Building Materials That Give Your Home a Luxe Look at an Affordable Price

There's something enchanting and upscale about a home that features certain materials. But building with components such as marble, gold, or other expensive materials isn't exactly practical for everyone's budget. So here are a few building materials that can give your home a luxe look even while on a budget.

Metal

Metal can be quite affordable and can make a statement, especially with modern, industrial,m or farmhouse design styles. For example, corrugated metal has a wavy look that can be used as the surface of a wall, roof, ceiling, or even the sides of your kitchen counter. If you need something more durable, steel can be a fantastic option. It can also be used structurally for added support. Copper, on the other hand, is used more often in plumbing than it is in the actual building of a home. However, it's still a beautiful, luxe-looking metal that's affordable when you're on a budget. It’s recently become a popular choice for light fixtures, so it’s a great way to incorporate modern trends.

Wood & Wood Alternatives

Reclaimed wood can be great for those that want to use real wood on a budget. Even timber that's second-hand can provide an amazing and high-class look. If you don't love the color of the reclaimed wood, you can easily and affordably use wood stain to change it. If you can’t get your hands on this, some companies make attractive, smoother-looking plywood that can be used as an inexpensive way to enjoy a luxe wood appearance. Another wood option is composite wood. Made from a blend of recycled wood and plastic along with other additives, this wood-alternative is a great material for decking, cabinets, and more.

Alternatively, if you want to lean away from using lumber altogether, bamboo can be an excellent choice. It is one of the most environmentally friendly materials available due to its fast growth time. It can provide a wood-like appearance both affordably and sustainably.

Stone & Stone Alternatives

Real stone always provides a beautiful and luxurious appearance, but not all stone has to be expensive. For example, with its light color and heavy-duty strength, limestone makes beautiful tile flooring or fireplaces. Granite is also a durable and versatile option that gives an amazing and luxe look to countertops, showers, and even mantles.

If stone is not your style, there are other options that can be just as long-lasting. Brick, for instance, is one of the most common and traditional building materials that won't break the bank when you're looking for a luxe look. White or light-colored brick is especially popular right now. And while you may not think of concrete as a luxury product, it can be sealed for a classy look that goes great with modern and industrial decor. 

Conclusion

The possibilities are endless when it comes to building materials, but most of us can’t afford luxury price tags. Keeping these affordable options in mind will help you achieve the luxe look you want at a much more attainable price.

Luxury for Rent: 4 Benefits of Renting an Apartment Over Owning

Many people dream of owning their own homes, but that isn’t the best option in every situation. For some individuals, renting a luxury apartment could end up being a wise financial decision that they benefit from for many years to come.

No Downpayment

There is going to be some type of deposit for your luxury apartment, but that sum will be much lower than a traditional down payment on a home. In most areas, buyers must come up with a 20 percent down payment for a home, and that means they will probably need to have immediate access to tens of thousands of dollars. Apartments typically require nothing more than a security deposit, a cleaning deposit, and one or two months' worth of rent.

Less Debt

Buying a home can be a great long-term investment for some families, but taking on that amount of debt is going to have a huge impact on your credit score. After you finalize your home loan, you might notice that your credit score drops by quite a few points, and that could impact your ability to purchase a vehicle or get a new credit card. Living in a rented unit for a short period of time will allow you to improve your credit score and build your down payment so that the purchase has a smaller impact on your credit score.

Fewer Ongoing Expenses

After buying a home, some families are shocked by just how many monthly expenses they have to deal with. In addition to mortgage and insurance payments, you will also need to consider all of the additional utilities that need to be paid. Maintenance is another major factor when buying a home, and all homeowners must plan on having enough money to cover broken appliances, holes in the wall, cracked windows, and other common problems.

Access to Community Amenities

One of the biggest benefits of moving into a luxury apartment is the access to different amenities. Many apartment complexes offer their residents access to a wide array of amenities that could cost hundreds if they were to pay for them on their own. That includes amenities such as communal areas to have gatherings, animal parks, picnic areas, bike storage, fitness centers, and swimming pools.

In addition to these four benefits, renting is also going to be a great option if you aren’t ready to settle down. Renting an apartment is going to give you an incredible amount of flexibility to move around, and that means you won’t be tied to a single city or area for years at a time.

Different Ways You Can Liven Up Your Home

During the latter quarter of the year, when the weather is colder and nature’s colors are drabber, it’s easy to fall into a sardonic state of mind. That’s common for those living in harsher winter climates, but knowing some different ways you can liven up your home will help you fight off those negative feelings. Be aware of what you can do to make your home more of a sanctuary during the winter months to offer yourself a reprieve from the cold.

Look Into Different Wall Colors

Generally speaking, people love keeping their walls white or another muted color. However, some colors can help invigorate people, improving their mood and eliminating the downer feeling so common in winter.

Painting walls brighter colors, like yellow, green, or blue, can have a calming effect. Holing yourself up inside with bare walls for months on end can make you feel like a mouse in a cage. Bring some color to your home to remind you that it’s a place of peace and security.

Temporary Wallpaper

Alternatively, if you’re thinking of adding some patterns to your walls, you can invest in temporary wallpaper. These aren’t as hard to remove as your typical wallpaper, so you can swap them out with ease whenever the mood strikes you.

Place Plants Throughout the Home

Besides rejuvenating the walls, one of the best ways you can liven up your home is to place flowers and other plants throughout. In the cold, most plants go dormant, only budding when the weather is more favorable. This takes away from the colors of your environment, replacing them with the whites and grays of winter.

Create your own little oasis by purchasing flowers and strategically placing them around your home. Wherever you turn, you’ll have a bushel of color and sweet aromas to greet you, reminding you what awaits when spring comes around.

Let the Sunlight In

There’s precious little sunlight in the last leg of the year, so you need to make it count. Having thicker curtains covering your windows is good for insulating the home and keeping the warmth in, but having a second set of sheer curtains for the daytime can brighten things up.

Installing thinner curtains allows the sunrays to penetrate into your home, bringing in the much-needed natural light that helps energize people. Once the sun goes down, close the thicker curtains to trap that heat in for the night.

Fight Off the Winter Blues

Melancholy is all too common in the winter, and knowing some ways to brighten up your home can prevent that. Whether all you need to do is get a different set of curtains or pick up a few flowers, get what you need to keep your energy up this winter.

Key Factors to Consider When Upgrading Your Flooring

Flooring systems are an essential component of any commercial building interior. Business owners factor in several considerations when choosing the right type of flooring for their workplace - whether it's a large warehouse or a mid-size office space. Despite having various flooring options to choose from and factors to consider, you must always prioritize the type of facility you have.

Commercial space flooring requirements are entirely different from residential flooring in terms of functionality and durability. A well-designed floor layout can affect work areas, control noise, and even promote safety. The style and color of commercial floors also affect worker productivity and morale and the company's brand aesthetic.

But what type of floor does your commercial space need, and how can you choose the most suitable option for your business needs? Here is a comprehensive checklist of pointers you need to consider when selecting the right flooring system for your property.

1. Sustainability

As the effects of global warming are now more evident, more businesses are becoming more environmentally responsible for adapting ecological practices and regulations by utilizing products that are made with recycled materials or offer sustainable features. 

Reusable and recycled materials are now dominating the floor manufacturing industry as they help lessen the carbon footprint. While inorganic materials often have superior features than the more sustainable ones, modern advancements have gradually increased organic floor products' quality, features, and resilience.

2. Creative Design

Traditional office space designs were often monotonous and formal. Now that we are in the age of dynamic corporate culture, most of the standard workforce comprises a much younger generation - utterly different from a decade ago. 

This youthful upgrade caused many variations in the color, style, and texture of flooring systems. Bold patterns and vibrantly colored floors now replace traditional monochromatic patterns. This change has dramatically affected the rise of modular flooring in the commercial sector due to its versatility and capacity to complement any office space design.

3. Safety

Safety has a considerable impact on the workplace, and it should be one of the primary considerations in choosing the design and functionality of your flooring system. To ensure the safety of your employees and clients, you need to align the flooring material and the floor hatch installed with commercial flooring regulations.

Another factor that can help you promote safety in the workplace is by choosing slip-resistant floors that can effectively cover floor entrances and other areas where spills might be more common. Installing barrier tiles and entry matting systems significantly impacts the facility's overall safety without sacrificing aesthetics and design.

4. Luxurious Flooring

Luxurious flooring is no longer reserved for the wealthy as this option is now becoming increasingly accepted in commercial settings. Manufacturers incorporate quality and cost-efficient materials to luxury vinyl tiles and textured carpet tiles to bring sophistication and style into the modern office space. While luxurious floors are more prevalent in residential homes, business owners now recognize the benefits they stand to gain in choosing luxury tiles.

5. Ease of Maintenance

Commercial floors are more susceptible to damage and deterioration than residential floors due to foot traffic and sometimes the continuous flow of heavy machinery. When choosing commercial floors, durability and water resistance are significant features that you need to look for, especially in high-traffic areas such as entryways, lobbies, and bathrooms. 

Longevity and ease of maintenance are some features that you may want your business floor to have since cleanliness is essential in workspaces. Regular cleaning and proper maintenance help retain the durability and lifespan of the floor tiles, which in return, would reduce the replacement and repair cost. 

Ensure that you thoroughly check the manufacturer's cleaning and maintenance instructions on the specification document. The wear rating, castor chair test, stain resistance, and color fades are critical factors in choosing the right commercial floor.

 Flooring Options for Commercial Spaces

The upswing in construction spending and growth in urban areas has led to a surge in commercial flooring projects. It's not just the new facilities that require a practical and architecturally-pleasing flooring solution. Old buildings and office spaces are also showing signs of deterioration that business owners are remodeling worn surfaces to improve productivity, safety, and minor repair and maintenance costs.

While cost and functionality are the main drivers of deciding which type of floor would be best for a workspace, aesthetic and visual appeal are also considered important factors. Let's have a look at the most common flooring options that are ideal for any commercial space.

Polished Concrete

Polished concrete is a reliable, classic building material becoming more popular because it features a polished and contemporary look without breaking the bank. Business owners also recognize the floor's ability to reduce maintenance costs compared to other traditional options substantially. 

It also features light reflectivity that can significantly lessen utility cost, which is a considerable expense in most industries. Polished concrete is also sustainable, with very minimal waste produced during installation. This trendy flooring option also helps improve air quality since the surface is mold, dust, and allergen resistant.

Epoxy Flooring

The popularity of epoxy flooring has significantly grown in recent years due to its outstanding features. It is becoming a frequent choice in commercial settings, including automotive facilities, oil and gas manufacturing plants, hospitals, pharmaceutical companies, food and beverage plants, airports, schools and colleges, and parking facilities.

Epoxy coatings can be customized to the workspace demands and are highly resistant to depreciation and other everyday abrasions. Moreover, epoxy floors have excellent insulating properties and can perform under a wide range of temperatures. You may also apply several coatings that provide chemical and heat resistance and high UV stability, making epoxy a top choice for high-performance areas.

Vinyl

Hardwood and stone flooring are often expensive options, but vinyl is your best option if you wish to attain the look without the upkeep maintenance it requires. It is a fully synthetic polymer with three classifications: vinyl sheet flooring, vinyl composition tile (VCT), and luxury vinyl tile (LVT). Builders primarily use vinyl floors in offices, schools, hospitals, and hotel lobbies due to their moisture-resistant surface, durability, and design variations. 

Laminate

Laminate floors are relatively new to the industry, but it is highly durable, hygienic, and easy to maintain. While it is generally expensive to hardwood, laminates can be challenging to repair when damaged. This floor option is also waterproof and often installed in LEED-certified facilities.

Every commercial space is slightly different; that is why you need to consider your business's needs and functions carefully. Ask yourself these key considerations and thoroughly examine each flooring solution available to ensure that your design choice will improve not only the overall appearance of your business but your employees as well.