Out & About Winter 2019

Out&About lifestyle

Storage with attitude

F or storage that’ll outshine even your fanciest jewellery and accessories, look no further than these brand new personalised storage drawers. Available in both an animal print design and an aztec design, these drawers are not only catwalk-ready, but can be personalised with your initials (animal print design) or name (aztec design). Each set is made from solid wood with handy drawers for your jewellery, accessories and keepsakes. The animal print design features black leopard print and black zebra print, with gorgeous gold and black details. Looking for something a little more boho? The aztec drawers feature two compartments that pull open with tassels and two with gold handles. The soft pastel colours are finished with beautiful geometric designs and the name of choice will appear in white script lettering. A fabulous addition to a bedroom or dressing room, treat the fashionista in your life to some beautiful bespoke storage. Available now at Prezzybox. Personalised Animal Print Storage Drawers, £26.99 Personalised Aztec Storage Drawers, £24.99

Bring your sofa back to life

S avvy homeowners looking to revive rather than replace existing sofas and chairs will find a wealth of fashionable upholstery fabrics to take them from weary to wow – but how to choose one that will last as well as look good? • Check the rub count: a great way to gauge the durability of any upholstery fabric is how many times a machine can ‘rub’ away at a fabric’s fibres until they break down. The longer the fabric takes to wear down, the higher its rub count. The benchmark for most domestic fabrics is 20,000 rubs, but fabrics with 20,000+ rubs are usually recommended for high-traffic areas. • Check the weave: to find a durable

weave just look at how tightly woven its fibres are. Twill is among the most tightly-wound weaves, hard-wearing and distinguishable by its pattern of diagonal parallel ribs, made by interlacing closely packed yarns. This results in a more durable and water- resistant material. • Check the material type: while it’s easy to get carried away by the prettiest fabric, it’s essential to consider how hardy the material is before reaching a decision. For the perfect balance between eye-catching and practical, consider polyester. A strong synthetic fibre, polyester is abrasion-resistant, while also offering a versatile colour selection.

Alternatively, a cotton-polyester blend is a great choice for anyone looking for a fabric which feels luxurious, but doesn’t cost the earth. TOP TIPS: • Where a sofa is showing signs of damage, use a sofa cover to protect seat cushions, arm rests and other high-traffic areas. • Keep an eye out for fabrics with woven patterns – they tend to be harder wearing than those which have printed patterns. • Be sure to use tightly woven fabrics if you have pets who like to snooze on the sofa. Any loose threads could get caught in their claws and cause snagging.

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O&A WINTER 2019