Category: homewares

What is the purpose of a ceiling fan pull chain?

What is the purpose of a ceiling fan pull chain?

A ceiling fan pull chain may seem like a simple feature, but it plays a crucial role in enhancing the functionality and convenience of your ceiling fan. Understanding the purpose and benefits of a ceiling fan pull chain can help you make better use of this often-overlooked component. Here’s a detailed look at what a ceiling fan pull chain does and why it’s important.

Adjusting the fan speed

A fan comes with a pull chain and when pulled multiple times, the fan will cycle through its three speed settings. This feature facilitates adjusting airflow to personal preferences and requirements of the room. The pull chain is easy to operate at any speed.

Operating the light fixture

The pull chain controls many of the integrated light fixtures in ceiling fans. This feature is used to turn the light on or off, and sometimes you can also set the brightness or change the light level. Tug the chain to adjust the lighting in the room and let your luxurious conveniences change the atmosphere.

This is also helpful for when you want just the fan and not the light or vice versa. The built-in pull chain operates both functions and eliminates the need for a wall switch or remote control.

Reversing the fan direction

Some ceiling fans come equipped with a reversible motor feature, which allows the fan blades to rotate in both directions. This capability is beneficial for improving airflow depending on the temperature. The ceiling fan pull chain can be used to reverse the direction of the blades, changing the airflow pattern in the room.

In the summer, the fan blades typically spin counterclockwise to create a cooling breeze. In the winter, reversing the blades to spin clockwise helps circulate warm air that collects near the ceiling, promoting more even heating throughout the room. The pull chain provides a straightforward way to switch the fan direction, making it easy to adapt to seasonal  and temperature changes.

Simplifying control without a remote

For those without a remote control, the pull chain will be the primary way to control your fan. This is a straightforward way to change the fan speed, turn on or off the light and reverse the fan. In times of lost remote controls, dead batteries or if you prefer a more tactile medium as opposed to high-level menus and systems, a pull chain comes in handy.

Its pull chain mechanism is user-friendly and self-explanatory in case you have other users not familiar with ceiling fan control.

Enhancing the aesthetic appeal

The ceiling fan pull chain is an accessory that can be almost as utilitarian as it is a decorative piece. The pull chain can be purchased in multiple different styles, and even become a significant part of decoration inside the room.

Choosing a pull chain that matches or accents your fan will also help make your fan blend into the room decor aesthetically, allowing it to serve not just as an appliance but fashionable interior décor.

Although a basic component, the ceiling fan pull chain plays an essential role in making your ceiling fan more functional and user-friendly. With features such as fan speed and respective light settings among others, the pull chain offers an efficient tool to control your fan. The pull chain ceiling fan is versatile, convenient and practical with a touch of control that allows homeowners to control the lighting and ventilation with just their hands.

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Feather your nest – essential buys for your first home

Feather your nest - essential buys for your first home

Buying your first home is probably one of the most exciting purchases you will make in your lifetime. The thought of furnishing and decorating your home in any manner you desire is thrilling. However, if you have few or no material possessions to take to your new property, you’ll need to buy a whole list of items. Here are some essential buys for your first home.

Blue corner sofa in a living room

The lounge

When you’ve had an exhausting day moving lots of boxes into your new home, you’ll be glad that you purchased a comfortable sofa and a couple of armchairs. Before you move into your home, consult the estate agent’s particulars for the home to get a record of the room measurements, or ask to visit the house to do some measuring up of your own. Doing so will mean that you’ll be able to choose a sofa that will fit into the sitting room, and you’ll know whether or not the space will accommodate that L-Shaped or chaise sofa you always dreamed about owning.

If you desire, you can purchase a television for the lounge and a unit on which to stand it, unless you wish to wall mount it. You may want to get a shelving unit for books, CDs, DVDs and knick-knacks. IKEA is a great place to pick up storage furniture that will fit into any size and shape of room.

A coffee table or some side tables are great pieces of furniture to have in the lounge so that you can rest your cup of tea somewhere or have cosy suppers of pizza and other takeaway meals in front of the television. You could buy a table lamp or two to give a warm glow to the room rather than using the sometimes harsh ceiling light.

Soft furnishings such as rugs, window dressing, and cushions are a fun thing to buy, and you can really bring your new home to life and inject some of your personality into it through the careful selection of these items.

Corner of a bedroom with plant in the corner

The bedroom

Obviously, in the bedroom, you’ll need a bed. If you share the house with a partner, you’ll probably want to buy a queen-sized bed. As you spend a good chunk of your lifetime asleep, you must ensure you invest in a good quality queen size mattress that will give you a blissful night’s sleep and make sure you wake up feeling refreshed and pain-free. You’ll also need to buy sheets, a quilt or blankets for the bed, as well as some ergonomic pillows that support your neck and align your spine correctly.

A couple of bedside tables are practical for either side of the bed so that you and your partner can store items such as books, jewellery, reading glasses and night-time medications on them. Bedside lamps are essential for those who like to read at bedtime.

If there are no built-in wardrobes, you’ll need to purchase suitable furniture for storing clothing. You can buy free-standing wardrobes, a metal clothes rail or a chest of drawers. You may want to buy a clothes rail as a temporary measure and then have fitted wardrobes built in once you’re settled into the house.

White and stainless steel kitchen

The kitchen

If the kitchen in your new home doesn’t come equipped with large appliances, you’ll need to purchase a stove, an oven and a fridge freezer. You should also check whether the stove needs to be powered by electricity or gas and have it installed by a qualified engineer. If money is no object and there’s plenty of space in the kitchen, you may want to purchase further kitchen appliances such as a microwave and dishwasher. Small appliances such as a kettle, toaster, food processor and coffee machine will make life easier. A washing machine and clothes dryer are two other essential white goods you should buy for your new home.

Dining room with blue carpet and curtains, round wooden table and white dining chairs

The dining room

If your home has a dining room, you’ll need to furnish it with a table and chairs. Once again, check the measurements of the room to see what size and shape of table will fit. Remember that people must have enough space to get in and out of their chairs without banging into the walls. If you have a large dining room, you may want to get a unit or sideboard in which to store crockery, cutlery, glassware and alcoholic beverages to use when guests come.

small red mower on a lawn with tall hedge in the background

The garden

It’s not just the house for which you need to buy things. If your new home has a garden, you’ll need to acquire a lawnmower and some other tools to keep your garden looking immaculate and well cared for. Visit the local garden centre to see the range of plants on offer. The staff there can advise you as to the best ones to choose for your garden’s size and situation.

Many of the things that you consider as essential buys for your first home will differ to mine or the next person’s. Items such as bed, fridge-freezer and seating will more than likely cross-over, but what else could you not live without?

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Simple tips and tricks to keep your rugs in top condition

Simple tips and tricks to keep your rugs in top conditioncredit

Correctly maintaining your rugs is essential to keep them in top condition for several years to come. But suppose you’ve inherited a vintage rug, or they’ve become stained and faded. In that case, hiring a rug repair service is the best choice as regular maintenance and care might not compare to professional repair and cleaning results. While routine professional care is an excellent investment, these simple tips and tricks will also keep your rugs in top condition.

emerald green rug in a lounge

Regular rotation of furniture

Keeping heavy furniture on your rug can cause damage due to the added weight, especially if it’s a thick-piled or woolly rug. This is easy to avoid by simply doing a regular rotation of your furniture or the area rug. Use furniture coasters that evenly distribute furniture’s weight to prevent tearing the area rug when moving furniture. You can also brush areas of the rug that are pressed down with a toothbrush or comb.

Sunlight falling on a Berber-type rug

Sunlight can be bad

If possible, ensure that where you place your rug is away from sunlight which can fade your rug. Suppose you can’t avoid sunlight, strategically place your furniture to block sunlight from damaging your rugs. You can also use curtains that can block out sunlight but not take away airflow. There’s also the option of installing ultraviolet windows or tinting, which block out the fading effect of the sun.

Runner on the floor of a kitchen

Regular cleaning and vacuuming

Doing regular vacuuming, especially if you have pets, can prolong the life of your rugs and carpet. Make sure to clean any spilled food or liquids immediately with a carpet stain remover. Make sure to invest in a vacuum cleaner that has a suitable suction power to suit your needs. And, if you have pets, invest in pet fur cleaning equipment. These products are relatively cheap to get and, although you might need to get on your hands and knees, this effort will keep pet fur off your carpets.

Someone standing barefooted on a woven rug

Use carpet care chemicals

These chemicals can be bought in almost any store and are easy to use. They come in a range of different strengths such as stain removing, waterproofing and instant stain remover. Use the chemicals carefully as they can damage the fibres of your carpet and leave stains if not used as directed. Also available is dry carpet cleaner which is used to keep your carpet smelling fresh.

Patterned rug under a coffee table

Timely planning of deep cleaning

Depending on your needs, you should do a regular deep clean of your carpets with an extraction machine at least twice a year or hire a professional to handle the task for you. There are carpet cleaning companies everywhere, and most are relatively affordable. Keeping your rugs clean will prevent you from having to replace them.

Taking measures to keep your rugs in top condition is not just great for maintaining the lifespan of your floor coverings, it’s also crucial for keeping your home free of allergens. Dusty rugs can cause sinus and breathing issues, especially in asthmatics or younger children, so be sure to care for your area rugs and keep them clean.

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Coasting along with Rodney Peppé

Vintage set of 6 coasters designed by Rodney Peppe for Crown Merton

We picked up this set of drinks coasters this week. Aren’t they fabulous? They were produced by Crown Merton in the 1960s/70s – and feature six different animal designs by Rodney Peppé, who we’ve blogged about a few times in the past.

Coaster set designed by Rodney Peppé for Crown Merton, still with original packaging | H is for Home

One of these designs feature on a metal tray that we have in our own collection – namely the ram eyeing up a giant daisy for his lunch!

Ram coaster designed by Rodney Peppé for Crown Merton

We also have another tray with a wonderful peacock design, that pattern isn’t included in this set. We wonder if there are any other creatures that we need to look out for?