Do you live in a small dorm or studio apartment? If you do, you are probably familiar with the difficulties of trying to combine style with functionality. This may be a particular problem when you want to add a little pizzazz to the central piece of furniture in your dorm, studio or efficiency apartment.
However, just because you have limited space doesn’t mean you can’t add style. In fact, this is where you could allow your creativity to shine through. With some imagination and forethought, you could have a living space that is perfect for both day and night. This could be accomplished by turning your twin bed into a sofa. In the evening, you could switch your sofa back into a twin bed.The Pros and Cons of Turning Your Twin Bed into a Sofa
To begin, you would need a twin platform bed, mate’s bed or any twin bed that doesn’t have a headboard or post. It is important to note, that due to their width, a full, queen or king size bed would not convert nicely into a couch. This would not give the look or feel that you’d want (not to mention, it would look quite silly).
The obvious advantage of turning your twin bed into a sofa would be that you already have the primary element for this design–a twin bed. This equals savings, as you would only need to purchase a few odds and ends to convert your bed into a lovely sofa for daytime living.
Another pro would be that unlike a futon, you would not need to perform additional steps to make your twin bed into a sofa. All that is necessary would be adding additional pillows against the back of the bed to give it the look of a sofa.
One disadvantage of converting your bed into a couch would be that this idea wouldn’t be suitable if you share your space with someone else. For example, if you live in a dorm this might make it difficult. However, there are chances this still could work if your roommate uses a hide-away bed that saves on space. It all really just depends on the situation.
If you decide to go with this idea, one last thing…
You may find the biggest con to be the height of your bed in comparison to daybeds, futons and sofas. Platform beds are substantially lower compared to daybeds. So, keep that in mind when considering this option, and if the difference in height doesn’t bother you, then using it as a sofa would not be a problem.
If you can afford to spend some extra money but still find you don’t like the height-issues that come with platform beds, this could be easily remedied by boosting the height of your bed with an extra mattress or box spring. Another option would be to purchase inexpensive bed lifts or risers. They could add an additional 1 to 10 inches or more to the height of your bed.
Yet, a word of warning, risers only work if your bed has legs. If not, you would need to add height by using an extra mattress or box spring.Lesson 101: Turning your Twin Bed into a Sofa with Style
To turn your twin bed into a sofa, you would simply place it width-wise against a wall (like a daybed). Next, you could add height by using bed risers or an extra box spring or mattress. That is the basics, now onto the creative and fun aspect of switching your twin bed into a sofa and vice versa. This section will reveal how you could add a personal touch and make your twin sofa bed uniquely your own.Use appropriate bedding
How could you make your bed most resemble a sofa? The answer is simple, use appropriate bedding. This could be accomplished by purchasing a bed skirt or a bedding set. This would allow you to cover the legs of your bed and would give it the look of a sofa with upholstered flaps. If you use bed risers, make sure to have them in place first before buying the bedding. That way, you could take measurements to ensure that the bedding is long enough to cover the legs once the risers are in place.Use pillows
Pillows are ideal for creating a faux backing to your bed and faux arms. Pillows could be switched around to accommodate a sofa and a bed. For evening, you could place the pillows at the head of the bed for sleeping. And during the day you could place the pillows in the back for support, comfort and look and feel. As for the arms, you could place bolsters on each side of the bed to fool the eyes into believing your sofa isn’t armless.Create your own upholstered backing
If using pillows exclusively for backing doesn’t appeal to you, another option would be to create an upholstered backing for your sofa bed. This may sound as if it would put a dent in your pocketbook, but upholstered backing could be made inexpensively without compromising on style or showroom appeal.
The main supplies you would need to make an upholstered backing are…
For the last 20–30 years, manufacturers of HVAC equipment have been making an effort to make the systems they manufacture more efficient. This was originally driven by rising energy costs, and has more air conditioning recently been driven by increased awareness of environmental issues. In the USA, the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) has also imposed tighter restrictions. There are several methods for making HVAC systems more efficient.Heating energyWater heating is more efficient for heating buildings and was the standard many years ago. Today forced air systems can double for air conditioning and are more popular.A couple of benefits of forced air systems, which are now widely applied in churches, schools and high-end residences,are 1) better air conditioned effect 2) up to 15-20% energy saving, and 3) evenly conditioned effect.[citation needed] A drawback is the installation cost, which might be slightly higher than traditional HVAC system.Energy efficiency can be improved even more in central heating systems by introducing zoned heating. This allows a more granular application of heat, similar to non-central heating systems. Zones air conditioning are controlled by multiple thermostats. In water heating systems the thermostats control zone valves, and in forced air systems they control zone dampers inside the vents which selectively block the flow of air.Ventilation Energy recoveryEnergy recovery systems sometimes utilize heat recovery ventilation or energy recovery ventilation systems that employ heat exchangers or enthalpy wheels to recover sensible or latent heat from exhausted air. This is done by transfer of energy to the incoming outside fresh air.Air conditioning energyThe performance of vapor compression refrigeration cycles is limited by thermodynamics. These AC and heat pump devices move heat rather than convert it from one form to another, so thermal efficiencies do not appropriately describe the performance of these devices. The Coefficient-of-Performance (COP) measures performance, but this dimensionless air conditioning measure has not been adopted, but rather the Energy Efficiency Ratio (EER). EER is the Energy Efficiency Ratio based on a 95°F outdoor temperature. To more accurately describe the performance of air conditioning equipment over a typical cooling season a modified version of the EER is used, and is the Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER). SEER ratings are based on seasonal temperature averages instead of a constant 95°F outdoor temperature. The current industry minimum SEER rating is 13 SEER. The SEER article describes it further, and presents some economic comparisons using this useful performance measure.
So, you are ready to re-design your seating area with the modern style sofa? Let’s start…
First of all, take a look around the place. Make some sketches of your room and try to first place your sofa on paper. Here is some advice:
If your room is big enough for the three or more pieces of an average modern sofa set I would recommend using sofa plus two chairs set instead of the sofa-loveseat-chair one. Loveseat is anyway not big enough to comfortably seat two people. The downside of it is that it takes lots of space so adding two chairs instead of a loveseat will save you some of it and will bring more European modern look to your room.
If you decide to choose a modern sectional sofa (which is commonly used these days as a space and money saver and is always less expensive than a separate pieces set), then my advice is to face a chase lounge part of your modern sectional sofa to the TV set. That is called “chase face a TV” rule.
Materials used for modern sofa as well as for modern sectional sofa are typically leather, fabric or combination of both. Don’t get scared of buying modern fabric sofa. Modern high tech fabrics are usually protected by either Scotch Guard or Teflon protection so they are easy to clean from almost anything. For instance, you can clean a stain from red wine using regular soap and water. Some greasy and/or old spots could be easily removed using 50/50 solution of vinegar and water.
Another advantage is that modern sofas and modern sectional sofas are usually manufactured with removable covers, for effortless cleaning and maintenance of your sofa. You can even wash your cover in a regular washing machine. Imagine that! Also fabric’s life is usually much longer then the life of the leather, which brings us to the next point.
Leather is a nice, expensive-looking material. Yet, it is a bit easier to fix some splits on the sofa that on the leather, which needs continuous care for it to look nice over a long time (conditioning, waxing, polishing, deep cleaning, etc.). Yet some spots, for example from ink, cannot be removed from the leather without professional help no matter what you do. So, as you can see, leather has some advantages and disadvantages against fabric, so think twice before choosing a modern leather sofa over a modern fabric sofa.
Please visit our online modern furniture showroom at: modern sectional sofa
Historically built for esteemed guests to sit apart from government councils, sofas in the eighteenth century were simply a raised section of the floor, padded with pillows and mats. Originally existing solely for the elite, couches became more common in middle and lower class houses after the nineteenth-century Industrial Revolution. Here and now in the twenty-first century, sofas are the hub of home activity. Families spend hours together in living rooms, which makes purchasing the right sofa an important task. When choosing a sofa, comfort is key, but just as important is fashion, style and quality.
The word “sofa” covers a broad range of furniture pieces from regular two or three seat couches to loveseats, recliners, sectionals, and sleeper sofas. Each brings its own features and unique functions to a living room.
Regular sofas, or couches, are always upholstered and can seat several people. Available in an array of materials, most sofas have room for at least three people to sit comfortably, though smaller sofas only have two cushioned spots. However, the sheer size of a sofa sets it apart from a loveseat.
The loveseat – or love seat – was originally designed in the eighteenth century to accommodate a woman with a large dress, but as time progressed and for obvious reasons, the smallness of these two-seater couches led them to be called loveseats. Able to seat two, loveseats are a great choice for a small space, or as an additional sofa for a living room set. These conversation couches can be intimate, but their small size does not take away from their comfort.
Sectionals have it all. Mixing different sizes of couches together, sectionals allow you to personalize your living room for ultimate luxury. Sofa sectionals can accommodate anywhere from two to six people comfortably. Some sofa sectionals are designed as home theatre units; these particular sectionals have features such as arm rests between each seat and drink holders. Many sofa sectionals have reclining chairs built into the structure, allowing one person to recline back while another has a choice to sit upright. The configuration possibilities of sectionals are endless, and the comfort of a sectional is everlasting. Sectionals are perfect for big families, or families that entertain often.
Another feature of sectionals and some sofas is a chaise section. The chaise allows you to stretch out your legs while on the couch, without having to use a foot stool or ottoman. A chaise lounge can be long enough to feel like a bed, and just as comfortable as one too.
Another trend in living room design is to add a recliner to the mix of furniture. Recliners offer comfort, quality and durability. Recliners are designed with leading innovation and creativity in mind. Different types of recliners keep coming out and the designs keep getting better. There are modern recliners, traditional recliners, massage recliners, and even recliners with built in stereo systems that are compatible with mp3 players and other electronic devices, making your video game, music, or movie that much more fun.
Finally, sleeper sofas are dual-purpose items that also continue to develop in design. Sleeper sofas are a very economical way of combining the casual comfort of a living room couch with the soothing security of a bedroom mattress. They are also the answer to the eternal lack-of-space problem, as they are able to function as two items in a small space. Perfect for overnight guests too, sleeper sofas are now being designed so that comfort does not have to be sacrificed for style. They look good, feel good, and are a great investment for any home.
All of these types of sofas come in a variety of materials, from leather to suede to micro-fiber to cloth and more. Keep in mind the durability of materials, especially if you have pets or small children. Also to keep in mind are the colors you choose for your sofa. These colors should fit in with the color scheme of your walls, floors and other furniture in the room. Luckily there are plenty of options to choose from, and hopefully now, you have a better idea of what you are looking for.
As the summer heat starts its slow ascent up the thermometer, it’s time for Chambersburgians to start searching for air conditioning Chambersburg PA suppliers. Air con is one of the necessary conveniences of present-day life, and it is important to pick a quality supplier when setting up your system. A peek back to Chambersburg, PA’s past offers examples of how heating and cooling have made our lives better to manage. When militant abolitionist John Brown whiled away the summer of 1859 in a Chambersburg attic, it couldn’t have been too snug. Imagine being cooped up in that cramped, damp attic. Brown’s face must have dripped with sweat in an unventilated space. If he had the comfort of air conditioning Chambersburg PA should have been more conducive to his preparations for the raid on Harper’s Ferry. Who knows what would have happened if that attic had been fitted out with a cooling air conditioner? The history of air conditioning really reaches back to Roman times. Aqueducts were routed thru the walls of the houses of affluent Roman voters to keep them cool. Fans were used in the Han Dynasty of the second century when Ding Huan invented a by hand powered rotary fan with wheels 10 feet in diameter. This technology was improved in subsequent centuries, with tang Dynasty rulers using water to power their fans. Cisterns ( open pools in central areas ) and wind towers to chill buildings in the summer. Ventilators were utilized in many houses in Cairo, Egypt during the Middle Ages – a long way from air conditioning Chambersburg PA style today! Brit scientist Michael Faraday made a major advance in cooling technology when he compressed and liquefied ammonia and discovered that it chilled the encompassing air. The chances of this technology were first realized by Florida surgeon John Gorrie in the mid-19th century, when he patented an early air-conditioner first used to chill air for his patients. Willis Haviland Carrier modernized this technology in his creation of a mechanical air conditioner that decreased humidity. He finally evolved the technology to houses and cars, bringing us nearer to the modern air conditioning Chambersburg PA residents enjoy today. Air conditioning makes summer living easier in so many ways. The heat in the dead of summer can be unbearable ; air conditioning makes your home and the rest of Chambersburg PA acceptable when it otherwise couldn’t be. There’s no need to suffer through June, July, or August if your AC is broken ; calling a competent engineer will have you living in comfort once more. With the modern conveniences of air conditioning Chambersburg PA residents do not have to sweat and suffer in the summertime months. Air conditioning systems can keep you cosy at any point during those sweltering months.
Every store has many different products that people like to buy. Ikea is a store that caters to the needs of people. The furniture that is produced for people is of a good quality yet it is very affordable. You will find that the Ikea UK store is very popular with its many customers. At present there are 12 different Ikea stores in England. The 13th Ikea store is planned to be made in Coventry.
Since the Ikea UK is a place where you will be buying products for your home you should have a good idea of the items that you want. The online Ikea UK web pages will have an array of items that you can look through. These items will allow you to see what products are great to have in your various living sections. You will also see what sort of price range the different Ikea items can be bought for.
This pre shopping trip will let you prepare for the different types of furniture you can buy from the Ikea UK store that is located near you. Once you have found the various Ikea stores you can choose the day that you want to go shopping. At the store you will have be able to follow the arrows which will show you the way to go.
There is one item that you will need to know. While most of the Ikea stores follow a loose floor plan the main items that you want will be located in showrooms that are found on the top levels. The cashiers and the warehouse self-service section are found on the lower level. The restaurant and sometimes the children’s playroom is found somewhere on the middle levels.
To find out where these various places are in the store you can follow the arrows. As you pass through the store you should reflect on how many people come to these stores. By looking around you will see just how popular the Ikea UK stores are. In the Ikea stores you will be able to eat delicious Swedish food and buy some specialty foods. The many different showrooms will have the different items that you can use in your home.
The many different Ikea UK stores all share one thing in common. The desire to provide really great household products at low and very easy to buy prices. When you shop at one of the Ikea UK stores you are living up to the motto of the store. For everyday stylish products you can find great low prices.
Modern sofa bed (also known as modern convertible sofa) is one of the key components of a modern living room. These days, modern sofa beds cover a huge chunk of the modern sofas’ market. An ordinary sofa bed can no longer satisfy the requirements of a modern urban middle-income customer since it does not have the biggest advantage of a modern sofa bed, completely said by its name and so useful in the small to medium size apartments or condos: it could be turned into a bed in seconds thanks to the famous European click-clack mechanism. The old-fashioned squeaky, complicated opening device is now history.
There is one slight downside of this new innovation – you can’t position your sofa directly next to the wall because it needs some extra space in the back when it opens so it won’t touch and damage your wall paint or wallpaper. But really, you can take this sacrifice, when you remember that you no longer need to carry a folding bed in you closet for your mother-in-law, who arrives every now and then do her shopping in her favorite mall, which is most unfortunately happen to be within close proximity to your place.
Some convertible beds or sofa beds have the adjustable back option (try Wieder or Aminach sofa beds, a lot of their models have this benefit). It comes really handy when you want to half sit half lay down to watch TV but do not want your body crumpled as when you use a regular armchair).
Another advantage of a sofa bed is its storage opportunity. Nearly all of the modern sofa beds have a storage space in them, usually big enough to fit complete bedding set for two people. This comes really handy if your living room does not have enough closet space.
And don’t be bound by the word “sofa”. Nowadays, there is a convertible armchair, convertible loveseat, even convertible chaise lounge. Usually, an armchair could be transformed into a sleep place for one person, loveseat opens as a bed for one to two, and a convertible sofa usually hosts two people when turned into a bed. Modern furniture manufactures usually try to give both options to their customers for almost every model of the modern living room furniture set. A European furniture manufacturer called Istikbal carries a full line of such furniture, including sectional convertibles described below.
Sofa beds come from the same furniture family that features futons but sofa beds certainly have what traditional futons don’t: the combination of comfort and style (a traditional futon might be great for your mobile getaway home, but won’t exactly look good in your modern living room).
Modern bed evolution gave sofa beds the style you were looking for and, at the same time, all advantages of your regular mattress including but not limited to its firmness and comfort. Now you can put the sofa bed in your child’s room making it a really great alternative to a regular bed and not having to worry about your child developing back problems because of the bad mattress. It is a great choice for a teenager, since it gives him or her more space to hang out with friends when they come over.
There is another modern living room furniture term, which is really good to know: convertible sectionals. Practically every piece of modern living room furniture can now be a part of a convertible sectional assembly. You can find a loveseat, ottoman or even chaise lounge performing as one convertible sectional ensemble, being able to be detached and positioned separately across your modern living room at your will. Also, convertible sectionals really allow you to play with dimensions. Modern convertible sectionals are extremely popular these days.
Modern convertible sofas, modern loveseat beds, modern armchair beds – almost every model on the market is now available in both leather and fabric. Fabric gives you more choices in color and texture, it is always easier in care, especially, when you choose a removable cover (and I heard you can now order another set of covers in a different color/texture, which can give your furniture a second life, let’s say if you renovated your living room or just can’t stand this color anymore, or you two-year old son decided to add some of his own design to it by applying your pen all over the place). Leather can’t do it all, but leather gives you far more luxurious look, even if you are into a moderate priced sofa bed. So it all depends on what you’re looking for.
While moving heat via machinery to provide air conditioning is a relatively modern invention, the cooling of buildings is not. Wealthy ancient Romans circulated aqueduct water through walls to cool their luxurious houses.[citation needed]The 2nd century Chinese inventor Ding Huan (fl. 180) of the Han Dynasty invented a rotary fan for air conditioning, with seven wheels 3 m (10 ft) in diameter and manually powered.[2] In 747, Emperor Xuanzong (r. 712–762) of the Tang Dynasty (618–907) had the Cool Hall (Liang Tian) built in the imperial palace, which the Tang Yulin describes as having water-powered fan wheels for air conditioning as well as rising jet streams of water from fountains.[3] During air conditioning the subsequent Song Dynasty (960–1279), written sources mentioned the air conditioning rotary fan as even more widely used.[4]Medieval Persia had buildings that used cisterns and wind towers to cool buildings during the hot season: cisterns (large open pools in central courtyards, not underground tanks) collected rain water; wind towers had windows that could catch wind and internal vanes air conditioning to direct the airflow down into the building, usually over the cistern and out through a downwind cooling tower.[5] Cistern water evaporated, cooling the air in the building.Ventilators were invented in medieval Egypt and were widely used in many houses throughout Cairo during the Middle Ages. These ventilators were later described in detail by Abd al-Latif al-Baghdadi in 1200, who reported that almost every house in Cairo has a ventilator, and that they cost anywhere from 1 to 500 dinars depending on their sizes and shapes. Most ventilators in the city were oriented towards the Qibla, as was the city in general.[6]In the 1600s Cornelius Drebbel demonstrated “turning Summer into Winter” for James I of England by adding salt to water.[7]In 1820, British scientist and inventor Michael Faraday discovered that compressing and liquefying ammonia could chill air when the liquefied ammonia was allowed to evaporate. In 1842, Florida physician John Gorrie used compressor technology to create ice, which he used air conditioning to cool air for his patients in his hospital in Apalachicola, Florida.[8] He hoped eventually to use his ice-making machine to regulate the temperature of buildings. He even envisioned centralized air conditioning that could cool entire cities.[9] Though his prototype leaked and performed irregularly, Gorrie was granted a patent in 1851 for his ice-making machine. His hopes for its success vanished soon afterwards when his chief financial backer died; Gorrie did not get the money he needed to develop the machine. According to his biographer, Vivian M. Sherlock, he blamed the “Ice King”, Frederic Tudor, for his failure, suspecting that Tudor had launched a smear campaign against his invention. Dr. Gorrie died impoverished in 1855 and the idea of air conditioning faded away for 50 years.
Ikea United States has been growing tremendously and as a result, there are very many people in the US who have gotten jobs and continue to get jobs from the new stores being opened. In total, there are 9,499 employees of ikea in the United States. Many people express their desire to work for the retail all the time and, as prove of this, 31,000 applications were received in 2007 and only 2,500 people managed to get the jobs. Ikea US is ranked among the top 100 best companies in the world. There are 34 locations of ikea stores in the US. It comes second to Germany as being the biggest and largest market for ikea products. The company deals with home furnishing products like kitchenware, decorative products, furniture, bathroom accessories and so many others.The ikea us headquarters are found in Plymouth Meeting, Pennsylvania and, it is a subsidiary of ikea holdings. They are on the front line to ensure that the environment is protected. They were the first company in the US to announce that they will do away with disposable bags. They were following the footsteps of their sister companies in Australia and The United Kingdom which saw the plan implemented. The company saw the opening of the first manufacturing facility in the United States recently. The expansive plant is located in Dansville, Virginia and is a pleasant newcomer. It is said that by the end of 2009, it will have 300 workers. In total, the plant used $281 million to put up. The manufacturing company is called Swedwood and it received incentives from the state and local authorities to a tune of up to $12 million.Ikea US staff are dedicated to providing a good service to the customers. Some people have expressed frustration while shopping for their home furnishings simply because they are stranded in the showroom. Customers are therefore advised to make use of the people in blue and yellow. The uniform of the staff comes mostly in these colors and you cannot miss them. If you are buying furniture that is too large, they will guide you to the right clerk who will make sure that the right product is gotten. If you are not sure of your ikea US location, you do not have to sweat over this. Go to the ikea website and, the ikea location finder will do the job for you. It will certainly show you which is the nearest store to you.Ikea US has risen up to the occasion to perform its fair share of social cooporate responsibility. It has donated money to UNICEF programmes for a long time. This was when the deadly tsunami hit parts of Asia causing so much devastation. It also contributed to the earthquake stricken parts of Pakistan. These are just few examples of what ikea United States has done. It continues to partner with organizations like UNICEF to make life better for the unfortunate. Like all the other ikea outlets, it has a vision and plans and customers can rest assured that the company will continue to deliver not only quality and low prices but, a good service to the customer.
Ikea sofas are very popular with customers and they come in many styles and makes that will amaze you. When you need comfort in furniture, you ask yourself where you can get it at an affordable price and if you have heard of ikea, it is probably your first choice. This is because ikea is an undisputed manufacturer and retailer of good sofas that will meet your every need. When you are getting a sofa, there are various things to consider and the first thing is the space the sofa is going to occupy. You need to have enough room before you bring your sofa of any size. The second vital thing is the design and style and many people go for a themed sofa or the one that brings out your homes personality. There are many other things to consider.One of the most popular ikea sofa is the PS Murbo. The sofa is comes with many features and some of them are that it is easy and simple to clean because it comes with a removable and washable cloth. You can choose from a variety of covers and mattresses and it converts into a bed very easily. It converts into a bed for two and therefore this ikea sofa is all you need. It has other features and you an read more on this on the ikea site. It comes with 2 cushions and when you use a mattress pad, there will be a softer feel. For the care instructions, there are several things that you should not do. You should not wash, bleach, iron, dry clean or tumble dry.Another kind of ikea sofa is the Stockholm sofa which is dark brown in color. The features include a heavy and quality leather which is easy to clean and care for and it also ages well. The seat cushions are filled with feathers and they provide a comfortable experience seating on them. The sofa complies with the flammability requirements. You will vacuum it to clean it and you need to protect it from direct sunlight. This is because the sunlight can dry it very easily and it would age faster. Regular care for the sofa will see it look great all the time. There are many other sofas in the Stockholm series and if you need the specifications, you can visit the ikea stores and you can also visit their site.Many ikea sofas are affordable and you need to search for your desired product carefully. Take some time to establish whether the sofa fits every requirement that you may have. The ikea stores are very generous and you can get to test the sofas and see which one you need. Sofas that turn into beds at night are very popular and for those operating on a strict budget can get the sofas. The design should reflect your personality and the style should earn you compliments. Modern sofas need not only to be very comfortable but striking in style. They is no doubt that your search will land you on a superb sofa.