Tag: living room

How To Reclaim Your Junk Room

January 9, 2023

Every homeowner has a problem room. Whether it is their garage, their attic space, or their basement, the increasing pace of life has demanded we develop a go-to area for things that don’t have a designated space at the moment. We’ll get to it later, for now, let’s just store it in the closet, or the spare bedroom. This phenomenon has come to be known as the dreaded “junk room.” Quickly, a junk room’s original intent has been stretched beyond recognition and you’ve got a mess on your hands. The anxiety that you get from thinking about that task is natural, and probably a little too familiar. Don’t worry though! Rather than focusing on the difficulty of the task, imagine how satisfying it will be to reclaim the space. Now is the time to commit yourself to reorganizing your disaster space. Lay Out Your Plan Depending on the size of the job on your hands, the planning stage becomes increasingly important. See past the mess and envision the potential of the space in front of you. Do you want to revert the space into something similar to its original intention, or do you want to reinvent it? You don’t need

The Latest Interior Design Trends For 2023

December 26, 2022

The world of interior design is a constant ebb and flow. Some styles can break through the revolving wheel of trends, but most have to wait their turn for their time in the sun. Which styles are predicted to make a resurgence in 2023, and which ones seem to be on their way out? Brush off your toolbelt DIYers, 2023 just might be your year. Life In Sepia-Tone For years, home decor has been widely monotone and modern. This hyper-intellectual, minimalist design is on track to take a backseat this year – and it’s about time. Finally, color is starting to creep its way back into interior design. Potentially influenced by work-from-home lifestyle changes, homeowners seemingly are being drawn towards warmer colors, and reintegrating comforting, personality-driven tones back into the home. Design experts are expecting warm reds and oranges to dominate the space, and for gold to be a primary embellishment tone. Of note, beige and other brown shades may be the go-to neutral to replace the ever-present grays of past years. With these warm tones, homeowners are looking to make their homes cozier, departing from the more sterile, style popular prior to 2020. While color is moving back into

4 Things That Can Go Wrong With Your Chimney

November 14, 2022

As the weather gets colder, there are some things to consider before starting that first fire. Chimneys are a too-often neglected home amenity, and there are a few hazards homeowners should be aware of. For a warm and safe holiday season, here are a few things about your chimney that you might want to check in on. ObstructionsThe National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) recommends that chimneys be inspected every year, and for good reason! Apart from just ensuring that your chimney is performing as intended, a neglected chimney can result in dangerous house fires or toxic smoke inhalation. A chief factor that can cause these issues is an obstruction within the chimney flue. Any number of obstructions can become dangerous hazards to homeowners. Twigs and leaves can gather, acting as additional kindling, and animals can commonly get stuck inside a chimney flue while searching for warmth or shelter. Depending on your local wildlife, some of the most common animals found in chimneys in North America include raccoons, bats, cats, squirrels, and birds (whose nests also act as additional fire-starters). CreosoteThe interior of a chimney can reach heats of above 2000 degrees Fahrenheit. Because of this, keeping your chimney clear of

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

How to Protect Your Hardwood Floors from the Cold

January 17, 2022

Wood floors provide a classic look to your home that really makes it stand out. However, they require special care in order to maintain their uniqueness. As the cold rolls on, it can be the toughest time of the year for your hardwood floors. The good news is with some diligence, your floors will stay looking like new through wintertime. Changing Temperatures As the weather starts to cool off, it can cause your floors to change as well. Major differences in temperature make the wooden planks shrink and create gaps. Then when they warm back up, they can crack. If you like to crank the heat inside your home, consider dropping it back a few degrees. That way the difference in temperature won’t be as extreme. It also helps to use a humidifier to keep some moisture in the air that can be absorbed by your floor. Tracking Things Inside There’s a whole assortment of debris that you track in your home during winter. Sand, salt, and snow all make a mess of your floors and cause lasting damage. The tiny pieces caught in your boots can scratch up the surface, and if you don’t clean the water and de-icer

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

Make Your Home Fire-Safe this October

October 1, 2021

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

Best Tips to Remove Carpet Stains

September 21, 2021

The right carpet can really tie a room together by adding both comfort and style. It can also add some extra cleaning work. Pets, kids, and normal wear and tear dirty up your carpet and turn it from “chic” to “ick.” Luckily, there are some easy remedies to salvage your stylish carpet and prolong its lifespan. Stains in All Shapes and Sizes Anything from mud to Merlot can cause you to stress about having a giant spot on your carpet forever. A few of the most common stains are: General Rules to Remember When it comes to what you spill, each substance has special instructions. How you clean up muddy pet prints will differ from ground-in gum. That said, there are a few generic tips you can apply to any stain. First, you’ll want to start from the outside and work your way in. Removing the excess will make the spot easier to work with. Next, you’ll want to incorporate some sort of cleaner whether it be club soda, a vinegar solution, or store-bought chemicals. Lastly, remember to blot, not wipe. You’ll keep from driving the spill deeper and leaving an unsightly stain. Cleaning Drinks and Other Liquids As soon