Whether you've just moved house, or are redecorating, your bedroom can not be forgotten about. It's your personal space where you spend time relaxing and it should reflect your personality.

Firstly, you need plan the color scheme of your room – the safest option is to go for a neutral offset and brighten it up with vivid, colorful bedroom accessories. Clean lines and neutral background tones juxtaposed with eclectic, bright accessories will liven up the neutral offset.

Ideally, you want a relaxing atmosphere in the evening and then an airy, light feeling when you rise in the morning. The best way to achieve these contrasting moods is by choosing appropriate lighting – you could use a dimmer switch to create a calm, dimly-lit ambiance in the evening and in the morning you can let the natural light see through your window by choosing lightly- colored curtains. For dark mornings, you could use a bedside lamp which creates the illusion of daylight.

As your bedroom is your place to relax, you'll want it to be clutter free and there before you'll need to think about the design of your room and storage space. Storage is key for creating space, make use of baskets, racks and dividers as they can be moved easily if need be. Also make use of the storage space underneath your bed, you can purchase plastic boxes to store items under your bed that you may not use too often. Fitted wardrobes hide storage hidden away and multifunctional furniture maximises space.

Try to choose furniture that's light and easy to manoeuvre and then you can move it around if you fancy a change. Place your furniture in corners and ensure you have enough room and space to move about freely. Try to avoid placing furniture in front of a window as it make the room look smaller and may block natural light from entering your room. If you are unsure where to place your furniture to create the most space, you can use special bedroom design software to plan your new bedroom and to ensure you are getting as much free space as possible.

Your bed will be the focal point of your room and will probably take up the most space, ensuring your bed is not too large for your room as it will leave you with little space for anything else. To make your bed look stylish, invest in original bed linen, and a striking headboard. Mix different fabrics on your bed, one type for headboard, one type for your linen and another for the cushions.

Whether you want a carpet or wooden flooring is your personal preference and each have their own benefits. Wooden flooring is easy to keep clean and can be livened up with stylish, textured rugs. On the other hand, carpet gives a homely feel and is soft on your fee. However, it does need to hoovered and can often be difficult to keep clean.

The cheapest street in Britain. On Wednesday I watched a documentary on Liverpool’s housing scheme – the opportunity to purchase a dilapidated house for a pound and do it up. That sounds like a fabulous idea for those struggling to get on the housing-ladder, and several families had accepted the offer and were eagerly renovating their properties.

However a few problems came to light. Because the area the houses were in was a run down district, there was a lot of crime, vandalizing and even shootings, which was frightening for the new residence. There were only a few sales amid rows of empty houses.

The council had apparently had 2500 enquiries for the properties, why couldn’t they move faster at getting more families in thus creating a thriving community of like-minded people working hard at renovating their homes. A higher occupancy would probably lower vandalism.

Another problem the new purchasers had, was their lack of the skill-set required to repair rooves, flooring and completely renovating a shell. The work obviously had to be completed to a high standard and the new purchasers were working to a small budget and doing as much of the work as possible; also sometimes their work was being destroyed by vandalism.

Some may say why was the council selling off housing stock? They had previously been planned to redevelop the area but funding ran out – but there were benefits to the scheme:

Selling the houses for renovation would bring in council tax.

Homes would be provided.

The area would be tidied up and improved with new residents taking pride in their properties.

An improved district, once everyone had moved in, less crime etc.

It seems to me with a few tweaks the scheme could produce a win-win solution. By selling say 50 houses a month in due course the revenue from council tax could be:

50 houses X £100 CT = £5000 per month. Which isn’t being provided whilst houses are empty!

If council tax was halved for the first 6 months whilst the houses were renovated and tuition/support offered from a team of vetted builders, also doing work at a subsidised rate, this would encourage more people to purchase, and the uptake would be faster. (The revenue raised could help provide the services).

A thriving community would quickly develop, reduced crime in the area, some housing deficit satisfied and revenue form council tax for the future.

As this is only the first episode it will be interesting to see how the project develops, and how the council deal with the arising problems. The program returns next week.

What colors do I paint the interior of my house, and where do I use accent colors?

Wall color is a extremely important aspect of interior design. Flooring always dictates the main color scheme, and one color is not the answer. Start by selecting a main color and then vary up and down the color chart to provide different shades of the same base tone. Do not be afraid to experiment with paint. Try a small spot at first, if you hate it, just paint over it! Many homes have architectural features that are not accented, since the homes are usually delivered in a single color. Try using darker tones I on your color palate to accent these areas. Not only will the darker colors add drama and depth, the color will accent these architectural features. If an architectural feature has more than one “bump out”, use several tones in that one area.

When selecting colors for your home, decide on the overall feel you want your home to have. If you want a very dramatic home, a very subdued home, are you going with a particular design style? All these questions factor into a color scheme. An easy start is to select a patterned fabric in the “color ways” you prefer. The term “color ways” refers to the distinct color palate of any particular element. A color way can also be taken from an important art piece or accessory .

My house feels cold, how do I warm it up to make it feel like a home?

A house becomes a home when warmth is added. Adding warmth is fairly simple. Colors on the walls, plants and trees, whether they are real or artificial, clustering accessory items, area rugs if necessary, and adding photos all add to the comfort level of warmth. Create intimate seating areas in larger rooms, pull the furnishings away form the walls to better fit the areas, and hang your art at eye viewing level. All these tips help create an intimacy for your home and thereby creating warmth.

Do I need a sectional sofa, a sofa and love seat, or 2 sofas?

This is one of the most frequently asked questions. The amount of seating , how you use the seating, and room size, will determine the answer to this question. While watching TV , many people like to “stretch” out on their sofas, so generally I would recommend a sectional sofa, as large a configuration as possible. Measure your space and check the schematics for the sectional you would like to purchase. Select a durable, heavy weight fabric, and you should be good to go. Sectionals are generally not as formal as single sofas but there practical application is far superior, if the room allows. If room is a little tight, again take the room measurements, check the upholstery schematics and purchase the largest sofas, or sofa love seat combination available for the space.. Many times manufactures have different size sofas available in the style you prefer, so make sure to ask. Single sofas have a far easier transfer application when moving to a new residence, where as sectionals are usually purchased for a particular arrangement.

The infamous “I have this one spot in my house that I just do not know what to do with” question.

As soon as someone finds out my profession, that statement immediately comes out of their mouth. It truly seems everyone has a similar “spot” somewhere in their home. This particular “spot” seems to play no important role in their everyday life, but seems to bother them more than the neighbors ugly lawn ornament. Since the “spot ” has no apparent use, then then treat it accordingly. Find a whimsical item that is fun and scaled to the area. Many times when shopping, you will see an accent piece and question “I love that piece, but where would I use it?”. The “spot” is usually perfect for this piece. The easiest way to treat the “spot” though, is simply to fill it with a small scaled plant or tree.

The home office vs. the guest room, which is best?

The answer to this question is which one will get more use on an everyday basis. Unless you live in a resort town and friends and family are looking for cheap accommodations, I usually vote for the home office. Organization is extremely important when finances are involved, and it is great having all the paperwork, filing, account information, and invoices (a nice way of saying “bills”), in one organized area. Family photos, sports memorabilia, and childhood mementos can all be proudly displayed in the office, and away from prying eyes. If occasional sleeping accommodations are necessary, consider purchasing a sleeper chair or sofa, this way you will have the best of both worlds. If your home office is to be used occasionally by guests, make sure your desk drawers have locks.

Should I choose leather or fabrics?

There is no right or wrong answer to this question. Lets weigh the differences. Fabrics are generally more comfortable on an every day basis. First, there is a far larger selection in colors and patterns with fabrics compared to leather. Fabrics also helps with the “echo” in the home since fabrics will absorb the sounds. Leather, on the other hand, is far more durable. Generally, leather is only in solid color, unless embossed, which embossed leather is very expensive. Light cleaning is relatively easy with leather, but make no mistake, leather will stain. Leather being a natural product will eventually dry out if not properly cared for. Leather also does not “breathe” as well as fabrics so it is not as comfortable year round, especially in very hot or humid climates. The best of both worlds is the trendy leather/fabric combination’s. If the sofas are floating in the room, a leather back with a fabric seat does work well, since people have a tendency to “lean” against the backs of sofas. If durability is an issue, the reverse is recommended.

Hardwood floors are the latest trend in many modern homes today. Rather than looking ancient, these type of flooring fits perfectly with many modern furniture and fixtures.

It is true that they look luxurious and elegant that will accentuate the beauty of your home's interior. But you have to take extra care in maintaining its quality look. Simply cleaning them with common household tools and methods might ruin it rather than maintaining its quality. Here are some tips to get your started.

Use Hardwood-Friendly Cleaning Agents

One tip is to avoid concentrated solutions in cleaning your hardwood floor. These chemicals can destroy the physical appearance of your hardwood by making them look worn and dull. In order to maintain the quality, use only prescribed pH solutions for it.

It's advisable to wipe them dry after you apply these cleaning agents. When applied on your flooring, they can give it the necessary shine that the hardwood is famous of. But if you leave them there long enough, they will easy corrode into the material and cause irreversible damage.

Use Soft Materials Only

It is very important to use soft materials when cleaning your hardwood floor to avoid scratches and abrasions. Avoid using straw brooms but use soft-bristled ones instead. You may also want to use vacuum cleaners first before sweeping the floor to remove the heavy dirt and grime, and leaving the rest to be swept off. Use soft-bristled attachments on your vacuum cleaner too, just in case!

When using cleaning agents, it's advisable to use damp mops with soft heads or sponges. If you are using cloths, go for cotton instead of other materials. You might want to shake of excess solid particles as an extra precaution. You should mop your floor daily to keep it shiny and beautiful. Note, however, that wet mops can cause damage instead of cleaning them. Only slightly dampen your mops to avoid unnecessary moisture.

Never Leave Stain

Like marble, liquid stains are one of the enemies of your hardwood floor. Spillage of acidic substances like vinegar, alcohol, and wine can greatly damage your floor, far worse than water stains. If left unchecked, it can cause spots and splotches that will be almost impossible to remove. Make sure that you mop them up quickly before they do any damage.

Hardwood floors are expensive and can greatly increase the value of your home; but they can be very sensitive to external causes that can be a threat to its overall quality. Following these tips above can greatly reduce the risk of such problems ever occurring on your precious floor.

When it comes to redecorating, sometimes it’s easy to get overwhelmed by the thousands of paint colors, fabric options, flooring materials, and other selections you need to make. Why not take the hassle out of your next remodeling project by working with an interior design consultant? They’ll help you refine your aesthetic vision, provide information about different materials, and all around make your redecorating experience hassle-free!

Coherent, Attractive Interior Design

Perhaps the most important role of an interior designer is helping you create an attractive, unified vision for your decorating project. Whether it’s an entire house or a single room, your space will look best if it has some overall coherency. That’s not to say that it has to be matchy matchy, but too many different looks, colors, and clashing fabrics can create a jarring, chaotic appearance. An interior design consultant will help you define the look you’re aiming for so you can achieve the best look for your space, essentially using their expertise to bring your vision to life.

Material Selection

After you’ve created the overarching ideas for your space, the next step is to select materials. Your interior designer will also be invaluable in this stage, helping you take the guesswork out of decorating with their professional experience and expertise. They’ll be able to knowledgeably recommend materials based on durability, performance, and appropriateness, facilitating a simple, stress-free redecorating experience. You won’t have to spend hours researching materials, which is great for today’s busy lifestyles. Choosing a color scheme, fabrics, window treatments, and flooring materials is a breeze with the assistance of an interior design consultant.

And, if you choose to work with an interior design professional affiliated with a paint store or home improvement outlet you can even eliminate the hassle of dealing with a middleman; you’ll be able to purchase products directly from your interior designer for easy, one-stop home decorating.

Interior Design for the Outdoors

Don’t forget, interior designers aren’t just for indoors anymore. One of the hottest trends in decorating today is creating an outdoor room by turning your porch, patio, or deck into a comfortable living space. If you’re looking to transform your outdoor space into an open-air lounge or dining room, an interior designer can really help! From assisting you with selection of appropriate outdoor fabrics to suggestions on durable furnishings, a design professional is practically a must for designing an outdoor living space.

Commercial Interior Design Services

Interior design services can also be great for commercial properties. Whether it’s a restaurant, apartment building, or doctor’s office, when you’re remodeling the look of your commercial space, why not use an interior designer. They’ll be able to handle all of the mundane details of decorating, leaving you free to run your company! From helping you create a coherent look to the nitty-gritty of selecting upholstery fabrics, design consultants can help you achieve an attractive, professional look with little to no hassle.

Embark on your next decorating project with the help of an interior design consultant. They’ll take the hassle out of redoing your decor and help you get the look you’ve been dreaming of!

Are you considering choosing tile over carpet or vice versa. If you are, you might be interested in this article. It will give you some tips that you might find useful in making your decision. Keep reading and learn about the benefits of carpet over tile.

Carpet has many benefits over tile. For example, carpet is much warmer in the winter time. There is no worse feeling than stepping on a tile floor on a winter morning. Carpet is warm to the touch and is much nicer to walk on when the weather gets cold. Carpet also has a soft feel. This is especially important if you have children. There is one thing that all young children do and that is fall. Would not you rather they fall on a nice and soft carpet instead of a hard tile floor. They will be much less likely to be injured. Another advantage of carpet is that not everyone likes tile so you might hurt your resale value. Ceramic tile is great in kitchens and baths but many people do not like it in living areas. It just does not have the appeal that other floorings have like wood or stone. The final advantage of carpet over tile is the cost. You can get a great long lasting carpet for much cheaper than the cost of tile. Use the money you saved to go on vacation or update some other part of your home.

As you can see, there are a number of benefits to choosing carpet over tile. See if they make sense to you and decide for yourself whether carpet or tile is for you. Good luck with your decision.

One of the critical elements for achieving ideal results with a concrete floor coating is proper preparation of the concrete surface. This may sound elementary, but it’s surprising how many flooring contractors don’t actually follow the protocols that optimize results and customer satisfaction.

It’s not just the preparation phase that makes a difference. There are fine points all along the way that make a huge difference in the outcome. The following steps should be followed for optimal results:

1. Determine Floor Type – Not all concrete floors are the same. Is the existing concrete soft, medium or hard? Understanding what’s already there is the foundational step for everything that follows.
2. Select the Right Grinding Methodology – The two main approaches are:
   Shot Blasting – Most contractors use shot blasting because it’s the cheaper way to go. However shot blasting is often too aggressive an approach, and is usually more appropriate for resurfacing rather than for applying a thin film. Shot blasting is downright abusive to concrete and can create stress fractures in the floor. No matter how carefully it’s done, it also creates pits and valleys, high spots and low spots. When it comes to coatings such as urethane and epoxy, diamond grinding is usually the better approach.
   Diamond Grinding is a preferred prep method for a variety of reasons. Many contractors don’t it because it requires more time, money and skill. But the most important part is getting the coating to bond to the underlying floor, and diamond grinding is the best way to thoroughly open the pores of the concrete throughout the floor without damaging or gouging the concrete. It also produces the smoothest most uniform finish, thereby producing the best and most long-lasting result. The precision tooling of a diamond grinder also allows a trained technician to select the exact proper cutter for a specific floor, again minimizing damage or gouging to the underlying concrete.
3. Hand Grind All Edges – Most contractors don’t bother with this detail. They figure their industrial grinders get “close enough.” But without hand grinding the final few inches all the way to the walls, there’s no assurance that the coating will properly bind to the concrete at the edges… and that can mean a shoddy result.
4. Thorough Cleaning – Once the grinding is complete, the floor must be meticulously swept and vacuumed – all the way to the edges — so that no residue remains that could interfere with complete bonding.
5. Coat- Apply the first layer of the coating, such as an epoxy primer specifically formulated for penetrating and bonding to the concrete. Usually 3-5 mls in thickness.
6. Second Layer – Apply the build coat of the epoxy, usually 8-10 mls in thickness.
7. Sanding – For optimal bonding, both a chemical bond and a mechanical bond are ideal. This is why Liquid Floor Systems chooses to sand this epoxy layer, though not everyone bothers with this additional step. Is it absolutely necessary? Maybe not. Does it produce the best and most long lasting result? Absolutely!
8. Thoroughly Clean After Sanding
9. Apply Urethane Top Coat. The most important element of this final step is to roll on the urethane within the “recoat window “for complete bonding between the epoxy and the urethane.
   If each of these steps is performed by experienced concrete floor coating professionals, an epoxy floor with a urethane seal is one of the most attractive, long-lasting and cost effective concrete floor coating options available.

In almost every place you’ve probably been, whether a royal embassy or a palace and even a normal duplex apartment, you can find one Oriental rug. What’s more is that when people often think of rugs, they usually picture oriental ones. It is most likely the style of carpet that one can first think of. So what are Oriental rugs? How does it differ from other styles of floorings? What makes it special? And how come people often consider it first when choosing an area rug?

Oriental rugs are known for their warmth and elaborate designs. Say you feel like your room is empty or missing a certain twist, or you want to feel like royalty living in a palace. Well these carpets are likely to add a luxurious feel to a room. A genuine oriental rug is hand knotted or hand-woven. Such floorings that are machine made or tufted are not considered authentic oriental ones. So don’t be fooled.

Oriental rugs, mostly manufactured in Eastern areas, can also come from Iran and Turkey. And since these carpets are usually made from countries that pay cheap labor costs, they remain of affordable value keeping its high-end character. Oriental rugs are subdivided into specific groups based on the countries where they are produced. Examples of these groups are Persian, Chinese, and Turkish rugs. Nonetheless, Oriental carpets are historically made from China.

Rugs from the Eastern parts of the world are commonly made from natural fibers; namely wool, cotton and silk. Because of its delicate and lustrous quality, oriental floorings made from silk fibers are more expensive than those made of wool and cotton. Nonetheless, since these carpets are typically made from natural fibers, they tend to be more resilient, supple and hard-wearing. Thus, these rugs are great not only for passive parts of the house but also in areas or rooms with heavy foot traffic. Oriental ones made of synthetic fibers are of cheaper price but are not of antique worth. They may offer the same quality that a rug made from natural fibers provides, but they would surely not last longer than genuine natural-fiber Oriental rugs.

Each rug has its own personality based on the color, design and materials used. Colors used for oriental carpets are usually rich dark earth colors, navy blue, gold, black, and crimson. These colors add up to a rugs lavish and magnificent character. Also, light colors such as plum, ivory and white are added for a more glamorous and antique look. Oriental rug patterns are usually vigorous and playful. Designs are one of a kind and are flamboyant, complex and luxuriant.

Oriental rugs add supplementary zing to a room with its unique and intricate design, giving it a more grand and ornate appeal. A lot of efforts have been made to copy or duplicate them due to the evolving modern-day standard of living, but only those rugs that are made by hand through weaving or knotting are real legitimate Oriental rugs. And since these rugs are not machine-made, they tend to be more resilient and durable.

Big halls and rooms need to constantly cleaned and maintained. Having epoxy flooring will make the whole cleaning process easier and much simpler. This is because this kind of finishing material has no seams and hence it makes the cleaning part easier. Dust and dirt mainly accumulate in the crevices and seams that are found in floors that have tiles and carpets. But with a smooth coating there are no crevices where the dust can gather. This will give you naturally clean floors that need minimum maintenance. These types of coatings give a highly lustrous shine and look to your floors and are suitable for industrial, commercial, as well as residential establishments. It helps to bring a glamorous effect into your room. They can help to greatly improve the look and appearance of quartz and marble slabs. There are experienced companies which deal with these kinds of services and products. Give one of them a call today to get this experience for yourself.

Long lasting effects

One of the main questions that people ask when it comes to epoxy floorings is about their longevity and how durable they are. You can test the strength and the life of these products yourself. These products and surface finishing have the same strength as concrete and can stand high levels of tension and shear. There is no doubt about their durability. Due to the continuous traffic running over the walking surfaces, most of the other floorings will develop traffic patterns over time. But this does not occur with these special coatings.

Unusual places

How many of us have a really good garage floor? The answer in most cases will be none. This is because people hardly take notice of their parking spaces. While is this may be alright in residential places, if you own a public garage or a service station, people will definitely take notice of your walking surface on which the cars and vehicles are parked. You can make the surfaces more attractive by going in for a finishing product that will bring more shine and reflection to your garage.

Smoothening process

Many of our floors especially in industrial and commercial areas will be made out of concrete. But this material even though it is very tough can be extremely rough. These surfaces also look very dull. One of the ways to make them look more attractive and pleasing to the eye is to go in for concrete polishing. While other smooth surfaces may be slippery, polished concrete is guaranteed to be resistant to slipping. Before you do any sort of finishing work on your walking surfaces, make sure that you choose your designs carefully so that they match the rest of your organization.