If you are considering installing a home bar, a primary amenity to consider is a quality bar fridge. While a wet bar, or a bar with running water, is nice, a bar fridge is virtually a necessity for a well-outfitted home bar, and it involves not nearly as much accommodation, or in most cases, expense.

Bar fridges can be known by other names, probably most commonly dorm fridges. In the context of home use, these are typically of a basic size of about 120 liters in volume. These units stand about three feet high by two feet square, although there may be some slight variations among the products of different manufacturers.

If you are looking for specific, recommended models, a good place to start is with units that have received multiple excellent reviews.  The mini-fridge shown at the left is just that.  This is the Sunpentown Double Door refrigerator.  It received four and a half out of a possible five stars on Amazon for its great blend of looks, performance and capacity.  This is large enough to be more than just a drink refrigerator if you need it to be.  With a capacity of 3 and 1/5 cubic feet, it is much roomier than smaller dorm fridge units.  The double door design also allows the freezer section to act like a freezer.  Personally, when I've had single door units that featured a freezer, they always seemed to be covered in ice.  I didn't enjoy the defrosting process, so that definitely stands out in my mind.  Anyway, if you are looking for a good fridge to check out, this is it.

Another option for those who don't expect to have any great need for refrigeration at their home bar, or for whom space is a major concern is the mini-bar fridge. These typically have a volume of less than half a standard bar fridge and are proportionally smaller.

The Danby Beverage Center boasts a convenient glass door. It looks great and lets you see how your supplies are holding up. Click the image above for details and customer reviews.

If you intend to do serious entertaining and require a lot of refrigerator space, you can use multiple bar fridges or consider going to a commercial refrigeration unit. These can be found in a great range of sizes and styles and can be quite expensive. However, such are beyond the scope of this article other than to mention that they exist. If you are looking for theses larger refrigeration units, you might want to check out back bar fridges

For serious football fans, there is something very special to consider. I didn't even realize that these existed until I came across them by accident, but you have got to check out the NFL refrigerators. These are a bit pricier than other standard fridges, but they will look great if you are the one who hosts football related gatherings. They are available featuring a variety of teams and would make an outstanding present for someone who seems to have everything!

An important consideration in choosing your bar fridge is to make up your mind how you intend to use it. Will you be stashing a couple of six packs and a couple of bottles of mixers? Do you intend to use it for wine, whether for its short or long term storage? Are you going to rely on the fridge to keep up with the demand for ice throughout the term of your entertaining? All of these matters and more need to be thought out in advance.

A bar fridge doesn't have a lot of capacity, so you'll be limited in what you can store there and have available for the party (the exception is the back bar fridges mentioned above). They don't really deal well with two liter bottles, although they can take several. A good idea would be to actually go out and look at some sample bar fridges and imagine that you are entertaining with the one you're looking at.

This EdgeStar fridge freezer should be on your short list of quality refrigerators. Click on the image above for more details and to read reviews.

If you're expecting to have your bar fridge keep up with the demand for ice during your party you are likely to be disappointed. While there are variations in freezer space, no bar fridge is really intended to serve as an ice machine.

Some makers produce bar freezers that are typically about two-thirds the capacity of a bar fridge. While even these can hardly be expected to crank out fresh ice at a rate to match consumption, at least they can keep significant supplies of ice on hand, and they can be used for storing particular frozen items that you'd like to have near at hand as you entertain.

For people who expect to serve chilled wine at their functions or who would like to keep a supply of chilled wine ready for use, there are available specialty wine fridges. These tend to be rather more complex than a standard bar fridge. They can have separate temperature zones for different kinds of wines. They can have racks intended to keep the bottles at the desired angle. Sophisticated wine buffs also consider the humidity at which their bottles are stored to be important, so dedicated wine fridges can also have humidity controls. Of course, all this sophistication comes at a price, and you should expect a wine fridge to cost significantly more.

No discussion of bar fridges would be complete without some mention of keg fridges. These units are dedicated to the storage and temperature maintenance of beer in keg, or metal barrels. These feature beer dispensing hardware to allow for beer to be served via a tap without having to open the unit. Again, these units tend to be rather pricey due to the additional hardware they incorporate.

If you are considering adding a bar fridge to your entertainment location, give some thought to its placement. Beyond the obvious need for an electrical supply, its best to allow for some air circulation around the back of the unit to permit efficient operation. Also, if you have the option, consider mounting your bar fridge where it will be at about chest level. Many people fail to take account of the fact that these units are short, and accessing items from them, especially from at or near the bottom, can demand a lot of bending, stooping and reaching.

Take some time and plan ahead for your bar fridge and it will be a great convenience and add a lot to your entertaining.

Just for Fun!

Here is an interesting idea. How about a refrigerator that brings your drinks to you? I came across this video of a robotic refrigerator and thought I'd share. Maybe we should watch for it going on sale some time in the future!

Inflatable mattresses have one thing in common- they rely on compressed air as a means of support. Beyond that, there are some differences that you will notice as you start looking around for deals on these handy home accessories. There are enough of these mattresses to choose from that picking the right one can be confusing.

For our purposes, we'll be discussing here mattresses that are primarily intended to be for temporary use, or maybe for permanent use in space that's used for sleeping by night but other purposes by day. There are high end permanent mattresses that use air as a component of the support system, but that's another story. If you are curious about what options you have when you decide to start looking for something comfortable to sleep on, be sure to check what other people said about these best reviewed inflatable mattresses

This Intex Queen Airbed has a built in pump!

As I was researching air beds and inflatable mattresses, I was surprised by the sheer number of them. I also found that there were some that clearly stood out from the rest. This was due to their superior comfort as well as their reliability. There is really no sense in buying one of these mattresses if they are not built to handle normal use. In my research on Amazon, I found that by far, one of the most popular and best reviewed inflatable mattresses around today is the Intex Raised Downy Queen Airbed. Queen size is large enough to accommodate the needs of most people, and its ratings as far as comfort and durability were very impressive.

Inflatable mattresses have come a long way since the days when they were first used by Boy Scouts to avoid the lumps and bumps and pokes of the hard ground under their sleeping bags. Many a night has been spent on a Coleman inflatable mattress under the stars!

The inflatable mattress answers a variety of needs, and as time has passed they have evolved. As more and more people discovered their advantages, manufacturers responded by seeking to fill market niche after market niche. Today there is a wide range of inflatable air mattresses from which to choose.

You can find them made from various types of materials that most people refer to generically as plastic, but most often poly-vinyl chloride (PVC), or you can find them made of rubber. You can find them with or without fabric coverings. You can find them in a range of sizes, and even with self inflating mechanisms. You can find them of varying heights, the higher of them intended to simulate the common experience of most people of sleeping raised substantially above floor or ground level. For those who really intend their inflatable mattress use to be a long-term thing, they can even be found with metal frames.

If you need room to move, this QuickBed King is a good choice.

As a practical matter, an important first consideration is the strength of the material used to construct the mattress. If you have a cat who likes to sharpen its claws or 'knead' a resting place with its paws, maybe an inflatable mattress isn't for you. Short of that, however, consider the anticipated uses and users of the product. is it likely to encounter anything more abrasive than the family room carpet? If so, make sure to assess the weight and durability of the mattress at the very outset. Is it likely to be used as a trampoline by the kiddos? On the other hand, if you expect to be lugging yours around, as in camping or back packing, you may be willing to sacrifice some sturdiness in construction for lighter weight. Again, plan ahead!

Consider how much time and effort will have to be spent inflating (or deflating!) the mattress. Related to this, but often unrealized without benefit of experience, is that inflatable mattresses are not all equal in their ability to contain the air put into them. If you buy one that doesn't hold air well, regardless of your intent to blow it up and use it indefinitely, you may find yourself having to re-inflate it more often than you would like.

There are available inflatable mattresses that inflate as you unroll them. If you can do without this relatively expensive luxury, consider whether you'll be willing to spend some minutes giving yourself a workout at bedtime to get your mattress inflated. At the extreme low end, you can actually blow it up like a balloon, but this is not something many modern users want to do. If it suits your overall purposes, however, at least make sure that the inflation valve has a 'one-way' feature that prevents the air you've just blown in to escape while you take your next breath.

Some mattresses come with manual pumps of essentially a billows type principle. They can be operated by hand or foot, but they do require exertion that you may not want to engage in when what you really want is to lay down and rest. Electric pumps are also available, and do a fine job until the power is out. If you go that route, at least make sure you have a back-up system. Battery operated pumps can be excellent for back up or routine use. With the advances in battery technology in recent years, they can be your most reliable option.

Don't forget to consider how long it will take you to deflate your inflatable mattress. Some require that you roll around on it or physically roll it up to force the air out of the deficient exhaust valves. If you intend to do this many times, you'll be glad you looked into the matter.

Inflatable mattresses come in a wide range of sizes, from child sized to king.

This is a smaller, Intex twin model. It also has an a pump built right in!

Be aware, though, that as size increases, there is a tendency for the mattress to 'wallow'. Some are available with internal support pockets or foam designed to minimize this effect. As a general rule, if you're planning to buy a king-sized inflatable mattress for a distinctly low price, don't expect much in the way of support. As with other things, it costs money to add features to a mattress, and that cost is going to find its way to the consumer.

If you intend your inflatable mattress to be used regularly, you may want to consider the advantage of having one that's made so the sleeping surface is raised to or near the level of a regular bed. This might not seem important to a potential purchaser at first, but who isn't familiar with the experience of being unable to fall asleep because a bed feels 'strange'. Sleeping at a height of six inches off the floor isn't the same experience of sleeping up higher for most people. Also, don't forget to consider that the coldest air is always nearest the floor. If you opt to sleep down near the floor, maybe it would be a good idea to budget for an extra blanket or two.

Although inflatable air mattresses are not terribly expensive, it's definitely worth the time and effort consider your wants and needs and to do some research. Don't be shy about asking questions and examining the goods before plunking down your cash.

If you're someone who prefers to go with the crowd, Aerobed is probably the largest selling brand name in the field. However, Intex inflatable mattresses are well-liked by many, and certainly a Coleman inflatable mattress brings to the party a long history of quality products, especially among the outdoors oriented.

Remember, it may not seem worth a lot of thought or investigation to buy a relatively low priced item like an inflatable mattress. Consider, however, how you might feel about the matter as you lay sleepless through a long, long night, or how you will cope with a long, long day of complaints from the in-laws about their long sleepless night before. Do the homework and rest easy!

OK.  I guess that makes her sound a little bit crazy.  To be fair, she had been searching for some patio dining furniture for weeks and said that she was getting really frustrated by the high prices she found everywhere she went.  It was either decent quality tables, chairs and complete sets with very high price tags or affordable junk that was not worth bothering with because it would fall apart within a couple of seasons of even light outdoor use.  What happened was that she was present when the manager told the people in charge of the home and garden section of a major retailer to mark all of the outdoor furniture down immediately.  I think she said a delivery was coming in earlier than expected and they needed the room.  She lucked in to a mark down of 75% and nobody else knew about it!  Part of the reason she was so excited that day was that she had bought a ton of discounted outdoor furniture and her husband was making multiple trips to pick it up that very day.  She bought way more than she needed, but she could probably re-sell any extra at half off its original price and end up with what would essentially be free outdoor dining patio furniture.  That is a pretty sweet (and rare) deal.

For the longest time, we had second hand furniture pretty much everywhere.  Indoors, outdoors, you name it and someone owned it before we did.  I think for individuals or couples just starting out, this is usually a pretty good idea because especially for newlywed couples, there are so many other things to spend your money on.  Once you have moved on a bit though, buying some decent outdoor furnishings can really spruce up the way things look outside your house.   Having complete sets that actually match gives a much different perception than a jumble of mixed and matched hand me down pieces.  That formula tends to end up looking like a cluttered mess.

Most people do not ever just fall in to a deal like that.  Her timing was fortunate and perfect.  Obviously, the selection was already picked over just by the time she left.  You can use the same basic idea though if you decide to purchase furniture for your patio or deck.  Cheap outdoor furniture does not stay around very long.

There are all kinds of little things you can spend your money on around your house and the wide open spaces of your yard, patio or deck can make even a complete set look small. It has been my experience that buying a better quality product that is built to last is usually a much better strategy than going for low quality merchandise just to save fifty bucks at the time of purchase.

Outdoor dining furniture has to be able to withstand the elements.  Furnishings made from higher quality materials will do a much better job of holding up and continuing to look good.  If you do not have an area to store these items over the winter, you should at least consider investing in some outdoor furniture covers.  Storing everything inside the house or a shed is a better option, but not everyone can afford to purchase  a shed, and bringing in furniture can be a major hassle if your home is on the small or cramped side.  If you have cushions, outdoor settings in the winter should really be avoided if there is any possible way that you can bring them out of the cold.  I usually wrap mine up in large garbage bags after I have cleaned them and let them dry.  At that point, I store them in the shed.  I personally have never had any problems with this method, but read all of the instructions that come with your purchase.

If you can somehow manage to get yourself to an end of the summer season sale like the one I described above, by all means, do it.  These really do get picked over extremely quickly though.  Checking online for special sales is also a great idea.  They tend to have a larger selection in my experience that isn't depleted quite as quickly.  If you do find a sale, make the most of it.