Let's Talk about Swimming Pool Accessories

The thing is, personally, I think although shopping for swimming pool could be fun, it could also be a stressful task. Having a swimming pool at home would be cool but to maintain it to be always clean and safe, that could make you lose some sleep… Ok, that’s just a figure of speech. Anyway, you may wonder what should you buy for your swimming pool, so let me just share you my thoughts.

One of the most crucial swimming pool accessories is the pool cover. You need the plastic cover to seal the pool during the winter season and to protect the pool from the harsh elements such as wind, ice and debris. Covering your pool will also keep your children or pets from jumping the pool unplanned, which could be extremely dangerous. Remember, part of owning a pool, you will need to be extra cautious with safety issues especially if you own a small child. By the way, the pool cover usually needs something heavy to keep it in place, such as sandbags or plain fabric straps.

Another popular swimming pool accessory is a skimmer to collect dead leaves, branches, insects and other debris from the water surface. A skimmer looks like a huge badminton racket that collects the floating objects. A sturdy solid skimmer will save you money on the pool maintenance. Ideally you should clean dead leaves daily, because too many leaves in the pool can damage your water filters and make you use more harmful chlorine to keep water clean.

If left untreated, a concrete pool surface can be quite hard on skin and not too appealing. Many people opt for cheerful pool paints to keep the pool tidy and fun. Pool paints are usually water- or rubber based, or epoxy. When used regularly, pool paints will greatly prolong the life of the swimming pool protecting its surfaces from sun, harsh elements and chemically enhanced pool water.

Antifreeze is an essential pool accessory for those who live in colder climates. When sealing the pool for the winter, you should drain the water out of the swimming pool plumbing and pour the antifreeze into the pump and pipes. Now you are ready to seal the pool for the winter.

Ok, this is my favorite part: shopping for pool furniture. Nothing fancy or expensive, just basic stuff. Though no one says basic can’t be stylish, right? What we always need is a couple of lounge chair and a table to place our drinks. The design of the furniture is totally up to your own taste. However, no matter what style you choose, remember to pick the pieces that have rubber no-mark coating on the legs so not to disrupt the pool paint. The ideal pool furniture should be able to withstand the winter under a plastic cover and still please your eye in the spring. Also, do not over furnish your pool. You wouldn’t want you pool to be crowded that will make it hard for you to move around.

However, there’s something that you can’t really save on: pool chemicals. Choosing discount chemicals may often mean choosing outdated or otherwise low-quality and deteriorating supplies which in the long run could cause pool problems that could cost you more.

I understand that some of you may think, my, that’s a whole load to buy. But then, hey, that’s the cost of owning a swimming pool, right? Think about it though, it may be a hassle, but during summer when everyone else are cramming their way for a swim at the public pool, you can just simply go to that backyard of yours and jump into your own private pool. Plus, pool party isn’t such a bad idea at all!

Useful Tips on How to Buy New Furniture

Just like those clothes you wear, your home furniture represents who you are and your style. Whether you’re the modern contemporary kind of girl, or the English country folk…Your furniture is like your fashion statement. It tells your guests about your preferences.

Like buying an outfit, you do not want to end up buying a piece of furniture that you don’t need or doesn’t suit your room. It will become a waste if not something that will look rather awkward in that home of yours. Therefore, here I would like to share with you some useful tips on how to buy furniture.

First of all you’re going to take note of how big the space that you’ll be furnishing. All the details such as how many windows, how high the ceiling is and the wall are among the important factors that could help you choosing the right furniture. You can either purchase a piece of software that will help you design a cozy room or grab a pencil and paper and start sketching. If you have any original pieces you are keeping, then make sure to work them into your room plan.

Once you’ve decided what kind of piece you would want, and how large of furniture you can purchase, you could start to set your budget. Figure out how much you’re willing to spend for your furniture.

By knowing how much you’re willing to spend you’ll be able to decide on the type of furniture. For instance, are you buying furniture for a family room or a living room? If you’re buying for a family room you’re going to want to look for furniture that is tougher and built for heavy use, something that could hold up a lot of stuff and convenient. If you’re buying furniture for your living room, and it’s more of a show room then you could opt for something less functional but fancy to look at.

When deciding on the type of furniture, you may also take your lifestyle into consideration; do you own any pets that are going to claw or chew? How about small children? Is your home air conditioned? Leather is a cool piece of furniture, but can be downright uncomfortable in the hot weather, unless your house is air-conditioned. Besides, you might feel like you want to kill somebody when your pet started to scratch or on your leather couch.

After narrowing down what you’re in the market for, make a list itemizing each piece you’re looking for including the sizes that will be suitable for your chosen room, what color do you prefer, and all other fine details. This way you won’t get side track and miss anything once you walk into the furniture shop. It’s easy to get distracted because of all the choices. But with list in hand you’ll be prepared.

Choose a furniture that will last for years. Try not to choose trendy furniture that you’ll be tired of in six months. Furniture is a big investment, so keep your taste in check and choose furniture that will look and feel good for years to come. You can add some trendy small ticket items such as vases or wall décor. Keep your furniture colors easy to work with. That way it will be easier for you if one day you decided to do a room face lift without having to change the entire look.

If a piece of furniture caught your eyes, don’t forget to check the construction of it, watch out for low quality assembly. If you’re buying a couch or bed, sit on it, move around on it, and see if it fits your body well. Check to see if you can feel springs, if the buttons are attached well, if the seams are finished properly. Don’t take any piece of furniture just by looking at it, get underneath and check the piece inside out.

Now that you’ve found your dream furniture, all you need to do next is to pay and wait for delivery. If you have old furniture in the room, it is better to get rid if it first before the new furniture arrives. Prep the room, so that when the delivery guys arrive they can place the furniture where it belongs.

There, wasn’t so hard getting a new furniture, isn’t it? All you need is a proper and detail planning. Who knows, perhaps you might be able to find a piece that will last for generations!