African corner: Decorating with Ankara

Hello guys, how y’all doing today? We send hugs and kisses your way!!  So last week we introduced the African corner on our blog and we did mention that this corner was created to celebrate African art/culture and also to share interesting ideas about how we can incorporate African inspired arts/African themed designs into our interior design and home remodelling projects. So here we are today, fulfilling our promise with this interesting post titled African corner: Decorating with Ankara!!! Do not forget guys, the #DecorhubNgAfricanCorner comes up every Thursday, so make sure you hop on the ride every Thursday!

Ankara fabric

Ankara which some other people may refer to as “African prints” is a 100% cotton fabric with vibrant patterns. It is usually a colorful cloth and is primarily associated with Africa because of its tribal-like patterns and motifs. For many of the party lovers in Lagos, especially the Yoruba’s and Ibo’s, the Ankara fabric is mostly used for the general dress code for Owanbe’s, August meetings and a handful of other informal gatherings.  If you are an avid party lover in Lagos then I am certain you will be familiar with the saying “o wo Ankara, o je semo” which translates in English as “no Ankara, no semovita”.

Ankara themed owanbe

Something interesting about this fabric however, lies in the fact  that It is also a very versatile fabric and many items can be made from it such as hats, earrings, blazers, and shoes to name a few. The versatility of this fabric even crosses into home decoration and interior designing. Gone are the days when you will only find Ankara as a dress code for a party or a casual get-up, experts in home decoration and interior designing fields have come up with interesting and amazing ways to infuse Ankara into design projects without compromising industry standards.

Ankara chair

From wall accents to throw pillows, furniture and even curtains, this proudly African fabric is surely a healthy competition for the conventional interior design styles and techniques. Who would have imagined making a curtain of Ankara or an Ankara themed flower vase?? Well, someone did!

Ankara curtain

Flowers made from ankara

Totally amazing right? I was blown away as well. However it gets even more interesting guys, throw pillows  and picture frames made from Ankara fabric? This touch will definitely give a different glow to your design projects.

Ankara throw pillows

Ankara picture frame

Wow, there’s surely so much we can do with this amazing fabric! And i’m super proud that this is something coming out of Africa, and more importantly i’m fascinated by the idea that these beautiful home decor items have been created by African designers within and out of the continent. kudos guys!

And so we come to the end of today’s episode of  the #DecorhubNgAfricanCorner series, do share your thoughts with us in the comment section below and let us know how we can make this all the more interesting.

Bye guys!!!

Hello! Today’s post is on 7 Tips for Maintaining Fridges, Freezers and Water Dispensers. I know a lot of people who have quality fridges/freezers but go on to pass blames on the manufacturers on selling them sub-standard products when they in fact, were their own undoing.  (more…)

African Corner

African Corner! Woah, that sounds nice. Hello to you reading this. Having a swell day I hope? Well, my day has been pretty normal, but writing this post is giving me just about the right amount of adrenaline I need for the rest of the day.

This post is especially important to me becaaause, considering the percentage of indigenous African content one finds online as opposed to the foreign ones, its quite discouraging. I believe that this will be very beneficial to lots and lots of our brothers and sisters “in the abroad”, especially those who have never been home.

You know how people say “just do you”? Yeah? Well, culture in Africa (Nigeria to be specific) can best be described as fashionable traditional attires, morals and togetherness. Certainly, we must push Africa to the world in our own little way. I’m positive that this will go a long way to clear some erroneous beliefs people have about African cultures. However interesting our culture may be, we sadly cannot blog about everything concerning it. So we will be choosing only a handful of categories that the African Corner will be covering.

What to Look out for in the African Corner

Here at DecorhubNG, we will begin the tradition of putting up an African inspired post every Thursday, so watch this space! OK, so I’ll just go ahead and give you a hint of some posts you should be expecting here on the blog. Well, first, we’re gonna be talking a lot about infusing African prints into every aspect of decor, mixing prints and patterns et cetera et cetera et cetera.

Perhaps as time goes on we could feature guest posts relating to the topic in question. Are there some topics you would like us to write more about? Please kindly leave us a comment in the box below.

Thanks for reading!

For some Nigerians, anything soft and thick that provides enough enough warmth during a cold morning or a breezy night; would most definitely pass as a duvet. Long ago I was also in this class, I used to refer to my faithful thick blanket as a Duvet..i mean, for all I cared, it was soft and thick! Fast forward to this beautiful Wednesday, we would be learning together, about The Duvet: What to look out for when shopping

A duvet is typically solid white, filled with down or a down alternative, and used to provide warmth and comfort on your bed. Although duvets are also referred to as “down comforters,” the word comforter is more often used in regards to warm bedding that is colored or patterned, rather than solid white. A comforter might be filled with down, but often is filled with a synthetic material.

A duvet cover surrounds a duvet like an envelope. While duvets are usually white, their covers come in a nearly endless choice of colors and patterns. Duvet covers are sewn shut on three sides, but the fourth side closes with large buttons, ties or a zipper, so you can remove or insert  the duvet  easily. It’s not essential to use a duvet cover, but most people like their decorative impact, as well as the way they help keep the duvet clean.

Duvet

So now that we have a basic understanding of what the duvet is, let’s find out about those things we need to consider when shopping for one.

The Duvet Fill:

The biggest choice you face when shopping for your duvet is the fill. The fill has the biggest impact on the feel and warmth of your duvet. You would have to decide to pick from a natural or synthetic fill. So what are the pros and cons of each?

Natural fill: some people prefer the natural fill simply because as suggested by the name, its natural. Also, natural fills are a lot warmer, softer and breathable than synthetic fill. By natural, we are referring to feather (duck or goose) or down(a softer type of feather) found underneath the tough exterior. Down is a lot lighter and softer than other feathers and retains more heat. You should note that washing a natural duvet too often can reduce its lifespan.

Synthetic fill: Hollowfibre is probably the most popular synthetic duvet material, and is a thick wiry strand made of polymers such as polyester and nylon with a hollow centre (as the name implies). The hollow centre of the fibres gives greater loft and springiness to the duvet. Synthetic fibres also naturally wick away moisture and perspiration for a drier night. While you have to be very careful when washing natural duvets, there’s less to worry about with synthetics, as they can be washed much more frequently.

Also, the SPACE & PRICE should be taking into consideration when shopping for a duvet. For instance, we have a lot of one room apartments in Nigeria- as a one room apartment owner, you should still be able to make your bed comfortable and convenient however, you should also consider the size of your apartment, the size of your bed and how they can fit into your space without turning your one room space into a nightmare. Prices would most likely vary on size and type. If you are looking to shop for a duvet with the natural fill, then the price would definitely be on the high side while you would be spending lesser amount of synthetic fill duvets.

I definitely have been in the dark about Duvets, but guess what? You guessed right!!! I now know what to look out for the next time I go duvet shopping. Synthetic or natural, which duvet would you have keeping you warm? Let us know in the comment section.  You can also check out our beautiful range of Duvet covers and sets here.

Today on DecorhubNG, we bring you a compilation of the best refrigerator offers you can get when shopping for the best cooling option for your kitchen, office or bedroom. From ScanFrost and Haier Thermocool to other top brands, these refrigerators would serve your cooling purposes without out-stretching your wallets.

1.  KENSTAR REFRIGERATOR KS-R50 at 26,000 

It has a storage capacity of 48 litres, which allows for storage of both small and large sized food items. Some of its notable functions and features are: Super Freezing Function, 3-Dimension Freezing, CFC free refrigerant (Environment Friendly), LED light. With a capacity of 48 litres, the KENSTAR Refrigerator KS-R50 can accommodate surplus food items and perishables. These food items can be kept fresh for as long as 4 days (100hours) even after a long stretch of power cut. It operates on a voltage / frequency of 220V/50Hz respectively. Shop here

Kenstar

2. Nexus  Fridge  Wood-Silver-Black at 32,500

The Nexus 65 Ltrs Fridge NX-65 Wood-Silver-Black from Nexus Brand is efficient, durable and reliable too. It includes a bar and features low energy consumption. It also comes with a sleek design that makes it versatile and aesthetically pleasing. The Nexus 65 Ltrs Fridge NX-65 with Wood, Black & Silver Finish also comes with a LED Interior and wood & silver finish. Its compact design with bar allows it to fit perfectly in any room. Shop here

Nexus

3. Century 48 Ltrs Refrigerator CF-8501-A at 37,700

The Century 48 Ltrs Refrigerator CF-8501-A from the Century Brand, is efficient, durable and reliable. It features a table top design so it can be placed by a bar or as a bedside fridge. It saves energy and is environmental friendly, it will fit into any space due to its fashionable appearance. Shop here

Century

4. SCANFROST INOX FINISH BAR FRIDGE SFR50 at 38,500

The Scanfrost Inox Finish Bar Fridge SFR50, This product with a temperature control function. It also comes with an extra detachable basket compartment to store vegetables, fruits and other food stuff. Scanfrost products are known to be tested and trusted. They are also known to bring nothing but convenience just like the Scanfrost Inox Finish Bar Fridge SFR50. This bar fridge comes with an extreme cooling function, a 50 litre capacity. This product is very portable and stylish. This means it does not take a lot of space it also does not take the style away from the décor. It fits in totally with the arrangement. Shop here

Scanfrost

5. HISENSE 45L Refrigerator REF 046 DR at 38,889

HISENSE 45L Refrigerator REF 046 DR has a storage capacity of 45 litres allows for storage of both small and large sized food items. Some of its notable functions and features are: Super Freezing Function, 3-Dimension Freezing, CFC free refrigerant (Environment Friendly), LED light. Shop here

Hisense

6. Polystar Bedside Fridge PV-T79LS at 40,198

The Polystar Bedside/Office refrigerators come in two colors.  The portable refrigerator is 100% HFC and FCKW free and highly energy-efficient too. It is perfect as a bedside fridge or for the office. The Polystar Bedside / Office Fridge features an adjustable thermostat and mechanical temperature control. This makes it possible to regulate its operation. A manual defrost and cooling function to ensure you get the best from preserving your snacks and chilling your drinks. It also comes with an adjustable feet and a reversible door for extra convenience. Shop here

Polystar

7. Polystar Bedside Fridge PV-T78LB at 40,469

The Polystar Bedside Fridge PV-T78LB (Black)  is durable and reliable. The portable refrigerator is 100% HFC and FCKW free and highly energy-efficient too. It is perfect as a bedside fridge or for the office. The Polystar Bedside / Office Fridge features an adjustable thermostat and mechanical temperature control. This makes it possible to regulate its operation. A manual defrost and cooling function to ensure you get the best from preserving your snacks and chilling your drinks. It also comes with an adjustable feet and a reversible door for extra convenience. Shop here

Polystar (Black)

8.  LG FRIDGE REF 051 SA at 45,500

This single door fridge has a generous space and helps to utilise space effectively. It is important to note that the size of this fridge does not in any way undermine its cooling capacity. As the saying goes, Health is wealth; keep fruits and vegetable fresh and crisp in this LG FRIDGE REF 051 SA at all time. It has a cooling retention capacity of over 48hrs. The door of this fridge comes with bottle holder compartments and egg tray. LG FRIDGE REF 051 SA comes with a convenient lock and key. This is a smart initiative taken by LG manufacturers to always keep food safe from unwanted hands. Its mechanical control feature means that you can manually adjust the temperature settings to whichever suits your needs. Shop here

LG

9. HISENSE 100L Refrigerator REF 100 DR at  50,000

It has a storage capacity of 100 litres  that allows for storage of both small and large sized food items. Some of its notable functions and features are : Super Freezing Function, 3-Dimension Freezing, CFC free refrigerant (Environment Friendly), LED light. With a capacity of 100 litres, this freezer can accommodate surplus food items and perishables. These food items can be kept fresh for as long as 4 days (100hours) even after a long stretch of power cut, now that is something to look out for when buying refrigerators.  Shop here

Hisense

There you have it guys! these refrigerators will definitely serve your purpose and also leave you with some extra cash for grocery shopping. You can check out our range of other refrigerators here.

6 TIPS ON HOW TO MANAGE YOUR SPACE.

Imagine a scenario where, you have guests over but it seems like a they’re on a mission to climb mount Everest because you have one too many things lying around. Well, that’s what it looks like when you don’t have a well manged space. Being in a room where too many things seem to be in at once can make you feel choked especially for the claustrophobic lot. So here are 6 TIPS ON HOW TO MANAGE YOUR SPACE that will have you feeling a lot better about your home.

Declutter often: There’s one thing I know a lot of people have a problem with- HOARDING. The phobia of throwing things away and needing them later is the primary cause of wasted spaces. Someone once told me “Anything in your house that you haven’t used in over a year needs to be given out, cos you don’t need it”. There hasn’t been one thing that I’ve thrown out while I was decluttering that I ended up absolutely needing later. If you can push past that mental block of being afraid to throw things away, it is seriously so freeing once you’re done!

Before and After

Maximize closet space: Closet spaces are priceless! An unorganized closet space gives the illusion of having many belongings, whereas it’s a facade. To make the most use of your closet, you have to make the following adjustments-

A properly utilized closet

• Use Hooks: This is easy to do. Get strong hooks from a departmental store and line them up against the wardrobe door or wall.
• Upgrade to hangers
• Use layers of shelves

Utilize vertical space: In a place like your living room, space management is at its most critical because it is the hub of family activities. You want it comfy enough for game night, receiving visitors and lounging after a long day. If a living room is small already, there is no need to cramp it more by putting more things on the floor. The fewer, the better. Fewer things on the floor would create more leg space. It is exactly for this reason that any and every vertical space must be utilized. Vertical space translates to walls. Hang your shelves and stack them up on the wall.

Stacking shelves never looked more beautiful

Buy furniture that is multifunctional: From having a bed frame that comes with lower drawers to using an ottoman that has a storage space as a center table, a lot of space can be saved and the result is an organized room.

Storage Ottoman

Keep the color palette simple: I know this might not look like a space management tip but trust me it works. Having a small room segmented into different colors makes it seem even smaller. If a living room extends into the dining room, I suggest using the same floor plan for both cases. The color of paint used on the walls should also have the same tone to create a more comfortable feeling. Another trick to making a room look bigger is lighting. A well lit room creates the illusion of a bigger space.

Same color palette creates illusion of a bigger space

Make use of corners: The image below speaks volumes.

What better way to utilize a corner than this

Pheew! Now that we’ve got that sorted out we hope you make the best of your space by using these 6 TIPS ON HOW TO MANAGE YOUR SPACE effectively. It would be a delight to hear any space saving ideas you would like us to know. Please drop it in the comment box.

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