16:42

Tips for Cohabitating

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The decision to move in with your romantic partner can be a difficult one, whether that’s because you don’t know if you’re ready or because you don’t know if parents or society will approve.  However, over half of all couples today do decide to live together before they get married (if they get married).  If this big moving day is on the horizon for you, here are some important tips to keep in mind when it comes to decorating your new shared space.

Inventory Furniture
Before you even decide upon a place, you will want to take an inventory of the furniture that you own separately so that you will know how much space you need.  This will most likely include the sometimes painful process of narrowing duplicate items down to one.  For instance, most couples would not have a use or space for two dining room tables, so you will need to decide which one you will keep.  It is better to not assume that you will keep yours and get rid of your partner’s, even if you consider yours to be “better” they may not feel the same way.  Instead, be up front in talking about it with your partner and come to agreements together about which furniture you will keep and which you will give away or sell.

Consider Getting a NEW Place
Rather than one of you moving into the other’s place, you may want to consider getting your own, new place that you can always consider “ours.”  This is not just for emotional reasons, like past associations or old flames that are associated with the old place.  This can also be important for decorating.  Your partner may not have the same tastes as you but if he or she moves into your place, they may not feel comfortable trying to change the décor that you have already worked hard on.  Therefore, it may be better to have a new place that the two of you can decorate together from scratch for a style and space that belongs to both of you.

Give Each Other Space
When you are moving into your new place, be sure that it is big enough.  Even if you are moving in together in the hopes of saving money, you will want to be sure that the place you choose has enough space for both of you, even if that means springing for an extra bedroom.  Moving in with someone can be stressful and that stress is compounded if you feel like there is nowhere to escape from your partner.  Whether it is an office or even just a corner of the living room that belongs to you, it is important to make these allowances.

No matter how compatible you are, it is going to be a challenge to live with someone at first.  There will be a learning curve to getting used to the quirks and habits that you didn’t have to deal with when you were living apart.  However, starting with a serene and shared sense of style and décor can be a great first step on your way to cohabitating bliss.

Source : Furniture Store Perth

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16:30

The Benefits of Redecorating

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For some people, the task of redecorating is one that is undertaken with energy and enthusiasm.  These people want any excuse to repaint a bedroom or move a sofa to the other side of the room.  However, this is probably not most people.  For most of us, redecorating is a chore.  A task that takes valuable free time and fills it up with shopping, comparing prices and paint chips.  It is boring and expensive.  But even if the act of redecorating itself is not your bag, it is possible to put a positive spin on the situation by thinking about these benefits of redecorating your space.

An Excuse to Clean
Cleaning in an of itself may not seem like fun, but having an excuse to spend careful hours going through your things and getting rid of what is broken, what you have never liked and what is no longer useful to you can be a huge relief.  Redecorating is the perfect excuse to spend this times purging your things and freeing your life out from under the clutter that all of us seem to accumulate.

Create a Space for You
Redecorating your home can also be a good time to create a space for you and you alone.  Especially when you have a family, you may feel like your kids have taken over every corner of the house.  When you go to redecorate, it may be time to finally clean out the old guest room and turn it into a sanctuary for yourself. Having this space can make all the difference since having a place that is all for yourself where you have chosen the décor can be the most calming gift you can give yourself.

Upgrade Existing Pieces
Everyone knows that moving can be a huge expense, so when you first moved into your home you may have not had the budget to buy the high quality but also higher priced items that you really wanted.  If you have lived in your home for a while now, your budgetary situation may have shifted.  It could be that you can finally afford the statement couch that you have lusted over or the solid oak dining set that was out of reach before.  Investing in these kinds of heirloom pieces can make your home that much happier for you and for your family.


A New Lease on Your Old Space
This doesn’t have to mean a literal lease renewal, but rather a feeling of having a new space.  A coat of paint and the rearranging of some furniture can make you feel like you have a completely new home without the discomfort and stress of actually moving.  This feeling is energizing, exciting and mood lifting, even in the resulting exhaustion that comes with redecorating. 

You deserve to be truly happy in your space and to surround yourself with things that you love and that make you feel peaceful.  Don’t underestimate the power of redecorating in improving your entire life.

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16:02

Is it Time for a New Sofa?

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Whether you bought it brand new from a furniture showroom or got it for free when your neighbor moved across the country, your sofa has been with you through thick and thin not to mention through a whole lot of naps.  That’s why it can be painful to consider the fact that one day you will need to replace it.  We’re here to help you decide if that day is today.

Is the upholstery dingy or stained?
Depending on how long you have had your sofa and where it is situated in your home, the upholstery on it may become dingy or worn before it is time to replace it.  This can especially be true if it sees a lot of direct sunlight.  As far as stains go, if you have pets or small children, a few stains on any sofa are inevitable.  Before investing in a new sofa, consider having your current sofa reupholstered which may be considerable cheaper and find you with a sofa that looks as good as new.

Is it sagging or lumpy?
The question of if it is time to replace a sofa becomes more complicated if the structure of the sofa has been compromised.  If your sofa is sagging in the middle or if it has become uncomfortably lumpy, it may be time to invest in a new sofa.  After all, an uncomfortable sofa isn’t doing its job.

Would a slipcover help?
The case may be that you are just sick of looking at your sofa, even if it is in perfectly fine condition.  If this is the case, you may want to consider investing in or, if you’re a bit crafty, making your own slipcover.  This can breathe new life into a tired sofa.  Slipcovers are available from many furniture and department stores for very reasonable prices.  A slipcover could be a cure for your sick of my sofa blues.

What about some new pillows?
New pillows are another way to spruce up an old sofa without going to the trouble and expense of completely replacing it.  A new pop of color (and an easy way to camouflage that wine stain) may make a once sad old sofa cheerful and welcoming once again.

Can you afford it?
Of course, there may be no way around it.  It may be time to replace your sofa.  But instead of worrying about whether or not you can afford it, start looking at what is available because the fact is that many stores have affordable options that you may not even think possible.  You can replace an old sofa and still stay within your budget, it may just take a little more patience and shopping around at the right stores.

Good luck with all your sofa endeavors.  Everyone deserves a comfortable place to nap.

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15:55

To Scent or Not to Scent

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Despite the fact that they are a fairly new development, the home air freshener industry has grown exponentially in the last decade and now represents a billion dollar industry in the United States alone.  Whether it is a plug in scented freshener, a can of freshening spray or a scented candle, millions of homes use an air freshener on a regular basis for a wide variety of reasons.  But is an air freshener right for your home?

When you smell an unpleasant odor, you may be tempted to grab a can of the nearest air freshener so that you can stop smelling the offending odor immediately.  However, many spray air fresheners contain powerful chemicals that have been found to be harmful in many studies.  Most of these studies revolve around the chemicals known as phthalates which are used to dissolve offensive scents.  Though there are laws governing the use of these powerful chemicals, which have been found to cause reproductive problems in infants, in the US, the EU and Australia, there are not completely illegal and can still be found in air fresheners.

The perfumes and scents used in air fresheners and scented candles can also wreak havoc on the respiratory system of those with allergies or asthma, including small children.  Scented candles that are not made from organic or soy wax have also been found to emit harmful fumes when burned.

Of course, none of this changes the fact that sometimes things smell bad and you would rather not have bad smells in your home.  Instead of air fresheners, you may want to consider an air filter.  An air filter does not just cover up a scent like many of the sprays, but it actually filters out the offending particles and leaves air fresher and healthier to breath.

You may also want to consider shopping around for organically made soy candles.  They can provide just as much of a delightful scent as typically mass produced candles, but without the harmful toxins being emitted when they are burned.

The scent and freshening of your home is a personal matter and of course you want to maintain a clean and comfortable environment.  However, when it comes to air fresheners, you and your family deserve to have all the information necessary to make an informed decisions before using them or continuing to use them in your home.

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