Home

Home Home

Although the no-flip mattress was a huge success for manufacturers, it didn’t do much for the customers. The single-sided mattress was the new version that Simmons introduced on the market and it was something that was disposable with a reduced life expectancy from 12-15 years down to 5-7 years. And naturally, from the entire move the only ones in plus were the manufacturers, the customers felt no difference at all.

The overall situation, with manufacturers’ profit margin hitting the roof because the cost for producing a mattress was very low and the price remained the same, was rather disappointing for customers. And even if you’d think getting a mattress from another manufacturer, you’d be in the same position, because back in 2000 everyone was doing this practice.

Continue

Okay gardeners, now that you have your ornamental trees all planted and perfectly positioned in your backyard to beautify your landscape, next thing you should do is learn how to take proper care of their health and looks. And when it comes to taking care of trees, the first thing you should perfect is the art of pruning. Not just that pruning is a technique for maintaining a tree’s health and good condition, it’s an activity that has a very calming effect on people.  Ornamental Trees

Continue

Decorating your home can become a bit of a challenge when your imagination runs dry. Luckily for you, there are so many great wall decorations out there that can turn your room into something magical. The great thing about decorating is you don’t need to have a huge budget to be able to turn your room into something else. Below you will find a bunch of ideas that you can choose for wall decorations that you can easily incorporate into your space.

  • Artwork

    This is a quick and easy way to bring some elegance and style to your home. You can find artwork almost anywhere including galleries if you have a big budget, or you can also find great pieces online if you don’t have a huge budget to work with. You want to choose something that has a few colours from the colour scheme in the room to make sure it doesn’t stick out too much.

  • Mirrors

    This is a great one for spaces that might not be so big. Something like a feature wall can make a space feel smaller if it’s not that big in the first place. A mirror does the complete opposite and can really open the space up. You can choose a frame that goes with the rest of your décor to make sure it blends well.

Wall decoration ideas

  • Frames

    Frames are something you should have on hand at all times. They come in handy and they give you freedom to put absolutely anything in them. They are a cheap and easy way to make wall decorations because you can really let your creativity take you places. You could display your own artwork, your kids drawings, family photos and anything else you can think of.

  • Plates

    This can look really quirky and a little bit retro and all you need are some plates. The best plates are old vintage ones that have interesting patterns or paintings on them. They are a little hard to find and require many trips to different stores in order to find them but once you do they make great wall decorations. This can also become a hobby that you can make a collection out of.

  • Wallpaper

    Wallpaper has definitely gotten better over the years, since there is aplethora of choices that don’t look outdated at all. These options include faking a brick wall, geometric patterns, metallic walls – almost anything you can think of. It is definitely one great way to add a little life to a room.

Map on wall - good idea

  • Maps

    This is another great low budget idea and it can look modern or vintage depending on the map you use. If you want a vintage vibe you can choose an old map to frame an hang up, if you want a more modern feel you could use a new train map from your city or maybe somewhere you have been. There are so many options that you could do which include cutting it up into separate pieces and framing them separately, it’s all up to you and the look you are going for.

  • Tapestry

    Tapestry can look really regal or bohemian, depending on the colours and look you are going for. If you want a more elegant and regal look you should choose something that has plenty of rich stone colours that resemble a ruby or emerald. If you want something a little more bohemian, you could really go wild and find something that has been tie dyed. Tapestry is great if you are looking for something a little out of the ordinary.

  • Paint

    If you have a large space to work with, you could easily go for a feature wall. Feature walls will always be a great choice, they are timeless and classic and look good pretty much anywhere. All you need is a bucket of paint in a colour you like and you’re good to go. Just try to choose a colour that will match the rest of your colour scheme.

Few of us have the luxury of having enough space to accommodate both a bath and a shower screen. Therefore, having a bath with a shower screen mounted is the most common solution. In the last few years, shower curtains got replaced by shower screens. The reason for this is their appealing look, functionality and the fact that they are quite easy to clean. They come in many shapes, sizes and styles, therefore once you get a hold of the most important basics, it will be easy to spot the right one for you on a shower screen sale.

Shower Screens

Shower screens include doors that are mostly made from one or two platforms that close the shower area. A good shower screen should have at least two water outlets on the profile so that the water accumulated inside the profile can go back to the shower area, instead of outside. There are many different types of shower screens, but these one are the most common and popular to use:

Single bath screen
It features a classic design, usually goes with an aluminium profile that can swing 120 or 180 degrees depending on its location. One of the biggest pros of this shower screen is that it very easy to clean and it can swing more than the other types of screens.

Two-part shower screen
If you are looking for more coverage, you should consider this type of shower screen. It usually comes with the ability to cover around 150 cm and features easily accessible screen door that allows you easy access in the shower area. One of the biggest benefits of this shower is having fix panel where you can mount extra base that prevents getting hit from the swing door.

Frameless screen
If you want the minimalist look you can go for the frameless shower screen. What makes this screen great is the fact that all the weight is supported by two brackets on the wall without any aluminium profiles holding it. This renders it easy on the eye and utterly simple.

When visiting a shower screen sale, make sure that you check for the Australian safety standard HB 125. This means that should the shower screen break it will smash into tiny pieces which are less likely to cause an injury. Choosing glass that is 6 mm or 8 mm thick should also be one of the priorities to look for.

Choosing nursery trees to enhance your garden, is not all about making a list of specific tree species you need to buy. There is a wide variety of nursery trees available on the market, but not all of them have the same requirements and needs for a successful growth. If you don’t have a broad experience in gardening and feel confused from the vast range offered on the market, read on – we’ve prepared a simple guide on choosing the best nursery trees. Here are the three main steps you need to follow in the pursuit for the best trees that will best thrive in your garden.

Nursery Trees

Continue

For many of us, the garage is a space that has all kinds of mess. There are easy ways to fix this problem which you can conveniently do with cheap storage racks, shelves, and other organizational techniques. If you are someone who is sick of wasting all that space, can’t find anything in your garage, or need better tips to organize, keep on reading. Below we’ll go over some of the best ways you can easily de-clutter and organize your garage space making it easy for you to find everything you need and to keep it that way.

Garage Racks

The first step in organizing is to pull every single thing out. That’s right, take everything you have stored in your garage out so you are left with an empty space. This is the time you want to clean the floors, the walls, maybe even slap on a fresh coat of paint. The next thing you should do is sort through all of your items into three different categories. These categories are things you want to keep, things you want to donate, and things you should throw out. This will instantly make the space lighter and will make you feel better.

Now let’s go over different items you can use to organize your space and keep it that way. Firstly, you should find yourself some quality storage racks. Most people tend to just shove belongings anywhere if the storage rack is enclosed. With open storage racks, you can easily see where everything is – making things easy to locate and you are less likely to shove it anywhere after you are done using it. In addition, you can mount the storage racks on the wall and use the otherwise free space. You can find cheap storage racks in most homeware stores and online.

Bins and baskets are another great way to keep smaller things together and these can go basically anywhere. You can even incorporate these with your storage racks to keep smaller items and groupings of things together in one place. You can even find the stackable kind so you can put things like sports items, tools, liquids or cleaning products all in one place and on a rack. You can also label the outside so you know exactly what the bin or basket contains. This saves time and keeps things organized.

Hooks are so important when it comes to keeping your garage clutter and mess free. They are great for keeping cords off the floor, and larger hooks can be used to hang bigger items such as bicycles which will save you a lot of floor space. They are another great way to keep things such as rags and towels up off the floor and ready for you to use when you need them. Floor space in a garage can easily get cluttered but by installing hooks, you will have enough ways to clear this space.

You can also include shelves if you want something more enclosed. While these are great and will do the job, they are more recommended for people who use their garage space as their laundry space as well. This is one way to keep all your washing equipment dust free and out of reach of small children. Just make sure that they are used for specific items as they can easily become a place where everything gets shoved in and forgotten. If you want something for more of a storage solution then you should choose storage racks. Hopefully, after reading this article, you feel more confident in knowing how you can easily organize and clean your garage space.

You aren’t planning to throw away your furniture patio cushions just because they look dirty, are you? Follow our simple instructions and you will see how easy it can be to get your outdoor cushions looking like new again.

Furniture patio cushions

To instantly and with little effort turn your patio from dab to fab cleaning the furniture cushions should be the first thing on the to-do list.

The newer outdoor cushions available online and in brick-and-mortar stores, come with removable covers that you can simply throw into the washing machine, however if your cushions don’t have removable covers, you can still get them clean and ready for an entire season of outdoor fun. All you need are few tools and materials: vacuum, bucket, dishwashing detergent, sponge, warm water, borax, garden hose, scrub brush, towels and fabric protector spray. Here is how.

  • Step 1: Use the upholstery attachment on your vacuum to remove any loose dirt and dust from the cushions. If your cushions are tufted, make sure to run the attachment slowly of the seams, crevices, and any buttons.
  • Step 2: In a bucket of warm water, mix one tablespoon of dishwashing detergent. If there is mildew on your cushions, add ¼ cup of borax to the solution. With a sponge, generously apply the solution onto the cushions and let them soak for fifteen minutes.
  • Step 3: If there are still some stubborn dirty spots after the soaking, apply a little more of the solution, and with a scrub brush carefully rub out the spots.
  • Step 4: Rinse off the cushions thoroughly using a garden hose. Do not use a pressure washer for this as it may damage the fabric.
  • Step 5: Wrap a towel around the cushion to absorb most of the water. Next, stand the cushion up to air-dry completely. To avoid mildew, make sure no moisture remains on the cushion.
  • Step 6: Once your outdoor cushions are completely dry, spray them with a fabric protector. This will make the cushions resistant to dirt and stains from spilled drinks and foods. Moreover, this will ease your job easier at keeping your cushions clean for the entire season!

You should know that the easiest way to avoid complicated cleaning tasks, is to maintain your outdoor cushions on a regular basis. For that you need to brush your cushion surfaces on a daily basis to reduce the stains from visiting insects and plants debris. In case your cushions get soaked by an unexpected rain, turn them on edge to accelerate drying time. And do not forget to clean spills as soon as possible with a paper towel or clean rag.

Last spring I decided to participate in the Garbage & Recycling program offered by our local farmers. Apart form being very informative and inspiring, the free classes helped me understand just how important and natural it is to transform organic waste into soil building substances. I also came to realize just how much we need to get back to our roots and produce our own organic products in this ever expalnding, but way too artificial world (food-wise especially). Below, I will furthermore discuss the necessary steps to proper maintenance of a composting project.

Continue

Cafe outdoor chairs

Nobody wants to start the warm season taken aback by the worn out look of the outdoor furniture that awaits repairment or maybe even replacement. However, before you decide to skip the DIY and buy new cafe outdoor chairs and table, perhaps you could explore all avenues and try to revive the furniture that suffered from the tyranny of several seasons on your own.

Below you can find several sections with maintenance tips, depending on the particular material of your outdoor furniture. We chose the three most common materials:

The Wicked Wicker

Wicker is a type of material that can give you a headache when it comes to its protection and care, however, we all love it since it looks so darn good. Initially, wicker furniture was constructed by split reed, rattan or coated paper, however, nowadays manufacturers have started adding metal as to give more strength to its structure. This is why it is a bit of a drag when you are considering the proper way to clean it – the mixture of materials calls upon mixture of techniques as well. Vacuuming is an unavoidable first step, followed by cleaning with a mild soap or solution. Use only a few drops of water since it can damage and weaken the fiber – this is why we may never allow wicker furniture stay out in the rain. Before you repaint it, rub it gently with fine-grit sandpaper and you’ll certainly retrieve some of its old glow.

The Fantastic Plastic

Sometimes it seems like there isn’t anything that plastic would fail to mimic. Unfortunately, it is not good for our environment, but if we all spare a moment to recycle the used plastic from our homes, we could enjoy its benefits with clear conscience. The greatest perk about plastic is that it does not require much attention or maintenance. Its only enemy is the scorching sun, therefore if you manage to keep it away from it – you will prolong its life. Once damaged or worn out, plastic could be revived by using 10 parts water to 1 part of chlorine bleach. For milder stains, a mild soap solution would work perfectly too.

Maintaining Metal

Metal furniture has many enemies, the most common ones being rust stains and mold. Well, truth to be told, metal cafe outdoor chairs and tables can really take up much time to re-touch and revive. It all starts with a mild soap solution, then you need to remove the rust stains and mold thoroughly with fine-grit paint and apply a new coat of paint. It is also recommendable to use a silicone stray as to lubricate the swivels and the glides of the chairs.

Hopefully, these tips will help you keep your outdoor furniture in great condition longer, since sooner or later we all come to the conclusion that proper maintenance leads to prolonged radiance!

When looking for ceiling lights for the bedroom, what most of us want is to set the right mood by using lights as the herald of peace and comfort. For this purpose, you will need a plan, just like with every other aspect of decorating. You need to understand the limitations of your room and consider your needs when coming up with an appropriate lighting plan.

Continue
Prev1...131415Next Page 14 of 15

RECENT POSTS

© Copyright 2014 - StepsTo