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It can be easy to sometimes fall out of love with your living space, especially when you spend some much time in it. But there are a few ways to transform your living space so that you can fall in love with it all over again.

Replace Heavy Curtains With Blinds

Heavy curtains may keep out the cold more, but they can also block out that precious natural light. Natural light is great for boosting our mood, so it’s important to let as much of it flood into your space as possible. Therefore, something like zebra blinds wholesale are perfect for keeping the space more simple and clean looking while bringing in the light when needed. Think about the type of blinds you’d like though as there are different ones to choose from.

A Fresh Coat Of Paint Does Wonders

It’s much more affordable than most things, and it’s something that you can do yourself. A fresh coat of paint does wonders for a space, so depending on the room, why not go for a different color than you’d usually go for? Bold colors are certainly in, and it’s a great way of showing off your personality than going for the usual neutral colors.

Rearrange Your Furniture

Sometimes, we simply don’t have the funds to be able to replace furniture or to get more of it so rearranging the furniture in the space can actually have a huge impact. Start with the bulkier items like the sofa in the living room or the bed in your bedroom. Just moving one piece of furniture can make it look like a brand new space. Try reorganizing each room and experiment with the space and where you had everything beforehand.

Bring In Some Nature

Nature, like natural light, is said to boost your mood but also purifies the air so that you are less likely to get sick. Household plants have become a favorable feature in many homes nowadays so fill up a plant pot and make it a feature in the room. If you don’t rate yourself that highly in looking after plants, then get some that are harder to kill. Cactuses are a good example of one that needs very little attention or water for that matter.

Try and adapt plants to suit each room, for example, ivy would work quite well in the bathroom, and a tall leafy plant would do well in the living room or dining area.

Fix What’s Broken

Broken furniture and fixtures can really stick out like a sore thumb. Normally, if it’s something that’s still useable, you can normally cover it up with a throw or cushion perhaps. However, if it’s actually broken, then get your DIY skills out and fix what you can. For anything beyond your abilities, it might be worth getting in a local handyman or replacing the broken thing completely.

The possibilities when it comes to transforming your home can be endless, so hopefully, this has given you a bit of inspiration for your own space.

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When it comes to homeowners, the majority tend, understandably, to focus their attention mainly on their work life and the strains of keeping the bills paid so they can stay in the comfy abode. The home’s look is usually quite important but not exactly high up on the list of priorities. Thus, there are perhaps a few aspects of their home that they didn’t know they could improve. Here are a few ideas to help to enhance the home.

Doorway

The doorway is yours and others first impression of the entire home. So it’s probably wise to spruce it up a little bit. This could mean popping a wreath on the door or painting it a color that suits your personality. Throwing a few plants or ornaments along the outside of it would make it all look pretty, too.

Foyer

As you’ve entered your home, you’re probably going to need somewhere to put items and a rack to hold shoes. Adding something like a coat rack or pegs on the wall gives off a smarter feel than just having a place in the corner to throw stuff.

Kitchen

Yes, keeping the kitchen clean and fresh is the correct way to behave, but keeping it looking squeaky clean is such a bonus. And what about the organization? A lot of people tend to throw any tins and cans into any old draw and any cupboard that has space. Yes, it does happen. Don’t be like that. Why not clear out the mess and keep things relevant to certain drawers.

Bathroom

Much like the kitchen, you’ve probably kept everything clean and sanitary – that kind of goes without saying, but you’ll want it looking as good as the cleanliness. Like before there’s something about the shininess and glimmer from the surfaces that are just so satisfying. When it comes to bathing and showering, people prefer scrubbing up in comfort. Something like a walk-in shower with a frameless shower door is so very simple but so aesthetically pleasing. It trumps your standard bathtub with a showerhead and a curtain around it.                                                                                                                                                            

Bedroom

Your entire house is mainly a reflection of you, but your bedroom should pretty much sum you up (and your partner if you have one, sure). Keeping things organized is going to neaten it all, but why not look to decorate with things like flowers and mementos.     

Attic

A lot of people will use the attic as the primary use of storage, so with that, why not make sure the stuff is stored correctly and not just thrown up there only for you to spend ages looking for it in the future. There are also cases where people have had their attic cleared out and converted into another room. Maybe you’d like an office or an extra room for activities.

Basement

Similarly to an attic, we’ll often use a basement for storage. However, if you find you don’t need a lot of stuff in there, you can declutter and get creative! You might want to add a home gym in there; it could be a new game room or a place to play music. There are a lot of options!

30 Tips for More Efficient Ways to Pack Up and Move

1. If possible, arrange to get into your new house while it’s still empty, and do a thorough cleaning before the furniture shows up. It will never be easier to reach those baseboards and vents than it is right now!
2. Empty gasoline and oil from any lawn equipment you’re bringing with you. Professional movers won’t transport fuel.
3. Measure everything! You wouldn’t believe a headache an oversized piece of furniture can create on moving day. Disassemble whatever you can, and if it truly doesn’t fit, you might have to let it go.
4. Make arrangements in advance for special items like pianos, antiques or aquariums.
5. Move in the middle of the month, if possible. It’s cheaper, and you’ll find more availability with moving companies.
6. Plan meals. You don’t want to have to go food shopping right before you move out. Try to freeze meals in advance, so you use up the food you already have.
7. Donate items or plan a yard sale. Do this at least 3 weeks before you move, if not earlier.
8. Use a rubber band to prevent getting locked out. Moving day will have you going in and out of doors all day. Loop a rubber band around the inner and outer doorknob, so it holds the latch in. No worries about getting stuck.
9. Use a boxcutter to create handles on boxes. It’s so much easier to lift and move boxes when you can get a grip on them.
10. Use containers like laundry baskets or hampers to pack clothes. No need to take up double the space. Use the spaces you already have.
11. Use pots and pans to pack small kitchen items like towels, spice bottles or utensils.
12. Rubberband lids to pots and pans to keep things secure.
13. If you can’t transport knives in a butcher’s block, use oven mitts to prevent any accidents.
14. Use trash bags to pack hanging clothes. You can gather together 5 or 6 hangers at a time and slip regular kitchen trash bags over them. This keeps things neat and organized, and they’re very easy to hang up at your new house.
15. When disassembling furniture, keep all hardware and screws together in a zipping plastic bag. Tape this bag to the underside of the furniture so that you can quickly assemble at your new home.
16. To fill small nail holes in walls, you can just rub a bar of Ivory soap over them. Larger holes will require spackle.
17. To remove noticeable furniture indents on carpets, place ice cubes along the dents. Let them melt, then use a spoon to gently “fluff” the carpet fibers back up.
18. Color code packing tape and labels. Designate a color for each room and tape and label all boxes for that room in the same color. This makes unpacking so much easier and can help the movers quickly place boxes in their correct rooms.
19. Use plastic wrap to secure small items already in containers. You can wrap your silverware tray and other similar containers in plastic wrap and place the entire tray in a box. Saves time packing and unpacking!
20. Take pictures of the back of your computer and TV to remember wire placement. Setting up your electronics can take hours if you don’t remember what goes where.
21. Use paper towel tubes to keep cords untangled. Wires can get hopelessly knotted in transit. Keep them organized.
22. Pack an OPEN FIRST box with essentials for the entire house. Think along the lines of hand soap, toilet paper (Don’t assume the last owner left you any!) phone chargers, trash bags, light bulbs, box cutters, and anything else you’ll want to have on hand immediately upon moving in.
23. Then pack an OPEN FIRST box for every room. Highlight the most important things for the kitchen, bathroom, bedrooms, living room, etc. Mark these out so you can easily find them.
24. Pack an overnight bag for each person. As a rule of thumb, you should pack as though you were going away for a long weekend. Remember clothes, PJs, toiletries, medications, etc.
25. Pack snacks and drinks for the car. Moving is exhausting. Make sure you have access to water, protein snacks and anything else that will help keep you going.
26. Carry cash and important documents with you. Cash is important for unforeseen purchases, tolls, tips for the movers, etc. Personal documents should be with you in the car at all times.
27. Pack valuables in the car with you too. Jewelry, small heirlooms, and anything else that might be in danger of getting lost or stolen.
28. Make provisions for babysitters and/ or petsitters. Kids and pets can get hurt, upset, or even lost on moving day with everything going on in the house. If at all possible, ask a trusted person to look after them for you, even if it’s just for a few hours.
29. Check the parking rules at your new place. Are you allowed to have a moving truck pull up on the street? Is there a time limit? Will they have to park further away than anticipated? Find all this out before moving day so you’ll be prepared.
30. Arrange to have locks changed. Either on moving day or shortly after, it’s a good idea to have someone out to install new locks for your home.

Author Bio: Niv Orlian is a blogger at Golan’s Moving, a site all about moving, and related topics such as real estate, home moving tips, and general household tips.

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We all have a kitchen and at least one bathroom in our homes, and they’re pretty integral parts of it if we’re honest! And because of that, they should always be prioritized in your quest to remodel or renovate the home around you. After all, some pretty important systems (a.k.a., the plumbing) exist in these rooms, and are going to require some tender loving care!

So to make sure the rooms that have the most water use and retention to them are looking their best this year, here’s a couple of ideas you might want to put to good use.

Know How the Rooms Work (a.k.a., their layout!)

The layout of the kitchen and bathroom(s) you have on hand are going to be integral to your need to shift the focus. After all, it’s going to be very hard to try and move the radiator pipes because they’re in the way of your new wet room and specially fitted shower! So you need to work out how both these rooms currently work, and how you can

Not only is this a much cheaper option for your time and budget, but it also ties the aesthetics together a lot better. You want the sink next to the shaver plug holes, and you want the bathtub to be as unobtrusive and as against the wall as possible. In the kitchen, you’re going to want a deep sink that still has cupboard space underneath it, and room for a dishwasher next to it. Even in the smallest kitchens, the right remodel can find a place for one!

Find Yourself a Good Company

Speaking of the right remodel, for a project that contains a lot of plumbing and potential rewiring work, you’re going to want a professional on hand. But not just any – you want someone who sees your vision as well as you do, and won’t leave any box unchecked in the schedule.

After all, Kitchen and Bathroom Remodeling is one of the heftiest home projects to try and attempt, and there’s a good chance your toilet and shower are going to be out of commission for a while! You want to try and cut this period down to a max of 2 to 3 days, and having a trained professional is the best way to attempt that.

How Do You Feel About Smart Features?

Smart features may sound quite expensive on the surface, but when you consider the use you’ll get out of them, the investment will be worth it. Not to mention, smart features make your home a lot more convenient to live in, especially in such heavy work rooms like the kitchen and bathroom. Smart toilets that are self-flushing, and potentially self-cleaning, are common in a lot of Asian households – why not think about an upgrade like this for your own plumbing systems?

Your home plumbing might need an upgrade – one of the best ways is to renovate your kitchen/bathroom.

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Switching to an eco-friendly heating source could help to save the planet and save you money. Here are just a few green options to consider.

Use a fireplace

Photo by Stéphane Juban on Unsplash

A fireplace is the most traditional form of heating one’s home. Fireplaces certainly aren’t the most practical heating source – a fire takes time and effort to start and will only produce enough heat to warm up that room. That said, there is something cozy and peaceful about a natural fire. A fireplace and chimney need to be regularly cleaned to keep them efficient and safe – this could involve hiring a chimney sweep. You can save costs on firewood by buying scrap wood from construction companies and tree companies.

Use a pellet stove

A pellet stove is like a more sophisticated fireplace. These heating systems run on electricity, feeding wooden pellets into a stove to heat your home. Pellet stoves are cleaner and more efficient than fireplaces, but they can be more expensive to run – you can’t fuel them using any old wood and must shop specifically for bags of wooden pellets. Like fireplaces, they need to be cleaned, which can require hiring a specialist.

Use a masonry stove

Masonry stoves are similar to pellet stoves, but may be able to run on more general wood. They are also faster at heating than pellet stoves due to their brick exterior that causes heat to rise rapidly, plus they produce radiant heat which is more capable of heating up an entire home. You may have to save up a little more for a masonry stove, but it’s likely to be worth the investment.

Switch to solar heating

Photo by Asia Chang on Unsplash

Solar heating is another option to consider – this involves generating electricity from the sun and using this to provide electric heating. The cost of installing solar panels can be expensive, however, the running costs are practically non-existent compared to other forms of heating – other than occasionally having to get your solar panels cleaned/serviced you won’t have to pay any other fees as your fuel is the sun. Solar power can also be used for general electricity within your home, however, you’ll likely need more solar panels to provide this electricity.

Consider geothermal heating

A geothermal heat pump draws heat up from the ground to keep your home warm. Whilst one of the most efficient forms of green heating, geothermal heating relies on having the right geology – some homes in certain location may not have the correct soil beneath them to provide heat. Installing a geothermal heating system can be expensive, but like solar heating you’ll save money in the long run given that you’re using a natural heat source.  

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People with basements don’t realize how lucky they are to have a basement! You’ve got so much extra space in your home, so you better make use of it. The brilliant thing about this room is that you can play around with the design so much. These days, there are some truly jaw-dropping ideas that will improve any home.

So, want to see a few of the best ideas out there? Well, feast your eyes on these:

Home Theatre

This is kind of a classic basement design idea, but it’s still incredibly luxurious and trendy. Basically, you convert this space into a cinema – complete with a large screen and your own cinema-style seats. This is where you can get really creative as there are loads of different seating options you can choose from. I’ve seen some people scrap the idea of traditional comfy cinema seats and have massage chairs lined up in the basement – or even a huge sofa-type thing that takes up almost all of the floor space. The idea is to create a comfortable place where you can relax and enjoy big screen films without having to go all the way to your nearest cinema.

Basement Swimming Pool

 

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That’s right, a basement swimming pool. Instantly, we’re looking at a seriously lavish idea that brings something extra to your home. It’s something that a lot of architectural practices are encouraging as it’s very innovative and sets your home apart from the rest. It’s also a great idea if you’ve always wanted a pool but lacked the garden space. You don’t have to make it a proper pool either – it could be a jacuzzi or even a mini spa in your basement. Either way, you can get decking laid down in there and a pool built into the ground; it’s absolutely stunning!

Fully-Equipped Gym

If you’re a fitness fanatic, then you’re really at an advantage when you’ve got a basement and some cash to renovate it. Here, you can create and design a fully-equipped gym that allows you to have some incredible workouts. Don’t just get the standard things like a bench and a barbell – get a rack of weights, cable machines, and anything else that you’ll use all the time. Sure, it’s expensive to build your own gym, but think about all the money you save on gym memberships! Plus, you have more motivation to work out as you just have to go downstairs to the basement instead of making the long journey to your local gym. It’ll save a lot of time in your daily routine as well – there are loads of positive points here!

The more you look into it, the more you realize there are so many unbelievable basement design ideas out there for you to take advantage of. These are probably my favorites at the moment as I love that they add a new dimension to your home. Movie lovers will absolutely fawn over the home cinema idea, fitness freaks will be gagging to build a home gym, and who doesn’t want a pool in their home?!

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Now that the new year is in full swing, it can get many people thinking about home renovations and the things that they want to do this year in and around their home. But sadly, thinking about the plans doesn’t mean that there will be any plans in place; home improvements do not come cheaply. So unless you have got money saved for what you want to do, what are some of the best ways to fund your plans? Here are a few ideas to help you.

Save

Simply saving and doing the renovations as and when could be what you need to do if you want to stay out of debt and make sure that you can afford what you plan to do. It may mean that something like an attic conversion could be a long way off, but it could mean that you’re able to paint and decorate as and when, to get the house looking as you want it to.

Declutter and Sell

This time of year can be a great time to declutter your home and all that is in it. But could you be sitting on a gold mine? Have you got some items of furniture that could be resold but still leave you with a nice bit of cash? For example, a stunning Eames chair that you no longer have need or space for could be something that you decide to sell online, on a site where you can sell authentic Eames furniture, for example. Places like eBay are also a good idea, as well as local selling sites (though people tend to want a bargain on those Facebook groups).

0% Purchase Credit Card

If you have a plan to get the money in a couple of years, then getting a credit card with a zero percent on purchases could be the way to fund your plans. As long as you’ll be able to pay it all off before the actual interest kicks in (the cards will all vary for how long is zero percent), then it can be a savvy way to do things. You just need to make sure that you are budgeting for it all so that if you don’t end up paying interest, because that is when the costs can really spiral out of control.

Use the Home

If you are a homeowner, then it could be a good idea to speak to your mortgage lender about freeing up some cash in the home to help with renovations. This can be time-consuming and will mean that you are tied into new mortgage terms, so is really only worth doing if you are considering larger scale renovations like an extension. Just make sure that you are doing your research to check what your new monthly repayments will be and that you can make them back on time. These larger renovations are good for adding value to the home, though, so they do end up pretty much paying for themselves so can be worth it.

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When you’re at work, how often do you fantasize about going to a spa rather than heading home afterward? Is there anything better than spending time at a spa? Of course not, the spa is the ultimate space for relaxation and calm. Those hours that you can spend being pampered is the ultimate in indulgence and yet, spa trips are expensive. You may not have the luxury of annual leave with your job and you can’t get the money together right now to head on a spa break.

So, what do you do? You give your bathroom an overhaul, of course! You need to create a space of your own – a spa of your own, even! You don’t necessarily need to rip the whole thing out and start again, but there’s no harm in looking at the clawfoot tub information out there, right? You want your bathroom to be a zen space where you can kick back, relax and enjoy that spa-like feeling. Let’s have a look at how you can do that so that you can have the spa day – every day.

Firstly, if you plan to have a facial, you need hot towels. No spa is complete without hot towels, and you don’t want to run back and forth to the sink to rinse your face between steps. Load up on a lot of very soft, cotton towels and then soak them through in hot water. Wring them right out and use these to clean your face. Add lavender oil to the water so that you breathe in those therapeutic benefits of the oils. It’s all about engaging your senses, and a big reason why going to a spa feels great is because all of your senses are engaged and making you feel calm all at once. Set your mood with aromatherapy candles and soothing music; make those senses sing.

The next important step to clearer skin masks. There are so many excellent, healthy mask recipes online and you can use these to exfoliate, moisturize and make your skin feel fantastic. Glowing skin is a luxury for some, and you can make it happen with homemade face masks. When you add cucumbers to your eyes to hydrate and soothe them as part of your face mask experience, you are doing it because it’s what you’ve heard works. There are things out there that work too, such as chamomile tea bags soaked and refrigerated. Just 10 minutes of use can refresh your eyes and prevent your eyes feeling exhausted.

Lastly, you want to feel relaxed when you leave your spa, so make sure that you bring in a mobile masseur at least once a month for a rub down. The muscles you work every day may not be in pain, but they’re certainly going to be under strain for a while. Get them worked out and feeling invigorated, and you can ensure you’ve rounded up your spa experience nicely. And all without the huge bathroom refurbishment!

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While we may well still be in the midst of winter, it’s not going to be all too long before the weather begins to take a turn for the better and the temperature begins to rise. As the sun starts to shine, many of us want to spend increasing amounts of time lounging in our backyards. The problem? Well, the majority of us tend to neglect our outdoor spaces throughout the winter months. Who can blame us? Nobody wants to spend their days digging around in wet dirt with frosty fingers when they could be cuddled up all cozy in front of the television with a hot drink. But this generally means that the majority of our gardens are in a sad state of affairs when the time comes around to actually spend time in them. But not to worry. There are steps that you can take to repair the damage and create a comfortable and appealing outdoor space ready for the Spring months. You just have to get started sooner rather than later! Here are a few things to get started on!

Repairing Winter Damage

You may feel at a loss as to where to start when it comes to repairing winter damage. But don’t let that put you off. These simple steps can help to transform your backyard into a fresh blank canvas that you can work with!

• Strim the grass – if grass is overgrown take to it with a strimmer to chop down the main bulk of its length. Rake the long grass and dispose of it properly.
• Mow the lawn – once the grass is at a manageable length, you won’t have to worry about it blocking up your mower. You can run across it to get a nice, even finish.
• Pull weeds – weeds establish themselves pretty quickly, so there are probably a fair few about. But have patience. Pull them properly, ensuring that you get the root. You might also want to apply a weed killer to the area to prevent regrowth.

Water Features

Once you have a clear space, you can start focusing on making your garden look truly appealing. Consider installing some sort of water feature. While they may seem complex to set up, once everything is up and running, you’ll have a beautiful visual attraction out back. The sound of running water can also be extremely soothing when you’re spending time outdoors. If this is something that interests you, you can find out here.

Attract Local Wildlife

If you want your garden to flourish and feel full of life in the Spring, consider attracting a little local wildlife. You’ll create your own natural haven! Leave bird seed in feeders and plant flowers that attract bees and butterflies. 

As you can see, there are various things that you can do to make your garden ready for Spring. You’re bound to want to spend more time outdoors when the weather improves, so save yourself the hassle down the line by taking action now!

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Building your own home and having it designed precisely to your specifications and needs is a big dream for many people. It isn’t a particularly easy dream to fulfill for many. Not only do you need to find a decent plot of land for sale, but you have to work out exactly what you want your home to be like and make sure you have a big enough budget to cover it all – and a little extra for those things that undoubtedly will not go to plan! If you don’t get it right, you could not only end up wasting lots of valuable time and money but be stuck in a nightmare house instead of your dream home. Here we look at a few things that are essential to avoid when building your own home.

Not planning the space effectively.

One of the best things about building your own home and the main reason why many choose to go down this path is that you can have complete control over the layout of your home. Unfortunately, while it sounds like lots of fun to be able to do this, many people have no idea how to plan and use the space effectively. Before you start, you need to think about all of the things that you do in your home – sleeping, eating, washing, relaxing, socializing etc. – and make sure you have designated spaces for all of these activities. You also need to take into consideration storage space. Every single room in the house needs to have storage, and if you do it carefully, this can be built in and subtle.

Not being careful with the small details.

When you are designing and building your own home, it can be so easy to get caught up in the significant details, but sometimes, it is the smaller ones that can cause the most issues if not planned for and dealt with correctly. Think about where you are planning on putting plug sockets – do you want them in easy access of your bed, for example?

Choosing a poor contractor

Very few people can build their own home without at least some help from the professionals, and before you hire someone, it is imperative that you do some research on them. As much as it would be lovely to think that everyone out there is honest and ethical, there are sadly a few dodgy contractors that will do a shoddy job or mess you around. Lower the odds of this happening by doing your research and asking for local recommendations.

Not thinking about lighting.

Pretty much nobody likes living in dark and dingy homes, but sadly, many of us do because of poor planning from designers and builders. When you are making your blueprint for your home, factor in lots of windows and opportunities for natural light. A window replacement guide is handy for this step. Think about big sliding glass doors onto the yard or patio, floor to ceiling windows and roof windows.

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Anyone can stage a beautiful photo for a few minutes. Or cover up some bad decisions with a good blanket, but real interior design lasts a lifetime. People can confuse interior design with interior decoration, but they are very different things.

Interior design – designing an entire living space from the ground up, using scientific techniques. Using seasons, emotions and the area itself to produce a final effect.

Interior decoration – Adding furniture to an already decorated interior.

There are some very specific elements that make up the general rules that interior designers live by, and sometimes because they know them so well, that is exactly what leads them to break them. Let’s take a peek at some of them:

Light – This is one of the elements on a room design that has to be manipulated by an expert. While most people will see one window and either think about how to dress it, a designer will see an opportunity to play. Man-made lights and natural light can work in harmony, provided the tone and location of the lights are taken into consideration. The lighting used, either task, accent or mood will also dictate how certain spaces are used at certain times in the day or year.

Color – Psychology and room purpose will play a big part in what the color palette for a room will be. Some rooms will require a tranquil touch, others a vibrant pop of colors and some a plain white as a backdrop to displaying art. Color has three characteristics –  hue, value, and intensity. Come colors will go together, others won’t, and some will give a beautiful ‘clash.’ Often you will find three shades of the same color in one room, a light, dark and medium tone. These will bring depth to some parts of the room, and draw attention to others. Colorwork takes skill and knowledge.

Texture – you might think the texture is just a wood floor or a soft blanket. However, there is so much more to texture than that. Visual texture is as it suggests where the texture is only visible. So look for things like beautiful woodwork, photo frames from high-quality sources like Artware, and wallpapers and paints that look like they have a texture – but they don’t. Secondly, you are looking at Actual Texture – which is where those soft blankets and wood floors come in. Actual texture is the carpets, drapes, pillows, throws, and anything else you can touch. Texture provides a sensory element to a room that requires physical touch making it very powerful.

Space – the single most important aspect too and design. Space, big or small, or a little awkward provides the foundation for everything that follows. Some interior designers flourish with large airy spaces, others have their brightest ideas in the darkest and smallest of rooms. Space, like the other categories, are divided up into a few areas. Firstly two-dimensional space, there are flat surfaces like walls and floors. Then, three-dimensional space which is the living space. You will also hear the use of positive and negative space which play powerful roles in good interior design.

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Are you taking on a big renovation project over the next few months? It’s a brave step but ultimately a rewarding one as you see your dreams unfold with every objective you tick off the list.

Before you start tackling the crumbling paintwork, rusty radiators and wobbly woodwork take a look at our handy checklist to make sure you have what you need in place before you start.

Get the structure checked out

If your property is a new buy the first thing you’re going to need to do is to make sure it’s structurally sound, so call in the experts to give your home the once over and make sure it doesn’t have any subsidence or other urgent issues.

If you’ve got a good idea for these things, check out the paintwork around the property and look for any telltale signs of damp like wet, cold spots or areas where the paintwork is crumbling. Once you’re sure you’re working on a sound canvas, you’re good to move on to the next stage.

Find your team

However good you are at DIY and however practical your skills if you’re taking on a large-scale renovation you’re going to need your people around you. Find an architect who shares the same vision as you, who doesn’t try and persuade you away from your own ideas but who instead finds ways of making them happen while bringing their own creative flair.

Similarly ask around for recommendations on electricians, plumbers and building companies who you can trust and who have a great reputation. It’s always worth paying slightly more for great quality work then paying less and having to call in the experts to patch up mistakes.

Consider too what you’re going to need to do after your builders have left the property and if you’re going to need to carry out an industrial clean, get information from ServiceMaster for this kind of work.

Budget realistically

Be creative with your budget but always be realistic and try to stick to it as closely as you can. While it’s tempting to spend money on all the beautiful things, get the basics in place first. Once your heating, electrics and plumbing are all in place, then it’s time to turn your attention to your interior designs. You might find creative ways of maximizing your money by looking around second-hand stores or reclamation yards for vintage radiators and furniture to give your home a unique feel.

Big projects like a house renovation are scary and often feel out of control so look to have a scheduler or project sharing software that all your teams can contribute to and which has clear tasks and a timescale. Then watch as your bargain is slowly transformed into the house of your dreams, knowing that every detail has been thought of and designed by you. It won’t be long until you can close the door in your sanctuary knowing that everything is just as it should be.

This is a contributed post by Cooper Klein, smoothdecorator.com 

In just a couple of weeks, you’ll have an opportunity to start fresh. If you want to introduce a sense of novelty into your home, you can start by updating its look. Implementing certain changes and freshening up your home décor can have a great effect on your state of mind. You’ll be able to live in a new and improved home environment that you truly love. There’s no better time to indulge yourself in some simple luxuries than New Year, and designing a home that you deserve is the way to do it.

Simplify your décor

There’s no need for excessiveness, exaggeration or clutter in a luxurious, elegant home. Simplicity is what contributes to the unique sense of effortless beauty of a glamorous home environment. You should take some time to create a fresh base by simplifying your décor and eliminating clutter. Once you create an understated backdrop, every beautiful feature will be able to stand out and contribute to the luxurious atmosphere in your home.

Choose rich colors

Going with a neutral color scheme is always a great way to set the tone of elegance and sophistication in a home. Whites, off-whites, beiges, subtle greys and other neutral hues create a classic, timeless look. In addition, a lovely open palette will make your space seem brighter, airier and more enjoyable. Therefore, you should choose neutral shades and muted tones to give your space a subtle touch of luxury.

Layer lush textiles

A luxurious home ambiance appeals to all of your senses and provides you with an enticing tactile experience. Introducing and layering rich textiles, such as velvet, sheepskin, silk and satin will create a rich, textured look that exudes coziness and elegance. There are plenty of inspiring ways to introduce these materials to your home, from window treatments to throw cushions and covers.

Embellish with gold accents

For a truly glamorous and luxurious look, you should introduce a few accents with a gold finish. Gold has always been one of the most luxurious and glamorous trends, so it can truly elevate your home décor. Of course, you shouldn’t go overboard with gold decorations, but simply introduce a few hand-picked details that will help you create a “wow” effect. For instance, you can use fabrics with hints of gold or embellish your space with gold features, such as frames, candlesticks, lighting fixtures, etc.

Spa up your bathroom

A luxurious home atmosphere is about both style and relaxation. It should feature elegant appeal while also providing you with a feeling of peacefulness and serenity. A simple way to merge both factors is by creating a spa-inspired bathroom where you’ll introduce indulgent features and create a glamorous look. You should create a minimalist home spa embellished with indoor plants, lush towels, luxurious bathing products and scented candles. Of course, modern and elegant freestanding baths are the perfect option for spa-inspired bathrooms that feature simple, yet infinitely sophisticated designs. Implementing such a tub in your bathroom will provide you with a true feeling of relaxation while simultaneously dominating the entire space with its subtle elegance. Clean, simple lines, natural stone and a sleek look are all perfect features for your tranquil spa sanctuary. So, if you want to treat yourself for New Year, make this piece your primary choice because it’s definitely worth the investment.

Treat your feet

A lovely plush rug will provide your feet with a royal treatment, so don’t forget to introduce one or two into your home. Sheepskin rugs are the perfect option for adding a touch of glamour to your home. Not only can you use them to embellish your floors and introduce a feeling of coziness, but you can also experiment with their placement and try out some other decorating ideas. For instance, you can place a sheepskin rug on a chair or hang it as a wall embellishment. What’s more, you can create an even better look if you set such a plush, soft rug against, for instance, a leather armchair. This will juxtapose the two materials, accentuate their texture and create a striking contrast.

Use extravagant mirrors

Mirrors are gorgeous embellishments that can help you beautify your space. You can use them to reflect natural light throughout your home and make it seem more open and spacious. Mirrors can also visually expand your space, which is why they are frequently used in small spaces. However, these elements also provide you with an opportunity to elevate your home décor. You can pick mirrors with ornate, extravagant frames and let them stand out in your elegant home.

Pick impactful art

As one of the most inspiring and mesmerizing home embellishments, the artwork will undoubtedly style up your home. A single oversized painting can be the focal point of an entire room, creating an impactful, awe-inspiring look. You can pick an enticing art piece and use it as a décor statement in your luxurious home.

New Year is the perfect time to introduce a sense of novelty in both your home and life. You can use these lush ideas to create a subtle, yet luxurious home and welcome the following year in style.

Bio: Cooper Klein is an entrepreneur with a degree in Marketing and a regular contributor to many online magazines. In order to spend more time with his family, Cooper decided to take a break, and he’s currently working from home as a blogger. You can find him on Twitter.

This is a contributed post that contains affiliate links

Home renovations are incredibly expensive which is why a lot of people put them off. You might not be happy with the way that your bedroom is decorated but if you haven’t really got the money to pay for decorating, you might decide to just leave it. Sometimes, putting it off for a couple of years is fine but there are a lot of great benefits to home renovations that people don’t realize. These are just some of the reasons why you should stop putting off home renovations.

They Make You Happier

Your surroundings have a big impact on your happiness and wellbeing so if you’re not happy with the way that your house is decorated, you need to do something about it. For example, a bedroom that isn’t decorated right can cause you to have trouble sleeping. You’ll struggle to relax and unwind after a long day at work if you don’t like your house and that can lead to increased stress levels. Your home should be a nice place that you enjoy spending time in and often, that means you need to make some changes to it.

They Add Value

This is a big one because there may come a time in the future when you decide to sell your home. If you want to sell it for a good price, making changes and additions to it is the easiest way to guarantee that. Adding value to your home is also a good way to increase your borrowing power. If you find yourself in a financial emergency and you need to take out a loan against your home, renovations will increase the amount that you can get. If you get in touch with a good mortgage broker (you can find one at https://altrua.ca) and get some quotes for a second mortgage, you can get an idea of your borrowing power. This is a good way to fund home renovations and add value to your home to then further increase that borrowing power and increase your chance of selling the house for a good price in the future.

They Make Your House Eco-Friendly

Environmental responsibility is a top priority for a lot of us these days and people are starting to make all sorts of lifestyle changes, but have you considered your home? The energy that you use to run your home has a far bigger impact than most other lifestyle factors and there are lots of simple things that you can do to make your home more eco-friendly. It’s also worth considering during the renovation so you’re not damaging the environment while you renovate. Making simple changes like putting new windows and doors in or updating your insulation can make your home far more eco-friendly.

They Cut Maintenance Costs

Maintenance costs are an inevitability for any homeowners but if you do renovations regularly and keep everything in good shape, you can avoid any big problems further down the line. If you upgrade older features in your home now before they degenerate even further, you’ll spend less than you would if you waited until you were forced to make repairs.

If you’ve been putting off home renovations for a while, maybe it’s just time to bite the bullet and get on with it.  

This is a contributed post and contains affiliate links

We all want to welcome guests into our home, and make them feel at home, to the point that we will bring out our best china and fluffiest towels.  Yet, we often don’t tend to focus that much on the interior design of our guest bedroom’s as they are rarely used and when they are used, it’s usually just for a fleeting visit.

In this sense, our guest rooms can leave a lot to be desired, and if you are used to staying in beautiful boutique hotels that emphasize design and comfort as part of their philosophy, it’s possible you might feel like you are underserving your guests.

Of course, you don’t want to turn your guest room into the anonymity of a five star hotel, you still want it to be personal and to feel like your guest is at home within your home – yet there are a few things you can do to “wow” your guests in the same way the Marriott chain of hotels have a philosophy of “wowing” their guests.

In this article, we’re going to look at a few aspects of this.

UPGRADE THE FACILITIES

The first step is to consider upgrading your facilities, for instance, many people will end up putting an unwanted bed (that’s probably past its prime) in the guest room with little consideration for the comfort of it.  Spend a night sleeping on the bed, and make sure it’s comfortable. Similarly, when it comes to the bathroom you might want to consider investing in some classy glass shower doors and upgrade the toilet or taps… as this often overlooked area contributes a lot to the experience of a guest bedroom.

CONSIDER THE SMELL

Sometimes, as the guest bedroom doesn’t tend to get much use, it can smell a little musty.  You, therefore, want to consider the smell of the guest bedroom – enhancing it with natural aromatherapy oils or perhaps a plug-in air freshener.  Just be aware that some plug-in air fresheners can cause allergies in people, particularly those with asthma.

IRON THE SHEETS

If you want to go the extra mile, then ironing the sheets will make for a much more luxurious bedtime experience.  The feel of getting into ironed sheets is a world apart from sheets that have been crumpled up for a few months and quickly put on the bed in anticipation of guests.  This little touch will make your guest room feel a lot more luxurious and comfortable.

GET NICE TOILETRIES

If you’ve ever been to a fancy design hotel and felt let down by the poor standard of toiletries on offer, you will know that you can stay in the most beautiful hotel in the world – but if they scrimp on toiletries, it makes you feel like you’re not staying somewhere as luxurious as you are.  While your aim is not to get a five-star rating, it’s just to provide a more pleasant experience for your guests, supplying some decent toiletries can be a really good way to go the extra mile and make them feel like they are being treated like royalty when they stay over at your house.

MAKE IT PERSONAL

Many hotels today look for ways to tend to the unique needs and requirements of their guests, for instance, by providing them with their favorite newspaper.  Whilst, this is your home, and you don’t want to replicate a five-star hotel experience… little thoughts such as having their favorite newspaper delivered, will go a long way to making them feel very special and welcome guests.

In summary, when it comes to welcoming guests into your home and making your guest bedroom feel like a five-star hotel – the last thing you want is to replicate the formal affluence of a five-star hotel.  You want it to be warm and friendly, yet comfortable and considered. In this sense, you want your guest to feel significant. That’s what it all comes down to.

If you know your sister is visiting, for instance, and that her favorite scent is strawberry – going out and getting a little bottle of strawberry bubble bath or shampoo is a simple and cheap gesture that’s likely to make her feel very significant, special, and tended to.

In this vein, anything you can do to go the “extra mile” and make your guest feel special and significant, is a good idea.  Furthermore, you want to consider the guest experience by staying in the room yourself – after all, most guests aren’t going to tell you if you have a really uncomfortable bed that slants to one side… you need to experience it yourself and make sure it’s up to scratch.

This is a contributed post with affiliate links

We love our homes, but they can sometimes become a little bit annoying, can’t they? Just as we’re beginning to settle into all the joys of our humble homes, we look around and realize that everything is beginning to look a little bit dated, or, at best, not quite as fresh as it once did. And when that time rolls around, we usually begin to look at the best home decor blogs, find our inspiration, and begin making grand plans. But that’s a lot of effort, right? It’s much easier to prevent your property from becoming dated in the first place.

Don’t Go Too Heavy With The Theme

There’s a lot to be said for picking a theme for a room. It can make it feel unique, and, executed properly, there’s no doubt that it can look pretty fantastic. But the problem with basing a room’s decor on a theme is that they rarely age well, if ever. An Egyptian themed bathroom, for instance, can be that luxurious touch that you’re looking for in a bathroom, but it’s unlikely to look quite as stylish in a few years. Just think back to all those overly eighties decor choices that were common back then; they didn’t even make it out of the decade. So don’t go too heavy with a theme – if you insist, make it things that can be easily changed, such as decorations.

Stay on Top of Maintenance

It’s not usually the decor selections that give a home’s age away, necessarily, but the small details. For instance, wallpaper that’s peeling in the corner, or a carpet that’s lost its color, or a cabinet that’s beginning to fade will all give your property that tired look and feel. Touch up your wallpaper, deep clean your carpet, and work with a company that offers cabinet refinishing, and you’ll keep your house looking fresh! You do have to be proactive with these types of things, but you’ll be thankful for your efforts in the long run.

Change the Basics

Many people look around their living room and decide that they want to change all the furniture to make it feel fresh again. This is not necessary! In most cases, all you need to do is switch out the basics. For example, new cushion and pillow covers, and a new set of curtains will make the room look like new. You’ll also want to avoid the pile-up of clutter – sometimes just clearing away the debris is all you need to bring the room back to life. again

Final Thoughts

Your home won’t always look completely new, but there’s no reason to settle for a house that looks like its best days are behind it. By incorporating the above steps into your home planning, you can ensure that your house never needs to have that faded, dated feel. You will need to mix up your decor every now and again – no look lasts forever – but you won’t need to make wholesale changes all that often.

This is a contributed blog post with affiliate links

It’s November and the sunlight hours are getting short, which means one thing: winter is coming. Unlike the Starks, you’re not preparing for a battle on both fronts against the Lannisters and an army of White Walkers. Instead, you’re looking to get through the fall and winter months unscathed and come out the other side when spring finally arrives.

To do that, it’s important to keep the spirits high even when it’s dark outside. There are plenty of options at your disposal, yet the easiest and most effective is light. Making sure there is plenty of it, natural and synthetic, should stop the dark, rainy days from getting you down.

Homeowners might be surprised by how impactful a change of a light bulb can be around this time of year. For those that want illuminating, below are tips on how to light your home this winter.

Start With The Exterior

People judge your home based on its curb appeal, and you’re the same. As soon as you pull up on the drive, the brain will start to think “God, this place feels drab.” Whether you want to admit or not, it’s tough not to agree and that stays with you for the entire season. Think of it like a dark cloud which won’t go away.

A quick fix is to use lighting and lamps on the outside to give your home a boost. Let Tiki torches guide you down the garden path to the front door. Or, use lanterns to create an old-school, haunted house vibe. After all, November is the season of the dead.

Of course, you can use decorations to your advantage during the holidays. Thanksgiving is around the corner and Christmas isn’t too far away, which means lots of fairy lights and bright accessories. Put them on the exterior of the house, the trees, and anywhere where they’ll add a bit of life.

Maximize Sunlight

There is only so much of it per day, so it’s important to let the rays in during the day. Natural sunlight has plenty of health properties too, which makes it good for a range of things, including your mood. Many a homeowner has felt blue in the summer due to a lack of vitamin D.

The key is to remove the blockages that stop it from entering your house. A typical example is curtains. Anybody that has them lets the thick fabric absorb the rays so there is none left for the rest of the room. A variety of different types of window blinds will make sure your house is bathed in light from the morning until the evening.

Other obstructions include furniture and tall trees and shrubs in the garden. For the former, just move them to a new place. The latter you might need to trim back or remove altogether.

Install Extra Fittings

The problem you have is that the lighting in the house is inadequate. Not only that but it’s too harsh and makes you think of a doctor’s surgery or the locker rooms at the gym. As far as coziness goes, there aren’t too many worse moods to set than those.

So, additional lamps can illuminate the darkness, but what’s the best way to use them? Are there rules? There aren’t any which you must follow; it’s your house and you can do as you please. Still, there are a few that will make all the difference. Probably the easiest is choosing a variety of floor and table lamps for a cozy contrast. Alternatively, you can pick fittings with different glows.

For the geeks that are into that kind of thing, bulbs that give off a warm glow are 2,700 Kelvins or less.

Accessorize

The accessories in the house don’t have to be lamps to light up the gloom. Candles are obviously a fantastic addition because they are very bright when lit. Plus, the scented ones smell nice and that’s always a bonus. Please treat them with care and never leave an open flame unattended.

Another trick which is useful is to decorate with mirrors. Although they don’t give off light, they do reflect it around the room. As well as making the place look big, this also has the effect of making it seem light too. And, there’s no need to put mirror glass panels everywhere as you can do the same thing with a shiny surface.

Last but not least, don’t forget about houseplants. Flowers with vivid colors cut through the darkness even in the dead of winter.

This is a contributed blog post from HouseTipster

The proper use of Feng Shui has been in existence since ancient times. It basically is living in harmony with natural surroundings and all of nature. Homes in China were built with the understanding that there should be a natural flow and rhythm throughout the house. Nature was studied to figure out the natural flow of positive energy which determined the position and location of furniture and other items throughout the house. The emphasis was to help with the flow of positive energy in the house while blocking or redirecting the negative energy. The purpose was to help attract wealth, reduce stress, and keep the occupants healthy.

The Elimination of Clutter

Clutter corresponds to one of the five elements of Feng Shui. These elements refer to Earth, metal, water, wood, and fire. Clutter is a form of low or stagnant negative energy. Even if your house looks neat and tidy, a closet could contain a lot of stagnant energy. This type of energy should be removed to help your home become stress-free. All items should be removed from the closet and the things you no longer use need to be discarded. The closet needs cleaned from top to bottom so the flow of positive energy can resume.

The same goes for your kitchen and bathroom cabinets. Everything should be taken out of the cabinets and thoroughly cleaned. Ensure that the items you will keep are in an organized and efficient manner. Items used most should be handily located at the front of the cabinets. Broken and unused items that no longer serve a purpose should be discarded. Tangled cords should be straightened to remove stagnant energy stored there. Your living space needs to remain free of clutter to help with the reduction of stress and increase the flow of positive energy again.

The Path to Your House

The entrance to your home is a very important part of Feng Shui. Doors that are improperly aligned can cause health issues and other problems. To help keep your home stress free, careful planning of door locations should be done. The sidewalk should not be a straight path leading to your home. It should meander up to the doorway. A straight path causes the chi energy to rush through the house without having a chance to slow down.

Facing doorways should be aligned perfectly or completely out of alignment. A framework that is aligned with another doorway can cause problems with health and disharmony for the people living there. If there are three or more doors in complete alignment, the chi energy will not have time to slow down which will create more complications.

Mirrors in the House

The placement of mirrors in the house is very important for proper energy flow. Placing them incorrectly can create obstacles to a happy life. A mirror should not be put where you can see your reflection as soon as you enter the front door. The belief is that it will reflect your good luck back outside. Mirrors can be positioned to reflect nature from outside. This is supposed to help bring harmony to the household. The use of mirrors should be limited in the bathroom. It should not be situated across from the open doorway or a view of the commode. The bedroom is another room where it’s not recommended to place mirrors in. It can affect your sleep which can lead to stress and other health problems.

Relieving Stress with Flowing Water

Installing a water fountain inside your house can help everyone be more relaxed and peaceful. The placement and materials of the fountain play a crucial role in it working properly. A water fountain should be made of wood, metal, or stone, which are natural materials that play an important part in keeping people calm. These fountains work best when placed in the north, east, and southeast section of the living space. A water fountain should not be placed below a stairway. It could possibly bring illness and bad luck to the occupants.

The Use of Wind Chimes

Using wind chimes has long been a very popular way of suppressing bad energy. A wind chime should be carefully chosen for a specific area. Depending on the placement of the chime will determine what material it should be composed of. A wind chime made of metal should not be placed in the east since this is the place of the wood element. The number of chimes and the symbols inscribed on the wind chime all determine the proper location for the chime to hang. Properly used, wind chimes can bring peace and prosperity to those living in the house

Plants Are Beautiful

Keeping plants indoors gives you a part of nature to love while you are indoors. They help promote the positive energies of chi. The placement and types of plants can increase the flow of positive energy which will help produce a calming effect in your living space. Most plants are a good source of chi energy as long as they are properly cared for. The exceptions could be a type of spiked cactus plant, which emits a source of negative energy.

Most plants you keep indoors should be located in the area of the wood element. This is the Southeast, East, and South portions of the house. They should be planted in beautiful containers and given a lot of love. The other areas of your home can have plants kept in them as long as there are not so many that it overwhelms the elements in the area.

Room Colors

The color you paint rooms can have an effect on the quality of chi in your house. A kitchen benefits greatly from being painted a yellow or white color. This helps bring a feeling of happiness and increases the positive flow of energy. This makes for a stress-free cooking area. The kitchen is one of the most used rooms and preparing meals cheerfully will definitely make the food better.

Painting rooms according to the matching elements can help keep a home at peace. The wood element colors are brown and green while earth is yellow and brown. The corresponding colors of water are black and blue. Matching white and grey to the element of metal will help positive chi flow in that part of the house. The fire element is any variation of red. This will go a long way towards keeping harmony and peace in a home.

The Living Room

This is the most important area of the house where family and friends gather for social events and entertainment. It should be a large room where two of the walls are facing the exterior of the house. A couch should always be placed against a wall with no windows or doors to make the space more Feng Shui and reduce any unnecessary stress. You should also have a chair and loveseat to provide ample seating for guests and family.

If there is to be a fireplace, it should be installed on a south wall to balance with the fire element. The north side of a living room can have a fountain, aquarium, or paintings of calm water flowing towards the room.

For more on what’s new and next in design, subscribe to The Design Tourist Channel and sign up for the blog email.

This is a contributed post with affiliate links

The colder weather is here, the early sunsets have started, and your family will be sure to spend more time at home over the next few months. As such, it’s vital that the right preparations have been taken to avoid the threat of the property becoming uncomfortable or, worse still, unsafe.

While it’s likely that you’ve already completed several steps, you may have forgotten some very important factors. Here are five issues that you must attend to right away.

Excluding Drafts

Adding roof insulation and upgrading the windows were probably two of the top items on your agenda. Those preparations form the foundations of maintaining good insulation. Still, you need to remember the smaller steps too. Using draft excluders under door frames will make a noticeable difference while thicker drapes and using a floor rug will also help. Keeping warm is the most important challenge at this time of the year. Do not underestimate it.

Air Conditioning

It’s almost certain that you’ll have checked the boiler and heating facilities. However, home ac repair is equally crucial. Without it, the home could be at risk of mold, mildew, and dangerous bacteria. Besides, good air circulation is very important when windows are shut for long periods. Whether it’s upgrading the system, cleaning it, or fixing other faults doesn’t matter. Either way, you must give your home units the attention they deserve. On a similar note, ceiling fans should be set to run in reverse to push warm air around the room.

Heating Facilities

While you’ve checked the boiler and the radiators, you must not end your commitment there. Insulation the pipes with foam insulation can work wonders for efficiency. Likewise, water tank jacket will have a positive impact. First and foremost, it will save money reduce your energy usage as well as the level of waste. However, it’s also worth noting that reducing the workload on the heating system can also aid its long-term performance.

The Garden

While you might not be spending that much time in the backyard over the coming weeks and months, its significance cannot be ignored. This guide to winter garden preparations will put you on the right track. Aside from boosting the appearances, this can prevent a range of issues from harming your home. Be sure to regularly check gutters and other key items too, as blockages and overflows could cause further damage. If you have a garden deck, lighting and a heater will allow you to keep using It during the colder months.

Security

You might not want to spend much time outside during the cold nights, but burglars seem to love it. Thieves know that the average family will have a lot of new purchases sitting in the home ready for the festive period. As such, you must fight back by protecting the home. This is the perfect time to invest in CCTV alarm systems, tougher locks, and driveway lighting. In addition to keeping burglars at bay, it will put your mind at ease. This is the greatest reward of all.

Winter Is Coming: 6 Things You Have to Do to Prepare Your Garden for the Winter

With autumn at our door, activities in the garden are inevitably slowing down. Perennials are blushing with colors, while deciduous trees and shrubs are starting to drop their leaves. Annuals, on the other hand, are nearing the end of their natural life and wait for the nip of the first heavier frost. However, this doesn’t mean that after the peak of summer’s harvest, the garden door should remain shut until the spring planting rush. The amount of work that awaits you next spring depends on how well you have prepared the garden for the winter period. Here are some suggestions.

Clean up the garden

Before the ground becomes too hard, make sure you remove all weeds and debris. Apart from looking untidy, dry and rotting plants can provide a home to insects, disease and fungi. Insects that feed on dead plant matter may lay eggs on the plant stalks and leaves, so by removing their food, you prevent them from getting the high ground when the springtime comes. Lightly till the soil to expose any burrowing insects, such as Japanese beetle, whose grubs overwinter in the ground. Once your garden soil is exposed, add a layer of leaves, compost, manure, and, if need be, lime, to improve your soil quality.

Remove invasive weeds

Whether it was the bindweed that enshrouded your blackberry patch or the Himalayan blackberry that kept growing from your garden’s borders, now’s the time to bid them farewell. Dig the weeds out, pack them for the garbage or pile them on autumn burn piles. Most invasive weeds can survive under a pile of compost, so you better destroy them before they can’t get root or drop their seeds. Removing invasive species completely is the only way to break their cycle of sprouting all over every spring.

Burn waste for ash

Garden waste that can’t be composted or used in any other ways can still be burned to provide a valuable gardening product, plant ash. Burning is an excellent way of dealing with diseased plant matter and weeds. Unlike coal ash, wood ash contains potassium, which is a vital nutrient for crops. However, keep in mind that ash is alkaline, so use it in small amounts as an addition to the compost, especially if you compost a lot of acidic material like citrus peel. In addition, ash is a great growth supplement for fruits like apples, raspberries, and tomatoes.

Prepare perennials and vegetables for winter

First of all, start watering your perennials and flowering shrubs more in the autumn, to ease up their dormant period.  Once the ground has frozen, cut them back to three inches and mulch them with a thick layer of straw. If you’re planning to put in a new flower bed next spring, cover the area with mulch or heavy plastic sheet to prevent unwanted growth when the weather gets warmer again.

Solar-powered greenhouse

By opting for a heated greenhouse, you can break the nature’s cycle and extend the greens season well throughout the winter. Of course, this can have a significant effect on your energy bill. However, there is a much more efficient solution, and that is going solar. One of most effective ways of heating a small garden greenhouse is by using solar energy, you can opt for one of these 5kW Skylight Energy solar systems that are highly recommendable for households. They will enable you to enjoy your favorite flowers and plants for a prolonged period of time and provide them with a sustainable and eco-friendly environment that will soon pay off its initial investment.

Replenish mulch

Just like mulching in summer, winter mulching has many benefits for trees and shrubs. Apart from reducing water loss, it protects the soil from erosion and eliminates weeds. Winter mulching, however, has an added benefit of protecting roots from freezing and thawing cycles. A thick layer of mulch stabilizes the soil temperature and acts as a buffer against strong frosts. At the same time, as it breaks down, it integrates the fresh organic material into your garden soil.

Clean and sharpen gardening tools

Although experienced gardeners keep their tools clean and oiled throughout the year, it’s often difficult to do so when activity in the garden is high. In the autumn, however, there’s more time to rejuvenate your tools by giving them some care. Begin by washing them to remove caked earth and debris. Remove any rust sports using a wire brush or sandpaper. A basic mill file works great for sharpening hoes, shovels and spades, while for pruners and shears, you better use a simple whetstone. Rub the metal parts of your tools with motor oil, which seals the surfaces from oxygen and prevents rust.

Whichever climate you live in, there are always chores that are better done in the autumn than in spring. The suggestions listed here won’t only help you start the new planting season more easily, but also improve your garden and yields in the long run.

Author’s bio:

Robert Clayton is a blogger with a degree in engineering based in Sydney. His interests and passions include DIY, green technologies and home improvement. He also loves good food, music, dogs and enjoys spending time by the ocean. He’s a regular contributor for Smooth Decorator, An Australian Home improvement website.

If you are planning on selling your home, staging it correctly is a must. This means presenting your home in the best possible manner to encourage a sale. So, let’s take a look at some of the best home staging tips.

Three quick staging tips for your children’s bedroom

Peppa Pig and Thomas the Tank Engine may fascinate your children, but they’re not going to captivate potential buyers. Let’s be honest, children’s bedrooms can be a bit of a headache when it comes to home staging. One thing you are bound to find yourself saying is, “where did all of these toys come from?” But don’t panic, here are three top tips to make staging your kid’s room easier…

1. De-clutter – De-clutter is a phrase you hear a lot in the world of home staging, but it is especially important when it comes to children’s bedrooms! You may be used to your little one’s bedroom being covered in toys, but the buyer actually wants to see the floor!
2. Choose a general theme – There is nothing wrong with having a theme in your child’s bedroom. You don’t have to disguise that it’s your kid’s room. Just don’t go for anything to taste-specific. You don’t want the room to look like a shrine to a specific cartoon character. The best thing to do is keep it simple but add pops of color. You can add color to your bedroom with patterned blinds or a fun duvet cover, for example. This does not require a lot of effort.
3. Let natural light in – Open the curtains and let as much natural light into the room as possible. Kids bedrooms should be fun and bright. There is nothing that makes a child’s room look more unappealing than dim light.

What is your home’s complexion?

Ask any home stager and they will tell you that paint is the easiest way to make a big change to your property! It can revitalize your home – making it look lovely and welcoming. But, before you can even begin to think about paint, you need to discover your home’s complexion!

Why? Well, your home’s complexion determines what color of paint will look good! A warm complexion lends itself well to beige and tan, whilst a cool complexion is ideal for white and grey. Notice the use of neutral colors! They appeal to a wider audience and ensure your home is ready to move in to.

Signs that your home has a warm complexion:

•   Your roof and stone/brick is tan, rust or brown
•   Metals used are copper or brass
•   Your kitchen appliances are tan, ivory or off-white
•   Your floors are terra cotta, coffee, warm beige or off-white
•   Your cabinets are birch, pine or oak
•   Your countertops are tan or brown

Signs that your home has a warm complexion:

•   Your roof and brick/stone is grey, blue or black
•   Metals used are stainless steel, black natural iron, chrome or pewter
•   Your kitchen appliances are stainless steel, white or black
•   Your floors are white, grey, black, blue or taupe
•   Your cabinets are cherry, maple or whitewashed
•   Your countertops are white, grey, blue or black

Determine your home’s complexion and you can be sure of color success!

Five home staging mistakes you must avoid!

Staging your home is necessary if you want it to sell, but needless to say, you need to get it right! Avoid these home staging nightmares…

1. Painting with intense dark colors – Do you really want your viewers to leave your home feeling depressed? Dark and intense colors close spaces and create an atmosphere that is cold and unwelcoming. Such shades are taste specific – not everyone will appreciate them!
2. Neglecting storage spaces – Over 80 percent of buyers state storage as one of their must-haves! If your cupboards and closets are crammed with items they won’t be able to see how much storage space there is!
3. Adding personality – Now is not the time to show your quirky tastes and creative side! Keep it neutral to appeal to all buyers.
4. Blocking light – Forgetting to open your curtains and turn on your lights is a rookie error, yet one that so many people make! Letting natural light into your home is extremely important, as it opens up the space and can highlight the main features of a room.
5. Keeping your family photos out – Family photos remind the buyers that the house is not theirs! It makes it difficult for them to connect.

So there you have it: some amazing home staging tips for everyone!