Use storage spaces to keep non-essential items hidden. Courtesy Ikea
Use storage spaces to keep non-essential items hidden. Courtesy Ikea
Use storage spaces to keep non-essential items hidden. Courtesy Ikea
Use storage spaces to keep non-essential items hidden. Courtesy Ikea

Five ways to fall in love with your home again


  • English
  • Arabic

Moving into a new home is a lot like starting a new relationship. At first, it’s exciting and fresh, you love its quirks and marvel at how much better it is than your last place. You go shopping for furniture and create Pinterest boards of the styles you want to recreate, imagining the happy times you and your home will spend together.

But after a while the shine can wear off. You get used to the things that once excited you, and can even be tempted to start looking at the property pages, wondering what it would be like to have a bigger bathroom or more outdoor space.

Don’t worry, this is perfectly normal. And the good thing is that just because you’re getting a bit bored, that doesn’t mean you need to move or even give your house a complete makeover. There are plenty of ways to re-energise your home and reignite those early feelings without having to make dramatic changes or spend a huge amount of money.

Tackle the clutter

Do you avoid the spare room because it's become an unofficial dumping ground? Or get irritated when you can't find the right pot or pan in your kitchen cupboards, and order takeaway instead? Cluttered homes are no fun to live in, and according to James Wallman, author of Stuffocation: Living More with Less, our obsession with material possessions is making us stressed. Decluttering can help you enjoy your space again by weeding out anything you don't need or want, and leave you with a more ordered environment to live in.

Japanese tidiness expert Marie Kondo suggests going through everything you own in a strict order (as detailed in her book, The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up) and keeping only that which "sparks joy". Or you could go down the more extreme route described by renowned bloggers Joshua Fields Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus of The Minimalists, and get rid of everything that isn't strictly essential. Whatever you do, organise what's left carefully, investing in decent (and ideally attractive) storage, so that there is a place for everything and you can always find what you need, when you need it.

Restyle your space

Sometimes the trick to getting a new look is not about getting rid of stuff and buying a bunch more. Instead, it's about reusing what you have in a different way. This could mean moving furniture around to create a whole new flow for your room, or taking things from one room and repurposing them in another. Whether it's a vase, a handful of cushions, a mirror or a side table, just seeing it in a different spot will make you notice it again and appreciate it once more.

A similar impact can be made by switching out the photos you have in your frames, updating old ones with more recent snaps, as well as moving artwork around. Consider putting up a couple of narrow picture shelves, so you can shuffle your pictures and prints as often as you like.

While you’re doing this reshuffling, take the chance to curate smaller decorative items into groupings that have more impact than the individual components otherwise would. Too many individually scattered candles, figurines, bud vases, gathered shells and other knick-knacks can create clutter.

Grouping them together on a vintage tray or under a Victorian cloche, for example, makes for an eye-catching focal point. If you want a real project, you could even swap out two rooms – the study and bedroom, or the living and dining rooms. Pretend that you're just moving in and work out what would work best.

Have a spring clean

We’re not suggesting your home isn’t clean, but on a daily or weekly basis most of us tend to just do the surface level stuff. Which means other bigger jobs can build up – cleaning the oven, shampooing the carpets, even vacuuming under the sofas. Give your home a proper spring clean, and you’ll realise that it’s more pleasant to live in.

If you're planning to move stuff around anyway as part of a restyle, this is an ideal time to tackle the cleaning, too. If you don't have the time, energy or inclination, get the professionals in. It will be worth it as you will suddenly find yourself wanting to bake in that shiny, clean oven, appreciating the feel of your carpets again and not worrying what you will find next time you have to retrieve a pen from under the sofa.

________________

Read more:

Understatement versus a sense of overstatement in the home

Home decor: a limited budget needn't hold you back

Tips for how to think like an interior designer

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Fix those snags

You know the tap that’s been dripping for ages? Or the kitchen drawer that jams? Or the loose floorboard that squeaks so badly? None of those are big things, but when you’ve been living with them for ages, they can start to be a real annoyance. It might not feel like they’re really impacting on your feelings for your home, but you’ll notice a massive difference once you get them fixed.

So go around your house with a notebook and pen, and make a really thorough snagging list. Include everything from the sticking out nail that snags your jumpers to the blind that hangs just slightly skew, to the scuffed paintwork that may need a touch-up or possibly a whole new coat (which is still easier than repainting in a different shade).

Then either start fixing them one by one, or bite the bullet and get a handyman in to tackle the whole lot in one go. While you’re at it, think about other irritations that can be tackled without DIY expertise – if your tea cups are in a cupboard that’s too far away from your kettle, now’s the time to move them.

Create comfort corners

Most of us are creatures of habit, using rooms in a set way, whether that’s having a side of the sofa we prefer to sit on or a particular spot where we like to read. Often these emerge naturally, rather than being created, which can mean that they’re not quite as perfect as they could be if we gave them a bit more thought.

Think about which areas in your home are the most important to you, and spend some time making them even more comfortable and convenient than they already are. Add great lighting to your reading nook, move the side table closer to your armchair so you can rest your cup of tea somewhere, invest in some comfy cushions or a fan to keep you cool – whatever it takes to transform your spot from one you mindlessly drift to into a place you actively seek out.

As in a relationship, it just takes a small amount of love and attention to reinvigorate the passion you once felt for your home. You’ll soon forget your itchy feet and put the property pages away. Until next time.

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While you're here
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UK-EU trade at a glance

EU fishing vessels guaranteed access to UK waters for 12 years

Co-operation on security initiatives and procurement of defence products

Youth experience scheme to work, study or volunteer in UK and EU countries

Smoother border management with use of e-gates

Cutting red tape on import and export of food

Labour dispute

The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.


- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law 

Dust and sand storms compared

Sand storm

  • Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
  • Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
  • Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
  • Travel distance: Limited 
  • Source: Open desert areas with strong winds

Dust storm

  • Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
  • Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
  • Duration: Can linger for days
  • Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
  • Source: Can be carried from distant regions
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Some of Darwish's last words

"They see their tomorrows slipping out of their reach. And though it seems to them that everything outside this reality is heaven, yet they do not want to go to that heaven. They stay, because they are afflicted with hope." - Mahmoud Darwish, to attendees of the Palestine Festival of Literature, 2008

His life in brief: Born in a village near Galilee, he lived in exile for most of his life and started writing poetry after high school. He was arrested several times by Israel for what were deemed to be inciteful poems. Most of his work focused on the love and yearning for his homeland, and he was regarded the Palestinian poet of resistance. Over the course of his life, he published more than 30 poetry collections and books of prose, with his work translated into more than 20 languages. Many of his poems were set to music by Arab composers, most significantly Marcel Khalife. Darwish died on August 9, 2008 after undergoing heart surgery in the United States. He was later buried in Ramallah where a shrine was erected in his honour.

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Specs

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Range: Up to 610km

Power: 905hp

Torque: 985Nm

Price: From Dh439,000

Available: Now

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Federer's 19 grand slam titles

Australian Open (5 titles) - 2004 bt Marat Safin; 2006 bt Marcos Baghdatis; 2007 bt Fernando Gonzalez; 2010 bt Andy Murray; 2017 bt Rafael Nadal

French Open (1 title) - 2009 bt Robin Soderling

Wimbledon (8 titles) - 2003 bt Mark Philippoussis; 2004 bt Andy Roddick; 2005 bt Andy Roddick; 2006 bt Rafael Nadal; 2007 bt Rafael Nadal; 2009 bt Andy Roddick; 2012 bt Andy Murray; 2017 bt Marin Cilic

US Open (5 titles) - 2004 bt Lleyton Hewitt; 2005 bt Andre Agassi; 2006 bt Andy Roddick; 2007 bt Novak Djokovic; 2008 bt Andy Murray

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'Lost in Space'

Creators: Matt Sazama, Burk Sharpless, Irwin Allen

Stars: Molly Parker, Toby Stephens, Maxwell Jenkins

Rating: 4/5

The National Archives, Abu Dhabi

Founded over 50 years ago, the National Archives collects valuable historical material relating to the UAE, and is the oldest and richest archive relating to the Arabian Gulf.

Much of the material can be viewed on line at the Arabian Gulf Digital Archive - https://www.agda.ae/en

Premier Futsal 2017 Finals

Al Wasl Football Club; six teams, five-a-side

Delhi Dragons: Ronaldinho
Bengaluru Royals: Paul Scholes
Mumbai Warriors: Ryan Giggs
Chennai Ginghams: Hernan Crespo
Telugu Tigers: Deco
Kerala Cobras: Michel Salgado

INFO

Schools can register for the Abu Dhabi Schools Championships at www.champions.adsc.ae

Adele: The Stories Behind The Songs
Caroline Sullivan
Carlton Books

Company profile

Name: Back to Games and Boardgame Space

Started: Back to Games (2015); Boardgame Space (Mark Azzam became co-founder in 2017)

Founder: Back to Games (Mr Azzam); Boardgame Space (Mr Azzam and Feras Al Bastaki)

Based: Dubai and Abu Dhabi 

Industry: Back to Games (retail); Boardgame Space (wholesale and distribution) 

Funding: Back to Games: self-funded by Mr Azzam with Dh1.3 million; Mr Azzam invested Dh250,000 in Boardgame Space  

Growth: Back to Games: from 300 products in 2015 to 7,000 in 2019; Boardgame Space: from 34 games in 2017 to 3,500 in 2019

BIGGEST CYBER SECURITY INCIDENTS IN RECENT TIMES

SolarWinds supply chain attack: Came to light in December 2020 but had taken root for several months, compromising major tech companies, governments and its entities

Microsoft Exchange server exploitation: March 2021; attackers used a vulnerability to steal emails

Kaseya attack: July 2021; ransomware hit perpetrated REvil, resulting in severe downtime for more than 1,000 companies

Log4j breach: December 2021; attackers exploited the Java-written code to inflitrate businesses and governments

What are the influencer academy modules?
  1. Mastery of audio-visual content creation. 
  2. Cinematography, shots and movement.
  3. All aspects of post-production.
  4. Emerging technologies and VFX with AI and CGI.
  5. Understanding of marketing objectives and audience engagement.
  6. Tourism industry knowledge.
  7. Professional ethics.
GULF MEN'S LEAGUE

Pool A Dubai Hurricanes, Bahrain, Dubai Exiles, Dubai Tigers 2

Pool B Abu Dhabi Harlequins, Jebel Ali Dragons, Dubai Knights Eagles, Dubai Tigers

 

Opening fixtures

Thursday, December 5

6.40pm, Pitch 8, Abu Dhabi Harlequins v Dubai Knights Eagles

7pm, Pitch 2, Jebel Ali Dragons v Dubai Tigers

7pm, Pitch 4, Dubai Hurricanes v Dubai Exiles

7pm, Pitch 5, Bahrain v Dubai Eagles 2

 

Recent winners

2018 Dubai Hurricanes

2017 Dubai Exiles

2016 Abu Dhabi Harlequins

2015 Abu Dhabi Harlequins

2014 Abu Dhabi Harlequins

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Volvo ES90 Specs

Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)

Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp

Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm

On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region

Price: Exact regional pricing TBA

THE SPECS

Engine: 3.5-litre supercharged V6

Power: 416hp at 7,000rpm

Torque: 410Nm at 3,500rpm

Transmission: 6-speed manual

Fuel consumption: 10.2 l/100km

Price: Dh375,000 

On sale: now 

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