Hacks to optimise your car storage

When it comes time to bundle up your bags and hit the road, most people wish that they had more room. These tips will offer inventive and resourceful ways to get enhanced car storage space in Melbourne without upgrading your vehicle. The trick is to make the most of every nook and cranny, and much of that comes from properly organising your gear. Most of the time, we think that we have packed efficiently, but in reality that stuff could be better arranged to fit into a lot less space. 

A mesh bungee can be secured to sit against the roof of your car. Simply attach the corners to the four door handles that most cars have above the passenger and driver doors. This pouch now acts as the perfect spot for all of those extras that usually clutter the backseat or take up all of the foot room. For camping or long trips where you will be taking pillows and blankets, this is the perfect spot to store them. Pillows tend to take up more volume than they need to, so compress them with the help of this roof bungee. Alternatively, use the bungee for other items and sit on the pillows and blankets, which will actually make your ride more comfortable. 

For those traveling with young children, an organized car might seem like wishful thinking. Kids at this age need constant amusement, and will often get this by tearing out new items and flinging them around. Anything in grabbing distance is a potential target. Keep everything neat and tidy by packing shower caddies or show organizers full of all of your baby stuff. Lotions, spare nappies, books and toys can all be neatly tucked away, so that they’ll be exactly where you left them. 

Use a trash can to prevent rubbish from infiltrating your storage space. Wrappers and tissues lying around can make your car interior look much messier than it really is. Use an old plastic cereal container lined with a plastic bag as a neat looking rubbish bag. A plastic bag by itself is easily ripped, forgotten or knocked so that the rubbish goes spilling everywhere. Keep a coin organizer in your glove box or in the cup holders. Instead of foraging around for coins when it comes time to pay for a ticket, you’ll be able to find exactly what you need immediately.

You may also be thinking about the best storage in the garage. If you have rafters, simply install a grill underneath and you have an immediate roof shelving unit. A hanging tennis ball is a great way to measure when your car is in at the perfect spot in the garage, leaving you more room for storing things as you won’t be worried about hitting them.

For more of these kinds of clever car storage hacks in Melbourne, get in touch with the automotive experts who have seen it all at Unsurpassed Vehicle Image at http://www.uvi.com.au/.

Put some thought into the electrical layout of your new build

Whether you are adding an additional couple of rooms or building a whole house from the ground up, an important stage of any building process is to consider the plan for your electricity usage. A practiced electrician technician in Melbourne can assist you in identifying your power outlet and lighting locations. By getting your layout right the first time, you will be able to enjoy fully functional electricity without any of the hassle of extension cords, awkward power cords and juggling charging several devices on the one power point. 

We take power points for granted if they are situated in the right spots. As a bare minimum, there should be a double outlet on either side of a double bed, to power everything from chargers to bedside lamps and electric blankets. You will probably need at least two or three in the kitchen. During your design, picture where your toaster, kettle and any other everyday appliances would sit, then include one more outlet than you think you will need, because chances are it will come in handy. During breakfast time and before dinner, for example, there could be a sudden rush in the kitchen. It is much simpler to add an additional outlet at this stage rather than attempt to install one later, as that will mean completely changing the wiring. 

While it is wise to design your power layout around how you plan to decorate, it is also worth considering that these power outlets will be in this position for the lifespan of the house. This means that if you or future residents want to move furniture around then they could potentially limit this scope. Try to identify the most practical areas that would still accommodate a slightly different room arrangement. 

Adding another is a good idea also because this will discourage you from overloading the few power outlets that you do have. Power boards should not be considered a long term solution to a lack of power points, as these can cause sparks and lead to electrical fires. Consider adding one or two power points outside and more if you have an outdoor kitchen. In general, an outdoor power point is great for a stereo in the summer and gardening power tools year round.

There is no strict rule about lighting layout, as different lights will work best with different layouts. Consult your lighting store or have your electrician view the specific lights you have selected, and then work out how many you’ll need and where they will go. For example you’ll need six to eight down lights in a room, compared to three pendant lights in a kitchen.  

Electricians frequently visit homes where the residents have put so much time and effort into lighting layout but totally neglected to think about the positioning of the light switches. Light switches need to be placed logically. A panel of four or six switches can be confusing, so try to arrange it so each switch directs you to the corresponding light. For bedroom and bathroom lights, the switch should be just inside the door so that it can be easily found in the middle of the night. Ask for the valuable advice of a smart electrician leader in Melbourne from Twin Electrics and Plumbing at http://twinelectrics.com.au/ and you will not regret it.

Landscaping for winter appeal

Here in Australia we can’t complain of winters anywhere near as cold as the Northern Hemisphere, however June through to August can still get pretty chilly. The cold weather and potential for rain can keep us bundled up indoors, forgetting about the maintenance of the garden. Follow these ultimate winter landscaping tricks for Adelaide gardens to ensure your outdoor space remains vibrant and enticing. 

First of all, before focusing on plant life or materials in the garden, if you intend to use your space for entertaining in winter you will likely want to look at your heating options. An open or combustion fire is a hearty choice, although care will need to be taken to ensure there are no flammable plants in the near vicinity. A steady supply of firewood is another consideration that is often overlooked. This can be a costly source of heat if you do not have your own infinite supply of wood. More common and more efficient are electric or gas heaters. These can be switched on at the press of a button, which is more practical in the frantic running around before guests arrive. The range of heat may not be as widespread as a fire; however a couple of standing devices or well-situated wall mounted variations will do the job. 

Once you’re sure the area will be nice and warm, it is time to think about the plants that will make up your garden. While most plants are in their prime in spring and summer, and autumn can see the foliage turn a brilliant shade of red, winter tends to be a little bit dull. During this time of year, deciduous trees have shed their leaves and the garden can look bare. For this reason, it is wise to think ahead and plant some evergreen trees in a number of vibrant colours. Also keep an eye out for winter flowering plants, such as cyclamens and some roses. Natives like grevillea and wattle are can also inject a winter colour burst. All of these plants need as much sun as possible, which is in short supply during the winter months. The best bet of survival is by placing plants in a prime northern position, as there is a low sun in this direction throughout the day. 

Wood and natural elements that add visual warmth should be favoured over colder materials. Substances such as metal and glass both look and feel cold to the touch and so guests are likely to look to head inside. Always ensure that timber is properly finished and regularly varnished to prevent damage from the rain. You may want to consider drop down materials to surround an outdoor dining area so that harsh wind can be blocked out. Trees can also provide valuable weather protection. 

For the ultimate winter entertainment, some couples choose to incorporate a stylish hot tub into their outdoor design. This steaming pool is sure to instantly warm up your guests, and provides the perfect spot from which to admire the rest of the garden. For more original landscaping concepts in Adelaide, visit the website of The Worx Landscaping at http://theworxlandscaping.com.au/.

An elegant water feature to complement the garden

If considered thoughtfully, a well-placed water feature can add that je ne sais quoi to any garden space. Moving or still, fresh or chlorinated, there are a number of water feature designs that can offer a unique atmosphere. Consider adding a water feature to your developing landscaping plans in Adelaide.

 

Perhaps the most common is some sort of fountain. Some of these more traditional designs, perhaps with a cherub pouring the jet out of a jug, are reminiscent of early European architecture. Originally, these structures were purely functional, supplying cities with the water that they required for drinking and bathing from aqueducts. By the end of the 19^th Century, indoor plumbing was developed enough such that outdoor fountains were rendered solely decorative. Today, fountains are associated with grandeur and extravagance. The movement of water from this kind of single trickle is subtle and calming. Opt for a stream of water that lands on rock another surface, rather than straight into the water, as this can build to a potentially thunderous roar that drowns out the surrounding ambience. 

A pond is a serene addition to a garden, and can be as large or discrete as you like. These features can be used to house fish and other small aquatic creatures if the conditions are appropriate. Water gardens are gaining popularity among the keener gardeners out there. These areas use a central water source such as a pond, to feed a number of plants that prefer to grow in water. Anything from reeds to waterlilies can successfully thrive in this kind of environment. While a fountain or jet is constantly moving, a pond will usually incorporate minimal movement, meaning that the stagnant water can breed algae and moss. If you would like a kind of basic water feature that can bring life to the garden, but don’t have the space or the patience to create a full pond, then a bird bath is the perfect solution. These are simple to install and will bring avian visitors daily. A feeder nearby will increase the popularity of your garden. 

A stream is a natural feature that combines elements of both the previously mentioned structures. It is typically slowly moving, but can also be the site of natural water plant growth. Critters like small fish and frogs are also common residents, and can add to the natural symphony of the garden. Catching tadpoles is almost a childhood rite of passage these days, and as well as being fun, may be one of the first introductions a child has to the stages of the lifecycle. Experiment with placing rocks throughout to manipulate the bubbling of the water, as this adds oxygen and may help to attract more forms of wildlife. 

Each variation of the original designs can cater to vastly different styles of home and garden. Consult the experts at Thompson Landscaping, your professional landscaping business in Adelaide at http://thompsonlandscapingadelaide.com.au/ for advice on the right match for your garden.

Never clean your golf cart again

Keep your cart as clean as a whistle with these ingenious golf cart feature accessories. Nobody likes the chore of cleaning, so invest in some special products that mean you’ll never need to lift a finger while still enjoying a glistening cart. 

The first product saving time and effort is a fully absorbent mat. These are made to line the floor of your cart, capturing any mud from the soles of dirty shoes, as well as redirecting any water with specially designed grooves. The mat offers plenty of grip so there is no risk of a person slipping, or of the mat moving out of place. While there are few golfers who are dedicated enough to play when it is pouring with rain, what is more likely is that the course is still wet and muddy from a previous downpour. A dirty golf cart will also mean dirty clubs and clothes, so anything that helps to avoid this situation will be beneficial. The best part is that these mats are incredibly affordable. Perhaps you may also like to consider a golf cart mounted shoe cleaner, that takes care of all of that dirt so that your cart stays lovely and clean. These are a little more impractical compared to a floor mat, but they do the job and some people prefer them. A ball washer is a handy item to have attached to your cart, more for help with your game rather than keeping the cart free from dirt and grass. 

An on board bin is a great way to encourage your guests to dispose of their rubbish correctly and keep your vehicle looking tidy. Some cart designs will have areas that lend themselves for use as a bin, while in others you may need to get a little more creative and make one or add one. A game of golf can last for many hours, depending on how competitive or leisurely the style of play and so some on board refreshments are a common occurrence. From a few beers in an cooler to a bite to eat as well, all of these items are going to result in left over packaging. In an effort to respect the golf course, rubbish should always be taken with the players. 

Finally, one of the most popular and most helpful cleaning accessories is the humble dust cover. These heavy duty plastic or canvas sheaths prevent dust from settling on your cart as it rests in the garage. This saves time in that you don’t need to rinse all of the dust from the surface each time you want to take your cart out, and it also protects the paintwork. Dust attracts and traps moisture, and so this will wear away the finish. A dust cover can extend the lifespan of your paint by a significant amount. Please do not hesitate to get in touch with the friendly golf cart accessories experts at Rainy Day for all of your additions at http://rainy-day.com.au/.