So it makes profound sense to make sure that you get the right mattress. But what is the right mattress for you and how do you choose? If you haven’t had to think about buying a mattress for some time then you may be surprised at how much high technology goes into mattresses. The traditional simple spring mattresses of earlier generations has long been surpassed by ultra sophisticated materials and construction using space age techniques pioneered for NASA. Here’s a check list to decide which mattress is right for you. First consider your budget. Unfortunately you do mostly get what you pay for when buying mattresses – a cheap mattress probably means a poor experience. So this is an item of expenditure where you should try to allocate what you can reasonably afford rather than look to cut corners. On the bright side a good memory foam mattress will last for up to 20 years, so the cost per day actually works out to be only a few cents. Which is very good value.

If you decide to go for a conventional spring mattress then aim for a pocket sprung rather than a spring frame one if you possibly can. The former will have you rolling into any one you share the bed with. Foam mattresses are more comfortable than spring and memory foam is best of all – though more expensive. A key indicator of quality for foam is its density. When comparing brands make sure you find out before deciding which to buy.

If you have back problems, be wary of mattresses sold as orthopaedic. The old thinking was that very firm was best for backs, but this is no longer seen as valid. A study published in the Lancet medical journal suggested that a good quality memory foam mattress could help back pain sufferers.

Finally consider the size of mattress you need. The so called twin and standard sized mattresses are pretty cramped for a couple – in fact each adult has about the size of a crib mattress each! If you have the room, go for a queen or king sized. If you like your space, a California King is the largest standard sized mattress available, although you may be able to find the new and larger Alaska sized beds in some specialist places.

If you want more advice on mattress and what to consider then king-mattresses might be able to help.

Learn more about this author, Diggle.

#1. Purchase the most comfortable bed you can afford. When looking for a new mattress, try to buy something that will last for years and feel comfortable. Many of the hotel beds are now pillow tops, with an extra layer of cushion on top of the mattress itself. If you can’t afford a new bed, you can purchase your own feather bed that will lay on top of your current mattress. Not all feather beds are made from feathers, so purchase what you like and lay it across the top of the mattress and you’ll instantly feel the difference.

#2. Headboards are essential. Not everyone has a headboard on their bed, but headboards give a sense of importance to the bed and make it look structurally finished. You can buy inexpensive headboards from garage sales, antique stores or even new in catalogs. Refinish them in they need some work or even cover them in fabric that matches your room for a really regal look. Fasten the headboard so that it is sturdy and you’ll have the look and structure that make the hotel bed really stand out.

#3. Purchase hotel bedding. Many hotels now offer in-hotel stores where you can actually purchase the same sheets and bedding that they use in their hotel rooms. Keep in mind, this can be expensive, but you might want to make just a purchase of the bedspread or just sheets and augment the look on your own. If you can’t afford the same bedding, look for the highest thread count sheets you can afford. Many times these go on sale around the holidays, or at the end of a season, so watch for sales. The higher the thread count, the softer the sheets. And ALWAYS purchase white sheets. This way, you can buy two sets or more and mix and match and you’ll never have to worry about mismatched sheets.

#4. Purchase a good wool or micro fleece blanket. Many hotels place a soft wool blanket on top of the sheets to provide a bit more warmth. Like clothing, layering your bedding will make everyone happy. If you are too warm, you can always drop a layer and your bedmate can still keep warm on the other side.

#5. Your outer bedding should be simple. Often, hotels use bedspreads rather than comforters that are already filled with stuffing of some sort. Purchase a well-made, heavy bedspread in a luxurious fabric to replicate the hotel feel and you’ll be happy with the result.

#6. Buy a duvet! Aside from everything else, hotel beds feel luxurious because they are soft and feel fluffy and warm. Adding a duvet will help you achieve the loft and warmth and it will last for ages. You can place this under the bedspread or just use it instead of one, adding a simple duvet cover in a simple cotton fabric.

If all of these things are not in your budget, think white above all else. White sheets, layers of white pillows that are regular size and overstuffed, and a simple white duvet with white cotton blanket will make you feel luxurious. Velvet or silk will up the luxury, but you don’t need to overdo things. Make your bed the softest place you can imagine and you’ll achieve the hotel feel right in your own bedroom.

Learn more about this author, Heidi Sinnett.

Kitchen cabinets add a dimension to the home that is enjoyed by all the family, and the reason that so much care should go into the choice of kitchen cabinets is that there are so many variables. This article covers all the elements to be aware of when picking your kitchen cabinets, and helps the consumer to make wise choices, bearing in mind likes and dislikes, though going further than that to cover what contributes to successful choices.

We plan a kitchen layout possibly once or twice in a lifetime, and it is the planning stages that lead to the successful choice of kitchen cabinets. There are so many variables that need to be taken into account. This article is written to address the variables and to help the buyer to make a wise choice, bearing in mind the size of kitchen, the space available for cabinets, and also the incorporation of appliances to blend in with their cabinet choice. It also covers costs as budget does matter to those choosing to replace the cabinets which make their kitchen updated and stylish, functional and within a price range which is affordable.

*Planning.
*Dead areas.
*Accessories.
*Storage.
*A ppliances.
*Finish
*Weaknesses to look out for.

PLANNING

In the planning stages, making a graph of the layout of your kitchen is essential. Many professional kitchen installers will present you with different layouts, though having the basic measurements written down is essential. Here, mark where there are doors which open into the kitchen, since these impede the installation of cabinets close to them. Take note of where the windows are, since this matters to the installation of cabinets for the wall area. Look at where you are likely to want a cooker hood over a hob, since this also changes the amount of space required for the choice of cabinets.

Mark out the area which is available for cabinets, without getting in the way of fixtures and features you have no control over. Mark also the areas where you have existing electricity supply, and where you need more power points before buying cabinets. In drawing out a plan, it is wise to make two plans on the same piece of paper, one showing lower cabinets, and one showing the wall mounted cabinets. Before deciding which areas should have fitted cabinets, also look at what you wish to incorporate into the kitchen as free standing items such as fridges need their space as well and you may wish to incorporate existing ones. If this is the case, measure them, and allow for this in your plans.

When faced with the empty space between four walls, it is difficult to know where to start an interior decorating project. An empty room is similar to a blank canvas, but like the painter who stares at the matte white surface, a designer needs to know what they want to create. It’s the same for any homeowner trying to start a room. Often people begin by choosing a piece of furniture they like, only to discover upon delivery that it is too

traditional, too contemporary, or not at all what they wanted for their interior decorating design. Without a clear idea of the type of room they want to develop, a homeowner ends up with a complicated mix of objects, lamenting the loss of the masterpiece they had hoped to create.

As any artist will tell you, creating a masterpiece takes time and some inspiration. Creating an interior requires the same. Art is a means to express a certain emotion. Rooms are decorated to inspire a certain feel. Isolating this is the first step in turning an empty room into a living work of art. The feel can be many things. People often want their main living spaces to feel warm and inviting or cool and sophisticated. The feel a room is intended to inspire determines what elements will go into it.

Isolating the feel is easier than it might sound. There are hundreds of books on the market with pictures of well designed interiors. Equally as accessible are the many home magazines available at supermarkets and bookstores. Further down on the list, but just as common, are home themed catalogues and websites. All of these are resources in determining the feel of a room. Start by looking through them. It should be immediately apparent if a room is appealing or not. If so, set it aside. After several have been collected, go back through them paying careful attention to the feel the rooms in the photographs inspire. Do they bring memories of the beach? Are they formal and elegant, or do they remind you of a sleek and powerful office in a New York City high rise? Finding this feel is the start to creating a masterpiece out of the blank canvas of your room.

Deciding on the feel you want to inspire may seem easy compared to choosing what goes into an interior decorating project. Again, the pictures can help. Look at the ones that most closely exhibit the feel. Start with colors. Colors come with a powerful psychology and can do much to inspire emotion. Blues and some greens are cool colors, excellent for rooms that receive sunshine or for giving a room a refreshing breathy feel. Conversely, reds and golds are warm colors and bring a cozy or elegant feel to the room. Furniture style also plays a part in determining the feel of a room. A dominance of straight lines and minimal upholstery loft brings about a different feel than furniture that incorporates rounded edges, springy cushions or a high level of detail. Lastly, by paying attention to the types of window treatments in use, and any accent pieces, a design can be polished off to inspire the perfect feel.

The idea of creating from a blank canvas is always a refreshing one, but is often not practical. Most rooms have a few elements that can’t be hauled away or gotten rid of. Often, flooring materials are too costly to change, and built-in units have to be worked around. Sometimes, certain pieces of furniture must remain. When embarking on a creation already in progress, make a list of what has to stay. Knowing this makes it possible to see what feel a room is already inspiring. Once this is determined, the idea is much the same. Find the feel you hope to achieve and use the appropriate styles and colors to help bring your room closer to your idea of a masterpiece. Bringing about a change in feel can be done in simple ways. Floors can be covered with a large rug, colors can be changed and even built-ins can be coaxed into exhibiting a different feel by the objects placed around them. It may not be possible to change an Old English Traditional interior to a sleek and minimalist room, but it is possible to come closer to this feel by carefully blending what is there with new objects closer to the ideal design.

Largely, art and interior decorating are about inspiring or expressing a feeling. Both work with the principals and elements of design to create a pleasing effect, but knowing in advance what that will be is the first step to creating any work of art. By knowing how to break down what you see, it is possible to turn any room into a work of art.

Learn more about this author, Kathleen Hesketh.

Keeping a lawn lush and green is often time-consuming and expensive, especially if you have a large yard or live in an area that is too dry for a traditional lawn, has soil that’s too poor or where water isn’t plentiful. Many homeowners are shifting away from a traditional lawn and searching for lawn-less yard solutions that are both appealing and user friendly like the following.

*European Style Courtyard

Using a tall, solid privacy fence with a door-type gate for entrance allows you to turn even your front yard into a private family oasis. Brick or paving stones make an excellent floor where mosses thrive between the cracks.

You can leave any existing trees for shade and simply pave around them. Add planters or shrubs around the perimeter, a small fountain or pond and a few comfortable benches to turn an unused yard into a fun space. View one here: http://www.theapothecaryhouse. net/images/the%20courtyard.jpg

*Rock Gardens

There’s something so peaceful about a rock garden. Large boulders or raised rolling berms covered in large rocks create a stunning display when planted with trailing plants and drought tolerant flowers. A small patch of grass at the edge invites you to sit and dream.

Rock gardens are very easy to care for if the plants are chosen carefully. A few good choices are dianthus, moss rose, dwarf iris, primrose, thrift, shamrocks, yucca, ornamental grasses, yew and small trees and shrubs. View several rock gardens here: http://www.stonesmith.net/RG.h tml

*Wildlife Habitat

Turn your backyard into a wildlife refuge. Make a meadow of wildflower, grasses and trees that are left undisturbed to create homes for the wildlife in your area such as native birds, bats, beneficial insects, rabbits and squirrels.

With the loss of habitat due to the building of new homes and industries, many creatures are just barely hanging on at the fringes of our towns. Let your lawn-less yard invite them to your house. View a backyard wildlife habitat here: http://uwarboretum.org/images/ eps/links/woodland_restoration s.jpg

*Old Fashion Cottage Gardens

Turn your home into a Thomas Kincaid painting when you create a Cottage Garden with flowers like those that grandma grew. Start at your door planting taller clumps of perennial flowers and plants and work your way to the street using shorter flowers at the edge of the pathway.

Some excellent choices are hollyhocks, delphinium, foxglove and cosmos. Line the edge of your beds with bricks, stones or just a little trench and fill your walkways with pine needles or paving tiles. Add an arbor or trellis for climbing varieties at the entrance to your yard to add some interest. View a cottage garden here: http://decorvillage.files.word press.com/2007/09/go-informal. jpg

*Formal Herb or Rose Garden

The English have beautiful herb and rose gardens surrounded by neatly trimmed shrubs that form a mosaic design. Herbs for the most part take good care of themselves and roses arent time consuming either. Use a good mulch to keep grass from growing back and make your walkways the width of your lawn mower for easy maintenance. View one: http://static.howstuffworks.co m/gif/how-to-grow-an-herb-gard en-5.jpg

*Drought Tolerant Garden

If you live in a dry western state or where there are watering bans, there are plenty of drought tolerant plants with which to fill your yard. Create irregularly shaped beds with a meandering path that leads to the door.

You could plant cactus and cover the soil with sand or pebbles or if you prefer traditional flowers try coreopsis, baby’s breath, bellflower, Shasta daisies, coneflower, lavender and hundreds of other choices. There are beautiful grasses as well such as Maiden Grass, Blue Fescue and Northern Sea oats. View one here: http://i.ehow.com/images/Globa lPhoto/Articles/2377598/P10100 06-main_Full.jpg

*Create a Mini Farm

Use that green thumb and turn your yard into a mini farm. Run trellises up fences and the backside of your house for climbing varieties and make raised beds to help control weeds and for aesthetic purposes. Grow one item to sell or grow all your favorites.

You may even have enough left to share with friends or to sell. If there is room and no ordinances prohibit it, you could even raise a few chickens or rabbits or you could start a dog kennel. View a backyard farm here: http://dominomag.typepad.com/p hotos/uncategorized/2008/06/12 /farm_2.jpg

*Create A Park

Pave that lawn-less yard with cement or brick or cover it with gravel or pebbles and add a large fishpond with water lilies, cattails and other aquatic life. A fountain will do if the fishpond is too much maintenance. A few pieces of outdoor artwork, a graceful gazebo and some comfortable benches will create a welcoming oasis for neighbors and friends. Border the yard with shrubs or flowers. View one here: http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kuln m8Gjhh8/SBR5joJUU5I/AAAAAAAAGD o/cszjUkc4eZY/s400/backyard.jp g

*Build A Swimming Pool

Once the grass is gone, build that swimming pool with a waterfall you always wanted and create a patio as a gathering place for friends and family. Incorporate an existing back porch by creating an outside room complete with comfortable furniture and mood lighting for entertaining in the evenings. Get ideas here: http://www.unilock.com/images/ designIdeas/0000000004-13md.jp g

*Build A Place To Play

There’ll be no need to join a gym if you turn your backyard into a fun place to exercise. You can build a tennis or basketball court, a track for running or pole vaulting, a putting green or a children’s play area complete with a jungle gym, swings, monkey bars, slide and a sandbox. Create a skateboarders heaven or a track for dirt biking. View one here: http://www.componentplayground s.com/images/Gallery/CH/CH52-1 0_greencolors_bluetireswing_ex trasupportbars_large.jpg

Whatev er the reason you wish to go lawn-less, you can achieve it without lowering your curb appeal with a lawn-less yard solution more in tune with your needs and lifestyle. Find the perfect solution for your family and add to the value of you home. Don’t be afraid to think outside the box, after all, it is your yard. Just be considerate of any close neighbors.

Learn more about this author, Pamela Kay.