HOME & GARDEN

How do home furnishing styles differs?

In general, modern home decor emphasises minimal textures and bold geometric forms, neutral colours with bold accents, polished finishes, and asymmetrical balance. Both basic and bold, the trendier contemporary style features unique standalone furniture, geometric shapes, and clean textures and lines. Sofas and couches in angular shapes with no ornamentation as well as end tables featuring a glass top on simple wooden frames exemplify this aesthetic. In addition, minimalism focuses on quality and simplicity with little to no decoration; instead, furniture is structured for order, clean lines, and hidden storage. In coffee tables, bed frames, and other furniture, you can find a variety of unique designs that lift or slide open to reveal storage compartments. Moreover, the classical style uses elegant fabrics and ornamentation with a colour palette inspired by nature. Art deco often features black as a background colour, incorporates lacquered woods and industrial metals, and makes use of bold and colourful patterns to look intentionally overly decorative.

Retro styles incorporate is an eclectic mix of materials, bold and colourful patterns, and unique shapes. Urban design uses exposed structure, industrial materials, and a monochrome colour palette, and it often features non-functional, unique objects as decoration. Look for unique light fixtures, lamps, cushions, and other home decor pieces in this style to give warmth to your space. Moreover, the country style is cosy and comfortable, with rough finishes and floral, striped, and plaid patterns. Finally, the Victorian style spotlights the opulent and luxurious. It features excessive decoration atop exotic woods and deep hues, beside pastels and neutral colours.

What are the best gardening tools for a beginning gardener?

As your garden grows, so will your tool collection, but every gardener needs a handful of tools. The essentials include a hand rake, trowel, shovel, shears, and gloves. The hand rake, a three-pronged tool, is essential for loosening and turning soil. Stainless steel or aluminium is a good choice, as they are most resistant to rust. In addition, a trowel proves invaluable. You use this small, pointed shovel to break up dirt and digging holds. Find one with a comfortable handle as you will be using it a lot. Next, a shovel is a necessary addition to your smaller tools because it allows you to do those 'big jobs'. Their wide, flat blades make quick work of lifting and moving heavy materials like gravel and dirt. To 'clean' your garden, i.e., pruning, removing dead flowers, edging scrubs, and so on, invest in a pair of garden shears. It is wise to purchase multiple sizes: smaller ones for the fine details and bigger ones for more heavy-duty jobs, such as cutting tree branches. Lastly, it is essential to protect your hands from thorns, thistles, blisters, and garden chemicals, so garden gloves are a must. Pick a material you know your skin is not too sensitive to, and make sure they are not too big or too small.