Guide to Allergy-Proofing Your Bedroom for a Good Night Sleep!

The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology published a study that found 48 per cent of sufferers of seasonal allergies have issues with interrupted sleep. They’re susceptible to daytime fatigue, insomnia, and chronic sleep deprivation. And the worse the individual’s allergy symptoms are, the worse their sleep is.

Allergy symptoms occur more during spring due to pollen or mould spores. There’s no antidote, but you can take steps to curb springtime allergies, from medication to household habits.

White and blue designed bedroom
Used with permission of Melanie Gowen

Here are some ways you can help allergy-proof your bedroom:

Start with your bed and bedding

Ground zero for allergens in the bedroom is your bed. It is best recommended to cover your mattresses, box springs and pillows with hypoallergenic casings. Pillows are essential; your face, after all, is resting on them for hours at a time, so use washable ones filled with cotton or cotton-alternatives. Using allergy-proof bedding like copper bedsheets and pillowcases, blankets helps as they have copper oxide particles embedded in fabrics like polyester or nylon. Research shows that using copper beddings have healing and antimicrobial benefits for breakouts and may reduce and prevent fine lines and wrinkles.

Flooring

Get rid of carpets and use hardwood or linoleum floors and rugs for the washable area. If this is not possible, use a low pile instead of a thick carpet and vacuum weekly with a vacuum cleaner with a high-efficiency air or fine particle (HEPA) filter. It is advised to Shampoo the carpet frequently.

Kick Dust Mites Out of Bed

Dust mites are microscopic bugs that can trigger asthma and allergies. You often find them living in the bedding. There are a couple of steps you can take to eliminate them: Wash your sheets, pillowcases, and blankets once a week in water that’s a minimum of 130 degrees F. Dry them all in a hot dryer. Put dust-mite-proof covers on comforters, pillows, box springs, and mattresses.

Vacuum Regularly

Use a HEPA filter vacuum on the floor of your bedroom a minimum of once a week if you have pets or carpets. Dust mites find their way into your carpets and make a home; therefore, vacuuming once a week can help remove these unwanted critters. Wear a mask so you don’t inhale the dust.

Declutter Your Bedroom

White designed bedroom
Used with permission of Melanie Gowen

Keep things simple to breathe better. Cut clothes and fabrics. The fewer seats in the room, the better. Move books, magazines, and decorative items to another room, so you don’t get dusty too often.

Curtains and blinds

Invest in blinds and curtains you can wash. Synthetic and cotton fabric blinds and drapes work best. If you can, try and keep your bedroom’s windows closed as much as possible and clean your windows regularly. Condensation and mould can accumulate in window sills and frames.

Go easy on window treatments

Say goodbye to dust catchers like blinds and heavy, dry-clean only drapes. Try washable curtains and roller shades instead. Wipe window frames and glass regularly to prevent mould and mildew. Both can trigger upper respiratory symptoms if you have allergies or asthma.

Air filtration

Try putting a high-efficiency, disposable filter in your air-conditioning unit or furnace that’s rated MERV 11 or 12. This rating means the filter holes that let air pass through are much smaller, thereby trapping pollutants better. Be sure you change the filter every few months or as directed by the filter label. Keep your AC unit in fan mode, so pollen and other pollutants don’t become trapped indoors. Select an air filter that’s a HEPA filter or has a small-particle filter. Adjust the filter, so it directs clean air to your head while you’re sleeping.

Fresh Air and Greenery

Bedroom with king size bed
Used with permission of Melanie Gowen

Depending on the region and climate, opening doors and windows from time to time can help. This allows fresh air to circulate your home and helps carry some of that stuffy and stale air. When pollen times are high, it may be best to close doors and windows and let your home’s air filtration system do its job.

Lastly, replace any bedding with an allergy ingredient like suitable microfiber. It is known that microfibers are hypoallergenic and protect against mites. Using Copper-infused bed sheets and pillows are the best bedding for allergies. They naturally repel dust mites and other allergens and is said to be 99.4 per cent antibacterial. 

Follow these tips, and you will be sure to breathe a little easier and sleep better in no time! Thanks to copperclothing.com for consulting on this post.

Author Bio:

Rory Donnelly – Rory is the R&D Director and passionate entrepreneur, fascinated by the workings of the human body and natural solutions for common health problems. He’s single-minded in his aim to make Copper Defence a brand that’s recognized across the globe, by partnering with global brands to make these high-tech materials easily accessible for everyone. If you’d like to get in touch, email Rory at Rory@copperclothing.com or visit copperclothing.com for copper-infused clothing, pet accessories and more. 

Eco-Friendly & Sustainable Ways To Decorate Your Home

Are you planning to redecorate your home in the near future, but want to make sure that your decorating approach is eco-friendly and sustainable? Whether you’re swapping out toxic old paint for peel and stick wallpaper and neutral wallpaper for walls or you just want to get some new art or potpourri to accent each room, redecorating doesn’t have to be wasteful or harmful to the environment. In fact, you can transform your home while still remaining eco-conscious by taking these unique and sustainable approaches.

Focus on Small Yet Meaningful Pieces of Wall Art and Plants Rather Than Wasteful Upgrades

Living room with coffee table, couch and TV on the wall
Photo by Dan Gold on Unsplash

Rather than sinking time and money into serious home upgrades or built-in decorations that could prove harmful not only to your budget but to the environment as well, focus on adding small but meaningful pieces of décor to your home room by room. One great way to do this is to use designer wall art to upgrade the ambiance of each room. This approach doesn’t require using excess materials but can still make a big difference to the feel of your home.

Renovate Your Home With Eco-Friendly Materials

If you do plan to go a bit further than simply redecorating and hope to do some minor renovations on your home, make sure you opt for eco-friendly materials. Simply consult an interior designer or architect for the options available to you, and choose the ones that best suit your needs while still keeping environmental impact low. For instance, instead of using traditional construction materials or decorations, you could:

  • Replace your current flooring with eco-friendly options such as wood floors or bamboo floors
  • Get cabinets made with recycled materials such as reclaimed wood
  • Use recycled glass or paper accents to decorate the home

Shop Secondhand and Use Hand-Me-Downs or Thrift Items as Décor

Living room with table and books on it, couch and pictures on the wall
Used with permission of Andrea West Design

One easy way to reduce wastefulness and stay conscious of your environmental impact when redecorating is to bypass brand-new items and instead opt for gently used items for your décor. By shopping secondhand, for instance, you can easily repurpose an already existing item without having to contribute to the pollution that could result from ordering a new product. Additionally, this approach could be beneficial to your budget, since secondhand or thrift items tend to be significantly cheaper than new items – and you may even be able to score some hand-me-downs from your loved ones for free! You can easily implement this approach by:

  • Supporting local small businesses by purchasing hand-crafted products
  • Using friends’ or relatives’ hand-me-downs and repurposing them as décor
  • Going to thrift stores to shop for secondhand items instead of purchasing all-new furniture or decorations
Part of the bright designed living room with chair, table and pillows in the basket below the table, and a mirror on the wall above the table with flowers and books
Used with permission of Lisa Furey Interiors

If you’re hoping to redecorate your home soon, don’t stress about sustainability – simply implement these easy and eco-friendly ideas! Some home renovations or redecorations can be wasteful, but you can stay eco-conscious by adding small decorative items to each room, renovating only with eco-friendly materials, and using more hand-me-downs or thrift items to rejuvenate your home. Use these fun ideas to decorate your home the environmentally responsible way! Thanks to wallshoppe.com for consulting.

The Value of Pairing Your Home Design Business With an Audio Visual Company

Whether you build houses on spec, flip homes, or are a home architect, it’s important to recognize the role that technology now plays in home design. You don’t have to do it alone. Audiovisual businesses have taken on the role of experts in the technology that creates a smart home. Read on for details of how working with an AV business will add value to your home offerings.

used with permission from Andrea West Design

Create Homes People Want to Buy

Smart homes are not just the future, they are here now and new features are being dreamed up all the time. Instead of having to keep on top of the latest trends, working with an AV company in Nashville or wherever you’re designing and building homes means you can leave the leg work to them. Not only are they trained on the latest innovations, but they already know what people are looking for and what sells best. You’ll also have a trusted team to work with when you add these features to your design. Some of the things an AV partner can help you with include:

  • pre-wire planning.
  • home security.
  • smart lighting.
  • home theater.
  • window controls.

Pre-Wire Planning

It’s important to bring your AV partner in early in the process of design because one of the most important steps is pre-wired planning for the home. Your design looks most professional and appealing when the necessary low voltage is wiring is hidden away in the walls and ceiling. Even if you don’t hook up every smart system imaginable, wiring for it and saving your new buyer from having to crawl around in the attic to drop wiring can be a selling point. 

used with permission from Andrea West Design

Home Security

Pre-installed systems that will sell the home include home security. In the past, home builders would never have considered adding a security system without the input of a buyer because it was tied to a specific company. Now, with smart home technology, you can install the cameras, smart locks, sensors and motion detectors then let the home buyer pick out their own monitoring service. Even if they choose not to have the system monitored, the security you’ve set up still adds to their safety and ability to monitor their own home. Security also includes smart lighting that knows to come on at specific times that aren’t necessarily tied to motion or light sensors, but instead adjust to the owner’s schedule. All of these technologies can also be monitored and adjusted from the owner’s phone.

used with permission from Andrea West Design

Traditional Audiovisual

While most buyers will bring in their own TV, have the home theater experience ready for them with window coverings that can be adjusted at a spoken command, and a system of speakers all tied to voice activation and phone control. Speakers aren’t just for around the communal TV anymore either, consider bringing the sound into bedrooms or other spaces people might want to watch. Install outdoor speakers for relaxing in the backyard. 

These are the type of amenities people expect to have to add after purchase; exceeding their expectations with an AV partner is the key to closing the sale. Thanks to hifibuy for consulting!

Home Office Network: Things You Must Know

Since the outbreak of the pandemic, a lot of things have changed. One of the things that have affected people is working at the office. You are forced to stay and work home because it’s safe.

If you have to work at home, there are essential things to use. These include a laptop or desktop, your phone, an internet connection, and maybe a printer. It means that you shall need to have a new data cable in house for the internet as that’s where your new office will be. You can’t access the office network at home.

Home office, table with PC monitor, laptop, notebook, pen, mouse pad and mouse
Photo by Grovemade on Unsplash

You may be wondering what an internet network entails to install at home. In this article, we shall review everything about home internet.

Let’s get started:

Type of Home Office Network

This is a type of network that provides internet connectivity to work devices at home. These include desktop computers, laptops, smartphones, tablets, video game systems, and even printers.

Internet not only helps the devices when you want to browse, but they can also sync up with the rest of the devices using the same network. Perhaps you want to print a document from your tablet; you can do it through the network. Moreover, you can send documents or data from one device to the other. 

When choosing home office networks, there are three types to consider: wired, wireless, or mixed network. A wired network is where you need to use cables for connectivity between one device to the other. Most old printers and scanners use a wired network.

Wireless, on the other hand, is a type of network that doesn’t use cables. It’s a modern type of network that uses modern tech such as Bluetooth. Others sync to connect wirelessly.

If you find it tricky to choose between wired and wireless, don’t worry. It’s not a must for you to do so. You should consider a third option – a mixed network.

Components Needed

Home office with a mirror on the wall behind the desk
Used with permission of Andrea West Design

After you have chosen the type of network you want, the components will vary. These are the things you need:

  • Internet Service

It isn’t possible to go online when you don’t have an internet connection. And this is the internet from your service provider. Using LTE is expensive because it chews your data fast. In addition, avoid public WiFi.

  • Router

A router is a device that will come with an internet package. Depending on the one to install your internet, you may probably buy it separately.

This gadget will allow you to use a modem to connect your devices to the internet.

  • Modem

A modem will work in tandem with the router to ensure you have reliable internet connectivity.

The Final Word

Corner of the room as home office
Used with permission of Alice Lane

A home office internet is essential. It gives you the benefit of efficiency and convenience. When you are starting to work at home, that’s not an easy job. You will miss all the tech gadgets you have in the office, making your job harder.

However, when you can connect your devices at home to the internet, it makes your working easier. You can use it to perform various tasks such as printing and sending files. Thanks to samedaytrades.com.au.

Living Room Essentials Checklist: How to Shop For Your Cottage Interior Design Style

Have you been dreaming of a cottage-inspired living room where you’ll feel like you’re on another planet? Well, with a bit of work and a lot of attention to detail, your dream can come true.

The cottage interior design style originates from the stunning cottages in England. Thankfully, you can recreate parts of it by getting a new sofa, decorating with wooden details, choosing suitable curtains, and going shopping for antiques and a vintage cabinet.

Check out our living room essentials checklist that you need to keep in mind before you start shopping.

1. Wooden Details

living room with chairs, TV and coffee table
Used with permission of Millhaven homes

The beauty of cottage-inspired interior décor is that it encourages you to mix prints, textures and materials. Aside from the colorful florals, fun plaids, and pretty stripes, you should focus on wooden details all around the room.

Wood is a material that spreads cozy vibes, and you can use it to your advantage to create the perfect atmosphere. Some of the wood details that you can add are striking wood curtain rods, rings, curtain accessories, wooden shelves, a unique wooden coffee table and more. An issue with wooden curtain rods is that they don’t glide as easily as metal/iron curtain rods. This is due to the friction of the wood material on the glides/rings.  However, you can solve this problem by purchasing iron curtain rods that look like wood from Drapery Curtain Rods

2. Antiques

Antiques are not only valuable, but they are also the perfect addition to a cottage living room. No matter if you opt for light or dark cottage style, antique decorations are a must.

We’re talking about unique decorations that will make the space even more welcoming and special. Most English cottages are filled with antiques, starting with comfy armchairs, gorgeous vases, lamps, mirrors, frames, and other vintage furniture pieces.

3. Vintage Mirrors

The mirrors you’ll get can all feature a different shape, size, color and material. If you can, find several vintage mirrors that you’ll place as frames on an empty wall. This will be one of the most vibrant and stunning corners in the room.

Mirrors are perfect for smaller and dark rooms because they make the space appear large and capture natural light.

4. Nail The Curtains

Living room with armchairs and table
Used with permission of Katie Destefano

The curtains can either make or break the final look of the room. Since the cottage interior design style is all about layering, mixing, and matching, we recommend combining sheer curtains with heavy, rich, plush draperies.

If the rest of the room is more on the minimalist side, you can choose an eye-catching print for the drapes. Colors such as emerald, royal blue, burgundy, and violet will work wonders for your new living room.

5. A Striking Cabinet

You can’t really capture the cottage feel without a striking rustic cabinet. This can be a classic large cabinet where you’ll place your decoration, or it can be a gorgeous cabinet to put the TV on.

Think about going vintage furniture shopping. The pieces that you’ll find will be a perfect addition to your room. Find a cabinet made of wood to rework it in a color that you love and even add unique hand-painted details everyone will love.

6. Cozy, Comfy Sofa

A gorgeous rustic-inspired sofa will most likely be the centerpiece of your new living room. If you’re obsessed with how cottages are decorated, this is your time to recreate those magical vibes. The design you choose should be comfy and beautiful, with a striking upholstery to fit the cottage-like style. The best version is a rich, baroque-like floral print in muted, subtle shades.

If you prefer a more minimalist style, you should opt for a white or cream sofa that encompasses style and comfort in one. This design will allow you to get creative with the sofa accessories. Get cute floral and plaid cushions, a soft knitted throw blanket, and you’re ready to go.

7. Artwork

Living room with sofas and coffee table
Used with permission of Jenny Keenan

You can’t really decorate a cottage-inspired room without including artwork. Although there aren’t any rules, large and striking paintings should be your choice. Bigger sized paintings will create an illusion that the room is quite large. When you opt for many smaller ones, you can make the living room feel cramped.

Don’t be afraid to add many paintings in pretty frames all over the living room. Make sure that the frames are as unique as the artwork.

Final Thoughts

Although achieving the well-known coziness and uniqueness of a cottage-inspired living room might not be simple, it will be worth it. This checklist is ready; now, all you need to do is start shopping for the essentials.

Some of the items that will help you achieve the popular English cottage style are a vintage cabinet, carefully chosen drapes, wooden details and antiques, mirrors, and a great sofa.

Are you ready to get into action and decorate your new living room?

Zana Dodig is a window treatments consultant with over 20 years of experience and loves helping others to cover their windows stylishly. She works as a window treatment consultant and writer at DraperyCurtainRods.ca – a place where you can find everything to treat your windows!

Thanks to draperycurtainrods.ca for consulting.

How can I finance my home renovation projects?

Are you looking to spruce up your home with a kitchen remodel? Or maybe you want to refresh your decor by swapping out old furniture for modern pieces? Many homeowners become captivated by decor possibilities but forget how they will be able to pay for it all.

There are many ways for you to finance your home renovation project, but different types of projects might have different types of financing that would suit it better. There are six types of home improvement loans: a home equity line of credit (HELOC), a home equity loan, cash-out refinance, personal loans, credit cards, and select federal programs. Different kinds of home improvement loans can be used for the renovation projects in the US.

Home Equity Loan

Kitchen with grey kitchen cabinet
Used with permission of Kira David Design

A home equity loan is a fixed amount that you borrow based on your home equity. Since the loan is secured against your home, home equity loans have low interest rates. Interest for home equity loans are also tax deductible if you’re using it to renovate your home.

Home equity loans are suited for projects that have a large cost upfront, such as a kitchen remodel. However, you can’t get a home equity loan if you don’t have at least 20% home equity. For example, if your home is worth $500,000 and you have a $400,000 mortgage, your home equity is 20%. You won’t be able to borrow any money with a home equity loan in this case.

Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC)

Learning how to use home equity to your advantage is a great way to finance a home renovation project. Home equity loans are great for large projects, but what about smaller renovations? A HELOC is a type of revolving credit that allows you to borrow money at any time up until a certain credit limit. This credit limit is based on your home equity. HELOCs are a great choice for renovation projects that have costs spread out over a period of time, as you will only borrow from your HELOC whenever you need it. For example, room additions might take a few months, and costs might change.

A HELOC means that you can borrow as little or as much as the project actually costs, saving you in interest costs. HELOCs also only require interest payments, making them have low monthly payments. Just like home equity loans, HELOC interest is also tax deductible for home renovation projects. Affordable and flexible, use a HELOC calculator to find out how much you can borrow.

Cash-Out Refinance

White designed living room with firework
Used with permission of Kira David Design

A cash-out refinance is when you increase your mortgage amount to borrow the increased amount. Let’s say that you have a home that is valued at $600,000 with a mortgage of $300,000. You can refinance your mortgage for $400,000, which increases your mortgage by $100,000. You can then withdraw and use the $100,000 towards anything that you’d like.

This lets you borrow money cheaply at low mortgage rates, and interest payments can be used as tax deductions. However, there can be fees for refinancing your mortgage.

Personal Loans

HELOCs, home equity loans, and a refinanced mortgage are all secured against your home. On the other hand, personal loans have no collateral. This means that the interest rate will depend a lot more on your credit score and income, with rates being higher than those you can get from a secured loan.

A personal loan is a good alternative for those who do not have enough equity in their home to borrow from. Personal loan applications are also quick, allowing you fast access to funds.

Credit Cards

Home office with black wall and white table
Used with permission of Kira David Design

Credit cards give you instant access to money, which can be great if you need to pay for something right away. They’re also flexible like a HELOC in the sense that you can borrow and repay at any time.

However, credit cards have very high interest rates, and so they might not be a great choice for long-term financing. Credit cards also have lower limits compared to a secured loan. You might be hard-pressed to fund a $50,000 kitchen remodel from only a credit card!

Which option is best?

Credit cards and personal loans are an option if you need to pay for renovation expenses right away, but they have higher interest rates than secured loans. They are both good options for small renovation projects, while home equity loans and mortgage refinances are better suited for large projects that have a sizable upfront cost.

You could pay initially using a credit card and then switch to a secured loan, or you could get the best of both through a home equity line of credit. Whichever financing route you take, make sure to make a plan and create a budget to help make sure your home renovation project goes smoothly. Thanks to casaplorer.com for consulting.

Outstanding Great Room Designs For Your Modern Home

Have you been looking for new ways to spruce up the look of your great room? Maybe you’ve been wanting to shift to a more modern look, add in new decor or create an entirely different space by switching up the current design in your living room.

Regardless of the changes you want to make, we can help get you started with unique ideas to enhance the overall look of your great room.

Modern living room decor is all about functionality and simplicity. It is about expressing your original style through the pieces you choose, to create a sophisticated, classy, and cozy living space. Every detail, big or small, that you include in your great room will have an impact on the completed look that you see once renovations are complete.

Beige designed living room with a round chandelier, couch and table with flowers in vase
Used with permission of Leo Designs CHICAGO

You will want to create an inviting but comfortable space that will welcome your friends and family into your home. This will make your modern living room a special place to make memories from the comfort of your home.

If you’ve been considering switching up the look in your living room, now is the time to take a risk, make the change and create a classy, cozy but modern design in your living space.

Here are some ideas to get you started on the journey towards transforming your living room, to help guide you as you begin the shift towards a modern design.

Add A Fireplace

In a living space with a modern theme, a fireplace can be a great addition to the overall look of the entire room.

Not only can a fireplace keep you warm through the winter months but it can add a cozy and inviting feeling to your great room. There are many fireplace designs out there but no matter the kind you choose, it is guaranteed to be the focal point of your living space. It will capture the attention of those who walk in, creating an ambiance in the room.

Types Of Fireplaces To Look Into:

  • Electric Fireplace with mantel (no flame option)
  • Direct Vent Unit (eco-friendly choice)
  • Gas Fireplace (convenient and low maintenance option)
  • Wood Burning Option (lower cost and environmentally friendly choice)
Living room with sofas and coffee table
Used with permission of Jenny Keenan

Re-paint or Add An Accent Wall

Depending on the initial style you are going for in your great room, you may consider repainting the walls to bring the entire look together. In a lot of modern living room designs, the walls are a neutral color such as white or grey depending on the tone you prefer in the room.

However, if your walls are already a neutral shade you may want to add something new to your great room, such as an accent wall. This wall will be the center of attention, drawing in the eye from all angles. You can pick a simple design, an intricate pattern, or something unique, it just depends on the overall look that you want to complete in the room.

Bring in Pops Of Color

To add to the simple modern design in your great room, to break away from the neutral tones, you may consider adding pops of color throughout the room to spruce it up.

By adding pops of color to your living space, you will be able to add a bit of vibrancy to the simple and plain design you currently have. You can add color through furniture, a rug, pillows, or a fur throw blanket, any way you can bring a settle pop of color into the final design.

You can still keep the room modern and sleek, by keeping everything uniform and cohesive to match in the modern design you choose.

Find Unique Lighting

When designing a modern great room for your home, it is important to take time to look at lighting and the role it plays in the overall feeling of the living space.

Light creates an ambiance and can make a difference in any room, especially a great room where time is spent relaxing or unwinding. Depending on the style of light fixture you choose, whether it’s intricate or simple, you can use it to decorate the room and for functionality, while adding to the modern design.

Types Of Light Fixtures To Check-Out:

  • Modern Chandeliers (industrial or classic crystal style)
  • Standing Floor Lamp
  • Retro Industrial Lighting Fixtures
  • Hanging Globe Pendant

Add New Shelving

Home office shelf
Used with permission of Kerry Spears, Nathan Schroeder and Kelli Boyd Photography

To add simple yet intricate detail to your great room, find a type of shelving unit you like and utilize it in your space. Shelving is very versatile, giving you a place to store things or display different pieces of decor that match the design of the room.

Types Of Shelving To Add To Your Great Room:

  • Triangular Shelves
  • Floating Shelves
  • Corner Floating Shelves
  • Wall Length Bookshelves

A lot of modern designs incorporate reclaimed wood shelves which are the perfect way to bring this style into your living space. The wood will contrast with the neutral tones, bringing the entire space together, especially if you add other bits of reclaimed wood to decorate to make the look more consistent.

Add Simple Decor

Once you have finally put together all of the bigger details in your great room, you can begin to look at smaller details and simple decor that you can add into the space to tie the entire design together. There are so many things you can add, so it is important that you do not go overboard in order to keep the finished design simple, modern and sleek.

Area Rugs

By adding an area rug to your living room space you will bring a sense of comfort and style to the room. This will help create a more inviting, warm feeling in your great room.

Whether you want a plain, neutral rug, a bohemian style rug to add intricate details, or a striped style to add a bold design to the room, you are bound to find a rug that fits with the look of the entire space.

Greenery

A popular decoration to add to any modern living space is greenery. This will bring a pop of color, life, and simplicity to space, adding to the decor you have without being too overwhelming. Add one plant or as many as you like, keeping in mind you want to keep up the simple, modern design.

To spruce up the decor in your living room, add a DIY floral arrangement, an indoor palm tree, hanging house plants, or succulents to your area. Buy real plants if you have a green thumb or settle for faux plants, either way, they will be a great addition to the decor in your modern living room.

Wall Art

To tie together any living space, wall art is necessary, especially when the walls are a neutral shade and seem too bare without some sort of decor to break them up. You can find unique prints and put them in a frame, look for novelty signs you like, or large wall mirrors that match other accents in the space.

Any of this wall art can add the little details you need to complete the overall look of your modern living room.

Throw Pillows

Adding colorful or patterned throw pillows to your great room can add a pop of color or detail where necessary, especially in a space where the walls and couch are a neutral color. By adding throw pillows to the couch you will bring in new colors or designs that can help bring the entire modern, cozy theme together.

Colorful Poufs

In many modern living room designs, there are colorful or patterned poufs around the coffee table or near the couch, serving as decor and a place to sit or rest your feet after a long day. These poufs are a small detail but can add so much to the room, without adding too much into the completed design.

Poufs are versatile, functional and can add color or design to any modern space.

Taking Your Great Room To The Next Level With These Modern Designs

If you have been considering changing up the look of your great room, now is the perfect opportunity to take time and begin making subtle changes, to eventually turn your living room into a modem, sleek but cozy space.

By adding shelving, re-painting the walls, changing up the lighting, adding a fireplace, or decorating with greenery, you can take your great room from simple to modern, sophisticated, and chic. You can bring in unique details that stand out to you and will pop in the room, it is all about your style and the design you choose.

Make the room exactly what you want it to be, adding your own flair to the modern design you are recreating. Bring simplicity, beauty, and sophistication to your living space, giving you a cozy place to enjoy friends or family, or a relaxing night on your own. Thanks to magikflame.com for consulting.

6 Ways To Make The Most Of Small Outdoor Spaces

Nowadays, you may find everything you need in outdoor areas since you can have your dining, lounging, and entertainment zones there. Outdoor activities become an excellent avenue for inviting friends and relatives over. However, when you have a small and limited space, making the most of your outdoor area can be dire challenging.

Maximize Your Space!

Exterior hall with flowers
Used with permission of Emily Followill

Below are ideas to help you create the best outdoor living space ever, whether you’re looking to entertain guests, host an outdoor summer party, or just escape to the outdoors for a few minutes every day.

1. Make Use Of Built-In Bench

You always get the best value with built-in furniture because it’s custom-made and it fits the size of your available outdoor area. If you own your home and have a higher budget, a built-in bench may be a good choice. Concrete or wood benches built into a tight spot would be the ideal solution as they can be tailored to fit your space perfectly.

Combining a built-in bench with a table for outdoor seating is an excellent idea. It could offer a great dining spot for your friends and family or act as a fun place to meet.

2. Optimize Seating Arrangement

Limited outdoor space isn’t a valid excuse to not be able to accommodate enough seats for your family and guests. Take advantage of a diverse manner of seating like porch swings as it’s a practical option, particularly when you have children constantly roaming and playing. The best way to get more out of it is to match it with foldable chairs and tables you could move quickly.

You can also try combining sets of materials when designing your space such as using wooden chairs with a marbled table. Using your creativity, you can incorporate seats with a dual purpose, making it a chair when you need it to function as one and have it work as something else like an accent design for your outdoor space.

3. Go Minimal

Front of the house with lawn
Used with permission of Emily Followill

It may seem challenging to create a fantastic patio with a small footprint, but it could be designed and constructed. You can transform a dull outdoor area into a stylish, chic retreat with the right furniture. Regardless of your patio’s size, it can inspire you to think big.

Go creative but minimal while designing your patio because less is more. A potted plant and three furniture pieces will do the trick. With a bistro set, you can entertain and dine outside in a modest external space.

4. Mix And Match

A great way of making an area seem more prominent is to use many layers. Some small furnishings can go well with bright accent pieces, which gives the patio a cohesive look while maximizing its size. There’s more to outdoor textiles than just revamping the aesthetics of the place. Choose lovely and soothing pieces such as a feathery rug, a soft blanket, or some throw pillows to provide comfort and allow your guests to relax in the place.

5. Go For Space Saving Furniture

Choose the ideal pieces and opt for space-saving furniture designs when planning your outdoor furniture layout. Several compact pieces of outdoor furniture can create the perfect outdoor dining room. You may refer to some guide to help you decide which ones to buy. Use easily movable furniture, so you and your guests have extra space to roam around.

During your relaxing afternoon in a chaise lounge and side table, you can get some work done with a folding table and chairs. As for an intimate dinner party, you may unfold or place them against the wall for a cozy party. Also, think about adding a wooden bench to the available space so it can double as seating and storage. The key is to find a piece of innovative furniture flexible enough to be changed and kept anytime.

6. Make A Micro Garden

House garden in the sunrise
Used with permission of Blackband Design

The balcony can be an ideal place to have various potted plants, and the easiest way to take care of them is to plant them in containers. Having the flexibility of moving things around gives you the freedom to make changes to your space. Small-space gardens can successfully grow flowers, plants, and vegetables, so be creative and unleash your green thumb. 

The key is to create an airy space with the garden you like. Make your area more captivating by using plants or plant bases with an attractive shape that’ll take up less area. A small outdoor garden can still be beautiful and vibrant even with limited space. 

Conclusion

Despite the glaring limitation, a small space could give you the freedom to add pieces to enhance the area and not simply be confined to it. Take advantage of all these different ways to make the most of your outdoor space. Thanks to theporchswingstore.com for consulting.

Backsplash Tiles Made Kitchen Décor Easy

Have you ever come across a kitchen which made you go wow? Well, if you want such a kitchen décor and that too on a budget, then having the lightweight mosaic backsplash tiles is a must. These are the bang for the bucks, as you do not have to invest much in them, but in return, it will give you a well-decorated kitchen.

Kelly Martin designed kitchen
Used with permission of Kelly Martin and Meghan Bob Photography

If you are still wondering about having the marble or cement tiles, then be ready to spend a lot of money as they are not very affordable. Only the backsplash tiles are the ones that can fulfill the need of a kitchen décor on a limited budget. If you are still confused about choosing this, then worry not; we have a few prominent reasons which will make you add the backsplash tiles to your kitchen décor.

Easy to Clean

A cleaner kitchen is the wish of every house owner. The backsplash tiles are the perfect wall décor for those who cannot bear the unsightly vision of dirty tiles. The backsplash tiles only need you to get a damp cloth and scrub off the stains easily. Getting stained walls in the kitchen is a routine matter, and no one can stop it, so the best way to avoid such issues is to have the best backsplash tiles.

Increase the Value of Your Home

As the walls of your kitchen will be protected from any kind of damage and will stay as new forever. It will help in keeping your house valuable. As the backsplash tiles will make your kitchen look good, it will also add to the price and value of the home.

Amazing Kitchen Décor

Kitchen with kitchen bar table and elements
Used with permission of Kelly Martin and Meghan Bob Photography

The best part about having the backsplash tiles is the availability of colors and patterns. Unlike the marble and cement tiles, which are only available in a few colors and shades, the backsplash tiles can be installed according to different kitchen decors. For example, if you have a contemporary kitchen décor, then the metallic color backsplash tiles will suit your kitchen. For a classic kitchen, you can have some patterns too.

Easy to Install

The backsplash tiles are quite easy to install. All you need is to remove the back sticker and place it on the wall, press it on the walls, and it is done. Furthermore, the backsplash tiles are heat resistant, too; you do not have to worry about destruction.

Removable

Kitchen detail, sink and tiles
Used with permission of Kelly Martin and Meghan Bob Photography

Those who cannot have the same kitchen décor need the removable wall décor. The removable backsplash wallpapers allow you to remove the wallpapers whenever needed. So that you can change the outlook of your kitchen whenever you wish to, this feature can be a great help for those who want to give out their homes for rent; you can have a new kitchen or bathroom look whenever searching for a new family.

Environment-Friendly Manufacturing

Those concerned for the environment and climate change should consider having environmentally friendly backsplash tiles. These are manufactured without harming the environment. Thanks to clevermosaics.com for consulting on this post.

The Hidden Dangers of Not Washing Your Bedsheets Regularly

The person who said that cleanliness is next to godliness had a valid point because poor hygiene causes many preventable diseases. Maintaining clean bedsheets is critical to enjoying a healthy home. You must wash your sheets regularly to continue enjoying the benefits of good sleep. Otherwise, why should you sleep well and then suffer avoidable health complications because of dirty bedsheets?

But as critical as it sounds, a recent Mattress Advisor survey conducted revealed that many Americans wash their bed sheets every 24 days. That sounds scary, but it’s the sad culture among many Americans.

Bright designed bedroom with king size bed
Used with permission of Breeze Giannasio

What are the dangers of not washing your sheets on time? This post examines these dangers. Remain with this discussion to learn and avoid them.

Here are the Dangers

According to the American Academy of Dermatology, your skin sheds between 30,000 and 40,000 dead skin cells daily. Now, you should remember that you spend about one-third of your day in bed—at least eight hours. Shedding dead skin also attracts dust mites because they feast on dead skin. Thus, failing to wash your sheets on time provides a conducive atmosphere for mites to thrive and continue enjoying their sumptuous feast!

It’s critical to remember that sleeping gives you enough time to leak more moisture on your sheets. You also wet them with drool, skin oils, and fluids from sexual extracurriculars. Those who love sleeping “commando style” (stark naked) risk dropping tiny, dry fecal matters on their sheets. Results? All these accumulations form a fertile ground for various forms of disease-causing germs.

Things worsen if you share your bed with a pet because pets increase the contamination. These contaminants can cause various health challenges such as skin irritation and acne. You also risk contracting conditions like contact dermatitis. Those already suffering from eczema are at higher risk because it worsens under such contaminated and unhygienic conditions. Don’t forget that pets also release some fur onto your bed and sheets. If left to accumulate for long, the fur could cause allergic reactions and other breathing complications.

Closeup of the bed and night cupboard in bedroom
Used with permission of Breeze Giannasio

Still on pet issues, those sharing beds with dogs or cats should be more cautious because their fur attracts more dust mites. Also, a dog with a skin condition like mange can spread mites that burrow beneath your skin. The mites may not infect you with scabies but will definitely irritate your skin and make it itchy. Further, these pets can infect you with scalp ringworm. That is why regular sheet cleaning is a must if you don’t want to contract any of these skin conditions.

Lastly, don’t forget that your bedsheets also gather extra harmful bacteria from pillowcases. Laboratory tests discovered that swabs from pillowcases that go unwashed for a week harbor 17,000 more bacteria colonies than those taken from toilet seats. If you believe that you are more likely to get infected from your toilet seat, then failing to wash your sheets on time exposes you to more bacteria.

When Should You Change and Wash Your Bedsheets?

A 2012 poll the National Sleep Foundation conducted revealed that 91 percent of Americans change their sheets only bi-weekly. However, experts recommend washing sheets weekly. They agree that weekly changing and washing are necessary because they prevent the buildup of dangerous contamination levels.

However, this washing frequency isn’t fixed since you can even do it before or after a week elapses. The reason is that the actual number of times you should wash your sheets depends on many other factors. So, you should consider the following factors to know if you need to clean or change your sheets before or after the recommended one-week timeframe.

Kids room with two beds and book shelf
Used with permission of Breeze Giannasio
  • If you wear pajamas to bed you may break this rule because they trap some of the dead skin cells that could have remained on your sheets.
  • Showering before going to bed also reduces the amount of dead skin that could have ended up on your sheets.
  • If you sleep with pets, you are most likely to wash your bedsheets before the one-week period.
  • Drooling all over your pillowcase means you have to wash your bed sheets more frequently.
  • Wash your bed sheets more frequently if you have acne or eczema.
  • Any form of allergy to dust or asthma requires you to clean your sheets more frequently.
  • Wash your bedsheets more frequently if you sweat excessively.
  • Behaviors like eating in bed require you to clean your sheets more frequently.
  • The sick should wash their sheets more regularly. 

Failing to wash your sheets regularly exposes you to many health dangers. Fortunately, the insights this post shared can help you avoid these health risks. It’s up to you to apply them and enjoy a healthy life. Thanks to maids.com for consulting.