Positioning carpets, choosing correct wood for outdoor furniture and other decor tips

PHOTO: SPH MAGAZINES; DESIGN: MINIMO & MINIMOLOGY

Use carpet to bring furniture pieces together

How should I place my carpet in the living and dining rooms? Should I have all my furniture on it or outside of it?

The wrong-sized rug can make a room look cluttered, too small or unbalanced.

Determine the reason for the carpet: Is it to unify the look of a room by bringing together multiple pieces of furniture or to define space in a large room? Your furniture configuration, not just the room size, will also determine the carpet size.

Ms Sotiria Kostavara, senior branding consultant at one-stop lifestyle store HomesToLife, says traditionally, all furniture should sit on the carpet. But today's smaller homes call for alternative approaches.

• Home & Decor and experts in renovation and home decoration answer queries from readers in this series. These questions first appeared in the August issue of Home & Decor, published by SPH Magazines.

For example, having only the front legs of a piece of furniture on the carpet. Balance is important, so leave an equal amount of uncovered floor around the furniture grouping.

You can also put all furniture off the carpet. In this case, the coffee table sits on the carpet, but the rest of the furniture is around the edges.

This creates a cosier space by drawing the furniture grouping inwards. Select a carpet that is the same length or a little longer than the sofa so the carpet looks proportionate to the room.

There should be no stinting in the dining room - you need a carpet large enough so the chairs are on it, even when they are pulled out.

This typically means the carpet needs to be 120cm wider than the table for guests to pull their chairs all the way out without catching the edge of the rug.


Different folks, different hobs

I am renovating my kitchen and would like to know the pros and cons of the different hobs: induction, gas and ceramic.

Induction hobs heat up twice as fast as ceramic or radiant heat hobs, and offer greater precision in temperature control. Gas hobs offer instant heat and are the only ones that can impart wok hei (or smokiness) in Asian dishes.

But there are other factors to consider when buying a hob, says Mr Kelvin Leong, a trainer at BSH Home Appliances, which distributes Bosch and Gaggenau appliances in Singapore.

Induction hobs are the clear winner in energy efficiency as they transfer heat directly to the pan and food, unlike gas and ceramic hobs. They are a much safer option, especially for families with young children, as the hob surface is safe to touch.

Gas hobs are cheaper to run than electricity-powered induction and ceramic hobs, and are more environmentally friendly as they have less carbon emission. Induction is the priciest of the three.

The flat surfaces of ceramic and induction hobs are easy to wipe clean, while gas hobs have pot stands and gas rings that need to be disassembled for cleaning.

"Induction hobs work only with ferromagnetic (stainless steel or cast- iron) cookware. So if you already havealuminium, Pyrex, glass, copper and non-magnetised stainless-steel cookware, induction hobs might not be suitable," says Mr Leong.

If you still cannot decide, consider a combination hob. Some brands offer one where you can "combine" various hobs to suit your needs and cooking style.


Right flooring and lighting can help the elderly navigate their home

I live with a multi-generational family and need to cater to the needs of the elderly. Besides grab bars in bathrooms and non-slip tiles, what else is important?

According to Mr Arjan Nijen Twilhaar, principal designer at Aiden T., it is essential for older folk to be able to navigate their home easily.

Start at the main entrance and make sure the home is easy to enter by choosing flooring with some traction. Avoid dark floors if there are height differences - dark floors make it hard to see the steps.

Door keys can be problematic for unsteady hands, so use a digital lock with card access or fingerprint recognition, and levers instead of door knobs.

Keep lighting bright and at consistent levels in the home and watch for glare and reflection. Sensor-activated lights can be used in hallways and bathrooms.

He also suggests keeping bed heights to knee level and installing grab bars to aid the elderly in getting in and out of bed.

• Got a decorating or home renovation issue? Write to Experts Say, Home & Decor, 82 Genting Lane, Media Centre, Level 7, Singapore 349567 or e-mail maghomedecor@sph.com.sg. Photos and layouts are non-returnable.

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on August 13, 2016, with the headline Positioning carpets, choosing correct wood for outdoor furniture and other decor tips. Subscribe