It’s been a weird year so far, and you’d definitely be forgiven for wanting to change things up with a fresh start somewhere new. If this year is your year to find your dream home, then it’s probably time to jazz up your current house and give it some kerb appeal ready for it going on the market.

Buying and selling a house is likely to be one of the biggest and most stressful decisions you’ll make in your life, so it’s important to make the process as easy and quick as possible, right? 

Giving your house the wow factor is probably one of the most important things you can aim for when selling. Wanting a prospective buyer to fall in love with your home as soon as they walk through the door is key for getting the ball rolling, and there are a number of things you can do that are both easy to do and inexpensive. 

Here, we’re going to take a look at how to use glass to improve your home, with a few other quick and easy home improvement tips thrown in for good measure.

Strategically placed mirrors

Mirrors are a fantastic way of creating the illusion of space. If you have a small room or slim hallway, a made to measure mirror placed horizontally can widen an area as well as add light. To that end, if you have an area that doesn’t really get all that much natural light, placing a mirror opposite a window can really brighten it up as it’s reflected around the room. 

One thing to avoid with mirrors when trying to sell your home, is placing them directly opposite a door way, particularly your front door. Being greeted by an unexpected vision of yourself can make some people uncomfortable, so it’s always best to steer clear if you can. Despite their purpose, making mirrors as inconspicuous as possible is the key. If you want some more handy tips on using mirrors in your home, check out our blog post on how to use mirrors to maximise space. 

Let the light flow with glazed internal doors

Whilst it’s not necessarily one of the cheapest things to do, replacing solid internal doors with glazed doors is a great way to create a flow of natural light around your home. This is particularly useful for houses with a more linear structure such as terraces which can fall victim to dark spots as the day moves on. 

Creating a light, bright atmosphere in your home not only makes it feel bigger, it can also be quite calming. Unless you’re looking for a project, you’ll know as a buyer how important getting that “feel” for a place really is and maximising the light is a great way to do this.

Replace wooden shelves with glass shelving

Much like solid doors, solid furniture can become a bit of a sticking point when it comes to blocking out natural light, creating giant shadows and dark spots in a room. If for example you have a large bookcase that takes up a lot of wall space, not only can this be quite imposing, it can also make a room feel smaller as it likely draws a lot of focus. Replacing solid shelves with a series of glass shelves will not only help increase light flow but will add a modern, sleek touch to the room too. 

Replace grubby tiles with a glass splashback

If your kitchen or bathroom tiles are looking a little worn out and in need of a refresh, replacing them with a glass splashback can actually be a much quicker and cheaper solution. The kitchen in particular is one room that most buyers will focus a lot of attention on, so it’s important for the first impression to be a good one. 

Often, the tiles are a big focal point and if they’re a little outdated or not in the best state, a potential buyer may see that as a job that needs doing, which could put some people off. Not only that, with cleaner lines and a fuss free design, a glass splashback can really add a modern edge to a kitchen with minimal effort, as well as provide a more practical solution compared to tiles when it comes to cleaning.

Clean your windows!

OK, this one might seem like an obvious one, but it really can make a huge difference. Increasing kerb appeal is a massive thing when it comes to selling your house and the state of your windows is a big deal when it comes to this. You want the outside of your house to make the best first impression it can and as your windows are a big part of the exterior, it makes sense to ensure they look their best. But don’t just give the glazing a clean, give the frames a scrub too if you can! If they’re wooden frames, a fresh coat of paint or stain will definitely help. 

But it’s not just about the outside, making sure your windows are clean can have a big impact on the interior, too. It’s surprising how much natural light can be lost when windows are smeared or dirty, and if you hadn’t guessed already, natural light is probably one of the biggest things that will help sell your house. Check out our article on glass cleaning tips for what we think are some of the best ways to get those windows looking sparkly and fresh. 

Other ways to make your house more appealing

While products such as mirrors, splashbacks and glass shelves can help add appeal to your home for a relatively small amount of money, there are loads of other things you can do quickly and cheaply, so here are some of our favourite ideas:

Decorate in neutral colours – Give your walls a fresh coat of paint and provide prospective buyers with a blank canvas for their own ideas. While decorating to your own personal taste is great, it may not appeal to others.

Switch up your switches – This may not be something that even crossed your mind but replacing old light switches and plug sockets with new ones can be a great way to add to the fresh factor for not much money at all.

Refresh your front door – As we’ve already mentioned, kerb appeal really matters and while replacing your front door may not be a particularly cheap job, it can actually add value to your home, not only from an aesthetics point of view but from a security standpoint, too. If however, your budget won’t stretch to a new front door but you have a wooden one, giving it a fresh coat of paint will certainly help.

Add a shed to your garden – While it’s unlikely to add value, it can definitely be a selling point. Even if it’s just a little one, it will also give you somewhere to stash all of the bits and bobs that you’ve accumulated in the garden in the meantime – helping to make the most of the space on offer. 

We hope you’ve found our tips useful and good luck with the sale!

When it comes to interior decoration, mirrors are secret stars. A carefully placed made-to-measure mirror can turn a dark, dingy space into a large, light one and visually triple it in size.

Their reflective surface creates a fantastic illusion that increases the size of any room. It will bounce around any light already in it (natural and artificial) and make it feel a lot lighter, brighter and much airier.

Even better, the way it reflects and repeats the space in front of it also adds depth, stretching out floors and easing apart walls to create a bigger, fresher room.

That’s why we thought we should show you some crafty tips on how to decorate with mirrors and turn your teeny compact rooms into big bright spaces. In this post we’ll share suggestions on how to use mirrors to make a room look bigger, how to raise your ceilings and lengthen your hallways, all through harnessing the magic of mirrors.

How do you enlarge a room with a mirror?

When trying to maximise space with a mirror, where to hang it is the important question.

One simple technique is to hoist your mirror high.  If you’re worried about low ceilings cramping your space, angle mirrors at a slant between the wall and ceiling. This will elongate the gap between the floor and the ceiling, making your walls seem taller and your ceiling feel higher.

Another idea is to put one near or next to a window. This will help it catch the perfect amount of light, as well as reflect the world outside. Capturing beautiful, natural light inside will always make a room feel not just bigger, but happier too.

One word of caution though: avoid placing mirrors directly opposite a window. Direct sunlight on a reflective surface can get incredibly hot, and the temperature may actually damage your mirror, dulling the reflective surface and bleaching any decorative work.

How do you use a large mirror in a small space?

Small or awkward spaces will massively benefit from a big mirror. If you’ve got sloping ceilings, alcoves or protruding walls, then a custom-cut mirror perfectly slotted into an awkward spot will really open your room up. Not only will the mirror help capture the light, it creates an attractive feature that will complement the odd angles and turn them into features.

At KLG, we make custom mirrors cut to size, allowing you to tackle any troublesome spots. Whatever their shape or dimension, you can transform your crooked, confined spaces easily with a bespoke mirror.

Using Mirrors in a Narrow Hallway or Corridor

Adding a long, tall mirror to a hallway or corridor is a great way to make a narrow space feel wider and fresher. Don’t feel tied to just placing one at the end of the hall, as lengthening the room this way, may actually make it feel even narrower.

Instead, hang them on the longer side walls. Go for one lovely large one, or even multiple mirrors. Patchwork different sizes and shapes to create a ‘mirror gallery’ and you’ll manage to add style as well as space to your hallway.

Of course, there’s one final advantage to keeping mirrors in your hallway, or by your front door: it lets you have one last check of how you look before you leave the house!

Decorating with Mirrors

Mirrors aren’t just cunning tricksters primed for maximising your space, they also make a great decorative feature in their own right. Here are some tips for making the most of mirrors in your home:

• Turn your mirrors into a focal point

An ornate frame, intricate with scroll work, will add a feel of regal decadence to even the smallest space. While a simple driftwood frame stained white is a surefire shortcut to a bright, breezy beach house vibe.

• Try not to go overboard

Unfortunately, the answer to the question can you have too many mirrors in one room, is yes.

As wonderful and miraculous as they are, it is definitely possible to go too far when you’re decorating with mirrors. No more than two large mirrors, or a single wall with mirrors in one room are good rules of thumb. If you use too many, your rooms will actually start to feel busy, cluttered and really just shrink them right back down.

• Don’t be constrained by frames

Mirrors without frames can make arresting features and focal points. Sandblasting is a great way to add patterns or textures straight onto the surface of the mirror itself,  it works particularly well in bath and wet rooms.

Alternatively, small, plain mirrors can be built up to make a mosaic wall. The clean lines of the unframed mirrors will give a minimalist edge to your decor, while the maximised light will help enlarge the space into a big, bright and modern space.

• Choose your rooms wisely

Another common worry people have about mirrors can be; is it bad to have mirrors in your bedroom?

While it isn’t bad as such, you should definitely take care where you place mirrors in rooms designated for sleeping. Avoid placing them where they will reflect the bed – it can be a little tacky and quite off-putting to wake every morning face-to-face with your sleep-soaked self. A great alternative is to have it above the headboard, so you can choose when to admire your reflection and when to ignore it.

Think about where the morning sun will enter your room too, being awoken by sunlight reflected off a mirror isn’t always as fun as you’d hope it would be.

Mirrors are a fantastic interior design tool. A fail safe way to grow small box rooms into pleasurable spaces, and dingy hallways in bright, broad walkways. Whether it’s one with a statement frame, or a custom-cut extra-large mirror, hopefully this post has given you a couple of ideas on how you can use mirrors for maximum impact in your home.

For many, there is one cleaning chore they dread above all others: washing windows and glass doors. It’s such a time-consuming task, with multiple windows in every home and two sides to every window. It can also feel pointless, when you pour hours into a painstaking wash, only to find your windows are still streaked or smeared.

In this article, we’ll take a deeper look and hopefully answer some commonly asked window-cleaning questions.

What is the best homemade glass cleaner?

When it comes to cleaning glass, often a homemade solution is best. A mixture of soap, water and vinegar is commonly accepted as a brilliant glass cleaner because it breaks through grime and minimises streaks just as effectively as shop-bought brands.

And these raid-the-cupboard mixes are not only super-effective, they’re cheap and adaptable too. You can play with the proportions or add extra ingredients such as essential oils or even cornstarch to maximise their effectiveness.

If you’re looking for a good base, our preferred glass cleaning solution is as follows:
● 1 part rubbing alcohol
● 1 part vinegar
● 8 parts warm water

These aren’t your only common household window cleaning options though. People often ask can you use washing up liquid to clean windows? The short answer is yes, though it works best as a prewash. Soap a particularly grimy window with a mix of washing up liquid and water, then rinse with a vinegar/alcohol solution to help minimise streaking.

Another common question is; can you use malt vinegar to clean windows?
This answer is more nuanced. If your glass is smoked, or a dark colour already, then you are fine to use malt vinegar but in general white vinegar is best for window cleaning. ‘White’ vinegar is actually clear so it shouldn’t stain the glass.

What is the best way to clean windows without streaking?

When you’ve spent all that time washing your windows, it is frustrating to find the glass is still stained by streaks after it dries. This can often be traced to two common mistakes, either using too much detergent or leaving too much water behind.

Luckily, with the right tools and the right steps, it’s easy to achieve a streak-free finish. To start, assemble these items, as well as your bucket and your cleaner:
● a sponge
● a squeegee
● a towel
● a dry microfibre cloth

Now, with all the tools you need close to hand, follow our streak free glass cleaning tips:

1. First mix up your glass cleaner of choice according to instructions.
2. Spritz your window with a small amount of cleaner and leave for a couple of seconds to work.
3. Swipe the squeegee across the surface of the glass. Start at the top of the window pane, and snake your way down with strong, steady strokes. The pressure here is key. If you’re too soft, you’ll leave water behind, too hard and you’ll find it difficult to move the squeegee.
4. After each swipe, run the squeegee over the towel to clean the dirty washing liquid away.
5. Wipe the edges of the window with a dry microfibre cloth or rag. You can also use this to rub away at any stubborn finger marks or spots. Just make sure you keep the cloth dry – if it gets damp it will leave streaks on the window.
6. Finally, take your towel and rub the windowsill down to catch any water that dripped. This can be a dirty job, so it doesn’t matter if the towel is already damp.

And here are our final glass cleaning tips to ensure your windows stay streak free:

● Try not to wash your windows when the sun is shining directly on them – they’ll dry too fast.
● Pick an appropriate sized squeegee for the window, it will help you make steady contact with the glass.
● Resist the urge to whip out the pressure washer, at best they’ll give you an uneven wash and streaky finish. At worst, a high pressure will damage the window.

What is the best cleaner for glass shower doors?

Just like dishes, clothes and cars, shower doors are thankless things to clean. Not only are they tough to get spotless, they usually get dirty again quickly.

With shower doors, the film of grime that dulls the glass is usually a mix of hard water and soap scum. Unfortunately, this build-up can do permanent damage, etching into the surface of the door to form clouding. No amount of washing will clear that.

The safest thing is to stop the scum forming. There are a range of home remedies for this, such as applying a small amount of car wax or furniture oil to protect the surface. Another good prevention strategy is to invest in a shower squeegee. These only cost a couple of pounds and the thirty seconds spent sluicing the water off after a shower, will keep your door cloud-free for longer.

But, for those who don’t have the patience or the dedication for regular maintenance, here are our tips for cleaning glass shower doors:

● Smear a paste of baking soda and water across particularly stubborn patches. This will weaken the scum build up, and a gentle rub with a damp sponge should be enough to get it all clean.
● Spritz white vinegar to stop streaks: it really is a miracle glass cleaner!
● Change your bathing habits: the worst culprit for scum build-up is bar soap because it usually contains talc. Next time you’re shopping for shower supplies check the ingredients on any bars you buy and pick one that is talc-free.

How do you clean leaded glass windows?

When it comes to leaded glass, don’t risk a generic commercial cleaner. Shop-bought solutions often include ammonia which can have a damaging chemical reaction with the lead ‘cames’. ‘Cames’ are the metal strips which run through the window, holding it together. To prolong their life, the best thing to use is simply warm water and a ph-neutral soap or washing up liquid.

Make sure you’re gentle with your cleaning, as leaded windows are often fragile and expensive to repair. While cleaning, you can also check the state of the cames as well. If any white powder has formed on the surface of the lead, this means it’s oxidised and will need replacing.

It’s easy to underestimate the impact a dirty window can have on the appearance of a house or room. Not only does a sparkly clean pane of glass have its own visual pleasure, it’s surprising how much extra light can be let in. Hopefully, this guide will have lessened the innate dread of window cleaning, and help you have crystal clear glass every day.