The bedroom should be your calm, clutter-free retreat where you can properly unwind after a long day. Yet for many of us, it ends up as the room where everything accumulates: spare bedding, out-of-season clothes, shoes, books, and all the bits and pieces that do not quite have a home anywhere else. The good news is that with a little creative thinking, even the most modest bedroom can be transformed into a wonderfully organised space. Whether you are tackling a compact flat or simply want to make better use of a larger room, these smart storage solutions will help you reclaim your bedroom and keep it looking its best. 1. Look Under Your Bed First The space beneath your bed is one of the most underutilised areas in any bedroom. It is essentially a large, hidden cupboard that most of us completely ignore. Low-profile storage boxes and rolling drawers are an easy starting point, but if you are looking for something a little more seamless, a storage bed is well worth considering. Ottoman-style beds, in particular, are a brilliant option. The entire base lifts up to reveal a generous cavity ideal for storing bulkier items such as duvets, pillows, and luggage. What makes this mechanism so smooth and easy to use is the bed gas strut that uses controlled gas pressure to support the weight of the mattress and base, allowing it to rise and lower with very little effort. It is a genuinely practical feature that turns under-bed storage from a chore into a pleasure. 2. Make the Most of Vertical Space When floor space is tight, look upwards. Walls offer a surprising amount of untapped storage potential, and using vertical space well can make a room feel more open rather than more cluttered. Fitted wardrobes that extend all the way to the ceiling are one of the most effective solutions. The upper sections can house items used less frequently, while everyday essentials remain at eye level. For those who prefer a more flexible approach, modular shelving systems can be configured in countless ways and adjusted as your needs change over time. Floating shelves above a headboard or beside the bed also tick two boxes at once: they provide storage and act as a design feature, giving the room a more considered, finished look. 3. Choose Furniture That Works Twice as Hard In a bedroom where space is limited, every piece of furniture should justify its presence. Multi-functional pieces are the key to keeping things feeling spacious without sacrificing practicality. Consider a blanket box at the foot of the bed that provides a handy spot to sit when pulling on shoes, and doubles as useful hidden storage. Similarly, a bedside table with drawers or shelves will keep your nighttime essentials tidy without adding to surface clutter. If you have the room for a dressing table, look for one with built-in storage drawers rather than a simple flat surface. Even a window seat can be given a practical purpose: benches with hinged lids and hollow bases are a stylish way to store throws, toys, or seasonal accessories, particularly in rooms with a bay window. Make upholstered beds and storage furniture work together. 4. Rethink Your Wardrobe Storage A wardrobe that is well organised inside can effectively double its usable capacity. Often, the issue is not a lack of wardrobe space but a lack of structure within it. Start by adding an extra hanging rail to divide the space into short and long sections, freeing up a column of space beneath shorter garments. Drawer inserts, stackable boxes, and hanging organisers for shoes and accessories can all make a significant difference. If your wardrobe has a high shelf, make use of it with stackable storage boxes clearly labelled for seasonal items, spare bedding, or anything else that only gets used occasionally. Slim velvet hangers rather than bulky plastic ones can also free up a surprising amount of rail space — a small change that makes a noticeable difference. 5. Keep Surfaces Clear with Clever Small Storage Cluttered surfaces are one of the fastest ways to make a bedroom feel chaotic, no matter how tidy the rest of the room might be. Dedicating a little thought to small-scale storage goes a long way. A tray on the bedside table creates a visual boundary that encourages tidiness and contains everyday items such as a reading lamp, a book, and a glass of water without things spreading. Wall-mounted hooks beside the wardrobe or on the back of the door offer a practical home for bags, dressing gowns, and tomorrow’s outfit. Cable management is often overlooked, but trailing wires from phones and lamps can instantly make a tidy space feel messy. Desk-tidy style solutions or a bedside table with a built-in charging point can keep things neat behind the scenes. 6. Edit Regularly and Be Ruthless No amount of clever storage will make a lasting difference if the bedroom continues to fill up with things that are no longer needed. A regular edit of clothing, bedding, and accessories is just as important as the storage solutions themselves. A simple rule to keep in mind: if something has not been used in over a year, it is unlikely to be missed. Donating, recycling, or responsibly disposing of unused items frees up space and makes the storage you do have far more effective.

Tork, the global leader in professional hygiene and an Essity brand, has released new guidance aimed at industrial businesses – manufacturing, processing, packaging and plan and equipment businesses – to help transform their washrooms into assets to enhance user satisfaction and benefit business performance. Based on research which shows that 73% of people will not return to a washroom after a bad experience, Tork’s “Washroom Guide”, available on its website, provides recommendations on improving inclusive hygiene, environmental sustainability and operational efficiency. “Our data shows that when washroom users and cleaners’ needs aren’t met, a business can suffer,” said Olivia Slater, Commercial Director, Professional Hygiene at Essity. “With three in four people concerned about washroom hygiene,[1] and one in two likely to face barriers to meeting their needs, small, targeted updates to the washroom – the most visited room in a facility – can make a substantial difference for both users and cleaning staff.” Recommendations: Washroom users said that when the following “must have” elements are provided, which exemplify inclusive hygiene, the majority (59%) of people say a business can improve its positive image: The washroom is an overlooked place for reducing environmental impact by businesses, yet 67% of people want washroom managers to prioritise environmental sustainability.[2] Tork recommends the following actions: Investing in washroom features and supporting cleaning staff can improve business revenue. To empower cleaning staff, many of whom feel unsupported1 and enhance user experiences, Tork recommends: Olivia continued “By addressing these critical aspects, industrial businesses can help washroom users and cleaners meet their basic needs and deliver an experience that meets the needs of as many as possible. Investing thoughtfully in inclusive hygiene, sustainability and operational support meets evolving user expectations.”   Tork helps businesses realise the benefit of sustainable hygiene with a focus on four key areas materials & packaging, use & waste, carbon and hygiene for all. It also provides free training and educational assets. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Renovation programmes often reach signage late, yet washroom doors must be correct on day one. Teams juggle build schedules, accessibility duties, and brand presentation while budgets tighten. A clear method for choosing restroom signs reduces rework, call backs, and tenant complaints. Many project managers start with a short list of suppliers before design freezes. That is a smart start, since ranges vary by material, size, and fixing method. Catalogues like Safety Sign Depot’s public toilet signs give a fast view of layouts, pictograms, and contrast options that suit varied sites. Keep that reference close while you match products to code points and daily use. Meet Accessibility and Building Guidance First Compliance is the floor, not the ceiling, for any facilities brief. In the UK, Approved Document M sets expectations on accessible routes, door hardware, and user information. It links to best practice that affects sign location, height, and tactile features. Review the guidance while you sketch the door schedule, not after procurement freezes the package. You can start with the government’s portal for Approved Document M, then apply your project’s access strategy. Accessible washrooms need signs that people can read from sensible distances in varied light. That means clear text, easy pictograms, good contrast, and simple language. Tactile and Braille additions support visitors who read by touch, and they age well across a long maintenance cycle. Place the sign where a hand does not conceal it, and aim for consistent heights along a corridor. Code points form a checklist you can share with the contractor and the client. Use it to confirm mounting height, character size, and whether a tactile layer is needed. Confusion happens when door furniture and signs compete for the same space. A short site walk with your access notes prevents that problem before installation day. Match Materials to Traffic, Cleaning, and Light Restroom doors live a hard life in commercial buildings. They collect bumps, fingerprints, steam, and aggressive cleaning agents. Pick materials that tolerate that mix without ghosting, warping, or fading. Aluminium, stainless steel, and high pressure laminate work well in corridors with heavy footfall. Acrylic and composite plastics are fine for quieter offices, provided the finish resists scratching. Think about cleaning early. Soft cloths and neutral detergents keep satin finishes looking new, yet many teams use stronger products. If the janitorial spec includes bleach or alcohol sprays, confirm the sign face will not haze or craze. Ask for a cleaning compatibility sheet, and store it with your operations manual. That single page cuts guesswork for night staff and extends the life of the set. Light levels also shape readability. A glossy face can glare under downlights, which makes icons hard to read from oblique angles. A matte or satin face avoids that issue with little cost change. If your corridor has daylight from one side, test a sample at the actual height during late morning. Your eyes will tell you more than a brochure ever could. Vandal resistance is a quiet requirement in some mixed use buildings. In those settings, look for mechanical fixings rather than weak adhesives. Tamper resistant screws stop casual removal and keep your wayfinding intact over long weekends. Small choices like this save time for the facilities team month after month. Get Readability Right, Then Standardise Across Floors Readable signs share common traits that make life easier for visitors and staff. Focus on legibility, contrast, and consistent placement more than decorative flourish. You can still respect brand style while keeping text simple and symbols plain. Test your draft on a phone camera from five metres to simulate a quick corridor glance. A simple checklist helps teams converge fast: Placement consistency cuts confusion on busy levels with split cores. Contractors often adjust by feel during fit out, which leads to drift. Mark reference heights on the drawings and the door frame, then photograph the first bay as a template. That record helps later crews copy the standard when teams rotate. Add tactile and Braille only where it helps, and specify durable methods. Surface applied beads can peel under heavy cleaning. An integrated tactile layer or recessed bead remains readable after thousands of wipes. Ask for a sample and rub it with a cloth to judge durability. Small practical tests reveal early where a product may fall short under daily service. Plan Procurement, Fixings, and Future Replacement Even simple signs slow projects if procurement misses a detail. Order against a matrix that lists door numbers, rooms served, material, finish, size, fixing, and any tactile layer. Share that matrix with the site manager and the supplier so everyone speaks the same language. The same sheet becomes your asset register after handover. Fixing choice depends on door skin and wall conditions. Adhesive pads speed installation on smooth laminate doors but struggle on textured paint. Mechanical fixings hold better on timber or metal, and they allow easy removal for refinishing. Ask the supplier for backing details and screw lengths that suit your doors, and avoid guesswork on site. Carry spares in the project crate so replacements do not wait for a courier. Think beyond day one. Tenants may request gender neutral signs, language variants, or floor icon updates later. A modular system lets you swap face plates without drilling new holes. Request a small buffer stock and store it in the building’s maintenance room. A five minute swap keeps floors consistent and avoids patchy corridors. Bulk ordering helps on campuses and multi building estates. You gain price stability and visual consistency across phases, even when teams change. Use a single sign schedule and refresh it before each phase rather than starting over. That habit also reduces mismatched fonts that creep in over long programmes. Bringing It All Together On Site Restroom signs are a small spend, yet they strongly affect daily user experience. Choose materials that tolerate traffic and cleaning, and pick finishes that cut glare under real light. Keep wording simple, pictograms clear, and placement consistent along every corridor. Confirm access notes early, then

Helical has appointed McLaren Construction as the main contractor for the £90 million transformation of Brettenham House, an iconic Art Deco building on London’s north bank, into a state-of-the-art sustainable office and retail hub. Originally built in 1932 and located within the Savoy Conservation Area, Brettenham House is set to undergo a major refurbishment that will modernise the building’s interior while preserving and restoring its distinctive historical features. The 128,716 sq ft office building will be reconfigured to meet the highest sustainability and wellness benchmarks, targeting BREEAM Outstanding, NABERS 5*, EPC A, and WELL Platinum ratings. The project will also expand the outdoor terrace space to 6,600 sq ft and introduce generous communal areas at each entrance to foster collaboration and social interaction. The basement will be upgraded to replace car parking with modern cycling amenities and improved end-of-journey facilities. The building’s services and glazing will be comprehensively replaced and enhanced. Externally, the redevelopment will focus on restoring the building’s original façade detailing, particularly at ground level on Lancaster Place, where it faces Somerset House. Missing heritage elements, such as the distinctive bronze lanterns that once marked the main entrance, will be reinstated, while unsightly service louvres and grilles on Savoy Street will be concealed behind decorative openwork panels. Matt Redgrove, Senior Development Executive for Helical, said: “We are very pleased to be partnering with McLaren to revitalise this Art Deco icon. Along with sensitively restoring the building, we will be bringing the specification up to modern day sustainability and amenity standards with the terracing across the building providing unrivalled views along the River Thames.” Darren Gill, Managing Director for London & South at McLaren Construction, added: “This monumental building at the top of Waterloo Bridge will be a familiar landmark to so many of London’s workers and visitors and we will all enjoy seeing it restored and revitalised. It’s not so long ago that it would have seemed like a tall order to bring a 1930s building up to the standards of a brand new office, but that’s become a far more familiar and achievable task.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Saint-Gobain Weber and REGUPOL in partnership with CMS Danskin Acoustics have collaborated to develop, test and launch a suite of new impact sound insulation floor systems designed to reduce sound transmission.  The new ‘weberfloor acoustic systems’ can be used to meet challenging acoustics targets across both new construction and refurbishment projects, including residential, healthcare, commercial and leisure schemes. Aimed at making acoustic floor system specification more straightforward for architects, acousticians, contractors and installers who are designing and delivering developments where controlling impact sound is required or desired, the new weberfloor acoustic systems work with most floor finishes, such as LVT, sheet vinyl, laminate, timber, ceramic tiles and carpet. The collaboration draws together Weber’s flooring screed expertise developed over more than 40 years, REGUPOL’s cutting-edge acoustic product technology and the strengths of leading acoustic insulation supplier CMS Danskin Acoustics.  The capabilities of the three respected brands have been combined to offer the construction market this new, wide range of fully tested acoustic flooring options. Fully tested for compatibility, the weberfloor acoustic systems unite Weber screeds and smoothing/levelling compounds with REGUPOL impact sound insulating membranes for both under screed and over screed applications to reduce noise transmission.  Each component of the system is equally important in achieving the specified acoustic performance. Acoustic under screed and over screed system product selectors are clearly outlined in Weber’s new Acoustic Flooring Solutions brochure, which can be downloaded at https://www.uk.weber/weberfloor-acoustic-systems. The systems are also shown on CMS Danskin Acoustics’ website at https://www.cmsdanskin.co.uk/weber/ . Product specific technical data sheets are available from Weber and from CMS Danskin Acoustics. “In today’s construction landscape, where noise pollution is a concern, the need for effective sound insulation is critical.  This is where weberfloor acoustic systems will come into play by offering solutions designed to improve the acoustic quality of spaces,” says Ian Dennis, Weber’s National Flooring Manager. “With three market leaders at the heart of these new acoustic systems, this is a significant development,” explains UK REGUPOL consultant Jamie Symons. “The market can be assured of the compatibility and integrity of the weberfloor acoustic systems, making product selection much simpler.”  Andy Hayes, technical manager at CMS Danskin Acoustics and Associate Member of the IoA, adds, “The extensive development and testing work at the foundation of these systems means that, when specifying the weberfloor acoustic systems, the market can be confident in achieving both effective acoustic performance and excellent loading performance with minimal construction height.” The weberfloor acoustic systems are supported by a fully trained team of specification and technical managers who can guide clients throughout their specification and installation journey. Training, including CPD modules for architects and installers, will be announced shortly. https://www.uk.weber/weberfloor-acoustic-systems Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals