What's on my coffee table?

To kick off my life in a small apartment series I thought I'd show you guys my coffee table - well, make shift coffee table and what lives on top of it. It may give you a little inspiration about how to use things that aren't necessarily meant to be used a coffee tables. Take a look...

I found this chest hidden away in a charity shop last summer and bought it for a measly £3. It sat at the bottom of my old bedroom for a while, but now stands as mine and Matts coffee table. I think it's really important when living in a small space that any large furniture has some sort of storage use, otherwise it just wastes space. Luckily for us, we can fit a tonne in here and it's super lightweight to move about if we get bored of it.

On top I don't keep too much, just in case I need to grab anything out from the chest. I love having books around the house, so my favourite two of the moment always sit on top at arms reach. Next is my  tin, this was the packaging from my dads aftershave, I popped a few tee lights in from IKEA and it now  it's become a cute little home for them. Lastly sit my smudge sticks from Toast and tooth picks from Morocco, I popped them in this vintage glass bowl to add a bit of girliness for those times when Matts feet are propped up on top when playing FIFA.

What are your coffee top essentials? I'd love to know...

Harri 

xxx

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Back to University: Decorative Bookcase

Like many other over eighteens across the UK, I went back to University this week, me being in my second year, I moved out of halls and into a house with 4 other people. I had only seen my future home once, way back in March, but had never actually had a mooch around my new bedroom - it was just like playing furniture roulette. Was I going to have a desk? will I have enough space for all my clothes? Luckily enough, my room was kitted out... not with the most attractive four piece IKEA bedroom set, dark 80's wood, a little bit of wear and tear, but it was what I expected.
Much to my joy, I had a bookcase in my room (sad excited bookcase girl). I study Fashion, so when I make my annual trip back to my University home, along follows the 100+ books and magazines. I really do treasure my books, a lot of them were gifts from Christmas's and Birthday's past and magazine that I'd bought way back in 2008, so I've always liked to have them where I can see them.

I think books and magazines make for great decoration in a room, especially when you're at University. It's hard working with what you've been given in your accommodation to make it feel homely and comfortable, especially when it seams nothing matches or theres not enough space for things.

I've used my bookcase as a place to store things, looking at it more decoratively to brighten up my room and make use of the space. I've stacked books and leant magazines against old tins, creating boxed off sections. Don't see you're storage as a place to only store books, place a fancy pair of shoes onto of your favourite magazine, really utilise it creatively.

I hope this is helpful to any newbies that are starting University, or for anyone else that wants to make their bookcase look a little more exciting. If you give this a go tweet me a picture to @HarrietRDavison, I'd love to see how you've adapted it.

Have you guys got any decorative storage methods? I'd love to know...

Harri xxx

Happy 21st Birthday Em x

This will possibly be the girliest, pinkest, sparkliest post you will see on this blog - It's one of my best friends Emily's 21st Birthday party tonight, and it was my job to buy and wrap the present. A job that I well and truly loved. I love nothing more than buying presents, wrapping them and buying all the novelty Birthday bits, I go crazy for it. Em is one of the girliest girls I know, she loves anything pink and sparkly, which made it great fun for me to pick out presents - I thought I'd share with you what I bought and how I wrapped it...

The lid holding the presents came from old packaging from a candle box, we often keep these around the house and use them for storage. They're usually pretty sturdy and come in nice colours or prints - you can also always cover them in wrapping paper or prints if you fancy a change. I picked up the "E" In Clintons in the sale, It was only as a little bit of decoration, but it'll make a nice Christmas decoration or to hang on her door. 

The presents were bought by all my friends, we each chip in and take turns on who actually goes and buys the gifts. I knew Em really wanted a charm for her Thomas Sabo bracelet, so I bought her the little 21, they always come in a cute box too. I picked her up two nail polishes, one was the blue sparkly Barry M and a minty Miss Sporty one, the pretty ring I found in Primark, also were the twinkly nail files. I really wanted to get some pink chocolate to add to the gift, my mum found these princess mints and the Angelina ballerina lolly (see the first pic, it's poking out the top).. everyone needs sweets on their Birthday!

Do you guys like wrapping and giving presents? Have you bought anyone nice recently?

 Ahh.. right I better get off and give the Birthday girlie her presents, hope she likes them :)

xxx

Retro Kitsch Kitchen Storage

I've had my eye on these kitchen storage jars for a while, I spotted them in one of the charity shops in my local town. This particular shop is probably my favourite - it's well merchandised, you don't have to sift through the crap, they put the good stuff out, but with this I've learnt the key is, if you see something great buy it when you see it. So many times I have mulled over something and when I've come back to buy, it's been sold.

I originally only wanted the Pasta pot, I think it's so kitsch and fun, and for £2 you can't really go wrong. It's not like I'm a culinary goddess or anything, but these will look great in my the kitchen of my new university house, and pasta is my best dish (thanks Dolmio).

I couldn't resist buying the set of three, flour, coffee and biscuit jars, they like the Pasta pot are uber kitsch. I love the crayon yellow colour and the bold typeface, they will add an element of fun to any kitchen. I paid £4 for the three of them, a complete bargain, for something that you definitely won't find anywhere else. 

It's definitely worth looking around charity shops if your after kitchen storage for a new house, if your a student like me and wanting something cool, but cheap, or your just wanting a little re-vamp. You can find some really quirky bits, that are so affordable, and affordable enough that if it breaks, it hasn't broken your bank. These jars would make a suitable home for cutlery, tea bags (my Uni essential), pens, utensils, anything! Just remember, it doesn't have to hold what it says on the tin...

I hope you like my new finds, let me know what you think, or if you've found anything quirky recently?

xxxx

Flower Frog

I am a self confessed cosmetics junkie, I'm always buying nail polishes and lipsticks that quite frankly I don't need. So along with my little habit there is always the struggle to find space to store it all. I'm quite a messy person, so putting brushes and eye shadows away in cupboards and draws just doesn't function with me.. I like to have things out where I can use it quickly.

Whilst tidying up our heaving garage last month, my mum came across an old glass flower frog, which she thought would be nice for storing my make-up brushes. It's perfect for me as I can pop each of my most used brushes into the holder, rest it on my windowsil and I'm good to go in the mornings...

 If your anything like me and your not keen on dodgy storage which always ends up costing a bomb, this makes for a cheap alternative and it looks pretty cool too. The fact that it's glass always helps if your working with a small space too, it just blends any where you place it, yet still has affect. 

You can pick flower flogs up in charity shops and car boot sales cheaply (or as your granny if she has one lurking around) as they are pretty much a thing of the past... and If your not big into make-up you can always store pens, pencils or paintbrushes in one instead, or candles or joss sticks. The options are endless :) 

Let me know if you've tried this, or any other interesting storage solutions you have.. 

xxx