Choosing the right bathroom shower is easy once you understand the basic operation and requirements of the most common shower types. Essentially there are three types of bathroom showers to choose from: electric, mixer and power showers.

Electric Showers

Electric showers heat water by way of an electric element. One of the main benefits of electric showers is they only heat water that is being used at the time, rather than constantly using energy to heat idle water. Conveniently, electric showers can be placed in any position within reach of the mains cold water pipe.

Unfortunately, electric showers rank poorly when it comes to flow rate. The rate water flows is reliant on the electric element and how powerful it is as well as the temperature that the shower user selects.

Feeding water directly from the mains water supply to an electric shower is a recipe for frustration. As water pressure becomes unstable during peak usage times the shower will cut out completely if the water pressure drops past a certain point. By choosing an electric shower that has an internal pump providing continuous pressure, you can combat the problem of the shower cutting out completely.

Also, consider choosing an electric shower whose temperature is controlled by a thermostat to avoid the water temperature fluctuating when other taps are used within the home at the same time. Replacing your electric shower every so often is the reality due to scale build up on the elements; fitting a water softener can help reduce the rate of build up.

Mixer Showers

Mixer showers come in two forms, the simple bath/shower mixer and the separate shower mixer.

Bath/Shower Mixer

The bath/shower mixer is very low cost with a simple design whereby a shower hose is built into the bath mixer tap. This low cost option only works well when the pressure of both the cold and hot water is even. When the water pressure is unbalanced controlling the shower temperature is near impossible. Also, when other taps are used in the house at the same time the temperature fluctuates. One way around the varying hot and cold water pressures it to add on a pump to boost the low hot water pressure. Unfortunately, the additional cost of a pump negates the advantage of the initial low cost investment of bath/shower mixers.

Separate Shower Mixers

Installing a separate shower mixer to the wall and fitting it to the individual cold and hot water tanks, a steady water temperature is achieved even when other taps are used in the dwelling at the same time

Due to today’s mixers having large waterways built into their interior, separate shower mixers have high flow rates, unlike the low flow rates experienced with bath/shower mixers. It’s possible to increase pressure further by adding a pump if so desired. Separate shower mixers are easy to operate; usually having one control to change the water temperature and the other to turn the shower on or off.

Power Showers

Power showers are showering systems that offer a way for the user to increase the water flow, most often by means of a pump combined with a shower mixer. A shower that is hooked up to the mains hot water system is sometimes referred to as a power shower also.  

Pumped

To work effectively, showers that have pumps must have individual connections to the hot and cold water tank. Modern systems commonly utilize a motor that works to pump the cold and hot water supply at a point prior to reaching the mixer. 

Heads

Some showerheads act like a pump by offering a variety of different water flow settings such as low flow but with extra air, creating an effervescent effect. More robust systems often include a setting whereby the water pulsates mimicking a massage of sorts. 

Creme De La Creme

Currently, the ultimate in power showers is where the mixer and pump are built as one unit. These units are a cut above the rest because the pump does not sit in isolation to the rest of the system and their high performance combined with their relatively low cost makes them the preferred choice in power showers.

Which shower type you choose will depend on your specific requirements and the ability of the shower to meet those needs. Select carefully and you, and all the other users of your new shower, will have an enjoyable showering experience day-in day-out.

Tauseef Hussain is an interior decorator and social media blogger for QS Supplies, the online shop for Electric Showers and home décor fixtures (for UK citizens).

1) Savings Books
Entertainment Books and Kidstuff Books have outstanding coupons for a variety of stores. The discounts vary from store to store but there is usually a 10% to 20% savings. The stores in these books are large chain stores like IKEA and many local businesses as well. These coupons are hidden gems that can really save you a lot of money if you are making a large purchase.

2) Coupon Web Search
There are many sites that can offer you coupon codes and printable coupons. Some of the best codes come out around holidays and can give deep discounts. Retailmenot.com and Mommy Saves Big (http://printable-coupons.blogspot.com/) are two sites that give their viewers a variety of choices. Look up the coupon codes if you are shopping online. Many of these coupon sites let you know via feedback how effective the coupons are and how many people had success using it. This saves you a lot of time when considering which code to use.

3) Special Offers
There are a great many stores that will offer special offers and coupons during certain times of the year. They are often advertised on their website or in the local newspapers. If you are in the market for home decor, start paying attention to what is out there. Sometimes these offers can come in the form of direct mailing coupons that you receive once a month.

4) Signing Up for Offers
Companies want to hear from you and have you register with them. There are a lot of companies that will offer one time discount coupons for joining their mailing list online. It will only take you a few minutes to sign up and the rewards is a coupon to save you some dollars at check out. When you sign up with specific companies you are often notified of special sales or friends and family events. Never underestimate the benefits of mailing lists.

5) Major Holiday Sales
If you wait until the right time, you can seriously clean up and redecorate your home on holidays. The big ones are always Black Friday, After Christmas, President’s Week and Memorial Day. Sometimes waiting for the sale is still the best way to find the best deals.

6) Shop Clearance
Both online and in stores, there is nothing more alluring than that ever elusive clearance section. Online you can often find merchandise for anywhere from 50% to 80% off the retail price. It pays to always check the clearance!

Doing a little legwork to find the best deal on your purchases will give you the opportunity to create a beautiful look at a price point you can afford.

Photo credits: Eco_bedroom by o5com; IMG_2790 by WolfeMcKeel

Ever heard of Coupon Croc? Neither had Tom Blanchard, until someone referred him one day. You can find great deals on home decorating and home improvement items! Check out the site that experts agree is a great place to find the perfect deal for your family.

When updating or changing the look of your home, often the ceiling is overlooked. This is a mistake however, because a beautiful ceiling, though rarely noticed, is an important part of your home’s ambience. Many who have a suspended ceiling aren’t sure how to go about painting it. A suspended ceiling is sort of a second ceiling held below the main ceiling, usually with small beams, and is most often found in commercial buildings though they are sometimes found in the home as well. Also called “dropped” ceilings, they can be made of a number of different materials but are almost always installed as a tiled system with a number of different pieces. These are usually uniform pieces, but can be irregular as well.

Suspended ceilings are often installed in older buildings when the original roof becomes cracked or otherwise in disrepair. It is also used to cover plumbing or heating ducts along the ceiling, or as a platform for lighting. Painting a suspended ceiling is actually quite simple when you follow these simple steps, so don’t overlook this important aspect when redecorating or redesigning your home.

Using Spray Paint

1. This may be the simplest method if you don’t mind spray paint and can find the paint you need for the job. First remove all furnishings and anything in the room that you do not want to get paint on. Next clean the ceiling removing dust, spider webs, etc, anything that can get in the way of the paint. Finally, lay down plastic sheeting so paint does not get on your floor, and tape off the perimeter of the ceiling so you do not get paint on the walls.

2. Now it is time to start painting. Make sure you use a latex, or water-based paint. Often dropped ceilings are made of a porous material, even if not though you are going to use two coats. Start spraying in long even strokes in one direction until the entire ceiling is well covered. Let it dry for at least 4 hours. Then spray again in the same manner, but in the opposite direction. This will result in an even, uniform look. Fast and simple.

Using a Roller to Paint a Suspended Ceiling

Why use a roller if spray paint is so simple? You might ask. If you do not want to paint the beams, or would like to paint the beams a different color, or even if you just prefer the look of a paint job done by a roller, this method is almost as simple, though a bit longer.

1. Remove all of the ceiling tiles, if they are shaped irregularly number them so you know where each belongs.

2. Use one coat of paint on the back, let dry, use two on the front, let dry. Don’t worry about the sides unless you really want to.

3. As you wait for the tiles to dry tape of the ceiling and walls next to each grid and where it meets the wall. Continue to paint the beams and touch up areas using a brush. Skip this step if you are not painting the beams. You can use different color paint for a touch of style if you like.

4. Once everything is dried place the tile back where they go, with the side with two coats facing down.

That’s all there is to it! You’re done painting your suspended ceiling.

Jeff is an internet marketing consultant, part time blogger and he often writes about home improvement and DIY topics.

In his posts he shares his experience how to get the most out of home or other properties. Jeff is also a consultant and content contributor for Queens homes community.

Banks are going bust and with property sales falling through the floor, everyone’s looking to make their bucks as quickly as they can. Getting someone to design your home isn’t any easier or cheaper because you need to sit with them and get them to understand exactly what it is that you’re looking for. Without any prior experience and design knowledge, you might find it hard to imagine that you could design your own home, but here’s ten reasons that will tell you why you should:

a)     It’s Your Taste: You know your tastes and there’s no need to explain yourself to anyone. Sometimes, we cannot explain why we like or dislike certain things and when someone asks you to rationalise and explain your tastes you might not be able to. So, do the next best thing and design it yourself!

b)    It’s Your Budget: At times, we hire a designer but then, because of their persuasiveness or because of not being able to say “no”, we end up spending way over our budget or feeling ashamed about a small budget. Well, its time to chuck all that out of the window because when you design your own home, you know exactly what you can spend on and why.

c)     Software Makes it Easy: These are a saving grace when it comes to designing or re-designing your own home. You can put in your home’s specs onto these software and simply start punching in the details. Add a window here, a skylight there and voila! You’ve got your home ready to go. Don’t like something? They’ve got “undo” for that! If you are planning to design your own home, then don’t even think of starting before you get one of these.

d)    Plans are Pre-Made: There are plenty of websites that sell plans to colonial, Victorian, etc. buildings and homes. All you need to do is adapt them to your own home and you’ve got the style you want in your house. You’ll get a plan made by a professional without actually employing a professional!

e)     Plan get Approved: Most software, which allow you to design your home, automatically correct you when you are violating building codes. As a result, the plan that you finally create will be within the regulations. If not, you can always get a professional to have a look at them for a fraction of the fee.

f)      Inspiration is Overrated: There are so many fantastic magazines and websites out there that are a treasure trove of ideas. Flip through them, cut out the things that you love, do whatever you need to do to mix and match stuff and get the idea. How do you think these great designers get their inspiration? They observe and pick out stuff that they like!

g)    You can be Organized: Finding out what you need and what can help you get that isn’t such a difficult thing to do. So you need a place to put all your children’s toys, somewhere where they can get to them as well? Get a trunk! Want it to match your wooden closets? Get a wooden trunk in the same colour – there! That’s how simple that is. Now just take that principle and apply it to every single thing you want to pick and you’ve got yourself a designer.

h)    You can Visualise: Try and imagine how you’d want your home to look. Close your eyes and walk around it in your mind. See every room, see the colours, the positioning of the objects and every small detail and you’ve got your three-dimensional model in your mind! If that doesn’t work, find an open space and chalk out your home’s dimensions on it. Now walk through it and visualise every single aspect and how you’d like it.

i)      You can Take your Time: There is no per-hour cost and there is no limit to the number of iterations you can make. You don’t like something, just pull it off! Add in something you like and you’re ready to go. There’s no whining about extra work because, at the last moment, you decided to change the floor from marble to mosaic.

j)      You Own the Off Switch: Changed your mind? Don’t have the time to devote to it right now? Shut the system down! There’s no contract binding you or no designer running after you with an invoice for cancellation charges. You are the boss and in your own home, that is how it should be.

Designing a house that you are supposed to live in is something that you must be comfortable with. If you do not like a designer but have already paid for her/him, you are stuck! Instead, choose the better way out and get something that you want instead of something that someone else, who barely knows you, is trying to get into their portfolio!

Matt Pollock is an architectural writer studying demountable homes in QLD Australia, where designing and building your own home is extremely popular.  He is an expert in self-build and home design, having studied styles and techniques around the world.

Often it is simply a little change which is needed to make the room appear better, and the television is one of the common issues which seem to get overlooked. If an old set is still working and giving a decent picture it is easy to forget that you get now get a much better one without breaking the bank on the purchase.

A more modern television will obviously give you the advantage of better image quality. This is something which you probably won’t fully appreciate until you compare the old one you are using to a more up to date one. The difference in aspects such as picture clarity and sound can often be staggering, as technology has come on leaps and bounds in the last few years.

Does it Look Good as Well Giving a Clear Picture?

Apart from this, you need to consider the aesthetic improvement which you will be able to see just be changing over to a more modern television. You are no doubt used to seeing your own TV in the corner of the room but how would things look if you got a better one in? Do you think that it would improve the look of the whole room?

The first point you will probably notice if you try to imagine this is the size of the machine. Older television set are a lot bulkier than the current range and often jut out behind in a rather unpleasant manner. Any visitor who sees a set like this will know right away that it is not particularly modern.

Slim sets are now common place in the market and if you check them out on the internet you will see that getting one isn’t going to cost you the earth by any means. Your old one doesn’t need to get chucked out either, as it could make a good addition to a bedroom or some other place where it can be used without taking away from the style of your living room.

What about if you want to hide the television altogether? This is an increasingly common trend and a smart way of doing it is with a TV mirror. These are simply frames which convert your television into a mirror when you aren’t viewing. You get a TV mirror frame hung on the wall and choose the best type of frame for your home so that it fits in seamlessly. Obviously a TV mirror frame is only going to work with a slim, modern television but this just gives you one more reason for moving away from the awkward old box which has served you well but which now drags your living room back into the previous century.

A TV mirror frame not only hides your TV – a perennial problem for interior designers – but is in itself a beautiful addition to a room.  Frames made by hand, using traditional skills, are available from www.frameyourtv.co.uk to add the perfect finish touch to any room.