How To Organize Your Family Home

June 2, 2021 by 3 Comments

Running a family home can often be an overwhelming experience, as tidying up after children and maintaining a clean and hygienic environment can seem to take far more time than you’ve got. Learning how to organize your home can make cleaning far easier, as attempting to navigate your way around an untidy home without suitable storage for each item is no doubt going to be a time consuming and somewhat irritating experience. Luckily, mastering the art of home organization needn’t be as difficult as you might expect, as there are just a few key tips and tricks that you can make the most of to transform your property in no time at all! So, if you would like to find out more about how you can take back control of your family home, then simply read on.

Source Smart Storage Solutions

One of the most essential steps that you should aim to follow if you wish to achieve a constant level of clean and tidy inside your family home involves sourcing an array of smart storage solutions. Having no accessible storage in your home will make it extremely difficult to maintain a good standard of organization, as you simply cannot improve a room without having a spot that’s out of sight in which you can hide away any unsightly items. For example, storage benches are ideal inside childrens rooms as they have many functions and benefits. Not only can you use these storage benches to tidy away any childrens toys or clothing, you can also use them as comfortable seating! Having such storage that is child height can also provide you with the opportunity to get them involved in tidying up, as you can ask them to put their toys away at the end of the day so that they can have a nicely organized room in time for bed! Making the most of unusable space by adding creative storage is another brilliant option, as there are likely many redundant areas in your home that you could otherwise be using for storage. Kitchen cabinets often fall short of the ceiling, so building upwards to reach the roof will give you an entire extra cupboard to store your least frequently used items! 

Declutter Often 

It’s easy to build up a considerable stock of random ‘stuff’ when you have a house full of children, and that’s why it’s important to declutter often to stay on top of the ever growing stash of useless items that are slowly taking over your property. Some of these items may hold significant emotional value yet provide no use as such – if this is the case, rather than getting rid of these items you can find a secure locker or similar external storage space that you can visit to help declutter your home. If you feel as though you’re being overwhelmed by mountains of ‘stuff’ and need an immediate clear out, designate 3 set boxes: keep, trash, and sell. The keep box should be the smallest of them all!

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Cozy Kitchens Make For Memories

May 28, 2021 by 1 Comment

Kitchens and bathrooms are known for selling houses, but in all honesty, the kitchen truly is the heart of the home. There is no doubt that this is the room where most of the memories made. It’s where families gather several times a day. 

Whether you are bonding with a friend over a cup of coffee or enjoying a cocktail that you just mixed up, you will find yourself lost in the conversation around the kitchen island or table quite often. Aside from those beverage-induced bonding moments, there are also meals that bring families together.

Teaching your children to cook is a skill that is passed down from generation to generation. Children will forever tell the stories of when their mom or grandmother taught them how to create a new dish from scratch. Your kitchen will be engrained in those memories for the rest of their life. So make sure your kitchen is memorable.

How to Create a Memorable Kitchen

When it comes to a kitchen that will forever be remembered in stories and memories, you must remember simplicity is at the base of these memories. A showcase kitchen is nice but it is not that realistic when it comes to gatherings. Most kitchens have warm and inviting colors and dark kitchen cabinets that will hold up against the wear that comes along with hosting gatherings and cooking a lot of meals. 

The countertops will be a nice tone of stone that will be easy to clean and the surfaces will be clear of clutter. The more clutter on the countertops, the more chaotic the kitchen can feel. You’ll also want clean countertops so that you can easy place serving dishes out for guests and family to load up their plates from.

Besides having rich dark cabinets and clean countertops, you’ll also want to have bright lighting so the kitchen is easy to see in. This helps those who are guests and those who are learning how to cook. A bright and clean workspace is great for those learning how to cook new recipes.

There Is More to a Kitchen Than Just Appearances

The kitchen may look great, but you also have to consider comfort for your family and guests. Kitchens should have comfortable seating that doesn’t feel too close together. Most kitchens have dining spaces such as kitchenettes or they open directly to a dining room. A nice island or peninsula with comfortable stools will also add more seating for guests. When hosting small parties, there should always be places for friends and family to comfortably sit while they enjoy appetizers, drinks, meals, or even just desserts.

Keep the Memories

People don’t always want to have their pictures taken, but whenever you host a gathering, you should try to get some photo documentation for it. You can make a memory book of all your times together. Make sure you capture the food and the set up that you created as well as the guests. 

Feel free to pass the camera off to a friend or relative so that you also appear in the pictures. While memories of hanging out and enjoying good food may always be passed down, now they can be truly reflected upon when flipping through old photo albums.

So Many Celebrations

When you consider how much time you spend celebrating in your kitchen, you may truly be surprised. Birthdays are often spent around a birthday cake. Thanksgiving, Mothers Day, and Fathers Day BBQs may end up around the kitchen table. Christmas and other religious holidays that involve gatherings and time spent together around large meals are always family favorites. 

All of these celebrations generally occur between a family room, dining room, and kitchen. Make the most out of your space and keep it updated and refreshed every few years. Make sure your appliances are in proper working order and that all of your décor changes with the times. This will keep the space feeling new and full of life for all of the celebrations that are coming your way.

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How you know when it is time to update your home

May 3, 2021 by 1 Comment

Everyone wants to go with the flow. Only a few vintage and antique fans would think to afford the old items to decorate your home, but even if you love the vintage, still your home must be updated to make it a quaint place to live. 

Updating your home does not only means decorating your rooms, but interior décor is also a part of it, which must be considered when you plan to update the house. Otherwise, your beloved home will look quite grotesque. Change is good when it is for the home décor, car upgrade, and look. No matter how much you want to update your house, you still need some clues to find the right time. Are you confused like many other people about the right time to upgrade your house? Do not worry; it is very natural. The only troubling thing is the decision to wait forever. 

If you wish to look for the signs calling for an update, start observing your house. Starts with the walls because wall décor is the game-changer. For those with new houses, the stick and peel wallpaper is the best, while the old mansions must consider reconstructing the accent walls. 

Updating one’s home is a feat that will last for months, but one cannot be sure about it at all. It is very relative as it depends on several contributing factors. Let us see what experts say about the best time to update your home. 

The chipping walls. 

Water is the enemy of wall paint and wallpapers. But it only shows results when the house owners are not paying heed to the wall décor. If you see some chipping on the wall, start planning to update the walls. If you are a trend follower, then go for the stick and peel wallpapers. 

To give your rooms a change, always choose some different wallpaper designs. For instance, if you had floral designs, this time, go for the horizontal striped wallpaper; it will give a different look to the same old room. 

The cracking wooden door. 

No matter how much your property costs, if the doors are not welcoming and updated, it is over for you. The moment you see the doors cracking and squeaking, call the carpenter and ask for the price range. It will be an expensive service, but you are bound to update. 

The upholstered sofas. 

A dirty sofa is a health hazard, and removing it as soon as possible is necessary. You can either change the furniture or call the reupholster service. Do not forget to go for a different design for the sofas; otherwise, the room will look like before. 

The curtains. 

Curtains are necessary but updated, and trendy curtains are far more important. Currently, the solid-colored silk curtains are making way. You should go for the ones who are in synchronization with the sofas. 

The white goods

White goods such as the dishwasher, washing machine, refrigerators, and AC all need to be updated with time. The maximum age limit for these goods is ten years; after that, you must consider updating them.  

 

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How To Pressure Wash a House

April 26, 2021 by Leave a Comment

Since summers are here, every house needs a deep cleanse, and what will be a better choice than pressure washers. These magic wands will be able to get all the dirt and grime is not time. It is important that you perform pressure washing at least once a year in order to get rid of any mold and mildew which has been growing for a while. It will give your house a whole new look. Even if you are interested in getting new paint done, you should pressure wash the whole area in order to give a much finer finish. 

But since you haven’t done pressure washing before, what must be the ideal way to clean your house properly? Let’s have a look.

Prepare the whole area

The basic rule of cleaning is to clear the whole area. Especially when you are pressure washing make sure that there is nothing that might be getting in the way. Since you are cleaning the whole, you need to get rid of any extra plants or furniture. As you are going to be using high water pressure, anything which gets in the way can easily get damaged. If you are protective of your garden, cover it with plastic sheets. So, that you don’t have to regret it later. Make sure you cover all sheets with duct tape. It is better to use a powerful pressure washer. According to electric pressure washer reviews, these machines are ideal for cleaning the house.

Apply detergent

Most people skip this part and get straight to pressure washing. This is why most of them don’t even get the desired results. Firstly, get your hands on a powerful detergent, which is able to soften the dirt and tough stains. Mix the detergent with water. Complete instructions must be available in the manual. You are supposed to mix the whole solution in a 5-gallon bucket. For better results, you can add bleach at a volume of one part for every nine parts of the mildewcide-detergent solution. If your pressure washer has an inbuilt detergent tank, pour it in the tank and start spraying. Let the whole solution soak for a while. It will help to get everything cleared in just one wash. 

Selecting nozzle 

Now, let’s get started with the main process. First, you need to analyze the whole targeted area. If you are dealing with softer targets, it is better to use a 15-degree nozzle. It will get everything perfectly clean while causing harm. If you are dealing with slightly harder targets, you can use a 25 degree or 30 degrees nozzle. Once you are done with it, connect the garden hose to the pressure washer. Attach the extension wand as well. Now you are all set to get started. Turn on the engine and start cleaning. 

Start cleaning from bottom to top

It might sound a little silly right now, but if you want good results, you need to clean bottom to top. If you are cleaning two stories, it is better to clean the top one first. You need to divide the whole area into small sections. It is better to go for a six- to 10-foot section. Thoroughly clean every section and then move forward. Do not forget to wear safety glasses and gloves. Make sure that you are not standing too close to the walls. At least maintain four to six inches, this way water won’t be plashing back at your face.

Keep cleaning every section. Once you are done cleaning the whole place. Put everything back at its place and wait for at least 2 days for it to fully dry. If you want to paint your house after, make sure that it is completely dry.

Conclusion

For over a decade, pressure washers are being used for cleaning interiors and exteriors. Using the right pressure and patience is the key to getting perfect results.

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10 DIY Kitchen Projects for A Shoestring Budget

April 12, 2021 by 1 Comment

Often, kitchens can look and feel hopelessly run down before you know what happened. What a lot of people may not realize is how a quick, affordable minor renovation can reinvigorate the room.  If you are handy with basic tools and have some do-it-yourself experience, you can transform your kitchen dramatically. Here are some small projects that can be done cheaply and relatively easily. Here are 10 kitchen projects for you to consider doing by yourself or with a partner. 

 

  • Change Out Your Faucets

 

A new fixture, especially your faucets, can change the look of your kitchen immediately. This upgrade is a relatively simple project for rookies and doesn’t have to cost a lot. If you shop around, you can likely find a reasonably priced faucet that fits your style.

 

  • Update Your Cabinet Hardware

 

New kitchen cabinet hardware can make cabinets look brand new. If you are bored with your old look, come up with different varieties of knobs, pulls, and handles to make a unique appearance.

 

  • Do-it-yourself Backsplash

 

A backsplash can add flair and style to your room. Tiling it yourself with subway tiles can be done cheaply, with amazing results. You can work this backsplash into any kitchen design you come up with, too.

 

  • Repaint Your Cabinets

 

Some people run into this problem. They found what they thought were the perfect kitchen cabinets and ordered them, but when they arrived the color was just a bit off from what they expected. Painting them whatever color you want can fix this problem, or be beneficial if you just want to make a change. 

 

  • Change Your Pantry Door

 

Changing your pantry door can make that whole section of the kitchen look fresh and new. Whether you are replacing an old dingy door or want a whole new style, you can swap out your pantry door with a replacement. You can choose a screen door version, a new bright color, or anything else you may think of to liven up the pantry area.

 

  • Wall Storage

 

The space on kitchen walls goes unused far too often. While cabinets become overloaded, that bare space sits blank. Buying shelves, hooks, or racks at a reasonable price can unlock large swaths of your wall, providing you with valuable storage space and a new feel.

 

  • Upgrade Your Kitchen Island

 

If your kitchen island is looking old or you need more functionality out of it, you can install a new top, build in cabinets, or even integrate appliances. 

 

  • Hanging Pot Racks

 

For the handy renovator, building a hanging pot and pan rack can open up cabinet space. As a bonus, it can also give you a look that fits both contemporary and traditional styles.

 

  • Easy Contrast

 

If you have the same color scheme throughout your cabinets, try painting the lowers or the uppers in a contrasting tone. 

 

  • Add Open Shelving

 

Open shelves can make the kitchen feel brighter and bigger. There are many affordable options for shelving and are easy enough to install.

No matter how you decide to update your kitchen, find a company that you can trust for kitchen materials. With many online retailers to choose from, it can be hard to find quality ones. Go with a name you know, like Walcraft Cabinetry (https://walcraftcabinetry.com) or other reputable companies. 

 

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Smart and Fun Ideas for Kid’s Playrooms

March 18, 2021 by Leave a Comment

Designing a child’s playroom may seem like an easy task, but any parent would agree that it isn’t. You put a lot of thought into the designs keeping in mind the kid’s age and activities. Children need their own space for play to keep themselves from getting bored and inactive. Psychologists believe that constructive play is beneficial to the kid’s cognitive development. Here are seven clever ideas on kid’s playrooms.

Attic Conversion

You can turn the dark, contractor-grade finish attic into a shiny, happy spot for kid’s games. When such space gets utilized well, it improves the general appearance of your home. Making use of such spaces also improves the flow of the house.

When the attic space is too small, you can choose sea-foam blue paint to give it a large and open vibe. Many other paint shades can help achieve the same effect. Your choices depend on your desired end-result. Combining traditional and modern design styles gives the room a unique feel.

Embrace a Theme

Ask your kid what they would like to have in a playroom, then transform their thoughts into a theme. You can get a sliding door to separate the playroom from the rest of the house to magnify the effect. Knowing what barn door to buy and how to choose barn door hardware is easy and has many options to choose from depending on your budget.

You can choose numerous themes, like creating a lower-level playroom filled with nautical details for a pirate-explorer theme. Children’s imagination is wild, and there is no way you can get stuck in creating a themed playroom for your kid.

Picking the Right Finish

Kids can be messy, and you want to hide the constant little smudges on the wall for a clean feel for the house. Most paint used in houses is challenging to clean or get stains out. You can inquire from your interior designer or research on the best finish to apply to your house.

Going with an eggshell finish on the trim may be a great idea. You can even use the same finish on the entire wall if the kids are of different ages and heights. The eggshell finish is easier to clean than either a flat finish or matte finish.

Utilize Vertical Spaces

For small houses where the space is tight, large playrooms are not an option. With this, you get to be creative and install baseplates on walls for the kids to build on. Make sure to install the plates firmly to avoid accidents. You could even hire professional help to ensure the children’s safety.

When the option of vertical space is exhausted, you can have multi-function furniture for the kids. You can use cushions that can be rearranged for crafts projects, lounging, or reading. A lofted-bed can be mounted on the wall to cater to sleepovers and scaling games. Always make sure everything is firm and properly secured.

Games

Buy meaningful games for your kid’s playroom. It is important to find educational games and thought-provoking projects for children’s development. Studies in psychology emphasize the importance of games in a child’s developmental journey.

On the other hand, always get games the child considers fun. Some of these games can be played by adults during game night or to relax. It is pertinent you create time to play with the kids in their playroom for quality time with your kids.

Aim to Create Fun

Install cool playroom items to add an edge to the entire room. Get unusual safe play items to increase the fun kids can have while in that room. You can get an indoor slide for the kids to use when outside gets too cold. Ensure they have as much fun inside as they do when they are outside.

In the adventurous spirit, always make sure all toys are safe and proofed for kids. Keep in mind the home’s layout to organize such play items in safe spaces. Research on all the safety measures you should adhere to, to avoid legal action or ignorant mistakes.

Get Creative

Allow the playroom to have its personality different from the house. Let your inner child out and design and organize without feeling like you are going too far. Create a youthful, joyous, and energy-packed playroom for your kids.

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The Renovation Stumbling Blocks You Will Want To Avoid

March 3, 2021 by 1 Comment

Renovating a home is no easy thing to accomplish, it can present its fair share of budget busters, headaches, and problems. However, renovations are a great way to enhance your current family property, make some money for the family future, or just scratch the itch of a hobby for interior and home design. With it proving to be something many people are beginning to take on and tackle, with that in mind, here are some of the stumbling blocks to avoid.

Roof remedies

The roof of a renovation property can often be a huge issue for many of us. Leaking perhaps, old materials being used, or even a specific type of roof like a flat roof. They all dispel their own sets of issues, but there are some remedies to help you get over the roof stumbling block. There are roofing companies that can really help you out with specific issues you could face. A corrected roof and repaired to a high standard will be a huge plus point for any renovator and definitely a key selling feature if that is your end goal. 

DIY disasters

When taking on a renovation project yourself, be careful of overestimating your ability. Botched home improvements can cause further problems in the long run. At this point you may not have the budget to make necessary repairs. If you have doubts, it’s best to always hire a professional. There are some jobs that are almost always best left in the hands of a trained professional – for instance, the bulk of plumbing jobs should be left to a plumbing company, while most electrical jobs should be left to an electrician. Such tasks can not only be costly to fix if done incorrectly, but could also be dangerous if handled by an amateur.

Budget busting blows

The budget for a renovation can be a tricky subject, and many renovators can come across huge budget busting blows throughout their renovation journey. It might be rotting wood, falling and cracking plaster, or even something very major that ends up breaking the bank. The best resolve for this stumbling block is to put together a contingency fund to take care of unexpected disasters that could strike at any time. 

Misleading measurements

Ever imagine that you can get the wrong measurement for a kitchen or bathroom. It can happen, and when it does, it can cause astronomical problems. This is why it is so important to double and even triple check issues with measurements to ensure that you have accurate readings. A wrong kitchen or bathroom could be very costly. 

Disastrous designs

The design may not be your strong suit, but it could prove to be disastrous if you don’t consider all the possibilities of layouts and designing the room with final touches such as solid wood flooring or paint colors. Make sure you use websites like Pinterest for inspiration and even get feedback from friends and family if you don’t feel confident in your choices. If in doubt, stick with neutral colors and appeal to the masses. 

Argumentative agreements

Finally, there is a saying that people that renovate together, stay together. That may not be strictly true, but renovating as a couple can really test your relationship strength. There will always be arguments, there may be disagreements, but in the end, you have a common goal and purpose. The best way to avoid arguments is to reason with one another and perform the art of compromise. Make sure that you listen and communicate as best you can. Arguments are bound to happen, but it is how you resolve them that counts. 

Let’s hope these tips help you to avoid some of the common stumbling blocks with home renovations.

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Trending Tile Suggestions For Your Bathroom

March 2, 2021 by 1 Comment

Whether creating a new bathroom from scratch or renovating one, choosing bathroom tiles is one of the most confusing decisions. Why confusing? Because there is a wide variety of bathroom tiles available in the market. And to check which tile is perfect for you is very demanding. Luckily, we can make your search easy. Here are a few suggestions for bathroom tiles: 

Ceramic Tiles

Ceramic tiles are well-known for their durability and low maintenance. These tiles are long-lasting and are easy to clean. The reason why ceramic tiles last long is their resistance to stain. Stains cause the birth of alkalies and bacterias on the tiles’ surface, decreasing their strength and beauty.

 

Another good “why” to choose ceramic tiles in your bathroom is their scratch-resistant feature. The hardness of these tiles is around 6-7 on the Mohs scale. This means even hard and rough materials with sharp edges can not leave scratches on them. Ceramic tiles are also fireproof. They can bear heat upto 1900 C, making them an excellent tile option if you have a hot spa in your bathroom. Following are a few ceramic tiles that are in the limelight nowadays:

 

 

  • Tawny Brown Random Bricks Ceramic Tile
  • Arabian Crackled Aqua
  • Jubilee Irresistible Ivory
  • Jubilee Silver Moon
  • Princeton Glaze Victorian Pewter Grey
  • Cabin Log Brown

 

Subway Tiles

Subway tiles are the favorite choice of so many people. These tiles give a seamless look to the bathroom. The best part is- they are budget-friendly and easy to use. About the history of subway tiles, it was first seen in 1904 in the subway system of New York. These tiles were designed by architects George C. Heins and Christopher Grant la Farge. There’s an interesting short story about how these tiles originated. 

 

The two architects created the designs for the subway system in 1904 when they came up with this interesting tile pattern. They were told to cover the whole subway in such a way that it looks classic and attractive, yet simple. And that’s when they discovered subway tiles(white color). From that day till now, subway tiles are the first choice of many as shower tiles.

There’s a big assumption about subway tiles- that they are only available in white color. But it’s not true. Subway tiles are available in almost all color variants, whether it is black or light green. Nowadays, some of the popular subway tile color options are-

 

 

  • Rose Pale Pink
  • Light Grey
  • Smoke Grey 
  • Denim Blue
  • Dark Teal Green
  • Jubilee Cream Puff
  • Jubilee Onyx Black
  • Lustrous Yale Blue
  • Princeton Glaze Victorian Pewter Grey
  • Princeton Glaze Nero Night Black

 

Metal Tiles

Metal tiles are perfect for making your bathroom look classic yet luxurious. These tiles are famous for their illusionary appearance. If you have a small bathroom and wish to make it look bigger, metal tiles are the best choice. Also, these tiles reflect light and hence work well in the bathrooms with low light. Here are a few metal tiles that you can consider adding to your list:

 

 

  • 3D Penny Round Stainless Steel Tile
  • Urban Jungle Truffle Corner Rose Gold
  • Aluminum Grey Leaf Brushed Tile
  • Arabesque Stainless Steel Metal Tile
  • Brushed Aluminum Random Brick Tile
  • Antonyms Hexagon Aluminum Tile

 

Final Words

So these were a few expert’s suggested bathroom tiles to shop. All of the above tiles are budget-friendly and will make your bathroom look attractive and beautiful. Do tell us which out of the above tiles you choose in the comment section below.

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