Painting is one of the simplest and most rewarding home projects you can tackle yourself. With just a few supplies and the right shade, you can completely transform a space, whether you’re brightening it with soft neutrals like white, gray, or tan, or making a bold statement with rich, vibrant hues.
A bookshelf is a form of self-expression in its own right. Bookshelves are insights into a person’s passions, hobbies, and goals, and they, of course, showcase well-worn favorites.
When it comes to planning the design of your new home, there are a number of factors that have a mighty impact on the look and feel of each room. We’ve already touched on incorporating indoor plants into your home’s decor, the importance of even slightly different shades of paint, and how a room’s layout impacts our psyches. However, there’s one more interior design feature that packs a major punch when it comes to setting the tone of a home, one that deserves its own due attention. Floor rugs come in many shapes, sizes, and styles, and the way that they’re incorporated into a room’s design can be the final touch that ties everything together. Considering how much of a struggle it can be to select the perfect rug (for the right price), let’s discuss how to get things right the first time. Factors to Consider when Picking an Area RugAn alternative to wall-to-wall carpeting, area rugs can be incorporated into nearly every room in the house, and they come in many different styles, though the top concern for most people will be cost. Depending on material and size, area rugs can be a hefty investment, and although homeowners might
When putting your home on the market, you obviously want to get as much out of the sale as you can. And ideally, you’d like the process to run quickly. Throughout the years, agents, interior designers, and other real estate professionals have searched for the best strategies to make residential transactions move as smoothly as possible, and what they’ve discovered is the fine art of home staging. Home staging is the act of redecorating, cleaning, and designing a home so that buyers can more easily imagine themselves living there. Real estate agents are professionals at accentuating the strengths of a home while bringing any flaws into perspective, and home staging is there to reinforce these efforts through what potential buyers actually see and experience during a tour. According to a National Association of REALTORS (NAR) Research Group’s 2023 Study, 81% of buyers’ agents said that home staging made it easier to visualize the property as their future home. Despite this, many home sellers skip this step in order to save on costs. Since the largest investment most people will make is their home, home staging is well worth the cost and time commitment. 3 Options for Home-StagingHome sellers can go
One of the biggest benefits of the many social media and content creation platforms that are widely accessible today is that there are more engaging content creators than ever before. For people that are compulsive DIYers themselves or for those who are interested in learning more about intriguing interior design styles, finding a popular vlogger is a great way to build motivation and fuel inspiration. Pick your poison! Between Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok, there’s no shortage of home and lifestyle content creators ready to hook you in. If you’re interested in checking out a few new creators, we’ve got you covered. Here are a few home and lifestyle content creators that you should definitely check out! DIY Content CreatorsThere is no better genre of content creation when it comes to personal motivation than DIY content creators. Homeowners often feel limited in how they can transform their houses due to budget constraints, and home improvement jobs tend to feel intimidating for people that lack experience using tools, making measurements, and designing home features. The best DIY content creators are able to balance specific home improvement tutorials with fun and well-edited videos that show how accessible many projects are—even for beginners. Amanda
Finding the perfect look for your home can take a lot of experimentation before everything comes together. Maybe a new shade of paint is the missing ingredient for your living room, or perhaps it’s a new set of countertops that would result in the kitchen of your dreams. While there are many changes that can radically alter the look of a room, there is almost no change as impactful as switching to hardwood floors. For many new homeowners, installing hardwood floors is at the top of their to-do list. While carpet can provide a feeling of warmth and comfort for a family, any new occupants may see old carpeted areas as a den of decades-old germs and allergens ready to strike. If you haven’t made the switch already, here are a few benefits of hardwood floors, along with some strategies to maintain them. Advantages of Hardwood FlooringFor any style or color scheme, hardwood flooring is extremely versatile. While interior design can boil down to a matter of taste, nothing matches the dynamic that hardwood floors can bring to a room—and designers swear by them! While certain woods lend themselves well to certain styles, stains and refinishing options can make your
Have you been wondering about what to do with that stack of novels? A built-in bookshelf may just be your solution! It can provide you with a place to store your books out of the way and make them easier to grab. You’ll also have a great conversation piece for your next get together. Tools You’ll Need You may find yourself needing some additional materials if you want a more elaborate shelving style, but in general, here’s what you’ll need: If you buy your boards pre-cut, you may not need the saws, and of course you can always use a hammer in lieu of a nail gun. Measure Your Project Measuring is always the most important first step before you start sawing and nailing away at your project. With either some tape or a carpenter’s pencil, mark an outline of the area you’ll be building in. Measure away from any moulding so you don’t miscalculate and end up having to start all over. You’ll have to remove moulding or baseboards that are in the way, so keep that in mind when choosing a location for your bookshelf. Mark Out Your Supports To make your bookshelf a “built-in” you need to
Leather furniture can be the perfect piece to tie any room together. And while leather is usually more durable, it can get worn down from excessive use. Luckily, a little bit of TLC will keep your couch or chair looking great even longer! Cuts and Scratches If you have pets or small children, your furniture may have lots of small cuts in it. The good news is that they’re fairly easy to repair. If the scratch hasn’t completely punctured the material, all you need is some high quality leather conditioner. Start by cleaning the surface and then wait for it to dry. Then continually apply the conditioner until the leather can’t absorb it. Let the last coat sit until it’s dry, and most of the cuts should disappear. Peeling or Flaking It’s not uncommon for blended leather to start flaking off after a while. Although you might opt to just replace the piece, you can get a few more years out of it. First, remove any loose flakes that are on the furniture. Then use either a leather paint or leather filler to fill in the area left behind. Seal it off with a coat of finish and let it
Getting a brand new flatscreen can really upgrade your home theater. But if you don’t like having it sit low on a bulky entertainment center, the better option might be to hang it on the wall. Here’s what you need to do to install your new TV without having it come crashing down. Tools for the Job Before you get started, there are a few items you’ll need: Depending on the size of your TV, you might need the help of one other person. As you move your TV around, be extra cautious. Too much pressure or flexing in the wrong spot can damage your display. Always remember to take your time and place your TV in a safe spot until it’s time to hang it up. Finding the Correct Mount There are several different styles of mounts that you can typically choose from. The most popular is a stationary mount that holds your TV flush against the wall. If you’re installing in a smaller room, this style can make things feel less cramped. A swivel or tilt mount lets you move your TV side to side or up and down to get the best viewing angle possible. Along with
October is here! While this autumnal month is most commonly associated with tricks and treats, it’s also recognized in both the United States and Canada as Fire Prevention Month. The first week of October has also been designated Fire Prevention Week in both countries. Close to 360,000 home fires occur annually, with many of them being preventable. To make your home fire-safe this year, here’s what you need to know. Have multiple fire extinguishers at the ready. A portable fire extinguisher can help stop a fire before it gets out of control. According to the National Association of Fire Equipment Distributors (NAFED), fire extinguishers are successful in extinguishing 95 percent of house fires. When they can’t fully put out a fire, extinguishers can effectively contain it until emergency services arrive. There are different variations of fire extinguishers, so it’s important that you have the right style for your home. Keep one on each level of your house in places where there are lots of appliances, mechanical equipment, or chemicals. Clean out your dryer’s lint trap. If it’s been a while since you last cleaned your dryer’s lint trap (or if you never have), start making it a regular habit. Lint
Painting is one of the simplest and most rewarding home projects you can tackle yourself. With just a few supplies and the right shade, you can completely transform a space, whether you’re brightening it with soft neutrals like white, gray, or tan, or making a bold statement with rich, vibrant hues.
A bookshelf is a form of self-expression in its own right. Bookshelves are insights into a person’s passions, hobbies, and goals, and they, of course, showcase well-worn favorites.
When it comes to planning the design of your new home, there are a number of factors that have a mighty impact on the look and feel of each room. We’ve already touched on incorporating indoor plants into your home’s decor, the importance of even slightly different shades of paint, and how a room’s layout impacts our psyches. However, there’s one more interior design feature that packs a major punch when it comes to setting the tone of a home, one that deserves its own due attention. Floor rugs come in many shapes, sizes, and styles, and the way that they’re incorporated into a room’s design can be the final touch that ties everything together. Considering how much of a struggle it can be to select the perfect rug (for the right price), let’s discuss how to get things right the first time. Factors to Consider when Picking an Area RugAn alternative to wall-to-wall carpeting, area rugs can be incorporated into nearly every room in the house, and they come in many different styles, though the top concern for most people will be cost. Depending on material and size, area rugs can be a hefty investment, and although homeowners might
When putting your home on the market, you obviously want to get as much out of the sale as you can. And ideally, you’d like the process to run quickly. Throughout the years, agents, interior designers, and other real estate professionals have searched for the best strategies to make residential transactions move as smoothly as possible, and what they’ve discovered is the fine art of home staging. Home staging is the act of redecorating, cleaning, and designing a home so that buyers can more easily imagine themselves living there. Real estate agents are professionals at accentuating the strengths of a home while bringing any flaws into perspective, and home staging is there to reinforce these efforts through what potential buyers actually see and experience during a tour. According to a National Association of REALTORS (NAR) Research Group’s 2023 Study, 81% of buyers’ agents said that home staging made it easier to visualize the property as their future home. Despite this, many home sellers skip this step in order to save on costs. Since the largest investment most people will make is their home, home staging is well worth the cost and time commitment. 3 Options for Home-StagingHome sellers can go
One of the biggest benefits of the many social media and content creation platforms that are widely accessible today is that there are more engaging content creators than ever before. For people that are compulsive DIYers themselves or for those who are interested in learning more about intriguing interior design styles, finding a popular vlogger is a great way to build motivation and fuel inspiration. Pick your poison! Between Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok, there’s no shortage of home and lifestyle content creators ready to hook you in. If you’re interested in checking out a few new creators, we’ve got you covered. Here are a few home and lifestyle content creators that you should definitely check out! DIY Content CreatorsThere is no better genre of content creation when it comes to personal motivation than DIY content creators. Homeowners often feel limited in how they can transform their houses due to budget constraints, and home improvement jobs tend to feel intimidating for people that lack experience using tools, making measurements, and designing home features. The best DIY content creators are able to balance specific home improvement tutorials with fun and well-edited videos that show how accessible many projects are—even for beginners. Amanda
Finding the perfect look for your home can take a lot of experimentation before everything comes together. Maybe a new shade of paint is the missing ingredient for your living room, or perhaps it’s a new set of countertops that would result in the kitchen of your dreams. While there are many changes that can radically alter the look of a room, there is almost no change as impactful as switching to hardwood floors. For many new homeowners, installing hardwood floors is at the top of their to-do list. While carpet can provide a feeling of warmth and comfort for a family, any new occupants may see old carpeted areas as a den of decades-old germs and allergens ready to strike. If you haven’t made the switch already, here are a few benefits of hardwood floors, along with some strategies to maintain them. Advantages of Hardwood FlooringFor any style or color scheme, hardwood flooring is extremely versatile. While interior design can boil down to a matter of taste, nothing matches the dynamic that hardwood floors can bring to a room—and designers swear by them! While certain woods lend themselves well to certain styles, stains and refinishing options can make your
Have you been wondering about what to do with that stack of novels? A built-in bookshelf may just be your solution! It can provide you with a place to store your books out of the way and make them easier to grab. You’ll also have a great conversation piece for your next get together. Tools You’ll Need You may find yourself needing some additional materials if you want a more elaborate shelving style, but in general, here’s what you’ll need: If you buy your boards pre-cut, you may not need the saws, and of course you can always use a hammer in lieu of a nail gun. Measure Your Project Measuring is always the most important first step before you start sawing and nailing away at your project. With either some tape or a carpenter’s pencil, mark an outline of the area you’ll be building in. Measure away from any moulding so you don’t miscalculate and end up having to start all over. You’ll have to remove moulding or baseboards that are in the way, so keep that in mind when choosing a location for your bookshelf. Mark Out Your Supports To make your bookshelf a “built-in” you need to
Leather furniture can be the perfect piece to tie any room together. And while leather is usually more durable, it can get worn down from excessive use. Luckily, a little bit of TLC will keep your couch or chair looking great even longer! Cuts and Scratches If you have pets or small children, your furniture may have lots of small cuts in it. The good news is that they’re fairly easy to repair. If the scratch hasn’t completely punctured the material, all you need is some high quality leather conditioner. Start by cleaning the surface and then wait for it to dry. Then continually apply the conditioner until the leather can’t absorb it. Let the last coat sit until it’s dry, and most of the cuts should disappear. Peeling or Flaking It’s not uncommon for blended leather to start flaking off after a while. Although you might opt to just replace the piece, you can get a few more years out of it. First, remove any loose flakes that are on the furniture. Then use either a leather paint or leather filler to fill in the area left behind. Seal it off with a coat of finish and let it
Getting a brand new flatscreen can really upgrade your home theater. But if you don’t like having it sit low on a bulky entertainment center, the better option might be to hang it on the wall. Here’s what you need to do to install your new TV without having it come crashing down. Tools for the Job Before you get started, there are a few items you’ll need: Depending on the size of your TV, you might need the help of one other person. As you move your TV around, be extra cautious. Too much pressure or flexing in the wrong spot can damage your display. Always remember to take your time and place your TV in a safe spot until it’s time to hang it up. Finding the Correct Mount There are several different styles of mounts that you can typically choose from. The most popular is a stationary mount that holds your TV flush against the wall. If you’re installing in a smaller room, this style can make things feel less cramped. A swivel or tilt mount lets you move your TV side to side or up and down to get the best viewing angle possible. Along with
October is here! While this autumnal month is most commonly associated with tricks and treats, it’s also recognized in both the United States and Canada as Fire Prevention Month. The first week of October has also been designated Fire Prevention Week in both countries. Close to 360,000 home fires occur annually, with many of them being preventable. To make your home fire-safe this year, here’s what you need to know. Have multiple fire extinguishers at the ready. A portable fire extinguisher can help stop a fire before it gets out of control. According to the National Association of Fire Equipment Distributors (NAFED), fire extinguishers are successful in extinguishing 95 percent of house fires. When they can’t fully put out a fire, extinguishers can effectively contain it until emergency services arrive. There are different variations of fire extinguishers, so it’s important that you have the right style for your home. Keep one on each level of your house in places where there are lots of appliances, mechanical equipment, or chemicals. Clean out your dryer’s lint trap. If it’s been a while since you last cleaned your dryer’s lint trap (or if you never have), start making it a regular habit. Lint
