DIY

Our homes might just be the most important buildings in our lives. That’s where you create valuable memories with the people you love, where you see your kids grow up and do amazing things, and where you get to be yourself completely. As you and your family grow, your needs and wants change over time. That means that a certain style and layout of your home isn’t going to be sufficient forever. Your home should grow and develop with you so that it can always meet new needs and standards set by your family.

Renovating is easier said than done, though. Not only do you need a lot of time and effort to pull something like that off, but you also need a lot of money. When you’ve got a growing family, home renovations never seem to make it into the budget, as there are many other more important things to take care of. Luckily, there are ways to decorate and renovate your home on a budget. All you need is a little creativity and some guidance to pull it off.

1. Update the kid’s room

The kids are always growing and their rooms should be too. The most difficult part of the house to renovate is definitely the kid’s room as you know you’ll just have to renovate it again in a few years. Your kid is going through different developmental periods, and they’re just discovering who they are as people. As a result, their interests change often, and you never know if you’ve nailed the room just right. So as not to completely overstep your budget every time you have to redecorate your kid’s room, try updating only the simple details.

Invest in high-quality furniture in the beginning, so you’re sure it will last them a lifetime. Then simply change the rest according to their age. It’s much easier, more convenient, and cheaper to replace the sheets and give them something more age-appropriate than it is to change the whole room. You can also update the carpet and the clock, or get them a bigger desk chair. These details may not seem like much, but they’ll give a whole new vibe to the bedroom. You could also simply rearrange the furniture to shape the room in a whole different way.

This way, you’re only spending as much as you have to, but you’re still giving your child a room they’ll be happy to spend time in. Of course, make sure to involve your child in these changes and let them express themselves through the details and décor pieces in their room.

2. Do something in each room

Each room surely has something about it that you don’t like. Well, it probably has more than one thing that you would like to change. Because of the budget, it’s impossible to change all of those things at once in each room. You could just put all the money towards fixing up one room entirely, but that doesn’t get you much. Your goal is to refresh your home completely, not just partially. This is why you should change only one thing in every room. Choose the thing that annoys you most or you think is most urgent. Is it the colour? A leak? Old furniture? Tacky and outgrown décor? Change it!

The rooms may not be fixed up entirely, but they’ll be on the right track. You’ll be giving yourself a beginning of a true home makeover, one item at a time. When walking around your house, you’ll have something new to admire and marvel at in each room. You also won’t hate the other rooms and want to spend time only in one, as the case would have been if you only renovated one room completely. Most importantly, this approach gives you hope that it’s not over for your house. You can still bring it back to life, and even though it may take some time, it will be worth it. The potential of the space will be much more obvious and fun to think about.

3. Upgrade your appliances

One other idea is to put your budget completely towards upgrading your appliances. If you’ve got an old oven, no coffee maker, and a TV from the last century, it’s time for a change. Technology advances more each year so it’s a shame to opt for appliances that don’t match the standards of modern technology. As well as being up to date, you’ll also make life much easier for yourself. You won’t have to wait as long for something to cook, you’ll get better colour and sound on your TV, and you won’t have to spend ages in the morning making yourself a cup of coffee.

You should invest in high-quality appliances from trusted brands, as they are less likely to malfunction and break. Their lifespan will be much longer, too. In a way, high-quality appliances pay themselves off as the years go by because they save you a lot of time and money. As most new and technologically advanced appliances are also energy-efficient, you’ll also be greener, waste less energy, and have much lower bills.

4. Play with tiles

Tiles are the perfect material for kitchens and bathrooms. They’re even suitable for balconies and some hallways. You already probably have tiles in your home, but when was the last time you changed them? The style you have now might be cute, but you’ll benefit much more from changing the tiles you have in your home. Don’t be afraid to get creative, either. Instead of just replacing the old and cracked tiles with new ones, you can give your bathroom and kitchen a complete makeover.

Change the colour of the tiles, the style, and even make patterns. Using more than one colour could give you a modern and fancy look for a very low amount of money. Contrasts are best for such effects. For example, you could create all sorts of wonders with black and white in your bathroom, or beige and red in your kitchen. The tiles that are on floors could even match throughout the whole place. This gives your home a unique vibe and ties all the rooms together. The rest of the details in the room could match one of the colours you chose and make the place really pop.

5. Focus on the floors

You could spend all your money decorating and renovating without feeling like your home has improved even a smidge. If you can’t afford to completely renovate, it’s best to focus on the most important thing: the floors. You don’t even realize how much the floors influence the way you perceive the room. If the floors are wooden, the room will feel warmer and cozier. Tile is cold and sterile, while carpeted floors inspire fuzzy feelings.

Even if you don’t have money to replace the floors, you can still redecorate. One idea is to re-polish them and give them back their old shine. Another one is to decorate with mats and carpets. You won’t have to spend a lot to invest in a swanky new carpet for the living room, or non-slip mat for the kitchen. The carpet should match the colour of the details in the room so as to tie the whole place together.  Every room will benefit from the addition of a carpet or mat, especially those with heavy traffic. Floors wear out more easily and quickly when they’re unprotected with people constantly walking there. Having a carpet or a mat could be a great way to protect the areas with high traffic and prolong the life of your floors.

6. Add new lights

Changing your lamps doesn’t seem like a big renovating project, but makes all the difference. You’re probably used to the lights you have at home and don’t realize how drab they make your environment look. Searching for new and better lighting is always an excellent idea. Lamps, regardless of if they’re standing, desk, or hanging, shape rooms more than you can imagine. This is especially true when you take the light bulbs into consideration.

The way you light up a room can change its aura and atmosphere. For a more romantic and fairytale setting, you can always introduce fairy lights. They’re a great fit for the bedroom. If you want a more luxurious and elegant atmosphere in the living room, all you have to do is introduce some swanky LED lights. Even LED strips are available, so you can create an even more luxurious and fancy atmosphere.

7. Change the colour

When you don’t have enough money to completely renovate the place, you can muster up enough to change the colour. This will completely refresh the home and give it a whole new look. As well as that, you’ll be doing your walls huge favour. The colour you have now may have looked awesome when it was first painted it, but over the years, the walls are likely to have got dirty and the colour to have faded.

You can just paint a fresh layer of the same colour, but where’s the fun in that? Experiment with different colours, find your perfect match and give the room a new life. You can choose your colour according to the way it affects your mood, or you can simply go with the one that goes best with the interior. Yellow inspires joy and happiness, green is associated with growth, and blue will provide you with a deep sense of calm. Whatever colour you decide to choose for your living room or bedroom, it’s bound to transform your home into something completely new and amazing.

8. Take out a loan

Renovating on a budget is fine if you don’t have a huge project you need to take care of. Sometimes, renovations happen because they simply need to if the home is going to remain functional. For example, if the roof is old and damaged, it will need restoration and there’s not a question about it. The same goes for urgent bathroom repairs and modifications to the kitchen. In these cases, budgeting isn’t really an option. It’s necessary to make the budget bigger so that you can afford high-quality services.

As you’re not the only person who suffers from such a fate, you’ll be happy to know that a lot of low rate personal online loans are available. With just a few clicks of the mouse, you’ll get the money you need to renovate your home and restore it to its old shine. You won’t have to fear about the roof leaking or collapsing, nor about the kitchen and bathroom malfunctioning further.

9. Don’t forget about the yard

Last but definitely not least, you can’t forget about the yard. This is the perfect place for your family to socialize, laugh together, bond, and just enjoy nature. You’ll want to make sure that your home is family and kid-friendly though.

The best way to do this is to introduce garden activities that the whole family will enjoy. Start growing vegetables together, make your own décor, or build a structure you’ll all get to enjoy. All of these ideas are budget-friendly and will involve the whole family. This way, everyone will have a personal and emotional connection to the yard, meaning they’ll all love spending time in it. You can even plant a family tree together as a symbol of togetherness, love, and stability. The tree will stand the tests of time and prove that a family stays together regardless of what life brings your way.

Final thoughts…

With these tips, you’ll get a much more appealing home that supports your family’s needs, wants, and preferences. Every family member will have their own space in the house, tailored specifically to them. With these tips, you’re bound to give your family the home it deserves. It may be a lot of hassle and you may need to put some extra time and effort into renovating, but you’ll love the final result.

About the Author

Stella Ryne is an art historian, traveller, conscious consumer and a proud mother. When she is not trying to improve the things around her (and herself, for that matter), she likes to lose herself in a good book. Stay in touch with Stella via Twitter and  Facebook.

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No matter if you live alone or with your family and pets, you still need a special place to call your own. Modern lifestyle brings chaos so you need to find ways to de-stress and relax. One of the best strategies to do so is by turning your home into an ultimate zen sanctuary.

This doesn’t involve only the introduction of nature into your home but also using color and design. So if you want some zen in your life, here is how to bring it in. 

Embrace the light

Sunlight is a natural mood booster so remove the curtains and let it in as much as possible. If you have small windows or face the north side, use mirrors to disperse more light into your home. Also, artificial lighting can help a great deal to set the tranquil ambiance.

Indirect and diffused light will create a serene atmosphere in the room, so opt for floor lamps with paper shades. It’s better to use several lamps to create a warm and comfortable environment which can also be a decorative element and add a more relaxed vibe to overall interior design.  

Add plants to your interior

The easiest way to introduce zen into your home is to add plants to your interior. And not only succulents but big leafy ones and those which leaves will hang nicely from the shelves. For some people, even looking at the plants calms them down and reduces stress.

Oxygen-producing plants like Chinese Evergreen not only look great but will also make your air better. Place them in your bedroom to improve the quality of your air there and have better sleep at night. If you live in a small apartment, you can hang the plants from the ceiling or place them on floating shelves. This way they will enrich your décor and your wellbeing at the same time.

Choose the design that makes you comfortable

There are so many interior designs you can choose from that you will easily find the one that makes you the most comfortable. The minimalist style will remove all excess stuff from the room and give you more space to move. While Boho is all about cushions and coziness paired with scented candles and natural light.

Probably the most interesting style is Wabi-Sabi which like zen has roots in the Japanese philosophy. It promotes the use of naturally beautiful objects like handmade decorations to create a serene environment. Bronze and copper vases, crystals and faux branches in the planters are only some of the ways to introduce this design style into your home.  

Decorate with tranquil colors

Every culture sees color as an important factor in mindfulness and wellbeing. And combining it with the surrounding element can have the best results. For example, painters from North Shore in Australia can use neutral tones like pale pink since the area is sunny and full of natural beauties bursting with color. 

But if you live in a big city like New York, you will have to use earthy tones like brown and ochre to bring nature inside. Also, cool tones like light blue and green will bring some lightness by emulating water, sky, and plants. 

Tidy house, tidy mind

As Marie Kondo likes to say “Tidy house, tidy mind” – a motto you should always have in mind when organizing your space. Take a good look at your home and start sorting out what needs to go and what can stay. To approach this decluttering process more comfortably, use a post-it to mark what you will sell, donate, throw away and keep.

While parting with your things will be hard, you will find solace in the profits from a yard sale or donating it to a charity that needs it. Once you removed all the unnecessary things from your apartment, you can truly discover the space you have and enjoy it. Clutter makes us feel trapped and creates anxiety so getting rid of it will turn your home into a haven to chase the stress away.

Even change can be stressful so turn your home into an ultimate zen sanctuary one step at a time. Use natural materials as much as possible and keep your space clear of clutter. A few plants, more tranquil wall color and some cozy furniture will be enough to bring calm and peacefulness into your home.

About the Author

Hannah Thomas is a gardening and home decor enthusiast. Garden is the place where she feels most comfortable, that’s why there are always a lot of books and empty coffee cups on the back porch. Always learning, exploring and smiling.

The living room stands at the center of every home’s design. However, owners of small apartments falsely believe that their options are limited when it comes to interior décor. In reality, it doesn’t matter how big your living room is. A stately mansion or a small studio can be redesigned using these same six ideas.

A Room full of Light

Even if your living room is small in size, you can still make the room feel bigger. During the day, this is best achieved by “boosting” the light coming in through the windows. If you have small window panes, then you can amplify the light by installing large mirrors. Place them opposite of the windows so they’ll dissipate the light throughout the living room. Once every corner of the room is well-lit, every piece of furniture and ornamentation you put in next will be accentuated.

Cushioning The Design

Some people think their old sofas have no place in the living room and its new design. Instead of throwing it away, donating it to charity or having it upholstered, why not add a whole bunch of cushions to refresh its look! Cushions and pillows are small details, but they can transform the look of your living room. The trick is to make sure their design is different than the texture and fabric of the sofa. The contrast you create will liven up the atmosphere of the whole place. In general, mixing and matching should be applied whenever and wherever possible.

The Age-Old Issue Of Storage

Most people use the basement and bedrooms for storage, but this doesn’t mean that you won’t need to house an item or two in the living room as well. Instead of cumbersome wardrobes and cupboards, you can go with stylish wicker baskets. Choose the ones that are brightly colored, like white or yellow, to make them stand out but still conceal their content. The best thing about large wicker baskets? You can throw whatever you like in them from several meters away like Kevin Durant.

Tending To The Windows

We mentioned the importance of enough light, but a mirror on the wall cannot solve the issue of intense sunlight. It is useful to have some sort of protection during the summer months, unless you want the whole design of the room to fade away—quite literally. Window awnings like the ones Oztech make will ensure that all the furniture and fixtures inside the living room preserve their original color. This means that you will need to replace them less often, resulting in a huge save in your home budget in the long run. Furthermore, your windows will enjoy protection against hail storms and heavy snowfall.

Going Green

In nature, a barren landscape is never a pretty sight. A tree here and there makes a huge difference and it’s the same with the living room. Don’t create a garden, but add a few potted plants that are easy to take care of. They will liven up the space and add a personal note to it. Visitors will know that you’re a conscientious homeowner if your plants are verdant. If you hate walking around the room to water all the pots, then create a green corner where you’ll keep a lemon or an orange tree. Not only will you benefit from greenery in terms of décor, but the air in your room will be cleaner because of the oxygen the plants pump in.

The Backdrop

Although there aren’t going to be too many wardrobes in the living room, you are likely to have more than one bookcase. They are more than welcome in terms of design, but the biggest mistake homeowners make is not to cover their back. Even if they are full of books, once you draw out one book, the ugly unpainted back becomes visible. Buy a can of wood paint and paint the back of the bookcase. In fact, think of all the back surfaces there are in this particular room and add a splash of color to them. The worst mistake you can make in terms of design is to leave the unpainted surface in plain sight.

The 6 ideas we have listed here are a good place to start redesigning your living room if you’re not a pro. The trick is to attend to all the details. Separately, they seem insignificant, but if you add a houseplant, paint the back of the bookcase and install window awnings, the overall décor of the living room will change. 

About the Author

Sarah Jessica Smith is a young blogger from Sydney. She is in love with life and all the things that can make her daily routine easier. She loves to write about home improvement, lifestyle, and all the small things that make life such a great adventure.

Whether you’re a freshman at university and staying in a small apartment, or moving into a cozy new home to start a family, you might be wondering if you’ll have enough space for all your needs. Study materials and documentation you bring home from work take up space, and children’s toys always add to the mess.

Is there enough room for clothing and decorations without causing your home to seem cramped? There’s no need to worry, as we’ll be sharing a few tips on how to make the most out of what you have!

Planning and Structuring

Some people don’t see the point of dedicating a room, or they simply forget to do it. Sectioning off a room, or part of it, and using it for a specific purpose will do wonders for your schedule and will reduce overall clutter. Working people and those with busy schedules like having a home office.

Whether it be an entire room or simply a desk, it instantly becomes easier to focus and organize your duties if you have a space dedicated to your profession. You might be a busy mom with little to no time to spare, as you’re always rushing after your children. Imagine having a room all to yourself; part of the house you can rest in while your husband plays with the kids.

Privacy and time alone are important; we all need some peace now and again. Some parents find it tiring to clean after their kids every day, so how about a playroom? A space for the kids to safely play in, and they won’t create a mess as the room is meant to be filled with toys, anyway!

Furniture

Since our goal is to save space, closets and cabinets can be a great idea as long as they aren’t too large. Aside from that, people have found creative ways to use walls and windowsills to save room. Also, buying furniture that serves multiple purposes or can be folded or retracted is a worthwhile investment.

Multi-functional furniture has come a long way, from expandable tables to staircases which serve as bookshelves. It all comes down to deciding what you need and finding something you like. Did you know that you can save space with doors and windows, as well? Sliding doors are becoming more popular as they’re safe to use, stylish, and therefore perfect for a balcony or patio.

By some groups, Prestige Plus, for instance, pocket doors are presented as a good indoors option. In the pocket door variety, the door panel slides into a recess in the wall which takes up less space compared to a swinging door.

Sometimes, It’s in the Details

Sometimes, simple tricks can achieve a wondrous effect. Painting the walls white will make the room brighter, which in turn allows accessories such as paintings to stand out. As mentioned prior, furniture that serves multiple purposes can both save space, and make your home seem larger. Remember to keep your items off the floor.

For instance, instead of creating a messy dump of shoes in the corner of a room, buy a bin. While it helps with cleaning and vacuuming, it also makes your home feel more spacious. Don’t forget to use walls; bookcases, shelves, even a pegboard for tools clears up a drawer or two.

A Final Touch

The most important tip you should be following is to be tidy and to stay open-minded. While this applies to searching for an efficient way to use your living space, it also goes for home improvement and decoration. Expressing yourself often makes your home feel more welcoming.

Define your goal and work towards it, and stay open to new ideas as there are plenty of tricks when it comes to home décor. The solution is sometimes as simple as changing the way your room is organized. Shifting the direction your bed is facing, for example, already creates a big impact.

Depending on our needs, there are a variety of ways we can customize our living spaces. Designating rooms as working or resting areas will maximize the effect you can get out of them, as well as cleaning up the clutter in the rest of your home. Regarding furniture, there’s a wide selection of multipurpose items these days, so make the most of them. Lastly, don’t forget to add a final touch to your home in terms of accessories and décor.

About the Author

Patrick Adams is a freelance writer and rock-blues fan. When he is not writing about home improvement, he loves to play chess, watch basketball, and play his guitar. More than anything, he loves to spend his time in his garage, repairing appliances and creating stuff from wood.

City dwellers realize what they have been missing all their lives only once they purchase a house. As most houses come with a backyard, people get to experience true freedom. However, a dream can quickly turn into a nightmare if the backyard starts getting filled with junk. Before you know it, the fence is falling apart, the grass has turned yellow, and untrimmed branches are an accident waiting to happen.

In order to avoid this scenario, you need to take active measures to make your backyard look amazing. This job doesn’t have to be neither tedious nor expensive if you’ve got several smart ideas up your sleeve, like creating an outdoor bar, a fire pit, or building a deck. We are here to help with the following 8 tips that will help you clean, spruce up, and beautify your backyard in the most elegant of ways.

An Outdoor Bar

There isn’t an indoor house feature that cannot be transferred to the outside. One such functional piece is the bar. You can build it either from wood or metal or using a combo of the two. A trip to the nearest home center will get you a couple of bar stools that you can place around the bar. Trust us when we say that during the summer heat, your outdoor bar will be the center of social activity in the backyard.

If the bar idea proves to be a greater success than you have initially hoped for, you can extend the lounge area to an entire outdoor kitchen. All you need to start preparing meals in nature the primeval way is a functional tap to attach the sing to.

Swing Away

If your vision of the redecorated backyard involves an oasis of serenity, then you are in need of a hammock. They are super easy to install and they are a guarantee that you’ll spend many Sunday afternoons idling. If you’re not a fan of weaving, then buy a ready-made hammock made either from rope or PVC. The installation procedure should also be easy, because all you need are two points to fix it. These can be trees, walls (with pegs) or even the washing line pole.

You might want to consider adding another hammock once a queue forms for lounging in the first one. However, you could offer the children something else to swing on. A swing is an ideal addition to the backyard that will get the kids exhilarated. It is also fairly easy to install, as a metal or a wooden plank needs to be attached to a strong branch overhead. If you are unsure whether the tree can hold the weight of a child (and an odd adult), get hold of a freestanding swing frame.

A Green Wall

We have already labeled the fence around your property as a possible source of trouble. Since most fences are made from wood, they rot over time and stop serving their initial purpose. If you want to revive the old rickety picket fence, then decorating it with greenery should do the trick just fine. Plant some vines and climbers and watch them flourish. The location of the green wall should match the place in the backyard that gets the most sunlight during the days and that is easy access for watering purpose. Once the plants cover the entire surface of the fence, you will enjoy greater privacy and dust coming from the main road will not be able to breach this green barrier.

A DIY Fire Pit

The ultra-rich are not the only ones who can afford to have a fire pit in their yard. You could stay up late during chilly nights with the help of a DIY fire pit. All you need are stones that you can source from a nearby park or a forest and some mortar to bind them together. Once the main body of the fire pit is built, you can add a seating area around it, forming a semi-circle. A fire pit will enable you to stay longer outside, and if you have kids, they will spend the nights outside sharing stories around the campfire. If you want a touch of elegance to the whole business, then shop for blankets that will keep you extra warm.

The Addition of a Patio

Apart from staying up late, you should also aim to make the backyard as weatherproof as possible. Living in a humid part of the world means that spending time outside all day might not be possible without some overhead protection. Erecting a patio to shield the backyard from above is a great way to ensure the family dinner is not ruined by a sudden rain shower. In fact, patio experts from Brisbane and other places across the country offer custom patios that will match the décor of your house. This is the reason why patios are not really a DIY project, because even if you pull off the build, you would find it difficult to fit the design of the patio with the rest of the structure.

The Path to Elegance

One part of the yard that most homeowners overlook, probably because it is directly under their feet, is the pathway network. In residential structures, paths are mostly DIY works of the previous owners and few people ever decide to amend them. In reality, you don’t need expensive cobblestone or granite to pave the pathways. What you require is already there, as gravel and mulch would do just fine. When packed tightly together, gravel can even withstand the weight of a passenger car. Mulch, on the other hand, is much more suitable for paving paths winding through the garden. Essentially, if there is any sort of greenery involved, then colorful mulch is the ideal paving material.

All Four Corners

After dark, a single light bulb perched at the deck will not be nearly strong enough to light up the whole yard. What you need are several light sources and you can find them at the local garden center for a bargain. Solar lamp posts should be placed in all four corners of the garden to illuminate it entirely. Apart from their main role, they will attract insects and other flying pests away from the house. You will be able to enjoy the hot summer nights without being bugged by mosquitoes. Furthermore, if you leave the lights on after you retire for the night, the strong light they emanate will act as a deterrent for thieves.

Outdoor Storage Units

What every house lacks on the inside can perhaps be provided on the outside. Yes, we are talking about storage space that is always insufficient. If you plan it smart with the outdoor décor, you might get some extra exterior storage. The benches can be constructed in such a way that there is an empty box underneath them. The sitting area around the fire pit we spoke about earlier could also have a crate-like structure attached to it for storing blankets.

You can convert the old toolbox and place it next to the shed or the house for storage of garden utensils. Also, if you are using wooden pallets to create benches and armchairs, you could always add some boards the outside to create a nice little box inside the pallet. Add a couple of hinges and some candles, as you’ve got yourself an outdoor cupboard.

The backyard of your dreams is not that far away, neither in terms of time nor money. A patio will require you to call in the professionals, but a fire pit, a swing, and decorative lighting are all DIY projects. After you start turning any of these 8 smart ideas into reality, everyone will be amazed by your backyard! 

About the Author

Patrick Adams is a freelance writer and rock-blues fan. When he is not writing about home improvement, he loves to play chess, watch basketball, and play his guitar. More than anything, he loves to spend his time in his garage, repairing appliances and creating stuff from wood.