Posts Tagged ‘Tips’

With Spring just around the corner, it’s time to get ready for another round of entertaining.  I call it the Spring Itch!  A favorite room of mine is the kitchen when it comes to room makeovers because so much of our time is spent in it with family and friends, cooking great meals.  Nowadays, the [...]

From an abundance of pretty baubles and bows, to a delicate glittering snow scheme, there are many different ways to decorate your home at Christmas time and we love them all! For this feature, we thought we’d take a peek at the slightly more modern approach to yuletide festivities, with a drop of Scandinavian essence, keeping color palettes limited and fresh, and decorations sweetly simple.

A paired down, candy cane color scheme of just red and white can be fabulously effective in a pale room.

if your walls are very dark or have a lot of pattern, then white accessories may be all you need, a collection of different shapes and textures will play with light and shadow to ice your room with a soft frosted look.

If space is limited, decorating with light can be a terrific solution to twinkle your way through December, using hanging star lights with pretty cuts outs, and adding a sprinkling of candle light to create the ultimate cozy factor.

Of course we couldn’t leave out the most popular color plan of red, gold and green, which always looks storybook perfect by a roaring fire. Resist the tangle of tinsel for your tree, and instead opt for wide curls of luxurious ribbon to achieve an up to date edge.

For a completely coordinated look, don’t forget to match the color of your gift wrapping to your tree toys!

Bonus: How to wrap the perfect gift

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Me3ykrZobJE

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A home security camera or series of cameras can be an excellent addition to an already effective home security system. A home security camera is used for a variety of purposes. The primary purpose is to act as a visual deterrent to would be burglars. In most cases, having a home security camera or several cameras installed on your property is likely to discourage a potential burglar. For most homeowners convincing them a home security camera would be beneficial isn’t the problem. The problem is convincing them that buying a security camera isn’t as overwhelming as it seems. This article will offer tips for choosing the right home security camera for your needs.

One of the first aspects of a home security camera to consider is whether you will use a wireless home security system or one that requires connection to a power source. There are many security camera options that are wireless. This means the camera does not need to be connected to an external power supply and there is no need for wires. However, the camera still requires a source of power which is often an internal battery. A wireless home security camera may be easier to install because there is no wiring but it can be more difficult to maintain because the batteries may need to be replaced or recharged frequently.

The location of your home security camera should also be considered before you make your purchase. In most cases, a home security camera is installed outdoors. This requires several considerations. Protection of your camera from the weather elements is very important. You should choose a home security camera that is designed to work well in your environment. You should also consider where you wish to install the camera. To effectively deter a burglar, the home security camera should be installed in location of high visibility because burglars will not be deterred if they do not see the home security camera. This will affect your purchase because you will want to choose a home security camera that will be easily installed in the desired location.

Finally, you should decide how you wish to record the images from your home security camera. The recordings from your home security camera can be recorded in a variety of ways including on video tapes, DVDs and on your computer. You should determine which method you want to use before purchasing a home security camera to ensure the camera you choose is compatible with your method of recording.

There are many options available for those who wish to purchase a home security camera. All of these options can seem overwhelming and may intimidate some homeowners from making a purchase. It is important to remember that careful research will make the purchase of a home security camera a much simpler process

How to Make a Small Room Look Bigger? No matter what size our apartment or home is, we never seem to feel that the space is enough. Sometimes, it happens so that you shift to an apartment after selling your house or simply need more space in your home because of a new entrant into the family. It’s not possible to invest in a bigger property every time you feel the space is not enough. However, by following some simple steps, you have the option to transform your room to look bigger. This is not just about giving you a feeling that there is more space but also actually creating more space.

Image Credit : Marc Gerritsen/BUILT Images – How to Make a Small Room Look Bigger

Planning Ahead
You need to think about what function a room is going to serve. According to that, you should decorate the room. For instance, a study does not need unnecessary furniture like a comfort couch. Keep the furniture to the minimum and fill the room with just what is necessary.

Image Credit : Fuse – How to Make a Small Room Look Bigger

Do Away with Unwanted Things
Every home is filled with lots of things that have been accumulating over years. Unless and until you dispose such unwanted items, you really cannot make more space. If you need more space to move around, this sacrifice has to be made. Just remove your hoarding instinct for your sake.

Choose wisely when it comes to Furniture
The most simple answer to the question of How to Make a Small Room Look Bigger would be buy multifunctional furniture. When you go furniture shopping there might be lots of items that come under your budget. However, this does not mean that you have to invest in everything you can afford. You should go for multipurpose furniture like sofa sets that can serve as pull out beds while offering storage space. If it’s not multifunctional, don’t buy it. For example you can choose multifunctional furniture such as Winsome Wood Alden Lap Desk that is not only act as a lap desk or work station, it also features drawer for storage to keep your stuff organized. It’s been designed with foldable legs for easy storage. If you have a pet, you  might want to consider to have multifunctional house for your pet. Night Stand Pet House from Merry Pet can accommodate your pet as well as work as a night stand next to your bed.

Lighting and Painting
Apart from creating more space if you want your rooms to look bigger, you could go for painting your walls with bright colors that will give a spacious look to your rooms. In case you are not a huge fan of vibrant shades, go for neutral shades that are subtle in nature. Dark colors always have the tendency to make the rooms look smaller.

In addition, you need to invest sometime and research in what kind of lighting would make your rooms look bigger than they are. We recommend to choose minimalist and modern lighting design such as Optica Table Lamp by Eglo that features beautiful frosted opal glass shade to provide a warm glow in the room.

By following the above mentioned tips you could make your home look bigger without having to spend a fortune. So, do not waste your time and use the expert advice to change your home to match your needs and the surrounding environment. Hopefully this article “How to Make a Small Room Look Bigger? ” can help you making better and smarter decision when it comes to decorate your room.

This story “How to Make a Small Room Look Bigger? Follow These Simple Tips” comes from Modern Home Design – Home Dosh

Beachfront income properties have their own particular set of concerns when it comes to interior design.  Condo packages may meet budget goals, but often contain inferior quality pieces that don’t last.   Vacation renters inflict heavy use; they track in sand, walk on carpets dripping wet, sit on furniture in wet bathing suits, and set drinks [...]

Air mattresses can be a great add-on to any house. You can use them for everything from camping to using it as an extra bed. Many of the air mattresses today come with their own pump, making it very easy to inflate and/or deflate the mattress for quick use. Also, the air mattresses today are much sturdier and made out of heavier material than they were before so the chance if one popping is less likely than it has been.

If you are looking to buy an air mattress to use while camping, you are probably best off by going with a mattress that fits these criteria; first, make sure that your tent is able to fit the air mattress you want inside of it. Second, get the size mattress or mattresses that will be able to fit all of the people on it. Choose the amount of loft you want because there are many options when choosing an air mattress. Be willing to spend a little extra cash to ensure the durability and quality of your mattress. Remember, you get what you pay for! Also, consider looking into purchasing a self-inflating air mat. These are much lighter and easier to carry around than air mattresses.

No matter the number of regular mattresses you own already, an air mattress is always a good addition. They come in very handy when you are having relatives or friends stay over for the holidays and can also make a children’s sleepover go easier. If you are primarily going to use your air mattress for indoor purposes only, it is wise to spend a little more money for a higher quality. It is never a good moment when you take down your air mattress that has been in the closet or attic for a few months only to find that it has a hole. The most durable air mattress to buy is one that comes with a bed frame. These will last the longest and also provide the user with a more comfortable night’s rest. And the bed frame will also protect the air mattress from foreign objects puncturing the mattress.

There are many different types of mattresses on the market today; memory foam is by far the most popular and is also the most comfortable to sleep on. A latex foam mattress has different “zones” and will also last you a long time. A waterbed mattress is still popular but has also changed over the years. There is a new type of waterbed, called a soft side. The softsided water mattresses are easier to clean than the traditional waterbed mattress and they also come with a tub system on the side of the mattress. You have the ability to move the tub from side to side and it will allow you some extra room and will also make it much easier to upgrade to these softside water mattress from the traditional waterbed mattress.

When buying a new mattress, always lay on it first before buying to ensure the quality and to determine if it is a good fit for you.

You can use all the carpet cleaning tips in the world, and guess what? You still probably can’t get your carpet as clean on your own as a professional carpet cleaner can. On the other hand, who needs perfection? The tips here will help you get that carpet clean enough.

Heat helps! Above 118 degrees fahrenheit, every 18 degrees higher changes chemical reactivity by 100%. Hot water extraction cleaning is done between 150 and 200 degrees. Is that too technical? The point is not only that hot water extraction, or “steam cleaning” is far superior to “dry cleaning,” but that if you do it yourself, use heat!

Actually, there are three inter-related factors at work when you clean carpet. Heat, Dwell Time, and Agitation. To some extent, if you can’t maximise one of them, you can make up for it with the others. In other words, if you can’t get the cleaning solution hot enough, let it “dwell” a bit longer in the carpet, and scrub harder.

Secret Carpet Cleaning Tips

Detergent attracts dirt. This is why it’s important to rinse out any cleaning solution thoroughly. This is another reason why hot water extraction gets carpet cleaner than the “dry” methods. The bottom line is that you need to rinse well when you clean carpet.

One way to clean stains is with the use of a shop-vac. No, you can’t just suck out the stain, but you can repeatedly wash and rinse the area, and suck out the solution each time. This is a more effective method than blotting up the water with cloth, mostly because you won’t have the patience to wash, rinse and extract enough times using paper towels or cloth.

Another little secret of the carpet cleaners is putting rugs outside and inside the front door. They can catch much of the dirt that people bring in on their feet. This isn’t just about less vaccuuming, though. Dirt is like thousands of little blades that cut carpet fibers. The damaged carpet stains more easily then, and it’s harder to remove the stains. An even better practice is to take off your shoes in the house.

Ready to clean? Vaccuum first. Then, if you use one of those portable machines, at least get the water as hot as you can. Dry the carpet quickly, using fans to move the air around. You can at least lengthen the time between expensive professional cleanings, by using these carpet cleaning tips.

Our homes are usually the most expensive single item we ever buy.  Not only do they represent a significant financial investment, but our home is a big emotional investment.  They are the places where we raise our families and celebrate our lives.  Our homes are our refuge from a busy world – a safe place where we live, love and grow together.  Yet in the U.S. alone there are more than 500,000 residential fires every year that are serious enough to require a call to the fire department.  Worse yet, every year more than 4,000 Americans die in home fires and approximately 20,000 are injured.  Tragic statistics indeed, but equally tragic is that the vast majority of these fires and related injuries and deaths are preventable.

Top Ten Tips for Fire Safety

1. Install Smoke Alarms
The single most important purchase you can make for your home is smoke alarms.  Working smoke alarms can double your chances of surviving a fire.  Most deaths that occur in home fires aren’t from fire, but from smoke. Homes should have at least one one smoke alarm on every level.  To make certain smoke alarms are fully functional they should be tested monthly, kept free of dust and have the batteries replaced annually.  The smoke alarm itself should be replaced every ten years, or as recommended by the manufacturer.

2. Plan an Escape Route
If a fire does break out, you must get out fast.  Being awakened by a smoke alarm at 2:00 a.m. is not the time to have to think through how to get you and your family to safety.  You must plan ahead by sitting down with your family and go over an escape plan that includes at least two exits from every room.  If you live in an apartment building, your escape plan must not include elevators.  Finally, when you develop your escape plan decide on a safe meeting place outdoors where everyone meets after the escape.  Your household should practice the escape plan two times a year.

3. Beware of Smoking
The leading cause of fire deaths is careless smoking.  Avoid smoking in bed and take great care to make large ashtrays readily available to smokers throughout your household.  Cigarettes can smolder under and around upholstered furniture unnoticed only to ignite into a full blaze minutes later.

4. Take Care Cooking
Never leave your cooking unattended.  Furthermore, be aware of flammable materials like curtains, dish towels or loose fitting clothing around cooking areas.  To avoid accidental spills of hot oil or boiling water be sure the handles of pots and pans are turned inward on the stove so they can’t be bumped or grabbed by children.  Should cooking oil in a pan catch fire cover the pan immediately with a lid.  Under no circumstances should you pour water on a grease fire.  This will cause the fire to spatter and spread.

5. Space for Space Heaters
Whether electric, kerosene or some other fuel space heaters need space.  They should be kept at least three feet away from anything that can burn. Always keep children and pets away from heaters and never leave them unattended when you leave home.

6. Matches, Lighters and Children Don’t Mix
Children are often fascinated by fire.  Teach your children that matches and lighters are tools, not toys, should never be played with and are to be used only by adults.  Store all matches and lighters where children can neither see them nor reach them.  Because children are naturally curious, don’t hesitate to check under your children’s bed, in closets and other places where they may hide matches or lighters in their rooms.

7. Use Electricity Carefully
Promptly replace cracked or frayed cords on appliances.  If an appliance sparks, smells or smokes unplug it immediately and have it repaired or replaces.  An all too common cause of electrical fires is the improper use of extension cords.  Never run extension cords under rugs and never use an extension cord to overload a circuit.  Only a trained professional should service circuit breaker or fuse boxes.  If a fuse must be replaced, use only the proper sized fuse for that circuit.

8. Stay Low Under Smoke
If you must escape a fire, stay close to the floor.  Smoke and toxic gasses rise, and the air near the floor is cleaner.

9. Stop, Drop and Roll
If your clothing catches fire, DO NOT RUN!  Running feeds more air to the flames and will cause them to spread more rapidly.  Instead, stop where you are, drop to the floor or ground, cover your face with your hands and roll around until the flames are covered.  Should you encounter a person whose clothing is on fire, cover them with a blanket, rug or coat and roll them on the ground.

10.  Treating a Burn
The best quick treatment for minor burns is to run cool water over the burn for 10 to 15 minutes.  This will cool the burn.  Never use ice on a burn.  Using ice on a burn may damage the skin or even cause mild frostbite.  And contrary to what your grandmother may have told you, don’t apply butter or any grease to a burn.  It will prevent air from reaching the burn.  If skin is burned severely enough to cause blisters or charring, seek medical attention immediately.  Severe burns can easily become infected.

Preventing fires and fire related injuries and death isn’t a matter of luck.  It takes planning.  Every household should have a plan that includes a home safety checklist, smoke detectors, escape plan and regular safety audit.  Make protecting your family, household and valuables from fire a priority.  Your life may depend on it.

If your home decor is beginning to look a little “frazzled”, then here are seven tips to give your room a quick make-over without breaking the family budget.  Not all home decorating projects have to mean knocking down walls and hiring a contractor.  You can easily accomplish these seven tips over a few days and bring a lifeless, dull room back to life.

1.    CLEAN:  If you have a family, then you probably have newspapers, magazines, books, toys, shoes, clothes, etc., that detract from the personality of your room.  Find or create new storage spaces for these items.  Give your draperies and upholstered furnishings a good vacuuming.  Remove all your decorative collectibles and give each piece a thorough cleaning.  You want the space to have a fresh beginning.

2.    FOCAL POINT:  If your room is lacking a focal point, try painting one wall in a different, but coordinating color, that complements the rest of your room and furnishings.  The newly painted wall will instantly become the focal point of the room.  Decorate the wall with interesting art work or a large ornately framed mirror.  (If you opt to use a mirror, make sure it reflects a pleasant view – never a blank wall or closet door).  Place a favorite piece of furniture against the new focal point wall to complete the look.  If your room already has a nice focal point, consider giving the entire room a fresh new coat of paint.  A simple color change can make an incredible difference in your room.

3.    REARRANGE THE FURNITURE:  No matter the size of your room, pull the furniture away from the walls.  Place your furnishings at interesting angles in front of your focal point to create an intimate conversation area.  If you room is narrow, try placing the sofa on the diagonal to make the room appear wider.  Never arrange your room so that the traffic flow runs directly through your conversational area.

4.    REARRANGE THE RUG:  If you have an area rug, turn it on an angle and use it to define your newly arranged conversation area.  If you have wall-to-wall carpeting, try layering a complimentary area rug in your conversation area.  (Use carpet-to-carpet tape to anchor the area rug.  This helps keep the area rug in place, and, more importantly, helps prevent someone from tripping over the edges of the rug).

5.    ADD GREENERY:  Breathe new life into your room with the addition of healthy green plants.  Use plants of varying heights and species for interest.  Keep your plants in good health and well-trimmed.  (A vase of fresh cut flowers is always a beautiful addition to any room).  If you have poor lighting, consider using good quality silk greenery.  Silk greenery is actually a safer choice if you have small children or pets.

6.    BUY SOME NEW LAMPS:   Nothing can make your room look more outdated and stale than lamps from the sixties.  Find unique, interesting lamps that will make a bold statement and relate to the personality of your room.  Look for lighting with three-way switches.  This offers you a variety of lighting options to set the mood in your room.

7.    ADD PERSONALITY AND ACCESSORIES:  Refresh your favorite family photographs by treating them to a new frame.  Hang interesting artwork, mirrors or architectural pieces that reflect your personality.  Give new life to your sofa and chairs with decorative pillows and throws.  This is an easy way to add color and texture to your room.  Create vignettes with your freshly cleaned collectibles.  Group them in odd numbers at varying heights.  Use hardbound books in stacks, or assorted decorative boxes, to assist with varying the heights.  Bring in some candlelight to add drama and warmth.  Last, but not least, add something “unexpected” just for fun.

With a little bit of imagination and creativity, you can turn your “frazzled” home decor into a fresh, exciting new space.  Renew your passion for decorating your home – “one room at a time!”

Has your bedroom stayed the same for the last 20 years? Do you want to make it into a fun, cool bedroom, but without spending money on new furniture? We have some ideas for you to do just that – re-do your bedroom on a budget!

- Coat of paint. Nothing freshens up a room like a new coat of paint. Make it into a weekend project and involve your kids – you can do something together, and at the same time, create a whole new bedroom that you need.

We don’t recommend painting the bedroom walls into bright colors. Beige, peach, light and pastel blues and greens work best. Make sure that your new wall color coordinates with your furniture, as you are not buying new furniture.

- Organize your bedroom. Sometimes all a room needs is organization, to look completely different. Many bedrooms are full of kids toys, old clothes and even dishes, that should be in the kitchen.

Put those items away, and organize the rest of the room to make it look very different.

- Rearrange furniture. Sometimes the best way to decorate without a budget is to use the same furniture, but rearrange it, and add something else into the mix.

Walk around your house – you will find a chair in the basement, or an ottoman in the family room, that will look great in the bedroom. Use those to create a whole new bedroom – with your old furniture.

- New wall art. Add a splash of color to the room with some new wall art (or borrow some art from another room). Another idea is to frame some of your kids’ drawings, or draw something yourself.

- New bedding, pillows, bedspreads. It is amazing how much you can change a room by adding just one new item to it. Pick some new bedding or a bedspread that you really wanted, and splurge on them! You will have a great looking bedroom in no time.

Remember, updating a room does not mean buying everything new for it. Use some (or all) of our ideas to completely re-do your bedroom. You will be glad you did.