Category: Home Decor

How to DIY a Built-In Bookshelf

March 14, 2022

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

Caring for Your Leather Furniture

February 21, 2022

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

Easy Decor Tips to “Grow” a Small Room

February 14, 2022

Decorating your home can sometimes require a bit of a magic touch. For those smaller spaces, you may need a bit more magic than normal. Here are some tricks to make that otherwise cramped part of your home grow big! Go with one color scheme. Picking the right paint combination for your room makes all the difference. When deciding, try to avoid using multiple colors of varying shades. Instead, just stick with two colors of stark contrast like white and a dark blue. The difference in hues will create better depth and give the illusion that the room has more space. Also try to avoid using different patterns and wallpapers, as they have the opposite effect and make it seem smaller. Limit the amount of clutter. The key to making a room seem like it has a lot of space is to actually keep the floor open. Having multiple pieces of large furniture or even a lot of smaller pieces quickly clutters things up. Try to keep your design simple and only use one or two larger items and a handful of smaller accent pieces. You’ll also need to get creative with your storage space. Using built-in hidden cabinets and

Choosing a Driveway? Here’s What You Should Know

January 24, 2022

A driveway is a key piece to increasing your home’s curb appeal. Especially if you’re thinking about selling in the near future, you want it to look as perfect as possible. But you want to make sure that you choose the right style for your home. A driveway is a major investment, so here’s what you need to know before you make your decision. Picking Your Material Driveways have expanded past the original concrete styles over time. Now, there’s a wide variety of materials you can choose to pave with. Behind concrete, asphalt has become highly popular with homeowners. Brick is another long-time favorite that tends to hold up well. Gravel is a simple look that can still add attractiveness to your house. Lastly, paving stone driveways allow you to mix and match styles for a more unique look. ConcreteThe top choice for homeowners, concrete driveways have a long list of positives. First of all, the cost of most concrete installations is fairly inexpensive. This is a big selling point for first-time homeowners looking to save money where they can. Concrete also tends to be very durable and lasts for a long time in any climate. If you want something

10 Easy Ways to Create a Festive Home

December 13, 2021

We all love decorating our homes for the holiday season. Achieving that Hallmark movie look gets us into the spirit and ready to celebrate. However, it can be easy to go overboard and get overwhelmed with your holiday decor. Here are some easy tips you can use to get a festive feel and avoid getting stressed out. Don’t Overload Your Tree Decking out your tree with tinsel and ornaments can really make it pop, but too much can make it look like a whirlwind of trimmings. This year, remember to keep your arrangement simple. Only use your favorite ornaments instead of jampacking every single one onto the branches. You can also create some handmade pieces by tying sticks of cinnamon together with ribbon. It’s something different and it’ll give off a great smelling holiday aroma! Play Some Background Music The right music will really bring that holiday magic to life. As you go about getting your home ready, turn on your favorite festive playlist. If you’re hosting guests, having a little background music will eliminate awkward silences. You can also ask for suggestions and play musical games like “Guess That Song” or karaoke! Display Your Holiday Cards Getting greeting cards

What to Do with Your Pets for the Holidays

December 6, 2021

The holiday season can be stressful for both yourself and your furry friends. While you’re mired in the whirlwind of throwing the perfect celebration, all those guests in the house, loud noises, and new smells can put animals on edge. Here’s what you can do to keep your pets calm and happy during your holiday festivities. Create a safe retreat for your pets. All the hustle and bustle that comes with preparing for a holiday party puts unnecessary stress and anxiety on your animals. Especially as your home fills up with people, it can throw them into overdrive. The best thing you can do is make a private, calm space for your pet. Whether it’s your bedroom or a room on a different floor, try to make it as relaxing as possible. Place their bed and some toys along with their bowls in the room to give some semblance of normalcy. It can also help to let your guests know not to enter the room where your pets are staying. If guests want to visit with your animals, it’s best to have a family member present and to only allow one or two additional people into the room at once.

Mount Your TV in Less Than 10 Steps

November 15, 2021

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

Wallpaper Sticking Around Home Design in 2021

September 13, 2021

If you’re looking for a way to brighten up that bare wallspace, fresh wallpaper could be what you need! While wallpaper has seemingly faded since its heyday, new styles have breathed life back into the design trend. Homeowners are customizing wall coverings to give a throwback feel with a modern twist. The History of Wallpaper Wallpaper first became popular at the very beginning of the 20th century. Most houses had plain wooden planks for walls, and wallpaper helped cover any blemishes and add color to rooms. As time wore on, builders began utilizing drywall or other materials, and wallpaper wasn’t as necessary. In fact, you may have removed old wallpaper in your own house at some point. But now wallpaper is being revived with new patterns and an easier application process. It’s even estimated that the resurgence of wallpaper could turn it into a multi-billion dollar industry by 2026. Stick, Don’t Glue It used to be that wallpapering your home was a major decision. You’d better love the pattern you chose because it would likely be there forever–it was notoriously difficult to remove. Not to mention the old glue could rip up existing paint and create an even bigger makeover

Caring for Your Stucco Siding

July 19, 2021

Stucco is one of the most durable siding materials. Because of this, homes that use stucco can be some of the oldest, as they’re highly resistant to fire, rot, and insects. This makes upkeep easier than other forms of siding like vinyl or traditional wood. While you don’t, for the most part, need to do intensive maintenance, it’s still good to schedule in regular cleanings to keep your stucco in top shape. What Goes Into Stucco Stucco, sometimes called “plaster siding,” is a mix of different substances that hasn’t changed very much since it was first used. It’s common for stucco to only be on the outside of the home, but it’s also possible to have a stucco interior. The exterior portion traditionally has four layers, but newer methods only need two at the most. Builder’s sand, Portland cement, hydrated lime, water, and fiber are all mixed together to create the coating. For places where the earth shifts more, polymers are added to increase the siding’s flexibility. Use Water on Dirt Spots Because it’s so porous, stucco tends to collect dirt and grime fairly easily. Luckily, you don’t need more than a bucket of water and a brush to clean

What to Know About Removing Wood Paneling

July 12, 2021

Homes of the past can be time capsules of design styles from long ago. From shag carpeting to floral wallpaper, these features can take you back in a house’s history. But you might feel as if your home looks a bit outdated for your liking. Wood paneling is a common style used in homes built from the 1950s through the 1970s whose heyday has certainly come and gone. The good news is that it doesn’t take much to do a quick update! Tools for the Job Removing wood paneling is relatively quick and easy, making it a great weekend project! As you get ready to demo, make sure that you have: You can also get the materials you need to hang drywall to replace the paneling. Depending on how big of an area you’re remodeling, it might be worth it to rent a dumpster so that everything gets disposed of properly. Set Up the Room As with any project, you want to protect the spots you aren’t going to be working on. Before you start ripping off any paneling, lay down plastic sheeting. This will prevent dust from getting everywhere and also catch loose nails. Take off any outlet covers