Home Decor & Garden

Types of Photo Frames That Make Your House Feel More Like Home

May 19, 2016 — by Richard Dawson

Out of all the items used for interior decorating, there are a few that can add a personal feel to your home as much as a photo. Whether it is a wedding photo, a family vacation photo, a selfie from your backpacking through Asia, or a dear piece of art from your children or straight from your photographic portfolio, your college diploma or a business license, what a better way to display all of them than in a photo frame.

Frames were originally created to protect and showcase paintings, but as photo cameras were invented and started becoming part of our everyday life, frames were redesigned specifically to display photographs instead of paintings. The most notable difference between photo frames and art frames is that photo frames usually have a layer of glass or acrylic that protects the picture underneath from anything that might cause damage such as scratches or spills.

Today photo frames come in all shapes and sizes and with the many different designs out there you will find one that fits your home decor. Along with the variety of sizes and designs, frames can be made from different materials such as timber, metal, acrylic, and if you want to go high-tech all the way, you can even get a digital photo frame which can display more than one photo in a sequence.

Besides being a great way of displaying art – metal, acrylic, and timber photo frames are themselves an art form. They are a very versatile piece of decor. You can place them in the living room, the bedroom, in the hallways. Eell, just about anywhere in the house as ornaments on side tables, shelves, chest of drawers, windowsills, or you can hang them on the wall and arrange them in any number and any way you find aesthetically pleasing.

All the different frame materials have different features, also the material plays a big role in determining how much the frame costs.

Metal frames obviously are the most durable. They can be manufactured in many different styles and with different finishes such as bronze, pewter, brass, chrome, sterling, aged metal and so on. You will surely find one that will perfectly fit your home.

Timber photo frames are my personal favourite. They can be made from just about any type of wood available, but what I like the best about them is that they can be easily engraved, stained, painted or adorned in different ways to suit all the individual tastes. Even if you use the raw textures of the natural material you will still get a very aesthetically pleasing look.

Plastic frames usually have a simple design, but they are light-weight which makes them suitable for being hung in areas that can’t support too much weight.

Home Decor & Garden

Step-by-Step Guide to Whimsey Wallpaper Designs For Kids

May 18, 2016 — by Valeriya Vimon

The room is a very special ingredient of childhood. It is the place where all the magic happens as it can be turned into a fortress, a restaurant, a hospital or a school and is crucial for a child’s well-being and proper development. What seems like play is more than fun and games because this is when learning happens. Since this is the place where your child will first get to know more about the surroundings, it is more than important to create a positive atmosphere.

Same as with any decorating and styling, this is another chance for you to get creative. While the first thing on your mind for furnishing the kids’ room will be choosing the adequate bed, table, chairs and wardrobe, you would be surprised to know how much of an impact walls have on the overall décor.

Along with setting the tone of the space, be it warm with choosing bright colours or more intimate with dark shades, the addition of a wallpaper can even have visual effects on the walls. In the case of narrow walls, hanging wallpapers with stripes can create visual elongation so the walls might seem taller and wider.

When it comes to choosing the right wallpaper for a kids’ room, since your kids spend most of their time in their corner, their opinion and ideas matter just as much as yours. Babies do not have much say in the decorating process, but once they are old enough to watch cartoons and pick favourite heroes and princesses, they should be involved in the styling. Since there are many varieties of wallpaper designs for kids you will come across, here are ideas that could be your guiding steps to help you find the ideal wallpapers for your kids’ room.

Colour Power

If you are not much into experimenting with patterns and are new to the wallpaper experience, you could go for a simple choice. In case you wonder how it would all turn out, you could first try having a wallpaper hanged on one wall instead of using it up for all surfaces. With the stereotypical pink and blue out of the trendy path, there are plenty of other colours you can choose from. Neutrals are getting more popularity over the years, and they are perfect for setting a soothing tone so you cannot go wrong by picking them. Along with this, they are also very easy to match your furniture with.

A Matter of Patterns

For the more creative personalities, any kind of pattern will do. The world of wallpaper designs for kids is so extensive that there is little left to the imagination. You will find from flowers, animals, shapes to numerical and alphabet patterns and this is where you might need some help from your kid on deciding which one to pick. When you pick a wallpaper such as What a Hoot Little Letters not only will it give the room a vibrant flavour, but your kids also have the chance to have fun learning the alphabet.

Dream Theme

When you want to give your kids the enchanting world of their dreams, your best bet will be themed wallpapers. Bonus points if you already know their favourite cartoon characters. No one can resist the charms of all the Disney stories so you will easily find Disney inspired wallpaper themes for your walls. The great thing about wallpapers nowadays is most of them are made from convenient washable materials, so you need not worry about having to waste endless amounts of money on wallpaper changes every time your kid’s drawing appears on the wall.

Home Decor & Garden

3 Steps to a Succesful Herbal Endeavor #1 Garden Planter Pots

May 17, 2016 — by Valeriya Vimon

It would be really nice to have a kitchen that’s connected with the backyard providing you a very easy access to your small herbal garden spot. I really envy those people that do have that luxury, since I live in an apartment on the high floors of a very tall building in Melbourne and all I can rely on is a balcony with a design pattern that simply doesn’t support a small garden instalment. And since I love cooking and love even more experimenting with cocktails, drinks and desserts, I often have to drive to the herbal market just to get the herbs I need. That’s OK, I can live with driving a few times a week just for that, but the fact that I need fresh herbs every day is just unbearable. So, I had to think of a way to get a small herbal garden spot in my kitchen.

All that small project of mine would’ve been impossible if I had to choose some of those old planters which are small, have a very weak round construction and were used by our grannies for planting flowers in them, which means mainly for decorative purposes. You can’t make a small herbal garden in such a small space. Having that in mind, I started searching for garden planter pots that will be of a suitable design suitable for an in-home use. And how lucky I was.

The planters

I found the cutest garden planter pots on the market; they’re large enough to hold more herbs and quite stylish: sleek lines, modern legs and fancy colours. Aside the appealing design, these planters come with the most convenient feature for busy women such as myself: they have a self-watering mechanism! To be honest, I was kind of sceptic about me taking care of plants with all my busy daily schedule. So you can only imagine my thrill when I learned about this feature. It’s actually a very innovative process: the planter has a water reservoir underneath the soil pot connected with it through a capillary web that transfers water. There’s also a mechanism that shows you just how much water is left and when you need to refill it. And that’s all. Ah, so lovely! I got about three of these planters and two smaller ones.

The choice of herbs and how to plant them

You can plant just about any herb you’d like in your garden planter pots as long as the conditions they’re going to grow in suit them. I mainly use 4 types of herbs that I need to have fresh all the time, so I decided to plant a quantity of them.

Basil – I love the aroma basil gives to soups and the morning smoothies I make with ice, lemon and water. Besides for cooking, I use basil for home-made face masks for anti-ageing treatments. It’s widely known that basil has a number of health benefits, and one of them is preventing wrinkles. Basil is best planted from seeds or from nursery seedlings, so if you want it already grown, visit a plant nursery.

Sage – a cup of sage tea in days with severe cold is a God’s blessing. But sage from a tea bag and fresh sage is definitely not the same thing. Plus, sage makes a wonderful decorative plant, so when it grows enough with it’s greyish leaves, you’d have a very fancy plant corner in your kitchen. To plant it you need seeds or as in the case of basil, you can use seedlings.

Mint – I think anyone who claims to be a cocktail master should have a planter with fresh mint in their home. A mojito without mint leaves simply doesn’t taste right. Besides famous cocktails, mint is often used for salad dressings, for desserts and other drinks. It’s so versatile in its use it would be a shame not to have it in the kitchen. It can be also planted from seedlings, and the important thing here is to give it full sunlight and regular water, which luckily is settled with my new planters.

Lavander – divine smell and huge ornamental value since its colour is just gorgeous. I want to have a whole planter with lavander so when it blooms that colour would easily become a focal point in my kitchen. It will so go along with the overall design. It’s fairly easy to plant it and maintain it in both planters and directly in the ground.

Once I got all the main elements for my kitchen herbal garden, I only needed to get the right soil type, the fertilizers and actually do the dirty work. All that turned out perfectly well, and now I have a perfect small herbal garden in the comfort of my kitchen – right where I need it.

Home Decor & Garden

Blinds: 3 Best Design Solutions For Large Windows

May 4, 2016 — by Richard Dawson

Years ago blinds were reserved for offices and curtains for homes. But times have changed and today it is quite normal to cover all of your home windows with blinds. There are a lot of reasons why people are more and more starting to choose blinds over curtains; blinds give you the ability to have a full control over the level of light in the room. This means you can adjust your blinds so that the light enters the room without you being affected by the glare of sunny rays. The second reason is the sophisticated look they give to the room. Blinds can be found in various materials, finishes and styles to suit every room giving it an up-to-date look. They are easy to clean, easy to use and quite durable. So, is there any reason not to choose blinds for your home? I don’t think so.If you think that finding the ideal blinds for your large windows is a mission impossible, you are very much mistaken. There are blinds suitable for all window sizes and shapes – all you need to do is measure the area you want to cover, choose your preferred style and make the purchase. Every type has its own unique beauty, but if you are looking for something that will be most suitable for your large sized windows, take a look at the following design solutions.

Panels

Panel blinds offer a more solid window coverage when compared to other types of blinds. They are the perfect choice for larger and longer-length windows giving the room a very stylish look while offering a high level of privacy. As their name suggests, panel blinds feature panels that are fixed on a track on which panels stack behind each other every time you open the blind. They are made from different materials but the most common ones are panels made of bamboo or wood. As their width and length varies, you can purchase panel blinds that will suit your individual needs, taking into account your personal requirements for privacy and light.

Shutters

If you live in a beach area where the climate is warm, maybe shutters are the best choice for you. They have been used for decades but they are still considered a very popular option of window covering, not just for homes but for business offices as well. They offer a high level of flexibility allowing the light and air to enter the room while maintaining a sense of security and privacy. Shutters will make your living area cooler as they provide a significant amount of shade. They are both functional and stylish at the same time and the wide array of materials they come in makes them suitable for any home décor. The most common type are shutters made of wood but those made of poly are also a popular choice nowadays. They offer the beauty of wood, are very easy to clean and durable. Other commonly used materials are MDF and vinyl.

Sheers

These are the type of blinds that delicately and softly diffuse the light during the day while still offering some level of privacy. They provide a beautiful window frame without blocking the light which makes them a great choice for rooms where you want the natural light to flow freely. Coming in different materials, colours and designs, sheers fit in great in different décors. Every room in your home has a different purpose, so when you are looking for sheers make sure you choose ones that will fit the style and design of a given room.

Home Decor & Garden

Choosing Garden Gloves: Steps to Consider

April 26, 2016 — by Valeriya Vimon

Quality gloves are one of the most important accessories when it comes to gardening gear. Your hands can easily get damaged from working with soil and different gardening tools like shovels or rakes. Also, sun exposure can also take its toll on the hands skin of gardeners, leaving it dry and full of spots. But that’s not even close to a reason to stop with your beloved fun activity – garden gloves were designed specially for this matter – to protect your hands and make gardening easier and much more enjoyable.

Comfort and high-quality materials are just some of the features you should look for in a quality pair of garden gloves. They should also provide you with a good grip and be the right size for your hands. Loose gloves will easily slide up and down preventing you to work normally with the gardening tools and will not provide good protection from dirt, stones and other outer influences. Small gloves on the other hand, will cause blisters and make any hand movement difficult. That is why it is very important to choose garden gloves that will fit your hands perfectly. Furthermore, look for a model that is waterproof and has highly absorbent features; this will prevent your hands (especially the fingers) from getting wrinkles from longer exposure to water and moisture.

There are various options available particularly online with a wade range of designs and styles made of different materials. Here are some of the most commonly used garden gloves with their specific features and uses.

Cotton gloves – these are designed for light gardening since the can get easily ruined from the soil. They are perfect for picking up flowers or fruits, as well as for trimming. They have advanced breathable features and protect your hands from thorns, sharp leaves and unsightly blisters.

Bamboo gloves – this material has antibacterial and hypoallergenic features. It is soft and breathable making the gloves both comfortable and durable. This type is also very flexible and practical providing a perfect fit while keeping your hands cool at the same time.

Rubber gloves – watering your plants is a piece of cake with rubber gloves. They provide great amount of protection for your hands and fit tight. Flexibility and efficiency are some of their key features.

Leather gloves – these garden gloves offer maximum protection and are specifically designed to provide comfort during heavy duty tasks. Leather gloves keep your hands safe from any potential wounds, cuts and any other kind of damage.

Nitrile gloves – manufactured from a knit fabric which is afterwards dipped in a waterproof material like nitrile or polyurethane, these gloves are very comfortable and practical. Their specifically designed palm and fingerprints offer amazing grip for your slippery gardening accessories.

Home Decor & Garden

With Revolutionary Steps to a Shiny Home: Benefits of Robotic Dusting Mop

April 22, 2016 — by Valeriya Vimon

Whether we realize it or not, we spend a considerable amount of our lives cleaning. Sometimes you may clean one day only to find your home dirty again the next day as if it has not been cleaned in weeks; other times there might be certain situations or people creating extra work. Great news is that the simplified futuristic life-depicted in The Jetsons is already here in most aspects, especially when it comes to cleaning. Thanks to the invention of electric cleaning (Rosie-like), you no longer have to waste your precious time and energy on the most annoying task – vacuuming.

The essence of household chores has changed a lot since the introduction of the electric robotic vacuum cleaners. Their sleek design, advanced technology and ease of use makes these practical robots the best electric cleaning solution. Small and cute as a button, electric mops are a great choice for many households or anyone who is fed up of cleaning. All you need to do is press the clean button and this little wonder works, it is at your disposal for vacuuming floors whenever you need it. There are many benefits of owning this dusting mop and here are a few of them.

Time-Saving

Although small, robotic dusting mops are very powerful and can save you a lot of time when cleaning. You will no longer have to wish the day had more hours and beat yourself in order to squeeze vacuuming in your busy daily schedule. Instead, you will find yourself having more time that you can use for family bonding.

All Types Of Floors

Another great benefit of owning a robotic mop is that it can clean different types of floors. Be it parquet, tiles, vinyl, laminate or floor boards, this handy tool will clean your home in no time. Electric cleaning rids you of the vacuuming responsibility entirely. The Virobi robotic dusting mop with its self-rotation power and flexible base is ideal for reaching corners.

Rechargeable Batteries

If you clean more often and your worry is energy consumption, fret not. Once finished (or when low on battery) the robotic mop is designed to go back to the docking station to recharge so you do not have to spend money on new batteries.

Dirt-Detecting Sensors

Thanks to its sensor, the robotic dusting mop can detect and clean any dirt, be it on a large or small surface area. What’s more, if there is more dirt accumulated on a specific area, the robot will do more cleaning there. From hair to dust and paper, the robotic mop can clean it all.

Cleaning Program

The best thing about robotic mops is you can set them to cleaning mode even when you are not at home. No more surprises when unexpected guests knock on your door. No more guilt about not being able to vacuum frequently. Just set the time and leave the job in the “hands” of this little buddy.

Hard-To-Reach Spaces

Its compact design, small size and suction power makes this device the ideal tool for cleaning underneath beds, sofas, chairs and other furniture.

Home Decor & Garden

3 Benefits of Kitchen Compost Bins

April 21, 2016 — by Richard Dawson

As gardening can be a pastime many people are passionate about, to make the most of it a lot of dedication and care are required to ensure proper growth of the plants. Gardening is in a way very similar to taking care of pets because you will have to provide all the necessary conditions that your plant needs. Since contemporary produce differs from that of previous centuries, especially now when so much accent is put on industry and the role of chemical solutions in protecting plants and speeding up their growth, it is no surprise people are turning to growing their own food.

Furniture Home Decor & Garden

3 Pieces of Advice on Choosing The Right Lounge Suite For Your Space

April 20, 2016 — by Valeriya Vimon

Oh the beauty of laying in your large sofa in a perfectly designed living room with the perfect lighting in the middle of flowery, sunny spring! Add to that scenery a chillax music and a refreshing cocktail, and all of a sudden you no longer want to go out and party hard in clubs. And why would you, when you can invite your friends over and be the bartender genius you always wanted to be – mixing and shaking liquids. And while there, here’s the opportunity for you to brag with how well your living room looks; accent on the cosy, extra fancy-looking, high-quality lounge suite.

You may wonder why the accent is on the lounge suite; well, it is a large style element of every living room, an investment you should carefully make because ultimately, this furniture will be in your room for at least 7 years or more. And not to talk about how much it influences the style and design of the entire room: decorations, colours and other elements will all have to fit accordingly. So, how do you make the right choice when faced with the vast offer of lounge suites?

Furniture Home Decor & Garden

Ways To Choose The Ideal Sofa Bed (For Sitting, Napping and Sleeping)

March 31, 2016 — by Richard Dawson

A sofa bed can look great and feel great too. It doesn’t take up as much room and it can easily serve as a place to put guests when they’re staying over. So how do you know what to look for? The task of picking out new furniture can be a bit daunting, so we’re going to go over all the things you should look for when picking out a sofa bed at the next sofa bed sale. Hopefully, after reading these tips and tricks you’ll feel more confident in picking the ideal sofa bed for you.

The first thing you need to decide on, is the size. You should do this by first measuring the spot you want the sofa bed to go. This way you can make sure you choose something that isn’t too small or too big. There are four standard sizes:

Chair 130 – 147cm
Twin 147 – 165 cm
Full 172 – 233 cm
Queen 200 – 256 cm

Another thing you should make sure of before purchasing, is whether it will fit through your door. You should make sure to measure your door frame as well as seeing whether you can pull the sofa bed apart if needed. Check to see if the legs or bottom of the sofa bed is removable to make moving it easier.The next thing you should be looking at, is the frame and the type of mattress. There really isn’t a lot to say about the frame as most manufacturers make them the same. There is hardly any differences between them – most consist of a metal frame that has coils around the edges which hold the canvas decking in place. Most sofa beds also have some sort of bar that goes underneath the mattress, these tend to curve slightly away from the body making them a little more comfortable to sleep on.

The next thing you should be looking at, is the frame and the type of mattress. There really isn’t a lot to say about the frame as most manufacturers make them the same. There is hardly any differences between them – most consist of a metal frame that has coils around the edges which hold the canvas decking in place. Most sofa beds also have some sort of bar that goes underneath the mattress, these tend to curve slightly away from the body making them a little more comfortable to sleep on.

There are three popular types of mattresses that most sofa beds come with and that is the innerspring mattress, memory foam mattress and air coil mattress. The innerspring mattress has coils inside it and usually, the more coils they, have the better. The average is around 345, anything higher than that, the more comfortable it will be. The memory foam mattress has no coils and is designed to fit your body perfectly (once you relax and sink into it); they are quite comfortable as well. An air coil mattress is pretty similar to an innerspring mattress, the difference between them being is that they are built with an air mattress on top.

Last but not least, also make sure to test it out! This is something that some people feel embarrassed to do, you shouldn’t feel like this at all. It is a big investment so you want to make sure that you test it before you commit to buying something you might not like. Make sure you lie down on the sofa bed and try a couple of different sleeping positions out to get the right feel. Make sure that you test how it opens and closes, test it while it is in the sitting and laying position so you really know what you are getting. Take your time and really look around before you commit to buying anything, there are so many places that sell sofa beds, if you look around you might even find a sofa bed sale.

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