Choosing the right window blinds for your home can be a tricky decision to make. There are many different colours, textures, and materials that blinds can be made from, and each of them can provide the rooms of your home with a different look or style. Exploring all of your options and looking at the different benefits and looks that various window blinds provide, can help you make the best decision when choosing the perfect blinds for your house.
Consider The Look
The first thing you need to do when choosing window blinds, is to determine what colour or pattern you may want your blinds to be. Comparing colour swatches from local hardware store paint sections to your wall colour and furniture can help you focus on a colour scheme that you might be interested in.
Window blinds can be made from a variety of materials, including vinyl, metal, wood, and even fabric. Consider what kind of window treatment if any you will be using over your blinds. If you aren’t going to use and other form of window treatment, then choosing fabric or wooden vertical or roman blinds can provide a sophisticated look with no other decoration needed. If you will be using curtains or draperies over your window blinds, going with a neutral coloured vinyl venetian blind can work well to balance dramatic treatments.
Choosing a style of window blind is perhaps the most important decision. You can choose a luxurious fabric roman shades to help keep out more light, or wooden venetian blinds that provide a warm glow while insulating your home. Deciding what features you need in a window blind and the look you want to achieve can help you make the right decision.
To Buy or Not to Buy
Once you have a basic idea of what you want in window blinds, you can start to make the decision of where to purchase them. Retail stores are great for purchasing neutral coloured vinyl or metal vertical and venetian blinds, but do not offer much more of a selection to their customers.
Online stores that specialize in the sale of window coverings often have a wide variety of choices, but you are unable to personally communicate or view the blinds in most cases. Local custom-made blind companies offer the best of both worlds with the personal attention and trial that can be had at a retail location, mixed with the enormous variety of an online store. The type of window blind that you want for your home will help determine which whether you need to purchase your blinds at a retail or custom made location.
A Perfect Fit
With window blinds, it is important to not only get the width measurement of your window correct, but your height measurement as well. Since some blinds can’t be raised from the bottom like others, you need to make sure they are made or altered to the correct length, in order to achieve a perfect fit. You also do not want too much excess hanging down with blinds that do extend down.
Spending a small amount of extra money in order to have your windows professionally measured can pay off in the long run. When your vertical blinds fit just right, it can help pull the look of your whole room together, giving off a more polished feel. When you work with local custom-made blind companies, they often will come and measure your windows for free, so that may be an option to look into.
Light Control and Care
Considering the amount of light control you want in your home can also help you choose the right window blinds. If you want to block out more light and have a higher level of privacy, you can look into purchasing a dark fabric roman blind or a woven wood roller blind. To help insulate your home and provide more or less sunlight throughout the day, venetian blinds work well, especially those made from timber.
Looking into the type of care that each variety of window blind requires is important before you purchase the ones that are best for your home. Wooden blinds are easy to keep clean, but may require special oiling or other care to keep them looking their best, Venetian blinds are among the hardest type of blind to clean, but they are less expensive than many other types of blinds. If you don’t have a lot of time to spend maintaining your window blinds, you will want to look very closely at the care that each type requires.
Window blinds are an astounding way to give your home a neat and completed look. Whether you use window blinds as a base for your window treatments, or as a treatment all on their own, choosing the right blinds for you is important in completing the look and style of your home.
Vertical blinds are versatile, functional, and customisable, making them perfect for almost any room of your home. They can be used on any size or shape of window. They can be made in a wide variety of colours, textures, and materials, allowing you to express your own unique style without sacrificing functionality. With the right know-how and a few choices you can choose the vertical blinds that are right for you.
Functions
The first step in choosing the right vertical blind is to consider their functions. You may find after some consideration that vertical blinds may not be appropriate for every room of your home. Privacy is important in certain rooms of your home such as your bathroom and bedroom, and not so important in other rooms like the kitchen and living room. Studying how the vertical blinds function can help you determine if they will provide enough privacy for you. Choosing vertical blinds that are made from a thick stiff material, and that close more tightly can help to preserve privacy in certain rooms.
Safety is another key factor to consider. On most standard vertical blinds a cord or straight wand is used to open, close, and manipulate the blinds. If you have small children or have difficulty reaching things above your head, you may want to consider looking into vertical blinds that are operated by remote control. Young children and pets can become tangled in cords that they can reach, and those with injuries may find it hard to manipulate the window coverings when the wand is too high up. Remote control vertical blinds allow you to operate your blinds from any location in the room.
How much light you want in a room is another important function to consider. You want your vertical blinds to make a statement of style in your home, but you also want them to serve a purpose. For most individuals, that purpose is to help keep light out at certain times, let it in at others, and provide privacy at night. If you want more open and warm rooms then you may consider a vertical blind that is made out of lighter material with the ability to open fully to allow for more light. To keep light out in warm weather consider a weightier vertical blind that seals the window allowing less light to come through.
Colour, Material, and Texture
Obviously you are not buying your vertical blinds strictly for their functionality, you want to choose blinds that are also a reflection of your own personal style. To help make a statement in your home, and to compliment the interior design of your rooms, you need to take into account the colour, texture, and material that your window blinds are made of. If you choose vertical blinds just for their functionality you will become board and possibly disgusted with your decision.
The colour of your vertical blinds should complement the room that they are in. If you have a similar style and colour scheme throughout your home, then choosing the same colour that will either match or compliment it for the blinds in each room may work well. However, if your style is different in various areas of your home, then you may need to consider purchasing a variety of coloured vertical blinds for each separate room. Colour can also contribute to light control and privacy as well. Lighter coloured vertical blinds could let in more light and provide less privacy if made from a light material as well, while dark coloured ones could help keep more light out.
Material and texture are probably the two biggest factors to consider when choosing the cosmetic design of your vertical blinds. From visual appeal to privacy, the material you choose affects every function of your vertical blinds. Blinds made from lighter fabrics and wood for instance could provide a very pleasing visual effect, but are not very good at keeping out light or providing privacy. On the other hand blinds made from a sleek and smooth vinyl or metal may provide more light control and privacy, but may not provide as many style and colour choices as a fabric blind might. A good balance of the two is to consider a vertical blind made from a thick stiff fabric, which will provide plenty of privacy while allowing you more choices with colour and patterns.
There are many choices when it comes to choosing vertical blinds whether custom made or from a retail store, and the task can be a daunting one. With the right knowledge and some experimentation however, you can choose a vertical blind that is perfect for every room in your home. Choosing a vertical blind that is functional and that compliments the style of your home will ensure your happiness with your decision for years to come.
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If you are undergoing an extensive house remodeling session on a home that you have just purchased, or if you just want a quick change that will make a big difference. Changing your blinds in your new home can make a provocative personal statement, without making many changes to the interior of your home. Choosing custom-made blinds for your new home can be a daunting task with the many choices that are available, but by following a few guidelines, you can pick a set of custom blinds that will work best for you.
The Custom Made Difference
The first step in choosing custom blinds for your new home is understand the difference between regular blinds sold at any store and custom blinds that are made to order. Custom blinds provide you with more personalized styles and options than standard blinds do.
Custom blinds are made directly from your specifications, and are for the most part one of a kind. They can be made in any shape, color, size, or texture that you desire, but do tend to be more costly than even high-end retail blinds.
Blinds that are made to order are fitted to each individual window unlike standard blinds, thus saving you money on your electricity bills since your home with cool down faster in the summer and retain heat better in the winter with custom blinds.
Choosing Color, Design, and Texture
Visiting several blind and window treatment stores can be useful in helping you to choose the custom blinds that are right for you. You may find a set of blinds whose style and color you like, but that does not come in a texture or material that you desire. If you find a color and design of blind that you like, but it does not come in a material that you desire, you could then go and request custom blinds that are the same, but made with a different material.
It may be that choosing the color, design and texture of your custom blinds is as simple as changing one aspect of a retail blind, or you may only find one aspect of a retail blind that you like. Go to your local paint store and bring home several paint swatches that you feel would look nice as a window blind color in your home. You can compare the swatches to the fabric of your furniture and the walls of your new home to get an idea of what color you desire for your custom blinds.
When it comes to choosing a design of blinds for your home, you may want to think about who will be using the blinds, or what design can benefit your home best. Aluminum Venetian blinds are wonderful at keeping out the sun, but if you want to let more light and warmth, you would need to look for something such as a thick slat wooden blind. Once you decide which style or design of blind works best in your home, you can move onto choosing a material that works with the interior of your new home.
Blind materials vary greatly from, fabric, to wood, to metals like aluminum. Each fabric serves a different purpose, but perhaps the greatest versatility is gained through the use of fabric blinds. There are so many different textures of fabric, and almost any of them can be used with a blind to create an air of sophistication in any new home. For a more rustic and warm feel, you may want to choose a wooden base for your custom blinds. For a subdued and minimalist look, metal and plastic material blinds work best.
The Perfect Fit
Once you have made the hard decisions for your custom blinds such as color, texture, and design, it is time to ensure that a perfect fit is achieved with your custom blinds. In many cases companies, which sell custom blinds will either send someone out to measure your windows, or will give you explicit directions on how to do it yourself.
If you are not provided with measurements, or feel that you cannot obtain them yourself, bringing in a professional interior decoration, or construction specialist can be well worth the money. Having proper window measurements is essential to achieving a perfect fit with your custom blinds.
Choosing a Company
After you have determined exactly which type of custom blind you would like to order for your new home, and have all of the measurements and specifications, you are ready to choose a company that you want to purchase from. When it comes to custom blinds cheaper is not necessarily better, and quality is most important.
Choose a company that has been recommended to you by friend or family members. Follow up with other’s referrals, and interview several different locations before choosing the one that you feel can serve you in the best way.
Choosing custom blinds for your new home can be a confusing and unpleasant task at times. If you know what to look for and how to go about choosing custom blinds however, the task can be an enjoyable and enlightening one. With the perfect custom blinds, you can bring a whole new look an years of unfailing beauty and style to your new home.
Roman blinds provide a sophisticated and elegant look in any room of your home. Most roman shades are made from fabric, and can come in any size, color, or texture that you desire. By purchasing custom made roman shades you can add a light fabric window treatment to your home, without the use of heavy draperies or messy curtains. Just like other window blinds they can be bought to match the style in your home, or to make a statement in a neutrally decorated room.
Shape
All roman blinds are flat panels of fabric when they are extended all the way down. When they are drawn up however, there are two main and distinctly different shapes of roman blinds. One type of roman shade folds up into a straight horizontal line that does not bulge or hang down in any way.
A teardrop roman blind shape does not lay flat when it is pulled up; instead it forms a looped or teardrop shape with its fabric. This shape of roman blind can provide a softer look, and is more delicate looking that a straight panel roman blind. You may wish to use this style with more wispy and flimsy fabric materials.
Color
The color combinations that you can choose for roman blinds are endless. Since these blinds are made from fabric, you are free to match, contrast, or accentuate any color scheme in your home. If you can’t locate a color that you like in a roman blind at a retail store, then it is simple to place a custom order and have the exact color that you want made.
In a way, roman blinds can be thought of as curtains and should be treated as such when choosing a color that best suits your needs. You can use a soft wispy color for spring or summer, and a dark maroon or fall stripes pattern in colder months. If you order custom made roman blinds, you can even have your favorite color or a swatch of fabric matched, to provide an ideal look for your home. Whatever your choice, the color of your roman blinds can make a statement about who you are and what you like.
Texture
As with color, the texture possibilities are endless with roman blinds as well. Fabrics are made in a variety of textures from course stiff denim, canvas, and leather to soft and subtle sheers and satins. You can create any style you desire by changing texture themes in your roman blinds.
Wispier fabrics work well with teardrop shape roman blinds to provide an air of summer all year long. While dark leather with a standard horizontal roman shade shape can provide sleek sophistication in any room. You can change the texture of your roman blinds so that it varies from room to room, producing a variety of looks and feels, or go with a standard texture to match the overall interior of your home.
Limitations
There are some times when roman blinds simply are not the best option. Roman blinds can be adjusted with color and texture to match almost any interior design, but there are certain times when a different type of blind may work better for you. For instance, in a more rustic home setting a wooden venetian blind may serve you better than a patterned roman shade.
Another limitation of genuine roman blinds is that they do not serve well to cover very large windows or glass doors. For these cases a simple vinyl or aluminum vertical blind would serve better than an elaborate roman blind. Although roman blinds do have their limitations, they work well in almost any situation.
Roman blinds are versatile and provide various ways in which to decorate your home. The addition of simple patterned roman blinds can add a chic appearance, while heavy decadently patterned ones can give your home an air of indulgence. Light fabric can make it feel like summer when it is freezing outside, and warm colors can make you feel cozy all year long. No matter what your interior design needs are, they can almost always be met with the use of beautiful roman blinds
It is safe to say that the market is literally flooded with Carpet Cleaner, especially uprights. With so many choices available it can be a daunting task trying to decide which type of upright vacuum is the right choice for you and your home. This has become even more difficult in recent years, as now, with so many variations of vacuums on the market, the old trend of retailer demonstrations has screeched to a halt.
So how does a buyer decide which model is the most suitable for their home and needs? First of all, you must consider the benefits of each type of vacuum as well as your budget. Before you can do this, you will need to understand the pros and cons of upright vacuum cleaners as well as the type of cleaner that will be best suited to your needs and the features that you have to choose from.
Why Choose An Upright
There are a lot of reasons why an upright vacuum can be more beneficial than an ordinary vacuum cleaner. For example, an upright cleaner is far cheaper and easier to use than a canister vacuum cleaner.
You will also find that an upright vacuum cleanersis far easier to store in the closet or hide away when not in use. Moving it around is also less of a chore, as you don’t have a canister to drag along behind you. Most uprights come with useful added extras such as dirt sensors, self-propelled motors and have a much larger cleaning path than traditional canister vacuums.
With every type of vacuum cleaner, there are disadvantages. If you can see past these disadvantages, you will have no problems using an upright cleaner. Some of the disadvantages are:
- the motor on upright vacuums can be noisier
- they are not ideal to use on hard floors like vinyl or wood
- an upright vacuum can be difficult to use when trying to reach tight corners or hard to get to places.
How To Choose An Upright Vacuum
Upright vacuum cleaners have a power rating system that helps you identify the power of the motor. The higher the power of the upright vacuum, the greater the suction and cleaning capabilities will be. Generally, upright vacuums will have a rating of between 3.6 to 12 amps. The types of flooring and carpets in your home will have a great bearing on the power rating that you choose, although remember that the higher the power rating the more the vacuum will cost.
Bags Or Bagless
This is another important choice that you will need to consider when buying an upright cleaner. Bagless vacuums are becoming very popular as they don’t require you to buy replacement dust bags and they are very easy to empty and clean out. The cylinders of a bagless vacuum don’t need replacing ever, so they are most likely the best way to go. But the choices between bagless and bag vacuums are entirely personal.
The filters used in upright models can be one of two types. These are Micron filters and HEPA filters. Both are very good, although a HEPA filter will provide better removal of dust if you suffer from dust allergies. Also, the HEPA filters are much more efficient at removing dander and fur if you have pets in the home. Although HEPA filters are more efficient, they will cost more money to purchase than the Micron filters.
Just about every type of upright vacuum on the market comes with attachments. Some attachments are better than others, so when looking around for an upright cleaner, you will need to consider whether the attachments are useful for the purpose that the vacuum will have in your home. Some attachments come included with the vacuum, while others must be purchased separately. Buying the attachments separately gives you the advantage of buying only those that you will actually need and use.
When choosing an upright vacuum, it is important to consider the areas that you have to clean, as well as the type of flooring that you have. When you have a clear idea of what you need in a vacuum cleaner, you can begin to research the different models that are available.
There are many places online that offer non-biased reports and compare the different types of brands on the market in terms of price, performance and ease of use. Make sure you research carefully before committing to an upright vacuum cleaner, it will be worth it in the end.
If you want to decorate an area, whether it be a child’s room, your wardrobe or even the front of your house, it does not matter whether you consider yourself to be a fantastic artist or just about able to dab on some paint. Interesting and exciting patterns can be created with the use of one or more stencil designs, just follow these basic steps:
Step 1. Use a quality template
Make sure that the stencil design you are using is quality and from a reputable seller. Read their feedback from previous client. Having the stencil soak through with paint in the middle of the masterpiece would be highly annoying. Likewise, not knowing the order in which to paint multi-layer stencil designs could lead to a disaster. So instructions, and a picture of the finished work, are essential on all but the easiest stencils.
Step 2. Use the proper tools
Stencil paint is best applied using either a brush, sponge or a roller. Select a soft but stiff, round brush for stencilling and apply the paint carefully to avoid a build up of excess paint at the edge of the stencil, else you will find the paint creeping under and spoiling the effect.
If the wall stencil requires the use of multiple colours, consider the use of an applicator per colour rather than trying to wash it in between each colour. Washing the brush or roller will only lead to water being carried onto the paint, which could result in a run.
Step 3. Use the correct technique
In order to avoid paint being dragged under the stencil, always start your stroke at the edge of the wall stencil and work towards the centre. Thus paint is being pulled away from the actual wall stencil, rather than dragged towards it.
The paint should be applied in thin layers, allowing each to dry between applications, if required. Again, overuse of paint is risking allowing the paint to run under the stencil and spoil the effect.
Step 4. Don’t move the stencil
Whilst applying the paint you might be using the stencil design several times in one position, whilst applying different colours. So tape the wall stencil in place firmly, but using a suitable easy to remove adhesive tape that won’t damage the areas already completed. And if you are taping an area that has already been painted, make sure it is well dry and firm!
Step 5. Clean the stencil before moving on
If using the stencil once on a job isn’t sufficient, then ensure that it is properly cleaned before repositioning it ready for the next use. Any remaining paint might just run off onto the next part of the pattern and look unsightly, spoiling the beautiful stencil effect.
There’s a great assortment of wall stencils to choose from. From aquatic, to Fairy Tale to out of this world space themes. Let your imagination run wild and enjoy your stencilling effects!
There are several ways to obtain a building plot. Maybe you have relatives who own a piece of land where you can build your dream-house? Otherwise you will have to buy a lot somewhere.
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Very important is that the style of your architect fits your style. It does not make much sense to an architect who specializes in modern buildings to design a traditional Filipino home. Therefore search on the Internet and library for examples of architectural styles.
Choose appropriate colors and materials.
With the proper use of color on the walls and furniture to reach the most. Use bright colors on the walls or cool colors like blue and green. White is also possible, but may soon seem bleak. Light colors reflect more light than dark colors and works ‘changing’. Two opposite walls to a dark room look fresh. That’s because so-called hot colors foreground colors are, who you seem to come off. They absorb more light than cool background colors. If you painted the back lighter than the side walls, it seems that wall is further away. Keep the ceiling white, even a slight tint can make the ceiling appear lower. The type of paint is important. Matt paints absorb light and has a soft image, while shiny paint reflect light. That gives a spatial effect, but can sometimes hurt the eyes.
After the purchase of a lot and choosing an architect you have to apply for a building permit at your municipality. Each plan is submitted to the engineers, who assess whether the appearance of the building fits the policy that the municipality has established. If it is approved, you look for a contractor and then you day in and day out check the construction. Building a house also means that you have to decide everything. What is the layout of the kitchen? What color tiles and what quality and color etc.|Philippine contractors are everywhere. On the Internet dozens of large and smaller companies offer their services. Perhaps the architect you hire can help in choosing a suitable contractor. It is wise to choose one that has experience.
You should inquire in the neighborhood or the town. Perhaps they also know a thing about the reputation of contractors in the region. Question in any case several contractors so you can compare and ask quotations.
Read the contract carefully whether there is a clause which states that in case of a late finishing of the house the contractor gets a fine.
You will not be the first to be disappointed by a contractor. Therefore it is very important to select a professional and certified Philippine construction company. Choose carefully with whom you work together. If you spend too little money you might get not a cheap house but a heap of stones…
The first Philippine houses were probably built of clay and bamboo. Later came the whole wooden houses of sawn planks, and later houses were built of brick or hollow blocks. Today houses are often built with concrete, some with insulation and finished with façades. Because building with wood also has some disadvantages like termites. In high-rise buildings where concrete will be used, there should be a good foundation be created. Draw a floor plan of your new room.
It is difficult to estimate how much things fit in your new room. Draw your room therefore to scale on paper. Draw on another paper the furniture (to scale) that you like to have in your room. Cut them out and put them on the map of your room. So you know not only what fits in your room, but you also know where is the best place to put down the furniture. Try to leave the area as open as possible and especially in the corners and along the walls to place your furniture.
Make an inventory. In a small space you have not many options . Therefore, make an inventory. Sort your stuff and see if it is really critical that everything in your room is there. You really need all those boxes of books? In the first instance put only the stuff that you use daily or weekly. Rubbish you can always pick up later, if you have space.
Make a list of stuff that you still need. A minimum inventory consists of a bed, a desk and a cabinet. Everything else that fits in your room is a bonus. Ideal furniture does not have to be solid and make sure you can pass through or under it.|But only the furniture is not enough. If you are staying in rooms, you will also need other stuff. For example pans, plates, cutlery and a trash can. Agree with your new roommates what stay and what you should take.
No Space? Buy a Sofa Bed.
A sofa bed is a good investment if you have some space shortage. So you not only have a nice place to sit, but also to sleep.
Paint walls and ceiling.
Student rooms are often a collection of old furniture, not really a unit. But there can be something easy to do about it! The old bank of Grandma you can give a new look with a cheerful grand Foulard (a large sheet whit which you cover the bank). Storage Boxes in different sizes are also helpful for all your towels etc.
Make sure you do not use too many different colors in the room.
Play with optical effects.
With mirrors it looks like it increases the space of the room. The best place for a mirror is when the space outside the room is reflected. This might be really outside, but also other rooms.
Cabinets that go through the ceiling to make your room even “bigger”. Do you have many photoframes? Hang them within a framework so that the outer sides of the frames are together in a large square or rectangular shape.
Do you have a low bed, then boxes are the ideal storage spaces.
Just because there is no mandatory course about interior decoration, people learn with trial and error. What is more common that people do not feel completely at ease in their homes without knowing exactly why. Interior Architects say that you have to realize that at almost every point a choice can and should be made. What do you want with a space and is there also a use for it? Do you want a souvenir on the window sill or do you think it is not so beautiful? And that table; is it there only because of a coincidence?
After the floor, its the walls and the ceiling’s turn. The furniture, furnishing and lighting comes thereafter. Do not buy not a standing lamp with the idea that the color of the walls have to be the same. Lighting, although certainly not be underestimated, may be the last to be done. The light plan is much more flexible than for example the location of your furniture. If you decide to go past things like decorative objects and paintings on the wall.
Bring attention away from less beautiful things.
The misconception that many people make is that empty corners should be filled with a lamp. So: there is a dark hole, there must be a lamp stand. But as in a corner, for example, a rare gas pipe or something else is ugly, you should of course not highlight that. So keep it dark unless there is attention to be drawn to it. Beautiful large plants are very suitable. Sometimes there is a conflict between what is good and what is practical.
Obviously you are practical, but the attitude towards beautiful things is also a practical usefulness of housing. That can sometimes outweigh another small practical advantage of accessibility. Your refrigerator is not so beautiful. Of course it’s helpful not to do too much walking to get milk. But if that ugly thing it is out of sight; better.
Is your interior decor something you are not happy about? It is perhaps in some way “out of balance.” Judge not equal to the furniture, but try to shift accents. View the interior agree with the eyes of an artist or architect. Please note geometric properties such as lines. A radiator is a horizontal line, a curtain is a vertical line. At three to four clearly visible lines in a room is usually enough. They give the view alone. Look at color. Make that a plan behind it by the number of different colors in the space limit. Choose a basic color and let them come back at several places. Bring atmosphere in your home.
The art of making your home attractive is the installation of atmosphere, without your personal taste that dominates. Bring therefore atmosphere in your home by making small adjustments. If you are in a modern, light home, then you get more by all unnecessary accessories right away. Look also at what you find enjoyable, and if the atmosphere that you want to create you prefer, you can convey much better. Let yourself be inspired by craft and skill and see what feels good to the house. How you can pamper yourself with a nice home? Put fresh flowers down and a dish with fruit. It provides a delicious smell and associate with “good for you.” Turn also open a jar of coffee in your kitchen (or even hide of course!). Coffee is associated with ‘you feel at home.”
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As wilting Christmas trees still line the streets after the festivities awaiting collection, this is becoming a less regular site as an increasing number of homes opt for artificial and live trees, with the latter receiving a great deal more interest in recent, more ecologically conscious times.
An advantage of a living Christmas tree over an artificial one is that it is environmentally friendly, which is also true for the cut Christmas trees. A benefit for you is the firs and pines are quite aromatic. Another advantage is that if you leave the tree in its container for a year or two, you can bring it back indoors again. If you plant it immediately, you can enjoy it in your landscaping and even decorate it outdoors with things like cranberry strings for the birds. Some who live in locations where they cannot plant trees, enjoy donating their tree to a park, church or other organisation that will be happy to look after it.
While looking after a live Christmas tree will depend in part on your location, there are some general principles. First of all, here are some considerations when shopping for a live pine or fir Christmas tree:
How healthy is it? Are the needles green right down to their tips — and without artificial enhancement? Is the root ball big (too small could indicate not enough was dug out). Will the tree grow well in your region? If a container-grown tree, make sure it’s not root-bound. It it’s balled-and-burlapped, the root ball should firm, not loose or pancaked.
Transportation. A live tree is heavy because of its root ball, so figure out how you will get it home and into your house. Some nurseries deliver.
Post-holiday plans for the tree? eg, if you plan to plant it this year, but the ground is frozen, you must dig a hole before then. Or you may want to keep it in its container for a year or more.
Where to find one? Nurseries, living Christmas tree sales (some natural food stores have these), “choose and cut” tree farms (where they give you the option of digging up your tree) and by mail order.
Once you bring home your tree, you’ll need to look after it properly:
1. Before bringing in your tree from the cold, perhaps freezing outdoors, condition it to warmer temparatures by keeping it in the garage, porch or other unheated area for a little while.
2. Before bringing into your house, check for critters and insect eggs.
3. To reduce needle loss while it’s in your house, spray with an antiwilt spray, which will help your tree keep moist.
4. To further help your tree retain moisture, put it in the coldest part of the room, away from heat sources, and go easy on the miniature lights. It’s best if the bulbs don’t touch the tree.
5. Unless the tree is already in a pot, place the tree in a galvanized pot that is large enough to accommodate the root ball. Use rocks or brick to stabilize. Fill the empty space around and on the ball with mulch.
6. Water by pouring cold water into the container or onto the root ball (some people place crushed ice on the root ball).
7. Water as necessary for moisture while not allowing root ball to become soggy. Do not keep your tree indoors any longer than one week. This means planning in advance so you will have it to enjoy on Christmas Day.
8. Since the tree is dormant this time of year, never add nutrients or fertilizers.
When it’s time to return to your tree to the outdoors, you should recondition it first. Then will come the planting, unless you are going to keep it in the container or burlap for a year or more.
When it’s time to return your tree to the outdoors (after around 7 days, max), recondition it by returning it to that garage or other enclosure with temperatures colder than the house but warmer than the garden. Some gardeners say it is important to plant your tree as soon as possible after the holidays, while others say the tree can grow in its container for a year or more. Check with your nursery, a local master gardener or extension service on what will work best for your type of tree in your region.
If you decide to plant your tree out right away, here’s what you should do:
Select a site with well-drained soil, full sun and that has enough room horizontally and vertically for the size your tree will become when it’s fully grown. If the ground is frozen in January, then this must be done ahead of time. The hole should be the same depth as the root ball but two to five times wider.
If your tree root ball is covered in burlap: remove the outer layer of synthetic burlap completely, and then remove the natural burlap from just the top of the root ball.
If your tree was in a pot, remove the container, and then cut and loosen any encircling roots so that the tree is not root-bound.
Remove at least the top portion of wire tree baskets after the root ball is in the planting hole. After setting the tree, fill the hole with the loose soil you dug out from the hole, backfilling in stages, gently firming each layer of soil returned.
Then water well enough to settle the soil and remove air pockets. Apply 2 or 3 inches of mulch on top of the root ball. Do not fertilize until spring because doing so could bring the tree out of dormancy. The idea is to help the tree to continue its winter nap through the process.
As you can see a living Christmas tree can be a lot of work. If you should decide again one, consider a cut tree. Unlike many artificial trees, a cut (or live) Christmas tree won’t be added to a landfill because a cut tree can be recycled as with other yard debris. Many towns have a pick up day where the town or a community service organization take the trees to a recycling center. Or the cut tree can be used in the compost pile. Some of the cut Christmas trees come from forest thinning programs done by community service groups who bring the cut trees into the community to sell, while others are grown on tree nurseries specifically for this purpose.
There is something nice about having a live tree for Christmas, one that you can cultivate in your yard or watch grow at a local school or park. So if this sounds like something you want to do, follow the general guidelines in this article and check with your local experts on specifics for your area.
Check out these other gardening and landscaping ideas.
Ancient Oriental philosophy is an inspiration to a lot of individuals and plain superstition to others. Both East and West practice Feng Shui with a lot of interest these days. The guidelines affect every part of life for those who believe in it. In the last years, the New Age movement was influenced by elements such as wind chimes and crystals.
The core of the philosophy is the energy flow or lack of it. How objects are placed in relation to each other dictates this flow and has a negative or positive impact on the environment. Relationships, finance and health are affected by the quality of the energy. Many people arrange the contents of their homes, following the rules and recommendations of FengShui. (Some call it Fen Shui or FenShui but its a mistake)
Different places in the house have different roles and they have to be treated in a different way. There should be only one door for the bedroom and the bed must not be placed in between the door and the window as this could disturb your sleep. The bed should be made of wood and people should sleep at least 45cm above the floor and be facing the door. Pictures of wild animals or water as well as mirrors should be avoided. Thick curtains should drape the window and the walls should be painted in green,red or blue shades.
The stove and sink should not be adjacent in the kitchen as the proximity of fire and water can lead to conflict. Cookers should be positioned in the south corner, the room must have a wide entry and microwaves are not recommended. Feng Shui is also applied to dining rooms and living rooms. There must be at least one wall without a window and the paintwork must be in bright colors. Mirrors to reflect food on the table, the hanging of family pictures and television sets or hi-fi systems that stand at the west wall are among the elements that bring luck.
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