Category Archives: Stories

Being Near Water Makes Us Feel Good, But Why Is This So?

Avalon Folding armchair

What is it about being near the water that makes us feel so good? It doesn’t seem to matter whether we’re swimming, fishing, making sandcastles, having a game of beach cricket, or just strolling along the water’s edge, there’s something quite extraordinary that happens to us. The first thing that happens is that we start to relax! We throw caution to the wind and allow ourselves to feel truly free. There’s nothing we have to do, other than enjoy the fresh air and sunshine and listen to the soothing sound of waves lapping on the shore.

Choosing the Perfect Rattan or Wicker Furniture for Your Home

Rattan and wicker furniture is the perfect way to add a touch of rustic charm to your home. This type of furniture is always in style and unlikely to ever go out of fashion.

One of the best things about wicker furniture is that it’s incredibly versatile and can be used in a variety of different ways in your home. If you’re looking for some ideas on how to style wicker in your home, then read on!

Love The Casual Lifestyle?

Interior design isn’t just about creating a beautiful space. It’s about creating a space that reflects your unique personality and style. If you’re drawn to bohemian, beachy vibes, we’ve got some great tips for incorporating the boho beach look into your home.

Boho beach-style is all about being relaxed, natural, and comfortable. It’s perfect for those who want to get away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life and enjoy a more laid-back lifestyle. This style is often used in interior design to create a relaxed and comfortable atmosphere.

How To Get A Good Night’s Sleep

The average person spends around 8-hours sleeping – or attempting to get to sleep. This amounts to one-third of our entire lives, or almost 300,000 hours during a lifetime! So, while that sounds perfect, it’s not always as perfect as it sounds. Did you know that about 60% of Australian adults struggle to fall asleep, stay asleep, or wake up too early? That’s a lot of restless Australians! It’s also a lot of frustrated, weary people trying to prepare themselves for their upcoming busy day.

This topic has been covered many times over many years, but the problem still persists. What are we doing wrong? Let’s start by discussing how much good quality sleep we actually need.

Brighten Up Your Outdoor Area On A Budget

With our beautiful Australian weather, there’s (almost) always time to get outside and enjoy our backyards. But if your backyard is looking a little tired, you may be thinking you need to spend a lot of money to update it. Luckily, there are plenty of ways to smarten up your backyard on a budget.

No one likes a messy backyard. It’s unsightly and can be dangerous if there are sharp objects lying around, but then again, nobody wants to spend their hard-earned cash hiring a professional cleaner when they could just do it themselves.

So, let’s get started. Here are some tips on how to spruce up your backyard without spending too much. We’ll start by tidying up the yard, patio, balcony, or deck, then we’ll discuss how we can make some great, but inexpensive, changes.

Mix and Match Sofas and Chairs for a Custom Look

Lounge sets are so last year. This year, it’s all about mixing and matching your sofas and accent chairs to create a combo that’s as unique as you are. But how do you get the pairing right? It’s all about balance. You need to balance the shapes, colours, and fabric of your sofa and chairs to create a look that’s both stylish and functional. Our team of experts have put together some advice on how to mix and match your favourites. So whether you’re looking for a classic combo or something that’s more out-of-the-box, we’ve got you covered.

The Best Way To Style Your Entertainment Unit

iluka entertainment unit 6 door

When styling their living room, most people don’t give much thought to their entertainment unit. It’s generally seen as a practical piece of furniture, purchased for its function rather than its form. However, that doesn’t mean your entertainment unit can’t be stylish too. Whether it’s in a dedicated media room or within your living room, there are plenty of ways to make your entertainment centre more organized, attractive, and seamless with the rest of your decor.

Start by choosing an entertainment unit that fits the style of your living room. If you have a more traditional style, go for an entertainment unit with classic details and wood finishes. If your living room is more contemporary, look for an entertainment unit with clean lines and a minimalist design.

Design Trends: Where They Come From And How Long They Last

Perhaps the biggest impact of trends comes from the world around us. Trends can be influenced by a specific situation and the culture built around it. Some trends recycle and come back at a later time.

Every new year comes with new design trends that explode onto the scene. Each trend is propelled into the limelight by the happenings that are occurring in the world.

It can be a real challenge for people who work with interiors to discern the direction the interior design scene will be taking, in addition to the colours, materials, and styles that will most appeal to consumers during the various seasons of the coming year.

A Velvet Care Guide – by Abide Interiors

There’s no doubt that velvet furniture is visually stunning. It’s also a unique material in that it requires special care and attention to retain its shape and beauty. All of us at Abide Interiors LOVE velvet! It’s beautiful, elegant, soft to touch, and extremely comfortable. And as it turns out – it’s not difficult to keep clean.

As the weather turns colder we’re seeing many people seeking heavier fabrics to keep their homes warm. Velvet is the perfect answer. As a cold-weather fabric, velvet is extremely popular; it’s fashionable and warm for clothing, furniture covers, and drapes.

Did you know that velvet was once restricted to royalty, like the French king? It’s not surprising, though, because velvet certainly has a royal appearance and feel to it.

Hardwood and Softwood Types – What’s The Difference?

You may be surprised to learn that the difference between hardwood and softwood is not in their names, meaning that hardwood is not necessarily denser than softwood. For example, Balsa wood is classified as hardwood, but it’s actually one of the softest and least dense types of wood. Another example is Yew wood; it’s classified as softwood but it’s a lot tougher than many hardwoods.

Classifying a wood as hard or soft is dependent on the seeds produced by the tree. For example: if the seeds produced by the tree have a coating (like fruit or a shell), that wood is classified as hardwood. If the seeds have no coating and are dropped onto the ground, that wood is classified as softwood.