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I’m an IKEA expert – here’s four interior design mistakes people make, you need to follow my vertical rules instead
AN INTERIORS expert has revealed the four mistakes people always make when sprucing up their homes.
Laura Watson, from IKEA’s Online Interior Design Service, says it’s very important to maximise your space, especially if you have small rooms.
Laura Watson is an interiors expert with IKEA[/caption] Laura says there are certain items you should buy to maximise space in your home[/caption]But she often finds people cluttering up their storage or using up too much floor space.
And these mistakes can lead to rooms looking even smaller.
Speaking to Barratt London, Laura – from Edinburgh – said: “Many people forget to utilise vertical space, such as walls and high shelves.
“They’re missed opportunities for additional storage and organisation.
“Cramming too much into closets, cabinets, and drawers can also be a frequent pitfall [and] can make it difficult to find items and lead to items bursting out.
“It’s important to leave some breathing room in storage areas to keep them functional.”
Laura also revealed that disorganised storage and not taking time to plan interior design projects can lead to space issues in your home.
She said: “Without proper organisation systems, even the best storage solutions can become chaotic.
“Using labelled bins and baskets helps keep everything in its place and makes items easy to find.
“Jumping into space-saving projects without a clear plan can lead to inefficient use of space and resources too.
“Taking the time to measure, plan and visualise the layout can result in a more effective and aesthetically-pleasing outcome.”
To make the most of your rooms, the IKEA expert instead advises people to follow her vertical rules.
First up, Laura says how you display your storage is key to maximising your space.
“Floating shelves and hooks can be both functional and visually appealing” she revealed.
“Vertical storage solutions utilise otherwise wasted wall space while displaying items that reflect your personality. This also helps to keep the floor area clear, avoiding the room feeling cluttered.
“Suction shelves and hooks are a great renter-friendly option for bathroom storage.”
And colour can also make a huge impact with thinking about the vertical space in your home – creating the illusion of a bigger room.
Laura says: “Using colour and lighting effectively can significantly enhance the perception of space in a small home.
“Light colours, such as whites, pastels, and soft neutrals, reflect light and make a room feel larger and more open, while darker colours can be used for a moody, cosy feel.
“Colour placement is also important. Using colour to emphasise vertical space draws the eye up and creates the illusion of height.”
Finally, if you have a tiny bathroom or balcony space, greenery is very important when considering vertical space.
“Hanging baskets, green walls and dangling plants add visual interest without taking up valuable floor space”, says Laura.
“Similarly, outdoor shelves are not just for storing forgotten plant pots. They can be used to display your plants and store items in an artful and inspiring way – just like indoor open shelving.”
Meet Anna Richardson: Love, Loss & Dementia host who’s Canon Jim Richardson lives with Alzheimer’s disease
OVER the years Anna Richardson has seen her star soar as one of the UK’s leading TV hosts.
In October 2024, the popular presenter bravely opened up about her father having Alzheimer’s in the documentary Love, Loss & Dementia.
Anna Richardson is a popular TV presenter[/caption]
Anna Richardson was born on September 27, 1970, in Wellington, Shropshire.
She was privately educated at The School of St Mary and St Anne, a High Church school, in a small village in Staffordshire.
Growing up her father was a vicar and her mother taught religious education.
Anna got her big break when she started her TV career at Channel 4‘s The Big Breakfast in the early noughties, before joining ITV’s Love Bites.
Read more on Anna Richardson
Anna has previously opened up about her desire to start a family.
In August 2021, she told the Daily Mail’s Weekend Magazine: “I’m very conscious of the fact I sort of forgot to have kids.
“Suddenly you wake up, you have the menopause, and it really is too late and that’s quite freaky.
“You think you have all the time in the world, then life goes past and you realise it’s no longer possible.
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“Where does that leave me? And where should I put my love?”
Anna is the co-founder of mental health service Mindbox – a 24 hour online therapy centre that supports people struggling with stress and anxiety.
In 2024, she presented the documentary Love, Loss & Dementia where she bravely opened up about her father Jim having Alzheimer’s disease.
Becoming a TV star
Anna’s TV career really took off in 2008, when she presented Supersize vs Superskinny for Channel 4.
The same year she began fronting The Sex Education Show.
In May 2012, she became the host of Secret Eaters and the following year presented How Not To Get Old alongside Louise Redknapp.
From 2016 until 2019 she was the face of Supershoppers with co-presenter Sabrina Grant.
Anna was the host of Channel 4’s documentary Sex In Lockdown in 2020.
I’m not interested in being labelled gay or straight, my sexuality is fluid. I’m just me
Anna Richardson
The TV star also presented the reboot of Changing Rooms in 2021.
However her biggest show to date is the cheeky dating show Naked Attraction, which involves a clothed single person being presented with six nude potential partners.
Each is hidden behind a coloured booth, revealing the contestants’ genitals first before gradually moving upwards.
Past loves
Following the breakdown of her 18-year relationship with TV director Charles Martin, Anna began dating former Great British Bake Off host Sue Perkins.
The pair met at a Halloween party in 2013 and quickly became a couple.
Anna told The Telegraph in 2015: “For me, it’s just a case of I am who I am.
“I’m not interested in being labelled gay or straight, my sexuality is fluid. I’m just me.
”I just happen to have fallen in love with a woman – simple as that.’’
I can experience amazing sex like I had in my twenties. It is possible to recapture it, but it takes work.
Anna Richardson
Sadly in June 2021, it was revealed Anna and Sue had split up.
It was reported that the pair split because they were in different places about starting a family — and couldn’t decide on the right time.
The two remain close friends following the end of their relationship.
Moving on
A year after splitting from Sue, Anna had a new partner, Simon Marks.
She previously revealed she met her boyfriend through friends and admitted she was “lucky” to find someone she is compatible with.
She said: “I’m dating, I’ve got a boyfriend — and already my boyfriend has said to me ‘I haven’t spent enough time with you’, so his love language is time — he needs my time to feel loved.
“Whereas actually, I quite like to receive texts saying ‘I’m thinking about you and I love you’.
“So people need to be aware of how their partner does their love language.”
In June 2023, she told OK!: “There’s something wonderful about meeting somebody new that makes you realise, ‘Oh, I’m not dead from the waist down!
“Actually, I can experience amazing sex like I had in my twenties.
“It is possible to recapture it, but it takes work.”
How Liverpool cult hero was caught trying to seduce 15 celebrities with same text message before MUM stuck up for him
FORMER Liverpool star John Arne Riise was found out to have texted 15 celebrity women with the same message back in 2005.
The Norwegian, now 44, helped the Reds win the Champions League in Istanbul in May that year.
John Arne Riise helped Liverpool win the Champions League in 2005[/caption] Mona Grudt received Riise’s text message[/caption] Marion Ravn was another recipient of the infamous text[/caption]Following his triumph, Riise decided to open his contact book to text some ladies.
He subsequently crafted what he felt to be the ideal message.
It is said to have read: “Good evening… After a lot of calling to all kinds of contacts, I finally got your number.
“I have always thought you are very charming, cute, sexy, fantastic aura, and last but not least, you seem exciting and challenging); hope we can get in touch, and I will of course invite you on a romantic dinner for two); kiss from John Arne Riise xxx”.
Satisfied with his creation, Riise is claimed to have decided to send it to 15 different women in his native Norway.
Unfortunately for the full-back, he was soon rumbled when they each realised that several others had received the same message.
Former Miss Universe Mona Grudt was approached by Norwegian publication Aftenposten regarding Riise’s message.
She confirmed at the time: “This is a bit embarrassing, but the answer is yes. I have received messages from Riise.”
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Several other Norwegian celebrities rapidly became known to have been texted by Riise.
In addition to Grudt, singer Marion Ravn, actresses Aylar Lie and Anette Young, and model Kathrine Sorland were later named.
While TV personality Pia Haraldsen, singers Sandra Lyng Haugen and Tone Damli Aaberge were also said to have received the message.
Talk show host Synnove Svabo didn’t seem bothered at all by Riise’s text, making light of the situation.
As per the Daily Star, Riise himself has since admitted to having had a chuckle at his own expense regarding his infamous message.
The man dubbed the “SMS King” by Norwegian papers said: “Not in my wildest imagination would I have thought that the newspapers would make an issue out of this.
“It was idiotic, and I’ve laughed a little at myself afterwards.
“I probably flirted a little too much, but only got pleasant responses.
“The purpose has only been to make contact with some cute girls I appreciate.
“And I don’t say no to a SMS flirt… Now I’m considering throwing my mobile phone straight into the bin!”
Riise did have one woman come out to publicly defend him… his mum Berit.
“Yes, my son is on the lookout,” she said at the time. “But he’s single now and I can’t understand any girl being upset.”
Prior to winning the Champions League, Riise had already been married to childhood sweetheart Guri Havnevik, with the pair having a daughter together named Ariana in 2001.
The pair wed in 2003, but would split the following year.
Riise went on to marry new partner Maria Elvegard in 2010, with the couple having two children together; Emma, 15, and Patrick, 12.
The ex-footballer and Maria announced their split in 2012, with Riise going on to marry Louise Angelica two years later.
Riise and Louise have one child together, son Colin, five, but went on to break up in 2021 – with Louise going public with new boyfriend David Eriksen earlier this year.
During his stint at Liverpool, the Norway international was shockingly attacked with a golf club by then-team-mate Craig Bellamy.
After Riise had refused to sing karaoke, days before the Reds’ Champions League clash with Barcelona in 2007, Bellamy later wandered into his hotel room and attempted to strike him with one of his clubs.