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Going Green: Renovations That Won’t Cost the Earth

Must it always be a choice between what you want and what’s good for you? Being environmentally-conscious can be hard sometimes, but it doesn’t have to come down to living with a home that is aesthetically shocking. By using sustainable materials and smart energy-saving techniques, you can effectively spruce up your home and lessen the environmental impact it has on the earth.

Outside the Home

The key here is insulation. By properly insulating your house, you can greatly reduce your energy requirements, which helps to save you money as well as reducing your carbon footprint. Obviously the optimum solution is to hire an energy expert when you’re designing your home so you can install the correct level of building shell insulation, but if your property has already been built you can still talk to the experts to find out what can be applied.

There are multitudes of energy-saving options and many of them are also eco-friendly, involving long-wearing or natural materials being installed in your house. Cool roofs, double-glazed windows, and radiant barriers can all reduce solar heat transfer, while double-glazed windows, partitioned rooms and sealed doors will help to keep a house warm in colder climates.

Inside the Home

It’s natural to be a little apprehensive about applying sustainable principles to your home. After all, green is great, but not if the chair collapses underneath you! It might reassure you to know that sustainable materials can be some of the most durable and hard-wearing substances in the world. They’re also much more inclined to feel natural and lend elegance to the room.

One of the quickest ways to change the feel of a room is to change your window dressing. The correct form of blinds or curtains can assist with energy-saving measures, and there’s a large range of colours and materials available so you can brighten even the dullest of rooms.

Great materials to think about include natural wood, bamboo, marble and stone. Your floor and furniture should be the right mix of durable and recyclable and if possible, you should think about purchasing your pieces second-hand. There’s a great community of interior designers out there who love to adapt recycled materials like old tyres and whiskey barrels into quirky furnishings.

You might also consider purchasing modular furniture, that is, furniture which can be transformed by moving parts and used for more than one purpose. There are incredible designs that function as couches, beds, bookshelves, ottomans, tables and more – all with the one set. Purchasing this kind of furniture means you reduce the overall number of pieces you require. Combine this with buying modular furniture made of 100% recycled and recyclable material and you’re onto an eco-friendly winner!

Finally, when you’re thinking about interior accessories, you should consider the fact that these will be discarded more readily and more often than furniture. Invest in one or two pieces made from a strong material like marble or stone, and the rest can be comprised of materials like clay vases, wicker, river rocks and branches. Get creative and lend a touch of the wilderness to your living room!

Kate Lee is a freelance writer who specialises in environmentally-friendly solutions for the home. In her spare time, she writes for Susan-Hopkins.com as well as various renovation websites.

Top Ways To Display Your Photographs Around The Home

by Trish

Photographs are some of the most personal items we can use to decorate the home, and are a completely unique decoration that can help to show visitors who we are and what’s important to us as well. No home then is really complete without a few photographs then, but this doesn’t have to mean just putting images into square frames – there are many ways to display photography that are more creative and more interesting and that will provide a more interactive or creative look. Here we will look at some of them.

Creative Photo Frames

Of course manufacturers and designers realise the demand for more creative and interesting photo frames which is why it’s possible to find all kinds of more interesting ways to display your pictures. These include photo frames that allow you to decide images on the sides of a cube (which can then be rotated), that show your images in tiered layers, or that allow the images to hang and sway.

If you want to get really creative with your photo frames, then you can even get more creative still and start making your own. There are a vast number of ways you can do this from working with wood and other materials to carve them into the shapes you need, to using 3D modelling and 3D printing to have complex designs created for you on demand.

Collages

The only downside of using photo frames is that they aren’t particularly efficient in term of the amount of space they take up and the number of pictures they allow you to display. If you really want to display a large number of pictures then one of the best ways to do so is by creating a collage whereby you can cut out multiple different images and then put them together by tying together a theme or just using a layout that will look great.

Embedding Them in Other Items

You can also use all kinds of other things as photo frames without that being the main purpose. For instance a placemat can easily make a great photo frame as can a coaster – and you can buy ones online that are specifically designed for this purpose. Alternatively clock faces, bottled drinks and even mouse mats can also provide great canvases for your photos.

Canvases

If you have a particular image that you are especially proud of and you want to display well, then using canvases and mounting them is a great way to turn your memories into works of art. If you want to really make this look artistic meanwhile, then you can use this strategy with a series of similar side by side images that show movement, or by splitting one image across three or more thin canvases.

Using the Computer

Digital technology also allows for many more ways to display photos in unique and interesting ways. Of course photos make great backgrounds for computers, phones, tablets and other devices, but you can also buy specific digital photo frames that will enable you to have a slideshow of images you like rather than having to choose just one to display. Using the computer it’s also possible to edit your pictures using photo editing software and to this way make them look more stylish and more suited to the room they’re going to be used in.

Matthew Davison is a successful interior decorator who also maintains the website GrantElevators.com.au.

Turn Your House Into A Home By Making It As Comfortable As Possible To Live In

by Trish

Sometimes it feels like you’ve been living in your house for years and it’s never felt like a home. From the moment you unpacked the boxes and found your belongings somewhere new to stay, there was just something different about the way you felt. In your old home you would feel more relaxed than anywhere on earth. Times have changed and even though you can relax it’s just missing that spark. It’s not uncommon for that to happen to a huge percentage of people who move house. For some people, everything falls into place. For some it doesn’t.

It doesn’t always have to be like this. Your new house will never be the same as your old place and you shouldn’t try to force it. Instead you should look around and see what changes you can make that will turn the new place into somewhere you can love. There’s 3 main places you should start. The 3 places where you should feel more comfortable than anywhere else. The bedroom, living room and the bathroom. We can take a look at some things you can do to each of them to turn your house into a home.

You should look forward to bedtime

For some reason that’s unknown, people are prepared to spend their whole life sleeping on an uncomfortable mattress just so they can save themselves a little money. Think about how much time you spend in your bed. Unless you have insomnia it will be more than any other place in the world. 7-8 hours per night is a lot of time. That’s why you should buy the best mattress you can possibly afford. This won’t seem like a terrible idea after the first night you lie down. You won’t want to get up.

It’s the same with sheets and pillows. Have you even thought about buying new ones? Even if you were to spend a lot of money on expensive sheets it still wouldn’t come close to the amount you spend on crap. If you skip a few cinema nights you will have the money to buy silk sheets. The kind that makes you feel like heaven when they touch your skin. And you want pillows that instantly relax you as soon as your head hits them. You won’t regret it.

Living rooms should be luxurious

It’s the same idea with your living room furniture. You can pick up a nice couch for cheap, but if you spend a few extra hundred dollars you could have something that is a pleasure to sit on. The kind that makes you fall asleep when you’re watching TV. You’ll probably have the same one for a good few years. Wouldn’t it be great if you spent a bit more money on the best one you could afford?

Who cares about a nice little hardwood cabinet to keep your ornaments on? You don’t sit on that. Just buy a cheap one and spend the extra money on what you will really get the use out of. It’s nice to have a living room that looks beautiful, but you don’t want to sacrifice your comfort for a nice bookshelf. Spend that little bit extra on curtains that don’t let any light in. When you close them and settle down to watch TV it’s a lot easier to get cozy.

A bathroom is not for going to the toilet

Yeah, you go to the bathroom to use the toilet, but then you close the door and don’t bother going back in again. It’s easy to turn the bathroom into somewhere you’ll love. Firstly, it depends if you use a bath or shower to wash. If you use a shower you should have a lovely powerful one that could potentially rip your skin off when the water touches it. It feels so much better. I mean a powerful shower; not when you’re skin gets ripped off.

And if you use a bathtub it should be one that you can sink right into. A big deep one like the ones you see in 5-star hotels. They don’t cost 10x the price. Not if you look for a good deal, but it’s somewhere you can relax to your hearts content. If you love using the hot-tub when you go to a health club, you have to ask yourself why you don’t have a bathtub with a jet stream built in. Always aim for maximum comfort before anything else.

Christina Appleworth is an expert interior designer who suggests the liberal use of web blinds for home improvement purposes.

Luxury Mattress and Bedding Sets to Pamper Your Inner Diva

by Trish

Who doesn’t want to stay even for just a night at a spa hotel, right? The luxurious room and the equally luxurious mattress and beddings are enough to make you want to extend your stay. They’re also probably enough to make you feel pampered as you fall asleep at night.

If you want to experience the same luxury at home, then why not start by looking for a luxury mattress? In addition to this, you also have to look for the perfect bedding sets to complement your expensive mattress.

Tips in Choosing Luxury Mattress

There are so many factors that you need to consider if you’re after a luxury mattress. For one, you have to consider the size of the mattress. If you want a comfortable and restful sleep at night, then be sure that the mattress can easily accommodate you and your bed partner with lots of space to spare. You don’t want to fight for bed space in the middle of the night, nor do you want to sleep curled up in an uncomfortable position just so you fit the mattress.

In addition to mattress size, you also have to consider the brand of the mattress. Always purchase mattresses made by trusted and reputable brands. Yes, they may be more expensive than common non-branded ones, but if you consider the materials used, the durability, and the technology that came with its production, you will find that it is worth your money and more.

It’s very important that you choose a luxury mattress that not only provides you comfort but also supports your neck and back properly. The higher the coil count, the more expensive and luxurious the mattress is, but the better comfort and support it will also give you. Also, it’s advisable that you choose mattresses with a thick but firm padding.

Tips in Choosing Luxurious Bedding Sets

When it comes to choosing luxurious bedding sets, be mindful of the thread count. As a general rule, the higher the thread count of the bedding set, the more luxurious it is. However, the more luxurious the bedding set is, the more expensive it becomes. If you’re after comfort and durability though, then go for those with a higher thread count.

Much like you would choose a luxury mattress, you should also take into consideration the brand of the bedding sets. Branded bedding sets are made from expensive fabric, so you can be assured that it will always give you a luxurious and restful sleep at night. Fabrics to choose include cotton, silk, as well as sateen. For warmth, go for fabrics such as wool as well as flannel.

Finally, choose the right size of bedding sets for your mattress and pillows. It will be a waste of good money to purchase bedding sets that won’t fit your mattress and pillows.

Luxurious mattress and pillows covered in equally luxurious bedding sets will always make you feel pampered. Because these can be pretty expensive, you have to know how to take care of them properly, so always use the right products when cleaning and washing them. See to it that you store the bedding sets properly so they won’t get easily damaged.

Jennifer Dahlman writes for http://www.ParklaneMattresses.com, a trusted and reputable provider of luxury mattresses. If you want to learn more about mattresses, be sure to give their site a visit.

Five Feng Shui Techniques That Will Help The Energy Flow In Your Home

by Trish

The art of feng shui is a way of decorating as to bring positive feelings and joy into a home. When you fung shui your home a person can find health and prosperity. Feng shui can be used in a variety of environments from office building to homes. The following feng shui home techniques will help you to enjoy your home more.

There are five ways that you can fung shui your home.

Clear Clutter: The first step is to clear the clutter, this means removing everything from the house that is not wanted. This can be done by organizing and then discarding the unwanted items. This is one of the most important steps and is a must.
Change Colors: The second step is to change the colors; this can be done by applying a coat of paint. Color is important when it comes to fung shui your home. There are five elements of color Fire, Earth, Metal, Water and Wood. The colors of fire can be seen in Red, Orange, Purple, Pink, and Strong Yellow. The colors of Earth are seen with Light Yellow and Beige and other Earth or Sand colors. Metal is the third color in the feng shui home technique with the colors of Gray and White. Fourth feng shui home technique color is water which is found in Blue and Black. The final color in fung shui is Wood featured in the colors Brown and Green.
Organize the Room: The third step is to organize the bedroom to allow for positive airflow by ensuring that your feet do not face the door when lying on the bed. The bedroom must also have an equal number of items beside the bed.
Close the Lid: The bathroom is the fourth way can be accomplished by closing the lid on the toilet and the door closed is a way to keep the good luck from going down the drain.
Clawfoot Bathtubs: The fifth way to fung shui your home is in the bathroom by adding clawfoot bathtubs. The clawfoot bathtubs which feature round corners can add a balanced flow.

A person can find that using these feng shui home techniques will help fung shui your home. A happier, healthier and more prosperous home can be achieved when using these tips. The addition of clawfoot bathtubs to your home will help with the flow of energy in the bathroom.

Lila is home decor specialist and blogger. For more information about improving your home please visit simplybathtubs.com

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