Kitting Out Your Home For The Summer Holiday

It won’t be long until your kids are off school for the summer break, something which they are likely looking forward to a bit more than you are. It’s great to have days out as a family during July and August, but there are an awful lot of other days to fill. This is especially hard when the weather forecast announces that there will be plenty of rain and gales, something which is a very honest reality when you live in the UK. If your kids refuse to go and play outdoors in their raincoats and wellies, it might be a good idea to kit out your house for the summer holidays ahead of time to avoid hearing “I’m bored!” every few minutes. Here are a few ideas to get you started...

Board games

Rainy days are made for board games! There are some games that may not be as appealing to kids, such as Scrabble, but there are some entertaining ones which also help them to develop key skills such as counting, sharing, taking turns and patience. Games that go down well in my house are Battleships, Guess Who? and Monopoly - even if there are a few arguments about who is going to be the dog.

Television and games console

If you can’t get the kids to agree on which board game to play, you could always turn on the TV instead. If you’ve got an HD Freeview recorder, there’s a good chance that you’ll have a few programmes pre-recorded even if there’s nothing good in the schedule at that particular time. Then again, your kids might enjoy using a games console such as an Xbox 360 or a Nintendo Wii, and they may even let you play with them if you’re lucky.

Exciting books

Do you have a good collection of books that are aimed at the age range of your kids? If your kid needs a little encouragement to get into a book, try and make their surroundings more in line with what they’re reading. For example you could have a dressing up game as pirates, before making a den to read a few chapters together. A comfortable armchair and blanket is always a good choice for older children.

Art and craft items

When your kids are feeling a bit creative, make sure you have something with them to work with instead of your walls, floors or windows. Having a box or plastic drawers filled with bits and pieces for arts and crafts is a good move as it means they’re always on hand when you need them. Think about different paper types including crepe, card and construction, and have lots of pens, pencils and pipe cleaners too. If you have space, why not get an easel and paints and ask your kids to design a few greeting cards for their grandparents.

About the author

Freya Sutton is a lifestyle blogger and mum of three from the UK. Her own kids love making use of her Samsung Freeview recorder as well as their handheld Nintendo DS devices.

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Steps to Creating a Contemporary Home Decor Style

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Contemporary and minimalistic style home decor is increasingly popular, particularly with the rise of city and loft-style living. The look is simple to create in a few easy steps.
It has long been said that a tidy home lends itself to a tidy mind so it is little wonder that a contemporary, minimalistic style is increasingly popular in the homes of today. There are easy ways to create this look for your home using texture, colour and light.

Play with Window Dressing
Curtains don't lend themselves to minimalistic looks. Instead look at Venetian style blinds or the new smart glass which enables you to switch from translucent to opaque at the touch of a button.

Clever storage
Clutter has no part in a contemporary theme but it's a fact of life for most of us other than the most hardened minimalist. Instead find clever storage solutions to blend seamlessly into your home whether it's under bed storage or window seats with storage. There is a world of storage out there that will help tame your stash.

Colour clever
Minimalist doesn't have to be white. Greys, creams and other urban stone colours can work for this look.

Add metallics
For the ultimate contemporary feel, metallic surfaces are key, particularly in the kitchen. A healthy serving of stainless steel gives an urban kick.

Play with texture
Though keeping things simple, playing with texture and surfaces can bring interest to the room. Experiment with glass surfaces, reflective surfaces and matt surfaces to create layers and depth to the room.

Bring in the light
Light is key in creating a space that feels spacious and airy. As well as making use of light reflective surfaces and mirrors to bounce light into your rooms, also consider clever lighting for evenings too. Ditch the lampshades for dropped ceilings with hidden lighting or the latest in spotlights to create pools of light exactly where you want them.

Create space
Create the illusion of space by ensuring that there is plenty of floor and wall visible to the eye. Do this by choosing furniture that is on legs rather than sitting directly on the floor.

Don't compromise on comfort
Minimalist doesn't have to mean cold and uncomfortable. Choose comfortable pieces with simple lines and don't be shy about introducing simple throws to add to your comfort.

Clean lines
For the most contemporary looks stick to furniture with smooth lines. Combine angular pieces with those with simple curves for modern appeal.

Simple floor coverings
Shag pile does not lend itself to a contemporary look. Instead investigate natural floorings such as tiles, wooden floorboards or high gloss lino.

A modern home look is clutter free and lends itself to stress free living. Simple lines and neutral colours provide a gentle look that can work in any home. Modern surfaces and materials such as smart glass from Dream Glass Group can bring a unique and inspirational touch to your living space while still reflecting your personal style.

AUTHOR BIO
Anna Mathews is an interior designer of fifteen years experience. As well as creating unique designs for her clients she also writes for a number of online interiors websites. Her favourite discovery lately is smart glass and she has used this in both in homes and business spaces.

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How Pick Up the Right Discount Coupon and Save Huge Money on Shopping

Now shopping made easier and affordable with Discount coupons

Discount coupons offer great way of saving money. When the products of top-notch brands seem out of your reach, the discount coupons make them affordable. Discount coupon offered by groceries, shops, stores, hotels, restaurants, and tour and travel companies is a fantastic marketing technique which helps the customers make substantial savings on their budget and at the same time it escalates the sales and profit margin. In the past days you have seen discount coupons being distributed through newspapers and magazines. In the age of internet when internet shopping is the latest craze, these coupons can easily be found online.

Ways to save money by picking up the right discount coupon:

·         The easiest way to get discount coupon is the websites which are like shopping directories where you can get the latest offers and deals from a large number of online stores. The site like Discount Monster has a listing of hundreds of stores and the latest deals offered by them. For the online shoppers such websites are real guides letting them take advantage of the lucrative deals offered by the leading stores. Such websites are so user friendly that you can get hold of the best offer suiting your needs and pick the perfect coupon that saves a lot of your shopping expenditure. 

·         The websites portraying the discount coupons from the leading brands and stores is a great guide for the online shoppers. Thousands of people take help of such websites portraying the best discount vouchers, discount codes and discount coupons. These online shopping directories provide the easiest way of finding out the latest store coupons and enticing deals from the stores and merchants all over the UK. The deals and discounts are updated on day to day basis so that you can avail the valid discount codes. 

·         To pick up the right discount coupon you need to go through the daily discounts offered by stores like Debenhams, ASOS, Argos, Clarks, Myprotein and Ann Summers. To make your search for the right coupon you can also get connected with such websites on Facebook and Twitter and grab the exclusive discount offers. Apart from finding the discount codes and vouchers, the latest special offers and deals from huge number of online stores are published online on these websites. 

·         Not only for day to day shopping, the discount coupons are also available for booking a holiday or hotel. The manufacturers and retailers wanting to share their great offer can contact with such sites and get them published to bring more sales and more profits. 

·         To pick up the right discount coupon you need to get connected with the right website. It is better to look for the websites which have good experience in this field and has earned a name providing the shoppers with the best deals, discount vouchers and discount codes. The top websites have the latest offers from hundreds of stores and they keep on adding new stores and updating the deals and discount offers on a regular basis. This is a great help for the shoppers who can fulfil their desire of shopping without getting tensed of spending a lot. With discount coupons online shopping is a great experience. 

Online Discount coupons are fantastic option for people shopping on tight budget. These coupons are convenient to use and they give you higher savings. With these coupons you can save even up to 40% on specific goods. 

Author Bio: Alec Smith is an avid writer who likes to write blogs on the new trends in shopping and marketing. He has written many articles on discount coupons, vouchers and Discount Monster. In this article he is providing the readers some valuable information on the ways to save money by picking up the right discount coupon. 

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4 Ways to Perk Up Your Bathroom on a Budget

Updating your bathroom is one of the most effective makeovers a homeowner can invest in. It provides an aesthetically pleasing environment and can add a lot of value to your home if you plan on selling. However, bathroom updates are also some of the most expensive projects. Therefore, homeowners who wish to perk up their bathroom and still stick to a strict budget should consider adhering to a few guidelines.

 

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Change accessories for a new look

For just around $100, you can easily change the look and feel of your bath by simply changing your bathroom accessories. For example, placing baskets or shelves around the bathroom sink can present practical storage solutions and improve the room’s overall visual appearance. You can also update toothbrush and toilet paper holders along with soap dispensers and towels to create a different look in their bathroom.

White still wins out

Re-painting the walls is another budget-friendly way to perk up any room. The best color really depends on lighting and the size of a bathroom. Darker colors like deep brown or hazel look better in larger bathrooms with lots of natural light. However, if you have a small bathroom or one with a low level of natural light, choosing a light color such as off-white or gray is best. According to the NKBA, gray has witnessed a dramatic rise since 2010 but still comes in third behind white and off-white.

Pay attention to the floors

When it comes to bathroom floors, ceramic and porcelain tile are still the most popular choices according to the NKBA. Natural stone is still the second most popular flooring choice but it can be a little expensive to install. A good alternative is linoleum flooring that mimics the look of stone. This type of flooring works great in bathrooms and is relatively inexpensive. However, if you wish to invest slightly more money tile is most likely the best option. Nevertheless, it is imperative to consider the cost of installing tile since tiling a bathroom floors is a skill that not all homeowners have acquired. Regardless of the flooring choice, updating your bathroom floors is most often inexpensive and has a pleasing impact on the overall look of the room.

Give your vanity an updated look

If you have the money to invest, you should consider replacing or refinishing your vanity. Changing faucet styles or replacing your cabinet hardware will also have a dramatic effect on the overall appearance of the room. For even greater effect, homeowners should consider updating the light fixtures as well. Even if you end up changing all the faucets, light fixtures and hardware, you will still only be investing a relatively small amount of money while still yielding a great return on investment.

No other room in your home, with the exception of the kitchen perhaps, dates a home as much as the bathroom. Green tile and tacky wallpaper speak of bygone decades, meaning a bathroom decked in these elements conjures up a certain time period, one you may not want to be reminded of.

About the author

Alex is a writer, husband, father and aspiring urban fantasy novelist. When he isn’t writing for HomeDaddys or completing chores from his “honey- do” list, he’s most likely spending quality time with his wife and kids or working on his novel.

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