Saying that though, I’m really chuffed that I managed to find the time to get through 5 new books in May and June. So far I’m yet to read a bad book this year, and I think my favourite yet is in this here pile! Let’s get in to it, shall we?

Book 11: Don’t You Forget About Me by Mhairi McFarlane

Mhairi McFarlane is fast becoming one of my favourite authors. I love how her stories aren’t your typical romance novels, and Don’t You Forget About Me is a great example of that. This story follows Georgina, and begins with her not only getting fired from her restaurant job but also walking in on her boyfriend in bed with another woman. After leaving him and finding another job at a new local pub, things start to look up in her life. Not only is her new job fun, with a great boss, but the boss’s brother just so happens to be her first love from back in high school. Rediscovering her old flame, Lucas, brings back a lot of unanswered questions, secrets and a reminder of an awful experience that has haunted her ever since. I loved how not only is this a story of romance, but also of learning to love yourself. Just brilliant!

My rating: 4 out of 5
(Buy it here)

Book 12: Us Three by Ruth Jones

I’ve been excited to read this one for a while having read ‘Never Greener’ last year which I adored! This one follows the lives of three women who have been the best of friends since they were little. We get to see how their adult lives unfold and as a result, how their decisions and experiences in life (and love) impact the dynamic of the trio as they grow older. I really enjoyed this and loved how, at its core, was a celebration of the power of female friendships, but ‘Never Greener’ did just pip it to the post for me personally!

My rating: 4 out of 5
(Buy it here)

Book 13: Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid

I feel like I had been waiting FOREVER to read this book! Never have I preordered something as quickly as I did when I saw this was going to be released! Taylor Jenkins Reid is fast becoming my favourite author after reading such great books last year. ‘Daisy Jones and The Six’ and ‘The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo’ were up there with my favourites in 2020, but I’m going to put this out there and say that this might just be my favourite book that I’ve ever read!

Malibu Rising switches between two time frames, one of the turbulent love story between famous musician Mick Riva and his wife June, and one following their four (also famous) grown up children. I often find books that alternate between timeframes in each chapter a little hard to follow, but this felt seamless. The story builds up to the famous annual Riva party, always hosted at the eldest sibling, Nina’s house. The antics and bombshells that unfold throughout the night had me completely hooked. Taylor Jenkins Reid has a real knack for creating fictional celebrities that just seem SO real and I love her books for that. I would HIGHLY recommend this one – the perfect holiday read or just an all round brilliant book that you can get lost in. (Oh, and I now want to live on the beach)

My rating: 5 out of 5
(Buy it here)

Book 14: Scabby Queen by Kirstin Innes

I had heard loads of good things about this book and was so excited to read it. It’s a story about a Scottish singer and activist named Clio Campbell, who tragically takes her own life. The story begins with the fallout of what has just happened, and follows the lives of the people who meant the most to her. We learn how they each discover the news of what has happened to Clio, how they met and how she impacted their lives in her own unique way.

I really, really wanted to love this from the get go, but if I’m honest, I found the first 40% of the book a real struggle to work through. There are so many people in the book (thank goodness for the character list at the beginning) and I found myself getting mixed up with who’s who and the jumpy timelines quite often. About halfway through though I suddenly found my rhythm with it and everything started to click in to place. From that point on I found myself completely engrossed. It’s a really powerful story that explores everything from politics and fame to mental health and grief, but whilst I enjoyed it in the end, I just found it a tricky one to get in to.

My rating: 3.5 out of 5
(Buy it here)

Book 15: Omelette by Jessie Ware

I love Jessie Ware and her podcast, Table Manners, with her fabulous mum Lennie! When I heard about this launch I just had to preorder as it sounded RIGHT up my street. Whilst only a short read, it’s a brilliant one, and if you like the podcast then you will adore this! It’s a collection of stories and memories from Jessie’s life that all have one thing in common – they all invoke a memory of food. Whether that’s a quick snack rustled up at home or with a friend, or a lavish meal with celebrity pals, Jessie’s stories all feel so familiar. They all also made me crave whatever she was talking about at the time!

The book is also interspersed with simple recipes of some of the meals mentioned, and I’ve already got a few in mind that I want to try (cream on top of ice cream being top of the list!). There’s lots of brilliant restaurants mentioned too, which obviously I now need to visit!

A lovely, easy read for food lovers and one that will make you want to take your own trip down culinary memory lane.

My rating: 5 out of 5
(Buy it here)

There we are! Another five great books ticked off the list from my old favourites and some brilliant new discoveries. I feel like I’ve got back on to the reading wagon now and I’m really enjoying taking some time out each day whilst Oscar naps to just get lost in a good book! I’m almost finished with book 16, so keep an eye out for that one on my Instagram stories or my next mini book reviews post!

If you’ve any great recommendations that you think I’d enjoy, please drop them in the comments!

Claire
xox

Read: Mini Book Reviews: March & April Reads

The post Mini Book Reviews – May & June Reads appeared first on Who What Claire.

If you follow me on Instagram then will probably have already seen my new little side hustle – Who What Claire Art! I realised earlier today that I haven’t yet mentioned it here on my blog, so here we are! I’m currently on maternity leave after having the most beautiful baby boy, and in a bid to keep my creative juices flowing whilst I’m off work, I started designing and selling prints. That was back in February. Fast forward 5 months and I’ve created a little brand that I truly love, with designs that I’m really proud of and would hand in my home in a heartbeat! (If only I had more wall space!)

(Read – 26 Things No One Tells You About Motherhood)

What started out as a handful of designs has quickly snowballed in to over 30 product listings in my Etsy store, including A4 and A3 prints and a selection of greetings cards! My designs are for the colour-lovers – they’re bold and bright and the perfect addition for a gallery wall or statement in the home. I take inspiration from my favourite music, motivational quotes and decor that I love. I would often struggle to find affordable art prints in the styles and colour palettes that I wanted, so I created my own!

Since starting Who What Claire Art, I’ve also started selling at a local venue in Preston – Market Street Social. I’m hoping to be here one Sunday a month going forward so if you’re in the area, keep your eyes peeled! Give me a shout if you know of any other fairs in Preston that you think I’d be a good fit for!

So that’s my little venture that I thought I’d share on here. I’d love it if you came along for the ride and made a small business owner happy! You can follow my dedicated Instagram page @whowhatclaire_art, Facebook page or even favourite my Etsy shop. I really appreciate all the amazing support so far!

If you’d like to make a purchase, I have a discount code running right now where you can save £5 when you buy 2 or more prints. Just enter ‘DOUBLEUP‘ at the checkout.

Hope you love the products as much as I do! Let me know which is your favourite design!

Claire
xox

The post A New Venture! AD – Who What Claire Art appeared first on Who What Claire.

Read: Our Wedding – What We Wore

With some better weather on the horizon (fingers crossed) and some occasions to look forward to, I thought I’d pick out some dresses that would see me through the summer. I wanted some that could easily slot in to my current wardrobe, look great for dressier occasions, but also work for more smart-casual looks too. I think I picked well, and love all three of these so much! We actually have Oscar’s Christening coming up in a couple of month’s time and I’m completely torn which one to wear for it!

Dress #1 – Pink Polka Dot Wrap Dress

To say I love this dress is a huge understatement. I never really used to be much of a fan of wrap dresses and often found they either didn’t offer enough coverage, or there was just way too much fabric. Since having a baby though and my shape changing, they are a God send! This one offers the perfect amount of coverage and wraps round beautifully. The plisse material drapes really nicely, and whilst it has long sleeves, it feels light and cool.

On the Chi Chi website this has been dressed down with some black chunky sandals which is another lovely way to style it, and I can imagine this working really well for lots of occasions.

Dress – Chi Chi Clothing (pr product)
Colourblock Heels – ASOS
Beaded Circle Bag – Topshop

Dress #2 – Blue Polka Dot Angel Sleeve Midi Dress

A completely different dress now, but equally beautiful! When I was picking out some summer occasion dresses, this style was the first that caught my eye. I love the shape and the slightly fishtail hemline. The floaty angel sleeves are beautiful too, and make it feel super feminine and fancy! The fabric has a gorgeous subtle animal print running through it, topped with bold navy blue spots – such a gorgeous print.

Out of the three, this is probably the most typical of a wedding guest dress, and I can imagine it looking so beautiful with a soft blue fascinator. It would also work really well for a Christening or Race Day, but swap the heels for some trainers and throw a cropped sweater over the top and you have a great outfit for dressed-down days, too!

Dress – Chi Chi Clothing (pr product)
Nude Lace Up Heels – Linzi Shoes
Snake Print Clutch Bag – ASOS

Dress #3 – Floral Button Up Midi Dress

The final dress I chose was this beautiful floral midi number with delicate buttons running all the way down and a tiered-style drop hem. This is such a flattering style that nips in at the waist, and the print is so pretty! I also love the fact that it has three quarter length puff sleeves as I’m always a little conscious of my arms.

Out of the three dresses, this is probably the easiest to dress down for day-to-day wear with some pretty sandals or even Converse. I’ve styled it here in more of a smart-casual way with some block heeled mules and a little cross body bag with the strap tucked in, but it could be dressed up even more with some stiletto heels or nude courts. It’s another great option for weddings!

Dress – Chi Chi Clothing (pr product)
Block Heel Mules – Office
Blue Cross Body Bag – Topshop

—

So there’s my three picks! Which of these summer occasion dresses is your favourite? And which should I wear to Oscar’s Christening!?? Thank you Chi Chi Clothing for taking my wardrobe up a notch for Summer. Now if we could just have some lovely sunny weather so I can wear these out, that would be perfect!

Claire
xox

The post AD – Styling Summer Occasion Dresses appeared first on Who What Claire.

Read: Mini Book Reviews – January Reads

Still, I’ve discovered some brilliant reads these past couple of months. They couldn’t be more different from each other if they tried, but I thoroughly enjoyed all four of them. Let’s get stuck in…

Book 7: The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett

I spotted this book at the start of the year and put it straight on to my list when I saw the blurb. A story of twin sisters who flee the town they live in, in search of more exciting prospects. However along the way they part ways and grow up living their lives completely differently – one as white, and one as black. Admittedly this took me much longer to read than usual, but that was more down to my lack of motivation than anything else, as this story truly had me hooked. I loved the characters Desiree and Stella and how their stories were such polar opposites. It was really interesting to see how their decisions then affected the lives of their own children. A really thought provoking book that I’d thoroughly recommend. Also, HBO have the rights to create a TV series of the book, so I’ll be keeping my eyes peeled for that, for sure!

My rating: 4 out of 5
(Buy it here)

Book 8: The Switch by Beth O’Leary

I discovered Beth O’Leary last year when a friend recommended The Flatshare to me (a book I LOVED) so I was really looking forward to The Switch. This was like nothing I’ve read before, where a woman and her grandmother decided to up sticks and switch lives for 2 months. Leena and Eileen are both grieving the loss of Leena’s sister, and each have problems of their own. Leena suffers with anxiety and has just had to take a 2 month sabbatical from her job, and Eileen’s marriage has ended so she’s looking for a new love. The story takes you through the highs and lows of each of their lives, and how a change of scenery is just what they both needed. Such a lovely, heartwarming book that is a nice and easy read if like me, you lost the reading mojo! I adored it, maybe even more so than The Flatshare!

My rating: 4 out of 5
(Buy it here)

Book 9: If I Can’t Have You by Charlotte Levin

I’d spotted this one doing the rounds on Instagram and thought I’d give it a go myself, and I’m so glad I did! For some reason I’ve fallen out of love with thrillers recently, so this was a great way to dip my toe back in. If I Can’t Have You is kind-of-a-thriller, kind-of-a-romance, with a dose of comedy and a lot of drama. I LOVED the way this was written – starting with a bit of a glimpse of the main character, Constance, at the end of the story (without giving too much away) then written as a letter to her love interest, as advised by her therapist. Lots of twists and turns, and a brilliant character in Constance!

My rating: 4.5 out of 5
(Buy it here)

Book 10: All The Lonely People by Mike Gayle

Probably my favourite read out of the four featured in this instalment of my mini book reviews is All The Lonely People. I loved reading Half A World Away last year, and I didn’t think I could love this one more, but I really did! This follows the story of Hubert Bird, a widower who spends his days completely alone. He’s lost touch with old friends and doesn’t see a soul (though leads his daughter to believe he has a bustling social life) until he meets his new neighbour, Ashleigh. An unlikely friendship blossoms between Hubert and the young mum, and he finds a community of people that he didn’t know existed. A really lovely book that covers important topics such as loneliness, old age, grief and race. The chapters alternate between Hubert’s difficult past and the present day, and I loved finding out more about his character. I challenge you not to love Hubert Bird!

My rating: 4.5 out of 5
(Buy it here)

Read: Mini Book Reviews – February Reads

Some really brilliant reads over the past couple of months there that I’d highly recommend! In fact, I’m yet to read something so far this year that I haven’t enjoyed which is rare! I’m now well on my way through book number 11 of the year, which you’ll see in my next Mini Book Reviews post next month!

Let me know if you’ve read any of these and what you thought!

Claire
xox

The post Mini Book Reviews – March & April Reads appeared first on Who What Claire.

Normality is finally in sight, and with it comes the daunting prospect of swapping out your beloved sweatpants for – dare I say it – JEANS! I for one love jeans and until lockdown number 1 and a certain little someone growing in my tummy, I lived in them. Like most though, I spent lockdowns 1 through to 3 reaching for stretchier waistbands and comfier fabrics. I’m happy to be back in my denims now though, albeit a much MUCH comfier style than I wore pre-baby, and thought I’d share some of my ways to wear straight leg jeans to help ease you back in, too!

The jeans in question are my current favourite go-to pair. Since having Oscar, I hunted high and low for jeans to fit my new shape. I still have some old favourites in my collection but only the odd one or two currently fit my postpartum tummy and hips. I came across the Florence jeans (aff link) on ASOS though and soon as I put them on I knew I’d found the winning pair! They’re probably the comfiest jeans I’ve ever owned, and they’re the perfect high waist stye. I did have to size up, though they are beginning to look a little on the bigger side now almost 6 months down the line. I’ve actually got a pair on their way to me in my usual size in a slightly different shade now that my body is very slowly easing its way back closer to what it was pre-baby. I’ve cropped these ones a little as I do prefer a raw hem, but I may keep the others as they are!

Here’s five ways to wear straight leg jeans!

Look One

This first outfit is definitely what I’d call ‘jeans and a nice top’! I picked up this gorgeous check blouse for £8 in the Topshop sale last year and haven’t got round to wearing it out properly yet. I love the versatility of it, and how it makes me feel a little more fancy with its sheer fabric and ruffle detailing. The green shade works really well with the light washed the denim, and I love this combo paired with my white mules. This whole look makes me want to be sat outside enjoying a few gins with my favourite girls, and I can’t bloody wait to do that!

Checked Ruffle Blouse – Topshop
Straight Leg Jeans – ASOS
White Crossover Mules – Office Shoes

Look Two

If you’re not wanting to stray too far from your comfies, then this is the next best thing! I love cardigans right now as they’re perfect for throwing on when you need some layers but it’s too warm for a coat. This one is from H&M a couple of years back but still one I love to wear. The v neck detail makes it a great one to wear alone, buttoned up and tucked in to jeans. Cream knitwear paired with pale denim is such a classic, failsafe combination in my eyes, kept simple with comfy trainers and some big shades!

Cream cardigan – H&M
Straight Leg Jeans – ASOS
Trainers – Yeezy for Adidas Originals
Sunglasses – ASOS

Look Three

I think this might just be my favourite look of the 5, and one of my favourite ways to wear straight leg jeans. As they’re on the slightly bigger, baggier side, they’re typically more suited to casualwear. But I like to dress them up and paired them with some fancy heels and a more fitted top for a smarter twist. This floral top from Nasty Gal is both fitted and floaty, giving a more feminine feel to quite a boyish shape of jean. The pops of pink with the accessories keep it fun, and the overall outfit is just perfect for dinner and drinks! (Note to self: wear this when you next go out!!)

Floral Blouse – Nasty Gal
Straight Leg Jeans – ASOS
Pearl Detail Bag – Topshop
Pink Platform Sandals – Public Desire

Look Four

Keeping things simple with this outfit, I’ve just gone for my old faithful combo of jeans and a printed T Shirt! This is one I’ve had a couple of years and always gravitate towards in the warmer weather because of its colourful print. This is what you’ll typically find me in at this time of year, and the kind of thing I love to wear. I’ve added a pair of bright mules too, and at risk of sounding like a broken record, this would be perfect for afternoon drinks in the sunshine!

Printed T Shirt – H&M
Straight Leg Jeans – ASOS
Blue Suede Mules – ASOS

Look Five

The final look of my five ways to wear straight leg jeans is another of my favourites! Again, this is something you’ll find me in regularly, particularly when it comes to work. I love an oversized blazer over a T Shirt and jeans to smarten to whole look up in an instant! This Mango corduroy number is one I really need to get more wear out of now that things are getting back to normal. I’ve paired the outfit with monochrome accessories to keep things simple and tie in with the zebra print of the top. Love!

Corduroy Blazer – Mango
Straight Leg Jeans – ASOS
Zebra T Shirt – ASOS
Black Bag With Metal Handle – Topshop
Trainers – Commes de Garcon PLAY x Converse

—

Read: Five Ways To Wear The Cardigan
Read: Five Ways To Wear The Shacket
Read: Five Ways To Wear Sweatpants

So there we have 5 of (very) many of my favourite ways to wear straight leg jeans! I literally could have picked 20, if not more combinations of outfit with these jeans as I wear them with so many things. I think when you find a pair you love, they just work with everything. I’d love to know which was your favourite!

C
xox

The post Five Ways To Wear Straight Leg Jeans appeared first on Who What Claire.

The past couple of weeks have started to get a teeny tiny bit warmer (or at least they had until the last day or two!) so I’ve been reaching for more spring-like pieces in my wardrobe, finally! One item that I’m loving wearing right now is this gorgeous Zara cardigan. Cardigans are great wardrobe staples for spring months as they’re perfect for layering! They’re also a great alternative to a coat when temperatures start to creep up, and there are so many nice ones available right now. It was a no-brainer for me that I’d show you five ways to wear the cardigan as the next in my styling series for those very reasons!

Obviously mine is quite a bold colour, but these looks work just as well with any shade, bright or neutral. It doesn’t seem to be in stock at Zara any more, but a very similar one is available in pink here which would work just as well! The possibilities are endless with this piece, so much so that I could have gone on to show you many, many more ways to wear. Here’s five of my favourites…

Look 1

This outfit just screams spring to me! I’ve thrown the cardigan over my favourite oversized collar shirt that I picked up last year from Monki. It has the most beautiful dainty floral print which complements the green of the cardigan perfectly, and I love how the collar sits over the top. I’ve styled this look with my current favourite ASOS jeans which have a vintage fit, and some cute slip on white mules. I’ll definitely be wearing this outfit regularly once the sun makes more of a permanent appearance!

Cardigan – Zara
Floral Oversized Collar Shirt – Monki (aff link)
Jeans – ASOS (aff link)
Mules – Office
Sunglasses – ASOS

Look 2

The second outfit is one that is very much ‘me’ in the warmer months. I absolutely love wearing midi skirts paired with printed tees, and I’m so glad I can fit back in to this skirt again post-baby! I love how the bold prints and colours work so well together, and the addition of patent ankle boots makes this look perfect for a lunch and drinks out with friends (when we’re eventually allowed!). It would work just as well with some paired back Converse though, too.

Cardigan – Zara
T Shirt – Disney x Keith Haring at Zara
Zebra Skirt – Miss Selfridge
Yellow Cross Body Bag – ASOS
Patent Ankle Boots – ASOS

Look 3

Here’s one for the colour lovers! Whoever said ‘pink and green should never be seen’ was so wrong in my eyes. I just love how this pastel pistachio green pairs so well with pink! So much so, that I’ve gone all out with pink trousers, pink trainers and pink stripes. It’s such a bold and fun outfit and I LOVE IT!

Cardigan – Zara
High Neck Top – Saturday by Megan Ellaby
Trousers – Amazon Find
Trainers – Nike

Look 4

This look is very typical of the kind of thing I’ve been wearing round this house during lockdown. The trousers are stretchy jersey fabric and are SO comfy, so perfect for lazing at home. I’ve teamed them with a slogan tee and some Converse for a relaxed look. So simple to throw together, but looks like I’ve made an effort when it’s time to leave the house for the daily walk!

Cardigan – Zara
T Shirt – ASOS
Animal Print Trousers – Nasty Gal (aff link)
Trainers – Converse
Bag – H&M

Look 5

Probably one of my favourite ways to wear the cardigan (and one I’ll be doing a lot more in spring!) is paired with a midi dress. I love midi dresses because they’re just so darn easy to chuck on and go with so many things. I picked up this H&M one recently and love the gingham print. It’s such an easy piece to wear with its oversized fit and tie waist detailing, and great for those days when I’m not feeling so fabulous about my body. I’ve worn it here with printed Converse and a red circle bag for an extra pop of colour. I absolutely love this outfit – you’ll find me sporting variations of this look all season long!

Cardigan – Zara
Gingham Dress – H&M (aff link)
Trainers – Commes de Garcon PLAY x Converse
Red Circle Bag – Next

—

Read: Five Ways To Wear The Shacket
Read: Five Ways To Wear Sweatpants

So there you have it! Five very different but equally fun ways to style quite a simple wardrobe staple! I can’t wait to get more wear out of this Zara one throughout the new season. Crossing my fingers and toes for some good weather so it can get the airtime it deserves! Which of the five ways to wear the cardigan is your favourite?

C
xox

The post Five Ways To Wear The Cardigan appeared first on Who What Claire.

Book 4: Writers & Lovers by Lily King

Writers & Lovers follows the story of Casey, who is mourning the recent loss of her mother and has just come out of a serious relationship. She’s working on a novel that she’s been writing for six gruelling years, she’s got mountains of debt and she’s losing friends left, right and centre, until two love interests come along at once. It’s a lovely story, a little different from the typical romance novel, and one that I completely devoured. I loved the main character and found myself rooting for Casey all the way through.

If you’re after something uplifting and heartwarming, but aren’t afraid to have a little cry here and there, this is just brilliant. It could have quite easily been a huge cliche, but it manages to swerve that perfectly.

My rating: 4.5 out of 5
(Buy it here)

Book 5: Dominicana by Angie Cruz

I’m just going to start by simply saying I LOVE THIS BOOK! I’d seen countless reviews praising Dominicana, but I’m always a little skeptical of the ‘hype’. I wanted to give it a go for myself though and see if it lived up to its praise, and boy did it!

This book follows a 15 year Dominican girl named Ana, who is pressured in to marrying a man double her age. She moves to New York to be with him, in the hope of living the American Dream and moving her family there for a better life. However things don’t go to plan, and Ana ends up living a life completely different to the one she hoped for.

When I was reading this I felt as though I was there with her. I felt her hope and her pain, and I wanted nothing more than for things to work out for her. I’ve never felt so absorbed in a story before! An absolute must read.

My rating: 5 out of 5
(Buy it here)

Book 6: Out Of Love by Hazel Hayes

I saw this book was getting quite a lot of attention on Goodreads and thought it sounded up my street, so I bought it and got stuck in straight away. This is a love story, but with a subtle but genius difference. It’s told back-to-front, starting with the difficult break up, working through the course of the relationship in reverse up until the magical day the couple first meet.

I found myself loving the main character and hating her boyfriend (and his mother) with a passion. I loved some of the smaller characters too and their fierce loyalty. The thing I liked the most though, was how as the book goes on, you learn more and more about the couple and start to understand the breakdown in the relationship, and the warning signs that were there from the start.

Also, top marks to Hazel Hayes for making me cry at an acknowledgements page for the first time in my life!

My rating: 5 out of 5
(Buy it here)

That’s it for my February reads! Let me know if you’ve read any of these and what you thought of them. I must admit that I’ve been a little slow with books so far this month, so March’s Mini Book Reviews post may be slightly sparse. I’m currently reading ‘The Vanishing Half’ by Brit Bennett and so far really enjoying it. I’ll report back soon!

C
xox

The post Mini Book Reviews – February Reads appeared first on Who What Claire.

If like me you currently rent your home, you’ll know how hard it can be to add any personality in to it. Especially if it comes with the magnolia walls and beige carpets that seem to be standard in rented properties! Over the course of the past 6 or 7 years, I’ve picked up some great decor tips for renters. I started off in a small 2 bedroom ground floor flat, then moved to a small Victorian 2 bedroom semi detached house, and now we’re in a 3 bed 1930s (I think) semi, and these tips have served us well in all three! I thought I’d share them with you and show you some of them in action in our home.

Sofa – DFS / Console Table – B&M / Coffee Table – La Redoute / Prints – Fy, Gayle Mansfield Designs, Sarah Docker Illustration, Oliver Bonas, John Lewis & Magma Books / Photo Frames – Fred Aldous, John Lewis, Wilko, Homesense / Candles – Homesense, Woodwick & Sainsburys / Polaroid Clip Frames – Hema / Cushions – Very & Dunelm / Pom Pom Wreath – Woolly Leopard / Rose Gold Lamp – Homesense

Speak To Your Landlord To Find Out What Is And Isn’t Allowed

First things first, make sure you find out what the rules are. Some landlords are super fussy when it comes to decoration. Many like to keep things as a blank canvas to appeal to more people, but sometimes you may be lucky and find your landlord is pretty flexible. We’ve always had the same rules at each of the properties we’ve lived in: no painting, but things can been hung on the walls so long as any holes are filled and painted over before we depart.

I know of people who have been allowed to redecorate whole rooms though, and others who have been allowed to paint walls so long as they were returned to their original colour before leaving. It’s always best to check first before you do anything to make sure you don’t get off on the wrong foot!

Add Colour and Warmth With Soft Furnishings

One of the easiest ways to brighten up a space and my favourite of my decor tips for renters is to add colour. I LOVE colour. If I had it my way there would be a different colour paint in every room, but instead I have to be clever and inject in through other things. Our living room for example has lots of fun primary colours in it – our big armchair is yellow, and I’ve scattered cushions and throws across that and our sofa in complementary colours and prints.

Not only do these help to liven up the space, but they also add warmth and texture too. It makes a somewhat cold, blank space feel instantly more interesting.

Bookshelf – Dunelm / Armchair – Made.com / Cushions & Throw – H&M / Plant – Asda / Print – John Lewis / Photo Frames – TK Maxx & John Lewis / Record Player – Crosley / Candle – Jo Malone / Metal Basket – H&M

Use Command Strips to Hang Art

Command strips are a renters best friend! Think you can’t hang your artwork? Think again! This is the ultimate of my decor tips for renters. As soon as you get something up on the wall, it instantly transforms the space. As you can see from the photos, I have a lot of prints and framed photos. We created the gallery wall above the TV by using command strips to hang these pieces, and we have more artwork dotted around the walls in more or less every room.

The beauty of Command strips is that they can be taken off without leaving a mark. (As long as you do it carefully! We’ve had a few incidents where paint has chipped off ever so slightly, but it’s easy to fix with a bit of sanding and a touch up of paint.

Bring The Outside In With Plants

Plants are a great way to make a house feel more homely in my opinion. A little greenery really brings a space to life and adds layers and texture to a room.

We have plants of all shapes and sizes from small cactus plants to almost ceiling-high plants that add a bit of drama!

Use Rugs To Break Up The Beige!

I always used to think that you shouldn’t really put a rug over a carpet, but since we moved in to our current place, I’ve completely changed my mind! We brought a couple of rugs over from our old house which had wooden floors throughout most of the downstairs, where we used them to add warmth. We didn’t really expect to use them in a carpeted house, but as soon as I lay one down to try out, I loved it.

It completely broke up the flat, plain look of the beige carpets and helped us to create a more defined living area within an open plan lounge and dining room. We’ve since got some new furniture and moved it to the back of the house, under the dining table. Again, it really helps to section off a space within a large room. (And will also act as a barrier between the table and the carpet when Oscar starts weaning and inevitably throwing food all over the floor!)

Dining Table & Chairs – Ikea / Sideboard – Sue Ryder Charity Shop / Bowley & Jackson / Candles – Sainsburys, Woodwick, Next / Cactus – Ikea / Plant Pot – H&M / Grid Photo Print – La La Lab / Havana Print – Hey Day Designs / Photo Frames – TK Maxx, Homesense, Asda, John Lewis

Find Interesting Furniture That You Can Make The Focal Point of The Room

We’ve recently upgraded our furniture from the old Ikea pieces we’d had since we moved in to the flat almost 7 years ago. I wanted to move away from the white geometric cube pieces and get some new items that would warm up the space and add interest. We’ve got some great pieces now that are focal points within our home.

We’ve got a brilliant bookcase from Dunelm that has a mixture of open and closed shelving. I wanted to style this with lots of bright books and accessories since it faces the living room door, and it really catches your eye as you walk in.

Amongst other pieces, we also bagged a gorgeous vintage drinks cabinet for £65 on Facebook Marketplace, which I had so much fun styling up. It looks brilliant in our dining room and makes a great feature of an otherwise plain wall.

Find Ways To Hide Features You Don’t Like

Unless you’re really lucky, chances are there are certain things you don’t like about the home you rent. If those things are cosmetic, then there’s probably a way to hide them.

For example, our house has an old fashioned serving hatch linking the kitchen and dining room, which for us serves no purpose at all. Its slap-bang in the middle of one of the main walls in our dining room and meant that configuring the space with furniture was a little tricky as it was in the way. I figured since we didn’t use it, we could hide it! So now we have the drinks cabinet in front with some strategically placed prints propped on top. Granted, they don’t cover it completely, but they take your eye away from something we didn’t want to see.

I also wasn’t a huge fan of the fireplace. The mantelpiece is ok and the hearth is pretty nice, but the fire itself doesn’t actually work and the coals on it are a bit of an eyesore. Again, we’ve propped some prints up to hide the fire and give us something a little nicer to look at!

Vintage Drinks Cabinet – Facebook Marketplace / Cocktails Print – Etsy / Letter Board – Primark / Glasses – Vintage, Debenhams, M&S, Homesense, Sainsburys / Pineapple – Homesense / Resin Coasters – Unique Resin* (PR Product)

I love how some quick and easy hacks can make a pretty drab space look so much warmer and more welcoming. It feels like ‘us’ here, even if it is only for the short-term. We’re now on a mission to save up and fingers crossed, buy our own place next year. Renting can get a bad rep, but it has served us well over the years whilst we figured out what we like in a home and what we don’t.

I hope you liked my decor tips for renters! Do you have any clever tips to help make a rented house feel like a home?

C
xox

Read: Mini Book Reviews: January Reads

The post Making A Rented House Feel Like Home: Decor Tips For Renters appeared first on Who What Claire.

It’s no surprise that the majority of them are bright and colourful! I love matching my nails to certain items in my wardrobe or picking out colours to represent a season or occasion. I’ve got a saved folder on Instagram that’s bursting with hundreds of nail art designs for inspiration whilst I patiently wait for salons to open up again.

As you can see, my nail lady is amazing! If you’re Preston based, Andrea at Peaches Nails is the queen of nail art and always nails (pardon the pun) whatever designs I go to her with. She’s got such a great eye for detail and the steadiest hands I’ve ever seen! I love every single style I’ve had, and change my mind about my favourites all the time.

I honestly can’t wait to get back in the chair, get some gel polish on my nails and have a good old natter with Andrea once a little bit of normality returns! I’ve got so many designs and colours in my head that I want to try out, from wavy lines and polka dots to animal prints and colourful tips. I’d give it a whirl myself at home but I just don’t have the patience!

I’ll keep waiting (impatiently) for the day I can look down at my nails and see them looking fabulous once again. At least I’m not going anywhere for anyone to see my awful chipped nail polish!

Which nail art design is your favourite?

C
xox

READ: A Beauty Pie Skincare Review

The post The Nail Art Archives appeared first on Who What Claire.

The shacket I have is from Zara (currently on sale here!) and has a large check print, perfect paired with block colours, but great for clashing too! I’ve been throwing mine over pretty much everything – jeans and tees, dresses. I even wore it a tonne whilst I was heavily pregnant with maternity leggings or jumpsuits as it was just so darn comfy! Here’s some of the ways to style it!

Read: Maternity Fashion & Keeping Your Style During Pregnancy

Look 1

Kicking things off with a fairly simple look and one I’d be sporting if we were allowed out for dinner and drinks! I’ve paired the shacket with a silky black camisole and skinny jeans to let the print do the talking. I’ve added some block heels and a chic bag, making it perfect for a casual evening out (if only!).

Shacket – Zara
Black Cami Top – ASOS
Skinny Jeans – Topshop
Block Heels – Office
Bag – Mulberry

Look 2

For the second look I went for one of the best kind of prints to clash with – leopard print! Let’s face it, leopard print is pretty much a neutral at this point anyway. I picked out a little H&M dress and some ankle boots for a look that would be great to go from day to night.

Shacket – Zara
Leopard Print Dress – H&M
White Ankle Boots – Kurt Geiger
Pearl Headband – Primark

Look 3

One of the latest additions to my wardrobe is these red zebra print trousers. They’re so incredibly comfy! Great for days when I want to wear something other than sweatpants or leggings, and a little more fancy. They really bring out the red in the checked print and make what would be a super casual look feel a little more fancy.

Shacket – Zara
T Shirt – H&M
Zebra Print Flares – Nasty Gal
Black Vans – ASOS
Bag – Topshop

Look 4

If we weren’t currently in a lockdown, I’d be donning my many maxi dresses and fancy boots as much as possible. Here I’m wearing a polka dot layered maxi for another print clash, and my favourite boots! They’re metallic silver, pointed and make me instantly feel more dressed up.

Shacket – Zara
Polka Dot Maxi Dress – Nasty Gal
Silver Boots – Public Desire
Sunglasses – ASOS

Look 5

My final look and probably my favourite of the 5 is this one! This is probably the most ‘me’ out of all of them. Relaxed fit jeans, chunky trainers, lots of colour and one hell of a print clash! I also love how the shacket looks tied round the waist to add a little something different to an outfit, creating textures and layers.

Shacket – Zara
High Neck Top – Saturday by Megan Ellaby
Jeans – ASOS
Trainers – Yeezy for Adidas Originals

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So there you have it! Five ways to wear the shacket! I had so much fun pulling these looks together and finding new ways to style a piece I’d got in to a bit of a rut with. I’ll definitely be pairing it with more colourful combos now.

In case you missed it, I also styled up sweatpants in my last ‘Five Ways To Wear’ post here! You can find all of the items I’ve styled over in my Instagram story highlight too.

Let me know what you’d like to see me style next time!

C
x

The post Five Ways To Wear The Shacket appeared first on Who What Claire.