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There are millions of people in the world who live with some degree of sight loss either from birth, or caused by an injury or old age. All of those people want both their indoor and outdoor spaces to be completely safe and secure so that they can be independent in them.
When it comes to outdoor spaces, visually impaired individuals need a space that’s free of clutter, well-lit and well-marked. Designing such a space doesn’t have to be difficult and expensive. It only needs some careful planning and a few useful tips that will allow their inhabitants to live and move more comfortably outside. Here’s how you can do it for your outdoor space. 
Use Color as a Guide
Many legally blind people can see up to a certain point, and they can see bright colors and changes in lighting. These can help them as guides through their outdoor space.
The use of bright contrasting colors is especially helpful to partially-sighted people to differentiate between different areas and spaces. For instance, garden paths can be made out of red or orange pavers to provide a good contrast with green lawns. You can also opt for outdoor furniture in different colors and textures to prevent bumping into it. If you have a green thumb, make sure all of your gardening tools are painted in bright colors that will make locating and identifying them much easier 
Be Organized
Good organization and tidiness is the key safety element for people with complete blindness or visual impairments. If everything is nicely organized it’s easier to remember where everything is located.
You must always know where all your sharp gardening tools are, and you can even consider creating a database of your garden inventory. If you love to take care of your plants, you can create neat little labels for them in Braille or use vivid colors to make signs. This way, each individual plant will get exactly the right care. Also, always know exactly where your fire extinguishers and telephones are when you’re outside. Eliminate Hazards
In order to eliminate as many hazards as possible, make sure that your front yard and your garden are well maintained to avoid any inconvenience. Your outdoor paths should be wide and perfectly flat. As soon as you notice some bumps or broken pavers or bricks, have them removed and replaced. Additionally, try to keep your greenery well maintained, and avoid letting your plants overgrow and cause obstructions in the path or on the stairs. It’s way easier to move around without all these obstacles blocking your way.
Another thing you should consider is removing all cables and watering hoses from pathways. They can be hard to spot if you leave them on the ground, and you can easily trip or slip on them. Lastly, you can secure the slippery surfaces with non-slip rubber matting and be sure that no matter the weather, the outdoor living space will be hazard-free. 
Get Smart with Lighting
Visually impaired people greatly benefit from good lighting, so make sure to incorporate it in your outdoor spaces. If nothing else, at least illuminate your pathway and the entrance.
Also, pay extra attention to your stairs. Make sure to install LED lighted handrails and lights on each step. The best solution for your stairs are linear lights that are easy to install and offer great illumination. Also, use better lighting near your outdoor furniture to make it easier to spot and avoid it. 
The Importance of Handrails
Every set of stairs in your outdoor space should have sturdy handrails. You can even use linear lights and gently illuminate the handrail so you can spot it more easily. Another great way to ensure outdoor safety is to put up rope handrails along your garden paths or use them to make barriers. Ropes look amazing in any garden, plus they can give you an additional sense of security. If you implement these safety tips into your outdoor space, you or your visually impaired family members can enjoy it without any worries. About the Author 
Catherine is a passionate home design consultant from Melbourne. She loves making homes beautiful and buildings sustainable, but she also like sharing her advice and knowledge with people. That is why she is also a regular contributor to the Smoothdecorator blog. Besides all this, she loves reading and enjoys a superhero movie from time to time.
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For most people home décor is not something they plan to change whenever a new style becomes trendy. But when decorating their home, the up-and-coming fashion will certainly be something they follow and respect. The catch though is that when you decorate after a while, you really don’t have to change everything to make your home trendy and fashionable, but just a few things here and there to refresh the look.
Therefore, check out these timeless décors which will keep your home always in style and admired. 
1. Art is forever
Sure, many homes buy artworks just for decoration or because they are trendy at that moment, but if you want to save your budget from overspending on future décor, the simplest thing you can do is to make your art personal.
If you personalize the art in your home you will gain more than saved money - you will add emotional and personal value to those pieces and thus make it timeless. What you can do is upgrade it a little or refresh it, for example by changing frames on paintings or changing their places. 2. Natural materials
This year’s trends in interior design are all about organic environment, meaning that natural materials have become a highly desired commodity. Truth be told, they were always in, since the furniture, flooring and fixtures made of natural materials are considered to be of the highest quality. Marble, wood, leather, ceramic or terrazzo are all natural and will keep your house interior in good and long-lasting shape.
Their price may be a bit higher, but the quality is unprecedented and will also give a special charm to your home. The most interesting fact about these materials is that their worn out state or a few marks on the surface only add to their exclusivity 3. Built-in shelves
When you plan for storage space, think about built-in shelves. They are incorporated in the overall design and can easily adjust to any change. That’s why they’re the perfect and lasting solution for storing your books or other belongings, without having to buy new shelves.
The other plus is that they make your home look bigger and spacious, since they are out of the way, but also classy and cozy. For that extra added value, play with the symmetry or use a different color for their background. 
4. Great lighting never goes out of fashion
One of the most important parts of any décor is lighting, and the best thing about it is that it never falls out of trend. Natural daylight is irreplaceable and the more you can invite into your home the better. Tall windows and a mirror positioned to reflect the light can do the trick.
Today, there are many great solutions on vertical blinds online and in stores which can dim sunlight and still let it brighten up the room. But if you don’t have too much sunlight, use lighter warm colors on walls and furniture which will brighten up the space. 5. Good old soaking tub
The one thing that seems to never go out of style is a bathtub. They have class, luxury and commodity that will last you a lifetime.
Freestanding tubs are a bonus, since they always breathe elegance into a bathroom. What attests to their popularity is the fact that they even make them for small bathrooms and with shower heads, all because people don’t want to stop soaking and enjoying the relaxation they provide. And if you choose those made of quality materials and by a renowned manufacturer, you’ll enjoy these benefits for a long time Lastly
When it comes to interior design, it’s all about that year’s trends and fashion. But even that big of an industry can’t deny the charm and magic of some vintage and everlasting pieces.
The best thing about that is that you don’t have to compromise the first time you decorate your apartment, or think about pieces of your home becoming obsolete. With just a few little adjustments they will not only fit right in with the new design, but also give it that extra spice to make it unique, original and only yours.
When you’re trying to make cozy and fully functional surroundings for people with low vision, there are some practices you should always keep in mind. These practices are considered as the universal design – the design that can be beneficial to all of the potential users of the space.
The main goal behind the principles of the universal design is to make everything accessible to people that have low vision. Setting a place for blind or visually impaired people doesn’t have to be impossibly hard. You just need to understand the basic needs of the potential space users and you need some time to plan out everything. Some of the things you can think about are smart use of lighting, contrast, colors, and space in general. We’ve scoured the web and we have managed to gather some of the best suggestions you should keep in mind when thinking about readapting your space to fit the needs of visually impaired people. Hopefully, this article will point you in the right direction when it comes to home renovations needed for people with low or no vision, so without further ado, let’s jump in. 
Image source: Pixabay.com
Eliminate hazards
One of the biggest problems for the visually impaired people is moving around the place. It gets easier as they get used to space, but there are some things you can think about right from the start. First of all, you need a clear traffic area – a part of the house used for navigating. With clearly defined traffic area that has no obstacles along the way, it’s way easier for people with low vision to move around.
Rugs can be quite a nuisance for the visually impaired, as they practically represent an obstacle on their way. Make sure your rugs are taped down and immobilized, or even better, get rid of it. Another thing you should consider is removing all the electrical cords from pathways and hallways. You can tape them down, or lead them over the ceiling to avoid making any kind of obstacles for visually impaired people. Don’t wax the floors, use products that don’t make your floor glare and keep the chairs pushed under the desks and tables. Take care of lighting
Visually impaired people, especially elderly people whose eyesight is not totally lost need a lot of lighting in order to function properly. Think about that when you’re designing your house interior. Keep in mind that any kind glare in any combination should be avoided, as it makes life more difficult for the visually impaired.
Use adjustable blinds and curtains so you can adjust the natural light more easily. Place the mirrors around the house in such a way so that they don’t reflect or create glares. Use the general light, but also use a number of smaller lamps around the house to make sure there are enough light sources. Also, use lighting near furniture so it’s easier to spot for people with vision loss. Bigger modifications
If you’re living in a house, then there are some great things you can do to adapt it for people with vision loss. These modifications can prove to be beneficial to everyone, as you can both upgrade your household and help any household member that has impaired vision.
Think about changing your windows for bigger ones, and try to let as much light in as you possibly can. Another great thing is renovating your roof. As the roof is one of the most important parts of the house, you can add roof windows to let more light in, and while you’re at it, make sure it’s been painted properly to extend its lifetime. As the experts from ASAP Roof Painters in Sydney have noted – well-painted roof with enough roof windows can significantly elevate the value of your property. Use color and contrast smartly
Using the color and contrast to your advantage can help you a lot when you’re visually impaired. Usually, people with vision loss can notice highly contrasted items, so place light objects in front of a dark background and dark ones in front of the lighter color. Make sure that the doorknobs are in contrast with the doors and mark all the steps and sharp edges with a contrasting color so they’re easier to spot.
Conclusion
So, as you can see, making house modifications that can significantly help people with impaired vision is not impossible. It requires quite some planning and it requires a full understanding of the needs that visually impaired people have. The process of adaptation is not that hard once you know everything that needs to be done.
Another really great thing about these house modifications is that they show you care and that support is what helps quite a lot of visually impaired people deal with anxiety and stress that follows the slow or total loss of vision. Hopefully, these guidelines will help you get a better picture of what’s really needed in the home of a visually impaired person.
If you are interested in enhancing your windows, then you should try using awnings. Awnings have been used since ancient days as they have the capability of fulfilling different purposes for your home. Nowadays, almost all awning models are run on automated systems.
It is easy to control and install awnings. Thus, you will never have trouble in operating them. They are equipped with outstanding versatility that is why they are getting the highest exposure as the best window treatment of the modern era. A little research can help you make decisions on which is the best awning for your home by checking out these primary features. 
Types of Window Awnings:
These are some of the popular types of window awnings. Moreover, all of them have superb features. You should choose the best one that fits your requirements.
You can select any of the available window awnings and choose your favorite one. You may get an idea from the above-mentioned options of window awnings. In this respect, you can consider both the functionalities as well as aesthetic properties wisely. About the Author: Evan J. My Blog: aussieshub.blogspot.com
Generally, people choose to install carpet flooring for a number of different reasons and also there are many options of carpet flooring to pick from. There are lots of carpet outlets that will suggest to you the best type of carpet flooring to fit your budget .
You need to purchase carpet flooring that imitates your comfort and style. A carpet is also said to be the great alternative for floors if there are toddlers or kids at home. You can visit one of the major carpet outlets and see all the available options. Some of the best places from where you can buy carpets for your home are mentioned below. 
Retail Outlets:
The majority of retail outlets are becoming less popular as floor covering department stores gain more favor. The operating cost of running a retail carpet store is frequently very high compared to a full-service carpet department. Many retail outlets still sell a number of area-rugs varying from bath mats to imitation Orientals. In addition, there is no subcontractor or installation hassle with these places. Local Dealer: This is also the best place to buy your favorite carpet. These people have contacts in your local area. It is also easier to get service following the sale. Also, you can be sure that your questions will be answered quickly because you are his neighbor. Since it is local you will enjoy shopping for you new carpet from the carpet store. You will get good traditional service with expertise with your specific floor covering requirements. You can also get suggestions from your neighbors regarding your local floor covering outlet. The Migrant Carpet Outlet: This is typically a carpet installer selling the products from home, or at the back of the vehicle. This is considered as the worst option for the customers. This is because you have very few selections. Also, this person typically can’t purchase straight from the makers which simply means that you will have to pay more than the actual price. Also, the migrant carpet salespersons has no contact with the suppliers of the carpet, and hence no support to answer any complaints for manufacturing flaws. 
The Huge Carpet Store:
This kind of outlet is very expensive and involves a warehouse or big building, large payroll, large publicity budget, Large inventory, and generally large problems. To finance all the costs of running a big business, the profit-margins need to be large; therefore the alleged savings of purchasing from these stores are lost purchase costly overhead. As a customer, it is hard to feel that you are of any value to the big Store unless you are paying 3 or 4 thousand dollars. The Wholesalers or Brokers: Builders and contractors prefer this place. This is a destination to purchase carpet as well as other floor covering at the discount of 10% to 12% of the actual cost. The wholesale or broker type carpet stores has striking displays, plus a few of them also have experienced sales people (however this is exceptional). The wholesalers and brokers may seem the best carpet seller but again there are some treats in purchasing the carpets in such manner. In case you have a problem, then you, as a customer, have to deal with the carpet installer and not with the broker. As a builder’s customer, you are not going to save money as the broker provides the builder a discount at the year end. This discount is the difference between what the builder quotes you and what he actually pays the carpet broker so you may not get the savings.
Bamboo Flooring offers a unique look to the entire house and the flooring material is manufactured from the bamboo plant. The bamboo flooring usually can be classified as engineered planks and solid-bamboo planks. While the engineered is usually installed using the floating-floor method, the solid bamboo planks are installed similar to traditional hardwood flooring. Both engineered planks and solid planks come prefinished.
However, the grain types that are used in bamboo flooring can be of three types such as: 
Bamboo is a great option for floors. It is a gorgeous, yet simple and comparatively less expensive than other hardwood varieties. It comes in unique styles, textures, and colors and so for a cost-effective surface for the dream house one can choose bamboo. 
Listed below are some of the Benefits of Bamboo Floors:
Although Bamboo has been there for many years but its usefulness as a flooring material has not been known widely. But now, across the world people have started to accept the popularity of this flooring option. As an alternative to other flooring types’ one will never get upset when using bamboo flooring. Not only does it give overall, but it is also budget-friendly, very hard-wearing, and can withstand the test of time. The immense benefits of bamboo floor have made it one of the most highly appealing flooring options. 
Tips to maintain Bamboo Flooring:
In order to experience the beauty and the uniqueness of the bamboo floor, the following tips must be followed:
By following these simple maintenance steps, one can definitely enjoy a cozy and a fabulous interior with bamboo flooring option. About the Author: Zac Ferry is an experienced writer, blogger and social media promoter by providing valuable information which help readers to get more ideas. Follow him on Google+ and Twitter. |
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