Luxurious Bathrooms in Small Spaces

Luxurious bathrooms need not be the reserve of the rich and famous. With the scope of modern functionality, a few simple steps can go a long way in creating a stand-out bathroom. Read on for a selection of tips and tricks that will make the smallest space sing.

Wall-mounted magic

Intelligent storage solutions eliminate the need for traditional storage space. If you have a cupboard under the sink, this one’s for you. A mirrored, wall-mounted cabinet is a great start in saving space. Cluttered bathrooms always look smaller and the cabinet can help get all of that clutter out of view.

It also means that you can opt for a wall mounted sink. Wide, bold models are all the rage at the moment. You can ditch the cupboard underneath the sink so the basin itself can be as wide as the space allows. The bigger the sink, the more luxurious your bathroom will feel.

The tiled look for less

Bright clean tiles are often a mainstay of chic bathrooms, but they can cost the earth. If you plan accordingly, you can get the desired effect by using pre-cut panels. Mira Showers wall panels come in several different sizes to fit a sleek shower enclosure, the side of a bath or behind a sink. They can create the bespoke tiled look for a fraction of the price.

A niche market

More and more people are cottoning on to the power of the bathroom niche. You can create them in all shapes and sizes but they all achieve the same thing: saving space while looking great. The gist is using the depth of the walls to reduce the footprint of key fixtures and fittings, or just to take the clutter out of the main bathroom space.

For example, building a niche into a wall by the shower to replace a bulky towel rail could save up to 4” of space. Or you could build a niche into the wall around your bath so that your shampoo, shower gel and bathroom accessories have a neat place to live. Less clutter means more space. 

Organizing Your Bags

Photo Source :  www.luckymag.com 

One of my to do list is to have a bag organizer in my own room.   I have a growing bag collection and I just can't figure out where I would keep those.  The usual problem I encounter is that my bags are sagging and losing their shape because these are not properly stored.  Sometimes, I pile my bag on top of the other and I tend to mess up with everything whenever I'm searching for one which I love to use at a given time or occasion.  So, I think the above shelves for bags can be a good idea.  Also, you may want to cover the shelves with glass doors to get rid of dusts and so you could see your bags on display.  Perhaps seeing your favorite collection at a quick glance will bring smiles into your faces. 

I think this is worth a try. :) 

Home Party

During my recent vacation, I had the chance to hold a dinner party in our house. We have lots of attendees during that night and preparing for that party was such an arduous task.  But I would admit that all f us have enjoyed the preparations stage. We had come up with a lot of ideas on how to celebrate it and various suggestions came up during our discussion.  I thought of hiring an acoustic singer from one of the restaurants that we used to visit.  I love their music and their way of playing the guitar.  The sound is really nice and their music is really soothing.  I really enjoyed watching them perform on stage, that's why I thought of hiring them for our party at home.  I wonder what kind of guitars they are using.  I bet it's highly sophisticated with all those accessories to make the music sounds better. Do they have emg pickups from musicians friend?  I bet they have.  However, my daughter spoiled the fun by suggesting that we should get a karaoke machine instead as her friends love to sing and that probably that would be the best entertainment during that night.  Since she is our baby in the house, we obliged to her request.  After all, this party is for her and her brother so they are free to request whatever they want for the party.  Besides, hiring that acoustic singer proves to be more expensive. :)

Anyway, the party turned out to be a nice one.  It's well attended by family and friends and our neighbors, as well.  Our teens really had fun.  It was a night to remember for all of us.

Grocery Plastic Bag Holders

Organizing and storing our reusable grocery plastic bags has always been a problem to me.  We always end up storing it everywhere at home.  At one point, I tried to collect and place those in another bigger plastic bag underneath the kitchen cabinet, but it turns out to be hard to reach and not easy to find.  

Now, look what I've found on etsy....a cute grocery plastic bag holder that can be hang anywhere in the kitchen.  I find it so cute!  Colorful and functional.

I think this can be purchased at $11 each.  Many colors and designs to choose from.  Listed below is a more detailed description of the product:

Measurements are approximate since they are hand made: 
With handle- 19" long
Just the bag without handle- 15" long
Width lying flat- 8 1/2" 
Diameter all together- 17"

How To Save Space And Money With Kids Bunk Beds

If you’re looking to get as much space out of a small bedroom as possible, then bunk beds are the ideal answer. Not only are they considered as a great way to sleep, but there are also a variety of designs to choose from depending on the design and layout of the bedroom. When they’re young, children frequently share bedrooms, as most go to sleep at the same time. This makes it easier for mothers and fathers to relax in the evening. However problems occur when your kids get older, with more space needed inside the room. This is where bunk beds come in handy.

Bunk beds allow you to make use of the vertical space in a bedroom, whilst also making room for extra storage, play areas and places to keep clothes and toys. Some bunk beds even come with combined storage attached to the unit, making it even easier to keep your children’s room tidy!

In recent years, bunk beds have solved many problems related to limited bedroom space in small urban housing, and they’re also a great way to accommodate guests for the weekend. When it comes to your children, they’ll have great fun battling it out for the top bunk, and some designs even come with desks and work areas, meaning they can also learn together outside the classroom. Bunk beds are practical, cost-effective and the best way to maximise small living space, and they offer advantages over individual beds.

Bunk Beds VS Individual Beds

Firstly, bunk beds double the capacity of a single bed, whilst also limiting the space a single bed takes up in a room. There’s also places to store toys, school books and clothes, and like previously mentioned, some even some with desks attached so your children can do their school work. Although this option does depend on what model you select, and how much you’re willing to spend, you can already see many of the advantages bunk beds have over individual beds.

Before buying kids bunk bed for your children’s room, it’s best to do a little research. Not only are there a vast number of models out there to choose from, but you must also consider the look of the bunk bed, and how it is going to complement the rest of the room. No one wants a ghastly bunk bed in their house, no matter how practical or cost effective it is. Always make sure that you measure the room before you go out shopping for the bunk bed, and enquire into the different colours available.

Styling The Room

In some cases, finding the right bunk bed to colour-coordinate with your kid’s bedroom could be a difficult task, however there’s always a way around this. Instead of trying to find a frame colour to match the walls, why not match the walls with the bunk bed. A lick of paint here and there won’t take long, especially if the room is small, and suddenly you’ve got a room that is vibrant, and also coordinated with your bunk bed!

David is a lover of interior design and space saving solutions. He loves watching home improvement shows that showcase clever ways to save space and reduce clutter.

Repurposed Potting Shed

Just suddenly thought of sharing this repurposed potting shed hat I've seen courtesy of  www.sunset.com, I was amazed how creative some people can be.  This potting shed was converted into a tiny, beautiful home office.  Why not?  Work at home Moms deserved some kind of privacy, too right?  

This home office idea was from a working Mom herself, Martha Mendoza.  After seeing this picture, I suddenly got the urge of making a detached home office for myself.  I love fun and adventure and most of all, I love reinventing things and having these into full use. 

Choosing New Furniture for Your Lounge – Four Ways to Pick the Best Items

The lounge is one of the most important rooms in the home. After a long and hard day at work, there is nothing better than kicking back and relaxing on your sofa and watching an hour of TV.

If you are considering purchasing new furniture then  this is a chance for you to make your house a home. You can pick furniture that is in line with current trends, your style and that gives you maximum comfort. Before picking any items in the lounge, you need to consider a few different things.

Price
It is likely that you have already set a budget for your lounge furniture. You’ll need to allocate segments of this budget to individual items. For instance, if you have a £2,000 budget, then £250 might go towards a new coffee table, whereas £1,000 may go towards a leather sofa.

Have a quick browse around online retailers and see what they are offering and at what prices. This will give you a good idea of what is really going to be an acceptable budget for the new furniture as a whole, but also for the individual items. Remember, online retailers will regularly offer discounts and may even have discount codes that can be picked up, which could save you 10-15%!

Style
You will need to get a cool mix of what is currently in fashion, what suits your house and what really suits you. By checking interior design magazines, you will be able to see the styles of furniture that are really popular. Of course, getting items that suit your house is going to be crucial, but also difficult. For example, a contemporary sofa is going to look terrible in a cottage that is 200 years old. Don’t just pick the items that you like, as once they are in the house, they really need to blend in.

Size
The size of furniture helps to create a unique look and feel to individual rooms and the actual house. Having items that are too big will make a room feel cramped. Having furniture that is too small will make a room feel incredibly empty and possibly even cold. You can work out sizes for furniture based on existing items in the home. That being said, it might be worth taking a trip to a local furniture store. Sometimes they will have examples of rooms with different pieces of furniture in them for you to look at. This will give you an idea of what is going to be suitable.

Comfort
Obviously comfort only really relates to the items in the lounge that you are going to be sitting on. This might be chairs that are designed for the corner of the lounge, catching the sun that beams through the window or this could be reclining leather sofas.

Regardless of the item, you really do need to check them out for comfort. There is no point have an item that looks perfect in the home, but is incredibly uncomfortable. All this will mean is that you start to create excuses to get rid of this furniture as soon as possible. 

Alex is an online writing professional and has been operating online for over 5 years. The main areas that he covers include the likes of gardening, finance and DIY to name a few. He has travelled throughout Europe and has been published on some of the most popular blogs in the world.

Cute Head Board Design Ideas

If you want to give your beds a twist, you may want to consider adding cute had boards! Some of the featured designs by BHG, as seen below are DIY designs.  If you are creative and want to revive those old furniture at home, you can convert those to a decorative head board. :)

If you will ask me about my personal choice, I think I would go for the first and fourth design.  The first design below is quite easy to do and I would just be needing a simple plywood plus some spare linens and perhaps a thin foam that could easily be bought from an upholstery supplies store.  We have to choose the colors of the fabric so that it would match the color of our bedroom walls.  

What I love about the fourth design is that it is functional and would give me a lot of storage spaces for my stuff.  This is just a simple wood work and you may want to recycle the drawers and shelves from your old furniture.  Adding a color that would match the color motif of the bedroom is necessary to make this head board stand out. 

Photo source: bhg.com

Ten Things that You Need to Keep in Mind When Buying a Washing Machine

Washing machines are some of the most commonly sought-after home appliances. They have made live pretty simple since all your laundry work is handled by a machine. Regrettably, making an informed decision on the right type of washing machine to purchase can be difficult since there are several brands and models available in the market. 

But, with the right information, the task of selecting the best washing machine ought not to be challenging. Listed below are 10 things that you need to keep in mind when shopping for an ideal washing machine

Location

Before stepping out into the market, make certain that you have a location in mind where you would like to place the washing machine. There should be a space of about 60 centimeters between the washing machine and other water sources, for example, wash basin and shower.

If you have limited space in your house, opt for front-loading washing machines as they enable you to load dirty linen from the front and can easily be fitted under a countertop. If you do not have enough space left for a dryer, buy a washer-dryer combo machine.

Capacity

In addition to location, you also need to think about the amount of laundry that you are going to do on a daily basis. For a majority of households, a 5kg washing machine is more than adequate. However, if you have 2-3 children on your household, then it is best to buy a 6kg capacity washing machine. On the other hand, if you have relatives residing with you or have an unusually large family, opt for 8-9 kg washing machines.

Energy Star Compliant

As is the case with other electrical home appliances, you need to take into consideration the energy consumption of the washing machine you are planning to purchase. Energy Star rated washing machines are the best since they consume roughly 30% less power compared to ordinary washing machines. If you cannot find an Energy Star rated washing machine, look for a model with an A+++ rating.

Look for Brands Labeled “Smart”

Smart washing machines will ensure that less water and energy is used during the laundering process. Smart machines automatically detect the load and as such adjust the amount of water and energy used to clean the clothes.

Washable Washing Machines

Since washing machines are primarily used to scrub and clean dirty linen, they are prone to microorganisms that can pose health issues to your household. Therefore, it is important to purchase a washing machine that can be disinfected after a couple of washes.

Stealth Operation

Look for a washing machine that implements sound reduction technology. By doing so, you will be eliminating the stress and anxiety caused by the noise generated by the washing machine during operation.

Eco-Friendly Washing Machines

An eco-friendly washing machine ensures that water and energy consumption is reduced by at least 20%. The key reason why you need opt for an eco-friendly washing machine is because you’ll hardly be using the full capacity of the machine thereby leading to wastage of energy and water.

Detergents

Do not pick a washing machine that only limits you to certain washing detergents. Thanks to technology, there are a myriad of washing detergents that can be used with washing machines and as such you should not be restricted to a particular brand.

User-Friendly Settings

Do not buy a washing machine that requires you to read the manual every time you need to use it. A good washing machine should be user-friendly and are usually characterized by the types of controls installed therein.

Read Reviews

Finally, before buying a washing machine, you need to take time and read the various reviews published on the web regarding different brands and models of washing machines.

Whereas the above rules are designed to help you in choosing the right type of washing machine, it is important to take into account your needs for a washing machine. Before stepping out into the market, take time and evaluate your needs for a washing machine. Thereafter, go through the various brands and models accessible in the market, while still at the same time bearing in mind the information provided herein. Preparing a list of your needs will prevent you from buying a brand or model that is either too big or small. Then again, you need to take time and read through the various washing machine reviews published on the web. Reviews are written by consumers who have prior experiences with certain brands and models thus providing you with crucial information such as performance and warranty before making your purchase.

WikiTalks has a lot of reviews http://wikitalks.com/category/new-reviews/household-office-appliances/major-appliances/washers-major-appliances/

Generally, the internet is the best marketplace to make your purchase from especially if you are keen on discounted prices and variety. Unlike brick-and-mortar stores that may limit you to the brands and models accessible for sale, there are no limitations if you opt to shop from the internet.