A Guide to Using an Electric Breast Pump

Breastfeeding is an essential feature of motherhood that influences the health and wellbeing of your baby. Only 55% of infants in India are breastfed for the first six months after birth. A major reason for this gap is the mother’s job. If you are also a working mother, use the best electric breast pumps in India to feed your little one.

These pumps are convenient for mothers who are not around the child, want to include their partners in the process of baby feeding, or suffer from lactation issues. Today, there is continuous research in making breast pumps portable by reducing their size. Thanks to this, India may witness pumps with adjustable suction power and other enhancements in the upcoming years.

Here is all you desired to know about this handy device.

When to Consider Using an Electrical Pump?

Working Mothers

Moms who prefer going back to work after delivery may find it challenging to breastfeed the newborn often. In such cases, electric pumps help to express milk easily and store it away for the entire day’s feed.

According to a survey, about 80 percent of working mothers prefer using electric pumps during their lactating period. Indian mothers also use these pumps due to being popularly recommended by gynaecologists.

Mothers Expected to Deliver Early

Pregnancy complications or women at the risk of an early delivery may consider using the best electric breast pumps in India. A low-weight preterm baby may not have enough strength to suckle, which makes these pumps indispensable.

Mothers Delivering Twin Babies

For those women delivering twins, breastfeeding becomes an exhausting affair. Nevertheless, you can opt for electric pumps that help express more milk within a small time interval.

Tips to Use a Breast Pump

Like with any skill, it takes time to master the use of a breast pump. Your body will gradually learn to trigger the letdown, relax, and express maximum milk.

Don’t Hurry to Breastfeed

In the initial weeks, work with your baby to initiate and build on your milk supply. You can maintain a consistent supply when you remember to stick to your pumping schedule. But, breastfeeding your baby within an hour after the birth works wonders for their health. In India, only 41.6% of infants are breastfed immediately after birth. Don’t let your child become one of them.

If your Child is Unable to Breastfeed

Start to double pump the breast milk if the baby is unable to feed directly from the breast. It is essential to express milk as frequently as your baby will drink. Research has shown that expressing milk within the first few hours of birth will produce high milk volume in the early weeks.

Read the Instruction Manual

Remember to look into the manual to understand your pump’s mechanisms and use the special features. Nevertheless, using an electric pump is a simple process that involves placing the breast shield on your nipple and turning on the electric pump.

Relax

Being relaxed is essential to stimulate the letdown reflex and pump out more milk. Consider applying a warm compress to the breasts for enhancing the letdown. Choose a spot that is free from distractions, comfortable, and private. Ensure your arms and back are well supported during the pumping process.

Don’t Neglect the Discomfort

Breast pumping should not become an uncomfortable phenomenon. If you feel any discomfort while expressing or notice chafing or blisters on your breast, consider reducing your pump’s suction. You also need to use the right size of the breast shield, which surrounds the nipple closely. There must also be enough space for it to move around without rubbing.

Electric breast pumps are also known to reduce the medical/health-related issues plaguing Indian mothers. By addressing problems such as inverted nipples, underdeveloped breasts, and hormonal imbalances, experts predict a rise in pumps’ demand forthwith.

Do Not Deviate From Your Pumping Schedule

Make it a habit to pump at specific times each day to meet your baby’s increasing demand. If your baby is exclusively milk pumped, consider pumping more often and store enough milk for the infant. However, if you are pumping and breastfeeding, pump 60 minutes before or 30 minutes after feeding the baby.

As a new or expectant mother, you have enough things to worry about, and feeding the baby must not be on the list. The best electric breast pumps in India can ease your feeding troubles and deliver the right nutrition at the correct times to the newborn. These apparatus come handy during a variety of situations and make the initial phases of motherhood comfortable.

Family Friendly Ways to Be More Sustainable

Being sustainable can be difficult. We all want to help the environment, but the world is so advanced that being sustainable no longer feels natural. These days most of the businesses are sustainable, or they are trying to be.

However, we all need to play a part in helping the environment, and that means being more sustainable. In fact, being sustainable can be fun, if you do it as a family. Working together and finding creative ways to use what you have can be an exciting adventure. So, here are some fun and family-friendly ways to be more sustainable.

Grow your own veg

Store bought fruit and veg can be full of chemicals. Often, the items that you buy are grown abroad and shipped over. This isn’t good for the environment. But, growing your own fruit and veg is, and it can be super fun. Simply find a patch in your garden that gets plenty of suns and get digging. It can be incredibly cathartic and obsessive. Just be aware of any chemicals you use in your own garden. Herbicides, such as roundup can be harmful to humans and cause lifelong health problems (why is round up still being sold? It’s a good question. Click the link to find out more). Soon, your garden will be full of life and delicious veg for all the family.

Arts and crafts

Everyone loves arts and crafts. Even the least creative person can’t resist a little glue and glitter. But how are arts and crafts helping you to be sustainable? Well, instead of going to a store for new clothes, you can make changes to the clothes you currently have, making them feel new. Instead of buying a new outfit for one occasion and never wearing it again, you’ll be excited to show off your amazing sewing skills. Check out these winter crafts for more ideas.

Water challenges

We all use far too much water. Long hot baths in the evening can be so tempting, yet baths can use up to seven times more water than a quick shower. So, challenge your kids to a water use competition. Who can use less water in a week? The winner gets a prize!

Car boot sales

Families tend to throw lots of things away. Kids grow out of their clothes quickly, and their interests are ever changing. However, it’s important to show your kids the impact of throwing things in the landfill. This is terrible for the environment, as most plastics take many years to decompose. So, instead of throwing out old toys and clothes, start going to car boot sales where your kids will see other families enjoying your used items. You can pick up some bargains for them, too.

Fall 2020 Style Essentials

This year the world has been struck with the COVID-19 pandemic which forced many to stay at home and adapt to a new lifestyle. A lot of professionals started working from home, which means they swapped elegant suits and accessories for sweatpants and simple tees. However, the fall is here, and in many places, the restrictions are getting looser, which means that going out and enjoying the surroundings is back. And there’s no better way to celebrate this new-found freedom than to wear the trendiest pieces. So, for this reason, here are some fall 2020 style essentials that you shouldn’t leave home without.

New season, new footwear

It’s time to put sandals and flip-flops away because it’s a new season, and a new season means different footwear. This fall, we’re expecting to see boots in all shapes and forms. Knee-length will be making a comeback, which is a welcome change compared to over-the-knee styles we used to wear in previous seasons. Also, since fall weather tends to be a bit unpredictable, make sure to wear suede water-resistant boots that will protect you from sudden rain.

Get elegant with non-denim pants

Jeans are a staple wardrobe item for everyone, and this fall this won’t change. However, non-denim pants will become all the rage which is wonderful news for all the professionals who cannot wear jeans while being at work. Basic black or grey trousers are a great choice as they can be easily mixed and matched with more colorful tops and buttoned shirts.

Stylish and sleek accessories

Photo by Ranurte on Unsplash

Fall is when everyone starts to get more elegant, and this year’s trends are here to confirm this. Self-care often means being responsible, so treating yourself to a brown leather cardholder wallet will be a nice addition to your personal style. Aside from that, you can also get a new wallet, especially if your old own is showing visible signs of use. Completing your look with sleek and stylish accessories such as a neutral purse or a leather backpack can transform your style and make you look chicer.

Big chunky knitted sweaters

Since fall time is often associated with coziness and comfiness, it’s no wonder that it is a favorite season for so many people. And there is no better way to celebrate fall than treating yourself to a trendy chunky knitted sweater. In case you plan to wear it daily, then make sure to get one made of cashmere or other types of high-quality wool. You can either opt for a shorter sweater and wear it with high-rise jeans or go for a more oversized model that goes well with skinny jeans or leggings. The choice is yours, so feel free to experiment.

Bold and statement pieces

Just because summer ended doesn’t mean you have no room to experiment with fashion. Fall is all about being creative and adding a few bold and statement pieces to your outfit will definitely add a whole new dimension to the way you look. Opting for an animal print scarf or a chunky necklace will surely be a great idea, especially if you love simple and neutral clothes as a base for your outfit. Additionally, wearing a set of rings or a pair of statement earrings will surely add a dash of elegance no matter the occasion.

A classic coat that stands the test of time

Photo by Rangga Cahya Nugraha on Unsplash

If you’re planning a fashion investment this fall, then look no further. A classic, quality coat is the best thing you can gift to your wardrobe. A good coat should be, above all, durable and made of long-lasting materials. Whether you opt for a trench coat or a cozy shearling coat it’s essential to pick something comfortable that suits you. In case you find a model that you love, don’t hesitate to purchase it, because chances are you’ll be wearing it for years to come!

Final thoughts

Getting ready for fall should be fun, so don’t hesitate to experiment with various styles and clothing pieces. Also, remember that you should never sacrifice your own comfort and well-being in order to follow fashion, instead, find a way to modify your style to be accommodating of new trends and you’ll be ready to enjoy fall feeling stylish like never before!

How To Eliminate Odors In Your Kitchen

A lot of things are happening in the kitchen – cooking, frying, throwing the food away, so it’s no wonder that smells are a natural occurrence there.

If you ever felt (and you most certainly did) that you want to leave the kitchen immediately due to some horrible smell, then you need to check out these tips on how to get rid of the smells fast and how to reduce them to a minimum.

Reduce trash odors

Of course, you shouldn’t wait for too long until you take out the trash from the kitchen – the more it’s inside the room, the stinkier it will be.

However, sometimes it’s not the actual trash that stinks – it’s the trash can. From time to time, sprinkle it with baking soda, and then spray it with a disinfecting spray to get rid of bacteria.

You can also use lemon or orange rinds to refresh the trash can. Use a few pieces every two weeks and run them through the can. The acid inside this citric fruit will break up the grease and leave a fresh scent.

Dry the sponge

Wet sponges can stink a lot, so it’s best to give it a good squeeze after every use. Store it in a place where there’s good airflow – it will not only prevent the smells but it will also prolong the sponge’s life. And don’t forget to clean the sponge in the dishwasher every once in a while.

Microwave odors

You cook almost everything in the microwave, so it’s no wonder it could start giving off various unpleasant smells after a while.

To get rid of the lingering smells, boil one-quarter of water together with lemon slices in the microwave for a couple of minutes. Wipeout any remains of the wood inside the microwave and leave the microwave door open to let the inside dry completely.

Exhaust fan

You should use your exhaust fan whenever you cook to prevent unnecessary smells coming from cooking. It’s even better to switch the fan on every time you use the oven or even the cooktop. In case you don’t have an exhaust fan, think about getting one – it’s a great help in preventing odors from filling the kitchen and even spreading through your home when cooking.

Dishwasher smells

The dishwasher gets filled with various smells – just think about how many different food remains find their way inside the dishwasher and give off smells while you’re waiting to fill in the dishwasher so that you can turn it on. Even the dishwashers of the highest quality can give off smells because sometimes food particles find their way inside the dishwasher parts and stay there to rot and smell.

To give your dishwasher a proper clean, you first need to empty it – remove even the bottom rack. Use a clean microfiber cloth to remove any debris. Then place a glass cup of white vinegar on the top rack between the prongs for glasses. Rin the dishwasher through a single cycle and set the highest possible temperature. After the cycle is finished, leave the door open for one hour so that the dishwasher dry out completely. White vinegar inside it would have broken up grease and neutralize the odors. Still, if you don’t like the scent of fresh vinegar, you can mask it later with a few drops of essential oil. Repeat this cleaning process for times a year.

However, sometimes a dishwasher part breaks or cracks, allowing the food particles to get inside the cracks – there’s not a lot you can do about it but to look for dishwasher spare parts. It’s the only sure way you will get rid of the smell and that your dishwasher will continue functioning properly.

Refrigerator odors

The refrigerator can give off truly horrid smells if there’s food that’s gone off or if you don’t store the food properly.

The obvious thing is to make sure every meal or any type of food is stored inside a container with secured lids or at least wrapped in material that doesn’t give off smells. Every couple of days, check your fridge to see if there’s any spoiled food you need to get rid of.

Also, baking soda is a great tool in fighting fridge odors – place an open box of baking soda in both the fridge and the freezer. It will neutralize the smells.

When you’re cleaning the fridge, be very thorough – clean the cracks and crevices on the shelves, side doors, and crispers. You wouldn’t believe how many crumbs or spills stay there causing unpleasant smells.

Cutting boards

You use cutting boards every day to chop and cut various types of food, so all of that remains on the cutting boards. Sometimes even sanitizing it can’t remove the strong smell of garlic or onion. To freshen up plastic cutting boards, put them in the dishwasher. As far as wood cutting boards go, scrub them with a lemon half that you previously dipped in salt.

The kitchen sink

A lot of gunk ends up in the sink, resulting in a very specific smell coming from it. First, scour the drain by pouring a cup of salt, then pour a cup of baking soda. Next, boil water in a kettle and pour it into the drain – that will activate the salt-baking soda mix. Leave it for a couple of minutes and then run cold water for a whole minute. It will wash away the residue and leave the drain clean and odor-free.

Freshen up the kitchen

In case you don’t like the smell of yesterday’s meal you cooked, a spritz of homemade air freshener could help. Pour three-quarters of water in a spray bottle, add two tablespoons of vodka or rubbing alcohol to it, and add 10 or more drops of essential oil of any scent you like. keep it under the sink for a quick fix.

Bottom line

Kitchen odors can have various sources – only regular and thorough cleaning and maintenance can prevent the odors from spreading.

The Ultimate Guide to Estate-Planning for Single Parents

Estate planning is a serious matter for everyone, but it’s especially important for single parents who want to protect their children. It’s never easy to think about the time when you may no longer be here, but it’s also true that you can’t afford to feel uncomfortable about the subject if you want to keep taking care of your kids even when you’re not physically present. That said, it would be wise to seek legal advice on the matter, protect your assets in time, and secure your children’s future in advance.

A Will and a Trust Are Essential Documents

A will is without a doubt one of the crucial documents that single parents can utilize in order to protect their children. After all, having an established will means that the parents can also name a guardian for their children in case of their sudden passing as well as relay their wishes in regard to the assets and estate. Aside from the will, a trust is another essential part of this preparation as it will speed up the probate court proceedings, delegate the assets accordingly, and enable the trustee to hold onto the child’s assets until they become adults who can manage their own assets and finances. It’s never a good idea to have all of the assets distributed right after the parent passes away if the children are still minors.

Life Insurance Is a Good Idea

Aside from the will and trust, many single parents also consider investing in life insurance in order to further support their children after their passing financially. If you go by the estate planning and asset protection in Arizona, you can also talk to the legal representatives in order to lessen the tax burden and include the life insurance proceeds in the entire plan you create for your children after your death. Of course, there may be some differences across the states, which is precisely why it’s so important to put your trust in reputable and experienced legal institutions. Never try to do everything on your own without the help of professional guidance as things can only get more complicated.

Planning in the Event of Incapacitation

No one knows what the future might bring. As such, it’s also important that single parents plan in the event of becoming incapacitated. That way, they can name a person who will take care of their children before they become adults, make financial decisions in their stead, discuss the options for external care for the parents, and so on. There are several different options to consider in this case but it’s even possible to establish a process of paying for the child’s bills and expenses directly from the parent’s account even if the parent in question may be incapacitated and the child still a minor. Therefore, it’s crucial to address all possible scenarios when you’re a single parent as estate planning can effectively deal with all sorts of financial issues and different situations.

Plan for Beneficiary Designations

Not all assets have to go through probate court proceedings. Actually, there are several different aspects such as life insurance, pension, and so on, that can be passed directly to a beneficiary. However, it’s also a fact that children cannot inherit these assets until they’re of legal age, which is precisely why single parents have to name a beneficiary who will hold onto these assets for them and protect them well. As mentioned, utilizing various trusts is always a good solution, but it’s also crucial to take the time to find the best person who will act as a beneficiary until the children are of legal age. Make sure to put your trust in someone who’s close enough to you and your children and whom you can be sure will take care of your kids and their interests properly.

Business Succession Planning

In case the single parent is a business owner, it’s also necessary to plan for the future of the said business after the parent’s passing. In case you decide to go with the business succession, it’s possible to have your business operate and provide income for your kids until they’re of legal age to take over the business. However, in some cases, it might be better for the kids’ future to simply proceed with business closing and liquidation, so make sure to assess the circumstances carefully before making the decision.

All legal matters can quickly become overwhelming, let alone estate planning for single parents. This is precisely why you should make the most out of all the help you can get. With the right legal agency to support both you and your children, you’ll be able to deal with this protection plan quickly and efficiently and enjoy your life without worries knowing that your children will be taken care of.

5 Steps to Selecting a School for Your Child

It’s only natural that parents want the best for their children, and the same principle applies to the choice of school. Finding the right school for your kid may not be a challenging process for some, but there are several different factors to consider if you want to make the best decision. After all, this decision will affect the happiness and success of your child in the long run. That said, address the following points before making a final decision.

1. What Does Your Child Want?

In case your kid is just starting school for the first time, they obviously wouldn’t know what to say about their own wants and preferences. However, parents with older kids should definitely involve them in the process of choosing the best school. After all, there’s a huge chance that your kid already has some preferences about where they’d like to go to school. So, before you take any further steps, make sure to talk carefully with your kid about the whole situation. If they have a school in mind, listen to their reasoning. If they don’t care, involve them in further search as it may turn out that they know better what they don’t want than what they do.

2. Consider Your Child Needs

If you’re left to find the ideal school on your own, it’s still crucial that you take into consideration the needs of your child, especially when it comes to their learning style. They might enjoy expressing themselves creatively, or they might thrive in a more structured learning environment. Socializing might be the most important aspect or they might show the biggest success when given the responsibility to solve problems on their own. Does your child have special learning needs or require a language acquisition program? Furthermore, even location can make a huge difference; do you want your child’s school to be within the walking distance or is it fine for them to take the bus? Is it possible for you to drive them if the bus is a no-go?

3. Get Information About Schools

Photo by Jerry Wang on Unsplash

Once you have a list of your priorities when choosing your child’s school, it’s important to check out the schools that could be matching your criteria. Most of the schools these days hold open-door events where both parents and students can come visit to see the facilities, get familiar with the school grounds, and learn more about the policies, extracurricular activities, clubs, and so on. Even if there’s no such event, you can most definitely do the research on your own and analyze the information about these schools through their websites or by asking questions about them on local parenting forums.

4. Extracurricular Activities Are Important

Instead of having to look for additional centers and child-friendly places for their extracurricular activities, the best schools will organize such activities and the so-called clubs within their grounds as well. Of course, make sure that you have a clear understanding of what type of activities your child would enjoy before proceeding with your choice. Great support for the community includes sporting events such as a fun run for schools, where the students participate in races, learn more about leadership, and raise money for their schools. This is the type of community connection you should be looking for, especially since it still strongly focuses on the children and their benefit in multiple ways. Whatever you decide, make sure that your kid will have plenty of options aside from studying, too.

5. Evaluate the Schools

After all the planning and information you’ve gathered, you should have a narrowed down list of schools that seem good enough for your child. Now is the time to compare them and evaluate them by making pros and cons lists. These will help you address both the advantages and disadvantages of each school, so you can wight them properly. Don’t hesitate to pay a visit to these schools once more to get a better feel of how they manage, the facilities available for best student learning and comfort, as well as the overall appearance and student satisfaction while there.

As mentioned, always include your child in the search for their ideal school every step of the way unless they’re too young to help you. In the end, it’s their input that’s most important for your final decision.

Teaching Your Child Responsibility Through Pet Ownership

There are more than 40% of households in the UK that own pets. These pets vary from dogs to cats, birds, rabbits, fishes, and others, including exotic animals. Each family member takes part in taking care of these animals, including children.

But why do families get pets even if they know that this entails more expenses and requires daily time allowance? Aside from the cuteness and fun animals can bring to our homes, there are many benefits.

Top Five Benefits of Pet Ownership

Kids love to play a part in taking care of household pets. Sometimes, parents bring in animals into their homes because their children asked for it. There are many benefits to owning and tending pets, whatever it may be. It also teaches them to care and be responsible, above everything else.

1. Responsibility

Caring for pets is one of the fastest ways to teach children about their responsibilities. Even at a very young age, kids become aware of people’s priorities if each family member takes part in nurturing an animal. Every kid wants to own a pet. However, children’s attitudes may differ when it comes to feeding and cleaning it. Children will understand that getting a household pet is an everyday responsibility and that it can never be cute all the time.

As a parent, you must be able to choose a pet that is age-appropriate to your child. If you have a little kid, it may be ideal to have a small animal to hold easily and pat. It will be more comfortable for both your kid and the pet to adjust to one other.

2. Hygiene and Healthy Habits

It is not easy to teach children to clean themselves on their own. With dogs around, they learn that keeping their pets free from germs makes them live longer, and the same goes for human beings. You can also have them help when you are bathing your pet.

Additionally, animals can teach children the importance of taking vitamins and a daily dose of exercise. Making kids join the daily dog walk will instill a routine activity that can keep their body healthy. A little bit of sunshine every morning will be enough for you, your kid, and your pet. It will also keep your kids away from their gadgets, even just a few minutes every day.

3. Patience

When kids see dogs for the first time, they think that training them is fast and easy. They will eventually learn that it takes some time and a lot of effort before a dog learns a single trick. It needs repetition and must be done regularly.

Just like people, pets start from zero. Potty training, teaching them not to chew on furniture and shoes will take a while. Frustrations and anger may come in, but children will realize that these attitudes do not help at all. With their furry friends, they will understand that rage is not the key to training their pets.

4. Caring for Others

Taking care of animals need time, money, and commitment. It will help if you wake up early to feed them or bring them outside to pee. Even kids will sometimes choose between watching their favorite TV show and walking or playing with their pets.

It may be difficult for kids to give up something they love to do for animals that need their attention and care. However, the love and affection the animals give to their owners are sometimes enough for children to give their full attention to pets. They learn to care and ensure that the basic needs of their animal friends are met.

5. Trust

Pets can provide unconditional friendship and love. When children feel this affection from animals, they learn that it is okay to give their trust. However, this relationship between children and pets takes some time to build. It entails respect and understanding of each other’s needs. Kids will come to realize that animals have basic needs that they have to provide, while the pets will learn that they can always depend on these little human beings.

How Parents Can Help Kids in Taking Care of Pets

Children cannot take care of animals on their own. They need someone to lead them and set good examples. As parents and adults, it is your responsibility to show them how things are correctly done in taking care of animals.

Support, understanding, and patience are vital to ensure that children will learn the right things. This way, the animals will also reciprocate the same kind of care and love for children. You can foster this mutual relationship between your kids and their pets by doing the following:

Talk to your child that pet ownership is a permanent thing and that animals are not toys. They must understand that the cuteness of dogs and cats wears as the animals and their needs grow.
Give your kids one responsibility at a time. It can be feeding the animals every morning for the first few months. Then, you can give them the task of walking your dog after that. As these tasks become natural, you can give them more or more immense responsibility, such as bathing your pet. Also, please do not leave them alone and be ready to assist whenever necessary. It will also be wise to let them choose the tasks they want to do so that they will do them more willingly,
If your children are big enough, you can let them pick the house pet, whatever animal it may be. It would help if you let your kid read books or watch a film about animals before selecting one.
Make each task feel like a pleasure instead of being a job. You can praise your children for every pet chore they do without being told. It will encourage them to do more and better next time.
There may be times that your child will miss to do a chore or two. Your constant and gentle reminders can keep them aware of their responsibilities.

Conclusion

Owning pets has a positive impact on kids. It teaches them how to handle responsibility and also helps when children are faced with difficulties in life. Owning a pet is a natural way of teaching them life lessons that they sometimes have to learn with their parents on the side steps. However, children and pets also need support and love from parents and adults. With proper attention, guidance, and examples, children will better appreciate the importance of animals.

Get Your Home Renovation Tips From Pros!

Photo credit: The Radio Scout

Every few years we make a decision to make a home renovation, but that is a easy part! The hardest parts are where to begin and what exactly to do. To ease your mind we have tips from professionals that are working on home renovations and decoration on daily basis!

Chalkboard Wall By Fashion Furniture

A chalkboard wall is a super easy and fun way to change up a wall. Use it as an art canvas (finally, you can let your kids draw on the walls!) or stay practice by writing lists and chores. Take the design a step further by creating a frame around the painted area with reclaimed wood. We have one in the Fashion Furniture corporate office and it’s a blast! Here’s an easy tutorial on how to prep, paint, and prime your chalkboard wall.

You can buy chalkboard paint at any hardware store in a variety of colors to stick with your home’s color palette. If you’d rather create a custom color, check out this post to mix your very own chalkboard paint!

If you’re a renter, no sweat! You can still do this DIY project in your apartment. Painting over the chalkboard wall to the original can be done in an afternoon. Lightly sand the wall, then wash with soap and water. After the wall is dry, paint over with a latex primer, then cover with wall paint.

Italian Style Bedrooms – Home Decoration Tips By Deriasworld

While researching to buy a bedroom, you have often heard of the Italian style bedroom concept. Come, what’s the Italian style bedroom? Let us give you the answer to the question.

Italian-style bedrooms, which we encounter a lot in today’s bed types, do not tire your eyes and do not contain interlocking colors. Thus, it provides a simpler appearance. Do not think that this simplicity is a simple simplicity! This simplicity used includes completely noble touches. Italian-style bedrooms, which are also supported by agricultural motifs, have different designs with their development in technology, and this style, which develops day by day, will give you an excellent experience.

By choosing the Italian style bedroom, you have reached simplicity in your room. But you can be from this simplicity with little details. You should make your curtain selection carefully. You should choose a flatter and patternless curtain rather than a colourful and patterned curtain. Because black, white and grey colours are dominant in this style, you should make careful choices. You should choose a more elegant choice in wardrobe selection. You should make this choice between grey, black and white colours and continue its simplicity. You will have a perfect look with the elegant and simple coloured nightstands of your choice.

Contemporary: Minimalist With Natural Light – Selling Warner Robins

Homes with asymmetrical exteriors are usually made of mixed, natural materials. Bamboo and rattan are characteristic of Contemporary homes.

Minimalist in style, many Contemporary homes have larger panels of glass windows (some even offer spectacular views), which allows for great natural light and energy efficiency. Clean, straight lines and neutral colors set these homes apart in your neighborhood.

Minimalist style with ample natural light – along with interior plants and greenery – is trending and easy to achieve in your home. Try clean window treatments, like neutral-colored blinds, to allow the maximum light to come through or think about installing a skylight – we love the pyramid-shaped version.

Contemporary is one of the most popular styles of home, and adding contemporary elements to any redesign is a great way to update in an efficient and effective way.

Why might you consider a loft conversion or home extension? – Lisa’s Notebook

Loft conversions are a great way to transform a property without having to move home. However, they are definitely one of the bigger home improvements that require substantial outlay. So what’s actually involved? Firstly, you need to find a reputable company, ideally one that comes highly recommended. You could even visit some of their completed projects to get a feel for how they operate.

Loft conversions will require professional drawing plans and, in some cases, planning permission too. If you live in a flat, a semi-detached, or terraced property, then a party wall agreement will also be needed. And if you live in a conservation area as well, there are additional hoops to jump through. Lastly, loft conversions need to adhere to building regulations. As a rule of thumb, you need a minimum height of 2.1 metres over 50% of the room after the new floor has been put in.

There are many different types of loft conversion available including: skylight, rear dormer, double dormer, mansard, double mansard and hip-to-gable. So, giving an estimate of costs is tricky as it also depends on where you live in the UK. But once you’ve decided to invest and upgrade your loft space, you can take comfort in knowing you’ve created that beautiful extra room you and your family have been looking for. And, of course, you’ll have added several thousand pounds to the value of your home.

Kitchen Design Trends – NV Realty Group

If you want to create a kitchen that exemplifies your personal taste, have a clear vision, ballpark budget, practical plan, and general timeline before you begin the construction process. As you develop the plan, consider these tasteful kitchen design tips:

Custom Cabinets
Savor Simplicity
Easy Enhancements
Goodbye Granite
Oversized Islands
Hidden Appliances & Beverage Stations Traditionally, homeowners held to the convention that all appliances must be the same brand. Consequently, many an argument ensued between spouses who could not decide between the better brands: kitchen aid stove top? General Electric refrigerator? And Bosch dishwasher? For luxury kitchens, owners should pick the best brand for each appliance, yet smaller scale kitchens appear more uniform with the same brand for all appliances.

When is it appropriate to remodel your kitchen? – Belk Tile

If you are considering remodeling the kitchen, know that it can be a very big project. There is the planning, the budget and the fact that many times your kitchen will be unusable for some time. So you really want to make sure you’re ready to take the step. Our team at Booher Remodeling Company wants to help you make your decision considering these four signs that it may be time for your remodeling.

You are out of space
Cleaning is difficult
Your appliances are obsolete
The value of your home is at stake

Is the glass backsplash in fashion?

You may be wondering if the use of glass tiles in one way or another will withstand time and is not safe. The glass tile backsplashes are very fashionable and left to last for another twenty years. In terms of styles, it is advisable not to worry too much about current trends, as fashion can change just as it can last.

Determine Renovation Goals – Morris Invest

There are plenty of rental upgrades that make life easier (like these ones here) but it’s important to set priorities for the room you plan on renovating so you don’t lose money. You can’t properly budget for a renovation project without knowing what you absolutely have to do first— so, create a must-do list.

It might look something like this:

● Decide to renovate the kitchen in your rental property

● Choose to take on a full remodel or tackle some DIY upgrades

● Research reputable contractors in the area

● Choose a contractor to work with

● Make an appointment with the contractor

● Research kitchen design trends

● Decide on a design style for your kitchen

● Research costs of your dream kitchen

● Be realistic and set a budget!

A must-do list creates boundaries and helps you hit your goals. If you stray off the path a little, it’s okay— just make sure to refer back to your list so you stay on track during the renovation process and don’t spend money you don’t have.

Kitchen Updates for Rental Property – Wellington Home Team

Are the doors on your kitchen cabinets becoming an eyesore so you are thinking about replacing those cabinets? Try removing the cabinet doors on the upper cabinets and doing a little refurbishment on them as an alternative. Because people tend to pay less attention to the lower cabinets, you can make the uppers your visual priority. Just one cabinet with no door can be an attractive shelf and useful, though you must fill in the holes from the door hardware. However, if the kitchen has all upper doors that are unsightly, removing them all will lower the appeal and functionality. In this case, replace them all. By focusing on the upper cabinets as a set, you do not have to match the lower cabinets, as contrasting upper and lower cabinets is a popular design trend currently.

Pay special attention to the “working triangle” – Life Of Creed

The area between your sink, fridge, and range is called a working triangle among the design pros because these three are the main hotspots of any kitchen. So, make sure that these three form an equilateral triangle (when you map them out) to make the entire food prep process much easier. Additionally, decide on the range/sink placement, i.e. the view from there areas.

Don’t make a mistake and think that designing is your job! – Renopedia

As a homeowners, you may feel a certain responsibility about the whole kitchen design scenario, but do remember that designing is a designer’s job. You may think you know your needs the best and that is certainly true to an extent, but you have to understand that the professional you’ve hired to do the job is better acquainted with the market price of materials, knows the best contractors, and better understands whether a certain material you want is going to live up to its potential or not.

Guide to revamping your kitchen – The Home

New lights, maybe even a skylight, can freshen up a kitchen, but take into consideration the angle of your roofline and the direction your kitchen faces. A skylight in a kitchen with a southern or western exposure can make the room very hot, even in the winter. When you are planning to brighten up the kitchen with natural or man-made light, keep in mind that this room is usually the hottest in the home due to appliances like ovens and stoves. Use LEDs that are brighter, cooler and more energy efficient. Be sure to get the type that dims without flickering. Mini lights, installed under shelves and where the cabinets meet the floor, can light the kitchen for many uses, eliminating the need for overhead lights.

Kitchen Curtains Ideas – Decor Home Ideas

As usually kitchens are hard-working spaces full of appliances and cabinetry, curtains are a way to soften their look, embellish and enliven them, especially contemporary ones, which, as a rule, are of clean, minimal design.

In addition, used alone or complemented by blinds or shutters, curtains provide privacy as well as light control and heat control.

Keeping kitchen window treatment clean/especially near the stove and sink/ is usually an issue, so, choose easy to clean and maintain options.

If you think you need to add curtains, before making any decision, consider carefully the number of the windows, their location, and the amount of natural light your kitchen gets.

Generally, whether used for functional or purely decorative reasons, curtains are an option to add color, pattern, texture, and visual interest to any kitchen, whatever its style.

However, especially if your kitchen has a garden window with a view, consider a no-treatment window solution.

10 DIY Ways to Upgrade your Kitchen without Breaking the Bank – TSI Shipping

1. Reface & paint your cabinets

2. New cabinet hardware

3. New counter tops

4. Counter top resurfacing

5. Tile back splash

6. Under cabinet lighting

7. Kitchen drawer and cabinet organizers

8. Wall-mounted accessories

9. Modern kitchen art

10. Vinyl flooring with grout

Tips For The Elderly – Senior Lifestyle Mag

Consider Height

Adjusting cabinets and appliances can make a world of difference when you are cooking and using the kitchen space. You may need to raise appliances up, such as a dishwasher or oven for example, or lower cabinets where the top shelves are becoming a struggle to reach. Also make sure you consider the height of your sink, as this may also need raising slightly to prevent stooping or unnecessary bending.

Safe Flooring

It is crucial that your kitchen floor is safe, as having a fall due to slipping or tripping can result in some nasty consequences. You may have had your kitchen floor for years, which is a perfect reason to have it looked at and, potentially, replaced. There are specially designed non-slip tiles, low-pile carpet,s or textured vinyl that can all be used as safe flooring solutions in your kitchen.

Here are a few other tips to consider when making your kitchen floor safe:

Never place a rug in your kitchen as this could cause a tripping hazard
If you are having tiles installed, go for slightly smaller tiles as these give better texture and grip
Use a floor covering that is non-glare to help improve visibility
Make sure the floor you choose is easy to keep clean

Latest Trends For Lighting – Yall

Our home is a place where we feel happy and safe. Everything from curtains to lighting reflects our living style. The lighting at our house depicts our attitude and status. So, it should be such that it shows the welcoming, decent, and lively nature of the people residing in the house.

Hence, below are some of the trendy lightings in 2019 for your dream house:

Chandelier
Dimmers
Hanging lights
Floor lamps

Incorporate Organic Elements Into Your Kitchen – Digitized House

In most households, the kitchen is the heart and hearth of the home so when the time comes to remodel it, it’s imperative you remain guided by your style and convenience. Preparing delicious meals for your family takes both skill and inspiration so the overall feel and vibe of the space play a vital role. So, incorporating organic elements into your kitchen space can pay big dividends.

Decor Choices
Plants and Greenery
Organic Materials
Natural Light
Get Cooking in Natural Style

Get Creative With Lighting – broke & chic

Some homeowners really underestimate the importance of lighting. One ceiling light fixated in the center of the room will not provide the right amount of light needed inside your home. It is important to consider adding different types of lighting to enhance your home. You can do this in several different ways.

Ambient lighting is meant to illuminate the entire room. This usually comes from one source. Ambient lighting can include a ceiling light or lights racked along the edge of the ceiling. You can supplement ambient lighting with accent lighting. This includes floor lamps, table lamps, and any form of lighting that can highlight one area of the room.

Consider yourself fortunate if you have plenty of natural lighting inside your home. Natural lighting will save you money on your power bill will also provide plenty of benefits from the natural sunlight. The sun’s rays offer vitamins B and D and boosts your immune system. If you don’t have extra windows in your living room or bedroom, consider adding more during your renovation plan.

Interior Designs For Virtual Home Staging

Key features of the classic design include:

– Color: Classic furniture style will contain dark and neutral colors such as mahogany, beige, cherry, hazelnut, gold or even black in the furniture materials, furniture and texture.

– Interior light: The typical features of light in the classical style are crystal chandeliers, lamps made of transparent stones, or expensive glass. Normally, a chandelier is placed in the center of the ceiling so that the light can be distributed evenly, which gives the interior a finished look.

– Classic furniture: Classic furniture is mainly made from precious woods, expensive upholstery fabrics, and natural leather. Often wooden furniture is varnished which makes the interior airy and very furniture graceful. It is appropriate to use gold carving as decor.

To order home design in classic style means to create a unique artistic composition, where every detail is in harmony with others and carefully selected. Use Virtual Staging to choose the most suitable design for your kitchen.

5 Green Improvements for Your Home in 2020 – lynchburgtnmama.com

1. Solar PV

Solar panels are an obvious but fair start to the list for green improvements. Solar PV has been around for nearly a quarter of a century but only now in 2020 is it truly being realized as a standard home installation. Most new builds come with solar PV already fitted and those with older homes are quick to get it added to their roofs.

2. Energy Efficient Doors

The latest research on heat-trapping suggests that even a tiny gap or crack in your doors can lead to a hefty loss of heat. This drastically affects the energy efficiency of your home and boosts the cost of your energy bills at the same time. Now, energy-efficient doors most commonly made from fiberglass or metal can help homeowners tighten up their heat loss rating and start saving money immediately. Installing an energy-efficient door can help you to instantly save up to 10% on your energy bills.

3. Skylights

Many homeowners would never consider the addition of a skylight as a green home improvement. However, skylights offer some unique advantages to the health of your home environment and to your home’s energy efficiency. In rooms where you currently have no windows such as a hallway, bathroom or utility room homeowners should consider installing a skylight. Not only will the room now benefit from natural light which can help reduce mold, but the sun will help heat the room saving you money on your energy bills.

4. Sustainable Garage Doors

Many homeowners overlook the green improvements of energy efficient garage doors, failing to see how much heat is lost thought the large doors. It’s vital that not only is your garage well insulated but that the garage door itself is energy efficient. Installation of an energy-efficient garage door can significantly improve the energy efficiency of your home. The best eco-friendly garage doors have been created from eco-materials that have been recycled or resued. Ethically sourced materials are also a good choice to further ensure you have the most eco-friendly garage doors. Common materials may include recycled steel or aluminum.

5. Tankless Water Heater

Replacing appliances with energy-efficient appliances certified by Energy-Star is a growing trend among homeowners. The water heater is no exception with new technology enabling homeowners to replace their big old water heater with a state of the art tankless water heater. Not only will this save you space in your home, but it will also effectively reduce your energy bills and improve the energy efficiency of your home significantly. Once your tankless water heater is installed you can expect to immediately save around 20% on your current energy bills, some can even cut your bills as much as 50%.

6. ELECTRIC RADIATORS

Consider using energy-saving electric radiators. Nowadays, these heaters are the number one energy-efficient method and they are pretty easy to install. They can be very stylish and there are plenty of modern designs to choose from.

Rattan furniture

Rattan furniture is made of all-natural cane. The finish can be sanded down and the furniture repainted or stained. This means if you get tired of the current stain or you want to re-decorate your room or home to a different color just change the stain of the furniture! The cushions are removable in full-frame Rattan furniture so you can also change the cushions any time you like! Your Rattan furniture is basically furniture for life and there is no furniture type anywhere that reaches that level of environmental sustainability because it will never need to end up in a landfill!

The Remarkable Line of Staircase Designs Fit for Your House or Commercial Spaces

The staircase of a house not only provides the solution in the form of vertical circulation but also the essential indication of the overall design of the home. The modern-day staircases comprise first-class features and you can get extraordinary staircase designs with little effort. In this article, we will discuss a few designs you can consider for your staircase.

The trending list of designs

• You can get the straight stairs designs that are straight forward and feature the single line flight along with no change in direction.

• There is L shaped design that is Classic in terms of Style and comes with a 90-degree turn at the point that goes left or right just after the landing.

• The wind design of the staircase comes as the slightly more complicated design to the L shaped staircase. It comes with a set of winder threads that work in the form of the wider area on the side than the others. It takes place of the landing in order to save some space.

• The U-shaped half-turn staircase designs give the promising output with the back to basics tiles. The bend fixes it for the form of the U-shaped as well as is quite similar to the L shaped staircase design. There is the landing that keeps separating the two parallel sides.

• Then, you will get the spiral staircase designs that worked as a compact design centred around the single-pole so that you can see it in the form of the perfect circle. The staircase design comes with an arrow thread that sometimes isn’t that easy to traverse.

• Then there is the curved staircase design that works differently from the L-shaped staircases of the winder. The style does not come with any additional landing. Besides, they are continuous that starts following the bend of the Banister for making the right quality architectural statement.

• There are bifurcated staircase designs that work as the style of the staircase that include one sweeping set of the steps while the other is splitting up into the smaller flight just going in the opposite direction.

• The ladder staircase designs are popular as well because of small homeowners usually like these staircases designs for even the tiniest stairs to go with. You can always add customize options to make it perfect for the interior.

The professional expertise in designing of the handpicked staircase designs

It’s true that not all the staircase designs are perfect for always to pay attention to every detailed component of the staircase design. They can do from the treads and the balustrading. The exceptional perfection that you get in these refined staircase designs make them the impressive part of the expert commitment towards quality and focus on the finish.

Besides, it becomes a part of the new home screen of officers as well as homebuilding. The custom stairs are perfect in terms of implementing the style of the space and then going ahead with the next step. So, you can get to know the open staircase, close staircase designs, cut staircase designs, Council stairs as well as the custom stairs.

Final Word

You can get the design that matches with the construction in the different range of styles ensuring that you will get a perfect match for the home or the commercial place. Some of the perfect styles come inclusive of the contemporary, modern traditional and classic grades. The proud professionals can give the good featured staircase designs with the complete touch of uniqueness to the home and also stand out. The team can also help in bringing the ground ideas as well as designs to life.

4 Ways Cannabis Can Make You Sleep Better

As the legalization of marijuana for medical and recreational purposes continues in the various U.S. States, you’ll find that CBD and THC are essential topics of discussion. In short, CBD typically comes from hemp, while it’s psychoactive equal, THC, usually comes from marijuana.

Not only can they both be consumed via cannabis, but they also both come as isolated things in many different forms. For instance, you can purchase CBD oil, gummies and cream and you can also find THC gummies, tinctures, and vapes (get more info here). They can help you get better sleep at night, provided you know how to consume them. Continue reading to learn about the four ways cannabis can help improve your sleep.

Cannabis Can Help Manage Insomnia

The human body experiences several adverse effects due to sleep deprivation. These effects extend to how you feel in the morning. It can cause excess weight gain and, in extreme, worst-case scenarios, untimely death. Thinking about these effects at night can lead to more tossing and turning. In a report by the Center for Disease Control, one of every three people in the U.S experience insomnia.

However, cannabis could be a solution. Kaiser Permanente conducted a study that disclosed that about 67 percent of all adults with lousy sleeping patterns insignificantly improved their sleeping after taking part in the survey. However, the study observed an improvement in sleep within the first month after adults took CBD.

Those that took part in this study experienced the benefits of CBD in direct relation to their ability to relax at night and let go of their worries. By doing so, they could ease into a deeper sleep.

Cannabis is an Excellent Pain Reliever

Many of those dealing with chronic pain take doctor prescribed narcotics. However, there is a better way to manage pain. This is none other than medicinal marijuana. Though there’s still no scientific research to establish this, you can find reports supporting its use to manage chronic pain.

The best part is you don’t have to smoke, vape, or get high to get through the night. Upon visiting any dispensary, you’ll likely find several CBD products such as Budget Buds, ointments, pills, and oils. All of these are infused with cannabinoids and can be very useful for pain relief.

Hence, you can confidently replace your traditional painkillers with these cannabis products. However, you need to try and find the type that works best for you. Once you do, you don’t have to stay awake at night due to pain. A good example is back pain that keeps many aging adults from getting a comfortable sleep.

Cannabis Helps Calm The Nerves

Life consists of highs and lows. Even the most energetic and busy people need to unwind, cool off, and relax at night. However, unwinding and relaxing can be challenging, especially at night when you’re alone with your thoughts, and there are several other tasks on your to-do list. Unlike THC, CBD is a mild and calming compound.

Therefore, it’s best suited for those that experience difficulty relaxing before sleep. Some research suggests that those suffering from anxiety find CBD helpful for its calming effects on the nerves. A Kaiser Permanente study shows that anxiety scores significantly reduced in 79 percent of patients that used CBD.

This decrease in anxiety occurred during the first month of using CBD, and this reduction persisted throughout the rest of the study. With a newfound way to calm your nerves, you can now enjoy sleep like never before and eliminate nightmares.

Cannabis Helps Overcome Depression

Combine depression with anxiety, and you have yourself a long sleepless night with all manner of negative thoughts. Often, this combination is found in patients who have insomnia. As the saying goes, “Don’t let the sun go down on your anger.”

In other words, it’s best not to go to bed in a negative mood. With these negative feelings, you can experience difficulty with sleep or insufficient sleep. It’s common to hear mourning or grief-stricken people say they couldn’t get enough sleep at night.

In this regard, cannabis has positive effects on those who suffer from depression as they can take it in different forms for relief. This, in turn, may lead to better sleep.

Conclusion

If you’re looking for a way to get better sleep, cannabis could be the answer to help you. The issues of keeping you up at night might respond well to cannabis, either in the form of CBD or THC. These two will not work in the same way for everyone. Therefore, they are half measures in some cases. That’s why you’ll need to adopt good sleeping habits necessary to get a good night’s sleep.