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.
Everyone wants to find their dream home. Sometimes, that dream house might be out of reach because of price or location. Other times, that dream house just doesn’t exist – yet! If your family is expanding beyond their current space, or if changes in your lifestyle require more from your home, the answer may not necessarily be to find a new place to live. Instead, additions are a great way for homeowners to expand their homes into a space that better fits their needs. If you just love your neighborhood or you want to create your dream home without moving, here are the five steps to consider for planning a home addition. Step 1: Ask Yourself Why You’d Like to Add On to Your HomeWhile there are many great reasons to plan a home addition, the process comes with its fair share of drawbacks. First is the cost, which can vary widely depending on the type of addition and sometimes even approach the original price of the home. Additionally, the process of building a home addition can take a lot of time, some of which will include moving out temporarily or sharing space with building crews throughout the day. If
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
A major benefit from the recent changes to the modern workplace has been the newfound flexibility in where people can do their work. Whether that means spending time at the office or remoting in from a coffee shop across the country, learning how to maximize productivity while capitalizing on opportunities this freedom affords has been an ongoing process for employers and workers alike. Home offices are coming back into style in a big way, as remote or hybrid workers have searched for ways to increase their at-home productivity. If you are looking to adapt a room in your home to improve your remote working conditions or you’re interested in a revamp of your current workspace, here are a few traits that will make your home office first-class! 1. Select the Right SpaceThe first and most important aspect you must consider when setting up your home office is the location. Homes are full of distractions, especially if there are kids running around. Ideally, locate an area that is separated from the majority of natural traffic and noise so that you have the opportunity to focus on your work. Additionally, do what you can to separate yourself from home leisure items as
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
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 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
Your favorite artwork or family pictures can brighten up your home and turn it into your own personal art gallery. However, trying to get the right layout and preventing your walls from getting damaged by nails and hooks can be a hassle. These tips can help you get things right the first time and save your walls. Plan Before Your Hang If you have several pictures that you’d like to hang together, plan out your arrangement before you put it up. Make paper cutouts of your different pieces, and use tape to place them on your wall. Also mark with a pencil or tape on your wall where the center of each frame is so you’ll know where to place the hook or nail. This way you’re free to rearrange and position your art how you’d like, without puncturing your walls unnecessarily. Use Adhesive Strips and Hooks Want to preserve your walls and secure your pictures? Then adhesive hangers are just the tool you need. They’re easy to apply to the back of a frame and quickly stick to wherever you place them. While you can apply them to larger frames, they tend to work the best with lighter ones.
Sunday marked the start of Home Office Safety and Security week, an annual awareness event that takes place the second full week of January. With everything that’s happened in 2020, it’s no surprise that almost 30% of people are expected to continue working from home this year. If you fall into this category, then use this week to organize your workspace for safety and efficiency. Corral Your Cords Charging cords, cables and other loose wires don’t just make things look messy, they also pose a tripping hazard as you walk around. Not only can you end up flat on your back, you run the risk of pulling your expensive equipment down with you. Wrap up and secure your runaway cables with zip ties and tape to keep them in place and out of the way. You won’t have to perform a balancing act when moving through your office during the day and you’ll keep your electronics protected. File It Away Your remote station might not be as big as the one at your office, which can cause things to pile up. If you have the budget for it, invest in a filing cabinet or other storage system to organize your
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.
Everyone wants to find their dream home. Sometimes, that dream house might be out of reach because of price or location. Other times, that dream house just doesn’t exist – yet! If your family is expanding beyond their current space, or if changes in your lifestyle require more from your home, the answer may not necessarily be to find a new place to live. Instead, additions are a great way for homeowners to expand their homes into a space that better fits their needs. If you just love your neighborhood or you want to create your dream home without moving, here are the five steps to consider for planning a home addition. Step 1: Ask Yourself Why You’d Like to Add On to Your HomeWhile there are many great reasons to plan a home addition, the process comes with its fair share of drawbacks. First is the cost, which can vary widely depending on the type of addition and sometimes even approach the original price of the home. Additionally, the process of building a home addition can take a lot of time, some of which will include moving out temporarily or sharing space with building crews throughout the day. If
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
A major benefit from the recent changes to the modern workplace has been the newfound flexibility in where people can do their work. Whether that means spending time at the office or remoting in from a coffee shop across the country, learning how to maximize productivity while capitalizing on opportunities this freedom affords has been an ongoing process for employers and workers alike. Home offices are coming back into style in a big way, as remote or hybrid workers have searched for ways to increase their at-home productivity. If you are looking to adapt a room in your home to improve your remote working conditions or you’re interested in a revamp of your current workspace, here are a few traits that will make your home office first-class! 1. Select the Right SpaceThe first and most important aspect you must consider when setting up your home office is the location. Homes are full of distractions, especially if there are kids running around. Ideally, locate an area that is separated from the majority of natural traffic and noise so that you have the opportunity to focus on your work. Additionally, do what you can to separate yourself from home leisure items as
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
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 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
Your favorite artwork or family pictures can brighten up your home and turn it into your own personal art gallery. However, trying to get the right layout and preventing your walls from getting damaged by nails and hooks can be a hassle. These tips can help you get things right the first time and save your walls. Plan Before Your Hang If you have several pictures that you’d like to hang together, plan out your arrangement before you put it up. Make paper cutouts of your different pieces, and use tape to place them on your wall. Also mark with a pencil or tape on your wall where the center of each frame is so you’ll know where to place the hook or nail. This way you’re free to rearrange and position your art how you’d like, without puncturing your walls unnecessarily. Use Adhesive Strips and Hooks Want to preserve your walls and secure your pictures? Then adhesive hangers are just the tool you need. They’re easy to apply to the back of a frame and quickly stick to wherever you place them. While you can apply them to larger frames, they tend to work the best with lighter ones.
Sunday marked the start of Home Office Safety and Security week, an annual awareness event that takes place the second full week of January. With everything that’s happened in 2020, it’s no surprise that almost 30% of people are expected to continue working from home this year. If you fall into this category, then use this week to organize your workspace for safety and efficiency. Corral Your Cords Charging cords, cables and other loose wires don’t just make things look messy, they also pose a tripping hazard as you walk around. Not only can you end up flat on your back, you run the risk of pulling your expensive equipment down with you. Wrap up and secure your runaway cables with zip ties and tape to keep them in place and out of the way. You won’t have to perform a balancing act when moving through your office during the day and you’ll keep your electronics protected. File It Away Your remote station might not be as big as the one at your office, which can cause things to pile up. If you have the budget for it, invest in a filing cabinet or other storage system to organize your
