donatetoys's Blog

If you have an extra room in your home, make the most of it by creating a deluxe game room that will wow your guests and add a spark of fun to your life! Having your own private recreation room is a fantastic way to entertain guests or simply have a space where you can unwind after a long day at work. Building your game room does not have to cost a fortune either and can be done even on a shoestring budget.

So, let's get to work building so that the games can begin!

Create a Theme - Before you even break a sweat building the ultimate game room, you need to design an amazing theme that will run through the entire project. If you are loyal to a specific sports team you might choose the team colors and logo for your game room. Or if you have a favorite hobby then you might build your game room around that theme. For example, a fisherman might create a nautical type game room whereas a toy collector may choose a toy train theme. You could even design your game room theme around your favorite celebrity to really make it true to your own sense of entertainment.

The theme is integral in making your game room an amazing feat of fantasy and functionality. Really sit at the 'drawing board' until you come up with a theme that will knock any gamer's socks off. Show your theme to friends and family members to get their input and advice before you set to creating your game room. Don't be afraid to get critiques, which will save you time in the long run, especially if you overlooked something that someone else notices and points out.

A Splash of Paint - Don't waste your cash hiring a professional painter. Save your money for more important components of your game room. Instead paint the room yourself or enlist a couple of buddies to help you. Do it as professionally as possible by lining door and window frames with masking tape first and painting consistently in the same direction. Ideally, the walls should be the same color while the doors and frames are a different, yet complimentary, color.

On to the Art - The focal point of your game room should be an amazing piece of artwork that immediately commands the attention of anyone who enters the room. A unique piece of art will serve as an instant source of conversation for awkward silent moments and really set the tone for a sensational gaming experience. The latest sensation in the art world are mosaic prints made up of tiny images that can be viewed close-up but fade away into a larger image as you step back away from it. The mosaics can feature anything from famous celebrities like Marilyn Monroe to the team logo for the Boston Bruins. Just make sure you select a piece of art that will not only match but also compliment your theme.

Finally Furniture - The last thing you want to do is clutter your game room up with boxy pieces of furniture. Keep the furniture to a bare minimum, perhaps a small sofa and a couple of overstuffed chairs. A game room needs fluidity of movement and the last thing you want is to be tripping over furniture! Plop down a couple of beanbag chairs here and there to add even more seating options if necessary.

The Final Touch - Any game room is only as good as its' games. Choose wisely as your space is limited. A dartboard is a given. Other games might include a pool or air hockey table. If you can afford it a big screen TV with the latest video game console will really make a huge statement in your space. Line one side of your wall with a custom-built display rack to show off your coolest video game CD's. Make your game room even more special by including a bit of extravagance that will make your game room the talk of the town! Create a self-service bar complete with ice machine, install a mini fridge that is full of chilled snacks or invest in a popcorn cart that will pop buttery popcorn to feed your game weary guests.

Unique and unusual mosaic art prints can be found online at www.finalscoreproducts.com The artist, Paul Van Scott, has sold his art to celebrities and sports athletes all over the World. His work is well known and sought after by memorabilia buffs that have chosen to add a piece of Paul's amazing work to their collections.

Whether it is ensuring a toy is not made with lead paint or a roller blind has a child safety feature on it, many consumers are becoming more safety conscience when it comes to there kids. There are thousands of children admitted to emergency rooms each year from window related injuries. Fortunately these accidents are preventable with just a couple of easy safety measures.

The following are three of the most important safety devices you should use if you are concerned about your child's safety around windows.

(1) Safety Devices for Roller Blinds Most roller blinds manufactured before 2001 may not meet the current child safety regulations because older roller blinds tend to have long cords that sometimes form a loop. A long cord, especially a looped one, is a danger to a child’s safety as children can easily get tangled up in the cord and strangle themselves. Some of the older roller blinds have cords without stoppers, which make them accessible to children. These horrible accidents usually occur to infants and toddlers. Infants who were placed near a window may end up strangling to death in their own cribs. Toddlers tend to die this way after climbing up to see out of a window, falling, and getting caught in the cords of the roller blinds. Fortunately strangulation by blind cord deaths are preventable. Since roller blinds purchased before 2001 pose the greatest strangulation risk, there are a couple of things you can do. You can purchase an upgrade kit that will include safety tassels and stoppers for your older roller blinds, or the best action you can take is to install new roller blinds that are made with child safety devices.

(2) Window Stops A window stop might be a suitable safety device if you have windows that normally stay closed, as the window stop will prevent a window from opening more than ten centimetres. The only downside to using a window stop is that you will not be able to open the window fully, so if you are looking or a safety device that will allow you to have more ventilation you will want to go with the window guard option.

(3) Window Guards Since window screens are not effective for preventing children from falling out of window, windows guards are one of the best solutions on the market today. Window guards can help prevent serious falls from windows as they act like a gate. Installed in front of the window, window guards are available in both horizontal and vertical bars. When looking for a window guard you will want to find one that has a release mechanism so that it can be fully opened in case of an emergency, like a fire. In order to prevent a child from squeezing through, the bars of the window guard should be a maximum of ten centimetres apart. Ultimately window safety is the choice of the parent. If you are at all concerned with the safety of your child you may want to look into childproofing your windows and roller blinds.