2015

Tips For Overcoming Dim Room Lighting With Mirror Placement

Although mirrors typically just show you a normal reflection, when light is directed at a mirror, the effect is different. Understanding how that energy responds when directed at a mirror is the first step to helping you battle dark, dim or poorly lit rooms in your house. Here are some tips to help you optimize your mirror placement and make light work for you. How Can Mirrors Help With Poor Lighting?

A Guide To Stair Railing Kits

If you have a walkway without a stair railing, this can present some dangers to everyone on your property. Thankfully, stair railing kits are available to make installing a railing very straightforward. Here's what you need to know about stair railing kits.  Benefits of Installing a Stair Railing There are a few benefits to adding a stair railing to an existing building. First of all, it provides a more accessible walkway to people of all ages, making the building more appealing.

Stamped Concrete: Affordable Elegance

You can make your landscaping efforts look luxurious and elegant without having to pay a fortune if you choose to use stamped concrete for your driveway, patio, and other paved areas. Your friends and neighbors will think you had stone or even marble pavers installed when, in fact, your surface is trusty and dependable concrete.   Application Having stamped concrete installed is much easier than installing other decorative materials. The technicians will mix and pour the concrete as usual but then stamp it with a design of your choice.

Three Solutions To Give Your Home A Green Fence For Added Privacy And Security

If you want to have more privacy and security for your home, a fence can be a good solution. The only problem is that many fence designs offer a limited amount of privacy. If you want more, you can add plants and green screens to give your home more privacy. Here are some ways that you can give your home the privacy and security that you want with a green fence:

Important Reasons to Consider Installing Window Blinds

Are you getting your home ready for fall and winter? Are you trying to decide what improvements and renovations to make? Window blinds are effective on more than just warm days; here are some reasons you should consider having them installed before cold weather sets in: Protection from sunlight: If you relied on leafy trees to block out the harmful sun during the summer, their bare limbs could now allow direct sunlight to stream in through your windows.

3 Things To Consider When Choosing A Hot Water Tank For Your Tiny House

Many Americans who are interested in reducing their carbon footprint are beginning to build tiny houses. These small spaces meet basic housing needs while still offering some of the perks that larger homes can provide. Access to a hot shower is one of those perks, as long as you choose the right hot water tank to include in your tiny house. Here are three things you should consider when selecting the right hot water tank for your own tiny house in the future.

Carpet Cleaning Misconceptions Homeowner's Tend To Have

Carpet provides a home with a comfortable feel that is unmatched by other floor coverings. However, unlike solid surfaces of vinyl or wood, carpet is much harder to clean and keep sanitary. Constant vacuuming, immediate attention to spills, and regular professional cleanings should be part of your carpet-care regimen as a homeowner. However, many homeowners make some pretty big mistakes when it comes to cleaning their carpet, and the mistakes that they tend to make usually come from some fairly big misconceptions.

Three Renewable Energy Solutions For Your Home With Solar Water Heaters

With energy costs consistently on the rise, many homeowners are looking for ways to make their homes more energy efficient. If you want to reduce your energy costs, renewable energy can be a great option. Solar energy is a great option, but PV solar panels can be costly to have installed on your home. An alternative is a solar water heater to provide your home with heating and hot water. Here are some of the solar collectors that you can have installed for your water heater:

Easy Tips For First Time Homebuyers With Old Houses When High Energy Bills Aren't Charming

You have bought your first house that is older and needs updating, and the heating and cooling bills have been costing you a fortune. You don't want to be spending a lot of money to heat or cool the living space when you just spent a lot of money buying the house. What do you do? There are a few affordable things you can do that will make a huge difference when it comes to reducing energy consumption throughout your home.

Dog Owners: 3 Tips to Save Your Patio Screen Door

If you have a patio screen door, you probably love being able to enjoy the outdoor air without having to worry about bugs or lawn debris. However, your pet might like your screen door a little too much. To help protect your patio screen door from dog scratches, follow these three tips. 1. Ask for a Pet-Resistant Screen Instead of opting for regular mesh for your screen door, consider asking for a pet-resistant screen instead.

Cool Outdoor Summer Living

Getting outdoors during the summer months is a priority for many homeowners. While the weather is temperate in some parts of the US, it can get pretty toasty in others. This is why it is important to keep cool while enjoying the outdoors. Spending time on a patio is a great way to be outside and enjoy the summer weather. Patios are a great compromise between the indoors and outdoors. There are many features that can be added to a patio that can help keep the area cool without sacrificing the feel of being outdoors:

Choosing The Right Sliding Glass Door Drapery Treatment For Your Active Family's Home

If your family spends a lot of time outside in your backyard, then you need to purchase an appropriate drapery treatment for your home's sliding glass door. Unlike other windows in your home, your sliding glass door's drapery will be much more prone to soiling and wear issues because your family and pets will be traveling through the area on a daily basis. You want to purchase a curtain that resists soiling and wear, is easy to clean at home, and will provide safety by limiting the view through the large pane of glass.

Moving Your Electronics

If you are going to be moving to a new home in the near future, and you have a lot of electronic equipment you will be bringing along, care should be taken to ensure nothing is broken during the ride. Since electronic equipment can be costly to replace, taking the time to pack it properly is important so it arrives safely. Here are some tips you can use to make sure your electronics arrive as they did when you packed them.

4 Spring Cleaning Tips to Reduce Bugs in Your Yard

When spring arrives, your cleaning should not be limited to the interior of your home. It should also extend to your yard. Tidying up your yard in the spring can help prevent an infestation of bugs in your home throughout the rest of the year.  Seal Your Home Bugs find their way into your home through various entry points. Entry points can include the space under your doors or cracks in the foundation.

3 Signs That Your Basement Isn't Properly Waterproofed

Basements can be extremely handy, and those that are properly built and waterproofed can be well-protected against the elements. However, many basements aren't properly waterproofed, which can lead to major problems. A good basement waterproofing company can help you, but you'll need to know about the problem first. Luckily, if you look for these three signs, you should be able to discover your waterproofing problem before it gets out of control.

2 Ways To Keep Your Home Organized

It's hard to believe that Christmas happened almost three months ago and that spring is right around the corner. Kids will be home from school soon and your life will more than likely become very busy. If you've decided to tackle the job of organizing your home before school is out, here are some good tips on getting the job done easily. Get Rid Of Stuff One of the easiest ways your home can become unorganized is simply having too much clutter!

Your Guide To Acid Staining

Your concrete floors may be easy to take care of, but not so easy on the eyes. The dull gray color of concrete can cause people to overlook this underrated building material. Luckily, there are many new ways such as staining that are designed to improve the color and finish of this inexpensive flooring. If you're interested in upgrading your concrete, check out this guide to acid staining. What is acid stain?

Tips To Help Your Aquarium Avoid Problems

A fish tank can be an excellent way of adding style and an element of serenity to your home or office. However, aquariums can be notoriously difficult to maintain, and if not done correctly, it can lead to people suffering large numbers of fish deaths. Sadly, this is particularly problematic for new aquarium owners, but there are a couple of simple tips to help you avoid some routine problems with these systems.

Flower Delivery: What Questions To Ask?

You want to have flowers delivered to someone and you aren't sure which flower shop to use, but they are all the same right? No, all flower delivery service providers aren't the same and you want to make sure you choose a company you can count on. You want to talk directly with the company that is delivering the flowers, and not with an outsourced management company that sends the order to one of their subsidiaries.

3 Tips For Sewing Your First Article Of Clothing

If you are looking for a new hobby to try, then sewing is an excellent one. Sewing is an incredible skill that you will be able to use to make several different items. If you would like to learn to sew a simple article of clothing, then you should definitely give it a try. This article will discuss 3 tips for sewing your first article of clothing.  Use A Simple Pattern

Learn How To Use Your Dishwasher Properly

A dishwasher can make washing your dishes much easier than doing them by hand. The machine gets the water to a high enough temperature that germs and bacteria are killed during the wash cycle. There are many people who have no idea how to load a dishwasher properly though. It is important to take the time to make sure that you use your dishwasher the right away, if you want your dishes to come out as clean as they can possibly be.

Mixing And Matching Flooring Options Helps Enhance Your Home's Decor

Having new hardwood flooring or carpeting installed in your home creates a fresh palette for your design ideas. If you've been thinking about taking it one step further, consider a multifaceted flooring option. Layering and incorporating different flooring types helps you create a diverse look throughout your home. When you stick with similar color tones, your room goes one step above ordinary and turns into a design showcase. Choose any of these flooring types to create a flowing look throughout each room.

Mechanical Versus Computerized: Which Sewing Machine Is Best For You?

Are you ready to purchase a new sewing machine but feel overwhelmed by the different types of sewing machines on the market today? Being realistic about your budget and your experience as a seamstress will help you make the best choice. Taking an honest look at the type of sewing you do is a good place to start. You should also consider the types of sewing you plan to do in the future and buy a machine that will best accommodate your growing needs as a seamstress.