Shopping

Decorating your child’s bedroom can be a costly affair. This is mostly because a child tends to have its own likes and dislikes, and their likes are usually expensive. Children simply do not understand the value of money, so if they want something, they want it now. It may be hard to explain to your kids that you just cannot afford it.

There is a huge range of children’s bedroom furniture these days, each more expensive that the next. If it is not a Barbie bed then it is a Spiderman wardrobe. Most parents brace themselves for decorating their children’s bedroom. And the worst part about costly children’s bedroom furniture – your child will grow out of them in a few years, maybe even months if you’re unlikely enough.

If you are looking to decorate your child’s bedroom on a budget, here are some tips:

Check for allergies – Many children has allergies to some woods and fabrics. Determine whether you need to invest in hypo-allergenic bedding. If you are not sure, visit the doctor and ask him to perform an allergy check. This is useful in that it will prevent you from making any unnecessary purchases.

Choose a twin bed instead of a typical toddler-sized bed – Toddler beds are made for toddlers, and can come in an array of cute colours and designs. If you want a bed that can last, buy a bed that your child will not grow out of. Buy a twin bed instead and decorate with themed bedding. In this way, once your child grows out of the theme, all you have to do is buy new bedding.

Avoid complete bedroom sets – While the initial idea of complete bedroom sets may sound appealing and look attractive, it is not very practical. Most kid’s themed bedroom sets are just that – kid’s themed. Soon, when your child is older, you will need to replace that furniture, costing you more money. Instead, buy plain furniture and create your own theme with paint, posters, wall hangings etc. In this way, when your child outgrows the theme, it will not be costly to replace.

Decorate walls with stickers and posters – As mentioned above, this is the easiest way to transform a room. Buy your child’s favourite character and spend time sticking on the walls. Pick up wall hangings from your local craftshop and a tin of paint from your local hardware store.

Consider inflatable furniture and bean bag chairs. These are great as children’s bedroom furniture as they add some variety to the bedroom. Not only that, they are casual and comfortable, and provide a playful and welcoming atmosphere.

As cute as children’s furniture can be, it would be an unwise investment, especially if you are working with a tight budget. Consider the above tips to satisfy your child, and your budget.

Author bio

This article was written for The White Company and offers tips on how to buy children’s bedroom furniture on a budget.

Linen is a natural material made of flax and is considered to be one of the best materials for bedding. The reason it is considered the best is because it is colourfast, durable, non-allergenic, anti-static and breathes. Linen wicks moisture away from the body, allowing your body to breathe and contributing to a comfortable night’s sleep. Also, linen doesn’t stretch and has a shiny and attractive sheen. Also, the more you use bed linen, the softer the material becomes.  But in order to keep it looking and feeling great and lasting longer, you have to know how to take proper care of it.

How to wash and dry bed linens

The first thing to remember is to never wash your bed linens in hot water.  Only use cold water when washing your bed linens. You can use regular detergent, but a gentler product is recommended. Harsh chemicals will damage your bed linens and cause it to discolour. Too much detergent, on the other hand, will make your linens feel rough. When washing your bed linen, use only a third of the amount of detergent you normally use, and set your washing machine to the ‘Gentle’ cycle.

Never wash your bed linens with chlorine beach – this will cause the colour to fade and weaken the fibers. To remove stubborn stains, use a cold water detergent. Also, stay away from fabric softeners. This weakens the natural flax fibers and interferes with the fabrics ability to absorb moisture.  When tumble drying, set the heat to ‘Low’ for linens. Do not overdry and remove your bed linens from the dryer as soon as it is done to avoid wrinkles.

How to store bed linens

Completely dry your linens before storing them. Fold them and store them without jam packing your bed linen drawer or linen closet. If your bed linen is not regularly used, store them in a clean and dry place, with plastic protection if possible. Also, separate your everyday linens from your special occasion linens, and try not to store them in the same place.  Instead, store hardly used linens in non traditional places like under the beds, in a spare room closet, in a laundry room closet, or in the basement. Finally, use herbal moth repellents to keep these pests at bay.

Author bio

This article was written for The White Company and offers tips on washing and storing your bed linen.

Buying a good quality, long lasting winter coat or jacket is a serious investment. And even more so these days when times are tough and money is tight. You need something to keep you warm on those frosty days, but you also want something affordable and stylish.

Buying the right coat for you is actually all about personality – you need a coat to match yours. Also, because you will be wearing your coat more than anything in your wardrobe, it will have to be comfortable, practical and flattering.

Some points to consider when purchasing a coat or jacket:

• Do not buy a sweeping, ankle length coat if you are constantly driving, taking the bus or Tube or taking escalators. Your coat needs to be comfortable, and a long, thick coat will not do in these circumstances.

• Don’t choose a coat that is too tight. Remember that you will be wearing clothing under your coat, so buying a tight coat will make it uncomfortable. Opt for a size or two bigger than your usual size. Generally, coats tend to look better if they are slightly looser and slouchier on the body. Also, your coat should last you for years, so you need to consider possible weight gain.

• Don’t be put off by a coat with an existing belt. You can always chop and change the belt if you prefer.

• Experiment with colour. A bright red coat is vibrant and will cheer you up on even the most dreary winter days. But also be practical. Choose a colour that will match the majority of the clothing in your wardrobe.

• Buy two in different colours if you want to. You can use the lighter one for day wear, while the darker one can be worn at night.

• Think about what you will be wearing underneath the coat. If you are the type who only wears a coat in the cold and immediately takes it off once you get indoors, then a normal size coat will do. But if you shiver at the thought of winter and usually wear several layers of clothes, consider a bigger size coat.

• Make sure the sleeves are big enough to accommodate a thick winter sweater underneath. Also, make sure that the hemline is long enough to cover dresses and skirts.

• Do choose a classic coat that will stand the test of time. Trends are never a good thing to follow, as they are in the one season and out the next. A coat is an investment, so it needs to last you a long time. You wouldn’t want to spend a lot on a trendy coat that you cannot wear next year.

• Check that your coat or jacket has sufficient buttons or fastenings so you can wrap up from the neck all the way to the knee. Some coats do not have a button at the neck, so you will need to wear a scarf to keep the chill out.

Author bio

This article was written by The White Company and offers tips on purchasing a coat or jacket for winter.

There are some people in this world who already have everything – and more – that they can possibly want. They have all the gadgets they want, they can take as many vacations as they want, they can even drink as much coffee as they want without getting heart palpitations.

These are the type of people for whom it is incredibly difficult to buy a gift. Nothing – or very few – gifts are eligible to excite them: they’ve seen it all, they’ve been everywhere and they’ve experienced so much more than the regular Joe and Jane Soap.

Or perhaps you want to spoil or surprise someone who is just a general all-around nice person. Someone who would appreciate the thought that goes with a dressing gown you had personalised especially for them.

The good thing is that pyjamas won’t ever go out of style so something such as a dressing gown as a gift will always be a classy way of showing appreciation or as a gift, no matter what the occasion. Couples who are about to enter the world of marriage are often the recipients of dressing gowns – or other pyjamas such as nightdresses – that have their initials embroidered on the lapels.

But other people, even those who are not about to jet off to a honeymoon in the Maldives, can benefit from getting pyjamas that proclaims their ownership. There is a reason why dressing gowns lend themselves to showcasing their owners’ initials. One of the most foremost reasons is that these pieces of clothing are highly personal and people are aware of that. This is why they enjoy wearing pyjamas that contain something about themselves.

The obvious place that showcases such a design the best is in front, on the lapel, which is a little piece of cloth that is folded over. This is something that is peculiar to dressing gowns; nightdresses and other types of pyjamas do not have this feature.

Choose the best type of dressing gown that you can get and ensure it is something that the recipient will treasure for a long time afterwards.

Author bio:

The White Company wrote this article about how to ensure the recipient of a dressing gown enjoys it for a long time.