Selecting Chandelier Lighting For Your Home

Claire Calkin has written Selecting Chandelier Lighting For Your Home and writes "With such a variety of Chandeliers available today there is always that perfect one for any home. With a range of styles, designs and finishes to choose from selecting a chandelier can be as much of a creative process as you would like it to be. Each chandelier adds a touch of class to any room and warmth or vibrancy into any atmosphere. Styles can range from elaborate and large to modern and aesthetically pleasing. Chandeliers complement other lighting well and will add value to your home.

When choosing a chandelier for a dining room, the Victorian style is highly recommended as this popular design will add tranquillity and calm to a room that can be chaotic at even the best of times. There are always popular choices to choose from with Wrought Iron and Crystal styles at the top of the list. Some chandeliers can be hung alone as a center piece feature that will dress up any room. Choose from the vast array of finishes and shade styles to find a design that will create a room of modern style with a touch of love for art. Chandeliers can range decorative styles to create a modern, dramatic, simple, elegant and formal look..

The styles of chandeliers available include Tiffany, Victorian, Art deco, South western, Tropical, Crystal, Transitional, Early American, Lodge style, Whimsical, Old world, Oriental, Traditional classics, Country cottage, Architectural and mission style. Each chandelier style can work best in it’s own setting whether for a modern look, shimmering elegance, relaxed or sleek and shiny. Find the perfect finish for your room and it will work wonders with existing furniture and style. The finishes range from white or beige, multi-coloured, polished gold or brass, crystal, polished nickel or chrome, wood, rattan, iron, brick, bronze, rust and antique or satin brass. The type of chandeliers can include centre bowl, no shade, pot racks, crystal and shaded candles.

Chandelier Installation

Before you begin the installation check the ceiling electrical box to ensure a new light will be securely supported. If the new light is around the same weight as the old light, then the electric box should be able to support the new light fixture. When hanging over a dining table, centre the light in the middle of the table with 30” distance between the tabletop and the light, to prevent any bumped heads. When buying bulbs, you should decrease the bulb wattage when larger numbers of bulbs are required. For example, a 2 socket light could be fitted with two 60 watt bulbs, whereas a chandelier with three or more light sockets is probably more suited to 40 watt bulbs. Once correct bulbs are installed, the chandelier should give off sufficient light coverage without blinding anyone. Dimmers are helpful as they allow you to adjust the light to your requirements.

Cleaning Chandeliers

It is always a good idea to clean your chandelier at least once a year to keep it looking clean and shiny. Before you start, turn the lights of at least 10 minutes before you begin so the bulbs can cool down. Never clean the chandelier while the lights are on, this could lead to a burnt hand. If you are going to remove the pieces then separate the light in sections or draw up a picture of how the light fits together so you won’t be frustrated and confused later when trying to put the pieces back together. Place a blanket or duvet under the light to catch any pieces of the light that may fall. Keep the fixture in the same place as you clean and do not turn it around as this may strain the power cable.

When you are ready to begin, remove the trimming such as pendants and place in container. Clean with mild detergent and then rinse in hot water. The hotter the water the less spots. When cleaning festoons, place under water at arm length to stop from intertwining. Always use mild detergents as harsh cleaning products can make the pendants brittle and blackened. Many darken with age but it is always good to delay this as long as possible. When cleaning the body of the light, it is recommended to use a dry, lint free cloth for the best possible result. Remember to dust the bulbs as well as these are give away to cleanliness of the light. Replace all light pieces on the chandelier and lightly polish it to remove any remaining spots.

http://www.chandelier-lights.com

About The Author
Claire Calkin operates several websites covering home decor and chandelier lighting subjects.
claire@decor-furnishings.com

Picking Furniture for a Nursery

Bob Benson has written Picking Furniture for a Nursery and writes "Furnishing a nursery can be a wonderful time for an expectant mother. Not only is it fun to prepare for the birth of a baby, but it gives the expectant mother an outlet for those nesting instincts that will soon kick in. A lot of well-meaning people (i.e. parents and in-laws) will convince you that you simply must have certain furniture for your new baby’s room.

Some of the furniture you will likely consider includes:

Bassinette
Crib
Changing table
Dresser
Rocking chair

Do you need it all? Only you can know for sure. Ask yourself, “What furniture am I really likely to use?”

A bassinette is handy for keeping the new baby very close. Most are portable so you can roll them throughout the house. If someone offers to loan you a bassinette, take them up on it as long as the mattress is clean and in good shape. You’ll only use a bassinette for a short period of time, so why invest in it as a major piece of furniture?

A crib, however, is a different story. If you plan for your child to sleep on his or her own at all, you will want a crib. It’s not as safe to borrow a crib from someone and while cribs are a type of baby furniture that have sentimental attachments, don’t agree to use an old crib because it was the one your husband used when he was a baby. Safety standards have changed dramatically and what was once considered safe furniture, might not be now. Look online to find baby crib safety standards. Make sure any spindles on the bed are placed close enough so that the baby cannot get his or her head stuck between them. Also, make sure there’s no lead paint on the bed. If you’re like most mothers, you’ll feel better about your baby’s safety if you buy new or one that was just recently used by someone you know.

Do you need a changing table? Mothers went for years without this piece of furniture. But, they are nice to have and at a convenient height that saves some back strain. It’s a matter of available space, available money and your willingness to bend over to change a diaper!

A dresser, if bought to last for years, would be a good furniture investment. Don’t waste money on a cutesy theme dresser that the baby will only outgrow when he or she starts to develop personal tastes. Instead, think about the rest of your house. Do you have a lot of mahogany furniture or a lot of white painted furniture? Buy a dresser that you can move elsewhere in the house if your child decides he or she hates it down the road. Buy solid wood. The furniture will last longer and it will contain fewer chemicals than cheaper veneer furniture pieces often include in the processing stage or in the glue used to hold pieces together.

Everyone thinks you need a rocking chair if you have a baby. Is it a necessary piece of furniture for the nursery? Not if you have a rocking chair somewhere else in the house. No mother or baby wants to spend all their time in the nursery anyway. Use rocking time in another room to give you both a change of pace – unless you just want to buy a rocker.

About The Author
Bob Benson is the founder of Furniture online. You can check out our website at http://www.my-wicker-furniture.info.
contact@loan-source.co.u

Quick And Easy Bathroom Decor Changes

Quick And Easy Bathroom Decor Changes was written by Duane Jones and writes "Are you tired of the way your bathroom looks? Don't feel bad, a lot of folks are in the same boat. The bathroom is one room in the home that can look drab and run down very easily. And what if you don't have an unlimited budget to make changes in the fixtures and plumbing? Well take heart, there is lots that you can do for very little money that will totally and radically improve the decor of your bathroom.

One of the biggest problems with bathrooms is their tendency to get cluttered. You know, towels hanging all over the place, bath products on top of the vanity and on the shower floor, and things like that. So if you really want to make a 100% improvement in your bathroom clean up the clutter.

Fortunately, that is very easy to do and inexpensive. If you go to any WalMart or Target store, you will find plenty of organizer products for use in the bathroom. They are also very cheap. So get some of them and start to install them so that the most used products and items are within easy reach of wherever they would be used in the bathroom. If you make the storage spot convenient most people will continue to put it back in it's place after they use it. If you make the storage spot even a little difficult to access, you will see those items left all around wherever someone finds a spot for it.

Next, get some extra towel racks and install them so that there is a towel holder within easy reach of almost anywhere in the bathroom. Extra towel holders mean that even used towels can have a spot to be hung up instead of just left lying over the tub or shower stall door. Another advantage decor-wise of having extra towel bars is that you can use some of them to put up fancy towels for show that will really pick up the appearance of the room and highlight the colors that you used in your bathroom design.

Another simple and easy change to the appearance of any bathroom is the flooring. If you don't like what you see, change it. Fortunately, most bathroom floor spaces are fairly small and so not much material is needed. There are several options that you can choose from including vinyl sheets, ceramic tile, or vinyl tile squares. If you want simple and easy, stick-on vinyl tiles are probably the way to go. You can get them at a local Home Improvement store and they are usually very inexpensive too, and you can get some great looking designs that look very close to actual ceramic tile at a casual glance. Armed with a small cutter to trim the tiles when needed or shape them around an object on the bathroom floor, you are ready to go. If you make a mistake, peel up that tile, throw it away and use another one. Simple and easy!

Finally, buy some new towels for the bathroom. Get some great new colors and designs that are eye-cathcing and pleasing. Again, not much money invested for lots of return in visual appeal.

Change out the door knobs on your vanity and closet, and change the shower curtain and rings if you have one.

Just a few of these inexpensive changes in a bathroom can go a long way to changing that tired, old, cluttered, bathroom into one that makes you proud to show it off, and a pleasure to use.

Duane Jones - All About Bed And Bath provides free information, resources and tips on finding bedding, comforters, bathroom fixtures, tubs, and more for your home at the very best price.

Nursery Room Decor

Tasneem Mirza has written Nursery Room Decor and writes "The nursery is your newborn's first room, his own little world: the environment, which in part will influence and shape his personality. As a parent your goal is to provide a surrounding that is comfortable, secure, inviting and cozy.

A functional, safe and stimulating environment precedes aesthetic needs. Here is one illustration for decorating a boy's nursery. Instead of restricting the color to a single monotonous tone, a variety of bright blues, yellows, reds, pinks and green were selected. According to studies, introduction to bright colors and shapes help stimulate babies' imaginations. The inspiration for the nursery can be derived from an adorable multi-colored hand hooked rug with animals and alphabets. The animals on the rug provide a theme for the room and form the central focus for design. The motifs can continue with the use of animal mobile overhead, crib bedding, pillows and other accessories..

The furniture should be kept simple. An inexpensive entertainment center can be used as an armoire, which is practical, and most importantly has ample storage. Built in cabinets conceal clutter, help organization and present a neat tidy look. Both the armoire and the cabinet are excellent long-term choices not restricted to age and can be used as the child grows. These furniture items with simple white distressed finish complement varied kids of décor can be alternately used in another room.

Safety precedes any other aesthetic element. The crib and bassinet should be ideally positioned in an area that is away from objects like windows, draperies, blinds or shelves that can cause accidents. One other important thing to consider while placing the crib is to avoid picture frames or any other items that can fall on the baby. The crib can be placed against the wall away from the window with a light mesh canopy hung from the ceiling. The canopy should be securely fastened from a hook to prevent accidents. The canopy with pale yellow hue and ruffle edges adds a delicate touch to the crib. Use a traditional white wicker bassinet with blue gingham ribbon details, which will stand out against the colorful background. The room can have both a bed and a crib and as the baby grows this arrangement will ease the transition from "baby bed" to "big-boy bed." As a concerned parent, it's also nice to have a spot where Mom or Dad can sleep near the baby.

Accessories such as picture frames, lamps and artwork, are a great way to add fun, pattern and color without much expense. Room accessories like distressed white wooden letters hung from blue gingham ribbon add a distinctive, personal touch to the nursery

When designing a nursery, creating a cute themed room is important but creating an intellectually stimulating, safe, spacious environment should be the central focus.Visit Exquisite Rugs to find unique kids room accessories. Exquisite Rugs has a wide selection of kids rugs in different price range, styles, colors and patterns. A number of kids room accessories like kids decorative pillows, personalized kids room decor, frames and other decor items are available.

Tasneem Mirza is the Managing Partner of Exquisite Rugs LLC. and member of AWBA, NJWA and Beta Gamma Alpha- honors society for business students. Under the leadership of Tasneem Mirza, Exquisite Rugs launched in April 2002 has gained increased recognition. Tasneem Mirza has indebt knowledge of the rug industry. For questions related to rugs or Exquisite Rugs products please feel free to contact her.

To Contact Exquisite Rugs: Website:ExquisiteRugs.com

Bathroom Decorating Tips Mirrors and Lighting

Anne Clarke has written Bathroom Decorating Tips - Mirrors and Lighting and writes "Bathrooms can be one of the easiest rooms in your entire house to decorate, and yet they are sometimes overlooked. Why not make sure that your bathroom is decorated as thoughtfully as the rest of your house? Are you hard-pressed to find some excellent ideas for decorating your bathroom? Well, check out some of these ideas.

A mirror can be a wonderful decoration in your bathroom. Mirrors really add depth to even small bathrooms. A mirrored medicinal cabinet is an excellent choice for some bathrooms. They are multi-functional – they help store your bathroom necessities, and can also help you check the back of your hairstyle (if it has hinged doors that face one another or another mirror...)

If you already have plenty of storage, though, you may want to just go out and pick up a beautiful mirror to hang above your sink. It can be the centerpiece of your entire bathroom if it has the right frame. Oval mirrors look lovely over pedestal sinks.

You may want or already have a mirror that practically takes up an entire wall. These mirrors can really open up the space of your bathroom. To make them a bit more interesting, you can buy a window-frosting kit and stencil some designs onto your mirror. You can even make up your own design to fit what ever motif you want for your bathroom.

If you have a big, basic mirror, another way to dress it up is to actually place another mirror over it. Yes, this may seem like a crazy idea, but it can have a really beautiful effect. Yes, you can hammer directly into the mirror, but make sure you do it correctly and with proper padding so that you do not crack your mirror. Check with an expert before trying this.

The right lighting can also make a big improvement on your bathroom. Lighting may not seem like a bathroom decoration, but the right light fixture cannot only add to the style of your room, but it can also make all of your other special details in your bathroom really stand out. The right lighting can also make it much easier for you to get ready in the morning.

Lighting and mirrors are two things that you may want to consider splurging on for your bathroom. Less expensive bathroom decorating ideas include simply getting matching paint, shower curtain, bath mats and bath accessories. Go wild.

Anne Clarke writes numerous articles for websites on gardening, parenting, fashion, and home decor. Her background includes teaching and gardening. For more of her articles on bathroom decor, please visit Shower Curtains.

Quick Planning for Your Bedroom Decor

Lester Fong has written Quick Planning for Your Bedroom Decor and writes "The essence of good bedroom decorating starts with planning. This is all the more important since we spend about a third of our lives in bed. So let’s have a look at….

• Occupants – the number of occupants will determine the accessibility of the bedroom space as well as the size of the bed. For example, you may have to choose from a double bed or a king-sized bed for 2 occupants. In turn, this also affects the space in which you position the bed.

• Light – this should be well-controlled with curtains and blinds during the day and with artificial light during the night. Click on the respective links for the appropriate tips..

• Power Point – the positions of power and phone sockets will affect the positioning of lamps, phones and entertainment systems. Thus, it is important to map out these sockets to plan their placement.

• Storage – a well designed wardrobe system is more than just adequate shelves for clothing and accessories. It also puts everything at arm’s reach, and allows you to see where your things are. Where possible, go for built-in storage. It not only provides efficient storage but gives the room a sleek pulled-together look as well as eliminates the need to fill the room with furniture. Remember too, that beds should never be placed within the arc of wardrobe doors or opening drawers.

Lester Fong
http://www.unique-home-decor-ideas.com

How to Create a Cottage Kitchen Design

How to Create a Cottage Kitchen Design was written by James Mahoney and he writes "The cottage style of kitchen design in characterized as a colorful, comfortable feel that is created by painted or decorated furniture, baskets, beadboard walls and natural fiber rugs, and weathered surface finishes, as well as colors one would expect to find in a garden.

Cottage-style kitchen can have many accessories, but it is necessary to avoid going overboard to keep the clutter from becoming distracting. The cottage-style of kitchen design is also known for floors that are bare with the exception of an occasional throw rug.

The cottage style of kitchen design conjures up images of a room light and airy, charming and casual. The breezy, uncomplicated feel one finds in a summer cottage. Cottages evoke seaside vacations, a countryside locale, or a cabin in the mountains. The mood is always relaxed, unassuming, and casual. Simplification is the prominent feature of the cottage style of kitchen design..

Due to the fact that cottage style kitchens are small they usually have a floor plan that is fresh and open, that can function easily, as well as be a place to entertain.

To be able to create the cottage feel for you kitchen you need to look at accessories such as house wares, linens, and furnishings you will choose for your kitchen. Some examples are the use of white distressed, stained and butcher-block surfaces around the kitchen, striped vintage towels and dishcloths, an old antique kitchen clock, or displaying plates on open shelves above a window or doorway. Other accessories might include stoneware pots, glazed earthenware and glass jars. Also you could place a pitcher of fresh-cut flowers to create more cottage charm.

It takes time to create a cottage style for your kitchen. You can not simply find the cottage style all at one time and in one store. The kitchen must look as if it slowly took on this look over a period of time to achieve a more collected look.

Furnishings in a cottage style kitchen can include furniture made from pine, or maple. Furniture detailing is an important element of the cottage style. Furniture can be white painted, or lacquered, can include also such features as curved legs on base cabinetry, and old fashioned moldings around cabinets and tables. Or a large work table that can also be a dining space for the family. Pieces can include a farmhouse style kitchen table with beech spindle style chairs.

A cottage style kitchen range can be used, with a decorative wooden range hood, as well as a large single bowl ceramic sink, or a apron front farm sink.

Knobs figure prominently as the dominant hardware of choice for cottage-style kitchen design. Design elements include porcelain and embossed stoneware, semi-glossy periwinkle blues, creams and whites work well. Also check for woven designs using wire or bamboo. Paint can be used to create a cottage-style kitchen design. The wood flooring can be painted a bold color. Walls can be painted with warm yellows or blues that can be coordinated with the tones and colors of the kitchen cabinets, wall tile, window treatments and other accents in the kitchen.

James Mahoney is the author of many kitchen design articles and has a site about kitchen design ideas at Kitchen Designers Ideas.com. He also publishes a newsletter on kitchen design