Archive for December, 2010

It is well known that a child’s perception is altogether different to, and more focused than that of an adult.

Colours, shapes, general definition – all of this is more pronounced in the eyes of a child. It is not that we as adults do not perceive the images in the same way. It is just that they are no longer so pronounced. We have more important things on our minds and, subconsciously, we just take them for granted.

Children though find reassurance in the images and characters with which they are familiar. It is why we buy them clothes, artefacts, kitchen utensils and blankets featuring the cartoon characters that they like to watch on television or at the cinema.

Kids of course have highly active imaginations. When it comes to bedtime it is not always a straightforward exercise getting them to go to sleep. Shadows on the wall and unholy horrors lurking in the coat cupboard persuade them that it is safer to stay awake, which in turn means more strife for their already tired parents. Sometimes it is better to leave the light on for half an hour or so, until nature eventually takes its course and they finally drift off.

Reassuring your child at bedtime means a restful night – for everyone!

Selecting a lampshade with which the child feels comfortable and at peace can often help the process of reassurance. Take a look at this wide selection of lighting for children for some very useful ideas.

Naturally the cartoon character or superhero only appeals to the child of a certain age or temperament. When they get a little older the fictional hero is often replaced by the real thing. Sometimes it might be the Premier League footballer that our young son himself aspires to become. Possibly then football ceiling lights might prove more functional than something inspired by a cartoon.

It may seem melodramatic and overstated to place too much importance on the internal fixtures of a child’s bedroom. But emotional comfort and a sense of well-being are important to aiding restful sleep and enhancing a child’s development. If a simple lampshade can assist in some small way in improving that process than it is a very small price indeed to pay.

Whether one is celebrating a birthday or an anniversary, playing host to family of friends or even just trying to impress the boss, it is always nice to entertain.

When we do entertain we want everything about the occasion to be just right. We want our guests to enjoy their food and drinks, to savour the ambience, to engage in intelligent, constructive and meaningful conversation. We spend valuable time preparing (or ordering) the meal and we want to make extra sure that we are suitably and appropriately equipped for the occasion.

And then there is presentation. There is little point in sourcing the right champagne if it is delivered in a chipped glass in a bucket designed for mixing wallpaper paste. The tea may be the finest on the market but we would not present it to a guest we were hoping to impress in a mug from the pound shop.

Simple presentation can tell others a lot about who we are. And simple things such as ice buckets and serving trays, which need not be discouragingly expensive, demonstrate to our guests that we value their company and take pride in the image of ourselves that we seek to put across to them.

Carry it off with a tray

Of course, it isn’t just about buckets and trays and the vehicles we use to transport their nibbles and tipples to the seats we have assigned for our guests. The whole entertainment experience is about creating an atmosphere in which they feel at ease, looked after and valued. It about making it obvious and evident that we have given all the thought that is required into making them feel comfortable.

Thus it is helpful to have a range of tools and props to enable us to carry the whole thing off successfully. Take a look at these items bar and party accessories from such manufacturers as Scanwood and Define for an example of some of the products that are available.

When we go to the trouble to entertain others whether it be family, friends or business acquaintances we want to get it right. We want to create an atmosphere that enables our guests to feel comfortable and relaxed, and able to talk without awkwardness or inhibitions. Because as the man on the telephone says, it’s nice to talk.

It is the eternal dilemma when moving into a new home, or whenever one decides to redecorate the house. Should one wallpaper the walls, or paint them?

The arguments in both directions are compelling. The living room is a long time lived in. If it is unattractive to look at then one either has to spend the next so many years looking at it, or else it all has to be done again. Better to get it right the first time.

Wallpaper does, of course, create an impression of luxury and comfort. Most walls, whether they be in an office or even an industrial setting, are painted. It is only in rooms that are lived in, as opposed strictly to living rooms, that walls are usually papered. The appearance of flowers or patterns rather than just plain paint does serve to emphasise the difference between the room that is relaxed in and that that is worked in. In that much at least papering does seem to have the edge.

Go beyond the edge

But it is the edge that can also be the problem. For those to whom matching up patterns to perfection from one strip to the next this can be by far the greatest challenge. Wallpapering to some is an art, but to many more is an awkward and sometimes frustrating experience. There are few who would not consider painting to be an easier, if less ornate option.

What if there was an alternative that combined the ease of painting with the decorative effect of wallpapering? Well actually there is. They are called wall stickers and for many they are becoming the logical and convenient answer to the eternal dilemma of paper or paint. Basically one paints the wall with emulsion and then applies the pattern in stand-alone form once the paint has dried. The net result is a wallpaper effect from a painter’s effort.

The wall sticker doesn’t only come in the flowers and the pretty patterns that one might associate with conventional living room wallpaper. Take a look at the Ferm Living range from Denmark and the many different options that are available.

The wall sticker solution gives the best of both worlds, and allows one some control over how where exactly in the room the decorations are placed and how densely they are applied. They present a most appealing alternative, whether to wallpaper or paint.