Ways to Store a Train Table

A train table is a small table that accommodates a track for toy trains. These tables have short legs so that the little ones can reach their trains better. The tables can often be bulky and difficult to hide once your children are finished with play time. Some tricks will help you store the table so it's accessible but still out of the way.

Under Bed

The space under a bed often goes unused, but it can be an ideal spot for storing a toy train table. If the legs of the table are short enough, you can slide it under your child's bed. Try placing under your own bed if that yields more space.

If the train table you're working with is a bit too tall to slide under one of the beds in your home, consider purchasing bed lifts. Bed lifts attach to the legs of the bed to add extra height; the table may fit underneath with the added inches.

Collapsible Legs

Some toy train tables come with collapsible legs that allow the table to become flat once the legs are folded underneath. If you have such a train table, the possibilities for storage are virtually endless.

Stack the table on a shelf underneath board games or push it flush against the inside wall of a closet. A table with collapsible legs also fits easily beneath a bed even if there is only a short distance from the floor to the bottom of the mattress.

Disguise

If your toy train table is too big to slide under a bed or fit in a closet, you may be able to disguise the table so it blends in with the rest of your home.

Cover the table with a pretty tablecloth so it appears as if you have a bonus nesting table in the room. Or place some cushions on the table so that it looks like a small bench seat. You can even stack some wicker baskets below and on top of the table so that is looks like an organizational cubby center.

Inversion Bed for Back Pain

An inversion table reverses the effects of gravity on your body. It lengthens the spine and increases the space between the vertebrae, effectively relieving non-injury-related back pain.

Maintain Disc Health

Gravity and everyday activities compress the spine. Gentle inversion is an effective way to reduce the pull of gravity on the body and can help you feel taller and straighter. Passive inversion also maintains the flexibility of the joints and spine.

Relax Overworked Muscles

Hanging on an inversion table stretches muscles in the shoulders, back and legs, and helps relax the entire body. Inverting for as little as 10 seconds can decrease the severity and duration of muscle stiffness and pain.

Relieve Stress and Tension

Tension in the back and neck can cause headaches, muscle cramps and spinal misalignment. Using an inversion bed is an effective way to reduce muscular tension---and a great way to relax.

Stimulate Circulation

Normally the cardiovascular system fights gravity to retrieve blood from the legs and lower body. Using an inversion bed allows the body to work with gravity to ease the circulation process.

Improve Core Fitness

A strong core is essential for a pain-free back. Inversion encourages proper posture and back alignment. Active inversion works well with crunches and other core-strengthening exercises.

Disassembling a Pool Table

Moving a pool table is not for the faint-hearted. You should know that most damage seen by professionals is from do it yourself moving jobs. Ask anyone who has moved one, and you're likely to hear a horror story about slate falling and cracking, and perhaps an injury or two as well. Pool tables are heavy, awkward and in some ways fragile, as well. Be advised, this is no simple task.

Instructions

1

Remove staples from the pockets with a flat head screwdriver, or staple remover if available, being careful with the felt. Any torn or worn areas must be replaced later during reassembly.

2

Remove bolts from the pockets with an appropriately sized socket. Typically there are two bolts per pocket.

3

Remove bolts from rails with an appropriately sized socket. There are usually three bolts per rail.

4

Remove the pockets and rails, and have another person available to help. Sometimes it takes more than one person to ensure that things are properly supported and do not break.

5

Remove the felt with flat head screwdriver or staple remover by removing staples and carefully lifting off the felt.

6

Take off the slate; usually this requires removing a dozen or more screws that fasten the slate to the frame. Be certain you have help with this step, as the slate will be heavy and unwieldy. Remove legs from the table if necessary.

1950s Retro Tables and Chairs

The 1950s saw the advent of a new concept in furniture design. Form followed function as it did in decades before, and designers now focused on creating high-quality, affordable furniture for the masses. Tables and chairs were no exception, especially since they were perhaps the most used furniture pieces. Does this Spark an idea?

Eames Furniture

Charles and Ray Eames designed chairs for the home, airports and schools and stadiums. They designed chairs for Herman Miller in molded plywood, reinforced plastic, wire mesh and cast aluminum. Seat shapes followed and supported the human body; the frame actually shaped to it rather than merely adding upholstery for comfort. They created the molded plywood chair as their first effort to create a chair that was comfortable without padding. This evolved into producing aluminum and wire mesh chairs during the 1950s for a more lightweight, pliable option.

Organic Shapes

Both tables and chairs during the 1950s had organic shapes inspired by nature. While Charles and Ray Eames focused on the human body, designer Arne Jacobsen created the "egg" chair in 1957, an egg-shaped seat in molded fiberglass sitting on a four-point pedestal. Eero Aamio's ball chair went even further toward organic inspirations, with a spherical chair with one side cut out so the person was actually sitting inside it. In West Germany, spare designs like the kidney table appeared with an asymmetrical, organic design.

Danish Mid-Century Modern

Danish designers also developed designs that focused on raising standards in furniture aesthetics and functionality. Designers like Ole Wanscher created designs that actually veered from the prevailing modern tendencies, looking to classic designs for inspiration. His designs, however, had simple lines and embodied functionalism, like his 1951 folding coffee table. Hans. J. Wegner focused on creating functional pieces from natural materials, like the Cow Horn Chair in 1952, which had sleek and simple, but slightly curved and organic lines. The Round Chair is his most well-known piece.

Color

The 1950s saw a color and material trend that juxtaposed natural materials and muted colors with industrial, manufactured materials and bold pops of color. High-end furniture still used plenty of natural wood finishes, and movements like the Danish mid-century modern focused on using natural materials with novel designs. Muted golds, avocado, cognac, camel and leather tones were found in homes. Bold color combos were also used in industrial-inspired designs, like the Formica kitchen table with aluminum trim and chairs. Red, yellow or even pink and black were common in American kitchens, getting their inspiration from diners.

Ideas for Cheap Round Tablecloths

If you have a round table, you may be frustrated at the lack of selection or the high prices when you go tablecloth shopping. Avoid the expensive tablecloths at department stores, and make your own instead with a little creativity, bargain-shopping and some sewing know-how.

Felt

If a needle and thread intimidate you, polyester craft felt is the fabric for you. The vibrant colors and cheap price (about $5 a yard as of January 2010, although you can catch sales which bring the price down to just $3) make felt perfect for a casual fall or winter tablecloth. Even better, it comes in a 72-inch width, which means that if your table is 60 inches or less in diameter, you won't have to sew anything at all. For a tablecloth to fit a 60-inch table, buy 2 yards, which will give you a huge square. Lay it face down wherever you have space. Use a measuring tape extended to the 36-inch mark, or cut a 3-foot length of string. Measure the exact center of the square and mark it in tailor's chalk. Then, have a friend hold one end of the tape on the center mark, while you walk it around in a circle and mark where to cut the corners to make a circle. (The midpoints of the square will remain untouched.) After the circle is marked, take a strong pair of shears and cut along your markings, carefully and smoothly. If your cutting looks hesitant, or you slip, use a glue gun to glue decorative trim around the edge to hide mistakes (or to make it even prettier).

Sheets

Sheets are not necessarily cheap, but you can find bargains in the clearance section of major department stores, and you can even find quality sheets at bargain resellers. You can use a full-size flat sheet for a table up to 5 feet across, but for a larger table you should buy a queen- or king size sheet. A king-size flat sheet will measure about 108 inches by 102 inches, so it can work for a round table as large as 7 feet across. Choose a sheet in a solid neutral color for an elegant look, or a bright floral or multicolored stripe for a cheerful table. If you use a damask stripe sheet, no one will be able to tell that you made it yourself, since damask stripes are popular for tablecloths as well. When you cut out your circle to fit your table, leave an extra 8 inches on either side to include an allowance for the hem. (Unlike felt, sheets need to be hemmed or they will unravel.) Pin a 1-inch hem around the entire sheet before you start to sew, so that your hem does not get crooked as you go. If you want to add trim, sew it on at the same time as your hem.

Remnants

If you're a whiz with your sewing machine and don't mind a little extra pinning, make a patchwork tablecloth. Choose a color or group of colors that you want to use together, and go to a fabric store to see what they have on their remnant table. You may get lucky and find several yards in a single, perfect fabric, or you may find two or three small pieces that can work together. If the remnant fabrics are all boring solids, and you want something with more pop, pick up a few fat quarters from the quilting section; they come in every color and pattern imaginable and usually cost less than $2 each. You can even cut up old clothes to contribute fabric for the project. Lay out and sew your patchwork design as you would a quilt, but don't worry about batting; this project won't need to keep you warm like a quilt. A simple muslin lining is sufficient to keep all the seams from view.

How to Build a Rustic Dining Room Table

Rustic tables can invoke feelings of a colonial kitchen or that of being in an old world farm house. The ease of making a dining room table with a simple and classic design only adds to the appeal of the table. With very little woodworking skills, practically anyone can put this table together and finish the project over a weekend. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1

Arrange your four support frame boards into a square. Nail the boards together. If desired, use wood glue along the joint to add extra security.

2

Place a table leg inside on corner of the square frame. Nail the leg to the frame with three nails on each of the two sides of the leg. Keep the top edge of the leg level with the top of the frame. Working with the table upside-down will keep things in place without much shifting.

3

Attach the other three legs to the frame and allow any wood glue time to dry before flipping the frame over. If you prefer to have the table legs turned, be sure to leave the first 6 inches square and round the rest of the length.

4

Turn the table frame and legs right side up. Check for how level the table is at this point. Sand down any legs that are making the table wobbly.

5

Lay your four boards across the top of the table and space evenly about -inch apart. Nail two nails in each board across the width of the table into the frame boards below.

6

Sand the table top and edges smooth. Apply any stain or sealant as desired.

When to Use Round or Rectangular Area Rugs

Area rugs provide many benefits for a room, including adding a splash of color and pattern, resolving acoustical issues and providing a softer surface on which to walk. Before purchasing a rug, you must decide which shape and size to choose. The most common shapes of area rugs are round and rectangular. Learn how to choose the right one for your space. Does this Spark an idea?

Shape of the Room

Most rooms are either square or rectangular, but there are many exceptions. By choosing the right shape of rug, you can enhance the size and shape or correct oddly proportioned rooms.

If your room has odd angles, a round rug can unify the space and add a little whimsy, where a rectangular rug might seem at odds with the room shape. For very large living spaces, rectangular rugs can be used to define a conversation area. Simply place your sofa, chairs and coffee table on the rug. A rectangular rug is usually the best choice as a door mat; however, a small round rug works well in a kitchen or bathroom, where users cross in many directions.

Right Size

Rectangular rugs are, without a doubt, the most common shape of rug. Therefore, they come in many different sizes, which are standardized. Most rugs are called out, for example, "8 by 10," which refers to the width and the length and follows the British Imperial System. You can purchase rectangular rugs from as small as 2 by 3 feet as a door mat, up to 14 by 21 feet for a large living space.

Round rugs are less common than rectangular rugs, but they are also defined by their length and width, which, of course, will always be the same. Typical sizes include 4 by 4, which has a 4-foot diameter, and 8 by 8, which has an 8-foot diameter.

Before purchasing a rug of either shape, measure your space and be sure you leave enough of the floor exposed around the rug so that it doesn't take over the room. Also consider traffic patterns and furniture placement.

Other Options

Rectangular and round rugs aren't the only options. You may decide that a square or oval-shaped rug, or a hexagonal rug, better fits your space. These rug shapes can be good choices for historic homes, which often feature rooms with interesting geometric shapes. A square rug, for example, is ideal for use in a square room, just as a hexagonal or octagonal rug can accentuate a room of the same shape. An oval rug provides a softer effect than the hard edges of a rectangular rug. Keep in mind, however, that these rug shapes aren't common and therefore aren't available in a wide range of sizes.