Sunday, June 15, 2008

Designing the Perfect TV Stand

TV's were becoming pretty cheap, however with new HDTV sets appearing the price seems to be creeping up. The designs do look pretty stylish though! Problem is that all of the accessories are also creeping up in price, particularly TV stands. If you don't agree with spending a couple of hundred dollars on a simple stand then there are some alternatives.

You can purchase a simple TV stand made out of steel for just $100. They are very strong and can be purchased in a number of different sizes which are suitable for many different sizes of TV. These are very easy to make and even if your DIY skills are nonexistent you shouldn't have any problems. Most of these have space for a DVD, cable box and of course the TV. You may not need a cable box as many of the new TV's contain a slot for a cable decoder card.

Most steel TV stands hold up to 90KG, which should be more than enough for most models of TV. If you like the modern simplistic look then you'll appreciate the design of this stand. You should choose a Plexiglas or acrylic shelf instead of glass as they are much safer.

You could build your own wooden TV stand, there are lots of plans that you can find on the interest. One easy to build wooden cabinet is below.

Buy two planks of cedar, 3ft by 2ft; it should be around an inch thick. Cedar is a very beautiful wood which doesn't require any staining.

Start by cutting a curved pattern to the planks at the bottom. This curve improves the design and also makes the design stronger. You must ensure the edges are smooth by sanding them down.

You should make grooves in the planks which are around half an inch thick so that you can attach the shelves. Make sure you make enough grooves for your DVD and cable box. You can make these grooves easily by using a router, or if you want the old fashioned method then you can just use a gouging tool.

Depending on the size of your set purchase shelves which are cut to the right size. You should use wooden shelves to keep the same style throughout the stand. You could use glass or metal if you want. The shelves just need to be slid into the carcass. Add strength using some screws under the shelves.

If you don't fancy making grooves then you could consider drilling holes and using pins to support the shelves. You can get metal pins which are idea, but they are a little difficult to find!

Wires are ugly and so you will want to hide them out of sight. To achieve this attach a strip along both sides of the cabinet. The cables can be run down the back of these panels which will keep them out of view. If you fancy you can keep them in place with the cable pins.

You can just go out to the shop to buy a stand for your TV, but making one yourself can be much more fun! It's quite cheap, plus you get a unique piece of furniture which nobody else will have.

A Mattress - Your Most Valuable Home Investment

Honestly, how productive you think you were today at work? Do you think you could have performed a lot better if you have had more time to sleep the night before? -- most people will answer yes to these questions without giving much thought to them, it is because it is very common to lower our performance at anything we do if we haven't had a proper night sleep.

Sleep deprivation is not something to brag about, the fact that you have spent too much time awake when you should have been resting only shows that you have a disorder which will affect your cognitive abilities and memory. In some cases people get sleep deprivation because they don't have the right mattress, owning a mattress which will make you feel comfortable and provide a good night sleep is absolutely crucial if you want to be successful at anything you do, this is because when you get a good night sleep you are more alert, your cognitive abilities improve and you are able to respond more efficiently to any problem.

It is said that a mattress is perhaps the most important investment that you could do because if you purchased a good one you will be able to rest properly and therefore you will become more productive, having a good mattress can improve your health and solve back pain problems. People spend one third of their lives lying on a mattress, this may sound like wasted time however, during this time our body performs maintenance functions which will allow us to perform our daily tasks without any problem.

When it comes to mattress there are several materials which are used to manufacture them, one of the most important ones is foam, according to the future are going to give this mattress the thickness of the foam will vary, foam with standard thickness is used to manufacture a mattress which is comparable to the models found in places such as IKEA, reflex foam mattress are different because they are able to emulate the feeling of a sprung mattress.

Among the most popular type of foam we have the one which is referred to as memory or Tempur material, NASA played a big role in the development of this particular type of mattress, the material was originally used in order to protect astronauts from gravitational or G-forces which could harm their bodies when they were about to enter our atmosphere. Memory foam is able to take shape of our body and act as the most versatile material which offers no resistance or points of pressure which might make a person uncomfortable during a good night sleep.

Game Tables - A Great Way to Pass the Time With Your Family

It's Friday night and you decided that the whole family is going to spend some quality time together. As you flip off the TV your kids begin to whine, but you have a plan in place to keep everyone busy and having fun. What is that plan? You invested in a few game tables for your entertainment space.

Game tables offer you and your family a great place to come together and have a great time. How is this possible? Well, isn't it obvious? It offers everyone a nice spot to play different games.

Now, game tables come in all shapes and sizes, making it really easy to find just the right one for your entertainment space. For example, maybe your family likes to play cards, well, then what you could purchase for your space is a larger one that is interchangeable and has felt on one side. It will even come with places to put game chips and drinks. When the card playing is done, you could flip it over to the smooth side that offers a wonderful spot for playing all sorts of board games.

The one just mentioned is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to how many game tables are available. Like, you can get ones that are smaller in size that feature chess, checker, and backgammon boards. So, the family could have an intense chess, checker, or backgammon tournament if you wanted. These smaller options are also great for playing cards and those board games as well.

What's really nice about most game tables is how they have storage built right into them. So, when the festivities are over, you can easily get things tucked away thanks to their drawers, shelves, and some even come with large cabinets.

Another thing that's nice about game tables is the fact that in addition to not only being a practical place to play games, but they are also extremely pleasing to the eye. This is the result of all the stunning materials they are crafted from and the many finishes that they have. Because of their beauty, one or more will really add to the overall look of any room. That way, if you're ever short on decorating ideas, you could just turn to one of these to spruce up the look of your space.

In the end, have a plan in place when it's time to get-together with your family and purchase some game tables for your space. It is great way to keep everyone entertained and having a good time. An easy way to check out all the options for your space is by hitting the Internet for some online shopping. In a matter of minutes you can browse through all the selections that are available. And, when you do come across something that you like, it generally will be at a pretty reasonable price.

So, what are you waiting for, get to looking at and buying those game tables for yours pace today so you can enjoy using them tomorrow and many years to come after that.

Author Jennifer Akre is an owner of different niche online stores that offer customers not only products, but information relating to furnishing and decorating indoor and outdoor living spaces. Whether you want to redecorate your living room or create the ultimate outdoor environment perfect for entertaining, there is a lot of helpful advice to take advantage of to make it happen. Today, she shares her insight when investing in couture coffee tables, a sparkling glass coffee table and elegant accent tables.