Useful Home Tips

June 16 2017

All You Need to Know About Reclaimed Wood Tables

Furniture can serve as excellent interior décor items, provided you have some knowledge about mixing and matching colors, eye for design and an aesthetic sense about space utilization and placement. Treating furniture as mere functional units is a sheer waste of space and money. Given that they occupy a lot of space, you might as well use them as décor items with a bit of planning and effort.

Furniture made out of reclaimed wood is one such décor item that will serve you for a long time and create a unique ambience around it. Beds, bathroom vanities, TV consoles, coffee tables, stools, dressing cabinets…almost any furniture can be made out of reclaimed wood. They are not only durable, but also visually stunning owing to their dark colors, bold textures and unique character. In this article we will discuss reclaimed wood tables and list down a few tips to follow while buying them.

What exactly is a Reclaimed Wood Table?

It is similar to any other table made out of wood, the only difference being it is made out of reclaimed wood. As the name implies, these tables look old, weathered and warm unlike polished tables which are etched to perfection. The type of wood used and the type of finish given makes all the difference to the overall look and feel of this furniture. Reclaimed wood has minute imperfections like nail holes, knots, scars, lines, dark spots etc. These imperfections make the table look extremely authentic and add depth to it. There is a used look to the furniture that gives an impression that the table is really old and has a rich history to it. It seems like the table was borrowed from someone important or inherited by one’s own ancestors.

Also, furniture that are old or appear to be old are great conversation starters when you have guests. A reclaimed wood table can also serve as a pleasant distraction or oddity in a modern house that goes by minimalistic design. However, reclaimed furniture is best suited for summer cabins or houses with tropical, Scandinavian or industrial themes. These reclaimed tables can serve as excellent centerpieces around which you can plan the entire room’s ambience. You can create an entire reclaimed theme by having matching furniture that share the same reclaimed theme, reclaimed lamps and tribal wall hangings that reinstate the reclaimed theme.

How to Buy a Reclaimed Wood Table

These tables are very much similar to regular tables in their size, design and compartments. The main differentiator is the type of wood you choose and the type of finish you go with. Follow these tips while buying a reclaimed table and you won’t go wrong.

1. Always look for solid wood furniture

Normally furniture are made out of wood like pine, maple, cedar or hickory. However, pine and maple are too soft to match the strength and durability of a typical reclaimed furniture. White cedar, hickory and red cedar are excellent choices if you want a genuine rustic experience. The best thing about these wood types is that they age with time and add to the rustic element. The imperfections on their surface get better with time and make the table more and more authentic as years pass by. And certainly, there is no need to mention the durability they offer considering that all of them are solid wood.

2. Go for finishes that look reclaimed

You have to be very careful while choosing the type of finish you want to go with while buying a reclaimed wood table. If you already own reclaimed furniture, it is wise to get the table the same finish so that they are in sync when placed together. There are a lot of finishes that add the required old, distressed and weathered feel to the wood. While buying ensure that the vendor has experience in selling reclaimed furniture and has a wide array of finishes to offer. On top of the finish, also get a protective coating done to prevent damage by changing weather conditions, insects and moths.

3. Be Specific about Your Order

Lastly, be very specific about your order so that you get what you want. Be it the shape and size of the table, the number of compartments, handles for the compartments…give attention to every detail that you normally do while buying a table.

April 18 2017

Tips on Buying Cheap and Good Mattresses for Your House

Clark Useful Home Tips 0

A night of good sleep is extremely essential for your body to de-stress and rejuvenate itself. Crucial to this is a good mattress, which lets you have uninterrupted sleep, and also wake up in the morning without aches and pains. Selecting a good mattress is always a tricky game. There are so many mattresses for sale in the market, many of which make claims of offering you benefit of one kind or the other. You get introduced by sales people to the umpteen variants that are currently trending, which just add to your dilemma. Picking a good mattress, specifically one that suits you without pinching your pocket, follows some golden rules. Here are few such tips to make your mattress selection procedure easier.

Know the different kinds of mattress cores

The core of the mattress is what decides the support it offers. There are generally four types of cores – innerspring, foam, latex, and air-filled. Innerspring mattress have a bouncy feel. Their gauge determines the amount of bounce; with higher gauges working better for heavier people. Inter connected coils of sprint tend to be extra durable, but those with individual “pocketed” coils, each covered with fabric, reduce the ripple effect when one person shifts in bed. Memory foam mattresses give you a firm base and have less spring. They do not sink or budge beyond the topmost layer. Latex mattresses are similar to memory foam ones in terms of firmness, but tend to have spring-back. The materials is also antimicrobial, resistant to mold and dust mites. Air filled mattresses are customizable, and tend to have two sections, which can be customized separately for you and your partner.

Decide on the size

Mattresses come in standard sizes like twin, queen, king, and so on. The choice of the size is dependent on the space in the bedroom as well as the number and size of the people who use it. When considering size, it is important to pay attention to not just the width and length, but also to the height of the mattress. The actual height depends on the height of the bedframe, the box spring (if attached) as well as that of the mattress. If those using the bed have limited mobility, it is best to suit a height that makes the mattress easily accessible for them.

Take note of the price

Mattresses, owing to their varied builds and features, come at different prices. However, it is best to decide the kind of mattress, and set a price that you are willing to spend on it, so that you don’t end up overshooting the budget. Also, year-end or season-end sales are a great time to buy your favorite piece. It is best to do your research in advance and grab the one that you need, as soon as it is up on sale.

Consider branded products

Branded products are any day more reliable than non-branded ones. They also offer products of good quality, and which last long. They also have a good customer support system in place so that in case you have queries, or are facing problems with a product bought recently, you can get in touch with them to get it resolved quickly and easily. A quick browse through consumer reviews can give you an idea of the best brands and the most trusted products in the market.

Look for trials

Nothing replaces an actual trial when it comes to assessing a mattress. It is a good practice to try lying on the bed for a couple of minutes, preferably with your partner, to see how the two of you like it. This also gives you quick chance to gauge the firmness, and see if the material is suited for your body type and tastes.

Ask for warranty

A product covered under warranty is a good option any day. However, most of them are covered by terms and conditions, which if you do not follow, may not get you a repair or replacement in the warranty period. So, before you invest in the mattress of your choice, be sure to understand the warranty terms thoroughly.

When buying a mattress, be sure to invest enough time researching the different products that are available. Conduct a trial, be convinced, and only then proceed to making a purchase. After all, these investments, when done right, can save you money, and last for a really long time.

Home Decor Ideas Five Accessories You Can Easily Use

March 11 2017

Home Décor Ideas: Five Accessories You Can Easily Use

Steven Indoor Decor, Useful Home Tips 0

Interior design is all about how you use the things at your home and arrange them in an interesting way such that it creates an ambience or atmosphere. The ambience can be a reflection of your personality or the values you believe in or simply a reflection of your abstract imagination. Accessories are the jewels of the crown here, adding additional value to the overall theme, disguised in a harmony of commonality with other things in a space.
If you are thinking of accessorizing your interiors by adding new things but have no ideas in mind, you are reading the right article. In this article we will list out 5 interesting ways you can use home décor accessories to create a beautiful effect in your living space. Read on for more.

1. A Rustic Furniture

Imperfections teach us humility in life and have a deep sentimental value to them. The same imperfections also stand as a testament to its age and legacy when it comes to rustic furniture. Rustic furniture looks old, used and adds a sense of beautiful reality into our lives. From coffee tables to TV stands, beds to bedroom vanity cabinets, replace any of this furniture with a rustic one and see the difference it adds to your living space.

2. Carpets

This good old idea is used in almost all homes but only few homeowners get it right, using carpets as not just mere floor mats but an interesting home décor accessory. The center of the living room, a stairway, hallways, base of tables or stands, carpets can be placed anywhere. With added customization and the right choice of shape, color and material, carpets will not disappoint you one bit. They will also keep your floor clean and warm.

3. A Dominant Color

Even a simple concept like color can be used as an accessory in interior design if you have the right knowledge of complementary colors and how they can blend with one another. For instance, you can choose a color palette of only two colors say white and orange, where the white is meek and orange is dominant. White would cover most of the space and certain elements like pillow covers or vases or wall frames could be painted in orange to be highlighted.

4. Colorful Blinds

If you use curtains in your home, this accessory idea is a good upgrade for the windows. Blinds are more sophisticated and easy to manage and do the same function as curtains, blinding the window. You can use a particular theme or color for all your window blinds and turn this functional item into an interesting home décor accessory.

5. A Patch of Wallpaper

If you like colorful wallpapers but don’t want them to all over the walls, you can try this as an experiment. You can only select a patch on your wall and cover it with colorful wallpaper that goes along with the paint of your wall. It will instantly become a point of attraction in the room and draws the entire focus of the room together.