There are so many things you need to think about when it comes to your home. Decorating your property and adding some personality is really important. It helps you enjoy the home much more and gives it a lot of character. Check out these awesome ideas that can help you add some personality to your home.

Mood Wall

Mood walls can often seem a bit gimmicky these days. They come across as the sort of thing you’d expect to have to do as part of an art project. But, in reality, they can be a welcome addition to any home. This is a wall where you can let your personality loose. You can paint the wall whatever color you want. And you can add anything you want in the way of artwork. Mood walls are a fantastic addition to their property and a brilliant way of adding some personal touches to the home.

[Image courtesy of jf28858/pixabay.com]

Frame Pictures

It’s important to have pictures and artwork displayed on the walls. Now, you’ve got your mood wall already, but you also want to have pictures on the other walls. These might be family pictures, or they could be paintings. But, if you want them to be displayed prominently you’ll need some frames. So you should check out Images & Details Framing and pop to their local store to get the right frames. You’ll be surprised by the impact the right frames can have for your pictures and your home.

Change Colors

Believe it or not, the colour scheme is possibly the most important visual aspect of any home. You can tell so much about a property by the colors on show. And, it’s entirely possible to completely transform the entire home just by changing the colour scheme. Have a think about the current color scheme you have in the home. And do what you can to change it to something a bit more captivating. As a rule, you tend to find that the home works best when the colors are vibrant and bright. Sure, you can go with white and magnolia as your primary color. But you shouldn’t be afraid to add splashes of color here and there as well.

Decorate Each Room Differently

Each room in the home serves a different purpose, and represents a different part of your life. So it stands to reason that they should have a different balance and feel to one another. You don’t want all the rooms in your home to look the same. This will result in the place lacking character and coming across as dull. So, the best approach to take is to make sure you decorate each room differently. Try to add some flair and capture the essence of each room when you decorate. This is an excellent way to make your home look as wonderful as possible.

Adding personal touches to your home is the best way to inject some life and personality. Your home is like an extension of you, and you should treat it as such. So, you need to do whatever you can to ensure you make it look and feel amazing. The best way to start off doing this is to make sure you add a personal touch to the place.

What is it that we actually want from our homes? Should they be stark, hygienic areas for hosting a range of valuable antiques, or should they be somewhere you can unwind after a long day at work?

I think they should be the latter. We all need a space that we can relax and our environment can have a large impact on our mood. So here are some ideas for making your home that little bit cosier.

Make Your Entrance Inviting

The entrance is the first thing you’ll see but this typically tends to be a neglected area in the home. Why? People tend to concentrate on the main rooms in the house, but they forget that the tone is set as soon as you walk in. When guests arrive often they’re not treated to a livable space, but somewhere rather shabby and boring.

Having bright and welcoming colours in the entrance hall can really help. As can soft, colourful mats. Pot plants in the hallways can also work a treat for brightening any entrance hall if you have space. Don’t just go for green either. Pick a colour that really complements the style of the room. If it is characterised by light tones, for example, choose a pink or a lavender to add a bit of contrast.

Cut Through Draughty Spaces

[Photo courtesy of Harry Zilber/wikipedia.org]

Each room in your house is a big cavity. And because of the necessities of construction, these are square. But squares do not make your home feel more cosy. You want to find ways to make sure that the eye is drawn through the space. When you enter a room, have a big painting on the opposite wall. This can help.

Also, it can help if your furniture is themed, but not matching. Having different colours, textures and patterns throughout the room can break it up and make it less formal. Just make sure that the different textures work together in a pleasing way.

Finally, don’t try to eliminate space in the centre of the room. This can actually enhance the room’s appeal, rather than make it look stark.

Mix Formal With Informal Furniture

It’s really nice to have a sofa or two for settling down in the evening, as well as a nice coffee table. But you can also mix things up with a foam bag chair. These are great for reading or for people who like to fidget, rather than just settings on their bums. Check out Fombag.com if you want to know more about foam bag chairs.

Eliminate Harsh Lines

Jagged, straight lines can really dull the cosiness of a room. Long straight lines give the room a formal look. It’s hard to escape the idea that you’re at an airport or in some other public space. You certainly don’t feel like you’re somewhere private where you can relax.

Eliminating straight lines is easy. You can introduce things like round rugs and tables. And put decorative lamps in ugly, harsh corners. For more ideas on how to make your home cosier, check out realsimple.com.

Our homes should be our haven. But let’s face it, in those hot summer months it can be quite unbearable to be in and outside. While it’s tempting just to give in to the heat, there are a few things you can do to make your home cooler. Without causing too much strain on the finances. With this simple guide, your home will be a cooler place in know time.

[Image courtesy of deovolenti/pixabay.com]

Focus on your body temperature first.

Keeping your body temperature low is a step in the right direction. Drinking ice-cold drinks and applying a cold compress to your forehead and neck is a great place to start. Also by wearing clothes that are cooler like cotton or linen.

Check out your air conditioning.

Before it gets too warm, make sure your air conditioning is in good working order. It’s no good getting to a point where you need it, and it’s not working. Getting regular ac services drastically improve performance. It will also make sure it does not cost you more than it should to run it.

Keep your blinds closed.

It’s been proven that 30% of your home’s unwanted heat can come from your windows. It might seem simple, but something as simple as closing blinds or curtains can stop your home from becoming like a greenhouse.

[Image courtesy of j_ridley2000/pixabay.com]

Use your doors wisely.

Keeping doors shut during the day will allow the cooler air to circulate the rooms you are using. But the opposite should be done at night as the temperature drops. This will allow all the cooler air in your home to circulate throughout reducing the temperature and making your home feel fresher.

Change your bedding sheets.

It’s a good idea to change your sheets through the seasons. Fleecy style bedding is perfect for the cold winter, but you will want something a lot cooler and thinner during the summer.

Let the night air in.

During the summer months, the temperature will drop after the sun sets. If this is the case for where you live, then make the most of it and open the windows in the house allowing the air to circulate. It will also allow you to have a cooler night’s sleep. It’s always difficult to sleep when your bedroom is hot.

Retire your oven during the summer months.

It may seem obvious but by not using your oven you’re going not to create any extra heat. Grilling and changing your cooking habits will be vital for keeping your home warm. The oven expels heat and will only add to your indoor temperature whenever being used.

Use extraction fans in the kitchen and bathroom.

Finally, the last piece of advice would be to make the most of your extraction fans in the kitchen and bathroom. These will suck in the warm air. A hot shower will generate steam as will cooking, no matter how you are doing it. So crack those fans on to help avoid increasing your home’s temperature.

I hope this guide will help your home stay cool in the hot months.

It’s a dilemma many of us have faced before. Should we do it ourselves? Or should we let someone else do it? There’s no simple answer to this question. There are many positive things about DIY, and there are many reasons why we should stay away from it. It’s time to weigh up both side of the argument.

For DIY

There is always something really satisfying about completing a DIY project. This is undeniable. Knowing that you’ve been able to make something with your own two hands is a fantastic feeling. And you will be reminded of your achievement whenever you see the finished product in your home. If you’re the kind of person that really likes to challenge yourself, then it’s understandable that you want to take on each and every DIY task.

You can sometimes save money by doing a DIY job too. Of course, it’s important to remember that this is not always the case. Sometimes, people spend so much money on tools and materials that it might have been cheaper just to hire someone to do the work. But in some cases when you already have the right tools, and the materials can be found cheaply, you could save a lot of cash. Many people who have a small budget to work with decide to take on DIY projects all by themselves.

[Image courtesy of stevepb/pixabay.com]

Against DIY

One of the main reasons not to DIY is your lack of skills. Sure, I don’t know what your exact skill level is. But I’m guessing it’s not up to a professional standard. This is the problem for most of us. We’re never going to be able to do the job as well as a real professional could do it. We might be able to scrape through and do a semi-decent job if we spend enough time and money on a job. But is it worth it when you can simply hire someone who could do that work in half the time? The finished product is always going to be better and more secure if it has been done by a pro.

The health and safety argument also has to come into it. Every year many people are injured, and some are even killed as a result of DIY jobs gone wrong. Before you go ahead with any task, you should be aware of the dangers of DIY. Every task is different, so every task presents different dangers and hazards that need to be confronted. If you’re not sure what you’re doing and are worried that you could hurt yourself, it’s probably best to call in the professionals.

Conclusion

The best advice I can give you is to use your common sense. If you make sure that you know what you’re doing and don’t take any unnecessary risks, you might be able to get a good outcome. But if you want the job done to the highest standard and you don’t want to take up your time, letting someone else do it is for the best.

Are you tired of looking at your room? It is time to change the aura of your room by adding new curtains on your windows. Curtains are made to turn a drab window to gorgeous in seconds. They are home adornment that should not be taken for granted apart from its multiple uses such as coverings from extreme heat or draft, and giving you security while alone in your house.

There are a lot of curtains specially designed for various purposes. Hotels, inns, dormitories and hospitals hang curtains to add aesthetic appeal to their rooms. The design of their curtains is similar to what your home curtains are. If you need new curtains for your kids, choose bargain curtains with cartoon character and fairy tale designs to fit in to their age. Your kids and little angels will feel happy and excited to sleep in their own room every time they see those bright colored curtains.

[Image courtesy of JamesDeMers/pixabay.com]

For the elderly, they too need curtains with sunny colors to divert their attention every time they feel alone and forsaken. Truly, curtains can help change your mood. Today, there are many types of curtain designs such as embroidered, linen, waverly and scarf panels available in the market. You can also opt to buy a blackout curtain, valance, drapes or casual curtains. There are unlimited curtain choices that are o: sale and if you are lucky enough, you can avail of promo codes and coupon codes.

Some homemakers are able to get high quality bargain sheer curtains by searching them online or flyers distributed outside food outlets and malls. If you are fond of reading magazines, you can find those coupon codes in between pages. Take note that these promos will expire so always take advantage of them while they are still available. Bargain hunting can save you a lot of money when you plan to change your curtains because you can buy as many as you can so your windows are not boring.

Your home is the place where you live, where you and loved ones can enjoy a peaceful life and leave all your cares outside. That’s not all it is, however. It’s also an asset. The asset that’s probably worth more than any other you own. So treat as an important part of your finances and you might find it helping those finances grow. There are a lot great ways to make a great investment out of your home. Following the tips below will have you piling on the worth in no-one. Even if selling isn’t on your mind, adding value to your home never hurts.

[Image courtesy of Jeremy Levine/flickr.com]

The kitchen

The kitchen is not just the part of the home where we spend a lot of our time cooking, eating and cleaning. It’s the heart of the home when it comes to selling it. There are a lot of different things you can to renovate your kitchen, depending on how much time and effort you put into it. Updating your surfaces to granite gives it a contemporary look that will offend few. Smart storage additions will give more space, always a good idea.

[Image courtesy of Bettina M/wikimedia.org]

The bathroom

The bathroom is the other heart of the home when it comes to selling. It should feel like a place of utmost luxury and relaxation. The bathroom is also the room that can degrade a lot faster than others if we’re not careful. Turn your nightmare bathroom into a place of total relaxation. You’ll add value to the home and love your newly kitted room as well.

[Image courtesy of Michael Coté/flickr.com]

The garden

The exterior of the home is incredibly important to how much worth is attributed to it in the end. There’s a lot you can do to add value to it as well. You can use patios and landings to add more useable space to it. The right floral arrangements and gardening set-ups can give it the pizazz that really brings in the worth. Water features like pools and fountains are always a smart bet, as long as you’re willing to maintain them. If you have the space and money for it all, the services of the right backyard designers could implement them all in one design.

[Image courtesy of Literatirus/wikimedia.org]

The conservatory

The above tips are sure to add value and selling quality to the home. However, there’s nothing quite as reliable to the value of a home than sheer space. One way to add that valuable space is by fitting it on the side of the house. Not only do conservatories add space, but they can add the selling quality in how aesthetically pleasing they are. Conservatories can be used in all kinds of ways, so adding them is rarely a bad idea.

[Image courtesy of Holland And Green Architectural Design/flickr.com]

The loft

The other easy way to add a lot of space to your home, often less expensive than a conservatory, is by converting your loft. Most homes have a near floor’s worth of usable space that is going to waste as storage. Lofts can be converted into bathrooms, offices, bedrooms or whatever you like. If you could do with a bit more utility in the home, the loft could be the answer.

When you’re unhappy with your home, the correct course of action is often unclear. Is selling your home and buying a new one the way to go? It seems a little extreme. But there are many people out there who would tell you that renovating your property would be even riskier. So what do you do?

We’ll explore the options and methods in this article. If you’re currently struggling with this problem, we hope this helps drive you towards a decision.

Why are you unhappy with your home?

The first thing you should do is identify the problem you have. Without knowing specific reasons you’re not happy with your property, you will struggle to come up with decent solutions. Do you not have enough space? Do you have too much space? Do you not like the layout? Is there a weird smell? Do you hate your neighbours?

Whatever the reasons, you need to note them down. Otherwise, you may find that whatever action you take may not have solved the issue you had in the first place. Oh, and if the reason is that you hate your neighbours, you may find this article disappointing. We have no hints for neighbour disposal to offer you.

Have an extreme clean-out

All that clutter is giving you an inaccurate image of your home. A messy environment always looks smaller than it actually is. Having piles of clothes and boxes and miscellaneous items will make you feel cramped. So you need to pull up your sleeves and have an extreme clean-out!

[Image courtesy of Andrea Piacquadio/pexels.com]

The aim here is to make your home look as bare-bones as possible. Imagine for a moment that you really are going to sell it. What would you do? You would make that home look as attractive as possible in order to get a good price and land a sale fast. You need to revert it back to a very basic state, one filled with potential.

Tour your home

Cleaned your home? Good. Now you need to go through every room in the house and assess it. Ideally, you would assess your home over the course of a year. This way you know exactly what happens in each room when there are external changes. These changes will include light, temperature and noise. They also include all the different types of weather

This will really help you get your finger on what might be bothering you. By re-evaluating your living spaces, you may find that you only need to make simple changes. Maybe you just need to rearrange the furniture. Or maybe you need new blinds to adapt to light changes. But maybe you’ll find that you still feel a bit cramped in these rooms. Maybe making extensive changes will be the right way to go. In any case, this clean-and-tour method will have helped you make your decision.

Photo from Flickr

Visit open houses

So, you’ve made up your mind. Either you’re renovating or you’re selling. Here’s a great idea: visit open homes. That may seem like something you’d only do if you’re looking to buy a new property. Not so.

By visiting a new and open property, you can get a good idea of what a professional renovation looks and feels like. The most effective way of going about this, if possible, is to visit open homes in your neighbourhood. This is because the houses here may be very similar. This will allow you to see what upgrades have done to homes that are similar in layout to your own.

It is, of course, also an excellent way of scoping out property you want to buy when you sell your home. If you’re not sure, or are definitely just looking at renovation, we recommend keeping it to open houses. Arranging a private visit to a property will just waste the time of the estate agent!

The blueprint

If you have the blueprints to your home, then there are other possibilities open to you. You can take blueprints to renovation and building stores and ask them for advice. If the store is particularly modern, they may even be able to give you a digital rendering of what your renovated rooms could look like.

If you don’t have the blueprints for your home to hand, there will be ways to get them. Local councils are usually able to help. Previous owners of the property may also have them, or any building company that have worked on your home in the past.

Selling versus renovation: getting assistance

Selling can often seem like the easier way to deal with the whole thing. Getting the money for your current home and simply buying a brand new one is definitely an attractive solution.

Do remember that you’re not alone if you are thinking about renovating. Contractors or remodelers can give you practical tips. Websites like R.H. Homes are replete with suggestions and inspirational articles and guides.

Consider your commitments, career and social life

Moving home, of course, comes with its own unique stresses. If you move to a new home, there’s a chance you’ll have to change career, or that your child has to go to a new school. Your commute will change, as will your social life. If you’re heavily involved in your local community, then moving will take its toll on you and that community.  One of the main reasons people choose to renovate is so that they can avoid the need to move from their home permanently.

Considering the costs

Buying a new home seems like the most expensive solution, right? Well, not necessarily. Remember that the cost of buying a new home will be offset significantly by the money you make from the sale of your current home. It also depends on how you go about the purchase. Say you pay in instalments for a new home. You could actually end up paying less monthly than you would for extensive renovations.

What you need to get is a cost estimate for renovation.  A contractor or remodeler can provide this. You may be looking at something small, or you could be looking at a waller-devastating structural change to your layout. And if the renovations are complex and require you to live somewhere else for a while, there’s that cost to consider too

So what do I do?

We can’t tell you that! If you research all of your options carefully, you should be able to come to the right answer in no time. Weigh the risks and benefits. Remember that the purpose of this is to increase the quality and enjoyment of your life. Best of luck to you!

I know it is not a nice topic to talk about, but raw sewage is a problem for some people. In fact, I was reading about a family that had to evacuate their home because of sewage related problems. That got me thinking about how I would deal with the issue if it happened to me, which is why we are here now! After all, it could easily happen to anyone if a pipe burst or the toilet started to backflow. Here’s what I found out when I started to research the topic.

picture from wikipedia

Do Not Touch It

The first thing that I would want to do is get rid of it as soon as possible. It is raw sewage and it disgusting. But, apparently, that is not the right move because of the contaminants in the sewage. The best option is not to touch it with bare hands or any bare skin. I know that most people would not go rolling around in raw sewage for a laugh. Still, it is important to note that we can catch all sorts of diseases, so we need to steer clear of the area without the right gear. Http://www.rentokil-hygiene.co.uk will tell you more about the health hazards of raw sewage.

Cordon Off The Area

My next tip is to cordon off the area. Most of us would want to tackle it in some form or fashion, like putting on a hazmat suit and sweeping it into the corner. But, that is not the best idea because most of us don’t have the proper equipment lying around the house. Anyone that tries to tackle raw sewage with makeshift gear is putting their health at risk. I, for one, don’t want to do that, and I would imagine most of my readers are the same. Forget about dealing with it alone and cordon the area off to prevent any further damage.

picture from wikipedia

Call A Professional Outfit

The only way to deal with raw sewage is to phone the experts. Just one quick glance at http://restorationeze.com/ga/atlanta/sewage-cleanup told me everything I needed to know. After a look at this web page, I was confident that I couldn’t deal with the situation myself, but they could do it for me. They have all the right equipment and the right amount of skill and knowledge to make the nightmare disappear. Any expert should be able to free the home of sewage and stop the problem from occurring again.

Move Out

The last thing I would want to do is live in my home while all of this is happening. And, I am pretty sure it is a health hazard. The obvious solution is to move out and let the pros do their job. While they are negating the issue, we can live safe in the knowledge that our health is not at risk. Plus, we can also be confident that the house will be safe when we move back. Please don’t live at home while raw sewage is contaminating the property.

I hope that this never happens to anyone because it sounds awful. But, there is a chance, so it is always good to have a backup.

If your bath or powder room is looking a bit dated, fear not – there are some fast and easy ways to update even the most mundane bathroom in minutes! By simply replacing and updating your towel bars and rings along with installing some new robe hooks or towel racks you can enjoy a more functional bathroom; a dated vanity can be modernized with new bathroom hardware in minutes. Most bath accessory sets offer a wide range of items to choose from so even if you start by selecting a new hamper, you can always add new coordinating pieces as time and budget permits.

[Image source pixabay.com]

There are a few updates which will add real value over time and they do not necessarily cost a lot of money or require a professional to install them; a handheld shower head is one example of a value-added improvement that will pay benefits over the long term. It is easy to shampoo hair, bathe children, wash pets, water plants or clean the tub or shower enclosure with a handheld shower head plus you can enjoy a water massage or soothe aching joints by aiming the water spray precisely where you want it.

A heated towel rack is another improvement that will more than pay for itself. Not only will you enjoy wrapping yourself in a warm fluffy towel after a bath or shower, a heated towel rack is useful for drying swimwear and fine washables, warming blankets and baby clothes and drying towels quickly which will save on energy. There are counter top towel warmers along with freestanding heated towel racks and wall mount models.

With the sunshine trying to make its 2016 debut and the coldest months behind us for another year, spring is officially on its way. That means it’s time for a spring clean, but what about the finishing touches? Here are three simple ways to bring this much-loved season inside your home; no matter what the weather’s doing!

Bring the outside in with a wall mural

One simple and relatively affordable way of changing the look and feel of an entire room is to invest in a wallpaper mural. As more and more manufacturers catch on to just how appealing these are to the savvy homeowner, the variety of designs on offer grows too. For a spruced-up spring room, select a sunrise, lake, garden, beach or forest design, like this one here from Art.co.uk. Be sure to pick a design that you won’t get bored of, and make sure you’ve got a spare pair of hands to help hang it. Watching the TV will feel so 2015 once you’ve got your mural to look at!

Image source

Reconsider your seating choices

Getting the seating right in your home is no simple task. It’s pretty easy to end up with way too many options, or way too few. A good starting place is to take a step back from seeing your home as you do every day. Instead, see it from the eyes of someone visiting for the very first time. If you were invited to sit down, where would you sit? Where would you not sit?

If there is one seating area that just doesn’t appeal, get rid of it! It’s only taking up valuable space. Be bold and replace it with something a bit different; a brightly coloured deckchair, perhaps, or a high quality bean bag. The latter is an especially good option, as you can change the colour and material of the cover as the year progresses. You can visit Comfy Sacks to learn more on this. As for the rest of the home, ask yourself; is my office chair good for my back? Are the dining room table chairs getting a bit wobbly? You’ll be surprised the difference some upgrading and DIY work will achieve.

Invest in a window cleaner

Dirty windows go easily unnoticed in the darker months. However, once the sun starts peeping out from behind the clouds again, it does a great job of highlighting any grime. While you might not believe it, clean windows can let in up to 30% more light that dirty ones. If that isn’t enough to convince you, the general environment can shorten glasses lifespan. Cleaning your windows both outside and in could prevent problems in the future. Also, more light means more heat; especially useful if this winter’s heating bills came as a nasty surprise!

Once you’re done (or the window cleaner is!), consider installing some window boxes to brighten things up even more. You can head to your local garden centre if you want to get things up and running straight away. Alternatively, take a look at this handy article from The Guardian if you’ve got a bit more time on your hands and want to grow and cultivate your own.