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When it comes to decorating, small spaces can be a bit of a challenge. Designing a comfy looking environment without cramping what little space is available takes an extra dose of creativity.

Let’s start with the walls. Light walls are more reflective than dark and will also help to open up the room. They don’t have to be stark white; you can select pale, soothing colors, such as light mint, soft peace, or cream beige. Paint moldings and trims in a lighter, coordinating color. This is another effective way to make the room appear larger than it really is.

Don’t be worried that the room will look too bland. Rely on furniture, pictures, curtains, and accessory choices to warm and brighten the room.

Soft, even lighting will eliminate shadows, which tends to make rooms look smaller. Incandescent lighting is a good choice. Avoid using ceiling lighting, because this will make the ceiling appear lower.

Another trick of the trade to use when decorating a small living room is to select smaller, more compact styles of furniture. Over-stuffed chairs and cumbersome hutches are unwise choices.

A love seat with exposed legs, a few side chairs, and a small round or oval glass top coffee table are much more practical than a bulky, regular-sized sofa with matching love seat, and a large, solid wood coffee table.

When it comes to small room decor, large patterns should be left to accessories, not furnishings. A light, solid color love seat with large print throw pillows, for instance, is much more attractive than a sofa with big, floral print.

In the family room, inflatable sofas and love seats, or bean bag chairs are fun, colorful and handy. Bean bag chairs can easily be stacked. Inflatable items deflated and stored when extra space is needed; as dancing space at parties, for tree decorating at Christmas time. Both can easily be transported from one room to another for additional seating when extended family and visitors stop by.

When arranging furniture, select low pieces for placement near the room’s entry. Taller furnishings should be placed at the end of the room opposite the entry, to keep the eye level unobstructed.

Create a conversation area by placing conventional or bean bag chairs turned slightly inward, on each side of the love seat. Even if the room is carpeted, the addition of an area rug with colors that blend in with the room’s color scheme will help to set the area apart, and make it feel more cozy and inviting.

When arranging furniture, always be aware of traffic patterns. Traffic should flow uninterrupted throughout the room.

Less is more when it comes to making a smaller room look larger, so go easy on accessories. Those used should have reflective surfaces. This will help create the illusion of more space. Inflatable pillows add bright color as well as a shiny, reflective surface. Several in contrasting colors can add a nice touch.

Mirrors are also great when it comes to an effective, low-cost way to reflect light and create the illusion of more space. A mirror placed on a wall facing the entrance will really open the room up. A large oval mirror is especially attractive for this purpose; select one with a frame that will compliment the rest of the decor.

Last but not least, use plants, mirrors, and vases to fill in the spaces and bring balance to the room. Now light a scented candle, sit back in a chair, look around, and compliment yourself on a job well done!

Joshua Rogers - Interior Decorator/Author HotBeanBags.com

[tags]decorate, small, room, decor, furniture, tips[/tags]

It’s a fact that most of us will be spending a third of our lives in our bedrooms. We start the day inside the bedroom, and we will end the day sleeping in our beds. Why not make the most of it and make our bedroom furniture as comfortable and durable as we can.

Shopping for decent bedroom furniture can really become a difficult and expensive task. By knowing what and how to choose for your bedroom, shopping can turn out to be really fun and entertaining.

It is highly advised not to sacrifice quality for affordability. However, that case may be that you cannot sacrifice affordability. Therefore, you must set standards when you’re shopping for your bedroom furniture. Be wise in choosing your furniture; you don?t want to clean out your savings account just for a couple of pieces of bedroom furniture. Be warned that there are plenty of furniture manufacturers out there who will easily convince you to buy a very expensive, but not so durable piece of furniture.

It is important to remember that in choosing bedroom furniture you must take into consideration good craftsmanship. Because of the fact that bedroom furniture will be used more often than any other household furniture, it is only practical to buy furniture with the highest craftsmanship to ensure durability. By doing so, you will be able to save money on repairs or buying a new set.

In looking for bedroom furniture, remember that you can find both good quality furniture and bad quality furniture being sold under the same roof. It is highly advised that you inspect every piece closely to ensure that both good craftsmanship and quality materials are used. Quality materials go hand in hand with good craftsmanship in making lasting furniture.

Remember, you’ll be spending a third of your life using bedroom furniture, so it’s advisable that wherever you decide to buy your bedroom furniture, make sure that it is of the highest quality and craftsmanship.

Furniture provides detailed information on Furniture, Bedroom Furniture, Patio Furniture, Office Furniture and more. Furniture is affiliated with Office Computer Furniture.

[tags]Bedroom Furniture[/tags]

When it comes time to clean your upholstery, there are a few questions you must ask yourself.

(1) Is it worth the money or should I just replace it?

(2) If it is worth keeping how much is too much to pay?

(3) Does it need more than the average cleaning, or does it need a restoration clean.

(4) Is it really worth the cost of a restoration clean and will it really look new again?

Now that you have asked the questions let me answer them for you and give you some examples.

(Q) Is it really worth the money to clean it?

(A) That really depends on your personal value of the upholstery in question. The average sofa for example is fairly inexpensive to clean. The average cost for a synthetic blend sofa is around $65.00-$100.00 depending on rather you have few pillows or lots.

(Q) How much is too much to pay?

(A) That also depends on your personal value of the upholstery. You should always beware of low cost ads for cheap upholstery cleaning. If you call and schedule you have opened the door to a lengthy sales pitch as to why your upholstery will cost 5 times more than the advertised price. Trust in the ads that are honest about price and service such as no hidden charges. The best thing to do when choosing a company is to get more than one bid and compare service and expertise maybe even references. Remember you may be better off spending more money for better results.

(Q) Average clean or restoration clean?

(A) The average clean will usually work fine in most cases with darker fibers. When dealing with light and almost always with white you can expect a restoration clean. The difference is that white upholstery requires more time cleaning, more high-end solutions, and some times all together different technique. White upholstery is very temper mental and needs a lot of extra attention while cleaning and any good technician will stick around for a bit to make sure that it is drying correctly.

(Q) Is it really worth the cost of a restoration clean?

(A) I had a customer that wanted an antique white sofa cleaned. She called all the big companies in her area, One company told her no way he would touch it. Another told her $1800.00, another told her $300.00 and not responsible for damages but if she was not happy after it dried then there would be no charge. He also gave 2 references for similar jobs and insisted on her calling and to sleep on it. That was I, and she did call back and she was happy.

The main thing that you should be aware of is that it is pretty hard to screw up a dark colored synthetic blend sofa, but in the wrong hands your white Haitian Cotton love seat can be destroyed in an instant. That is when you must really decide between any company and one who specializes in fine furniture.

Tony Moore

To find out more about upholstery cleaning techniques or to contact me with questions please do so at
http://www.dallascarpetcleaning.biz/dallasfortworthupholsterycleaning.html

[tags]upholstery,clean upholstery,couch,sofa,dirty upholstery,antique furniture,upholstery restoration,[/tags]

Have you ever considered using Glass block draw light into your home? Many years ago, glass block was used in factory buildings and basements to allow light flowing into the area but still provided some security and privacy.

Glass block has been used in showers and windows for bathrooms in higher priced housing. Home owners are only limited by their imagination when considering this durable material.

I’ve seen glass block used to create furniture such as desks and tables. Other suggestions for its use are for kitchen counters and divider walls. Since the blocks are not opaque, they blur and dim images while still allowing the flow of light.

Glass has many additional benefits - durability and resistance to weather.
Glass block is sealed with mortar on the exterior of your home. Since it is sealed this way, you eliminate leaks that allow outside air to enter your home. This in itself will help reduce your utilities. Glass block reflects light by refracting rays around the room. Glass alone allows light to pour into a room and perhaps fade carpets and furniture.

If you are interested in using this material, check out the material with a professional. Installing this product requires knowledge and experience. I’m planning to use glass block to enhance my home design and interior lighting.

Nancy Woodward is a Real Estate Agent with an interest in design and lighting. Carpet HomeLighting

[tags]glass,glassblock,home lighting, Home Lighting[/tags]

There is no comparison to ergonomic chairs if you are someone having to sit all day at a desk typing away on a computer. I mean really! If you do sit at a desk all day then you will understand where I’m coming from. At the end of the day you can have a sore back, legs, shoulders, bottom and so on, let alone the headache you get from trying to concentrate when being uncomfortable. Ergonomic chairs are the best way to go if you want to keep your job while still having a workable body at the end of it.

If you are an employer who relys on his employees to help keep your business going then you too should be investing in ergonomic chairs for your staff. Think of all the saved time and expense of work cover. You will cut out the amount of time that your employee will be off work with back and other related injuries. You will get more out of your employees as well because they will be more comfortable while sitting at their desk.

There are many styles of ergonomic chairs available to suit every home and office. These chairs offer versatility such as adjustible back depth and seat height along with other features such as seat pan angling, chair recline or tilt, and not to forget the all important lumbar support and much much more. These are very valuable and important features that everyone should have when working all day at a desk.

Ergonomic chairs are very easy to find especially online where there are many reputable companies that manufacture them. You can find them in varying colors and materials to suit your home or office decor. If you are a company you may wish to buy in bulk saving you lots of money. But even if you only want to buy one you will be surprised at how cheap you may find them because there is always discount offers when shopping online.

Susan Dean is the webmaster and publisher of
http://www.discount-chairs.com Visit her site for a huge range of discount office chairs.

[tags]chairs, chair, office chairs, massage chair, chair rental,furniture[/tags]

With so many choices from numerous sources, a versatile bakers rack has been a welcome feature in any home that is in dire need of additional counter and cabinet space. But, most people tend to limit the use of a helpful bakers rack to the kitchen or an informal dining room. However, quality-made bakers racks are just as useful in other areas of the home. The only difference is that they tend to be labeled by a different name when used in other rooms, namely:

An integral part of every modern kitchen, stylish and sleek kitchen faucets are available in a wide range of designs these days, and come at really affordable prices. With the wide choice of faucets available you can buy the perfect products to fit in with the look and theme of your kitchen, and this is ideal for those that want to enjoy consistency, style, and practicality. The right kitchen fixtures can make a real difference to the overall look of this room, and you can get everything from wall mount faucets to free standing ones, from pullout ones to filter ones, and from single handle ones to doubles. You can select from faucets made from brass, copper, chrome, and more, so finding the right one for your kitchen should prove no problem.

Find faucets to really complement your kitchen

In addition to enjoying a wide range of styles and designs, you can find the perfect color and material for your kitchen, and you can get faucets that complement all of your fixtures, such as sinks, kitchen cabinets, countertops, and d

The construction of a garden pond demands considerable care and attention, but is well within the capabilities of most practical gardeners. There are a number of different methods of construction, each having virtues from both a practical and aesthetic point of view. The most important factors are ensuring that the structure is secure and water-tight, and that the accommodation afforded is suitable for the plants and fishes that it is intended to introduce. Careful planning is an essential ingredient for success.

Pond liners are the most popular option and available in a variety of materials. They enable the water gardener to create almost any fanciful shape or design of pond and to easily add a very functional bog garden. They are, however, the most vulnerable to damage, although if carefully constructed and maintained the risk is minimal. Make sure that the material selected is the most appropriate for the pond and the construction method being proposed.

Pre-formed ponds place some constraints upon the imaginative garden designer as they are a rigid shape. Not usually a constraint for the formal water gardener who requires a particular pre-determined formal shape and size, but limiting when an informal pond is envisaged, although in recent years the designs of pre-formed pond shapes have greatly improved. The introduction of modern materials has also led to improvements, some of the restrictions of earlier technology now having been removed.

Concrete ponds do not have quite the same following as previously, but are still constructed for some larger projects, especially as fish ponds, and by serious fish hobbyists who are involved in specialized fish breeding and showing. Although the construction of a concrete pond is never going to be easy, some of the previous problems that have placed limitations upon concrete construction for the home gardener have been overcome with the introduction of various additives. This has been especially important in the areas of temperature as it affects the laying of concrete and its subsequent hardness and resilience. Internal waterproofing techniques, as well as external sealants have also been greatly improved.

The greatest revolution, however, has been seen with the introduction of bentonite, especially the bentonite blanket. This has enabled the traditional method of clay puddling to be revived in a different form. The bentonite blanket comprises a specialized clay layer between geo-textile fabric that enables the gardener to line an excavation with natural clay, but without the attendant problems associated with old-fashioned clay puddling. Leaks are virtually unknown as the blanket is self-sealing.

Philip Swindells has over 40 years gardening experience. A former botanical garden curator and an international horticultural consultant, he has worked extensively in the UK, North America, the Middle East and Australia. The Author of more than 50 gardening books, he has been awarded a Quill and Trowel Award by the Garden Writers’ Association of America. He is also a former UK Garden Writer of the Year. He is currently editor of http://www.internationalwatergardener.com.

[tags]Garden, pond, excavation, liner, concrete, pre-formed, concrete, bentonite, clay, puddling, construc[/tags]

Natural hardwoods set off kitchen fixtures and floorings beautifully, which is why they are so popular. If your kitchen features wood surfaces, don’t forget it’s important to completely butcher block countertops in the kitchen after each use, since wood is naturally porous and absorbs bacteria and food odors. The more open-grained the wood, the more porous it is. Oak is on the open grained end of the scale, while maple is on the tighter grained end.

Mild soaps such as liquid dish detergent mixed with water work well for cleaning butcher block. You also can use a solution of bleach and water to help prevent bacteria. Just combine 1 tablespoon bleach with 1 gallon of water. This works really great if you keep the solution in a spray bottle; just spray and wipe the wood after each use. One thing you should never use on wood countertops is a scouring cleanser like Comet.

Wood countertops intended for use as cutting surfaces are finished with penetrating oil, usually mineral oil of some type. In order to maintain this finish and keep the wood stain-resistant, you should periodically apply non-toxic oil, once every few months. USP-grade mineral oil is the best; it is the cheapest food-grade oil and it is available at your local drug store. Vegetable or olive oil should not be used; it will turn rancid. Warm the oil up a little prior to applying with a soft cloth, wiping along the grain direction. Let the oil to soak in for four to six hours then wipe off any excess oil that didn’t soak in.

What about all those spills and marks seemingly branded into the wood? How do you get rid of stains on older butcher-block countertops? You could go ahead have the surface sanded and resealed. But before you do, give this a try: shake some salt over the marks, and then scrub the wood with the cut open side of a lemon half. Letting the wood sit overnight, rinse with water afterwards. For the darker stains, sponge on a solution of 3 percent hydrogen peroxide and water.

If you do decide to sand and reseal, consider using one of the professional alternatives to mineral oils. You can find wood sealers designed for food surfaces at many woodworking supply outlets. Look for products called Salad Bowl Finish; these are approved as non-toxic for food contact on countertops and cutting boards and require less frequent maintenance. Enjoy your clean new countertops.

Visit http://www.onlinetips.org for tips on cleaning granite countertops and butcher block countertops.

[tags]home improvement, housekeeping, cleaning tips, countertops[/tags]

Making major home improvements can be a great way to improve the value, and the looks, of your home, but it can be a daunting task, and involve no small commitment of time and money. Many homeowners are unsure whether to do the home improvements themselves or hire a general contractor. The answer to that common question lies in the time the homeowner has available, and of course in his or her own skills and abilities.

One thing to remember is that few homeowners are highly skilled in all the elements that go into a major home improvement. Few of us have the extensive construction, plumbing and electrical skills it takes to complete a home addition or similar large project without professional help.

Of course finding a great general contractor, and qualified subcontractors, can be a job in itself, and it is important to take that job very seriously. It is of course important to ask family, friends and coworkers for recommendations, and to check their references carefully.

Those considering a major home improvement project or home addition will need to first determine exactly what the job entails, and what the time frame for the project is. If the new addition or home improvement requires specialty work it is probably a good idea to hire a contractor who has experience in the specific project you need. For instance, those who wish to install a new hot tub would be advised to find a skilled plumbing contractor, while the installation of a deck may call for a good carpenter.

For more extensive projects, like a kitchen remodeling job, a bathroom remodel or the addition of a second story, a general contractor is probably the right choice. It is the job of the general contractor to manage all the various aspects of he project, including such things as hiring the subcontractors, obtaining all the necessary building permits, ordering the materials, and scheduling the needed inspections. The general contractor will also work with the designers and architects to make sure that the job meets their specifications.

It can sometimes be difficult to exactly when a general contractor will be needed, but in general it is a good idea to seek a qualified general contractor when any of the following factors are involved in the project:

-An addition to an existing home, such as an extra room or a second story.

-A major remodeling project, such as remodeling the kitchen or the bathroom.

-Adding an additional building, like a workshop or garage.

-Finishing the basement.

All of the above projects call for qualified professional help, and it is a good idea to make them a reality with the help of a qualified general contractor.

Brooke Sikula is a freelance writer based in Ventura, CA and writes on a wide range of topics from home improvement to credit repair and everything in between. She is a regular contributor to http://www.get-home-improvement.com and http://www.home-remodeling4u.com

For more information and advice on home improvement projects, check out http://www.home-improvement4u.com

[tags]home,improvement,general,contractor,project[/tags]