Into the blue...

SAM WYLIE-HARRIS hunts down homewares in the calming colour of blue

Inspired by ocean blues, Mediterranean backdrops and azure skies, indigo is one of the easiest shades to colour your world.

Like pulling on your favourite pair of jeans, there’s durability with denim, sun-bleached blues and classic navy. Whether you’re in a faraway frame of mind or in need of a quickie makeover, blue is where it’s at...

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Much like wanting an ocean view when you step out of your hotel room, having a blue rug in the frame immediately sets a tranquil scene. Think abstract prints in a blue wash or blue and grey hues in a floral print, styled with an accent chair in sea blue

Magazine file in wave indigo, £32, Cambridge Imprint

Whether you’re upgrading a home office or having a post-summer sort out, a stylish magazine holder is invaluable for those travel mags and to-do lists

If you’re dreaming of a hammock strung up on the beach, or the next time you can wear your faded denim cut-offs, this textured wall hanging with fringe and tassels has enough flair to fill that void

TECHNOLOGY makes modern life easier in so many ways – but it can also be a real eyesore when it accumulates in the home.

Here are some step-by-step tips for getting your home tech tidy...

1. Go through everything

Hands up if you’ve got a box full of random cables that you’re too scared to throw away, but you’re not exactly sure what they’re for.

Don’t hold onto gadgets or chargers that are no longer useful. Gather your essential devices and spend an hour or two matching everything up. Anything without an obvious use should be put in a separate pile to responsibly get rid of.

2. Recycle the surplus

Old tech should never just be chucked in the general waste bin; electrical equipment often contains toxic substances that impact both the environment and human health.

If you’ve got a pile of old phones gathering dust, check out ecoATM – the recycling company has kiosks across England, Scotland and Wales, and will pay you for handing in your unused units.

Meanwhile, Currys PC World offers a free recycling programme in store, where you can drop off everything from old toasters to broken vacuum cleaners, whether you bought it from them or not.

WeeeCharity is your new best friend when it comes to ditching deadweight chargers – book a slot on their website and they’ll collect them right from your doorstep.

3. Get some cable kit

If the sight of tentacle-like wires sprouting from your plug sockets is bringing you down, it might be time to invest in some reusable gear ties – we like Nite Ize’s Cordable Twist Ties (£5.99 for a pack of two, niteize. com). Box cable organisers, like D-Line’s Cable Tidy Unit (from £10.45, homebase.com), hide jumbles of cables on the floor so you can tuck away any mess. We also like Peak Design’s Tech Pouch (£44.20, peakdesign.com) – a zipup bag with loads of handy pockets.

4. Stick it in a basket

Simply putting work-from-home items, like keyboards and laptops, into a designated box or basket that can be stored in a cupboard can help minimise mess. A tray basket in the living room can keep remote controls and iPads in one place, too.

5. Cut a hole

If you’ve got an old piece of furniture, like a dining table or desk, you could drill a circular grommet hole so you can run your cables through it. You’ll need a good level of DIY skill and some experience of safely using a drill and hole saw to give this one a go, though.

6. Invest in some charging furniture

In recent years, designers have responded to our tech organisation woes with furniture solutions that do away with the need for loads of charging cables.

Ikea recently launched range of smart furniture that incorporates hidden smartphone charging pads.

The range includes desk lamps and side tables, and there’s a neat little charging pad that accommodates up to three devices at one time.

John Lewis woodland fable duvet cover set, from £55 to £85, John Lewis & Partners upholstered bed frame, double, saga mustard, £549, other items from a selection, John Lewis With a dark blue background and charming folk inspired print, this cotton satin duvet can be styled with indigo wool throws, Mongolian cushions in teal or French blue and an eye-catching bed frame in mustard yellow, to spice up the bedroom

Dartington Wellness Calm Collection in blue: Tall vase, £37, Calm orb vase, £32, Calm small vase, £32, Calm candleholder, £28, Dartington Dartington Crystal’s new Wellness Collection in blue is designed to channel a ‘relaxing element to any space’ and certainly brings to mind serene surroundings

ANYDAY John Lewis & Partners spindle dining chair, set of 2, blue, FSC certified (beech), £179, John Lewis Whether you’re a farmhouse country kitchen or city dweller, a classic spindle chair is trusty and timeless. Easy to stack (how much have we appreciated adaptable furniture in the past year or so?) and style up or down depending on your decor and tablescaping, a blue painted finish is bang up to date

Hudson stool, Sundance Collection, Rhodes fabric, £570, Mind The Gap An object of desire and prized for its versatility – an ottoman can double up as a stool, padded bench or coffee table – this cushioned seat is upholstered in blue palm trees with pops of yellow, and you can almost feel the Mediterranean breeze and soothing sounds of the waves

Bundle of six navy blue candles, £6, Heavenly Homes and Gardens A rustic navy blue candle imbibes thoughts of Provencal blue room settings, painted blue shutters and lavender fields. The next best thing? Style them in a country basket next to your bedside table with bunches of dried lavender

Dark blue recycled glass desk and table lamp, £45 (bulb not included), Oliver Bonas This trendy table lamp will steal the spotlight once you’ve tracked down a Tala Gaia bulb (Heal’s stock them) to light up the indigo tones and gleaming pattern

Stoneware plate medina blue tile, £8.95, Rex London Think breakfast outside, fresh bread rolls warmed by the sun and this Moroccaninspired stoneware plate is just the ticket

To he n LED neon ig 240, ellowpop We’ve taken shine to this LED neon ign whic will righte up a home bar spac y cor er or if you’re really star-struck, room

Mirage abstract blue rug (80 x 150cm), from £43.99 (was £54.99), Mirage watercolour blue rug (80 x 150cm), from 54.99, Carpetright; other items part room set

Ena blue fabric wall hanging, £59.50, Oliver Bonas

The more tech we have in our home the more likely it is we’ll have extra clutter