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Over 50% of the population in Nigeria live in urban communities, with an expected growth of 3.75% per year. It is believed that by 2020 the country will see an urbanization rate of 61.6%.

The #LivingWhereILive community campaign was launched to promote a sense of pride in cities across the country. Created, and backed by global property portal Lamudi, the campaign takes preference in showcasing the country as a new port for investment, business, or a new home.

Micheal Nwughala, Social media manger Lamudi Nigeria and campaign organizer said ‘already in its first month, the campaign which took the social media scene by storm is awakening the pride that Nigerian’s have in their various communities’. #LivingWhereILive simply indulges people to snap and upload pictures of all that is vibrant, positive and fascinating in their communities.

****With so many pictures taken from all over Nigeria. Here are some of our favorite entries ******

Join the competition now, Lets experience where you live! Remember, your picture could win your community school a photo studio.

Visit Lamudi Nigeria on Facebook to share your photos, or alternatively, join the campaign by posting your community photos on Instagram or Twitter using the hashtag #LivingWhereILive.

Individuals stand a chance of winning Android smartphones for the most likes and shares to their photos, while communities with the most likes, votes and shares for their photos get a state of the art photo studio in a school in the winning community. The winners will be announced in 27th of November 2014 during our one year anniversary celebration.

For further information on the competition please visit: www.lamudi.com.ng/journal/livingwhereilive and www.lamudi.com.ng/urban-galleries

We consider red as a fashion statement so why can’t it also be an interior decor statement. Consider how you wear red and translate your wardrobe to your room.
Red is the color of passion, and can present itself as cheery and happy to angry and aggressive, this is why you need to ensure when decorating with red you don’t use too little or too much. When considering which shade of red to use, look to your decorating style and your house’s architecture.

Contemporary design incorporates neutral elements with pops of bold color, often red.
On the door: Bold, bright red
Inside: Bright red shades in a pillow, rug or throw



Modern design calls for all kinds of reds: from primary hues to classic shades with burgundy or brown undertones.
On the door: Any red you love that makes a statement.
Inside: Consider injecting red through a painting or piece of art.
It only takes a small amount of saturated color to bring energy to an otherwise neutral palette.



In this airy living room, If you choose to go this bold, make sure your space can handle it. High ceilings, a muted wall color and lots of natural light help tone down the bold hue.
Because red is such a hot color, painting your entire kitchen red is a surefire way to turn up the heat. But that’s where restraint comes in.



This kitchen was originally painted the chandelier’s poppy color, but to keep the “kitchen lighter and brighter,” says Civility Design’s Don Raney, the team repainted with crisp green and white. Now the red poppy antlers stand out against a clean background and the color doesn’t overwhelm the room. Red antlers not your style? Try scarlet-hued hanging pendants or lampshades.



Using red in areas of a room, rather than the whole room, helps to define spaces without overwhelming.

Source: Lamudi Nigeria

About Lamudi
Launched in 2013, Lamudi is a global property portal focusing exclusively on emerging markets. The fast-growing platform is currently available in 28 countries in Asia, the Middle East, Africa and Latin America, with more than 600,000 real estate listings across its global network. The leading real estate marketplace offers sellers, buyers, landlords and renters a secure and easy-to-use platform to find or list properties online.

Lamudi Nigeria promotes urban pride with Social Media Campaign #Living WhereILive.


Join The Social Media Photo Campaign And Win: #LivingWhereilive

As Nigeria’s marks yet another anniversary, what better way to show love for our mother land than celebrating our different areas. LivingWhereILive is a social media photo campaign focused on showing areas in Lagos and its environs through positive pictures.
The ultimate goal of this campaign is to encourage people of different communities in Lagos to rep their favorite areas using positive pictures showing their favorite spots, where they work or go to school, where they shop or where they just hangout and to reward participants and the community with the winning picture with prizes.

The “Living Where I Live” campaign is hosted by Lamudi Nigeria and is supported by Best Man Games, Street Shooters, InstaLagos, Snap It Oga, Monochrome Lagos, Logo and Lord Albert pictures, amongst others. Individuals are encouraged to send in photographs and videos of their neighborhoods.

The campaign will be run on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

To participate, individuals can visit Lamudi Nigeria on Facebook and enter the Living Where I Live campaign. Upload the picture of your favorite area, enter a caption including the location where the picture was taken, enter your email address and enter the competition. Alternatively, participants can post photos on Instagram and Twitter including the hashtag #LivingWhereILive
Winners will be announced on the individual and community category. The winning community will get photo studio equipment for their school of choice.

For more information visit http://www.lamudi.com.ng/journal/livingwhereilive/

earthrealm: you design biz cards?

No. We are an online real estate market place.

Tertiary education is referred to as the third stage, third level and post secondary education is the education level following the completion of a school providing a secondary education. Tertiary institutions include colleges of education, universities, institutes of technology and polytechnics are the main institutions that provide tertiary education.
Nigeria has populations of 173.6 million and over 19.3% of this population are between the ages of 15-24 years and half of 30.5% are between the ages of 25-35 years which happens to be the age range of students in the tertiary institutions.
Nigeria has over 150 tertiary institutions catering for the academic need of the youths. Most institutions have accommodations within the various school campuses which are basically common room hostel designs that allow two or more people live in a room with or without private baths and kitchen. So how can tertiary institutions create an opportunity to invest in real estate?
The areas surrounding the public universities in Nigeria are becoming a place to invest in real estate because there will always be a market for properties around the campus.
For example, Ambrose Alli University, formal Edo State University is situated in the town of Ekpoma, Esan West of Edo State. Ekpoma just as most parts of Edo state is slowly waking up to investment opportunities thanks to the high rate of interest shown in education in the country. Before now, the town was known for its yam, pineapple and oil palm production. But at present places like Iruepene, Ujuolen, Town, and Market square up to Emado are all experiencing a boost in terms of investments.
The areas around Idumebo and Iruepene are now called ‘the student’s village’ as single rooms, self contain rooms and mini flats are a common sight in these areas and are largely populated by students. Houses in this area goes for a much as 60,000 a year for the single room self contain and 80,000 and above for the mini flats.
Ujuolen also has big hostels of self contain rooms such as Mary the queen and haven villa. The attractive feature of these hostels include borehole water as the town has no pipe borne water and high security fences to protect the students. These areas also allow the students save cost on transportation. These hostels cost as much as 80,000 for a year. Single room apartments in this area can go for as low as 40,000 per year.
Moving farther away, Emado is another area with a large concentration of students. Houses in this area and all around market square costs just over 50,000 for single room apartments and mini flats could cost as much as 150,000 a year. This is because the area is not only populated by students; it also houses the people who work around the university and in town. The owners of these properties prefer to rent properties to workers who can pay for two years than students who usually pay yearly.
Although hotels and relaxation spots are springing up, the real investment in these areas remain student hostels. This is due to factors like very high renting out rates which can be attributed to the increase in the population of students, quick returns on investments because students pay yearly and such contracts ends when the year ends so there are no rents owned.
As a solution to increase investment and development in rural areas where tertiary institutions are situated, building of affordable and well equipped student hostels should be encouraged. This not only guarantees enough accommodation for the students, it also increases the revenue generated by that area and provides jobs for the indigenes of the town through construction of the hostels and maintenance of the properties.

read more. www.lamudi.com.ng/journal

Osun State came into existence on 27th August, 1991. The State which is one of the then nine newly created States was carved out of the old Oyo State by the General Ibrahim Babangida‘s administration. It is located in the heart of the Yoruba Kingdom (found in Nigeria and the republic of Benin). Osun State is bounded in the West by Oyo State, Ondo and Ekiti States in the East, Kwara State in the North and Ogun in the South and has a total land mass of 9,251 km2 (3,572 sq mi)
The 1991 census puts the population of the Osun State at 2.2million and this number has increased to over 3,423,535 since then now representing 2.45% of Nigeria’s total population. With about 30 local government areas, more than 200 towns, the state has a considerable number of highly urbanized settlements. Some of the major towns are Osogbo. Ile-Ife, Ilesa, Ikirun, Iwo, Ede, Ila-Orangun and Ikire. Others include Ipetumodu, Ejigbo, Ilobu, Gbongan, Okuku, Inisa, Ijebu-Ijesa, Ipetu-Ijesha, Ifon-Osun etc.

We can’t talk about the state without mentioning its natural resources which include gold, clay, limestone, kaolin and granite and also many agricultural resources like cocoa.
The state boasts of 10 universities both private and public and close to 10 other higher institutions of learning. In terms of development, the state is known to have quite a number of businesses and investment areas as it was able to contribute GPD $7.28 billion of the total GPD of the country. With the effort of the state government, it is doing its possible best to add more investment opportunities including real estate to its portfolio. But how does the old work alongside the young and upcoming areas?
Oshogbo, a city, southwestern Nigeria and also the capital of the State of Osun is about 80 km (about 50 mi) northeast of Ibadan. Oshogbo is located on the main rail line from Lagos to the northern states. It is a market center for cocoa, palm products, tobacco, and cotton. Farmers in the surrounding area grow vegetables, corn, yams, and cassava. Factories in Oshogbo produce steel, textiles, and plastics while Ife (city, Nigeria), also called Ile-Ife, city in southwestern Nigeria, in Osun State. Cacoa, oil palm, yams, cassava, and corn are grown in the surrounding area. The chief industries in Ife include cocoa and palm processing, cotton weaving, and sawmilling. It is also home of a museum of Yoruba art and the museum of the Institute of African Studies.
Even though there are popular investment opportunities in the densely populated cities of the State, which is very compact, Osogbo, the State Capital can be reached from any part of the State by road within an hour making transportation of crops like Yam, Maize, Cassava, Millet, Plantain and Rice easy. Lumbering and the growing and marketing of cocoa and kolanut are carried out on a large scale also. The government of osun state is involved in mining activities in various parts of Nigeria.


While all these economic activities have in the past made a name for the state, the present trend shows the state lacking in modern development. With the help of some of the strategies centered around infrastructural development such as the construction and expansion of various roads categories like Boundary Highways, Inter City Roads, Township Roads , Local Government Roads and Rural Roads linking the urban centers, Financial re-engineering has allowed the state, to literarily, Build Now and Pay over time.
This has really attracted the real estate investors. Opportunities such as early return on investments, as most projects will be delivered and start to render services, before repayment is completed and inflation proof cost, as the cost of commissioning and executing projects in the present, would be devoid of inflation costs of executing same project in the future have made construction and building in the state simpler.

Read more www.lamudi.com.ng/journal

Studying abroad presents students with the opportunity to embark on international adventures, experience other cultures and enhance their academic abilities.

As students all over the world pack their bags for university, whether for the first time or to return for the upcoming semester, we have examined the most unique places to study and live overseas.

Karachi, Pakistan


City of Karachi, PakistanPakistan’s Institute of Business Management (IoBM) is a leading international institute for educating students in innovation, leadership, management and entrepreneurship. Located in Karachi, a tourist attraction for both domestic and international tourists thanks to its stunning beaches, national parks and historic architecture, the IoBM has extensive links with international education institutes, and provides students with access to top facilities and learning resources.

Rhotia, Tanzania


Rhotia is the ideal location for students looking to study something out of the ordinary. Home to world-famous national parks and conservation areas, students will have the opportunity to learn all about the local habitat, wildlife, and conservation issues, as well as Tanzania’s local culture. With the chance to live among some of the world’s most beautiful scenery, Tanzania provides a study location unlike any other.

Amman, Jordan


Whether you’re looking to learn Arabic or experience the fascinating culture of the Middle East, Amman is the perfect alternative to studying in Abu Dhabi or Dubai. Students have a choice between Al-Ahliyya Amman University and Princess Sumaya University for Technology, both of which welcome students from abroad to enrol in their many courses. What’s more, the stunning city of Amman brings together the history and future of Jordan, providing an educational, multi-cultural location for students from around the world.

Ifrane, Morocco


MoroccoEasy to access and full to the brim with fascinating culture, stunning architecture and opportunities for adventure, Morocco makes for an ideal study abroad location. Ifrane, a ski resort in the Middle Atlas region of Morocco, is home to the Al Akhawayn University, an independent, co-educational university, that focuses on a liberal-arts curriculum, including courses in humanities and social sciences, business, and science and engineering. The campus is surrounded by stunning landscapes, with plenty of activities to keep students entertained in their spare time; from day trips to nearby Fes, to skiing and exploring the local springs and lakes.

Read more www.lamudi.com.ng/journal

It's surprising how many people hate their bedrooms. In far too many homes, it is the one place where junk, old suitcases, raggedy curtains and worn out and mismatched furniture are found. You go to a posh apartment in a highbrow area, get blown away by the decor and accent pieces in the living room, kitchen and other parts of the house. Then you enter the bedroom and start thinking you've been transported into another era or house.


I have clients that spend hundreds of thousands on living rooms – and find it difficult to spare few tens of thousands on their bedroom. The excuses range from “Nobody goes there” to “It's not that serious”. That's ludicrous, at best. It's the one room in the home we spend more time in and, as the room in which we sleep and recharge, it's logical that we pay more attention to it.
I can't imagine going through the hustle and bustle of this city and not being able to cuddle up to my soft pillows and just bury myself in my inviting linen bedding when I get home. That said, I rant because I want a change in our perspective on how our bedrooms should look and feel. Take these few steps to making your own bedroom a comfort zone – and see what I mean.



Declutter
My late grandma’s room in Epe comes to mind. Though it was quite spacious, there was hardly any room to move. Stacking old suitcases in one corner doesn’t cut it. Your bedroom isn’t a storeroom for old stuff or unopened wedding gifts. Remove old clothes, old shoes, cardboard boxes, and any piece of useless furniture.

Suitable shades
Ideally, cool colour tones are best for bedrooms as they have a calming effect. Almost any colour can be used, but shade is crucial. For example, mustard yellow will be more suitable here than sunflower yellow which, in turn, works in a nursery or kid’s room. Neutrals such as greys, white are highly recommended.

Bedlinen
Invest in 100% cotton bedlinen. They last longer, are softer and have a cooling effect on both the skin and the space – unlike polyester, which can irritate the skin. What’s more, cotton or linen needn’t be expensive.

Furniture
Ditch the traditional imposing bedroom furniture for lighter, modern pieces. Instead of a regular dresser with drawers and all, a full-length mirror with wooden borders with a single shelf at the bottom can be fixed to the wall. Beds with imposing headboards are also becoming a thing of the past.



Window dressing:
Gone are the days of really heavy curtains; instead, opt for lighter fabrics in cheerful colours.

Add accents An attractive bedside lamp is more than ornamental; it can also add an appealing glow when needed. Wallpaper the wall behind the bed, where most people usually have an ornate headboard. Personal photographs that cannot be displayed in the living room can be strategically hung on the wall facing the bed.

Scented candles are a must; they not only add a touch of romance, but also enhancing the room with its fragrance.

See more at Essential Interiors at www.la[url]mudi.com.ng/journal[/url]

Make it simple. Make it memorable. Make it inviting to look at. Make it fun to read.




Business cards speak volumes about who you are, what you offer and how serious you are at marketing your real estate investing as a business. As a school bell rings letting kids know class has started, your business card is your bell announcing its time to get together too or your are ready to help people solve their problems. The following are some proven tips using business cards to increase your chances of creating and maintaining more business opportunities.

Giving out business cards is crucial to marketing your skills or services as a Real Estate Investor. Anyone who is serious about their business should have a professional business card and always be looking for places to hand it out! Here are some steps to getting them done most professionally, quickly and at the best price. Do Some Personal Research. Here are some helpful probing questions that should be considered when creating your business cards:
What are the other investors have on their business cards (or even their websites)? What do you like? What do you not like?

Your business card is a direct reflection of you and your business. It's important you like them or you will not feel good about passing them out.
Create a basic business card layout. If you are not internet or graphic savvy, I list some companies below that offer many examples you can take from. However, you will want to add your own personal touches.

Keep in mind your niche. Who is your customer? Put on your card what you want people to know about what you can do for them. What problems do you solve?

Do you want a picture on your card? Of what? Your photo? your logo? A house?

Research printing companies that regularly focus on printing business cards. Here are some questions to help you confirm they will give you what you need:
1. What is the turn-around time once the order is placed?
2. Can you e-mail me a proof before printing? (This is a must!)
3. How much do you charge to create a personalized business card design?
4. Is there a printing set up fee? If so how much?
5. Is there a shipping fee? If so how much?

Read more on the business of real estate at www.lamudi.com.ng/journal

Lamudi Nigeria Retains its Number 1 position with a new milestone of 25,000 Listings

9 October 2014, Online property marketplace, Lamudi has continued its surge to market leadership with another significant milestone. Considered by many as Nigeria’s one-stop shop for selling, buying or renting property, Lamudi has seen online listings surpass 25,000 less than 1 year since it’s official launch.
Head of Product Management and Quality Control, Mr. Leke Ositelu explained that a key emphasis is on rapid growth. He said ‘With a population of over 150 million people, with at least half living in urban areas, we are playing catch up. We are focused on making Lamudi a place where anyone in the country can find a property that suits their needs and budget.’
Managing Director, Lamudi Nigeria, Obi Ejimofo said that with this new milestone, Lamudi Nigeria officially retains its position as the Number 1 real estate website in Nigeria. He said ‘This new milestone does not come as a surprise to us as we are constantly pushing to open up access to the real estate sector for all Nigerians.
But size is not everything; we feel it is equally important to educate both our sellers and buyers on the benefits and pitfalls in the marketplace. This is why we are equally proud of the success of the Lamudi Journal – our portal of knowledge, news and tips on real estate which has reached a milestone of over 100,000 hits per week, barely 4 months since we created it.’ This is an indication of the appetite for knowledge and trust in this sector.’

About Lamudi

Launched in 2013, Lamudi (www.lamudi.com.ng)is a global property portal focusing exclusively on emerging markets. The platform is currently available in 28 countries in Asia, the Middle East, Africa and Latin America, with over 400,000 real estate listings across its global network. The leading real estate marketplace offers sellers, buyers, landlords and renters a secure and easy-to-use platform to find or list properties online.

Read more on www.lamudi.com.ng/journal

Preppy Palette
If you need to compromise on a decorating style for the master bedroom, consider colors that are neither too masculine nor too feminine. Play with patterns and textures: florals on the walls, velvet on the headboard, and striped accents.

Exotic Prints
Dare to decorate with animal prints? Go for it. For a more practical and toned-down style, welcome them in a neutral (and unexpected) shade of green.

Elegant Florals
A statement-making accent wall in a sophisticated floral print is just enough to spice up a bedroom. Keep everything else simple so nothing distracts from the power of the print.

Mix It Up
When one bedroom wall gets a bold shot of color, the space instantly feels rich and sophisticated. Soften up the overall vibe by picking fabrics in feminine motifs.

Shades of Blue
If you choose to decorate your bedroom with one hue, be sure to vary the shades to create a calming vibe. Don't be afraid to mix patterns (florals and stripes live well together) to add visual interest.

Pretty in Pink
Keeping the walls white in a girl's bedroom will give you more decorating flexibility, which will help keep up with her constantly changing style. Have fun mixing and matching: Combine pink and red and introduce graphic prints and florals.

[img]http://2.bp..com/_jToNRfFG5bE/TQXkVK7SQgI/AAAAAAAABTY/Uqv3WVyKw7g/s400/pFc4jkWyd4QXeRtdG.jpg[/img]


Every one has a favorite colour. While most people are all out for complicated colours like cranberry, most people still prefer the very simple colours or even going as far as mixing it up. It is evident in our clothes, make up and even car but how much of our love for colours show in our homes especially the living room and bed room?

Lets take a look.

Leading property website lists top demands of contemporary house-hunters

Today’s homebuyer is different to those of previous generations. In the age of smartphones, apps and smart homes, the modern house hunter’s demands have changed dramatically. At the same time, in an era defined by fluctuating house prices, today’s homebuyer is more cost-sensitive than ever before.

As searching for the perfect property continues to evolve, global real estate portal Lamudi explores the top 10 most important factors for those looking for a home in 2014. From energy efficiency to the latest technology, these are the top demands of modern house-hunters.

Energy efficiency
Cost of living and the household budget have always been important factors for those on the hunt for a new property. But as the price of amenities such as water and electricity increase, it is no surprise that buyers now want reassurance about a home’s in area where electricity and water are constant.

Storage - and plenty of it
One word: built-ins. To satisfy the needs of the modern household and help homeowners stay well organized, an ample amount of storage space has become a high priority. Built-in storage - including linen closets, wardrobes and even walk-in kitchen pantries/store - are now a must to attract modern home buyers.

Top notch security
Apart for security of the area, home security is now been sort after. Features like glass break sensors for windows and doors, and motion-activated lighting for exteriors, are just some of the modern security solutions that are attracting buyers as well as alarms and panic buttons.

Open plan living
Bright, open living spaces have become a staple of the modern home. The trend has even reached the kitchen, which homeowners often prefer to combine with the dining area instead of the dining area combined with the living room or parlor.

A modern kitchen
Kitchen design trends have changed significantly in recent years, as popular features of the past decade have started to look dated. Granite is no longer in vogue, with marble countertops and a simple black-and-white color palette giving the kitchen a distinctly modern edge. Here too, buyers are looking for the latest state-of-the-art, energy efficient household appliances.

Entertainment options
The modern home is much more than a place to sleep and eat. It is now also a place to entertain and be entertained. As a result, features including game rooms, home theatre systems and outdoor entertainment areas are now highly sought after.

A dedicated laundry room
Stepping away from the old way of doing the laundry by hand or in the bathroom or outside the home, most home buyers are now attracted to having a room dedicated for the sole purpose of laundry. And in the case of a service apartment, the homes with laundry room equipped with a washing machine, ironing board etc are more attractive.

Location, location, location
The desire to find the perfect home in an ideal location remains top of mind for most house hunters. Where a property is located is often the number one factor influencing a property seeker’s decision to buy. It seems some things about looking for your dream home will never change.


Source: LAMUDI NIGERIA.
Read more on www.lamudi.com.ng/journal

Kogi State, popularly called the Confluence State because the confluence of River Niger and River Benue is found in the central region of Nigeria. Kogi state came into being as a result of the state creation exercise on 27th of August, 1991 with the administrative headquarters in Lokoja.
The creation of the state was indeed a significant development for its citizens. This is because it brought about the reunion of a people who had shared historical roots and co-existed peacefully with the former Kabba province in the defunct Northern Region for more than 80 years.
Presently, the state is structured into 21 LGA’s comprises of three major ethnic groups i.e. Igala, Ebira and Okun (Yoruba) other minor groups include – Bassa Komo, Bassa Nge, Kakanda, Kupa, Ogori-Magongo, Nupe, Oworo, Gwari etc.

Kogi state has a total land area of 28,313.53 square kilometers and a projected population of 3.3 million people. The state is blessed with geological feature depicting young sedimentary rocks and alluvium along the riverbeds, which promotes agricultural activities. Agriculture used to be the mainstay of the economy especially in respect to cash crops such a oil palm, groundnut, coffee and cocoa, alongside mineral resources such as coal, limestone and iron.

Aside from its geological feature which aids in agricultural activities, Kogi State, by virtue of its geography, offers interested individuals a unique type of tourist experience. These attractions include natural land features, fascinating sceneries, historic monuments and relics.
Being only 2-hour drive from Abuja, the state in recent times has become a new haven for development. This is aside the fact that the state has one of the largest land mass in Nigeria thus offering land for manufacturing and industry.

The state is home to the largest iron and steel industry in Nigeria known as Ajaokuta Steel Company Limited and also one of the largest cement factories in Africa, the Obajana Cement Factory which opened its production line in June 2012.
Following this lead is Lathitha Wine, South African Brewery Company who will be collaboration with South African Embassy in Nigerian to explore and harness all investment potentials that can be found in Kogi State for economic development.

The Executive Director of the company, Mr Haruna Madisca, was quoted stating some of the development to be expected. They include replication of the Lathitha wine factory, agriculture, mining, tourism/hospitality as well as establishment of Shoprite Stores in the state capital, Lokoja amongst other long term investments. Already, 28 hectares of land has been acquired in Bassa Local Government area of the state.
Much exploration needs to be done for Kogi state as the state posses not only because the state can boast of mineral, agriculture and space, it is also a fertile land for all forms of business development like citing of retail outlets and business district.
But before this can be done, proper infrastructural development needs to be set in motion.

Read more www.lamudi.com.ng/journal

Most people bring work home during the weekends. We tend to check mails, draft letters, create documents in readiness for the week ahead. Our living rooms, bedrooms or beds become our home office space. Well most people that want to work comfortably from home or create a relaxed yet professional home office with all the advantage of working in an office. Let's take a look at how we can great a comfortable home office space.

Basically the purpose of a home office is to work in to work in comfort.

1. Make a list. What will you do in your home office? What equipment will you need? What standard things, like a fax machine, could you do without? How’s the lighting? Will the room have any other uses? Will you need a video conferencing setup? Can you adequately keep noise —or small children and other distractions—at bay? All of these questions, and others unique to your situation, will help determine how you furnish your space for maximum comfort.

2. Choose the right chair. Ergonomic experts know where you sit has a huge impact on your health, including your back and neck alignment as well as your arms and shoulders. A chair should be comfortable but also be positioned at the correct height for your feet to reach the floor—and the right angle for your arms when you work at a desk.

3. Make your desk work, too. Your desk should fit all your needs for a working area and storage, as well as the home office space itself. You don’t want to skimp on a small desk that doesn’t support the large-screen monitor you need for graphic design work, or one that only fits in a hard-to-light corner that makes video conferencing a challenge.

4. Save your eyes with the right lighting. Experts recommend having more than one light source—place one above and another beside a computer to even out the lighting and lessen eye strain. Windows are best—if you spend a lot of time inside, natural light improves your mood as well as your workplace view.

5. Create lounge space. If you have the room, a place to sit that’s not at your computer desk can give your eyes a break. The slight shift in space could open your mind to looking at things in a new light, and your body might welcome the physical shift from on seat to the other. A comfortable chair, a sofa, a bean bag, a guest bed so the space has more than one use, if needed—there are a host of options to fit your budget, decor and size.

6. Make use of color. Sanitarium white or industrial gray may not exactly inspire your process. A soothing green might offer the right touch of creative warmth. Or perhaps a bright accent wall could stimulate your senses. Since you’ve ditched the corporate world, why not trade that drab office carpeting for a punch of color on something your feet delight in touching? After all, you don’t need shoes in a home office.

7. Add a few personal touches. One of the benefits of a home office is you can do whatever you want with the space. You don’t have to wait for the occasional late night alone in the office to surreptitiously blast a little Grateful Dead. Get your hippie on with a small stereo. You don’t have to fret over being “that mom” with too many family photos, or “that guy” with a penchant for plants. Embrace your space. What’s the fun of working from home if you can’t indulge your inner deity a little?

Read more on www.lamudi.com.ng/journal

The transformation of the global landscape sees a shift to emerging economies thanks to increasing internet usage, continued economic progression and increased business activity.

As a result, developing countries are providing the next big growth opportunities. However, there are widespread mistruths about working in the developing countries.

In today’s blog post we dispel the myths surrounding business in emerging markets.



Emerging markets simply refers to the BRICS countries;
The term covers so many more markets that just Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. Many more countries are seeing an economic transformation, including the Philippines, Indonesia, Nigeria and Ethiopia (or ‘the PINEs’). Fuelled by a growing middle class and strong economic performance, as well as advances in technology, improved healthcare and education, these countries are experiencing their own business boom.

Only big businesses can succeed in emerging markets
It’s easy to assume that only large, well known companies can survive the move into emerging markets. This is not the case. Smaller businesses have the opportunity to become part of a developing economy, to provide consumers with new services on a more personal level and to work with local companies to expand alongside the country’s economic infrastructure.

Internet penetration is too low for online growth
Internet penetration in developing countries is increasing every day, with the smartphone adoption rate growing nearly twice as fast in emerging markets as it is in more established markets (KPCB). In the Middle East, 95% of Jordanians now own a cell phone, and in a recent study, Jordan ranked second in Internet usage in the Arab world.

Emerging markets are just too risky
There are always risks to consider when investing in a new market, however developing countries provide exciting, new investment opportunities. For example, in Emerging Trends in Real Estate Asia Pacific 2014, a joint report from the Urban Land Institute (ULI) and PwC, the Philippines’ capital of Manila was ranked in the top five cities in the region for its investment potential.

It’s all hype
These increasingly buoyant economies are creating great potential for businesses. As underdeveloped countries become more developed economies, businesses have reason to be extremely enthusiastic. Whilst there are challenges that must be taken into account when strategizing a move into an emerging market, vast opportunities are being created – as long as strongly researched decisions are made and realistic strategies are in place.

Read more on www.lamudi.com.ng/journal

Use simple fabrics



For your bed linens, choose a neat and simple fabric. Choose bright and warm colours. Plain colored fabrics for your bed linens and curtains would work well for your small room. Do not use fabric with large patterns and bold colours for it looks bulky and heavy to the eyes.

Learn how to keep things well for it will greatly help to make the room look big. Clutter will only make the room look crowded. Hide your magazines, books and others by having a skirted bedside table. You can also place storage bins under your bed and hide them with a bed skirt. A neat room looks small, too.

The ideas that we have given above can truly help you design your small bedroom but you really do not need to follow all of them. There might also be other ways that you can think of that could be effective for your bedroom. Just bear in mind that the important thing is to maintain much floor space to create a light atmosphere. But as you do that, make sure that your bedroom will still be functional.

Get more tips on interior designs at www.lamudi.com.ng/journal

Arrange furniture to allow good traffic



Since you have a small space, place your bed on one side of the wall instead of putting it in the centre. You can place your cabinet or table at the corner. Another option in arranging it is to place it in the corner of your room to give more spaces. Depending on the shape of your room, it is still advisable to keep your furniture close to the wall in order to have more space for you to move around.

Use creative storage



Your room is already small and having much clutter will make it look even smaller. Use creative storage spaces by installing a good closet system. Instead of standard dressers and armoires, make use of modular and built in furniture. Extend storage furniture to the ceiling so that you won’t waste any space. Hanging cabinets are also good for saving spaces.

Choose space saving furniture



Your choice of furniture is very important for it can greatly affect the traffic inside your bedroom. A small bedroom can be furnished using the Asian and Swedish designs. One way is by using a futon which can be converted into a sofa from a bed. It can give more space for you to move around your room. It can also be economical. You may also opt to use a loft bed where there is space under it to move around. Others place a table or a cabinet under it. For a bedside table, you can use a small desk or a convertible work station paired with an acrylic chair to save space.


Use a design theme that will make room look big

Use a simple colour scheme



The simpler the colors you choose, the bigger your room will look. Colors should be bright. Paint the ceiling with white for it gives a sense of height and space. Do not use dark and bold paint for the ceiling for it will make the room look boxed-in. For the walls, use neutral tones for it will give an illusion of added space. Do not crowd your wall with wall hangings. Leave at least one wall without it to have an impression of space.

Designing a small bedroom is indeed challenging especially if the home owner demands for big storage spaces. Aside from the space, you also have to think of a good decor and design for it so that it will look relaxing. You wouldn’t want to sleep in a room that seems boxy. Your bedroom is supposed to be your haven from a hard day.

You can create an illusion of space in the bedroom by following the simple things we have below.

How can I know of these opportunities? Well, there are a couple of tips we would share with you in this regard.
 Be observant and pay more attention to your environment. Look out for all those ‘For Sale’ banners that often hang on properties that you have been blind to all along. For all you know, there may be a juicy real estate deal on your street that you haven’t noticed.

 Follow real estate ‘For Sale’ listings and adverts in newspapers and magazines. This is the traditional way for sellers of real estate to find buyers. In some cities, there are newspapers and magazines that carry only real estate news and listings. Most of these listings describe the properties, the seller’s asking price and a phone number you can call. Easy and convenient!

 Ask around. Let people know you are in the market looking for properties to buy. Your neighbours, office colleagues and friends can be rich sources of real estate information. All you have to do is ask!

 Enlist the services of a real estate agent. These agents are professionals who help ordinary people like you find the kind of properties they want. Whether you want a property to live in or as an investment, it’s their job to find it for you, and of course, earn a commission for their services. It’s a win-win for both you and the agent. We did a previous article dedicated to the real estate agency business.
Read more on www.lamudi.com.ng/journal

Global real estate marketplace reveals top ten properties featured in reality television series

The world’s most addictive reality television programme is about to kick off in Africa while already airing in Germany and the UK, the Celebrity Big Brother housemates are settling into their new homes away from home. But it’s not just the contestants that capture the attention of Big Brother’s global audience.

From indoor pools to secret rooms, luxurious hot tubs to futuristic furnishings, the Big Brother houses are anything but boring. Lets take you on a tour of the top 10 Big Brother houses around the world.

Germany’s Celebrity Haven
The first series of Promi Big Brother (Celebrity Big Brother) in Germany created a lavish escape for its celebrity residents. Taking opulence one step further, the house boasted fur bedcovers, thrones, animal skin rugs and gold-plated furnishings. And that’s just the inside. A beach, pool bar and hot tub were just a few of the luxuries on hand for the chosen celebrities to make use of during their stay.

[img]http://4.bp..com/-z-W2zjmaFvE/U_cdGMPQhpI/AAAAAAAAAQg/i9uDQjWMaFQ/s1600/Big%2BBrother%2BGermany.jpg[/img]

Australia’s Lap of Luxury
Located just outside the Dreamworld theme park in Gold Coast Australia, the Big Brother 2009 house adopted an aquatic theme, with extravagant fish tanks, Captain’s Quarters, complete with a swimming pool and sauna, and sea-life-inspired decor. The house included a naughty room, for any misbehaving housemates, complete with an opaque to transparent window, for the other residents’ pleasure.

[img]http://4.bp..com/-1ZLXYhP5LRE/U_cdVQHFjvI/AAAAAAAAAQo/HE64tdjzBxk/s1600/Big%2BBrother%2BAustralia.jpg[/img]

Africa’s All Stars
The house for Africa’s very first All Star season was the epitome of lavish, dripping with jewels and plush velvet accessories. With chandeliers, candelabras and rich furnishings that wouldn’t look out of place in a royal palace, spending 92 days in this dream house would definitely not cause a problem.

[img]http://2.bp..com/-of-Icd_fBW4/U_cdrtAO0DI/AAAAAAAAAQw/rRGcZarcVm4/s1600/Big%2BBrother%2BAfrica.jpg[/img]

American Dream
The house for the USA’s Big Brother 15 series played on a mid-century modern theme, with each room’s decor designed to capture the imagination of its housemates: Themes include: The jet-setter room, with its own glamorous cocktail bar, vintage decor and futuristic seating area; the bathroom for senses, designed like a sauna; and the skyline room, a luxurious, monochrome penthouse. And there’s plenty of entertainment to keep the housemates occupied, including a pool table, chess board and immersion pool.

[img]http://4.bp..com/-YLREjN7lPLw/U_cePFslvQI/AAAAAAAAAQ4/ERX3KtKMVSI/s1600/Big%2BBrother%2BUSA.jpg[/img]

Indonesia’s Celebrity Enclosure
Trapped in the house for more than 30 days, with no contact with the outside world, Celebrity Big Brother in Indonesia quarantined its housemates in a house with more than 50 cameras. Those lucky enough to avoid the celebrity “cell”, used to capture badly-behaved housemates, enjoyed luxurious outdoor lounge areas to soak up the sun.

[img]http://1.bp..com/-k5R9KCdiG1s/U_cfOrouQTI/AAAAAAAAARA/We-y-lOvifU/s1600/Big%2BBrother%2BIndonesia.jpg[/img]

Bulgarian Retreat
For season four of Big Brother Bulgaria, the lucky housemates were treated to 3,000km2 of luxury near the country’s capital of Sofia. The stunning house included an indoor swimming pool and gym area, a shop, and an outdoor relaxation area, complete with its own fireplace.

[img]http://3.bp..com/-f3vLsR_RKLQ/U_cf2fym4xI/AAAAAAAAARI/zHd46BVRIrQ/s1600/Big%2BBrother%2BBulgaria.jpg[/img]

Croatian Paradise
Despite being the fifth season of Big Brother Croatia, the house is actually located in Thailand. Now this house is not your average BB home; in the garden, not only is there a stunning lake, swimming pool and palm trees, but also pet elephants for the housemates to look after during their stay.

[img]http://3.bp..com/-dPWuWYu1dwk/U_cgG8UfjBI/AAAAAAAAARQ/SW1Aa3vdhPk/s1600/Big%2BBrother%2BCroatia.jpg[/img]

Filipino Design Heaven
Now in its fifth season, Pinoy Big Brother welcomed its housemates into an interior designer’s dream. With textured wallpapers, complementary patterns and prints, and eccentric furniture, the Big Brother house is spacious, colorful and full to the brim with modern, lavish amenities.

[img]http://1.bp..com/-niabiInYC8w/U_cggHKvRXI/AAAAAAAAARY/nIw5xgX-tEQ/s1600/Pinoy%2BBig%2BBrother%2BPhilippines.JPG[/img]

British Grandeur
Celebrity Big Brother 2014 has just kicked off in the UK, but let's look back to 2013 to the beautiful abode that became the inmates' new home. The theme was clearly opulence for 2013, with chandeliers dangling from the ceiling, bearskin rugs and gold adornments, fit for any VIP. There was no shortage of luxury, with topiaries and statues, a treehouse and hot tub to keep the celebrities occupied during their stay.

[img]http://4.bp..com/-QNvLBcvAnsw/U_cgv_O3JXI/AAAAAAAAARg/8U4WXS86RAU/s1600/Big%2BBrother%2BUK.jpg[/img]

Relax in Brazil
If you were lucky enough to enter Big Brother Brazil’s season 11 house and live in the Rich House, you would never want to leave. The mansion interior boasts candy-themed bedrooms, a retro, neon kitchen and zen bathroom, whilst the exterior’s palm tree-lined, poolside sun haven provides the perfect location for housemates to relax, sunbathe, take a dip in the pool, relax in the hot tub and truly enjoy their stay. Those subjected to life in the Poor House, were not quite so lucky. Life on this side of Big Brother lacks beds, food, and fun of any kind.

[img]http://4.bp..com/--8k18LHiczQ/U_chCMxNUdI/AAAAAAAAARo/N_EM5XS1uvA/s1600/Big%2BBrother%2BBrazil.jpg[/img]

SOURCE: LAMUDI NIGERIA www.lamudi.com.ng

Launched in 2013, Lamudi is a global property portal focusing exclusively on emerging markets. The fast-growing platform is currently available in 28 countries in Asia, the Middle East, Africa and Latin America, with more than 500,000 real estate listings across its global network. The leading real estate marketplace offers sellers, buyers, landlords and renters a secure and easy-to-use platform to find or list properties online.

osybaby: Cool wat abt rooms for baby gals

Will post that next.