Remodeling Your Home in 4 Easy Steps

Remodeling Your Home in 4 Easy Steps

No matter how big, new or fancy your home is, renovating it from time to time is something you simply have to do. Even though most people don’t like doing that, these things will take your home’s visual appeal to a whole new level, and make it more practical at the same time. However, not all home renovations are the same, and you need to pick the right ideas first. Doing that might take some time, so here are a few remodeling ideas you might want to look into.

Make it eco-friendly

More and more people realize that our planet is heading towards an ecological disaster, which is why they’re getting ready to do something about it. While you can’t do much on your own on the global level, you can certainly make a difference in your own area. Making your home eco-friendly and sustainable is one of the things you should do. Turning this idea into reality is easier than you think, so start simple, small and easy. Place your light bulbs with those LED ones, install double glazed energy-efficient windows, add solar panels to your roof, and switch to eco-friendly appliances. These things don’t look like a lot at first, but they’ll make a massive change, so start exploring them straight away.

Update your kitchen

This is one of those expensive and complex projects out there, but it’s one of those that make the most sense. Updating your kitchen and making it look amazing takes some time and energy, but it’s all worth your while. You can stick to simple projects like repainting your cabinets and replacing handles, or you can do something a bit more expensive. Remodeling your kitchen includes getting new cabinets, countertops, and appliances, but don’t forget to opt for energy-efficient models only.

Designing a home theater

This is one of the most exciting projects out there, and something every member of your family is going to appreciate. Turning a spare bedroom into a home theater isn’t just a great way to get your family another hangout spot, but will also boost the value of your property. This is particularly important, especially if you’re trying to sell your home in the future. Still, before actually creating a home theater, you need to get ready – logistically, financially, and emotionally. Doing this is quite hard, but if you spend some time preparing for a partial home renovation, you’ll be all right. Try to learn as much as you can in advance, and figure out what needs to be done, and your renovation will be smoother than you think.

Fix the façade

This is one of the most important features of every luxurious home, and it’s also something that will boost your curb appeal and make your home even more inviting. But, before you can enjoy your home better than ever, you need to check the façade and figure out what to do with it. Most people don’t do this and end up finding out about mold, ants, and other dangers only after purchasing the property. That’s why you should fix the façade – on your own or call a guy – and make it more appealing than it’s ever been. This will take your home to the next level, and introduce a new dose of luxury to your already luxurious place.

Regardless of their size and age, all homes require love, care, and attention, and your home is no different. If you put your mind to it and find a few projects that can go a long way, you’ll be making the right decision and spicing up your living space once and for all!

 Guest Contributor, Diana Smith

The Ultimate Guide To Surviving Your Bathroom Renovation

The Ultimate Guide To Surviving Your Bathroom Renovation

Want to update your bathroom without spending a huge amount on the renovation? By making some slight adjustments and changes in your bathroom, you can easily renovate your bathroom and not spend copious amounts of hours and money working on it.

Take for example, some DIY techniques like re-surfacing, which can be quite costly and not appropriate for the long-term. In order to survive your bathroom renovation, have a look below at some of the ways to help you survive your bathroom renovation:

Make a list

First begin by keeping a list of bathroom accessories that you would like to purchase, such as good quality bathroom sinks, a flushing toilet, bathroom mirror, toilet paper holder, towel holder, bathroom faucet, shower head (rain shower), shower valve, or bathtub.

Choose a design

Before you begin any work, such as tearing up flooring or putting in a new shower head, you should decide what you want your bathroom to look like when finished.

There are many bathroom trends out this year from futuristic styles to vintage brass and gold components and or beautiful tile patterns and shapes to suit your bathroom.

Set a budget

One of the best approaches to stay away from costly renovation is to set a budget and stick to it. Take a moment to sit down and calculate the different costs from the materials to the cost of extras, fixtures, and fittings that are within your budget.

Also, to survive your bathroom renovation you should definitely set aside some money, in case of any unforeseen turns.

Prepare sanitary products before beginning work

Everything from the bath, sink, toilet, taps, and the shower should be decided on and ready to go before you begin plastering and tiling. This is to ensure all the pipes and waste are in their correct position.

1.   Shower

Consider some important features of a shower during the renovation, for example, the best shower drains, shower curtains and shower heads. You can pick a settled or hand-held shower head, or rain or waterfall showers that suit the structure of your new design.

2.   Sink

To really modernize your bathroom, and if it fits within your budget and if space allows you, then you could decide on his and hers sinks.

3.   Bath

There are so many beautiful bathtubs to choose from so it is important to choose one to fit within your original design. From freestanding tubs to bathtubs with that utilization minimal space, or simple access baths for those with an incapacity.

Fittings and fixtures

First, choose a vanity unit that is of good quality but affordable, one that will last for years to come. Then move on and consider a couple of necessary extras, new tapware, and a toilet. 

The fittings and fixtures that you pick will determine the functionality level of your bathroom, and select low-cost items that will have you paying only a fraction of the price.

Make your renovation pop

One feature that can really make your bathroom renovation pop is using floor or wall tiles. It really brings out the overall design of your bathroom, and it can be an easy enough job if you are choosing floor tiles over wall tiles. Choose a shade and shape that works in with your original design, it will all contribute to the vibe of the space design bathroom.

Installing lights

Consider the region you live in; you may need a dampness verification or heat lighting. As well, to fit within your budget it is advisable to choose LED lights, they are good for the environment and they use less energy compared to other lights, saving you money in the long run.

A bathroom renovation can be done with minimal effort and still look as modern as before. You should de-mess, revive tired looking parts, and apply a couple of other techniques and thoughts.

 Guest Contributor, Megan Hudson

Decorating with Rugs: the Essentials

Decorating with Rugs: the Essentials

When a room starts to appear dull and boring, replacing a rug might solve the problem. Even though most people see it just as an accessory, the right rug can change the entire feel of the room and set the foundation of the entire design. By playing with its colour, pattern, shape and size, you can add more interest and vibrancy to your space and use the rug to visually tie together various elements, give it a stronger definition and add more warmth and style. Here are several different ways to decorate a room with rugs.

Make Sure to Get the Right Size

It might be tricky to determine the right rug size for your room since in this case, bigger isn’t necessarily better. A rug that is too big can swallow the room and take away from the beauty of your hardwood flooring, and a tiny rug can chop up a room and make it seem disconnected.

The general tip is to pick a rug that is 3 feet smaller in length and width than your room. These bare edges will make the room seem bigger. Dining room rugs should be at least 24 inches wider than the edge of your dining table so the back legs of chairs can stay on the rug even when pulled out to allow your guest to sit. As for runners, they should be about 4 inches narrower and 18 to 24 inches shorter than your hallway, but large enough to have both of your feet on the rug as you pass through.

Use Rugs to Define Areas

Rugs can be a very effective tool in defining spaces, both small studio apartments and large rooms equally well. In smaller spaces, leave a narrow strip of the floor visible to make the room appear bigger and brighter, and in larger rooms, experts’ advice is to have the front legs of your furniture on the rug and the back legs off. It unifies the area without cutting it off form the rest of the room.

You can also use the rug as a focal point and make a strong impact. The trick is to create a contrast by painting your walls in one of the rug accent colours. And, don't think that a rug has to be a rectangle. Sometimes a square, round or oval shape can complement your furniture arrangement better than a classic rectangular one.

Set up a colour scheme

Your rug of choice can be used to set the basis of your colour scheme, or if you introduce it later, it can emphasise and tie in your existing colour scheme. You can use a rug can visually soften the room or add more accent. Bear in mind that achieving balance is the point of good design, so don’t overdo it. If your walls are soft and neutral, go with a bold coloured rug, and vice versa.

Choosing among so many different colours and patterns can be overwhelming, so you might decide to buy your rugs onlinesince there you will usually have a much bigger choice of rugs and more affordable prices. 

Achieve harmony and variety

Rugs add a touch of playfulness and variety to a room, but you need to be careful how you size and position them. If you’re planning on using two rugs, variety will be achieved with different sized rugs. Otherwise, the room will be visually cutin two.

Make sure the two rugs complement each other in style or the final result will be awkward and unpleasant. Too many different styles and patterns will disrupt the harmony. 

Use rugs as decorative tools

Rugs can be great decorative tools if used correctly. For instance, by changing both your pillows and rugs with the changing of seasons, you'll easily transform the room and make it appear trendy and fresh. And if you hang your rug on the wall, you'll have an original focal point.

The bottom line is that anything can work, it all depends on what you find most appealing and what can create the best effect in your home.

Guest Contributor, Lillian Connors

5 Good Reasons For Renovating and Remodelling Your Home

5 Good Reasons for Renovating and Remodelling Your Home

Home renovations can be pretty difficult and challenging, especially if you feel like all the other kitchens and bathrooms you see are perfect, whereas yours are outdated. Sometimes, people remodel their homes because they need to update something, but there are also cases when they only want their homes to be modern and in pristine condition. If you’re not sure whether you should renovate and remodel your home, we give you a list of 5 reasons why you should do so:

It will increase your home’s value

In case you decide one day to sell your home, potential buyers will appreciate the effort you’ve put into remodelling as well as the upgrades you've made. Work well-done means you took care of your home, and kitchens and bathrooms with modern appliances and fixtures will make people understand that you’ve invested plenty of time and money to get the desired results.

Keeping up with trends

You might have been admiring photos of beautiful homes for a long time, but who is to say that you can’t make your home look that way? You can easily add not only a scullery, but standout alfresco areas too, and have your home resemble a miniature palace or a minimalist Japanese home. If you follow trends, it’s easy to find inspiration there and invest your time and money into making your dream home reality.

Your energy bills will be lower

If you live in an old home, chances are that it is not very energy-efficient, which means that you’re probably spending more money on bills than you expect. By renovating and upgrading your home, you can make it more energy efficient, thus saving money in the long run. Great roof restoration services will save you the trouble of having to do minor repairs every few weeks; LED lights will save electricity, and water saving faucets and shower heads will significantly lower your water consumption. Upgraded kitchen appliances will also help you save money on electricity and reduce your carbon footprint.

Restoring a character home

A number of old and neglected homes are actually hidden gems whose glow you can restore with a little bit of careful planning and a few well-timed projects. Renovating such homes is a real challenge but it definitely brings a reward because you will end up with a character home that looks like it travelled back in time. Of course, it’s necessary to do your research first, so that you can focus on features that are specific to a particular historic style. Uneven floors, old plumbing, and poor structural support are common problems that contractors have to face when restoring such homes. For this reason,  you should leave a bit more room in your budget than you first thought.

You won’t have to wait long

Just a few years ago, if you had had the need to call a contractor, you would have waited months at a time before they came over. This was because good contractors used to be very scarce and they were very busy, but today you can easily find available contractors. This means that your projects won’t have to wait long and you can rest assured that it will only take a few days after you’ve signed a contract for people to show up at your doorstep with tools.

If you love your home, you will also embrace every opportunity to improve and upgrade it. You can think about redecorating, upgrading, renovating, remodelling, and even extending your home so that the result is precisely what you hoped it would be. Your lifestyle will be improved, you will be content, and in case you want to sell your home some day, you will be able to get a better price.

Check out A+ Construction & Remodeling for more details on remodeling.

Guest Contributor, Diana Smith