We all want to have the most memorable wedding possible. However, in the current recession, it is imperative that you try and save as much as possible. Many couples are looking for frugal wedding ideas, so you’re not alone. As people become less and less traditional, our parents do not want pay for their children’s wedding, so it’s very necessary now to be cognizant of finances. Read on for cheap wedding tips if you’re in the same boat!

1. Meals

Buffets are the cheapest option for feeding guests. There are many types of foods that you can choose from if you go take this route, including hamburgers, turkey, fries, salad, pasta, among others. This is a sure way to satisfy whatever appetite your guests have. Buffets also ensure that the food can be cooked the day before the occasion. Moreover, buying the food in bulk is much cheaper than having to call in a professional caterer.

2. Venue

The location of your wedding can determine whether your wedding is extravagant or a bargain. There are many cheap locations that one can choose to hold a reception. Churches and social halls are good places. Moreover, the duration of the reception will have a huge impact on the cost of the venture. Some couple choose to save by going to the court house for the wedding and spending their money on the reception, or vice versa. Many cheap locations allow you to reserve their facilities for a few days, this way you could even have a bachelor party or rehearsal dinner there. If you have any friends with connections at country clubs or really nice halls, be sure to see if they can hook you up with a discount. If you have any friends with a sprawling country residence, this could be the most feasible and frugal location yet.

3. Wedding Planners

We all want our wedding to go smoothly, without any problems. Most of the time, couples are too busy and may fail to get the things perfectly. To deal with this, hiring wedding planners has gained popularity lately. However, the cost makes it difficult for most couples. So, the use of wedding planning software can be a good option if you want to have a perfect day at an affordable rate. There is an avalanche of software online that you can take advantage of, all of which will streamline so much of your details for you.

4. Destination Weddings

Yes, this may seem out there. But, it’s worth considering. This is because you will most likely save money and get an amazing vacation out of it. For instance, say you want to get married in Hawaii or Thailand. Sure, you and your spouse will have to each purchase an airline ticket, plus hotel, etc. But many of these expenses will be subject to huge discounts if you tell the vendor that you’re on a wedding. You can even get discounts for all your guests. Some airlines will provide 15% discounts to all registered guests at your wedding, if you have enough people. You would of course pay for the meals of your guests. But this will most likely cost $3500 at most. Most weddings cost at least $10,000. A wedding on a beach saves you the money you would have spent on a venue, and only the people who truly love you will be there, providing a much more intimate setting. If you were already planning on taking a honeymoon, you’re essentially cutting your entire wedding budget in half.

Diane Finnerty loves studying about Africa, planning parties & visiting Grouphealthinsurance.org.

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Being frugal doesn’t mean you have to go without necessities or luxuries. However, being frugal does take time, effort, ingenuity and a desire to save money. The following are some tips on how to be frugal in all areas of your life. Read on to get started!

1. Food

One way to save money is to make simple meals with basic ingredients in your kitchen. Many meals can be made from basic meats, vegetables, fruits, water and bread such as meatloaf, chili, spaghetti, soup and salads. Adding spices to your meal makes them taste better and gives a wonderful aroma. An additional way to save is to grow your own vegetables. You can grow vegetables in your backyard or your window sill. Herbs such as basil, thyme, rosemary, sage and mint can be grown very easily. Vegetables that don’t require a lot of time and effort are cabbage, tomatoes, onions, garlic and kale. In addition, using left-over meals can help stretch your grocery budget. Leftover cooked vegetables can be used to make soup and leftover chicken can be used to make sandwiches or used as a side dish with mashed or baked potatoes or hash browns. Salads–potato, waldorf and chef salads– stretch meals and are nutritous–no matter the season.

2. Babysitting

Another way to be frugal, especially if you have children, is to swap babysitting with another couple. For instance, if you have two children, find a couple that also has two children and then babysit their children every now and then. When you need babysitting, ask them for the same favor. This works well, especially if each couple is reliable and can offer free babysitting with people they know and trust.

3. Second-Hand Stores

Shop for clothes at second hand stores. Much of the clothes in second-hand stores are in good shape and all they need is a little mending and cleaning. Good bargains can be found here and all it takes is time and effort. Be sure to check the tags on clothing. Different color tags give the price-range of the item and possible discounts/freebies available.

4. Haircuts

Another way to save money is by cutting your spouse’s and children’s hair at home. Watch how a hair stylist cuts hair and then get a good pair of hair cutting scissors and give it a try. It’s not hard. Just take your time and with a little effort and practice, you will save money and cut out the middle man. Beauty supply shops have cutting shears, capes for cutting and other items that will help you (hint: you can learn ANYTHING online).

5. Generic

When shopping, change to generic product, instead of name-brand goods. Generic products are usually cheaper and the quality is just as good. Do the same with toiletry products, vitamin supplements and cleaning supplies. There is a big difference in cost, but not in quality. And whenever possible, shop for groceries every two weeks, instead of every week, and before shopping, make up a list of what you need and take coupons with you. Also, before you throw away your grocery or store receipts, look to see what is on the back of them. On some of the receipts, you will see special discount offers on other products, like dry-cleaning.

6. Save

Savings accounts are excellent ways to save money. However, there are some savings accounts that are more effective than others. Some have found the Planned Savings Account attractive because it offers good dividends. Talk with your local bank employee on which savings account would work best for you. This is a great method of saving your money and one that can last a lifetime.

Marissa Thomas likes to write, spend time with family and visit backgroundcheck.org.

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According to Federal Reserve statistics from the 2010 Census, about 67% of American debt is tied up in non-revolving loans like student loans and auto loans. The average new car loan is about $27,600! That’s a pretty big chunk of change, which is why many Americans are finding it better to take out loans on used cars if they can’t keep their own running for longer.

If you’re one of the people going to find a used car instead of a new one, there are some things you need to know about financing your car. It can be a little more difficult to get a used car loan for a couple of reasons. For one thing, you may not want to go through a dealership, as you might with a new car, because you may want to buy a used car that doesn’t come off of a dealer’s lot. It’s not necessarily a great idea to get dealer financing in any case, even on a new car, but it is the simplest, least-hassle option.

Also, getting a used car loan can be a little tougher because banks need to be careful about the used cars they allow their customers to buy. If you can’t pay your loan, the bank needs to ensure that it can recoup at least some of its money on the loan by selling the car, so most banks won’t write a loan for cars that are past a certain age.

These top five tips will help you get the best financing possible for a used car:

Clean up your credit first

It takes a little time, but cleaning up your credit before applying for a car loan is a good idea. Even small mistakes can make a big difference, and you’ll get a much better loan deal if you have better credit even by a few points.

The quickest way to clean up your credit is to clear up any mistakes on your credit report that might be counting against you and to pay down revolving debt – like credit cards – so that you’re sitting with a 50% or less balance compared with your credit limit on all of your accounts. It’s worth taking a couple of months to do this before applying for a used car loan, since you can get a bigger loan and better rates with better credit!

Get pre-approval for a loan

Buying a used car is a little like buying a house. It’s a good idea to know how much you have available to spend before you go shopping. Otherwise you risk falling in love with a car you just can’t afford!

Check out three or four different lenders, and apply at roughly the same time. Why? Because every lender will inquire about your credit. If they do it within a few days, it will only count as one inquiry on your credit report. This is a good thing, since more inquiries on your credit report will actually knock your credit score down!

Once you’ve checked out a few different lenders, see who will give you the best deal. Remember, a slightly lower loan with a better interest rate may be in your interest, even if you have to settle for a car with a few more miles or a few less features! The better interest rate will save you a ton over time!

Avoid the dealership if possible

If you have good credit, you can get loan pre-approval from a bank, which allows you to shop with private individuals for your next car. This is much better because you’re probably going to get a lower price. Don’t worry about not getting a car that’s “certified pre-owned.” Just shell out a couple hundred bucks to take the car you’re interested in to a mechanic for an all-over systems check, and don’t buy if you’re at all uncomfortable with the seller. There are plenty of people out there trying to sell cars right now, so you’ve got lots of options to choose from.

Dealers will give you higher-rate financing, and even if it knocks a bit off the sticker tag, you’ll still pay more than if you bought from an individual. You do need good credit to get a bank loan, though, so if you need to buy a car before you can really clean up your credit, check with a dealer to see what kinds of deals you might be able to get.

Save up a down payment

If you can save up more than 10% down on your used car, you can probably get a car loan even if you don’t have excellent credit. Saving up 50% or more of the purchase price of your car will almost guarantee you a car loan with a decent rate unless your credit is just totally shot.

Again, taking the time to take this step will help you get a better rate on your car, so it can be worth your time to put down as much as you can on your new-to-you car.

Get a shorter-term loan

Your used car may not last as long as a newer model, and you’ll certainly take out less money than you would if you were buying a new car. For these reasons, it’s a good idea to look at shorter term loans, even if your monthly rate will be a little higher. Instead of a five or six year loan, look at two or three year options.

Asking for a shorter term loan will often get you a better interest rate, too, and you’ll be able to save a lot of money on interest this way. For instance, let’s say you’re looking at a $15,000 loan for a slightly used car. On a 5 year loan with 7% interest, you’ll pay $297.02 per month and will pay $2,821.08 in interest. Take that same interest rate and apply it to a 3 year loan, and here’s what you get: a $463.16 monthly payment and just $1,673.63 paid in interest over the life of the loan.

As you can see, waiting a bit longer to save up a larger down payment and clean up your credit can make a big difference in your ability to get the used car you want. It will help you get a better rate and make lower monthly payments, so you can afford more car. Even if you know you want a cheap car, taking a little extra time to save and pay down other debts can be good because you may have more room left in your budget than you think after car payments. Then, you can apply that extra money to save for a new car, so next time, you’ll have to finance even less. Don’t forget to read CreditDonkey’s review on Costco American Express card to see how the gas cash back can save you money at the fuel pump.

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There is nothing like wedding movies to prepare yourself for the big day and to break the ice with your wedding attendants or to just be able to kick back and relax with your girlfriends. So why not organize a wedding movie night with your friends or attendants?

Make a party out of it, pick out the best wedding movies, stock up on some fun finger foods and snack items and sodas, or turn it into a pre-bachelorette party and bring in some mixed drinks and party games to make it a real fun-filled evening. While it would be more relaxing to keep it simple, if you wish you can make this as intricate as you want, the style of the party itself is completely up to you.

But there is one thing that you can’t compromise on, and that is the awesomeness of the wedding movies that you pick out, so let’s take a look at some of the best wedding movies to have at your ultimate wedding movie night:

Father of the Bride.

The 1991 remake of the 1950′s original is probably one of the most hilarious and light-hearted approaches to an impending wedding ever made, and looking at things through a father’s point of view makes for a nice switch as you approach your own wedding.

My Big Fat Greek Wedding.

This movie provides a great relief valve as you laugh at the interfering qualities of a family that is simultaneously bigger than life and hauntingly similar in many ways to people that you probably know.

The Wedding Singer.

A sweetly romantic movie set in the 1980′s (but made in 1998), this movie speaks to the romantic in all of us while lightening the mood.

The Bride Wars.

Get ready. Get Set. Duke it out! When two best friends start competing for everything from their wedding location to their dress, there are no holds barred and there is a hilarious but simultaneously disturbing look at who we all really are beneath our skin.

Wedding Crashers.

While weddings are definitely the theme in this movie, the approach to the weddings is anything but traditional. The co-stars of this movie are wedding crashers who crash weddings in order to meet hot women, but when one falls in love with the girl he’s trying to seduce, everything changes and love turns what should have been a conquest into the romantic adventure of a lifetime.

While these are by no means the only movies available for an ultimate wedding movie night, they do give you a place to start and chances are that you know of a few yourself that would precisely fit your particular circle of friends. No matter what movies you choose, know that by keeping it light you will help to relieve the burden of the impending deadlines; keep it light and watch as all your cares fall away even as you forge bonds between you and your girlfriends that will last a lifetime.

This article was written by Sarah Rigos, founder of online wedding registry website Starlight Registry.

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Buying the right jewelry for yourself can be quite a difficult task for some, especially if a person has a specific look that can’t be matched to all kinds of jewelry. Necklaces are extremely fun to wear and can enhance anybody’s look, but when certain aspects aren’t taken into consideration, the overall look of the person can get overshadowed. It may be difficult or take some time before you actually get the right necklace, but once you’ve found the perfect one, you can be sure it’ll help you look your ultimate best.

Consider your height when choosing a necklace

Your height can play a big part in deciding which necklace would look perfect on you. If you’re short, you can get a much longer necklace with a v-shape and it could help you to appear much taller. Try to get a necklace that doesn’t fall longer than your chest. If for some reason you’re tall and you want to look shorter, try buying a normal necklace that doesn’t come down your chest too much. Most people who are extremely tall will usually just wear an ordinary necklace, as nothing really makes them look bad in any way. Unless they wear an awkward looking choker necklace.

Find out what your face shape is

Your faces shape plays a huge part on your overall look when wearing a necklace. It’s actually not that good-looking when you have a rectangular shaped face with a slightly long necklace. There are actually four different face shapes: oval, rectangular, heart shaped, and round. Look at your face in the mirror and imagine what kind of shape would match your face the most. The next time you visit a store and you try on different necklaces, keep this aspect in mind.

Decide what design you’ll go after

If for some reason you want to buy some random design on your necklace, yet it doesn’t match your height or your face, then you need to reconsider what kind of design you plan to buy. The truth is that the design plays a huge part, and if it contradicts your overall beauty, it won’t complement your look but actually make it look even less beautiful. Try to look for a design that would enhance you look, not overshadow your look. So, don’t ever get something that’s too big it covers your clothes’ design.

The chains are important to look out for

If you buy a chain that’s silver and you’re wearing completely black clothes, it might look awkward to wear and not look so pleasant to have on. What I suggest you do is pay attention to the chain and see if it looks and works well with you.

Always look for necklaces that symbolize you

When you buy random necklaces, there are good chances that it won’t look so good on you or mean anything. Try to look for ones that really represent who you are and symbolize what you believe in, as that could make the entire necklaces look even more professional.

Buying the right necklace may take some time and can be difficult for some when considering the above aspects. Luckily, if you already know what to look for, then the tips above will only be secondary. Your instincts on what makes a good necklace is always the right answer, so never neglect your instinct when buying a necklace.

Nicole Rodgers, has been blogging in the fashion, technology, and business industries for three years. Nicole decided to treat herself to a nice Christmas present by buying a necklace. She decided to pick up other accessories like nail polish for the upcoming holiday season. She also thought it would be a great opportunity to buy a present for her niece. She decided it would be a great idea to get her a pair of sunglasses for next year.

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Are you looking for a pretty new color palette for your wedding? Perhaps something cool and a bit unexpected? Then look no further than the chic combination of mint and platinum for your wedding color palette.

Shades of gray have been popular for weddings over the last couple of years. Platinum picks up on that trend, but gives it a festive shimmer that sets it apart from more somber shades like charcoal or slate. It is the perfect color to use for a wedding at any time of the day or night. Where the mint green comes in is to brighten up the platinum with a slightly retro-chic flair. It calls to mind an elegant mid-century cocktail party, particularly given the current popularity of bridesmaid dresses with a 1950′s inspired strapless neckline and natural waist.

Of course, it is one thing to choose colors with a hint of a retro flair, and something else entirely to go for an all out period look. Mint and platinum should definitely be used with an eye for current aesthetics. The mint green bridesmaid dress can be paired with killer platinum strappy shoes and silver bridesmaid jewelry. Whereas pearl bridesmaid jewelry would be the expected choice with a mid-century color, the cool silver bridesmaid jewelry will play up the platinum instead. Round it out with softly arranged bridesmaid bouquets with white flowers. Add a few stems of silvery lamb’s ear foliage for a nice hint of platinum in the wedding flowers.

A lovely way for the bride to embrace a mint and platinum wedding palette is with an accent in one of her signature hues on the bridal gown. An great look right now is a simple gown with a large off center bow detail at the waist; replace a white bow with one made in mint or platinum for a great detail. If the bride prefers to stick with an all-white dress, platinum colored pearl bridal jewelry would be gorgeous. It will also be highly wearable for future occasions, because platinum pearls look fantastic with a little black dress. A trailing mint green satin ribbon on the bridal bouquet is an easy way to bring in a dash of that special color.

A marvelous idea for the wedding reception would be to create a lounge area in the signature colors. Low slung sofas will look both contemporary and play up the mid-century inspiration of the mint green color. Choose white sofas and decorate them with custom throw pillows in the wedding colors. Elegant jacquard patterns mixed with stripes would be perfect. It could also be lovely to dress up tent posts with very full mint taffeta draperies tied with platinum tassels. Just be careful not to overdo the green in the reception room, as it does not cast the most flattering hue onto skin.

There are countless additional ways to work with a mint and platinum color palette. Signature cocktails in a cool mint will look fabulous lining the bar during the cocktail hour. Platinum colored vases overflowing with white flowers could be beautiful for the centerpieces. The cool tones of platinum and mint make them easy colors to use in combination to create a one-of-a-kind wedding design.

Read more of Bridget Mora’s updates on wedding design, fashion, and trends by subscribing to the free Silverland Jewelry newsletter. To see the latest in beautiful bridesmaid jewelry, visit our website today!

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Scrapbooking is a very popular hobby and has become even more popular as craft stores and specialty stores carry more and more things to make a scrapbook shine. Scrapbooking has also become very expensive because of all the new products and the stores. But what is scrapbooking really about? Surely it is not just about pasting a bunch of pictures together and buying expensive supplies to make those pictures look nice. Scrapbooking or memory albums have many other purposes and reasons behind them.

Here are some examples which show that scrapbooking is more than a hobby.

• Stories are told. One reason scrapbooking is much more than a hobby is because it allows stories to be told. You can share your stories and your children’s stories by keeping a scrapbook and explaining the stories behind the pictures. A scrapbook can become something like a journal that is made more interesting by giving visuals along with the words. By telling the stories with the pictures, your children will be able go through their scrapbooks and look at how little they once were and read stories about how cute and funny they were.

• Creating with your own style. Creating a scrapbook is also an opportunity for you to create something in your own sense of style. Are you a cute and pretty pages kinda gal? or do you like animal print and fun stickers? Do you like to make your own decorations for each page? Find out by beginning a scrapbook and exploring your own artistic style.

• Remember and be remembered. Remembering is probably the most important thing scrapbooks are used for. You will be able to go back and remember fun times in your life and your future children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren will be able to see what your life was like. Future generations will be able to remember you.

• Family time and history. Scrapbooking is a nice and fun way to preserve your family history. It also provides fun family time when you gather around to look at the fun times you have had together.

You do not need a visitor’s guide to make a nice looking scrapbook; however, there are tons of tutorials and other tips and tricks that can give you ideas. Scrapbooking is more than a fun pastime and hobby, it is a way to preserve your family outings and fun times, it is a way to be remembered, it is a way to tell stories.

Madison Hewerdine is an author who likes to write visitors guides and has a passion for drawing.

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Knitting as a hobby is extremely productive and relaxing. The work of just an hour or so can result in something as satisfying as a beautiful face cloth of exactly the size, shape, exfoliating properties, and absorbance desired. It requires only a very small initial investment, and basic materials are extremely inexpensive. The products can be as utilitarian or decorative as desired, or both. Materials are reusable- an unsatisfactory scarf may be unwound and reused in a set of mittens, or a sweater, or whatever human ingenuity can design. It also has the distinct advantage of portability; a sock can go anywhere it can be stuffed in a pocket, unlike quilting.

Knitting as a hobby can also be luxurious- hand knitting yarns are now manufactured from such fibers as cashmere, vicuna, and guanaco, as well as silver and pearls. Knitting needles also come in all ranges, from inexpensive wooden needles costing $10 for an entire set of most sizes to gold-plated sterling silver needles.

While observers might conclude knitting is repetitive from the motions, there are a wide range of different patterns resulting in such different textures as cables, lace, color work, etc. Not only that, but there are written patterns for anything one’s ingenuity might devise, from knitted mobius strips to apple cozies and everything in between. It is also much more compact than woodworking, and nearly everyone is pleased with some kind of knitted gift, whether it be a fine lace book cover, lace curtains, a heavy cabled sweater knit precisely to size, unique socks of just the color desired, a felted handbag, or a tea cozy. It is much more versatile hobby than painting, which results primarily in 2-dimensional media and is not portable, or scrapbooking, which results primarily in photo albums and is similarly not portable.

Yarns are available in all sorts of different fibers and with all sorts of properties to accommodate the discriminating and the allergic, with everything from wool, acrylic, cotton, linen, hemp, and jadeite being available as a hand knitting yarn. If a sweater in the store catches a relative’s eye, but they’re allergic to wool, it can be a matter of a few days of knitting for a few hours in the evening to relax after a long day to present them with a copy, in the same color and pattern, in cotton or acrylic.

It’s easy to scale up or down, and there’s a very strong community of knitters online and a strong tradition of knitting guilds eager to help new knitters build their skills. Yarns of all sorts are now easily available online suitable for the most discriminating knitter at prices accessible to even the tightest of budgets. Now, more than ever, is the time right to pick up knitting as a hobby.

Dan Blinman is writing for Cocoon Knit; who are Yarn Suppliers and sell Knitting Wool

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U.S. News & World Report recently came out with its 2011 report for top jobs. Given today’s economic climate, it’s not surprising that marriage and family therapists are in demand. Family and marriage therapy is considered a “core” profession in the mental-health sector, much like social work, psychiatry, psychiatric nursing and psychology. Over 1.8 million people have reported seeking help from family and marriage therapists.

Therapist Education

While requirements vary by state, most students will seek a master’s degree. Marital therapy schools guide students through course studies and at least two years of supervised clinical work before student are eligible to apply for a license. To gain your license, you’ll have to take an exam.

Career Outlook

According to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, the demand for marriage and family therapists is expected to grow by 14 percent between 2008 and 2018. While many families did not recognize the validity of therapy in the past, times are changing. Marital therapists are creating a positive change in the lives of many families, leading to a more accepted view of the field by the public. This acceptance has also fueled a surge in demand.

Job Duties

Because a marriage and family therapist handles more than one individual, they are often confronted with a host of issues including marital conflict, adult schizophrenia, anorexia and substance abuse. The marriage and family therapist will often sit down with the entire family at once, or see each person individually, to gain a better understanding of the underlying issues. Once the therapist has a clear understanding of the root of the problems, he develops a plan and helps the family to work through their conflicts.

Family Therapist Salary

According to the report, the highest-paid 10 percent of marriage and family therapists earned more than $73,610 per year, while the lowest-paid 10 percent made less than $29,270. The median annual income of a marriage and family therapist in 2009 was $46,920.

Career Advancement

While some marriage and family therapists can practice with a master’s degree, most states require a doctoral degree in order to receive licensure. Most individuals interested in pursuing this career often work toward the advanced degree anyway, mainly because they receive a higher salary and have better opportunities for advancement. Some marriage and family therapists become researchers or teachers, or take on managerial roles in offices, clinics and hospitals.

Activity and Stress

While a counseling session often takes place in a private setting such as an office, marriage and family therapists often conduct sessions in inpatient facilities, universities and prisons. They typically work during daytime hours, but flexibility with scheduling can be extremely important since some families may require nighttime or weekend appointments because of their jobs or other commitments.

While the physical activity level does not generally cause a significant amount of stress for a marriage and family therapist, the amount of emotional stress can take its toll. The therapist must listen to all sides of the story, analyze what he hears and, in return, ask questions that provoke honest answers. Sometimes these conversations can take a turn for the worst as families or couples begin to argue and fight in front of the therapist. If the therapist finds himself becoming emotionally attached to a family or a specific problem, he may feel an overwhelming amount of stress until he resolves the issue for them.

TherapistSchools.com is a site dedicated to helping therapy students find their career paths and the best schools to help them reach their goals.

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Emulating the relaxing serenity of luxury hotel suites is by no means as inconceivable a feat as you may think and nor need it cost the earth. Furthermore, seeing as you’re likely to spend around a third of your life in bed it seems sensible to make it as luxurious a place as possible.

By investing in a few select items and spending a little time bringing order to your bedroom it’s easy to create an environment that positively invites deep and tranquil slumber. With this in mind here are five tips for bringing 5 star luxury to your bedroom:

Clear Away the Clutter

There are an abundance of clichés drawing parallels between cluttered environments and cluttered minds – clichés they may be, but it rings true that it’s easier to relax in a clean and tidy space. Space and storage permitting your bedroom should be orientated around sleeping. In luxury hotels the bed is the centerpiece of the room – everything else is designed to fit in around the bed and allow for clothes and mess to be cleared away. By clearing all of the clutter out of your room you remove distractions and create an environment which induces relaxation.

Invest in the highest quality bed linen

Having made the room a more relaxing place it’s time to transform the bed into a luxurious haven. The single most effective way to improve the look and feel of your bed is to invest in the highest quality bedding you can justify. Highest quality doesn’t necessarily mean highest price – suppliers to the hotel industry often ship the exact bed linen they sell to 5 star hotels to individuals at very reasonable prices. Freshly laundered, exceptional quality bedding is truly one of life’s luxuries and can make for an exceptional night’s sleep.

Get A Mattress Topper

A memory foam mattress makes for an incredibly comfortable night’s sleep – but the price tag for one may well keep you awake at night! With a memory foam mattress topper it is possible to rejuvenate an existing mattress and experience all of the benefits of a new mattress for a fraction of the cost.

Try before you buy with pillows

Yes, you may look a little strange to passersby in the department store, but there’s no way of telling which pillow you find most comfortable without trying a few out. Look at various types of down, filler and memory foam and lean your head (covertly) against them to see how they feel. Thorough investigation can make all of the difference when it comes to pillows.

Invest in a Relaxing Scent

To truly complete the luxurious bedroom experience involves the addition of a seemingly minor but ultimately game changing finishing touch. Essential oils and natural fragrances can make a significant impact upon our brains – and finding the right scent can take your relaxation to whole new levels. Take the time to sniff your way around a selection of scented oils until you find a fragrance which lures you sleep-ward.

Written by Stephanie Staszko on behalf of Richard Haworth retailers of luxury bed linen.

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