If you had eyes that could see with the power of a microscope,you would be sickened and almost afraid of the unseen world around you, especially in your carpet, mattresses, and furniture.We let our children crawl on it, we lay face down on it, and we even sleep on it! However, take heart because there is something that you can do about their length of stay.Hiding in your carpet, mattress, pillows, curtains, upholstery are dust mites.
How many? The average life span of a mite is about 2 months and they
can double in numbers if the conditions are right, every twelve hours. If you
consider the math, that is well over a hundred or so thousand corpses of
mites per year in your home. Not only that, but each of those mites can
produce up to 20 fecal matter deposits per day which equates to millions of
deposits per year. To further put it in perspective, it¡¯s estimated that one
tenth of the weight of your mattress or pillow after three years of usage is
comprised of fecal matter from the common household dust mite. Why
your home? Mites eat dead skin cells and the average person sloughs off
millions every few days.
These skin cells are abundant in your mattress and pillows, in the places
that you live and therefore make it a good environment for them to exist in.
Mites thrive in the humidity that most households are kept at and like the air
slightly moist and humid. So our homes are perfect conditions for them to
live in. In addition to mites, pet dander is another invader. Pet dander is
impossible to avoid even if you yourself do not own a pet. Pet dander is
comprised of dead skin cells that are sloughed off of dogs mixed with
saliva, urine traces, and allergens from the environment such as pollen
and spores of various sorts. This all gets together in a sticky mess and we
call it pet dander. Dander gets tracked in off your shoes, into your carpet
and also from just being around other human beings that may have pets at
home. There are about 70% of American households that own pets so a
person at work that brushes up against you by accident, or your children
from other children at school, or someone hugging you potentially may
have dander on them from a cat or dog and will get it on your clothes, and
you may track it into your home.
These two are perhaps of the most potent allergens to most people. They
really affect health and actually can lead to asthma triggers if not taken
care of. Finally dirt is one of the most deadly things for your carpet to
endure. When you walk on your carpet, whatever is on your feet is ground
into the fibers of the carpet. IF there is dirt and soiling agents on your feet or
shoes, these get ground into the fibers too. Once they are in there, it will
cause them to unwind and fray. Straggling hairs will then combine in a mat
like fashion and create uneven little clumps in the carpeting thus
minimizing the longevity of your carpets and rugs.
What do you do about all these invaders and these microscopic vigilantes
that are wreaking havoc on your home and family?
Prevention is key. There was a study conducted at the Florida Solar Energy
Center by Subrato Chandra and David Beal that studied five homes across
the US but focusing on Florida. They found that prevention and good
cleaning habits are vital in controlling these allergens. Using control
groups and scientific collection principles, they found that homes that had
poor vacuuming tools (those older models that did not have HEPA filters
but rather just used bag filtration) or schedules that allotted for only one
cleaning per week were much more prone to have mites and dander and
levels of which were significantly more higher in comparison to those who
vacuumed twice per week with a vacuum that had a HEPA filter such as the
Dyson vacuums or a centralized unit that was housed outside of the home.
The vacuuming was performed on the floors, furniture and mattresses.
In addition they found that if a dehumidifier was used in each bedroom, that
the levels were also much lower. If you own an older home, it¡¯s
recommended that you have a Vacuum with greater suction ability. Dyson
Vacuums tend to work best for collecting mites, dander, and dirt because
over time, these get compacted into the deep layers of the nap in the carpet
and only something with significant suction power can remove the lower
nap dirt and allergens. It is also recommended that once or twice per year
that your carpet is professionally cleaned and bed linens are washed in hot
water each week.
Do not allow your home to be invaded any longer! Plan your attack on
mites, dander, and dirt. It may be a small world out there, and we may not
be able to segregate ourselves from it, but we do not have to go quietly into
the night.
In most interiors art photographs are brought in as the finishing touch.
It's one of the elements that can instantly warm up a space and make it feel like home.
Photographs can expand a space both visually and emotionally, give us a window to the world, bring interest and color to the wall spaces, and generally liven up the place.
Here's concise hints how to arrange photographs in a room.
In general, photographs should be hung so that the center point of the photograph or grouping is at about eye level for the average person. While this won't be possible in every situation, it's a good guideline to keep in mind.
Size and Grouping
• Relate photograph to wall size. Choose smaller pictures for narrow walls and larger works for big wall spaces.
• Relate photograph to furniture size. When hanging a framed photograph over a piece of furniture it should not be longer than the width of the furniture.
• Don't hang the photographs too close to each other or you will end up with a cluttered look. Don't hang them too far apart or you'll lose that unified look.
• Proper use of line can set the mood in a room:
- Strong horizontal lines in photograph, or in the way it is hung, tend to be calming and can give the illusion of width in a narrow room.
- Strong vertical lines in a photograph or in the arrangement on the wall add to the feeling of height in a room.
- Strong diagonal lines either within a photograph itself or in a line of photographs arranged on the wall add drama and excitement.
• Use symmetrical or asymmetrical arrangements of photographs to create either a formal or a casual feeling. Symmetry adds balance and formality to an arrangement and is generally pleasing and calming to the observer.
• A grouping of photographs should be thought of as one unit.
• One large photograph makes a statement and keeps things simple.
• A number of photographs framed in one mat and frame will have more impact.
Themes
• Support your room theme with photographs, repeating the colors, motifs, and style of the room's interior.
• Landscape photographs visually open up a smaller space. The view of a distant horizon acts as a sort of window.
Color
• Vibrant colors bring excitement to a room, neutral colors are more calming.
• Photographs will have greater impact if matted in a contrasting color to the wall. Choose a dark mat for a light wall and a light mat for a dark wall.
Framing
• Choose frame colors and styles that match the style of your home.
• To harmonize a set of photographs, mat and frame them alike.
Lighting
• Illuminate photographs well. It can be lost unless well lit.
• Depending on a given place, one can use a picture light, track lighting or recessed lighting.
Hanging
• Hang photographs securely. Rate picture hooks for the weight of the framed photograph. Care of Photographs
• Never hang photograph in direct sunlight: it can fade.
• Never hang photograph above a working fireplace.
• Never hang photograph on an exterior wall without adequate insulation: it can dampen.
• Maintain a constant room temperature and humidity.
• Mat boards and adhesives must be acid-free, otherwise yellowing will occur.
Your living room is probably the most important room in your home. It's where you unwind, where you entertain your friends, and where you spend lazy days relaxing in front of your fireplace. The way you decorate your living room will really say a lot about you. Is it formal or relaxed. Do you have antique furniture or modern. When it comes time to redecorate your living room, the most important piece of furniture is your sofa. Once you pick out a couch that will compliment your style and how you want to use your living room, everything else is easy.
If your style is casual and you want to entertain friends in your living room, consider a sectional sofa. The sectional is perfect for when you or your friends want to kick back and relax while having a great conversation or watching some TV. It's great for family time too. There are a couple ways to use a sectional. You can put it in the corner of the room, so you maximize your living space. This is great if you want to use your sofa while watching TV. Or, you can place it so that the back of the sofa splits the room in half, so to speak. That way, you create a cozy little area for conversation. If you don't have a television or fireplace in your living room, add a recliner or loveseat facing the couch. That helps further create the sociable atmosphere.
If you're looking for a more formal feeling for your living room, the standard three person sofa is one way to go. These sofas typically have a more traditional look to them. However, you can still have the seating capacity of a sectional. Pair your sofa up with a loveseat or a second sofa. Depending on how formal you want your living room, you may not have a television. But if you have a fireplace, you want your main sofa facing it. Arrange your loveseat or second sofa off to its side moving towards the fireplace. If you don't have a fireplace, you have the opportunity to design the perfect area for friends and family to gather and catch up with each other. Placing your two sofas directly opposite each other crates a nice warm gathering spot. For some, however, this may seem a little stuffy and old fashioned. If so, you can place a second sofa running diagonally on one side and other chairs or loveseat on the other side running diagonally as well. Do this so you create a triangle instead of a square, with your sofa table in the middle. This way, you can get a formal look yet contemporary feel at the same time.
So it is possible to combine formal and contemporary, you just need to use your imagination. Once you have you're couch, you can finish decorating your living room by finding pieces that match. A table with family photos or a fresh cut flowers will go with either formal or informal décor. A hutch for treasured knick knacks will also go well. Art work or a mirror for your walls. But it all starts with your sofa. Once you pick out the one that's right for you, everything else will fall into place.
