Home Proud: Spring shopping

With Spring fast approaching (thank goodness!) it might be time to refresh your home with some inexpensive but colourful items. Cushions are a great way to change the style of a room, and scented candles can always make you feel warmer. See below for my small selection of accessories I'd like to buy for my own home...

1. Bring the outdoors in with this great quality Escentual Acqua di Parma Fruit and Flower candle. Real dried rose buds are hand applied and embedded into the candle wax, £72

2. London designer Nichollette Yardley-Moore collects pre-loved vintage fabrics, scarves and original flags which she then transforms into these one-of-a-kind cushions. Buy a cushion like this 1970's one to brighten up a dull sofa, £115

3. Refresh the look of your old wardrobe or drawers by replacing the knobs with this star shaped ceramic design from Zara Home, £4.99 for a set of 2

4. Use this cheeky bone china plate from Not On The High Street to serve biscuits and nibbles to your guests, £32

5. Store random things out of sign in these pretty French Style Nesting Storage Boxes from Not On The High Street, £24 each

6. Use this small Zara Home glass box for your cotton pads in the bathroom or just for some jewelry in the bedroom, £29.99

Home Proud: Boujies Black Dahlia diffuser

I've never had many diffusers in my home, and I usually use candles or room sprays. I can now see I should probably swap both of these for a good quality diffuser! I received the gorgeous looking Boujies Black Dahlia one to try out, and I have to say I'm extremely impressed. At only £38, this diffuser is a great size and smells lovely for any room in the house. So far I've had it in the bedroom and bathroom, and the smell is just strong enough to keep the room smelling great but without it being overwhelming.

Black Dahlia is an interesting name to use, as I am not sure whether it is meant to have any connection to the actual Black Dahlia case (I'm sure not!!). Either way, the name fits the scent perfectly as it is slightly dramatic. It's a deep and mysterious floral fragrance inspired by the glamour of film noir and the passion of dangerous romance. Ooh la la! With rich top notes of lotus flower, mandarin and bergamot gently blended into a sultry floral heart of orchid, rose, gardenia, jasmine and ylang and finished with a twist of ginger.

I absolutely love this scent and am obsessed with the gorgeous glass bottle itself that I will keep it as a mini vase when the diffuser is finished.

Boujies London are independent perfumers, modern alchemists and luxury candle and diffuser makers. A great gift idea, the Black Dahlia Luxury Gift Set is only £64 and contains the diffuser (lasts 4 months) and a candle (40 hours burning time). Worth every penny!

Home Proud: Get cozy

Who doesn't dream of having a little piece of India, Zanzibar, Egypt, Turkey or Thailand in their home? When I visited those places (and more than once for a reason!) one of the things I always remember are the cozy shisha cafes, big bean bags on the beaches and comfy restaurants that make you feel like you could stay there all night.

I would love to one day transform a room or a balcony into a sanctuary that reminds me of these places and the fun times, so I have a collection of inspirational images to help me get there one day! We already have a tall shisha pipe and big Egyptian rugs...now where to put them...

Images from Gipsy Village, The A Estate (+Elle Decor), Maluna, Ruffled, ImgFave, and That Bohemian Girl