Guest Post

5 Amazing Tips to Choose the Best Dining Chairs to Add Grace to Your Dining Decor

May 30, 2018 by Painter Mommy 1 Comment

The dining room is the ideal place to enjoy your meal times and share memorable moments with both friends and family. Being a multi-functional room that hosts daily dinner time with your family, hosts regular Sunday dinner meetings with your extended family or hosts the ever-so-occasional special dinner parties, it’s important to decorate and make the place as beautiful as possible. It is crucial to make sure your dining room furniture matches your exceptional personal style to reflect your way of life, and ensure it is both functional and livable.

Among the most important components of a dining room is your chairs. You should make certain that chairs in your dining space are of the right height for the table, comfortable, and made of durable fabric. There are many questions you should ask yourself before getting the right chairs for your dining room. Luckily, the following tips will guide you to choosing the best dining chairs to add grace to your dining decor.

Buy easy to move chairs

You should consider choosing dining chairs that are easily movable around the house. Portable dining chairs can serve double duty as they can be used as extra seats in the living room when hosting guests. Furthermore, movable dining chairs enable easy change of your dining room design and appearance.

Consider mixing up the dining table chair designs

Acquiring dining chairs of different designs for the same room offers a complementary rather than a matching feeling. Mixing up the plan for your dining chairs provides a mismatched geometric setting brought about by painting the chairs in different colors or when decorated in the same fabric. If you are a fan of a particular style and material, say bucket seats, you should consider acquiring dining chairs that come with diverse backrest designs.

Settle for comfortable and high-quality fabric for your chairs

Comfort and quality are among the main factors to consider when choosing the best chairs to add to your dining room. Consider going for the best fabric that will offer high comfort levels to your guests. Having comfortable chairs in your dining room ensures you get the most value out of the products you have purchased.

Choose the best size for your chairs

The dining room is a busy place that requires clear and clean movement area. Selecting seats that are 18 inches in height provides the much-needed space as they can easily slide under the dining table. Your chairs should offer a minimum of 12 inches space between the dining chair surface and the tabletop to ensure comfortable seating while providing enough legroom.

Seek the services of professional interior designers

Professional interior designers and home decor experts will advise you on the best dining chairs to go for. Their experience in decoration will be vital in helping you choose the best chairs to add the much-needed grace in your dining room. Furthermore, you may consider exploring websites such as the Modern Dining Chairs for Sale at Modern Digs, which offer dining chair for sale.

DIY Tips: Master a Classic Milk Paint Finish

May 24, 2018 by Painter Mommy Leave a Comment

When it comes to discussing milk paint, it seems that many people are misled about what milk paint is, as they seem to think that it is the same as chalk paint. But the reality is that while chalk paint is certainly fun to use, milk paint is something totally different from chalk paint and it provides a totally different finish in comparison to chalk paint.

Upscale finish

Though it is possible to distress milk paint to achieve a finish that looks shabby and chalky, you will most assuredly realize the difference between the paints once you work with them. The outcome is that you can achieve a finish that is much more upscale and modern when you use milk paint. For example, you can create a look that is weathered or restored, which is highly fashionable these days.

No primer required

The good news is that no primer is required when you paint raw wood with milk paint. When you apply the milk paint, you will notice that it has the appearance of wood stain or ink if the color is dark. The paint will be semi-watery and will have a high level of pigmentation. You will love the intensity and vibrancy.

Dries quickly and provides a nice stain appearance

This paint dries rather quickly. It is not uncommon for it to be dry in fifteen minutes. You will enjoy the stain look it provides for wood once it is dry. This paint is unique by its own right and definitely does not resemble chalk paint when it dries.

Good coverage and no brush strokes

Milk paint seems like paint that is thinned out with water and the good news is that you do not need a lot for good coverage. And you are going to be so impressed that your brush strokes will not be visible when the paint dries.

Remove dry paint with wet cloth

You can paint two layers of paint, one on top of another. The fun thing is that when the paint is dry, you can gently rub a slightly wet cloth to remove a bit of paint to provide a distressed type of finish that you are looking for. Other paints must be wet for removal when trying to achieve a distressed look. This process with milk paint, therefore, is fun and intriguing.

As a result, you have much better control when being able to distress with a damp cloth instead of using sand paper or steel wool, which are required with other types of paint, including chalk paint. You will achieve a more subtle and blended finish with this type of distressed technique, which makes your projects look polished and professional.

Start your own project

Maybe it is time for you to try some milk paint on a lovely old table or dresser that you want to breathe new life into to match your updated décor. You will surely have so much fun with the wide variety of color combinations that are available.

So when you are thinking about DIY for spring, milk paint truly is a new painting technique that is great to try. Realmilkpaint.com has all the supplies you will need. The quality of the milk paint is impeccable.

Sweltering Style – Switching Up Your Patio For Summer Vibes

May 21, 2018 by Painter Mommy Leave a Comment

After the colder winter and the associated hibernation, many of us welcome the return to warmer climate through extended stays in outdoor entertaining areas.

If your home’s outdoor space is in need of a bit of a spruce-up, the following ideas may help you create a space which is ripe for summer enjoyment, right in the nick of time.

Gimme Shelter

Although the warmth of summer sun can be pleasant and relaxing, the full heat of Australian summer can also be both dangerous and uncomfortable. If you’re looking to get the more use and enjoyment from your outdoor entertaining area, it can be a good idea to install adequate shade and sun protection.

Outdoor blinds are an ideal way to block out direct light and to control the temperature and glare of an area. They’re also available in a wide range of designs and colours, meaning that you can find a solution for your patio which will enhance the area while providing you with much needed comfort.

Another excellent solution is shadecloth. Shadecloth can be directly installed to overhead wooden beams to partially block out overhead light and dim the area, without completely shading the space.

For a tailored and comfortable solution, combining methods of sun protection is a great way to ensure you get the most from your space.

Light It Up

Outdoor lighting is another key consideration if you’re in the process of revamping your outdoor entertainment area for summer. With longer evenings and warm nights, the temptation to entertain and remain outdoors grows, and so it becomes necessary to provide a source of outdoor lighting.

Solar lights provide a cheap and environmentally friendly way to illuminate your social occasions. They can be installed in a number of ways, including lanterns, spotlights and fairy lights – meaning that you can light the area in a way which suits your space and your occasion.

LED lights are another low cost alternative and are able to be installed to a level of brightness which suits your needs.

Consider providing a lightsource which will deter bugs and pests, such as a bug zapper or a citronella candle. These light sources can keep you comfortable throughout the mosquito prone months.

Taste The Outdoors

If you’re spending more time outdoors socially, it makes sense that you may be considering outdoor cooking facilities. The barbeque is a much loved and time tested outdoor cooking apparatus, and can be used in summer with great gusto.

For a high-quality change, consider installing a wood fired oven or an outdoor cooker to really create a foodie heaven. A wood fired oven can make more than delicious pizza. It can also cook cakes and roast meats and vegetables. An outdoor cooker is like an indoor stove – without the restriction of walls. These are great for preparing high dexterity and high heat dishes such as curries, stir fries and deep fried dishes.

Outdoor cooking solutions provide you with an extra way to cook at all times of year – even in the cooler months. You might find them particularly handy when cooking particularly pungent or less welcomed foods (eg; cabbage soup or kimchi).

Pump Up The Volume

Speakers. Music. Action! An outdoor entertaining area isn’t complete without a little bit of entertainment. An easy way to integrate some fun into your outdoor area is through the installation of speakers or a sound system.

Clever positioning of speakers will allow you to enjoy music outdoors without incurring the anger or wrath of any neighbours. It will also allow you to enjoy streamed indoor content or radio broadcasts without the need for a clunky, static-filled boombox.

Setting up your outdoor entertaining area for summer as easy as preparing in advance. Get your climate and shade sorted, figure out your cooking methodologies and choose a playlist. Then it’s time to get the party started!

What are the benefits of using Montessori materials?

May 21, 2018 by Painter Mommy Leave a Comment

Montessori education became very popular during the past few years. A child’s intellectual development will influence who he will become as an adult. It is highly important to promote high self-esteem, positive relationships with other people, value systems and so on. Today, traditional education does not cover such things because it is based on transmitting and recreating blocks of information. Traditional education tends to focus more on the theoretical part of learning rather than the practical one. Thus, personality and preferences are formed in the very same mold, which will later lead to transforming children in similar adults, with almost the same preferences and ideals. This is the main difference between Montessori and traditional education. In the case of Montessori, children are given more freedom. The journey to becoming an adult is complex and attention must be paid to the entire process of developing both mentally and spiritually.

Montessori education offers children ideal environments for each stage development they are in. Using specific Montessori supplies allows children to act according to their personality and choose what seems attractive for them only. Children are not forced to engage themselves in activities they do not enjoy. Montessori education encourages reaching the maximum potential of every child, letting them use each side of their personality with the sole purpose of intellectually developing themselves. When talking about traditional education, the activity is mostly directed by a teacher. As for Montessori, activity is not guided, but independent. This way, kids have the opportunity to discover everything all by themselves, by using Montessori toys.

Each aspect that’s included in the educational curriculum used in Montessori is somehow encouraging creativity and analytical thinking. Children will choose the activities they are attracted to because of the skills they possess. Compared to traditional education, Montessori allows forming groups of differently aged children. They can choose any activity available, regardless of their age and develop their skills at their own pace. The materials used in Montessori are colorful and eye-catching, making children want to try them. Puzzles, toys that include geometrical shapes, logic games – these are all Montessori materials that boost the independence of a child’s thinking. There is no need for a professor to correct the children, as they are learning by themselves, looking for solutions until they finally manage to find them.

Because kids are interacting with the surroundings, including both the materials used and the other participants, individually developing social and intellectual skills is natural, and not forced, as in the case of traditional learning. Through self-motivation and self-correction, children become more aware of their freedom, of their capabilities and their sensorial input-output. Breaking complicating learning into these small steps used in Montessori education helps the child gain confidence. There is no concept of right and wrong, being replaced by trial and error. The freedom of how much time kids choose to spend for one task, the attention they offer to certain details and the state of deep concentration they experience are results of the possibility to choose for themselves.

Author Bio:

Rana Tarakji is an entrepreneur and a contributing writer at One SEO, a digital marketing agency, who lives in Beirut, Lebanon. Rana Tarakji is passionate about digital marketing, startups, helping entrepreneurs grow, and empowering them to live their dreams. She has worked as a marketer, a technology co-founder and business developer, and a writer.

7 Mental Health Benefits of Flowers You Didn’t Know

April 24, 2018 by Painter Mommy Leave a Comment

If you’ve been under the burden of stress and anxiety and don’t know why or how to help yourself, perhaps you should think out of the box and order some flowers for yourself. Few people know the immediate positive impacts flowers have on our minds, so it’s well worth considering. Given below are seven leading psychological benefits that flowers have on us, so don’t pooh-pooh the idea. Instead, go ahead and try it.

Flowers’ fragrances can be stress-busters: Floral fragrances or aromatherapy is the science of using flower oils and essential oils f you’ve never heard about aromatherapy, here is a quick intro to the topic. This kind of therapy is basically a practice of using flower oils, including essential oils, for physical and psychological well-being. It’s been scientifically proven that oils of some flowers can provide significant health benefits if used correctly and safely. It is believed that the oils of such flowers as rose, jasmine, lavender, and chamomile are especially good for the task.
Flowers boost memory and concentration: When flowers oxygenate the air, our brain cells are boosted so that we are more energized and alert. It really doesn’t matter which flowers you choose, but according to experts, it’s better to use bamboo or succulents to get these effects. For one, these are fast-growing plants but they also need the minimal care. And the most overriding benefit for our minds is that they supercharge our brains.

It’s not uncommon for people to lose their train of thoughts or not know why they’ve entered a particular room or what they wanted from their cupboards. Instead of worrying about being subjected to such experiences, it would help vastly if you have plants in your home as this would boost your memory and concentration. When plants oxygenate the air, your brain cells get an extra boost and you feel better than before. Choose a long-lasting plant or go in for a mix of bamboo and easy care succulents. These plants need to be watered just once a week, they grow quickly and they energize your brain immensely.

Flowers are mood-uppers: To know the connection between mental health and flowers, notice the effect on you when you are gifted a bunch of them. Your mood improves immediately and you feel happy suddenly. According to studies, flowers also give you an extra boost of creative solutions and ideas. By having flowers near you when you’re blue, you can experience a better mood, which can help you cope better with your problems, and perhaps find solutions to them too.
Flowers relieve anxiety: For some people, anxiety is a part of life. Anxiety dogs their every step–whether it is family tensions or work stresses. But there’s an easy way out. All you need do is to buy flowers or grow them and have them in your midst. The colours and fragrance of flowers can help you get rid of anxiety and bring tranquillity into your life.
Flowers reduce depression: Few people know that the link between one’s satisfaction level and flowers is extremely important, but a Rutgers University study proved this. By having flowers around you in your home, your happiness increases, your depression vanishes and you are less anxious. Flowers also help enhance your emotional connect with your family and friends. At work, you’re more energetic and productive and your problem-solving skills and creativity are at an all-time high

1. Flowers stimulate the brain: Research proves that those who grow flowers or have them in vases at home did much better in memory tests than others. When flowers are placed on employees’ desks, it is known to stimulate them mentally and help them concentrate better and be more productive. According to studies, flowers play a great role in easing depression and anxiety and enhance compassion towards others, including animals.
2. Flowers help you relax: When people are generally stressed, they often turn to gardening. Why? Because, watching something come to life right before you can be cathartic and often, floral scents reduce stress and help you relax. Try this with a sprig of rosemary and watch your tension melting away.

Other flowers that have a calming effect on you include violets that calm the nerves and mind; daffodils stimulates the nervous system and aids memory; orange marigold is known to make you optimistic, and blue hydrangea can bring you the peace and calm you want in your life.

Conclusion: One of life’s miracles is that beautiful flowers have a beneficial effect on one’s mind and body. And the glorious truth is that they aren’t just effective but non-toxic and do not have any side effects. Now that you know this great truth, appreciate flowers as gifts of Nature and benefit from all that flowers can do for your peace of mind and better productivity, among other things.