5 Kitchen Renovations You Should Try

In most homes, the kitchen is the most important room in the house. When making delicious meals, the mood starts with the surroundings. Although the floor plan determines the functionality of a kitchen, it has to be warm, inviting, and personalized for full appreciation. With that said, let’s go over five kitchen renovations you should try.

Bold Cabinet Designs

Cabinet designs play a big part when house hunting by making a huge statement in any kitchen. The types of kitchen cabinets determine the aesthetic appeal of the whole area. Regardless if you prefer upper or lower cabinets, go for bolder color designs if the kitchen is large. Wood cabinet designs vary, and all that is needed is your imagination.

Kitchen Island

More homes are built incorporating a kitchen island as a means to open up smaller spaces. Although slabs and countertops come in handy, kitchen islands give the home a different class, which the two cannot. Kitchen islands are considered high functioning, and walls to the kitchen are removed for open space, overlooking the dining or living room for inclusivity. 

Unique Shelves and Storage

Shelving is more than planks of wood drilled into the wall. Newer interior designs offer innovative kitchen shelving ideas that liven up the kitchen. Hanging storage is essential in both small and large kitchens. The best part is that the customization of shelves for storage opens countertop space, which is always needed.

New Backsplash

It’s recommended to paint your kitchen when renovating. However, changing the backsplash is unique. With countless backsplash designs available online, choose one that fits with the family style. It’s advisable to choose a tile backsplash in the kitchen as it is easy to clean and will not retain moisture, as would wooden panels.

Go Stainless Steel

You’ll never need to replace your stainless-steel appliances if you adequately take care of them. Most of them are durable and can withstand extreme cold and hot temperatures, and they can give a beautiful look. As they are sleek looking, they give a gorgeous appeal for everyone’s view. The best part is that it’s easy cleaning them, as they only need a simple wipe down.

Kitchen customization goals include having a warm and cozy feeling when cooking in the kitchen. However, be aware that too much personalization can be detrimental to the final sale price if you will be moving soon.

Mistakes To Avoid When Doing the Laundry

Doing the laundry is one of the most mundane household chores that everyone must perform. It’s understandable why so many people empty the hamper into the washing machine and try to wash everything they own in one load. While this method might save some time, it’ll also likely damage your clothes and ineffectively clean them. Learning the mistakes to avoid when doing the laundry will keep your linens in pristine condition.

Follow Detergent Recommendations

With the invention of pods, it feels like throwing one pod in the washing machine is sufficient. Unfortunately, the odds are that your laundry loads need much more detergent than you’re using. More oversized loads may require you to use extra pods or fill one more cup of liquid detergent to clean everything efficiently. If you don’t use the correct amount of detergent, your clothes will not be as clean. This is why reading the detergent instructions is vital to attain the best wash.

Only Use Hot Water for Specific Situations

It’s easy to assume mixing soap with hot water is the ideal way to clean your laundry. However, using hot water on certain types of fabrics causes more harm than good. Any item predominantly made with cotton needs cold water, or else it may shrink or develop fiber damage. Take note of this to keep clothing and bedding looking new. The best uses for hot water when washing items is to disinfect things, remove germs, and get rid of deep stains. Otherwise, using cold water is the way to go, especially since it takes up less energy.

Properly Separate Your Items

When you separate your laundry, you often think of sorting the darks and the whites. While that’s one tip you should follow, it’s also critical to sort things by the material. It’s an excellent strategy to do all delicate items, towels, or bedding separately rather than mix everything. Doing this allows you to choose the most appropriate water temperature and detergent.

Perform Damage Control

Typically, most people care what the outside of their clothing looks like more than the inside, so it’s probable they throw their items in without turning them inside out. Unfortunately, failing to do this leaves things like dead skin cells and sweat in your garments. The inside-out technique also protects your clothes from rubbing against things like zippers or buttons. These parts can hurt other clothing articles that are in the wash with them.

Use Enhancements

Incorporating fabric softener and dryer sheets into the routine is like adding whipped cream on hot chocolate; it just makes everything better. Not only do fabric softeners make everything feel soft and cozy, but they also prevent potential damage to the fabric. On the other hand, dryer sheets help keep the static electricity down during the dry winter months.

Knowing the mistakes to avoid when doing the laundry will aid you in making your laundry smell and feel great while simultaneously improving its durability for years to come.

4 Shortcuts for a Smoother Home Renovation

Renovating a home can be an overwhelming experience, especially for first-timers. If you’re one of the many people looking to give their property a facelift, there are four shortcuts you can use to ensure a smooth renovation. Below are a few renovation tips to maximize efficiency.

1. Rent a Dumpster

When it comes to removing large amounts of unwanted material from your home, utilizing a dumpster rental service can be an excellent option to make your project more manageable. Everything from furniture to building materials can fit into a dumpster that can be driven away, making disposal a breeze. Take some time to decide what size dumpster would suit your particular project best.

2. Finalize as Much as Possible

By the time you hire a contractor, it’s good to have at least most of your plans finalized. Sure, you may make minor changes throughout the project. However, constantly changing your mind will cost you both time and resources. This is a major setback, especially if you have lots of projects within your home.

If it helps, hire a professional to assist you with aesthetic choices. They can produce a variety of options for you to make your final selections.

3. Create a Reasonable Timeline

Of course, you don’t want to rush through your home renovations. Conversely, you don’t want to be inconvenienced on never-ending projects. Think about it, you may have to relocate during the demolition and rebuilding process. Whether you live alone or have a large family, you may have trouble finding lodging during this process.

Not only can relocating be tricky, but it can also be expensive. If you are already working with a modest budget, you want to give contractors a reasonable deadline so you can enjoy your new place in a timely fashion.

4. Check the Progress

Whether you decide to live on-site or find temporary housing, it’s a good idea to check on the project’s progress. Now, this doesn’t mean becoming a nuisance to the contractors. For instance, if you have a four-week deadline, maybe visit the site once a week and gradually increase towards the end for the final touches. This allows you to make modifications along the way.

Renovations are either a fun experience or a nightmare depending on how you prepare for them. By following the steps above, you can ensure the process goes smoothly, despite the hiccups you’re bound to deal with along the way. Also, do not be afraid to seek professional design help if you are new to home renovations.

5 of the Most Expensive Types of Home Damage and What You Can Do About Them

If your home gets damaged, it’s more than just a headache. It can also be a costly problem that drains your bank account and negatively impacts your property value. Here are just a few things to keep your eye on to prevent expensive renovation projects in your future.

House Fires

Fire is one of the most destructive things that can happen to your home. Whether it’s a kitchen fire, heater fire or electrical fire, it can spread within seconds, and the secondary damage from the smoke is often just as bad as the charring flames. Consider fireproofing your property by using fire-retardant materials around the house as well as installing smoke alarms and keeping a fire extinguisher handy.

Ice Damage

Ice can be as costly as fire. In the winter, pipes can freeze and burst, and roofs can enter perpetual freeze-thaw cycles that result in widespread water damage. Things can start leaking. Ice dams can form over your home’s exterior. You’ll need to keep a watchful eye and make sure that any frosty build-ups get shoveled, chipped and removed before they can cause problems.

Hidden Mold

Mold is caused by moisture from things like humidity, roof leaks and poorly-ventilated bathrooms. It can be a very insidious problem that you don’t even notice until it’s already spread, and by then, it’s often bad enough to have caused damage to your home. The good news is that there are several effective methods of mold removal that can banish the spores like they were never there, including antimicrobial chemical cleaners. Companies like 1-800-BUSY-DOG specialize in mold remediation.

Wind and Storms

Wind damage is often outside of your control as a homeowner, but there are things that you can do to mitigate the worst of its effects. For example, you can reinforce your roof to better withstand storms, and you can caulk your doors and windows to form stronger barriers against pressure-changing drafts. You can also take preventative measures like trimming trees and bushes near your home so that they can’t become destructive forces during high winds.

Leaks and Flooding

The basement can flood. The faucets in the kitchen or bathroom can start leaking. Even your heavy-duty appliances can start trickling fluids that later turn into deluges. Leaks are a very common cause of rotted wood and drywall in the home, so if you want to prevent costly repairs, perform periodic inspections of your property.

These are just a few of the most common ways that natural and man-made disasters can damage your home. Part of being a homeowner is being aware of these dangers and doing what you can to prevent them, so take care to be alert, responsible and safe.