| When thinking about polished floors, cushions | | | | |
| in place, an exquisite flower arrangement, | | | | 5. Showers: Though showers are top on |
| crisp and folded napkins on the table, take | | | | Elegance list and Hand Showers are blamed for |
| time to think about comfort, family time and | | | | 'spoiling the look' with their long hose, |
| kids activities also when decorating or | | | | there cannot be anything better than an |
| designing your house. A lively place full of | | | | adjustable hand shower with a hose for |
| warmth and chatter is what makes a 'House' a | | | | bathing big dogs and kids. |
| 'Home'. There are times when we overlook some | | | | |
| important details to give that 'Designer | | | | 6. Lighting: Make sure that all your rooms |
| Touch' to our houses. Household accidents, | | | | have ample light. Reserve subtle lighting and |
| unhealthy personal conditions and lack of | | | | other lighting effects for special occasions |
| family activities are the result. | | | | and parties. Good, clear light helps maintain |
| | | | everyone's health care easier and is |
| To avoid such a situation, take care to make | | | | especially good for school-going children and |
| your house a comfortable and healthy place to | | | | elderly people. |
| live in. Look around you and observe | | | | |
| carefully if any difficulty and threats are | | | | 7. Artifacts: The next time you see your |
| being posed due to faulty placement and wrong | | | | little kid hardly daring to breath when |
| choice of objects. Here are some tips to get | | | | passing by your favorite antique lamp for the |
| you started: | | | | fear of breaking it, you know its the time |
| | | | for a revamp. Place glass objects and other |
| 1. Rubber Mats: Though not much decorative, | | | | breakable treasures in safer areas so your |
| rubber mats are the best things to have | | | | family members can move freely without |
| outside your bathroom or near the kitchen | | | | worrying about spoiling your decor. |
| sink. They will help avoid slipping and add | | | | |
| safety to your home. Never use any kind of | | | | 8. Comfort Level: At all times, keep in mind |
| rugs at the top or bottom of stairs. | | | | that your home needs to be comfortable and |
| | | | not rigid. Things get monotonous when they |
| 2. Work Delegation Diary: Keep a diary in a | | | | are 'too perfect'. A cozy nook by the window |
| conspicuous place and write down in it, the | | | | with a small coffee table, extra pillows |
| daily chores of all members. Make sure | | | | thrown in for a comfortable |
| everyone takes turn feeding the pet, mowing | | | | tête-à -tête, a sparkling fireplace |
| the lawn, dusting the furniture and setting | | | | with a warm rug sprawled across are some |
| the dinner table. | | | | examples. |
| | | | |
| 3. Sitting Space: Keep some extra, | | | | 9. Family Space: A 'Home' is all about a |
| light-weight chairs or stools that can be | | | | family! Include in your design/decor, special |
| carried to any place to make immediate | | | | 'Family' places like a sufficiently large |
| sitting space. Garden sitting space, | | | | dinner table, a card table for indoor games |
| preferably under a tree or any other shade, | | | | etc. Like I said above in 'Sitting space', a |
| is a lovely idea for spending family time. | | | | mini dining table or wicker table-chair set |
| Get cane chairs or a bench placed in your | | | | in your garden or under a tree in the |
| garden. Chairs and a table in the porch is | | | | backyard is a lovely idea. If you have a |
| another great idea. | | | | spare room for your crafts, make a separate |
| | | | shelf for Family crafts like Scrapbooking. A |
| 4. Door Knobs: Round door knobs give your | | | | Wall Gallery of photos is a great way to bind |
| room a nice appeal, but are down on the | | | | family members - past and present. |
| Comfort-level. Children and Elders suffering | | | | |
| with Arthritis etc. find if difficult to grip | | | | You know what works best for your family. So |
| them. They are also difficult to grasp with | | | | develop this list further according on the |
| wet hands. They can be replaced with Lever | | | | needs of your family and watch your pretty |
| Handles both on the inside as well as the | | | | house take the shape of a 'Pretty Home'. |
| outside for ease and comfort. | | | | |