Monday, March 31, 2008

Bedroom Decor

Bedroom Décor

When it comes to bedroom décor, you should think more about it then you may have realized. There are many sleep disorders out there, and you might be surprised to know that how you decorate your bedroom and what you put into it might make a difference in how you sleep. Though a sleeping disorder might have a different root of origin, the colors you choose and the stuff you surround yourself with might make a difference in how much sleep you get and how well you sleep in general.

When you choose a color for your bedroom decor, you should always go for something low key or darker. Don’t get bright sunny colors or your walls will stimulate you and you won’t sleep well. Bedroom should be for sleeping and sex with your mate. Everything else should be done elsewhere. This might help your sex life as well. You should choose colors like dark reds or perhaps even blues. You can offset with white accents for some brightness, but you want to keep your bedroom décor on the muted side and it should not be something for the whole family.

When planning the accessories for your bedroom décor, keep it simple. You don’t want family photos and your child’s artwork hanging in there. Your sex life might suffer if you have mom and dad smiling down at you from your last family portrait. You love your children but reminders that they are in the house might also put a damper on your intimate moments. The bedroom décor is one thing that you might want to go at as if you were still a childless couple. You can put the family stuff all over the rest of your house if you want to, just leave it out of your bedroom.

Also remember to keep your bedroom décor very sparse. Don’t have anything in there that might look cluttered. Keep clean lines and soft surfaces. Anything that reminds you of work or chores will keep you awake because you are aware that it is sitting there undone. If at all possible, don’t have a computer in your bedroom, and never leave clothes sitting out. Make sure you have an adequate clothing hamper in your bedroom. If you keep your bedroom décor simple and demur, you will get better sleep, and as a bonus, you might also find that your sex life improves as well.

Bedroom Decorating

One Saturday morning a few weeks ago I was lying in bed with the flu. I had been in bed for 24 hours and was slowly starting to feel better. As I was looking around the room I decided that it was time to do some bedroom decorating. We had done a major change in the bedroom two years ago. The change had involved stripping wallpaper, painting paneling and changing the carpet. The project had been so time consuming that we were pleased to get everything back in the room and be done.

Now that time has passed I am realizing that we still needed to do some bedroom decorating to complete the project. The walls and flooring were an excellent start, but the room still needed some added details to give it that finished look. There is a difference in bedroom decorating and basic painting, we needed to decorate.

When I was feeling better I told my husband that we needed to do some bedroom decorating. He reminded me that we had just done a major revamping. I explained that I was not talking about painting again, but rather trying to create a feel to the room. He was concerned that I was going to go with a theme room. He remembered the themed bedroom decorating I had done for the children when they were younger. I think he had visions of having nursery rhythms stenciled on the wall. He did state that he does not like stenciling. I assured him that I was not going to go with any themes and that I would not be stenciling.

We have recently added a computer and desk to the bedroom area so we had rearranged some furniture to accommodate this. The addition of the home office space to the room has changed the look of the room. I decided that I needed to add to this area of the room to make it more efficient to use and to tie it into the bedroom decorating. I started at an office supply store to see what was available for shelving and other organizational supplies. I did not feel that any of the products would compliment the bedroom decorating so I went to a furniture store. At the furniture store I found a desk top organizer that was very attractive and would also be helpful. I also found a decorative shelve to place above the desk to arrange frames with photographs. This shelf gave the business corner a warmer appearance. I also purchased decorative pillows that could be placed on the desk chair when it was not in use. The pillows complimented the ones on the bed. By adding these simple items the office area looked like it belonged with the rest of the room.

Saturday, March 15, 2008

Home Maintainence And Improvement To Keep Car working

It is surprising how many car owners allow their vehicles to fall into disrepair even though the car is their only mode of transportation, as well as a huge purchase. Being neglectful of the car causes some rather large problems and often times results in the purchase of a new one as repairs can get far too costly. Keeping the car, not just in working order, but in good working order, is just plain smart and healthy for all parties involved.

The thing is, a car that runs well is just a smart idea. The potential for accidents, breakdowns, and major mechanical failure is drastically reduced when the car is in good condition. Not only is this so, but a car in good condition easy on the eyes, ears, and the passengers. Simply put, a car that is sputtering and vibrating is far less desirable than one with a smooth ride and a quiet purr. The task of maintaining the car in good working order may seem a daunting one, but most of it is just common sense and practical steps that any owner should implement.

The first step is done even before the car is in your possession. Buy a car that has a record for reliability and dependability. Understand that all cars are not created equal and if you have specialized needs and performance requirements, purchase a car that can meet or exceed these. Research and ask questions before putting down the money for that car. A car with a good record will pretty much guarantee, but not all the time, that few repairs will be needed as long as the car is kept tuned and in check which brings us to another way to keep the car running well.

Service the car as often as required or as needed. Whenever a problem does arise do not hesitate in taking care of the problem. Some issues can be addressed by the owner while some, unfortunately, need the attention of a mechanic. The Owner's Manual is a great resource that allows you to know when and what needs to be replaced or looked at.

Basic issues that can be handled by the owner and which will improve the car's condition and keep it in working order can be anything such as replacing the air filter which can improve the gas mileage. No matter what year, results such as this are beneficial. Follow the recommended guide lines for changing oil as this will always help the function of the engine. There will be a noticeable difference in the performance of the car if you wait too long to change the oil. Tires are often overlooked yet easily taken care of and should always be inflated properly to avoid flats. These alone will improve the car's working order along with immediate care and attention of all other issues that arise. Other tips include having a friend drive the car as they will be able to spot problems that you may be used to and not aware of. Keep the car clean and take pride in it as this gives you cause to keep up with repairs. The way you drive will also affect the car's condition. Drive gently and with caution to avoid unnecessary wear and tear.

It is relatively easy to keep the car in good working order as it comes down to you. How much you care and how much you put into the car will mean a lot. Just be cautious and attentive to the car's needs and respond accordingly when an issue does arise as this will pretty much guarantee a car that works great.

Home Maintainence Made Easy For All Seasons

Here's a handy home maintenance checklist for this fall. It includes some items most homeowners tend to overlook. For your convenience, print this out and keep it where you will see it.

The furnace filter should be replaced every three months. An easy way to remember this is to perform the inspection on the first day of spring, summer, fall, and winter. Or the first of each quarter (January, April, July, October).

Inspect the ducts, filters, and heating equipment. It may be best to clean and vacuum vents, ducts, and other heating components. Use a certified HVAC professional, if necessary. Many offer discount specials during the fall season.

Open and close the fireplace damper to ensure that it is operating correctly.

Clean the fireplace of ashes if you have not done this since last winter. A good New Years Resolution would be to always clean the ashes in a timely fashion.

Clean the interior of the chimney. Don't want to get covered with soot? Leave the dirty work to a chimneysweep. If you can't get Mary Poppins, try the yellow pages.

Install a top screen on your chimney to keep out debris and animals. Even raccoons have been known to fall down chimneys!

Check the levels of your propane or oil tanks. You will most likely need to replenish the supply.

Inspect and repair all pipes. To prevent freezing problems in colder climates, drain and shut off the outside faucets.

Clean gutters and downspouts. You don't want little "trees" growing in your gutters next spring.

Inspect the roof for loose shingles. Hint: If you have some extra roof shingles left over from your roofing job, immediately store a few in a not too noticeable area outside where they will be exposed to the elements. They will weather along with your roof shingles, and if you do need to replace an occasional shingle in the future, they will blend in very nicely with the rest of the roof

Check for leaks around roof vents, skylights, and chimneys. You may want to hire this out to a professional who is properly certified and insured.

Pressure wash and seal the deck. One coat should be sufficient.

Check for cracks in concrete and seal appropriately.

Inspect your foundation walls and seal any small openings. It's amazing how rodents and insects can squeeze through even the smallest holes, especially those where pipes or wires enter the house. Proper sealing also protects against moisture damage and heat loss.

Protect outdoor items such as patio furniture, grills, and hoses. The best protection is inside storage in a basement, garage, or shed. If this is not possible, wrap or cover them securely. Remember to drain the hoses first.