towards accomplishing our resolutions and fulfilling our dreams. Research shows that our surroundings often impact moods and thoughts, so why not start where it counts – right at home? After all, it’s a time for new beginnings.  

Here are some tips and tricks to help you jumpstart your home refresh: 

1. Identify why you would like to revamp your home. Is it a practical solution to a life-changing circumstance like having a baby, or is it a desire to bring a breath of fresh air to your space?

2. Just rearranging existing furniture can give your room a new dimension and feel.

3. Paint is one of the most cost-effective and easiest ways to liven up a room. You can paint an accent wall or pick a new shade for the entire area. Wallpaper is another alternative for a brand new look.

4. Clutter can accumulate over time, but it’s easy to clear out the excess, reorganise and add storage, to give a room a new lease on life. Storage boxes, a new cabinet, some shelves on the wall, or extended wardrobe space make a real difference.

5. Instantly refresh rooms with new home decor delights. You can choose a new colour theme, throw in some bright cushions, get new drapes or a rug, or add a few different elements. Vases and other decorative ornamentation make a big, easy, difference too.

6. Add a statement piece that steals the attention and creates the ‘wow’ effect – it can range from a bright chair to eclectic lamps, floor vases, dainty curtains or chic art on the wall.

7. Change the position of lighting to change a room’s mood. A perception of more space or a cosier feel can also be achieved with a simple adjustment or two. Tea-lights, lanterns and funky lampshades are all great options available at Home Centre, to renew a room.

8. Indoor plants, available at low prices, can act as a mood enhancer in any room; they’re easy to maintain and generate a feeling of freshness in your living space. Artificial fauna can also have the same effect.

9. Artwork and wall decor can liven up the style of a room, and it needn’t be expensive. Even different shapes and sizes of mirrors can work wonders.

10. Add seasonal touches to your rooms to keep them fresh. Augment a neutrally shaded room with orange and plum during the winter, and go with brighter colours during the spring. Festive occasions like Eid, Diwali and Christmas are perfect times for festive looks, too.