Archive for ‘Bedroom’

May 14th, 2012

How wooden blinds can make your home more eco friendly?

Why should you make your house eco-friendly, well not only will you help to combat global warming but you will also to save costs as fuel becomes increasingly expensive. There are lots of things you can do to help green your home, from the obvious steps such improving your insulation to more obscure ones such as fitting wooden blinds. At first glance this may seem somewhat weird but with both of these steps the same principle applies. By blocking and directing natural heat and light you can use less energy heating, cooling and lighting your house.

By blocking windows blinds plug huge these gaps in your insulation and they do so in a way that gives you much greater control over how much light and heat gets in than the alternatives. For example say it’s a hot summer day and you are working in your study which is equipped with venetian blinds. By opening the slats you can let light in without suffering the glare that drawing the blind would cause. Later in the day when the heat and sunlight get a little less intense you can draw the blind to let more in, before closing it fully in the evening to prevent heat escaping and stopping anyone from looking in. This means that there is far less of a demand put upon more expensive and less eco-friendly measures to control your houses temperature such as air con and central heating.

Wooden blinds are probably the most eco-friendly option, because wood sourced from sustainable sources, such as those approved by Forest Stewardship Council, (FSC) tends to have far less of an impact than equivalent amounts of plastic or metal. Not only is it far less destructive to extract, but it also takes far less energy to manufacture wooden products. The process of making wooden goods also produces far less toxic by-products than either aluminium or plastic. In addition the process of growing trees captures carbon dioxide which is then locked into the products produced from these trees.

Wood is also a renewable resource. Whilst metallic ores and oil are reduced by our use, well managed forests replace the wood that is taken from them. They also provide huge ecological benefits by providing bio diverse habitats as well as oxygen, clean water and even new medicines. Of course this means that it is important to only use products from manufacturers who can guarantee their wood comes from FSC approved sources. Unmanaged and illegal logging is incredibly destructive both to the environment and indigenous populations.

The best wooden products come from local forests and manufactures which reduces the carbon footprint caused by transporting the goods. Make your interior stand out with unique fittings by installing shutters and blinds – click here for more info

May 2nd, 2012

How to Hang Curtain Rods?

Hanging curtains is a rite of passage for the new homeowner or leaseholder. Before the knickknacks can be placed or the good china unpacked, the windows must be covered, and they must be covered in such a way that the local busybodies are impressed with the quality of the new neighbours.  Many people, having witnessed the grim results of botched curtain hanging, are afraid to take on the task themselves. Hanging window coverings is not difficult, however, and with the right tools and a few pointers, you can hang your own curtain poles as handily as an experienced carpenter.

The key to hanging curtains is careful measurement. Although a curtain rod should, ideally, be level, many homes are not geometrically perfect. The eye will compare the lines of the drapes and the pole to the lines of the window as well as those of the surrounding wall, ceiling and floor. As a result, perfectly level poles may actually appear to be crooked. It is often better to use the lines of the window as a guide. The exception is the window that is not parallel to the lines surrounding it. In that case, it is best to use oversized, opaque drapes that will match the surrounding lines and trick the eye by covering most of the window.

You will need a screwdriver that matches the screws that came with the hardware for your curtain poles. The hardware should be set at an equal distance from the upper corners of the window. You may also need an additional piece of hardware above the centre point of the window. First, measure six centimetres above each corner of the window and mark the spot. Next, align a straight edge such as a metre stick with the two marks. Draw a light pencil line across the top of the window, extending out about a hand’s-breadth past the corner of the window. Now mark a point on the line at the centre of the window, if necessary, and at three centimetres outside each corner of the window along the line.

Align the bottom screw hole in the hardware with the mark on the line and screw the bottom screw through the hardware and into the wall. Do not screw it all the way in. Now, using a washer tied to the end of a string as a plumb bob, straighten the hardware and mark where the other screws will go. Insert the screws one at a time. Do not over tighten them. Finally, tighten the first screw. Repeat this procedure with the other pieces of hardware.

Once the hardware is in place, erase any visible pencil lines. Feed the pole through the rod pocket or loops of the curtain, taking care that the finished side faces toward the room. Hang the curtains by attaching the pole to the hardware. If the pole is very long or the cloth is very heavy, you may require help with this part of the task.

March 22nd, 2012

Advantages of storage beds

Using divan beds is the best way to add on extra storage space to your home. Storing items such as clothing, towels and linens underneath the bed is easy and convenient. There are many advantages to this type of bed in addition to extra storage space including easy maintenance and comfort. Most people find that they do not have enough storage to keep all the things they’ve accumulated over their lives. They not only look great, but they provide an easy solution to a lack of storage space.

One of the biggest problems people run into when decorating their homes is organising their possessions. Unless you have a large house with multiple rooms that can be used for storage, you could probably use some extra storage space. With a platform bed, you can use the bottom compartments to store the things you would otherwise have to keep someplace else in your home. Traditional beds take up a lot of room, and while you can store boxes under them, you can’t use that space to store clothes or towels. A storage bed is a great way to make practical use of the space under the bed without sacrificing your comfort or home decor.

There are many different things you can store in your storage bed. You can even store you winter or summer clothes underneath the bed to free up space in your closet for the clothes you are currently wearing on a regular basis. In addition to clothes, storage beds can be used to store extra blankets, linens or towels. Since platform beds are specifically made for storage they tend to be higher than traditional beds.

Dust and dirt can quickly accumulate underneath traditional beds. Cleaning under the bed is practically impossible unless you move your entire bedroom furniture, which can be very hard and time-consuming. Cleaning a storage bed, on the other hand, is very easy because you do not need to clean under it since that space is taken up by drawers. Another benefit to using storage beds is that they are designed in such a way that the mattress stays in one place. You will no longer have to deal with constantly shifting your mattress or moving it back into place.

Storage beds are available in many different designs and can suit any type of home decor, and although divan beds are not as glamorous looking as a coco bed, remember that when shopping for a bed, it’s important to choose the appropriate size for your lifestyle. Spend some time looking at various platform beds on the market at local department stores and online. If you want to buy a bedroom furniture set, choose one that will leave you with plenty of room to move around. After all, the key to keeping your home clean and organised is being creative with your storage space and choosing the right furniture for the size of the room.

January 19th, 2012

Tips to reduce your heating bill

In times of crisis and declining purchasing power, all the good tips to reduce the gas bill or electricity are good to take. And make energy saving is good for the planet! Here are some tips to optimize your heating.

1: Partitions for less heat
It’s simple and just think, reduce the volume to be heated, it also reduce heating bills. How? Nothing more simple, A curtain for example can help isolate a row without a door. If you have high ceilings and you have a mezzanine, you can also use this trick to “close” the open sides. Simple curtains can be fine. Installing a small gas fireplaces in the new space will become a small nest for long winter evenings.

2: Air quickly and efficiently
Ventilating a room is also essential in winter than in summer. But the low temperatures we often cool when it comes to do so. Here’s a tip, speed up the renewal of the air with a fan when you open your windows. The air in the room will certainly be a bit chilly but the walls themselves will not have time to cool. The room and ascend rapidly to temperature.

3: Keep your coil
If you are in electric heating, remember to remove dust. Clean interior and exterior energy efficient and even heating, your bill will be (slightly) lower. Attention! remember to shut off the heaters before you start cleaning their.

4: Isolate!
Keep fresh air from entering by caulking the bottom of your doors and checking the insulation of windows. Another tip is also effective: even close the shutters at night. is additional insulation.Warning: caulking does not mean blocking the vents! These are essential to your health and your safety.

January 19th, 2012

Top renovating tips for a teen’s room

teen room renovation

Teens are tricky customers – they know what they like and, when it comes to decorating their rooms, they are likely to want to make their own mark. While some teenagers may have a natural flair for interior décor, it’s sensible to offer up some of your own ideas if you want to make sure your home can be sold easily in the future.

The teen years are when kids get passionate about their interests and heroes, whether your youngster is male or female, they may want posters to make up part of the decorating scheme. Pins and Blu-Tack can be awful news for painted or papered walls, so compromise and provide a big pin board for posters.

If you want to choose a theme for the room, you might want to take some inspiration from the posters or prints they choose. For example, a teenage girl may like a themed room based on a classic Hollywood film, such as Breakfast at Tiffany’s, using a photo still from the film as a starting point. The walls can be painted in a Tiffany-esque blue and a vintage style single bed can be adorned with a luxury bed spread. When deciding on an appropriate bed it is important to keep in mind the size of the room. For most situations a single bed will be adequate for teenagers. The children’s single bed range from Time4Sleep will provide some useful ideas to get you started. To complete the look add a stand-alone dressing table and retro accessories, like an old telephone or luggage cases. Speak to your youngster about any ideas they may have to see if you can incorporate them to at least some degree, as they are more likely to keep a room tidy and take pride in it if they feel like it’s a product of their own efforts.

As well as considering a theme, you will need to ponder practicality. By their teenage years children tend to come complete with a certain amount of ’stuff’ and this stuff needs storing. If you are limited for space, you may want to consider incorporating multi-function furniture into the room, such as a storage bed or even a bed and desk combo. As well as providing places to tuck away books, DVDs and game consoles, this clever use of furniture can also free up valuable floor space, which can be a key consideration in smaller rooms or in those where clothes and shoes can frequently adorn the carpets!

November 24th, 2011

Wardrobes for the whole home

Beautiful Wardrobes designs

Generally we think of wardrobes as just a place to hang clothing, but if you think about the more sophisticated wardrobes from Italy they really are just one or a series of very tall cupboards in a huge choice of colours and textures, with either hinged or sliding doors and a choice of fittings that can be set up in virtually any configuration. So there’s no reason that wardrobes need to be confined to the bedroom and we are now seeing wardrobes being used all through the home for a number of different reasons.  The doors are often very attractive plus sliding doors save room as they don’t need to be opened out. The cupboards can come in a huge variety of sizes, which can also be altered at the factory or by your wardrobe fitter. Their height works well too, since they are usually at least 2 metres tall they are a very efficient use of floor space.

A few of the ways bedroom wardrobes can be used in the rest of the home is as under stair cupboards (the doors can be cut at angles for an exact fit & the wardrobes are a perfect depth), as hall cupboards either to provide a large amount of extra storage or to provide a cloakroom cupboard for coats, umbrellas and wellington boots.

Wardrobes also make excellent wall/media units & some can incorporate open shelving or even a home office desk. Sliding doors allow you to quickly & effortlessly hide the TV & then uncover it for watching, whilst still looking as good (no messy opened hinged doors).  Fitted wardrobes also make surprisingly good laundry cupboards, the size is just right to fit a washing machine &/or dryer (wardrobe cabinets are usually the same depth as kitchen cabinets) and good quality Italian wardrobes have shelves strong enough to hold a dryer.

Even better the higher end Italian factories have realised this and are now producing accessories especially for these ‘non wardrobe wardrobes’. More attractive in a contemporary home than traditional built in fitted cupboards and offer incredibly versatile and space efficient storage for the entire home.

November 9th, 2011

Four Ways to Freshen Up an Old Frame

Before you discard frames in a box destined for the thrift store, look at them in a new way. Maybe you don’t like the shiny brass finish, or the plain molding looks too- plain. Whether the frame is made of wood, metal, ceramic, or plastic, it can be repainted to look like an entirely different creature. Consider these ideas to revive old frames so they’ll find a home in your current motif.

1. A Pop of Color

What better way to pull in your accent col or than from a frame or two in a room. This is a great choice for plastic frames, especially with Krylon’s new line of Fusion paints for plastic (in spray form to make it super-easy). Kids and teens might like a collection of brightly colored frames for artwork, posters, and fave photos.

2. Metallic

Whether your home has splashes of rubbed bronze, brushed silver or burnished gold in light fixtures and faucets, you can carry on the theme in your frames from a can of spray paint. The techniques may differ, depending on the type of finish you’d like or if you want to achieve a faux patina. As with most paint finishes suggested in this article, you’ll want to start with a primer base:  Brown for bronze, gray for silver, and white for gold.

3. Unify a Grouping

A collection of a single color of frames can look stunning together, even if their sizes and moldings differ. Use them to frame black and white photos, floral prints, mirrors, or remove the glass and let their ornate beauty shine.

4. Make New Look

While some like making the old look new, others prefer the old no matter what. Distressing and antiquing are two paint techniques that can be used to instill a bit of the vintage on recently-made frames

October 22nd, 2011

DIY decoration for walls

Do you want to add some excitement to your dreary walls? Tired of looking at the same old decor day in and day out? Want to brighten up your living room or den, liven up a bedroom or bath? How about adding some flair to your kitchen or office? You can do all of this and more with some simple do-it-yourself (DIY) wall treatments using easy-to-learn techniques.

DIY walls allow you to spend money you might normally spend on a decorator on tools and supplies to create great wall finishes instead. Rather than hiring a laborer, learn a few simple DIY techniques to help you dress up your walls. As anyone who chooses a DIY  project instead of hiring a professional knows, the delight you feel from seeing your completed project is immeasurable.  Knowing you did it yourself will fill you with satisfaction every time you walk in the room. And DIY walls are one of the easiest places to begin revamping your home decor.

Consider your options

Paint: There are so many colors available and so many painting techniques that your choices are virtually unlimited. Paint the whole room, one wall, or even a diagonal half of a wall. Use  pastels, brights or anything any between.  And if you can’t find what you want, have your colors custom mixed. The sky is the limit!

Wallpaper: Again, you have many options to choose from including a top border around the whole room, or only on one or two walls; a border mid-way around the entire room, or every wall fully covered.  Use your imagination and make the room uniquely yours.

Wainscoting: This DIY option is a bit more challenging, but very doable. You’ll need some low-tech carpentry skills, but you  can find dozens of books to help you learn how to create and install wainscoting. And your friends will be so impressed when you’ve done!

Faux Finishes What about a faux finish such as paint bamboo, brick, or paneling? There are unlimited options here as well. You’ll need some patience, and it may take some trial and error, but your walls will look like you hired an expensive decorator… when you did it all yourself!

Fabric: Ever thought of upholstering your walls? You can! Upholstery fabrics work best for this, but any durable fabric will work including denim, canvas, suede or leather. You’ll probably want to limit this technique to only one wall or  partial wall, but some people have used it for entire rooms with interesting results.

Vinyl Wall Art: This is a trendy technique of creating vinyl appliques out of ConTact paper that you attach to the wall. Create a variety of impressions, including a feeling of the outdoors, contemporary geographical designs, a more traditional effect, or even a bit of romance depending on the colors and shapes you select.

Silhouettes: Another trendy, though not necessarily new DIY wall technique is to fill one wall with silhouettes such as busts of Victorian women, or for a more country look, Amish figures Done with tape, labels and black paint, this creates a dramatic point of interest in your room.

October 2nd, 2011

How to personalise your nursery

You’ve spent weeks pouring through baby names and have finally come to a decision. You’ve got your hospital bags ready to go at a moment’s notice. You’ve read any and everything you can find on baby care. You’ve interviewed paediatricians and dentists. You’ve even started planning for school and have opened a savings account.

With your little one on the way, you only have one thing left to prepare: the nursery. Flipping through magazines, catalogues, browsing websites and blogs, you see the same ideas again and again. You want to personalise your child’s nursery. Make the room hers and hers alone. You don’t want to copy the same old patterns. You want new, fresh and unique.

Start with a bare room. The best way to personalise a nursery is not to have any preconceived notions. Strip the walls and floor bare. A blank canvas will allow your imagination to soar. Now you have to find a place to begin, to kick start your creativity.

That’s where the crib comes in. Find the crib that will be the “anchor” of the space. A nursery should be built around the biggest centrepiece. Choose a crib that is aesthetically pleasing but safe. Read customer reviews and compare different models. Once you have the right crib, set it up in the nursery.

Now you can begin to envision all sorts of possibilities. The style of the crib will allow you to pick out the right dresser and changing table. With those colours in place, you can paint the room to complement or contrast those colours. Don’t worry about pink for girls, blue for boys, yellow and green for neutrality. Choose colours that stand out.

Next, move on to the floor. Carpet is nice for bare feet but not easy to clean. Messes can be multiplied many times over in carpet fibres. Hardwood and tile are easiest to clean. Wood is the most homely of flooring. Spread out an area rug and you’ve got one beautiful space.

On to the windows. Something that best compliments wood floors are kid’s Roman blinds. A nice set of matching kid’s Roman blinds will dress up the windows nicely. They’re easy to clean and not difficult to install. Moreover, they add a sense of sophistication to the room.

Embellishments are next on the list. Hanging wall letters, artwork, family keepsakes, photos, a piggy bank, decorative pillows and blankets will do nicely. You can spell out your baby’s name with hanging wall letters. Artwork can be a big plus to personalise your nursery. Perhaps a safari scene or maybe a boat on the ocean. Go tropical with an island painting. A bit of island living will go great with the kid’s Roman blinds and wood floors.

Last but certainly not least, add the necessities. A hamper, humidifier or dehumidifier, baby monitor, bottle warmer and lamps.Now you nursery is complete. It has all you’ll need for your baby. When family and friends come to visit, they’ll marvel at your creativity.

September 3rd, 2011

Stylish ideas for the bedroom

In the room, some detailing & arrangement may make significant difference in its appearance! So to sublimate the play, it equips chic accessories and decor. Here are some ideas to add value to your home without spending huge budget.

A bedroom for a romantic spirit : Whether in the nursery or the adult, the canopy is art and how to sublimate the room by giving it a romantic touch. You can start with choosing a light veil and white for a very fresh appearance.

A carpet to bring the heat: For your bare feet do not run into the cool ground, put on a very soft, thick carpet that will warm your entire room. Feel free to use as a rug to stand up always the right foot.

Plaids and cushions on the bed: To give another dimension to beds, you think to add decorative elements.Either wooden, metal and leather. For winter, you can install a beautiful plaid heavy wool or fur. And for the whole year, the focus is on an accumulation of cushions that makes you want to snuggle in bed.

Dim light: In the bedroom, the light is very important. A prior, you do not need it to be strong. Instead of relying on a dim light environment by using dimmers, LED color, You can also use candles for a very friendly atmosphere.

Beautiful Curtains: Finally, the room suitable for all times of the day, go for lightweight sheer curtains, for example to let the light and curtains as thick as you close only at night for privacy.