Happy New Year!

Time for fresh home furnishings and accessories!

A new year is a time for post-Christmas clear-outs, sorting your space and getting organised - for good this time! Visit our shop in Llangollen now to discover our new furniture range, exclusive offers on our autumnal and Christmas stock and lots more. ​Get ready to say goodbye to the mess & hello to harmony!​

From bookcases to display cabinets and simple shelves, storage furniture helps you give all your things a tidy place of their own. Lots of boxes and baskets for small storage, and everything with scope for personalization to say who you are. You’ll find solutions here for every need and every part of your home.

Floor, wall, table, ceiling – there’s lighting for every space and every room. Light fittings can illuminate your home to help you read a book, slice a carrot or get ready in the morning. Check out our lighting range to find the lamps and lights to make your home brighter.

With the flick of a switch or a tap on an app, you can change a room’s atmosphere with a lamp or light fixture. Want a cozy, calm vibe for movie night? Some pep to start your day? Indoor lighting can set the mood, add style and of course, brighten things up. We’ve got indoor lamps covered from floor to ceiling.

Whether you keep the same cushions year round or change them with the seasons cushions are an easy way to add a bit of cosy comfort to a sofa, bed or armchair. They are also a great way to add a pop of colour or different textures into your home without breaking your budget.

Do you want to see more updates and great offers from Hans Across Time? Visit our shop in Llangollen and follow us on Facebook! Happy New Year!

Things to do in Llangollen

Llangollen is a lively market town situated in the Dee Valley between the Berwyn and Ruabon mountains, overlooked by Castell Dinas Bran. The town has been a magnet for travellers and visitors since the early 19th century. What is it about Llangollen that brings such a high number of visitors to town all year round?

Is Llangollen worth visiting?

The simple to this answer to this question is YES. However, parking can be a bit of a challenge, best to arrive early and allow plenty of time to explore the town. Llangollen has so much to offer! Whether you fancy a family day out, delicious fish and chips by the river, or a bit of shopping Llangollen will never disappoint!

Can you walk the Llangollen Canal? YES, you can! The Llangollen Canal runs from the Shropshire Union Canal at Hurleston Junction to Llantysilio Bridge just beyond Llangollen, where it terminates into a feeder from the River Dee. The Llangollen Canal also links to the Montgomery Canal at Frankton Junction. Llangollen Canal walk is about a 4-mile walk along the flat towpath to the town and just over 8 miles for this circular walk which climbs above the canal to the north. The walk starts from the aqueduct car park near to the canal and the Trevor Basin. The walk offers stunning views across the valley all year round. Why not visit George's Café on Market Street in Llangollen for some delicious after-walk treats? Is Llangollen near Snowdon? The answer is NO! It is 39 miles from Snowdonia to Llangollen. It is approximately 45.5 miles to drive.

How many people speak Welsh in Llangollen?

14.4% of people are fluent in Welsh, comparable with the Wales average (14.6%), but lower than for Denbighshire as a whole (18.6%).

Is parking free in Llangollen?

There are plenty of little side roads with free parking in Llangollen. If you are not lucky to find a free parking spot outside the many shops in Llangollen, then head for the main carpark in town. Parking fees start at £1.30. If you are thinking about visiting Llangollen in the evening, the main carpark will be free after 5pm. What is Llangollen known for?

Llangollen is a lively market town situated in the Dee Valley between the Berwyn and Ruabon mountains, overlooked by Castell Dinas Bran. The town has been a magnet for travellers and visitors since the early 19th century.

Llangollen attracts singers and dancers from all over the world to its annual world-famous International Eisteddfod.  Its riverside location forms the edge of the Berwyn range, and the Dee Valley section of the Clwydian Range and Dee ValleyArea of Outstanding Natural Beauty, with the easternmost point of the Dee Valley Way being within the town.

The ruins of the Dinas Bran Castle are well worth exploring, offering up some breath taking views down onto Llangollen. The climb takes about 45 minutes, but it never becomes overly steep. Take a pack lunch and a blanket and recharge at the top. You will also find the stunning Valle Crucis Abbey just two miles down the road, in the tiny community of Llantysilio. If you fancy a little history lesson and a delicious cake, Plas Newydd is a must see!

What are the shops in Llangollen like?

Llangollen offers a unique range of locally owned shops for fresh local produce and groceries. There is a Country Market with home-made produce and hand-crafted items in the Town Hall

on Friday mornings and a general market in the Market Street car park on Tuesdays. If you need a big weekly shop there are Aldi, Stan's, Spar and Cooperative, all within a walking distance from the town centre.

But there is much more to Llangollen shopping than just delicious food. Llangollen's privately owned shops range from fashion boutiques, jewellery shops, shops selling gifts and quality crafts to outdoor clothing and equipment. When in town you have to visit Hands Across Time! Hidden in the Castle Street Courtyard, behind Barclay's Bank, next door to the gorgeous bookshop and the Courtyard Cafe that serves the most delicious Welsh scones!

Hands Across Time has been named in the Top 100 Attractions in Wales! You never know what you’ll find when you walk through their doors. You might pop in for a birthday card and leave with a granddad armchair!

Discover unique home accessories and clothing with savings of up to 80% less than the RRP! Check out their quirky home and garden furniture, breathtaking Tiffany style lighting, mirrors, unique wall art, clocks, Portmeirion pottery, handcrafted ornaments, eclectic clothes, perfumes and cards for all occasions. One of the best things to do in Llangollen. For latest updates head to Facebook!

Shop in Llangollen! Wooden, hand painted in the UK signs available at £7.

What does Llangollen mean in English?

Llangollen takes its name from the Welsh llan meaning "a religious settlement" and Saint Collen, a 7th-century monk who founded a church beside the river. St Collen is said to have arrived in Llangollen by coracle. St Collen’s Church is the only church in Wales dedicated to St Collen, and he may have had connections with Colan in Cornwall and with Langolen in Brittany.

10 Simple Tips For Arranging Furniture

Arranging furniture can be a difficult task, especially when you are faced with an empty room. Filling it in a way that is both aesthetically pleasing and practical can seem like a daunting challenge.

Follow our 10 simple tips and you will find that arranging furniture is not that scary after all!

Tip #1 - Choose a Focal Point

Never underestimate the power of a focal point in a room. Sometimes they appear naturally, such as if you have a built-in fireplace mantel or a prominent window, while other times you may need to create them yourself. Whatever your chosen centrepiece, make a decision and stick with it. You will want to arrange your furniture and your wall art around it as much as possible.

Tip #2 - Don’t Push Furniture Against the Walls

The size of the room will dictate how far you can pull your furniture away from the walls, however, even in a small space you will want to give pieces a little breathing room by allowing a few inches between the backs of furniture pieces and the walls. This little bit of space can actually make rooms feel bigger. If you have a larger space, arrange furniture in such a way that conversation areas are created in the middle of the room, leaving several feet between the walls and the furniture.

Tip #3 - Create Conversation Areas

Every good conversation starts with good listening. We should naturally be able to talk to each other without having to crane our necks or shout across the room. Position your sofas and chairs to face each other (not necessarily straight on, but close) and so they are close enough that you can converse without raising your voice. If the room is too large, create multiple conversation areas.

Tip #4 - Find Balance When Arranging Furniture

Balance is always important in decorating. Consider both placement and size of the various pieces, making sure not to group all the small or large pieces in one area or to one side of the room, which can make space feel unbalanced and a little unsettling. Also, do not forget to make sure there is variety in the shapes. If you have got straight-lined seating, always consider mixing it with a round coffee table.

Tip #5 - Consider Traffic Flow

Traffic flow is one of the most crucial things to consider when arranging furniture in any room. You should not be tripping over furniture or other people to pass through the room. Make sure there are a couple of feet between the sofa and coffee table and between chairs. Create a clear path so you can walk from one end of the room to the other without difficulty.

Tip #6 - Use the Right-Size Rugs

Area rugs belong under your furniture. Exposing some flooring around the edges of the room is fine, but when using an area rug, make sure it’s big enough that all the furniture in your seating arrangement can rest on it. At the very least you want the front legs of large pieces to sit on the rug (the backs can be on the floor, if necessary).

Tip #7 - Get a Big Coffee Table

When it comes to coffee tables bigger is better. A large coffee table in the middle of a seating area is great for both function and aesthetics. It acts as an anchor for the room and it leaves plenty of space for people to put down drinks or for you to display your favourite home accessories. A large table also offers easier access from the seats around it. If you can’t find a perfect large coffee table, two smaller tables can be a good substitute.

Tip #8 - Put Tables at Arm’s Length

Every seat should have easy access to either a side table or coffee table. Avoid layouts that force people to move from their seats in order to set down or retrieve drinks. Side or end tables should be approximately the same height as the nearby chair arms (if that is not possible, lower is better). For coffee tables, the height should be the same height as chair/sofa seats, or again lower.

Tip #9 - Let There Be Light

Having the correct lighting is essential for creating the right atmosphere in your home. Always use a mix of overhead lighting, floor lamps and table lamps. Table lamps look lovely on side tables, shelves, and even mantels. A floor lamp looks great at the end of a sofa or behind an accent chair. Lighting needs to be placed at different levels in order to be properly balanced, so use a variety of fixtures liberally throughout your room.

Tip #10 - Use the Right-Size Artwork

Whether it’s mirrors, artwork or sculptural objects, things that are hung on the wall need to be placed strategically and in proportion to the furniture. Don’t hang a tiny photo over the back of your sofa! Instead, use either a grouping of pieces or a large piece that is approximately two-thirds the length of the sofa. If you’re absolutely determined to use a particular piece of art that is too small, put it in a larger frame with a large matte around it so it can hold its own when positioned near a large furniture piece.