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.

A family of 4 releases on average 12 liters of water in the air. The rate of moisture is very important in a home. Too high, it can be a destructive factor for your health and your home. In addition to problems respiratory infections and degrade wall coverings, moisture encourages the growth of bacteria novices on the environment. So it is very important to perform regular checks for the prevention of prevents & its appearance.

Why it is important to check the moisture rate in your home?
A significant presence of moisture is needed in all healthy homes. An average of 30% and 40% humidity in the air is good in the interior of house, Below or above might be problematic. That is why today the standards in new homes are regulated and define those needs to ensure good air ventilation. But sometimes the mere presence of people is enough to raise the moisture content. For example, a family of 4 releases on average 12 liters of water in the air. This amount may increase depending on the activities like Households, showers, dishes, bathroom. sometimes climb rate to 80%. Good ventilation  system in the house can overcome to surplus moisture.

4 steps to optimize ventilation for a healthy indoor.

• Treat damp rooms by maintaining it regularly.
• Do not block the vents of ventilation ducts.
• Always allow 2 inch gap for air circulation.
• Do not turn off the electrical ventilation system.

checks  for proper ventilation in the house.
Insulating your home is good for the optimum performance of heating & cooling system of the house. But a poor  insulation work might prevent air circulation in your home, which promotes rising humidity. Always choose industry experts to for home insulation. If moist air did not escape, the water collects. A glaring example: a very modern detached house offers nearly 10 hours to renew its air, then an old house or less isolated about 1 hour. - Ventilate your home every day at least 5 minutes, taking care to turn your radiator and after all activities that cause moisture load as a bath or cleaning. - Check the sealing barrier in your home. Everything that surrounds your house or come into contact with moisture should be regularly maintained. Roofs, walls, cracks, masonry joints should be checked. Frost, wind, sun or heavy rains can damage the surfaces often requested. - Check capillary rise. This phenomenon comes from up welling from the ground. They relate mainly to the ground pavement. This rise can be caused by a diversion of the water system, too steep terrain, poor water drainage …

Start in an area away from the most obstacles if there are any, this will give you the chance to practice on the easier tiles first.  Don’t start with a corner tile if you don’t have all of the tiles around it still in place, the surrounding tiles need to be in place to help keep the grid square.

• Remove the first old tile gently since you may not be able to see obstacles that could be damaged or cause personal injury.  Use a mask if the ceiling is old, because a high level of dust can often accrue over the ceiling and the dust can easily get in your eyes.

• Always use an adequately sharp cutting tool, a fresh knife blade always cuts and trim tiles neater than an old one.  When cutting a tile, securely site it on an old surface or workstation so that any knife damage from the cutting doesn’t hard a new surface.  Mark the tile size using a tape and a pencil and then cut the tile down using a straight edge and sharp knife.  Gloves are also a good idea when using a sharp knife.

• When facing clearance problems it is sometimes possible to remove a few cross-tee’s place the tiles above the grid, re-insert the cross-tee’s and then drop the tiles in to place.  Where this isn’t possible it may be necessary to cut a tile in half, place it through the grid and then either butt the two pieces together or place a new cross-tee in between them – whichever looks neater.

• Few tile suppliers will supply single tiles, due to the difficulty in posting such an item in single form without it getting damaged as such you will have to buy them by the box, which can mean you have a few more than you need.  If you’re a DIY’er and looking to change your own tiles, these few extra tiles can be a life line!  There’s nothing worse than breaking a tile, or two, and then being “just” one tile short.

Suspended ceilings incorporate a grid consisting of metal components that support the ceiling tiles. The grid consists of; L-shaped metal strips called wall trim, interconnecting the wall trim are the main support sections, called Main Tees that are an inverted T-shape and come in 3.6 metre lengths.  Main tees hang by wire attached to joists or an existing support above the ceiling and sit on the wall trim.  Cross Tees also sit on the wall trim and provide support to allow the individual tiles to sit in place. There are both 600mm and 1200mm cross tees, giving you the option of either a 1200×600 or 600×600 grid patterns (with 600×600 being slightly more common).

Since the tile is wider than the grid opening, due to it needing to sit on the grid, you must tilt the ceiling tiles at an up-angle to get it through and above the grid opening and allow it to drop onto the grid.  For that reason suspended ceilings require a clearance of between 17.5cm and 20cm, between the grid and the lowest hanging obstacle.

You’ve chosen the paint, the wallpaper, the curtains and the colour scheme for the furniture…now you’ve just got to choose the flooring. But with so much choice before your eyes, how do you whittle it down to just one option.

Thinking about what you want from a floor is a good starting point. A hard-wearing floor to cope with busy family life would be ideal, as would something that’s easy to clean and maintain. And with safety no doubt at the forefront of your mind – in addition to aesthetics – you’re probably after something that’s slip resistant but also stylish. But is there such a material that encompasses all of these qualities? Enter vinyl: integrating practicality and aesthetic charm, this is a key material to consider when choosing flooring for your home.

Bathroom and Kitchen Flooring: Two Vinyl Hot Spots
Foot traffic and wet floors are two universal characteristics of bathrooms. Ideally, flooring should be hard-wearing and slip-resistant, and vinyl can cater to both of these needs. Rhino Step Vinyl is a good choice with these issues in mind. The extra depth vinyl provides a layer of tough protection for your floor whilst offering genuine comfort. The non-slip Rhino Grip gives this Lino flooring a high level of slip resistance, helping to keep slithering and sliding to a minimum. Available in white and wood effect, Rhino Step Vinyl ensures your bathroom is kept looking natural and elegant at all times.

Since it handles plenty of traffic and spillages on a daily basis, vinyl flooring would also be very much at home in the kitchen. If you’re considering kitting out your kitchen with vinyl, why not go for Gallipoli vinyl, which comes in jet black to infuse a room with class and luxury. Alternatively, you could opt for a light, natural looking stone or wood effect to keep the room looking light and airy, such as the Softstep 535 Liberty vinyl.

Vinyl Floor for the Living Room
If you’re seeking a natural finish, either to complement natural looking furniture or to provide an eye-catching contrast in a room kitted out with contemporary décor, vinyl flooring for the lounge is the perfect choice. Spotted gum vinyl creates an interesting effect with light and darker coloured woods, and would look great with plain, unpatterned furniture. With its soft wood effect, Peru vinyl successfully brings the fresh, natural look from the great outdoors and into your living room.

Wood Effect Vinyl in the Bedroom
If you’re rapidly becoming a vinyl addict, why not treat your bedroom to a wood-effect vinyl floor? This will make it look bigger and brighter, and since vinyl is easier to clean than carpet, it is super-convenient as well as aesthetically appealing. If you exhausted the wood and stone effects downstairs – or if you want to make a statement in your own personal space – more traditional designs can be traded for modern patterns and metallics. Vinyl is so versatile that it is fit for purpose in any room of the house, whatever look you want to achieve.

Known as Easy Living Flooring, vinyl is a welcome convenience in a hectic everyday schedule. It is an attractive way to furnish your home, especially if you are looking to achieve a natural finish, and is extremely adaptable. Suited to any room and available in a vast range of colours and materials, and with additional extras such as cushioned backing, the sky is truly the limit!

With a new year edging closer, catwalks, runways and interior design displays are set to introduce another new colour palette for the coming months. Identifying and embracing trends early on is essential for those who want to stay ahead of the curve and stop dull, outdated decor affecting the atmosphere of their homes – but what are the hottest colours for 2013?

Bold and Beautiful
With economic times still pretty tough, bright colours are remaining a popular option as people look for ways to create a happier environment in their homes. For 2013, this is expected to continue with teal blues and violet purples two of the biggest colours.

Dulux paint colours provide plenty of options and combining bold options with more subtle shades is a great way to add depth and warmth to a room. Choose a lighter base colour from their standard emulsion range and then opt for a brighter accent colour from their feature wall paint range to make a real statement.

Shades such as Striking Cyan and Purple Pout really stand out when combined with key accessories in similar shades. This is true for any colour, with the Homebase Inspire Autumn Restyle Guide showcasing some brilliant teal and blue accessories which would look great with this wall colour.

Mild and Muted
For those with a more traditional approach towards interior design, muted colours are another popular trend. These keep the base colour of the walls uniform and neutral, introducing bolder colours in small quantities through accessories and furnishings.

For 2013, the mild and muted colours of choice are dusky shades of dark blue and purple as well as warm browns. These look great with a range of coloured accessories and can be adapted to virtually any interior design style – from the traditional and conservative to the modern or retro.

Shades such as Dusky Plum looks great combined with soft creams and plain wood furnishings but also look great with 70s inspired oranges and greens.

Floral prints also work well with this feminine shade and are a great way to introduce new patterns as well as colours into your home – as exemplified in Homebases’ Home of Colour Inspiring Colour Guide.

Cool and Calming
Since cool creams and calming neutral shades became popular a couple of years ago, their dominance in the world of interior design has been undeniable. For 2013, this trend is set to continue but with a slight twist as marginally brighter shades slowly replace the more subtle creams currently favoured.

Shades such as Damask and Faded Gold are perfect examples that feature in Homebases’ Laura Ashley Paint and Wallpaper Guide.

Renovating Inside and Out
Of course, it’s not just the interior of homes which can benefit from a quick lick of paint – exteriors can also be given a new lease of life by a change of colour. The cool and calming colours mentioned above are the most natural option here, adding warmth to your home’s exterior without being overpowering.

There are plenty of masonry and exterior paints provided by reputable brands, such as Farrow and Ball colours. Their Hound Lemon shade is a particularly great option for those looking to embrace current trends and, if bought as Eco Exterior Eggshell Paint, can be applied to everything from wooden surfaces and garden furniture to metal rails, guttering and even cladding.

We have great need to do a makeover with the interior of our home when the horizon is gray and gloomy due to the winter.  That is the right time to try color of cheerfulness and optimism, yellow brings us all the light we need to feel good! Perfectly suited to the styles associated with hot climates (Provencal style, exotic style), this color is just as convincing when it comes to associate it with a contemporary and urban.

Yellow as a symbol of life
It is not for nothing that the yellow fits both a very urban style. Remind yourself public images that we know all the major cities like New York for example, we recall the New York yellow taxis and traffic lights suspended above the main avenues, yellow too. Yellow is also panels yards, reminders highly urbanized environments. Finally, this color is not very toned without emphasizing the vitality and excitement of big cities.

Contemporary color combinations
To create an urban style in your home, choose combinations of contemporary colors. No doubt about harmony, modern, yellow / gray walls or bring  small furniture and decorative objects like  lemon mimosa (chairs, cushions, rugs, vases, shelves, lighting ) You can also add, touches of red and more urban style graphics, it’s yellow and black put you on stage!