Category Archives for "Interior Decor"

What Everyone Should Know About Home Improvement

By admin | Interior Decor

Ideas and tips for helping people to successfully remodel their house to improve their home’s comfort and utility or seek a good return on their investment.

Home improvement is the process of adding to or renovating interior or exterior rooms of a home. Typically these renovations and remodeling projects are completed by professional contractors or a handyman; however, many people prefer to make these improvements themselves. These people are called do-it-yourselfers because they have enough basic skills or ability to learn the necessary skills to complete improvements themselves.

Often homeowners confuse home improvement with home repair. A home repair is a process of fixing or correcting problems within a home. Home improvement is the process of upgrading and improving things in a home. Examples include:

• Turning a basement into a family room
• Adding a sunroom
• Upgrading kitchen appliances
• Wallpapering rooms
• Installing new carpets

Budgeting: A Crucial Step to Save Money

Home improvement can be quite expensive; however, budgeting avoids wasting money on unnecessary or costly items. This is a critical step to avoid running out of money before a home remodeling project is completed. Budgeting helps keep track of where the money is spent, along with making sure the cost of all necessary items for renovation is identified. One example is purchasing or renting the required tools for installing tile or carpet.

This does not mean that purchasing the most inexpensive items is the best method for staying within budget. Budgeting is best used to ensure funds are not wasted and are available for purchasing the best items where possible. One tip is that price is not everything, quality is critical to long term happiness with a home improvement project.

Obtaining estimates from contractors for a home renovation project is a good way of preparing a budget. It is important to obtain at least three estimates from potential contractors to ensure the best deal possible. Even for someone who plans to do-it-yourself, contractor estimates provide a good idea of expected costs. Another tip is to allow an extra 15 to 20 percent of the renovation cost for unexpected expenses.

Research: Finding Ideas and Materials For A Home Remodeling

Often home improvement projects result in unhappy homeowners and confused contractors. This is best avoided by ensuring the homeowner and contractor are on the same page regarding what is expected. Tips for reducing confusion include:

• Home Remodeling Magazines – use these magazines to find ideas for designs and colors.
• Catalogs – use supplier catalogs to find the exact materials wanted for the project.
• Books – remodeling books provide ideas, designs, and colors.
• Internet – use the Internet to find a wealth of renovation ideas and materials to complete a project.

Use pictures found in these resources to give to contractors so they can view exact designs, colors, and materials desired for completion of the project.

For the person who plans to do-it-yourself, these resources are great for helping determine what is needed and finalizing project ideas.

Remodeling Tips: Additional Ideas And Recommendations For Success

The following tips help take the worry out of starting and completing a successful home improvement project.

• Computer Programs – there many reasonably priced computer programs available in stores that carry software. These programs provide three dimensional and two-dimensional views of a renovation project. Good programs include design specifics, colors, and cost estimators.
• Contractors – always verify that a potential contractor is licensed and bonded. Ask for references and to see previously completed remodeling projects. Also, do not forget to check the Better Business Bureau for complaints and lawsuits regarding a contractor.
• Do-It-Yourself Videos – home improvement DVD and online videos provide lengthy and intricate details on the way that home improvement projects should be carried out and offer the best advice regarding project completion.
• Tools – investment in tools is expensive. Limit tool purchases to those repeatedly needed for a remodeling project and used in future projects. Rent tools that are only used for specific tasks, such as cutting tiles or laying carpet.
• Best Return on Investment – although many projects add value, not all home improvement projects increase the value of a home.

Home improvement projects are sometimes challenging depending on the level of renovation being attempted. Budgeting, selecting the right contractor, purchasing the right materials, do-it-yourself remodeling, and communication are all critical to a successful remodeling. Planning and research are critical to success and long-term happiness.

Get Rid Of Clutter – Clutter Solutions

By admin | Interior Decor

Workable clutter solutions are necessities for people undertaking organizational projects. They are an effective way, not only to get rid of clutter but to manage it as well. Clutter management focuses on eliminating clutter build up in the future by implementing a clutter solution tailored to people, lifestyle, personality and space. By developing a feasible system and strengthening decision-making skills, knowing the things to keep and to let go is easy. Organizing home, home office and office is feasible with a carefully thought of clutter system.

Home Clutter Solutions

Organizing home space goes beyond the usual colorful containers, posh label stickers and well put together shelving units. An individual’s home can have all the storage space in every nook and cranny of the house but can still end up with a cluttered space. An effective clutter solution is a clutter system. Here are a few clutter control tips to create a clutter system from. 

1.    Go room-by-room and section-by-section within a room, to find items that can be donated or sold.

2.    See if a yard sale or garage sale can be held. 

3.    Look in different sections and areas of the home to see if anything can be stored and organized more efficiently. For ideas, scan a home organization store.

4.    Find someone (or a group of people) to help cut clutter. Try to make it fun or entertaining — it does not have to be labeled as work. Just supply your friends with beverages, music, music, and socially productive time. Making an event out of tidying will make it more enjoyable and make the time go quicker. Just return the favor later.

5.    Organize piles into keep, throw and recycle. You can always separate the keep pile at a later date into two separate piles labeled keep and store, but for the moment let’s keep it simple. If you are roping in friends to help, be sure that they know exactly what can go and what can stay.

6.    Once everything is clear of clutter, try to organize things back into your home the way you want them to stay. For example, shoes should all be kept together so why not invest in a rack to go at the bottom of your wardrobe? Not only will it keep them nicely together but it will also make it easier to pick them out when you come to wear them. There are many different organizing tools that you can use for practically anything from your clothes to your recycling. They are a worthwhile investment if they mean that the clutter wont pile up again!

7.    Finally, make sure that the house doesn’t end up full of clutter again because of old habits. Create new routines and stick to them. For example, by immediately cleaning up after yourself, you can eliminate most of the clutter from your daily life. In addition, try to do a little bit of picking up every day, so that that small piles of clutter don’t become a huge daunting disaster of clutter. It’s much easier to stick to keeping up with clutter when routines are maintained and better habits are formed.

Some houses, however, are beyond help. This is where the professional’s home organizers come in. In this scenario, instead of asking friends and family to help eliminate clutter in the home, a professional organizer with help instead. They can teach how to cut the clutter and then teach home organization skills to keep it that way. If the correct home organizing skills are learned, then having a professional organizer help could be a worthwhile investment.

Clutter Solutions for Office and Home Office

Productivity, whether in a home office setting or traditional office setting, can be largely affected by the condition of the workspace. Get rid of clutter and avoid future clutter build-up by following some of these clutter-busting tips.

•    A well set-up filing system and strategy of effectively handling paperwork and deadlines can spell the difference between cluttered and uncluttered.

•    Stock up on boxes, labels and folders. Invest on a filing cabinet.

•    For home office, designate a specific work area. By doing so, important office items are contained in just one location.

•    Choose a work table with lots of drawers to put papers, documents and other paper supplies in. This avoids clutter build upon a work table.

•    Items that should just be on the work desk are those that are used on a daily basis. Items not frequently used should be in designated storage bins.

Professional Clutter Organizer

Some people opt for hiring a Professional Organizer instead of doing the dirty work themselves. This is an alternative clutter solution for people who have neither the time nor the energy to do the de-cluttering. Professional organizers specialize in de-cluttering and establishing a clutter-free system.

When implementing a clutter solution, it is important to not just focus on the short term way of getting rid of clutter, but it is also important to come up with strategies to prevent clutter in the future. For more clutter solutions in de-cluttering specific areas in the house, visit Good Housekeeping 30-minute Clutter Solution.

Decorating A Home Office

By admin | Interior Decor

Learn ways to increase the functionality and aesthetic quality of your home office. Find the perfect home office design for your needs.

Home offices are becoming more important in today’s homes. Whether the home office is used for organizing family finances, homework, or if it serves as an actual work station for a family member, it’s become less a choice and more of a necessity.

Use the following tips to create a personalized workspace that suits everyone in the family’s needs.

Function

The function seems like an obvious consideration when designing and styling a home office but many people just throw a desk in a room and forget what the room will actually be used for. Take the time to think about how the room will be used, what accessories are needed, is their internet or a phone connection will file storage be necessary. Look at all regular and semi-regular uses of the home office before purchasing and organizing furniture.

Multiple Users and Uses

This plays into the function a little bit but before decorating consider who will be using the home office and how it will be used. If there are a couple of children that will be using it for homework then each should have their own work station. If an adult will also be using the area it’s probably not a bad idea for an additional work station to be added. Consider a cluster of desks in the middle of the room with shared office equipment in the middle. This creates some family bonding and gives everyone their own space.

Color

One of the first considerations when decorating any room is color. Learn how to create a mood with color and use this knowledge to enhance the home office workspace.

Furniture

When buying furniture for your home office, spend a little extra to get quality furniture that will last a long time and withstand any hardships it encounters. Home offices were once considered an afterthought but as they’ve gained prominence the furniture that graces them has become more important.

Lighting

Lighting is one area of interior decorating that tends to get overlooked or isn’t well thought out. But a home office needs good lighting for obvious reasons. If possible select a room with plenty of ambient light and then add task lighting where necessary. A standard overhead light in a small bedroom just doesn’t suffice and can cause eye strain. Likewise, bulbs that are too harsh and bright can cause eye strain so use lights specifically designed for desks and task lighting.

In addition to the above tips for creating a perfect home office make sure you eliminate any distractions that will draw people away from their work but add the little amenities that will make the room more enjoyable.

Feng Shui Tips On The Home Office Location

•    Ideally, a home workspace should be located on the south-east, north-west, north, or north-east of the house.

•    It is better to situate the home office in a separate area, which is to be used for work only. This will separate home energy from the energy of the business and will reduce the confusion the business energy may bring into the house.

•    If a business meeting is held in a home office, it is better if the working space has a separate entrance. The shorter is the way to the home office through the house, the better.

A Feng Shui Premise for the Home Work Space

•    The worst locations for the workspace are those in the center of the house, in the bedroom, or under a stairway.

•    A home office area should be well ventilated and lighted. It is good to have a window in the office room. It stimulates the activity of positive energy and creates a working atmosphere in the room.

•    A premise with a low ceiling is not the best option: it provides too little space for the business potential to develop and grow up.

Home Office Furniture for Attracting Good Feng Shui Energy

Since office furniture has many straight lines and sharp corners, it naturally activates the productive home office energy. Computers, phones, and other office equipment, also naturally stimulate the inflow of active chi.

•    If some used furniture is bought for the home office, make sure that the previous owner was successful in his or her business. Otherwise, there are high chances that the new owner will inherit the problems and failures of the previous one. The ideal variant is to buy new furniture for it to bring fresh and active energy into the workspace.

•    The best colors for the home office furniture, including the office desk, are dark or bright tones, like black and dark red. They stimulate and help to concentrate.

•    Shelves are better to be closed because the many things, that often fill them, may distract from work.

In general, home office design can greatly improve the owner’s productivity, business success, and attract wealth and prosperity. Feng Shui recommends home office areas to be separated from the rest of the house. The best option would be a separate light room with a window. The home office furniture is better to be new, and not too large.

Bathroom Ideas For Versatile Design

By admin | Interior Decor

The guest bathroom should be a welcoming and comfortable place for guests to relax. Designing a bathroom that fits in with the home and with guests’ needs is the key.

For homeowners that entertain a lot or host out of town guests on a regular basis, having a designated guest bathroom can help make everyone feel more at home. Design a bathroom for guests that not only matches the home’s décor, but that allows a guest to temporarily personalize the space while they are there.

Keep Materials Easy To Clean

While it can be tempting to create a bathroom for guests that is beautiful and impressive, remember that guests may not always treat it the way that the homeowner will. For this reason, avoid using natural stone tiles or countertops in the guest bathroom. Toothpaste left sitting on a marble vanity top will etch the stone, while temporary hair color being rinsed in the shower may stain; don’t leave the guest feeling uncomfortable about making a mark in the room.

Porcelain tiles, ceramic tiles and glass tiles can all be used to create a beautiful, low maintenance bathroom design. This can allow a guest to relax and not have to worry about trying in vain to clean up after themselves when temporary hair dye or makeup after a party has stained the room.

Provide Bathroom Storage

Allow a guest room to unpack toiletries and make herself at home by providing ample storage space. This does not necessarily mean including a large vanity or linen tower; niches inside the shower walls for shampoo bottles, hotel shelves full of towels and a glass shelf installed above the sink and below the mirror can allow a guest the space to unpack and relax without cluttering up the room.

Design A Bathroom With Universal Design

Universal design is the concept of creating a space that can be used by as many people as possible. Keep toilet and sink heights at “comfort” or “universal” height; slightly higher than traditional to assist those who may have difficulty bending over.

Install faucets with lever handles, rather than cross handles, as a lever handle does not need to be griped to be turned on. Small children and the elderly, as well as those users with dirty hands, will have an easier time moving a lever handle to start the water running, than a knob they will have to grip.

Keep shower thresholds and curbs to the minimum height possible, and install a grab bar in the shower for those who may need assistance climbing in and out. Providing a non-skid surface for the shower and bathroom floor will also be beneficial to guests.

Keep Colors Light, Bright And Welcoming

Keep the color pallet of the guest bathroom in line with the rest of the home, but be sure to choose colors that are light or bright in color. This may mean toning down vivid colors or brightening up dark ones that are used in the rest of the house.

The guest bathroom should feel welcoming, so avoid stark whites or overly bright and trendy colors. Warm colors and tones work well in guest bathrooms, as they tend to visually contract when viewed, providing a cozy feel.

If the guest bathroom will be used full time by others in the home on a full time basis, then tailor it to the needs of the most frequent user, and add accommodations for the guest such as extra shelving and universal design elements. Designing a bathroom for guests does not have to mean designing a bathroom that would not fit in with the house; keep the style cohesive with the rest of the home while keeping the guests needs and comfort level in the details.

Design a guest bathroom that is welcoming, comfortable and easy to care for today and enjoy the company of guests and their well being for years to come.