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You are here: Home / Archives for Home Improvement / Home decor

Berber Rugs Can Benefit Your Home

by The Shopping Maniac






Designing a home is a lot like looking for a needle in a haystack. It can be difficult to find so many interior design “soulmates” all at once. If you’re a perfectionist at heart, you may want to find a sofa that’s ideal. You may want to find ideal cabinets, rugs and beyond as well. The rug world is a large one. There are countless options in rugs available to shoppers. People can choose between natural fiber rugs, kilims, flat woven rugs and more. They can also select Moroccan rugs. If you want to decorate your residence with a Moroccan rug that’s full of authentic North African beauty and charm, you should look into Berber floor coverings as soon as possible. These tribal rugs are the work of the Beni Ourain peoples. They’ve been institutions for these people for thousands of years.

Beni Ourain rugs are visually stunning. Looking at them up close can feel like an otherworldly and ethereal journey. They display geometric patterns and shapes that are arresting and dramatic. They’re white and off-white floor coverings that don’t overwhelm you with intense color, either. If you want to buy a home rug that’s a terrific blend of unassuming and attractive, a Beni Ourain rug may be part of your future.

These rugs offer multiple benefits. They can be suitable for warm and cold weather. If you live in a cold location, there are many Beni Ourain rug options that can help you stay toasty and comfortable. If you reside in a warm or hot location, on the other hand, you have access to just as many great Beni Ourain rug choices. Berber rugs help people who live in the mountains of North Africa feel warm. Lighter rugs help people who live in the arid and scorching hot deserts of North Africa feel cool and relaxed.

These Moroccan rugs generally are constructed using cotton or wool. They’re easy to find in interior design retailers all around the world nowadays. Moroccan rug fans can’t stop discussing all of their positive qualities. They can’t resist talking about how beautiful they are. They love talking about their durability as well. These rugs are extremely sturdy. They can manage considerable daily foot traffic in the home. If you live with a handful of mischievous youngsters who adore running around and releasing all of their energy after long days at school, you’ll undoubtedly welcome a Berber rug into your life.
Young children are often quite messy, too. They drop their food on the floor. They spill juice. If you want to protect your home from unattractive and lasting stains, you should think seriously about making a Berber rug purchase. These rugs don’t soak stains up easily. Cleaning them is also usually straightforward and hassle-free. A little H20 and a cloth can generally work.

If you want your home to look exotic, classic and elegant all at the same time, the Moroccan Berber rug world is calling your name. Berber rugs are a dream for passionate interior design aficionados.






Top Bedroom Trends For 2013

by Trish

The bedroom is the place where we spend a lot of our time, and even though for the majority of this time we are asleep, it is important to make sure that the bedroom is a room that makes you feel comfortable and at home. These are the top bedroom trends for 2013 that can transform your bedroom into a room that will kick start your day and leave you in a great mood.

Inspiring Wallpapers

One of the biggest comebacks this season in bedroom design is wallpapers. 2013 designs in wallpapers are all about very dramatic colours and patterns. You should choose great metallic colours in various patterns. Big patterns are a must this season, for instance great flower patterns can create a dramatic yet romantic look for your bedroom.

You can balance this dramatic look by choosing more neutral accessories and colours for bed sheets and furniture.

Wooden Flooring

Top 2013 bedroom trends include wooden flooring instead of whole-room carpets. Hardwood floors come in many colours and help create a dramatic look in the room as well as improve the sell out value of your home. You can add big rugs to provide comfort into your bedroom. Rugs are also great because you can replace them easily and thus change the look in your bedroom quickly.

Your Own Personal Spa

Top bedrooms in 2013 are all about creating a personal spa-like look and feel. This is shown in big dramatic headboards that create a hotel-like look in your bedroom. Adding small personal touches such as minibars and music components to the bedroom also creates this hotel and spa inspiration..

You should get rid of multiple decorative pillows as 2013 is all about having one bed-wide pillow on your bed. These wide pillows are often placed in spa environments and are thus favored in 2013 style guides.

Serenity And Calmness

BedroomBecause bedrooms are for relaxation and sleep it is important that you make sure that you create a serene and calm look in the bedroom. This serenity is also present in bedroom trends for 2013.

A calm and serene look is best achieved by choosing natural and neutral colours. HGTV recommends that you choose calming fabrics as well for your bedroom.

This means that you should incorporate silk and cotton into your bedroom in simple colours. You can create a serene look by making sure that all furniture is well matching and this also creates a hotel feel to the bedroom.

Simplicity And Functionality

Bedroom trends for 2013 are all about simplicity and improved functionality. You should utilise your bedroom space fully and make sure that you don’t have too much clutter around. This will ensure serenity in the bedroom. Top trends in bedroom furniture are all about functionality. You can look for functionality tips and products from the Superglide website.

You should also make sure that your bedroom offers you all the functions that you want from it. In 2013, bedrooms are all about personal functionality.For instance you can have your own personal meditation spot in the bedroom.

These great bedroom trends can create a great look for your bedroom this year. You should also look out for some great inspiring pictures that can give you more great ideas and tips.

Attached Images:
  •  License: Royalty Free or iStock source: http://officeimg.vo.msecnd.net/en-us/images/MB900430722.jpg

Terance Nichols writes about home improvement on his free time. He has years of experience in the field and he knows all the industry secrets.

Tired Of Your Living Room? Give The Walls A Makeover

by Trish

Does your living room seem bland or out of date? Changing the walls in your living room can make a huge difference. Best of all, there are so many options to choose from. Not only can you paint the room, but you can get creative with your own photography. So, what you are waiting for? Give your living room walls a much needed makeover.

Go Bold With New Paint Colors

Paint is something you can have fun with. Because paint is so affordable, you can take the risk to throw a bright pink or ocean blue color on the walls. If you don’t like it, you can always paint over it. Look for inspiration in magazines, fabrics, favorite accessories, etc. Also, check out the new paint lines at your favorite home improvement store.

Create an Accent Wall

If you’re afraid to make a bold change on all the walls, choose an accent wall to paint with a different color or some other type of design. The accent wall will also be the focal wall. For example, if you have a fireplace, this will be your accent wall. This can be a great way to make a big change without becoming overwhelmed. Creating just one accent wall will prevent the room from seeming too bland without making it chaotic.

Invest in High Quality Wallpaper

High quality wallpaper can be found in rich colors and unique designs with detailed textures. However, high quality wallpaper is expensive. This is why many people choose to only use it on an accent wall. When doing this, you want to match paint to a color in the wallpaper for the surrounding walls. This will give you a big wow for very little money.

Bring in a Mural Artist

If you want something truly unique, hire a mural artist. A mural can be anything that fits your personality. It might be a large oak tree and an open field or even a city graffiti scene. Always get samples of previous work before hiring someone. This will be expensive, but will give you a look that will be unique to your home. Make sure you double check with family members who are artists. You may have a family talent who can do the work for a little less than an unknown pro. You should also ask if they’ll give you a discount for allowing you to put their work into a portfolio.

Turn the Walls Into Scenery

Last, but not least, you can have photos transferred into wallpaper panels. If you have scenic photos from a favorite vacation, use them. This would be a great idea for a focus wall and would again be a very unique option. One tip though is to have the wallpaper professionally hung to get the panels even.

Your living room doesn’t have to be boring. There are so many great ways to add the wow factor and many will provide a unique look that no one else will have. Best of all, many of these options are affordable on any budget.

About the Author: Marianne Branch and her husband just remodeled their entire living room. The ordered sofas from HomeQ but they had a mural painted on the wall by a local artist. Now their living room is a relaxing beach oasis!

Pros And Cons Of Different Tile Materials

by Trish

Tiles have been made by man for over 4000 years – with such a rich history and reliable reputation, it’s not surprising that many of the original materials used through time still remain today, along with many by-products and variations that have evolved with them.

Each tile type has its own set of pros and cons, making each suitable for different uses.

There are three main categories that tile material can be broken down into; ceramic, quarry and stone. There are more categories and variations within these categories, but here are the main pros and cons that you will need to know when picking a tile to suit you and your home.

Ceramic – Ceramic tiles are seen as great value for money, although they may not be the cheapest tile to purchase, their long-lasting and durable qualities mean they can last the life of your home and increase its value. You can find cheap ceramic tiles at discount flooring outlets or end of line ranges if you fancy some bargain-hunting. Ceramic tiles are long-standing, low maintenance, can stand high traffic and, because they are made from scratch, can be found in a variety of colours and shapes.

One drawback of ceramic tiles is that they are porous – a glaze is applied to the tile and hardened in order to make it non-porous. It is not advised that ceramic tiles are DIY-appropriate, they require professional installation and because of their hard nature, ceramic tiles can chip upon impact.

Ceramic tiles come in many varieties, including; earthenware, stoneware, porcelain, glazed, unglazed and mosaics.

Quarry – Quarry tiles are, by comparison, quite inexpensive because they are quick to produce and don’t require a glaze on the top layer of the tile. They are thick and durable, meaning they are good for high-traffic areas.

However, because there is no glaze, quarry tiles tend to be very porous, which doesn’t make them very good for floors or kitchen surfaces. The lack of glaze also makes them susceptible to stains, they need to be sealed and polished regularly.

Stone – Stone tiles are the most natural in their look and style, they include materials such as limestone, marble, granite and slate. Although they may not be the most functional of tiles, it is their aesthetics that makes stone tiles a winner – their varied colouring and texture of natural stone, which cannot be re-created with ceramic.

However it is their look and style that can provide a drawback. Because they can vary so much, if you ever needed to repair a floor, you may struggle to find a perfectly matched tile. It is advised that you buy extra when you initially purchase your stone tiles.

Beth has a tiled wall in her bathroom, which she created with some decorative wall tiles from http://www.fitcreative.co.uk.

How To Take Care Of A Granite Countertop

by Trish

A granite countertop can be a thing of beauty. The great thing about granite is; granite can last for a long time as long as the owner treats the granite with care. Unfortunately, a lot of homeowners are too lazy, and they end up with a damaged counter. Here are a few tips to take care of granite countertops.

A homeowner should clean their counters as they are cooking. If wine or food sits on the counter overnight, it will be more difficult to keep the counter looking clean. If there is a spill on the counter, it would be prudent to use a paper towel to remove the substance in a quick manner. By cleaning the countertop while cooking, a homeowner will avoid a lot of problems.

Next, a homeowner should develop a daily cleaning plan. One should clean their counter with warm water and dishwashing detergent. A homeowner should not use too much soap, in fact, just a few drops should work well. All that a homeowner should do is, lightly clean down the countertop with a soapy sponge. Next use a small towel to dry the counter. This should be done on a daily basis.

Stick to A Plan

A homeowner should also develop a heavy duty cleaning plan. Do not worry, heavy duty cleaning is not too difficult. One must purchase a basic degreaser and a heavy duty stone. Usually, the degreaser will have instructions on how to clean granite. Luckily, it is not too hard to clean granite, though one must take care and not scrub too hard. Sometimes, it is necessary to clean a little deeper in the case of large stains.

When a homeowner has large stains, they must work a little harder to remove the stains. The best course of action to clean stains is to purchase poultice. Poultice is a cleaning powder that can remove tough stains. Sometimes, the poultice will dull the shine of the granite. If this happens, it would be prudent to buy a marble polish to regain the natural shine.

Sealants

A lot of smart homeowners like to use sealants. When using a sealant, a homeowner can help prevent future problems from arising. Ideally, a homeowner should re-seal their granite countertop every six months. When doing this, a homeowner will extend the life of their granite.

Extend The Life Of Your Countertop

A homeowner that takes time out of their life to clean a countertop will have a beautiful countertop for a long time. A homeowner must develop both a short term and long term cleaning schedule to ensure the granite will look good for years to come.

M.J. is a home improvement blogger.  Sharing useful information about cleaning and home upkeep is something she enjoys very much, including about granite countertops Sacramento CA.

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