Archive for February, 2010

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Improve Your Home Decor With Wool Area Rugs

February 25th, 2010

Most people change their home decor every few years to keep it looking new and fresh. There are many ways to change the look of your room without spending an extravagant amount of money. Changing the area rug in a room can be that small change that you need for a small budget.

Choosing a wool area rug

The spot you have in mind for placing the wool rug has to be determined before buying the rug. Some rugs are susceptible to fade in sunlight. If the spot receives direct sunlight, then you may have to buy a rug that does not fade under sunlight.

Keep quality in mind. Wool rugs are available in all price ranges, however, are not all 100 per cent wool. Area rugs that have 100 per cent wool content are rich in texture and strength. Those made in Middle Eastern regions are famed for their quality and designs. Nain, Kashan and Isfahan are some of the popular Middle Eastern rugs sought all over the world by decorators.

Room size plays a role in the size of rug that you purchase. Do not purchase one that fits wall to wall. Use your judgment but keep a good amount of floor showing on all sides. Any retailer can help you determine the right shape and size for your room.

At the store, enquire the face weight of the wool rugs you have chosen. The number denotes the amount of wool the area rug contains and will give you more information about its quality and ability to withstand wear and tear. Fortunately, most wool area rugs are resistant to fire and stain, which is perfect for high traffic homes.

Maintaining a wool rug

Wool area rugs are highly durable and ideal for homes with children and pets. Follow these simple steps to clean the rug:

  • Vacuum both sides of it
  • Use stain remover to take out the remnants of various accidental spills
  • Place the rug in a clean spot outside the house and wet it with a garden hose.
  • Use a sponge or mop and gently apply suds on the surface
  • Rinse thoroughly and roll it up in dry towels to wring off the remaining water.

Wet rugs are usually heavy, so it is ideal to lay it out flat to dry. But do not leave it under direct sunlight for a long time as it can cause the rug to shrink or its color to fade

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Eco Friendly Furniture – Green Bathroom Remodeling

February 10th, 2010

Bathroom remodeling appears to be one of the most well liked home remodeling projects today. Remodel projects can go from total demolition and remodel all the way to changing out a few decorative items. No matter what you choose to do, it does not have to be a difficult or expensive process. What’s really exciting about remodeling today is that you have a number of eco friendly furniture and home decor remodeling options.

Once you have determined the budget for your project, move on to measuring the space. Keep those measurements with you while you shop. For eco friendly decorative items, like bathroom vanities, you will want to do your shopping online. That is where you will find the largest selection of eco furniture. You’ll also find good retailers that are willing to help you to ensure that you are finding top quality eco products.

Once your new floor plan, concept, and needed tools and equipment are established you may begin the actual remodeling process. Make sure you review all of your design concepts with your contractor, if you’re hiring one, prior to starting the remodeling project to ascertain everything will be accomplished the way you want it.

People utilize and waste more water in the bathroom than any other area in the home. Throw in all that water utilization with shampoos and soaps and the power employed to heat the water, and your bathroom could be causing a lot of harm to the environment. Fortunately, this doesn’t have to be the case.

To be more eco-friendly when working on a bathroom remodeling project, use energy-efficient light bulbs. Fluorescent bulbs are 90 percent more efficient compared to incandescent lighting. The most ideal lighting for a bathroom is lighting that is bright enough to perform your daily bathroom tasks such as applying makeup or shaving without any trouble, but gentle enough to look pleasant while you do it. Select bright white power-saving bulbs, and emulsify the light by placing them behind frosted glass or situating them at eye level on either side of the mirror.

Another thing you can do to be more eco-friendly is to have dual-flush toilets. The majority of toilets sold today utilize around 7 or 8 liters of water per flush. Older toilets utilize 10 to 12 liters. Similarly, employ a low-flow showerhead or air shower. A regular showerhead dispenses 25 liters of water per minute. On the other hand, a low-flow showerhead dispenses just 6 to 15. Replacing old fixtures, such as leaky faucets can help too.

Bathroom decor need not be expensive or damaging to the environment. Try recycled materials like reclaimed glass tiles. Glass is entirely water-resistant, making it an ideal option for bathroom flooring, walls and countertops. This is just a sampling of the many ways that you can make over your home to be more eco friendly.

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How To Decorating For Small Living Spaces

February 10th, 2010

If you live in a small home, an apartment, or a home that has some small rooms, you might think it’s difficult to furnish it. Not everyone is lucky enough to have a home that is open and spacious. While choosing furniture and accessories for small rooms can be overwhelming, there are some ways that you can even make those small spaces seem larger.

Unless you can knock out a wall, there’s nothing you can do about the size of your rooms. However, there are ways that you can take full advantage of the space you do have. By choosing the right furnishings, you can give a small room the appearance of being much larger than it really is.

The first step is to reduce clutter in your home. Chances are if you have a small living space, you probably don’t have a lot of closet or shelf space. You can add a lot of storage space by choosing pieces that serve a dual purpose. Choose ottomans that have storage, a bed that has shelves underneath,or a coffee table that has storage space underneath.

The most important thing you can do before shopping for furniture is to measure. Make sure that you write down all the dimensions of the room and check the size of the furniture before you purchase it. While it might be nice to have the love seat that goes with the couch and chair, if it’s going to make the room to crowded, don’t buy it.

Creating open spaces gives the illusion of bigger spaces. Tables that have glass, or metal pieces that let light pass through will make the room look larger. Another easy way to add the look of space is with the use of mirrors. The reflection of light makes the mind think the room is bigger, so try to avoid placing tall furniture pieces in front of windows.

Often, people choose small furniture for small rooms. A lot of small pieces can actually make the room look more cluttered. Using several medium sized pieces will give the room a more spacious feel. You can even make the room look larger by using several shades of one color instead of using a lot of different colors.

Nesting tables are an excellent choice for small spaces. The tables can be set out when they’re needed and stacked when they’re not in use. The color of your walls has a big effect on how spacious the room looks, light colors give a open, airy effect. Limit large patterns to accessory items such as pillows.

No matter which room your furnishing, only use pieces of furniture that you really need. Avoid large, heavy pieces of furniture that will make the room seem like it’s even smaller. Instead choose well balanced pieces that are low to the floor and have legs so that you can store stuff underneath them. You’ll be amazed at how big your small room will look if you follow these simple tips.

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