Quick inexpensive bathroom makeovers

If you think your bathroom could use a boost, you've got company. Bathrooms are among the rooms most likely to be renovated in a home, according to the Home Improvement Research Institute. Homeowners spend about $4,900 on home makeovers during the first year they own their homes, while about 60 percent feel their bathrooms are "inadequate." The good news is that there are ways to make over your bathroom without spending a lot of money on remodeling costs and without replacing old fixtures. Try these tips: Clean Start You may be able to save yourself the cost of replacing worn-looking toilets, bathtubs or sinks with a good cleaning. Built-up soap scum, hard-water stains, rust, calcium and lime can dull the look of a bathroom and make it seem older than it actually is. Try using a powerful cleaner designed for tough bathroom stains, such as Kaboom Ultra Scrub, to give your bathroom surfaces an instant makeover. Ultra Scrub's thick cream clings to surfaces and its scrubbing granules get deep into textured surfaces to remove grime and stains, without scratching. Stay on top of your bathroom's appearance using maintenance products such as Kaboom NeverScrub Continuous Toilet Cleaning System. It allows you to throw away your brush and never scrub your toilet again. Splash Of Color Use mildew-resistant, latex paint to add new color to the bathroom. Be sure to use a bin primer over any water stains or spots before starting the job, and pay careful attention to detail-areas, such as woodwork or trim around mirrors. Home designers often say the bathroom is a good place to experiment with colors. If your home has more muted tones, consider using bright hues in the bathroom to help make the room seem cleaner and brighter. Accessorize Finally, add some decoration to the bathroom to make it seem less stark and more comfortable. You may want to hang some family photos on the wall or a framed picture or two. Just be sure not to make the bathroom appear too cluttered. Remember, if you have limited space, home designers say less is more.

How to decorate your bedroom using feng shui

The bedroom is one of the most important rooks in the home and is associated with rest, relaxation, and comfort. One needs to be sufficiently rested to perform well during the day. According to the laws of Feng Shui, If the main door of a home is directly opposite the bedroom door, the occupant of that room will face legal problems. Position a small decoration or a piece of furniture to interrupt the line of passage. If you have bunk beds in a bedroom they should follow these Feng Shui Rules. One's head should not touch the ceiling or this could result in ill health. The top of the mattress on the bottom bunk should also be at least 16 inches off the ground. It is not favorable to keep a clock immediately behind or directly in front of a sleeper. Clocks should be placed on either side of the bed. If you have your clock on the headboard it should be placed on a stand beside the bed or on the floor. A light bulb directly above the head of the bed will turn the sleeper in to a nervous wreck. If hung above the centre of the bed, it will cause stomach disorders. The light should be placed to the side of the bed. The dressing table should not be placed at the foot of a bed as it adversely affects health. Move the dressing table to any other position. You can draw on the strengths of the elements by choosing a headboard that corresponds to your element as shown in the paragraphs below. Square or rectangular shaped headboards are for people who represent wood and earth elements. It is also good for professionals, as it encourages stability and offers support. Oval or wavy-shaped headboards are ideal for people who belong to the element water and also for artists, musicians and designers. Angular headboards or those with spiked points, these are not recommended for anyone. It relates to the element fire. It prevents people from getting a good night's sleep.

Design choices for kitchen islands

Kitchen islands add a decorative element to the kitchen. They also add extra work and storage space. Space to store things and prepare meals is often lacking in kitchens. An island is the perfect solution to these problems. Some offer additional areas for cooking or an extra sink for cleaning up. There are designs and features to fit every lifestyle. Choices Available in Kitchen Islands The simplest kitchen islands resemble a table. They have legs and a flat counter space for cooking. These are functional for preparing foods and serving meals buffet style. In addition, they add a design element to the room. The draw back of these islands is they don’t add additional space for storage. Another simple design involves a simple flat counter area with storage space underneath. These are generally drawers and cabinets. They can be built to match the surrounding cabinets in your kitchen. This gives additional storage space under the island, rather than the wasted space of a table top design. More elaborate designs include custom built islands. These can include a sink, cook top, warming oven, small refrigerator or dishwasher. A granite island top or other solid surface will allow you to roll dough and prepare food right on the counter, without a cutting board. Bucher block allows you to cut right on the counter. You can have any combination of these features included in your island. The design elements of a custom built island are flexible, as it is built to suit your specifications. Multi level islands offer more flexibility and design choices. They have a smaller overall work space, but allow you to incorporate a variety of functions. These are generally larger islands and may include areas for food preparation and separate eating areas. You could have a sink or cook top on one side with a flat counter on another level. Measuring for Islands The sizes of kitchen islands vary widely. You need to be sure the one you want will fit your space. Measuring the area is one way to determine how much room you have. This can be hard to get a feel for with just two dimensional measurements. A better way is to place a piece of furniture or boxes in the size of the island in the center of the kitchen. Leave it for a few days and see how you feel about it. When taking measurements, make sure you have at least three feet of space around the island. You want to have room to move and easy access to your appliances. Make sure you can open all the appliances and have room to work with the island in place. You don’t want to open the dishwasher and hit the island or open the oven and not have room to manuever when cooking a meal. If space is too limited for a large island, consider a portable one. These are often on wheels and can be moved out of the way when not in use. They are great for adding additional workspace when needed, but are portable. They won’t be in the way when not needed. The down side of these is you will only have additional work area. You won’t be able to add features like a cook top or extra sink.