As the year draws to a close, the team at Arista Living would like to wish you a wonderful rest of the festive season! However the holidays look for you this year, we hope you find time to connect with the people you love and bid a proper farewell to 2020

We’d also like to take a moment to thank you all for your support this year. It’s been a bit of a crazy year for everyone, but it’s made us appreciate the most important things in life a bit more. Whilst we weren’t allowed to see each other, we loved being able to share space with you all on our social media, seeing all of the fantastic spaces you created using our beds.                    

Finally, we’d like to wish you a fantastic new year in 2021- we hope you get a chance to build on what you’ve achieved this year and that we’ll be able to celebrate a little bit more normally next year. In the interim, you can still find us online @aristaliving, and if you feel inspired to renovate your own space in the new year, we’re still giving you 50% off any mattress whenever you buy your dream bed on our site.

Stay safe and Happy Holidays!

The Arista Living Aesthetic Report covers interior design aesthetics, asking how you can get the look on your own. Last week we took a look at minimalism, but this week we’re covering the other end of the extreme; all-out colour.

Although Christmas has a traditional palette of golds, greens, reds and whites, many people don’t feel that those colours bring them a tonne of joy or suit their home well. But the joy of Christmas decorating is that it only has to make you feel happy, so you can just pick whichever colours you most like and run with them.

If you’re struggling to pick colours, basic colour theory will help; colours that are near each other on the colour wheel create a relaxing atmosphere, whereas colours that are opposites will create an exciting visual contrast, so it all depends on what you’re looking for. Harmonious colours will work well in any space, but if you have neutral furnishings like this cream bed, the contrast will work better in your favour.

Try to decide on one point of view; is your colour scheme pride-themed? Is it retro? Is it pop-art inspired? For inspiration, try Instagram or Pinterest

Once you’ve decided what will inspire your Christmas decorations, go big or go home. There’s nothing sadder than a half-hearted attempt to be colourful- you won’t get the right effect unless you spread the colour out throughout your home to create a more immersive experience. As for knowing you’ve got it right, you’ll know that it’s perfect when it feels like it represents you.

Photos courtesy of @beckyshomesweethomeaccount on Instagram

If you’re feeling a change this Christmas, maybe the answer is to challenge yourself to a different decorating style than you’d normally go for. If you’re looking to put down the red-and-gold ornaments you’ve been using for years, and try and challenge yourself to stick to something a little more chic, we’ve got you covered. In the runup to Christmas we’ll be looking at different decorating styles and discussing how to get them done quickly and without breaking the bank.

This week, we’re tackling minimalism, which can be a tricky aesthetic to get right around Christmas- too much decoration and you lose the minimalist feel, but too little kills the festive spirit. However, when done right, a minimalist Christmas strips the season down to just the bits that feel important to you personally. It also has an aesthetic that some people find more relaxing than traditional decorations, making the home seem cosier and less stressful.

 A good way to achieve the look is by picking our one or two colours, which complement your existing décor, and sticking to them.  To create a minimalist space, you’ll want to use colours that sit next to each other on the colour wheel, because they’ll create a more relaxing space. For example, if you’ve got a cream bed like this one, you might want to consider adding in greens or golds, which will complement the yellow undertones of the cream.

Another great idea for balancing minimalist décor without becoming dull is to spread it out evenly- rather than concentrating all of your decorations in one room, make sure each room has a few pieces that match. It’s also really helpful to relocate the décor you already had out so that things don’t seem cluttered- if you’ve got an ottoman bed like this one the job is a lot easier, but failing that, make sure to store things somewhere that they won’t get lost or damaged.

Last but not least, there are a few simple pieces that will always look great- warm white string  lights have a huge impact without being over-the-top, as does winter greenery. Whatever you decide to do, remember that the whole point of this tradition is to do things that make you feel happy and festive, and focus on achieving that rather than perfection.

If you’re getting the festive season started at home, then a lockdown film night is the perfect thing for you. Pop some popcorn, find your comfiest pyjamas and curl up in bed (preferably one from our extensive collection) and get stuck into a classic Christmas film. In case you’re stuck for one to watch, we’ve compiled a short list of some of our favourites below.

 1. Polar Express

A young boy who doesn’t believe in Father Christmas gets swept away by a train headed directly for the North Pole in this Christmas classic. Based on the iconic book of the same name, the film deals with what it’s like to lose the magic of Christmas and struggle to find it again.

2. Elf

If you haven’t seen Elf, you haven’t done Christmas. This iconic film about a human being who grows up thinking he’s an elf is the perfect mixture of sweetness and stupidity to make you feel good about the festive season.

3.Nightmare before Christmas

This is actually the best film to watch in November, because it kind of bridges Halloween and Christmas, so it’s the perfect way to start your Christmas watching. If you’ve not seen it before, it tells the story of Jack Skellington, the Halloween King who decides he wants to switch to running Christmas.

4. A Christmas Story

This is a vintage classic that gets passed over way too often. It’s an adorable story about a little boy who wants his parents to buy him a BB gun for Christmas but can’t convince them to do it.

5. Home Alone

Kevin McAllister is left to fend for himself when his family forget him and leave for the holidays. Need we say any more?

6. The Grinch

A Christmas-hating green creature attempts to steal Christmas rather than dealing with his trauma. As funny as it is wholesome, this film deals with what it’s like to get carried away in the materialism and forget what Christmas is about.

7. Miracle on 34^th Street

Father Christmas has to prove his identity to disbelievers in this 90s classic.

8. Nativity!

If you’ve got kids, chances are that they’ve had to watch this at school, but nothing ruins the novelty of watching Martin Freeman as an exhausted schoolteacher who accidentally leads the whole town to believe that a Hollywood producer is coming to see their nativity.

9.Olive The Other Reindeer

A niche favourite about a dog named Olive who doesn’t fit in- when Rudolph gets injured and Santa says he needs ‘all of the other reindeer’ Olive mishears and becomes convinced she’s Santa’s only hope.

10. A Muppet Christmas Carol

The Muppets and Dickens sound like two things that absolutely should not go together, but this film weirdly makes it all work, and work well. Worth watching just for Miss Piggy.

Picture courtesy of @beckyhomesweethomeaccount on Instagram

Although we’ll now be allowed to mix households around Christmastime, lots of people are realising that they’d rather stay in a ‘support bubble’ with family rather than risk getting a hotel room over that period. That means that lots of people are now having to either spruce up their spare room or start decorating a guest bedroom from scratch. Considering that stores are still closed, that can get  a little tricky, so we’ve compiled a list of tips to help you get there.

Keep Things Simple

As a general rule of thumb, a guest bedroom is not the place to start experimenting with extreme maximalism or circus-inspired décor. Whilst it definitely doesn’t have to be bland, it should be somewhere that any guest will feel relaxed and comfortable enough to sleep, so keep to neutral tones and don’t overcrowd the space.

Start With the Bed

Before you get too carried away worrying about anything else, make sure you’ve at least got the very basics- that means somewhere for your guests to sleep. There are plenty of options for doing this online without breaking the bank, but we’d specifically recommend getting an ottoman bed or something with a storage base, because that means you don’t have to worry about making space for anything you might have already had in the guest room.  Plus, once you have the right bed you can start to fill in the rest of the room around it.

Find Basics

This will depend entirely on what you already have to hand- at a bare minimum, you’ll need a bed and a wardrobe. If those are things you’ve already got and you feel the need to add more you might also want to consider bedside tables or a desk to make the place feel cosier. If you can’t get to the shops or don’t have the time to go shopping for the best pieces, there are lots of great online options that will deliver directly to your door- if you can’t see them in person first to make sure they match, it’s a good idea to get them all in the same neutral colour.

Accessorise

Whilst you should definitely take our earlier advice about not doing anything extreme, little details will be what ultimately makes the space feel like a home- even touches as simple and inexpensive as some matching throw pillows or a nice candle will do wonders for the room. Another great way to add warmth is to make sure that the room has layers of texture

Get Festive!

If you’re having loved ones over for the holidays, a great way of making a room feel less empty is to put some festive decorations up- a small tree or garland is a great way to make them feel a little more like they’re spending the holidays at their own home.

Final Touches

If you’ve got the room mostly together, all you have to do is check that your guests have everything they’ll need. Some final touches are really important, like making sure your guests have clean towels and hangers, so make sure to double check for those little things.

 Photo courtesy of @life_downthelane on Instagram

This year, Christmas will begin whilst we’re still locked down, and whilst that means we can’t partake in a lot of the traditions we’re used to, it also means we have way more time to decorate, so many people are going all-out with decorations this year. That means that decorations are no longer limited to the living room- this year, people are deciding to make Christmas decorating a whole-home project.

 If you’re up for a challenge, try tying all of your indoor decorations together under one common theme or colour scheme- this could be a frosty blue and white, a minimalist white and silver or a bold multicolour. It’ll provide a great project as you try and source the right pieces to make it work- you could even try doing a different theme for every room.

If you’re the sort of person who decorates the outside of their house, congratulations- you’re already winning at Christmas. If you aren’t, but would like to be, you can’t go wrong with fairy lights in any piece of foliage you can find, on walls, and around doorways. If you’d prefer to add a more unique touch, there are plenty of beautiful wreaths and outdoor ornaments you can make or buy.

For bedrooms, the sky is the limit. Forget pleasing all members of the family and just go for the Christmas decorations that make you feel most festive. You could even go as far as getting a small tree to sit on your bedside table. If you have a statement headboard, this is a great way to complement it. If setting up a whole extra tree is too much stress, you can also create a Christmassy feel by adorning your headboard with Christmas lights or hanging a stocking.

Whatever you do, remember that Christmas decorating isn’t about being super stylish or overly-collected; it’s about making memories and creating an atmosphere that feels special. If it isn’t perfection, don’t panic- as long as you enjoy it it’s exactly right

Picture courtesy of @beckyhomesweethomeaccount on Instagram

If you’ve been on the internet at all this year, you’ll have heard of cottagecore. If you haven’t, let me fill you in- cottagecore is a lifestyle trend that’s been percolating on Instagram and Tumblr for years, but which found a foothold on TikTok this summer, gaining almost four and a half billion views.

Cottagecore values a rural, artsy aesthetic and the power of self-sufficiency- imagine living in a cottage in the woods, making your own food and completely removed from society, and you’d be pretty close to the ideal cottagecore life.  If cottagecore is your thing, but you’re not planning on upping and moving to the wilderness any time soon, here’s what you need to know to get the look.

The good news; you don’t need to buy that much stuff to get the look, because this particular trend is about being able to reuse and recycle anything you can. To get the look, all you really have to do is make sure you have the essential bits. Steer absolutely clear of anything overly modern, technological or plastic; your furniture essentials should either be wood, metal or fabric. This can be the difficult part, but you can find some great fabric options for beds here.

The other piece of good news about cottagecore decorating is that not everything you do needs to match- as long as your colour palette stays consistent, variation will add the rustic charm we associate with cottagecore. For colours, stay in muted, pastel tones and neutrals- you can’t go wrong with white walls and pastel accents.

Finally, what makes a great rustic space is the details- flowers and greenery add great natural touches, as do exposed brick or beams. There aren’t really any hard-and-fast rules when it comes to this, but most cottagecore spaces try to stick to natural materials and soft colours rather than statement pieces.  

As always, the most important thing is to create a space that feels authentic and soothing to you. Cottagecore is about escaping the mainstream for a simpler, less stressful life, so remember that the only person who has to be satisfied with the end result is you.

Photos courtesy of @bestlife_style__ on Instagram 

You’ve probably noticed that you feel much calmer once you’ve tidied your room, and that if you’re moving house, you don’t feel fully calm until everything is where it should be. Most people are aware that their mental health is tied into their space; that’s why we have design ideas like Hygge and minimalism, and why we follow people like Marie Kondo. Here are some ways you can improve your home so it supports your mental health.

Lighting

Natural light is so good for us; it wards off seasonal depression and provides us with vital Vitamin D, but it also stabilises our circadian rhythm, meaning it helps us to sleep through the night. You can’t do much about how much light a room gets naturally, but light colours and reflective surfaces will help the light to travel more effectively.

Colour

When a team of psychologists partnered with a paint company to research the impact of colour on your mental health, they actually found that pastel colours calmed people down, whilst bright ones made them feel more excited. If you’re thinking of redecorating, maybe go for lighter colours to help you to relax.

Storage

People who described their room as ‘cluttered’ were actually far more prone to depression, a 2010 study found; if you can physically see that things are disorganised, you might feel more stressed and less able to relax. Finding a solution like an ottoman bed to store things out of sight will help here.

If you find yourself struggling to sleep or relax in your bedroom, it might be worth considering that the environment you live in isn’t conducive to rest. These tips aren’t a cure-all, but trying to decorate according to how you want a room to make you feel is never a bad idea.

Photos courtesy of @dougs.digs on Instagram

Honestly, once you’ve gotten a mattress, you’re pretty likely to stop thinking about it, and because you spend so much time on it you might not notice it gradually aging.  Unfortunately, having a bad mattress is way more of a problem than you probably think (link to our blog here), so here’s how you’ll know when your mattress has given up.

The Springs Poke You

This is the obvious one- the more time you spend on the mattress the more likely you are to have pushed the springs out of place, which probably means they’ll be digging into you as you sleep.

Everything Hurts

As your mattress ages, it’ll stop supporting you as well as it has- the areas of our body that put the most pressure on it (your back and hips) will create divots which provide no support and cause joint pain.

Your Allergies Are Acting Up

As a mattress gets old, more dust settles in the crevices, which can cause those of us with dust allergies to wake up sniffly and sneezing

You Wake Up Tired

You feel like you can’t get up in the morning, it might be because a lumpy mattress is making it really difficult for you to get comfortable in your sleep, so you’re tossing and turning.

Whilst getting a new mattress might not be top of our priorities list, remember that getting 8 hours of proper, REM sleep makes you smarter, more attractive, less stressed and healthier, so you should probably at least think about investing in a new mattress as soon as you see your old one start to age.

Picture courtesy of @love_this_old_house on Instagram

Move things upwards

Anything you can raise off of the floor and onto the walls is great- having your stuff stored on shelves or hung up draws the eye upwards to create an illusion of height whilst also liberating floor space so the room feels bigger.

Less clutter frees up floor space

Any piece of furniture which doubles as storage is great, because if you can store things in an ottoman bed like this (hyperlink), then your room will have less need of extra furnishings and will seem much bigger.

Know your colour theory

Whilst it’s true that light colours create the illusion of size, dark colours can also create a sense of depth which widens out a room just as well.

Use contrast

If you paint a wall in two colours, with the bottom three-quarters darker than the top, the line creates contrast. Because the human eye is naturally drawn to contrast, the eye travels upwards and creates an illusion of height.

Hang curtains well above the window

A favourite hack of Queer Eye’s Bobby Berk, hanging the curtain rail a foot or so above the top of the window is another trick that convinces the human brain that the ceiling is much higher than it actually is.

Buy a mirror

If your small room doesn’t get much natural light, it’ll seem a lot closer and darker than it is. As we said before, light creates the illusion of space, so adding a mirror big enough to reflect some natural light adds depth to a room.

Buy a visually interesting light fixture

An interesting light fixture draws the eye upwards and creates the illusion of height, whilst also distracting from a lack of floor space.

Buy furniture with legs

Furniture that sits directly on the ground or which has a skirt makes everything in a room feel lower and stops light from moving through. By buying furnishings that are raised off the floor, you’ll ensure everything in a room looks slightly higher and a lot more open.

Create Space

A small room with lots of furniture crammed together will feel tiny- by bringing furniture     away from the wall slightly and spacing it out, you’ll seem like you have a lot more floor space

Find your light

If your room is dark, it’ll seem small, so augment your main light source with some lamps, candles or fairy lights .

Hi,

We have a new offer, just in time for the December and January sales! It's our brand new bundle deal.

Design your own bed and use the code WIN50 for 50% off, if that wasn't enough - you can now take advantage of our bundle deal to get a whopping 50% off a new mattress too! Please note that using this code results in 5% commission.

We believe relaxation should start at the beginning. We made our first bed in 2006, a lot has changed over the years. Todays demand due to small spaces means we demand more storage for our beds so we help customers find the perfect look, colour and size, that still meets their storage needs.
We wanted a solution that makes our customers lives easier, so after years of research and development, came the bed designer tool. The bed designer tool means that customers can have the look they want, the way they want it, without breaking the bank.

We've just launched our new mattress range! We don't want to bore you with springs and things, we just wanted to give you the same mattress in a box without the faff. Simply slide our slothometer and choose how you want to sloth. You get all the standard mattress in box but without all the faff:

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Please let us know if you would like to join our program, we would love to have you on board.

Thanks,
Arista Living

Hello AWIN Affiliates!

Arista Living is proud to announce the launch of our Awin affiliate programme!

Joining the Arista Living is a great way to earn money by promoting our incredible beds.

Arista Living is the ultimate in design-your-own, giving the consumer the opportunity to design their own perfect bed. From opulent and girly to luxurious and sleek there really is something for everyone - some of our beds even light up!

So why work with us?

• With over 1300 combinations to choose from, there really is something for everyone

• An excellent rating on Trustpilot-our customers love us

• 10% commission rate on high value items

• Dedicated Awin support manager

• Regularly updated offers and promotions

If you've got any questions or would like to have a chat about any promotional activities, please feel free to contact our affiliate manager

Laura Hatton at media@aristaliving.com or if you'd like to join please visit https://ui.awin.com/merchant-profile/16224

Hello AWIN Affiliates!

Arista Living is proud to announce the launch of our Awin affiliate programme!

Joining the Arista Living is a great way to earn money by promoting our incredible beds.

Arista Living is the ultimate in design-your-own, giving the consumer the opportunity to design their own perfect bed. From opulent and girly to luxurious and sleek there really is something for everyone - some of our beds even light up!

So why work with us?

With over 1300 combinations to choose from, there really is something for everyone.

An excellent rating on Trustpilot-our customers love us

10% commission rate on high value items

Dedicated Awin support manager

Regularly updated offers and promotions

If you've got any questions or would like to have a chat about any promotional activities, please feel free to contact our affiliate manager Laura Hatton at media@aristaliving.com