Home furnishings help us to enhance our homes and give them a stylish look. Every artifact and furnishing help to add to the theme and character of the home. They reflect the style and personality of the person who lives in the house. Sofa covers, for instance, is one such furnishing that can add color and style to the living room. Bland sofas can be dressed in a wide array of colors which helps to make them less boring. Sofa covers can be of different kinds of fabric, some of which are listed below:

• Cotton These sofa covers are inexpensive and can be easily maintained by washing. The cotton material is soft to touch but can be prone to shrinking and discoloration when washed too much. Hence, it is necessary to read the care instructions on the label before washing them.

• Microfiber Covers of this material are made of synthetic fibers but are still within the realms of affordability. These covers go with any kind of sofa and home decor so one does not have to worry about it standing out or looking odd. It can be cleaned with the help of a cloth that is slightly wet. It has great moisture wicking capacity which helps it to dry quicker in case of liquid spills. This type of material can also resist dirt stains.

• Velvet If a vintage look is desired for the house, then a velvet sofa cover is the best bet. It offers a regal splendor to not only the sofa but also the house. Moreover, it has great longevity. The diversity of color and size also exists but be sure to purchase a cover that is resistant to flames as some variations of velvet covers are extremely inflammable.

• Twill These covers are not only durable but also affordable. The weaving on the fabric gives it a unique pattern. Be sure to, however, buy twill sofa covers with as many interwoven threads as possible. This will make the cover more durable and will increase its longevity.

So these are the different materials from which sofa covers can be made. Choose one according to your preference today!

Have you ever wanted to invest in something that can give you better returns for the future? Silvers bars are a good investment choice over gold bars and silver coins. Why? Because they have lower premiums than their coin counterparts, but that's not all. They are a lot easier to store as well. Here are a few reasons why you should buy silver bars over silver coins, and how to go about buying your first set. Lower Premiums As mentioned earlier, bars are a safer investment choice than silver coins. The main reason is that silver coins involve more money spent on the intricate designs carved on them. The premiums for coins are quite high, since you're paying for the visual appeal in addition to the value of silver itself. Easier Storage: The second big reason why silver bars are the better choice: for every ounce of silver, bars take up a lot less space, and are easier to store. Silver bullion takes up less space than a silver coin. The more you accumulate, the more you'll notice this big difference in storage space requirements. Liquid Assets: Silver bars can be sold easily, and are more widely accepted. Protection Against Currency Devaluation: The biggest benefit of getting yourself a collection of silver bars would be protection against currency devaluation. You can generate a regular income by buying and selling silver bars based on silver prices today in the market, which are steadier than currency fluctuations. You can buy them with the assurance of a long-term stable, viable investment. Silver Bar Buying Guidelines: A good rule to follow when buying silver bars is to buy those in the 10 to 100 ounce range. This is because not every layman can afford 1000 ounce bars; plus, bars below 1 ounce command notoriously high premiums. Also, 1000 ounce bars and higher ounce bars have higher chances of getting counterfeited since they are more pricey. The second thing to watch out for is whether you get your silver bars stamped. Usually, silver bars are accompanied by a branding stamp and a serial number. Quality stamping usually includes the bar's weight, purity information, manufacturer details outlining refinery details and finally, a serial number. Some bars don't include this, which could mean you aren't getting a pure silver bar, or that you're getting a low quality variant. Ensuring that your silver bars have this can safeguard you as a buyer, and even as a seller; people tend to trust bars with stamping, preferring them over non-stamped ones. These simple tips should give you the knowledge you need to make safe investments in silver bars today.

Wood is a versatile material, and while natural and renewable, also is durable and strong. Even though technology allows us to create synthetic material that closely mimics wood, natural wood has character and ages beautifully, its stains, grains and markings telling a beautiful story. This is why old wood is not junk, but a potential treasure for your home. The next time you see old wooden doors, windows, pallets or crates, or even plain driftwood lying around unwanted, bring them home. These can add a world of charm and class to your home. Let us start with the quick-and-easy small items. Trunks and branches, sliced steak-like, can make nice coasters, pot holders, or even a nice top for a side table, if broad enough. Take a thick branch, cut it to about a foot in length, and hollow out about 8 inches of the middle section, leaving both ends intact. Add a hinged lid and you have a charming, rustic mailbox. Household items like cutting boards can become terrific wall art if you are inclined to paint, or fix a couple of squat, halved wooden bowls to create a pretty wall garden for succulents. Windows make wonderful trays or breakfast caddies. Just don't repaint them “ retain the weathered look. Kitchen cabinets are an obvious choice for repurposing windows as well. Similarly, doors can become outdoor benches, or use them as backing for a garden swing. They also are great as unique coffee table tops. Old wooden fences can make beautiful kitchen cabinets. Don't even bother with fixing the battered look of the wood. Freshen the paint a little, but without covering up the weathered look underneath. This will help create a rustic look in your kitchen, and if it is a weekend home that you are looking to do up, then this material is just perfect. Found a lonesome drawer somewhere? Board up the open end, and add a cushion on top to make a stylish ottoman, or line the insides with a blanket for a snug little bed for your pet. Drawers also make excellent stand-alone open shelves. Nail it up to the wall, paint the interior to make it interesting, and you have a place to display a favorite objet-d'art. Whatever it is that you decide to do, remember that repurposed wood looks best when its age and character is retained. Show off the fact that the material is up cycled, and don't cover up its seeming flaws too much, so that your new piece of furniture or art tells its own unique story.

One of the important jobs of the central nervous system is to pass on the signals that come out of an organ. This is the epicenter, based on which the brain reacts. Imagine the nervous system sending out a wrong signal or a lesser signal. That is peripheral neuropathy for you. It is a disorder that occurs when these nerves malfunction due to an injury or an accident. As a result of this, the signal might get disrupted. They can send signals of pain when there's nothing causing pain, or they might not be sending the signal, even if something is causing you an injury. Causes of peripheral neuropathy: Peripheral neuropathy can be due to a single factor or due to a combination of multiple factors. These can include an injury, an infection, an inherited disorder, or an illness. These can also occur in persons who are overweight and have a high blood pressure. It is common with old age and affects people who have diabetes. The major factors that cause peripheral neuropathy symptoms include: - Diabetes - Alcoholism - Vitamin deficiency and poor nutrition - Hereditary and acquired neuropathies from external factors like environment, illness, accident, or trauma - Cancer and chemotherapy - Infections like Lyme disease, AIDS or shingles - Auto-immune diseases - Bone marrow disorders - Kidney or thyroid disease - Idiopathic Neuropathies where no cause can be determined Symptoms of peripheral neuropathy: There are three major types of peripheral nerves: - Sensory nerves, which connect to your skin, - Motor nerves which connect to your ligaments, and - Muscles and the autonomic nerves that connect to your internal organs. Peripheral neuropathy has a tendency to affect either one nerve group or all three of them. Some of the major peripheral neuropathy symptoms include: Tingling: You can experience a tingling sensation in your hands and foot. They can occur for a fraction of a second or in some cases they may prolong for a longer duration. Tightening: You might experience a sense of tightening in your muscles like how you wear your socks or a thick glove. Pain: You may experience a sharp stabbing pain randomly or connected in a particular region. Numbness: You can experience numbness in certain areas, which may not be prone to any sense of touch. Heaviness: Sometimes your body may feel heavy and you may be unable to perform any activity. In some extreme cases, you may be unable to move. Less control: You may not have control over things and may be prone to dropping things. Blood pressure: Drop in blood pressure may be felt when you experience peripheral neuropathy. Constipation: You may experience irritable bowel syndrome and constipation. In some cases, you may not have any control over bowel movements, thereby leading to diarrhea. Excessive sweating: Prolonged and excessive sweating should not be overlooked. Treatment of peripheral neuropathy: There are a variety of medications and treatments available for treating peripheral neuropathy symptoms. Do consult with your doctor at the first signs of such symptoms. In case you continue to feel a prolonged effect, seek medical attention immediately.

Lemonade iced tea is one of the most popular beverages. A quick sip of lemony iced tea can instantly freshen you up. Having lemonade iced tea is a great way to sooth stress and add a lot of healthy minerals and nutrients to your body. You can have it unsweetened or sweetened, although the version with added sugar is more popular among the two. However, to get the best health benefits of lemonade iced tea, you need to have the unsweetened version.

Lemonade iced tea can be made using green tea as well as black. Historically, the original recipe called for green tea. However, over time, black tea has come to be used popularly in homemade iced teas as well as in the commercially-made ones. In addition to lemon, you can add other ingredients  such as mint and ginger to increase the health benefits of your iced tea. Adding these will also make the drink more flavorsome. If you are not keen on using ice, you can just chill the concoction overnight or over a couple of hours and have it later. You can make pitchers-full or just for two-one serving. Check out some of the popular health benefits of lemonade iced tea.

• Lemonade iced tea is refreshing and keeps you hydrated. Unlike carbonated beverages, it does not make you crave for more and does not add to your calorie intake. Without the sugar, lemon iced tea calms the nerves and helps you relax.
• Tea, in any form, is good for your general health. Loaded with antioxidants, it helps your heart and skin. The antioxidants work against cell-damaging free radicals.
• Lemonade iced tea has the added benefit of lemon. The astringent property of lemon helps in fighting gum problems and improves the health of your teeth. Also, the vitamin C content of lemon aids in fighting infections and illnesses such as common cold and sore throat.
• If you use black tea in your Lemonade iced tea, it will have a good proportion of manganese. Manganese helps in improving your metabolism and strengthening your bones. Also, if your diet meets the minimum daily requirement of manganese, you body's ability to heal wounds also increases.
• Whether you use green or black tea while preparing your lemon-flavored iced tea, rest assured that you will be helping your heart to stay strong. Tea helps to lower LDL cholesterol, which is known to be bad for the heart. Instead of having unhealthy soda-based beverages, you should have lemonade iced tea so that you reduce the risk of cardiac attacks.

The best thing about lemonade iced tea is that it can be had anytime, irrespective of the season. Easy to make and versatile, lemonade iced tea is the best healthy beverage you can find!

Each one of us knows the importance of water in our lives. Drinking enough water and staying hydrated has been linked to countless health benefits. However, while it is important to drink water, what is more important is that we drink clean water. Water today contains several contaminants that are enough to make us fatally ill. This has resulted in the need and use of water filters especially when we are away from home. As water filters are often installed at homes, restaurants, and hotels, you may keenly feel their shortage specifically when you are on a hike or are on a short trip. However, you can still get access to filtered water by making a small yet valuable investment in a portable water filter. Since browsing through the innumerable portable water filters on the web can get a little mind-boggling, here are some of the best portable filters you can purchase. Katadyn Vario This portable water filter comes with a well-thought design as it contains an outlet and an inlet hose and a plastic clip that attaches the hose to a water bottle preventing the bottle from falling as the water fills. It also has a compact size and design that allows the user to fit it in their backpack without making it heavy. LifeStraw LSPHF017 This portable water filter is popular for its easy usage and affordable price. The LifeStraw’s LSPHF017 can provide up to 792 gallons of safe water without the use of any chemicals. Additionally, the filter removes up to 99.9% of bacteria and protozoa, which are commonly found in water. Survival Filter PRO This is a small and compact water filter that can remove most contaminants from the water. It is also one of the most efficient models that removes 99.9% of bacteria and viruses and up to 99.5% of heavy metals that often contaminate the water. Furthermore, this water filter can produce up to 17 ounces of clean water per minute. Sawyer Products Mini Water Filtration System Sawyer’s mini filtration system is compact and hence ideal for hikers. It removes up to 99.99% of bacteria, parasites, and viruses from the water. It is also known for being durable. It can clean up to 100,000 gallons of water without any replacement. The bottle also comes with an adapter that is small and versatile and can be attached to water bottles, water pouches, and even faucets in order to improve the water quality.