Life & Living

Security: ageing smart home devices and their risks

Ageing smart home devices can pose a threat to security and privacy, especially if they no longer receive updates. This is the key finding of a recent study conducted by Worms University of Applied Sciences in collaboration with the University of Maribor. Over 500 people were surveyed for the study. The aim was to find out which factors influence the decision to use older...

Living: Box spring sofas conquer the living room

According to the German Furniture Quality Association (DGM), box spring systems are also becoming increasingly popular in the living room. Jochen Winning, Managing Director of the DGM, emphasizes that box spring sofas offer the same comfort as their bed-based counterparts. The structure of such a sofa is similar to that of a bed: a spring box as a base, with a cushion on top, possibly supplemented by another mattress.

Virtual reality: urban planning of the future

The cartographers at Ruhr-Universität Bochum use virtual reality (a so-called "Unity" game engine) to recreate urban scenarios in 3D and highlight possible structural effects. Julian Keil and Marco Weißmann from Prof. Dr. Frank Dickmann's team have developed a kind of innovative laboratory construction kit for this purpose, which creates virtual replicas of traffic and the...

Household: Portal provides cleaning tips

The portal "schoener-wohnen.de" provides tips for the household. For example, the microwave can be cleaned using a lemon. To do this, it must first be squeezed. The juice and peel should then be placed in a dishwasher-safe container with water and placed in the microwave. This is now switched on for two minutes at the highest setting. Then...

Decoration: The "Celestial Look"

The "Celestial Look" makes it possible to bring the heavens into your own four walls. The look is characterized by star charts, depictions of the night sky and astrological symbols. These elements can set subtle accents as well as serve as striking eye-catchers and, according to the portal "brigitte.de", can be integrated into the living environment in a variety of ways. For the...

Solid wood furniture: protection with oil, varnish or wax

Solid wood furniture is known for its stability, durability and aesthetics. However, its lasting beauty depends heavily on proper surface care. Three conventional methods of surface care - varnish, oil and wax - each offer unique advantages. According to the Initiative Pro Massivholz (IPM), it is crucial that the method suits both the taste of the buyer and the...

Care costs: heavy burden for residents

People in need of care in Germany are increasingly under financial strain. This is the result of a study by the Association of Statutory Health Insurance Funds (vdek). The costs for new arrivals in care homes are rising particularly sharply. Their co-payment has risen by an average of 348 euros per month compared to 2022. Even for those who have been living in a care home for some time, the...

Decoration: interesting facts about flower pots and plants

How can owners or tenants showcase their house or apartment with flower pots and plants? The livingathome.de portal provides some tips. For example, different flower pots can be covered with jute sacks to create a more uniform look. In addition, small indoor greenhouses, aquariums with plants or plants in jars hanging from the ceiling or hanging baskets...

Accessibility: redesigning life despite physical limitations

In old age or with a physical impairment, a barrier-free home can become important so that residents can lead an independent life. This is according to an article on the n-tv.de portal. The bathroom in particular is the focus of adaptations, as personal hygiene is of central importance. Residents receive support for barrier-free conversion...

Architecture: Award for work on dementia-friendly living

The growing number of dementia patients in Germany also requires special adaptations to architecture. Nele Tramp, an architecture graduate from the Institute of Design and Building Theory at the Technical University of Braunschweig, addressed this topic in her master's thesis "Dementia Village Hulsberg" and was awarded the Architects' Award for Hospital Construction and Healthcare...

Compare listings

Compare