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How To Get Your Home Ready For Your Baby

by LifeAsMama September 20, 2019

Becoming a parent can be so stressful. There are so many things that you need to get done and so many changes to your body happening at the same time. However, getting your home ready doesn’t need to be complicated. There are three main things that you need to do to get your home ready for baby – get the furniture you need, pick out some fun toys and do your best to babyproof the spaces your baby will be in.

Acquire Furniture

You are going to need a crib for your baby, even if you plan on co-sleeping for any stretch of time. You can even get ones that transition into a toddler bed and even a full-sized bed so that you have a little more time with a fairly large purchase before it needs to be returned. You’ll need to make sure you get one with a comfortable mattress in it so that you don’t have any additional issues.

You will also need to get enough storage for your baby’s things. This doesn’t have to be expensive. If you have friends or family that have had kids, chances are they have some things that they can pass your way. You can also usually find kid’s storage furniture for cheap on the Facebook marketplace and from thrift stores, which is a great way to make your life – and your wallet – greener.

Find Stimulating Toys

Gender shouldn’t play into the kind of toys your baby gets. Make sure that you have a variety to choose from so you can see what things your child gravitates toward. As for the rest of the toys that your child wants nothing to do with, think about reselling them or donating them to a local charity. That way, your home will have a little bit less stuff for you to have to tidy up later on and you’ll be helping someone else’s baby out.

Babyproof Your Home

Babies have an almost magical ability to injure themselves on anything and everything in their paths. It’s kind of impressive. However, as a parent, your job is to do everything you can to keep your baby safe.

With that in mind, you need to make sure that anything made of glass or easily breakable is moved far, far out of your baby’s reach. If you have tall shelves that are not built into the wall, do your best to keep your baby away from them to avoid any tipping issues.

You should also pad any sharp corners that you have in the room. This will save you a lot of tears and headaches in the long run from babies grabbing them or running into them.

Last but not least, put babyproof handles on doors to anywhere that your baby could get into trouble. This means kitchen cabinets, bathrooms, even older kids’ bedrooms. By limiting the space that your baby is in, you will keep them just a little bit safer every day. As they get older and more responsible for their own bodies, you can start to open the house up a little more.

If you aren’t sure about something, don’t be afraid to reach out to your support network, whether that is online or in person. Other parents will have some advice that might work out well for you and your family.

About the Author

Heather Viera is a lifestyle expert and researcher for FamilyLivingToday.com. She is dedicated to achieving a balanced lifestyle, even with two small children and a full-time career. In the little free time she has, she enjoys hiking with her partner and taking her dog to the beach.

Design DIY Home

5 Ways To Make Your Kitchen Warm And Welcoming

by Guest Contributor September 17, 2019

written by Guest Contributor

Everything happens in the kitchen. Life happens in the kitchen.

– Andrew Zimmern, a culinary expert

It’s a cold, rainy day, and you’ve just come home from a long, excruciating day at work. The best way to lift your spirits and warm your soul is to make a hearty soup in your cozy kitchen.

For many of us, the kitchen is a cozy place where we relax, cook some delicious food, and chat with the people we love. That’s why it’s important for this space to reflect and radiate warmth and comfort.

Here’s how to truly make the kitchen the heart of your home.

Photo by Rustic Vegan on Unsplash

1. Add an island

Kitchen islands have several benefits, as they allow you to expand your food prep space, provide extra storage, and can serve as a buffet counter for appetizers and refreshments.

Even if your kitchen is tiny and the floor plan doesn’t allow for a permanent island, you can still install an isle that can be rolled or stored away when not in use.

Photo by Jason Briscoe on Unsplash

2. Pick the right color

As you probably know, colors can influence our mood. They have the power to make us feel happy, hungry, or relaxed, which is why you should carefully consider the color palette for your kitchen.

For example, warm colors such as yellow, orange, and red can evoke feelings of happiness and warmth. Yellow, in particular, is known for its ability to lighten up a room and bring sunshine into it, as well as to calm people and make them peckish at the same time.

But other colors, including mint green, grey, and lighter shades of blue can transform your kitchen into a comfy place for hanging out and spending time while you’re whipping up something yummy.

Photo by Becca Tapert on Unsplash

3. Knock on Wood

Nothing says warmth and coziness like wood floors and cabinets in your kitchen.

However, this can be pricey, but that doesn’t mean you can’t have a couple of wooden details to enrich your kitchen space and make it more inviting.

You can try several reclaimed wood projects, an obvious choice being simple wooden shelves that give a rustic feel to your kitchen. Similarly, cutting boards are best when they’re made out of wood – plastic is a material that you should definitely avoid because it’s not particularly visually appealing, let alone eco-friendly.

Some people avoid wood cutting boards, believing that they’re not sanitary enough. But that’s just a misconception which can’t be further from the truth. Wooden cutting boards are even safer because the bacteria sink down beneath the surface, where they don’t multiply. In short, these practical and decorative kitchen accessories will remain germ-free if properly seasoned and taken care of.

Photo by Toni Osmundson on Unsplash

4. Let there be light

Lighting plays an important role in making your kitchen comfortable and cozy. You’ll certainly want to make sure that you have enough light when you’re preparing meals, as well as that you can dim it when you want a more relaxed, perhaps even romantic ambiance.

Something as simple as candles can also go a long way. They can add a hint of calming light to your kitchen, as well as a homey scent that will make your entire space even snugger. You can use the ones with a whiff of vanilla, cookies, or cinnamon to spice up your winter nights or remove that lingering smell of cooking that’s not so pleasant the day after.

Photo by Mitchell Henderson from Pexels

5. Add a touch of green

A couple of low-maintenance plants in your kitchen can help purify the air and serve as natural, sustainable décor. Along with decorative leafy greenery, you can also add herb plants, such as basil, chives, oregano, parsley, and rosemary. All of them will come in handy when you’re cooking, while simultaneously giving the kitchen space a wholesome, organic feel.

For example, aloe vera is an extremely resistant plant, which means that it can survive in your kitchen. But besides being beautiful to look at, this plant is useful – the gel found in its interior has cooling effects which makes it good for burns. English ivy can hang near the window or over your sink, and it’s great for reducing indoor pollutants, including benzene, mold, and bacteria.

No matter whether you’re a full-fledged Julia Childs or a person whose greatest culinary achievement is heating up a TV dinner in a microwave, you’ll enjoy spending your time in the kitchen if it’s warm and welcoming. These simple tips can point you in the right direction and help you re-decorate your kitchen without spending too much.

About the Author

Hannah Thomas is a gardening and home décor 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.

Design DIY Home

The Best Ideas For Styling Your Entryway

by Guest Contributor September 10, 2019

written by Guest Contributor

Your entryway is the first impression of your home. No matter who comes in, they’ll judge the beauty of your home by what they see first. On the other hand, you have your family who has to walk through that same entryway every day. In this respect, it’s important to make your entryway more stylish because both your guests and your family members will benefit from it. The guests will get to visit a beautiful home while your family will get to enjoy the superior style each and every day.

Let your creative juices flow and don’t be afraid of any ideas that come to your mind. Here are a few to start off your brainstorm session.

1. Add a nice plant

Houseplants can generally do wonders for your home. The same can be said about houseplants and your entryway. If you pick the right plant, you’ll give your entryway a warm and welcoming feel that your guests will love. As well as that, there will be a lot of oxygen in the room, so you’ll feel fresh and get a quick energy boost as soon as you come home.

If you have awkward spaces you can’t fill anything with in your entryway, you can always fill them with plants. Whether they’re tall or short, stubby or slim, they’re bound to fit in the room perfectly. You can go for a neutral green if you want to keep things smooth and elegant or for colourful plants if you want a more creative vibe.

2. Create a pattern

When you play with the colours correctly, your walls can speak volumes. Creating a pattern with paint or tiles can make your entryway look amazing. Of course, you’ll need to make sure you’re combining the colours in the right way so as to achieve maximum effect and really up the wow factor. You can do this by picking a base colour like white or beige, then picking an accentual colour. The accentual colour should be visible through the décor in the room.

So, if your base colour is beige, your accentual colour can be red. In this case, you’d pick a red coat hanger, a red chair or seating bench, and maybe even paint the front door red. You can also choose more than one accentual colour, but that might make the entryway overwhelming. The ideal balance of playing with colours is to add just enough pizazz to make it look like you did it on purpose, not that you made a mistake.

3. Focus on the doors

We tend to forget about the doors of any room way too often. In truth, they’re part of the room as much as every other object is. The way you style them can completely change the ambience and improve the overall look of the entryway. When it comes to your front door, you can always repaint it to match the rest of the entryway. As well as that, put a personal touch on it and leave a permanent stamp on your home. You can ask your kids to help you with this and turn it into a fun family project.

When it comes to the doors leading to the other rooms, they should be styled as well. What this primarily means is that you’ll need to fix all the imperfections on the doors. You could repaint them as well. Choosing one colour for all of them means you’ll create a unifying effect and tie the room together. If there are any gaps between the floor and the doors, consider turning to companies like Access Hardware for help. Door seals aren’t that expensive, yet they make a huge difference. The room looks more sophisticated and elegant without you having to replace the doors entirely and waste valuable resources and time.

4. Add a blackboard

A blackboard on the wall is the perfection entryway addition for a big or busy family. As well as giving your entryway some style and a unique look, the blackboard can help you keep track of everything you need to do. You can easily write your weekly schedule on it. This way, it will be much easier to actually do what you have to do. The kids will be less forgetful as they’ll always have a reminder right before they leave the house and you’ll be able to organize yourselves much more easily.

There will also be less room for miscommunication about who was supposed to do what. As well as the organizational part of the equation, you can also use the blackboard to leave your family-friendly and motivational notes to help them have a better day.

Conclusion

As you can see, styling up your entryway can be both fun and exciting. Think of this as a challenge instead of an obligation and you’re bound to have a good time doing it. The entryway of your dreams is only a few modifications away. Style comes with beauty, creativity, and originality. Sprinkle a little bit of each all of your home, and especially in your entryway, and you’ll get exactly what you were looking for.

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.

Home Kids

How To Design A Kids’ Room That Spurs Creativity

by Guest Contributor September 10, 2019

written by Guest Contributor

Every parent’s dream for their child is that they grow up to be happy, healthy, and strong. But instilling other, more complex, traits in our children, such as creativity, curiosity, and confidence, cannot be overlooked. And since these traits arise first in childhood and only develop further later in life, giving your children a good foundation that will help them be successful later on is crucial!

One of the most impactful aspects of a child’s young life is their home environment, specifically, the space they call their own: their bedroom. Whether they share a room or not, having a “kid-only” space where they can explore their own interests, reflect on their day, and learn the responsibility of taking care of their own things is critical to their development as a person.

You may be wondering how a child’s bedroom environment and traits such as confidence and creativity coincide, but they actually go hand in hand. Think about it: You have likely heard the studies that claim the color blue on a bedroom wall promotes calmness and breathing in the room’s inhabitant. Well, it’s true – our environment, whether we are young or old, influences who we are.

The great news is that there are concrete steps you can take to help promote positive traits such as creativity in your children through simple things such as bedroom organization, setup, and décor. Because we want to help you give your children the very best, we’ve compiled a list of bedroom essentials that will spur creativity in your child (and possibly make them the next Picasso.)

Wall color. Yes, as we said before, wall color plays a huge role in the mood a bedroom evokes. Though colors such as yellow and orange are known to spur creativity, there is no specific color that induces creativity in all children. To get this step right, you must know your child. Do they need to feel relaxed and calm before they can be creative? (This is more common in introverted children who may struggle to express themselves outwardly in the first place.) If so, try light blue or pastel purple walls. Does their energy feed off of vibrant colors? If so, try bright yellow, orange, or even light green. Even better, ask your child, if they are old enough, which colors inspire them. Ask things such as “What colors make you feel happy?” or “What colors do you like to use to color?” Chances are, the colors they use when they are being creative will inspire creativity, too.

Get kids involved. Parents, contain your panic when we tell you that letting your children help decorate their bedroom, by either helping paint the walls, choose a color, draw some custom artwork above their bed, or print their favorite photos to hang, will help spur creativity in their bedroom. This is because giving them a say will force them to be creative in the first place! Whenever they look around their room, they will be reminded of a time they were trusted to be creative, and they will feel comfortable doing so again in this safe space. If they feel they were not included in designing their room in the first place, they will be much less likely to design in their room. Remember that this is a kids’ room, so keeping it looking spick and span is not always necessary (or possible.) Cut your tots a little slack and it will pay off in the long run.

Fun design. A blank, white-walled bedroom with no décor will do little in encouraging them to pick up a paintbrush or camera. Find some fun décor, such as a customized neon sign, knickknacks, or abstract artwork to fill the space. Seeing these around the room will spark ideas in your kids, leading them to explore creative projects the ways they see fit. Encourage them to realize that funny, bright, or unconventional things are not “weird” or “ugly.” Instead, they are fun! You will pass these attitudes on to your little ones, who will grow up realizing that things out of the norm can be extremely interesting – perhaps even cool.

Provide them with creativity tools in their bedroom. Though this may seem obvious, it’s often overlooked by parents. Give your children craft supplies, paper, pens, paint, costumes, etc…in their bedrooms! They will be more likely to play dress up if they see a cute new costume eyeing them from across the room. (Costume pro tip: Allow your children to help you make homemade costumes with materials you already have at home, such as using pipe cleaners to make antennas, or a bandana to spice up a pirate costume. This will teach your kids that creativity doesn’t need to be accompanied by an expensive trip to the store – it’s all about using what you have in a new way!)

Relax! If your children get a little too paint-happy in their bedroom, try not to freak out. Many creative outlets come with a mess. Yelling at your kids over messes they make in their rooms during creative projects will cause them to associate creativity with being in trouble. Instead, simply praise them for their project and stress the importance of cleaning up well after. Cleaning up after him or herself is an excellent skill for any child, regardless of what type of mess they’re making!

Apply these tips to your children’s bedroom(s) and they are sure to start developing their creativity at a young age. Most of these steps require little expense, so rest easy knowing that one of the most beautiful parts of creativity is that it’s not supposed to be hard! Give your children a space where they can freely express themselves and feel that their creative work is valued, and they will reward you for it ten times over in the form of gratitude, accomplishments, and happiness.

Comment down below with any tips you have for encouraging creativity in your child’s bedroom, or whether you are going to implement these steps in your own home!

About the Author

Lara Douglas is a young woman who loves interior designing and home decor. She is passionate about new trends and fashion forward home décor ideas. She regularly posts at Neon Signs Depot.

Home

10 Beautiful Black Kitchens That Make Us Swoon

by Amber King September 9, 2019

written by Amber King

We’ve seen a lot of kitchen trends come and go, and one that really sticks with us is the black kitchen. With dark cabinets or a black backsplash, you make your cooking space feel more modern. The opportunity for contrast and highlighting small details is a perfect kitchen design for those of us who want to do minimal work for the greatest impact.

The black kitchen trend is all about shades like onyx, ebony, and ink. Contrary to what a lot of homeowners think, a black kitchen isn’t the absence of color. It’s leaving room in your design to highlight color, create contrast, and most of all, embrace luxury.

If your kitchen is clad in outdated honey-colored cabinets and Formica counter tops, these examples of beautiful black kitchens will inspire you to make a change. Check them out and start dreaming about your future kitchen!

1. Back to Black Backsplash

You can find white subway tile backsplash in plenty of kitchens across the country. It’s a classic look, but this black backsplash is something special. It keeps the design simple while still making a big impact. If you can only change one thing about your kitchen, updating the backsplash might be the best place to start. This small change can make a big difference.

Nonagon Style

2. Anchor Your Space

It’s an interior designer’s rule of thumb that every space needs an anchor. Larger objects and dark colors belong near the floor to give the room a strong foundation. When you have a kitchen with high ceilings, this becomes even more important. It’s easy to lose your design when you have a lot of vertical space. Dark-colored lower cabinets are the perfect way to anchor your kitchen design.

Hunker

3. Design with Contrast

Black kitchens are all about contrast. When it’s done right, it adds huge interest to your interior spaces. If you’re new to design, just remember that contrast is using two colors at opposite ends of the spectrum to create visual interest. It can be tricky to do this right, but using black in your kitchen makes it super simple. You already have the darkest color you could have, and now all you have to do is use it to make your lighter colors look even more bold. This is why black and white kitchens are such a hit.

Hunker

4. Highlight Stone Counter Tops

Counter tops can make or break your kitchen. And when you have a gorgeous white marble counter, you want to show it off in all its glory. Pairing your stone surfaces with black cabinets is the perfect way to do that. It goes back to the contrast that we talked about earlier. The difference in shades will make your counter really stand out. It will grab everyone’s attention in the best way.

Hunker

5. Keep it Modern

Modern kitchen designs are clean, functional, and easy to customize. We’ll always have love for those traditional and farmhouse kitchens, but there’s something about a modern design that feels right. Achieving a modern design is easier than you think. Black cabinets, black backsplash, black appliances, or black accents portray a simple and sleek look. It’s a good backdrop for other modern features like industrial pieces or a single-color counter top.

Homes to Love

6. Camouflage Appliances

Every kitchen needs a refrigerator, but that doesn’t mean you want it to be the focal point of the room. It’s hard to avoid, however, when you fridge is the biggest thing in the room. Some homeowners spend a lot of money to install custom refrigerator panels to disguise their appliances. Matching your cabinet color to the color of your appliances is the easier way to do that. Black with black camouflages everything you want to hide while still keeping the room’s design sleek and classy.

nextluxury.com

7. Pair with Stainless Steel

Sometimes you want to disguise your appliances, but there are also times when they’re worth showing off. Stainless steel, for example, is always worth highlighting. Besides the whole fingerprint problem, stainless steel appliances are great choices for almost every style of kitchen. They serve both a practical and a design purpose. A black kitchen with stainless steel appliances is a look we can always get behind.

Nextluxury.com

8. Add Ambiance

Black can get a bad rap for being boring, basic, and even a little depressing. But when you do it right in your home, a black kitchen can be warm, cozy, and welcoming. Add simple light fixtures and make sure to include the ever-important contrast into your design. Add a few accent colors, and you can create a space that no one would ever describe as “depressing.”

Home Alone

9. Embrace Minimalism

Modern and minimalist styles go hand-in-hand, and it’s no surprise black kitchens work well with both. With minimalism, you bring your space back to the basics. The hardware is sleek and simple, there’s little embellishment, and everything looks clean. Black makes a great backdrop for when you’re trying to scale things back and keep the room uncluttered and classic.

DivesandDollar.com

10. Accentuate the Details

When your cabinets or backsplash are dark, other small details start to stand out. The drawer pulls, handles, and sink faucet are all examples. It doesn’t take much for something to stand out on a black backdrop. This allows you to both keep things simple while also adding accents.

DecorYourHomes

What’s your favorite kitchen trend? Let us know in the comments!

Home

How To Improve Your Family Kitchen

by Guest Contributor August 28, 2019

written by Guest Contributor

They say that the kitchen is the heart of the home. So, ensuring your heart is functioning correctly is important to the smooth running of your family space. A dysfunctional or awkward kitchen space can leave you feeling restricted, making you want to spend less time in what should be an integral space in your home. But, it doesn’t have to be that way.

So, with that in mind, here are some of the simple ways that you can work to improve your family kitchen. And none of them will break the bank!

Store-Away Appliances

When it comes to the modern kitchen appliances are certainly king. From the microwave to stand mixers, it seems there are hundreds of gadgets littering our precious counter space. And worse, we use most of them once in a blue moon. Most of our modern contemporary furniture folds away effectively, so it needs to be the same for all of your appliances too.

Appliances which can be put into cupboards, fold-out of a drawer or whatever inventiveness you come up with, can be the best way to improve the overall aesthetic. If nothing else, it works to give you some much-valued counter space!

Work on the Layout

The layout of the kitchen area can have a huge impact on the feel of your kitchen. You may have a fairly decent size kitchen, but the chosen layout restricts movement and makes it feel much smaller.

If you have the budget, then try and work out the perfect way that your layout can help save space. Perhaps it means moving the countertops to the opposite side of the room, to take better advantage of the space a corner provides. Or you may find that reducing the number of counters entirely is the best option to give you much more needed space.

Of course, you may not have the available money to change the layout outright. Some counters, cupboards and the kitchen sink may have to stay in place. Instead, you can move the furniture around in order to try and save space in that way. The dining table, for example, can really change the feeling of space in a room depending on where you place it. Move it more towards the conservatory, get yourself an extending table or a similar solution to try to make the space work more for your family.

Set the Lighting

Lighting is one of the most important factors in a home. It can improve the feeling of a drab space, making it feel light and bright instead of drab and dreary. If you put enough thought into a room’s lighting then you are far more likely to find it becomes a nicer space to exist in.

In a kitchen space, in particular, it is long past the time when people should be using the same old fluorescent lighting to light the kitchen. Instead, try something new like pendant lighting or ambient lighting which you can adjust depending on the mood of the room. Choose lighting which is both stylish and bright. Or something which is interestingly designed for a little bit different.

Create Good Storage

An extra drawer for drinking cups, your daughter’s favourite spoon and the several-hundred bibs you own is likely a dream of many a family. The fact is that raising a child comes with a lot of gadgets and miscellaneous items in the modern-day. Finding a place for all of this, then, is vital. Storage in the kitchen is exactly what you need in a family home. So, work out the best ways to add this extra bit of space to the heart of your home. You will wonder how you ever did without it!

If you need storage solutions at a low price, then consider using items in different ways than for what they were intended. Magazine files can be used to keep things tidy in your cupboards, for example.

Set a Cleaning Schedule

There is nothing worse than knowing your kitchen needs cleaning. The pots are unwashed, the sides as splashed with pesto, and you don’t even want to think about how long it has been since you mopped the floors. You are in desperate need of a cleaning schedule.

Family life is hectic and it can be especially hard to adapt to when you have small children. A baby makes things like cleaning dishes seem unimportant. Or, often, like a mountainous task which you can’t possibly even comprehend completing in your current state of mind. That is why you need to give yourself somewhat of a schedule.

This doesn’t have to be something which you stick to religiously. It can be as simple as ‘wipe the countertops down on Thursdays.’ This way you’re not forcing yourself into something which seems too exhausting, rather it is just a little nudge to clean the kitchen bit by bit. So, on the whole, it becomes a much cleaner space to exist in.

Final Thoughts

Ultimately, the improvements you put into place in your kitchen depends entirely on the space and budget that you have. Some solutions are simple, a cleaning schedule for yourself costs nothing.

About the Author

Natalie Wilson is a freelance wellness and lifestyle writer. She loves researching and writing about new wellness trends and topics, as well as keeping up to date with the latest news. When not writing, you can find her taking long walks in the countryside with her dog or browsing her nearest bookstore. You can connect with her on Twitter @NatWilson976.

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DIY Home

7 Cool Interventions To Increase Your Home’s Value

by Guest Contributor August 23, 2019

written by Guest Contributor

Whether you’re looking to put your home on the market, or you just want to increase its value in order for it to serve as a certain safety net in case anything goes wrong financially – it’s always advisable to make a few changes from time to time. In this article, we’re going to give you 7 cool ideas on how you can boost your home’s market value. These essential tips will undoubtedly help you turn your house into almost anyone’s dream place.

Revamp Your Kitchen

There’s a good reason why everyone just loves hanging around the kitchen. It’s a place where you can quickly grab something to eat or drink and re-energize for the rest of the day. That’s why it’s of utmost significance that you revamp your kitchen and make it more appealing to spend the time in. You can always find some great tutorials on how to renovate your kitchen from scratch, in case you want to really make a statement in this area of your home.

Freshen Up the Place With a Little Bit of Paint

The next thing you want to do is to freshen up the place by painting the walls, or any other surfaces that crave a little bit of crisp colour. Remember that you should ideally take care of all surfaces around the house. This means that any wooden, steel, or iron surface needs to be freshly painted. It’s not just about the walls since your home’s value will be greatly increased if you take care of things like cabinets, doorknobs, fences, doors, windows, etc.

Install an Adjustable Awning

Now it’s time that your house exterior gets some love as well. A huge part of making your backyard or a patio enjoyable for everyone consists of keeping the sun or rain off a storefront, window, doorway, or deck. That’s where installation of the adjustable awnings can help immensely. Your friends and family members will be easily and efficiently protected from bad weather conditions with these multi-functional covers.

Don’t Forget About the Curb Appeal

Speaking of outdoors, you should also pay attention to the curb appeal of your house. This is one of the first things everyone notices, so you should definitely make an effort at maintaining this area in good condition. For example, you should make both your front door and garage entrance more approachable. That way your house will really stand out from the rest of the neighbourhood.

Let There Be Light

Another cool idea on how to increase the value of your home is to make the entire place more illuminated. People generally love when there’s enough light around the house, so you should definitely take advantage of this fact. Both your interior and exterior need to have enough (natural) light. And in case your house is located in a way that you can’t get that much natural light around the area, you should consider installing some lighting fixtures that mimic natural light.

Replace Old Doors and Windows

While we’re on the subject of light, one cool trick to not only make your house more illuminated but to boost its overall value is to replace old doors and windows and not just paint them. We know that this can be a bit pricey at times, but it’s definitely worth the investment, especially if you’re looking to sell quickly. The ROI (return on investment) here is truly great, so we would definitely recommend this to anyone.

Upgrade Your Landscaping By Adding Plants

There are many ways you can make your house look more attractive and aesthetically appealing, and one of them is by making upgrades to your landscaping. Almost anyone enjoys spending their time in nature, so it’s paramount that you put as many plants and flowers as possible around the property.

Final Thoughts…

Adding more value to your home property can be a tricky endeavour at times. That’s why we’ve come up with these 7 cool interventions that will most certainly increase your home’s market value. It doesn’t matter if you’re looking to sell right away, or you’re just thinking about your future financially, it’s always advisable to keep your house in good condition. That way if something unforeseen happens you can always put your home on the market and find a suitable buyer instantly. And not to mention that it’s so much nicer to live in a home that looks good all the time!

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.

DIY Home

The Benefits Of Gardening For Your Whole Family

by Guest Contributor August 23, 2019

written by Guest Contributor

Building, planting and maintaining a garden requires hard work, patience, and nurture. In a way, there are a lot of parallels with building and nurturing your family – just think how many gardeners talk to their plants (and believe in the benefits). Whether you have a garden with ornate flowers and beautiful water features or a working plot full of healthy, nourishing and delicious vegetables, getting the family involved is a great way to build bonds, boost health and increase self-esteem. If you’re a seasoned horticulturist or just a rookie with a taste for getting your hands dirty, the benefits gardening can bring to you and your brood are numerous and far-reaching. Let’s take a look at a few of them.

Science

Gardening is a fantastic and fun way to introduce some scientific concepts to the kids. They can be impatient once seeds are planted to see what will happen next, so if you choose quick-growing plants for them to start with they can then see quick results which will keep them interested. Even if you show them something as basic as weeding the lawn make sure they can see the positive results of their actions. Identifying and removing weeds from your lawn is crucial to the well-being of any garden and this activity can be as fun as it is useful. As their curiosity builds, you can introduce more and more scientific concepts (simplified according to their age of course) such as photosynthesis, the effects of dry or wet weather on the crops, bugs to watch out for (the nasty ones which eat crops) and the helpful creepy crawlies to help nourish the soil and keep the bad bugs away. You could even build a little worm farm if you’re not too squeamish about it. And remember, along with the science, kids love getting their hands dirty!

Healthy Eating

Not only is it super healthy (and environmentally friendly) to grow and eat your own crops, it’s also a great way to get the kids to tuck into the veggies. The satisfaction of having planted, weeded, watered and finally picked them out of the ground will encourage them to try new things. Not only that, but homegrown vegetables put supermarket stuff into the shade when it comes to taste, texture and flavor.

Good for the Mind

It may seem obvious, but being outside in the fresh air, whether you’re working hard or relaxing on a bench or hammock is good for your overall health. Breathing in the clean air a garden produces naturally is calming and it does wonders for your mental health. Gardening can be a meditative experience, and digging, planting or carrying things about boosts endorphin levels and encourages serotonin in the brain. The feeling of satisfaction that growing crops or flowers brings shouldn’t be underestimated either – it’s great for everyone’s self-esteem – as is the satisfaction of sitting down to a meal of delicious homegrown veggies.

Good for the Body

Again – digging away at your plot (and of course getting the kids to help out) is exercise, and hard work pays off. Your lungs and heart will reap the benefits of outdoor work, and for the kids (especially younger ones) helping in the garden will boost the development of essential motor skills, strength and precision which will help them at school and in all other areas of life. Another set of bonuses for you all – hand strength will build, stress will decrease, you’ll sleep better (all that fresh air and hard graft will leave you with a happy, satisfying level of tiredness at the end of the day). Gardening is also thought to reduce allergies and boost immune systems – what better reason to get out there and start working?

Environmental Concerns

Gardening is a great way to highlight to the kids how important it is to look after our world’s environment. Teaching them to nurture the soil and telling them about pesticides and non-organic fertilizers will definitely set them on the path to environmental awareness. Don’t forget to point out all that plastic packaging on supermarket veggies next time you go shopping. Teaching children about these issues, especially as the world faces bigger and bigger challenges with regard to climate change and global warming is essential to keeping our Earth (and your garden) healthy and sustainable.

Bonding

It goes without saying that working together on a big, multi-layered project like a garden brings people closer. Communication develops to a different level – you’ll be able to teach your kids things which they will take pride in mastering (or at least attempting to master) and the collaborative spirit fosters a healthy combination of togetherness and autonomy which is vital for many aspects of life to come. Working hard together in the garden is a great way to build a relationship with your children that goes beyond helping with homework or ferrying them around in the car.

OK, gardening with kids isn’t always ideal. You may be tempted to keep your yard neat and tidy, and trying to stop a young baby eating dirt is a constant distraction. But really, when you look at the bigger picture, your family and your health can only benefit from working together in the (not so) great outdoors. So get those hands (and feet, and faces) dirty, en famille!

About the Author

Bethany Seton is a recent economics graduate, working for the last two years as a community counselor. Before settling in an office again, she decided to follow her passion for writing and traveling. Currently, she travels with her laptop and writes for various blogs, hoping one day she will gather all the experience she gets in one book.

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9 Tips For Renovating Your Home On A Budget

by Guest Contributor August 14, 2019

written by Guest Contributor

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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7 Summer Cleaning Hacks For Your Home

by Guest Contributor July 18, 2019

written by Guest Contributor

Spring is everyone’s favorite time to give their homes a deep cleaning, but that doesn’t mean you can go all summer without freshening up your household. Hot and humid weather coupled with rainy days make their mark on your home, and it’s essential to stay on track with a cleaning routine if you want to keep your house clean and ready all summer long!

Here are some nifty cleaning hacks to help out:

1. Eliminate Trash Can Odors

Hot summer weather creates the perfect circumstances for bacteria to grow in your trash cans. And when that happens, you’re left with a strong and unpleasant smell. The stinky situation gets even worse when humidity traps the odors and keeps them lingering longer. To prevent this, try pouring baking soda in the bottom of your trash can. Baking soda absorbs odors and stops them from spreading.

Keep the Microwave Clean

When you’re a busy mom, you microwave gets a lot of use. And the more you use it, the faster it gets coated with messy spills, splashes, and crumbs. A simple trick of slicing a lemon in half and placing it in a bowl of water will solve this problem in no time! Put the bowl inside the microwave, heat it for three to four minutes, and then let it sit in there for another three to five minutes. The steam will loosen the stains and make them easy to wipe with a sponge. Not only that, but your microwave will smell much nicer.

Transform Greasy Floors

Cleaning your floors, especially if they’re greasy, can be a nightmare. Stains and greasy areas can harden over time to make cleaning almost impossible. A mixture of baking soda, white vinegar, and a bit of dish soap will eliminate those stains in a second! Use a mop like normal, and for the really tough spots, bend down and use a rough sponge and some elbow grease.

Maintain Your Garbage Disposal

Considering what we throw inside our garbage disposals, it’s no wonder they start producing disgusting odors in no time. Luckily, there’s a simple solution to this issue. Lemon, as in many other cases, has proved to be a fantastic smell repellent. All it takes is squeezing some lemons into the garbage disposal, and as it starts working again, it will release that fresh, citrus smell.

Remove Water Stains

When it comes to water stains, that’s where vinegar shines the most. If you have water spots on glasses, make a mix of water and vinegar (50 percent each), apply it to stains, and let it sit for 15 minutes. When time’s up, use a toothbrush to scrub everything away. If you have water spots on your shower head, fill a bag with white vinegar and use a rubber band to secure it around the shower head. Leave it like that overnight. In the morning, cleaning those stains will be a breeze.

Disinfect Children Toys

Cleaning your kids’ toys can take up an enormous amount of your time. However, you need to do it at least every couple of months, as they can collect a lot of dirt and germs over time. You can try washing them by hand, but it’ll be tough to get into all the nooks and crannies. An easier and more effective method is to take all the plastic toys you can find, remove batteries if there are any, place them inside a washer, and add whichever detergent you usually use.

Get Expert Help

Cleaning the house to your satisfaction can prove to be a real hassle. If you’re too busy soaking up the sun and spending quality time with the kids, don’t be afraid to hire professional help. There are professional services, like Simply Spotless Cleaning, that specialize in residential cleaning for busy families. This way, you’ll get expert help from people who perform these duties day in and day out. The use of the best cleaning materials and tools, along with experienced workers, will make your house spotless and glowing. And best of all, it won’t take up all your time.

Being a homeowner, with all its perks, brings a lot of not so fun responsibilities. It is easy to get caught up in all the mess and make life much more difficult for yourself. Therefore, seasonal cleanups are a fantastic way to never fall behind on those duties. And by being smart, and using some of these brilliant hacks, you can make those chores pass in no time!

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