How to create the perfect bonus room from your basement

Even if it's currently cold concrete and crammed with boxes of off-season duds, the lowest floor of your home probably has loads of potential. Treat your basement just as you would any of the rooms aboveground, and it might just become the most popular spot in the house. Here's our advice for turning basement into a place you'll be eager to spend time in.

First some ideas what your basement could become.  For example you can turn it into extra TV room or kids play room. Sometimes it is nice to have TV that the kids can control, playing their favorite shows and using it for video games. You just need to install simple TV cabinet and comfy sofa and your new room will be set.

Another idea is to turn it into movie theater. If your family love watching movies, basement is a perfect space to outfit with the latest technology, surround sound, subwoofers, and comfy chairs. Go all out and you’ll never actually have to go out for a movie again!

To create a home theatre you must allow sufficient distance between the armchairs and the screen. Lighting is less important here, but comfortable seating is essential. Remember also that you will need to hide the unsightly cables of your various pieces of equipment, and you may also want to consider soundproofing the room.

Last but not least you can turn basement into guest suite. Your guests will enjoy having their own space to retreat to without feeling like they are in the middle of a busy household. You just need to buy some chairs and table for your guest to sit and relax. Outfit the space with a luxurious bath, and on a dark, snowy night with no guests, you can sneak down for a bubble bath yourself.

Quick guide - garden furniture

Spending time outdoors can be a very relaxing and enjoyable way to appreciate summer days and make the most of patios and balconies. But that time can become considerably less enjoyable when there is no comfortable place to sit outside. Luckily there are many styles and makes of patio furniture that can improve your outdoor space.

First, you need to answer yourself simple question - will you be using your furniture for dining, socializing or relaxing? Dining sets are great for those wanting to enjoy teasty meal outside, whereas a deck set might be a less costly option worth considering if dining is not a priority. If you plan on using your patio only occasionally, a few basic items like a bistro set might do.

Next you need to know how many people will join you during outside parties? For larger groups you might opt for a 7-piece dining set. If relaxing with friends and family for extended periods is something you enjoy, sectional 3- or 4-piece cushioned seating sets could be great idea.

If you entertain frequently or spend a considerable amount of time enjoying the warmer months outdoors, comfort and durability are especially important when making patio furniture purchases. Solidly constructed pieces, cushions and sofas are a must.

Next very important aspect is free space. The amount of outdoor space you have will help determine what furniture is best for you. If space is limited, round and hexagonal tables are ideal alternatives to larger dining tables. A hexagonal table can seat as many people as a rectangular table and takes up less space.

Furthermore, keep available storage space in mind when deciding on what items to purchase. Some outdoor items integrate storage space into the pieces themselves.

Before you choose garden furniture you also need to consider their weather resistance. If you cannot store or shelter your patio furniture and accessories from the elements, they might have to endure prolonged exposure to harsh outdoor conditions.

Tips to organize kids' rooms

Kids have different needs then adults so their rooms also should look different. How can you help your child organize and clean up life in his bedroom? Try these easy organization strategies to bring order to your child room.

First of all, take a child's eye view. Get down to your child's eye level to help him or her get organized. Look at your child's space, storage, furniture and possessions from his or her point of view.

Adults furniture and organizing systems don't translate well to children's needs. Sticky dresser drawers are hard for small hands to manage. Folding closet doors pinch fingers and jump their rails when pushed from the bottom. Closet hanging rods are out of reach, while adult hangers don't fit smaller clothing. Traditional toy boxes house a tangled jumble of mixed and scattered toy parts. So to organize a kid's room, solutions must fit the child needs.

So, for younger children you can remove closet doors entirely. Lower clothing rods and invest in child-sized hangers. Use floor-level open containers to hold toys and open plastic baskets to store socks and underwear.

Next advice - sort, store and simplify. Children's rooms are usually small, often shared, and generally lack built-in storage. Yet these rooms are host to out-of-season and outgrown clothing, surplus toys, and even household overflow from other rooms. Kids can't stay organized when the closet is crammed, the drawers are stuffed, and playthings cover each square inch of carpet, but there is solution - sort, store and simplify.

The premier rule for efficient children's storage? Make it easier to put something away than it is to get it out. For example, store picture books as a flip-file, standing upright in a plastic dishpan. The child flips through the books, makes his selection, and tosses the book in the front of the dishpan when he's done. Compare a traditional bookcase, where little fingers can pull down a whole shelf faster than they can replace one book.

How to make your bedroom look more romantic

Do you dream of having a bedroom that just screams romance? With this guide you will be able to decorate your bedroom to make it sexier and more romantic place.

We all know that bedroom is your sanctuary and the essence of your home. It should be the place where you feel relaxed. If it's not there are things you can do to improve the appearance of your bedroom and make it a little more romantic.

First - something about fire. This tip is the first method because if you have a limited budget then this one change will make a huge difference to how your bedroom feels. If you did not already guess - this tip is about candles. Because candles are about one of the smallest changes you can make that also have one of the biggest impacts on how your bedroom looks and feels.

It is better to buy fewer bigger candles as well as a stack of smaller tea light candles. Tea light candles look beautiful around window edges and up the top of cupboards while the bigger candles can help your room smell pretty and romantic. If there is possibility  try to use just candles to light the bedroom during nighttime. It will creates a soft, romantic glow.

Since we’re on the topic of lighting, let’s delve into this aspect of romantic rooms. Because you can hardly enjoye a romantic atmosphere if there are fluorescent lights beaming down on you, you need a litte darknes. So you can either start from scratch and pick up some gorgeous new lamps and find low wattage bulbs to fit them or you can pick up some light bulbs only. Either way, it’ll make a huge difference to how romantic your room seems. To boost romantic feel you can also add a delicate chandelier to your bedroom.

Now let's talk about the most essential part of your bedroom - the bed. You can buy new comfy one if the one you are using now is gettin old or otherwise, you can make your existing bed a little bit more appealing by adding a new duvet cover, pillow covers and throw.
And if you are wondering what colours are best for romantic look you should stick to neutral colors with splash of an accent color.

Armchair - a short guide

First, lets answer the question - what armchair is? So armchair is very simply a chair with armrests. The chair is designed with a place to rest the arms. Although shapes, lines, and upholstery of the armchair can be very different - in this guide we well go through all available types.

Probably you don't know that but the idea of the armchair was developed for comfort. Before the popularity of the French fauteuil designs furniture was very stiff and hard with straight-edges. Furniture in the 18th century reflected more intricate designs, curved lines and comfort. Due to it popularity, armchair become a common addition to a living room, bedroom, or library.



Now, something about different styles of armchair. The traditional armchair design was initiated as a way to incorporate lounging into the design by softening edges and upholstery. An ever growing middle class sought more practical and comfortable furniture which influenced the design.

The fauteuil comfortable (comfortable armchair) grew in popularity in France and France quickly became a world leader and forerunner in the design of new furniture styles. A typical fauteuil is an armchair with open sides, exposed ornately carved wood and graceful curved lines.

The bergere style armchair also originated during this period. A bergere chair is an upholstered armchair with closed sides. The sides, back, and seat were all upholstered and the seat is wider and cushioned.

This wingback style of armchair was made popular in England. The wingback chair is taller than it is wide and has 2 side panels that extend from the back of the chair - in a winged shape. These panels connect to the closed-in arms. Originally, the wingback style was developed to protect delicate ladies from the heat of a fireplace.

The Queen Anne style armchair is a delicate version of the wingback chair. This type of chair has the same winged shape and extended side panels however the shoulders and the back of the chair droop slightly to give a design a more feminine look.

Last, but no least - the club chair that become popular in the early 20th century. It has a low backed, widely ample seat design and is most often completely upholstered in leather. This style of armchair was most typically found in English gentlemen’s clubs so this explains the name of the chair.

Perfect dining table - a short guide

The dining table is the focal point of almost every home, where whole family could gather. If you don't have one or need replacement you will probably want to buy a perfect one. So what do you need to look for? A dining table needs to be well crafted, have optimal size and allow to seat all your family members and guests. Here are some tips how to chose perfect dining table.

First of all you should select a dining table that is made of sturdy stuff. If you want a table to last many years you should choose a table made from a hardwood, such as mahogany, walnut or oak. Tables made from composite woods, which include plywoods and MDF are durable and economical but are never as strong as a hardwood. Hardwood is also a litte bit more expensive but for more money you get better quality.

Moreover, classic, wooden top in tableis great but don’t discount glass. The advantage of a glass-top dining table is that it works well with many decor themes. And because it has a reflective surface, it is an excellent choice for a space that might need to look a little bigger and brighter.

If your main goal is to impress your guests, you should chose marble table. Marble is a big investment, but this type of dining tables are nearly always showstoppers. Tables crafted from quality imported marble are extremely beautiful.

Next advise - choose a shape that will work in most rooms. Round tables look good in compact rooms and living areas that have square dining zones. They also offer flexible seating. On the other hand, rectangular tables have limited seating spots due to the position of the table legs and because only one person can be seated at each end.

Last but not least - the color. If you aren’t expecting your table to suffer wear and tear, choose the most sophisticated and elegant table in black color. But do it only if you are the careful type of person, otherwise go for natural color like brown.

How to decorate small kitchen - tips and tricks

You can turn your small kitchen into amazing place with these great decorating ideas and tips below.
First, don't believe what you've been told about small kitchens. They do indeed have the potential to charm as much as their larger counterparts.
Because visual clutter can minimize an already small space, approach your small kitchen design with the idea of keeping things simple. You can achive simplicity by keeping countertops clutter-free.

Also try to take advantage of unused space - we are talking about things like a bare wall, the alcove above the cabinetry or an empty window sill.
Uniformity also produces simplicity, you can use monochromatic color palette and start grouping similar items. For example, create visual continuity by pairing items lika a collection of decorative plates or a set of storage baskets.

As you may know, color plays an important role in decorating the kitchen. If you paint the room in a flattering tone-on-tone palette it will gives the impression of spaciousness. If you want to achive bold and unexpected design touch,  consider painting an accent wall in a vibrant hue. An attention-grabbing wall adds depth and style to your room.

Next important thing to remember, is to look up and assess your lighting situation. Although recessed and under-cabinet lights leave the smallest footprint in a small kitchen, a pair of pendant lamps above the center island or a trendy drum shade will give the kitchen a finished look.

Last but not least, remember that everything in a small kitchen must serve double-duty. Because of it cabinetry and shelves aren't just for storing dishes. With proper styling, floating shelves or glass-front cabinets are easily transformed into chic vignettes for treasures or a stack of cookbooks.
If storage space is limited, then for example bring a bookshelf to hold your kitchen essentials.

Tips for choosing sofa of your dreams

There are infinite options when it comes to choosing a sofa. You might think you know exactly what you want, but once you walk into a shop all the styles and shapes can become a little bit overwhelming. Here are some tips that will help you get a clear idea of what you want from your sofa.

First of all consider the size of your sofa. If you have a bigger living room, you'll need to make decision how much space your couch should fill. Maybe you want to include other couches or some chairs and coffee table? If so, a simple sofa, or one with L-shape is probably the best fit.
But if you're looking for a sofa that will be the focal point of your room, choose sofa in rounder shapes that take up a bit more space and provide a lot of seating for you and your guests.

On the contrary, if you have a small living room, you'll need a smaller sofa. With less space, any sofa is going to be in the spotlight. Because of this it's important to pick something that is practical, but also have unique design that complements the rest of the space.

Next important thing is to decide exactly how the sofa will be oriented. Successfully organizing a living space starts with analyzing your lifestyle. Ask youself a question - what do you do the most in that space? Do you like sitting in front of the TV? If so, make sure your couch faces that direction. Do you love hosting games ? Create a semi circle around a central coffe table.

Next, determine which shape will suit the room best. Now that you've decided your sofa's function, it's time to figure out which shape will help it fulfill that purpose. A clean L-shape is great for open areas that need to be divided, for example separating the living room from the dining room.

Research upholstery materials. Which will be best for you? Design is important, but functionality is key when it comes to choosing a material for your sofa. Maybe you want plush, white suede sofa which looks great but have some serious disadvantages, because suede can be a poor choice if you have pets or small children who will cause some damage.

Last but not least - pick a color. Upholstering furniture has become a relatively inexpensive option for anyone who wants to personalize a piece of furniture. So don't be afraid to do so if you want some exotic color or pattern.