How To Make Your Home Feel More Warm and Inviting

When moving or redecorating, it’s most important to keep in mind what kind of energy the space creates. It can look like a museum, but you don’t want it to feel like one. Here are some tips on how to make your home feel more warm and inviting.

Feng Shui

The ancient Chinese philosophy of feng shui speaks to how humans use spaces and the energies that they create. There is no perfect way to arrange all your furniture, but why not try! Move your furniture around more than once; try pieces in odd places before you settle on a final design. Think about how your furniture works together in the space as a whole. Create options for yourself so that you don’t get locked into your first idea when there is a better one around the corner.

House Plants

More life! From a small plant in the window to a giant fern, any bit of green can go a long way. Plants have multiple benefits in a home: for starters, a plant creates natural air circulation through photosynthesis. A house plant also adds life to every room, so you never have to stay home alone again. With just a little bit of upkeep, a little green can go a long way. If you don’t have a green thumb or are too busy, use fake plants!

Color Pallet

When choosing the color scheme for your home, consider using welcoming colors like beiges, creams, or earth tones to create a relaxed environment that encourages calm energies. The colors you choose will have the biggest impact on the space. Darker colors, especially for a living room, can absorb some of that precious natural light, making the room feel darker.

Designing a new space can feel daunting, but a few simple tricks can make it a lot easier. And, with these tips on how to make your home more warm and inviting, you’re ready to get started!

Tips on How to Maximize Your Kitchen Space

A kitchen is one of the most important rooms in a house. After a long day at work or if guests are coming over, you tend to go to the kitchen first for a meal to rejuvenate and cook for yourself or your guests. As such, it doesn’t feel nice coming home to a cluttered and messy place which is more likely to happen if you have a smaller cooking area due to minimal storage. We have created a guide to provide an affordable yet easy way to maximize your kitchen space. 

1. Clear the clutter

The first to maximize your kitchen space is to declutter the mess and get rid of anything that you don't use, chipped tableware and appliances that you don't need. This will allow you to work easier in your cooking area and provide you with the extra room for important storage and a neater look on your countertop. 

2. Add a shelf above you cabinets for extra space 

If you have extra space on top of your cabinets or fridge then use it to your advantage. You can either add an extra shelf if there's a large space between your ceiling and cabinet or use the top of your cabinet for storage. Considering it is high up we would recommend you store items that you don't often use such as larger pots, pressure cookers and items that you use on an event basis like a cake stand.

Be sure to pick the right equipment for your kitchen that reflects your cooking and meals you often eat to avoid purchasing unnecessary appliances. It's good to do some research and find appliances that have multiple uses which will be able to save storage, time and money in the future. For example, food processors are a great appliance for the kitchen as it allows the creation of various meals and saves time as well. 

3. Benefit from wall space 

Space on your wall is great to use as it provides great potential for designing your kitchen in a creative way whilst using the area for storage. Wall space is great for everyday kitchenware such as glasses, tableware and other small items. You can either place open shelving or install a pegboard or something similar with hooks on the wall to hang items easily like pots, pans and cooking utensils. If you want your items to be concealed on your shelf then a sliding will be great as it is suitable and classy. 

Another great item to use for your kitchen especially near a stove is a magnetic knife bar. This will allow you to hang your most used pots, pans and cooking utensils within an arm's reach. 

4. Use contrasting colors to your advantage 

Having all white cabinets will make your kitchen seem more spacious and larger but you can also use contrasting colors to provide the same illusion. For example using darker cabinets and white walls or vice versa will create a contrasting light and dark optical effect making the kitchen look larger and more spacious.

5. Ceiling space 

If you don't have any room in your cooking area to place pots and pans, you can also install a hanging rack. This will create a nice look for your kitchen and also provide you with the perfect storage solution for your kitchen. 

6. Make most of your cupboard/drawer space 

Make the most out of your cupboards and drawers by mapping out and categorizing supplies, cooking utensils and spices in certain drawers. By organizing the kitchen with all your most used items, you are able to create more space as well as making it easier for you to navigate yourself. 

You can install tall cupboards that reach the ceiling for more added space. This will also provide you with more room to fill larger pots and appliances. Pull out pantries are another great invention that provides storage whilst staying neat and giving a spacious look to the cooking area. 

Opting for drawers rather than cupboards will help you organize your kitchen better and make it easier for you to find things rather than getting ingredients and items lost in the back of the cupboard. 

Thinking of redesigning or building a new kitchen? 

We have created a few guidelines to help you with the building of your kitchen to get the most out of your small space. 

• The first thing you should do is thoroughly research and talk to builders and interior designers to see which style works best for space whilst providing the best functionality to work with. 

• Opt for minimal accessories and fixtures around the kitchen to give you a more spacious and tidy look. 

• When purchasing appliances, try and get compact designs as this will allow you to easily store it in your kitchen. 

• Pick the cupboard and backdrop colors wisely to get the best sophisticated and compatible look for your kitchen.

A cooking area is one of the most significant rooms in a house and thus it should be well thought out when designing or renovating it. You shouldn't sacrifice storage space just because you have a smaller space to work with. We hope these tips will help you in maximizing your kitchen space in an affordable way without compromising style. 

Replacing the Siding on Your Home? 4 Tips to Make the Process Seamless

Replacing the siding on your property will give it a fast much needed facelift. It can also improve the value of your property. Remember that if you make the right improvements, it makes your property more appealing.

Siding replacement may be quick and painless with the right equipment and experience. Before you can begin the siding replacement job, you must first prepare your home. Here is what you must think about when undertaking this process.

Remove the Window Shutters

Remove any window shutters, gutter downspouts, or other components that may obstruct siding installation. Furniture, decorations, and other items from your yard, deck, and patio will need to be moved by your siding contractors. If you have trees on your property, keep them trimmed so that they are at least 10 feet away from your home. You might need new window installations after the replacement of siding.

Select an Environmentally-Friendly Home Siding

Environmentalists are repurposing outdated tree-based materials to create beautiful siding. Stucco is made from a combination of raw earth and lime, and it serves as a strong initial line of defense against nature's elements. Renewable energy is used by both regular and engineered wood.

Remove Siding Carefully

To unzip existing siding and detach the nails that are fastened to it, use a zip tool. Homeowners who like the aesthetic of particular materials should be aware of what it takes to produce and dispose of them. Vinyl's plastic and chemical composition ensure that it will spend an extended period in a landfill.

Secure the Siding

It's time to secure your siding once you've nailed it in place. To tie your new top into place, you'll also need the zip gear you had before. Pull the vinyl siding down behind the zip tool with your hand and snap it into place.

Maintenance

Vinyl and metal are two sorts of materials that can withstand almost everything, yet they, too, have flaws. Homeowners should plan to treat their wood at least once every five years to maintain its beauty and protect the property from dampness. Stucco attracts woodpeckers despite being exceptionally stain-resistant. The building business is constantly evolving to provide homeowners with options that do not jeopardize their values.

You've seen four ways to replace home siding. Your house will look brand new in no time if you have the appropriate equipment and a little patience, or if you hire experts to perform the job for you. Remember that you must prepare and have a little knowledge either way for the best results.

Don't Neglect Your Garage: 4 Ways You Can Upgrade It

The garage is the part of the house many people end up neglecting. After a while, everything you don't use finds its way in there. Once it's full of stuff, clearing it out and making it presentable is quite a hassle. A good-looking and functional garage can increase the value of your home. If you've been thinking about giving your garage a facelift, you're in the right place. Here are some tips to help you do just that.

Have a Functional Garage Door

If you have an old garage door that opens up manually, you're likely to experience trouble with it every so often. Sometimes the doors get stuck, and you can't close or open them. A bad garage door is one of the reasons people neglect this awesome space in their homes. Installing a functional garage door will make your work easy. It's even better when you have garage door openers to automate everything.

Create a Smart Storage Strategy

Garages are perfect for storage, but the storage method used makes all the difference. You can do away with clutter by getting rid of what you don't need. If you don't have use for it, dispose of it at a garage sale or throw it away. Consider bringing in shelves to store items in a more orderly manner. Heavy-duty plastic bins are also a great idea for neat storage. Once you've labeled them, finding things becomes a breeze. Installation of hooks and bars also helps provide storage space for items that can hang on walls.

Ensure the Floor Is Easy to Clean

Your garage floor is likely to get dirty pretty fast. If you keep your bikes and cars in the garage, you'll need something easy to clean. Painting the floor with an epoxy finish makes cleaning a breeze.

Paint and Lighting

Applying a fresh coat of paint on your garage walls can make quite the difference in appearance. If you're planning to sell the house, this is a great way to add value. You should also think about including some extra lighting in specific areas. This will complement the garage walls while making it easier to see and find things.

Taking action to clear out your garage and make it look good is one thing. However, maintaining a nice appearance is a daily task--and sometimes people get lazy. If you don't want things to go back to their horrible state in your garage, you'll have to be intentional about it.