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Painting Perspectives: How to Pick the Right Shade of White For Your Home

August 21, 2023

Moving into a new home or giving a home new life through a renovation is very exciting! Understandably, new homeowners waste little time in finding ways to make their spaces feel like theirs – a visual nod confirming they’ve embarked on a new chapter in life. Over time, homes tend to naturally take on the personality of the people who live in them, but the best way to kick off this identity on the right foot is with a fresh coat of paint. Of all the creative, bold, and eye-catching options out there, some might wonder why people so often end up just going with white. For starters, white has remarkable staying power and versatility! White is closely tied to modern aesthetics, but it also fits well with classic architectural styles. Homeowners who would rather not overly experiment with their paint choices don’t have to worry about their white walls going out of style in a couple years. Plus, (depending on the shade) white can be used to emphasize virtually any furniture layout or interior design concept. Painting your home white is a fantastic choice, but with over 350 different shades of white available on Home Depot’s website today, navigating

Renter-Friendly Interior Design Hacks: How to Make Your Rental Feel Like Home

August 14, 2023

We’ve seen people make their homes in all sorts of unique and strange places. From trendy tiny homes to flat-out bizarre spite houses, homeowners seem to have tons of freedom to personalize their spaces into something that is totally unique to them. Owning a home comes with plenty of work, but this ability to remodel, redesign, and remake is one of the things that makes homeownership such a sought-after goal. With that in mind, it’s easy to see why renting can be frustrating. Too many apartments lack character, and many tenants find themselves living in drab, cookie-cutter flats of uninspired architecture. Finding ways to tailor these spaces into something that feels a little more “homey” without making any permanent changes can be tough. The good news is, creative renters have found ways to have fun with decor, even while keeping to their lease agreements. To make your rental yours, here are some transformative, renter-friendly interior design tips. Hang Some Temporary WallpaperThe first step to truly transform the overall look and feel of a room is to figure out what to do with the walls. Landlords tend to prefer keeping their walls in shades that are inoffensive to avoid turning away

Spiders, Silverfish, and Termites: DIY Solutions for Ridding Your Home of Infestation

August 7, 2023

Many are quick to point out the bad wrap that insects tend to get. Bugs are a part of the diverse and fascinating ecology that lies just outside of our homes, after all, and their roles in pollination and sanitation cannot be overstated. Yes, some have found that the prevailing stigma associated with our many-legged friends to be a tad judgmental and unfair, given their thankless efforts. However, others will contend that while these truths are all well and good, bugs can stay outside of my house and far away from me, thank you very much. Homes can become infested by a wide range of the creepy and crawly-variety. For homeowners who would like to deal with their bug problems now rather than later and would rather not pay a hefty pest control bill, here are a few DIY solutions for dealing with bugs. How to Annihilate AntsAnts are one of the most common home invaders throughout the United States, and they come in many different varieties, from the common pavement ant to the dreaded carpenter ant. Ants aren’t commonly known to bite people like some other bugs (though they can). However, they are known to contaminate food and carry

The Dangers of Lead: How to Make Your Home’s Drinking Water Safe

July 31, 2023

When in the market for a new home, there are endless considerations home buyers must think through. Dividing the “must-haves” from the “nice-to-haves” can be difficult, but parents are wise to keep the health of their families a top priority. Buyers can easily feel overwhelmed by the number of dangers and health hazards that demand their attention in purchasing a new home, but one health hazard that both the EPA and the CDC have highlighted as a concern in households is lead contamination. Many families and communities are exposed to the harmful effects of lead through their homes’ drinking water, but they may not be aware of this issue until after experiencing health problems. Lead contaminants within drinking water cannot be seen or tasted, so even in regions that aren’t commonly affected by lead, homeowners should be aware of every precaution at their disposal. What are the Effects of Lead Contamination?Lead has been a major part of industry and various technological advancements in history, but widespread understanding of the harmful effects of lead poisoning didn’t truly occur until the late 1970s. In a paper produced in coordination with the Center for Biological Diversity, Dr. Herbert Needleman describes some of the

Interior Design Tips: Finding Your Home’s Feng Shui

July 24, 2023

Homeowners put so much thought into their home’s interior design, whether they go for French curls and filigree or Mid-Century modern. If you’re a serial redesigner yourself, you feel frustrated when a space just isn’t quite coming together like you’d hoped. Maybe it’s something about the color of the walls, or the lack of natural light, or maybe you can’t quite put your finger on it. Rather than grabbing a paint roller for yet another new coat, maybe it’s time to look at your home from a completely new angle. Many have heard of feng shui in association with interior design as a concept, but most are unaware of the positive effect that it can have on their home. Let’s take a look at the origin of this term and how its concepts can be used to finally make a home come together. What is Feng Shui?Feng shui is an ancient term with roots in Taoism which can loosely be translated as “wind and water.” As this translation might suggest, feng shui teaches that people are directly impacted by their environment, and this environment should be intentionally designed to not disrupt life’s “flow.” There may be some debate as to

Passive-Aggressive Architecture: The Odd Phenomenon of Spite Houses

July 17, 2023

Homes are, traditionally, structures designed with a combination of comfort and function in mind. Architectural styles have risen and fallen in popularity as families seek out the perfect place to raise their children and entertain their guests. But, what happens when a less-than-pleasant motivation becomes the driving force of a new home’s construction? The Hollensbury Spite HouseIn historic Alexandria, Va.,the Hollensbury Spite House has become a tourist attraction in its own right thanks to its strikingly skinny dimensions–less than 7 feet wide when approaching from the street level. This bright blue, two-story, 325-square-foot home is sandwiched between two much larger buildings to its east and west, and begs an explanation as to why such a small, blink-and-you-miss-it house found its way to 523 Queen Street. As the story goes, John Hollensbury was a prominent citizen of Alexandria and a member of the city council back in the early 1800s. All seemed well for the Hollensbury family, aside from issues regarding the alleyway between Mr. Hollensbury’s home and his neighbor’s which attracted many loiterers and carriage traffic. When gouges from carriage wheels began piling up on the exterior walls of Hollensbury’s home, he decided to purchase the land between the two

Home Design Content Creators You Should Start Following

July 10, 2023

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

Does a House Have to “Pass” Inspection to be Sold?

June 26, 2023

First-time homebuyers face a tall task when they enter into the real estate market. Balancing their budget and finding a neighborhood that fits their family’s needs is enough of a challenge. Learning how to negotiate a fair price and deciding whether their new home is worthy of what is likely the largest investment they’ll ever make can certainly be intimidating. Because of this, sellers and buyers alike may dread waiting for the results of the home inspection with the thought that the report could derail their deal. The truth is, a home inspection is not a pass/fail diagnosis of a property. A home doesn’t have to “pass” an inspection in order for a sale to take place, but rather, a home inspection is an essential overview of a home’s condition at the time of the inspection. No home is perfect, and buyers should always be prepared to discover the maintenance needs of their new homes. To get a better idea of what a home inspection report is and how it prepares buyers for homeownership, let’s discuss the essentials of home inspections. What is a Home Inspection?A home inspection is a non-invasive, visual examination of a home’s key features. Home inspectors

Are Appliances Checked During A Home Inspection?

June 19, 2023

New homeowners and seasoned real estate experts know the value that comes with a home inspection. A home inspection is one of the most important steps in the home-buying process for families that want to ensure a safe and well-maintained house. However, for people that haven’t bought a home before, some of the specifics that go along with a home inspection may seem cloudy. Homebuyers should always feel free to ask their inspector questions about the scale and scope of their home’s inspection to best learn what is and isn’t checked. For those who have just begun their home search, or for those who are curious about the overall guidelines that most home inspectors adhere to, resources like the International Association of Certified Home Inspectors’ (InterNACHI) Standards of Practice can provide more specific detail about what a home inspector does. Home appliances are a major factor in the safety and functionality of a home, of course, so home-buyers are frequently concerned with how much insight they can expect in this area from their home inspection report. To answer the question simply, inspectors do look at most built-in home appliances. However, to learn what does and doesn’t reside within industry requirements,

The Ultimate Guide to Lawn Care Part 2: Dealing with Common Lawn Problems

June 12, 2023

By Kym Preslar, Content Manager of SodLawn Weeds are probably the most common problem that homeowners face when it comes to lawns. Weeds not only make your lawn look unsightly, but they also compete with your grass for nutrients and water, eventually leading to weak and sparse growth. The good news is that there are several ways to control them. You can manually pull them out by hand or use mechanical tools like a weed puller or hoe. Another effective method is using herbicides, but make sure to choose a product that is labeled for your specific weed problem and follow the instructions carefully to prevent damage to your lawn. Pests like ants, grubs, and moles can wreak havoc on your lawn and cause extensive damage if left untreated. You can identify the presence of pests by noticing disturbed soil, tunnels, or patches of yellow or brown grass. To control pests, a multi-pronged approach is recommended. You can use natural repellents like garlic or pepper spray, set traps or baits, or apply insecticides. However, it’s important to note that some insecticides can harm beneficial insects, like bees, so use them sparingly and with caution. Lawn diseases can be caused by