From the category archives:
When it comes to organizing, I think we can all agree Martha Stewart knows what she’s talking about! We found her bedroom organizing ideas and felt it was our duty to spread them. Below we’ve posted our 3 favorite suggestions, but to read her full article you can find it here.
Image Source: MarthaStewart.com
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image Source: Home-Designing.com
The convenience of having a washer and dryer in the home is one that few homeowners want to do without. However, the form of the laundry room is changing. Most people now want direct access from main activity areas of the home. Since laundry rooms are now much more visible, good laundry room design is not just beneficial for function, but can make a difference in how your home looks.
Improving Laundry Room Design
No matter how you slice it, doing the laundry is a chore. The first step in good laundry room design is the placement of the machines. Make it easy to move clothes from the washer to the dryer. Sometimes purchasing a longer cord or longer hoses can allow you to better arrange your appliances. Though this will cost a bit more than lengthening hoses, it will give you the opportunity to create a laundry room that looks more attractive and functions efficiently, as well. [click to continue…]
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There are always small upgrades that you can make to attract the perfect buyer for your home. We enjoyed an article by Real Simple that featured these several tips for your home:
Image Source: Real Simple
Upgrade your outdoor lighting – When you update your outdoor fixtures, it gives your home a polished look that home buyers will be looking for. Choose from stainless steel pieces with a standard design. Even though you are updating these fixtures, you shouldn’t install style-specific items. The style should be neutral since every home buyer has their own unique taste and preferences.
Replace your old, rusty mail box – If you have a mailbox in your front yard, you should take a second look and see if it says “welcome to my home” or “I haven’t been replaced in 10 years.” A new mailbox should match others in the neighborhoods and be able to withstand brutal weather. [click to continue…]
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As we were browsing the web for new cleaning ideas, the Home Office Cleaning Checklist from RealSimple screamed “post me!” Below are some of our favorite home office cleaning ideas that you can easily do in one weekend.
Clean your desk. Pick up your desk accessories and dust them. Continue by dusting your desk, including the desk surface, it’s frame and all the legs.
Clean your desk chair. Spot clean any spills or stains and wipe down the entire chair with cleaning solution. Also, vacuum the seat of your chair with a brush attachment.
Sanitize the telephone. Use a disinfecting wipe to sanitize your telephone, the touch pad, and cords.
Clean your keyboard. Purchase a compressed air can to blow out any crumbs or dust that have fallen into your keyboard. Then, dust the keyboard with a microfiber cloth.
Go through your bookshelves. Create a pile of books/magazines that can be donated. Dust all of your books and the bookshelves.
After following these simple steps your office should be clean and stress-free!
Want more weekend cleaning tips? Look through the rest of our Weekend Warrior blog posts!
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Problem: Squeaky floors are caused by wood rubbing against wood or wood rubbing against nails in a floor that has loosened.
Solution: If you can get to your floor from a basement or crawlspace, most homeowners should be able to repair a squeak easily with the following quick fix.
While you are standing under the area that is causing the problem, have someone walk across the floor so you can locate the exact location of the squeak. Coat a shim (a thin piece of material) with wood glue and tap it lightly into the space between joist and floor, making sure that you don’t raise the floor further by pushing it in too far.
That should do the trick! What other tips do you have to silence a squeaky floor?
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Adding a few small touches to your bathroom can make a world of difference for you and your guests. Here are a few tips to open up the bathroom space, even on a smaller budget.
1. Light and Mirrors
The best way to make a small bathroom area look large is to create the illusion of space with lights and mirrors. Install recessed lighting and glass that faces each other to create a hall-of-mirrors effect. By bouncing the light and images around the bathroom, it will grow in size without removing any walls.
2. Don’t Chop It Up
In smaller areas you can’t afford to not utilize all your space, so don’t block your bathroom into smaller sections. For instance, buy a glass shower door that’ll open things up instead of hanging a curtain that closes off your tub.
3. Decorate and Organize
Since you’re decorating a small space, you can’t hide anything. Place a few candles around your tub, and hang a small, decorative towel from a hook. Also, make sure you organize. Use a bath caddy and occupy every corner of your cabinets to relieve the counter of clutter. If you have too much clutter to store, you should consider buying a medicine cabinet to help hide your things.
4. De-Clutter the Floor
No matter your floor type, covering it up can make a room feel smaller. Remove your magazine rack by the toilet, and find a place to store your plunger. Instead of laying a bathmat on the floor, fold it and drape it over the tub’s edge.
Similar Articles:
Image of the Week: Stainless Steel Bathroom
The Ultimate Shower [Video]
Outstanding Outdoor Bathrooms
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There are a variety of painting techniques that can be used for your home and below we’ve highlighted some of our favorites! We hope they can inspire you for your next painting project!
Beginner Tip: If you’re a first time painter, start with an easy project (such as a small room or an accent wall) to build your confidence.
Broken Color Painting Techniques with Glazes and Washes
Broken color painting involves applying one or more colors in broken layers over a different base coat to create a mottled or textured effect. You should expect this technique to include glazes or washes applied over a solid colored background.
Sponge Painting Techniques
This quick and simple technique begins with a solid base paint color. Once the base coat has dried, a wash or glaze is applied on top with a dampened sponge to create a mottled look. If you decide to add additional layers of glaze or wash, be sure to let the previous layer fully dry before adding the next application.
Sponge Painting Image from BHG.com
Beginner Tip: Try neutral tones of beige and grey or different values of color in the same family for a tone-on-tone damask effect.
When sponge painting, always use a natural sea sponge instead of a synthetic household type for a more varied and interesting texture. [click to continue…]
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