Tag Archives: home

Jun23

How to Easily Brighten Up Your Home On a Budget

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How to Easily Brighten Up Your Home On a Budget

If your home is looking a little dull, what are some of the things you can do to brighten it up without spending much? If you want to get creative with your living space but don’t have a huge budget, there are plenty of ways that you can change the look and feel of your house without breaking the bank. Here are a few suggestions for easy ways to brighten up your home on a budget:

Paint the Walls:

A fresh coat of paint can significantly brighten up space and, when on a budget, you don’t have to work on the entire house but can paint one or two walls in each room. Make sure to choose bright colors that coordinate well with your decor. For a more professional outcome, consult interior painting companies. You’ll make fewer mistakes and end up with satisfactory results. For affordable color schemes, try pastels or choose a single color for the whole space.

Add Plants or Flowers:

Plants add life to any setting and are an affordable option when livening up space. You can also use plants and flowers to hide out-of-place furniture in your living room, hallway, or kitchen. Choose vibrant flowers that will make the space feel fresh, new, and elegant. Flowers and plants also make a room look expensive without spending a fortune. If you have some extra time, try planting some vegetables in containers for decoration inside the house. For the best results, place the plants at strategic locations near the windows and the front door to give your home a more natural look.

Buy New Curtains or Rugs:

One of the easiest ways to change a room is by replacing the curtains with new lighter or brighter ones. For some inspiration, you could start by browsing the selection with a company like Regency Knights (or a similar business in your local area). From sheer and gauzy curtains to thick panels in a variety of shades, you will be sure to find options that match your home’s aesthetic. You will be amazed at the difference it makes! Switching your rugs up is another good option too. If you can’t replace all of the curtains or rugs in your house, start with the ones in the living room, then move on to other rooms such as bedrooms and the kitchen. The most used rooms should come first.

White and Off-White Décor:

Just about any color scheme looks good with white or off-white décor, so it’s a great way to create a new look without spending much money. To get the most out of your investment, buy furniture, wallpaper, and artwork in coordinating but bright colors. This will make your home feel more spacious and radiant.

Lighting:

Think about the colors of light bulbs you use. Warm-colored light will create a cozy atmosphere that can make any room feel more inviting. This type of lighting is better in rooms for relaxation like the living room and bedroom. Brighter white lighting is good for rooms with high activity like the kitchen. You may also want to consider adding decorative lighting like table lamps or wall sconces for an even softer glow.

Refresh Carpets:

Vacuum and shampoo carpets, then add a deodorizer to keep smells at bay and refresh the color so they don’t look dull. If you’ve had the carpets for a while, replacing them eventually would be a worthwhile investment.

As you will realize, these suggestions don’t require much money and most of them are easy DIY projects – no local professional required!

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Jun19

Summer Check List For Your Home

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Summer Check List For Your Home

Whether for yourself or your home a makeover is always a good idea! There is no need to overspend to refresh your home as the weather changes. All you need are a few simple but effective solutions to suffice so let’s discuss further with a summer check list for your house:

First Things First:

There is literally nothing worse than returning home from work on a hot day to an equally hot house. If you haven’t already, it is so crucial to get your air conditioning checked by a professional for the continued comfort of yourself, family, and pets. Don’t forget to get your refrigerator repaired if it is on the fritz by a local professional or appliance repair Winnipeg to keep your ice cream and popsicles from melting! Summer party foul.

In the same breath, it is always a good idea to tend to any maintenance needs especially when summer is on the horizon! Who wants to be stuck dealing with those problems when you could be having fun in the sun? If you are noticing a minor water leak, for example, it is only going to get worse as it progresses. A team like those at Endpoint Plumbing (Or a similar company in your local area) can make repairs to get everything back in working order. Be sure to read reviews carefully and seek recommendations from friends and family if you need any additional work done on your home.

Refresh Your Fabrics:

During the warm weather, it is all about breezy flowy fabrics both in fashion and in your home. Ditch the heavy drapes on your windows with gauzy curtains and pack up your throw blankets and plush rugs for the fall. Less is more when it comes to summer home decor and just the sight of heavy fabrics on a hot day can feel suffocating! Opt for bright throw pillows, thin and colorful traditional rugs, and billowy curtains for a cool and comfy atmosphere.

Change Up The Color Palette:

Nothing looks more chic in the summertime than neutral colors like white or beige paired with bold pops of color. Of course, the same goes for fashion too! Don’t bother making over your entire home, just focus on improving the room you will spend the most time in. The living room is an excellent option. Could you imagine relaxing on a beautiful beige canvas recliner with pleasing pops of orange or turquoise scattered throughout the room? That sounds heavenly to me!

Plants & Landscaping:

If you have a green thumb, a potted plant display in your house could make a unique statement as well as improve your air quality. No worries if you can’t even keep a cactus alive – that’s what wildflower bouquets from the farmers market on your kitchen and coffee tables are for! Flowers go a long way on both the interior and exterior of your house and the beautiful blooms are sure to make your family and neighbors smile. Start a gardening club with your friends and have fun getting your hands dirty.

Check, check, and double check. Your home is now perfectly summer ready!

Jun10

Handy Skills In Life We Really Oughta Know!

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Handy Skills In Life We Really Oughta Know!

There are a lot of skills in life our parents had in spades, but we don’t have in the slightest! There are many essential skills that every human should have because these days there is a higher likelihood of emergencies in the home and outside than our parents ever had to contend with! So, here are a few things that everybody should know:

How to Turn Off the Water:

A burst pipe in your property is one of the worst things that can happen. You may be living in a rental or your own home, but would you know what to do if there was flooding? The first thing to do is to turn off the water at the mains!

Change a Tire:

If you are in the middle of nowhere and get a flat while on a trip, you need to learn how to change a tire. Changing a tire is not difficult, and can only take a couple of minutes. It’s also worth knowing how to jump-start a car.

Know How to Manage Your Personal Finances:

Financial management is something that a lot of people lack, but learning how to create a budget, saving money, and learning to invest in the right things in life will reap dividends in the long run. So many people are in debt these days, and learning how to manage your finances properly can make a significant difference to your quality of life.

Know How to Read a Map:

These days, we rely so much on Google Maps that if we were without our phones, we would be lost, literally and figuratively! If you ever find yourself lost and your GPS fails on you, do you know how to find the north star and which way is east or west?

Know the Basics of Repairing a Car:

This can save us a lot of money over time! Learning how to fix the basics in our car and keeping it maintained by topping up the oil and the water can make our car go much longer before it needs to head to the repair shop.

Know How to Sew:

Skills like sewing a button onto a coat is going to be a lifesaver, especially as it’s something that happens all too regularly. The basic sewing skills are easy enough to pick up but there are plenty of other benefits to sewing, such as teaching focus and building your confidence.

Knowing How to Be in Your Own Company:

We all rely on the internet and social media to be our friends, but if we took the opportunity to learn to thrive in our own company we would learn so much about ourselves. We shouldn’t rely on others to entertain ourselves. When we start to look after ourselves we display signs of resilience.

While you may be able to look after your health well enough how many of these do you really know how to do? No better time than the present to learn!

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Jun10

5 Turn-Offs To Watch Out For When Buying A House

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5 Turn-Offs To Watch Out For When Buying A House

Buying a home is a milestone everyone hopes to achieve in their lives. Identifying and purchasing the house can be very difficult and having a visual of your perfect house will give you a good starting point during your search. If you choose to use an agent, you will probably have an easier time presenting your expectations to the agent and only waiting for a call for a house viewing. Hiring a realtor can save you a lot of time and energy so it’s something worth looking into. To find one, simply enter a search for “tampa realtor” or your local area to help make this process easier.

Searching the house by yourself can be pretty cumbersome. The research, house visits, and lengthy processes can take a toll on you; it can lead you to settle for much less than you deserve. It is essential to be adept at critical warning signs that might help you assess the house’s condition so there are no surprises when you move in:

A Rugged Backyard and Garage:

If you are fortunate enough to get a house with a vast backyard and a garage, you need to check out their condition. See if you can put any additional structures for your use within the compound. If you prefer having additional storage or relaxing places, you should analyze and consult the experts on sheds near me to help you decide how you can set up your backyard. A beautiful shed will enhance the quality and appearance of your backyard.

The garage should also be in good condition to ensure your safety and security. Investigate the locks and doors to make sure everything is in working order.

Cramped Attic:

Most attics are usually rustic and quite cramped. Check out the walls and floors to figure out how you can utilize them in your home. There is so much potential in having a spacious attic and it could become the ultimate hang out in your new home! These tips for buying a home include thinking long term and a renovated attic would be a great upgrade as you build your future in your new place. It could serve as an office if you have the opportunity to work from home or even a bedroom to welcome a new addition.

Poor Quality on The Walls and Floors:

The walls and floors of a house will give you a heads up on the house’s condition; it is easy to distinguish a well-maintained house from a poorly maintained house from the walls. Peeled-off wall color or mold is usually not a good sign.

However much the owner may want to mask the actual condition through painting and varnishing, the cracks will always give away the actual house status. If you are unsure of how to identify faults in a house, bring along an expert who will point out any issues.

Leaking Roof:

The roof is usually among the forgotten elements in a house visit. You will most likely concentrate on the interior rather than the exterior but the roofing condition can come back to bite you if you are not keen on them. Analyze if the roof will need any repair or replacement lest you encounter leaking roofs after you have moved in.

Unserviced Mechanical and Electrical Systems:

A house typically runs on various mechanical and electrical systems. The plumbing system of the house needs a thorough inspection by a plumber. A flawed plumbing system discovered after moving in will ruin the new home excitement really quickly! You should also check on the electrical wiring and connections before you make your decision.

All of these check ups should be done by trusted experts to ensure that your home functions properly. Aardvark Electric – electrical installation has a great team of professionals to get the job done safely. It can be dangerous for yourself and your wallet to do anything in terms of plumbing or electric that you aren’t fully qualified for.

Finding a perfect house is a near-impossible job. There are some acceptable faults but having these five elements is a definite turn-off for the house and you shouldn’t settle.

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Jun2

Tips For Dealing With Seasonal Allergies

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Tips For Dealing With Seasonal Allergies

Seasonal allergies aren’t fun and when they roll around, it can feel frustrating to have to deal with them. They can often stop you from enjoying the warm weather, particularly when the pollen count is high. With that being said, it’s worth considering some extra advice when it comes to coping with seasonal allergies. Read on to find out more:

Keep The Home Clean:

Just like dust, pollen gets everywhere so it’s important that you’re staying on top of cleaning house. Try to maintain clean surfaces and look out for cleaning products that are going to help tackle pollen and any residue that often lingers around in the air and on surfaces from the outside world. Even though it gets hot, try to keep windows closed when you can or open them just slightly.

By having your home nice and clean on a regular basis, you’re more likely to reduce the amount of pollen that comes inside and have your own space that is safe for your allergies. The more you can be proactive with your cleaning, the better. There’s a helpful guide on how to beat spring allergies with carpet cleaning that’s worth looking at.

Avoid Peak Allergy Days:

Peak allergy days are often a lot to handle and so many will stay indoors. This is likely to be necessary for some but it’s advisable to keep up to date with the pollen count and see just how likely it is that you’ll experience an aggressive allergy reaction. If you have to go out, then try to avoid any areas where there will be lots of pollen in the air, ideally staying in a city environment rather than out in the countryside. It’s a frustration, but one that will certainly help you deal with your allergies by picking and choosing where you go when you’re out.

Have Medication On Hand:

Medication on hand is extremely important because you never know when an allergy reaction might occur and how bad it will get. Making sure that you have some medication on hand or in your home during these peak periods is essential and will help you to reduce the impact on your health and overall productivity throughout the day. There’s a lot on the market when it comes to medication, so do your research and of course, inquire with your doctor to make sure it’s okay for you to take.

Remove Outdoor Clothing When You Get Indoors:

Outdoor clothing of any kind should all be removed when you get into your home. Put the clothes in the wash immediately and you will minimize the spread of pollen throughout the home as a result. It’s all helpful in reducing the likelihood of an allergy reaction.

These tips should, hopefully, help you cope well with seasonal allergies regardless of how high that pollen count rises!

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May20

How To Discourage Rodent Pests In Your Home

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How To Discourage Rodent Pests In Your Home

Prevention is always better than the cure. Once rodents like mice or rats have moved into your home, it can be very difficult to get rid of them. Instead, if you can, try to discourage them from moving in in the first place. Preventing rodents from coming in is a better option for many reasons, especially if you’re worried about finding humane traps or want to avoid using poisons. Learn more about why rat poison shouldn’t be used here. And learn more about preventative tips here:

Use Caulk And Steel Wool To Seal Up The House:

The best way to prevent mice or rats from moving in is to make sure that there is nowhere for them to get in. Mice can get into very small gaps. In fact, they can squeeze through a hole about the size of a dime. Even if a hole doesn’t start out large enough for them to get in, rodents will just gnaw at the opening to make it bigger until they get through it. Rats in particular can chew through just about anything.

Luckily, they can’t chew through caulk and steel wool. Pay particularly close attention to where any pipes enter the building and along your basement foundations, as this is often where gaps form. Make sure you replace any weather stripping and screen any vents and the openings of the chimney.

Prune Shrubbery Away From The House:

Shrubbery and any branches that reach the house are an open invitation to mice and other pests to come on in. Cut off their route inside by cutting back any shrubbery that gets too close to the house. Make sure that things like stacks of firewood are kept at least twenty feet from the house. Mice love to nest in these piles and could be encouraged inside if the logs are against the house.

Take Away Their Food Supply:

When the weather turns cold, mice will look for warmth and something to eat. A kitchen that is messy and full of crumbs and open packets is a mouse’s dream. Keep your kitchen shelves, cabinets, and countertops clean. Store any unsealed food in airtight containers to limit access. If you have a pet, make sure you don’t leave out food in a bowl all day long, as this will potentially attract rodents looking for something to eat. Mice also eat paper and cardboard, so keep on top of getting the recycling out of the kitchen.

Seal The Bin:

Mice are attracted to trash cans. To make your bin mouse-proof, choose a bin with an airtight lid and keep it closed. You can use rubber cords to secure a loose lid.

Try Essential Oils:

Homemade remedies are not usually very effective for getting rid of rodents, but you can try them to discourage them. Some people think that the smell of peppermint and clove oil repels mice. Soak some cotton balls in these essential oils and shove them into areas that commonly attract mice, like cabinets, drawers, and entry points. It can’t hurt to try.

Better protect your family and home from pests with these preventative tips!

Featured Image By: Unsplash

May7

Instant Transformations To Any Room

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Instant Transformations To Any Room

The COVID-19 pandemic has been long and incredibly difficult and I am sure we are all SO sick of our houses by now! If this sounds like you, then it’s time to shake things up in your home to get it feeling like new again so you can better enjoy your space. From big projects to small, the following suggestions will add an instant transformation to any room. Let’s get started:

Update Your Flooring:

Threadbare carpets and old linoleum flooring that never looks clean no matter how many times you Swiffer have got to go. Think modern and sleek with interesting tile floors in the kitchen or bathroom while opting for grander options in the living room like oak hardwood floors. Cozy up the space with plush rugs and blankets for the perfect rustic chic motif. Sometimes, the best place to start when transforming a room is from the ground up!

Let The Light In:

If a lack of sunlight in your home office is making it feel like five PM at one in the afternoon, then your productivity is sure to suffer. How about having some large windows installed? Not only will the natural lighting instantly transform the space but it will make your home office the best in the business – especially if you were working in a cubicle pre-pandemic! The sunlight pouring in will eliminate cozy home office vibes to a more work appropriate space and it might just be the cure for that mid afternoon slump.

Make A Statement:

A surefire way to transform any space is with a new piece of statement furniture. A great place to start would be with the couch because I am sure we can all agree that it has gotten an ample amount of use in the past year and change! Shop for sales or explore secondhand stores to find that special piece that you didn’t know you needed. If your home is feeling blah but you can’t pinpoint why, a few new pieces of furniture should quickly solve that problem.

Clear Some Space:

The new hobbies we began during the pandemic deserve an appropriate space to be practiced in. Once you are done with an overall decluttering of your home, target a specific area to turn into your new painting studio or writing nook. Having a special space to continue perfecting your new craft will help shake the boredom blues and will, surely, become your favorite place in the house because it is just for you. Home gyms or game rooms are another good option to turn a space into something brand new.

We all deserve a little home makeover after living through a global pandemic and the ideas above will instantly transform any space!

May7

Moving House? Location Is Everything

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Moving House? Location Is Everything

While some people seek out locations to move house that are off the beaten path, for the most part, a more convenient location tends to be a huge factor when deciding to move. It’s important to think about how far you are willing to drive to get from point A to point B and to consider the following when determining if a potential home’s location is right for you:

In Case Of Emergency:

Being within close proximity of adequate medical care should be a high priority in case of a health emergency. You will want your new home to be nearby to a hospital that takes your insurance and that can easily be accessed by an ambulance. For that reason, a house on a street that easily gets backed up with traffic is not ideal.

Don’t forget to consider home emergencies, as well. Is there going to be an emergency locksmith handy in case you lose your keys? How about a highly rated local plumber if one of your pipes burst? Do your research about the professionals in the area you might be moving into to make sure they can quickly be available if need be.

Consider Your Commute:

The location of a potential home should never make your drive to work less convenient for you. Find out what your new route to work would be and if the drive doesn’t feel doable, especially during peak traffic times, then it might not be for you. Remember, you will be stuck with that commute until you move again.

Access To Education:

Are there good local schools around the home you are considering if you have children or are planning to? Or are you thinking about going back to school? Driving an hour plus to the closest college can instantly put a damper on a potential home. Think about your future goals and plans and ask yourself if the home’s location can accommodate them.

Highways/Shopping Centers:

Is the home you are looking at close to local shopping centers for groceries, clothing, home maintenance, etc.? If not, is it in close proximity to a highway that can get you to the nearest stores quickly? I don’t know about you, but I wouldn’t want to drive a half hour every time I had to go grocery shopping!

“Location is everything” is an often heard phrase when it comes to moving house and it usually rings pretty true. Unless you don’t mind more driving, that is!

Apr24

Feeling Blah

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Feeling Blah

Hello! Man, I don’t know about you guys but it has been a week for Lil Red. My lil niece was under the weather which resulted in me getting sick and to make matters worse, it was that time of the month on top of it! It has been a very stressful time in my life recently and I think that made whatever little bug I got from my niece even more debilitating because I was in a bad way. Due to all of the COVID safety precautions, I have not been sick in a really long time so this bout with the flu completely knocked me off my feet.

Being sick is always a bummer and, unfortunately, Johnny and I experienced another bummer to add to the overall blah feeling. We had viewed and applied for a home to rent and it was absolutely perfect. It was an ideal size, wonderful location, and a very cute little neighborhood. I felt so good about the impression that we made and was pretty confident that we would get approved to move in. I checked Trulia religiously after we applied and was crushed when I saw that it had been taken off of the market without us being contacted.

At the end of the day, not getting the house wasn’t a huge deal but it was definitely disappointing. It was just so nice and Johnny and I both loved it. Because of that and feeling confident about the possibility of moving in, I think I got a bit ahead of myself so seeing the house being taken off of the market felt like an even bigger blow. It also made me realize that finding a house to rent might be a lot harder than I had originally bargained for which sucks because I would really like to move out of the apartment!

Needless to say, it has been a blah time in Lil Red’s world but I think things will start turning around soon. A vent sesh on the ol’ blog always makes me feel better so thanks for listening to me complain, lol. Let the Trulia and Zillow searches commence…. again!

Do you have any tips for finding a house to rent? What makes you feel better when you’re feeling blah? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Apr15

5 Easy Ways To Optimize Your Kitchen Space

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5 Easy Ways To Optimize Your Kitchen Space

Whether you have a large kitchen or a more modest space, it’s important to make the most of it. With a more organized kitchen, cooking and cleaning will be much less stressful. You can optimize your workflow and always find what you’re looking for. The kitchen is one of the most essential rooms in the house, so it needs a practical design. Assess your needs and plan the layout accordingly. Here are a few ways you can optimize your kitchen space:

Optimize workflows:

Try to create a functional workflow. For example, imagine the process of cooking a meal and the order in which you need to grab things. This will help you organize your kitchen into a circular design where you follow a logical path. You can also group together utensils and food that are used together, such as knives and chopping boards. Keep everyday items within easy reach. Make a rough plan in your mind, and act it out. With a couple of dry runs, you should get a feel of how to organize your kitchen according to your routines.

Add functional lighting:

It’s difficult to prepare food without proper lighting. Consider lighting up your countertops with under cabinet lighting. This will help you to work more safely and efficiently. A few lighting upgrades will also make your kitchen easier to clean. You could get a more durable countertop installed that’s resistant to stains and scratches. Look into stone and granite opinions from this countertop installer. These are incredibly long-lasting materials and very practical.

Kitchen lighting as well as appliances are a perfect opportunity to try out the latest smarthome technology. It can provide the bright lighting you need to prep food carefully or give you peace of mind if you can’t remember if you turned the oven off or not. Smarthome technology is an excellent upgrade and the kitchen is a great place to start. Simply enter a search for “Lutron lighting upgrades for Bay Area homes” (or your local area) to schedule a consultation and improve your space with functional and practical updates.

Organize your storage space:

Make the most of your storage space, especially if you have a small kitchen. Organize your cupboards so that more commonly used items are near the front and less used ones are at the back. Group together crockery and pots and pans into neat logical sets. This will make it much easier to find what you’re looking for. If your space is limited, here are a few clever kitchen storage ideas to give you inspiration.

Use vertical space:

If you are short of storage space, consider vertical storage solutions. You could get a wall magnet to hold knives and metal utensils. Attach hooks for various tools, towels, and even pots and pans. Build shelves and ceiling-high cabinets. Store items you don’t use often on top of cupboards and cabinets. When you’re struggling to find space, always look up. You can even use shelves for plants and ornaments to improve the atmosphere of your kitchen.

Create zones:

Why not give your kitchen a makeover this year? Rearrange it into zones. Separate areas for preparing food, dining, and making breakfast, for example. If you have space to eat in your kitchen always place chairs on the outside of the counter, opposite to where you pass when preparing food. This way the chairs or any guests won’t get in your way or cause a safety hazard. With a few little adjustments, you can design yourself a more practical kitchen and really optimize the space.

Enjoy your time in the kitchen even more by better organizing your space. Preparing meals and cleaning will be a breeze!

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