Fun with Furniture - Coffee Table

Almost two years ago since we discussed coffee. During the discussion about coffee machines vs instant coffee we spotted the coffee jar lid scandal - oh merry shlurping days...

Now the gorgeous Ms Price casts her view about home furniture - focussing on the coffee table. As Elena says "You can buy coffee tables from a range of online furniture retailers, so you should be able to find the perfect coffee table for your living room by shopping online."

Choosing a Coffee Table

A coffee table can be a practical and attractive addition to your living room furniture. Here are some hints and tips on what to look for when choosing a coffee table.

Size matters

As with other types of furniture, the first thing to consider when buying a new coffee table is the size of table that you need. Decide where you would like to place your coffee table and measure up, remembering to leave plenty of space around the coffee table so that you can walk around it.

If you have spacious living room, it’s usually better to go for a larger coffee table than a smaller one, so that you can be sure that there will be enough room on it for everything that you want to put on it. However, it’s also important to take the size of the rest of your living room furniture into account when making your decision. Make sure that your new coffee table isn’t so small that it seems dwarfed by the rest of your furniture but isn’t so big that it dominates your living room.

If you are happy for people to put their feet up on it, make sure that it’s at a height that makes it comfortable for them to do so – if you don’t want them to do this, buy a higher coffee table and consider buying a footstool or two as well!

Coffee Table Designs

Coffee tables are available in many shapes and styles, and you may find that an oval or circular coffee table fits into your room more easily than a square or rectangular one. If you have young children, choose a coffee table with smooth and rounded edges rather than sharp corners, for peace of mind.

Many coffee tables have shelves, which are great for using to keep books and magazines on, and some contain drawers, providing you with additional storage space and helping you to give your living room an uncluttered look.

Decide whether a contemporary coffee table, such as one made from metal or glass, or a more traditional wooden coffee table would match the rest of your living room furniture best. If your living room is small and contemporary in style, a glass coffee table will help to create the illusion of space. If you are considering a glass or glass-topped coffee table, however, make sure that will be a practical choice for your home – it may not be the best choice if you have children, for example, and if you aren’t particularly proud of your carpet or flooring, glass-topped tables are best avoided.

If you are looking for a wooden coffee table make sure that it matches the rest of your living room furniture in both style and colour. If you don’t get much natural light in your living room, it’s best to avoid heavy, dark wooden furniture, as this can make a room look even darker.

It’s also important to ensure that your new coffee table is sturdy enough for your needs, particularly if you are likely to be placing a number of objects on it, such as books, magazines, remote controls and ornaments. If you have a large family or are likely to have a number of guests in your home at once, you may want to consider buying matching coffee table and side table set or a nest of tables.

Holiday Time - Swimwear

At last spring has arrived and thoughts turn to holidays. In the first of our series about shopping for your holidays we take a look at swimwear. Shopping for summer holidays is much more fun than the frustration of choosing christmas gifts.

Swimwear

By Elena Price

If you’re planning on a beach holiday this year, then you’ll probably want to buy some new swimwear. Here is a summary of the different types of swimwear available together with some hints and tips to help you choose the right item for you.

Types of Swimwear – Swimsuits

Traditional one-piece swimsuits are still are popular option and you’ll find a wide range of different designs to choose from.

The type of swimsuit that will suit you will depend on your body shape. If you are a classic pear shape (with small shoulders and a wider waist), for example, a swimsuit with a halterneck can help to draw attention to the top half of your body and therefore look more flattering, whereas if you are an “apple” shape (with board shoulders and a smaller waist), a swimsuit with a high neck line can help to draw attention towards your waist, making your figure look more balanced. If you are slim and want to create the effect of having more curves, opt for a swimsuit with cut-out sections or a belt at the waist.

It’s also important to choose a swimsuit in a colour that suits you. If you’re already fairly tanned, a brightly coloured swimsuit will show your tan off effectively, whilst a dark coloured swimsuit will look better on people without a tan. If you are slender, swimsuits with all-over patterns can look great, but if you are looking for a swimsuit that has a slimming effect, choose a plain, darker coloured swimsuit.

Types of Swimwear – Bikinis

Bikinis have been popular ever since Bridgette Bardot wore one in the 1957 movie “And God Created Woman”, and you can now buy bikinis in many different styles. You can buy bikini sets, but you can also buy separate bikini tops and bikini briefs, so you should be able to find a bikini that suits your body shape perfectly.

You can buy underwired bikini tops for additional support, for example, or padded bikini tops to help you to create more shape. If you want a less revealing and sportier bikini top, you could try a bikini crop top. Bikini briefs also come in a range of styles, including hipster briefs, which look great on women with long legs, and tie briefs, which you can adjust to fit you.

Types of Swimwear – Tankinis

The tankini is a modern addition to swimwear and consists of a short, sleeveless top and bikini bottoms. Tankinis are less revealing than bikinis, so are great for women who aren’t confident about showing off their bodies, and the two-piece design also means that they can be more practical than a swimsuit. As with swimsuits and bikinis, tankinis are available in a range of styles. You can choose from a number of different styles of tankini tops, including halterneck, underwired and sports-style tops, and the range of tankini briefs available includes high leg, low leg, and low rise briefs, together with plain briefs or briefs which feature detail such as ties or rings.

Other Types of Beachwear

Once you have chosen your new swimsuit, bikini or tankini, you might find that you want some other beachwear to go with it. Kaftans or beach dresses, for example, are perfect for covering up with after your swim, and are both practical and stylish. Beach trousers or holiday shorts are great for wearing on your journey to and from the beach - be sure to select beach trousers that aren't seee through should you remove your wet swimwear and return to your hotel wearing no knickers.

You can buy swimwear and beachwear from a number of online retailers who sell a great range of swimsuits, bikinis, tankinis, kaftans, beach dresses, shorts and beach trousers.