House Design News

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Beanbags – Not Just for Play Rooms! Posted: 13 Jul 2014 12:34 PM PDT For too long have beanbag chairs been relegated to the status of a quirky purchase for the stylistically impaired or limited to those wishing to replicate the casual ambiance of the 1970s “flower power” era. Rarely is the therapeutic value of the bean bag considered, nor is its potential for enhancing child development. Unstructured beanbag chairs, for example, are excellent for developing a child’s gross motor skills as he tumbles and flops all over it, struggles to get out of it, or even just wiggles himself around to get it “just right”. Children learn from sensory experience and a beanbag chair covered in a fabric that has a pleasing texture and colour scheme AND forms any shape he wants will keep him amused for hours. If there’s one thing kids are famous for, it’s moods. How many times has a mother felt her heart jump into her throat when her child decides to fling herself backward onto the floor in a rage? One of a parent’s duties is to teach a child appropriate ways to express stress, anger, and frustration. Banging the head off the floor or hard-edged furniture is not entirely appropriate – however a quality beanbag can take all the punishment a furious child can mete out and then cuddle the exhausted tot for a soothing nap. Children love to exercise control over their environment and express their own individuality, but no parent appreciates coming into the living room to find the couch shoved halfway through the doorway and their “helpful” four year trapped underneath the coffee table! Beanbag furniture allows children to reinvent their surroundings because they are easily pushed, shoved, kicked, rolled, carried, flopped, and skidded anywhere the child wants to put them – even if it’s under the bed or the dining table. Beanbag furniture is easily brought outside and instantly usable on even the most unstable of surfaces, since they have no legs to stab down into the earth and send the occupants toppling over. No one can deny that the site of a tiny tot teetering along on her first steps is simultaneously a heart-warming and a heart-stopping sight, especially when she gets close to the wooden dining chair or metal coffee table! Beanbag furniture takes the worry out of her first steps – solid enough to give her something to grip, they’re soft enough for her to be safe on those times she falls face-down. Since young toddlers should never be justify unsupervised, what better excuse for mom or dad to sit on the beanbag cushion with baby and enjoy a rousing game of “The Grand Old Duke of York” or “Twenty White Horses”? The adult is down at the child’s level without having to suffer the discomfort of sitting directly on the floor and then having to get back up afterward. There is any number of developmentally valuable games that can be played using a beanbag: Hide-and-Seek, King of the Mountain, Peek-a-Boo, to name just a few. While the safety is excellent, since there are no corners and crevices in which little limbs could get trapped, perhaps the best feature is the ability to clean beanbag chairs without having to call in the professionals and then wait two days for the upholstery to dry. So go ahead, child, dribble and drool all over it – a quick swipe with a cloth and it’s good to go! This post was brought to you by UK-based beanbag designer and manufacturer Rucomfy Beanbags, a leading beanbag manufacturer of beanbag furnishings including beanbags, pet beds and cushions, for nearly thirty years.

Giving your home a makeover? Make sure you follow these safety tips Posted: 13 Jul 2014 12:34 AM PDT It's a new year and you're looking to make some changes. You don't want to be the dull, old, boring you anymore. You're tired of the monotonous and you want to feel like this New Year is going to bring some respite to your dreary life. Why not start with a makeover? Not for you, silly. For your house! Trust me—if you change the settings of the house you live in, it makes for a different and possibly more conducive environment. But I'm here to give you some practical advice. Don't just jump into it. There are some safety tips that you should follow that all us DIY project enthusiasts usually don't care about when we get really excited about home makeovers. These tips should not be ignored and must be followed while making the changes, because as exciting as change may be, safety does come first. Here they are: 1.Fixing that furniture So your furniture has become old and dull looking. You want to use some finishing products to revive it and make it look like its old self. Be careful though. Some finishing products can be harmful to your lungs, skin and eyes. Be sure to wear protective eye wear, a nice pair of painter's gloves and a good respirator to protect yourself from the harm that can easily be avoided. 2.Powering those tools Any DIY project can require power tools like saws or sanders. But usually, we don't think about our ears and eyes while using them. It is important to wear disposable ear plugs because of the irritatingly high noise levels that power tools have a tendency to create. Also, protective eye wear is a must. Also, remember to never leave active power tools unattended. Unplug them after using and keep them away from children. Credits: http://anchormarineservices.in/images/products/tools/4.jpg 3.Walking under ladders I'm not talking about the superstition here, but ladders are the main cause of most DIY accidents. Remember to erect the ladders as per the manufacturer's instructions. Don't lean too much to one side because that will cause the ladder to tip over. Be careful otherwise you could lose your balance and end up really hurting yourself. 4.Be careful while repainting It might seem like an easy job. Removing old paint and coloring your walls with all sorts of new, exciting paints. But old paints have an evil underbelly—No, really. Old paints contain asbestos which is not only harmful for you but is also extremely harmful for the environment. Wear protective clothing—gloves, eye-wear, respirator, the works. Keep the room ventilated. Also, contact your local environment department on advice on how to best dispose of this material without hurting Mother Nature. 5.The right attire So you're doing odd jobs around the house. Fixing something here, painting something there. The usual. It's not like someone's going to come and judge your fashion sense. Clothing doesn't matter, right? Wrong. When using power tools, especially, which is required in more DIY projects, you need to wear tight fitting clothing which has the least chance of getting snagged on a drill or a nail. 6.Planning is important Rush jobs don't just look bad, they can also get you injured. It's important that you meticulously plan out your DIY home makeover. There is very little margin for error. When in doubt, it's always good to hire a professional. If you're looking to replace your doors or windows, Champion provides free, in-home consultations. It's a good place to start. It's good to be enthusiastic because, let's face it, DIY projects are super fun. But between all of that, it's very important to follow safety procedures every step of the way. You don't want to end up injuring yourself or those around you in situations that can be easily avoided. Follow this list through and you're good to go!

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