Whether you’re trying to optimize space or accommodate friends or family, bunk beds are one of a home’s most versatile pieces of furniture. Many people think of the squeaky, rickety steel frames of 50s summer camp when bunk beds are brought up, but bunk beds have come a long way since then. Today, they are made to be durable, comfy, and good-looking. It’s also easier than ever to find a bunk bed mattress that offers the comfort of traditional beds, so nowadays, when you think of bunk beds, you should be thinking of satisfying sleep surfaces. If you have children sharing a room, bunk beds are a classic way to…

An American tradition, card and game night is a time when friends and family come together to relax and have fun. One way you can make these nights even more enjoyable, especially for fans of poker, is a custom card table, tailored to the type of games you like and the number of people playing. To get card tables that meet the requirements of your game group without spending a year’s worth of buy-ins, build your own at home! Building a DIY card table is an easier process than you would guess, but there are still a few steps that can be easily overlooked by an inexperienced card player or…

Trying to sleep seems like it’s the hardest thing in the world some nights. A day’s stress keeping you up is one thing, but when you’re trying to sleep on an uncomfortable or unsupportive bed that you can control, that is a wholly different issue. Improving your sleep situation with a body pillow can make a big difference in your ability to get better sleep. With pillows made in virtually any and every size, there’s one out there to fit just about anybody. Usually long, rectangular, and stuffed with fluffy polyester pillow fill, a body pillow is soft and squishy, easy to use in many different ways. Side-sleepers particularly get…

Whether you’re enjoying your morning coffee, catching some rays by the pool, or letting the day’s stress melt away as you relax on a warm summer evening, patio furniture can provide some of life’s most enjoyable moments. Not all patio cushions are created equal though, and if your furniture is padded with a thin layer of rigid outdoor foam, there’s a good chance you’ll be going back inside sooner than you want, even on the nicest days.   Fortunately, outdoor foam is made with two functions in mind for your patio furniture. With a porous structure that drains and dries quickly, as well as a soft but supportive cushioning feel,…

No matter how well they are maintained, seat pads or couch cushions will eventually wear out from use. But whether your worn-out pad cushions patio furniture, hard dining room furniture, or your favorite cushy sofa, there are plenty of benefits to be had by making your own replacement cushions!   It’s affordable! For most people, the best reason to make their own furniture cushions is that it saves money. By only buying raw foam stuffing, you save on labor and all the other materials that go into making a finished couch cushion. There are even more savings to be had if you’re able to pick up the raw stuffing materials…

One of the most annoying problems that face a homeowner or renter is a drafty doorway. In the big picture, they are nowhere near as serious as plumbing or structural issues, but a drafty building is uncomfortable and inefficient; two things nobody wants. Sometimes, the source of a draft isn’t even restricted to the room where it is felt, as they can cut across homes, one room to another. When the problem is found to originate from a door, an easy solution is a draft blocker; a simple tubular slide-on system that blocks the movement of unwanted air.   There are two basic types of draft blockers. One involves two…

Getting away from the daily grind of work isn’t always just fun, it’s important to recharge your batteries and keep yourself from getting run down. One of the most popular vacations from the everyday is to pack the bags, load the RV, and go camping.   For most people, camping ends up being a love-or-hate activity. One of the main reasons people seem to end up on the hate-side of the line has nothing to do with a distain for nature, however. Frequently, the inability to get a good night’s sleep during a camping vacation turns a trip from refreshing to aggravating, and you have to spend the first half…

Every time we break out the tools for a weekend project, it seems like we spend as much time looking for the right tool as we do addressing the task. Whether the single wrench you need is the only one out of hundreds that’s missing, or you can’t find the right Phillips head screwdriver in a sea of slot drivers, spending 10 minutes looking for a tool that you only need to use for 10 seconds of work is maddening. Because we all want to minimize the time spent fixing something and maximize the time using it, putting tools away in the midst of a project is often the last…

The urge to take a cross-country road trip and explore the unknown places you stumble across on the way hits almost all of us at some point in our lives. Itineraries are created and budgets are made, but often the biggest roadblock, especially during an open-ended trip, is finding a place to sleep each night. Motels dot highways but can quickly devour a budget, as prices go up and down depending on region, season, and local events you may know nothing about. This can eat up hundreds of dollars you didn’t budget for, just for a few hours of sleep. Even traditional camping has become costly, with some park passes…

For those who suffer from acid reflux, treatment can cost thousands and thousands of dollars every year in prescriptions, doctor visits, and medical procedures. For some, their problems are so serious, surgery may be the only option that produces results. For more fortunate people, simple lifestyle changes can serve as an easier way to manage their reflux symptoms.   Posture is one thing that may make it easier for acid to ascend and irritate people. Sleeping on your right side places the stomach in a position higher than the esophagus, which provides a path for acid to cause discomfort. One way to prevent this, while still maintaining a comfortable sleeping…