1)     Remove clutters. Can you see your bedroom’s floor? Look around. If you can’t, you definitely have too much furniture and personal belongings. Keep the room neat and place personal belongings where they belong, i.e. clothes in the cupboard and books on the shelves. If you have dressers and night tables, you might want to consider selling them or placing them in another room.

2)     Get furniture that can maximise wall space. Always measure the amount of space you have and how much the furniture can project from the walls. Get furniture that are “multitasked”, i.e. a sofa bed. You can opt for recliner chair as opposed to curved furniture as curved ones take up more space.

3)     Match room with size of the bed. If your room is small but you have a king size bed, you might want to consider getting a smaller one. If not, you will definitely feel cramped and uncomfortable. Your lamp, bedside table and decorations should also be scaled down to the size of the room.

4)     Add a reading area. The room is more than just a place where you sleep and change clothes. Try putting a chair and lamp in the room at multifunctional areas in the small bedroom. If you don’t have that space, you can always add sconces on either side of the bed to make reading in bed more enjoyable. You will instantly feel like you want to spend more time in the room.

5)     Create a focal point. Try placing a beautiful artwork above the bed. This can help draw attention away from the rest of the room. You can also add colourful vase on top of a gorgeous antique dresser. This can help remove the emphasis from the small nature of the bedroom and accentuate the positivity of the room instead.

A small bedroom may be a challenge to decorate but once you open up to a little imagination, you’ll instantly feel cosy in it. Use these tips to make the most out of your bedroom and make it feel more lived in.

Wall. One of the very first things you need to do is NOT use any cartoon characters like Ben10 or Hannah Montana as your wallpaper. Not because you think they aren’t cool, it’s because they go off before you know it. Your child is going to grow out of it anyway. But what you can do to spice things up is have a strong wall colour. You can pick the same colour for all walls (if you are brave enough) or have it just on one side (a feature wall). Add interest with smaller items which are easier to change as the child gets older.

Curtains. Do the same with curtains. Do not commit to a particular theme as they can be too expensive and go out of style. The best thing you can do is choose a neutral colour with plain, striped or checked fabric. Make a mental note. Ask yourself if you would hate that choice. Chances are, if you hate it, so will your child. If the curtains are too “kiddyish”, go for something else.  Have linings to block out late evening or early morning sunlight. This is especially useful for both nurseries and older kid’s room as well.

Furniture. Unless your child’s room is small and space is a concern, go for grown-up versions of furniture. Child-size beds, cupboards and other would not last as long and you would have to change and buy a new one as they get older. Avoid fun beds like racecars or fairytale castles, if you can help it. Not only your child may not like sleeping in it them when they get older, they can get really pricey as well.

Extras. You can always decorate your child’s bedroom walls with wall stickers. They are cheap, easy to put up and most importantly, they can be removed and do not leave marks on the wall. You can also add “life” into the room by adding accessories like a funky lamp, bean bag chair or even a cool bedspread. That is way better than painting cartoon characters on the wall.

Although you can purchase non-toxic cleaning products, these products can be expensive. Luckily, you can now find inexpensive ways and natural alternatives in place of common household products. They are safe to be incorporated into your home maintenance regime.

Baking soda – Baking soda is known to clean, deodorise, soften water and scours. It can also neutralise acid, scrub shiny materials without scratching and extinguish grease fires. Use it as a deodoriser in the refrigerator, on smelly carpets, upholstery and vinyl. Baking soda can also be used to soften fabrics and remove certain stains. For an all-purpose cleaner, mix 1/2 cup vinegar and 1/4 cup baking soda into 2 liters of water. Store and keep. Use for removal of water deposit stains on shower stall panels, bathroom chrome fixtures, windows, bathroom mirrors and more!

Soap – Did you know you can make an all-purpose liquid soap by simply just dissolving old ends of soap bars in warm water? For dishwashing soap, you can add 2 or 3 tablespoons of vinegar to the warm, soapy water for tough jobs. You can also use citrus-based natural dish soap as an alternative.

Cornstarch – Cornstarch can be used to clean windows, polish furniture, shampoo carpets and rugs and starch clothes. To remove fresh grease spots, sprinkle corn starch onto spot and wait 15 – 30 minutes before vacuuming. For a heavy duty carpet cleaner, mix 1/4 cup each of salt, sodium borate (borax) and vinegar. Rub paste into carpet and leave for a few hours and vacuum.

Vinegar – Vinegar can dissolve mineral deposits, grease, remove traces of soap, odours, stains, build-ups and many more! You can use vinegar to clean brick or stone, clean carpets, clean out metallic taste in coffeepots or shine windows without streaking. For carpet stains, mix equal parts white vinegar and water in a spray bottle. Spray directly on stain, let sit for several minutes, and clean with a brush or sponge using warm soapy water.

Shower Doors

One of the advantages of shower doors is that they provide a tight area for showering. The doors prevent water from seeping out. With shower doors, you are not left with a messy and wet bathroom floor. Shower doors are also easily maintained as they can be cleaned just by wiping doors with simple glass cleaner. Comparing shower doors with shower curtains, doors looks much more modern as they come in many different options and designs. They also make the bathroom look spacious and do not require replacements, most of the time.

One disadvantage of shower door is its price. Having shower doors can be quite pricey. Also, if the door is not maintained and cleaned properly, you can see scum build ups around tracks and edges. Another disadvantage is that shower doors cannot be replaced as and when you like. Because of this, you have to be sure to pick the perfect shower door that suits the space, family characteristics and other relevant factors.

Shower Curtains

Shower curtains on the other hand are flexible. They can be stretched out to dry, shoved out of the way, slung over a shower rod and removed effortlessly. With shower curtains, you can choose a freestanding tub, just like in the movies! If you don’t like you current pattern of curtains, you can always purchase a different colour and design, without worrying about the cost.

Though they are flexible, this flexibility can get in your way when you shower, causing much aggravation. They billow, bulge, and all too often get up close and personal when you’re just trying to wash your hair. This is especially gross if your curtains have mold problems. Another disadvantage is that you would need to clean your curtains regularly, to get rid of the mold.

Choosing between shower door and curtain is entirely up to you. Just remember that it is a reflection of your style and that it is a focal point of your bathroom.

The first thing you should do when decorating your small dining area is to fill it with furniture that is according to the size of the room. It is best to purchase a round or square table as they give the room a feel of largeness. What’s more, the table can be placed in any corner of the room as they require less space as compared with a rectangular table. If your area could not fit in a round or square one, go for a foldable table. The table can then be used as a dining as well as a study table!

For the dining furniture, opt for armless chairs. Arm chairs require more room but armless ones require less space to maneuver in and out of. And you can even squeeze in an extra chair if you have larger parties.

Another way to make the room look bigger is to have big windows in the dining space. If you have curtains, choose curtains with soft colours. Do not go for curtains that are dark in colour. Curtain with long stripes are even better as they can add length to the room. If you like paintings, do not go crazy and hang big ones on the walls in the dining area. Instead, just hang one painting. The idea here is to make the walls look bare, so that the room appear bigger.

Mirrors are another way designers use to make small area seem bigger. Because they can increase perception of space, it is best you use mirrors on at least two walls. For style, go for wrought iron frame. They are popular and come in antique finish. If you are not into antiques, just a simple square frame will do.

Furnishing a small dining area is always a challenge. But if you focus on exactly what you want, you can have a more efficient and attractive dining area.

Fabulous Welcome Gifts await you. Just by registering yourself and being the first 1,000 visitor of the day, you walk away with an exclusive welcome gift – an exclusive Limited Edition Perfect Livin aluminium drinking bottle. Besides that, early birds can look forward to exclusive stylish and trendy PL sling bags too. However, these are only limited to 2,000 pieces per day. So, come on early and grab them while they last.

Want more? When you purchase above RM500, it will entitle you to redeem an exciting gift from a range of fantastic branded items. The best part? The higher your purchase, the higher the value of the gift will be!! For homeowners and shoppers that have made repeated trips to the exhibition, you know that Perfect Livin keeps its promises. It is back to give you more of what you love the most.

Apart from fantastic gifts, the Perfect Livin’12 Exhibition has exciting seminars and demos lined up for its visitors. For homeowners that are into Feng Shui, don’t forget to join Master Yap Boh Chu and Kenny Ho, two renowned Feng Shui experts. There will also be a Wellness talk will focus on infra lights treatment for wellness by Robert Gsaller. And that’s not all. Join Malaysian celebrity chef, Chef Zam, for a cooking demo that will showcase various tips and tricks. Learn new culinary techniques while feasting your eyes on the latest and best in kitchenware technology and innovations. There are also other seminars and demos on various topics that matter to you. Admission is free, so don’t miss this opportunity!

We have not forgotten about the kids! For kids below 12 years of age, enroll them in the Perfect Livin’12 Kiddy Colouring Contest and watch them showcase their budding talents. There will be plenty of great prizes for these young Da’Vincis!

 Excited yet? Know you can transform your home from drab to fab easily. Just make a date with us, Malaysia’s No. 1 Home & Lifestyle Exhibition. From a sea of fabulous choices and stupendous deals, to exciting gifts, surprises and activities, you might just live to regret it if you miss it. Be there or be square!

Visitors are in for a massive treat! Held in conjunction with the nation’s 55th Independence Day, the show promises to be a mind blowing shopping extravaganza as it is now fused together with one of the largest and most recognisable media groups, The Star Media Group. If you are looking to inject some ‘Oomph’ into your home, this is the place to be.

This time around, Perfect Licin’12 will be teeming with experts from conceivable industries related to home and lifestyle. If you are looking to renovate, refurbish and innovate your homes, head on over to one of the friendly experts for no-obligation consultations, tips and advice. From interior designing, flooring, wall coverings, wardrobes, gates and grilles or customisation of designs and finishes, Perfect Livin’12 is indeed the place to source and shop for your home.

This exhibition is also different from the rest! With just RM100 spent, visitors could win fabulous prizes in the Purchase & Win contest that include the Technogel Pillow from Sleep to Live worth RM1,129, a Premium Recliner chair from Milanohaus Sdn Bhd and a state-of-the-art digital safe from Alphamax. Visitors also stand a chance to win prizes such as brass chrome shower mixers, Terazza Cristastone Granite Sinks and Bareno Mirror Tiles from The Best Supplies Sdn Bhd. Not only that, for every single day of the exhibition, a registered visitor will walk away with a brand new Panasonic 42” Plasma TV, with no purchases required. It can’t get any better!

 So mark your calendars and be sure to be there. It is everything your home needs – under one roof.

This time around, the company will be featuring a wide range of high end sofas and bedding products at the Perfect Livin exhibition at Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC) from Aug 30 to Sep 2. General Manager of Milanohaus, Mark Mah said that the event has been instrumental in the growth of the company and the exhibition plays a part in expediting the expansion as well as creating a more solid brand image in the country for Milanohaus.

“Customers nowadays are smarter in their selection of home furniture and they knew the kind of leather they want for their sofas. They are also more particular about the functionality of the sofas.” said Mark Mah

Running for the fourth time this year alone, the event will be held at the PWTC from Aug 30 to Sep 2 2012.

Exhibition founder and manager Datuk Adriana Law said four days events featuring 1000 booths would bring new ideas and contemporary concept to homeowners who wish to spruce up their homes.