Living by the river is a dream for many, but the extra moisture, wind and flood risk mean your windows do far more than frame a pretty view. The right glazing helps keep condensation, draughts and noise under control while making your home more energy-efficient. From high-performance double glazing and moisture-resistant uPVC or composite frames to clever styles like tilt-and-turn, casement or awning windows, small design choices can make a big difference to comfort and heating bills in a riverside home. Even large sliding or fixed picture windows can be part of a low-impact home when paired with quality seals and thermally efficient glass. On Friendly Turtle EcoBlog, we love exploring these practical, planet-friendly upgrades the kind that protect your home, tread more lightly on local waterways and still let you enjoy those calming river views day after day.
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How to Choose Artwork That Complements Your Furniture and Overall Design
No home is complete without artwork. Unfortunately, a lot of people completely overlook it when they are designing their homes. It’s not hard to see why, as the average person has absolutely no idea about interior design or the qualities of a well-designed home. Choosing the right artwork can be difficult, which is why most people skip it completely. It can be even more difficult to choose it if you are looking for artwork that, in addition to being beautiful, complements your furniture and your home’s overall design. This post will simplify things and tell you how you can find the right artwork for your house:
Match Colours
One of the most important things to do if you plan on investing in artwork is matching the colours of the paintings or posters to the colours used in your home’s design. The last thing you want is for your artwork to clash with your home, especially if you are investing in something expensive, like quality oil painting masterpiece reproductions, which can cost a small fortune, but add a lot of character and charm to your home. If you are commissioning artwork, whether new or a reproduction, you get a lot more control over the colours used, which means you can choose pieces of artwork that work in your home and suit the colours used.
Quality Frames
If you are buying artwork for your house, invest in quality frames. A lot of people make the mistake of spending a fortune on artwork, but completely neglecting frames. If you do not buy quality frames, your artwork is never going to look good. An expensive piece of artwork hung up in a cheap or low-quality frame can look terrible. If you are having trouble sourcing frames that suit your artwork, consider getting in touch with the company you bought the art from and asking them for help finding the right frames. They should be able to support your efforts.
Furniture Dimensions
Think about the size of the furniture you use in your house, too. If you have small furniture, the last thing you want is to invest in a giant piece of art. The same is true the other way around, too. Make sure that your artwork doesn’t dwarf your furniture. If you are having trouble choosing paintings that are the right size for your house, get in touch with the company you plan on buying art from and ask them for their help–they should be able to properly advise you on sizing and help you to find the right painting or print.
Create a Theme
Creating a theme is something you should definitely consider doing if you want your home’s design to look more cohesive. There are many different ways of creating a theme, and incorporating artwork into your home’s design is one of them. The use of artwork can be a highly effective way to not only create a theme, but also tie together a theme you have been working on. It is important that the artwork you buy suits your home’s design, otherwise creating a theme will never be possible. A theme can make your home feel a lot more comfortable.
Think About Mood
Mood is also important. A lot of people confuse mood and theme, but they are two different things. You can have a cohesive theme, and then change the overall mood of the room by adding or removing artwork. If you want a dark, moody theme, then mention this to the artwork supplier you plan on working with. Similarly, if you want a happy one, tell them this. If you pay for artwork to be reproduced, you have a lot more control over mood, since you can pay to have famous paintings reproduced, and completely change the dynamic of the rooms they are placed in.

Prioritize Quality
More than anything else, you need to prioritize quality. Make sure that the artwork you buy is high-quality and sold by a company with good aftercare. To find out about the quality of a business’s artwork and its aftercare, read reviews. A company’s reviews will tell you a lot about it and make the process of determining whether or not to do business with them a lot simpler. As well as reviews, think about cost. Many artwork providers actually offer flexible payment plans, which allow you to break down the cost of art purchases into more affordable monthly installments.
Artwork can be expensive, which is why it’s important to shop around and find the right pieces for your home. The last thing you want is to spend a fortune on artwork that doesn’t complement your home’s design. Use the guidance given here to improve your home’s overall design and aesthetic once and for all.
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