Floortrendz: May 2011

Monday, May 30, 2011

Many benefits of ceramic tiles ...

Many people who want to remodel their flooring look for different options available. Out of the different choices available, ceramic tiles are one good option available. Ceramic tiles have a presentable appearance and they are sure to have a good impression on whoever comes visiting your home. Ceramic tiles are also known for other benefits. Some of these are explained below.

Long shelf life

Ceramic tiles are known to have an extremely long shelf life. The process adopted to manufacture ceramic tiles makes them extremely durable. Ceramic tiles are a preferred option because they are designed to last long in comparison to most other materials used for flooring and for walls.

Resistant to fire

One good quality about ceramic tiles is that they are designed to be fire-proof. The make of ceramic tiles is such that they do no burn easily and also do not give away harmful fumes or emit toxic smoke.

Resistant to moisture

If you are wondering what flooring to opt for in high moisture areas like kitchen and bathroom, then ceramic tiles are the ultimate solution. Ceramic tiles are resistant to moisture if they are correctly installed and grouted. You do not have to worry about the tiles getting spoiled or developing stains due to constant exposure to moisture. Most of the ceramic tiles are also impervious and they are designed in such a way that they do not retain or absorb moisture.

Resistant to thermal shocks

Ceramic tiles are known to be resistant to thermal shocks and if they are properly installed and fitted, they will easily withstand harsh temperature conditions and will not deform or crack under such conditions.

Friday, May 27, 2011

Two benefits of installing window blinds

When it comes to designing any room in the house, you have to pay attention to different areas like the flooring, windows, walls etc. All of these have their individual importance and even if any one has not been done the right way, it can create a distasteful look for the room. When it comes to designing the windows, many people like to put curtains. However, a more practical and affordable option than curtains is window blinds. There are many reasons why you should choose blinds over other window dressings. Some of these are explained below.

Privacy
One of the great advantages of having windows in your room are you can easily see what is happening outdoors. On the other hand, outside people can also peep into your room. Surely, you would not like this. With window blinds, you can easily control how much can outside people see into your room. If you want, you can even completely block them from peeping inside. Thus, window blinds allow you to manage the required level of privacy as per your needs. This way, you can carry out any activity inside your room without your privacy being intruded.

Augment beauty
You would not believe this but window blinds are known to augment the appearance of your windows. Window blinds come in different designs like roller blinds, Venetian blinds, vertical blinds, roman blinds and so on. Each has their distinctive features and are known to add to the beauty of the windows. These window blinds are also available in a pool of different colours so you can opt for one that matches your room décor perfectly. The good thing is you can find window blinds in almost every colour imaginable. Apart from colours, they can also be found in a range of textures.

Thursday, May 26, 2011

Three fundamentals of designing a living room

When it comes to designing your home, you have to pay attention to the different aspects. Areas like the living room, kitchen and the bedroom need special attention as these are focal points in your home. Out of these, the living room is an all important area as this is the place where you will be welcoming all guests and visitors who come to your home. Naturally, the living room should be designed well keeping the modern trends in mind. If you want to know more how to perfectly design a living room, then read further.





Choose a theme
Before you start with designing your living room, you need to first decide a particular theme. The theme will give you a foundation as to what kind of look you want for your living room. There are different kinds of themes you can choose from. Themes like Asian, traditional, desert, spa, classic and many others are quite popular with home-owners. All these themes have a distinct personality of them and lend a unique appeal to the living room.

Create a focal point
When you are designing the living room, you surely want to have something in the room that will be first noticed by visitors or guests. By focal point, it means that the first thing that catches your attention when you enter the room. It can be anything like an eye-catching antique piece, furniture or a lamp.

Right colours
You also have to select the right colours when designing the living room space. The colours that you select should not be too loud as to make the guests uncomfortable. At the same time, the colours should not be so dull that the guests feel bored. You may opt for warm, intense colours or cool, soothing colours depending on the kind of ambience you wish to create in your living room. You may also throw in a rug on the floors just to offset bold colours or add spark to mild colours.

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Marbonite tiles for your home

Home renovation can be a trick thing at hand and you have to proceed with extreme care if you wish to get the act right. When it comes to home renovation, a lot of things have to be taken in account. You have to decide on the flooring, the walls, the furnishings, upholstery and other similar things. You have to decide on the paint that you will have for the walls and the size and style of windows to be installed. The doors are also important not just from a security point of view but also from the aesthetic point as their look pretty much sums up how the room will be from inside. The flooring is other area that needs attention. You may decide to go for a wooden flooring to have that ancient, classic look in your home. The other option you have for flooring is marble tiles. Marble flooring has been popular since ages and its popularity has soared now with many people realising the innumerable benefits of marble flooring. When you have decided to go for marble flooring, Marbonite is a trusted name. Marbonite is known to produce superior quality marble tiles for all.

Marbonite tiles
If you are coming across the name Marbonite for the first time, then pleasant news is that Marbonite is a well-known and a highly reputed brand name in the field of tiles. Marbonite adopts a procedure for manufacture that results in better quality tiles compared to other tiles. The good thing about Marbonite tiles is that they are produced from singular mass and are also vitrified. Being vitrified means there is less chance of water retention in the tiles.

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Two important benefits of ceramic tiles

Ceramic tiles are an ideal flooring option for places like kitchens and bathroom where spillages occur frequently. Apart from bathrooms and kitchens, they also make a good flooring option for places like living room, bedrooms and hallways. Ceramic tiles can be adapted to any type of décor and they are also affordable to purchase. Ceramic tiles offer a lot of other benefits. Some of these are listed below.

Ease of maintenance
When it comes to maintenance, ceramic tiles rule the charts as they are virtually maintenance free. Though it is difficult to find any type tiles that do not require any maintenance, ceramic tiles are one such type of tiles that require minimal cleaning and involve no hassles compared to maintaining other types of tiles. What is required by ceramic tiles is occasional sealing to be done every few years. Apart from this, what it takes to make the tiles look shining new is just regular cleaning. If the tile grout has been installed in a correct manner, then the tiles will be completely resistant to any damage caused by water and other moisture. At the local grocery store, you can find a host of cleaning products for your ceramic tiles. Remember that you go for only mild cleansers and not the harsh ones.

Affordable
When you look at the costs of flooring your rooms, ceramic tiles are easily the most affordable option. Ceramic tiles are most cost-effective compared to other tiles. Though you may find the initial purchase and installation costs a bit more, considering the high durability, you will realise that ceramic tiles are the cheapest ones considering the long run. Apart from the durability factor, ceramic tiles are virtually maintenance free and require minimum upkeep. This does not add to the costs of maintenance and thus makes ceramic tiles a really affordable option.

Monday, May 23, 2011

Guidelines for decorating your bedroom

Redecorating your bedroom might seem an exciting task but it should be done in the right way so that your bedroom atmosphere presents a tranquil retreat for your senses. The bedroom is place where you seek some quality rest and sleep and thus it is one of the most important rooms in the home. However, many people seem to neglect the importance of this room and look to concentrate more on the living room design. Remember that the bedroom is your own private space and it is more of your duty to see to it that it is designed in a proper way.

Step by step decoration
If you feel that redecorating your bedroom can be an overwhelming task, then worry not as you can take the décor procedure step by step. You may want to incorporate small changes at different times instead of going for a complete makeover at one go. Going for a complete change at one go can be quite demanding and you may have pay attention to multiple things at hand. On the other hand, if you take small changes and proceed in this way, you can individually concentrate on each aspect of your bedroom and ensure that none of the areas of your bedroom is compromised upon.
When decorating your bedroom, you may wonder what the first thing is to start with. Well, what can be the best thing other than your bedroom walls. When you first enter your bedroom, surely the first thing you notice are the walls of your bedroom. For your bedroom walls, you can go for unique artwork as this can add a whole new dimension to the walls. Walls create an enclosed space and create a thematic impression for your bedroom. Apart from the artwork, you also need to select the right paint for your bedroom walls. If you feel your bedroom walls are empty, you can opt for stylish wall hangings to accentuate your bedroom walls.

Friday, May 20, 2011

Understanding the importance of colours in home décor

We all are engulfed with different colours all around us. There are more than a million hues and sometimes we forgot to notice these shades and hues in day to day life. When it comes to home designing, colours play an important role. The entire process of designing the home and the interiors revolves around playing with various colours. Colours add a depth and meaning to the look of your home. Remember that there is nothing arbitrary in this world.Everything is in sheer harmony.There are days when you feel like wearing plain black and white and there are days when you would like to throw some colour. The same applies to designing the home. However, you cannot change the appearance of your home everyday and thus you need to select colours and design that is futuristic and will not lose its appeal in the years to come.
When it comes to remodelling your home, it is always best to hire interior decorators. Interior designers have a deeper understanding of colours and can easily predict what colours will look good for your home. They make use of the colour wheel and decide on the colours and tones that will complement each other in your home. Active colours are yellow, red and orange. Passive colours are green, purple and blue. Neutral colours are black, grey, white, beige and brown. Interior designers will exactly know what kind of influence each colour and its shade will have on different parts of your room. You should know what type of effect will each colour have in your home and thus selecting the right colours is important. For instance, warm colours will look bold and stand out, neutral will stay as their name suggests while passive colours will create a soothing effect in the room.

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Choosing tiles for your bedroom

Choosing the right flooring for your bedroom can be a difficult decision. Picking the right floor tiles for your bedroom has to be done with much effort and research. If you pick the righttype of floor tiles for your bedroom, then you do not have to worry to about changing your flooring for years to come.
When choosing bedroom tiles, you may have to consider choosing tiles that match with the bedroom décor like the ceiling, furnishings, upholstery and also the wall paints. When choosing bedroom tiles, you need to be careful to pick up tiles that do not require much maintenance and cleaning as you would not be having much time in cleaning your bedroom flooring everyday. You need to select tiles that do not need messy cleaning procedures as you surely do not want to waste hours just cleaning the flooring of your bedroom. If you are looking for simple and hassle-free flooring that is low on maintenance and cleaning, then vinyl flooring is a good option. Vinyl flooring comes in a pool of types and designs. Other types of floor tiles may not as simple to maintain as vinyl tiles. If you have a habit of walking barefoot on the floors all time, then linoleum flooring is a good option as it is water resistant.
Another good option for bedroom tiles is marble tiles. Marble can be a bit expensive and you need to be flexible with your budgets if you wish to opt for marble floor tiles. Marble is a high quality stone and is known for its durability.

Monday, May 16, 2011

Ideas for home décor

In the past decade, home décor has taken a completely new meaning with ideas and perspectives being added from every possible corner of the industry. in the earlier days, home décor was in the limits of the rich and elite. However, times have changed and now even the middle-class home-maker can think of different ways of designing the home. There is a pool of home décor ideas that one can follow. While some of these may be expensive, many are easy on the pocket. It entirely depends on you and your budget that how much are you willing to spend on your home décor.



Home décor publications

One of the simplest ways of doing up your home décor is to refer to various lifestyle and home décor magazines. These magazines offer a lot of advice and suggestions on how to go about decorating your home the right way and what are the things to avoid. Very often, you may think some idea is great due to popular perception. However, on reading more about it, you may find out that it may be doing more harm than good to your home. However, the pool of suggestions that these lifestyle and décor magazines offer, one can get confused and feel overwhelmed by the choices available. It is
always necessary that you pay heed to the right advice and not just follow it blindly.
If you have enough knowledge about DIY fittings and décor, you can even do the home décor job all by yourself. However, you should have sound knowledge about any project before you take it up. If you are not too keen on taking up DIY projects, you can hire an interior designer for the job. Interior designers know the tricks of the trade and they can easily predict what will look good for your home and what will not be appreciated.

Thursday, May 12, 2011

Care for marble tiles while cleaning them

Marble stone is a distinctive natural stone which greatly differs from other types of stones. People like to have marble flooring for their home as it not just looks good but also has a lot of features.

Cleaning marble

If you are worried about regular cleaning and maintenance of your tiles, then marble tiles are a perfect option for you. This is because marble is an extremely porous stone and it easily allows stains and dirt to set in and retains them easily compared to other stones. Denser stones cannot retain dirt and stains easily and thus the dirt and stains remain on the surface of the tiles. As marble is porous, it also cannot withstand strong cleansing agents, especially harsh detergents and acids.
When you take up cleaning marble tiles, you have to be very careful. Note that marble as a stone has a very unstable chemical mix and is also quite sensitive. The main component of marble stone, calcium carbonate is known to easily and quickly react with any outside acid which can result in scarring and chipping of the stone. The simplest and best ways to clean marble tiles is to wash it with lukewarm water using a soft cloth. If you want to remove any grease or dirt that may have accumulated on the surface of the marble tiles, then you can use a mild, non-abrasive cleansing agent to clean the tiles. Always see to it that the cleansing agent you select should not be too harsh on the tiles. Ensure that you wipe the tiles dry once you have washed them and do not let any moisture or detergent stay on the tiles.

Wednesday, May 11, 2011

Ceramic tiles for your home ..

Ceramic tiles have been in use since the time when civilisations came into being. In the earlier days, ceramic was only used to make pottery items. However, its use has diversified and it is now used to make bowls, plates, kitchen ware apart from being used in semi-conductors.
Ceramic tiles are a popular choice in homes as they are a favoured tiling option. Huge slabs of clay are fired in a kiln which creates hard and long-lasting ceramic tiles. With their innumerable features, ceramic tiles are one of the most practical choices for commercial and residential spaces.

Long shelf life
A notable feature of ceramic tiles is that if they are installed in the right way, they can last for an entire lifetime and you do not have to worry about replacing the tiles after a short period of time. Though you may have the urge to change the look of your home after some time, but ceramic tiles would not let you to do so. With their unmatched durability and beauty, you will not feel like replacing them with other set of tiles.

Different colours

Ceramic tiles are manufactured by mixing artificial dyes and colours with the original earthy shades of ceramics. Due to this mixing, you get ceramic tiles in a host of different shades and colours. This provides the end customer with a lot of designs and colours to choose from and the customer is not restricted with a few options when it choosing ceramic tiles for their homes. As a customer, you can get ceramic tiles in any colour imaginable and the range is such that it is unmatched by most other tiling options.

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

DESIGNING DIFFERENT AREAS OF YOUR HOME

When you think of home décor, you have to think from a comprehensive point of view and not just think in isolation. You may have decided on different themes for different parts of your home, but at the end of the day, the designs should merge together and create a pattern that is pleasing for the eyes. You have to decide upon the right look for your living room, bedroom as well as the kitchen. All these three areas have their individual importance.

Designing the bedroom
When you are contemplating on the different themes for your bedroom, you have different options to choose from. You can opt for a rustic feel for your bedroom or you can simply go for a modern, lean look for the bedroom. While designing the bedroom, you have to decide on different things like shade of trashcans, bedspreads, curtains, blinds and so on. At the end of the day, what matters the most is what theme you opt for the bedroom. Having the right theme and design in the bedroom is very important as the bedroom is a place where you will be relaxing and unwinding after a tiring day at work. Some people like to experiment with their bedroom décor and have different designs for different seasons. They may choose one type of theme for the winters and may opt for a completely different theme for the summers.

Designing the kitchen
The kitchen is place where you spend a lot of time, either cooking food for the family or just having a casual chat with your family members. As you spend a lot of time in the kitchen, you obviously want a design that can make you feel at home and comfortable. The kitchen design you select should give out a warmly ambience. While designing the kitchen, you have to focus on different aspects like kitchen lighting, wall design, sink and flooring. While some people like to have a kitchen that is purely luxurious and elegant, some like to design it keeping the practicality factor in mind.

Monday, May 9, 2011

Ideas for bedroom lighting..

For all of us, the bedroom is a place where we like to have a sound sleep after a hard day at work. Designing the bedroom has to be done keeping the intricate details in mind. When designing the bedroom, different areas need to be concentrated upon like the bed, the curtains and the lights. Bedroom lighting is an important factor in augmenting the overall appearance of the bedroom. If your bedroom has the wrong lights or if the lights are too dull or too bright, it can spoil the look of your bedroom. If you do up the bedroom lights in a creative way, they can create an amazing atmosphere in the bedroom. You can use different types of lights to adorn your bedroom.

Lampshades


People use lampshades in the bedroom to help create a focal point so that the entire sunlight is directed towards a specific area or a corner. The light that gets directed upon the circumference of the area will vary according to the type of material that is used to build or design the lampshade. If you want to get creative with the use of lampshades in your bedroom, you can hunt for exotic shapes of lampshades. If you put in some effort, you can easily find lampshades in different designs and shapes.

Spotlights

Spotlights are small fixtures of lights and they are usually fitted in corners of the room. If you wish to have spotlights as the only source of light in your bedroom, then you need to have multiple spotlights in the room. As they are small, the area covered by these lights is limited. Spotlights are known to augment a particular area in the bedroom like the ceiling, wall or painting attached to the wall.

Friday, May 6, 2011

Designing your child’s room the right way

If you have small kids in your home, then designing their space can be a bit confusing. Designing a child’s room is altogether different from designing your bedroom. The whole parameters of designing the room change when it comes to decorating the kids’ bedroom.
Before you take up designing your child’s bedroom, you need to determine what activities the child engages in when he/she is in the bedroom. Your child may like to read stories, fight or play with the siblings, listen to music, hide or show-off prized possessions. Apart from these, there are many other activities that the child would like to do in his/her room. The interests of the child have to be kept in mind while designing the room. While designing the child’s room, you may adhere to the following points.

Talk to your child

It does not make sense to choose a design of your choice for your child’s bedroom. You may assume that what is liked by you will also be liked by your small one. However, that may not be the case every time. You and your child may not have the same likes and dislikes. What may be liked by you may not be preferred by your child. Thus, it always makes sense to speak to your child first on what colours they want to see in their bedroom. You can ask your child to be as creative as they want and let their imaginations take a wild trip. You have to understand the personality of the child before designing their space. You should understand what makes them feel comfortable.

Keep it multi-functional

While designing your child’s room, it is very important that you keep the room as multi functional as possible. You child won’t be just playing in the room but also studying and spending some quality time in the room. You may want to include a play area in the room but do not neglect including a reading area or a study area. You have to select the right furniture for your child’s room. There should be a fine balance between toys and study tools.

Thursday, May 5, 2011

Designing the living room with precision

When decorating your home, one of the main areas that you need to focus on is the living room. The living room, or the drawing room, as it is popularly known, is instrumental in creating the first impression on visitors and guests who come to your home. You surely want to leave a good, long lasting impression on the visitors by the way that your home looks nothing short of a palace. The way you design your living room pretty much sums up how your entire home will look like. Hence, it becomes even more important to carefully design your living room.
The interior décor industry is being constantly flooded with new designs and emerging trends pouring in. Many people like to go for a renovation or a remodelling of their living room just to ensure that their home boasts of the latest designs and trends. However, you have to be extremely careful when you take a redesigning or remodelling project. Just because your neighbours have gone for a remodelling, does not necessarily mean even you should spend on redecorating your home.

Furniture and accessories

When you decide to take up remodelling of your living room, you have to be careful about the accessories and the type of upholstery that you choose. The living room furniture and accessories play an important part in accentuating the design and colour of your living room. If you have opted for a warm, classic feel for your living room, then the furniture and accessories chosen should be such that they complement the overall living room décor. If you wish to avoid any interior décor faux pas or a terrible looking design for your living room, then it is always advisable to hire a professional interior designer for the job.

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

Selecting tiles for your kitchen

The kitchen is a place where you cook food for the entire family and thus, it should be kept clean and hygienic at all times. When designing the kitchen, you should not just focus on the design and the décor of the space but should also give attention to making the space a practical one to work around. When designing the kitchen, you have to carefully decide what type of flooring you would like to have for your kitchen. As the kitchen flooring is prone to getting exposed to moisture and other spills, the flooring should be such that it is stain and moisture resistant.

Types of kitchen tiles

When it comes to choosing kitchen tiles, you have different options to choose from. The two main types of kitchen tiles are Pressed tiles and Extruded tiles. There are two categories in Pressed tiles. They are known as Bi-cottura and Mono-cottura. Mono-cottura tiles are produced under very high temperatures. As they are subjected to extreme temperatures, they have a solid base and are designed to resist high impact and pressure. Bi cottura tiles are not as strong as Mono cottura and they are designed keeping the aesthetic factor in mind. They are more aesthetically pleasing compared to their counterparts.

Porcelain tiles

While choosing kitchen tiles, another great option you have is porcelain tiles. Porcelain tiles are another type of Pressed tiles. What makes porcelain tiles a popular choice among people is that they are extremely durable and are known to last for a long time after they are installed. Because of their enhanced durability, porcelain tiles are commonly used in kitchens of commercial spaces like hospitals, malls, high rises and offices.