Bali remains one of the most famous tourist destinations, and it means hundreds and thousands of tourists come here every year. It also means that island needs to place more efforts in keeping itself clean and green, especially with the multitude of resorts, hotels, clubs and tourist facilities coming up.

It needs to make extra efforts to preserve the natural environment, which it is famous for. Bali entrepreneurial projects and programs are well aware of the new emerging challenges and are already embracing the modern concept of sustainable or the green living. It is making use of new technologies to protect its natural environment and encourage sustainable living.

[Photo courtesy of Skitterphoto/pexels.com]

Bali and its culture are based on “Tri Hita Karana,” a Sanskrit phrase which means harmony between human, God, and environment. Today, the island is indeed setting an example in the truism industry the way to go green and make tourism eco-friendly.

Green construction

Bali villas and residential homes are turning green as they make use of local and sustainable materials such as straw and bamboo.

Green School is a classic example of green and sustainable living. The school, founded in 2008 is made of bamboo. It prepares its students to be the green leaders of tomorrow and teaches them green living along with the regular curriculum. It is a model of sustainability in education that teaches its students environmental issues very early on in its open-walled classrooms.

Green Village builds further on the positive efforts of the Green School and has expanded the eco-friendly sustainable bamboo homes in the jungle. The project is currently under construction, and some of the villas are near completion. Each villa is made off the ground and placed on bamboo sticks so that it doesn’t interrupt the natural contour of the land.

[Photo courtesy of Pixabay/pexels.com]

Bali springs are lodgings made out natural materials such as coconut wood and bamboo with thatch roofs. Located in the green heart of Bali, you get astonishing views from the springs of rice paddies, Mt Batur and Mt. Abang plus a river gorge. Bedrooms are natural but luxurious, and there is a pristine environment within the rooms. Fresh meals are prepared from organic vegetables and fruits grown locally on the property.

Green living

Little Tree has come up as Bali’s first Green building supply store that promotes the green living and sells related products.

People are refusing plastic bags in the grocery stores and use cloth bags. They are buying organic food for personal and commercial use.

Solar panels, water, geothermal, and wind sources are being used as sources of energy.

[Photo courtesy of Pixabay/pexels.com]

Bali is already promoting the use of renewable materials in its festivals, PT Akarumput; a green youth culture movement is already a buzz word.

Eco Bali Recycling organization tackles local pollution and waste management problems. A team of environmental and educational professionals motivates recycling.

Ubud Organic Farmers Market sells organic produce grown by local, independent growers. The idea is to motivate and promote organic food produce and its consumption.

Green tourism

Some of the lodges and resorts in Bali are now known as the longest-running eco-establishment, and one good example is Sarinbuana Eco Lodge, which is located at the foot of Mt Batukaru. This is just the right spot to begin your exploring the largest stand of the jungle. When you stay here, you also contribute to the rehabilitation of the endangered Bali Starling bird and offer orangutan protection. Bali Eco Stay is another green option and being eco doesn’t mean that you need to compromise on your luxuries. You get to enjoy sumptuous organic meals, great body massage and waterfall swims. The Organic Farm is an organic foodie’s paradise. Situated in the scenic mountains of Munduk, Balinese chefs grow their organic produce, and the best part is that guests can go and pick their own fresh and favorite food. Other buildings and villas are coming up in Bali that are made entirely of local bamboo and recycled wood. Their rooms offer not just the best mountain views, sunrises and sunsets but also catch the nicest breezes. As their pavilions are placed on huge stones sit about 10 feet above the ground, the construction makes them safe to any earthquake activity.

[Photo courtesy of Jatuphon Buraphon/pexels.com]

Eating green

Eating green doesn’t mean eating only veggies. It means that you get to eat fresh organic meals made from local produce. There are already several restaurants, farms, and cafes in Bali that serve only organic food.  Some good examples are Bali Buddha Café and Embun Life Café. Bali Buddha Café serves only organic food whether it is New York-style bagels or its famous traditional turmeric detox drink. The open-aired Embun Life Café offers an adventurous menu filled with hearty recipes prepared from local and chemical free ingredients. A trip to the Sari Organik Farm takes you across rice paddies and offer you a panoramic view of mountains from a deck chair. Contemplate the delicious organic menu amidst all that greenery.

Volunteering to make Bali Green

WWOOF, a global organization, encourages sustainable ways of living and motivates volunteer help for about a couple of hours a day. The organization offers food and accommodation to the volunteers as it teaches them about organic lifestyles. Volunteers make a visit to the Nusa Penida Bird Sanctuary, to rebuild populations of endangered bird species, or they can plant trees or teach English in schools. ROLE or The Rivers, Oceans, Land, Ecology Organization helps create alternate eco-friendly employment for rural women by teaching them how to work with natural fibers and snail farming.

The kitchen should be an enjoyable space that inspires you to cook. In recent years, the kitchen has developed into a space which is used not only for cooking, but also for eating and entertaining. As we spend more time in the kitchen, it’s becoming more important to us that it should be an aesthetically pleasing environment. Creating such a space not only requires a lick of paint and some desirable furniture, but a change to your appliances, too.

Here, we take a look at a few appliances and consider how they can improve your home life.

Washing machine

We used to do our best to keep appliances like the washing machine away from the kitchen. They were large, noisy and unsightly; while their introduction to the home was welcome, we weren’t keen to be reminded of them.

Today, it is a different story. Washing machines not only look sleek, but they are far less intrusive than ever before in terms of size, shape and sound. The result is that we can gladly incorporate the machine into our kitchen environment to make life a little easier.

[Photo courtesy of Ela Haney/pexels.com]

Cookers

The kind of cooker you choose for your kitchen is, of course, a matter of personal choice. With so many to choose from, it’s now possible to tailor our cookers to our cooking style. This means making decisions on looks, size and power options. If you’re unsure of what might suit you, it’s worth researching belling cookers to understand what each style of cooker can offer you and your kitchen.

Dishwasher

If you’re using your kitchen as a space for entertaining, the last thing you want after dinner is a pile of washing up. Dishwashers can transform a kitchen, allowing us to tidy away the dirty dishes immediately, without that lingering feeling that we’ve got something to do.

Fridge freezer

One effect of the changing way in which we use our kitchens, is that the rooms are getting bigger. As such, more of us are opting to include large American style fridge freezer combinations into the room. Not only are these stylish, but they can offer us plenty of cooling space, not to mention the host of smart features included on top-of-the-range models.

Tending to a garden can be a rewarding experience, as a well-kept garden always works well to improve the overall appearance of a house. However, it is also true that keeping a garden looking neat and tidy can be an extremely time-consuming task (and time is something that not many of us have to spare). It does not take much for a garden to start looking overgrown, and if action is not taken, things can very easily get out of hand. In many cases, the problem is deciding where to start from. If your garden is showing signs of neglect, these simple steps can help you get it back to looking its best.

Back to the Basics

Take a walk around the garden and make a note of everything that might look out of place. This includes any plants, flowers, or shrubs that have grown too far outside their original shape. Get your pruning scissors out and start cutting back. Keep an eye on the state of overgrown plants though, as in some cases they might have been starved to a point in which they will never grow back. If this is the case, simply dig them out and focus on starting with a blank soil canvas.

[Photo courtesy of Creative Vix/pexels.com]

Know your Weeds

Again, you need to assess the damage caused by weeds before deciding your next step. If the soil looks like it has been completely invaded by weeds, it is time to take some serious action and invest in a good-quality chemical weed killer. Also, identify the type of weeds that seem to predominate. Bindweed, docks, horsetail, and nettles can be notoriously difficult to get rid of, so don’t be surprised if it takes a few tries before you can eliminate them completely. If the situation is not too bad, avoid chemical weed killers and opt for mulching instead (see next section).

By this point, you might have a large amount of garden waste in your property. It is useful to hire a man and van service to clear your garden and give you more time to focus on getting it back into shape. Specialized man and van companies like Anyjunk can also provide mini-skips and skip bags, which you can keep until your garden makeover is complete.

Mulching

Mulch has two main functions: aesthetic (as it can rapidly improve the unkempt appearance of a garden) and functional (because it can be used to treat gardens that have been overrun by weeds). To deprive weeds from light and stop them from reproducing, you will need to add a mulch layer of at least 2 inches. Whenever possible, go for an organic mulch, as it will give your garden soil additional levels of moisture and nutrients.

[Photo courtesy of Markus Spiske/pexels.com]

Plan and Design

You can now start planning how you want your garden to look like. Think about the garden boundaries, repairing or cleaning hard surfaces like steps or paths, and fixing, discarding, or adding structural elements such as pergolas, gazebos, sheds, beds, or arches. Also, decide on whether you want a purely ornamental garden, something more functional, or a bit of both. Do you want/need trees, shrubs, vegetables, or flowers? If you usually don’t have much time to tend to the garden, keep it basic and easy to care for.

Shape It!

The job is almost done and it is now time to give shape to your garden. Use techniques like edging or framing to add structure and to keep things under control. You can also consider adding garden ornaments, like sculptures, furniture, or fountains. The trick is to be creative and to make sure that your garden reflects the style of your home.

As a homeowner, the main concern is to keep the property and safe and secure as possible. Let’s face it, your home is your castle and no one should be able to bypass its defences easily. The thing is that some abodes do have features that are not safe, such as a garage. Yes, it is perfect for parking your car and keeping it off the street, or as a place to get away from the family, but that doesn’t make it safe. The shocking truth is that thieves often use a garage as the main point of entry into a property. As the owner, it is your responsibility to ensure it isn’t burglar-friendly, and here’s how.

[Photo courtesy of Jaymantri/pexels.com]

Make Repairs ASAP

Garages are often out houses that are open to the elements. As a result, it isn’t uncommon for bad weather or external factors to cause damage. Most people don’t care about it unless it is significant, so most leave the repairs until further notice. This is the biggest security error you can make because garage door repairs are essential. Not only do secure doors dispel thieves in the first place, but broken ones are easier to bypass. The key is to fix any flaw as soon as it appears to ensure that the garage is as tight as every other feature of the house.

[Photo courtesy of maxpixel.freegreatpicture.com]

Don’t Go Electronic

Yep, pressing a button is easier than getting out of the car and opening the garage but hand. However, it is also less secure. For starters, all it takes is for you to misplace the control and anyone can have access to the entire house. It might fall into the hands of thieves, it might be found by the neighbours, yet you can’t take the chance. More worryingly, automatic doors are hackable. It sounds silly, but burglars can connect to the system and open the doors remotely. A traditional garage with a deadbolt doesn’t have these issues.

Cover The Windows

Some garage doors have windows. To most people, windows are a harmless feature that they can take or leave. But, underneath the surface, they are an aid for criminals. Although thieves can use the garage as an entrance into the house, they will also check it for cars. If there are valuables motors inside, they won’t think twice about kicking down the doors and driving off with your vehicle. A window allows them to see what is inside and what isn’t, which is why they need covering. Alternatively, you can replace the door for one that is solid.

Don’t Forget To Close It

Sometimes, theft is not the garage’s fault – it is yours. It is amazing how many people leave the garage doors open while they are doing something else. Sure, you might be around the corner, but you will not be able to react in time. Anyone that walks past will be able to pop their head in, have a look around, and steal the valuables. The worst thing is they will be able to take their time!

Even if you are only going to be a minute, always close and lock the garage.

 The best part about the summer is entertaining friends. Taking time to invite friends over to your home and have movie nights and fun together is one thing, but being able to invite people to a barbecue and chill out in the garden is something else. The freedom to take the party outdoors is one that so many love – and it’s one big reason that having a presentable garden is a must.

[Photo courtesy of Stokpic/pexels.com]

Daylight hours linger that bit longer in the summer months, and when you are planning to set up your backyard for entertaining your guests, you need to consider how you can use your garden to have a fun and festive summer. Check out our ideas for entertaining your guests this summer.

[Photo courtesy of Free-Photos/pixabay.com]

Barbecue Time!

Everyone loves a good feast and the taste of barbecued food is exactly what makes the summer taste good. Search for articles on how to get your decking ready for the best summer barbecue, and invest in some fantastic garden furniture like these sets. You need a place for people to sit and relax, and you need a space in the garden to dine together. Set up a table of condiments and sides, and don’t forget the pest control so the flies don’t get too close!

[Photo courtesy of Reipen/pixabay.com]

Outdoor Picnic.

It doesn’t matter whether there is a specific summer occasion, there’s nothing like a picnic to bring people together. You could choose to have a potluck, where everyone brings a dish and contributes to the picnic. Usually with a picnic you cannot go wrong with finger foods and those easy to eat; fresh fruits and such. You could also set up huge cushions for people to recline on in the sunshine.

[Photo courtesy of pxhere.com]

Formal Party

A formal dinner party is usually held in the dining room and around an elegant table. However, when you have the space for a garden you can take the party outside into the warmth of the evening. Add these citronella candles to keep bugs and pests away from the food and the people at the table, and create a menu of light delicacies. Have a formal summer dress code and if you want to go one better, why not hire cocktail waiters to hand out the Pimms!

[Photo courtesy of Jason Gessner/flickr.com]

Outdoor Cinema

There’s nothing quite as wonderful as those summer evenings when the sun gets low and the drinks are cold. Setting up lounge cushions and chairs and investing in an old movie projector like this one is a great way to entertain. Hire a popcorn maker for the night and screen favourite films onto the side of the house – a screen may be needed but it’s all in good fun!

Your summer can be filled with the best fun with friends or family, especially if there are birthdays among you. Enjoying the lazy summer nights and the blazing heat of the day can make for an exceptional time, creating memories for all to enjoy.

Fall is just around the corner, and this means it’s time to redecorate the exterior of your home in preparation for the incoming change of mood. If you’ve been mulling it and put off decorating the exterior of your home, now is the perfect time to get moving and create an autumn inspired look. The return of cooler temperatures brings along with it the colors of brown, yellow, orange, burgundy, reds and dark greens. Festive yet, not as pastel as the colors of summer and spring, you could use the tones to make your home look imposing yet warm at the same time. It isn’t all about looking good, the practical elements of redecorating your home, will give it usability during the next months when the rain, sleet, hail, wind and snow become a part of normal life once again. Contrary to popular belief, just because you’re going to be heading into a design that’s using bolder tones and functioning style, it doesn’t mean you have fewer options that counterpart seasons with warmer weather.

[Photo courtesy of Wonderlane/flickr.com]

Paint it bold

When the season changes, the exterior of your home goes through a lot. The hail and rain weathers and erodes the wood and brick little by little. You can see this happening if little paint flicks have started to come off to expose the wall underneath. This will only increase the longer you let it linger, but there is a way to make your home bolder and newer. You could paint your home in a strong, autumn wood color, of dark brown. First, clean the area, with a good soaking of hot water. Take a piece of rough leather and in circular motions, take the grime and dirt off. Seal and prime the walls ready for the paint. Make sure you put on at least two layers of paint, but as it’s the exterior, preferably three.

A place to relax outside

If you’ve ever thought that clearing, cleaning the garden and mowing the lawn was a task in your life you could do without, it’s time to seriously think about decking. The front or back gardens can be landscaped to replace the grass with a stable, flat surface that you can practically use. With a seating arrangement outside you can buy a couple of rocking chairs, sit outside with a blanket and watch the stars, come either rain or snow. To brave the cold, a good hardwood decking company should be contacted to come and survey the land. With their skills, they can work out, how much of your land is feasibly ready to be altered in favor or laying down the foundation and then decking.

[Photo courtesy of Tony Alter/flickr.com]

Welcoming guests in style

When guests come to knock on your door, welcome them with simple adornments of pine cones, radiant orange, yellow and red leaves. On the front door, you can hang a fall-style wreath of dark green pine tree branches, formed into a circle or heart. Perhaps the wreath could be decorated with some fruit such as red apples, cherries and some blackberries to add in a little more color to balance out the green. Consider smaller wreaths to hang above your windows on the ground level floor. Hang some winterberry holly over the corner of your home to add in a little bit of passionate red to the mix.

Summer is here and what better time is there to throw a little party for all of your friends and loved ones? You don’t need an occasion: the good weather and the need for a proper catch up are more than enough of a reason to get everyone together. So, for the perfect get-together, it’s time to start prepping for the ultimate garden party. Here’s everything you need for the best event of the summer.

[Photo courtesy of Gergő/pexels.com]

Prepare Your Garden Space

First things first, you need to make sure that your garden is neat and tidy. Most of us neglect the space during the winter months, as we don’t get much use out of it. So it’s time to start making up for lost time! Get your gardening gloves on and start mowing the lawn, pulling weeds and tackling those long bits of grass in the corners with a strimmer. It shouldn’t take too long but face this task sooner rather than later. You want to go at your own pace, rather than rushing about hours before the guests are due to arrive.

[Photo courtesy of Christopher Craig/flickr.com]

BBQ

Your guests will be hungry throughout the day, so make sure you’re ready to cater to their needs. A BBQ is the best option, as it means that you won’t be stuck inside, chained to the oven while everyone else is out back enjoying themselves. Barbequing is an immersive experience. You can share cooking responsibilities and be right in the middle of the action while turning hot dogs and flipping burgers. Remember to ensure that there’s something suitable for everyone to eat with vegetarian, vegan and gluten free options for those with special dietary requirements. Make sure that there are plenty of drinks available too! The hot weather will get everyone thirsty. Squash or fresh juice is great for the kids. For adults? Make a huge bowl of punch with plenty of ice. This will keep everyone cool and refreshed.

Seating

It’s easy to forget that people will need somewhere to sit. Nobody wants to stand up all day and evening and most people will want to avoid sitting directly on the grass or decking. Invest in some high-quality outdoor furniture that can be used time and time again. This can be stored away in a shed when not in use. Throw some blankets out on the ground for little ones to sit or lie down on. Some will appreciate a little nap in the shade.

Entertainment

You’re going to need some entertainment. This doesn’t necessarily mean hiring out a band or magician, but some music and games will usually suffice. Invest in some good speakers that will project the sound around your garden. All you will need to do then is set up a little playlist on your iPod and plug it in, ready to go. Kids will appreciate games like twister and some adults might even join in too later in the evening! Paddling pools often go down well too, as an option to cool down in the heat of the midday sun.

If you are lucky enough to have moved into a new house with a big garden, you may be wondering what you can put in it to create a centerpiece that everyone will notice. A large garden is such an asset to any home, now all you have to do is make the most of it!

You could add something that injects some luxury, something that looks amazing or something that provides some additional living space. Here are three ideas.

A large garden structure

Large gardens can take a large external building. You can choose to construct this out of whatever materials you wish. Stone and brick buildings can take a long time to build and do not fit into every garden. If you do not have the necessary skills, you will have to pay for someone else to build it for you and cost can mount up. It is easier to build log homes than you think when you take a course. You will be taught how to follow a DIY step-by-step guide on how to build a log cabin that covers everything from selecting logs, laying foundations, and constructing a roof.

[Photo courtesy of Pixabay/pexels.com]

A swimming pool

Swimming pools are a spectacular addition to any garden and, depending on your local climate, they are something that the whole family can use for many months of the year. There is a current craze for chemical-free pools which are better for you and for the environment. Keep your design simple

One of the top tips is to choose a design with a flat bottom as they are much easier to dig and to clean once it is operational. Box shaped pools are cheaper to build because liner manufacturers will box weld a liner for you. Water proofing the pool is the hardest thing to achieve so it is best to limit the number of fittings that you have because they will breach the waterproofing.

A built-in barbecue and dining area

Who doesn’t love to eat outside? When you have a large garden, you can go to town on an outdoor eating area. Start with a built-in barbecue or even your own pizza oven. These make a spectacular focal point for your dining area and are practical as well. Wood fired outdoor bread and pizza ovens are delivered in sections so all you have to do is put them together. The attractive dome shape will look great in any garden and they produce tasty pizzas and freshly baked bread for your dinner party.

Then lay a patio so that your diners do not get muddy feet when they are eating. Make it big enough to take a large dining table and still leave enough room for your guests to move around.

Lighting is a big part of creating the atmosphere at your outdoor dining area. Solar powered lights are the most environmentally friendly but you may want some electrical ones as a back-up. Tea light candles complete the look for a lovely summer dinner party that your guests will not forget.

As much as many of us would like to, it’s not that likely that you’re going to end up living in a huge mansion. Now, that’s not even necessarily a bad thing. After all, a huge mansion is often a lot of extra rooms to clean and a seriously expensive proposition overall. For those of us with slightly more limited budgets, everything from the classic studio apartment to a cosy family home are much more suitable. However, one thing that does often cause problems for a lot of people living in those kinds of situations is a matter of space. The vast majority of people bemoan the fact that they simply don’t have enough space in their homes. However, despite how common this complaint is, it’s one that’s often much easier to solve than a lot of people suspect. While you might feel like the only way to increase the amount of space that you have is to move to somewhere completely new, the reality is that you can make room for yourself and even a whole family within the smallest of spaces. Here are just a few things that you can try in order to really make the most of whatever limited space you may have in your home.

Choose your room layout carefully

It’s incredibly common that a lot of people tend to only ever think about the layout of the rooms in their home once when they first move in, and never again. Not only that but people often tend to stick with whatever seems most obvious, or whatever layout previous owners or tenants had used. However, just because something is the most obvious use of a space doesn’t mean that it’s the most effective. There are a few simple things to keep an eye out for when you’re trying to change up the layout of a room to maximize space. One thing is to focus on sight lines. If it feels like your line of sight is constantly being interrupted, then that’s a sign that you’re not using the space in a room properly. Similarly, it’s a good idea to think about the flow of a room. If you can’t feel the way in which different rooms flow into each other, then there might be something wrong with the layout. That might sound like something of a strange and nebulous concept, but it’s the kind of thing that you can just feel when you walk into a room, as long as you’re paying close enough attention.

[Photo courtesy of Max Vakhtbovych/pexels.com]

Maximize your storage

Storage is often a serious issue for a lot of people. Whether you live in a three bedroom house or a studio apartment, you’re almost certainly going to end up feeling like you don’t have as much storage space as you would like. However, the reality is that, far from not having enough storage space, it’s actually much more likely that you’re just not using the space properly. And cupboards or closets in your home could probably contain many more things than they do if you just made an effort to organise them a little more. The issue that a lot of people tend to make is that they treat these kinds of storage solutions like some kind of dumping ground, simply throwing things into them at random without really considering how the space is being used. It might be tempted to take something of an “out of sight, out of mind” approach to your storage, but if you think about it carefully and avoid just dumping things into cupboards, then you’re going to get a lot more out of it.

Embrace minimalism

Even if you’re not what some people would call a “hoarder”, there’s a still a pretty good chance that you just have too much stuff. Now, this might not be spilling out of wardrobes and covering up the floor, but it’s likely that you don’t need nearly as many of your possessions as you think. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing. After all, humans are naturally a very sentimental species, and it’s in our nature to hold onto things that have meaning and importance to us. However, there comes a time when things spill over from being sentimental to being downright ridiculous. After all, you might want to hold onto a gift that your partner gave you for your anniversary, but do you really need a drawer full of every ticket stub and receipt from every date you’ve ever been on? It’s great to carry memories of trips you’ve taken, but if you’re filling up all of your shelves with knick knacks and souvenirs, then things are going to start looking pretty cluttered. Try embracing some more minimalist design ideas, and you’re almost certain to find that even the smallest space feels a whole lot bigger.

Use light

Making a space feeling bigger is actually one of best things that you can do. After all, you can’t exactly knock through a wall and add an extension to a third-floor apartment. One of the very best ways to make a room feel bigger than it is is to use light as much as possible. If you’ve ever walked into someone’s home and felt as though the place was incredibly cramped, despite how large it actually was, there’s a pretty good chance it was because of a lack of decent lighting. Bringing more light into a room can make even the tiniest space feel cavernous. Natural light is, of course, the very best option and you should make sure that you can get as much natural light into every room as possible. But when that’s not possible make sure that you’re keeping each room well illuminated while also tailoring the kind of light to each room. Colder, bright lights are better for kitchens and bathrooms, while slightly softer and warmer lights are much better for the bedroom where you want to create the most relaxing atmosphere possible.

Get creative

[Photo courtesy of Pixabay/pexels.com]

If you look up any notable examples of people living in incredibly small spaces, then the one thing that is immediately striking is just how creative they are forced to get with things like storage. After all, if you’ve only got a footprint of a few square feet, large bookcases aren’t exactly something you can accommodate. So why not use things like floating bookshelves to not only use space in a more interesting and vertical way but also to use them as decorations. Or perhaps you can use an entire wall of a room as a place to stack things like books. That way it because something of a feature of the room, rather than a problem brought about by a lack of space. It’s also a good idea to think in multiple directions. A lot of the time people only ever tend to think horizontally in the homes, so why not try thinking vertically instead? Rather than trying to spread things out in your home, use all of that space going up to the ceiling that is otherwise just going to completely to waste!

Unify your style

One of the toughest things about living in a small space is that it can often feel incredibly chaotic. This means that it can be difficult to relax, even in your own home, and you end up feeling tense a lot of the time. One of the very best ways to avoid this feeling is to create a unified style throughout your home. Rather than thinking of each room as an entity, completely distinct from all of the others, think of them as parts of the same whole. Not only will this allow you to create a much more cohesive sense of style and design, but it will make each room feel as though they flow into the next in ways that you may well not have been able to before. This not only makes the place feel larger but creates a much more calm, relaxing environment than feeling as though you’re constantly juggling a bunch of different styles all mashed into one incredibly small space.

Make the most of your furniture

[Photo courtesy of Pixabay/pexels.com]

Furniture can be a tricky proposition for a lot of people living in very small homes because it tends to take up a lot of room. Beds and couches are often so large that they completely dominate any room that they’re in. However, instead of seeing this as an inherently bad thing, why not embrace it? Make your couch into a statement piece in the centre of your living room? That way, rather than overpowering a room, it becomes a focal point that the room revolves around. This not only creates a much greater sense of visual interest to your home but also makes the areas around it seem much more distinct as well. Of course, you don’t want to go too far with this. The key is to keep things to a minimum. A large couch can be a great statement piece, but you really don’t want to end up with a room filled with chairs and couches when you’re already struggling for space. Bigger and better furniture is great, but you should try and use less of it wherever you can.

Not enough people appreciate a good garden. Even those that do often don’t have the time to actually work on their garden themselves. But if you even have a garden then you should consider yourself lucky! Not only are gardens adding more and more to real estate value, but they’re somewhat of a rarity for many people these days. To some, a home with a nice garden is the ultimate life goal.

[Photo courtesy of ricoeurian/flickr.com]

So let’s say you’re someone who does appreciate a good garden. Let’s also say that you don’t really spend that much time on your own. What are some simple ways to spice up your garden to add some life and luxury to it? Here are some quick tips.

Fountain

There’s nothing quite like walking out into a garden and hearing the faint trickle of water in the summer. It’s relaxing, luxurious, and classy. This can be attained via pretty much any water feature. But perhaps the most famous, and the most elegant, is the garden fountain.

[Photo courtesy of Elliot Brown/flickr.com]

Fountains make for an amazing focal point in any garden. Putting one in the middle of your lawn could be enough to add some class to your property. You can read about professional installation at https://www.outdoorfountainpros.com/, as well as seeing just how many different designs you can get for your garden. Remember that all eyes will be drawn to it immediately;  add some beautiful flora around it for extra effect.

Stone pathway

A beautiful stone pathway encourages guests to explore your garden. It defines a walking area, so you don’t end up trodding over all your grass. While you may not care too much about flattened grass, having a given path for roaming makes the roaming all the more pleasurable.

[Photo courtesy of caryn516/pixabay.com]

It’s easier than you think to get one of these in. You can read more about the required landscaping at http://www.hightechlandscapes.com/. Take a walk around your garden, trying to envision a path. What route or walking style do you like best? You should also consider the other features of your garden. You could have your pathway lead to a fountain or your favourite flower beds. And once a stone pathway is set, you can decorate it further. Nothing compliments a stone pathway more than a trellis with cascading vegetation!

Deck

People love a good patio. But timber decking is even better! With elevated, high-quality wood beneath your feet, a strong deck is the best way to enjoy your garden on those sunny summer days.

[Photo courtesy of JDoorjam/wikipedia.org]

You’ve probably seen an elegant garden deck before, so you know what kind of benefits they can bring to you. If it’s well-designed, it makes your house look amazing (and adding to its value in the process!) You can help ensure your decking meets that particular criteria by visiting http://www.americandeckbuilder.com/ and working with experts in the field. With a safe cooking area installed, you can get a classy BBQ with friends and family going. You can consider it your home’s “hub” of outdoor entertainment during the warm weather.