Day: November 15, 2021

If you have a darkroom in your home, it can make the whole place look smaller and more cramped. There are many ways to brighten a dark room, but they all require money or time that most of us don’t have. Here’s a list of ways you can brighten up your dark room without investing much time and money:

Place Your Mirrors Near Light Sources

Although it’s old advice, mirrors can expand your visual space and brighten your dark room. To use mirrors to their fullest potential, ensure that you place them near a light source, such as a window or floor lamp. Large mirrors reflect light and can do wonders for small rooms without windows. To get the best results, make sure your lamp emits ambient lighting.

Install Multiple Light Sources

Placing a lamp near a window isn’t the only way to bring light into your dark rooms. The web is filled with examples of how lights can be used to brighten up a room-so much so that it’s nearly impossible for a single light source to do all the work. If you have many dark corners in your room, install additional light sources. You can add a floor lamp or table lamp to start.

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dd Light Colors and Transparent Furniture to Dark Rooms

Light colors not only decorate your room but can also make dark rooms feel bigger, brighter, and more cheerful. While pastel hues are generally considered light, if you want your room to be brighter, it’s best to choose a lighter tone of the dominant color in the room-for example, if you have an orange room, add light yellow to brighten things up.

Transparent furniture is a great way to increase a dark room’s brightness, especially a small, dim room. Glass tables and shelves allow light from outside to flood in so you can have your cake and eat it too-a a well-lit room with an open layout. Also, a stylish, compact sofa in a lighter color like white, beige, and ivory can make your living room look and feel bigger and more spacious. If you find neutrals and metallic accents too moody, you can bring in a playful throw pillow. This will make your living room or bedroom feel casual without dressing it too much.

Cover Your Floor with Large, Bright Area Rug

An area rug is a quick and easy way to brighten up an otherwise drab room. A big, brightly colored shag rug instantly adds warmth and character to any space, making it the ideal choice for rooms that don’t see much natural light.

This will not only add some softness and texture to your floors but will make your floor glow. This is very important, especially if your dim space features dark floor cardboards. When choosing a color for your rug, think about choosing a rug that contrasts with your floor color. For example, if your floor is dark, choose a light-colored or white rug to brighten up the room.

Keep Your Windows Clean and Clear

A couple of hours washing your windows will brighten up any room, as dirty windows can darken a space by blocking out natural light. And don’t just clean your windows from the outside. Also, wipe those inside panes to ensure that there’s no film obstructing the light from reaching your room.

Make sure you deep clean your windows once a year to make them shine during the winter months. Remember that the less dirt, dust, and debris on your window, the more sunlight will shine through your room.

Introduce Light Fixtures

Overhead lighting in bathrooms isn’t always the most pleasant of spaces, so the addition of light fixtures can brighten up your space. Use single hang lamps above head height for functional lighting that adds interest to an otherwise dull room.

In that case, don’t rely so much on overhead lightings such as those from chandeliers or pendant lights. Instead, add some floor and table lamps to your dark bathroom to allow you enough lighting for grooming and even reading. Keep the light color cool so as not to create a warm atmosphere in an already hot space.

Go for Lighter Lampshades

Opt for lampshades that are made with a light material such as linen or cotton. While darker shades may make a small space seem even smaller, lighter shades will scatter the light and make your space look brighter. A lighter lampshade will help diffuse light without blocking its glow-like opaque shades.

Go for Light Wood Flooring

A dark floor is a great option for a small bathroom, but if you’re stuck with dark-colored tiles, think about replacing them with lighter ones. If your shower stalls and floors are already tiled in dark colors, freshen up the space by installing new light-colored finishing and caulk.

If possible, choose light wood flooring or a light stain that can hide chips and scratches. It will keep the look fresh and bright. If you don’t want to replace your flooring, you can always paint it.

Incorporate Metallic Touches

Make your drab and dreary space lively by adding shiny finishes to your home decor. Metallic touches work well in small bathrooms, especially if they’re used as an accent. Try using metallic tiles, showerheads and faucets, towel racks, light fixtures, and other decorative elements.

Metallic touches help in reflecting light irrespective of where they’re placed. Whether you express them through a light fixture, artwork, or decorative objects, using metallic elements is a great way to liven up dark and dull spaces.

Keep Minimalist on both Furniture and Light Fixtures

Minimalist furniture and light fixtures help in making a dark room brighter. When it comes to furniture, simple designs with clean lines work best in small spaces. Keep your bathroom minimalist by letting go of bulky items such as vanities, large cabinets, and massive furniture pieces.

To light up your room, you’ll need a low-key light fixture. This should give you good light, but you don’t want the light itself to be on your room’s focal point because of the dark color of your walls. For example, if you live in a small apartment with drab walls and want to brighten up your bathroom, install an overhead light that is sleek and simple; it should blend easily into your room’s design.

Avoid oversized furniture; instead, go for light furniture that lies low to the ground. Set a maximum height for your furniture and ensure that each set falls below the set height. Leave ample space between each piece of furniture and give it a careful look to ensure that the scale is right. You can take your time to learn how to arrange furniture and make your room look brighter and lovelier.

void Bringing in Too Much Wall Art

Before bringing in an interior designer, try to limit your decorative accessories because these designers can overdo the decoration. Even if you live in a large mansion and your room is struggling with lighting, try to limit your artwork, furniture, and other decorative accessories.

Even though you love contemporary art, consider that too many modern art pieces might look crowded or give an impression that the room is small. Instead of hanging up everything on the walls, use a wall gallery to create an artistic statement.

Paint the Ceiling Bright White

If you don’t have tall windows or the ceiling is too low, paint it white to make the room appear brighter. White ceilings are also easier to clean since they can reflect light, unlike darker colors that are more difficult to spot dirt on. Painting your ceiling with an eggshell or satin finish will boost your ceiling’s reflective properties.

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Consider a Whiteout

If you want to bring in more light into your old room, grab your paint roller and a gallon of white paint, then start painting your walls. But don’t stop; paint everything white from floor to ceiling and even your home decor and furniture. Give your baskets and bed frames some shade, and you’ll love the outcome.

If you feel overwhelmed, you can assign someone to help you out. A too-white room can feel sterile and even a little cold, so make sure to add some character with a warm accent somewhere on your walls. This will not only make your dark room brighter but will also give it a subtle beauty.

Bring in Greenery

Make your room feel more spacious and lighter by bringing in greenery. The crisp white walls and splashes of color will brighten up your dark flooring and narrow space. When bringing natural plants, consider the size since the larger size is better as long as you use a white vessel.

This white vessel can visually bleed into your room and make it feel brighter. Since the plants take up space, they will help diffuse the light and make your dark space look bigger. Choose greenery that thrives in minimal light.

Limit Your Window Treatments

Make the most of natural light in your home. Avoid heavy draperies and window treatments that can block natural light. If you want to put something on the window, consider sheer drapes, blinds, and roman shades that will not take up your wall space. You can also consider opaque treatment to give you privacy while letting light into your room.

Consider a Glass Door

Swap your solid door out with a glass door. This is one of the permanent changes that can make a difference in your dark space. It will let in much more natural light and give the illusion of a bigger room. An exterior door will also allow more natural light into the room from outside, making a big difference. And if it’s an internal door, it will make your room feel more open and bright.

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FAQs on How to Brighten a Dark Room

What colors make a room look brighter?

Colors that make a room look brighter include bright white, off-white, light grays, warm neutrals, and bright and bold colors.

How do you brighten a dark room without natural light?

You can brighten a dark room without natural light by using brighter textures, paints, and furniture.

What do you do when your room is too bright?

If your room is too bright, use darker woods as flooring or wall coverings to absorb some light.

Final Thought on How to Brighten a Dark Room

As you can see, brightening a dark can be a challenge and, at the same time, a good opportunity to add some drama and texture. It’s not easy to get more light into your dark room. It’s doable with some strategic design and planning.

The post How To Brighten A Dark Room appeared first on Kitchen Infinity.

Did you miss our previous article…
https://chefbuano.com/?p=704

Jessica Bell

chefbuano.com

Lamb’s ear is a very common plant that can be easily found in most nurseries. It grows well in most soil types and prefers partial shade. The problem with the lamb’s ear is its invasive nature. It’s used for covering large areas or filling in the ground between other plants.

This perennial plant spreads quickly, taking over the garden without you even noticing it until it’s too late. If left to grow on its own, this spreading perennial plant will take over your flower beds and lawns, turning them into an unsightly mess of tall weeds that are impossible to get rid of by hand weeding alone. 

To prevent the spread of lamb’s ear, you need to be vigilant with your maintenance routine for your garden area. You’ll want to keep up on regular mowing habits so that there is no room for new seeds from previous seasons’ plants. If you have no experience in caring for this plant then this guide is for you.

Tips for Caring and Controlling Lamb’s Ear

Sunlight

First of all, you should understand that these particular plants do best in full sun. As long as it gets full sunlight and not too much water, it will spread quickly. They may also benefit partially in the shaded area when planted in more desert-like zones.

Image caption: https://www.thespruce.com/

It also does well in poor soil as long as there’s well-draining in the soil and a slightly acidic pH balance. Although it’s a drought-tolerant plant, some leaves may dry up and shrivel over extreme heat, but the plant will survive. Just remove dead leaves to avoid any rotting.

Lamb’s ear is a perennial that spreads very quickly, creating masses of leaves in all directions. This plant has tall stalks that will rise about 2 feet tall and form fluffy, rounded leaves. The entire plant is covered with fibrous hairs growing many inches long. These hairs are soft if you touch them.

Watering 

Lamb’s ear plant likes well-draining soil and needs water regularly to keep the soil moist. They will drop their leaves if they don’t get enough water, but this doesn’t mean death.

But too much water will lead to root rot. This drought-tolerant plant will lose older leaves during the dry spell, but that doesn’t mean that you should remove the entire plant leaves. Instead, remove the brown and those unsightly leaves. After all, the plant will survive. Do not water the plant’s overhead as the leaves will rot. Only water lamb’s ear when the entire plant is dying.

The leaves will also develop fungal spots or powdery mildew if they get wet. Be careful with the leaves that are close to the ground as they’re susceptible to rotting and leaf diseases. You can use a fungicide to prevent this from happening. It’s also sensitive to humid conditions, so fungicide will be of great help.

Soil

Lamb’s ear Stachys byzantina thrives in well-drained soil and full sun. Therefore, it is recommended that lamb’s ear planting should be done in a bed with sandy soil and full sun exposure. Providing the ideal conditions will encourage the growth of healthy leaves and allow the new plants to reproduce at a rapid rate. You should also ensure you test the soil pH and ensure it’s slightly acidic because that’s what’s perfect for lamb’s ear growth.

Treat this perennial flower with any care that you would give to other herbs. If you want your lamb’s ears to grow well, water them consistently and make sure they get enough sunlight. Improve the drainage before planting by adding organic matter or sand. If your area is prone to winter weather, plant lamb’s ear in a protected area or provides a thick mulch layer to protect from the cold. Grow lamb’s ear in an area with enough sunlight or part shade.

The Leaves

You’ll fall in love with the texture of the leaves of this plant, which are velvety soft and fuzzy to the touch. The leaves also have a woolly texture and are silver-gray to pale green. The name lamb’s ear originates from its shape as it resembles the ear of a lamb.

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It always tends to be evergreen, but it can be deciduous in some colder climates. It can look ragged down during dormant months but will do well during the spring. Avoid exposing this plant to humid conditions as it’s susceptible to leaf diseases.

The Flowers

This plant flowers in the late spring and summer months. The flowers are woolly and tiny with a yellowish cast; they also bloom in clusters. Make sure you cut back the creeping stems that are close to the ground level after they flower to make way for new stems and leaves.

Image caption: https://www.nature-and-garden.com/

The flowers will start as pale green when they are in bud form but turn slightly pink when they are in full bloom.

Propagating Lamb’s Ear

If you want to start a new patch of stachys byzantina, you can dig a new plant created by self-seeding or grow your patches in divisions. Make sure you divide the plant every three to four years in the early spring as the new growth appears. Using a sharp garden shovel, dig the area around the plant until you get enough roots free. Separate the plant into two or three sections and replant it in other areas of the flower bed or lawn. 

Give the plant a good pruning close to the crown during the spring to remove dead leaves. Pruning will help the plants to bush out and remain more compact. Add some organic matter to the soil after division to retain moisture and control weed. This plant also grows easily from seed and is self-seeding.

Cold Hardiness

Stachys byzantina is cold hardy in zones four to eight. Growing it in intense heat in the warmer zones can be uphill unless you have afternoon shade in your garden. This plant can withstand a range of temperatures but as a ground cover. Lamb’s ear also comes in several varieties, such as big ears, silver carpets, and cotton boll.

The big ear’s variety is quite popular because of its fuzzy foliage. They’re also good disease resistant as they can go for long without blooming. The silver carpet doesn’t flower quite often, which makes it suitable to use as ground cover.

In cotton bolls, flowers don’t emerge as they should be, leaving most gardeners wondering if it’s alive or dead. Gardeners remove it while thinking it’s dead.

Benefits of Lamb’s Ears Plants

Lamb’s ear is a plant that requires little care and is easy to maintain in the garden. The grey-green hairy leaves and silky white flowers make it appropriate for landscaping in shady areas with poor soil. It has low water requirements, and its lamb’s ears form a boundary between dried-out lawns or walkways and other plants.

Many garden visitors find it attractive. Insects such as butterflies, hummingbirds, hawks, and moths are attracted to the flowers for nectar. However, it’s not popular with rabbits, bees, and squirrels. It’s classified as a herb, hence providing medicinal properties.

FAQs on How to Care and Control Lambs Ear

How do you keep lamb’s ears healthy?

 Make sure your plants are in an open sunny spot where they can dry out between watering, and ensure your plant gets at least 6 hours of sun per day. You can also feed your plant with the right manure or fertilizer. Your work will be much easier by learning how to make a composter and coming up with your own manure.

Where can you plant lamb’s ear?

Plant lambs near the base of a tree or near an entryway where people will brush against it and release the fragrance. Make sure it doesn’t get in the way though.

Final Thought on How to Care for and Control Lambs Ear

To get the best of your lamb’s ear, plant it in a sunny location and prune flowers. If you do this you’ll have a fragrant garden border that will bring a touch of light and warmth to your evening strolls.

The post How To Care And Control Lambs Ear appeared first on Kitchen Infinity.

Did you miss our previous article…
https://chefbuano.com/?p=700

Jessica Bell

chefbuano.com

Buying a new carpet can be confusing and time-consuming, especially if it’s your first time. Getting the right carpet that meets all your needs gives you comfort and enhances the look of your house. 

A good way to ensure that you buy exactly what you need is to ask for free installation when buying carpet from a reputable carpet store. This ensures that they have enough expertise on hand to install everything correctly without any problem. 

We have put together this guide to help you find out what type of carpet is best for different parts of your house, how much it costs, and how to buy one.

What to Do Before Buying a New Carpet

Before buying a carpet, do your homework by learning what makes one carpet better than the other. Learn everything you need to know on how to buy the best carpet. Take a free carpet foot traffic test to discover which carpet is best for your home. Learn about scams and rip offs to avoid buying a confusing carpet. 

Carry out interior painting at least one month before the new carpet installation or wait until the carpet is installed. Carpet backing is very abrasive and can scratch painted surfaces, especially on walls and baseboards.

What to Do During Carpet Buying Process

Shop for the grade of carpet you require first, then look for several carpet colors and styles. It can be very pricey to change grades after buying the carpet, so do ample research before shopping. Members of your family may have strong feelings about what type of carpet you should buy.

If possible, take them with you during the shopping for a second opinion. While at the store, bring along old carpet samples from other rooms in your home to compare the grade by the side. Make sure you get several estimates from your locally-owned carpet dealers.

Get these estimates in writing and get every detail written down in writing. The carpet dealer should be able to provide you with a spec sheet of any carpet you’re seriously interested in. Don’t be pressured into buying or agree to buy on the first visit, whether it’s in home appointment or in store.

Take Your Time While Choosing New Carpet

Don’t buy on the first visit. Take your time to make sure you are getting the best carpet pad. There are many carpet brands out there, but not all are top quality brand names that will last a long time. Doing some research on different carpets can help you determine which one is the best buy for your money. If possible, keep the original carpet sample you selected and ordered until your new carpet is installed for comparison purposes to ensure you get what you ordered.

Image credit: https://lacarpet.com/

Many homeowners often forget which carpet style and color they ordered, especially if it takes several weeks to deliver the carpet and is scheduled for installation. If you cannot take the carpet samples, you can write down the brand, style number, and color number for future reference. 

Take a photo of the back of the carpet sample showing all the manufacturing details. This is very important, especially if you’re dealing with small retailers because they may not be able to leave you with carpet samples for an extended period of time. 

sk These Key Carpet Buying Questions Before Signing Off for New Carpet

You have the right to know everyone working in your home. Make you write down the full names of the installer, plus the names of his helpers. Ask them to provide you with copies of their liability insurance. Keep this record for future reference if there are any problems or damages to your home due to the installation process.

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If your carpet dealer is providing carpet installation services for you as part of a package deal, then the carpet dealer is responsible for providing you with installers. Plus, the installer should have all his legal and licensing affairs in order.

If you hire installers yourself and pay them directly, you can still ask your independent installer to issue an insurance rider in your name and mail or fax before the installation. Discuss this before ordering your new carpet. You can even seek professional advice from an attorney to ensure you have added protection in some instances.

What to Do On and Before Carpet Installation Day

Before the installers arrive, make sure you have furniture, wall pictures, and knick-knacks removed from rooms to be carpeted. Also, check the carpet color and style to ensure it’s what you ordered immediately after the installers arrive.

Put away all your valuables in a safe and secure location and have your rooms pre-heated to at least 70 degrees, 3 hours before and all during installation. It always helps to learn how to declutter your room and do it ahead of time to make everything easy. If you have kids and pets around, ensure they’re safely out of the way in all areas to be carpeted. Never allow kids and pets to roam free during installation. 

What to Do After Carpet Installation

Walk around your carpeted room with the installer and inspect the job thoroughly before the installer leaves. Make sure you inspect all the carpet seams. Remember that if any seam looks ugly today, there’s no way it will look better in the coming days. In case you see an ugly seam, have it fixed right away and not later unless you’re ordering more carpet to be able to fix it.

Get Your New Carpet Installation Warranty in Writing

Do not make the final payment until you’re completely satisfied with the work. When you pay, get a written invoice with the warranty information and the installer’s signature. All carpeting is warranted for its useful life against failures due to faulty materials or workmanship under normal use. 

Some carpets carry separate warranties against fading and staining. Make sure all your carpet questions and concerns are answered and written down before signing a contract or paying for the carpet.

New Carpet Care and Maintenance

Make sure you read the manufacturer’s carpet stain warranty and follow all the cleaning suggestions and requirements. Learn how to clean your carpet properly, vacuum regularly, and spot clean as necessary but never use bleach unless it’s recommended in your new carpet warranty. Always hire a professional carpet-certified carpet cleaning company.

Image credit: https://www.builddirect.com/

Never use a store-rented carpet cleaning machine to clean your carpets while still under warranty. Keep all receipts for professional carpet cleanings as you may show them as proof of proper maintenance in case you’re filing a carpet warranty claim.

Keep the original sales receipt forever and never throw them away. Keep all your information in one file for easy reference. You might also want to check with the manufacturer of your new carpet regarding any discounts on future purchases you can get if you’re a loyal customer and refer other people to the store that sold you the carpet.

FAQs on Free Carpet Installation and What to Know Before Buying

Who should move the furniture when you get a new carpet?

Moving the heavy furniture is often best left to the professionals. When you get your new carpet installed, most companies will take care of moving your old one out and bringing the new one in for you, but they might charge a fee or ask that it be paid for in cash.

What are some tips to keep my carpets looking good?

Make sure you vacuum your carpet regularly to remove dirt, debris, and spills. Learn how to properly clean your carpets so that you don’t damage them or leave stains behind. 

Final Thought on Free Carpet Installation and What to Know Before You Buy

It isn’t easy to find a reputable carpet store nowadays. That’s why it’s important to consider carpet stores that are locally owned, give free estimates and offer fair prices. Plus, you should consider carpet stores with knowledgeable staff, provide honest measuring and hire qualified installers. This way, you won’t end up with sub-par carpeting that is poorly installed.

The post Free Carpet Installation: What to Know Before You Buy appeared first on Kitchen Infinity.

Jessica Bell

chefbuano.com