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Stay cool indoors: Top 10 home decor tips for summer

As temperatures rise during the summer months, it can be challenging to stay cool and comfortable indoors. While many of us enjoy spending time outside in the sun, it’s important to have a comfortable and cool indoor space to retreat to when the heat becomes too much to handle.

The good news is that there are many simple and effective ways to keep your home cool during the summer months. From adjusting your decor to incorporating natural elements, there are many strategies you can use to create a more comfortable and refreshing atmosphere in your home.

Whether you’re looking for ways to cool down your bedroom or create a more refreshing living space, here are tips help you to stay cool and comfortable all summer long.

Choose light and airy fabrics. Swap out heavy drapes, throws, and blankets for lightweight fabrics like cotton, linen, and sheer materials. This will help to create a more breathable environment in your home.

Add some indoor plants. Indoor plants not only add a touch of green to your space but can also help to cool down a room. Plants absorb heat and release moisture, which can help to create a more comfortable atmosphere.

Opt for light-colored decor. Dark colors tend to absorb heat, while light colors reflect it. So, choose light-colored decor like white, beige, or pastels to help keep your space feeling cooler.

Use natural materials. Natural materials like bamboo, rattan, and jute are perfect for summer decor. They are lightweight, breathable, and add a touch of texture to your space.

Invest in a good ceiling fan. Ceiling fans are a great way to keep cool without using too much energy. Make sure to choose a fan with adjustable settings so you can control the speed and direction of the airflow.

Use cool-tone lighting. Warm-tone lighting can add to the heat in a room. Instead, opt for cool-tone lighting like LED bulbs or natural daylight bulbs to create a more refreshing atmosphere.

Keep your windows shaded. Use shades, curtains, or blinds to block out direct sunlight during the hottest parts of the day. This will help to keep your space feeling cooler and more comfortable.

Incorporate water elements. Water can help to create a cooling effect in your home. You can add a small tabletop fountain or even a fish tank to your space to create a calming and refreshing ambiance.

Choose breathable bedding. Swap out heavy comforters for lighter weight blankets and sheets made of breathable materials like cotton or bamboo. This will help you to stay cool and comfortable while you sleep.

Declutter your space. Clutter can make a space feel stuffy and cramped, especially during the summer months. Take some time to declutter your space and create a more open and airy atmosphere.

Remember that staying cool and comfortable is not just a matter of comfort, it’s also important for your health and well-being. Heat exhaustion and heat stroke are serious conditions that can result from prolonged exposure to high temperatures, so it’s essential to take steps to keep your body cool and hydrated during the summer months.

So, as the temperatures continue to rise, take some time to assess your home decor and make any necessary adjustments to create a more comfortable and refreshing atmosphere. With a few simple tweaks, you can turn your home into a cool and comfortable oasis where you can relax and enjoy the summer months to the fullest.

Ready to set up your home to beat the summer heat? Shop for your home’s summer essentials at AllHome.

AllHome is the Pinoy’s one-stop shop for all home needs. It offers an extensive range of top-quality home-improvement products such as construction supplies, hardware, appliances, indoor and outdoor furniture, homeware, décor, and even electronic gadgets all under one roof.

Its Metro Manila branches include:

Vista Place (Wil Tower), Eugenio Lopez Drive, Brgy. South Triangle, Quezon City
E. Rodriguez Jr. Brgy. Bagumbayan, Quezon City
Starmall EDSA-Shaw, Ground, Epifanio de los Santos Ave, Mandaluyong
Worldwide Corporate Center, Shaw Boulevard, Mandaluyong
Vista Mall Taguig, Levi Mariano Ave., Taguig City
Vista Mall C5 Extension Road, Quirino Ave. Pulang Lupa Uno, Las Piñas City
Vista Mall Las Pinas, CV Starr Ave., Philam Village, Pamplona, Las Pinas

You may also shop conveniently online at allhome.com.ph to take advantage of AllHome’s wide array of original and top-quality items, easy payment methods and fast delivery timelines.

In-store photos taken at AllHome Wil Tower. Used with permission.

Header Photo by Freepik

Check out my previous posts on AllHome:

Convert your living room to foster family time

4 tips to setup your home office for WFH success

5 things to fix in your bedroom for a blissful slumber

Home accents from AllHome to liven up your spaces

Go all out with your home improvement goals at AllHome Libis’ All Out Sale!

Spruce up your outdoor areas to supplement your wellness goals at AllHome

How to Clean an Artificial Christmas Tree | AllHome.com.ph

It’s time to bring out your Christmas trees and decorate! Learn how to clean your artificial Christmas trees before decorating them this upcoming holiday season!

Preparing and cleaning an artificial Christmas tree is simple, but can also be time-consuming. With just a few household tools and cleaning supplies, your artificial Christmas tree can be clean and fresh in no time. Remember: it’s important to clean your artificial Christmas tree before use to remove layers of dust that may accumulate when you’ve stored them after celebrating the merry days.

*Six Feet Vinyl* *Christmas Tree* *from AllHome*

How To Clean Your Artificial Christmas Tree Before Decorating

First, carefully remove your tree from its box or storage bag. Then, start wiping the tree with a soft, dry cloth or a fiber duster starting from the top, from its branches, trunk, then down to its base.
You can also use a vacuum with a bristle brush used for upholstery or a hand vacuum. Make sure to test a section at the base of the tree first to see if the vacuum can safely clean the dirt off the branches and not damage the tree.
For pre-lit Christmas trees, clean its branches with a vacuum before wiping each lightbulb with soft, dry cloth carefully.

How To Clean Your Artificial Christmas Tree Before Storage

For your safety, make sure to unplug Christmas lights before taking them off and all decorations from your tree.
Give it a quick sweep with a vacuum or a clean, dry cloth.
Dismantle the tree according to instructions.
Compress all branches carefully and ensure that there are no unnecessary strains on the branches and lights.
For pre-lit Christmas trees, wipe branches with a clean, dry cloth. Start from the top and gently work your way around the light bulbs.

How To Care For And Clean A White Christmas Tree

Compared to regular Christmas trees, dust and dirt are easily visible on a white Christmas tree. Keep your white tree spotless by cleaning and storing it properly after every holiday season.

Same with a regular Christmas tree, follow the general care tips on how to clean it as mentioned above.
After cleaning, wrap your tree in clean white paper before storing, then place it inside its storage container.
Avoid using water and other cleaning agents on your tree as these may change or destroy its material, and may invalidate the product warranty.

How To Care For And Clean Frosted Christmas Trees

Frosted Christmas trees require a different kind of care compared to a traditional Christmas tree as there’s no need to dust your frosted tree, since this could very well damage its flocking material which makes it look frosted with snow.

First, set up your tree in a cool, dry place and away from humidity and direct heat.
Since frosted trees tend to shed, avoid making unnecessary contact against the branches and tips to prevent excess shedding.
Gently compress the branches of your tree, then place it in a secure storage bag to keep the flocking material intact and lessen contact from anything that may cause it to shed.

We know that you and your artificial Christmas tree are ready now and waiting to start on the decorating. We hope this guide from AllHome has given you helpful tips on how to clean and care for your artificial Christmas tree so you can enjoy its beauty for many holidays to come!

To shop for more Christmas decorations, visit AllHome for its wide selection of home homeware, kitchenware, appliances, and more. You may also visit AllHome’s website, https://www.allhome.com.ph, or follow AllHome’s official Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/allhomeofficial

Visit any All Home branches to check out great finds. We offer DIY Hardware, Construction Materials, Flooring, Furniture and Appliances, Homewares, Linens, Sanitary Ware, and more!

You may also visit our website and enjoy the hassle-free experience of shopping online through AllHome.com.ph today!

If you are seeking inspiration in creating a home filled with Christmas spirit, look no further than AllHome’s 2022 Christmas Catalogue, available now in physical copies and for digital download! Shop now at your nearest AllHome branch or online at www.allhome.com.ph!

Shopping for Christmas gifts? Visit AllHome today and find amazing discounts at AllHome’s Merrier Christmas Bundles!

From Gifts You’ll Love under PHP1,000, PHP3,000, and up to PHP20,000, bundled items priced for one, and more discounted items on AllHome’s wide selections of homeware, furniture, appliances, and construction materials! Shop now at any AllHome branch nationwide or through its e-commerce website, www.allhome.com.ph.

Merrier Christmas Bundles promo will run until December 31, 2022.

AllHome online store has a shopping site that offers fast delivery, cash on delivery, and easy payment terms. You may also follow AllHome on their official Facebook page and Instagram account for more updates.

5 things to fix in your bedroom for a blissful slumber

With our very busy lives, we deserve our restful sleep as well.

After all, getting enough sleep has a myriad of health benefits that we simply can’t ignore. These include heightened immunity, prevention of weight gain, as well as improved mood, memory, productivity and heart health.

As a place to rest and restore ourselves, our bedroom needs to be set up and decorated accordingly.

So scan through your bedroom and take note of what you can improve to give yourself a well-deserved blissful slumber.

Bed.

The primary furniture in the room determines much of your comfort as you slumber. The quality of your mattress, pillows and beddings will greatly factor into your sleeping conditions.

Gadgets.

According to the National Sleep Foundation, the use of electronic devices at night tend to delay the time that we fall asleep, reducing the total sleep duration. These devices also affect our brains, stimulating our minds and making it harder for us to doze off. The blue light they emit also disrupts our body’s production of melatonin, the hormone that regulates sleep.

Now, it would be highly unlikely for us to ban all our technology from the bedroom but we can pare down our use of them once we enter our sanctuary. We can avoid using them an hour before we go to sleep, place them in drawers to keep them out of sight and resist the urge to reach for them when we wake up at night.

Lighting.

Light is the key player when it comes to regulating our circadian rhythm, with the darkest possible room cited as the most conducive to sleep. Darkness also reduces potential visual distractions and disruptions to sleep.

To help make your bedroom as dark as possible, consider equipping the room with blackout curtains and a small, low-power lamp. If you still have considerable light in the space which disrupts your sleep, you may want to purchase a comfy yet close-fitting eye mask.

Ventilation and Temperature.

As we enter the hot summer months, proper ventilation and room temperature become even more crucial to catching our Zzzs. Aside from air-conditioning, you can also help cool your room down by using electric fans to circulate air, and creating cross-ventilation within the home by opening or closing doors and windows.

Scents.

Don’t underestimate the power of your nose. Some fragrances can help promote relaxation which, in turn, makes it easier to fall asleep and wake up the following morning feeling well-rested.

Clean-smelling sheets have been observed to help in promoting comfortable sleep, as well as the use of aromatherapy in the form of essential oils applied to pillows or placed in diffusers. Lavender, rose, roman chamomile, jasmine and ylang-ylang are among those that have been seen to contribute to restful slumber.

Clutter.

In the same way that messy surroundings impede your ability to work at optimum levels, clutter in your bedroom could also prevent you from getting the sleep you need.

Clear out items that do not help you relax by regularly tidying up your bedroom and storing your electronic gadgets and small items in your drawers. Vacuum your bedroom rugs and mattress regularly to get rid of dustmites that trigger allergies.

Ready to set up your room to give you the best kind of sleep?

Shop for bedroom essentials that will help you get to Sleep Town at AllHome.

Its Metro Manila branches include:

Vista Place (Wil Tower), Eugenio Lopez Drive, Brgy. South Triangle, Quezon City
E. Rodriguez Jr. Brgy. Bagumbayan, Quezon City
Starmall EDSA-Shaw, Ground, Epifanio de los Santos Ave, Mandaluyong
Worldwide Corporate Center, Shaw Boulevard, Mandaluyong
Vista Mall Taguig, Levi Mariano Ave., Taguig City
Vista Mall C5 Extension Road, Quirino Ave. Pulang Lupa Uno, Las Piñas City
Vista Mall Las Pinas, CV Starr Ave., Philam Village, Pamplona, Las Pinas

You may also shop conveniently online at allhome.com.ph to take advantage of AllHome’s wide array of original and top-quality items, easy payment methods and fast delivery timelines.

In-store photos taken at AllHome WCC and Libis. Used with permission.

4 tips to setup your home office for WFH success

One of the few bright spots in the midst of the global pandemic is the realization that we can work -productively and efficiently – at home.

The concept of Work-from-Home (or WFH) has been around for quite some time but it took the necessity for isolation and limited physical or social contact to make it as widely accepted as it is now.

Aside from ensuring your safety from infection by COVID-19, working from home has allowed you greater freedom and flexibility with your time, saved your the costs of travel, office wardrobe and lunches, as well as provided you with improved work-life balance, hasn’t it?

Hopefully, for many of us, WFH is here to stay.

However, this setup is not without some disadvantages, with discomforts and distractions being among the chief complaints among WFH setups.

The good news is that, with a little bit of forethought, these disadvantages can be minimized or eliminated.

Here are some rules of thumb in setting up your home office:

Define the space.

If, after two years of working from home, you haven’t set aside a defined and dedicated space for your home office, I laud your discipline (or pity you for the suffering you put yourself through).

A dedicated (ideally enclosed) area separate from the rest of the household to house your work equipment and provide you with a quiet space for concentration and work meetings will help you work a lot more effectively at home.

Illuminate.

Good lighting is something most people take for granted, but do remember that you need to be able to be able to read from your monitor or notebooks for hours on end. Dealing with glares or shadows while working not only makes it harder to focus on the tasks at hand, it may also cause eye fatigue and headaches, as accidents from momentary blindness as your eyes adjust to sudden changes in lighting conditions.

In these days of Zoom meetings, having enough light to illuminate your face (as opposed to being in shadow in a seemingly dark dungeon) goes a long towards coming across as professional to your colleagues.

If you can’t find a space with good indirect natural light, equip your space with overhead, task and ambient light sources to help your eyes as you do your various activities.

Take a (good) seat.

Your future self will thank you for investing in a good ergonomic chair today as it is designed to support your body as you work while considering your posture, comfort and health.

Sitting in the wrong kind of chair may cause pain in the neck, back and hip areas, as well as distractions due to discomforts caused by poor circulation and posture.

Get organized.

All you need to be able to work should be within easy reach but you also need to keep workspace spic-and-span to reduce distractions and improve your productivity.

This is why using smart storage solutions is a must. If floor space is limited, consider storing vertically through the use of stacking drawers, floating shelves, rolling carts or even pegboards.

So get to work on setting up your workspace. And you can get all you need for your home office at your nearest All Home branch.

Its Metro Manila branches include:

Vista Place (Wil Tower), Eugenio Lopez Drive, Brgy. South Triangle, Quezon City
E. Rodriguez Jr. Brgy. Bagumbayan, Quezon City
Starmall EDSA-Shaw, Ground, Epifanio de los Santos Ave, Mandaluyong
Worldwide Corporate Center, Shaw Boulevard, Mandaluyong
Vista Mall Taguig, Levi Mariano Ave., Taguig City
Vista Mall C5 Extension Road, Quirino Ave. Pulang Lupa Uno, Las Piñas City
Vista Mall Las Pinas, CV Starr Ave., Philam Village, Pamplona, Las Pinas

You may also shop conveniently online at allhome.com.ph to take advantage of AllHome’s wide array of original and top-quality items, easy payment methods and fast delivery timelines.

In-store photos taken at AllHome WCC and Libis. Used with permission.

Spruce up your outdoor areas to supplement your wellness goals at AllHome

Summer’s almost here and you know what that means: more time spent outdoors!

During pre-pandemic times, outdoor living spaces such as patios, decks and porches – were used mainly for entertainment and recreation. However, in the past two years, people are increasingly doing activities outside such as gardening, barbecuing, playing with their kids and pets, exercising, or simply relaxing.

International Casual Furnishings Association executive director Jackie Hirschhaut reported that in contrast to consumer behavior in early 2020 where outdoor spaces were being designed to complement homes and lifestyles, current trends indicate outdoor spaces are now being created to supplement that “supplement our sense of well-being and transform an outdoor area into an outdoor room.”

Clearly, outdoor areas are being used for purposes that promote physical, social and mental health.

These include:

Having a convenient place to get exposed to enough sunlight to boost vitamin D levels.
Providing opportunities for activities that promote eye health such as “screen breaks” – time away from gadgets – and viewing objects at a range of distances – for example, a nearby potted plant and a bird flying at a distance – to manage eyestrain.
Having adequate spaces for increased physical activity and movement.
Providing opportunities to meditate, be closer to nature to reduce stress.
Providing opportunities to spend time with friends and loved ones for fun shared experiences.

When designing or reorganizing your outdoor areas to support your wellness goals, keep the purpose of the spaces top of mind:

Exercise. If increasing physical activity is your objective, then consider the size, mobility and storage of fitness equipment that you will include in the space.
Socializing. Families and friends come together over good food so aside from your outdoor grill, consider the spaces needed for convenient food preparation, serving and dining. Including gathering points or conversation pieces such as bonfire pits or water features will also help in getting people to gather up and converse.
Relaxation and De-stressing. Nature has a way of bringing down stress levels so incorporate nature into your outdoor spaces through greenery, water features, wide open spaces and the materials of your furniture.

Ready to translate these ideas into outdoor spaces that promote health and wellness? Then drop by your nearest AllHome branch today!

Its Metro Manila branches include:

Vista Place (Wil Tower), Eugenio Lopez Drive, Brgy. South Triangle, Quezon City
E. Rodriguez Jr. Brgy. Bagumbayan, Quezon City
Starmall EDSA-Shaw, Ground, Epifanio de los Santos Ave, Mandaluyong
Worldwide Corporate Center, Shaw Boulevard, Mandaluyong
Vista Mall Taguig, Levi Mariano Ave., Taguig City
Vista Mall C5 Extension Road, Quirino Ave. Pulang Lupa Uno, Las Piñas City
Vista Mall Las Pinas, CV Starr Ave., Philam Village, Pamplona, Las Pinas

You may also shop conveniently online at allhome.com.ph to take advantage of AllHome’s wide array of original and top-quality items, easy payment methods and fast delivery timelines.

Outdoor photos credits: Klara Kulikova, Cagin Kargi, Sonnie Hiles and Farhan Abas on Unsplash.

In-store photos taken at AllHome WCC and AllHome Libis. Used with permission.

Home accents from AllHome to liven up your spaces

Do you sometimes feel reluctant to bring visitors to your home, thinking that they’ll find your place too blah?

When you leaf through lifestyle magazines, do you find yourself wishing your home is as full of pizzazz as those featured in those pages?

While large furniture pieces may be hard to get rid of or replace, you can easily add a home accessory to your space that will totally change its look.

Why accessorize your home?

Similar to how, in fashion, the right accessories add personality to a whole outfit, the right home accents can imbue your spaces with your own style and uniqueness.

Accent pieces can impart a seasonal feel to your decor. By choosing accessories that embody the time of the year, you can bring the changing seasons to your home.

Are you ready to accessorize your home? Here are some sensible rules of thumb to guide your selections:

Go for quality over quantity. You don’t need to fill your spaces with as many bric-a-bracs as you can get your hands on. Just go for a few choice pieces that will impart style and uniqueness to your area.
Go for pops of color and interesting changes in texture. Accent pieces should add visual interest to the room by providing contrast from large and neutral-colored pieces of furniture.
Consider how the pieces fit into the room and with each other. Consider the proportion and scale of the pieces against the space: miniscule figurines in large mantel may just appear like clutter and a large piece of artwork will crowd a small room. To get a feel of how to arrange your accessories, start with the one or two larger pieces (use such items sparingly), then add small ones to fill in the space or achieve balance.

Top Picks from AllHome

The good news is that you won’t have to travel far to get good selections of home accessories: simply drop by your nearest AllHome outlet or shop online at allhome.com.ph.

Check out some of my top picks and see which ones can be worked in to your home.

Plants. Greenery adds freshness to a space, hence the proliferation of indoor plants painstakingly cared for by the resident plantito or plantita in many homes However, if you don’t have the time to care for a real plant, getting artificial plants or preserved flower arrangements is the next best thing.

AllHome Accessories — ATHOME Imogen Decorative Artificial Plant

Buy Now

Storage items. Tidy up your clutter while injecting some style to the area with chic decorative items that also serve as storage.

Buy Now

Tabletop decor. Add style to the various areas in the house through small but interesting pieces that can be placed on top of surfaces like tables, shelves, racks or mantels.

Buy Now

Wall decor. Break the monotony of the walls of your room through eye-catching wall-mounted decor or functional items such as clocks or memo boards.

Buy Now

Mirrors. Want to make a room look bigger or bring in more light to a space? You can do both with strategically placed mirrors.

Buy Now

So when you feel like your home is looking a bit drab or dull, you know that you can always jazz it up with a few well-chosen accents!

About AllHome

Its Metro Manila branches include:

Vista Place (Wil Tower), Eugenio Lopez Drive, Brgy. South Triangle, Quezon City
E. Rodriguez Jr. Brgy. Bagumbayan, Quezon City
Starmall EDSA-Shaw, Ground, Epifanio de los Santos Ave, Mandaluyong
Worldwide Corporate Center, Shaw Boulevard, Mandaluyong
Vista Mall Taguig, Levi Mariano Ave., Taguig City
Vista Mall C5 Extension Road, Quirino Ave. Pulang Lupa Uno, Las Piñas City
Vista Mall Las Pinas, CV Starr Ave., Philam Village, Pamplona, Las Pinas

You may also conveniently shop online at allhome.com.ph to take advantage of AllHome’s wide array of original and top-quality items, easy payment methods and fast delivery timelines without leaving your home.

In-store photos taken at AllHome WCC and product images taken from allhome.com.ph. Used with permission.

Convert your living room to foster family time

If the pandemic has taught us anything, it is to value each moment we spend with our loved ones, especially our family.

However, even our best laid plans for family bonding may get derailed by the demands on our time and attention by responsibilities at work, in school and also in the community.

While the pandemic has forced us to adapt to a new way of living by converting rooms in our house to enable us to work and learn at home, we also need to remember that the home is primarily a place for the family.

The home should therefore have a designated space that foster family togetherness and bonding.

If the past few months have seen you painstakingly rearranging and buying furniture and accessories to convert existing spaces into your home office, a study area for the kids and even a home gym, then the same effort should be expended in building a space where the family can comfortably spend time together.

How about transitioning your living room into a family room?

These room concepts may seem interchangeable, the core purpose of these spaces differ significantly. Living rooms are display spaces with a more formal atmosphere for welcoming and entertaining guests during special occasions, while family rooms are more casual spaces for household members to convene and relax together.

Let’s face it: our living rooms will not – and should not – see much use for parties and gatherings for the foreseeable future due to the need for physical distancing.

Now then is the best time to convert that space into one that’s more suited for family. It won’t necessarily require a massive overhaul, just a few adjustments and rethinking on the purpose and use of some of the room’s elements.

Seating

If seating in a formal living room is geared towards having a good conversation rolling, in a family room, it is more concerned about accommodating all family members to come together to engage in activities.

Multi-seater sofas that can comfortably fit family members who want to watch TV together or just hang out will work best in a family room.

Additional seating such as benches, ottomans and throw pillows will allow more household members to join in on the fun.

Tables

In a formal living room, the center or coffee table anchors the other furniture in the room by being a focal point while also holding refreshments and reading materials. In a family room, it serves as the surface on which the family can engage in joint activities such as board games and puzzles.

Entertainment Center

In some homes, a separate media room is set up to house a large-screen TV and a sound system to make for a superb movie or video game time. However, a media center may be seamlessly integrated into the family room through a TV stand that also houses a gaming console, TV set-top box and other gadgets for the family’s communal entertainment.

Storage and Organization

As the family room is meant to accommodate family members, it should also have a system to house the items that that the family uses while in it.

It would be best for the family room to have shelves and cabinets that can store books, writing materials and games, as well as baskets and trays to organize these items.

So are you ready to glow up your living room space into a family room?

You can shop for your family room essentials at AllHome, the modern Filipino families’ go-to place when it comes to building or renovating their homes. It operates through three types of store formats – large mall-based stores, free-standing stores, and smaller specialty stores – across 52 outlets nationwide to make the home improvement experience more accessible.

Shop online at allhome.com.ph or download the AllHome PH app on Google Play Store and Apple App Store to your mobile phone to enjoy AllHome’s huge selection of original and top-quality items, fast delivery timelines and easy payment options.

Product images taken from allhome.com.ph with permission.

Photo credits: Spacejoy, David Libeert, Yehleen Gaffney, Minh Pham and Jane Duursma on Unsplash