Home ideas

Most people view their bedrooms as a quiet, peaceful sanctuary from the world around them. A place to unwind from the day, relax, and prepare for tomorrow. Use some of these tips and suggestions to ensure that your sanctuary provides a restful environment. Keep It Clean, Organized, and Uncluttered  Clutter and disorganization affect emotional well-being, cause stress, and disrupt the peace and serenity of your sanctuary. Your mind tells you to do something about it–even when you are asleep. Clutter in bedrooms takes many forms. Dirty dishes and cups on nightstands.  Clothing piled on the floor.  Books and papers.  Work items.  Unmade bed that greets you every night. Making your bed every morning is a productive way to start the day. Even clutter hidden in closets and kicked under beds makes for subconscious stress and affects peaceful sleep. Too much loud artwork. Ornaments, pictures, and knick-knacks sitting on every level surface. Bright Lighting...

Regular home maintenance is necessary to protect your investment and prevent serious damage. Many repairs like squeaky hinges or burned-out light bulbs are not essential, but some problems need to be attended to as soon as they become apparent. Here are some repairs that you should never ever ignore or procrastinate about. Roof Leaks Leaking roofs cause mold growth in the attic , wet insulation, ceiling damage, rot, structural damage, and possibly electrical issues. Inspect your roof and attic space every year and after severe storms. Signs of possible leaks include: Missing, buckling, or curling shingles. Roof damage–shingles or structural damage. Light shining through the roof into the attic. Moisture or stains on ceiling or walls. Mold in the attic, on the ceiling, or walls. Don’t wait. Fix leaks immediately or call a roofing company. Plumbing Leaks Plumbing leaks are caused by frozen pipes, rusted pipes, damaged pipes, and improper installation or maintenance. Signs of...

Your kitchen may look outdated but not retro. Spending over $30,000.00 on a full kitchen renovation may not fit into your budget. You can modernize your kitchen incrementally with small inexpensive upgrades. Here are some things that make your kitchen look outdated and improvements you can make. Hanging Pots and Pans Not only is this design feature outdated, but it can also be an ugly dust collector that some people can’t reach. Some of the equipment is not even used very often. Remove the rack, patch a few holes in the drywall, keep well-used pans and pots handy, and store the rest. Outdated Light Fixtures Lighting designs change constantly. Some like sunshine ceilings, fluorescent ceiling fixtures, and hanging can lights are all well past their best-before dates. Recessed LED ceiling lights and under-cabinet strip lights provide more focused light and softer light where it is required. Installing under-cabinet lights is a simple DIY project that costs less than $200.00 for the ...

Furnishing a small space requires balancing what you need and what you want. You want the space to be welcoming and comfortable without being cluttered and overpowering. Here are a few helpful tips you can use. Oversized Furniture Furniture set up in a large showroom looks and feels completely different than it does in a small space because most of it is manufactured for larger areas. Large sectionals, chairs, and tables crowded into a small space make it look and feel tiny. People feel crowded. Traffic patterns are disrupted or nonexistent. Room pathways should be 3’ wide to allow easy passage into and around the room. Anything narrower makes the room feel smaller–even if the furniture is not oversized. The room feels cluttered and the occupants feel crowded and uncomfortable. Tall furniture–especially when set in front of windows–appears bulkier because it is closer to normal site lines. They also reduce natural light–making the room feel even smaller. Use a Tape Measure Before...

Living rooms are busy areas of the home, and if you are not careful, they can become a haven for clutter of all kinds. Clearing your living room of unnecessary items will make it more functional for all of your daily activities while also making it more visually appealing. The ultimate goal of decluttering your living room of unnecessary items is to create a space that feels open, calm, and inviting while also encouraging relaxation and freedom of movement. Focus on getting rid of items that no longer serve a purpose, are rarely used, or detract from the room’s overall comfort and aesthetic. You can also prioritize removing unnecessary decorations, unused furniture, and anything that has accumulated through habit rather than intention. 1. Too Many Decorative Items A few candles, vases, and family photos can make a room feel more personal and inviting, but if these pieces are not carefully curated, they can make your room feel cluttered. Removing excess decor can help the pieces you...

Most people want a clean healthy home and expend a lot of effort keeping it that way. Some common cleaning products pose risks you may not want to deal with. Here are some cleaners to keep out of your house. Toxic Cleaning Chemicals To Avoid Most commercial cleaners have toxic substances included in their formulas that affect human and pet health. Some of them are caustic and damage plumbing and furniture. Labeling laws do not require all products included in cleaners to be listed. Or they may be listed using other names. Ammonia Ammonia is a colorless strong-smelling gas easily dissolved in water. It is found in nature and the human body. The small amount of ammonia produced by your body is essential for building proteins and complex molecules. Manufactured concentrated ammonia used in cleaning products is not the same and can be dangerous. Uses . Breaks down grease and stains. Does not damage porcelain, tile, and countertops. Used in multiple all-purpose cleaners, window clea...

Hot water washes kill bacteria and sanitize clothes. They can also do irreparable harm to some clothing items. Here are some things best kept out of hot water washes. Delicate Items Silk, lace, wool, and other delicate items need to be washed in cold water. Hot water washes cause shrinking, tearing, fading, and size distortion. For extra protection, wash them in a mesh laundry bag. Dark Items Washing dark clothes in hot water can cause fading and color bleeding onto other items in the washing machine. You can possibly ruin an entire load of laundry. Washing in cold water and turning clothes inside out preserves colors. Blood and Wine Stained Items Washing blood-stained or wine-stained items in hot water sets the stain. It will be there forever. Other stains like mustard and ketchup are almost as bad. Spot treat all stains with cold water and bar soap, liquid laundry detergent, or laundry presoak–then wash according to instructions. Athletic and Workout Items It is natural to w...

Building a new home is a very complicated project–even when you hire a builder. You can never have too much information. Builders do not always volunteer all the information they have. Here are some things you need to know. You Can Get a Pre-Move-In Inspection Get an independent inspection done before taking possession of your new home. Many people assume that a newly built home is close to perfect and skip this step. Inspections are not expensive and an inspector may find problems–small or large–that can be remedied before you move in. Get Everything In Writing Don’t make verbal agreements. Your contract should contain as much detailed information as possible–such as timelines, costs, payment details, specifications, and how any changes are to be addressed. Detailed written contracts help prevent misunderstandings and ensure your new home is what you are paying for. Do as much research as possible before signing a contract. If the contract and blueprints specify things like type...

Bedrooms are personal spaces that should be a retreat from the outside world, but sometimes these most private spaces can begin to feel lackluster and out of style. Rather than letting outdated trends dictate your bedroom design, knowing what new looks are available can help you make small changes to make your bedroom feel exciting and fresh. Aside from aesthetic considerations, these outmoded trends can limit functionality and clash with emerging new personal preferences like warm earth tones and sustainability. Refreshing your space into a more harmonious setting that better fits with contemporary lifestyles and design principles begins with understanding outmoded bedroom design trends. Bedroom design trends are constantly evolving, but even if you aren’t interested in keeping up with the latest and greatest design ideas, having an idea of what is not trending now will help you to make wiser choices moving forward. Heavy Matching Furniture Sets Matching furniture sets, in which...

With most of the major paint brands having released their colors of the year, it’s easy to see what color trends will dominate in 2025 and which will stay in 2024. If you’re ready to get a jumpstart on decorating, here are some of the most popular ideas to try out. Deep Browns, Purples, and Reds will Dominate If you like dramatic shades, 2025’s color trends will be right up your alley. Dark shades of brown, purples with a brown undertone, and deep reds have all been named the colors of the year. Some top contenders include Behr’s Color of the Year, Rumor , a deep ruby red, and C2 Paint’s Raku , an earthy red-brown shade. Purple lovers can try Glidden’s pick for 2025, Purple Basil, and Benjamin Moore’s pick, Cinnamon Slate. All of these colors create a deep, moody effect that can make your home feel more upscale and cozy. Color Drenching for a Dramatic Effect Remains Popular Color drenching emerged as a major trend in 2024 and shows no sign of slowing down. It involves painting a...

Houseplants have an amazing way of making any home feel more vibrant and fresh. Most houseplants serve to enhance the atmosphere, improve the air quality, and provide a sense of calm, but not all plants are suitable for your home’s interior. Indeed, some of them may pose hidden risks to children or pets. Certain plants can also trigger allergies or require living conditions that are difficult for any but the most experienced plant owner to maintain. Before you select a plant, it is essential to understand a particular plant’s drawbacks to ensure that it fits your lifestyle and environment. A more thoughtful plant selection will allow you to create a worry-free and hassle-free garden. Always consider your own circumstances when choosing which houseplants for your living space. Not everyone’s home environment, lifestyle, and household partners are the same, so it makes sense that your houseplant choices might be different from those of your neighbor. For instance, a houseplant that is...

Everybody loves a clean house and most people look for quick, easy, and effective ways to clean, disinfect, and sanitize. Here are 10 of the best ways to accomplish that. Disinfect Your Equipment Use hot soapy water and bleach to disinfect your cleaning equipment. Germs, bacteria, and mold can build up on brushes, sponges, rags, and drying cloths. Keep them clean to prevent spreading germs around the house. Dryer Sheet Dusting Dryer sheets are excellent at picking up dust. After drying clothes, recycle them into dust cloths–then throw them out. Let It Soak When used to clean a grimy bathroom , almost all cleaning products are more effective when left to soak into the dirt. Commercial cleaners and DIY products like vinegar and baking soda work the same. Coat everything to be cleaned and let it sit for at least 10 minutes to give the cleaner and disinfectant time to work on the dirt. Use a soft bristle brush, scrubber sponge, or soft cloth to remove the grime. Then rinse and dry ...

[Advertisement – this post is based on a press stay, but all words and opinions are my own.]  I often dream of getting a group of friends and family together for Christmas, a New Year celebration, a big birthday or just a weekend of fun and relaxation. And now I’ve found the perfect venue for it – Tregulland in northern Cornwall . Set in a secluded valley on the edge of rugged Bodmin Moor, Tregulland consists of a five-bedroom barn conversion and a neighbouring six-bedroom cottage, which between them sleep up to 22 people. It’s recently had a makeover and a few weeks ago Chris and I were invited down to check it out – just what we needed to escape the nerves around my then-impending book launch and unwind for a few days. We arrived on a late-September afternoon, the landscape around us getting progressively wilder and the traffic thinning out to nothing as we turned off the A30 dual carriageway onto the A39 and then the single-track lane that winds down to Tregulland itself...