Benefits of having tiles in your living room

Benefits of having tiles in your living room

The living room is one of the most important rooms in any home. It is the place where family and friends gather to spend quality time, relax, and entertain. The flooring of the living room plays a vital role in setting the tone for the entire space. There are many options available for living room flooring, but tiles are one of the most popular choices. In this blog post, we will explore the benefits of having tiles in your living room.

Durability

Tiles are incredibly durable and can withstand heavy foot traffic. This makes them an ideal choice for high traffic areas like the living room. They are resistant to scratches, stains, and wear and tear, which means they will last for many years without needing to be replaced. Additionally, tiles are resistant to moisture, which makes them perfect for homes with kids and pets.

Easy to Clean

Another benefit of having tiles in your living room is that they are easy to clean. Unlike carpets, which can trap dirt and dust, tiles are smooth and easy to clean. You can sweep or vacuum them to remove any loose dirt and then mop them with a damp cloth to remove any stains or spills. Tiles are also resistant to water, which means you don’t have to worry about spills causing damage to your flooring.

Low Maintenance

Tiles require very little maintenance. Once they are installed, they do not require any special care. You don’t have to worry about polishing or waxing them like you would with hardwood floors. Additionally, tiles are resistant to fading, which means they will maintain their colour and shine for many years.

Versatility

Tiles are available in a wide range of colours, patterns, and textures, which makes them a versatile option for living room flooring. You can choose from classic, traditional designs to modern, contemporary styles. Tiles can also be used to create a variety of patterns, such as herringbone, chevron, or basket weave, which can add interest and texture to your living room.

Cost-effective

Tiles are an affordable flooring option compared to other materials like hardwood or natural stone. They are also less expensive to install, which can save you money on installation costs. Additionally, because tiles are durable and low maintenance, you won’t have to spend money on repairs or replacements in the future.

Health Benefits

Tiles are a healthy flooring option for your living room. They do not trap dust or allergens like carpets, which can help to improve indoor air quality. This is particularly beneficial for people who suffer from allergies or asthma. Tiles are also resistant to mould and mildew, which can help to prevent respiratory problems.

Eco-Friendly

Tiles are an eco-friendly flooring option. They are made from natural materials like clay, sand, and glass, which are renewable resources. Additionally, tiles are energy-efficient because they help to regulate indoor temperatures, which can reduce your energy bills. They are also recyclable, which means they can be reused or repurposed at the end of their lifespan.

In conclusion

Tiles are a practical, durable, and versatile option for living room flooring. They offer a range of benefits, including easy maintenance, low cost, and a variety of design options. If you are considering replacing your living room flooring, tiles are definitely worth considering. They can add value to your home and create a beautiful, functional space for you and your family to enjoy.

Article Written by: Neil Visagie
Company: DETEK Projects
Speciality: Tiling, Project Management, Painting and Waterproofing
Website: https://detekprojects.co.za/
Contact Email: neilv@detekprojects.co.za
Contact Number: 082 926 3168

Quick and Easy 3 Course Holiday Meal

Quick and Easy
3 Course Holiday Meal

Cheese straws & fondue

INGREDIENTS

  • puff pastry, thawed but cold
  • 1 egg, beaten
  • mature Cheddar cheese, grated
  • salt & cayenne pepper

FONDUE

  • 250ml grated Cheddar cheese
  • 250ml grated mozzarella cheese
  • 10ml flour
  • 250 ml white wine
  • 2 ml garlic powder
  • salt & pepper to taste

METHOD

Preheat oven to 200 °C. Lightly roll out puff pastry once and brush with egg. Transfer to a baking sheet. Sprinkle with cheese. Cut pastry into long strips and dust with salt & cayenne pepper. Bake for 10 minutes till crispy. Fondue: Mix cheeses with flour in a large bowl and set aside. Pour the wine into a pot and heat (medium, don’t boil). Add garlic powder, salt & pepper and stir. Add handful of cheese mixture and stir till it’s melted. Continue doing so until it has all been melted. Pour into a fondue pot. Serve cheese straws with the cheese fondue.

‘Boere curry’ with flatbread

CURRY

  • 750 g beef stewing meat, salt & pepper to taste
  • 60 ml cake flour
  • 30 ml oil
  • 2 chopped onions
  • 2 chopped garlic cloves
  • 1 cinnamon stick
  • 15 ml turmeric
  • 5 ml curry powder to taste
  • 8 x 250 ml beef stock
  • 60 ml apricot jam
  • 4 potatoes cut into quarters
  • 4 carrots cut into pieces
  • 5 ml white vinegar

FLAT BREAD:

  • 500 g bought bread dough
  • a little olive oil
  • coarse salt

METHOD

Curry: Heat oven to 230 °C. Spray large baking tray with food spray. Curry: Flavour meat with salt & pepper and roll in cake cake flour. Heat oil in saucepan and fry meat till slightly brown. Remove meat and keep aside. Fry oil and garlic in the same saucepan until slight caramelised. Add cinnamon stick & spices and stirfry till tasty. Place meat back with half of the stock. Simmer for 45 min. while stirring. Add more stock, if necessary. Stir apricot jam in with rest of stock, potatoes and carrots. Simmer till potatoes are cooked. Flavour with vinegar, salt & pepper.

Flat bread: Divide dough in 4 and roll out. Stack onto prepared baking tray, smear with olive oil, sprinkle with coarse salt and bake 10-15 min. until golden brown.

Cup chocolate cake

INGREDIENTS

  • 60 ml flour
  • 30 ml cocoa powder
  • 2,5 ml baking powder
  • 45 ml caster sugar
  • pinch of salt
  • 80 ml milk
  • 30 ml oil
  • 30 g dark chocolate, broken into pieces

 

 

METHOD

In a medium bowl, mix together the dry ingredients. Stir in the milk and oil until all ingredients are combined and the batter has no clumps. Pour batter into 2 microwave-safe mugs, leaving enough space at the top for the cake to rise without spilling over the rim. Add chocolate in the middle of the batter. Microwave mug cake for 70 seconds on high. Carefully remove from microwave and enjoy – with cream or ice cream & strawberries.

The Health Benefits of Relaxation

The Health Benefits of Relaxation

Relaxation is one of the easiest ways to promote your health and vitality. Without regular relaxation, stress levels can jump to dangerously high levels that can negatively affect health. Here are just a few ways relaxation can promote a healthy life:

Protects Your Heart:
Stress is as bad for your heart as other risk factors such as high blood pressure and lack of exercise, sudden shocks can cause a burst of adrenaline that may keep the heart from functioning correctly.

Reduce Inflammation/ Helps Boost your Immune System:
Chronic stress can double your risk of catching a cold, likely because it interferes with your body’s ability to “turn off” its inflammation response.

Improve your Memory:
Stress can impair the functioning of the prefrontal cortex, even small amounts of stress can reduce the brain’s ability to learn and remember correctly.

Lower the Risk of having a Stroke:
People who cope better with stressful situations can reduce their risk of having a stroke by up to 24%.

More Inspiration:
When you turn down the volume of the outside world and begin to relax, your intuitive and inspired self can be heard much more easily.

Six Brilliant Beach Hacks

Six Brilliant Beach Hacks

As exciting as a trip to the beach may be, there are just some things (sticky sand, forgetting where you placed your belongings, the unpleasantness of getting sunburn, etc.) that can make your beach experience quite stressful. But, we’ve got you covered! These six brilliant beach hacks will make your day at the beach easier and more enjoyable.

Snap a quick pic
This first hack is probably the most important. It is easy for children to get lost at the beach. To avoid this make sure that, before everyone splits up, you take a group photo so that you can describe everyone and their outfits to other people and lifeguards in case they get lost. This simple trick is especially useful for small children who may wander, as it ensures that you have a recent image, in their identifiable outfit for reference.

Bring Balloons
This second hack piggybacks on the first one. Have you ever gone for a dip in the ocean or gone to collect seashells, but you accidently misplaced your stuff? Tying helium-filled balloons to your beach umbrella or chairs will make it easier for you to spot your picnic area in a sea of umbrellas and beach towels. Another useful balloon hack is blowing into balloons when you, or your little ones, get water stuck in your ears. Blowing into a balloon a couple of times will force the water out.

Fitted Sheet
Bring a fitted sheet along and use it to create your own sand-free beach blanket. Put one heavy object, such as chairs, a cooler box, and a bag inside each corner of the fitted sheet, and fold the corners around these objects to lift the sides of the sheet and create a barrier from the sand. Lay your beach towels and cooler box inside the fitted sheet to sit on.

Fill a container with water
This is another hack that works hand-in-hand with the previous one. To avoid getting sand inside the fitted sheet set-up, fill a container with water and place it beside the fitted sheet set-up with little space between the two. The idea is to wash the sand off your feet before getting inside the fitted sheet.

Ziplock bag
Invest in a waterproof phone case, but if you are not willing to spend the extra cash, a ziplock bag will have the exact same effect. As weird as it may sound, keep your phone in a ziplock bag to protect it from getting wet or having sand stuck in the speaker. The touchscreen will still work so you will be able to use your phone and protect it from any water and sand damage.

Baby powder
By the time it’s time to go home, everyone will be covered with sand and it will be stuck in every crevice of your bodies. While we love the feeling of seasand between our toes while sitting on the beach, it is not something we want to carry back with us into our cars or homes. Before you all hop into the car, sprinkle baby powder on everyone, and the sticky sand will magically dry up and turn to dust that simply brushes off.

April – The Month of Fulfillment!

April – The Month of Fulfillment!

Seed:  Sow quick-flowering annuals like Namaqualand Daisies during the first week, but not later, or it may be too cool for germination.

Bulbs:  Plant Tulips during the second half of April and as late as the first week of May.  But not later or they will bloom during hot weather.  Hyacinths should be planted later than the first week of April.  All other bulbs planting should have been completed by the end of March.  (Pre-cooled bulbs can be planted later).

Water spring-flowering bulbs and annuals regularly and well.
Water evergreens regularly.
Water frequently if the weather is hot and dry.

Lawn:  If lawns begin to turn brown, do not mow any more.  Trim edges to give a neat winter appearance.  Where lawns remain green, mow regularly.  Water and mow evergreen lawns.

Leaves: Stack/collect fallen leaves with layers of rotten manure so that they can rot down on their own.  Moisten occasionally.

Succulent Wall Art

Succulent Wall Art

Vertical plantings and gardens are still very much in!!  They can be a whole wall – even entire buildings are sometimes covered with living plants.

Succulent Frame

A simple frame, planted with suitable plants and then hung on the wall as a living artwork will give live to any area in your garden.  These frames filled with succulents are prime examples of vertical gardening on a small scale.  The key to success is keeping the planted-up frame on the ground for long enough to allow the roots to establish.  If it’s hung up prematurely the entire planting will collapse and literally fall out of the frame.

What you will need: 

  1. A suitable metal and wire frame,
  2. coir lining / or an old suitable deep picture frame,
  3. plastic lining,
  4. potting medium,
  5. peat moss,
  6. bonemeal
  7. and a selection of plants

Succulents requires full sun or dapples shade. 
Watering after hanging becomes slightly more challenging and
its best achieved through regular misting with a fine sprayer.

What to do:

  1. Line the outer wire edges of the frame with coir. 
  2. On the inside of the coir, line the frame with plastic. 
  3. Mix potting medium of one part potting soil and one part peat moss. 
  4. Fill the entire frame inside the plastic with this medium, pressing down firmly. 
  5. Cut off any excess plastic, and with a sharp instrument, puncture drainage holes into the base.
  6. Add  bonemeal and mix. 
  7. Plant by making individual holes, firming each plant into position with you fingers, filling up the whole frame.
  8. Place the planted frame flat on the ground and water thoroughly. 
  9. Leave to become established for 4-6 weeks before hanging vertically against a wall.