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sunflower Christmas tree
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14 Sunflower Christmas Trees To Brighten Up Your Holiday Decorating Ideas

by Amber King
written by Amber King

For most of us, sunflowers are associated with the blue skies of summer and crisp air of early fall. They stand tall and proud spreading warmth for their season of joy, and then they disappear until the next year comes around. But thanks to this new holiday trend, you can deck your halls with boughs of holly AND enjoy the beauty of these special flowers. Sunflower Christmas trees are taking over, and we’re definitely okay with it. It’s time to liven up your holiday decorations and embrace the sunshine.

Pinterest recently announced its Christmas 2019 decor trends based on what people are searching for most. Sunflower Christmas trees are up 66% compared to past years. Themed Christmas trees have long-since been popular, but it seems decorators are looking for new, contemporary ways to adorn their trees. Sunflowers are this year’s answer, and we’ve already seen some seriously pretty trees from the season’s earliest trendsetters. 

Check out these sunflower Christmas trees to inspire your holiday decorating. 

One of the best things about these sunflower Christmas trees is that they’re fairly simple to create. Forget all those glass balls that always end up breaking. For this look, stock up on fake sunflowers from your nearest craft store. You might even get lucky and find all those summer flowers in the clearance section. Choose the long stem varieties to make it easier to stick your stems into the branches of your evergreen. You can also mix it up with blooms of different sizes. In addition to flowers, a lot of these examples use strategically placed ribbon to pull the look together.

If you’re looking for more of a rustic look for your sunflower Christmas tree, you can also weave some decorative burlap in between the branches and flower stems. Tuck everything in so it stays put, and position your lights to create a truly dazzling nighttime display. 

 

 

 

     

 

 

 

 

 

 

So what do you think? Will there be a sunflower Christmas tree in your living room this year? 

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HomeLifestyle

24 Details To Style Your House on a Budget

by Guest Contributor
written by Guest Contributor

Every once in a while, we get tired of the way our home looks. We feel it’s time for a change, but we aren’t sure what to change, or if we have the budget for it.

It’s easy to think you need a big budget to make considerable changes to your home–furniture and decor can be expensive, after all. And while money definitely won’t hurt, it’s not as important as you might think. Redecorating your home is less about spending a lot of money and more about creative thinking.

If you’re ready to play a bit, then you’ll manage to style your house with just a few cheap details. Here’s what you can try:

Become an artist when it comes to popping colors.

Colors have always been the factor of change in any room. When you wish for an upgrade, it doesn’t necessarily mean you should repaint the room. It’s a cliché move, don’t you think? Instead, you can have fun with colors in specific places or on certain items.

1. Take a good look of the room – what would be the contrasting color that would spice up the space? Red, orange or green items that are strategically placed can do wonders. Even adding red ribbons to your curtains will create an interesting focus.

2. If you don’t feel confident about picking the right color scheme, then pay a visit to a fabric store. Look at the ways they combine colors – find the dominant color of your room and see which accent colors they used with it. A few throw pillows in an accent color can also break the routine. Covering a dining chair seat in a contrasting color would also be a nice solution.

3. Furthermore, look for subtle colors hiding in the room, like a speck of yellow or a hint of blue. Once you use it in items like a rug or an artwork and spread it around the room – it will give a new tone to the room.

4. Lastly, you can go for metallic—it really is a big statement. Brass accents, chrome paint or silver trim can go a long way. Simply applying them on drawer pulls or handles will change things.

Find unexpected decor items.

Almost anything can be turned into home decor, so keep your eyes open.

5. Visit a few charity shops—they’re full of gems that can be turned into the classy decor. Old ornaments, especially animal figures, can be completely transformed if you paint them black or white.

6. The china plates you’ve never used (or even an affordable set you just bought) can serve as wall art. Hang a few plates in a cluster on an empty wall and get a truly chic wall decor.

7. Jute decor will instantly remind you of the beach. Use a jute rope and a glue gun and you can turn any dish or a vase into a rustic decor item.

8. In case you have an old wooden ladder, you can create a truly original decor piece. Clean it up with sandpaper and put a fresh layer of paint. You can then use it to hang blankets or store spare towels.

9. If you have a bit of wallpaper, don’t apply it on the walls. Instead, use a small amount of it to decorate the interior of your bookcases. Some brands have really chic, removable wallpaper that will instantly change the appearance of a bookcase.

10. Don’t throw away wine bottles after a dinner party. Recycle them by washing off the labels with soap and hot water. You can then use them as eclectic vases for a few stems.

11. An old chair that doesn’t fit in with any table or other chairs can serve as an end table or a nightstand. To make it a better fit for the rest of the furnishings, add a new layer of paint.

12. Maybe you’ve noticed that mason jars lamps are big right now. You can make your own stylish light fixtures by finding a YouTube video that takes you through the process. If you have a lot of them and you feel inspired, maybe you could try making a mason jar chandelier.

13. Fridge magnets can be seen on almost any fridge in every household, but you can give a new twist to them. Broken brooches can serve as elegant magnets. Stick a magnet onto the back of old jewelry for a glitzy look in the kitchen.

Choose a small update for a big change.

In case you’re not feeling up for repurposing items, the next step is to buy new ones and replace the old ones. These items don’t have to be a huge investment, but they will bring new life into the room nevertheless.

14. Talking about your front door, a kick plate on it would be both useful and trendy. It’s a broad strip of polished metal placed along the bottom edge of the door. Its role is to protect the door from dog paws and scratches, but it can also be very decorative. Traditionally, you could go for brass, but there are also antique bronze and even black. When you choose the metal finish for this, you can use the same finish for all your exterior hardware. You can also finish it up by browsing for some unique door mats and choosing one to complete the picture of a truly welcoming front entrance.

15. Your kitchen hardware or drawers in the living room can look impressive if you only replace the old handles and drawer pulls. Just make sure you know how many screws each of them needs and how far apart they need to be. It will be more effective if you browse some magazines first to determine what style you want—sleek or recycled? Pulls or handles? You can also check out building salvage stores if you’re trying to achieve a vintage look.

16. A woven basket can instantly add a bohemian feel to the room. They are pretty cheap and easy to find, plus they offer a place for storing your things.

17. If you want an instant and dramatic ambiance in your kitchen, get flexible LED ribbon lighting and install them under shelves or cabinets. You will get installation instructions with the lighting all for under $30.

18. Shower curtains have become a true decorative item of a bathroom. There are many styles you can choose from, with some of them even having a print design. It will instantly update your bathroom. Or you could buy a new, flashy mirror. An interesting frame will also add a fresh look to an old bathroom.

19. Your old couch can look brand new if you buy a new slipcover for it. Don’t worry if the slipcover that you like is too big for your couch—a loose fit is always trendy.

20. A new headboard for your bed is a cheap investment, too. If you get simple, cheap materials, you could spend less than $50 for it. And you’ll get a new bed in return (at least to some extent).

21. Kitchen storage, especially the kind that’s visible on the shelves, is a way to turn your kitchen into a chic room. Get stylish glasses and plastic containers and store pasta, rice, and other foods in them. They will make the space more cheerful and colorful.

22. Candles are another way to lift up the room without spending a lot of money. The more you buy, the more of a romantic setting you’ll get. If you really want an elegant look, then get candles placed in stylish holders.

23. Boring lamps can be easily replaced by sconces. They’re typically easy to install, and better yet, they’re affordable. Sconces come in many styles, so you can choose ones that best suit your preferences.

24. Sheepskin rugs are affordable and can be very handy when it comes to transforming sofas, chairs, and barstools. Everything instantly changes from boring to elegant with a touch of Scandinavian lifestyle. If you contrast the wool with iron furnishings, it would be a huge hit.

Final advice

Adding a bit of style to your home isn’t necessarily a big endeavor. Creativity and the will to experiment are all you really need. Your budget doesn’t have to dictate the extent of changes in your home. You should also be prepared to browse for the perfect item just a bit longer. That way, you’ll find an affordable item that fits perfectly into the room and adds new life all at the same time.

Author Bio

Emma Williams is an Australian writer with a master‘s degree in business administration, who has a passion for anything lifestyle and design related. She spends most of her time redecorating and participating in house projects. As a great nature lover, her biggest pleasure is spending time in a small cottage by the river. Find her on Twitter @ https://twitter.com/EmmaWilliams204

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felt letter board
HomeLifestyleProducts

These Felt Letter Boards Are Perfect For Everyday Inspiration & Announcements

by Amber King
written by Amber King

Timeless and trendy, felt letter boards are a simple concept with a whole lot of potential. Popular in decades past, these practical message boards are in full-on comeback mode, and that’s in part thanks to Pamela. Pamela is a wife, mother, and thanks to her persistence, perseverance, and vision, she’s now co-owner of her very own business. Felt Like Sharing is a family-run business offering other families the opportunity to express life’s moments in unique ways. These aren’t your average letter boards, ladies. They’re colorful, sturdy, customizable, and the story behind their creation is inspiring. 

The Start

For most of her life, Pamela lived the daily work-life grind we’re all too familiar with. A career, a family, and finding ways to create balance between the two. When felt letter boards came back in style, Pamela fondly remembered similar boards from her childhood. But in a time with color, creativity, and inspiration all around, she also saw potential to follow a passion and an opportunity to change her life for the better. 

felt letter boards

Image courtesy of Pamela & Felt Like Sharing

Pamela’s husband and Felt Like Sharing co-owner, Ryan, jokes the business is all thanks to his wife’s persistence. She thought of something she wanted, and with a bit of wifely persuasion, she convinced her husband to jump on board. Together, they decided to remake and improve the felt letter boards that were quickly regaining popularity. Pamela wanted color, quality, and affordability, and she made it happen with Felt Like Sharing.

The Boards

A letter board from Felt Like Sharing is a sustainable sign choice that is truly built to last. The frames are made from American Oak with a light finish to prevent staining from body oils and lotions over time. The felt is thick, synthetic, and most importantly, rich in color. There are 25 bold and beautiful colors to choose from, and according to Pamela, most shades in the Colorblock Collection are exclusive to Felt Like Sharing. 

 

With a solid backdrop, Felt Like Sharing also includes quality hanging hardware appropriate for the size of the board, and there are nine different letter sets to choose from. With four different board sizes and all those color options, there are countless ways to personalize each message.

The Growth

Felt Like Sharing officially launched with their original Memo 10″ x 10″ letter board in nine colors in July 2017. It took a lot of planning and perseverance to get to that point, but the company was thrilled to experience almost instant success. Instragammers, moms, teachers, beauty consultants, and everyone else fell in love with the cute and colorful boards. Felt Like Sharing earned unsponsored posts by OhJoy! and Young House Love and ended up selling out of their two most popular colors. 

 

Since then, Pamela and Ryan have left their old lives behind and have dedicated themselves to their small (but getting bigger) business. Pamela told LifeAsMama,

“Owning my business has opened my eyes to what is possible for us to create. A vision I dream up CAN become reality. Felt Like Sharing has also introduced me to several other like-minded business women. Now in 2019, I feel anyone can own their own business.”

Like many 21st century women, Pamela is realizing she really can have it all when it comes to that work-life balance we talked about earlier. She’s free to be mommy, but she still finds time be the boss babe behind Felt Like Sharing.

“I squeeze in work when I have sitters, when the kids are napping, and in the evening. Having a place to be my creative self helps keep my life balanced.”

 

Your Inspiration

Whether you’re celebrating a family milestone, looking for living room decor ideas, or need a creative way to display messages for your own small business, Pamela has seen her felt letter boards take on new life with every purchase. 

A college library bought the boards as reusable signage for annual events, a department store uses them to advertise special promotions at their makeup counters, and there’s even a restaurant with an entire wall of letter boards to display their menu. 

 

They’re perfect for inspirational quotes, social media announcements, flat-lay photography, weddings, parties, and pretty much anything else involving a message, moment, or special memory.

Head to the Felt Like Sharing website to browse through their many colors and pick out your perfect board. Next, the Felt Like Sharing Instagram is a gold mine of inspiration. And don’t forget to snap a pic of your unique message and use #feltlikesharing to share your ideas with others!

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long distance move
Home

6 Tips To Survive A Long Distance Move

by Amber King
written by Amber King

Six time zones, 4,838 miles, a 9-hour flight, and a 4-hour drive—even for someone who has moved four times in the past five years, my most recent long distance move was a new record for my family. We went from living the island life in Hawaii to forgetting our jackets and choosing Chic-fil-A for every meal in Maryland. (The worst thing about Hawaii is there is no Chic-fil-A.)

Our long distance move was part of my husband’s obligation to the Air Force, but military families aren’t the only ones faced with around-the-world moves. It was overwhelming planning how I was going to get my entire family, all our household goods, and our cars to a new time zone where we still didn’t have a place to live. I won’t lie, it wasn’t fun. But now that I’m standing in our new home state with the move (mostly) behind us, I realized I learned a lot. Hopefully my experience will help your long distance move go as smoothly as possible.

Here are my top 6 tips for anyone planning a long distance move.

1. Start Planning Early

This is where I made my first mistake. Your planning should start as soon as you make your decision to move. Ideally, you want 2-3 months to make sure you have time to do everything without wanting to rip out all your hair. But if you don’t have that kind of head start, don’t panic. I planned my move across an ocean with five weeks of advanced notice, and while I can’t say there were no hair-ripping moments, everything ended up working out. Even if you can’t start packing or booking flights, here are a few important steps you can accomplish right away.

long distance move

  • Organize all your important papers (birth certificates, passports, SS cards, banking docs, password list, etc) and transfer them to a folder or binder that will be easy to keep with you at all times during your move. You don’t want to risk movers losing them.
  • Clean out your house and donate unwanted items to charity or have a yard sale. 
  • Make a list of all the maintenance projects you’ll need to do on your current house.
  • Inform your landlord of your move, or if you own, start talking to a real estate agent about either selling or renting out your house.
  • Look into what you’ll need to do to enroll children in their new schools.

2. Save and Budget

If you’re getting relocation assistance from your job, you still need to start saving your money and budgeting for unexpected moving expenses. There are obvious costs, like flights, hotels, and movers, but there are other things you might forget or not expect. We were lucky to have the military pay for professional movers and our flights, but there were other things we had to handle on our own—and those expenses added up quickly.

If you have pets, you need to budget for how much it will cost to transport them to your new home (especially if they’re flying). Feeding your family while you’re stuck in a hotel also won’t be cheap. Then there’s tip money for the hotel housekeepers and bellhops who will be a lifesaver when you show up with a mountain of baggage. You’ll need gas money to explore your new hometown, storage for when your stuff arrives but you have nowhere to put it, and don’t forget to budget for moving emergencies just in case. I learned from experience that a long distance move is more expensive than you think.

3. Hire Pros When You Can

When cleaning companies quote you at $500 to clean your three-bedroom rental and the price of professional packers gives you sticker shock, it’s tempting to say screw it and do everything yourself. Heed my warning fellow travelers: sometimes the added stress is not worth the dollars saved. You’re already running around like a maniac trying to make your long distance move come together, and trust me, your to-do list is long enough.

long distance move

As long as it doesn’t sink the budget we talked about earlier, I highly recommend hiring professionals for the most difficult and time-consuming jobs. Being the thrifty woman that I am, I decided to do all the cleaning myself. It seemed like a great idea at the time, but I was very, very wrong. What would have taken professional cleaners an afternoon to finish took me five days. I still have scars on my knuckles from all the scrubbing I did. Cleaning by myself (okay, the husband helped a little) made literally everything else more stressful. Don’t be like me. Save yourself the stress and drama by hiring pros when appropriate. 

4. Make Lists—and Then Make More Lists

I wouldn’t have survived our long distance move if it wasn’t for my lists. I dedicated a small notebook to writing down tasks, phone numbers, appointment reminders, and everything else. Every few days I would start a new to-do list, and it helped keep me organized. My brain was overloaded trying to keep everything straight, but writing it down let me see what needed to be done and when. 

I’ve always been a list person, so I was pretty excited to go full-on list crazy with this move. I had separate lists for cleaning, packing, appointments, hotel-related tasks, transportation tasks, and I made a timeline of all important moving events. You probably don’t have to go as in-depth as I did, but even a single to-do list will be useful. When you’re dealing with packers, airlines, cleaners, landlords, real estate agents, and everything else, your memory won’t be as reliable as you need it to be.

5. Keep Important Items Together

When you’re busying packing your things into boxes and then moving between houses, hotels, and rental cars, things are bound to get lost. I clearly remember at least two instances where my husband thought he lost the envelope of cash we were using to dole out tips. Life would have been easier if we kept everything organized and in the same spot.

We got better at not losing things after a few close calls, but I recommend you do this from the start of your move. If you have a lot of digital documents—like flight information, hotel confirmations, or invoices—create a separate folder on your computer or in your email. For all the hard copy documents, put together a binder with labeled sections. Designate a backpack or duffel bag as your “important things carrier” and always (no matter how lazy or rushed you feel) return items to their proper place. No one wants to get to the airport during a long distance move and realize they lost their wallet.

6. Pack Based on Your Timeline

To help keep my mind organized, I split our move into stages. There was the “pre packers stage,” “Hawaii hotel stage,” “in transit stage,” “Maryland hotel stage,” and finally the “finding somewhere to live stage.” I split up my lists by what I needed to do during each step in the timeline, and I used the same philosophy for my packing. I don’t mean the packing of our household goods. The movers came and took most things two weeks before we officially moved. (It takes a long time to ship your stuff across an ocean.) What I’m talking about is packing the suitcases you’ll lug with you around the world.

long distance move

Packing based on where we were in the move was especially important for us, because while the weather in Hawaii is always warm and sunny, once we got to Maryland, we would need completely different clothes. So I had a Hawaii suitcase to get us through the 10 days we spent on island after the movers took our stuff and a Maryland suitcase for when we landed in the early spring weather. Besides weather, we also packed based on what we would be doing and trying to accomplish. Instead of digging through multiple suitcases to find what we needed, we knew exactly where things were. We could store no-longer-needed suitcases in the trunk of the car and minimize the number of bags we had to haul around. Without this organization, I don’t think we would have made it through weeks in a hotel with our sanity still intact.

Final thoughts…

Lastly, remember to keep your eye on the prize. Every situation is different, but for my family, our long distance move took several months to complete. Even now, we’re still trying to get back to normal life. You’ll get tired, stressed, and frustrated, but try taking everything one step at a time. This time in your life won’t last forever, and when it’s finally over, you’ll be ready to start enjoying life in your new home.

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DesignDIYHome

5 Inspiring Ideas For A Cozy Outdoor Retreat

by Guest Contributor
written by Guest Contributor

Summer is knocking at our door, and it brings the need to get away from the lengthy commutes and crazy schedules. As lovely as a trip to a 5-star resort sounds, most people need a getaway that’s near and available 24/7. So why wouldn’t you make one in your backyard? It may sound like a daunting task, but truth be told – it’s much easier than you think. With the right tips, you’ll get clued up about all the design elements that you can combine and create a stunning outdoor oasis of your own. Here are some tips and tricks that will help on that redecorating journey.

1. Make your yard luminous

Photo by Jon Tyson on Unsplash

Spending hot summer days in your backyard or next to the pool is great. However, you’ll want to enjoy it when the sun goes down, too. You can’t do that without some source of light. Depending on the atmosphere you want to set, there is a great variety of options to choose from. If you have enough space, consider building a fire pit. Just imagine a starry summer night and your friends gathered around the fire. Sounds awesome, right? If you’re into something more practical, you can go for candles, floating globes, or solar landscape lighting. By mixing them, you’ll create a romantically-lit oasis in your backyard. 

2. Cozy up your patio

Photo by Randy Fath on Unsplash

It goes without saying that no backyard oasis is complete without comfortable seating. Whether it’s a porch swing, a hammock or a gazebo, you need a cozy little nook in your yard. If your seating is in the area that’s not covered from the weather, a great solution is a raised patio pergola that will transform your outdoor living space with its functional and modern design. Having that checked off the list, you can now decorate the area with pillows, rugs, chairs, and lighting. When it comes to the choice of fabric for your seating area, go for sturdy ones since you want the pillowcases and chair pads to last longer than one season.

3. Increase privacy in your backyard

Image by summa from Pixabay

The whole idea behind creating a cozy outdoor retreat is to hide from your neighbor’s prying eyes. You want to make a place that will give you a sense of freedom and privacy. It can be challenging if you live in the city or crowded suburbs. Don’t get discouraged, though. There are lots of ways to achieve this no matter the surroundings. Landscaping can play a major role here. By smartly planting trees and bushes, you’ll create a wonderfully discreet outdoor area. Decorate a pergola with some nice draperies. A trellis will not only give you privacy but will also provide you with a beautiful curtain of flowers.

4. Invest in greenery

Photo by zhang kaiyv from Pexels

Nothing will make your backyard more lush and welcoming than greenery. It will not only give you much-needed privacy, but it will also help you make your yard look like a secret retreat. Before purchasing the plants, you should do some research first. Depending on the amount of sunlight your yard receives, see which types of plants will work best for you. You can go for annuals if you don’t mind rolling up your sleeves every spring. If you’re more into low-maintenance plants, choose perennials.

Layering your landscape will give your yard depth and make it look more interesting. Plant the trees in the back, shrubs in the middle, and flower beds in front. If you’re working on a relatively small area, opt for one or two layers and don’t forget to include some pollinator-friendly plants if you want to attract birds to your oasis.

5. The design should be all about you

Photo by KaLisa Veer on Unsplash

Forget about designer trends and think about you. How do you like to spend your time outdoors? Is your retreat meant to host large groups of people or just you? How functional do you want it to be? These are just some of the questions that you need to think about before you start working on your outdoor retreat. If you plan on having your friends over quite often, then you should invest in a big deck and maybe a barbecue area. On the other hand, if you’re making a dream oasis so you can relax and enjoy your privacy, then give advantage to your reading nook and landscaping. Remember that it’s all about you and your preferences.

In order to enjoy the nice weather, you don’t have to cross miles to get to that retreat you’ve been dreaming about. You can make one in your own backyard. Following these tips will help you create a cozy outdoor retreat that you’ll love.

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.

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DesignDIYHome

4 Clever Ideas For A Small Bathroom

by Guest Contributor
written by Guest Contributor

A small bathroom in no way needs to be empty or not styled. It deserves to be as stylish as the rest of your house. Of course, it’s easy to overdo it and make the room feel cluttered and claustrophobic with your decorations. Your best friend for decorating a small bathroom is compact and practical furniture solutions, as well as a few well-placed decor pieces. Use every part of the bathroom in the best way you can, and you’ll be rewarded with an immaculate design that serves its purpose well.

Use Colors

Color can be your best friend for this project. Most bathrooms are very white and sterile, but yours doesn’t have to be. If you add a few colorful focal points, you’ll transform the whole design in a heartbeat. You can introduce color with accessories, paint, or a bathroom rug.

Those who really want to think outside the box can paint their ceiling a different color and match their shower screen or bathtub to it. It’s just a small detail, but the fact that it’s different from the blinding white will make your bathroom appear warmer and more welcoming.

Add A Mirror

No bathroom can do without a mirror. Your bathroom may be small, but there’s always enough room to fit an elegant mirror. You’ll be able to see what you look like every time you’re getting ready. The mirror will be conveniently close to your beauty products, so you’ll be able to gauge their effect on your skin and body right away.

If you introduce a standing mirror to the premises, you can also make your bathroom appear bigger. Not only do mirrors give the illusion of space, but they also reflect light. There’s nothing prettier than a well-lit small bathroom. All of the decor pieces fall into place with the power of natural light.

Wall-Mount It!

Bathroom sinks and storage furniture look good in a conventional way, but mount them to the wall and they look even better. A wall-mounted bathroom sink with its own storage unit underneath is just what a small bathroom needs. Not only will you get a stylish and modern design, but you’ll also enjoy functionality and ease of storage.

The one thing to watch out for in this project is how the sink is installed. That’s why you should always turn to companies like Jake’s Plumbing for help. Expert plumbers will be able to carry out your vision without any issues. After all, your whole design is dependent on how well the sink is installed. It may look easy, but this is in no way a DIY project.

Change Up The Walls

The walls will be your best option for decorating a small bathroom. You’ll get to create a striking design without compromising any of the space. The most common option for decorating the walls is using tiles. You can create fun color patterns or choose tiles with quirky patterns already on them. On the other hand, you can even use paint to achieve the wanted effect.

Those who want to take it a step further and be even more creative can opt for bathroom wallpaper. It’s striking, bold, creative, and completely safe for bathrooms as it’s resistant to water and dampness.

Final Thoughts…

As you can see, decorating a small bathroom doesn’t have to give you a headache. You may not have room for some major improvements, but you’ll redesign what matters. For the best bathroom design, all you have to do is realize that size isn’t a disadvantage. It is a challenge and an opportunity to think outside the box and let your imagination run free. With a little inspiration, your bathroom is bound to shine with a new light.

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.

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home repair
DesignDIYHome

5 Things You Should Never DIY At Your Home

by Guest Contributor
written by Guest Contributor

When the winter passes and the weather gets warmer, we start craving some changes. Whether it’s a hairstyle or a colour of the walls in our living room, spring brings the need for something fresh. You may also be thinking about tackling some new DIY projects around the house. Talking about home repairs, you basically have two options – to do or not to do them yourself. As much as the Internet tutorials make these projects easy to handle, sometimes it’s best to hire professional help.

It may seem like a waste of money, but when dealing with electricity, plumbing, removing walls, furnace repair, or waterproofing issues, it is better to play it safe. Here are some of the things that you may want to leave to the professionals. 

1. Stay Away from Electrical Work

Even though installing new lighting may seem like a piece of cake, steer clear of any project that involves electricity. Getting shocked is just one of the many things that can go wrong. Even if you know how to turn off the live power, there’s a possibility that you’ll wire something incorrectly.

home repair

That can lead to overloading your power draw which can cause popping breakers or sparking outlets. There are many serious consequences of amateurs handling electrical wires. The safety of your family should be imperative. For that reason, everything more complex than changing a light bulb is a job for an electrician.

2. Don’t Fix Your Appliances Yourself

Whether you’ve just bought a new dishwasher and you’re eager to install it ASAP, or you need to move the oven to paint the walls, it’s something that you definitely want to leave to the professionals. No matter how experienced do-it-yourselfer you are, dealing with gas or water is something you don’t want to mess around with.

home repair

Having that said, the best solution is to hire some local appliance repair company to do the job. A skilled team of professionals will bring all the necessary tools for the job. They can help you with both the installation and repairs of almost every appliance in your home. If you can stay away from the complexities that these tasks involve, gladly do so.

3. Say No to DIY Roofing

Speaking of risky DIY projects, roofing is definitely on the top of the list. The risk of falling down is just one of the reasons why you should leave this job for professionals. They are far more experienced than you in working on a great height at an awkward angle. Although crucial, it’s not only a matter of safety risks. If you decide to do the roofing yourself, there’s a great chance you’ll end up with loads of unused materials.

home repair

When the job is done, your roof may seem spotless, but will it stay that way when the winds pick up? Your insurance company probably won’t cover the damage, spare yourself the stress and hire professionals to do the job.

4. Moulding is not a DIY Project

As much as it looks like a pure decoration, moulding requires some serious skills. It’s like couture, if it doesn’t fit perfectly, it’s a disaster. In order to reach that goal, you need perfectly straight walls. It may come as a surprise that no walls are like that, not even in new houses. One of the reasons you should leave this to the professionals is because they have the right tools.

home repair

What’s more, they have more experience when it comes to finding the right solution to the shape of your walls. They’ll make sure your mouldings are properly aligned and also pay attention to all the necessary details. It may look tempting, but it’s not a job for amateurs.

5. Don’t Do the Demolition Yourself

Home improvements often involve tearing down the walls. Demolishing and rebuilding may seem far from a complicated process. It can even seem like a fun thing to do until you swing the sledgehammer and hit something you shouldn’t like the support wall or electrical wires. Repairing the damage would be more expensive than hiring the contractors.

home repair

Money isn’t the only problem. These reparations take time so they will delay the whole rebuilding project. In order to avoid damaging any of the vital parts of your home, it’s best to leave demolition projects to a contractor.

In the sea of YouTube channels and Pinteresting ideas, it’s easy to get carried away with house-repair projects. People in the videos giving step-by-step tutorials make it look ridiculously easy. Decorating your picture frames or repainting the shelves can be a super fun activity for the whole family. However, there are tasks that are too dangerous to handle.

Those usually involve water, gas, and electricity. Hiring professionals may seem like a splurge, but in the long run, it will save you not only time and effort but will also make sure your home is safe. After all, that should be the most important thing on your list of priorities.

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.

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curb appeal
HomeLifestyle

Weekend Projects You Can Tackle to Increase Curb Appeal On Your Home

by Guest Contributor
written by Guest Contributor

Whether you’re putting your house on the market or just want to improve how the exterior of your home looks, you’re in luck. Here are a few weekend projects (both simple and affordable) that you can tackle to increase curb appeal.

Create a Welcoming Entryway

Besides your lawn, the front door to your home is one of the first things your visitors will notice before they enter. Be sure to clear away any excess debris like dust, leaves, or dead bugs from your front porch. Little things like keeping your entryway clean and void of any debris goes far, and potential sellers are sure to notice this as they walk up your steps. Aside from cleaning up your entryway, consider adding a fresh coat of paint to your door. Go for a dark red to make a bold statement or, if you want to play it safe, stick with a nice neutral.

curb appeal

Spruce Up Your Landscape

The best way to add extra aesthetic appeal to your home is to work with what you already have. According to House Method, keep your lawn well manicured by removing any dead branches, fallen leaves, and pesky weeds. Try adding some extra fertilizer to your lawn to make it more lush, give your shrubbery a quick trim, and add some extra color to your landscape with some low-maintenance plants and flowers. You could also add a small vegetable garden to increase buyer appeal.

Create a Gathering Area

Between enjoying the fresh spring air, the barbecues that come with summer, or the bonfires during the brisk fall weather, having an outdoor sitting space is a must. You can create a warm and inviting area by adding a few lawn chairs around a fire pit or investing in a full patio set. Even if you don’t have a cement slab for a designated patio area, you can easily spread some mulch or gravel in your backyard to help maintain a nice separation between the yard and your home.

curb appeal

Pressure Wash the Outside of Your House

This is one of the most noticeable ways to improve the exterior of your home. Before you start pressure washing, make sure there aren’t any cracks or holes in your home. If there are, patch them up as soon as possible—the pressure from the washer could damage your house and cause water to seep into the cracks. After pressure washing your house, consider washing your driveway and sidewalks to keep them looking brand new.

Add Accent Pieces

If you already have some solid curb appeal but want to change things up a little, consider browsing your local hardware store for a simple accent piece. This can be anything from a new light fixture for your front porch, a simple table and chairs for your back patio, or even a seasonal piece, like a wreath, to make the front of your home appear a little more festive.

curb appeal

Hide Your Outdoor AC Unit

This is one of the easiest weekend projects you can tackle to increase curb appeal. Cover up your outdoor AC unit with greenery or consider building a small fence around it. Paint the fence to match the color scheme of your house.

About the Author

Kaytie Pascale is a writer from Durham, NC. When she isn’t writing about home improvement or staying healthy, she enjoys spending time with her family and going on weekend trips.

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HomeLifestyle

4 Strategies To Help You Declutter Your Home

by Guest Contributor
written by Guest Contributor

When you have a messy and cluttered home, your space is much less functional and the piles of junk can cause you to feel stressed and anxious. In order to turn your home into the peaceful place you want it to be, getting rid of some of the clutter is a must. Here are four strategies to help you declutter your home.

1. Visualize How You Want Your Home to Look

Has your home been cluttered for so long that it’s hard to imagine it any other way? If so, it’s time to dig into your mind and visualize a clutter-free environment that’s neat and organized. This may seem like odd advice, but if you can imagine what you want the end result of your decluttering to look like, it’ll give you a goal to work toward.

declutter your home

2. Target Small Sections at a Time

One of the reasons many people put off cleaning and organizing their homes is because it can feel very overwhelming to tackle your entire house at once. According to House Method, a great solution to this problem is to declutter a little bit at a time. Start with emptying your fridge of expired food, getting rid of junk mail, and cleaning under your bathroom sink. Then move onto bigger spaces, like your living room or kitchen. Doing this will allow the process to be much less stressful and will allow you to spend more time on areas that desperately need your attention.

declutter your home

3. Donate Items You No Longer Need

For most people, clutter is simply the result of having too many things that you no longer use or need. Let’s face it—there are probably lots of toys, books, and furniture taking up room in your house that you don’t even remember buying. Instead of trying to organize everything you have, consider donating certain possessions to organizations who may have more use for them.

As one of the first steps in this process, go through every room in your house and determine what’s causing the clutter. Create three separate piles for the things you’d like to donate, keep, or throw away. If you plan to donate clothes, keep in mind that you should wash them before bringing them to a donation center.

declutter your home

4. Create a Space for Your Belongings

Aside from simply having too much stuff, clutter can also be the result of not having a designated place to put your belongings. If you have a tendency to just put items down in random places throughout your home, you’re probably dealing with lots of clutter strewn all over your house. One way to avoid this issue is to create an organizational system where each item has a set place. Use specific folders, drawers, and shelves to stay organized.

Decluttering your home is more than just making it look better. When your home is free of junk, you’ll find that your mind also feels a bit more free. By following the tips listed above, you’ll be on the right track to putting yourself and your home at ease.

About the Author

Kaytie Pascale is a writer from Durham, NC. When she isn’t writing about home improvement or staying healthy, she enjoys spending time with her family and going on weekend trips.

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DIY farmhouse decor
DIYHomeTips & Ideas

10 Perfectly Rustic DIY Farmhouse Decor Ideas

by Amber King
written by Amber King

From sitting on the porch listening to crickets in the fields to roaming free in wide open spaces, there’s a lot to love about country living. It’s a simple life spent with family and friends, and it’s no surprise the lifestyle has inspired a popular trend in home design. The farmhouse style is all about the rustic and comfortable. It’s bright spaces and repurposed materials with a whole lot of country charm and small town appeal. 

The best part is, you don’t need to live on a 50-acre horse farm to have farmhouse decor work in your home. You also don’t need a huge budget. A big part of the farmhouse style is knowing how to repurpose and recycle items to give them new life. You could go to an expensive home decor store and spend big money on new home decorations, or you can get a little dirty and try out these great DIY ideas. We’ve picked out our favorite DIY farmhouse decor projects that are easy to assemble and will make your house look like the perfect country farmhouse.

1. Rustic Wood Frame

We’re starting off the list easy with this farmhouse-friendly rustic wood frame. This piece of farmhouse decor is great because of its versatility. You can use it as a message board in the kitchen or dress it up and move it into a hallway or living room. 

You’ll need only basic woodworking skills to create this DIY frame, and then you can get creative when it comes to the color of your paint and what you want to use it for. You’ll find the easy-to-follow tutorial with Knick of Time

2. Pallet Coffee Cup Holder

This cute coffee cup rack is made from a wooden pallet you can find for free or dirt cheap at certain stores. Try asking your local hardware or garden store if they have any small pallets they’re willing to get rid of. A lot of stores end up trashing old pallets anyway, and they’re happy to let DIY homeowners dig through their trash. Even if the pallet you find is less than perfect, a little bit of damage will only add to the charm. 

We love this project because it’s so simple you can knock it out in only an hour. All you need is a pallet, some paint, and a few hooks. It’ll look perfect in your farmhouse kitchen, and it’ll keep your coffee cups from crowding your cabinets. Check out the tutorial on how to make it with One Little Bird Blog.

3. Rustic Crate Centerpiece

No farmhouse table is complete without a rustic centerpiece. This simple crate centerpiece allows you freedom to dress up your table for any season or holiday. You can fill it with flowers, candles, or anything else your creative mind can think of.

This project is also a good one for when you have scrap pieces of wood left over from a bigger project. It doesn’t take much to make this farmhouse style box, but it’ll make all the difference for your tablescape. You could even use it in the bathroom to organize toiletries or in a nursery to hold essential supplies–like diapers. Learn how to make it with French Country Cottage.

4. Wood Beam with Lace Curtain

This simple addition will turn any boring bedroom into a beautiful farmhouse escape. It might look complicated with that wood beam attached to the ceiling, but this piece of farmhouse decor is the type of project you can finish in one afternoon. 

The key to making the most of this idea is to use the right kind of materials. To follow true farmhouse fashion, look for recycled barn wood and vintage-looking lace. It might work best in an area with an alcove ceiling, but you can make this look work in almost any space. Love Grows Wild has all the details.

5. Scrap Wood Wall

This scrap wood wall is a little more involved compared to the simpler projects on this list, but with the right tools, it’s not as hard as it looks. DIY blogger Pretty Handy Girl used this idea to add interest to her bonus room/art studio. It’s the type of feature wall that is great in farmhouses and can be used to display artwork and other decor items.

To make a true scrap wall, go through your workshop for salvageable pieces of wood, and you can even ask friends and family to donate whatever scrap pieces they have lying around. There’s also the option of deconstructing a few wooden pallets. If you absolutely need to buy new wood planks, that’s fine too, because Pretty Handy Girl also has a tutorial on how to make new wood look old.

6. Farmhouse Message Board

This DIY farmhouse decor project serves the duel purpose of looking good in your home and keeping your family and household organized. Message boards are great for those busy days when you’re racing between dance rehearsals and soccer practice while trying to keep everyone fed without losing your sanity. You can have a stack of random sticky notes, or you can make your household’s communication station blend in with the rest of your farmhouse decor.

This farmhouse style message board is easy to make and will do wonders to keep your family organized. Deb from Seeking Lavender Lane used old pallet wood and chicken wire for this project. You can complete the look by finding neat vintage clips in a color that match the rest of the room’s design. Find out how to make it here.

7. Rustic Ladder Shelf

Farmhouse style decor is all about getting creative and giving old useful objects new jobs to do. This step ladder turned shelf/side table is a perfect example. You can use it in your living room to display other decorations or pictures, or it would also fit in your bedroom as a handy bedside table. 

For this project, it would be ideal if you already have an old step ladder taking up space in your garage. But if you don’t, they’re not hard to find. Keep your eyes peeled the next time you hit up a thrift store, auction, or yard sale. These things are out there, you just need to find them. And once you find the perfect ladder, all you have to do is turn the steps into shelves. Funky Junk will show you how to do it. 

8. Sliding Barn Door

Can you really call your home a farmhouse if you don’t have at least one of these sliding barn doors? They’re the epitome of farmhouse decor, and they’re a lot easier to install than you think. The best barn doors are made from old barn wood, but don’t let a lack of recycled wood planks hold you back. 

In this online tutorial, Rachel from Shades of Blue Interiors uses an old door she found on Craigslist. She sanded it down and painted to get the perfect rustic look. Her DIY sliding barn door closes off her master bathroom, but you can put yours anywhere in your house. They’re especially great for home offices and media rooms.

9. Entryway Coat Hanger

No matter how big your family is or where you live, we all share one simple problem. Entryways inevitably turn into cluttered drop zones where people shed jackets, shoes, backpacks, and whatever else they can’t bother to carry with them. You can deal with the mess, or you can craft a solution that also fits in with the rest of your farmhouse decor.

If you’re ambitious (and good with a band saw) you can make this rustic entryway coat hanger from scratch. For an easier route, you can fashion it out of something like an old barn door. This project is great because you have freedom to design everything how you want. Pick a color that you like and add as many hooks, shelves, or even cubbies as you like. Check out Liz Marie Blog for the tutorial. 

10. Paint Can Flower Holder

In true DIY farmhouse fashion, this little project is a great way to use up the “junk” you have leftover from a major remodel or painting spree. And depending on what you have to work with, it could be as easy as hanging a cast iron hook and buying some flowers. 

Even if you don’t have any cool antique-looking paint cans, that doesn’t mean they aren’t hard to find. Hit up your local antique store or even ask a hardware store what they have in terms of used paint cans. And if worst comes to worst, you can always buy them online. Knick of Time came up with the idea; check out their site for more inspiration. 

Featured image via Shades of Blue Interiors and Love Grows Wild

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