Does your home have a spare room that is not being used? If so, this could be an ideal space to transform into a gaming room that the whole family can enjoy. Gaming is a popular pastime today and can be enjoyed through classic table games or even today’s advanced electronic games. Some of these games are ideal for placement in a family gaming room.

Classic Arcade Games

Many versions of these retro video games have been recreated for today’s devices. Why not include either a vintage or throwback machine within your gaming room? This could quite an educational experience for kids.

Air Hockey

When adding an air hockey game to your gaming room, it will need a decent amount of space. If you find you are short of space, there are many air hockey games that are scaled down to be placed atop a table for play. Air hockey is a game that can be played at any age.

Dart Board

A classic pub game, this is often a hit in a gaming room. You can opt for a classic model or perhaps get an advanced electronic version that keeps score for you.

Casino Games

For many people today, online casinos are more popular than their land based counterparts. Think about including your very own casino game. You might consider a roulette wheel or even video poker machine. If you can’t fit any of these in you can always try mobile roulette on sites like mobilecasinoaustralia.com.au. Whatever your choice, the games are perfect for hosting a casino night.

Pool Table

With a larger space, a pool table can be an excellent addition to the design of any gaming room. There are three different sizes of tables so you can find one that best fits into your space. Both children and adults enjoy playing this fun game.

If you find you’re ready to build your own gaming room, consider some of these specific types of games.

The home is the one place you want to keep clean and organized all the time. Am I right? The home should have a place for everything, but it doesn’t always work that way. If you have kids and a spouse, then most likely you are frantically trying to keep up with everything. Looking for better ways to stay organized? You’ll want to check out these tips for keeping the home organized.

Quick Pickup

Every day, no matter how busy I get; I always take time for a quick pickup. It’s easier to keep a clean home organized than it is to try to organize it while the house is dirty. I spend about 15 minutes each day doing a quick pickup of our house. This has saved my sanity and helped me be more organized throughout the day.

Have a Schedule in Place

Another way to keep the home organized is to schedule everything that needs done. If I know my house needs heavily organized, I write it in a schedule. It may sound silly, but with kids, I need all the help I can get when it comes to staying on track. For example- In May, I might spend that month organizing the kids’ clothes. In June, my focus might move to organizing the shed or the garage. If your house needs organized, you might as well carve out enough time to get it done.

Be Creative About It

I’ve learned that being organized doesn’t always mean having clothes neatly folded; it can mean utilizing every space you have. We keep our extra blankets in our ottoman, in our living room. They are not folded because no one can see them. However, everyone in the house knows where they are and that helps us to stay organized (no one has an excuse, not to put the items back).

Declutter the House

Just like I spend time tidying up my house every day, I spend the same amount of time decluttering my house. It’s so important that I do not have a bunch of junk piling up. Junk can equal chaos, and it’s something I want to avoid in our home.

Always Keep Things Going

I’ve learned that my home becomes more unorganized whenever I don’t stay on it. That’s why having a schedule and doing things little by little really helps. Just think about how much easier it is to clean your home on a daily basis, then it is all at once. The same exact concept works for organization.

Do you have any tips for keeping your home organized? I’d love to hear your tips in the comments!

When it comes to your home, it is not just the exterior of your house that makes an impression. The style and appearance of your garden is also important. If you have ever driven down your street thinking that all the gardens look the same, don’t despair. Here are a couple of ways to make your garden stand out.

1. Create A Little Mystery

Evergreen hedges help to create privacy, offering shelter from the eyes of the neighbourhood. To make your boundary line stand out, a healthy hedge is the perfect choice. While they take up a little extra space over the traditional picket fence and lawn combination, a well-manicured hedge can add value to your property as well. To keep the hedge from looking straggly, use a piece of string and a quality hedge trimmer, like the ones made by Ryobi. This will also help promote the growth of your hedge.

2. Add A Water Feature Or Pond

A water feature brings nature into your garden, creating a wonderful place for birds to visit. Adding a cascading waterfall or pond isn’t complicated or expensive. You can buy a number of different DIY kits from hardware stores, or hire a landscaper to construct one for you. Running water can help to drown out street noise, giving you a quiet space away from the rest of the world. Water features and ponds come in many different styles, which can be matched to other elements of your garden.

3. Decorate With A Statement Sculpture

With so many materials to choose from, sculptures can fit in gardens of any style. From Asian-inspired designs to classic marble, from stainless steel to ornate bronze pieces, adding a sculpture draws attention to any garden. The right sculpture can create dialogue or can be used to enhance the overall feel of your garden. Take inspiration from your lifestyle or surroundings and incorporate this into the sculpture.

4. Artistic Lighting

Lighting adds dimension to the garden, highlighting features and casting shadows throughout. Adding lighting to your garden doesn’t have to be an expensive exercise either; even cheap solar lights can be an attractive new feature. Of course, if you choose to spend a little extra, LED lighting designs are a wonderful way to highlight your favourite areas of the garden. Sculptures, water features and landscaping look amazing when illuminated with the right placement.

5. Landscaped Garden Beds

To stand out from the long line of generic gardens, think outside the box – the garden box, that is. Try planting raised garden beds with vegetables instead of flowers. Border the garden bed with marine rope rather than timber or bricks. A small detail can make a huge difference to the overall appearance of your garden. Don’t be afraid to mix and match materials for an eclectic look.

These suggestions can be used together or on their own to help make over your garden. Injecting some of your own personality into the design is a sure-fire way to make your garden stand out among your neighbourhood.

Outdoor entertainment areas are great investments for property owners. They offer extra space for large families, as well as extra room for dinner parties and catch-ups with friends. However, styling your outdoor area can sometimes be a challenge. If you are looking for inspiration on how to style an entertaining area, these 4 ideas can help you get started.

 

1. Build a Deck or Patio

A deck or patio gives you extra space to host family dinners, relax with a good book or enjoy a drink and catch-up with friends. Adding a deck (or patio) to your home creates your own little getaway to enjoy as you see fit. Why are decks so popular? They give you all the enjoyment of a living area as you bask in fresh air. You can select from a range of different styles and materials to create the perfect space for you and your family. Even if you don’t know where to start, a company like AdaptIt Group can show you decking styles to give you some ideas. Once you have selected the style you like, the rest is easy.

2. Select Stylish, Comfortable Furnishings

An outdoor space doesn’t have to match the style of your interior furnishings. You can be as creative or as subdued as you like. Don’t want to build a roof over your deck? Add a couple of giant umbrellas to provide a little bit of shade. Fancy turning your deck into a reading area? Invest in a couple of wicker lounges with soft, cosy cushions. Choose furnishings to match the intended purpose of your deck and they will cover their costs in use.

3. Add an Outdoor Kitchen

Have a little extra room in your budget? Consider adding an outdoor kitchen to your decking design. An outdoor kitchen can be as elaborate as you wish, with some designs including a bar fridge and sink. If you plan on using your deck for barbecues and outdoor dining, an outdoor kitchen is definitely a worthwhile investment. A countertop for preparing food (or at least for juggling plates and cooking instruments) is a must, but it is also worthwhile to consider adding a side burner for browning vegetables or different types of meat.

4. Illuminate the Area with Outdoor Lighting

Just as indoor lighting enhances both the functional and design elements within your home, outdoor lighting works in much the same way. Plan for the areas in your yard that will need the most functional lighting – the sitting and relaxing areas require less lighting, while an outdoor kitchen will typically need more. Dimmable lighting over outdoor lounges and dining areas in particular allows these spaces to be used for a variety of functions. Get creative when illuminating your outdoor area!

Transforming your outdoor area requires a little planning and forward-thinking. Spending some time creating an attractive entertainment area means you will almost certainly use it more often, making the entire process a whole lot more rewarding. How would you create your ultimate outdoor entertainment area?

Are you looking for inspiration on how to style an entertaining area, these 4 ideas can help you get started. Click To Tweet

If you are looking to give your backyard a new lease on life, a garden makeover is the answer! Regardless of whether you have a sprawling or small backyard, there are many ways to enhance the appearance of your backyard, as well as the ways that you use this valuable space.

Landscape

If you are serious about a quality backyard makeover (and one that will vastly improve the look and liveability of your backyard), consult professionals who specialise in gardens, landscaping, lawn and turf, such as the team at Hancey’s Turf. Garden and landscaping professionals are equipped to suggest innovative, interesting and altogether great possibilities for garden improvement.

There is no denying the difference that quality landscaping can make to a property and you can expect that the external areas of your home will come to life with clever landscaping approaches that match your home and its character.

Clearly define spaces in your yard

Knowing the spaces that you need in your yard or garden is important before embarking on any garden makeover. Consider whether you need a dining area, a well-shaded area for relaxation, an area designated for play and/or a barbeque or outdoor kitchen area. Clear definition of the different spaces within your yard can create a strong visual impact and make the area more organised.

It may come as a relief to know that it is possible to define the areas of your garden without huge financial outlay. In some cases, re-defining the areas of your garden can be as simple as rearranging your outdoor furniture.

Make over your yard by clearing away clutter

Just as it’s important to de-clutter the interior of your home, an external de-cluttering effort can make a world of difference. Consider the benefits of a storage shed for housing items that are typically left around your yard. Storage sheds are particularly useful for storing children’s toys and garden accessories that really do not need to be left on display.

Add a path

Consider adding a path to your yard to better define the space and create a polished, finished look. Meandering paths can tame a space and using crushed rocks, stones or pebbles instead of pavers, can be affordable and add to the visual and functional appeal of your backyard.

Liven up the concrete

If you have a concrete patio, entertaining area or path, it can be freshened up and beautified by using masonry stain in a colour of your own choosing. This really is a quick, relatively easy and low cost way to enhance the visual appeal of uninspiring concrete ground cover and, if you would like to go a step further, laying slate tiles over the concrete (with the appropriate mortar adhesive), can create an impressive, sophisticated look.

Is a trellis a possibility?

Chances are you’ve seen garden trellises in nurseries and garden shops before, but haven’t really thought about the inclusion of one in your own yard. A trellis can be a hugely effective inclusion in a backyard makeover and can become an interesting focal point. Consider placing a trellis towards the rear of your backyard or use it to emphasise the position of a vegetable patch or sitting area.

There are many ways to successfully makeover your backyard, many of which do not involve complicated, expensive landscaping operations. When planning a makeover for your backyard, think carefully about the space you have available, your current needs and the ways you intend to use and enjoy your backyard in the future.