How to Choose the Right Thermostat For Your Home

Choosing the right thermostat is a simple process, one that will allow you to keep your home comfortable while also controlling your energy usage. While there are several types of thermostat options available, in compliance with your particular type of heating and cooling system, your choice comes down to your personal preference. How your thermostat will be used and the features you’d like to have included are points to consider before making your selection. 

Manual Thermostat

Due to fewer features, the manual thermostat is not only the most simplistic option, it is also the most affordable. These devices have only one main function, which makes them an easy option for anyone who prefers simplicity. There are no complex programing systems to master and no lengthy owner’s manuals to study, which is ideal for anyone who has no use for all the complicated features associated with the more modern, updated models. A manual thermostat is an excellent choice for anyone who spends a lot of time at home and would prefer a fixed setting.

Programmable Thermostat

The programmable thermostat is basically a manual thermostat with an added feature that allows you to customize your temperature settings, providing more comfort, efficiency, and convenience. Having the option to program temperatures and store settings in advance is a simple addition that can ultimately save you hundreds of dollars per year on your heating and cooling bills. Simply set your temperatures for different times of the day and let your thermostat automatically do the work. This is the simple solution for anyone who likes to automate the basics.

Smart Thermostat

Technology is advancing and now so is your thermostat. The smart thermostat allows you to have control of your home while on the go, from wherever you are. This efficiency-boosting device has an artificial intelligence feature that can actually learn your daily patterns and essentially program itself. By connecting directly to your Wi-Fi, smart thermostats can also manage your energy use by automatically adjusting temperatures and humidity levels. As if that weren’t impressive enough, this new technology can also control the lights in your home, the locks on your doors, send you alerts when your system is in need of attention, and even check your home security features. All of this can be set, monitored, and managed remotely from your smartphone, computer, or tablet. Home thermostats have come a long way over the years and although technology has allowed for some remarkable added benefits and features, it’s comforting to know that simplicity is still an option too. Your thermostat is designed to help you keep your home comfortable, and your HVAC running at optimal efficiency. Choosing the right thermostat will depend on your personal use and your preferred available features. A professional can not only assist you in making the right decision, but they are also available for all your installation and future maintenance needs. Thanks to Lexair conditioning for consulting.

DIY Tips For Renovating Your Home

Are you planning for remodeling your home or adding some bits of new interior looks to it? If yes, then you are in the right place. Every year, one or the other house goes for remodeling. It is necessary to keep on changing the interiors and renovating your home to keep it beautiful and attractive. For this, many people prefer hiring a professional interior designer that can help them in adding new looks or ideas in remodeling their home. But, few people prefer ‘DIY’ and keep on experimenting with their ideas.

Well, there are many benefits of ‘DIY’ as you are free to try your hands on new things. It also becomes a learning experience and turns out to be quite cost-effective. But, you need to prepare a few things before you start with your ‘DIY’ project. This is to ensure that you don’t get stuck in the middle of anything and don’t mess up with insufficient equipment. You also need to consider the portion that you would like to renovate, its area, and the type of materials you require to renovate it.

In this article, we are going to share some of the best ‘DIY’ tips that will help you for renovating your home.

  1. Start with the doors:

Most of the houses have wooden doors that can be renovated with a little bit of DIY ideas. The first thing you should do is sand the door with either hand sandpaper or an orbital sander. It’s crucial that you research, and purchase, the best orbital sander while renovating your home; that way you can use it for future projects, such as renovating your furniture.

Once you are done with your sanding process, check for any small holes or crevices and fill them up with wood putty. Again carry on with the sanding process as it will smoothen the surface after you have applied the putty. Finally, add a coat of varnish to your door to make it more attractive.

In case you want to add a new color to your wooden door, make sure to add a coat of primer and sand the door before coloring it. You can then put on some antique hanging pieces on it so that it looks unique and beautiful.

  • Modify the floor:

Changing or modifying the floor is the most challenging part of renovating a home. You should be ready with all the measurements and tools that are needed to add a new look to your floor. If you have a decorative floor, you can use the concrete sealers to renew them. In contrast, if you have a plain floor and would like to modify it, consider buying the peel-and-stick self-adhesive vinyl tile flooring. It is the best option to go for if you don’t want to get stuck in hectic work. You will also find various other flooring options that are cost-effective and easy to install.

Before you start renovating them, make sure to watch a bunch of floor renovation videos so that you get an idea of what equipment you should have with you.

Another small DIY tip that you can apply in renovating your floors is by covering them up with designer carpets. This is the easiest and affordable option as you don’t have to worry about measurements except for the carpet’s border. They are also easily replaceable so that you can change the designs whenever you want.

  • Transform the walls:
via Emily Followill

You can pick up a color theme for your wall. Here, you have two options where you can either paint it with a monotonous color shade or wrap it up with wallpaper. Both options are easy, but you have to be clever in choosing the contrasting color shades for adjacent walls.

The best way is to paint a wall with a dark color and then apply artistic wallpapers on it. You can use the rollers for effective results. There are many ways in which you can create unique patterns out of the roller. Try the geometric patterns or go with the stripes, whichever suits you the best.

  • Revive your old furniture:

There are many things you can do with your furniture. You can either polish and sand them to add a new shine or modify them for various purposes. For example, if they have broken corners or have started flaking, considering remodeling them for different purposes.

For example, if your TV table is in bad condition, considering breaking it off and make a small teapoy out if it which you can use in your balcony. You can also make use of those wooden planks to create unique wall pieces to beautify your walls.

Contrarily, if your furniture is in good condition, consider adding coats of varnish after sanding them. This coat of varnish will be good to add a final touch of magic to your furniture.

  • Enhance the windows:

Consider removing all the curtains and wall hangings from your windows. Add a beautiful dreamcatcher or a windchime to make it more attractive than before. But before this, make sure to clean up your window slides and their inner linings with a liquid cleaner.

If you feel like replacing your windows, better hire someone who can do that job because it is not that simple. But, if you don’t want to renovate them, add a coat of paint to the edges and grills of the window.

  • Change all the curtains and table cloths:

Last but not least, replace all the curtains and table cloths. You can DIY old clothes and make a unique table cloth out of them. Even the old bedsheets can be used in making table cloths. For curtains, buy some new pieces so that they can add a new look to your home.

Conclusion:

Remodeling or renovating your home doesn’t have to be always a costly project. You can always try your hands on with these small and easy DIY tips to add new looks to your home. So, start your renovation project with these tips and make your home more attractive than ever before. Thanks to Best Orbital Sander for collaborating

The Importance of Garden Weed Removal for Pest Control

There are few things more beautiful than a well maintained garden filled with healthy flora and fauna. Unfortunately though this isn’t achieved without significant effort. Setting up a nice garden is one thing; keeping it like that, an entirely different prospect. A fair proportion of this maintenance will likely come down to pest control. Many passionate gardeners know this and it’s why they might invest so much time and money in it. After all, let pests have their way with your garden unsupervised and it won’t be looking so beautiful for long.

via Emily Followill



Weeds are a major culprit

Weeds may not seem too harmful initially, but they pose a major threat to the flourishing life of your garden in more ways than one. So if you really want to make your lawn beautiful, you have to make the most hospitable environment as possible for your grass and garden, by eradicating weeks. First and foremost, they are competition for resources. There are only so many nutrients to go around from the soil, only so much water to soak up. If most of this is being stolen by hungry weeds, there’s less to nourish the plants you actually want to grow. To make it worse, weeds take up valuable space and will strangle your plants so they can’t fully utilize the nutrients they do manage to get. In the end you’ll be left with an overrun garden that looks merely a shadow of its former self. No doubt weeds can feel like a pest all by themselves, but this is before considering the various other problems they may cause.



A magnetic attraction for insects

Before the weeds take over completely, you’ll have a major issue in the meantime: insects who feed on them. Why is this bad? Simply because once those insects get bored of weeds, they’re sure to move on to the more appetising and appealing other residents of your garden. Once they’ve been attracted primarily by the presence of weeds, there’s nothing stopping them feeding their way through your lovingly organised flower bed or other decorative plants in the immediate vicinity. If it reaches that point, you may be left wishing you took care of the problem at its source by getting rid of those weeds.

via Emily Followill



The silent spreader of disease

If weeds don’t strangle your garden first, they may have another unpleasant gift in store. Many types of weeds are known to carry harmful diseases for other plants, and these can easily be passed between them if an insect feeds on a weed before moving on to another part of your garden. Not unlike how sickness spreads between humans and potentially just as harmful to your mini plant-based civilisation if left unchecked.

Weeds upset the ecosystem

The reasons outlined above should be enough to reinforce the need for weed removal or weed and grass killer to halt the spread of pests and protect your garden. But another often overlooked element is just how harmful the abundance of weeds can be for a local ecosystem, which isn’t good for anything else in the area. Your pleasant-looking flowers and plants rely on pollination to thrive; weeds serve as a substitute for them and will be stealing it like they do other sources of sustenance. An overabundance of weeds therefore prevents natural pollination from occurring.

via Emily Followill



Prioritise Weed Removal


There’s little doubt that by prioritising weed removal from your garden, you’re taking a positive step in preventing pests from taking it over. There are a few different ways this can be done. If you spot weeds early, you could try removing them by hand – though you have to be thorough, making sure you get the roots if you don’t want it coming back immediately. Also, unless you know exactly what you’re looking for, emerging weeds may be hard for the naked eye to spot. If you’re concerned about the problem getting out of hand, getting professional assistance is the recommended action. Choose a reliable company like Excel Pest Services, who specialise in this kind of pest control.

Benefits of going professional

By hiring fully trained, certified professionals for the job like the ones at Aptive Exterminator, you’ll have the assurance it will be done right. They offer a 100% guarantee of year-round service, with valuable experience of working through all four seasons and specialised plans designed around fixing your pest problem permanently. Choose professional help and you’ll have peace of mind that your garden will soon be weed and pest-free.

Gardens are precious things that many homeowners pride themselves on. They also might be the first thing visitors observe upon arriving at your home. Don’t let weeds and eventual pests be the unwelcome guests that ruin those first impressions. Prioritise garden weed removal today. Thanks to Excel Pest for collaborating

Landscaping Tips That Can Help Sell Your Home Quickly

If you are putting your house on the market, you may well have paid great attention to the tidiness and presentability of your home’s interior. With the interior of the house looking its best it could well be time to devote some love and time to the outside, especially in light of recent research that suggests a well-kept and maintained garden could add as much as 20% to the value of a property.

Landscaping your garden doesn’t have to mean a complete and expensive overhaul. In fact, a handful of small changes and attention to tidiness can be an inexpensive but effective way to sell your house quickly and for a greater price.

Photo by Zane Lee on Unsplash

Maintenance Matters: inexpensive changes that make a big difference

Landscaping your home to increase saleability doesn’t have to mean expensive extensions, constructions or redesigning. One of the simplest ways to improve your garden and raise the price of your home is to give attention to your garden’s maintenance and tidiness. With most homeowners lavishing attention on the inside of their house ready for estate agent’s photographers, it makes sense to spread this attention across everything that comes with the property.

A simple clean-up of the yard can go far. This includes weeding, the removal of branches and debris, broken ornaments or tools, and pet waste. Such a clean-up will provide an instant return on your work; whilst it may not add immediate value to your property the appealing site of the outdoor space will provide greater appeal to those viewing your home online or visiting on a viewing. Fresno landscaping and tree experts can help with tasks that are too hard or time consuming for you to take on yourself.

Another advantage of general garden maintenance is that the assets and appeal of your outdoor spaces become immediately noticeable. With surrounding overgrowth and weeds cleared, your garden’s ornamental features, pathways, fences and patios will stand out more, as features in a tidy garden with obvious appeal that suggest themselves to homebuyers as a positive space in which to build outdoor dreams.

Photo by Erda Estremera on Unsplash

Planting Positive Signs: adding to your garden spaces

With the existing assets and spaces of your garden made clearer with good maintenance, it might be time to think about adding to your landscape. Ideally the plants in a garden should foster a pleasing atmosphere, whilst attractively framing the house and its front door. For this you need not invest in expensive mature trees and large-scale ornamental features. Simple but attractive shrubs, flowing flower baskets and dependable evergreen plants are all reliable choices to line pathways and create an attractive frontage for your home.

As well as drawing out the attractiveness of your home, the placement of plants can simultaneously be used to mask or deemphasise less attractive and unavoidable features of the garden. Well placed shrubs are a smart way to hide the likes of bins and drains, and focus sightlines away from undesired views such as garages or unkempt neighbouring plots. Sticking to shrubs also allows you to be more free with your plant placement, as you won’t have to worry about roots causing damage to foundations.

Photo by Randy Fath on Unsplash

Landscaping a Living Space: making a garden part of the home

With garden spaces rendered attractive assets, and an encouraging advertisement for the home, you might think about more substantial editions to the garden. Large scale landscaping can be expensive, and the high cost of such additions does not always translate into resale value, especially with purely ornamental features such as fountains, stone ornaments or fire pits. With resale value on mind its best to focus on additions that directly add to the garden as a space in which to spend time.

It may be tempting to splash out on a large play area for children, but this and similar ideas are not adaptable to every homebuyer, and can be an unwise option unless your own family plans to make use of it. The best features to invest in are simple patios, decking, and garden furniture, a place in which potential home buyers can see themselves and their loved ones sitting and enjoying the garden. Alongside these additions, simple but well-placed lighting, as well as mulching garden beds, will keep spaces looking ready to be inhabited and used for outdoor occasions, whilst attention paid to fencing will repay in the attractive edge it adds to your garden’s bounds.

Landscaping to sell your home quickly doesn’t have to be expensive; with the right priorities, and with attention paid to what will entice a new homebuyer, attention to your garden can add value to your home as well as draw in more buyer attention. Thanks to We Buy Any Home for consulting.

Styling a sofa – tips and tricks

A lot of effort goes into choosing a sofa. There are lots of things to consider, and by the time you finally have your sofa delivered and it’s in your home, doing any more work on how it looks can be the last thing you want to do. However, there are some real benefits to styling your sofa with accessories. Today we have teamed up with Robinson of England, a company who hand craft and restore Chesterfield sofas and chairs. They have provided some tips and tricks for styling your sofa, which can really help it feel part of your home.

Photo by Corinne Kutz on Unsplash

Cushions 

As probably the most well-known and easiest accessory to style a sofa with, it shouldn’t be a surprise that cushions are on this list. When added without much thought or attention to detail, cushions or pillows can look out of place and be more of an annoyance and a hindrance than something that will improve your sofa. But when appropriately added, cushions can enhance the look and feel of any sofa.

Some key things to consider are the size, feel and colour of your cushions. Finding ones which won’t take up a huge amount of room on your sofa is essential. Cushions that you have to take off to be able to sit on the sofa aren’t benefiting anyone. Even if you have a large sofa, smaller cushions tend to be more practical, and by using multiple small cushions, you can achieve a balanced look. It’s worth starting out with a small number and gradually adding more if you feel it’s needed, rather than piling loads of cushions on right away.

Getting the colour combinations right with the cushions on your sofa is vital. To make your sofa feel part of the room, it can sometimes be a good idea to use other colours from around the room, perhaps from a rug on the floor or some art on the wall. Finding complementary colours using a colour wheel is also useful, however, don’t be put off using patterns. The right pattern can really enhance a sofa and break up a big block of colour.

You may think that finding the right softness of cushion is more of a practical concern than a design consideration. However, the softness and build of a cushion can actually have an impact on how it looks on your sofa and is something you need to consider. Some soft cushions can sag and look messy. Do you want to be plumping the cushions each day to keep them looking their best? If not, a firmer cushion will be a better option as they hold their shape and require less work.

Blankets 

Photo by Stephanie Harvey on Unsplash

Having a blanket draped over your sofa is just as beneficial for practical reasons as it is for stylistic ones. Being able to curl up under a blanket in the evenings, especially during the winter months is a really lovely feeling and can make a big difference if you’re cold. From a stylistic point of view, they are also great for adding more colour to your room. Much in the way a rug can bring a distinctive pattern into your room, a blanket can do the same. It’s worth considering the weight of a blanket when choosing one for your sofa. While a ticker blanket will keep you warmer, if this isn’t your primary concern, going for a thinner one will make it easier to drape over the back or edge and avoid it looking bulky.

via The Crafty Swirl

Armrest table

If you don’t have room for a coffee table or side tables, then looking for an armrest table is an excellent way of adding an accessory to your sofa, which is really useful. We have all had those time where you sit down on your sofa with a drink and realise you have nowhere to put it. You either have to balance your drink on the sofa or put it on the floor. Either place can result in spills which can cause stains. A wooden armrest table, which fits over your sofa’s armrest, provides a flat and stable surface to place a drink or plate of food. While not all sofas have armrest which these will work with if yours does, they are a great little accessory which is really useful.

Styling your sofa with accessories is an excellent way of showing your personality. You can be as quirky or minimalist with the items you choose as you like. Accessorising your sofa helps give it a more rounded look and makes it feel like a part of your room. This is particularly useful with a new sofa and can help it from sticking out from the rest of a room. Thanks to Chesterfields of London for collaborating.

THE RISE OF ONLINE INTERIOR DESIGN AND COMPARING SPACEJOY, MODSY, AND HAVENLY

Over the past few years, multiple online interior design platforms have been popping up all over the web. The Business of Home considers today to be “e-design’s moment.” Acknowledging the vast array of items one can buy over the internet, it’s no surprise that the industry has wised-up to the immense potential of opening up design services to online customers, and to those who might not have access or resources necessary to procure traditional interior design services. 

Most online interior design services share the same underlying philosophy – sharing affordable designs, and providing customers with a love and appreciation for a well-designed space. Where these services differ pretty much comes down to the details of what a design engagement includes – price point, and the actual design process and experience.

While many companies provide these services, I’m going to compare the design experience and services of 3 different companies; Spacejoy, a Modsy alternative, Modsy, and Havenly. If you’d like to read a review of a few others, Architectural Digest published an excellent one a while back.

Spacejoy

A fast-growing startup launched in 2019, Spacejoy is based out of the Bay Area in CA. Their focus is on combining a passion for designing spaces with 3D technology. Being a web designer myself, I found their website to be the most appealing and provide the most (but not too much) information at-a-glance. Essential features in their base package ($49) include working 1 on 1 with design experts, unlimited revisions, and the ability to shop from your designs. Spacejoy is a more affordable modsy alternative that doesn’t limit your revisions.

A Spacejoy 3D designA Spacejoy interior design completed

Modsy

Modsy is another Bay Area venture started in 2015 that features 3D graphics.  Their use of 3D technology allows users to swap out furniture within the design mockup easily, and there is a fun quiz to complete before starting an engagement.  The base package starts at $80 and includes communication with a designer via email, and 2 revisions.

Top: A Modsy design rendering. Bottom: The finished product

Havenly

Havenly, another Modsy alternative, was one of the first online interior design firms and is based out of Denver.  They allow you the option of partnering with one of their designers of your choice, and you can buy what you like directly through their platform.  Their entry-level package is the Havenly “mini,” for $69.  With the mini, you can select a designer, get 1 on 1 time and get 3 initial ideas. You get multiple design revisions and a final design concept with a shopping list. 

You can peruse the portfolios of many interior designers after completing a style quiz you get to select your designer.

You can peruse the portfolios of many interior designersAfter completing a style quiz you get to select your designer.

FEATURE COMPARISONS OF BASE PACKAGE

CompanyPrice1:1 with Designer
Unlimited Revisions3D Rendering
Spacejoy$49Yes
YesYes
Modsy$80via Email
NoYes
Havenly$69Yes
NoNo

To sum it up, all of these companies feature incredibly talented designers, and the results are stunning. If I had to choose one myself, I would go with Spacejoy – a great Modsy alternative. The platform offers the benefit of 3D visualization, but with unlimited revisions. Their base package is also the most affordable among the three.

Beginners Guide to Making Lighting Look Vibrant in Your Home.

Lighting can make a home warm and inviting, oppressive, or outright dull and boring. Artificial lighting is especially important if the house doesn’t benefit from natural light. Homeowners can change out fixtures and even move the location. Renters often don’t have this option, and some tenancy agreements don’t also allow renters to paint the walls and hang pictures. There are so many light accessories on the market that it is quick and easy to change the overall appearance of a room with artificial light alone.

Shades.

If changing the entire light fixture isn’t an option, light shade can add flare to a room. When selecting a light shade, don’t just consider how it looks on the shop shelf or even simply picture it hanging from the ceiling. Think about how the light will diffuse through it and where it will land. A light shade creates shadows, which may not be so good for someone who needs a lot of light, such as an artist. They also collect dust.

Bare Bulbs.

If the bulbs are to be kept bare, there’s no reason why the light should be ugly. An artist may require brilliant white light, but it doesn’t need to be like that all the time. Colour changing and dimming bulbs are available, even if you don’t have a smartphone or trust the WiFi connection enough to give it control over the mood of your home. Colour changing and dimming bulbs also come in remote control options.

Emergency Lights.

via Amy Bartlam

If you’re even less trusting and don’t want to fumble around in the dark, you may want to consider something that mimics the emergency lighting in commercial buildings. If you live in an apartment block or student halls, you already have some form of this. Emergency lights provide guidance to escape if the power is cut and a building is plunged into darkness. It is meant to come on automatically. Think those green signs pointing to an exit. There’s so much more to it than exit signs. Escape routes need to be covered with some form of light, as do stairways. Emergency light testing needs to be carried out to make sure they function, and repairs need to be made.

Floor Lighting.

If you’re taking influence from emergency light systems, consider floor lighting. It doesn’t need to be too expensive to look glam. If you live in a house, adding a few glow in the dark strips, particularly to the staircases can ease the mind in the event of an emergency and make the home look stylish. LED floor lighting needs to be wired in.

Fairy Lights.

Fairy lights aren’t just for the festive period. They can be chosen from as range of colours and shapes. They can even be changed with the seasons, or if that isn’t enough, monthly alterations can add flare to a dull room. They can be purchased with mains or USB plug-in options or battery powered. Thanks to Hexo Services for collaborating

Lighting is more than function. It is mood.

4 Reasons Why You Should Invest in Facial Beds for Your Home Spa

Home spas are becoming a new trend worldwide. While even then most basic of home spas can make a world of difference to a homeowner’s life, there are a lot of benefits in splurging in certain spa equipment. This article discusses 4 benefits to investing in a good facial bed for your home spa.

With the world on lockdown due to the Coronavirus pandemic, people have started turning to home spa treatments to get their self-care fixes. Suddenly, people are realizing that they don’t need to leave the safety of their homes to get the quality spa treatments they want – they can just set up their own “spas” at home.  A lot of home spas involve only basic machines and equipment – enough to enjoy self-care Sundays every week. Some of the most luxurious home spas, however, can come with professional spa equipment like facial beds and hot stone machines.

While one doesn’t need to break the bank just to achieve a good spa experience at home, investing in good quality spa equipment can definitely improve one’s experience and take it to the next level. A facial bed, for example, is a great investment if you’re really serious about your home spa.

via Breeze Giannasio

The Benefits of Investing in Facial Beds

A facial bed refers to a bed or a chair in which clients lay to get their facial treatments done. Some facial beds have features that can even allow clients to get full-body treatments.

There are stationary beds, motorized beds, and even classic wooden ones. There are simple beds and high-tech beds that have a million buttons that correspond to a million different functions.

Regardless of their make and their functions, these beds are essential in spas and home spas as they give clients the comfort they need to relax. They can make even the harshest of facial treatments comfortable.

If you’ve ever gone to get a facial treatment at a spa, you’d know that an uncomfortable facial bed can ruin the entire experience. Feeling even just a little bit of discomfort can be a nuisance that distracts you from relaxing and having a good time – the very reason why most people go to a spa in the first place.

That said, investing in a high-quality facial bed even if it’s just for a home spa would reap a lot of benefits:

A Better Spa Experience for You

via Breeze Giannasio

Having a facial bed can give you legitimate spa feels – making you feel as if you really are experiencing spa treatments in an actual spa, and not just in the comforts of your home.

This may seem like a minor benefit. But experiencing a spa treatment at home and one at an actual spa give off different feelings. For some reason, it’s more relaxing to be pampered away from home. It’s like a relaxing vacation!

If a facial bed can replicate that feeling by giving your home spa a more professional look, it’s definitely worth the investment.

A Better Spa Experience for Hired Professionals

If you hire professional aestheticians to do home service facial treatments, allowing them to perform them on you on a facial bed would be extremely helpful for them.

Aside from aesthetics, a facial bed can also give you a better spa experience by allowing professionals to perform their treatments and procedures on you more effectively. Technically, professionals are well trained to do what they do. So they could most likely still effectively perform any treatment or procedure on you on, say, a couch. But a professional facial bed can make it so much easier for them.

Professionals can move you around in ease and adjust the chair to their liking.

Optimal Comfort

via Breeze Giannasio

Sure, you can have facial treatments done on you on your favorite spot in the family couch. Heck, you can even have them done while you’re sitting on a fancy gaming chair. You can have them done while you relax in any seat in your home! This doesn’t mean that the experience will be comfortable, though.

All the other seats in your home were not made specifically with facial procedures in mind. So you can’t really expect them to provide optimal comfort as you go through a facial procedure. A facial would require you to lie on your back, lay your head back, and maybe even move your head around to give the professional a full view of the canvas they’re working on. Usually, it’s hard to find a household seating that is ergonomic and will provide support in all the right places.

A facial bed is specifically designed to make support your head and back well during a facial treatment. Even a low-quality facial bed can provide adequate support that other household seating cannot. Of course, higher-quality beds can provide support and extra comfort in the form of soft cushions and paddings. Usually, these beds can even be adjusted to accommodate different weights and body types, making for a comfortable experience for practically anyone.

via Breeze Giannasio

Convenience

Having a facial bed – a seat with the sole purpose of supporting you during spa treatments – beats having to repurpose different seats in your home just to be able to get a facial.

For one, you don’t have to go through the hassle of setting up your space every time you want a treatment done. Your facial bed will always be where you need it.

Another thing that makes facial beds more convenient than other seating options is that they’re easier to clean. Facial procedures involve a lot of different liquids and creams – serums, cleansers, clay masks, moisturizers, etc. Some treatments, like peels, even involve the use of chemicals and acids.

Any spillage on a facial bed can be easily cleaned. A simple wipe down with a damp rag usually does the trick. These beds were made to handle all the mess! The same can’t really be said for other seating options, though. These liquids can be absorbed into couches and stain fabric. Cleaning them would be a nightmare! Thanks to Spasource for collaborating

Finding Peace and Balance Through Your Interior Design

When you’re feeling an imbalance in your energy, or you can feel low mood striking, it can be useful to look at external factors. There are many areas that contribute to low mood: for instance, whether you are getting enough exercise, eating a balanced diet, and also work-life balance. If you have considered these areas, but you’re still looking to find serenity, you may not have considered the part played by your home environment in finding your inner peace. 

via Lisa Furey Interiors

When it comes to creating an environment that is balanced and serene, there are a few ancient techniques that can be used. Feng Shui is a Chinese practice which balances our interior decor with the natural world to bring calm and serenity to our surroundings. Feng Shui focuses on the positioning of certain elements in a room, and uses elements of nature to create a space which brings peace. It is the original minimalism, and can help you to declutter and rearrange your apartment, which will in turn help to clear space in the mind. 

The use of natural elements can also be seen in traditional Japanese decor, which often incorporates bamboo and natural textiles to create bright, flexible spaces. The use of sliding doors allows rooms to flow freely between each other without obstructing space. The biggest difference between Chinese and Japanese design is the use of color. While Feng Shui encourages the use of color in order to create balance, Japanese design puts an onus on the natural, thus creating spaces which are often neutral in color, and therefore allow for a different type of serenity to Chinese design. 

via Lisa Furey Interiors

Looking after your mind is an incredibly important part of finding serenity in the home. If you are plagued by stress on a daily basis, it would suggest that there is a bigger reason for a feeling of imbalance. Speaking to a spirit guide or trying tarot readings can be a good way to get some perspective and bring yourself back to the present. TheCircle offers many different spiritual practices which can work alongside your interior design practice and bring serenity to your home.

You don’t have to follow the strict guidelines of any school of interior design. Taking elements that suit your space and personality is the best way to create a home which provides balance. For example, interior designer and expert in tidying up, Marie Kondo, borrows elements from many different schools of thought in order to create the KonMarie method, which has taken off around the world. The KonMarie method takes the spirituality of Feng Shui and adds the minimalist touches of Japanese design in order to create a new way of thinking about space. 

via Lisa Furey Interiors

When life is bringing you imbalance, try to turn to your space to find a solution. Perhaps it might mean that you attack your space with a paintbrush and bring in new furnishings. It could mean that you spend a day sorting through clutter and moving the sofa to a space by the window. Whatever you choose to do with your space, finding inner peace and balance is easy once you understand the measures you can take to create a serene living environment. Thanks to The Circle for contributing!

Home Organization Ideas Made Easy with PVC Piping

To have an organized home, you will need to find unique solutions for every space. It can be hard on your budget and stress level to try to build or purchase a custom storage solution for all the spaces in your home—but it doesn’t have to be. You can achieve home organization with PVC! Here are just a few of the best ideas to organize each room of your home with affordable, simple, and customizable PVC projects.

Kitchen Organization with PVC

Even the most beautiful kitchen design will fall short if it doesn’t function day-to-day. By using PVC to create a well-organized kitchen, you’ll be able to enjoy the time you spend cooking and baking!

Kitchen Utensil Organizer

You can easily maximize the storage space in your kitchen by cutting one length of PVC and creating a space for your utensils on the inside of your cabinet doors. For this project, you can either use a saw to cut your PVC or get it cut at your local hardware store.

Then, just sand the rough edges, use acetone to remove any writing, and attach the PVC to your cabinet with mounting tape. This kitchen utensil organizer could be completed in just a few hours!

Wine Rack

via Home Hacks

Using PVC to organize your wine is easily the most affordable method to customize a wine rack. You will need two sizes of PVC, some PVC cement, a saw, sandpaper, and your choice of spray paint.

You’ll cut your PVC to length, use the cement to attach the pieces together, and then paint your PVC any color. Check out the full tutorial here.

PVC Elbow Hooks

You probably never looked at PVC elbows and thought, “What exciting pieces of decor!” But with just a little bit of paint, PVC elbows can transform into stylish and functional wall hooks. This could work in any room of your house, but it could be a great way to organize and display utensils outside of your cabinets.

Bathroom Organization with PVC

You don’t normally think about organizing a bathroom with PVC, but there are a few important reasons this material works so well. Many bathrooms are short on space, and PVC can add practical, functional, space-saving storage solutions. PVC is also an easy material to clean, which is especially important when you’re setting up any bathroom.

Floating PVC Shelves

Floating shelves are everywhere right now. They are a beautiful way to add storage and function to any room. A perfect way to display unique floating shelves in your bathroom is by mounting short lengths of large diameter PVC on the wall. These circular shelves are a perfect way to display towels and toilet paper!

Hair Dryer Tool Holder

It’s easy to allow your hair dryer to clutter up your bathroom sink. It’s annoying to take it in and out of a cabinet every day, which is why you should use PVC to create an easy and stylish hair dryer holder!

If you have multiple tools for your hair, like a dryer, curler, and straightener, then you just need one piece of PVC with a 45-degree connector. You can paint it any color or design, then either sit it on your counter or mount it on your wall.

Custom Toothbrush Holder

Does it gross you out when your toothbrushes touch each other? That’s why you need individual toothbrush holders. To make these, you just need one length of one-inch diameter PVC pipe, and end caps for each holder you’re planning to make.

Simply cut the PVC into four-inch sections, screw on the end cap, and hang with command strips. You can then decorate them with paint or stickers. The best part is that these toothbrush holders are easily washable!

Living Room Organization with PVC

When you imagine using PVC in your living room, you probably picture the white or grey pipes straight from the hardware store, which isn’t exactly stylish. However, there are thousands of different ways you can disguise PVC and use it to bring style into your home.

Industrial PVC Shelves

Are you a fan of the industrial look? You can create the look of industrial shelving without the price tag of real pipes. You’ll need to measure your space to figure out what size wood pieces you need and the right amount of piping.

While this project takes a lot more steps than some of the other organizational projects, you could end up with a custom set of shelves for $20-30. The key to making this project look industrial is metallic spray paint! Make sure you read the full tutorial before you get started on your shelves!

Shoe Organizer

Do the shoes in your entryway pile up and drive you crazy? With a long length of six-inch piece of PVC pipe, you can create a perfect space to sort the shoes by your front door. No more digging through the pile to find a match—each pair of shoes has its own space.

To build this PVC shoe organizer, all you need is the pipe, a saw to cut the pieces, and PVC glue. You can paint the pipes or cover them with adhesive paper to get the look you want.

Bedroom Organization with PVC

Your bedroom should reflect you. It should be a comforting, calming place that doesn’t cause any additional stress. That means that you need organization systems that fit the space and make it easy to keep it organized.

Laundry Hamper

If you need a laundry basket with a very specific size, you can just make your own with PVC! You need a laundry bag, ½ inch PVC pipe, eight elbows, eight Tee PVC pieces, a measuring tape, and saw or PVC pipe cutter.

After you cut the pipe to the right sizes, attach your eight Tee pieces to both sides of four of your pipes. Then, connect the elbow pieces to make two rectangles. The last step is to add the four longer pieces of pipes and the laundry bag. There you have it—the quickest and cheapest way to make a custom laundry hamper!

Home Organization with PVC

If these incredible project ideas didn’t convince you to include PVC in your home organization, there are thousands of other projects all over the Internet. There are so many ways you can utilize and customize PVC pipes to make your home a more beautiful and functional place. Thanks to PVC Fittings for collaborating.

Author Bio:

Mark Ligon is the Marketing Manager at PVCFittingsOnline.com, a leading supplier of PVC pipe, fittings, valves, plumbing supply, and more. Mark enjoys working on DIY projects around his home and providing advice to individuals looking to complete DIY projects of their own.