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The Escape Room Experience: Why Are Escape Rooms Becoming So Popular?

Reviews · April 4, 2019

With 55 percent of Americans preferring to socialize at home, many people are declaring that staying in is the ‘new going out’.

But one entertainment phenomenon that’s bucking this trend for staying in is the escape room experience. While some people are content to watch on passively while others have all the fun, escape rooms offer a way for you to play a more active role in your choice of entertainment.

But what are escape rooms and why are they so popular? Read on to find out!

What is an Escape Room?

If you’re wondering how escape rooms work, an escape room is a locked room where a group of people has to perform tasks and solve problems to get out before the end of their time allowance.

Many escape rooms also play into pop culture references with themes such as outer space, ancient Egypt, or haunted houses. Once the door closes behind you, you’ll really feel like you’re in a real-life video game!

Why Are Escape Rooms So Popular?

Still not sure why people are paying to be locked in a room and forced to solve puzzles for their freedom? Here are some of the many reasons escape rooms are so popular:

The Thrill of the Challenge

They’re tense, they’re challenging, but that’s exactly why people love escape rooms so much. Forget watching on while other people have all the fun, escape rooms allow you to rise to the challenge as you race against the clock to get out of a locked room.

If problems and puzzles are your forte, you’ll love the physical and mental tests that an escape room offers you.

Great Group Activity

Word puzzles, problem-solving apps, and video games are all great ways to exercise your brain muscle and slow the signs of aging. But they’re all very solitary activities. As such, they don’t provide many opportunities to share your success with others.

Escape rooms offer the perfect combination of a mental challenge with the social aspect of working together towards a common goal. As a result, participants feel a sense of achievement and community that’s hard to replicate in the real world.

Fantasy Indulgence

Escape rooms aren’t just about the physical escape. They also offer a way to mentally escape to a fantasy land, not unlike you’d find in a video game or a movie.

After all, being locked in a room and having to solve a series of clues to escape isn’t something that tends to happen in our everyday lives. As such, escape rooms add excitement and play into that pop culture ideal of being the hero in your own fantasy.

Try the Escape Room Experience for Yourself

If you’ve yet to try the escape room experience, what are you waiting for?!

Escape rooms are an ideal group activity, combining the challenge of solving clues and mental strength with the social aspect of working together as a team.

For more awesome group activity inspiration, check out these family date ideas everyone will love!

Maximise Your Home Space Without Losing On Comfort

Reviews · May 3, 2018

As the world’s population grows, the size of homes, unfortunately, shrinks. IN fact, as it stands now, the world’s population is over 7.3 billion. According to the UN, it’s expected to reach almost 10 billion by 2050, which is only a little over 30 years from now. Needless to say, the space available in your home then will be even smaller than now. The UK is especially hit by the shrinking tendencies, as the British homes are the smaller in the whole Europe. In fact, you need to go to Japan to find homes that have an even tinier square footage. What does this mean?

Well, firstly, it’ll be even more difficult to find a parking space in town then. But, more to the point, it means that the homes of the future will be space-efficient. The idea to maximize your space, by either making sure you don’t waste any inch of it or by ensuring that you create the most valuable design for the available space, is not new. But it’s only in the last few years that the general public, people like you and me, have started to understand how crucial space management skills are in your everyday home life. As space is precious, it’s essential to treat it as a luxury while at the same time preserving it as an endangered species. Having a large garden can really change the look of your whole home. But what use is having a large garden if you don’t use all of your extra space, projecttimber.com have a number of different summer houses and sheds for you to choose from, this can really transform your garden and obviously is a great source of storage.

Modern, space-saving flat

The micro-apartment for Millennials

Young adults from the Millennial generation have already been confronted with the latest space saving solutions on the real estate market. In Japan, the pod hotels are more than a popular trend; they’re the ultimate option to provide the necessary comfort to travellers within the physical limitations of space. As surprising as it sounds, these pod bedrooms are not only a hit for the locals, but many young travellers have made sure to put them on their bucket list. It’s easy to understand why. Millennials who are looking to buy their first home have discovered the children of shrinking housing units: micro apartments. In fact, for a lot of new architects, the Millennial approach to an on-demand lifestyle where everything is available at a click of a button changes the square footage value. When companies such as Google have their own chefs to prepare free or subsidized meals, having a fridge at home becomes almost a waste of space. In fact, the micro trend has even redesigned the way architects think about homes, forcing them to remove the living room from the flooring plan. Millennials, as they say, don’t need to entertain. Their small home is focused entirely on functionality and practicality where every placement is studied at a granular level. However, there’s no denying that the satisfaction of the residents is very low, indeed. In fact, when everyone lives in a small cube, and when every cube is the same, Millennials are looking for an opportunity to exist and express their personality and creativity at home. We can only hope that the home of the future will be nothing like the micro apartments.

Small family house in town

If you are not ready to make the move in a small urban cube, you are probably one of many homeowners looking for the practicality of being in town with enough personal space to create your own decor. For families, the best choice is to buy a townhouse, as it offers the advantage of a private and individual space where you can still create a unique interior style. Micro apartments, in comparison, are granularly designed and furnished. Townhouses, however, are among the smallest houses in the UK, and naturally, need special attention to storage facilities to work. When a family with one of two children lives in one of those properties, they need to become space-savvy. The wall becomes your best friend to keep your belongings stored. Wall-mounted shelves can save significant space at home, and you can even add a wall-mounted seating area for when you entertain guests. Additionally, you can also use a raised platform in rooms with high ceilings or in a child’s bedroom, as an additional storage option. This could be great to keep all your bedding gear, for instance. If you can’t build a platform, you could consider floor cabinets, where you could store your winter wardrobe during the warm season.

Efficient family house outside of town

For families who prefer to live in a bigger home, the space formula needs to be amended. The value of space suddenly becomes more important than the practicality of the urban life. In other words, if you want a big home, you need to leave the ease of urban life behind you. You need to move to the countryside, or at least, pick a property on the outskirts of town. Don’t be fooled by thinking that living on the outskirts guarantees you easy access to the urban environment. In reality, you can count 60 to 90 minutes commute just to get in town, as anybody who lives outside of London or any other big town can testify. Admittedly, you improve your home satisfaction in the process, as you gain a large garden and large bedrooms. There’s no need to worry about storage availability anymore. But, if you choose to make the most of your space, you need to choose furniture and appliances that respect your new environment. You need an eco-friendly interior. Space is, after all, a luxury. So it’s essential that you treat it with the utmost respect, ensuring that you keep as clean and clear as possible.

Cheap DIY home

The problem with living out of town is that space, while it is available is larger quantities than in an urban centre, remains an expensive investment. For young adults who don’t like the idea of buying a cube unit in town, the purchase of a home on the outskirt is out of the question. The property market has been steadily exploding for the past few decades, making it almost impossible for anybody to settle down in their own home before the age of 30 – although there are exceptions. As a result, more and more Millennials who are unhappy with the micro apartment offering have taken it upon themselves to build their own property, the tiny home. You can also find pre-built tiny homes to buy, but it’s fair to say that first-time homeowners prefer the excitement of making the property themselves. Living in a tiny home teaches you an important lesson in a minimalist interior. Not only is no inch wasted, but the household tends to be a lot more energy-efficient and eco-friendly than other properties. However, it’s not an option for everyone, as downsizing can be difficult for families or dynamic career people.

Get your tiny home

What makes your home yours?

Last, but not least, making the most of the space in your home is key to adjusting to the evolution of the world’s population and the housing crisis of the future. However, as the tiny apartment experiment demonstrates, it can be extremely challenging to find small spaces satisfying in you can’t create your personal touch. Ultimately, the space you live it can only become comfortable is it reflects your personality. For instance, a small bedroom is only an issue if you don’t work to make it comfortable. Sometimes, all it takes is the addition of elegant and cosy bedding to change the atmosphere in the room. Ultimately, it’s not a matter of how much space is available but of how you choose to fill it.

The bottom line is that, as housing space is shrinking, it’s important to ask yourself whether you’re making the most of what you’ve got. From introducing smart storage units to choosing to downsize with a tiny home, you have many options to respect and value the space you’ve got.

Great Ideas to Jazz up Your Child’s Bedroom

Reviews · February 5, 2018

If there is one thing that doesn’t remain a constant, it’s your child’s bedroom. Not only do they have different toys every year, but their tastes change so you always have to repaint it with the next big interest. However, what can you do that will be great for your child’s bedroom and doesn’t mean changing the color of the walls every year? Here are some ideas for your kid’s bedroom that you can easily change.

Repaint the Walls

Although the idea is that you don’t want to be constantly redesigning the walls, you will need to make them a blank canvas for your ideas. Try to repaint them in a neutral color so that it doesn’t clash with anything you will be putting in the room. You also don’t want them associating a color with a particular theme. Something calming like a cream or soft beige might sound dull, but it will make a nice contrast to the rest of the room.

Change the Bed

If the room currently has a standard single bed in there, then although this is ok, you want something that will serve many purposes. You want a bed that can also be a sofa, a place to lounge on to watch movies, and a place to play. One idea if you have space is to replace it with a double bed, this will give your child more room to lay and sleep, and it can also cater for friends that want to sit down as well. Another idea is a high bed that has a desk underneath. It is an ideal choice for a small room as it creates additional space, it is also good for the older child that needs to study more.

Theme the Furniture

If your child is still into having a themed bedroom, then instead of having characters in the walls, place them on the furniture. For example, if they love pirates, then put stickers of pirates and ships on the desk and the other furniture, you can also add some rope and other sailing accessories without having to have anything permanent. You can also get themed curtains and bedclothes that can easily be taken down when they have grown out of it.

Personalized Accessories

As well as adding themes to the furniture, you can also add other accessories. One idea is to create a calendar using a company such as calendarcraze.com and add photos of your child’s current favorite celebrities and heroes. Because it only lasts for one year, you can change the photos every year to keep it up to date. You can also get mugs and mouse mats with their favorite characters and change them as they get older. They will also enjoy the process of picking out the characters to use in the accessories.

By making the room more adaptable, you can save not only time but also money on wallpaper and wall stickers. It also makes repainting easier as you can use the same or similar colors again.

DIY Formula 5 Creative Ways to Use Wrapping Paper

Reviews · January 8, 2018

With the holidays over, there can be an abundance of leftover wrapping paper lying around. When it comes to this leftover festive wrapping, there are several options. It can either be saved until the next holiday season, or it can be used in creative and fun ways. From decoration to packaging, here are five creative ways to use leftover wrapping paper.

Envelopes

One fun way to use leftover wrapping paper is to use it to cover your envelopes or even make your own. While not every envelope can be a fancy decorative one, this is a clever and stylish way to use old wrapping paper to make your letters even more fun. There are many different websites that offer tutorials on how to do this most effectively.

Lining

By lining drawers and shelves with leftover wrapping paper, you can introduce a splash of color into a place in your home that was previously very dull. These pieces can make a piece of furniture or a shelf pop a bit more. It can also be easier to clean. When the paper gets dirty, you can just remove it and replace it. This also makes it easier to change the color scheme of any given room. Rather than repainting an entire piece, you just have to change the lining.

Locker Organizer

Lockers can be a wonderful way to showcase your unique sense of style, whether at work, school, or the gym. A locker organizer can be a stylish way to help you keep things together, and leftover wrapping paper can make it a truly unique piece. Websites like DIY Formula offer simple, step-by-step instructions to help you make any project that you can think of.

Packaging

Not only can old wrapping paper be a clever and creative way to cover books, giving them a unique and festive flair, it can also be a wonderful way to wrap up breakable things that are being packed away. Some decorations are more fragile than others, and by using the leftover wrapping paper, you are not only keeping them safe and unbroken, you are also guaranteeing that, the next time you open that particular box, you will be greeted with colorful decorations to unwrap.

Decoration

If you have an empty space on your walls that needs a new piece of art and a beautiful piece of wrapping paper, why not kill two birds with one stone? By putting a piece of leftover wrapping paper in a frame, you can have a beautiful piece of art to hang on your wall at a fraction of the cost. Leftover wrapping paper can also be used to cover a bulletin board, giving it a unique look. If your paper is holiday themed, it might be a little less useful year-round, but there are plenty of colorful papers that you can use.

Leftover wrapping paper may seem like an object that only has one use, to be burned in the fireplace after the holidays. However, there are many creative, and at times festive, ways to use leftover wrapping paper.

Seven Things You Need to Know Before You Start Your DIY Kitchen Remodeling

Reviews · December 12, 2017

So you decided that it is time to fix that broken sink and get your kitchen plumbing sorted. You might be thinking about letting more light in your kitchen, or designing a breakfast bay that will make mornings more enjoyable. No matter if you are a beginner at DIY or want to show off your skills to your family members, you will need to be prepared for things to go wrong. Below you will find seven tips to make sure that your DIY kitchen remodeling will go smoothly.

Image by Pexels

Get an Online Design Tool

If you want your kitchen to be both practical and beautiful, you might want to get an online design tool or use one provided by your local DIY store. Take measurements and make sure everything fits perfectly in its place, so you don’t get unpleasant surprises. An online design tool can help you get the idea of how much flooring material you need, and avoid bumping your head in cabinets around your new kitchen from time to time. Allow enough space to open doors and drawers, and walk around the islands.

Compare Prices

Even if you are likely to complete all the work yourself, or with help from friends and family members, you will need to create a budget. Choose your kitchen design and check out the prices for modern ceramic butler sinks, taps, work surfaces, chairs, and refrigerators. Once you have selected the items you need, you can set a budget and prioritize your project phases. It is likely that your new floor and light fittings need to be installed first, followed by the units and appliances. If you need help with any plumbing work, ask for a price from a local professional to install your dishwasher, sink, and other items.

Choose Natural Materials

To reduce your home’s carbon footprint, you might want to choose long lasting materials that naturally occur in nature. Choose granite and stone, instead of plastic based surfaces. Find a flooring supplier that has real hardwood materials. You might think that a kitchen made of chipboard looks the same as a real wooden one, but it doesn’t last that long, and is full of chemicals that were used to keep the sheets solid and strong. If you are good at carpentry, you might get some reclaimed wood to build your cabinets or upscale kitchen units.

Allow Room for Adjustments

While you might have a clear vision of how your dream kitchen should look like, things can go wrong. If it costs too much to take your pipework to the other end of the kitchen, you might need to make last minute adjustments to your design. Stay flexible, so you don’t have to pay twice for the materials and units. If your kitchen is too large for the space, you will need to get it adjusted, and this can cause delays in your home improvement. Whatever your plan is, stick to it, but if it doesn’t work, have a Plan B in place.

Get Professional Help

Image by Wikimedia Commons

If you are not confident enough in doing the plumbing or electrical work, don’t risk your safety, but get help. A few hours work from a professional can save you a lot of headache, and help you keep your schedule.

Think Safety First

It is important to read safety instructions when working with electricity and water. Turn off all supplies before you start working in sensitive areas, and let your family know about the distraction. You don’t want them to turn the switch on and give you an electric shock. Never leave power tools around, or you will risk one of your family members getting seriously injured.

Take Care of Recycling

One of the things DIY people often forget about is recycling. You don’t want your old kitchen sink and oven staying around longer than necessary. Get in touch with companies that recycle home electrical and get your local recycling center to take your units. If you think that there are items that can still be used by other people, donate them locally through advertising online or get in touch with a local non-profit organization to help others less fortunate.

Getting a new kitchen installed is exciting. If you want to reduce the stress that comes with your DIY project, make sure that you design and plan everything carefully. It is not embarrassing to ask for professional help when you need it, and you can save a lot of time and hassle by getting the job done right the first time.