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In What Ways Are Outdoor Fountains Beneficial For You

Whether you are a homeowner, guests or business owners, an outdoor fountain can be a priceless accessory to beautify your surroundings. You can keep them in your private garden, front yard or the backyard, a public seating area, its alluring appearance, sound and the water rejuvenates people and infuses happiness and joy everywhere.

Its calming effect on the body improves mental state of a person. So, if you are still into planning phase, then this article will prove useful to you. Learning about the benefits of these fountains would surely simplify your decision making process.

 

Image:www.lifeonplum.com/collections/ceramic-fountains/products/corinth-fountain-in-angkor-red

Soothing Sound

Sound has a significant benefit on the physical, mental and emotional levels of a person. Where the sound of traffic can make one angry, a natural sound of water would benefit you on physiologic levels. The soothing sound of the running water creates a meditative experience in people. It helps in releasing stress from the person and makes them light, happy and recharged.

Animals and birds are fond of it

Not just humans, but animals and birds also enjoy these fountains. It acts as a coolant in hot summer season and gives a significant amount of relief to them to beat the heat. It is also a clean and fresh source of water for them. This constant flow of water available at all the times makes them refresh and recharged.  Also, unlike a still bowl of water, it is not required to empty them, clean and refill on a regular basis.

Attracts people to your business

Having an outdoor water fountain can do so much good for your business. Its aesthetical appeal and beauty will catch the attention of whoever visits your store. It can be considered as one of the ways to make new clients and revenue for your business.

An outdoor fountain installed outside your store is a wonderful and captivating sight for several different businesses. Whether you run a salon, retail store, gym, yoga studio, restaurants, café etc. having an outdoor water fountain gives a competitive edge to your business.

Reduces negativity in the atmosphere

Water has the power to dissolve all the negativity present in the atmosphere. That is the reason why sitting near to the water makes one feel light and energetic. Where air conditioners remove negative ions from the environment, fountains on the other hand produces it. Flowing water adds negative ions to the environment which is good for enhancing levels of serotonin in the body and reduces depression.

Purifies air naturally

Fountains provide the much required humidity for drying environments and work as an air purifier system. It catches dust and harmful particles from the air and destroys it.  

Outdoor ceramic fountains bring a plethora of advantages to everyone. These fountains come in an astonishing range of sizes, styles, colors and textures. So, if you are looking for a fountain to match your existing decor or spice up your existing design elements, then they would prove to be a perfect accessory for you. 

Do-it-yourself draperies – customize your home on a budget

They say homes without curtains are empty and tedious; and we couldn’t agree more. Window treatments are fundamental if we want our personal space to scream comfort and ease. But then again, the finest draperies are expensive, and the average homeowner can’t afford to spend thousands of dollars every year to change the curtains. Fortunately, now you can use smart tips to make your own shades. Settle on a convenient budget and use the following nifty guidelines to customize your home.

Towel window treatments

Put kitchen towels to good use and make yourself a set of cool drapes for the cooking space. This idea is budget-friendly, convenient and quite easy to craft. All you need for this project to be successful is two regular dish towels; choose a pretty design that can complement the kitchen décor. Prints, patterns and dots might seem like an excellent idea. Next, decide on a curtain rod. Measure the rod beforehand to be sure it matches the length of your windows; now grab a few clips and hook them to the edge of the dish towels. Hang and enjoy the end result!

Jazzy buttoned drapes

There are many ways you can jazz up your curtains without spending a fortune. For this DIY technique, you need old curtains and several colorful buttons in different sizes, shapes and colors. For the project to be successful the initial curtains should feature a neutral color; this will bring out the color of the buttons when sewed onto the fabric. Use buttons to craft flowers and other interesting patterns; if sewing is not your strongest ability, you can always glue the buttons onto your chosen fabric. Use your imagination to come up with the most interesting designs, and make your shades look innovative and out of the ordinary.

Printed Roman shades

Give a twist to your current Roman shades in the living area or kitchen and have them printed; an even cheaper alternative is to use DIY stencil to craft a personal message for your loved ones directly on the shades. Use a permanent marker to do that, and don’t hesitate to play with more than one color. For the printed version, you might want to go to a digital shop with your shades; but don’t worry the price is affordable, so you’re not going to break the bank.

Rickrack panels

Make your neutral living room stand out with these rickrack panels; the tab-top panels will make your personal space seem more dramatic and innovative, not to mention that the shaping of the ribbons adds more movement thus bringing all the focus onto the window treatments. To cool off the effect of the pattern, you might want to choose natural textures and colors for the curtains. Prior to hanging them on the rod, make proper measurements to ensure that the zigzag effect is done properly. The ribbons must be sewed or glued at exact distances from one another.

Floor to ceiling window treatments

Floor to ceiling curtains will make even the smallest rooms seem taller and more spacious. To get this effect you need to reposition your curtain rods. Remove the current ones and place them higher, nearly linked to the ceiling. You might want to change the curtains though, as the old ones won’t even touch the ground. To make this a DIY approach, you can cut in half the ones you already own; re-plaint them to give them a fresh and buy additional fabric for the bottom half. Create contrast and give your home a totally new allure with monochromatic DIY curtains. Go for blends of black and white, yellow and gray, orange and brown, etc. and your shades will completely change the dull vibe of your bedroom or living area.

Customizing your home is a lot easier than you think. It’s all about investing in smart accessories, as well as putting your creativity to good use and making things work. Think outside the box for once and check the web for some more advice on how to DIY your curtains and draperies. Changing a room’s vibe and feel is easy; all you need is a bit of imagination and courage to play with colors, dare to make a change and create the most comfortable environment for your loved ones.

By Paul Trevino and VanessaArbuthnott.co.uk!

Essential Things You May Need To Know Before Building A Deck

Many home owners often prefer building a deck on the outdoor over a patio. A deck can enhance the appearance of a house and also provide a relaxing space.

Considerations involved in deck building

Before starting the work of building a deck, homeowners are advised to consider the following factors, which play an important role.

 

Image:utah-decks.com

·         Purpose of the deck

Home owners may consider building a deck for variety of reasons. These reasons may range from creating an entertainment or dining space, guarding the privacy of the home or for creating a patio garden. The design of the deck may vary according to the purpose of use.

·         Location of the deck

The first step in building a deck is to ascertain its location. For smaller properties, decks may be built only on the lone available spot. Larger properties may provide a number of locations to choose from. The location of the deck may also depend on privacy requirements and the exposure of the spot to various weather conditions.

·         Budget

It is important to arrive at a cost estimate before building a deck. Deck building may involve various types of expenses which may depend on the following factors:

• The deck size.
• The complexity and intricacy of design.
• Lumbering cost.
• Fee charged by the contractor.
• Cost of extra features like railings, flowerboxes and built in seating.

Choice of building the deck yourself or hiring a contractor

Freestanding platform basic decks are easy to build provided you possess the necessary carpentry skills. Multi level and intricately designed decks may require certain engineering skills. In such situations, it is advisable to hire the services of a contractor for the job. You can log on to http://utah-decks.com/ to get quotes for deck building.

Choice of decking materials

Nowadays, a variety of decking materials are available. These include various types of weather resistant woods, pressure treated woods, hardwoods, composite decking materials or other alternatives. You may choose a material according to your requirement and budget.

Deck design and shape

The design and shape of the deck depends on the house design. An appropriate design and shape of the deck can be arrived at after considering the architecture and structure of the house.

Additional features

A deck may or may not include extra features like privacy fencing, roofs and railings. Decks may also be incorporated with built in benches and accessories like outdoor and patio furniture. Another option is to build storage decks which provide shelves and closets. The choice of additional features may depend on the budget and the available space.

Licenses

Building a deck may often require approval from the local authorities. It is advisable to secure approvals in order to avoid future trouble.

Deck lighting

Building a deck may also require the services of an electrician to provide connections or installing lights on the deck. Depending upon the budget, designer, LED or general lights may be chosen.

A deck can offer a high degree of functionality if built properly. It is hence important to consider certain essential factors before deciding on the design, shape, materials and additional features of the deck.