Sunday, April 11, 2010

Fabric Shower Curtains

By Marion Jones

There was a time when fabric shower curtains went the way of the dinosaur and glass shower doors were all the rage. Like most fads, however, common sense took charge and the fashions of yesteryear have come back around full circle. You'll now find that fabric shower curtains are all the rage once again and are readily available for purchase at most stylish home decor stores.

However, don't jetison your old glass doors just yet. The convenience and smart look of the glass doors seem to be firmly established with some people. Adherents of glass doors will swear by these and will even sometimes be ready to lay down their reputations for them.

You'll find, when talking about fabric shower curtains, that their owners are laid back and will smile when asked about their preferences. Naturally, they'll defend their fabric shower curtains but they also admit to seeing the benefits of glass shower doors as well. No dripping from the bottom of the curtain, no constantly damp curtain folds that need to be separated out each morning in order to prevent mildew.

Most convenient of all, is the easy cleaning afforded by glass shower doors. However, as the fans of fabric shower curtains will also tell you, glass doors have their downsides too, the biggest of which being that if you permit the cleaning of the doors to go for even one week, stains will begin to form along the sides where they're fixed to the wall and some of these seem to have a much stronger will than you do.

And without a good regular cleaning of the glass shower doors, your otherwise nice clean bathroom will begin to look grubby. The reason though why fabric shower curtains are an all out favourite of many people in the know, is for one reason and one reason only. This is also what leads these people to have a contented smile on their faces even after they've just spent the last half hour sponging their bathroom. Fabric shower curtains are disposable.

Yes, that's the one whopping big reason why fabric shower curtains are still a firm favourite of loads of people. Have you ever tried changing your glass doors on a regular basis? It just won't happen and its doubtful if it will ever happen within three years, unless that is you take a hammer to it.

So, now you know the reason behind that mysterious smile and why fabric shower curtains never really went out of fashion. Convenience, more convenience and still more convenience. So if you're considering of swapping from your glass shower doors to the more convenient fabric shower curtains don't be put off by the initial job that awaits you.

Once you remove those doors, your life is bound to become easier, and if it's not, just exchange one pair of fabric shower curtains for new ones. If nothing else it'll make you feel better!

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Wednesday, April 7, 2010

Home Decor That Is Super Luxurious Yet Eco- Friendly

By Dareth Johns

Would you love to design your home in an eco- friendly manner but are afraid that this will remove the luxurious feel you love so much? Stop worrying and start planning. Many eco- conscious designers have introduced lines of eco- friendly decorating products that give you as much luxury as any other. Thanks to these products and a few helpful tips you can turn your house into the super luxurious, super eco- friendly home you dream of, while saving money.

Pick some really nice eco-friendly items that you can use as focal points to your room, and build them around these items. So many companies are into making eco-friendly items that you will have a lot of choices that you may not even realize.

A great way to go eco-friendly is by switching to hardwood floors. It's not really as expensive as you may think, and so many of the products are made from recycled wood that it's a great way to make your home eco-friendly and luxurious. Simply get a hold of a contractor and see if they can help you get some wood floors made from the recycled wood of an older home that has been torn down. It will save them money too, and most of them will help you out in a heartbeat.

Area rugs are made eco-friendly and they will not only add to your home, but they will make a room seem much more comfortable. If you have wood floor it's really nice to place an area rug on these floors since in the cold they don't stay as warm, but stepping on that area rug will have your feet feeling warm almost instantly.

Try to use as much natural light in your home as possible. Putting in skylights is a great way to get light into your home. Or even adding in some newer windows, not only will it save money on the bills, but it will help your house decor be brighter.

To change your home into a luxurious and eco-friendly home can be very easy. Plus the money you can save by getting recycled items will help you out too. Make sure to ensure that your items are really eco-friendly and get to decorating.

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Tuesday, April 6, 2010

Making The Most Of Small Spaces

By Carla Jenkins

Studio apartments are a choice which many people are forced to take advantage of, simply because of their monetary situation. While very few people would actually choose to live in a small, one-room living arrangement, sometimes this is simply all that is available to them. This, however, doesn't mean that you will have to compromise and live in an environment which does not feel like home. If you are planning on moving into a studio apartment you will simply have to be a little more creative on figuring out the best way to make your space comfortable and spacious while still finding ways to have a space for each area that you might need.

If it's one larger room which needs to be split into several, this may seem impossible. Studio apartments are usually the ones which are one larger room but then broken up into a kitchen, living space, and a bedroom. One way to make the space larger is using a futon or sleeper sofa. You can put it away during the day and roll it out at night. No need to break the room up anymore than you already have to.

Kitchens are another area which is quite small in most apartment spaces. Counter space and cabinets are lacking in most cases. Try purchasing storage bins which are on wheels. You can place these in the kitchen or right outside of it to hold your utensils and other dishes which you can't fit into the cabinet space provided.

A table is also a necessity for not only will you need a place to eat and entertain your guests at but you will also need some sort of flat surface that you can use as a work table when you need it. You could choose a folding table of sorts, which can easily be cleared out of the way when more space is needed, or you could get yourself a half-table which can be pushed up against the wall. This could help make more room in the area while still providing a surface for all the necessities.

Area rugs will be a great accent to break the rooms apart. Try to tie the same color theme in with each but it can be different patterns. Placing area rugs in different parts of the room which are broken off into sections is a great barrier and will be a great room brighter.

Space may always become an issue when you are searching around for apartments, especially studio styles. Don't just turn down a great apartment due to the space. Use your imagination and you can make anything happen by just rearranging items in a certain way.

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Saturday, April 3, 2010

How To Create An Indoor Home Gym

By Mike Younger

If you are lucky enough to have a room separate from the rest of your home that you can use as a home gym, decorate so that you want to spend time in there working out. Having comfortable surroundings when you are working out is just as important as the equipment you have in your work out place.

If you're lucky enough to have a workout room with a balcony or terrace overlooking the outdoors place your stationary machinery there, like your treadmill, bike, and stair climber. While you are exercising you can picture yourself riding outdoors. This can be inspiring as well as healthy because you can open the door and get fresh air.

You may want a wall with mirrors so that you can watch your movements as you stretch out before you take your run or ride your bike. If your workout room doesn't have carpet, place an area rug somewhere in the room so that you have a soft place to do floor exercises. A rectangular or square rug will help to add extra cushion for your exercise mat or your exercise ball as you are doing your floor exercises. Since this is your work out room, get a rug in the color or size and shape that will inspire you to continue on your way to a healthier you.

One area of your room should be set up with a rack for towels, dumb bells or weights and you should also have a place set up for your music. Everyone needs music to help them get a beat going and drive them on through their work out routine. You can also have a set of scales in that same area as well to keep track of how you are doing. A small refrigerator with fresh bottled water and juice is good to have there as well.

Remember that this room is to help you become fit and healthy. Don't spend too much time in this room except for working out, anywhere from thirty minutes to one hour. If you have a goal that you are working towards, like a new dress, then place a poster size picture of that dress on the wall so everyday you can remind yourself of why you are working so hard.

You will also need a chart or calendar to hang up on the wall so you can write down and keep track of your progress. A dry erase board will allow you to create a calendar and chart all in one. It can help you keep track of your weigh ins and help you see your results.

No matter how you choose to decorate your workout room, make sure you include a soft rug on the floor and use all the natural lighting available. Make the space comfortable and inviting and you will reach your fitness goals in no time at all.

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Friday, April 2, 2010

Reselling Your House: Increase Its Resale Value By Storing Clutter In A Personal Warehouse

By Dayna Bailey

Even if it does not cross your mind to you to do it at present, there may come a moment in the near future that you would be selling your abode. And when that time arrives, you would certainly wish that the potential purchasers would no longer quibble about the price you are asking for the structure that, for years, was your own dwelling place.

Buyers, however, are very fickle with their choice. They might gush over how lovely your home is while they explore the rooms and the surroundings. Still, when it is finally time to seal the deal, these potential purchasers back out.

Often, the main ground prospective buyers withdraw from the deal of buying a house is that 2 valuable components are missing in the abode that they were primarily determined on acquiring. These 2 criteria are space and purpose.

Make sure that you've done a thorough cleaning up of your house before you receive any potential purchaser for a grand tour of your house. Your personal belongings that would otherwise be thought of as mess by potential purchasers should be stored away somewhere safe and out of sight. For this clearing up job, you can't - and should not - use the carport, the cellar, the attic, or the extra room on the upper story as a warehouse. Many potential buyers would really insist on exploring all rooms in your home. Imagine what their reaction would be if they witnessed that you've merely evacuated the mess inside your dwelling in your carport. Thus, for this type of clearing up, the only viable answer is for you to rent a self-storage warehouse.

If you are renting a self-storage warehouse, it is also a good investment just in case a buyer instantly buys your house and moves in immediately. Thus, all you have to do is bring out your personal belongings from your former house and keep them in storage in your personal warehouse. Your personal possessions will be secure while kept in storage in the warehouse, until the time comes you could find a new place for them. Renting out a personal warehouse guarantees you that your personal possessions will be kept safe and also made available at your most convenient time (perhaps only after that Caribbean cruise you've always dreamed of going).

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