Archives for March 2017

Tips For Designing a Child’s Bedroom

Designing a child’s bedroom is perhaps the most challenging decorating endeavor of them all.  It has to be fun and engaging during the day, yet quiet and lulling during the night.  In addition, it must be safe and healthy at all times. To achieve that, you will have to consider numerous factors including the layout and furniture.  If the room is of limited size or occupied by two or more children, your task will be even more complicated.  Still, complicated doesn’t mean impossible.  And if you are creative and plan everything, you will be able to design a perfect kid’s room.  We’re sharing parenting tips on designing a child’s bedroom:

designing a child's bedroom

 

Start with a Color Palette

The color palette will set the tone for your remaining décor efforts.  So, don’t take the color palette lightly.  Color can affect a kids’ behavior in many ways.  For example, nurturing sensitivity, causing restlessness and encouraging confidence. Here are some useful hints for using color:

  • Red, as a prevailing color, causes anxiety, but it is great when used as accents.
  • Orange promotes confidence.
  • Yellow boosts concentration, but it shouldn’t be used in large amounts.
  • Green is calming and it improves comprehension.  According to some people, it improves reading skills.
  • Blue is a stress reliever.
  • Purple inspires compassion and sensitivity.
  • Pink is soothing.

It is also important to note that warm tones, in general, evoke happiness.  Cool colors (if used properly) have a soothing effect.

Introduce Furniture

The basic furniture pieces every kid’s room needs are a bed, a dresser, and a practical storage solution. Everything else will depend on your kids’ specific needs and preferences, as well as on the size of the room. To be sure you’re on the right track, just follow these guidelines:

  • The furniture needs to be the right size for the children.
  • Kids need lots of storage for their toys and stuff. Make sure the storage is simple for them to organize the things.
  • Leave enough floor space for playing.
  • Add some fun to it (e.g. a roof on the bed, a slide that makes getting out of bed in the morning much more fun, etc.).
  • Be prepared for sleepovers (extra bed or mattress).

Encourage Various Activities

Kids’ room should be a space where children learn about the world and enjoy. Depending on their age, the room should include various areas aimed at different activities. A reading nook (just throw on some pillows in the corner, add a floor lamp and a bookshelf) is useful for all ages, while a homework station is great addition for schoolers. Include something creative, such as a zone for creating art (small wooden table, with papers, pencils, scissors, etc.), a playing area (one part of the room that is not too crowded) or a nook for socializing (several lazy bags arranged in a circle).

Make It Fun, Creative and Engaging

 

kid's bedroom decorating ideasPhoto Credits: hative.com

 

Kids’ room should emit positive energy, but also inspire imaginative thinking. This can happen if you enrich the room with various accessories and additions, such as dry-erase wallpaper, chalkboard walls, alphabet and maps posters, creative area rugs, building blocks and other decorative toys.

Solutions for a Shared Kid’s Room

If you think that you can’t pull all this off in a small shared kids’ room, you are wrong. Of course, it will be challenging, but you can do it, especially with these tips:

  • Use bunk beds.
  • Or wall-mounted sliding tracks so that the beds can be separated for sleeping, and stacked on one side of the room during the day.
  • Go vertical with storage.
  • Divide the closet with extra shelves and storage boxes.
  • Store stuff under the bed in bins and boxes.

Unless you are designing a nursery, don’t forget to ask your children for their opinion. After all, they are the ones that will have to spend their days and nights in that room.  We hope that you have found our tips on designing a child’s bedroom helpful.

About the author:  Molly is a blogger at Smooth Decorator based in Australia. She is a student of Art and design. Drawing, photography and especially urban design are her passions. When she’s not writing, she enjoys watching documentary movies about the history of art and interior design.

4 Simple Ways to Prevent Allergies in Your Home

 

ways to prevent allergeries

 

Common allergies can cause people to live with annoying, painful symptoms. If you have allergies, then you have probably experienced headaches, runny noses, sleepless nights, and other problems. You can put an end to your suffering — and the suffering of your family members — by using these four simple ways to prevent allergies in your home.


Keep Pets Off Furniture

Letting your pets get on the furniture will cause problems for people who are sensitive to dander. Instead of letting your dog or cat share the couch with you, get a separate bed that will keep your furry friend comfortable. It only takes a small amount of training for domestic animals to understand that they aren’t allowed on furniture.

If you can’t resist snuggling with your pet, get a hypoallergenic breed that won’t make allergic people feel sick. Popular hypoallergenic breeds include:

 

  • Bichon Frise
  • Chinese Crested
  • Poodle
  • Schnauzer

Cats tend to cause more allergic reactions than dogs, but there are a few hypoallergenic breeds to consider.

Replace Your HVAC System’s Air Filter

Your home’s HVAC system can remove a lot of allergens from the air. It can only do the job well, though, when it has a clean filter to capture dust, pet dander, and other allergens.

Some experts recommend replacing air filters once per month. That works as a general rule, but in reality, your filter will collect more dirt during times of the year when you use your air conditioner or furnace frequently. Inspect your filter monthly to see if you need to replace it. Don’t let more than 90 days pass between replacements, though. If it’s been 90 days, your home’s indoor air quality will benefit from a new filter.

Ask People to Use Doormats Before Coming In

When you think of pollen, you probably imagine it floating through the air. The air’s pollen count will affect allergies, but so will pollen that enters your home in other ways. Your shoes are one of the most common ways to track pollen into a house. When you walk across the lawn, you collect large amounts of pollen from small plants.

You can limit the amount of pollen that enters your home by having everyone wipe their feet before entering. It’s a good idea to put a mat on the inside and outside of each exterior doorway. With two doormats, you’ll take control of the pollen that tries to enter your house on shoes.

Vacuum and Dust Weekly

No matter what you do, some allergens will get inside your home. Regular cleaning is the best way to prevent the allergens from accumulating. Take time to vacuum and dust each room every week.

If you don’t already clean once per week, then it may take a while for you to get into the habit. Eventually, though, spending a few hours vacuuming and dusting will seem like a normal thing to do on the weekends.

It only takes a little effort to banish allergens from your home. In return, your household will enjoy better health and freedom from the sneezing, coughing, and other irritations that are caused by allergic reactions.

We hope that you find our tips on Simple Ways to Prevent Allergies beneficial.   You may also like Choosing the Perfect Pet for Your Family and House Cleaning Tips for Busy Moms.

 

 

 

Inspirational Quotes – Passion

quotes

Sunday’s Best Linkup – #117

 

Sunday's Best Linkup

 

Welcome to Week 117 of Mother 2 Mother’s Sunday’s Best Linkup.  We’re continuing our Bunny Trail theme. We’re looking for spring and Easter crafts, recipes, party ideas, cocktails, and recipes for baked goods and more.

We also welcome other recipes, crafts, DIY, home makeover, gardening tips, SEO & blogging information, sewing projects, patio and deck makeovers, front porch makeover ideas, organization tips, ideas for backyard hot dog roasts, and more. Blow the dust off your old posts and share those on our linkup too. They’re great for inspiration.

Anything goes, as long as it’s family friendly and you may linkup as many posts as you would like. Be sure to tell your friends, they will want to join the festivities too.

Each week your hosts will select their favorite post and it will be featured the following week. An image from your post will be used on our linkup post the following week with a link back to your blog. Be sure to check back to see if you’re a Sunday’s Best Featured Blogger. All Featured Bloggers will have their posts pinned to Rhonda’s Sunday’s Best Pinterest Board and Kim M. pins the weekly featured bloggers to her Sunday’s Best Pinterest Board too!

The Reader’s Choice post(s) will be determined by the post(s) with the most clicks. We will be adding the winner to our Sunday’s Best Linkup featured bloggers.

All posts linking to Sunday’s Best Linkup will be promoted on Twitter.

In addition to the Post With the Most Clicks, a post for our monthly themes will be selected and featured each week as well.

If you are interested in becoming a Sunday’s Best Linkup host, please contact me for details at rhonda@mother2motherblog.com or email one of our other hosts.

Your Sunday’s Best Linkup Hosts Are:

Sunday's Best Linkup

 

Debbie at Heartbeats ~ Soul Stains — Kim at Life in a House of Testosterone 

Rhonda at Mother 2 Mother — Brittany at A Mama Tale

Here are the rules, please connect with us on social media before you leave or subscribe to/follow our blogs:

Mother 2 Mother: Please like Rhonda’s Facebook Page, follow her on Twitter;, Google+;, Pinterest;, BlogLovin, or subscribe/join her blog on the right sidebar before you leave.

Heartbeats ~ Soul Stains: Please connect with Debbie on Facebook and follow her on Bloglovin, Google+, Instagram, Pinterest and Twitter before you leave.

Life In A House of Testosterone: Please like Kim’s Facebook Page, follow her on Twitter;, Google+;, Pinterest;, Bloglovin;, or Instagram; before you leave.

We would like to welcome our new host Brittany from A Mama’s Tale:

A Mama’s Tale: Please like Brittany’s Facebook Page, follow her on Twitter, or Pinterest or before you leave.

Snag a Button!

Last, please help us grow by placing our button on your sidebar. Please let your readers and followers know by placing the Featured Blogger banner on your site.

Sundays Best Linkup Sundays Best Featured Blogger

Your readers may want to join the party too! For those who have a Link Party list/directory, please add us. We appreciate your help in promoting the linkup with Re-tweets and shares. Now, let’s party!


Debbie selected Searching For Treats from Plum Perfect and Me 

Sunday's Best Linkup

Rhonda selected Rainbow Tablescape DIY Balloon Garland from Birds Party

kids birthday party ideas   


Kim selected 20 Hours With Boys from Agent 54

 

Sunday's Best Linkup

 

Brittany selected 25 Cute Bunny Crafts from There’s Just One Mommy

bunny crafts
The Post with the Most Clicks

   The Importance of Sweat from Healthy Helper    

  Sunday's Best Linkup

 

and

Our Favorite Theme Post(s) –  The Bunny Trail

Spring Bunny from My Pinterventures

Sunday's Best Linkup
and

21 Easter Basket Ideas for Toddlers for Toot’s Mom Is Tired

Sunday's Best Linkup
 and

Carrot Eggs from the Lazy Gastronome

 

Easter Ideas
 Congratulations to our featured bloggers! All of the posts were great, and we deeply appreciate each of you participating on Sunday’s Best Linkup.  We have so many great posts that it gets difficult to choose a featured blogger. Finally, your hosts would like to invite all of you back to link up your post(s) again … you could be selected next week! While you’re here, take a minute to visit these great blogs. It’s a great way to meet and connect with new bloggers. Be sure to PIN or share any posts that you like, we all appreciate a little love and be sure to connect with others on social media!


Why Putting Color In Your Diet Is A Good Thing

healthy living

 

First, did you know that fruit and vegetables that are brightly colored are packed with nutrients.  This includes green, orange, red, yellow, purple and blue products.  Brightly colored fruits and vegetables contain the most phytochemicals.  Phytochemicals, also called phytonutrients, are natural compounds that that are found in plants. Most importantly, phytochemicals also have antiviral, antibacterial and antioxidant benefits.  Putting color in your diet is a good thing.

Consuming nutritious fruits and vegetables, passes benefits on to us. This includes watermelon, tomatoes, peppers, strawberries, and the list goes on.  Furthermore, phytochemicals protect us against various ailments.  In addition, they help us to maintain good health. These nutrients regulate detoxification of enzymes and hormone metabolism.  Also, they stimulate the immune system.

Additionally, we should consume at least 5 servings of these fruits and vegetable every day. They can help to slow down the aging process.  And they help to reduce the risk of diseases such as high blood pressure, heart disease, and stroke.  Other risks they help reduce are cataracts, osteoporosis, urinary tract infections, and cancer.  In addition, making fruits and vegetables a part of your everyday meals, supplies nutrients essential to good health.  Fruits and vegetables reduce our calorie and fat intake.

Getting your daily recommended amount of fruits and veggies every day can be difficult. Fortunately, there are some strategies you can adopt to help achieve your goal.  Keep a range of brightly colored fruits and vegetables in your refrigerator.  Prepare them in advance to use in various dishes and stir fries.  You can also snack on vegetables such as carrots and celery with a healthy dip like hummus.

Drink pure fruit juices instead of flavored drinks and sodas.  Also eat fruits for dessert. When making a sandwich, go easy on the meat and include some veggies like lettuce, tomatoes, and peppers. You can also enjoy fresh fruit and vegetable smoothies for breakfast instead of filling yourself up with carbs.

For more information on the amazing benefits of eating a spectrum of colored fruits and vegetables, take a look at the infographic below.

Colours of Healthy Eating

 

Final Thoughts

We hope that our article on putting color in your diet was inspirational.   Eating a variety of different colored produce every day is an excellent way to take care of your physical and mental health.  So, include a few of our recommendations with each meal or snack.  We suggest that you consume some fruits and vegetables from each color group.  Last, you will soon be on the path to better health and start to see visible results.

 

Bio

Olivia writes on health and food at Everynutrient.com!  You can find her article on the yoli diet and other articles on health and fitness for people from all walks of life. Every Nutrient focuses on effective changes that you can make to live a healthy and fulfilled life!

 

Teaching Your Child Manners Effectively

Today, I’m sharing parenting tips on teaching your child manners.  All parents want to know that they are teaching their children to be as polite as possible.  Being polite is a necessary and important part of being a part of society.  And, it is best to instill these values in your children at a young age. 

This is good for them, for you, and for everyone around them.  However, some parents struggle with the approach from time to time. If you find yourself struggling, consider the following:  The greatest power you have is the power to choose. – Lou Holtz.  If you choose to have polite children, you will do the work. 

 

 

teaching your child manners

 

 

Teaching Your Child Manners:

 

Saying Thank You

 

This has to be one of the most important manners of all.  But, it is often one that is hardest for children to learn. Why isn’t really clear.  However, saying thank you doesn’t always come naturally for a lot of kids.  As a result, this can make it difficult to instill this particular manner properly.

However, it is vital to ensure that they learn to say thank you when it is required.  The only way to do this is to make it a real priority. Remind them whenever necessary, and gently admonish them if they forget.  It might also be worth encouraging them to take extra steps when they have something to be particularly grateful for.  If you have older children, teach them to send monogrammed thank you notes or a handwritten letter.  Teaching etiquette is a good idea too.  It is good for them to know that there are other ways of saying thank you.

 

 

teaching your child manners

 

Respecting Others

 

Teaching children to show respect for others is important.  It will slowly become second nature, when it is demonstrated and taught over and over.  You can’t force it, but you can encourage them and be an example of how to show respect to other.

 

Be An Example

 

Your role as parent is very important when it comes to teaching your child manners.  It is your duty to ensure that they are adopting the right societal behaviors  The easiest way to do this is to be an example.  Children will imitate what they see and hear.  Therefore do your best to embody the right behaviors.  Demonstrating the right behavior will show your children that you’re not only saying it, you are living it.

We hope our tips on Teaching Your Child Manners was inspirational.  You may also like:  11 Manners You Should Teach Children

Letter A Activities: A Is For Apple

 

a is for apple activities

 

First, welcome to our Preschool/Kindergarten fruit and vegetable series.  We all have picky eaters.  But, just because they’re picky eaters doesn’t mean they shouldn’t be familiar with various fruit and vegetables.  As a result, I have created a series of printables that will help young children have fun with fruit and vegetables.  They may not want to eat them, but we can help them see what they look like, how they grow, and how they are used.

Our plan is to start with the letter A and work our way to the letter Z.  Can we find a fruit or vegetable that starts with a Z?  Stay tuned.

Second, our activities are designed to familiarize children with a fruit or vegetable that starts with each letter of the alphabet.  Additionally, the printables will help them with cutting skills, writing each letter of the word and than working their way to writing the actual word.  For example, this week’s word is Apple.

You will want to find magazines that have pictures of fruits and vegetables.  I requested catalogues from various on-line seed sites.  They are wonderful for this activity, and they are free.  If you have other magazines that you can use, that’s fine.

For this project, you will need to request seed catalogues.  In particular, I requested catalogues from Henry Field’s Seed and Nursery as well as a Baker Creek catalogue.  Another great catalogue is Seed Savers.  Each has great pictures and a nice variety of pictures.  Children will see that apples are not only red, but yellow, green and a mixture of reds.

These projects teach children that farmers grow apples in orchards.  But they are also grown in backyards.  Talk about how apples can be used.  For example, apple pie, apple sauce, apple cobbler, apple slices and apple juice to name a few.  Additionally animals love apples too.  Horses, pigs, rabbits, chimps, and birds love apples.  Be creative, and come up with interesting facts to share with the children.   Apples can be dipped in peanut butter, caramel and used for candied apples too.  Try serving a snack using apples.

  

kindergarten activities

 

Give each child a catalogue and a pair of safety scissors.  Have them search the catalogues for apples. Once they find pictures, have them cut out up to 4 pictures of apples if possible.  Their choice of course, and they don’t have to be cut out perfectly.

 

letter A activities.

 

kindergarten activities

 

Print the template below.  Then have the child paste their cutouts in the squares below.

kindergarten activities

kindergarten activities

 

Next, use our letter A activities to enhance your child’s writing skills.  Have your child practice writing the word. We have created a sheet that encourages them to trace  the letters in the word individually.  Once they get a good grip on each letter, have them trace the word.  Next, use the lined paper and have your child practice writing the word with tracing.

kindergarten activities

Finally, I hope that you find the letter A activities useful.  Most importantly, I hope your child enjoys the letter A activities too.  Remember, practice makes perfect.  The more they practice their writing skills, the better they will become.  You can download the activities here.  You may also like Fall Kindergarten Activities.

Essential Advice For Expectant Mothers

advice for expectant mothers

 

Moms to be often have an expectation of what life with their newborn will be like. But when their newborn arrives, it’s often a lot different from what they imagined.  And it leaves them wishing they had done things differently while they were in the planning stages of having their baby. Also, it makes them realize they should have spent less time on things that really weren’t that important!  We can’t go back in time, but we can offer advice for other expectant moms. So, here is some  advice for expectant mothers in the first few months with their newborn.

Enjoy every moment

You may be surprised how many moms look back and wish they had enjoyed the time with their baby more.  You will never get that time back.  They grow up quickly, and you wake up one morning to find that they are not your newborn anymore. Therefore, no matter how tired or stressed you might be, it’s a good idea to enjoy every moment with your newborn.

Savor the moments that they smile or giggle for the first time.  And make sure you always have your camera next to you so you can take photos of your little one.  Afterwards, you can then look back at the photos and remember those special moments.  Many moms regret not taking more pictures of their kids when they were a baby.

Don’t try to do everything on your own

Some moms feel like asking for help will make them a failure.  As a result, they may struggle with their newborn. Additionally, they may refuse help from their loved ones because they want to be some form of supermom! But in months to come, moms will look back and wish they had taken the help.  After all, becoming a new mom is such a challenging time.  It can be more challenging if you try to do everything on your own.  If you’re inexperienced, it’s easy to get stuck.

Therefore, when friends and family volunteer to help, accept it with open arms.  Getting your mother to look after the baby while you get some sleep can make a big difference.  Furthermore, you want to be able to leave your little one with parents and friends without them crying for you.

It’s a good idea to get them used to being cuddled and played with by a number of people.  Another option is joining a baby group. In fact, a lot of moms look back with regret because they didn’t join earlier.  It’s great for socializing with other moms who are going through the same thing you are!  You may be surprised how much of a boost chatting with another adult can give you after a whole day with your newborn.  They may be able to provide advice for expectant mothers too.

 

advice for expectant mothers

Image from Pixabay

 

Don’t spend a fortune on unnecessary items

It’s so easy to go a little crazy when it comes to shopping for your newborn. After all, there’s so many cute things on the market.  You may think that you need a ton of stuff for your baby. In fact, you might end up spending a small fortune on things for your baby. But a lot of moms look back after the first few months with their baby and wish they hadn’t spent so much initially.  So, don’t be duped by magazines and websites that say things are essential, when actually they are not.

In fact, you might end up selling the items to try and get your money back.  While it’s so important to stock up on things like diapers and clothing, you don’t want to buy too many as they grow out of them so quickly. Therefore, before you begin shopping for your newborn make a list of things that are truly essential. That way, you won’t go overboard with your spending. And it will help to ensure you don’t go off your budge while you are in the store.  Most importantly, remember just because an item is expensive, doesn’t make it the best.

Put convenience first

When you look at items for your child, it’s so important that you put convenience first.  After all, a lot of moms make the mistake of going for the cutest option.  Or the one with the cheapest price tag.  But they look back with regret because they pick the most convenient item for their child.  After all, when you are stressed out with your newborn you want what is super easy to use. For example, when you are looking for a car seat, you want one which is simple to fit into your cars.

Getting a car seat into a vehicle can be tricky.  It must be properly placed to ensure your child is safe.  So, when you are looking online at reviews, check out Evenflo Tribute review.  Make sure you look at the top quality brands.  Also, you will know how easy it will be to get it in the car.  Furthermore, make sure you choose a breast pump that is easy to use.  In fact, read product reviews before you buy to ensure you’re are making the right choice.

Do what’s best for you

So moms look back with regret that they didn’t just choose an option which was easiest for them when taking care of their newborn. It’s so easy to follow the baby books or listen to other mom’s advice when bringing up your newborn. However, it is your baby and you must do what works for you.  Sometimes what has worked for another baby might not actually work for yours.  So take only what will work from you from our advice for expectant mothers.

If breastfeeding is causing you stress and worry, switch to bottle feeding. If you would rather co-sleep with your child, you should do what you think is best. And don’t worry about what other people think of you!

Some moms believe that they must get straight back into their pre-pregnancy shape after having their child. In fact, they put a lot of pressure on themselves to lose the weight as quickly as they can.  Some moms look back and wish they hadn’t worried so much about their body.  After all, there will be plenty of time to work on your figure. Therefore, concentrate on your child, and you can worry about your post-baby body later!

We hope that you enjoyed our advice for expectant mothers.  It’s not all inclusive, but it should get you thinking about how you want to plan for your newborn.

Tips For Creating The Perfect Backyard For Entertaining Guests

 

creating the perfect backyard

When the weather is on the up, we all want to head outside to soak up the rays and make the most of the warmer evenings. What better way to do this than with your nearest and dearest? A yard perfect for entertaining is almost like adding an extra room to your home. It should be comfortable, beautiful, entertaining, and full of great food  Just like any welcoming family home.  If you enjoy playing hostess, or you just think it’s time to give your outdoor space the love it deserves, here are some top tips for creating the perfect backyard for entertaining.

Define spaces

Just like any room in a home, a large open space lacks intimacy and comfort. The advice given to people with super spacious living rooms is to use textures, colors, flooring, and artwork to define separate spaces. These concepts allow people to relax in rooms within rooms.  It brings  a sense of intimacy to the space. The same rules apply to the garden.

Unlike with interior spaces, the sky is your limit when it comes to defining areas in your yard. You can add the illusion of outdoor ceilings using verandas, gazebos, and trestles. You can even introduce walls using tall bushes or climbing plants. The floorplan can be dictated by lawn, flowerbeds, patio paving, decking, swimming pools, and more. Unlike the floorplan of your home, which is almost completely dictated by the existing walls, the world is your oyster when it comes to your yard. When you start to break it down into different zones, the space becomes easier and more comfortable to use, and focal points are added.

Perfect the entertainment

When you’re entertaining guests, you want options. A bar for cocktails, a fire pit for toasting marshmallows and making delicious s’mores, a projector and screen for movie nights, and the list goes on. These forms of entertainment take the pressure off the host as people are able to take free reign over their evening, creating a more relaxed atmosphere. A fire pit or a projector are brilliantly adaptable, too. They make great entertainment for adult evenings, but the kids love them as well.

Add water

The use of water in a yard can add a whole new dimension, and brings many different options.  A hot tub is an amazing investment if you plan on holding smaller gatherings, especially for gardens in cooler climates. They’re relaxing, intimate, and luxurious.  No wonder so many people include them in their fantasy yard. A swimming pool is another amazing option, and great for use all summer long. They’re perfect for children’s parties, grown up parties, or just a morning swim. With so many options available, find a pool design which suits your yard and your needs. While they do require a bit of extra maintenance, they make a yard perfect for entertaining.

A water feature such as a fountain, waterfall, pond or rockery is also a beautiful addition to a garden. While it’s more decorative, the sound of trickling water adds a relaxing quality to the space, and it can create a great focal point for the garden.

 

backyard entertainment

Image Source

Level up your grilling area

Who doesn’t love barbecues? If your summer food is mostly grilled, and you eat on the deck most days in spring through summer, you need an outdoor kitchen. It’s purely about bringing added convenience to the process. You don’t need to spend thousands of dollars on fancy equipment, but adding a countertop for food preparation and resting plates, and even a gas burner hob on the side, can make your outdoor dining experience so much more relaxed, fun, and interesting.

If you want to go all out a refrigerator is the ultimate food (and beer) storage unit. You could even put in cupboard units for storing utensils and crockery, and a sink for washing up. Creating an outdoor kitchen is all about enhancing your grilling experience. It removes the need to run backward and forward between the yard and the kitchen and allows you to enjoy grilling more thoroughly. Make it as elaborate as you like, but one thing’s for sure: your guests will love it.

Make it beautiful

We all want to hang out in gorgeous spaces. A yard with all the best amenities, but with no beauty, doesn’t inspire relaxation and fun in the guests. The great thing about a garden room is that there are limitless options for how to make it beautiful. Water features, as previously mentioned, make amazing focal points and can be really relaxing too. Otherwise, plants and flowers, sculptures and art, mosaics, and beautiful furniture all add to the feeling of the space.

You can really individualize your yard, and remember: less definitely isn’t more. Embrace color, texture, and reflective surfaces. Choose flowers and plants which make you happy and add to the dynamics of the space. Remember that durable and low maintenance plants and accessories tend to be best, unless you want to spend time tending it frequently.

Create comfort

If your yard is uncomfortable then guests are uncomfortable too. Firstly, make sure it is easy to get around. People feel on edge when there isn’t a simple and straightforward route from one area of the garden to the other. This is also helped by well-marked pathways, and using the zoning technique previously mentioned to make obvious routes. Using fencing around water such as swimming pools and ponds will also help guests to feel comfortable when moving around.

Ensure there is always enough comfortable seating for the number of guests you are expecting. Choosing seating and tables in a durable material but with detachable cushions is the best way to get comfort as well as value for money on long-lasting furniture. If you plan to entertain guests during the daytime, creating options for shade is essential. Verandas, large trees, and parasols are perfect – they add depth and height to the yard, and also allow guests to shelter from the hot sun, if they prefer.

Perfect your lighting style

Last, add subtle lighting – a floodlight is a great security measure, but it’s far better for creating an atmosphere if you can turn it off while you’re entertaining. Fairy lights, solar powered lamps, and low voltage bulbs help to create a subtle, intimate, and magical backyard getaway after dark. So make sure you mix up different lighting in different areas.

Finally, we hope that you enjoyed our tips on creating the perfect backyard.  If you can’t implement them all, select a few.  Look for clearance or sale items to help cut costs.  Enjoy.

How To Plant a Rose Garden

A beautiful rose garden is the ultimate dream of many gardeners. Roses have a long tradition of symbolism–love, hope, and passion. All of these are contained in the beauty of a perfect rose. The blooms are loved by almost everyone simply because of the feelings and memories they evoke.  A satisfying rose garden is not impossible.  There is some specific care and growing techniques required when growing roses.  I’m going to give you a few flower garden tips on how to plant a rose garden. 

 

how to plant a rose garden

 

 

Let’s take a look at how to plant a rose garden that you will love:

Planning a Rose Garden

The first step in putting together a rose garden is deciding what type of roses you want. Roses come in hundreds of varieties, so it’s not likely you’ll be growing all of them. So, it’s helpful if you can decide what style of garden you want. Furthermore, this will help guide your decisions on the types of roses you should choose to grow.

Decide if you want a formal rose garden, or something wilder and more natural. Formal rose gardens usually stick to one or two traditional colors (like red and/or white). Less formal gardens allow the freedom to plant various styles and colors. And the plantings will probably be more random as well.

 


 

Another decision is whether your roses should be scented or not.  Maybe you weren’t aware that unscented roses exist.  However, modern hybrid roses have very little fragrance. If you’re growing a rose garden to enjoy the fragrance, then you need to select roses that can provide the fragrance you want.

Another difference between roses is the size and arrangement of the plants.  Roses range from bushes, shrubs and climbing vines to small trees. Include this size variation in your initial planning. If you plant a climbing rose you will need a trellis.  Otherwise, you end up with roses creeping along the ground.  Consider what type of trellis you will need and where you want it placed.

 

 

Caring for Your Rose Garden

Specific foods, fertilizers and soil mixes have been formulated to assist the modern rose gardener. These products are particularly helpful when you’re just starting out.  You don’t have to worry about soil adjustments, vitamins or minerals.  Research what roses will grow in you zone and local climate. You will want to stick with varieties that have a better chance of thriving in your garden.  Keeping the lawn mowed regularly will help your rose garden look better, and control the invasion of weeds.

 

How to Plant a Rose Garden

 

Additionally, roses have specific light and water requirements. Read the package to ensure you know about any special needs. This information should help you figure out where to place the plants in your landscape. Don’t forget to add mulch around the rose plants. This helps prevent the emergence of weeds and also helps retain moisture in the soil.

Furthermore, once your roses start blooming watch for blooms that have died off.  Deadheading your  vines regularly will stimulate enhanced blooming through the season.  It will become second nature as you stroll through your garden.

Rose bushes also need regular pruning and trimming.  This will encourage healthy growth over time. So, taking care of a rose garden may be not a simple task, but think about the gorgeous rose garden you will have. I believe it’s worth your effort.

We hope you find our tips on how to plant a rose garden helpful.  Following these tips will get you get on your way to having the rose garden of your dreams.

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Author Bio

Richard Clayton

I’m an owner of a small gardening shop. I love gardening, especially lawn care. I can spend all of my free time taking care of my lawn and discussing lawn care experiences with my friends. Especially those who have the same hobby as me.  My site, www.mygreenerylife.com is my playground, where I discuss everything about lawn care techniques.