5 Tips To Make Every Room In The House Stylish

5 Tips to Make Every Room in the House Stylish

Stylish and nicely decorated home feels much better and is much more attractive than a home that’s filled with clutter. Thanks to the various interior design ideas, now you can turn your plain-looking home into a sophisticated living area you’ll enjoy every day. If you don’t really know where to begin and how to turn your living room, bathroom and the rest of the house into a chic place, check out the following suggestions.

Reduce Clutter

Clutter is the last thing you want in your home. Cluttered home represents a cluttered mind, so be sure to keep the house as neat as possible and you’ll see that you’ll feel both better and able to enjoy your home. Any garbage, leftovers, and knickknacks you don’t really need around should be disposed of. Just keep the necessities and either throw away the rest or give it to charity. Clutter tends to accumulate fast and if you don’t pay attention, you’ll easily end up with a pile of magazines next to your sofa and with too many little figurines cramping your shelves.

Keep Stuff Where it Belongs

In addition to removing the clutter, you should also make sure to keep things in their place. This means keeping the children’s toys in the toy crates or boxes, and kitchen accessories and utensils in the drawers or pinned to a wall. You can organize the kitchen supplies any way that it works for you as long as the kitchen counters and the rest of the room are neat. Use shelves in the living room to stack books, flowers or any decorative items you like and it will look chic and well-organized.

Decorate

Decorating the living room will give it a special touch and add your trademark to it.  Adding a stylish rug to the space or putting a pair of fashionable curtains is a great way to make the room look sophisticated. Pieces of art, such as paintings and sculptures, bring out the best in a room, so feel free to decorate the area by hanging some paintings on the walls. Flowers and scented candles will be a perfect touch to your otherwise plain living room.

Redesign the Bathroom

Believe it or not, the bathroom is one of the rooms in the house that leaves the strongest impression on your guests. Therefore, it’s imperative that you add a bit of glam to it. A stylish mirror with built-in lights is a great way to make the bathroom look glamorous. Furthermore, you can find excellent shower screens in Brisbane that will hide the tub, and turn the bathroom into a pretty-looking space. Browse through several stores and pick those that are both affordable and trendy. Additionally, think about remodeling the entire bathroom by placing a new set of tiles, sink and toilet as well. White is the best choice, with a mixture of black or grey.

Lighting Makes a Difference

Lighting plays a huge role in your home design, so be sure your living room, dining room, bedroom, kitchen and bathroom are properly illuminated. Go for LED instead of incandescent bulbs and have the gorgeous lighting in every room. What’s more, install a fashionable chandelier or vintage scones on the walls and transform the room entirely.  Just be careful ‒ always think about the size of the room first. You don’t want to end up with an enormous chandelier in a 10room.

Making the home look stylish has never been easier. If you get rid of all the clutter and keep things where they belong, you’ll create a comfortable home in no time. Be sure to dedicate some time to remodeling the bathroom and installing proper lighting, so that your home can look stylish and chic.

Guest Contributor, Diana Smith

Introduction To Instant Hot Water Heaters & It's Benefits: Tankless Water Heaters

Introduction To Instant Hot Water Heaters & Its Benefits: Tankless Water Heaters

Instant hot water is of the latest products of advanced technology. Technology never fails to amaze people with the usefulness of new products that make our life better and convenient. These water heaters have changed the way people heat water, just like the introduction of how microwave changed things for the food industry. Instant water heaters are also known as tankless water heaters. They heat water on demand and also save energy required to heat water in your home. These tankless heaters are readily available on both power sources like the gas and electric. Many companies realized the benefit of these heaters and provide quality instant heaters for residential and commercial usage. 

People who follow tight schedule cannot afford to waste time waiting for the hot water to get their work done. They have other things which need to be attended to that gets hampered and delayed. For people who enjoy leisure showers, this concept will change their life as they don’t have to wait or face any kind of discomfort of hot water running out. These heaters are the one stop solutions for their problems. This heater come in various sizes and can also heat the water for the entire house. The size of your water heater will mostly depend on the requirement. 

There are many benefits of using tankless water heaters than the old tank heaters. These are more efficient and cost effective than the standard water heaters. The amount of energy they require is less than the traditional water heaters. Hot water is available as soon as you turn the tap on. Instant water heater ensures that you get a steady flow of hot water as long as you want to stay in the shower. They also come with a thermostat control with which you can set the temperature. If you have a big house with many bathrooms, you can install more than one tankless water heater to save yourself the trouble when every morning people in your family go for a shower at the same time, you need not worry about who gets the last drip of hot water from the tank. 

The place where you live and your geographic location also play an important part in the usage of these heaters. It’s pretty simple to understand that people who live in a colder climate will require hot water as a basic necessity to survive from the cold and also for carrying out their daily household chores like dish washing, laundry, bathing etc. The energy that will be required to heat up in a warmer climatic zone will be less as compared to colder climate. Before you make any purchase make sure you select the ideal water heater looking at your geographical zone. By carrying out this research you will come to know which type of water heater model is suitable for your location. 

These tankless water heaters are slowly gaining a lot of importance and popularity because they require less maintenance. They are the ideal option for houses which do not have a large amount of space as these heaters are compact and require less space. 

Many house owners prefer this instant hot water heater as they end up costing less in the long run. It is also environment-friendly. They are used both for commercial and residential applications. Make sure you do your part of research before you opt for instant water heaters. Also, keep in mind the budget. You will not only save money but also water if you introduce these instant hot water heaters into your home. Online stores may at times offer good discounts on these products making it cheaper.

Author Bio:

Joseph Webb is an excellent blogger and philosophers, His keen observation to provide useful information which helps readers to get more ideas. He can be found on Google+ and on Twitter as @aussiesmag.

**Our favorite tankless water heater brand to install is A.O. Smith. We have had a GREAT success rate with their Tankless products.

6 Things You Need To Do Before You Move Into A New Place

6 Things You Need to Do Before You Move into a New Place

Starting a life in a new home can be exciting, but calls for certain precautions. While you may want to just lay down the furniture, create a unique layout of your favorite pieces in the house, and start enjoying your new home, you must check for leaks, breakage and clean up the house. However, there is a bit more to the entire pre-moving process.

Check the Leaks

Double-checking the plumbing in the house, as well as the potential fuse box malfunction is essential before you move into a new home. While your inspector should notify you about possible plumbing damages beforehand, they may overlook this step. That’s why you should be attentive and check if there are any broken pipes or damaged faucets. Better safe than sorry.

Pest Control

It’s vital that you check if there is any pest problem that needs to be solved. Therefore, if you have time, be sure to go to your new home a day or two before you move in, and contact the exterminators at Aptive Environmental in Illinois. Set a few bug bombs or have the exterminator spray the place before all the furniture is in the house. This way, it’ll be easier for you to catch the insects and rodents than when the entire place is fully furnished.

Change the Locks

When you’ve taken care of all the possible pests and checked the leaks, it’s time to secure the home against burglars. Changing the locks on the exterior doors is paramount; so, be sure to do it as soon as possible. What’s more, start building your security system by installing an alarm. No matter how safe the neighborhood is, a burglar will use any opportunity to break in and make your house a mess. 

Clean the House

Hygiene is vital in every home; so, before you move in, be sure that the place is spotless. No matter how clean the house may look, start from scratch and wash everything. Get the buckets, brooms, mops, and a vacuum ready, and clean the entire place up. When you’re done with sweeping, washing and vacuuming, don’t forget to check the garage as well. Maybe some of the rubbish has left there from the previous owners, so you should clean it and make room for your own workshop. It’s essential that everything is clean and tidy so that all the tools, screwdrivers and Allen key sets can be properly organized when you start moving in.

Paint the Walls

Once the house is cleaned up, you should also consider painting the walls. While the color of the walls might be the one you already like, you should still think about painting them altogether. Not only for the aesthetic reasons, but for the hygienic ones as well. What’s more, if the walls are slightly damaged somewhere, this will require some professional help. That’s why you should hire someone to help you with the remodelling, and speed up the process.

New Switch Plates

Dirty and discolored cover plates are common in many houses. What’s more, mismatched outlets and rusted or damaged air vent covers shouldn’t surprise you either. This is especially true if the house is old and it hasn’t been renovated for a while. Therefore, we suggest you change the outlets after you have painted the walls, and have a brand new home to live in.

Every house needs a few fix-ups before it becomes a home for a new family. Therefore, be sure to check for any pest problems, leaks, and electricity malfunction. What’s more, clean the place from top to bottom, paint it the way you like it, and secure it against burglars. Only then will you be able to live in a fabulous home, and have a peace of mind.

Guest Contributor, Diana Smith

Understanding Blocked Drains and Ways To Prevent Them

Understanding Blocked Drains And Ways To Prevent Them

The familiar sound of gurgling from the drain and overflowing is taxing for everyone, especially for the residents. Blocked drains are frustrating plumbing problems for residents and can occur in various places including toilets, storm water lines, kitchens, and bathrooms. These blocked drains are often caused because of negligence and disposal of waste in the wrong way. However, as they say, old habits die hardly and thus it is a serious concern leading to over clogging, blockage of pipes creating havoc in your bathroom, kitchen and other areas of the house too. So, here is a guide to handle these issues.

Understanding causes of blocked drains

The little things add up to drainage issues rather than short-term problems. Here are some of the most common ones. If your answer checks the yes in most cases, then you are also the victim to this issue-

• Throwing waste right down the drain is perhaps one of the biggest issues that most people face with clogging of drains. In this case, bigger chunks of foods and other particles block your drains.

• Another common cause of these blocked drains would have to be the use of grease or animal fat that goes down the drain. These butter, oil, etc. eventually sticks to the side of the pipes. In such cases it causes other particles to stick there thus clogging the drains more.

• Last, but not the least do remember that hair particles, throwing little plastic things into your drain, etc. too leads to clogging. Another aspect here is that many people do throw sanitary napkins into the drains, which causes clogging. So beware of these.

Managing blocked drains

There are different ways to manage and care your drains. You can manage blocked drains in the following ways. Here, are some ideas that can be helpful.

Think of preventive measures

One of the best thing you can do is, try to prevent the clogging of these drains bystop throwing things into them. So as a rule of thumb, rather than disposing grease directly into the kitchen pipe, use a bin. In addition, for the bathroom use the drain covers that covers properly and allow only water to flow thus, preventing your hair and other such elements from going into the pipe and causing blocked drains.

Do regular cleaning

There is no doubt that regular maintenance is something that will improve the life of your drain and help you to ensure that your drains don’t clog that easily. So, the first step to keep in mind here is that you should opt for simple and regular cleaning methods. There are a few effective methods. Some of them are:

• Draining down hot water every night or every 2-3 days through the drain is known to prevent blocked drains. It helps in getting rid of stubborn fat and other greasy elements.

• You can also make a solution using baking soda, hot water, and vinegar and pour it down the lane. Just make sure that you don’t use the drain for the next few hours or so after doing this.

• Beside these, there are also a lot of regular drain cleaners available in the market. These are simple commercial ones available at grocery markets or departmental stores. Get one of these and use as instructed to prevent the blocked drains.

Do keep in mind that rather than calling a plumber, these measures to fix and prevent clogging of drains are more effective. Not only will you be able to save time and drainage hassles, but also prevent wastage of money, which a plumber would charge for cleaning up your drain.

Guest Contributor, Amelie Lawrence 

Several Splendid Bathroom Window Treatments

Several Splendid Bathroom Window Treatments

One thing is certain, the bathroom is a private sanctuary designed for relaxing experiences and coming up with ground-breaking inventions while on the throne. So, it goes without saying that bathroom windows should give you a feeling of privacy and security without the risk of giving the neighbors something to talk about. Unless you are a complete extrovert and a bit of an exhibitionist, that is.

Either way, your bathroom windows should complement the bathroom with their own style and décor, and that is why you should read the following ideas for some wonderful window treatments that will brighten up the room and create a feeling of comfort, privacy and relaxation.

A Classic Shade

You can create a feeling of a hot relaxing day at the beach by hanging roman shades on the windows. Their shorter style and checkered patterns will complement the brightness of the day and produce just enough shade so that you are not blinded by the sun, while the color patterns can go with almost any type of bathroom décor.

You can also lower the shade if needed but it’s mostly suited for fixed treatments. These shades usually come in a warm brown color tone and the fabric complements the tones found throughout the rest of the bathroom in both tiles and cabinetry.

A Paris Café Curtain

A mid-window café curtain perfectly complements and gives a finishing touch to an elegant bathroom. Place the curtain on the lower half of the window so that it ensures privacy and gives that cute café window feeling while you’re taking a relaxing bath. This option also enables plenty of sunlight to penetrate the bathroom, giving it a vivid look.

You can choose from a range of patterns and colors that best fit your bathroom décor, so opt for a curtain that will complement the furniture as well as the tiles. Try breaking the monotony of the bathroom by using interesting patterns and subtle colors that will break the conventional white colors of the elements like the bathroom and the toilet.

An Earthy Feel

If you’re someone who loves nature and the feeling of the outdoors, then try treating your bathroom windows with some woven window shades that give the room an earthy and organic feel and come in beautiful wooden patterns that will not only provide privacy but also enable you to control the amount of light coming in.

These shades work with almost any design scheme and combined with some beautiful flowers and plants, they will give a finished look to the room. You can also control the level of privacy by lowering the black-out fabric that most of these shades have.

Floor-length Curtains

Floaty and wave-like curtains come in many colors and patterns and you can use them a number of ways. In order to make the room feel like a beautiful personal oasis, a bright white color is the best choice. You can tie them up or let them hang freely, either way, they will provide complete privacy while letting in loads of sunlight.

Wooden Blinds

A classic solution for bathrooms with privacy issues, especially those situated on the ground level, are the wooden blinds. Usually, these blinds come in plain white, various types of brown colors and even black. They are very easy to operate and provide plenty of privacy with the turn of the wand. They can also provide plenty of sunlight so you have options to choose from. The added benefits are their resistance to moisture when you apply a good finish, and that they are cleaned easily.

Window Films

This is a relatively inexpensive solution to both privacy and protective issues in terms of sunlight protection, heat accumulation and glare reduction. Window films can provide the privacy you need without compromising sunlight and they are a very popular option among homeowners and people whose windows are situated at ground level.

Because of their protective features from sunlight and unwanted glare, a solar control window film combined with double glazing will ensure you have a private environment with all the benefits of full natural lighting, but without the downside heat accumulation.

A Matching Chevron Shade

If you don’t have privacy issues, either because your bathroom is positioned in such a way or it’s your personal choice, you can choose to install a valance or a flat shade that you won’t have to lower too often. Use the same window fabric as the shower curtain to promote cohesion and color patterning in the bathroom.

Guest Contributor, Lillian Connors

Dishwasher: How To Put Your Name On It!

Dishwasher: How to Put Your Name on It

So you have decided it’s high time you went shopping for a new dishwasher after the old one finally broke down, but not before flooding the floor, because it had to go out guns blazing. Well, you’re in luck, because modern dishwashers do pretty much anything along with dishwashing. If you manage to find one that has the morning coffee ready when you wake up, let us now. Until then, with so many choices to choose from on the dishwashing market, let’s take a look at how to choose the perfect one for you.

The Aesthetics

There are plenty of models to choose from and you can opt for a modern, drawer dishwasher or a more traditional look that opens from the top down. A drawer dishwasher can usually be installed at various heights depending on your choice and preference.

Traditional dishwashers are still the most popular and they come in all shapes, colors and sizes, much like the drawer ones, but their doors open from the top. These conventional devices can be installed in accordance of the décor of the room, giving it a clean, complementary look all around.

How Many Tiers

Many modern dishwashers have a third rack built in for storing utensils, which makes them a bit cleaner and easier to unload. Still, plenty of people prefer the adjustable rack rather than a third one as it allows them to adjust the space according to the washing loads. This way you can move the rack to accommodate large pots and pans and the other, to place plates and utensils.

The Performance

Typically, drawer dishwashers can be loaded a bit easier and can handle lighter loads more efficiently, saving time and resources. But that ultimately boils down to the dishwasher itself and you can find more traditional models that are optimized for the exact same type of performance.

However, if you have a family and constantly have large loads of dishes to wash, then a traditional high-top dishwasher would be best suited for your needs. Try to find one that works quietly, so you can keep your sanity while spending time in the kitchen.

On the other hand, when you live in a small place, either alone or with one other person, you would be best off with a smaller, portable dishwasher designed for smaller loads that won’t consume as much energy and water. These options are not only eco-friendly, but also very budget-friendly.

Choosing environmentally-friendly appliances is very important nowadays, not only because it’s a worldwide trend, but because the earth needs your help. A good example of a modern, eco-friendly model is the latest Viking dishwasher that uses small amounts of resources and is silent in the process, as well. With the growing scarcity of natural resources like energy and clean water, you should do your best to contribute to the preservation of the environment by choosing dishwashers that conserve resources and utilize only as much as needed.

The Material

Always opt for a stainless-steel dishwasher; it will be a good long-term investment. Also, be sure to check the arms on the bottom of the dishwasher to check the material – the stainless-steel ones are generally sturdier; they generate better water pressure and have bigger holes. All of this contributes to the amount of water the dishwasher needs to use in order to get the dishes clean. And in this case, it’s far less than models made of different materials.

Think of the Future

Don’t think of the dishwasher as a short-term investment, it’s actually supposed to last you nine to twelve years. If you want your new dishwasher to last as much as the old one did for your parents, then you’ll have to take good care of it, but also opt for a high-quality model that will prove to have been worth the cost. The fact that it will last you for years to come gives you plenty of time to return your investment.

Choosing the right dishwasher can be a rather simple process, if not an enjoyable one, provided you have valuable tips such as these to guide you. Be sure to take your time in finding the perfect match for your home and you can enjoy your sparkling new dishwasher for years to come.

Guest Contributor, Lillian Connors

Equipping Your Dressing Room

Equipping Your Dressing Room

A good, quality dressing room can tell a lot about someone as a person, in addition to being a wonderful sight. Easy as it may seem, designing a perfect room isn’t that simple, which is why we’ve come up with a list of ideas that you can use to come up with a gorgeous dressing room.

Color

Dressing room color hugely depends on its size – some are pretty big, other are pantry-sized. If you’re blessed with a large dressing room, coloring the walls completely white and getting a black bed and black furniture is a fantastic idea. Now give your sleek dressing room a black closet for maximum luxury.

On the other hand, if your dressing room is pantry-sized, you should avoid painting it in black – even though it does evoke a feeling of prestige, if you do so, it will feel dark and dingy; think white, light blue instead.

Mirror

Regardless of how large your dressing room area is, it’s still going to be a smaller room in your home and mirrors can go a long way in making an indoor space appear significantly larger than it really is. Besides, having a mirrorless dressing room doesn’t really make sense – you have to be able to see how you look before leaving the room designed for dressing. Now, placing the mirror (or mirrors) strategically is crucial, so you should do it in a way that makes the room feel longer, rather than wider. If you have a lot of space on your hands, you can install several mirrors, for various angles.

Pro tip: buy a dressing room mirror that will display the true representation of yourself, without making you fatter, thinner, taller or shorter – its purpose is giving you a clear picture of how you look.

Lighting

The mirror you’ve bought excels at reflecting light, but it won’t do you too much good if there’s not enough light around to begin with. Although this issue is present in every room in the house, poorly-lit dressing rooms will make it easy for you to mismatch your colors and types of clothes and you’ll spot a stain on your clothing once you’re already out.

Now, natural lighting is always the best choice, but supplying your dressing room with it isn’t really easy, in fact, it is often completely impossible. Browsing for lighting online will help you find great deals!

Pro tip: buy LED, although these bulbs are more expensive, they will save you money if you are patient enough.

Clothing Assignment and Storage

Designing your dressing room has a lot to do with your clothing storage and assignment – it’s the whole point of the room to begin with! Aim at arranging your clothing from top to bottom, just as you wear your clothes – this will help you imagine how different pieces of clothing will work together, without having to arrange the items on your bed. If you are a watch enthusiast, having a drawer in which to store them is a fantastic idea; it will make you feel like James Bond!

Furniture

If the ‘room’ part of your dressing room is more than just a part of its name; in other words, if it’s really a medium-sized room, you’ll want to equip it with some furniture. Choose the central island as a place for accessory, jewelry and toiletry storage and get a backless chair that will only serve as a place to sit when trying on stuff.

Arranging your stuff in a particular order is the whole point of a dressing room, but doing so without proper lighting, a mirror and clothing storage isn’t a good idea – it will make you leave your stuff all over the place! A large mirror (or mirrors), some quality lighting and a sleek color scheme are the very essentials of a good dressing room.

Guest Contributor, Diana Smith

How To Successfully Link An En Suite Bath And Bedroom

How to Successfully Link an En Suite Bath and Bedroom

If you are wondering how to make the optimal synergy of bathroom and bedroom, with corresponding colors and ambiance that will make that Feng Shui friend of yours very hard to get rid of, you have come to the right place.

In the following article, you will learn the dos and don’ts of en suite linking and how to turn your vision into reality. 

Complementary, but Different

Use the technique of reversing the scheme of the en suite, creating a link between the bedroom and the bathroom. If you have light colors in your bedroom, go for darker tiles in the bathroom with lighter furniture to complement and connect the schemes of the two rooms. Conversely, dark hues in the bedroom correspond with lighter tiles and darker furniture in the bathroom.

Bare the Floor

A great way to add a sense of space to any room is by applying wall-hung fittings to it. Things like vanity units or more modern style designs with shapely legs that will allow you to still see the floor will work perfectly. In order to achieve perfect synergy, equip your bathroom only with furniture that compliments the pieces in your bedroom, by choosing similar finishes and materials.

Design a Smart Storage Solution

Do your best to declutter the space by devoting a bathroom wall to some storage solutions that will free up space and keep all of your essentials nicely packed, leaving the room looking tidy. Also, try implementing various design solutions to create a cozy feel, like displaying decorative items such as shelves, flowers, or figurines.

Use any additional space for storage. For instance, you can put your bathroom essentials in decorative boxes or storage ottomans. Instead of using those stylish shelves to stuff bathroom utensils, put books on them - this will create an intimate feeling and also entice you to catch up on your reading while taking a relaxing bath.

Make Both Rooms Look Bigger

Implementing small changes into the setting, quite literally, can make both rooms seem more spacious and comfortable. The same way you would choose the en suite furniture to match your bedroom furniture, consider making small adjustments to your bedroom as well. Try investing into some DIY shelves and additional storage solutions like decorative boxes, or hanging open nightstands and add a chest at the base of your bed.

Additionally, opting for a bed that perfectly fits your needs will not only accentuate the spaciousness of the room but it will also look amazing. Make sure to invest in a quality mattress that will work wonders for your sleep. And if you don’t have too much space in the sleeping segment and you’ll be the only person using it, deciding on a bed with spacious super single mattress could be a great way to create some additional space and sleep on a bed that perfectly fits your needs. 

Combine Complementary Colors

Color coordination is very important if you want to make two rooms feel like two halves of a whole. En suites are often small but practical rooms designed to offer everything a big bathroom does, so in order to make it feel as spacious as possible, you need to introduce lots of light to it.

Try combining a neutral carpet from your bedroom with porcelain floor in the bathroom; also choose styles that are similar both in tone and color. A good, waterproof floor in the bathroom directly complements a soft, fuzzy carpet in the bedroom.

Choose the Right Finishes

Choosing the right finishes can be a bit tricky and if not done correctly, it can ruin the entire concept of the room. Try to use complementary, yet different upholstery, colors, tiles, fabrics and patterns in order to let the rooms speak their own story but give a feeling that they absolutely need each other. If you do the opposite, the rooms will look forced and distasteful.

Finally, details are the ones that can make or break your overall design. Use an accent color from your bedroom, and implement it in your bathroom through shelves, blinds and other accessories.

When you think about it, designing and successfully linking your bedroom with your en suite can be fun. By following these tips and tricks, you won’t go wrong.

Guest Contributor, Lillian Connors

Decorating On A Dime

We all can have a cleaner and more harmonious home at a fair price. This can be achieved by getting rid of clutter, proper placement of items and paying attention to what's on your walls and doors. My name is Krystal Brown and I run a blog entitled “Freedom in Frugality”. In this quick article, I am going to teach you how to have a more pleasant looking home for pennies. If you find this article useful, please subscribe to my blog at https://krystalbrownblog.wordpress.com/. I pledge to keep your email address private. Now, let's get started.

The first order of business is getting rid of clutter. If you haven't worn something in a year, you aren't likely to start wearing it. Now is the time to get rid of things like old purses, shoes and kitchen equipment you know you won't get around to using. Place your items on the free section of Craigslist. You can also give away the items on Freecycle. Freecycle is a list where people can give away and receive free items. If you need something, you post a message detailing what you need. If you have something to give away, you make a post telling about what you have to offer. I subscribe to their email list and everyday I get a newsletter telling me what is being offered. I have received free sheets for a new twin bed I purchased just by posting a request on Freecycle. The sheets were almost new. I simply washed them in hot water and they have been a fixture in my home every since. I have also given away a lot on Freecycle including clothing I had not worn in a long time.

Next, combine style and functionality by hanging needed items on your walls and doors using Command Damage-Free Strips and “over the door” hangers. They have both at my local Dollar Tree. I put the Command Damage-Free strips on my walls to hang everything from keys to shower caps. I use over the door hangers to hang up my purses, umbrellas and scarves. This keeps needed items at my fingertips and also reduces clutter. I use the hanging strips on my front door as well. I have about 4 strips in strategic places on my front door. Every season, I hang different decorations on the strips. My door is decorated differently for every season and all of the decorations are purchased from the Dollar Tree because they don't need to last a long time—they just need to last for a season or even just a month. On Halloween, I had a felt scarecrow and some felt pumpkins. For Christmas, I had a wreath and some golden angels and doves. For Valentine's Day, I had a “Happy Valentine's Day” sign with several hearts hanging from the strips. If they don't have the Command brand of strips, they are likely to have another good brand like VELCRO. I don't buy “generic” or “off brand” strips because even though I change out the decorations frequently, the strips themselves have to last season after season. So, if they don't have Command strips or another brand name, I simply go to Dollar General or Family Dollar instead of Dollar Tree. Dollar General and Family Dollar are low priced as well, but they have more brand names.

My next piece of advice is this—everything in your home needs a “home”. Don't leave keys or mail just sitting around on counter tops and tables. Get some decorative baskets and make sure that everything—from remote controls to paper bills—is in a basket. These baskets can be metal, plastic or wood. Get several glass vases from a dollar store. Use them on your bathroom sink to reduce clutter. Fill one vase with cotton balls, another with make up swabs and so on. All homes automatically look better when everything is in its place. You can use colored mesh laundry bags for stuffed toys and other things that are too big for baskets.

The last step is decorating our walls. Buy a dollar store calendar and about 5 $1 picture frames. Choose five of your favorite calendar pictures and put the pictures in the frames. Hang the frames on your wall and you have several beautiful pieces of wall art for next to nothing. I also use silver “wall clings” from the Dollar Tree on my walls. They have inspirational sayings or some are just pretty to look at—like wall clings in the shape of flowers or vines. Just follow the package directions. I also put up greeting cards on my bedroom doors. I use birthday and holiday cards that I've received for this purpose. Put a little tape on the back of the cards and stick them on your doors. You have just used something that you probably were going to throw away anyway to make your home look nicer!

Having a more beautiful and organized home does not have to be expensive at all. You just have to be aware of what you hang on your walls, reduce clutter and make sure that everything in your home has a place. You also have to shop at the right stores. All of the items I wrote about can be purchased at discount stores such as Dollar Tree, Dollar General, Family Dollar, Roses', Ollie's' and TJ Maxx. I hope this article was useful to you! If so, please consider subscribing to “Freedom in Frugality” at https://krystalbrownblog.wordpress.com.

Guest Contributor, Krystal Brown

Remodel Smart: How To Save Money On Remodeling

Remodel Smart: How to Save Money on Remodeling

Even if they consider every little detail, people still usually spend about 20 percent more money on remodeling than they originally planned. Remodeling can be full of little surprises, misunderstandings and a lot of stress, and it’s next to impossible to stay on the budget. Still, there are some ways you can save money and spare your budget by simply being smart, resourceful and unafraid to get your hands dirty.

DIY - Demolish It Yourself

If you feel like you can demolish your front porch or pool deck yourself we say go for it, but leave the interior of the house to the professionals. You can unintentionally knock down the bearing wall, or even hit a live wire or plumbing. Still, you can do some of the demolishing yourself and save up to a thousand dollars you can later spend on remodeling. But remember, safety first!

Think Long-Term

When remodeling, don’t look at the price tag that’s on the item, but think about its price at the end of the project. Sometimes it’s cheaper to get a finished product that you can simply install, then to start from scratch. It might seem cheaper to DIY something, but when you add up all the costs, it ends up being more expensive, plus you wasted your time. Also, think about installing energy-efficient appliances and lighting, insulate your doors and windows, and you will save money in the long run.

Get a Trailer

Don’t pay companies to bring materials to you when you want to do a DIY project, but pick them up yourself. Use a pickup truck or get a used single-axle utility trailer for about 300-400 bucks. If you repeat the trip 5-6 times, the trailer will pay for itself. Plus you get to keep or resell the trailer. 

Get Supplies at Auctions

At auctions, you can find all sorts of things, but don’t get distracted and focus on supplies. You can find many good scores like custom items someone didn’t like, concrete building blocks, overstock supplies, scratched and dented items and so on.  The amount of money you will save here depends on the other bidders, but it’s usually not an insignificant sum. Think good and hard whether you can find a use for an item you’re bidding for. If the answer is no, stop bidding - otherwise you’re wasting money.

Do it Off Season

It is best to save up money, and wait for winter to do your remodel. The thing is that people are usually short on money in this period because of holidays, so the demand for various contractors is significantly lower. If you want to do a roof restoration however, the best time is during spring. During winter, the demand for this type of service is huge, and so are the prices. Then again, if you plan everything right, you can save a significant sum.

Know What to Keep

If it is possible in any way, try not to change the position of your bathroom or windows. Depending on where you plumbing is costs can vary a lot. When it comes to windows, try to keep them the same size as well. Also, think about insulating your windows to save money on your electricity bill and reduce sound pollution.

If you follow these smart remodeling tips, you will not end up with a drained budget half way into your project. You just need to make some strategic moves and remember that every dollar counts. Remember, if you do things right, you might even save up enough money for a nice vacation.

Guest Contributor, Diana Smith

Image credit: https://toolsarehome.com/