Decorating Ideas of Spring

Spring hasn’t yet come; but it will come to you soon (we hope so). The new decorating catalogs are out and they're full of signs of spring from birds to butterflies. Check out a few of the new avian-themed products for next season.

· Source:ivillage

Create Your Own Spa Bath

Spending whole day at spa? Sounds so enjoyable; but it might be too expensive. Why don’t you create your own spa bath at your home? Make your bathroom into a place where you can retreat from the stresses of the day for less money than you think. Try these easy and affordable ideas to transform your bathroom into your own private oasis.

The Right Light
Finding the right lighting for your bath can be tricky since your bathroom requires many different kinds of light to meet all your needs. It needs task lighting that's bright when you're putting on your makeup or brushing your teeth, but you also want to be able to turn the lights down when you're relaxing in the tub. One inexpensive way to adjust your lighting is to install a dimmer switch. They're available at most hardware stores and are easy to install.

Clean and Organized
A disorganized bathroom can feel cramped, so be sure to keep the clutter of toiletries to a minimum. Stash cosmetics and other products in the medicine cabinet, under the vanity or in the linen closet. The clean, sparse effect will help you let go of your worries so you can relax without the reminders of your daily routine.

Pamper Yourself
There's nothing like the feeling of wrapping yourself in a big, plush spa towel. Pamper yourself by splurging on a large bath sheet that will envelope you completely when you step out of the bath. Choose a towel that's soft and absorbent for that spa-like feeling.

Protect Your Feet
A bath mat is essential for a spa bath. Nothing can shock you back down to earth after your relaxing bath like the feeling of cold tile on your warm toes. Choose a mat that covers a large section of the floor so that you'll have room to move around without having to step on the floor.

Set the Mood
Set a spa-like mood for your bath with the right accessories. Candles lightly flickering in the background and soft music are sure to help you forget your worries, at least for a little while.

Connect with Nature
Natural elements abound in spas. Softly running water, stone and living plants help create a calming connection with nature. Bring a potted plant into your spa bath to give it a similar feeling. Plus, plants often thrive in the bath thanks to the high levels of moisture and humidity.

Expand the Look of Your Space
Anyone with a small bath knows that there's not much you can do to make it bigger without spending a fortune on renovation. The good news is that you can make it look bigger with an affordable alternative. Hang large mirrors to give the illusion that your space isn't quite so tight.

Color Change
One of the easiest ways to give your bath a new look is with a color change. A coat of paint is an inexpensive option that can completely transform the feel of your bath. Try white for a clean, crisp, sparse look. Or consider a rich neutral for an earthy effect. Either way, a couple gallons of paint and a few hours of work could give you the bath of your dreams.

Source:ivillage -Michele Capozzoli

How to Make a Bedroom Better for Sleeping

Do you have trouble with sleeping lately? Of course, it can be caused by many reasons, but for decreasing your problem, you can try to make over your bedroom.
A few easy changes can remove distractions from your bedroom and help sleep come easier. Fight late-night problems by making your bedroom a safe, peaceful place to relax and sleep.

Lowe’s, the Original Home Improvement Warehouse, has useful guidance for you.
Start with these simple ideas:

1. Move the television from your bedroom and place it in an entertainment center in the family room or living room. Watching TV in bed inhibits good sleep.


2. Likewise, move the computer into a home office, or at least into its own nook in the family room or den. Remove the stress and worry of your work from the place where your focus should be relaxing and sleeping.


3. Color theory dictates that different shades have different effects on people. Cool colors, those from the left side of the color wheel, are thought to provide a sense of calm. Choose one of these for the bedroom, and avoid bright, loud colors that are more exciting than soothing.


4. Make sure that rooms adjacent to the bedroom are not home to stereos, televisions or other noisy electronics. Most modern homes don't have completely soundproofed walls, and the bleed-through noise can keep you awake.


5. Select light-blocking window treatments. Even though the sun isn't out, plenty of light can sneak into the bedroom from outside, disrupting your sleep patterns. Keeping the room as dark as possible is especially important for people whose work schedules require them to sleep during the day.


6. If you need a little light to sleep comfortably, consider adding a couple of nightlights or a dimmer switch rather than sleeping with a lamp on all the time.


7. Loud pipes might be waking everyone in the house when one person makes a bathroom visit in the middle of the night. Look for the cause of any clanging and banging, particularly in a bathroom that is adjacent to a bedroom.


8. Make sure doors and windows are solid and secure, with no drafts or rattles.


9. Use an air purifier or humidifier to keep air quality at its best. Allergens and excessively dry air can interrupt sleep and make waking up unpleasant, too. As a bonus, many machines create a white noise that drowns out other, distracting sounds.


10. Organize and keep clothing and other personal items in their places. A chaotic, messy room is stressful to the mind. Don't try to fall asleep with your eyes darting around the room, spotting shoes and clothes scattered all over the floor. Sleep well, knowing that everything is in its place.

Source:ivillage –Lowe’s

Affordable Way to Make a Better Bedroom

Bedrooms are one of the most important rooms in the house. After all, you spend at least 8 hours there each day. If your bedroom isn't comfortable it can factually keep you awake at night by making it difficult to sleep. Your bedroom should also be a sanctuary while you're awake.

How can you turn your bedroom into a luxurious escape when you're on a budget? Janice Simonsen, one of the design experts at IKEA, shared tips.

Here are the tips:

• The right lighting can help create an air of luxury for less. Install dimmers on existing lights or use scented candles for an easy way to set a soothing mood.


• Textiles make a room cozy. Plush rugs feel great and make chilly floors warmer. Use sheers to fashion a billowy canopy using two curtain rods or add a colorful cotton duvet cover to brighten things up.


• Snuggle up under a down or down-alternative comforter. Look for one that provides just the right amount of warmth. New materials like modal and lyocell wick moisture from the body to make sleeping more comfortable.


• Adding pillows of various shapes and sizes is an inexpensive way to help dress up a bedroom. Consider mixing and matching different types including round, bolster and European square.


• Little items mean a lot. Small, pretty mirrors, photo frames and simple yet elegant vases add a bit of opulence. Try clustering small items or collections in one area rather than scattering them to avoid a cluttered feeling.

Source:ivillage -Michele Capozzoli

How to Clean Rain Gutters

There was a high fir-tree in front of our house. Because of it, we have problem with rain gutters; it full of dried leaves and branch. It’s a pity I still didn’t know how to handle this problem, so, my father decided to cut the tree down. If you face the same problem with rain gutters; this post may help you.

During a rainstorm, gutters route runoff from a very large surface—a home’s roof—to where it can drain away from the house. By doing so, they protect iding, windows, doors, and foundations from water damage and help prevent flooding in basements.

To do their job, gutters and downspouts must be clear of leaves and waste. If they aren’t, drain outlets will dam up and rainwater will fill the gutters, back up, overflow, and eventually pull gutters loose from their mountings. Water that pools in troughs will rot wood gutters and rust sheet metal ones.

You can hire a service to clean your gutters, but doing the work yourself can save you $100 or more. Plan to clean gutters at least twice a year—more often if the roof is directly beneath trees or you live in a region with frequent storms. But only take on this task if you know you can work safely from a ladder or the roof.

Choose a sturdy ladder, and place it on a firm, level base. A tall stepladder can be easier to use than an extension ladder. If you must lean an extension ladder against a gutter, protect the gutter from bending by placing a short piece of 2 by 4 inside it. Stand on the ladder with your hips between the rails, and don’t lean out over the sides. Never stand on the top two rungs.

If you’re comfortable working from the rooftop and your roof has a very low pitch, this can be easier than working from a ladder. But only do this under extremely safe conditions. Never work on the roof in wet, icy, or windy conditions. Wear non-slip shoes, and never lean over the edge or work near power lines.

When cleaning gutters, wear heavy work gloves to protect your hands since gutters often have sharp metal parts or screw points sticking out into their troughs. Also wear safety glasses.

To clean gutters:

1) Scoop out loose debris.
Starting at a drain outlet at the low end of a gutter, use a narrow garden trowel to scoop out loose debris, working away from the drain outlet. It’s usually easiest to do this when the debris is slightly damp and pliable, not soggy or dried and encrusted. To minimize cleanup later, you can scoop the debris into a plastic garbage-can liner.

2) Blast out the gutters with a hose.
Using an on-off high-pressure nozzle mounted at the end of a water hose, wash out each length of gutter, working toward the drain outlet. This can be a messy job; try to avoid splattering mud all over your house. If necessary, use a stiff scrub brush to breakloose encrusted dirt.

3) Clear obstructions in drainpipes.

If water doesn’t drain freely through drainpipes, try flushing debris down them with a hose. If that doesn’t work, use a plumber’s auger (snake) to free and pull out debris from the bottom.
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How to Give Cut Roses a Longer Life

Roses are one of favorite flowers to decorate your house. Just place cut roses in a vase, and put the vase on everywhere that you like most. If you want to see the beauty of these roses longer, you will like the tips. Happy reading…

The tips are made by Jeff Cox, host of HGTV’s Grow It! show. With these tips, your roses will last twice as long-seven to 10 days rather than three to five.

Step 1
Start by choosing blossoms that are still fairly tight.

Step 2
Count back on the stem to the first five-leaflet leaf, and cut the stem just above it. Cut on a severe slant to give the stem maximum surface area.

Step 3
Fill a tall conditioning can such as florists use (or any tall container) with water, and plunge the cut roses into the can so that the water reaches the top of the stem.

Step 4

Let the roses soak for 24 hours, then arrange them in a vase of water.

Step 5
Drop a couple of pennies into the vase. The copper inhibits the growth of bacteria. Without an inhibitor, bacteria growth at the base of the stems can prevent adequate water intake and make the roses wilt.

Source : google