ArtaBerryHome Improvement Blog..

These days, TV lounge or entertainment room is one of the most important place in the house. It is usually the place where the whole family gathers everyday for chatting, watch their favorite show & have fun with their loved ones. So the selection of TV & the decoration of your TV lounge is the topic that most of the visitors would be interested in. To help you in selecting & using the right TV for your entertainment room, Here are some tips.

Screen size according to the size of TV room
It is very impotent factor in the selection of TV, Carefully calculated the distance between the TV and the sofa/couch where you sit before choosing the screen size of your TV. An ideal TV viewing distance varies from person to person but you can check below mentioned chart for assistance . If you don’t have a TV stand or you have limited space in the room, it is ideal to install a TV against a wall. For small rooms there is no need to buy a large TV. Besides the technical aspect ideal viewing angle, it is recommended to choose a television that is in harmony with the rest of your room.  For best entertainment experience  choose latest model of LED TV with HD video support.

Every room is not a TV room
Although there is a common practice of adding a TV in bedroom & drawing room, But it is not recommended to put a TV in every room of the house.  A recent research revealed that  the waves emitted by the TV even after turning it off can disrupt sleep. Moreover, when it came to perfect sleep, it is better not to fall asleep with watching TV just before bedtime. However, if you must have to place a screen in the room, install it in a way in which you got the option to hide it easily when sleeping.

Comfort should be your first priority
Wherever you want to place the TV, either in kitchen or living room, never compromise on the comfort-ability factor! For example, it will be quite unpleasant to watch television to turn your head or if it is too far into the room. This requires the installation of the TV at a position that allow maximum viewers to watch their favorite show in a relaxed mood. Also, do not install the TV facing a window because the brightness could hamper the quality of the image & you always require to use shutter or curtains to aid you.

Importance of TV stand
The best practice is installing your screen on a dedicated stand or a piece of furniture that allows you to watch your TV at right height.  A TV stand is also importance because it allows you to store all TV related equipment (Gaming consoles, DVD/Blue-ray player, Home theater etc) . The easiest way is to opt for a cabinet with doors or drawers so it can accommodate and conceal DVD players and other gadgets of TV easily. Also, make sure the furniture has a grommet to facilitate the installation of your media equipment. Your TV stand can be more useful & elegant with a cabinets that include shelves for your favorite books.

White kitchens are still the most popular finish according to the kitchen manufacturers. I often wonder why because it must be hard to keep that pristine new kitchen look without a daily clean. After all you lose the impact and freshness of white if it gets faded, streaked or marked. Gloss white kitchens must be the most difficult to look after although I am advised that regular glass cleaner does the trick perfectly.

Kitchens are available in many materials and doors are the crucial component as that is what you see. If white is to be your choice you need to give careful consideration to the different finishes available.

Gloss white – This is usually for modern kitchens and is available in laminate, vinyl, lacquer and acrylic. The cheapest is laminate but this can have a ripple effect over the door. Vinyl is next and is acceptable if you are on a budget. Lacquer is an excellent surface and has a very smooth finish. Acrylic gives the effect of a glass surface but its prone to scratching.

Matt white – Again this is ideal for modern kitchens and is available in  laminate, vinyl and lacquer. If you can afford it the lacquer is stunning and has a silky smooth surface.

Profiled MDF – This is where the door has a structure perhaps like Shaker kitchens and the door is then vinyl coated or painted. It is a perfect way to get a timber door look on a budget. After all who knows what is under the surface.

Wood grained Melamine – For those who want kitchens with the look of a white wood painted finish with the grain structure showing this is the new budget offer. It is very realistic and only an expert could tell its not wood.

Painted wood - This is the ultimate in kitchens and is for those who want a traditional kitchen. These kitchens always look expensive and usually are. So you have decided on the material for your beautiful new white kitchen units and doors however that is only part of the story. What about kitchen worktops, and decor.

I personally like to see a contrast for the worktops and some colour in the decor. If you have chosen a modern kitchen in a white gloss then a gloss black granite worktop is the biggest contrast. Grey is also an ideal partner and there are a wide collection of quartz finishes available from brands like Silestone that also have a structure which adds more interest.

Matt finishes will suit any worktop material which includes laminate, quartz , granite or hardwood. Painted wood kitchens again will suit most materials but I really like to see them with a hardwood like Oak, Zebrano or Teak as it fits well with the traditional look.

To add a splash of colour use kitchen accessories in your favourite colour or if you really want to add colour then glass splashbacks can be in any colour you enjoy and are a stunning addition to modern and traditional kitchens.

When embarking on a room decoration project, there are so many choices that it’s sometimes nearly impossible to narrow it down to one look or style. Are you going to go with contemporary or traditional, industrial or country? Once you’ve narrowed it down, consider these tips for making any room sparkle.

Utilise lighting to your best advantage. In dark spaces with small or no windows, the kind of lighting you use will determine whether your space mimics the feel of spacious, natural light or becomes a dingy place no one wants to hang out in. Floor lamps perform double duty. Not only do they fill the room with ambient, dimmable light in the evening, but when they’re not on during the day they offer a decorative flair. Many contemporary floor lamps have stylish elements like frosted glass, metallic sheens, or bold shapes which can work into your theme.

Consider painting one wall in a different color as an accent and then use it as a showcase for a chic salon wall. Hang a bunch of framed artwork together in whatever pattern strikes your fancy. Family photographs are nicely personal or artwork collected on your travels. Ordered or chaotic, a salon wall makes a statement and gives personality to your room.

If you can, add bookshelves or cubbies to display your books and other collectibles. Be careful not to go overboard stuffing too many things onto the shelves. A display case can turn into clutter very easily. Keep it simple and it’ll become a talking point at your next dinner party.

Throw rugs are inexpensive and come in an endless array of color and pattern combinations so you can find the perfect rug to offset your room and tie it all together. Highly ornate Persian rugs will give your space a refined, traditional feeling whereas a bold-patterned, fuzzy rug by the fireplace will highlight your quirky contemporary style. And if you have hardwood floors, they provide something soft to go under your feet. The sky’s the limit when it comes to decorating your space, and there are as many options as there are unique personalities.

Most of the folks will be looking forward to have the best diner of of the year, Yes its no other then then then diner on the eve of Christmas on 31 December 2012, Your dining room will be honored to celebrate these moments of conviviality with your loved ones. As a matter of fact you will looking to decorate a Christmas tree & your entire home for the holidays, Here are some tips to avoid mistakes in achieving the best decorating for your home & your dinning room.

Do not overdo the decoration
I agree that flakes will inevitably evoke your Christmas celebration and will look great on your dinning table but be careful that they do not end up on your plate! The typical problem with this type of decoration is that small particles can stick everywhere including bread, cutlery & glasses on a dinning table. So you may not find yourself enjoying the flakes appetizer to dessert. To prevent this from happening, we place only glitter as a runner or you opt for for some alternative decorations such as gold stars which will leave the most beautiful effect. Then you can always opt for linen table gloss or glitter to the festive spirit to remains on the table.

Do not choose a annoying centerpiece table
The feast must above all to share! Also, it will be harder to spend an enjoyable time if you do not see your contact opposite. To avoid not having gesticulate to see your uncle, sister, wife or child at the table, never choose a center table that is too high. Similarly, If you choose flowers as a centerpiece, make sure that they do not feel too hard as this may give headache or cause allergies in some people. Of course, it is important to dress the table of the most beautiful ways but it must not be at the expense of the comfort of the guests!

Do not overlook the space available
Christmas celebration means you may expect the arrival of large no of people in your home, Especially on the festive table! You will then make sure that everyone has enough space to eat without discomfort. The first rule is not to be reluctant to take the extensions. Note that you should ideally have 50 cm between each guest. Similarly, consider that each guest can back his chair without being embarrassed. And for the comfort at the table, you avoid overloading it so as not to feel stifling and let the food be the star of the meal!

Do not forget essential table decor
Decoration is of course important, you should not neglect the utility side of the table. So remember to install water jugs at each end of the table and a set of salt and pepper if the table is large. Have baskets for bread so that everyone easily accessible. A presentation plate will be welcome for the side decoration. For glasses, be sure to install a glass of water and one wine. Note that it is preferable to use a wine glass to see the transparent color of the wine rather then play the map with colored water glass.

There’s nothing quite like going into an old fashioned pub, sitting down in front of a log wood fire and enjoying a smooth local ale. There is however, no reason why you can’t enjoy the very same thing in your own home; as technology advances further, it is becoming more popular to cling to the fashions of the past; where we feel safe, comforted and warm.

But how can you turn your home into a rustic pleasure?
As well as buying a bulk load of quality rustic oak furniture from oak furniture uk, or somewhere similar, there are many things that you can do to get that essential rustic feeling.

You can start with the floor.
Unknown to most is the fact that once you buy any form of hardwood flooring, it can last for generations. Not only that but it will actually increase the value of your home overall, which is great if you are looking to sell in the near future. Plus, if that is an option that you’re looking at, research has shown that homes fitted with hardwood flooring will actually sell at a quicker rate than those without.

Although engineered flooring does not devalue your home in any such way, it is considered the cheaper of the two options. Bear in mind however that if you’re working on a budget, this could be handy, (plus it’s far better for the environment as it takes up far less wood to make).

What about lighting?
Although when you tend to think homely, the vision you get is of a warm glowing, ethereal light; if you are looking to save on budget, you could try and improve things by making use of the natural light that is available to you. For example, installing a skylight or even some French doors into a room is a great way of making use of the free light that is made available to us.

Alternatively, you can spruce up the light you already have by buying brass ornaments for your walls, which shall reflect beautifully the light that you already have. Having a wander through a drift store or car boot sale is a brilliant way of picking up things for your home; not everything that you find in these places is considered ‘junk’. If you’re lucky enough to live by the sea for example, many people make household items and furniture out of driftwood, some people are even lucky enough to make a living out of it. If you fancy making some rustic furniture yourself, there are a few basic steps to preparing the wood for decoration.

Drying it out is one of the most important steps. It is actually better for the wood that you do so in a place that provides a normal temperature and a good breeze so that the air circulates well around the wood.
Your next step is to bleach the wood so that all the insects and mosses are killed from the body. After this step, you will of course have to dry the wood out once more.

The dining room should be clean & elegant, If you want to enjoy a beautiful meal, It is important to decorate the dining room according to your imagination. However, There are some people who didn’t know from where to start & what to do to make their dining room a comfortable & beautiful. Here are some tips that can help you in transforming your dining room in to an ideal place to dine.

Do not mix dining room with lounge.
You must distinguish the space for the dining room and lounge separately. Do not create two different spaces from a certain unit. To do this, You will then have to create two separate universes to ensure & coordinate two colors & decor plans. For example, You can choose a brighter color for the dining room, which looks more active than the lounge.

Size & design of dining table vs size of dining room .
If there’s one thing we tend to overlook in the dining room is the size of the dining table. However, it is around this piece of furniture the room will revolve. Also, choose your table to suit your lifestyle. Emphasis will be placed on a large table for large families and extendable table for small spaces. There are many designs of tables in the market, You can choose anything of your own choice from among round, square or rectangular tables.

Do not overlook storage.
Contrary to what one might think, the dining room is also a part of arrangement. In fact, you’ll be able to have buffets and sideboards furniture that will store linen table but all the dishes. Choose this kind of furniture very decorative & practice, This will also give a decorative style to your dining room.

Do not forget to give style.
Like you give a style to your living room or your kitchen, remember that the dining room also needs a guideline. For decoration the easiest way is to resume the same style as your living room to create harmony by implementing Contemporary design in a countryside style.