Note: this is a guest post and consideration was received for its publication. photo: CC-licensed image by Darwin Bell

Does your bathroom feel a little tired and dated, or do you find yourself having to make apologies in advance when friends and family visit and want to use it? If the answer is yes, then you may want to consider a bathroom makeover. One of the most cost effective ways to do this is to change your bathroom tiles. Whether you plan to tile your bathroom yourself or get a professional to do the job, here are five top tile trends that are big in 2013 to give you some ideas.

Go Glass

Glass tiles are making a comeback in 2013. They have the ability to create an illusion of space so are ideal for smaller bathrooms. A glass tile is non porous, so water or steam won’t get through and damage the underneath layer. Used sparingly they are also a great way to give you that feeling of opulence without it costing you an arm and a leg to achieve it.      

Go Bigger

The small tile is so last year, so if you really want a bathroom that is bang on trend, go larger and go brighter with your tiling. 36 x72 is the size to go for and the brighter and bolder, the better. Deep reds and greens are certainly on trend and look stunning against the backdrop of pure white bathroom hardware.

Get Some Texture

Textured tiling is also bang on trend for 2013 and if used correctly has the ability to create an inviting and tactile space where you’ll want to spend time. Why not introduce some textured tiling as part of an overall finish and break up smooth plain neutral tiling with bands of colour and texture. You may be surprised at how good it looks.

Go Geometric

If you really want to get people talking about your bathroom then look to tile your bathroom using geometric shapes. Try mixing varying shapes and sizes to give your bathroom that extra dimension and slot them together like a jigsaw puzzle. As long as you stick to one colour, then this look really works.

Go Mosaic

Mosaic tiling is most definitely in for 2013 and there are many different colours, styles shapes and textures to choose from. Neutrals such as beiges, and light browns are a popular way to give you an earthy feel, or why not mix and match strong and neutral colours to bring a touch of vibrancy to your bathroom? The Yorkshire Tile Company has a great range of designs to choose from.

Whatever you decide, tiling your bathroom is a relatively easy and inexpensive way to bring your bathroom smack bang into the 21^st century and providing that you make your choice wisely, then you can’t go wrong.

If you are looking to make a move abroad then there’s no doubting that it can be a pretty stressful experience. One key factor in your move will be in finding a removal company. A good removal specialist will almost certainly take the pressure off you, so that you can concentrate on getting yourself and your family from A-B, whilst the company take care of your furniture and belongings. This creates a hassle free move that won’t leave you feeling like you need a holiday just to get over it.

With this in mind, just how do you find the right removal company for you? Here are some hints and tips.

The Early Bird Catches the Worm

Great removal companies like Abels are very much in demand and as such are often booked up months in advance. It’s always best to begin your search for a removal company as soon as you know that you are moving. Don’t leave it until your completion date comes through, instead it pays to make contact earlier rather than later.

Don’t Opt for the Cheapest

It may well be that the cheapest removal service is the right one for you, but this is not always the case. Instead make sure that you know exactly what you’re paying for. For instance, are they covered against breakages and damages? What’s the company’s policy on delays? Do they have the right sized van for your needs? If you’re not entirely sure, or if they are a little evasive on some of the answers, then move on to the next company.

Explore all Avenues

Nowadays most reputable removal companies will be able to give you a rough online quote based on the information that you give them. It’s easy, it’s efficient and above all it saves you time. However, make sure that they are going to send a sales estimator round who should give you a more accurate quote. Check out testimonials and feedback and if possible ask friends and family for recommendations, so that you have a better idea of which company is likely to fit in with your needs.

Be Upfront with your Removal Man

Finally it pays to share information with your chosen removal company about your new property. For instance things like parking, access and stairs which may affect the price. If you fail to disclose this, then you could be asking for trouble when it comes to settling up the bill.  So be upfront and be honest from the start.

If you do your homework properly and follow some or all of these hints and tips, then you should feel confident that you have chosen the right removal company to fit your needs.

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Within a few weeks of settling into a new home, it doesn’t take long before we start to develop an itch for small redecorating jobs here and there. Whether there are disagreements about the out-dated carpet or the gaudy wallpaper, we can hardly wait to put our own personal stamp on things.

Tear up the floor

As beautiful as a prospective home can be, you can’t please everyone with the style (or lack of) left by the previous owners. One of the most common alterations we like to make in a new home is replacing carpets with floorboards and vice versa, depending on whether or not we like to keep things traditional or contemporary.

Mentally re-paint the walls

No house is perfect and there will always be certain rooms and walls of a new house that we will want to change immediately. Sometimes, these choices will often have been in effect since the very first viewing of the new house. As beautifully coordinated as a bathroom may be in terms of layout, lime green wallpaper is just too much of a distraction.

Having a furniture shuffle

Once our existing furniture comes into play with the new decor and furnishings, we can sometimes have a change of heart and adopt an entirely new colour scheme or furniture style all in the name of making a fresh start. Any excuse to go shopping, eh?

Seek out storage space

Even if the new house has many well designed storage solutions, we will tend to create triple the amount of storage space when we arrive. But as new residents, this can often be down to laziness rather than superb organisational skills. Since we can't face the prospect of unpacking every last box, who can blame us for assigning temporary homes to some of our belongings?

Even after we move house, we can’t always have all our belongings in one place, which results in travelling back and forth and a considerable loss in petrol. If you’re in the London area and need van hire quickly for whatever reason, give the Yellow Van London Company a try. They appreciate how hard it can be to choose a reliable service in the busy London area and how much harder it is to find one that’s value for money. Whatever your haulage needs, enlist the help of the Yellow Van Man and put your trust in a reliable company.

Note: this is a guest post and consideration was received for its publication. photo: CC-licensed image by Tapisserie Decoration

Home maintenance is expensive and as much as we’d like to stay on trend with our home decor, we can’t always afford to. Luckily, there are ways we can cut corners and still create a beautiful living space to be proud of. You can make big changes to your home at a fraction of your usual budget if you know where to look for decoration ideas. Make the most out of your home and your savings in two simple steps.  

Make use of existing furniture

It’s all too easy to let a piece of furniture become an ornament. We can be too keen to discard functional pieces in the home at the first sign of a chip in the paintwork or a stubborn stain, but don’t ignore them - salvage them! Bring an old coffee table or armchair out of the shadows with a touch of TLC.

How? If a stool or small coffee table is no longer being used for its original purpose, give it a lick of varnish and use it as a night stand or a decorative table in the bedroom, living room or in the hall. If a ratty armchair is gathering dust in the corner, don’t replace or reupholster the chair - buy a fleece throw and some cheap cushions to liven it up and give it a purpose once more.

Accessorise, accessorise, accessorise!

Desperate to give a room a makeover but can’t face the hassle? Make use of vacant space by accessorising it with a few odds and ends. Things like wall decorations, vases and trinkets can go a long way toward creating a new look and add charm to an otherwise bland area.

How? Markets and charity shops are a great way to source unique and interesting decorations on the cheap. Decorative ornaments and wall placards and signs can add a great rustic and inviting feel to the home - even something as small as a quirky doorstop or welcome mat can brighten up an ordinary hallway. But you can even revamp your decor for free too! Bring the outdoors in and make use of natural elements such as pebbles and wood for use on window sills or as part of a decorative vase or display. Eco-friendly and wallet friendly!

Being thrifty with your decor is a great way to save money. Another extremely effective way to save is by reducing energy costs wherever you can in the home. And thanks to products such as the energy saving power meter by Energenie, you can. The energy meter can measure the energy use of household appliances and calculate the cost, allowing you to prioritise energy use and reduce bills!

Note: this is a guest post and consideration was received for its publication. photo: CC-licensed image by Martin Pettitt

The home glazing specialists at Pavilion Glass help homeowners maximise their living space with unique window and door designs - both of which are an incredibly effective way to create the illusion of space. And the same can be said for the rooms in your house. Taking the time to extend certain areas and rooms in the home can pay off in more ways than one. If you ever find the time, the following home extensions projects can be a great way to make an interior living space seem twice as large.

Out-sizing rooms

Before you start making plans to knock walls through, try and think strategically about which rooms in the house will benefit from a larger space. A popular choice of large living space is often a combined kitchen and living room or dining room, leaving one or the other free to be converted into a study area or even an extra bathroom - which is always attractive to family home buyers.   

Before attempting any extension work in the home, it’s advisable to ask around for registered builders as well as any friends or family member who will be willing to help.

Garage extensions

Making use of the space in an unused garage can provide a great deal of extra space and can add significant value to your home considering the ingeniously hidden away location. Converting your garage into a play area or office can be a very attractive prospect to potential buyers and the more additional room you can make good use of, the more you can offer them.

Loft conversions

Converting your loft space is another inspired way to extend your house. Although most homes can try and create extra space this way, loft conversions are generally better suited to Victorian-era houses due to their high roof pitches. Unlike the kitchen and dining room extensions, loft extensions are relatively straightforward to execute as they require less planning. But as ever, seek assistance from friends and relatives before attempting anything dangerous.

Making extensions within the home can significantly improve your property.  In addition to creating a more spacious and versatile living space, it can potentially add value to your home in the long run since space is always something people will covet. If you’d like to achieve the same look for less, Pavilion Glass can arrange to install a glass door, window or conservatory and even offer a repair service in the event that the glass gets damaged.

Note: this is a guest post and consideration was received for its publication. photo: CC-licensed image by Middlebury College

Children’s bedrooms represent more than a place to sleep - they are a comforting safe haven with a strong identity, so taking the time to make your child’s room a home within a home is well worth the effort. Kids will undoubtedly have opinions when it comes to redesigning their personal space, but their ideas - however wild - needn’t break the bank. Discuss ideas openly with them for the best chance of reaching a practical compromise and create a look to please them for years to come.

 Be flexible

Children can be notoriously temperamental, which is why choosing very specific themes is best avoided. Your daughter may be into baby pink and fairy’s now but a year or so down the line, she will have a change of heart. Instead of committing to a specific theme, work around it by making additional touches once the main overhauls such as the floor and wallpaper have been agreed to. For example, buy objects or toys in the room that reflect their favourite colours or pastimes to ensure you can always keep up with their changing trends.

As for choosing a colour scheme that will last, you may want to consider neutral shades for the walls and carpets, or better yet, opt for laminate or hardwood floors - these will always prove easier to maintain than carpet. This way, the child can still infuse their personality by choosing a washable rug in their favourite colour.

Make it spacious

You’ll be surprised how quickly toys and clothes can amass in a child’s life before it leaves room for little else in their bedroom. Combat the clutter immediately with storage spaces and ask your son or daughter where they would prefer to keep their belongings so they can have the best access to them. Disguise storage boxes in the form of treasure chests or hollowed benches and seats at the end of their bed for practicality.

Child-proofing

Most importantly, make sure the bedroom is a safe place for them to be in. Fit window locks and cover any sockets and potential hazards with safety guards. Also, ensure heavy furniture is securely screwed to the wall and fit shelves as closely to their eye level as possible. This will give the added benefit of the illusion of higher ceilings and therefore, more playing space!

Of course, the object that completes the look in a child’s bedroom is the bed itself. Metalbedsltd.com houses a versatile range of bed frame styles to satisfy the fussiest tastes! Whether your child is after more storage space or a stand-out design that reflects their personality, they’re sure to find a timeless style that ticks all boxes.

Note: this is a guest post and consideration was received for its publication. photo: CC-licensed image by Susan Serra

Access equipment suppliers Globe Ladders know a thing or two about safety and eliminating risk when it comes to tackling large scale DIY jobs, and the task of redesigning the kitchen is as large as domestic projects come. The kitchen is one of the most central and widely used rooms in the home and giving it a new lease of life can be a rewarding experience, but it isn’t without its dangers. A kitchen can pose endless hazards - make sure you’re prepared for them with the right tools, a good deal of forward planning and proper safety equipment.

Get to know your tools

Even if you have used tools on a previous project, you will find the kitchen to be an entirely different kettle of fish. Make sure you know how to use them in this new context by consulting the official manuals and ask friends or relatives for assistance. A kitchen remodelling involves everything from the cabinets and tiles to the lights and flooring so ensure you are confident with your tools before putting your project and yourself at risk.

Create a safe environment

There are so many hazards involved with redecorating from wires and loose floorboards to slippery surfaces. Avoid catastrophe from the get go by creating a safe working environment. Cordon off all entrances to the kitchen and lay down old sheets on the floor and on the kitchen work surfaces if necessary. If you’re going to be removing or redecorating overhead cabinets, you’ll need non-slip material to provide a sturdy, even surface. Also keep all tools out of sight to protect others, particularly small children, from injury.

Know your psychical limits

With any big scale home project, it is vital to know your own limits, both for yourself and for the safety of others. Never try and push yourself too hard get the job completed as this is when accidents start to happen. Over-estimating how much you can lift for example is only going to induce back injury so make sure assistance is on hand. Also, never attempt to work or operate any kind of machinery (even the smallest tools) when tired.

Knowledge can be half the battle when it comes to DIY projects so it could be worth looking into further guidance on health and safety in the home. As well as making and supplying safety equipment, Globe Ladders provides training courses which can result in a certificate stating your capacity and understanding of essential safety awareness.

Note: this is a guest post and consideration was received for its publication. photo: CC-licensed image by Jeremy Levine Design

Some can be under the impression that the bath itself is all that’s needed to feel relaxed, but if your bathroom lacks atmosphere, taking a long hot soak can feel more like a chore than a long-awaited pleasure. The bathroom light specialists Downlights.co.uk can lend a helping hand in creating the appropriate ambience needed to give a bathroom character, but it can take a few personal touches of our own to feel we can truly relax.

Second to the bedroom, our bathroom is our retreat in which we can unwind and break free of the day’s stresses and strains. More than any other room in the house, it grants us personal ‘me time’ to sit and reflect, so why not decorate it in a way that inspires you! Here are just a few ways to make your bathroom a more serene and relaxing place.

Candles

Arranging some aromatherapy candles can be a cheap yet effective way to promote relaxation, particularly those with stress-busting scents such as lavender and camomile. These can suit most bathroom decors if decorated sensibly and tastefully - just be sure to take caution when arranging the candles, particularly if you line them along the bath or beside the sink.

Warm colours

The colours present in the bathroom should act as mood-enhancers. Nothing too gaudy or assaulting on the senses - this is your haven of rest and relaxation, remember? Neutral colours or simple duo tone shades such as deep violet and lavender inspire relaxation because we associate them with luxury and sunset skies.

A Spa setting

As with the aromatherapy candles, you will buy into the bathroom as a relaxing place to be with the presence of relaxation paraphernalia. You can imitate the surroundings of a luxury spa with little money or effort. Using a heated towel rail or wooden spa bench to display your neatly folded towels can be a great way to create a peaceful setting for less.

A stand-alone bath

If it’s possible to, install a traditional free standing bath. Not only does it look gorgeous, but it creates the illusion of a wider space since the bath is the focal point. A free standing bath creates a sense of solitude and tranquillity and it completely defies the typical bathroom layout - acting like a working art installation in your own home.    

Complete the look with soft and subtle bathroom light fittings by Downlights.co.uk. With a wide range of brands and fixtures to choose from, you can be sure to find a style that compliments any bathroom concept.

Note: this is a guest post and consideration was received for its publication. photo: CC-licensed image by Sean Vadilfari

If you have ever wondered how certain tools operate or how to get the best use out of them when tackling odd repair and remodelling jobs around the home, then this quick summary is for you. These are the tools that allow all the tedious jobs to be carried out so quickly and efficiently. Presenting the top home maintenance tools no budding DIY expert should be without.   

Sledge/Club Hammer

The only non-electrical tool on the checklist but an unmistakably powerful toolkit essential all the same. Heavy duty demolition hammers such as the sledgehammer and club hammer are quintessential home improvement tools, primarily because of their ability to knock clean through concrete, stone and masonry work. They can also be used to secure floorboards, panels and decking.

Sander

Available in varying shapes and sizes, sanders can be used on domestic projects great and small. Handheld mouse sanders for example can be used on small pieces of furniture such as coffee tables, chairs and skirting boards while disc and belt sanders can be used to smooth uneven surfaces on large planks of wood and other materials for use on bigger jobs.

Joiner

Joiners are a worthwhile investment and a great piece of equipment - particularly if you have a penchant for carpentry and various woodwork crafts. Joiners create jigsaw pieces out of ordinary wood by cutting slots that fit together with adhesive. Perfect for making everything from bookcases and table and chair sets to your child’s very first cot - the possibilities are endless!

Power drill

Aside from its primary function of drilling clean-cut holes into most wall types, the classic cordless power drill can be fitted with adapters that allow you to drive through screws and bolts and even sand with ease, rendering them the Swiss army knife of the power tool family. If you choose to start with any domestic tool, make this your first purchase.

There you have it – the handyman’s guide to essential tools. Now you’re familiar with their incredible range of functions, you’ll no doubt want to sink your teeth into a new home project – but where to start? A great place to begin is with quality and reliable equipment. Tool supplier Elcocks have been providing all manner of quality tools and safety equipment to trades men and women for over 40 years. Ensure you’re cut out for the next big home maintenance job and stock up on the right supplies.

Note: this is a guest post and consideration was received for its publication. photo: CC-licensed image by Mazzali

If you ask somebody where the most important place in the world is to them, the majority will say their bedroom. This is because this is our own personal space in which we relax, unwind and get some much needed sleep, so it is absolutely essential that this is a space in which you can totally feel at ease and be happy in. The best way to do this is to have a well decorated space that also gives off a sense of your personality, so when you are decorating I think it is worth putting that little bit more thought and effort into what goes in this room.

It all depends on the size of your own bedroom, but generally this is a space that you do not want to fill with too much clutter as this can lead directly to stress. Most people will generally have a bed along with a bedside table, a wardrobe, mirror, desk with a chair and not too much else. This should mean that there is some space to move around in the room and also you have some storage space to reduce clutter and mess, which will help you to feel relaxed at all times. Ideally all of these furniture pieces will be matching too, as this will help to achieve a complete and well decorated look which is very important for all bedrooms to achieve.

How to Pick and Choose a Style for You

This means that you will want to pick one style and stick with it, and one of the better styles which is elegant and sophisticated is French furniture, and there are some truly beautiful pieces for you to add to your room which will immediately improve its overall look. It is worthwhile finding one particular designer that you like, as this way you can purchase everything under the same roof and also find pieces that match perfectly. Designers like The French Bedroom Company will carry everything that you would need in a well decorated bedroom, so check out some individual designers to see what takes your fancy.

It is also important to note that with stylish furniture picked out, the walls and floor will also need to be in tune with the style that you have chosen, so this is also important to consider when you are decorating your bedroom.

When decorating your home, there are two areas in which you will want to use tiles: in the kitchen and in any of the bathrooms. You may want to have some tiling elsewhere in the house as well, but it is these two spaces that are most likely. Tiles are great in kitchens and bathrooms mainly because it makes them very easy to keep clean, something which is of course very important in these spaces. As well as this, tiles can also look great too and particularly when you consider just how many different styles, materials, colours and designs you can opt for. Whatever decorative style you decide on you can be sure that there will be a tile design and type which will compliment the room well and create a complete and well designed feel.

The difficult part is not picking out the tiles, unfortunately, but instead in the laying of them. Whether you do it regularly or it is your first time, it is important to be aware of the fact that this is a tricky job which may take you some time to do. In my experience the difficulty does not come in the setting of the tiles, but instead it is the drilling of any holes that you need. You will need to drill holes for a variety of different reasons, and when this is not done properly it can crack and break the tiles which can be a real nightmare, so how do you make sure that you get the job done properly?

Getting the Right Tools for the Job

Before you do anything you need to ensure that you have all the right tools for the job, and this will include special drill bits for drilling through tiles. Many tile companies, like www.suretile.co.uk and www.mosaictileoutlet.com, will provide suitable drill bits along with tiles, and this makes it easy to get everything you need in one place. You will be able to get a kit which will give you all the drill bits you need, and this will help you to drill holes for service pipes, fixtures and fittings, and this is for both the kitchen and bathroom. This will be for any radiators, wash basins, hot and cold taps, shower heads, mirrors and other similar items you have in these rooms.

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TV programmes like Grand Designs have seen people around the country taking on the challenge of building their dream homes. As a result, more and more people are custom designing their houses, and there’s no reason why you couldn’t do the same. If it sounds like something you fancy getting your teeth into, here are a few things you need to consider, whether this is your first time building – young dot-commers addressing their quarter life crisis, for example – or even if you’ve gone through the process before.

Learn from Other People’s Mistakes

The first step is to talk to other people who have been through the process of designing and building their own homes. Getting to know the problems they faced and whether their budget was accurate will help you with your own project. You might even decide that a self-build isn’t for you, but either way, having the advice of someone who has experienced it will be invaluable.

Utilise Your Skills and Contacts

Are you proficient in a certain trade or do you have a family member who could help out with some of the work? Any practical tradesmen you can rope in to save cash will be a huge help, so start thinking about your options. If you’re a builder or know somebody who is, you’ll probably be able to do a lot of the work yourself and will already have the equipment.

If you work for a construction company, ask if there’s any old or broken excavating machinery you can take off their hands to repair with Scot JCB parts & spares. Utilising your existing contacts can be one of the best advantages you can have when it comes to building your own home, so think about who you can rope in to help before you start budgeting for builders and architects.

Budget, Budget, Budget

If you’re a Grand Designs fanatic, you’ll already know that most self-build projects cost far more than expected. Your budgeting needs to be tight and you need to have enough spare cash to rescue anything that goes wrong or pay for extra materials. To get some idea on how much individual aspects of the build will cost, check out this guide to creating a budget for your project.

Building your own home will be stressful, it will be difficult, but ultimately, it will be worth it. Not many people get the chance to build their dream home from scratch, so if you’re in the lucky position of being able to do so, you’ll end up with the perfect house that you and your family will spend many happy years in.

partnered post • CC-licensed image by Jeremy Levine

Note: this is a guest post and consideration was received for its publication. photo: CC-licensed image by Webb Zahn.

It is hugely important that you take pride in your homes appearance, and this is so that you can welcome guests into your home and also so that you can feel relaxed and happy when you are there. Unfortunately lots of people neglect their homes appearance, and you can always tell as soon as you walk through the front door whether or not somebody takes pride in their home. It can make a huge difference about how you feel in yourself, and it does not have to be a mammoth task which breaks the bank either.

All you have to do is pick a particular style and colour scheme, and then make sure that this is consistent throughout the house. This will include the walls and the carpets but also the furniture too, and once you have a particular style chosen then it really isn’t too difficult, and I find the best way to make it most manageable is to break it down room by room. This helps you to keep it under control and not have your house turned upside down, and then once a room is complete you simply turn your attention to the next one on the list.

Finding Furniture to Your Taste

Another great way to make your decorating simpler and more straightforward is to find one supplier of your furniture, as this way you can buy in bulk and you also know that they will have everything you need and in the style of your choice. For example, if you decide if you want to go for traditional oak furniture or something similar then you can turn to a company like Notation Furniture, who specialise in wood furniture. By finding a company that does the style that you want for your home it allows you to find everything you need and for each room, so this will include wardrobes, desks, bedside tables, dining tables, chairs, cabinets, bookcases and much, much more.

This makes it much easier to decorate your home and to decorate it well too, so don’t be put off by the idea and instead start looking at some styles that you think would suit your home. Once you have identified a style you can begin to break it down room by room and how you want each one to look, and this is the best way to decorate any home.

Note: this is a guest post and consideration was received for its publication. photo: CC-licensed image by Dave Bleasdale

In my opinion, the best way in which you can add some real character and personality to your bedroom is with the wallpaper. This is because the wallpaper will be the most noticeable aspect when you enter a room, and it also will be covering up a large percentage of all the surface areas. Therefore, when you are decorating your room it should be the first thing that you think about, and then you can carry on and add decoration fitting with the style that you have gone with. It is important to fully prepare and plan this though, as there is nothing worse than wallpaper that clashes with the rest of the room.

It is important that everything compliments in this room, as otherwise you may struggle to relax and unwind in it, and of course this is absolutely essential in the bedroom. I think that the best way to create a pleasant atmosphere in the bedroom is to not have boring plain walls of just one colour, but instead to pick some eye catching yet minimal and simplistic wallpaper designs. This way it will stand out but not be too bold, and with simple, artistic designs it allows you to easily find furniture and other items that will look good and be in tune with the style of the wallpaper.

Finding Unique and Stylish Designs

To find the truly best wallpaper designs which will improve any bedroom you will need to look a bit harder than normal, but it will certainly be worth it all in the end. There are lots of excellent wallpaper retailers online, much like WallpaperSales, which carry designs by all kinds of classy brands and designers. Nina Campbell being one example, as with this wallpaper you will be blown away by the beauty of some of the designs which are eye catching but not too dominant, making them perfect for any sized bedroom whether it is for your child or your own bedroom.

 Once you have your wallpaper selected you can begin thinking about other important bedroom decoration, including the flooring, photos and or posters, furniture, television, computer and anything else that you may want in this room. I think that the bedroom needs the most planning and thought, and this is because to you there is no more important room, and it should reflect your personality and also be somewhere where you can totally unwind and feel relaxed.

Note: this is a guest post and consideration was received for its publication. photo: CC-licensed image by Giles Douglas

For any type of construction and decorating job there are two different things which need to be looked at before the hard work can begin, and this is how the project can look its best, but also how it can be practical and safe as well. It is essential that both of these elements are addressed at the beginning, as this way you can plan to make sure you have the right materials to complete the job and get it done properly. A good example of this is for marina decking, as you will want a deck which looks attractive and compliments the water and boats around it, but at the same time this is somewhere which could be particularly hazardous and slightly dangerous, and with so much water around the area it needs to last a lifetime and not rot too, so what is the best solution?

Projects like these, and many others, will require the use of composite materials, as these carry a number of advantages over regular construction materials. By combining two or more materials it will enable new characteristics and traits, so for marina decking a composite material will be strong and lightweight whilst at the same time being slip free and very durable. Not only this, but this material can look fantastic and also last a lifetime as well, which makes it excellent value for your money and something you won’t have to worry about again. This is just one application of composite materials, but you will also find them in lots of industrial projects, as cladding, as well as for other types of decking. So if you have a project on your hands that needs a strong, lightweight material which is also slip proof and attractive looking too then you should look into using composite materials.

Composite Materials Available for All Kinds of Applications

Most suppliers, like Dura Composites, carry all kinds of materials and products for use in many types of projects, so you should be able to find what you are looking for easily enough whether it is for commercial, industrial or domestic applications. You will be amazed at just how often a composite material is used, but once you see the advantages that it can bring practically, as well as how good it can look, then it is clear why it is such a popular choice for construction projects.