Major Types of Garden Ornaments and their Benefits

After a tedious day the garden is one of the most appropriate places to relax in. Adding such features as statues, gnomes and wind chimes, will not only give your garden a unique appearance, but it will also make the area look like a great outdoor retreat. Garden ornaments come in a wide range of forms, shapes, sizes, color and beauty to the garden area.

Garden Statues 

Garden statues come in a wide range beautiful and imaginable sizes and shapes. They range from Germanic mythical elves, to human size statues, to biblical and angelic figures. This class of garden ornaments adds both color and design features to the garden and can be designed to either stand alone or can be built into the garden using ornament molds. Other forms of garden statues have interesting features like bird baths and fountains.

The major advantage of garden statues as garden ornaments is that they allow home owners to incorporate a similar landscape design theme by making use of a garden statue that perfectly suit the design theme (e.g. Japanese garden ornament). Garden ornaments can be made of a wide range of materials including cast stone, cement or concrete.

Garden Planters 

Garden planters come in a wide range of natural and man-made materials such as polyethylene, ceramic, stone, pottery, wrought iron, aluminum and wood. These great garden ornaments can be put in the patio, pool area or garden. Garden planters generally add beauty to the back and front areas of the garden and it is advisable that two or more garden planters be used in the one area because then they will create a combination of color, beauty and life.

Garden Gnomes

Garden gnomes are dwarf-like creatures that are strongly believed to bring about good luck to the garden. These ornaments are created in large, medium and small sizes with varying gnome themes like pushing wheel barrows, hugging trees and feeding birds. Garden gnomes are basically hand-crafted, made of clay and are painted in a wide range of bright colors. They give the garden a colorful appearance.

Wind Chimes 

Wind chimes are used to create peaceful sounds particularly in bushy areas of the garden. They come in a wide range of materials including: bamboo, glass, aluminum and pewter and can be hung in any part of the garden. Different types of wind chimes produce different kinds of tones and sounds. Sounds produced by garden ornaments wind chimes vary from gentle tinkles to large long lasting gongs.

Garden Rocks 

Garden rocks are garden ornaments that are used to re-create a beautiful natural environment especially for water ornaments. They come in a wide range of multicolored shapes and sizes and are best suited for covering up areas where piping and cords are seen in the landscaping. They can also be used to make stepping stones or can be built around the pond.

Garden ornaments generally enhance the appearance of the garden. A beautiful and relaxing garden appearance can be achieved by taking into consideration such factors as a landscaping theme and the purpose of the ornament.

Bring Life to Your Garden with Fence Decorations

Apart from your house's exterior, the first thing that people see when they pass by your home is your fence. You might think that the sole purpose of a fence is to protect your home in the very least, but aside from that, your fences still make up your home's decor. It might not have crossed your mind that your fence does contribute to how good or bad your home looks, at least from the outside. So if you want to make a good impression, start with your fence.

For starters, keep in mind that it's not just about having a fence. You can have a fence installed but remember that just like any part of your home, you can decorate it. Don't limit yourself to special occasions; you can keep your fence decorated the entire year. If you need help on where to start with your fence decorations, read on for a few tips and tricks.

Decorative Vines 

Although your fence provides protection and adds a bit of height for your garden, it might not be the best background. In order to stick to the existing theme of your garden, what better way to add in fence decorations than to use decorative vines? There are actually a lot of vines to choose from, depending on a variety of factors. For instance, the morning glory, as its name suggests, needs a lot of sunlight. The trumpet vine also proliferates in a hot environment, so this is a good option if your fence is exposed to a lot of sunlight. Vines that produce abundant flowers include jasmine, honeysuckle, and wisteria.

Espalier 

The espalier is quite similar to your decorative vines; these plants, originally used to grow fruit, grow best in flat panels such as a fence. If your garden is rather small, this is a great way to expand your plant collection. You have to "train" the plants to grow horizontally, which you can do by using supports and strings.

Style your (Boring) Wooden Fence

This idea is perfect for picket fences that weren't painted. Grab a paintbrush, bucket(s) of paint, and epoxy; don't forget to bring along a bit of your creative juices! Before anything, use the epoxy to fix any holes in the wood. You want to give the wood a smooth texture before applying a primer (preferably for outdoor use). Next, paint in the color of your choice - you can go with white for something more traditional, but you can try other colors as well (stick to lighter shades like pastel colors). Don't forget to apply a second coat if needed.

Border your Fence with Lattice Panels 

Again, these fence decorations are the perfect idea for shorter fences. Simply add in wood lattice panels that you can purchase or make by yourself to the top of your fence. This might require a bit of construction work, so you can seek the help of a professional. Aside from adding to the decor of your garden, additional lattice panels give you more privacy as well.

Add in Fence Accessories 

A few ideas include hanging potted plants, wire sculptures, and even lightweight fountains. You can also get creative and make your own fence decorations. For more information, you can check online for DIY ideas.

What you Need to Know when Choosing Bathroom Decorations

Bathrooms are perhaps the second most used rooms in any house. For this reason it is important you ensure they are looking warm and welcoming at any given time. Bathroom decorations are the best way to ensure that your bathroom has that warm and welcoming feel. Since there are many available types of bathroom decor, you might have it rough when choosing the right decor. That's why it is important you take the following into consideration:

Available Space

More often than not, space will be the limiting factor. The space includes the floor space and the height, the space between the ceiling and the floor. High ceilings will go well with hanging lamps. This will not only utilize the vast space available but it will also ensure that the room is properly lit. If the floor space is large enough, then you can adopt a luxurious theme which might look squeezed in a small bathroom. Likewise, a small bathroom will go well with a simple layout as compared to a luxurious layout. The space available will also determine the size and number of accessories you can have.

Cost

Bathroom decorations are quite expensive and it is highly recommended that you have a budget to avoid overspending. After drafting a budget, make sure you arrange the items in order of preference. Accessories such as taps, bath tubs, mirrors, sinks, showers and mirrors should be a priority. Buy the accessories to match the theme of the room. You don't want to have a metallic bath tub and a ceramic sink. The best accessories are the one that fit well, matches the theme and last longer.

Color

Bathroom coloring is very important. You should not have a dull color as your bathroom color unless it is unavoidable. Remember the bathroom color you choose should blend with the bathroom decorations and it is highly recommended that you choose a bathroom color after buying/window shopping the accessories you want to fit. Most people choose white as their bathroom color since most accessories are available in white. Bathroom tiles are also part of the coloring and so it is important that the wall color and tile color blends.

Accessories

After installing the 'compulsory' accessories, you may now install the 'not so necessary' stuff. Cabinets, soap dishes and towel racks should always come last. This is because they are flexible and easy to fix. Such accessories are the best way to utilize the free space left in the bathroom but you should however use them sparingly to avoid them becoming a cliche. Fit cabinets at considerable heights to ensure ease of access by everyone. If the bathroom is the only bathroom, ensure you consider disabled persons when planning the layout.

Also, when planning it is highly recommended you consult future users of the facilities if they are available and if not consult an interior designer. This will avoid the need to re-design the bathroom again. Remember to choose bathroom decorations that require zero or minimum maintenance and you should always keep your bathroom clean. No matter how you have designed it, a dirty bathroom will always look gross.

Reinforcing Safety in the Home with Stair Treads

We all like to assume that we perfectly know what we are doing but in reality, mistakes do happen. Falling around the home or business premises is not as uncommon as one may think. When it is in your home it may be just a slip and fall that may not cause harm but if it causes harm, you have more than just your pride to lose. In the business premises it will be an injury plus a lawsuit. No matter whether it is in the home or business premises, buying and installing stair treads will save you a lot of injury and worry. With that in mind, here are some pointers to ponder once you have decided to go with the right move of buying and installing them.

Material

Just like with many other home decoration or functional articles, stair treads come in quite a variety of materials. You will have to be pretty discerning about which material would be the best to use in your case. One of the best ways of deciding on the material would be to consider the exact location of where you are going to use them. For example, if you are going to install them inside the house where you have carpets running from wall to wall then you can consider a different type of material from when you need to install them outside where it rains or snows.

Durability

Stair treads, just like a host of other home products, have a lifespan due to wear and tear. To be thrifty when purchasing them does not necessarily mean buying the cheapest but considering the quality. You need a set that can take as much wear and tear as possible before the need for their replacement arises.

Backing

Stair treads need something firm and secure to keep them in place so that they actually boost safety instead of being a safety hazard. This is called their backing and it holds them firmly down. When considering various types of models, you have to carefully analyze the backing that they have and not simply go by looks alone. This will assure you that they do not come off and cause a nasty fall by trapping your foot under them.

Visual Appeal

We all want a home that looks stunning despite having all the safety features. It is therefore not shallow to take your time to make sure that you are purchasing stair treads that will be aesthetically pleasing to the eye as well as safe for you and your family. You will be spoilt for choice with a wide range of colors and patterns that can fit in well with the theme of your home. Shopping for them online is usually the best way to go about it as there are a host of sellers able to stock the widest variety of styles in a warehouse unlike visiting a tiny store that cannot keep a lot of inventory. With a little bit of patience you can get a set that boosts the visual appeal of the home instead of downgrading it.

Magnetic Blinds: The Best Type of Treatment for Windows and Doors

Although metallic window and door casements are generally more durable than their wooden counterparts they are quite difficult to attach accessories because of the metal. Thus, if you have a metallic door which has a window and are searching for ways to hang blinds without screwing into the metal door magnetic blinds is the best choice.

Style

Just like the ordinary mini-blinds, magnetic blinds are made of vertical slats and like traditional mini-blinds they have a string and pulley system for opening and closing them. They are available in both wood and vinyl. Wooden blinds come in a wide range of stains ranging from golden brown to rich chocolates stains. Vinyl magnetic mini-blinds are available in light gray, white and ivory colors.

Buying

Vinyl blinds are generally more affordable than the wooden blinds; but in settings where physical appearance is important wood blinds are highly recommended because they create a more natural look. Just before magnetic window blinds are bought the measurements of the window must be taken to ensure right size blinds. Magnetic brackets which sit outside the window edges are catered for by adding 1 - 1 1/2 inches to the window's width. Blinds can be bought from various home improvement stores or online from interior decor suppliers.

Installation

Magnetic blinds are very easy to install because they do not need any tools. The magnetic brackets are simply fitted over the square rod's ends then the brackets are stuck to the window or door trim just outside the window's top corner. This should be done carefully so that the wand stick and the adjustment string are installed on the side opposite the glass. Put a level across the square rod top to ensure that it is smooth and even.

Cleaning

With regular cleaning the appearance of magnetic brackets can easily be maintained. A vacuum cleaner with an upholstery brush attachment or a duster can be used to regularly dust blinds. In average settings with few air-borne particles, magnetic blinds should be dusted once every two weeks but in settings with many air-borne particles e.g. restaurants or wooden shops blinds should be dusted once a week. Wooden blinds are usually dusted with wood dust spray while vinyl blinds are dusted with light vinegar misting and water. Blinds should occasionally be removed from the window or door for a more thorough cleaning.

Decoration

Straight blinds do not add warmth and attractiveness to the house as a result embellishment of blinds with curtains is recommended. Magnetic curtain rods which are usually attached to the window or door frame in the same way as magnetic brackets can also be used. Magnetic curtain rods are usually fitted over the blinds' square rod. For minimal decoration use a curtain valance at the top but for full framing or optional blinds concealment use full pull-up or side draw curtains.

Magnetic blinds are the most appropriate type of treatment for doors and windows that are made of metal. They are easy to install and cleaning and they provide numerous benefits which include privacy and embellishment of the house.