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Stellar Smart Home: How to Set Up Automation in Your House

October 30, 2017adminEnergy Efficiency, Home Improvement Tips, Technologyenergy efficient, home improvement, home trends, smart home, technologyLeave a comment

Home automation covers a broad range of appliances, amenities, and other conveniences. Given the large scale of household chores and activities that can be carried out automatically, automating your home can superficially appear both daunting and expensive. However, once you understand the broad strokes of creating a smart home, from setting up a central hub to figuring out which tasks you’d like to connect to the system, it’s both reasonably affordable and easy to set up and maintain a home automation system from a company like AMP Smart.

The Basics

The first step in setting up automation in your home is determining which tasks you’d like your system to manage. Creating a smart home leaves plenty of room for customization and no two smart homes will be exactly alike. Generally speaking, you can look at automation as dividing into two distinct categories: devices and amenities. The device category includes audio and visual entertainment systems, computers, and appliances like washers and dryers. Amenities includes lighting, sprinklers, heating and air conditioning, security systems with cameras and door alarms, and other larger-scale systems in and around your home.

While these devices can be automated on a one-to-one basis, the best approach is to create a central control hub for the ultimate smart home experience. This central hub can be a physical unit or control panel, but it can also be achieved through apps that work with your existing tablet or smartphone, though this may depend on the scale of the system, and some mixing and matching is possible. A tablet offers more on-the-go control, but a dedicated console is inherently more secure because it is stationary.

Home automation uses a broad range of protocols, including Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and more specialized platforms like Z-Wave, Thread, Zigbee, and X-10. While the choice is ultimately up to you, a mixed approach built around wi-fi and Z-wave is commonly suggested, as you’re likely experienced with wi-fi and Z-wave has widespread support on a range of devices and systems.

Where to Start

If this is your first time automating aspects of your household, you’ll likely want to do a mix of devices and amenities. Stick with the amenities you already have before adding additional systems like security or smart lawn irrigation. Your HVAC amenities, which includes your heating, ventilation, and air conditioning are a perfect starting point. Smart thermostats are surprisingly affordable and simple to install. As a bonus, homeowners with a smart thermostat save around 10 percent annually on energy bills, meaning you’ll quickly recoup the cost of the unit.

Smart light switches and outlets are another house-wide amenity that can easily be adapted. Light timers have been popular for decades as both a convenience and handy security feature and can now be integrated into a larger smart home system. By integrating these with smart switches and outlets, you can not only automate your indoor and outdoor lighting, but also remotely control power to a whole range of devices, be it computers and printers, kitchen appliances, or your washer and dryer units.

Automating your devices can be more involved than just remotely controlling their power supply. There’s a broad range of wireless devices that can be linked up to a central hub for ease of control. One of the more interesting features these offer is the use of smart sensors. By detecting your comings and goings, smart sensors can automatically turn lights and devices on and off depending on whether or not you’re home or in a specific room. They aren’t essential, but are definitely a huge convenience and set your system apart from other smart homes. As said, there are a broad range of devices with smart and automated capabilities, including integrated home audio systems, surveillance cameras, and even coffee pots.

The Sky’s the Limit

The level of automation achievable in your home is really only limited by your imagination. Now that a few generations of products have been released, the cost has settled to a point where it’s possible to have smart home features on any budget. Familiarize yourself with the various protocols used for smart technology and try to aim for consistency, as this will ease the process of placing all your devices and amenities under a central control hub. Focus on automating things you use every day, like lighting or heating, and from there branch out into more exotic implementations.

Guest Post By:

Dixie Somers / Freelance Writer
dixiesomers@gmail.com

Home decor on a budget: 5 step guide

October 24, 2017adminInterior Designdecorating, DIY projects, home trends, interior designLeave a comment

We all love to live in a home that is well kept and decorated according to the latest trends. The comfort and luxury a home offers is just priceless. However, the truth is that most of us can’t afford to hire interior designers for renovating our home and feel helpless in this regard. But what if I told you that renovating your home does not mean that you have to tear down your walls or become financially broke? If you are creative enough, you can décor your home all by yourself. Getting hold of the timeless stylistic layout tips would help you to add genuine excellence to your inside. This article will serve as a guide to help you in renovating your home and giving it a new life.

Step 1: Declutter

The modern décor trends are all about keeping minimum yet unique décor items and furniture pieces. In some cases, it is true that money can buy you happiness but when it comes to home décor money needs to be complimented with some creativity and décor sense. If you are short on the budget, then don’t feel down. Just increase your exploring trips to the flea markets and keep an eye for the unique pieces to add to your décor and get rid of all the items that are no longer functional or look out dated.

Step 2: Apply a theme

Playing with themes for the walls of your home can be both interesting and an adventurous task. Every theme has some restraints and some demands to be complemented with a proper set of accessories to give a true picture. If you are planning a home décor on a budget then giving a theme can be one of the budget friendly choices. Instead of giving a new paint you can invest on some quality wall paper that can add an instant wow factor to your décor. Giving the heavy theme to your walls would allow you to keep your furniture and statement pieces as minimum as you can to strike the principal of balanced décor. Investing in one domain would allow you to save on the other by making it simple.

Step 3: Do it yourself

Make you own décor items and furniture pieces. DIY projects are not only fun to follow but also allow you to incorporate your personal style into your home décor. Make sure you have the required tools such as a hybrid table saw to carry out these projects. For example, you can make a coffee table of your own that can be used as a statement piece to display your favorite works of art or you can create a headboard for your bed by using a metal sheet or salvaged wood pieces to give a rustic look to your bedroom décor.

Step 4: Update the flooring

Do you have wood flooring or have floors made of marble tiles? In both cases, if the floors of your home are damaged or badly scratched you can get them polished to give a new shine to your home décor. Carpeting is also an option if you don’t want to spend much on repair and polish. Carpeting gives a soft touch to your home décor and allows you to add colors of your choice that magnify the furniture and décor accessories of your space.

Step 5: Finish with accessories

The small décor accessories often cast the biggest impact and are responsible for giving a finishing touch to your décor. To give a finishing touch to your bedroom, you can add some colorful cushions that follow the color theme of your bedroom. Same goes with the side table décor of dining and living room. You can add small decoration pieces or place your travel and academic souvenirs to give a graceful touch to your décor.

About the author

This post is written by Emily who is obsessed with home machinery and gadgets. She loves home decor as well and enjoys the sunset. She regularly posts at http://www.protoolguide.com/

Fall Renovation Tips to Save You Money

October 17, 2017adminHome Improvement Tips, home remodelingFall, home improvement, home remodeling, home renovation, home trendsLeave a comment

Spring gets all of the attention when it comes to home makeovers, but fall might just be the right time for an interior renovation. After all, you’re hunkering down for the year’s coldest months, which means you’ll spend more time indoors than you will in spring. You might as well update your home now so that you can get the most of your days and nights spent cozied up inside.

The following are five examples of fall renovations that will make your space more personal without breaking the bank. By the end of the season, your house will look and feel completely different — and you’ll be ready to take on the rest of the year from inside of your updated nest.

Redo Your Roof

Not all of your fall renovation projects have to do with the inside of your home. Fixing your roof means you can patch any leaks or openings that could increase your home heating costs, cause expensive water damage or give pests an entryway, thus requiring a pricy removal.

When you make the investment in your roof, be sure to choose a durable shingle or other material that will withstand all of the fall and winter weather you expect. Nowadays, these materials stand tough against wind, hail and other weather that might otherwise compromise a weak structure.

Choose High-Quality Materials

As you make the move to renovate your home, you might consider cutting corners and costs by investing in lower-quality materials. This is one of the biggest renovation mistakes you can make because you will end up sacrificing any potential return on investment down the line.

Instead, experts suggest going for the highest-quality materials you can afford in order to ensure your renovation lasts for years to come. This may mean you have to stall on some of your fall renovation plans, but it’s worth the wait to choose timeless, durable materials that will make your home more valuable.

Make the Most of a Space’s Storage Potential

As you shift from summer to fall, you’ll probably be in and out of your home’s storage areas. You’ll pack up your swimsuits, patio furniture and inflatable pool and bring out your Halloween decorations, cable-knit sweaters and cozy throw blankets. In that time, you’ll realize just how nice it is to have ample storage space.

So, when you make plans to renovate, be sure to envision each room’s storage potential. This is especially important in small spaces where every inch of storage comes in handy. Forgetting to include storage space is one of the most common errors in bathroom remodels because they have less square footage and therefore a smaller amount of space to use to house your hygiene products, linens and cleaning supplies.

Avoid Trendy Upgrades

The attraction to trendy design updates can be strong, and for good reason: modern, sleek vibes ooze sophistication and design intellect. However, choosing to give your home an of-the-moment update this fall can mean you’ll be redoing your home sooner than you’d ever considered because it quickly looks and feels outdated.

To avoid falling into this trap, go for a more timeless design scheme. This doesn’t equate to a basic, boring look, though. Instead, choose a neutral palette and pair it with simple, traditional furniture that will look just as good in ten years as it does now. If you’d like to make a space feel trendier without sacrificing your return on investment, update your throw pillows, curtains and other accessories with more of-the-moment patterns and colors. These items can easily be replaced down the line without breaking the bank.

Don’t Do Everything at Once

A huge mistake that first-time renovators make is to take on too much work at once. You may go into your renovation with the best of intentions, but your efforts could cost you more money and create more work than you expected. This is especially true if you take on your pre-renovation demolition on your own. Taking everything out right away means you could run out of money or time and have to live in a semi-demolished space for longer than expected.

To avoid this situation, give yourself a timeline that includes staggered demo and renovations. You should always give yourself more time than you think to complete each task, too: many homeowners will fail to factor in any unforeseen circumstances that could make a project more timely or costly, which throws the entire project into chaos. Planning ahead with a reasonable timeline can help you sidestep this situation.

Hire Help If You Need It

Finally, you might think that tackling all of your home renovation tasks on your own will save you money. In some cases, this is true — especially if you’re skilled in home updates and construction. But if you find yourself unable to complete a project properly despite your best efforts, you are much better off hiring a professional to take the lead.

Sure, it will cost you a little more than you had planned, but the quality of construction and implementation of your vision will mean you can enjoy your updated space for years to come. The last thing you want is to invest high-quality materials into a poorly executed project, and a design professional will help you avoid that type of situation.

How will you update your home this fall? Whether you plan to try small aesthetic changes or major renovations, one thing is for sure: you will love spending time in your new spaces as the weather changes and sends you indoors to cozy up until spring.

Author Bio:

Kacey is a lifestyle blogger for The Drifter Collective, an eclectic lifestyle blog that expresses various forms of style through the influence of culture and the world around us. Kacey graduated with a degree in Communications while working for a lifestyle magazine. She has been able to fully embrace herself with the knowledge of nature, the power of exploring other locations and cultures, all while portraying her love for the world around her through her visually pleasing, culturally embracing and inspiring posts.

https://twitter.com/kacey_mya

https://www.pinterest.com/kaceymya/

https://www.instagram.com/thedriftercollective/

The Smart Buildings Of The Future – Infographic

October 10, 2017adminEnergy Efficiency, infographicdecorating, energy efficient, infographicLeave a comment

Time and Technology are running at a very fast pace. This is the age of Smart Technology in every aspect. Smart Phones, Smart Electronics, Smart Automobiles, Smart Infrastructure, Smart Buildings and the list goes on.

The Technology is evolving over the decades but has harmed the Planet earth a big way. Over Usage of Natural Resources, pollution and emissions etc. have burnt a hole in the layers of Mother Earth. Every nation is fighting to curb this menace and imbibe all the Smart ways to go green and secure mankind and our planet. Architects & Engineers are infusing Smart technologies to design smart buildings for minimum energy consumption, low emissions, reduced water usage, utilization of sunlight and enhancing outdoor greenery.

Here is an Infographic by RubberBond, depicting the Smart Buildings of the Future.

The Smart Buildings Of The Future by Rubber Bond.

The Spectrum of Benefits of Incorporating Steel Into Your Home Improvement Plans

October 3, 2017October 4, 2017adminhome improvement, Home Improvement Tips, home remodelinghome improvement, home remodeling, home trendsLeave a comment

If you are contemplating home improvements of different types, you likely have started to focus on the types of materials you may use in the process. For example, if you are considering home improvements that will include upgrades in the kitchen, you undoubtedly will turn your attention to major appliances. With that potentially on your radar, you will want to contemplate how steel appliances can be incorporated into your overall home improvement plans.

The reality is that not only can steel play a major role when it comes to appliances, the metal alloy can also be invaluable if you undertake other home improvement endeavors as well. This includes efforts both in the interior and on the exterior of your home.

Steel, Home Improvement, and the Environment

In this day and age, an ever-increasing number of people are becoming more interested in enhancing the environment. These individuals want to take steps and make decisions in their daily lives that not only don’t harm the environment but ultimately have a positive impact on it. You may be one such person.

If that is the case, you actually take a positive step when it comes to the environment when you elect to incorporate steel, when you can do so, into your overall home improvement endeavors. There are a number of reasons why including steel in your design and improvement efforts is a plus for the environment.

A primary area in which steel is incorporated into home improvement schemes is in the area of appliances. You need not go much further than a home improvement website to appreciate how ubiquitous the use of steel appliances is at this juncture in time.

What you may no know is that every time you purchase a steel appliance, you are purchasing something for your home that includes at least some recycled elements. Indeed, more often than not, a considerable percentage of a steel home appliance is made from recycled elements.

Keep in mind that it is not just fashionable appliances that are made from recycled steel. Other items that might play a role in your home improvement efforts are also likely to contain recycled steel.

For example, if you intend to upgrade the HVAC equipment in your residence, you likely will be incorporating equipment made from steel in that process. Moreover, a significant percentage of that still will be recycled.

On another note related to the environment, major steel appliances manufactured for use in the United States are nearly all built with the Energy Star program in mind. The Energy Star program was developed by the Environmental Protection Agency, or EPA, over 20 years ago.

Energy Star certifies certain appliances and HVAC equipment utilized in your home for its energy efficiency. Energy Star certified appliances and equipment are better for the environment. Moreover, the operation of these items is more economically because they are energy efficient.

Steel, Home Improvement, and Smashing Good Looks

One of the reasons steel has become so widely utilized in new construction and home design as well as remodeling and home improvements is because of its smart appearance. In simple terms, steel appliances and other additions to your residence that utilize steel are attractive.

You up the ante when it comes to the look of your residence when you incorporate steel into the process. If you are undertaking improvements for you own sake, you will make your home far more appealing for you and your family. If you are embarking on some home upgrades to make your residence more salable, the addition of steel into the overall look of your home is highly likely to snag the attention of homebuyers. You very well may be able to raise your asking price above the cost of your investment in improvements that include the use of steel.

Steel, Home Improvements, and Cost

If you are like most individuals, you keep a sharp eye to the bottom line. We live in challenging economic times and you need to keep to a strict budget. Yes, it is possible that you may end up paying a bit more for items like steel appliances. However, steel appliances, and other additions to your home, will prove to be highly durable. In other words, while you may pay a bit more upfront for the addition of steel appliances, HVAC equipment, and other items for your residence, you will enjoy a long useful life of these items. You will not have to worry about replacing them any time soon. Thus, over time, you’ve made a truly economical investment in your home.

Jessica Kane is a professional blogger who writes for Federal Steel Supply, Inc., a leading steel tubing suppliers of carbon, alloy and stainless steel pipe, tubes, fittings and flanges.

Not Up to Code? How to Get Your Home in Line with Legal Standards

September 25, 2017adminHome Improvement Tips, home remodelinghome improvement, home remodeling, home renovation, remodeling tipsLeave a comment

You don’t have to update your home to reflect every code change, but if you’re planning major repairs, additions, or remodels the work has to meet the latest codes. If you’re planning to sell the property, it’s also important to satisfy local building codes. Since these codes are intended to improve the safety of the occupants, it’s always a good idea to keep them updated. Here are some ways to make sure your home is in compliance.

Get a Home Inspection

Building codes in the U.S. generally stick to the latest International Residential Codes established by the ICC, or International Code Council. However, they may vary from state to state, and from county to county. It’s a good idea to have a certified home inspector in your area go through the house. They’ll do a visual inspection and provide you a report of anything they find wrong.

Upgrade Electrical System

There are some common requirements that you can check for yourself. For instance, you should have smoke-alarms hard-wired, because battery-powered units are useless if you forget to change the batteries. There should be one alarm in every bedroom, the kitchen, and over stairwells at the least. You should also ensure that you have ground-fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) outlets in the kitchen and bathroom to protect your family against the possibly deadly combination of water and electricity.

Overhaul Plumbing

Bad plumbing is mostly found in older homes that might have lead pipes or fixtures. Replacing these is a priority. Modern updates might include things like a pressure-balance valve in the hot water line that prevents scalding water when, for instance, someone else flushes the toilet. More water-efficient products like low-flow toilets, faucet aerators, and modern appliances help satisfy water conservation needs. Have your home’s water quality checked, and if you have problems with installations, water pressure, slow drains, or leaks, call a licensed plumber for help.

Know the Codes

Check with your local building inspector. They may have quite specific requirements for certain things. For instance, some localities may require double 2x6s as floor joists rather a single one. You will find that there are well-defined requirements for stairs, decks, garages, roofing, sheds, and more. A responsible contractor will ensure code compliance, but if you’re a DIY type of person it’s your own responsibility.

Residential building codes are defined for a good reason. If you fail to follow them, you may be endangering your family, and could be forced to remove or rework non-compliant projects.

Tips For Maintaining Your Wooden Flooring

September 18, 2017adminDIY Projects, Home MaintenanceDIY projects, flooring, home maintenanceLeave a comment

There aren’t many homes where wooden flooring would look out of place; they’re versatile, beautiful and can make even the smallest of rooms look larger. Keeping them in great condition, however, can be difficult if you don’t know what you’re doing. That’s where these tips come in, and if you follow them closely your wooden floors could double in life expectancy.

Pounce on spills as soon as they happen

It’s impossible to just stop spillages from happening, so instead make sure you’re prepared for them and attack the spills as soon as they occur. Every second they go untreated, the wooden floor will absorb more and more of it and the finish will be dulled even further; if that spill dries up, then that will result in some long-term damage. A cloth or cotton mop is perfect for avoiding this.

Vacuum with care

Vacuuming is great to suck up deep resting dirt that brushes or cloths wouldn’t normally get, but if used incorrectly, they can do more bad than good. The beater bar (also known as a bristle bar) is the rotating brush section at the bottom of some vacuums that can rotate thousands of times per minute. This is ideal for a carpet, as it can be very effective at dragging up dirt.

However, for a wooden floor, it can rapidly dull the woods finish and take months off its life span. Instead, either use a vacuum without a beater bar or switch the mode to Hard Floor, if that is an option available to you.

Use mats at entrances

Think about everything that could be on the pavement outside your home; glass, faeces, hard stones, so on. These can all get captured in the grooves of your shoes, and dragged into your home. Grass and mud might be a nuisance to clean up, but stones and glass could cause some serious damage to your wooden floor. To cut this down, tough mats at the entrances to your home and rooms are perfect for collecting this dirt and debris.

Better yet, you could take a page out of Asian culture and remove your shoes as you enter. While mats are effective, it doesn’t get more effective than taking your shoes off completely.

Follow the grain

To keep your wooden floors looking as good as possible for as long as possible, we also recommend following the grain of the wood when you clean. Sweeps and strokes going in the same direction of the wood means you won’t disrupt the grain too much, and the protective layer will be kept intact for longer.

Keep that mop (relatively) dry

A very common mistake when it comes to cleaning wood floors is using too much water. It might sound counter-intuitive, but your mop should be almost dry when you use it and only slightly damp at the touch. Similar to the first tip that mentioned how bad spills were for your wood, too much water means the wood will absorb some of it; which can lead to the warping of the wood or a ruined finish.

Let us know in the comments below if you have any other tips for looking after wooden floors!

Author bio: Criterion Flooring are wood flooring experts who specialize in the restoration and installation of wood floors. They also supply and install Oak, Bordeaux, Laminate and Alternative Floors.

Important Facts You Need to Know About the Sound Insulation Windows

September 13, 2017October 3, 2017adminhome improvement, Home Improvement TipsLeave a comment

Sound pollution and light pollution are the major irritants that kill our peace of mind and love for home. A home is the place where we relax after a hard day’s work but if your home is near to any industrial unit, the outside noise will constantly disturb you. Even if your home is situated near the busy roadways then also you can face the same noise pollution. The best solution is sound insulation window, which can block the outside noise. Such windows will act as damper on irritating noise from outside. People may think that they can cover up their windows with some frosted glass and it can provide them the best sound insulation system. Only glass windows are not able to prevent sound pollutions, and you need to make them with some insulation system that can prevent external noises.

What Are the Advantages of Sound Insulation Windows?

Whether it is homeowner or manufacturer, people are getting sensitive and do not want to get distracted from the outside noise. If your home is located amid an industry or amidst highway traffic, idling buses or police sirens, you may consider installing sound proof windows to enjoy peace and quietness. It is important to learn the facts on sound insulation window.

Soundproof windows can block 90% of sound

There is no window which can block 100% noise. Sound insulation windows can block more than 90% of sound but not 100%. Sound with higher frequency is easier to block. The working of the sound insulation window relies on the sound frequency you wish to block. It is easy to shop for such windows as you can check out the ratings of their frequency level online and you can choose the best one for your home.

The working of sound proofing window

The soundproofing window simply blocks the sound waves to block the sound. To increase the ability of the window to block noise, the manufacturer adds mass to the windows, add the air space and also use the laminated glass. This laminated glass can also provide you best longevity and these windows can also protect your home from UV rays.

Sound proofing window is also energy efficient

A window is energy efficient only when it uses Low-E coatings or gas between thermal panes. This helps in reducing heat transfer and also in increasing energy efficiency. On the other hand, the sound insulation window makes use of laminated and thick glass with the large air gaps in between the window panes to suppress the noise.

Do You Need Sound Insulation Windows?

If you hate the noise coming from the chimney, industrial unit, you need to consult acoustical consultant for the window. The consultant will first measure out the extent of noise and then determine the suitable sound proofing window for your purpose. Now you can also compare their price range and choose the best affordable insulated windows for your home ad offices. To know more, you can search them online and you can find plenty of these insulated windows available online.

Sound Insulation Windows Are Great Options

No matter where you stay, sound is a major problem. The sources of noise can be varied like the street dogs barking all throughout the night, your neighbor playing loud music, sound from industries or any other. If your office or home is noisy, you may consider installation of sound insulation windows.

Sound insulation windows can be like an enemy to the noise coming from outside. More insulation implies less of sound. The window can absorb the noise from outside and maintain peace inside the home. But it is always suggested to install these windows by some experienced professionals and they can make your home soundproof.

Author Bio

Zac Ferry is a good experience writer, blogger and social media promoter by providing valuable information which help readers to get more ideas. Follow him on Google+ and Twitter.

Tips To Stay Comfortable If Your HVAC System Goes Down

September 9, 2017adminDIY Projects, Summer Tips, Winter TipsDIY projects, energy efficient, hvac, summer, winterLeave a comment

With more than 80 percent of American homes having some kind of air conditioning or heating system installed, it’s easy to take that technology for granted. However, these systems don’t always function the way we expect. In those situations, we have to cope with the climate the way our ancestors did, in the days before these modern conveniences existed.

Coping without heating or air conditioning is an inconvenience no one wants to deal with, but it’s something everyone needs to be able to do. Fortunately, staying comfortable, even without your HVAC system, is a matter of following some relatively simple guidelines. With these tricks in mind, you can keep from feeling too hot or too cold, even if your HVAC system is on the blink for more than a day.

For example, keeping cool in the summer without air conditioning means dressing for the weather, drinking plenty of cold water, and avoiding the use of heat-generating appliances — unless necessary. For additional cooling, you can take a lukewarm bath or shower before bed, or stay in your basement during the hottest hours of the day.

Staying warm without your furnace is possible if you stick to only a few rooms and block the doors to the unused rooms with heavy curtains or blankets. Dressing in layers of warm wool clothing and blocking drafts under doors with rolled-up towels and blankets also helps you stay comfortable even when it’s cold inside your house.

Modern conveniences such as HVAC systems have certainly made life easier. However, knowing how to live without them will make life easier for those brief periods when they aren’t working. Or, you might want to live without them voluntarily to save a little money on your energy bills. Either way, these tips can help you stay comfortable without your HVAC system.

Tips to stay comfortable if your HVAC system goes down from Randazzo Heating & Cooling

Top 10 Guidelines for Antique Furniture Shopping

September 7, 2017adminHome Decor, Interior Designhome decor, home trends, interior designLeave a comment

Antique furniture makes for a beautiful, unique touch to any home, and is a worthwhile investment to make. However, the process of shopping for antiques, whether it’s at markets, online or in stores, can be intimidating and overwhelming. How are you supposed to know if you’re being ripped off, and how do you begin to choose furniture? Read through this handy guide to make shopping for antiques a little less daunting, and a lot more rewarding in terms of creating your dream home.

1. ) Do your Research: Explore what shops are in your area, from specialized antique furniture stores to vintage markets or even second-hand stores that might house some hidden gems. Auctions, estate sales and online listing websites like eBay and Gumtree can also have some truly one-of-a-kind pieces available.

Visit the physical locations several times to get the inside scoop from the sellers, or even discounts when they want to clear out a particular item in a hurry.

2.) Check the Condition: The furniture you choose needs to have good bones, meaning it should have a sturdy frame and that drawers and doors should open easily. Bear in mind that upholstered furniture like sofas are likely to be in a greater state of disrepair than a chest of drawers or cabinet.

3.) Go Beyond the Brands: Certain furniture makers may be particularly known for their craft during a particular era, but this often comes with a great price tag. Keep an open mind and be willing to go for an unknown brand which might be less expensive but of the same style, quality and era.

4.) Don’t Assume Quality: Just because a piece of furniture is old does not mean it was crafted well. Inferior brands have always existed, meaning they can still be circulating around the market as antique pieces. Look out for low quality materials and workmanship and research some brands so you have an idea of what to look for on the market.

5.) Don’t Expect Perfection: Used furniture will always have some flaws and imperfections. Scratches, dents and discoloration are all things you need to be willing to accept when choosing the antique furniture. Remember, you can always get an item professionally refinished if you would like to restore it to its original condition.

6.) Use Your Bargaining Power: Bargaining is always an option when it comes to antique furniture. Get comfortable with haggling, and look out for anything that allows you to bring down the price further. Minor flaws, like those mentioned earlier, can be used to bargain for a lower price. However, when haggling over slightly damaged pieces, make sure that the cost of repairs don’t exceed the amount you save.

7.) Measure Up: Your antique furniture pieces should serve a purpose. Sure, they can be ornamental, but they need to work well within your space, otherwise they’ll just be relegated to the back of your store room. Take measurements with you so you know exactly where you’ll put the furniture in your home. Don’t go based off eyeballing the furniture, as items will always look bigger or smaller than they actually are when crowded together with other items in a store.

8.) Consider Repurposing: Always keep your eyes peeled for opportunities to repurpose an item. For example, if you’re looking for a nightstand, don’t just focus singularly on nightstands. You could easily turn a small table or chair into a nightstand, or us an old suitcase as a side table or coffee table. Repurposing furniture in an unexpected way gives your home a quirky and distinctive touch, and can also save you money if you’re clever with how you substitute items.

9.) Antique Furniture: When it comes to retail stores, you can buy all your furniture pieces from the same range, ensuring they all complement each other. This, of course, isn’t possible with antique furniture, as pieces are often not in a collection together, or sets are far too expensive to buy together. Your space might also become overwhelming if it comprises entirely of antique furniture.

The way to get around this is to go for individual pieces that work well together and fit into your existing space. This takes creativity and thought, but will result in a truly one-of-a-kind home.

10.) Alternative Replicas: Of course, you may struggle to find antique pieces that are of a suitable quality and look, at reasonable prices, in your area. If you are sick of scouring through online listings and spending your Sunday mornings at markets, consider quality replica furniture instead.

These are made to precisely replicate the look of antique furniture, but without any of the wear and tear that antiques actually suffer.

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