Category — HowTo

Buying a bed is something that you do not do very often (perhaps once every 7-10 years if you bought yourself a decent one to begin with) and therefore it is a process that people usually forget when it’s time to get themselves a new one. Here are some tips to selecting that right mattress for you:

First and foremost – remember that a higher price does not equal a better mattress! Don’t be overloaded by technical jargon – make sure that you’re COMFORTABLE with the mattress. There are several popular types – latex, spring, foam. Don’t be shy to test out the beds at the furniture showrooms (but keep a lid on your excitement for needing to jump up and down like a little kid if such a desire exists). In fact, get your sleeping partner to lie on the bed and feel how much movement there is when one of you tries to get off it. The less the better.

Next factor – CONSTRUCTION. I personally prefer spring bed but this is just me. When looking for a spring bed, it is important to bear in mind the construction of the bed – box spring vs pocket springs. Spring gauge helps you identify the thickness of the coil. Rule of thumb, the thicker the coil and/or the higher number of coils – the firmer the mattress.

Latex and PU are also popular mattress choices though personally I feel PU isn’t as accommodating in humid or tropical countries. Latex on the other hand is energy absorbing, heat sensitive and usually dust mite resistant. Latex mattresses are also more self-adjusting to accommodate your body and weight to allow a more immersive sleeping experience.

Be prepared to spend more on the mattress than the bed. Many often overlook the importance of mattresses thinking cheap ones will do and instead focus on the aesthetics of beds instead. While it’s always nice to have a beautiful bed, it is more important to pamper your body with a good mattress. After all, the mattress is where you spend 1/3 of your daily life on so it makes perfect sense to really be indulging in one that will provide you with the right support and a great night’s rest

Bedstar - a UK bed retailer – offers a really huge variety of beds for sale. They also have a pretty comprehensive bed guide to assist you with more technical information on selecting the right mattress for you. Click here for more info

Every household has to deal with dust and therefore a decent vacuum cleaner is required. However, with the myriad choices available out there, which one do you choose? Here’s a guide to selecting the vacuum cleaner that’s right for you:

• even if you do not have carpets in the house, it’s best to get vacuum cleaners that cater for both flooring and carpeting as you never know when you’ll change your mind and get a carpet some time in the future. Also, the ones that cater to both these surfaces tend to be hardier and more powerful (but powerful also equals more energy consumed)
• it’s always better to get systems with metal components as opposed to plastic components for durability
• go for bagless systems – those old bags are a thing of the past and they add extra cost over time as you have to purchase extra bags from the supplier. Bagless systems have come a long way in terms of technology and therefore are the reliable standard these days
• find one with a true HEPA filter so that the micro particles that get sucked in are caught in the filter and not released back into the air, causing allergies and nasal issues
• make sure you get a vacuum cleaner that comes with all sorts of attachments – brushes, nozzles, the whole shebang. Also, you need to ensure that the construction allows you to reach tough to reach spaces e.g. under shelves, cabinets, in between furniture etc

Despite the progress in technology with the introduction of robovacs, I’m still rather unconvinced by the thoroughness and effectiveness as compared to a manual system. I’m sticking to my own water filtration system for now. I personally recommend the Dyson brand for their build quality and operational excellence as well as the reliability of their products. Very.co.uk carries a large variety of quality vacuum cleaners and amongst them is the Dyson brand. Another very impressive vacuum I’ve been introduced to and had the pleasure of using for a short term is the Rainbow vacuum system – this is normally sold from a door-to-door basis and their business model does not warrant advertising in mass media due to the believe that a product demo is more effective than an advertisement on TV or the papers.

Coming up with decorating ideas for fireplace mantles is fairly easy; however, trying to decide which items that you would like to prominently display on your mantle could be a little harder.

Fireplace Decorating – Start in the Center

The first thing to do when decorating fireplace mantels is to choose a centerpiece.  Place your favorite framed piece of art in the center of the mantle to create a main focal point.  If you don’t have a favorite piece of art, you can use a mirror or a beautiful floral arrangement as the centerpiece of your decorating design. Once you have placed your centerpiece, place groups of similar items on either side, toward the end of the mantle. Try a small grouping of the same type of vases (either the same color or style) or a few black and white photos in the same color or type of picture frames. Having small groupings on either side of the centerpiece offers both uniformity and balance to your overall design.

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Many of us have studies in which we work/game/chat/surf with our PCs or laptops. Often times, a cup of coffee or some other beverage is close by to accompany you. Sometimes, spill disasters occur…

Here’s a simple HowTo on recovering from a spill disaster:

1. You don’t have to read this if you already own a spill free keyboard – just bookmark Howshouse.com and wait for my next post (and if the next post tells you do to the same thing, wait for the next one)

2.  Liquids are conductors and what do conductors capable of? Why, shorting the circuits of course! So the first thing you absolutely need to do is to kill the switch i.e. unplug. If it’s a laptop, take out the battery; if it’s a keyboard, unplug it from the CPU or yank the plug off the wall socket.

3. If the spill was minor, you probably could get away with wiping the keyboard down. It’d be a good idea to pry the keys around the spill area to give it a proper wipe down and ensure the keys don’t stick after the liquid dries. A clean and sterile method to cleaning your keyboard is to use alcohol swabs which are easily obtainable at your local pharmacy. Sometimes a little spillage could be a blessing in disguise as it allows you to clean out all that junk that’s gotten in between the cracks of your keys

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We always want the wall of the homes and offices look clean and remain the same on the day they were painted. It has been observed that with time, we cannot avoid stains and spots to appear naturally on the pristine walls. These wall stains make the appearance of the walls look dirty and hence it is very much necessary to remove stains.

Wall stains can appear on the walls in various forms and you must know how to clean each one of them. If you want to remove cello tapes from the walls, take a lightly heated tea spoon and press it gently against the cello tapes and they will come out without making any mark on the wall.

If you have a fireplace at home, stains may appear on the wall from the smoke. Make mixture with half cup borax, 2 spoonfuls of soap flakes and 1 spoon ammonia with requisite amount of water. Just clean the wall around the fireplace with it and you can see that all those wall stains have been removed.

Pencils marks are another common form of wall stains and you must know how to remove stains. Take some baking soda and mix it with some water. Rub the walls with the mixture and you can see that all the pencil mark stains have disappeared. The pencil marks which are very deep can be removed by using a non-gel tooth paste.

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Thought this was really cool – saw it on unplggd.

If you’re the sort who looks to exert creativity and have a unique desktop, this offers an augmented reality feel by taking an image of the space behind your monitor and setting it as your wallpaper. In doing so, at the right angle, it’ll look at though you’re seeing through your desktop!

A really nice trick to have. The challenge would be to get the right angle as well as the right colours to reflect the actual colours in reality

imagesource: unplggd

I like this – for its simplicity and the resourcefulness when going out to spend money to buy a frame wasn’t an option. In this case, scarcity became the mother of invention. If you think about it, humans have always been able to do a lot with very little and chezlarsson is no different in this case.

Here’s what some imagination, perspex and some clips can do

via chezlarsson

Found this clever innovation via photojojo – a guide on how to create your very own cork photo coasters. Now you have the chance to get downright personal and have pictures of family members on separate coasters, one for each to call their own. Another great idea would be to use contemporary motifs/designs which you can usually find in magazines to turn out some chic coasters! Wow your guests with your one-of-a-kind designs Here’s the complete step by step guide from Photojojo

I remember how much fun it would be going to the shopping malls and have my parents allow my brother and I to sit and play with other children at the Lego section where they would have a huge circular table with a deep pocket in the middle where all the Lego pieces would be stored. For each seat, there would be a flat Lego grid in which you could anchor the foundation of your lego pieces on (build area).

Casey868 posted a marvelous instructable on the first day of this year detailing a step-by-step guide to making your very own Lego table made from PVC pipes! Having looked all over for a Lego table for his children and not being able to find one, he decided to build his very own using PVC piping for the framework and a wood top for the table surface.

A step by step guide to building this table, after the jump

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Aside from work, your home is where you spend a majority of your time. After all, your home is a place to dine, relax, get entertainment, work, exercise, and sleep, so it’s no surprise that the interior design can have great importance on your mood. Whether it’s spacious Bellevue apartments to tiny New York lofts, or even a two-story house deep in the suburbs, a well-designed space can help lift your spirits and improve your mood whether you realize it or not.

Clutter

Some people may like the look of trinkets in every corner but often times, a space filled with too many odds and ends leads to a feeling of chaos. A space filled with simply too much stuff, no matter how attractive they may be, can leave a person feeling disorganized and unable to think as clearly. Some people prefer a minimalist look because of this very reason. The clean lines and surfaces leaves them feeling organized, uplifted, and ready to take on their day to the fullest. But not every home has to have a minimalist look to uplift your sprits and help you feel organized. You just need to figure out the amount of furniture and other pieces that feels comfortable for you, and don’t be afraid to edit.

Colors

Psychologists have known for awhile now that different colors have the power to influence our feelings and moods. The science has been well established and even advertisers and product manufacturers use colors to influence consumers. In a home, different colors in paint, furniture, art and other decorative items can illicit certain moods. For instance, blue can help bring on peace, calm, tranquility, and help bring in a sense of cleanliness. For that reason, people may choose to incorporate more blue color into a bathroom, bedroom or living room where a calming, relaxing environment is desired. Red or orange on the other hand are known to help raise energy and is associated with strength and passion. That’s why people choose these colors for their home offices or, sometimes, kitchen. Yellow can brighten up a space and induce feelings of joy and happiness.

Photos and Memories

Nothing can improve mood better than happy memories and meaningful keepsakes. That is why an interior design of a home that incorporates personal touches and remind people of happy memories and the people they love can have the power to substantially improve a person’s mood. Meaningful photos should be incorporated into a space using stylish frames. Other important items collected from special vacations or passed down from family members shouldn’t just be on display, but their layout should be well planned and should fit well in the space to prevent the feeling of clutter. Items don’t have to be obvious. For instance, a very small jar of sand from your favorite beach placed in your bathroom can help make your mornings a little bit easier. Incorporating little touches that you love into your space makes your home feel less like a hotel room and more like a personal sanctuary, which is sure to lift your mood no matter what.