Landscape design is a design and art tradition that combines nature and culture. It uses design to connect the outdoor architecture of a place with its ingrained beauty. Landscape design provides a medium to evoke the aesthetic sense of the place, be it in the garden of your home or in a park.

Landscape designers are professionals who help in Landscaping. These designers work to ensure that the beauty of a place is duly preserved and extracted. At the same time, they prevent people from making costly mistakes or incurring unnecessary expenditure. They carefully analyze the cultural value and any special site qualities that they might want to highlight and decide the theme accordingly.

Landscape design involves artisan composition and workmanship. Its main aim is to make the living quarters more pleasing to live in, and to maximize the use of total available and useable land in order to avoid waste.

Based on the geographical location, cultural and local beliefs and faiths, and the area that is to be designed, Landscape Design is further classified into the following heads:

Mediterranean Style – This theme gets its name from the plants that it uses. It uses palm trees and other Mediterranean plant varieties to stimulate an atmosphere that induces a peaceful ambiance in the surrounding areas. This theme is gaining popularity in many places around the world.

Southwest Garden style – This style of garden planning is mostly used in arid and semi-arid regions like Mexico and Arizona. Hardscape plays a major role in such styles. Due to this reason, it is gaining more and more popularity in other areas of the US as well.

Formal Gardens – Formal Gardens are mainly characterized by straight lines and geometrical shapes and figures. This kind of garden requires high maintenance. Frequent pruning is done in order to help the plants maintain their shape and size.

The above styles are some of the most popular choices that are commonly seen in the US. All of these are a theme- based landscaping designs. However, people also tend to go offset rules and regulations of landscaping in order to stand out. Sometimes, they like to add a personal touch to their gardens to feel more connected to it.

Whether the design is set to standard rules or not, landscaping adds a definite pleasing aspect to the final look of a garden and allows people to enjoy all aspects of it equally and appreciatively.

Add a touch of class and elegance to your couches, chairs, and ottomans with versatile slipcovers. Explore the furnishing market online and pick some bold print or solid colors to give the desired look to your home. No matter what kind of sofa you have, covering it with a slipcover will definitely give it an added advantage.
Currently, the market offers three types of alternatives: you can choose ready-made, semi-custom, and custom slipcovers. The price of slipcovers varies naturally, depending on the quality, style, color, and pattern. Custom slipcovers are more costly, as they are customized with expensive fabrics and trimmed and tailored to meet your special requirement.

How to meet your exact need
Neutral rooms: Neutral or light-hued walls can be beautifully contrasted with bright slipcovers in red, blue, green, yellow, and many more options. Pick jazzy patterns if the rest of the decor is simple.

Colorful rooms: If your walls are in a dark or bold hue, then choose light-colored or neutral slipcovers to balance and create contrast. Keep prints simple.

Regular use: For everyday usage, a sturdy material like denim, thick cotton, canvas, or gingham work best. They can bear a lot of wear and tear and are easy to maintain as well.

Special occasions: If you need slipcovers for parties or special days like anniversaries or birthdays, then silks, satin, and velvet will be a great choice. These are ideal for short term use and can make any room look luxurious instantly.

Kids or pets in the house: Choose simple slipcovers in robust materials and dark hues, so that stains and dirt don’t show easily. Avoid embroidered work or embellishments, since they will surely come off in a day or two.

Odd-shaped furniture: Consult a furnishing outlet, so that a professional can help you with customized options.

Limited budget: Don’t wish to spend a ton on slipcovers? Keep an eye out for discounts offered by online furnishing retailers. Compare prices before actually buying slipcovers from a physical or online store.

Some challenges
Finding a ready-made slipcover that fits well on the chair or couch is not an easy task. A loose-fitting slipcover is something you would never wish to have for your furniture. Choosing the right fabric and fit can be a challenging task too. Ready-made slipcovers are designed for standard furniture size. So if your furniture is under or over that size, you might find it hard to put on and take off the cover for laundry and it will give a sloppy look to your furniture as well. So shop carefully, compare the various options, and take the advice of the expert to choose the right cover for your furniture.

Smart home decorating initiatives and ideas can freshen up your home. It enlightens up the room, bringing in positive vibes and serenity. You ought to try one of these space saving fixes for a beautiful and instant update:

• Drop clothes: Look for drop cloths of drapery fabric and get them at as low as $9 for a 4′ by 12’panel. Hang them as high as you can.
• Transformed closet: Cover the doors with pegboard and turn your closet into a simple craft room.
• Display an excellent collection on a dining room table.
• Add an antique in the bathroom because it adds an authentic touch to the house.
• Think up, not out: Add extra shelves that slide open and stack your items in them.
• Paint an inexpensive piece of furniture white.
• Cover the walls with different sort of plates.
• Use Turkish runners in the hallways.
• Label the canisters to end up kitchen’s confusion in a creative and meaningful manner.
• Have creative wall-mounting lights.
• Move seating away from the walls.
• Paint only the lower or the upper half of the wall.
• Double your space with mirrors to add an illusion.
• Be it with the bed sheet and pillow cover combination or chairs and tables, a mismatch always looks good, if your color choice is correct.

Consider retro appliances
Vintage or vintage-inspired appliances can add charm and unique pops of colors. Consider having 24wide refrigerator than the modern 36 one it is space saving and looks good in most areas.

Utilize the area under the stairway
The area under the stairway is often overlooked and kept aside from everyone’s attention. But this space has a lot pack-in-it potential, which can be used according to personal needs. Have a deck of drawers over there to compact the thrown-around things in a beautiful way. You can also renovate it for a reading space, if the height is enough for a person to stand straight.

Invest in smart furniture
Creativity, space saving and modern art, all go hand in hand in today’s smart furniture. They stack up a lot inside them and beautify the bedrooms and other areas. These add an ample amount of storage to the room and is a must to go on for.

Use every inch of storage space
Maximize efficiency in rooms or kitchen by adding shelves to keep supplies off the counter, but within reach. Double the shelf’s use by adding hooks to hang objects. Attach an expandable rack to maximize space in the laundry room. Also, install sliding drawers for a dedicated pantry.

Decoration makes parties more fun, relaxing easier, talks more intimate, guests at ease and it is considered frivolous. Make sure every decorating decision contributes to the creation of beauty to uplift our senses and comfort to make us feel taken care of. It is a noble endeavor to make the house a home, filled with charm and happiness.

The home is a space where we like to be ourselves and get into our comfortable best. This is also space where we like to keep things spick and span with plenty of hygiene in tow. Also, most of us like to keep our homes well-organized with a touch of elegance and beauty. Did you know that you do not have to break the bank in order to fulfill all these needs? That’s right – with the exhaustive list of items available at Dollar Tree, all you have to do is get into the home decor and cleaning mode, a dollar at a time! Come and find out how!

• Cleaning supplies: Before anything else, let us dive right into the arena of cleanliness and hygiene. There are a number of cleaning supplies that are available at Dollar Tree for very reasonable prices. You can stock up on cleaning essentials, scrubs, mops, rags and much more so that you have an entire cleaning kit at all times in the home. This is especially required after a party when you have to undertake a massive cleaning exercise to get all the dirt and grime out. Also, it is helpful when you have small children and you have to clean up after them all day long. This becomes a more economical option as well.

• Crystal-inspired pieces: Bring some elegant charm into your home with these candlesticks and vases. You can choose from a wide variety of home decor products which are inspired by the brilliant cuts and glistening good looks of crystal. These pieces will be especially reasonable if you have small children and their friends who also visit often. In such cases, you can stock up on such items and place them around the home so that the breakages, if any, will not leave a gaping hole in your pocket even as your home looks great!

• Kitchen supplies and utensils: You can also find a number of things that will help you get a fully equipped kitchen at literally a quarter of the price! All you have to do is take a walk down the kitchen essentials and supplies aisle at your nearest Dollar Tree, or log on to the Dollar Tree portal online. You can take a look at the various utensils, flatware, serve ware and other essentials that are available in a variety of colors, material and shapes. Feel free to choose supplies and utensils based on the overall decor and theme that you follow in your home.

• Linen: You can also pick up bed sheets, bed covers, towels, table mats and napkin sets as well as many other such linen products from Dollar Tree. These are especially helpful if you have small children at home and cannot use your expensive pieces every day. At a dollar a piece, these are also easily replaceable with just another visit to the store. So take your pick from the various sizes, patterns and colors to make a beautiful style statement!

With the holiday season around the corner, people would like to illuminate and decorate their houses and gardens with lights of various types. Here is an in-depth list of the

Line Voltage (120 volts)

• PAR 16, 20, 30, and 38
  These reflectorized bulbs provide better beam quality and have better control than other regular incandescent PAR bulbs. They are used in outdoor spots and floodlights.
• T-3 Double-Ended
  These bulbs are available in a variety of base types. They are generally used in sconces and floor lamps, providing indirect lighting also known as torchieres. Its direction is controlled by a fixture.
• T-4 Single-Ended
  These bulbs are available in both “mini-can” and “bayonet” base types. They are also used for indirect lighting especially in torchieres, wall sconces, pendants, and bath brackets.

Low Voltage or 12-volt bulbs

• MR8, MR11, and MR16
  They are also known as mini-reflectors as they provide an excellent source of beam control. They are smaller in size and are used in smaller tracks and particular fixtures.
• PAR36 bulbs
  These bulbs are very good in providing light control, especially in the case of long distances. They are specifically used in track, recessed, and accent fixtures and outdoor landscapes.
• T-4 Bi-Pin bulbs
  These are miniature bulbs and are used in desk lamps, pendants, low-voltage truck systems, etc. They are also used in under cabinet lighting.
• Xenon
  They have a rigid-loop festoon and are similar to halogen with a longer life. They come with a wedge base and emit a white light. They can be used as much as 20,000 hours, similar to fluorescent bulbs. They usually operate at a much lower temperature than halogens and are extensively used in under-cabinet lightings and outdoor spots.
• Fluorescent bulbs
  These bulbs produce light when an electric arc is passed between the cathodes. They use 1/5 to 1/3 electricity compared to incandescent bulbs. They also last 20 times longer than the other bulbs. They come with a compact base and are smaller and trimmer in size. They are available in a wide spectrum of colors. They usually give a warm white light and are called as a duplicate of incandescent. One has to be careful with these bulbs as they contain mercury and should be disposed of properly.
• Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFLs)
  They are popularly known as CFLs and are basically small fluorescent bulbs. They are used in most types of lighting fixtures. They can also be used to replace incandescent lamps in standard lamp sockets.
• T8 bulbs
  They are used in larger ceiling fixtures and consist of electronic ballasts. They can be turned on instantly without producing any humming sound. They are widely used in residential areas and commercial projects.
• High-Intensity Discharge (HID)
  These bulbs are durable and have a very long life. They are energy efficient and emit colors that are pleasing to the eyes. They are extensively used in residential areas whereas HID’s used for outdoor security and area lighting.

The number of people with disabilities is increasing and making them feel empowered and comfortable is important. Not just people who are born with disabilities, but as people age, they find it difficult to do activities with ease. A large population of Americans uses Wheelchairs and the bathroom is the place where in they feel the most discomfort.

Disability bathrooms are those that are designed to accommodate the needs of people with disabilities. Moreover, a large number of people suffer from injuries due to a fall on the wet bathroom floor, hitting the head against the wash basin and more. Making the bathroom a safe space for anyone who uses it is essential. Disability bathrooms should have a universal design that can cater to the needs of everyone. Thus, especially, if you have a loved one at home who is disabled or an aged parent, you should remodel your bathroom space to suit their preferences. And yes, you do not have to fall back on the style too!

Chose the lighting wisely – Like most important spaces in the most, the bathroom too should have lighting that is bright. This is a very basic but important factor, especially in the case of disability bathrooms. Not only does it add to the safety but also makes the bathroom look spacious. Make use of natural lighting as much as possible and go for white lights over dim milky lights.

Switch placement – A light switch that is placed too high on the wall cannot be accessed by a person who is seated in a wheelchair. Thus, switches should be even placed at lower highs to avoid discomfort. Also, placing large switches and push buttons is a better option over tiny switches that may not come into sight easily.

Wash sink and vanity – A wash basin needs to be placed at a minimum height of a faucet that can easily be turned on single-handedly. Sensor-faucets that detect the hands will make usage easier. Keep the space under the sink free from cabinets will help in lending the disabled person more room for knees. Install a vanity that is sturdy and couples as a support too when the grab bar is not within reach.

Accessible toilet – It is recommended that a toilet in disability bathrooms should be higher in height. Not only does this aid disable people but everyone else who lives in the home too. This makes it easier for people to transfer from a walker or wheelchair to the toilet seat. Keep basic items such as sanitary pads, toilet paper, wipes and more within comfortable reach. Placing a grab bar on either side of the toilet is important for support.

Bathrooms are one of the most important parts of our home. It is always essential to keep them clutter free, and with a range of vanity lighting solutions available, this is always possible. Some of the vanity lights are in fact bundled in a mirror, and these lighting fixtures have become very popular as a form of vanity lights.

• You will be able to see a clear and detailed reflection when the vanity lights are off, and the mirror will serve as an indicator for lights when these are switched on. This dual functionality has made these lights much popular among the users.
• In homes which have smaller bathrooms, a distinct benefit of using vanity lighting is evident. If space is an issue, the area can be illuminated simultaneously supplementing any other existing lighting fixture that might be available in that area. It will also eliminate the need for having any additional lighting in the bathroom and will also add to the elegance. You can also adjust the intensity of these vanity lights, and it will make the bathroom exquisite and elegant. For homes with bigger bathrooms, vanity lights are a perfect option. These can also be used as a decorative element in bigger bathrooms.
• The biggest advantage of vanity lights is that these fixtures have been designed from the perspective of a design of the bathroom. A large number of options are available for anyone who decides to choose these after a careful selection.
• The ambiance of the bathroom can be classy and elegant, and vanity lighting will always add a distinct touch to these. The appeal of the bathroom will become unique, and you will be able to create an ambient atmosphere in the bathroom for any guest also who decides to visit your home. The bathroom is one part of the home which is always ignored owing to its position and usage. However, you need to know that the ambiance you create in the bathroom due to use of vanity light will help you in enhancing not only the look of your home but your image also will reach a new high, once you decide to install the vanity lighting in your home.
• Vanity lighting solutions are available in any nearby store, and you only need to choose the best available with some vision and idea on the current trends prevailing in the market. Vanity lighting is a common trend these days, and an increasing number of people are opting for the same.

Pick the most desired one from the market and see for yourself the change it brings in your home.

A home painted with soothing colors provides a relaxing and calm environment. It is very important to paint the favorite room in your house such as the bedroom, with colors that reflect not only your decorating style but even your personality. You can create a unique look for your bedroom by looking out for bedroom painting ideas online and create a beautiful and personal space. The three basic colors that can be used for painting bedrooms include use of warm colors, neutral and cool colors.Best colors to use for bedroom painting

The colors that fall in the category of cool colors are mainly pastel shades. These pastel shades include light green, light blue or light purple. These cool colors lend a soothing effect on your mind.

The warm colors are usually categorized as happy colors. Hues like bright yellow and orange add energy and vibrancy to a bedroom. It is, however, advised by experts not to make use of these bright colors as your bedroom would look small.

You can create add a calming effect in your bedroom by making use of neutral colors like gray, brown and beige. The effect of bright colors made use for the accessories in the bedroom can be suppressed by use of these muted colors. An excellent option for colors for use in bedroom includes use of combination of colors like green and blue, which are soothing to the mind and uplift your mood as well.

For boys and girls
The selection of schemes for girls and boys are different and it is a bit difficult to specify the preference of teenagers. It has been observed that girls prefer to get their room painted colorfully and tend to use colors like light blue, lavender and pink. On the other hand, boys often prefer to color their bedroom walls with bright colors or muted shades. They love to create a lively and colorful scheme. For a quick inspiration, look for bedroom painting ideas on the internet to get more ideas on the latest styles of walls.

Bedroom painting ideas for teens
It is an interesting task to look out for painting ideas for coloring the bedroom of a teenager. There are a lot of exquisite bedroom painting ideas available for bedrooms of teens as teens often wish for a bedroom that is different and unique. Narrow down the ideas that suit your teen’s taste and personality, before deciding on the color of the bedroom. You must sit along with the teenager and plan the color scheme to be used for painting his or her bedroom.

For the master room
When it comes to painting the rooms of adults, experts suggest dark shades like red and black. These colors look bold and lend a designer touch to the room. You can play with textures and designs by creating stripes on a wall by using contrasting colors. Some like the opposite way of doing up their rooms. Colors like white with a hint of golden look modern and dreamy. So, draw from these bedroom painting ideas before you beautify your abode!