Category: Home Garden

4 tips on how to plan a new shelf and get more storage space

1. Proper use of versatility to meet individual needs

Shelves are open pieces of furniture, the contents of which are usually visible. You should therefore be able to do exactly three things: Offer storage space, put things in the limelight and blend harmoniously into the overall living environment.

Therefore, plan the shelf according to your individual needs in order to make clever use of the versatility of this piece of furniture. Even shelves that can be attached at different heights create a wide range of possibilities.

Subjects can e.g. B. be arranged in different sizes. In small rooms, shelves with different sized compartments have a relaxing and exciting effect. Large spaces call for even compartments to create a calming atmosphere.

2. Make sure the material is of high quality

As important as the look of the shelves in the living room is, make sure you pay attention to the quality of the material. Because a great design often hides inadequate workmanship.

The minimum strength of Side panels and shelves should be between 19 and 25 millimeters be. Bookshelves in particular have to withstand a lot of weight. It happens all too quickly that floors sag and the shelf loses stability as a result.

the Back wall should be at least 8 millimeters thick
and be grooved. This is the only way for the body to be stable and secure. As a rule, it is then no longer necessary to additionally fix the shelf with a wall bracket.

3. Made-to-measure shelves instead of off-the-shelf

To avoid the hassle of an ill-fitting shelf, it pays to invest in a Custom made shelf to invest. With a Online configurator design each piece of furniture to the millimeter. Because many apartments and houses are cut as individually as your own taste. Niches, sloping ceilings and other spatially complicated situations always require a tailor-made solution.

4. Plan corner shelves to avoid “dead corners”.

Get the most out of storage space! A corner shelf kills two birds with one stone: on the one hand, it creates one coherent and harmonious living area. On the other hand it is space saving and uses the “dead corner” that otherwise forms with two shelves standing at an angle. That means even more storage space and a coherent room concept.

In the living room, for example, B. a cozy reading and library corner. But even in household rooms such as the basement, a custom-made corner shelf helps to provide more storage space, clarity and order.

You can save energy with the right lighting concept

Doing the preliminary work: What is the status quo?

If you want to save light effectively, you should first go through all the rooms and analyze the current situation. Where are you satisfied with the current light intensity and where would you like a different light spectrum? You should pay particular attention to the fact that the light color matches the room. Warm light is used for the living room or bedroom. It has a calming effect, while cold light is suitable for any place where you want to concentrate.

Save a lot of electricity with the right lamps

The classic incandescent lamp is still used in many homes and offices. Unfortunately, it is not exactly considered energy-saving. Of course, saving energy with lighting concepts only works if you use efficient light sources. In addition to the fairly common halogen lamps, this also includes energy-saving lamps and LEDs. If it is particularly important to you that colors are reproduced truthfully, then the halogen lamp is an option. This is not only suitable for the home, but also for offices where creative work is done.

Although the energy-saving lamp saves a lot of energy, it loses its luminosity over time. Whether for the office or at home – you should value quality here. LEDs, on the other hand, are relatively expensive to buy. But the high price pays off. The bulbs last a long time and emit a pleasant light that is also suitable for working.

Adjust lighting as needed

As already indicated above, not every room has to be illuminated with the same brightness. Therefore, choose dimmable light or bulbs with a warm light color if you want to illuminate a cozy place like the sofa corner or the lounge in the office.

Also make sure that you integrate new technologies into the lighting concept. In this way, timers can be used, for example, to switch the light off again regularly. This is not only important in the private sphere, but also in the workplace. It is not uncommon for employees or colleagues to forget to turn off the lights after work. If the lamps are switched off automatically at a fixed time, a lot of electricity can be saved here.

Not only switching off in good time, but also using natural sunlight saves energy. Make sure that the windows are not obscured by unnecessary decorations or heavy curtains. In addition, workplaces should always be in the direct vicinity of the window. Even dirty panes absorb light. With regular cleaning, you can sometimes do without turning on artificial light.

Conclusion: It is possible to save a lot of energy with a good plan

If you heed the food for thought mentioned above, you can save a lot of electricity in the long run. Prepare a sensible concept before you start hanging lamps. This is much less complicated than is often assumed.

Woodruff punch – simply delicious

For a long time, the woodruff had a relatively bad reputation. It’s the coumarin. At high doses, this compound can cause drowsiness and headaches. As a rule of thumb, a mixture of ten whisks of woodruff to one liter of liquid is now recommended to prevent unwanted side effects.

If you do get a headache after the punch, it may not necessarily be because of the woodruff, but because it is so delicious and you have enjoyed one glass too much.

Where can I get woodruff?

Really finding woodruff in the forest is not that easy. What grows along the way is usually the similar-looking bedstraw. It is therefore easier to buy a pot from a herb shop or garden center and plant it out.

Woodruff can easily be grown in the garden in a shady or semi-shady position. If he likes the location, then he multiplies quite happily. So you can already enjoy the first punch in the second year after planting. By the way: fresh woodruff hardly smells at all. It only develops its typical smell when it is wilted, i.e. when it begins to wilt slightly after picking.

Recipe for woodruff punch

For the punch you need a liter of well chilled wine. There you hang a slightly withered bouquet of woodruff, which you tied together with the stems, upside down. The styles should not be immersed if possible. Everything stays in the cold for at least 10 minutes. The longer you leave the woodruff in the wine, the more intense the taste. The only thing that helps here is trying out to find the right personal nuance.

The woodruff is then taken out again. Meanwhile, dissolve two tablespoons of sugar in some hot water and add this to the wine after it has cooled. Finally, a bottle of cold, dry sparkling wine is added. And the woodruff punch is ready. Please don’t be disappointed when you see them. She’s not green!. The coloring in the purchased punch is caused by food coloring. Our punch has retained the color of the white wine.

Rent storage space: That’s why it makes sense!

Knowing all your belongings are safe quickly and flexibly

When you rent a storage space, you can rest assured that your furniture or moving boxes will be safely housed for an agreed period of time. As a rule, you can rent a room from the respective provider that has certain dimensions and can be rented for a fixed period of time. Some companies also give customers the option of extending the contract period as they wish. This is important, for example, if you are going to be abroad for an unknown amount of time.

Both tenants who only want to rent a room for a few days, weeks or months and long-term tenants get their money’s worth from various German providers. At this point you should compare the prices and conditions carefully in order to find the cheapest offer. One thing is the same for all providers: Your belongings will be stored safely and dry.

Why a storage room is also and above all worthwhile for private tenants

More and more companies are starting to rent storage space for office furniture, equipment that is no longer needed and other things. But also and especially for private households in times of constantly rising rents it is a good idea to store things elsewhere. If you are currently unable to find an apartment of the right size, you may have to resort to some kind of temporary solution. The old furniture will not fit completely into the new place?

Then you should rent a sufficiently large storage room. Your things can remain there until you have a large apartment available again. In this case, you save money if you can leave the things in a safe place for a few euros a day. Things are simply picked up again when you need them or have found another, long-term storage location.

The advantages of a fixed storage room

The goods are stored dry and clean by most providers. So you don’t have to worry about things that are sensitive to moisture. Cardboard boxes or electrical devices can therefore be stored without any problems. Of course, dirt isn’t good for your belongings either. When renting a storage room, you have the advantage that the rooms are always clean – unlike, for example, the attic or the basement.

Of course, most providers not only protect things from environmental influences, but also from potential thieves. When choosing a provider, make sure that the items are expressly stored in a protected and locked place. Especially if you also want to store more valuable furniture, decorations or electrical devices, a storage room here offers the necessary security. If the provider not only offers the space as such, but also various shelves that are set up individually for you, you save money. You can store your things neatly, cleanly and tidy. Therefore, if in doubt, you will find everything quickly.

What your living space says about you

where do you live

We are not always free to choose the location and type of our home. The financial situation has a major impact on our options, and family circumstances or the connection to the place of work can also cause limitations. Therefore, in the following lines, we consider the choice of place of residence detached from these restrictions, knowing full well that the choice of place of residence can be influenced by significantly more factors. Which style of living you prefer can say a lot about your personality. But it starts even earlier: namely with the choice of living environment. Anyone who chooses a loft apartment in the best inner-city location has a different focus based on their personality than those who prefer a small house on the outskirts out of conviction. Those who claim a place to live near the water are more likely to look for peace and seclusion than people who choose a shared apartment in the trendy neighborhood for themselves, for example. Even “in the country” there are differences, so some are more drawn to the suburbs of a big city, while others prefer rural life in seclusion. If you were financially independent and untied in terms of your job, your choice of place to live would say something about your character.

How do you live?

Contrary to the question “where”, one has a much greater influence on the “how” when designing the apartment. This means design elements that can individualize your own living space. This includes:

• the colors of the walls, floors, furniture and accessories.
• the materials in the living room.
• the room division.
• the furniture arrangement.
• the lighting.
• a clearly implemented living style

The choice of color reveals a lot about personality, because each color has a specific effect. With certain color tones in the apartment, you make a statement and send out certain signals. On the other hand, one influences one’s own mood consciously or unconsciously, whereby there are mutual influences between the first and second function. Yellow and orange radiate happiness. They brighten the mood and stand for joie de vivre. Red activates and represents passion or temperament. Green and blue, on the other hand, stand for rest and are more likely to be chosen by people who value relaxation. Anyone who has predominantly brown tones and wood in their home is considered grounded and longs for security. Cultural differences are worth noting with regard to color meaning.

What do you like to surround yourself with?

Whether it’s furniture, accessories, furnishings or everyday objects: what you like to surround yourself with depends on your personality.

• Many decorations and personal items such as photos or souvenirs stand for extroverted personalities who love to socialize.
• Soberly furnished, unstimulating rooms indicate introverted personalities.
• Extreme minimalism is often pursued by people whose center of life is elsewhere (e.g. workaholics).
• Many heirlooms and souvenirs can be found in the homes of nostalgics and those who love tradition.
• Exclusive furniture and furnishing styles can refer to eccentricity.

A mirror of the psyche

Your own living space as the center of everyday life has a very special position. Some apartments let you look deeper than their residents actually intend. Namely directly into the psyche. This is the case, for example, with extremely chaotic living spaces. Where no structure can be identified in the home, there is often a lack of structure in life. Completely blocked and unkempt rooms can indicate that the life of the resident could do with clearing out. Those who can part with little and keep everything within their own four walls often live in the past. In addition, delivered rooms can represent lost opportunities. Furnishing projects that appear unfinished often indicate unresolved conflicts or unresolved difficulties. However, all this does not necessarily mean that a perfectly tidy apartment stands for an equally orderly psyche. In some cases, people also compensate for their inner chaos by constantly cleaning the house.

Has anything changed?

Interestingly, according to housing psychologists, many people react to drastic changes in life by changing their living space. The next time you visit someone’s house and find a completely new furniture arrangement, it could be because the homeowner changed jobs or recently had a breakup. On the other hand, some people also rearrange everything when they long for changes in their lives.

So your own 4 walls can say a lot about your residents. Even if in reality the choice of where to live is influenced by numerous factors, the interior design of one’s own rooms is a kind of mirror of one’s personality. Thanks to the many individual furnishing options, we can represent our innermost being and create a place that suits us and makes us just as happy.

Common misconceptions about plastic flooring

A quick background: Plastic and plastic are colloquial for the category of polymers. There are natural polymers, including polysaccharides, proteins or natural rubber, and artificial polymers. Artificial polymers are chemical compounds made up of chain or branched molecules. Polymers are light, flexible and stable, and since humans learned how to shape them, plastic has become an integral part of our lives.

But why does plastic have such a bad reputation? Below is a closer look at the common misconceptions about industrial PVC flooring.

You can’t walk well on synthetic floors

It is often assumed that standing or walking on PVC floors is uncomfortable and hard and therefore has a negative impact on employees’ health. In companies where employees have to stand for a long time, foam is often used as a floor covering. However, foam is not very resistant and heavy-duty vehicles should not drive on the foam floor.

Contrary to what is often assumed, there is PVC flooring that is both resistant and firm as well as flexible and cushions the steps. This floor can therefore be driven over by heavy-duty vehicles and its properties reduce employee fatigue. PVC flooring is not hard and breakable, as is often assumed, but flexible and stretchable.

Cheap equals bad quality

As soon as we pay little for something, we assume it is of poorer quality. This is often true, but not always. In addition, plastic is often imported from China, which does not exactly improve its reputation. There is a fear that the materials and the manufacturing process do not meet the strict EU guidelines. This concern is well founded, because in most cases the imported plastic is actually a material of inferior quality.

Plastic is so common precisely because it has low manufacturing costs. It also has numerous advantages over other materials, such as flexibility and low weight. But plastic is not just plastic. There are high-quality plastics that do not contain any plasticizers that are harmful to health. When choosing the right floor covering, you should check the quality of the plastic used.

Plastic flooring poses safety risks

Slippery surfaces can turn into slip traps when wet. There is a fear that synthetic flooring will behave in the same way. However, polymers are very flexible and it is possible to achieve R10 slip resistance with plastic tiles. This significantly reduces slip accidents in facilities that handle a lot of liquids, in both wet and dry conditions.

It is also believed that plastic catches fire easily and then produces toxic gases. However, plastic can not only be made non-slip but also fireproof, which means that the spread of flames is not supported and no toxic gases escape.

PVC flooring is not environmentally friendly

It is often assumed that PVC is extremely bad for the environment. However, if manufactured and reused in an environmentally friendly manner, the material can have a significantly lower negative impact on the environment than alternatives such as epoxy or vinyl. While PVC flooring is made from non-renewable resources such as petroleum, the material is extremely durable, resulting in a reduced carbon footprint over its lifespan. PVC can also be recycled. Ecotileboden, for example, produces PVC tiles that are bought back by customers at the end of their life cycle. The old tiles are melted down again to make the next generation of floor tiles.

There is no question that plastic consumption should be recited, especially when it comes to single-use plastic. However, the material has many advantages for certain applications and, when manufactured, processed and recycled appropriately, is less harmful to the environment than many of its alternatives.

Organic from the balcony: Grow your own herbs and spices

drying and processing

The key to drying is that the taste is retained. This works best in the air. The herbs should be harvested before the start of the flowering phase, preferably when it hasn’t rained for a few days. The herb stalks are tied together and hung at room temperature in a well-ventilated room. Drying usually takes between 24 and 48 hours. Alternatively, many herbs can also be frozen, especially if used in cooking. However, chopping it up later can be difficult. An insider tip for this are so-called grinders, which are normally used to crush cannabis. These are handy little cylinders in which plant material can be ground particularly finely and evenly. Zamnesia has listed a top 10 of the best grinder models, cheap models are available from around 10 euros. Once dried or frozen, the herbs can easily be stored for several months. Of course, they should be protected from direct sunlight and ideally kept in airtight containers.

Popular Varieties

Some herbs are a must because they are an integral part of Mediterranean cuisine. These are basil, rosemary, thyme, oregano and marjoram. They are used in a variety of recipes, including pasta sauces or meat dishes. Sage is also easy to care for and versatile. It is used in meat and fish dishes, but can also be drunk as a tea. Of course, dill and parsley should not be missing for German cuisine. Dill is particularly good in salad dressings, and parsley is a good addition to almost any soup. Incidentally, there are also some exotic spice plants that thrive on the balcony: for example lemongrass, which should be placed indoors for the winter.

herbal blends

Of course, you can also put together your own herbal mixtures with the local spice harvest. Herbs from Provence, which incidentally are not used in cooking in Provence, are mixed with oregano, rosemary, savory, thyme and basil. An Italian herb mix can be quickly conjured up from rosemary, oregano, sage and thyme. And the herb garden also produces more exotic combinations such as the Brazilian cheiro verde. All you have to do is combine chives, parsley, coriander and mint. And of course there are plenty of other recipes worth trying out.

“Hygge” – Happiness in everyday life

What does the word “hygge” actually mean?

The word originally comes from Norwegian and means: well-being.

The Danes, however, have adopted this word and use it to express nothing less than their national attitude towards happiness. And so the word “hygge” has many meanings among the Danes and can be used in any situation in life, as a noun (hygge), as a verb or as an adjective (hyggelig).

The Danes use the word hygge to describe a feeling of cosiness, security, comfort, being at home when something is comforting, pleasant, nice and good.

Hygge can be applied to almost anything: being together with friends and family, a cozy furnishing style, a situation that you like, a walk in nature, a delicious meal or drink, just everything in one a feeling of well-being, a moment of happiness.

Hygge is thus the art of creating intimacy, a feeling of close friendship, serenity, contentment, all combined in one word.

This is how it becomes “hyggelig” at home

The holiday season is high season for hygge at home. Because everything that gives us a feeling of warmth and comfort now is hygge. And since the days are at their darkest around Christmas time, the key element of hygge is the lighting. So: candles, candles and many more candles. A log fire is of course even better. But cozy and warm lighting in your home is the be-all and end-all of hygge.

Next, create a cozy atmosphere with cozy blankets and pillows in light natural tones or with plant prints, a fluffy rug and a decorative picture (nature!).

Plant pots fit well into the Scandinavian style of living – properly staged – as a calming natural element and as a decorative eye-catcher, you should not miss them either.

A simple bowl of fruit or biscuits on the table, along with a carafe of a refreshing drink or a fragrant pot of tea on a candle-lit warmer immediately invites you to linger.

Otherwise, hygge at home also means “less is more”. That means, out with the junk. It must not look too crowded, because comfort needs space. This also applies to the Christmas decorations. Better to skilfully stage selected pieces of jewelry than build up a “Hallelujah jungle”.

Not only at Christmas time, but in general, the Danes love a home where bright colours, natural materials and nature itself can be found in the form of plants. That’s why the furniture is often white with light wood elements, comes across as airy and light and rather minimalistic, but the candles, blankets, cushions and carpets make everything feel warm and cozy in the end and not cold and too modern.

Ultimately, your home is hyggelig if you find it comfortable and cosy.

Happiness in everyday life – this is how “hygge” works

Rather than making your own home hygge, hygge is a way of life. Namely the art of finding great happiness in the everyday little things. And that leaves room for endless possibilities.

A walk alone or with friends can be pure happiness.

Likewise, a warm, relaxing bath in the evening.

Snuggled up in a warm blanket on the sofa with tea and biscuits and a good book.

In general: take time for: reading a book, movie night, solving puzzles, knitting a scarf, meeting family and friends to eat and drink together, drinking mulled wine, baking cookies with the children, listening to good music, candlelight…

In short: Everything that makes you relaxed, happy, is a beautiful moment for you, everything is hygge. And of course this is not only possible at Christmas, but always. The only art is to be able to consciously perceive and enjoy it. Then there are countless hygge moments for everyone every day.

Cordless lawn mower: This must be considered when buying

The special feature of a cordless lawn mower

With a battery-powered lawn mower, lawns up to a size of up to 1000 square meters and more can be easily managed. In particular, mowing is simplified by cordless use of the lawnmower. This enables flexible and effective mowing. Another special feature of a battery-powered lawn mower is the background noise. While standard lawnmowers are often very loud, a cordless lawnmower is comparatively quiet, which means that mowing is also possible on public holidays, on Sundays or during rest periods.

Furthermore, the light weight speaks for the purchase of a cordless lawn mower. The lawnmower weighs significantly less than petrol-powered models. This is simply because the built-in battery pack is lighter compared to an internal combustion engine. The battery does not negatively affect the functionality in any way. On the contrary: Due to its lighter weight, it is considered extremely user-friendly. The performance is by no means inferior to that of conventional models, because cordless lawn mowers are available in 18 and 36 volt versions in order to offer the right balance between weight and performance for every user.

And if the battery is empty? With large garden plots, it can happen that the battery is empty while mowing. However, that is no cause for concern. When buying a cordless lawn mower, it is worth buying a replacement battery. These are not expensive and can ensure full performance of the lawn mower at all times.

But how much money can such a model cost? The battery-powered lawnmowers range between 400 and 1200 euros and are therefore relatively expensive to buy. However, since, unlike other models, no petrol is purchased, the follow-up costs are significantly lower. Quality should be paid for and this also applies to lawn mowers with battery operation.

The best models convince with these accessories

A lawnmower should not only be functional, but also efficient. Therefore, the quality of the mowing is particularly important to consider when purchasing. Both quality and quantity should be considered here. On the one hand the lawnmower should be fast and on the other hand it should mow precisely. To make this possible, care should be taken to ensure that the cutting surface of the lawnmower is wide. So you can mow faster.

In order to continue to get a precise result, it is necessary to pay attention to the timing of mowing. Cordless lawn mowers mow best when the cutting height of the lawn is about 3-5 centimeters. For an even more precise result, the best models allow the lawn mower to be adjusted to better adapt it to the cutting height.

Furthermore, the lawnmower should match your own garden area. As long as the garden is at ground level, there should be no problems. With a garden located on a slope, however, it is advisable to buy special accessories – including a wheel drive. This ensures efficient mowing even on steep slopes.

The larger the garden, the more green waste there is when mowing. If the garden is larger than 300 square meters, it is worth investing in a larger collection basket. This saves users having to attach and detach the collection basket to empty the green waste over and over again. With a larger collection basket, users can mow the entire garden in one go.

Depending on the model, the mulching function is either already integrated in the cordless lawn mower or can be purchased as an additional service. The mulching function is particularly worthwhile in summer. With this, the cut lawn can be used directly as fertilizer or can be processed into humus on the compost. In this way, the mowed lawn can even be “recycled”! An environmentally friendly mowing is so safe.

Finally, security can be gained with a battery indicator. This is not installed in every lawnmower and is therefore assigned to the additional accessories. With this, the battery status can be checked at any time. If the battery needs to be charged or changed, users can react directly.

Conclusion – flexible mowing with a cordless lawn mower

A cordless lawnmower guarantees quiet, flexible, odorless and environmentally friendly mowing! Gasoline smells when mowing the lawn are now history with such a model and the ears are also protected. Also, the nerves are no longer bare when mowing the lawn: There are no more twisted cables and the body of the lawn mower is easy to move thanks to its light weight.

A good area performance is also guaranteed by using a spare battery. However, an exact area performance per battery cannot be determined because all models are different. However, 500 to 800 square meters per battery can be quite possible and such a lawn mower is also suitable for large garden dreams.

With a battery-powered lawn mower, garden lovers can start straight away and beautify their own green space. The lawn mowers are ready to use and can be switched on and off at the touch of a button. To ensure the safety of fellow human beings and small children, it is also possible to buy models that are operated with a key. One thing is certain: a battery-powered lawnmower always impresses with its flexible use.