Christmas Day is only a matter of weeks away now, so if you haven’t yet been up the loft or down into the basement to retrieve your decorations, now is the time to do so. If you would like to welcome winter into your home – without the freezing cold temperatures – and are in need of some tips as to how to make your house look festive, we are here to help.

Here’s how you can create a winter wonderland. 

Choose a Colour Scheme

Red, green, silver, gold, and white are all classic colour schemes for the festive period, so if you would like to keep it safe, these shades will always work well within a home. If you’re willing to be more daring, however, this could be the year to do so. Perhaps after such an uncertain summer, people are looking to be a little less traditional this Christmas;

Why not try a Pop Art themed Christmas or one that draws inspiration from the Post Impressionism movement? You could even opt for a black or brown color scheme. Think glossy black ornaments with a bit of sparkle, or soft brown golds and creams which are very classy.

Include Natural Elements

Brighten up your space with some beautiful natural elements, such as branches or evergreen clippings. These will help you to feel like you’re amongst nature, without actually being outside. Extend the natural element to your gifting too, opt for the natural paper to wrap your gifts, tie in the string, and add a spring of spruce on the top. Not only will this look effortlessly stylish but it’s sustainable too. 

Add Cosy Lighting

Adding fairy lights to your units, windowsills, bookcases or vases will help to make a room feel instantly cozier. Both kids and adults love a fairy light, and the great thing about them is that they don’t have to be taken down the second after Christmas is over, either – you can enjoy your lights throughout January to help with any holiday blues.

Get Crafty

Are you creative? If so, why not spend time making some of your own snowflakes? This is a great activity to do with kids, so if they’re bored over the holidays, you can get them involved, too. Once you have cut out all your designs, you can add some string to them and hang them around the home. Still feeling creative, why not make your own Christmas wreath? It’s not as difficult as it sounds either.

All you need is a wreath ring, moss, scissors, florist wire, and twine, along with an assortment of green foliage and decorations. Make sure to stick to your Christmas color theme to optimize style. There are plenty of tutorial videos on YouTube, so with a bit of patience, you should be on your way to creating a wreath that will brighten any front door.

Decorate Your Banister With a Garland

Your hallway is the first thing you see as you step into your home, so why not add a little festive cheer here with a beautiful garland? This will help to warm up space and will look so pretty every time you walk up and down the stairs. Combine your garland with some plain fairy lights to add extra sparkle. 

Add Some Winter Themed Cushions and Throws to Your Decor 

If you own a plain sofa, one way of brightening your lounge up over the festive period is to add some winter-themed cushions to it. Stock up on decorative snowflake, tartan, or winter scene pillows, and add a snuggly throw into the mix, too.

Invest in Scented Candles

The ambiance in your home can instantly be transformed with a few beautifully scented candles. Whether you prefer cinnamon, vanilla, or nutmeg, there are so many scents to choose from, so why not pop a different one in each room? Combine candles with throws and festive pillows to create a cozy atmosphere, perfect for watching your favorite Christmas films. 

Begin Your Own Collection of Unique Pieces

Do you have a love for happy snowmen, cute penguins, or even red-nosed reindeer? If so, always keep an eye out for unique decorations in garden centers, supermarkets, or online. They’ll really help to make your home feel Christmassy, and once you have popped them on the shelves, windowsills, or Christmas tree, they’ll make everyone smile. 

Once you’ve completed all the above, your winter wonderland will be complete. After you have hung up all your decorations, the only thing you’ll now have to organize is your Christmas dinner!

Continue reading:-

• Make Your Theme Party Happening With Winter Wonderland Decoration Ideas
• How to Decorate Your Kid’s Room for Christmas
• DIY Winter Decorating Ideas to Brighten Your Home
• 25+ Best Outdoor Christmas Decoration Ideas
• 9 Great Items To Add To Your Living Space

If you are on the lookout for the best plumber to hire, it is best if you compare one plumbing company to another. Never stop on the first company you found, you have to dig deep and research further. There are a lot of companies providing plumbing services and as expected, they all claim they are the best, but not until you do your research and do your homework you would verify if they are actually the best.  

There are many things you must compare when looking for a plumbing company and this should be taken as carefully as possible. 

Important Things To Look At When Searching For A Plumbing Company

When you are looking for a plumbing company, it is best if you keep your senses on and be as observant and as creative as possible. 

There are many things you must look into and compare, and to name some of them, read the following:

Warranty

You have to compare the warranty one plumbing company can provide to another. Which of them can provide wider and longer warranty coverage? Of course, you would not want to spend on the same plumbing issue over and over again and you want peace of mind that if something went wrong, there is someone you can call. 

There are many things you need to check on the warranty, like the length of the coverage, the inclusions, exclusions, and the possible warranty disqualifications. 

Make sure that the plumbing company you will choose provides good warranty coverage. 

Payment and payment terms

Although the price is just secondary when looking for a plumbing company to hire, this should not be taken out of your consideration. You still have to compare prices but the price should not in any way affect the quality of the service.

Apart from the price, you may also want to consider the available payment methods and options they offer. Choose a company that allows you to use the method you are most comfortable using. You would not want to pay straight cash if you are always using your credit card to pay your expenses and vice versa. 

It is also best if you go to a plumbing company that lets you pay on your chosen terms. Like if you want to pay half before the project and another half when it ends and so on. 

Quality of service

Sure, comparing the quality of their service is also a must to consider. You have to make sure that you are hiring the best plumbing company that offers the best and highest quality of service. You can assess the quality of service they offer through reviews, references, and recommendations from their previous and current customers. 

Asking people around you and reading online reviews are good ways to verify the quality of service a specific plumbing company offers. But of course, for online reviews, you have to consider the reviewer’s reputation. 

You can also verify the capability of the plumber by speaking with them. 

Customer service

Another thing to compare is their customer service. Who provides better customer service? Who answers calls and messages the fastest?  Who provides clearer information about the kind of service they provide? Who has the most number of contact information available? 

Plumbing service help could come unexpectedly, and with this, it is best if you call a plumbing company that is always available to answer your call (24/7) and has many mediums of communications available to be accessed by their customers, phone, email, chat and so on. 

You would not want to give yourself a hard time reaching and calling a plumber, especially during emergencies, like your water pipe bursts or your water heater stops working. 

Company’s background

Another thing to compare when looking for a plumbing company to hire is their background. How long have they been providing plumbing services to the community? The longer they are in the industry, the more reliable they are. Who are the owners of the company? For instance, Metropolitan Plumbing Adelaide is owned by the popular plumber, David Ellingsen, and considering that he has a long experience both in the plumbing and gas fitting industry, you are assured that his company will provide nothing but excellent and high-quality service. 

Along with the company’s expertise and worthiness, you may also want to look at the number of complaints filed against them. You must not only look at the number of times they were at fault but also the action they have taken to resolve the issue. 

Conclusion

You must not take for granted the company’s background as if you do, you may get disappointed with the service you will get. The more competent the company’s owners are, the better it is for you as a customer.  

Discover More

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When it comes to keeping your pool clean and ready for use, there are a few ways in which you can do it. One of the options is to spend thousands of dollars on a pool cleaner who will visit your pool on a regular basis and keep it looking fresh. The other option, which can require a little more effort but save you a lot of money, is an automatic pool cleaner.

If you aren’t sure where to start when it comes to purchasing one of these, don’t worry, we’re here to help. Here is the guide from the website Wired Shopper on how to choose a pool cleaner.

What Type Of Pool Do You Have?

When it comes to selecting a pool cleaner, you need to first consider the type of pool that you have. There are two types, one of which you are certain to have, either above ground or a traditional sink in the pool. The reason this makes a difference is that the sides of above ground pools aren’t as strong, so they won’t be able to handle too much pressure on the side of them.

Robot Cleaners

If you don’t have much time, or you would rather spend your time in your pool rather than clean it, then a robot cleaner may be for you. They run on an electric motor and you can pretty much set it and forget it. The higher-end models can map your pool and climb the walls and the stairs to make sure that every part of your pool is absolutely pristine.

They are also programmed to finish cleaning and then shut down, so you don’t waste any electricity leaving it on for hours at a time if you aren’t able to turn it off. These are only suitable for in-ground pools, as the robot can damage free-standing pools as the walls aren’t designed to hold that type of pressure.

Suction Maybe A Better Option

If you aren’t a fan of the idea of a robot cleaner, but like the idea of a set and forget, then a suction cleaner is a good idea. They attach to your pool’s skimmer and out of all of the different types of pool cleaners you get, these ones are the most energy-efficient.

They move around the top of the pool collecting dirt and debris as they pull water through their system. It is this suction of the water that reduces the cost of these units as they aren’t powered by a motor. They can be used for above ground and dug in pools, so whichever one you have you can be sure that this system will work. However, you can’t set and forget this option.

Do You Have The Time To Clean Your Pool?

Some people enjoy cleaning their pool and getting it in pristine condition. If this is you, then a pressure cleaner might well be the option to go for. These types of cleaners don’t use your pool filtration system, rather they have an external pressure source that your plugin. These types of cleaners have their own bags to pick up dirt and debris and are a good enough size so that you don’t have to empty it after every use.

The only thing that may put some people off is the fact that you have to assemble it and connect it up every time that you use it. It isn’t as simple or as effective as just dropping the robot cleaner into the water or having a suction cleaner. The other thing to consider too is that the pressure cleaner may well be too much for the sides of over ground pools, so if you do have one of these, then this cleaner may not be the best option for you.

Final Thoughts

When it comes to choosing a pool cleaner, there really are an array of options that are available to you. The first thing that you need to think about is what type of pool you have. If you have an inground pool that this won’t matter, but if you have an above ground pool then you really need to consider how rigid the entire unit is.

Not all pool cleaners are designed to be used in this type of pool, so it is a limiting factor. Once you have thought about this, the next thing you need to do is think about how involved you want to be in the cleaning. If you don’t really want to be involved, then a robot cleaner that you can set and forget is the best thing that you can buy, so then you can get in your clean pool whatever time of the day.

To find out more:-

• Pool Landscaping Ideas: Spectacular & Innovative Designs

One out of every four Americans live with some form of disability, reported the CDC in 2018. These disabilities affect major daily activities, making these 61 million adults supported under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

Accessibility is a civil rights issue, and access can heavily be affected by existing features in our surroundings. Every day, millions of people with disabilities across the globe live among people who are otherwise able to enjoy their gifts normally. Though their capabilities are hampered, they have no choice but to adapt to the same environment that may prove unkind to them. But what if it was the other way around? What if the environment can be adapted to suit the needs of persons with disabilities?

In 1990, the ADA was enacted to acknowledge that persons with disabilities have rights to equal access and opportunities. If reasonable accommodations can be made to help everyone avail the same goods and services, the state protects their rights to achieve this.

Through the ADA, the government was able to come up with guidelines after identifying and understanding the needs of individuals with disabilities. For instance, the 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design was published by the US Department of Justice ten years prior to instructing owners and planners in drawing plans for facilities that are meant for public use.

While the guidelines propose measurements for many features of an establishment, it is not strictly a building code. These minimum requirements serve as recommendations to direct contractors in a standardized way of implementing the ADA.

Artists are still free to exercise their creativity in approaching their craft. In fact, it can serve as a challenge to today’s architects and engineers on how they can incorporate accessibility to their finished work. Accessible design is not limited to wheelchair ramps and the locations of grab bars.

If anything, it can promote functionality and make aesthetics more purposeful. Creative accessible design can push people to think outside the box and look for new ways to help improve access due to the sheer number of disabilities that impact people’s lives.  

Here are some examples of beautiful designs that go beyond making environments more accessible to people with disabilities. Some architects all over the world have approached the issue so that the environment itself adapts to the needs of the ones who enjoy it.

De Zeester, Netherlands

On quick inspection, this assisted-living facility in the Netherlands looks like an interesting place for everybody. But it is an institution specially focused on persons who have cognitive disabilities. “De Zeester” translates to “The Starfish” in English and just like its namesake, this building looks like it has a lot of perforated holes all along the walls.

These holes are really windows that improve the lives of the building’s residents by making them feel that they continue to be in contact with the rest of the world. Designs like this don’t just show that it is necessary to understand the plight of persons with disabilities. It also proves that a basic understanding can lead to concrete solutions.

Hazelwood School, Scotland

In Glasgow, a school was built to specifically cater to the needs of children with autism. Aside from autism, the students also present with visual, hearing, mobility, and cognitive disabilities. The architect of the project was selected among six who submitted their proposals for the design to the Glasgow City Council.

The resulting product was an innovative work that includes visual, auditory, and tactile clues for the students who are heavily dependent on support. One of its notable features is a striking sensory wall that helps the students navigate the halls of the school even on their own.

Boarding School for the Deaf, France

Southwestern France is a great specimen proving that accessibility does not discourage creativity. The Boarding School for the Deaf in Gradignan was developed on a visually appealing theme that is reflective of its surroundings.

Conclusion

Along with the school, the facade is a wall that features bamboo elements inspired by the vegetation in the area. More than the reasonable needs of the students with hearing disabilities, the architects behind this project went further by achieving a design that was also great for their mental stimulation.

While artists retain their creative license, back in the United States, it is part and parcel of ADA adherence to be subjected to certification. At the end of the day, the government still has the final say whether a facility is able to achieve the demands of this civil rights law. Not all architects and engineers specialize in accessibility regulations. Before beginning operations at a newly constructed building, you can contact a local Certified Access Specialist to conduct an ADA inspection for your property. 

Explore More

• ADA Bathroom Layout: Public Restrooms Requirements & Plans
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