A resource for those seeking information on organizing and transforming spaces.

Ben Soreff 9/29/21 Ben Soreff 9/29/21

The Pros of a Xeriscaped Garden

Xeriscaping is all about selecting the right plants that can thrive in your landscape with very little water. This method of gardening continues to grow more and more popular as people discover its benefits.

Xeriscaping originates from the 1980's when people employed this landscaping technique to survive ongoing droughts across the Western U.S.

In Latin, the word ‘xero’ means dry and ‘scape’ refers to a view or landscape. People have been planting specific plants to match their climate since the beginning of time. Explore the different xeriscape garden design ideas to create the perfect garden:

Xeriscaping originates from the 1980's when people employed this landscaping technique to survive ongoing droughts across the Western U.S.

The Benefits of Xeriscaping

These include:

The first and most obvious pro of xeriscaping is that it helps conserve water
In addition, as compared to tradit ional gardening, xeriscaping helps cut down annual costs and labor required
Most xeriscape designs help you highlight native plants that can thrive in your garden with minimal care
Plants in a xeriscape garden require little to no fertilizers. Once established, these plants will do well on their own

The Top 2 Xeriscape Garden Designs

Here’s how you can create an attractive yet conscious garden:

Pine Bark Mulch

Mulch is an effective way of conserving moisture, as well as reducing weed growth. Some mulches contain pesticides, chemical dyes, and herbicides that, in the long run, can harm wildlife and soil ecology.

On the flip side, natural mulch like cedar or pine bark is a great way to keep insects away and enrich your soil.

Lawn Alternatives

Green lawn maintenance requires a lot of water. This is why areas prone to ongoing seasons of drought hesitate to create a lawn landscape.

Invest in lawn alternatives like walkways with gravel, small patio areas with pavers, or Zen gardens with planters, sand, and stones. You may even create ‘carpeted’ areas with low, soft ground covers like sweet woodruff, creeping thyme, or low growing sedum.

In the infographic below by Hom eCi ty, we take a closer look at the best, most stunning xeriscape design ideas. Share your journey towards creating a xeriscape garden in your real estate in Texas to connect with like minded people.

Ben Soreff 9/29/21 Ben Soreff 9/29/21

Guest Post - Get To Work! How To Make Your Home Office Space a Huge Selling Point

There are some things that are more important than money, and an office is one of them. It is the first impression your potential clients will get of you, your personality, and your professionalism. It’s a place where you can work more efficiently, eliminate distractions from your daily life, and have the peace of mind that comes from being able to ignore your home.

Avoid distractions and other responsibilities by having a designated area where you may focus solely on your work.

In this article I am going to explain all of these benefits and show you how setting up a space in your home for an office can make a significant difference in the quality of your work. Space will give you that little extra boost that makes it easier for you to keep going on those long writing days or those occasional slow weeks. It will elevate your business to a higher level, giving you more credibility and allowing you to focus more of your energy on the people who matter most.

The Benefits of Designing an Office in Your Home

No distractions. I have already mentioned it but it is worth mentioning again. A home office offers you the ability to work free from external distractions, something that is hard to get in an outside environment. I mean, can your office prevent your kids from charging in? Can you avoid your spouse coming in and chatting with you about weekend plans while you are trying to get an article out? The answer is no. That’s not to say a home office doesn’t have its own distractions, however. These include frequently empty coffee mugs and dirty laundry piles. But if you have a nice neat little space, that’s kept well organized, the distractions are minimal.

Peace of mind. I don’t know about you but, when my job is on the line, I am not really too worried about hanging out at the park. For many freelancers or people who work from home, that same mentality carries over into their home life. When things go sour they are there to pick up the slack and help out. Sometimes this is a good thing, but if you’re not organized you can find yourself in a situation where you have too much work to do and no idea how to start. Having an office in the same space as the rest of your life opens up that solution.

Better work efficiency. A lot of professional writers or freelancers rely on coffee, or possibly energy drinks, to get them through the day. This may be okay for some people but can gradually damage your overall health if you’re not careful. If you want to get more out of your workday try getting in some physical activity. Take a break for ten minutes and go for a walk, or grab your bike. On days when you need extra energy, grab something that will keep you alert throughout the day.

Have an open space where people can drop by. No office is complete without having people drop by unannounced. In fact, it’s a part of many industries. When you have a space that is available for you to work in without being disturbed by people, you can get a lot more done. And if someone does come by, the sense of freedom and freedom from distractions is enough to get them hooked so they will want to come back.

Convenience. If you have a place where you can work at home, chances are you won’t need to travel for long periods of time. Or at least you can avoid busy roads and crazy traffic. That is a benefit that is hard to ignore especially if you have a family.

Create a dedicated space with a designated entrance. A great way to really get your home office up and running is by creating a spot where people can enter your office without going through the rest of your house. This can even help to designate you as having a home office, which will allow you to save on taxes if it applies. At the same time, you can also create an area where clients or potential clients can come by for appointments.

Relieve yourself of any stress or distractions by keeping well organized and see how your work improves.

Avoid distractions. Keep your workspace separate from other spaces in your home so that you can avoid interruptions and distractions. If other people are nearby they will just feel more inclined to talk with you or drop by.

Create a wired environment. Residential WiFi can be spotty at best, but if you have an internet connection you will be able to work more efficiently. You can cut out the middle man and deal with fast, reliable networks that eliminate all that waiting for the network to load stuff. This means you can get more done in less time because you won’t have to wait long periods of time for your research or writing materials to load up throughout your day.

Keep your office in the center of the house. With the internet, it is best to have your office in the center or hub of your house. This will reduce or eliminate the need for wires to travel into every room in the house. Working from home can be an alternative to working outside, but it can also be a place where you are productive while you are relaxing at home.

Combine your office with a sitting room. You can also combine your office space with a sitting or sitting/dining room so that you have a listening area as well as somewhere to do your writing. This would be ideal if you have clients who might want to offer feedback on an article, for example.

Have space for computers and other tools. Another good idea is to create a place where you can put all of your computer and work supplies.

About the Author

Joey Miller

Author at Geaves Surfaces

This article was written by Joey Miller from Geaves Surfaces, a commercial & retail design company in the UK.

Ben Soreff 9/28/21 Ben Soreff 9/28/21

Reasons You Should Rent A Storage Unit

A storage unit is where you can store belongings that don’t fit in your house or apartment, and it’s a great option for those with limited space to work with. Even with the monthly fee, it’s worth it because you have all your stuff and the space at home to spread out. There are several reasons you should rent a storage unit.

Less Stressful Move

One of the reasons that people opt to use a storage unit is because they are in the process of moving. Having a rental unit means that you don’t have to worry about getting all of your stuff into your new place immediately, especially if you’re moving out and can’t immediately move into your new place. Owning a storage unit means your belongings are kept safe until you’re ready for them.

You Want to Get Organized

Storage spaces are not just for people who are moving. They are also for people who want to get their homes clean and organized. If you have a separate place to put your extra belongings, then it will be easier for you to get organized. Storage space will also provide you with a place to keep your seasonal items that isn’t in the attic or garage where they could get buried.

Store Your RV

You don't want to keep your RV in a driveway. Not only is it an eyesore, but you may not have enough room for your regular vehicle. A storage unit can be used for RV s tora ge, meaning there will be plenty of space for everything.

Keep Your Business Organized

A storage space isn't just for your home. You can also use it for your business. Keeping your business organized will make it easier for you to run it. Any type of business can benefit from having a storage space. However, salespeople, antique dealers, carpenters, and antique dealers are examples of some of the specific businesses that can benefit from a storage space.

Help Renovate Your Home

Just like if you were moving, if you are renovating your home then you can only benefit from having extra storage space. That way your belongings are safe and stashed away long before any walls get torn down or paint comes out. It will also be a lot easier for the people in charge of working on your house if your belongings are out of the way.

You may want to rent a storage unit if you need space for your belongings. If you are moving, then it will not be as stressful for you. It will also be easier for you to get organized. You can store your RV in your unit. You will have an easier time keeping your business organized. Furthermore, it will be easier for you to renovate your home.

Ben Soreff 9/28/21 Ben Soreff 9/28/21

Liven Up Your Home with These Simple, Inexpensive Decorating Tricks

A simple refresh to the house can make a world of difference. Sprucing up your home will liven up the space, which will then liven up you and your loved ones. While remodels are costly and require extensive planning, you can do small updates that are budget-friendly and can be accomplished in a day or a weekend. Below, House to Home Organizing offers some tricks to make your home welcoming and vibrant.

Ready to declutter and reorganize your home’s toughest areas? House to Home Organizing is here to help! 203.571.9412

Eliminate Clutter

The easiest and cheapest improvement you can make to your home is to declutter. Clutter leads to stress, and especially when clutter is present in the bedroom, it can lead to inhibited sleep. Before you introduce new items into your home, remove all belongings you don’t use, which includes clothes, books, knickknacks, and furniture. Declu tter the most difficult areas by separating your items into four piles: keep, donate, trash, and store. You also may benefit from hiring a professional organizer, who could be extremely helpful if you have a lot to sort through. For the items you can’t part with yet but don’t use regularly, consider storing them in a storage unit.

Update Bedding

If you want to make a big imp act on your bedroom and simultaneously improve your sleep, then it’s a good time to update and upgrade your bedding. Depending on the season, adding a thick comfy fleece blanket or airy down-filled comf orte r can help give you restful sleep and add some life to your room. Also, adding new sheets to your bed with the perfect thread count will make you daydream about the moment you can crawl into bed and drift off to dreamland.

Add some color

One of the easiest ways to make your home feel fresh is to install new wallpaper. Depending on the wallpaper you choose, you can add both color and texture at the same time. Find a pattern for every room. For your bedroom, choose something more soft and subtle, so you can relax. For your kitchen, go with brighter, livelier, and bold patterns. There are many attractive wallpap er opti ons available with customizable and print on demand options, so you won’t have to worry about the wallpaper you choose being out of stock.

Make Small Décor Changes

Adding a little color here, replacing a light fixture there, or putting out the right storage baskets can change the aesthetic of any room. A small impactful change you can make to any room is to add fresh flowers or plants, which will bring color and cheer. Also, the first thing guests see when they enter your home is your entry way. Therefore, a new rug, a small bench, or some updated paint on the doors can prove to be welcoming and inviting. Some other small changes you can make to enhance your living space are:

Installing unique wall hooks
Hanging floating shelves for pictures, books, and keepsakes
Adding some flare to and brightening up spaces with lamps
Bringing in some baskets in each room to store blankets, toys, and paper
Changing out knobs and handles on dressers and cabinets
Hanging curtains that are both useful for privacy and style
Rearrang ing your furniture
Adding some throw pillows for color and comfort

Switch Gears

A great way to change up your space is to repurpose an unused room into a multipurpose room your entire family can enjoy. Be sure to include a space for each person and their individual interests. Even one additional space for arts and crafts, TV or gaming time can go a long way toward livening up the area and offering extra room. If you find that expanding into previously unused space in your home causes issues with your internet connectivity or speed, it may be time to upgrade to a different provider. If it’s been a while since you looked at providers, see if there are any new options in t he a rea that offer better speeds and load times.

Freshen Up the Bathroom

A quick and inexpensive change you can make to your bathroom is to change out the shower curtain. The perfect shower curtain can make your bathroom look completely different. Replace your drab bath mat with a bright, cushioned one. Clear your counter of items you don’t use daily, and add stylish soap dispensers and toothbrush holders. Installing a new shower head with the perfect pressure and range can make your bathroom feel like a spa oasis. Finally, invest in high-qualit y towels for you and your guests that will make every day feel luxurious.

A few quick refreshes throughout your home can make a huge impact. Start by figuring out what you have and what you don’t need, and then clear the clutter. Add new linens to your bedroom that will change the design and bring comfort to your sleep. Make small decorations here and there to transform your rooms, and repurpose an unused space or make small upgrades to your bathroom to make it feel like a spa retreat. Without breaking the bank, you can freshen up your home and make it your own little sanctuary.