Feeling bored of your home’s interior design? Make your living space a reflection of your taste and imagination. Your deepest and wildest shades of your personality should come leaping out from the walls. The lighting arrangement should be the maze that leads to the window into your soul. The decor should be your physical statement on the earth, it should bellow out with power and vigor to those who enter the room. Your home’s rooms’ style and decorating theme waltzes around your heart and without any words, encompasses all that is you.

[Photo courtesy of Ulciscor/pixabay.com]

Green as grass

A botanical dining room is something you don’t see very often; in fact it’s a little too outlandish for most. However, If you replaced the floor, with complex patterns of Aztec, or a sprouting spiral cement tile art, the room would come alive with vegetation. As green is a light color, often associated with nature, wildlife, earth and stillness, any food or any cuisine eaten in the room, won’t look out of place. Green is a neutral color; not too bright, not too dark. The chairs and table can be made out of wicker and a dried and stiffened bamboo. Sushi roll-up mats would make for great plate board at the table. The same material should be used for coasters, just to keep the table uncluttered. For when your family is dining later than they should be, you could have candlelight holders made out of a clear see-through plastic or glass. The light shade style would captivate the bliss of untamed nature if it were like a ball of twisted hay or a tumble weed. The light would peer through the many gaps as if it were free-floating, it could have the ability to spin independently from the bulb attachment. Simple, humble, and yet artistically clever.

[Photo courtesy of Mnmal/miserv.net]

Passion, flare and furiosity

If you want your creativity, and precision of taste, flavors and combinations in the kitchen to punch out with unmistakable snap, stamp your heels no further than a Mexican theme. Set the mood vividly with a rose colored wall paper or paint scheme. When sunlight peers through, the red shall transform the yellow rays into a blood red or a shimmering yellow like the sunset of the Mediterranean. For the table, nothing, but nothing, will do besides a rustic, strong and large wooden table. Preferably you should look for something that’s a little lighter, for example, like a honey color. The sauce pans, pots and frying pans should all be in a deep, thick and heavy black. Something like a cast iron material for all three would be very bold. For the utensils, you should aim for something that’s a real dark brown. Authenticity is crucial to get the proper feel of Mexico, so make sure they’re also made out of wood. On top of the shelves or somewhere where there’s free space, you could stand earthen clay pots as these are used for storage for pickled sweet red peppers. Placing flowers in the room, is simply up to you, they won’t take anything away, nor will the look out of place.

Homes are like hairstyles- something that once worked perfectly can become outdated no longer suit you later down the line. For example many young couples and professionals start out in small, one bedroom apartments. They’re cheaper to live in which is useful when you’re first starting out- especially if you work in the city and don’t want too much of a commute. When you’re young and out a lot, you don’t need masses of space at home. If you’re simply after somewhere to shower, sleep and eat then, it will do the job perfectly. However things can change as we go through life, and eventually, you might find yourself wishing for somewhere you can put down roots. Somewhere with a bit more space perhaps? If you want to do any of the following, chances are it’s time to start thinking about a bigger home!

[Photo courtesy of George Becker/pexels.com]

You Want To Start a Family

One of the biggest reasons people move to a more spacious home is because they want their family to grow. If you moved into an apartment before having children, the multiple flights of stairs in the building and lack of outside space probably didn’t bother you. It’s unlikely you looked into things like parks and schools. Having kids changes everything, you will become concerned over things that you never gave a second thought to before. How busy the road you live on is, what facilities are nearby for children. You probably looked into the crime rate before, but it’s even more of a deciding factor now. If your current home is unsuitable, it’s time to start looking for a new property for when you have children. If you don’t plan on moving right away, you could always rent a self storage unit and put things like a crib, baby furniture, pram and other large purchases in there. That way you could spread the cost, and you have everything ready for when you move, but without cluttering up your tiny apartment in the process.

You Love Entertaining Friends

In your younger years, socializing is all about bars, nightclubs, and parties. But as you get older, things change a little. Wine and cheese nights, dinner parties and afternoon tea at home become far more appealing than the sticky floors of your local haunt. However, entertaining in a tiny apartment can be difficult. Chances are you don’t have much of a kitchen or a dining space- perhaps just a breakfast bar or bistro set for two people. If you want to start hosting regular events at your place, it could be a sign that your home needs to be upgraded.

[Photo courtesy of Karolina Grabowska/pexels.com]

You Want To Start Gardening

Gardening is a wonderful hobby to have. Growing something from essentially nothing and watching your garden bloom is always satisfying. By growing a mixture of fruit, vegetables, and herbs you can cut down on your weekly grocery bill, plus you’ll keep fit and it’s generally a fun and productive way to spend your time. If you dream of tending your garden, or sitting outside relaxing on a summer’s day, surrounded by flowers with a drink in your hand- a one bedroom apartment simply won’t do. Have a look at houses in your local area that have a good garden!

Spicing up your kitchen always breeds excitement, however unless you know the right ways to  make the most important space in your home stand out, then you’re going to have a few problems on your hands. If you follow the rules of kitchen design, then there’s no doubt that you’ll be left with a very safe and functional kitchen, as well as a cooking environment that will last for many years to come. From lighting to counter tops, there are many ways to enhance your kitchen space, and depending on the theme you want to install, you could have a brand new kitchen without breaking the bank! Let’s take a look at some of the rules of kitchen design.

The Triangle

You may not have heard of the triangle, but most kitchens implement this design technique in order to save time moving between appliances. The triangle consists of a refrigerator, a stove and a sink, and they’re kept close together to allow for convenient movement in the kitchen. Not only are these some of the most used appliances in the kitchen, but kitchen design would be completely different without the use of the triangle.

[Photo courtesy of Pixabay/pexels.com]

When it comes to the triangle itself, the sides don’t have to be the same length. As you’ve guessed, the triangle is imaginary, however keeping these core appliances within 5-8 feet of each other will dramatically increase efficiency. If you like to cook alone, or you have a small family, then the application of the triangle will be hugely beneficial. To further improve the triangle, why not move your dishwasher into the space between two of the appliances.

Assessing Your Kitchen’s Needs

Before you start a project as big as redesigning your kitchen, you have to know what you need, what you want to change, and what you want to keep. Without a solid plan of refurbishment, you may find that your original budget goes out the window, as you start to buy things that you don’t necessarily need.

The first step to redesigning your kitchen is to understand what you want to change, and why. Next, is to determine a budget for the changes you want to make, as well as the length of time it will take you to complete the refurbishment. The last thing you want is to reduce your cooking space for a longer time than necessary. Finally, after implementing the changes, you’ll need to complement your new kitchen with up to date appliances, colour and lighting, to ensure the theme lasts as long as possible. Surf online to see a great selection of the latest appliances for your kitchen!

Different Types of Lighting

Kitchen design isn’t all about the physical aspect of the space in front of you, it’s about how that space is perceived. To improve the perception of your kitchen, different types of lighting can be used to illuminate space, or create shadow. From task to decorative, accent to ambient, try out different lights in your kitchen, and in different places. For example, you’ll want your chopping area well lit, however you could have ambient lighting under cupboards to enhance the floor design.

When most people think about luxury living, they imagine living rooms adorned in marble and kitchens decked out with fantastic range cookers. But the latest trend in luxury living is to move out of the house and into the garden. More and more people want to be able to enjoy their lives in the open air. It’s here that they want to entertain guests and indulge themselves in their hobbies, especially now that the summer is almost upon us.

So what can you do to live it up in your garden? Take a look at some of these ideas from the rich and famous.

Create Your Own Covered Space

Just because you’re outside, it doesn’t mean you don’t need a covered space to keep the sun at bay. As a result, it’s a good idea to invest in some sort of canopy: one that allows you to enjoy the rest of the garden while protecting you from the sun during the hottest part of the day.

[Photo courtesy of Hotel Montecatini Terme/flickr.com]

These covered spaces can be equipped with pretty much whatever you like, but at a minimum, you’ll want some seating and a table in the middle. If you’ve got the budget for it, add an outdoor TV for watching sports and a fan to keep you cool when the mercury hits 90.

Give Your Pool A Makeover

Swimming pools are a staple of a luxury garden: they’re somewhere that you can cool off on those long summer days between June and September. But pools aren’t necessarily stylish, especially if you’ve had your current pool for a while. Not only can they look out of date, but they can also get run down pretty quickly, especially if you don’t regularly maintain them. Visit Sparklean Pools to learn more about vinyl liner pool repair. Updating your pool can make a massive difference to the visual appeal of your garden and help it to feel luxurious once more.

A Wonderland Getaway

The wealthy also really love to use their gardens to escape from the rigors of the day. Having somewhere they can go to relax helps them to unwind. A wonderland getaway can take on practically any form, depending on what constitutes a getaway for you, which is what makes it so exciting.

[Photo courtesy of Gary Barnes/pexels]

Some people like to be surrounded by flowers and slunk off to a remote corner of the garden to read a book. Others like to create communal spaces in unusual locations, using the geological features of the backyard itself. For instance, your garden might be on a slope, next to a steam or near to a rock formation. Finally, a wonderland getaway could be a physical building, like a summer house, complete with various creature comforts.

An Outdoor Chess Set

[Photo courtesy of Misaochaaan/wikimedia.org]

Being in the garden is all about having fun. That’s why many wealthy people make games a permanent feature of their gardens. Take chess, for instance. Large, outdoor chess sets are really good if you have children or relatives who like to play. Plus, they help keep people entertained on those long summer evenings.

Green living is not just for hippies. Anyone can do it, and more and more people are choosing to do it these days. You just need to change a few simple things in your living arrangements to get started. And once you start to live the green way, you’ll never look back. So, here are some ways in which you should start to run your home in a manner that’s more environmentally friendly.

[Photo courtesy of Vecislavas Popa/pexels.com]

Replace Bulbs with LEDs and Make Outdoor Lighting Solar-Powered

The way you use lights will have a big impact on how environmentally friendly your home is. You should do what you can to replace the bulbs in your home with LED bulbs. They last for decades, and this means that you will spend a lot less on replacing them. But most importantly, they are very energy efficient, meaning that your home will instantly become greener. They’re pretty cheap to buy, so there’s nothing stopping you from replacing all the bulbs in your home with LEDs. You should also replace the outdoor lights with lights that absorb solar energy during the day that can then be used at night.

Buy Efficient Bathroom Fixtures

Your use of water is also a green issue, and you should address this problem directly. You will be having a massively negative impact on your home if you are currently responsible for wasting too much water. The first thing you should do is replace the fixtures in your bathroom with water efficient fixtures. These are easy to get from most mainstream bathroom retailers. You can also change your kitchen faucets to make them water efficient too. When you start to use less water, your impact on the environment will lessen. It’s another step towards a green living future.

[Photo courtesy of Karolina Grabowska/pexels.com]

Update Your Backup Generator

If you have a backup generator that you sometimes have to rely on, it could be damaging the environment a lot. Most of these old generators are not particularly green. And by switching yours for a newer model, you can ensure you never waste more energy than necessary. Online generac reviews will help guide you as you search for a new and more energy efficient generator. Read as many reviews of all the potential products as you can. That way, you can get a clear picture of what the best option for you is.

Invest in Better Home Insulation

Finally, think about the way in which you heat your home. If you have the heating on a lot, it might be because there are problems with your home insulation setup. Heat will just escape from the home immediately if the insulation you have in place is inadequate and not doing a good enough job for you. It’s a good idea to invest in better and more up to date insulation if you think this might be the case for you and your home. It’s simple and not too expensive to get insulation fitted. And then you will have to use less energy keeping your home warm.

When people hear the term interior design, their minds often jump to hugely complicated projects that are going to take up a great deal of time and effort. But this doesn’t necessarily have to be the case. Sometimes, the best home improvement jobs are simple and don’t require too much from you in terms of commitment. When you own a place, it is always something of a work in progress so these jobs can really end up making all the difference.

[Photo courtesy of Unsplash/pexels.com]

Paint the Room in Soft, Light Colours

Whatever the size of your house, you want to get the most out of it by making the rooms seem as big as possible. A simple paint job can really make a big impact, particularly if you choose soft, light colours, as well as mirrors that reflect the natural light that comes pouring in from the doors. On the opposite side of the coin, darker colours tend to make a room feel smaller and boxed-in.

Mix Up Patterns and Textures

Whether you do the job on your own or you say to yourself “I want to find an interior designer near me”, mixing the patterns and textures in your rooms is a classic technique. There is nothing wrong with putting some old pieces of furniture alongside more modern items, as long as they don’t clash too much and they properly represent your own unique personality and style. When everything seems too uniform, it has the look of coming straight out of a catalogue rather than feeling lived-in.

Use What You Already Have

As we have mentioned already, there is no need to spend huge sums of cash buying a whole load of expensive, new items. Pretty much all of us have items that can be used to add a bit of character to your home. Just some of these include bedside tables, luggage racks, trunks and old pieces of furniture. Another idea is to hang some plates around the place as wall art. Some simple DIY tricks can look great and give you a good project to tackle.

Add a Touch of Greenery

[Photo courtesy of lum3n/pexels.com]

Adding a few plants and flowers to your living spaces can add a touch of nature indoors. The great thing about plants is that they are an affordable way of bringing in some colour and texture to your home. Many houseplants don’t require a great deal of upkeep, and they also help to clean the household air. Not only this, they can also absorb pollutants and get rid of a lot of harmful gases from the air.

Soften Up Hardwood Floors with Some Rugs

[Photo courtesy of pixabay/pexels.com]

Hardwood floors have a classic and elegant feel in the home, but they can end up looking a little bare without a few throw rugs. Choose a style and texture that suits you, and place them in key areas around your house without overdoing it. You could even change up the styles depending on the season if you like the idea of giving your home a different look throughout the year.

What do we mean by the future of your property? Well, hardly anyone lives in the same house their entire life. At some point, most of us decide to make a move, and that means selling the property, hopefully for the highest price possible. If we’re lucky, it’ll be a fast sale to avoid the typical, ifs, erms and buts from buyers.

[Photo courtesy of Monam/pixabay.com]

The question is, how do we guarantee this type of future for your home. Well, you need to start preparing for it right now.

Annual Inspections

You should make sure you are expecting all sensitive areas of your home such as the roof. The roof is a crucial area to inspect because it’s open to the elements and it’s an area that you probably hardly ever look at yourself. According to http://www.triumphroofing.net/roofing/roof-inspection-services/ if you get your roof inspected regularly, you can avoid expensive repair costs because you’ll catch an issue before it gets worse. Of course, the roof isn’t the only area of your home that needs regularly inspecting.

You should also arrange for someone to come around once a year and check out your heating system. If you don’t do this, it’s highly likely at some point it will break down and catch you completely off guard. Essentially, that’s going to leave you with a nasty, expensive repair or replacement and it might make itself known just before you’re about to put the property on the market.

Upgrades

A house is like any other product. Eventually, it will fall out of style. That’s why you need to make changes to the home to make sure that it still looks like every buyer’s dream. One of the areas that you should pay particular close attention to is the kitchen. The kitchen is one of the first areas that home-buyers look at and ideally, you should be think about building a completely fitted kitchen with everything a buyer could want. Do this, and you’ll make your home a very attractive purchase indeed. You can have a look at some kitchen renovation ideas on http://www.housebeautiful.com/home-remodeling/renovation/.

[Photo courtesy of Hans/pixabay.com]

Maintenance

When you live in the house, you might not worry about the little breakages and damages that will almost certainly occur over the years. For instance, there might be scratches on the marble floor, marks on the walls and other issues. However, you should fix these as they crop up. Otherwise, when it does come time to sell you’ll be in a mad rush to get everything fixed in time.

Tech Treats

Last but not least, you may want to think about purchasing new tech for your home. It’s always a smart idea to make your house look like the home of the future as this is exactly what new buyers want to invest in. For instance, right now home smart controls are very popular, and they may even cause buyers to make bigger offers on your home. You can find out more about smart home controls on https://www.loxone.com/enen/smart-home/.

I hope you take this advice and start investing in the future of your property today.

Maybe company is coming or perhaps you just need a change in your home décor. It don’t have to be a total makeover – something as simple as new throws on the beds or couch can make a big difference in the look of a room. In fact a new throw can change your life if it happens to be an electric throw – they really help to ward off a chill and keep you cozy and warm while reading, watching television or just relaxing. Since most folks are trying to cut back and be more environmentally responsible house are just colder than they used to be.

[Photo courtesy of leemelina08/pixabay.com]

A mundane bathroom can be a challenge because you are pretty much stuck with the tub, toilet and sink but there’s still an opportunity to transform the look of a bath or powder room with new bath and spa furniture. Teak is an amazing naturally water-resistant material – look for teak shower benches, bath mats and towel ladders to turn your boring bathroom into a spa-like getaway. A curved shower curtain rod adds extra elbow room and a new shower curtain can add a fun or festive look in minutes.

There’s no reason to deprive yourself, after all, the bathroom is possibly the most-used room in any home so it ought to be as nice as possible. Monogrammed bath towels add a touch of elegance while a towel warmer is both luxurious and practical. Imagine stepping out of the bath or shower and wrapping yourself in a hot, fluffy towel; there are counter-top, wall-mount and freestanding models designed to fit almost any bathroom.

Another exotic import that has become popular in upscale hotels and better homes is a handheld showerhead. These are easy to install without the help of a plumber and can totally transform your bath or shower experience.

While we may not be blessed with sweltering weather all year round in the UK, there is no denying that it can get a bit stuffy and uncomfortable in the home when the sun comes out. If you are searching for ways to make your home cool throughout the summer months ahead, read on.

[Photo courtesy of  Max Vakhtbovych/pexels.com]

Tips for your A/C

Of course, the easiest way to cool your home is with air conditioning, and there are numerous ways you can ensure your system runs more effectively. If possible, provide shade for your air conditioning unit, as this will boost its efficiency by five to ten per cent. You should also make sure that you clean your A/C air filter on a monthly basis. Air flow will drop by around one per cent per week due to normal dust build-up. Another tip is to make sure you do not use a dehumidifier while your air conditioner is turned on, as it will cause the cooling load to increase, which will make the air conditioner work even harder. And, if you have been meaning to get your air conditioning unit repaired for a while, now is the time with a company that provides a quick service, such as Farmen & Dermer AC repair.

Window solutions

Not only do you need to concentrate on your air conditioning unit throughout the summer, but your windows can be key to ensuring your home is comfortable. You should think about exotic infills for your windows. This is a new technology that ensures the space between the panels is filled with argon or krypton, which boost R-values because they are gases that have lower conductivity than air. You should also install mini-blinds or white window shades, as they can lower solar heat gain by as much as 50 per cent.

[Photo courtesy of  Quang Nguyen Vinh/pexels.com]

Quick tips

Now that we have dealt with the most important aspects regarding keeping your home cool during the summer, let’s take a look at some quick tips that will help you along the way:

• Grill – Forget about using the stove or the oven during the summer months; it is only going to make your home feel like a sauna. If you are already sweltering, the last thing you want to do is turn on a 400-degree oven. Instead, use the grill. After all, who doesn’t love a barbeque during the summer months?

• Get rid of incandescent lights – Now is the time to get rid of incandescent lights. Did you know that they actually waste about 90 per cent of their energy in the heat they emit? This is an awful lot of energy and an awful lot of heat. Making the switch can reduce the heat in your home as well as your energy bills.

• Heat-proof your bed – Is there anything more frustrating than being too hot while in bed? This may sound weird, but you’d be surprised how effective it is: fill a hot water bottle with water, and place it in the freezer, and then before bed put it under your feet before you go to sleep.

• Set your ceiling fans to rotate counter-clockwise – Lastly, you may not realise it, but you need to adjust your ceiling fans seasonally. During the summer, make sure your fan rotates counter-clockwise, as this will create a chilled breeze that will make you feel cooler.

For some more tips on making your home summer-ready, click here.

There is always something we need to do to our home to make it better. While we think about improving our home or making it more stylish, we very rarely think about the safety aspect of our homes. There are so many little problems that are potential fire hazards that it’s probably easier for most of us to not think about it. But there are some simple things to do that can cut down the chances of getting a fire at home…

[Photo courtesy of Skitterphoto/pexels.com]

Candles

Between 2009 and 2013, on average there were 25 candle fires per day in the US. Although that doesn’t sound like much, it totaled 86 deaths, 127 injuries, and $374 million in damaged property. So make sure you do the following:

1.    Keep candles 12 inches away from anything that could burn.
2.    Use candle holders that are sturdy.
3.    Blow out all the candles before leaving a room or going to bed.
4.    Don’t use candles in the bedroom.

Cooking

Hopefully, everyone has some common sense when it comes to cooking, but here are some tips.

1.    Wear close fitted clothing while cooking.
2.    Don’t leave food unattended.
3.    If you get a grease fire, smother the fire in a pan. DON’T put it out with water.

Dryers & Washing Machines

Washers and dryers catch fire because of a failure to clean them.

1.    Don’t overload the dryer.
2.    Clean the lint filter after every use, and don’t use the dryer without one.
3.    Don’t restrict the air exhaust pipe and make sure the outdoor vent flap is open while the dryer is on.

If You Have A Fire…

Firstly, don’t try and be a hero. Call the fire department as soon as you can, but make sure that you get to safety. As fires are such a common hazard, the best idea is to have a plan in mind should this ever occur. Know all your escape routes from your home blindfolded because you won’t be able to see when there is thick smoke. Stay low, and get out as quick as you can because you may only have seconds. Staying as low as possible means you will get the most oxygen out of the air.

After The Fire…

Once the fire has been put out, you will need to stay somewhere else. In the meantime, if you have updated your insurance policy, you will have to put in a claim for all the items damaged. If there are parts of the home that haven’t been damaged, you can hire a restoration company to start the cleanup. There are companies like Pro Restoration who specialize in clearing up homes after house fires and help to restore your property. Once your home is back to its former glory, it’s time to take notes of what potential hazards there are, and minimize them as much as you can.

Preventing a fire is very much about common sense as it is about safety, and in your home, you need to make sure that you are sensible by not obstructing doors, cooking safely, and generally being vigilant.