Space dividers, spring bulbs and sprucing up your shed

Divide with style

As rents continue to rise, there's evidence that more people are doubling up in rental rooms and apartments. Furniture companies are having to respond to the accommodation squeeze with, not surprisingly, Ikea leading the way in modular furniture that can be used to divide up living spaces in imaginative and cost-effective ways. In shared bedrooms, two of its designs stand out: the Platsa bed frame that includes a wardrobe and open shelving offers a certain amount of privacy. The unit costs €650.

If space is tight and beds are close together, Ikea's Oodlaug curtain panels can provide a degree of separation when hung around a bed. The fabric has sound-absorbing qualities while the repeating disc design lets light through but allows for some privacy. It costs €27 per section. Ikea.com

Shed chic

Shabby sheds can be be given a quick and very effective makeover with a few new coats of paint. Colourtrend’s Weather Wood Coat is a pure 100 per cent acrylic, premium quality paint, formulated for Irish weather conditions and with a fashionably opaque, semi-gloss finish. The paint is formulated to be suitable for use on wooden cladding and siding, fences, fascias and soffits, and timber outdoor furniture. As with all painting projects you will get the best results if the wood is prepped in advance by removing any flaking paint and treating knots with an acrylic primer. There’s a host of colours in the range. Pictured here is a chic dark grey called Dark River 0494. €27 for one-litre tin.

Kitchen advice

French kitchen appliance brand De Dietrich has partnered with architect, interiors consultant and Irish Times writer Denise O’Connor to host a series of free design clinics for people looking for kitchen advice.

Extended home in Mount Merrion with big family appeal for €1.595m

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O'Connor will talk through key topics to consider for kitchen design, cover topics such as budget and address hidden costs, looking at where to splash out and where to save. She will also share the most common questions she is asked as an architect, as well as what to consider if you're thinking about an open-plan design. Attendees can also enjoy browsing the new range of De Dietrich appliances with fresh baked goods coming straight out of its ovens. The next De Dietrich Design Clinic takes place on September 14th at the Kal Advisory Centre in Citywest. See kal.ie/events

Think of spring

Plant and bulbs specialists Mr Middleton is holding a Flower Bulb open day at its warehouse in Glasnevin on Saturday, September 7th. It promises a huge selection of new season varieties, special offers and bulk deals. The company boasts the largest range of bulbs in Ireland with stock arriving from more than 20 different suppliers from around the world. The event will run from 9am to 5pm at Slaney Close, Dublin Industrial Estate, Dublin 11.