It doesn’t take thousands of dollars and months of remodeling to create your ideal kitchen. In fact, a few simple changes can transform the look and feel of the entire room. Here are just a few ways to liven up your kitchen during your next renovation project.
Improve Your Lighting
There are four basic types of kitchen lights that can be installed and arranged depending on your existing architecture. For example, if you have a large kitchen island where you host company while you’re cooking, you can hang “task lights” directly above it. You can also find shades and covers in every style imaginable, so there’s always something that will match the theme of your interior design. If you have a sleek, contemporary kitchen, buy metallic orb covers. If you have a country, kitschy kitchen, use rattan shades.
Lay Your Tile
Kitchen tile comes in many different types, including porcelain, ceramic, clay, cement and natural stone. You also have your choice of shapes, colors and patterns if you’d like to add a little personality to your floor. Don’t be afraid to think outside of the box and choose something different than your neighbors. A professional, like those from the Monterrey Tile Company, can lay mosaic pebble tile just as easily as plain white squares, so it all comes down to what aesthetic you’d like to see in the space.
Upgrade Your Appliances
You don’t have to shell out big bucks to completely replace all of your kitchen appliances. A few tasteful and well-placed items will raise the atmosphere of the entire room, especially if they’re everyday appliances like the fridge or the coffeemaker. No one really pays attention to another person’s blender, but they’re much more likely to notice a elegant French press acting as the centerpiece of your countertop.
Improve Your Storage
The invisible parts of your kitchen are often just as important as the visible ones. For example, while your wall-mounted, solid-oak cupboards might be beautiful to look at from the outside, the cabinet risers on the inside are how you’ll really maximize your vertical storage space. The pantry might have a colorful door, but the Lazy Susan’s attached to the shelf corners are the real heroes. Don’t neglect the boring organizational elements of your kitchen while you’re picking out fun new countertops and backsplashes.
These are just a few ways to cultivate your dream kitchen without renovating the entire space. With a little creativity and a lot of planning, you can turn your visions into reality much sooner than you might think.
The steps that you take in the coming weeks could have a major impact on your family’s comfort once the weather cools off. Seasonal maintenance will also help you cut back on your energy bills and save a little extra money every month when you start using your furnace or boiler again. Here is a look at five areas of your home you should take a look at well before the summer ends.
Check on Your Furnace or Boiler
Most newer furnaces and boilers are designed to last for well over a decade, but they still require constant maintenance. When your HVAC system is being used regularly, you might need to change the filters as often as once every month. Homeowners should also have their heating and cooling systems inspected by an HVAC contractor twice a year.
Seal Cracks and Openings
Keeping your home at a consistent temperature is going to be nearly impossible if you have openings around doors, windows, vents, and pipes. Even with high-quality insulation and a new HVAC system, small openings will allow quite a bit of warm air to escape from your home during the winter months. Most smaller openings can easily be sealed with a caulking gun and all-purpose caulking.
Inspect the Roof for Damage
Your roof, rain gutters, and downspouts should never have any cracks or clogs. A minor pinhole or clog could cause thousands of dollars in damage during a rainstorm, and your home insurance might not cover the repairs. If you are unsure of how to inspect your roof for damage, then you should schedule a service call with a local roofing contractor like Gutter Magician NKY or someone else who has gutter service options.
Protect the Pipes
Any water pipes that are exposed to cold temperatures could burst when the weather begins to change. All of the pipes inside your home should be checked for leaks and wrapped in foam pipe covers before the start of autumn. You also need to close the shutoff valve that controls your outdoor faucets and remove the bleeder caps to drain any remaining water.
Upgrade the Insulation
High-quality insulation will keep your home at a comfortable and consistent temperature no matter what the weather is like outside. At the very least, you need to check your insulation a few times a year for any signs of damage. Homeowners who have a little extra money to invest back into their property should consider upgrading to blown-in insulation with a high R-value.
Another project that you might want to tackle this summer is scheduling a comprehensive energy audit for your home. During an audit, a specialist will inspect your property and come up with a detailed list of changes you can make to improve your home’s efficiency.
Kara Masterson is a freelance writer from Utah. She enjoys Tennis and spending time with her family.
Do you want to change that look of your kitchens to something a bit more unique and over the top? If so, then first of all, you need to get rid of that clustered mess around your place. Nowadays, loads of interesting design and cabinet packages are available and some are designed as per the client’s customized requests. From adding well-designed cabinets to marble kitchen tops, various kinds of kitchen designs & cabinets are available to you. If you want to know more about the right kitchen designs, try to find the best team for help. Many of them are working in this sector for years, and know the right strategies for you to follow.
Check Out Some of The Classic Designs:
In case you are now trying to change the your kitchens look into a more modernized versions, then try to opt for the various kitchen designs & cabinets recommended from multiple home decorators. These points can present you with some classic designs as well.
One Wall Kitchen Layout:
This is the most basic of all options available these days and is also known as a Pullman kitchen. This layout is mostly found in loft or studio spaces as these are the ultimate space saver. Appliances and cabinet are fixed on a single wall. The majority of designs comprise an island, which comprises of space into some form of Galley style. It comes in handy with a walk-through corridor, just in case, you want to store utensils under one platform.
Frames or Frameless Cabinets:
Among all the available kitchen designs & cabinets these days, framed or frameless cabinets are the one attracting and gaining maximum attention of people. These are designed using metallic frames and can always accentuate the look of your kitchens to another level. If considered look wise, these face-framed cabinets will adorn that traditional look well, as compared to frameless. The latter one is way cooler than framed ones and can mostly be seen in those kitchens with huge spaces.
Louvered Is Another One:
If you are planning for something a bit traditional but with a cool touch to it, then louvered can form the best kitchen designs & cabinets of all time. Here, wooden slats are used on furniture pieces, windows, and interior doors. These additions help in addressing an architectural style to the available kitchen cabinetry. However, make sure to remember one thing. This beauty comes with hefty price tag and with bit of maintenance too!
L-Shape Is the Classic One:
In case, you want to address style with classic kitchens structure, then an L-shaped design is the one you should be aiming for. These designs can solve problem of maximizing available corner space. It is a smart way to design smaller to medium kitchen spaces. You will be able to utilize kitchen spaces in an apt manner, and address counter tips on adjoining walls, which are otherwise perpendicular.
Adding Specialty Units:
To add that glam look to your otherwise mundane kitchen, you are cordially invited to catch up with specialty units. These are designed to maximize the square footage alongside organized efforts. This package comprises of cooktop or sinks fronts, corner cabinets, hutches, suspended units, appliance garages, and bottle racks. You can even try to add that 18-inch backsplash, for addressing usable workspace between the bottom edge of upper cabinet and countertops.
Choose Whichever You Feel Like:
There are so many kitchen designs & cabinets available nowadays, and you can choose whichever matches your kitchens space and your taste the most. Just be sure to check available options and then make your decision. At least, you will not feel bad of not comparing and making any hasty decision.
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.
Very few projects are as satisfying as building a custom home from the ground up, but this process can be extremely complicated. Larger contracting companies often employee dozens of specialists to help them consider all of the different factors that could have an impact on the homes they are building. Those who are building a single home for their own personal use might not have access to those resources, and that is why you should spend a little extra time thinking about what unexpected factors you might be overlooking.
Energy Consumption
Options such as solar panels and geothermal water heaters are efficient, but that technology won’t be very useful if your home wastes a significant amount of energy. If you want to keep your home’s carbon footprint as small as possible, then you will need to think about other issues like the direction of your windows, what type of paint you use, and how much insulation you put in the walls. As for lights, adding a few tube skylights and installing LED bulbs could potentially cut back on your lighting expenses by as much as 90 percent.
Ambient Noise
Overwhelming noise can put a damper on your daily activities, and you might not even realize how noisy the area is until you have lived there for a few weeks. The best way to get a good grasp of the ambient noise is to visit the building site at different times of the day. You should also speak with a neighbor about issues such as buzzing crickets or loud garbage trucks. Those unavoidable noises can often be muffled with landscaping, fences, and additional insulation.
Local Weather Patterns
Local weather patterns are going to have a major impact on almost every facet of your home. Your first line of defense is your roof, and you want to be sure that you are working with a local roofing company, like those at 5 Star Roofing, that understands what weather hazards might take place throughout the year. At some point during the building process, you should also think about installing other safety features including storm windows, sump pumps, and drainage pipes.
The easiest way to guarantee that you aren’t overlooking any major factors is to work with experienced and local contractors. It might be tempting to go with the cheapest specialists at certain points, but their mistakes could end up costing you quite a bit in the long run. Those who are going to spend the time and money building a home from the ground up should make sure that every penny they are investing into their property counts.
Having a compact space for your bathroom shouldn’t necessarily compromise functionality. The following are tips to help you maximize your small bathroom area:
Innovative Storage Spaces
Floating Storage Spaces. For a small bathroom, a large portion of the floor area may already be occupied by the sink, toilet, and shower, leaving limited space for storage.
To maximize space, replace your cabinets with wall-mounted ones. Having them installed in your bathrooms will keep toiletries organized and accessible whenever you need them.
You may opt for open shelves to keep towels and other items which you need to use often.
Floating Roll-out drawers/Cabinets. On the other hand, there are some products which you will only occasionally need to use, such as the bathroom cleaning products. You can keep these items in roll-out drawers or closed cabinets.
Another advantage of installing floating storage cabinets is that kids won’t be able to reach them. Also, they are kept away from sight especially when you have guests.
Spice Racks. For toiletries such as shampoo, soap, tissue, and others, you can use deep-space storage items such as spice racks which you can place near the shower area.
If you wish, you may even place racks in cabinet doors to keep items organized and maximize the space of the cabinets. For instance, you may place your blow dryer in the racks so you don’t need to mix them with the other items.
It may also be better to choose cabinets or drawers with multiple compartments so each member of the household has their own storage cabinets for their personal grooming items and toiletries. If they need them, it will then be easier to find them.
Hooks. Additionally, you can use hooks for your robes and other clothing garments instead of towel bars which may consume more space.
Magnetic Cosmetics Board. If you have cosmetics or other grooming products, it may be quite a hassle to keep them in drawers when you need to use them frequently. As a solution, you may avail cheap magnetic boards which you can hang in the wall.
Frameless Shower Enclosures
If you have a very limited bathroom space, your best option is to have an open shower area. You may choose a shower that does not spray out water too widely to keep the surrounding areas dry.
However, if you want to install shower enclosures, the frameless ones will make it appear less-confining. Sliding glass doors will also be a better alternative.
Remodeling Ideas
Are you considering of remodeling your bathroom to maximize a space without the compromise for style and functionality?
Aside from the tips already given, here are other things you may want to consider:
Choose the right fixtures that you need.
The primary concern is the need to maximize the functionality of your bathroom given the limited space. Thus, choose the fixtures that you will really need such as the sink, toilet and shower and it will be better if they are as small as possible.
Soak or Steam?
After a stressful or tiresome day, we just want to relax our body. It may make us feel better while we soak on warm water. However, will it be practical to install a bathtub to suffice that need?
Having a steam shower may just also suit your needs to soak. It can be just as relaxing plus it consumes lesser amounts of water.
However, should you choose to install one, there are small bathtubs which are still ‘soak-worthy’ as those with the big ones and they can also come in affordable prices.
Install wall-mounted or pedestal sinks
If you are conserving space, the wall-mounted or pedestal sinks are your best choice since you can easily install them even in the corners of your bathroom. This way, you maximize even the corners of the room, thus providing more elbow space to move around.
Open shower area
As previously stated, having an open shower area will give you a more spacious feel for your bathroom.
Like the small bathrooms in France, sometimes a thin wall divider is placed to cover the shower area.
You can also place the shower head high above the ceiling to contain the water sprays in a smaller area or you may also choose a handheld shower head, so that you can also control its position while you are using it.
A bathroom should serve its purpose, that’s a priority concern when designing the area. Most homeowners often compromise the area, the house area is small – more spaces are allocated to the living room area, kitchen and dining area, and the bedrooms.
However, you can ensure that you have everything you need in the bathroom by maximizing the limited space.
Author Bio:-
Dustin Harrison is an expert in the field of Home decor and Interior design. He is work in Aquant India. Aquant India is among the most leading sanitary ware suppliers providing excellent shower panels, stylish wash basin like onyx basin, mosaic basin, Counter Basin and so forth as well as other sanitary ware items. To learn more about Interior design visit this website and blog.
For some interior designers, it’s easy to choose a design style. They’re staunchly French country, bohemian or beachy. For them, it’s easy to put together a cohesive room because their style is, well, cohesive.
And then, there’s you: you don’t quite know what your design style is because you like a little bit of modern and a little bit of old school. With such a diverse range of tastes, you have a hard time pinning down what you want a room to look like because there are so many different looks you like and want to incorporate.
Rather than throw your hands in the air and give up or, worse yet, settle on a single style just to make your life easier, keep reading: you might just have a transitional design sense, and you’re not alone in your love of a mix of styles.
What is Transitional Design?
Transitional design meets in the middle of contemporary and traditional tastes, creating a look that still feels timeless. In fact, it ends up looking like a fresh take on the traditional design schemes you might find in, say, your parents’ house.
You might see traditionally curved furniture made from a modern, shiny material — think: a traditional chest of drawers covered in pieces of mirror. But transitional design doesn’t start and end with the furniture you place in your room. Often, transitional design spaces incorporate traditional furniture choices and some accents, like crown molding, with more neutral, modern color palettes. Another key design feature are the accessories in the room — or lack thereof. Transitional design aficionados appreciate clean, clutter-free spaces with just the perfect amount of ornamentation.
Millenials have made this design style as big of a deal as it is today. The youngest generation of homeowners still like having the traditional touches of home, but want to put their own stamp on it by blending natural materials, modern updates and all the tech you could want to make your home run smoothly.
How Can I Pull It Off?
It may sound hard to come up with your own version of a transitional space, but the great thing about this hot design style is that it’s easy to replicate and customize. There are virtually endless ways to give your home this blended style.
Start off with the color of your space. Most transitional rooms blossom from a neutral palette in order to maintain modernity. It just so happens that many simple, neutral shades create a more calming, serene vibe, too.
Once you’ve chosen your color, look the rest of the room’s existing elements and work from there. If the space has a traditional fireplace with wooden mantel and overhead crown molding, for example, you’ll need to balance the scale with some modern, clean lines. A rectangular sofa without arms would do the trick, as would a piece of contemporary art hung over the fireplace.
Where you can get a bit more experimental is with the fabrics and textures you bring into your space once you’ve painted your neutral palette. You can add pops of color with fabric, or create interest with textures: contrasting a soft, sleek suede sofa with worn leather armchairs, for example, would be a great mix of new and old.
You can even incorporate this blend of old next to new in the kitchen, where a quick weekend project can update your cabinets. One myth of cabinet hardware in design is that you can’t update a traditional built-in simply by replacing its hardware with a more contemporary knob or pull. Thanks to the rise of transitional design, this is simply not true. Try the same treatment in your bathrooms to give those spaces a modern upgrade as well.
It’s important to remember as you accessorize to always keep it simple. One stunning accessory does the trick, as opposed to a bunch of tiny accessories filling a bookshelf or covering your coffee table. Place an extra-tall orchid at the center of your wooden dining table, for example, to draw attention to the traditional piece of furniture while still keeping it looking sleek and clean with a single accessory.
So… That’s It?
It’s true: your transitional design requires only a balance of what’s old and what’s new. You can easily find that middle ground on your own, updating traditional curves and ornamentation with clean, modern finishes and fixtures. And, by choosing this design style you guarantee your house will be fresh now and classic for longer.
However, if you’re struggling to find your design footing, don’t worry: you can find plenty of inspiration on sites like Pinterest, where more and more home designers are showing off their blended design schemes. You can also enlist the help of a design professional, who will bring your vision to life. No matter what, you’ll come out with a finished product that hits all the right notes.
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.
Every year comes with new trends, no matter what it’s about, clothing or home décor. Home décor is one thing that is very important because it tells a lot about our personal choice and sense of style. Here we have the best home décor trends for 2017:
Technology, technology, technology
In this modern world, the lives of people revolve around their phones, and now our homes will be too. You can now use the technology to make your home appear more and more smarter. You can control so many items that you use in everyday life with the help of technology. From the televisions to the air conditioners, you can manage everything with a single remote or even with your phone. In the coming years and months, more creative ways will be introduced. It is all going to be extremely convenient for all of us and will be quite suitable for the lives we all are living.
Wood
Wood is another popular thing that is being used these days by everyone for the home décor. Wood flooring looks more than amazing and it instantly makes a space look better and expensive. Other than the floor, wood can be used for the ceilings, it will make your room look great in a matter of seconds and last but not the least, wood is great for the wall décor. This trend is here for years now and will stay forever.
Wallpapers
Wallpapers are trending way too much this year. They are kind of a material that is used to cover and decorate walls in the house; you can choose the designs (seismic, high-tech, custom wallpaper printing) and contrast them with the rest of the things in the room for a more suitable look. You don’t have to paint the wall if you are going to use the wallpaper and the best part is that wallpapers will cost you literally nothing as compared to the wall paints. Wallpapers are available in lots of colors and designs; markets are full of them. You can choose the one that goes with the theme of your house, if you have bright colored furniture, select the wallpaper in lighter shades and if the furniture is light in color, for example, white or light gray, go for the wallpaper in darker shades like navy blue or maroon.
Lighting
Lighting is important. It is that one thing which gives a final touch to the whole space. If the lighting is good, your space will automatically look great, and in the case lighting is bad; your space can never look good no matter how much you spend on it. You can get a nice chandelier for your house to hang in the living room or dining area. It will add a look of luxury to your space.
The colorful curtains and rugs
Curtains and rugs are an absolute necessity when we talk about the home décor. They accommodate the room pretty well and help complete the overall look of a house. Add colorful curtains and rugs to your space and make it look all bright and beautiful. There is a great variety of both available in the markets these days, choose the one you think is better.
Other than all these things, don’t forget to keep the best comforter in your living room, after all your living room should be comfortable for those afternoon naps. All these simple things are on trend and great for the home décor. Stay safe!
About the Author:
This post is written by Julie Austin. She loves traveling, home decorating and hanging out with her friends. She regularly blogs at http://mybedcomforter.com/
Many people forget to care for their retractable awning once it’s installed and keep using it every day and for months and years till one day they realize that multiple problems have developed with the uncared for awning. The awning may stop rolling in or out smoothly, or may develop mildew and fungi, or may have too coarse and thick covering of dust on it to make it frizzy, etc. Most of these problems can be avoided easily with a little maintenance and periodic cleaning. A clean and well-maintained outdoor retractable awning would last for many years. Here are some expert tips and steps to clean your outdoor awnings.
Retractable Shade Awnings
Steps for general cleaning
A general cleaning is advised every month to keep the awning in good health. This just needs a broom and a water hose.
Clean the awning fabric outside and inside with a broom
Now clean the awning with a jet of water and use only cold water
Allow the fabric to air dry completely before you retract it
This cleaning is required once a month, and without any serious steps, the awning will keep looking nice and shining with this much care. However, you need to clean the retractable shade awning once in 2 to 3 years with soap water.
Soap water cleaning steps
To clean the awning with soap water, use only mild soaps, and avoid the use of harsh chemical and detergents. Also, use only cold water for this.
Use a broom to clean the fabric outside and inside very well.
Now with a hose of cold water, wet the fabric.
Make soap water solution, and then sprinkle the solution on fabric and gentle rinse in patches with a soft brush. Start from the bottom and move upwards.
Now leave the soap water and give some time for the soap to work, as it loosens the dirt.
Now rinse off the soap with cold water.
Allow the fabric to air dry completely
Retract it
All types of dirt and stains can be removed from outdoor awnings when you use the right cleaner for the problem. Oil stains, paint stains, bird droppings, mold and mildew, rust stains, and everything will be gone with the right cleaner.
Facts you must know to keep the awning good
Besides cleaning the awning periodically, there are some words of caution, which you must know and follow. They are:
Shrubs and vines, which twine around the awning or touch it, may contain chemicals and acids, which will slowly corrode the fabric and the metal bar. Hence, you should try to keep such elements away from the awning and prune shrubs and vines nearby.
Never retract an awning while the fabric is still wet. This way the fabric will develop molds and mildew on it, and eventually smell awfully bad, and freeze while rolling on or out.
The awning frame is made of aluminum like metal, which does not demand much cleaning etc. Hence, you may loosely broom it in a month and forget.
Never wet the motor part of the awning. Wetting the framework or the motor will bring trouble.
Outdoor retractable awnings need little and general care mostly
Generally, retractable shade awnings are made of stain and mold resistant fabrics, which are treated accordingly to show such characteristic. However, when too much of dirt builds up, then molds may grow not directly on the fabric, but on the dirt clumps. Hence, a periodic cleaning ensues that you won’t face challenge while retracting the awning or rolling it out. It will look fresh and stay as it is for longer period of time.
Even if you are handy around the house, there are still quite a few repairs and upgrades that you should never tackle alone. Carrying out certain projects without professional training could potentially result in expensive damage that your home insurance policy won’t cover. An experienced contractor is going to have all the proper permits and policies to insure their work and protect you from future financial problems. Here is a look at three common home improvement projects that you might want to leave to the professionals.
Installing Appliances That Use Water
Plugging in a new microwave or toaster isn’t the same as installing a dishwasher or washing machine. Even a minor mistake during the installation could result in a leak, and a few drops an hour will waste hundreds of gallons of water every year. If you are uncomfortable installing those types of appliances, then you should speak with the company that sold you the device. Many home improvement stores offer discounts on their installation services or free installations if you buy certain brands or products.
Replacing or Repairing a Roof
Patching a roof is more complicated than most homeowners realize, and it is one of the most dangerous projects that you can carry out on your own. Experienced roofing contractors, like the professionals at Stevens Roofing Corporation, utilize a variety of different tools and gear to keep themselves safe while working that far above the ground. Homeowners who want to avoid expensive damage down the road should check their roofs for leaks and cracks once every few months. You might also need to replace the roof entirely if it is more than 15 years old.
Upgrading the Lighting
Installing new bulbs is a great way to cut back on your electric bills, but you might not want to change the fixtures on your own. Not only is there the possibility of getting shocked, but a damaged or exposed wire could result in an electrical fire. Even if you install everything correctly, the new fixture could still overload the system and cause the breaker to constantly pop. Other than plugging in appliances and changing out old bulbs, you need to leave all electrical work to a licensed electrician.
Before working with any contractor on a new project, you must make sure that they are licensed, bonded, and properly insured. Hiring an unlicensed contractor could lead to huge fines, and it might even put your family in danger if the repairs aren’t carried out correctly. Most residential projects that involve changes to the primary structure or mechanical systems of a home must be approved by a local governing body. Some contractors and homeowners use permit service companies to expedite the approval process.
Whether you’re trying to sell your home or simply upgrade it for your own enjoyment, additions do not have to be that pricey. OK, OK, so as you haven’t been born yesterday you do know that any high-quality improvements to your house – the only type worth doing – won’t be as cheap as your daily shop. But the following additions have been selected for their relative low cost and high impact.
The seven recommended additions are applicable to you especially if you feel like modernizing your house, have guests to stay with specific needs, are buying or selling your home and are aware of updates needed.
Garden
It’s always easy to forget the outside area and palm it off as a “dad-job” for a Sunday in the far far distance! Sometimes those days arrive sooner than you think and a good job too because taking care of your outside area is as important as your house.
Built-in seating can be a great alternative to expensive garden furniture and one way to make your outside space guest-friendly and welcoming in a matter of days. Recycling concrete blocks and stacking to make a rectangular bench can be transformative. Top with an upholstered foam mattress and pillows and you’re good to go!
Patio
Patios are pretty self-maintaining year round aside from the odd weeding but if you want them to be extra special you could consider putting in a little more care. More and more folks have opted for patio walls over the last few years to create a homelier space. Adding in a custom-built fireplace to the area will make your regular patio every home-owner’s hosting dream. If you need to start from scratch you certainly can build your own patio yourself and save on the tiresome labor costs!
Railings
Injuries do unfortunately happen regardless of your capabilities and a railing to help you get around the bathroom and in and out of the bath itself is a must. These guys are quite literally a life-saver. Whether in or outside the house – preferably both depending on the terrain – railings give much needed support as well as detail. Protect you, your family and your guests with railings where you need them the most – they can be beautifully designed to match your preferences, too!
Smart Appliances
Smart appliances are the quickest way to add value to your kitchen, your house and to your life! We all know a good real estate agent will make the most out of these centerpieces of our kitchen – dishwasher, fridge-freezer, oven and microwave. If yours could do with some updating it may be time to take the plunge. They can instantly modernize your kitchen into a chic and sleek operating room – stainless steel appliances are still a la mode – and raise your house-cred immeasurably.
Connectivity, intelligent communication and full-on integration is what people want in their new appliances to the point where your fridge will text you when you run out of an ingredient! If you don’t have that much to spend on a major appliance, try revolutionizing your kitchen routines with some of these portable options, however you might want to check second hand options before giving up!
Lighting
Much like your smart appliances, improving your lighting game is a quick and easy addition to your household that will bring admirers wide and far! Looking at spotlights for example bring a welcome minimalist feel to a home whilst not massively interfering with your interior décor. Lighting is also an easy way to bring balance to a room through adding or taking away warmth depending on the style of fitting and the glow emitted.
Lighting should be uniform throughout your house to some degree to give continuity, therefore if you aren’t careful this can rack up a bill. However, simply moving to energy efficient lights in the meantime will be a fantastic addition to your household.
Upholstery
The DIY and home improvement community has talked about up-cycling a lot for good reason – you have unpolished treasures in your room as you read this and you’re considering buying replacements?! A perfect and easy-going initiation into the up-cycling club is re-upholstering a chair, sofa or headboard. It is guaranteed to be far cheaper than buying new furniture, allows you to pick out exactly the material you want and adds to the atmosphere of your room in a relatively low-effort way!
Windows
I won’t start with a quote about windows and eyes and souls, but windows are very important. Seasonal Affective Disorder sufferers are particularly sensitive to amount of light in their living areas and frankly the majority of us are too. So let’s get as much light as possible into your houses! The easiest way to do this without complete overhaul of your existing windows is adding in a sky light where possible.
So, this may be in the same cost ballpark as smart appliances, however adding in a skylight will entirely transform your space and your mood, and add major value if done properly to your property.
Additions do not need to be time consuming, complicated or massively expensive, however they do need to be well thought out. Positioning, overall design and feel and appropriateness all come into play when making changes to your house regardless of how small they might be. But one thing is for sure, simple home additions can bring major positives to your life whether practical and adding convenience or aesthetic and adding comfort!
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.
