Thinking Out of the Box, or Bed!

When you decide to redo your bedroom, the bed is the first thing that comes to mind. And the truth is that it is usually the central piece of furniture in that room. You may already have something in mind, or you may not.

Most of us, when picturing a remodeled room, tend to picture the same type of bed we had before. But how about thinking out of the box a little bit? Imagine the room with a completely different bed type (for example instead of a regular bed you picture a platform or storage bed). Then imagine the comforter set that would go best with that bed type. You never know what direction this will lead you in. You might find that the finished product is completely different than you first imagined. And it’s usually way better than you originally imagined.

Don’t Forget Candle safety!

Lighting some pillar candles or votive candles, or using some floating candles can be a real treat. But anytime we indulge we can’t forget to always be safety conscious. The U.S. National Fire Protection Association at one time estimated that misuse of candles was one of the leading causes of residential fires in the U.S. This is a sobering fact and should not be taken lightly. So when enjoying your candles, be sure to follow some basic guidelines.

1.      Don’t leave candles unattended.

2.      Don’t light candles in any location where the heat from the candle can ignite any flammable material.

3.      Don’t let children play near the candles or dip their finger into the hot wax.

4.      Be sure to blow them out or use a snuffer.

5.      Follow up and make sure the wick is no longer glowing before you walk away.

The use of candles doesn’t have to be dangerous. Following a few basic safety tips can ensure years of pleasure and enjoyment.

Accent Rugs Are Just the Thing!

Do you have wood floors and love how they look? But when it’s chilly outside you hate those cold floors on your feet? Pick out some accent rugs and place them in selected spots, such as along the side of your bed or in front of the sink and toilet. This way when you get out of bed or when you have to stand in the bathroom your feet aren’t freezing.

Small rugs like this can be purchased anywhere and they usually come in a variety of colors and patterns. You can find them to match just about any décor. They are small enough that they don’t completely cover your wood floor so you can continue to enjoy the look of the wood without freezing your toes off!

Cleaning Up After Your Candles

When we burn candles we sometimes spill wax. There are ways to clean up that wax that we have already discussed. But one thing many forget to think about is the ceiling. If you burn a candle in a location once then there probably won’t be any noticeable grime on the ceiling. But if the candle is burned often in the same place you might take a look at the ceiling and see if it needs to be cleaned.

Those repairing the Sistine Chapel discovered this same problem. For decades they thought that Michelangelo had just used dark paints with bland colors when he painted his magnificent work of art. But during a period of repair as they started to clean the painting they were astonished to see the bright colors appearing from under the grime. It turned out that years of candle smoke and ash had accumulated and dulled the painting. Once clean the artwork was restored to its original glory.

This can happen at your house, too. Use a cloth and cleaner that are appropriate for the paint you have and you’ll be pleasantly surprised to see how easy it is to clean the ash and grime from your ceilings. Then continue to enjoy your candles as before.

Pillows Can Make a Splash!

If you want to change things up a little but don’t have a huge budget, consider decorative pillows. They can be found just about anywhere and come in all sizes, shapes and colors. By exchanging the current pillows in a room with pillows of another color you can give the room a whole new look. Or add some decorative pillows to a bed and add that splash of color that brightens up the entire room.

Use decorative pillows in living rooms on chairs or couches to draw the eye. You can use them also on outdoor furniture (assuming you will bring them inside or they are waterproof). They go just about anywhere and can adjust the balance of a room just enough to make it look fresh and new.

Let Candlelight Inspire You!

Do you sometimes need a fresh inspiration but you feel pretty dry and empty? There are some tried and true methods for calming your mind and allowing a fresh inspiration to flow. One of them is watching fish. There is something about just watching fish swim back and forth that is very calming. If you don’t have access to fish, then another method is watching fire. You can light a fire in your fireplace if you have one. However, being that it’s summer time this might be impractical. So instead you could light some candles. Try a group of different sized pillar candles. Move them somewhat close together and then light them. If you have a lavender scented one in the group this is helpful. Lavender is very soothing.

Or even better, if you have the space to do it, set some lighted floating candles afloat and then just watch them as they float around. The flickering of the flame will calm your mind. Let all those nuisance thoughts just rise up and away on the smoke from the flickering of the flame. Soon your mind will feel less cluttered. Continue to just stare into the flame and let your mind wander. After a while those new and fresh thoughts can begin to flow.

Enjoying Candles

There’s nothing like lighting some candles and turning the lights down. Then you just sit back and stare at the flames, or at the shadows they produce on the wall. It is cozy. It is romantic. It is comforting. A candle can make a dull room look better. It makes the room feel warmer. It adds that little something that no other accessory can give. Scented candles also fill a room with a gentle fragrance that can relax or stimulate romance. There’s just nothing like it.