Author: oi_admin

Five Star Bedroom

The relaxing experience one gets at a quality hotel or resort is designed right into the rooms to make a stay as rewarding as possible. For those who like the feeling of being in a five-star hotel room and would like to re-create that experience in their own homes, here are a few simple tips.

Your bedroom is the room in your house you spend the most time in every day. You’ll love having a peaceful oasis to retreat to at the end of the day and wake up to each morning.

Bedrooms should not multitask. Banish all furniture beside the bed, a chair, nightstands and a dresser. No exercise equipment, desks, computers, sewing tables, etc.

Insulate for sound. Fabric or paper wall coverings and carpets help. Double-paned or triple-paned glass windows will minimize outside sounds.

Control the lighting for sleep and romance. Dimmable lamps create a warm, romantic environment. Layered window treatments give you options for both privacy and light.

Reduce clutter and make your bed every day. Seeing the tops of the nightstands and dressers makes the bedroom feel clean, and a well-made bed looks luxurious and inviting.

Give yourself some luxurious touches. Place a special robe or pair of cozy slippers at your bedside.

House Sense: Electric Heaters

With the cost and hassle of replacing central heat, a lot of people are investing in space heaters.

Whole-Room vs. Personal Heater: Select the Right One.

An electric space heater that is too large for an area will consume lots of energy and lead to higher utility bills. Buying a portable heater rated for a small space and expecting it to cover a large area will make it work harder to heat the space.

Tip-Over Protection - A heater with a tip-over or tilt-over switch will automatically shut off if tipped over for any reason.

Pick the Right Place - Install at least 3 feet away from furniture, window treatments, bedding, clothing, rugs, and other combustibles.

Directly Plug into an Outlet - Sufficient power capacity is required. An extension cord increases the chance of overheating.

Regularly Inspect and Maintain Your Purchase - Frequently clean and maintain the heater to ensure safety. Wipe down the heater to reduce the amount of dust and allergens that may be dispersed.

Shut Off and Unplug - When leaving an area, disconnect the portable space heater or buy one with an automatic programmable timer.

Keep Heaters Away From Water - Refrain from running a heater in a bathroom or a humid basement. Moreover, do not touch the heater if you are wet or have wet hands, as this increases the risk of electrical shock.

Savvy Storage for the Smaller Home

Pillar To Post blog post

Many homebuyers may hesitate to consider a smaller home that lacks sufficient storage space. While this often means getting rid of—or acquiring fewer—belongings, there is still a need for accessible, efficient storage throughout the home. Short of adding or constructing areas specifically for storage, there are ways to coax more usability out of existing space. Read more on RISMedia.com.