IdeassaedI

Space Saving Bedroom Ideas

admin — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 11:38:18 +0000

If you live in a city then the chances are you don’t have a huge house with lots of room. Space is at a premium and nowhere more so than the average bedroom. So how do you make the best use of it? Here are some ideas and suggestions for a space saving efficiency bedroom:

Buy Walter Edison Loft Bed

Space Saving Beds
If you’re looking to replace your old bed then this can be a great way of saving space. Modern beds can fold up, hide away or double as other pieces of furniture. Even a more traditional style bed can have plenty of useful storage space in the form of underbed drawers. Or consider going upwards with a functional loft bed. Find out more here: space saving beds.

Buy “Perspective of Doors”

Colour
Colour can make a room look big or small. Many people think that a black, gothic bedroom looks cool. Maybe it does, but it also looks small! Lighter clours open up any room. If you’re not in a position to redorate then simply putting up a few bright, colourful posters or prints can make a lot of difference especially if the image is open or has a lot of depth. Choice of lighter shades for furniture also helps.

Lighting
Clever use of lighting can make any room look bigger. In the case of the bedroom you probably don’t want a single bright central light. Consider lighting the room to create different “zones” for different purposes (reading, dressing, sleeping etc). Local lights and spots can be used to effectively highlight particular areas or corners. Probably more than any other room a bedroom can benefit from a variety of different lights of different intensities and possibly even different colours. See more here: bedroom lighting.

Buy LED Touch Light

Cupboard Lighting
Don’t forget about lighting inside the cupboards or wardrobes. There’s often a lot of space left unused or difficult to access simple because it’s dark. A few low voltage stick on battery lights can really transform your storage space. Obviously make sure you buy lights designed specifically for this purpose – safety first.

Buy Grand Cheval Mirror

Accessories
I’ve already mentioned using prints and artwork to lighten the bedroom. The other classic idea is, of course, mirrors. In the case of a bedroom these are not only useful for making the room feel larger but they also have a practical purpose. Why hide that full length dressing mirror away inside the wardrobe? Place it in a convenient point where it also helps to enhance the room – and then add a couple of local lights.

Storage
A variety of storage spaces of different sizes and shapes will give you maximum flexibility. As well as underbed storage and larger cupboards and wardrobes you can buy many other storage options. These range from traditional armoires through bedskirts (valances) with pockets up to modern vacuum packing systems for minimising the space taken up by unused bed linen. You can even buy specially shaped shelving and storage units for those corners that would normally just gather dust. You can also improve existing storage by using clever ideas such as drawer organisers, multiple use hangars and over the door storage.

Opposite Day Ideas

admin — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 08:20:17 +0000

Opposite Day, also known as Backwards Day, has become very popular in recent years. It’s fun for adults and can also be a good way to teach younger children the concept of “opposite”.

Some people like to celebrate Opposite Day on a particular day of the year but it can be declared any time. In particular a school class might be told “Friday is opposite day” or an office party might be designated as an “opposite night”.

Here are some simple ideas and activities for getting into the swing of things:

Buy Food Coloring Kit

Food
All sorts of things can be done with food; some are simple, some are messy! You could simply eat a meal backwards, starting with the pudding. You could make a sandwich by putting a slice of bread between two slices of meat. If you cook then you could make things with unusual colours or unexpected flavours.

Speech
Try saying the opposite of what you mean; “I don’t want any chocolate” for example! Or switch “yes” and “no”, or “boy” and “girl”, “he” and “she”, “left” and “right”, etc. Just make sure that everyone around knows what’s going on!

Gender
Changing apparent gender is usually easier for a man than a woman: “dragging up” has a long history. Borrow an old skirt or wear a cheap bra and pad it out. You could even buy fake costume boobs! Unfortunately most male clothing is worn by women anyway, making a simple gender change more difficult for them.

Buy Party Wig

Hair
Changing hair colour, length and style makes a big difference. No need to dye it or cut it, just buy a cheap party wig.

Clothes
As well as changing gender there are lots of other things you can do with clothes and accessories. Wear them inside out or back to front, wear colours that don’t match, sunglasses on a rainy day or an umbrella when it’s hot and sunny, wear pyjamas during the day, etc. Wear different colours – if you normally dress like a goth, wear something pretty and sparkly.

Games
Any game can be made opposite by changing the rules. Making the winner the one with least points is simple, but can lead to the game going on forever! You could play snap but say “pans” instead, or you could play a game like Monopoly and move your pieces backwards round the board. Party games work well, for example musical chairs where you sit down when the music starts!

Foodie Gift Ideas

admin — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 10:34:22 +0000

Do you have someone in your life who loves good food? Are you looking for a more orginal gift than a box of chocolates? Here are a few ideas for presents you can buy online to give to gourmets. Obviously with all food gifts you should take into account any allergies or dietary preferences of the recipient.

Sauces

Buy Dave’s Super Hot
Sauce Set

Sauces are incredibly versatile. They can be used as a cooking ingredient, as a relish or even in a sandwich! The number of different flavours is immense, from fruity through to fiery chilli. Best of all, you can buy many of them in attractive packaging.

Tea
Nothing beats a good cup of tea – as an Englishman I know this to be true! As well as traditional black teas there are also green, herbal and fruit varieties avalable. Tea bags today can be extremely high quality, however for the real enthusiast you might want to get traditional leaf varieties. And maybe even a special teapot!

Buy Black Garlic

Black Garlic
Black garlic is a relatively new innovation that’s getting rave reviews from gourmets and chefs. It’s sweet, stick and, as the name suggests, black! Something different for the garlic lover.
More information: Black garlic

Fruit and Nuts
OK, so this is an old favourite – but for good reasons. Gift baskets of dried fruit and/or nuts are extremely tasty and if you buy the best then they’re presented in a which which also makes them a feast for the eyes.

Bizarre Candy

But Hotlix Scorpion Suckers

In recent years there’s been a trend towards putting unlikely insects and other weird items in sweets. You can get edible versions of everything from ants and worms to scorpions! A gift for the adventurous eater.

Retro Sweets
If you know your giftee’s birthday then you might like to take them back to the taste’s of their childhood. You can buy retro candy gift packs containing sweets from most of the last decades. (Obviously the candy is newly made in the original style, it doesn’t *really* come from decades ago!)

Bedroom Lighting Ideas

admin — Sat, 05 Nov 2011 08:51:32 +0000

The bedroom can be one of the most difficult rooms of the house to light, partly because of the numerous purposes for which it’s used. Here are a few ideas that might help:

Buy Kathy Ireland Uplight

Zones
Don’t just use the same lighting for the whole bedroom, try if possible to create different “zones”. Soft lighting for the sleeping area with optional reading lights, brighter light for dressing, etc. A number of small lights of different intensity often work better than one or two stronger lights, even with dimmers.

Up and Down Lighters
Using up and/or down lights to project “pools” of light can be very effective in creating both lighting zones and atmosphere.

Buy LED Puck Lights

Cupboard Lights
Fumbling in a dark cupboard or wardrobe can be a frustrating experience, especially when still half asleep! To improve things you can buy special cupboard lights. For safety these are usually battery operated and low power; you don’t want to electrocute yourself or set fire to the clothes!

Natural Light
The window is (probably) the one light source that you can’t move. So design your bedroom layout to make use of this resource. Depending on you local conditions and personal habits you might want to arrange for the light to fall onto the bed to wake you up – or for it to stay as far away as possible! In the latter case you might also want to consider buying blackout curtain liners or blinds.

References: Bedroom Lighting

Garden Decor Ideas

admin — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 10:33:12 +0000

Are you looking for something interesting and different to decorate your garden? Do you perhaps only have a small garden or yard without space for masses of plants? Then here are a few ideas for items you might like to consider:

Sundials

Buy Sundial

These days we rarely need to rely on the sun to tell us the time. However a sundial remains an interesting piece of garden furniture that can be quite a talking point. You can buy a huge variety of styles and designs, everything from modern minimalist through decorative to darkly gothic. Sundials need to be mounted and adjusted for location, you will probably also need to buy a compatible stand or pillar. More information: Sundials

Gazing Balls
A garden gazing ball shouldn’t be confused with a crystal bal, the two are very different. A gazing ball has no mystical or magical connotations, it’s simply a decorative item. A gazing ball is a highly polished sphere, often mounted on a pole, that provides for a fascinating reflection of your garden. It has no practical use, but it’s unusual and cool! More information: Gazing Balls

Buy Sip & Seed

Bird Aids
Bird equipment – everything for free standing tables and baths to tree hanging feeders and nesting boxes – can look good in their own right. They’re also one of the best ways to encourage birds into your garden. Make sure that you install them properly – there’s no point putting a bird feeder where a cat can easly reach it! And if you start feeding the birds, please continue to do so all year round.

Statuettes
Garden statuettes cover a whole variety of ideas, everything from classics like minature versions of Michelangelo’s David through to fairies and gothic creations sucbh as gargoyles. And don’t forget the good old garden gnome; if you don’t like “cute” then you can also buy more ironi designs! More information: Gnomes

Buy Solar Hummingbird Light

Lighting
Even the smallest garden or yard can be made to look larger and more interesting by creative use of lighting. Use white to highlight particula features or colour to add interest. Remember that a few carefully designed shadows can also add interest and a feeling of depth. Don’t blanket the whole garden with light, but on the other hand don’t go over the top – make sure your garden still looks like a garden, not a 1970s disco! And, of course, ensure that any lights you buy are outdoor safe and, if possible, environmentally friendly.

iPhone Accessory Ideas

trevor — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 18:12:01 +0000

Are you an Apple iPhone owner looking to get the most out of your device? Or are you looking to buy a gift for someone who owns an iPhone? Well there are plenty of accessories out there to choose from, here are a few ideas.

Cases
If you spend hundreds of dollars on a new phone it makes sense to spend a few more to protect it. There are a wide variety of decorative and/or protective iPhone cases you can buy, ranging from pretty pink to more traditional basic black.

Mounts
As well as ordinary cases you can buy ones with specialised purposes. For example if you’re a cyclist then you might be interested in attaching a handlebar mount to your bike. Obviously put safety first if using something like this, don’t have an accident because you’re busy tweeting!

Screen Protectors
One problem with a touch screen is that you need to touch it. You can help protect the screen against mucky fingerprints and some scratches with stick on screen protectors.

Sound Systems
Your iPhone has a built in speaker, but it’s not great for listening to music. There are a lot of external speaker systems available, ranging from the small and compact to top of the range units like the Bose SoundDock.

Manuals
OK, so some people hate reading manuals. But some people – including me – love them. I like to know every last thing about my gadgets so I can make best use of them and squeeze out every last drop of power. Amongst the many iPhone books you can buy are The Missing Manual and, of course, the iPhone entry in the For Dummies range.

This site is not associated with or endorsed by Apple. Contact an authorised dealer for iPhone prices and availability

Christmas Decorating Ideas

trevor — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 14:04:51 +0000

Wow, is it almost Christmas again already? It always catches me by surprise. If – like me – you haven’t decorated yet then here are a few easy ideas for giving your home a Christmasy holiday feel.

Seasonal Foliage
Holly, berries and pine cones all give a seasonal feel – just make sure you have permission to pick them. For a jollier look you can use red or metallic indoor spray paint on them. Or you could just buy artificial holly instead.

Candles
One upon a time candles were for providing light. Now they’re items of decor in their own right. Not only can you buy candles that look cheerful and Christmasy, you can buy ones that smell Christmasy. Mulled wine is the one I like best. Always take all safety precautions when using candles.

Seasonal Appliques
I use the word “applique” rather than “sticker” because I’m talking about the sort you can remove easily. You can buy packs of Christmas themed stick ‘n’ peel appliques at very affordable prices and some can even be stored for use next year. Another advantage is that they’re simple enough for kids to use, letting them feel part of the holiday decorating. Just make sure you really do buy ones that will come off easily!

Ribbons and Bows
Almost anything can be made to look seasonal if it’s wrapped up like a gift! Get some Christmas ribbons and bows and wrap them around cushions, chair backs, towels, etc. Be careful not to place ribbons or bows on electrical equipment or anything else that could be a fire risk.

Mini Trees
Not everyone has the space – or the desire – for a full blown Xmas tree, natural or artificial. However a miniature Christmas tree or two placed on a strategic shelf or tabletop can be extremely effective addition to the decor.

Cards
There are many more ways to display your Christmas cards than simple putting them on shelves – there are a variety of greeting card holders available to buy. Or you could just string them together with twine. And why restrict yourself to the cards you’ve received this year? If you get a particularly attractive card you can keep it for next year. Don’t forget about the cards you’ve bought yourself and got leftover after sending ones to all your friends.

References: Christmastry

Funny Tee Shirt Ideas

trevor — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 09:59:08 +0000

T Shirts are a great way to express your personality, get noticed and start conversations. Funny tees are especially popular and there are zillions of different designs available to buy online, far too many for any one person to view. So here are a few suggestions for funny t shirts to buy:

Sin Like You Mean It	Stupidity is Genetic	Beshtist Mate
Don’t Blame Me – It’s Genetic	Maneater	Zombies
stop following me	Kiss Me I’m Drunk	Be Rational, Get Real!

Most of these funny tees are available to buy in a variety of styles and colours for men and women.

Gothic Bedroom Ideas

trevor — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 10:10:10 +0000

The gothic themed bedroom has always been popular – and not just with goths. There’s something both romantic and edgy about the gothic style. A gothic bedroom design can vary from a few carefully chosen accents or a complete theme; from aristocratic class to peasant grunge. Here are a few ideas for turning your bedroom into a gothic crib:

Colour
Think more than just black! Red accents are a great way to suggest blood, lips and passion – perfect if you’re a vampire fan. And if black is just too hot or claustrophobic for your bedroom walls, consider grey. It suggests stone – and hence castles, dungeons and crypts.

Light
Even the most gothic of bedrooms needs some light, even if only for applying your goth makeup! Using down and uplighters with their pools of light in the darkness can be very atmospheric. And, of course, you can buy a wide variety of gothic lights and lamps.

Skulls and Bones
Where would a goth be without someone well bleached bones? Skulls are especially popular and as well as just using them for decoration you can buy them as anything from trinket and jewelry boxes to lamps. You can also buy skull and bone themed accessories such as mirrors and other furniture.

Bedding
A combination of red and black bedding in plain designs works well for gothic bedding. However if you’re not too much of a purist you can buy more interesting gothic themed bedding.

Posters, Prints and Wall Hangings
These are perhaps the most affordable way of adding a gothic touch to an existing bedroom without having to completely redecorate. Gothic posters and prints are easy to put up – and easy to take down when you want a change!

Toys
Kids’ toys have a great emotional impact, especially when found in an incongruous setting like a gothic bedroom. That’s especially true if the toys themselves are somehow “wrong” – a gothic doll or an evil clown perhaps.

Party Costume Ideas

trevor — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 09:13:15 +0000

Costumes aren’t just for Halloween, fancy dress parties are fun all year round. Very often the party will have a theme, but if not you’ll be left a free choice of costume. Here are a few ideas the you can buy or make:

Law and Disorder

Everything from pin striped gangsters through pimps ‘n’ hos to sexy policewomen. Just be careful not to wear your costume in public!

Superheroes and Villains
You could just wear your underwear on the outside or you could buy a professional costume: Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman are traditional favourites. And don’t forget the villains such as the Joker

Pirates
A an eyepatch and a bandana might be enough, or you could buy an evil cutthroat pirate costume. The ladies would once have been serving wenches but in these days of equality we also have female pirates.

TV and Movie Characters
Some of these are easy to improvise – Columbo, anyone? Or you can buy costumes covering every genre from Star Trek uniforms to adult Harry Potter robes.

That should be enough to get you started, more party costume ideas later.