How I Decorated the Room for My Kids

Posted on 04 July 2010 by admin

When it comes to decorating their kid’s bedroom, most parents do not mind spending a ton. In fact they go out of their way to get innovative so that their children enjoy every moment in the room. This article will help you in decorating your child’s room. The correct furniture, the decor, the toys – all will be discussed in this guide.

Children’s rooms tend to be full of many trinkets and trivial objects. Of course, what seems trivial to the mature eyes of the parents may be extremely important for the tiny tots. The point is that you will not be able to get rid of much of clutter from your kid’s room without breaking his heart. Why do that when a little creativity and planning can solve the issue?

The most important rule to remember while decorating your child’s room is that the bedroom furniture should not be so large as to leave no space for games and simple lounging. Whenever you buy furniture for the children’s room, make sure that it has enough space to store all the toys and other knick knacks of the kid. To make the room look clean you will have to find ways to fit in all the little belongings of your child. You can buy a bed that has extra storage capacity. In such beds, you may find large drawers underneath or on the sides.

Naturally, the furniture bought should be very sturdy and durable. The beds must be made of very strong material and must have a lifetime guarantee. Many types of children’s beds are available in the furniture stores. Bunk beds, Canopy beds and beds in various themes are perfect for the children. These days, beds are built around many cartoon characters or other favorite activities of kids. There are Cinderella beds for the little princesses and race car beds for the tiny dare devil. You can select the theme your kid loves most and choose a bedroom set accordingly.

The best aspect of decorating a child’s bedroom is that you can make the room as lively as possible. So you can let loose your childhood fantasies and make the room full of fun. The whole idea is to make your kid dance a jig on seeing his room. He should be able to enjoy the room and for that you can use bright colors and his favorite cartoons on walls.

Even the bed covers, pillows and curtains can be made attractive with the scores of fun filled characters that kids love. You will receive lots of help from your favorite furniture store as the industry catering to kids furniture is booming and many themes, shapes and colors are used to add interest to the accessories in children’s rooms.

Updating Kids Room

Posted on 29 June 2010 by admin

Your child’s room is perhaps the one place that your kid reflects on his hiding place and comfort zone. This is where he finds the privacy that he requires and though you think that kids at their young ages do not require privacy then you are absolutely wrong. Your child’s room is the place where he finds to be himself and you must therefore understand how significant his room is for him.

Your kid’s room should look comforting and tidy simultaneously as well as it is your responsibility as his parent to ask him to maintain and clean his room regularly. If you are looking for great way to bond as well as keep up with your rising kid’s feelings, you might desire to reflect on reinventing the complete look of your child’s room.

You could start by asking your child on what new theme or design he would wish his room to have and certain things like that. You may also want to arrange your budget because reinventing your child’s room could be expensive however the experience will certainly be rewarding consecutively. The great thing is that there are a number of sites online that might guide and help you with this as well as in no time you could be faced with a complete new look for your child’s room.

One amongst the easiest rooms to refurbish is the child’s room. You could be playful with colors as well as make is as entertaining as you can. The place is also small and so is furniture that makes it more exciting and fun to redecorate. The room of your kid is perhaps one of the regions in the house that requires renovation from time to time. This is since kids grow up fast and you have to modernize their room to match to their need and age. The requirements of your kid vary, when he became a toddler evaluated to his requirements when he was only an infant.

You would certainly want to revamp a room from house you purchase to suit the requirements of your kid. The excitement part about refurbishing the room is that you could use this to educate him things as well as have fun with him. Following are some ways to make the procedure exciting for both of you:

1. Plan design of room together. Explain him the set of colors plus ask him which color he needs for his wall. Ask him how he wants his room to seem like.

2. After shopping for kids beds and other furniture, show your children the color of paint you got for room. This would be something that they would look forward to.

3. Allocate him to do the project while you are ready to start the renovation. This would make him feel part of the whole process.

4. When all the kids furniture is in, you could invite the children to join you in room. Educate them how to place their toys. You could even show them how to systematize their books as well as their clothes. Redecorating your kid’s room could be fun for your child and you. They will certainly feel proud on how the room has become.

Buy American Made Toys And Furniture-A Safer Choice For Our Kids

Posted on 24 June 2010 by admin

American made toys and furniture are gaining in popularity for a number of reasons. They are well made of safe materials and support American manufacturers. The toys are fun, the furniture is sturdy and attractive, money and jobs stay in the US – everybody wins when you buy American made kid’s furniture and toys!

Quality And Safety

How many times have you bought a toy or piece of kids’ furniture, only to have it fall apart after just a few weeks? Worse, have you ever worried about the safety of the materials that do into these items?

The repeated recalls of Chinese-made toys is frightening and frustrating. How can we be sure that the toys we give our kids are safe? Furniture and toys made in the US are subject to stringent quality control. When you purchase American made toys kids’ furniture, you can be confident that your kids will love them and that they are safe and durable, too.

Fun And Style

You cannot beat American made kids’ furniture for quality and style. There is a vast variety of finishes, styles and looks to satisfy every taste. From outdoor furniture and play sets bedroom furniture, desks, chairs and floor coverings, American-made products will last for generations and look great doing it.

American made toys are some of the “funnest” around. Blocks, sandboxes, pretend furniture, swingsets…don’t you wish you were a kid again? Quality materials, non-toxic paints, finishes and materials and thoughtful designs let your kids’ imaginations run wild — safely.

Socially And Environmentally Smart

Overseas manufacturers are not subject to the same level of environmental regulation as are American manufacturers. Toxic materials are not only incorporated into some of these products, but the manufacturing process itself can pollute the air and water. Workers, too, are often exposed to dangerous chemicals.

By purchasing furniture and toys made in the US, you will help the local and national economy. You can also be sure that the conditions under which the products were produced are safe and workers treated fairly.

It is more important than ever to purchase American-made products. It is a safer choice for our kids, a better choice for our economy and a smarter choice for our environment.

Buy American Made Toys – A Safer Choice For Our Kids

Posted on 19 June 2010 by admin

American made kids toys and children’s furniture are gaining in popularity for a number of reasons. They are well made of safe materials and support American manufacturers. The educational toys are fun, the kid sized furniture is sturdy and attractive, money and jobs stay in the US – everybody wins when you buy American made kid’s furniture and educational toys!

Quality And Safety

Parents are concerned about the quality and safety of imported goods, particularly if those products are used by or around their children. American made children’s furniture and toys offer a level of security that is missing from imported items, How many times have you bought a toy or piece of kids’ furniture, only to have it fall apart after just a few weeks? Even worse, have you ever worried about the safety of the materials that do into these kids toys and child sized furniture?

The repeated recalls of Chinese-made toys is frightening and frustrating. How can we be sure that the toys we give our kids are safe? Kids furniture and educational toys made in the US are subject to stringent quality control. When you purchase American made toys and kids’ furniture, you can be confident that your kids will love them and that they are safe and durable, too.

Fun And Style

You cannot beat American made kids’ furniture for quality and style. There is a vast variety of finishes, styles and looks to satisfy parents and children’s taste. From outdoor kids furniture and outdoor swing set / play sets, children’s bedroom furniture, kids desks, child sized chairs and floor coverings, American made toys and furniture will last for generations and look great doing it.

American made toys are some of the “funnest” around. Building blocks, backyard wooden sandboxes or sand boats, pretend kitchens, battery powered kids cars, pedal cars…don’t you wish you were a kid again? Quality materials, non-toxic paints, finishes and materials and thoughtful designs let your kids’ imaginations run wild — safely.

Socially And Environmentally Smart

Overseas manufacturers are not subject to the same level of environmental regulation as are American manufacturers. Toxic materials are not only incorporated into some of these products, but the manufacturing process itself can pollute the air and water. Workers, too, are often exposed to dangerous chemicals.

By purchasing kids furniture and toys made in the US, you will help the local and national economy, support American manufacturing and American manufacturing jobs. You can also be sure that the conditions under which the products were produced are safe and workers treated fairly.

It is more important than ever to purchase American made toys and kids furniture. It is a safer choice for our kids, a better choice for our economy and a smarter choice for our environment.

Buy quality! Support American industry by buying toys made in the US. When you purchase American made kids’ furniture and toys, you can be sure that you’re getting safe, top quality products. Your kids deserve the best so visit AmericanMadeToysNFurniture.com today!

Your Kids Might not Like You, But They Like Their Furniture

Posted on 14 June 2010 by admin

Didn’t think kids required their own furniture? If that’s the case, then clearly you don’t have kids. Kids require their own furniture just like you require your own. If you think of the kids furniture as the same as bedroom furniture then you wouldn’t be too far off in your allegations.

Let’s take a chronological look at the furniture your kid will need as they grow.

Baby Furniture
You may have wondered why I didn’t specify cribs only. Well, that’s because there’s more than just cribs when it comes to furniture for baby! In fact there’s such things as changing tables and glider/rockers.

Baby furniture is the first type of kids furniture you’ll be purchasing, but certainly not the last. You’ll start with the crib – the bed for baby. The crib acts as a protective area for your baby so they don’t crawl out of bed with out you knowing and then hurt themselves. It’s essential for any home with a new child.

The changing tables can be placed on the dressers you’ll have purchased by now. They’re can match the other kids furniture in look and feel. For instance a wood changing table can be purchased to match the look of a particular dresser.

Lastly, the gliders or rockers. These are simply modified and comfortable rocking chairs. They’re meant for rocking baby to sleep. However, often times regular chairs will recline and also rock in the normal position.

Beds
Getting the bed after the crib is a sign your child is growing. It’s also the next piece of kids furniture you’ll have to purchase. Generally a twin size bed will do, your child is tiny and doesn’t need a king size bed.

Additionally, they come in many shapes and designs. For instance you could purchase a toddler bed, which is similar to a normal bed but with some extra barriers like a crib would have.

Some people have multiple children in one room. This is common and the common solution is a bunk bed. This type of kids furniture is a great space saver because the beds are stacked over each other. This leaves a lot more room for activities.

Toys
There are other pieces of furniture that are useful but not as necessary. So I’ll ignore those things and focus on toys. You might not think toys are a type of kids furniture but with the amount you’ll be seeing toys, if they aren’t furniture, they will be.

There are plenty of educational toys that involve construction, math, and strategic thought. Additionally, bookshelves for kids are becoming increasingly popular. Moreover, play furniture is great for multiple kids. They can sit and play and eat meal at the their play chair and tables.

Overall
Overall, kids furniture starts with the baby – the cribs, rockers, and changing tables – and continues on to their toddler years – beds, toys, and more.

As they age your child might need desks and chairs for homework and studying, and into the future they might need TV stands and entertainment accessories.

But that’s not until they’re approximately 20.

Bean Bags Chairs Make Great Kids Furniture

Posted on 09 June 2010 by admin

I had forgotten just how comfortable bean bags are. I just recently purchased a kids beanbag chair for my granddaughter and tried it out – just to bring back old memories. Beanbags are the funkiest type of chairs and the comfort is unbelievable. Bean bags are actually very conducive to good health of ones back and spine in that the bags prevent any excess stress. This prevents any long or short term damage to ones back joints and ones health in general, just right for kids growing up.

Beanbags chairs make great furniture that is flexible enough to support ones back, regardless of their position.

Bean bags are

Comfortable to sit in while watching TV or just hanging out

Fun to play on, kids love to romp and roll on them

They are colorful and come in many different styles and materials

Long lasting and hard wearing

Make great furniture

Can be used anywhere

My granddaughter has already learned to jump from the sofa onto the soft chair and takes great delight in doing so. Bean Bags chairs are full of soft filler and because Bean Bags chairs are frameless, there are no hard edges or sharp corners for a child to bump into. The urethane foam inside is said to last much longer than those “beans” which the old style bean bags contained when I was growing up. It is the urethane foam that is responsible for the chair having that soft, spongy and shapeable effect. I am certain that this chair will provide her with many years of fun and comfort.

Bean Bags are easy to clean. The kid’s bean bag chair that we bought has a removable cover as do many quality bean bag chairs. When the kids spill their grape juice all over it, don’t worry too much about it being ruined. All you have to do is to wipe away the mess from the Bean Bag chair before it dries. If you didn’t see the accident, then it is a simple matter of unzipping the cover and washing.

Many kids chairs are filled with polystyrene beads and some models feature cores that come with a child-resistant, locking zipper, making refilling easier while protecting your child by keeping them out of the filling.

Even though she is old enough to climb up onto the couch by herself, she now prefers her own place to sit.

Make your children happy and surprise them with this adorable, fun and very comfortable for seating Kids Bean Bags. Choose any of these decorative and imaginative beanbag chairs for all the kids in your life.

After a fun day of play our granddaughter will settle down to watch TV or read a book on her beanbag chair. She loves the comfort and fun of her own bean bag chair.

I can still see the look of surprise and the laughter when she first tried her bean bag chair. I think I’ll get one and join her on the floor.

Kids Furniture – Using Bunk Beds to Save Space

Posted on 04 June 2010 by admin

Bunk beds are the best ways to save space when your children are sharing rooms with each other. Normally bunk beds include two one over the other. Bunk beds also have security features that protect your little one form falling from it. The ladders are designed is such a way that they can easily climb up to the top of the bed.

 

Bunk beds are available in plenty of varieties. One of them is futon, which consists of lofted bed over a futon. Basically it is a lofted bed which is available in twin as well as in full size. They can be used in two ways; during day you can use it as a sofa and as a bed in night times. Due to this feature it saves lots of space in smaller as well as bigger rooms allowing you to include something essential in your kid’s bedroom.

 

Next is L- shaped bunk beds, the functionality remains the same but its quite different form the ordinary ones. Usually they are placed at right angle in the corner of the room, providing enough free space in room to include other furniture. The lofted bed and bottom bed are perpendicular to each other. Many of them also provide drawers with bottom bed so you don’t require buying special tables for your kids. Hence providing lots of free space for kids to carry out various activities.

 

Another type is loft bunk bed. They are designed in such a manner, that they are the most flexible when compared to other bunk beds. Loft bunk beds includes a single loft bed of full or twin sized balanced over unwrap space. This open space under the loft bed can be used for playing, studying or even for putting a storage component containing clothes, books or any unused objects of your kids. You can also go for junior loft beds which provides some added features like slides, tents etc. to feel like playground in the house itself.

 

Hence from all these features, it is always advisable to buy bunk beds for you kids which not only save a huge space, but also provides various playing options for your children’s. Other than these they can also make your kids room look more beautiful as they are made from woods like pine, oak etc.

 

So what are you waiting for, enjoy their everlasting features and open up your kid’s confined room with all above described bunk beds. The best way to buy kids bunk beds is online shopping. Buying bunk beds form online shop has numerous advantages.  An online furniture store offers wide range of bunks beds, making your selection task very easy. Some of the online store also offers exclusive discounts on different items of kid’s bedroom furniture.

 

Kids Furniture and Safety Concerns

Posted on 30 May 2010 by admin

Your little one is precious, so safety is the first thing to keep in mind when shopping for furniture. Follow the guide below to ensure that you make all the safety considerations before making the purchase.

1. General Guidelines

- Read the label and check if the product meets the US Consumer Safety Commission standard for the particular furniture type or model – products especially for babies and young kids require this rating

- Consult the US Consumer Safety Commission website for any furniture recall to know what to avoid when buying a specific furniture

- Look at the furniture construction. Make sure it is sturdy, durable and rated to carry your child’s weight, size or age

- Avoid furniture with rough or sharp edges. This is an obvious hazard to your child. If you cannot avoid such, buy corner or edge guards from Home Depot and install it before letting your child use the piece of furniture

2. Prevent Furniture From Tipping Over

- Anchor furniture to the wall or floor to ensure that they do not tip over on the kid. Children are very adventurous and they always want to climb, conquer and test furniture, so avoid having one of the 10,000 children brought annually to the hospital for furniture tip over injury

- Place heavy items like TV’s or heavy books at the lower part of bookcases or display cabinets. This also ensures the furniture will not have a tendency to tip over

- Keep your kid’s stuff low and within their reach. Avoid placing them on top of bookcases or display cabinets. No matter where his or her favorite teddy is, your child will climb to get it. So discourage that

3. Toy Chests, Closets

- When buying toy chests, avoid buying the ones with a vertically opening lid. Such an opening has a danger of having the lid fall onto your child when he or she reaches inside to get a toy. If you cannot avoid buying a vertically opening toy chest, make sure that it has a hinge that locks into position and prevents a free falling lid. Test it yourself before buying

- Place a lock or door guard on swing-out or pullout closets to avoid being accidentally pulled open by your infant

- Choose painted finishes for closets and avoid top pressed laminates. Laminate adhesive can wear out over time and due to humidity. When the laminate lifts, it can be a splinter hazard to your child

4. Bunk Bed Safety

- As your child outgrows his crib, the next logical sleeping furniture is a bunk bed. It is perfect when sharing the room with other siblings or when optimizing bedroom space by locating storage or the study area, under the elevated bed. However, there are still reported cases of injuries or hospitalizations due to defective bunk beds. Entrapment, falling and suffocation are the most common cases. Follow the advice below to avoid them

- Make sure the space between the guardrail and the mattress or bed frame is wide enough to allow your child to slip through. Death by strangulation has occurred on children whose head get stuck in such spaces

- Check the durability of the way the guardrail is attached. Make sure it can resist your child’s weight so it cannot dislodge and let your child fall while sleeping

- When lodging the bunk bed against a wall, make sure that there is no gap between the bed or bed frame and the wall. Reported deaths have occurred when kids rolled off the bed’s wall side and got stuck in between the wall and the side of the bed. If there is a remote possibility that this can happen, install a second durable guardrail

- If using a double bunk bed, an unsecured mattress foundation can dislodge when the kid in the lower bed kicks upwards to the upper bunk. Avoid this by securing the upper bed mattress foundation by placing additional cross ties underneath the foundation

- Make sure that the size of the mattress fits the structure of the bunk bed structures. A mattress that is too short will have a gap with the frame. Your child can fall or be strangled on such an opening

Designer Kids Furniture

Posted on 25 May 2010 by admin

Some 2-year-olds still sleep in bed; sleep in a toddler bed, some in the bed size, and some even sleep in a full size bed. What size bed a child sleeps can be determined by many factors, including the space of a child’s room as they like to sleep (some children like to feel compressed in a narrow space when asleep, while others would like to have room to skate), baby brothers and sisters, if they one room and / or bed, and much more.

The teenager can sleep in one bed size, which makes the baby, and another, perhaps even a big double bed in his room. Thus, in reality there is no wrong answer when it comes to choosing a bed for a child, even when they grow older.

When choosing a bed kids, although it is very important to consider what type of bed the child, or decide what type they would receive. There is a cot and bedding for their children <a rel=”nofollow” onclick=”javascript:pageTracker._trackPageview(‘/outgoing/article_exit_link’);” href=”http://www.luxurylamb.com/”>toddler beds</a> which usually have the same size as a crib mattress, twin size beds, full size (also known as double beds), queen and king size, although it can be very difficult to find a bed for a child who fits a queen or king size bed. When they’re older and do not want to Cartoon Anyway, this is not so difficult to find the type of litter that the child would like to see this big bed, and for the younger children’s section, she can be near impossible.

There are many different types of textiles, which are classified as <a rel=”nofollow” onclick=”javascript:pageTracker._trackPageview(‘/outgoing/article_exit_link’);” href=”http://www.luxurylamb.com/”>children gifs</a> for a child, and include these sheets (fitted, or bottom sheets, top sheets), blankets (which can be quilts, blankets of wool blankets, etc. ), pillow cases and Shams, bed skirts, canopy curtains, throw pillows, regular pillows, and much more. Many times most of the bedding pieces come in a set, usually called the Bed-In-A-Bag, and in other cases they will not.

In addition, he is well aware that these sets are rare blankets in them, or other types of blankets, in addition to comforter. Fleece blankets really good for children because they are very warm in the winter. This is usually a good idea as a scarf or blanket, though, because the fleece blankets usually come in different sizes than standard blankets, so when it comes to making beds appear well, they usually do not work as well as a scarf or even a blanket. Many children do not like the blanket as much, simply because it is difficult to find them in the theme of their favorite characters, or toys. But if they, like blankets, there is a wide variety of colors, they can be found in that may be made in accordance with the rest of the bed of the child and decorate the room. There are also many children who do not like the blanket, because in the winter, these cold blankets to climb in when trying to sleep. This, again, a matter of preference for each child, because many children love climbed into bed with the Comforter, and love what they feel cold when you get in (some even refer to them as “cold” blanket), as in summer they are much cooler than the climb in wool or fleece blanket as well.

Affordable and Functional Kids? Furniture

Posted on 20 May 2010 by admin

Your home may be your castle, but for kids, their room rules. From toddler onward, it’s a pretty fair assumption that your children are going to have some pretty specific ideas about how they’d like to have their room decorated. And those ideas are bound to change with time. While it’s great to encourage creativity and let their imaginations roam, frequent changes of décor can cost a bundle over time. Selecting a few basic furniture options that can follow your children from preschooler to teenager gives you the flexibility in your budget to add a few extra items that can make the space their own.

Kids’ Beds

Of course, one of the primary pieces of furniture in your child’s bedroom is the bed, and today’s options offer flexible designs that can take your child from infancy into adulthood. Offering a unique level of versatility, these “4-in-1” cribs can convert from crib to toddler bed to daybed to full-size bed with just a few simple steps.

From the clean lines of the Charleston 4-in-1 Coffee Convertible Crib and the Emi 4-in-1 Crib offered in ebony, honey oak and cherry finishes, to the regal bearing of the Princess 4-in-1 Dark Cherry Crib, you’ll find a crib that offers the perfect complement to your nursery décor.

Heirloom-quality bassinets are ideal for younger infants who crave a comfy, snug sleeping space. Both the Cherry Elegance Round Bassinet with Eyelet Bedding and the Portable 2-in-1 Bassinet/Toy Box will be treasured for generations.

If your child is past the crib stage, consider a bed that offers storage, as well as a comfy place to stretch out. Both the Country Pine Twin-size Mate’s Bed and the Pure White Contemporary Mate’s Bed feature comfortable sleeping platforms above functional, spacious drawers.

Bunk beds have always been a favorite among kids, and the options offered by the Sunset company run the gamut, from the traditional twin-over-twin design of the Sunset Black or White Twin/Twin Bunk Bed to the more spacious Sunrise White Twin/Double Bunk Bed and the versatile Sunset Black Twin/Futon Bunk Bed that offers sleeping and seating areas.

Kids’ Storage

With the bed chosen, it’s time to think about storage. Changing tables have come a long way from the drab-looking units of the past decades. Today’s changers are sleek, solid units offered in clean colors and warm wood tones.

The rich finishes of the Bella Changer Chest and the Piedmont Dark Chocolate Baby Changing Table make these pieces look as at-home in a living room as they do in a nursery. Drawer and shelf storage lets these changers serve your child well beyond the diaper stage. The Emi Ebony 4-drawer Dresser offers serious storage in spacious drawers, while the Pure White Country Door Chest takes advantage of vertical space with closet storage as well as drawers and open shelves. Or enter the world of fairytales with the fluid lines and vibrant blue finish of the Hansel Kids’ Two-drawer Cabinet and Hansel Kids’ Corner Stand.

Kids’ Entertainment

Recognizing that many kids’ rooms contain televisions and videogame systems, the Kids’ Entertainment Tower offers ample storage for both while minimizing the floor space it requires. Or choose the Kids’ Entertainment Center with its low profile and four-shelf under-TV storage option. The Kid’s Three-tier and Four-tier Shelf systems offer easily accessible shelves that make it simple for kids to pick up after themselves, and keep toys and books within arm’s reach.

Kids’ Seating

With sleeping and storage options taken care of, you can turn your attention to seating options that will make the room a comfy, friendly gathering spot for your child and his or her friends. For sheer, slouching comfort in front of the television, as well as a warm, inviting place to snuggle with a good book, the beanbag can’t be beat.

Offered in a wide selection of colors and covers, you’re sure to find a chair that suits your child’s tastes. Choose from soft treatments, like the Sueded Corduroy Kid’s Strawberry Beanbag Chair or Pear Sueded Corduroy Teen Beanbag, or the easy-to-clean surface of the Deluxe Vinyl Teen Red Beanbag Chair. Or get wild with theme covers, like the ‘Smiling Skull’ 84-inch Beanbag, the Guitar-print 84-inch Round Bean Bag or the Faux Fur Animal Print 84-inch Bean Bag. Both the ‘Mod Dots’ 84-inch Round Plush Beanbag and the ‘Peace Sign’ 84-inch Beanbag are ideal complements to the popular ‘60s themes of today’s kids’ rooms.

If beanbags just aren’t your style and you’re looking for a little more support, both the Microfiber Grey Chair with Wheels and the Folding Chair with Pillow offer support, as well as portability that allows some flexibility in your room design.

Letting your kids have a say in the design of their room will make it a place they’ll want to be, whether it’s for sleeping, reading or just plain relaxing. And today’s flexible options can help keep your wallet happy, too.