Exterior Improvements to Brighten Up Your Home

Whether you want to beautify the exterior of your home or add just enough curb appeal to lure buyers in, preserving and embellishing your property can be easy to accomplish. As such, here are some cosmetic improvements that will look amazing.

Minor Landscaping

First of all, some basic cleanup will be necessary. Yard work such as raking leaves, mowing the lawn, pulling weeds, and removing debris is a great start. Then, take the time to trim hedges and shrubs that are overgrown. Remove limbs from trees that in any way may be hazardous. Afterward, you can fertilize the lawn, add mulch to discourage the growth of weeds, and plant perennials, such as coreopsis, false indigo, or coneflower, for added pops of color.

Roof Replacement

The roof of most homes tends to be completely ignored unless it is breaking down or leaking water. But, you should evaluate its condition at least twice a year, to make sure it is up to par with residential roofing standards.

If you see missing, cracked, damaged, or loose shingles as well as rot, mold, sagging, water damage, or dark spots, it may be time to invest in a replacement roof. Depending on the material used and the weather conditions it has been exposed to, your roof may need to be replaced if it is over 25 years old.

Refreshing the Entranceway

When anyone, including a potential buyer, first approaches your home, they will have time to really observe your front door. If it is covered in faded or chipped paint, it doesn’t make the best first impression. For a warmer, more welcoming entrance, try a fresh coat of neutral-colored paint, such as a satin finish in shades of dark green, navy blue, or black. That said, if your door is actually sagging, drafty, or sticking, you will most likely need to replace it altogether.

Another way to spice up your entrance is to add a basic or small porch by the door. All you will need is enough concrete slabs to create a 4-foot by 6-foot landing. This will make it look much more refined, and it will provide you with a space for décor, potted plants, and outdoor seating. It even makes a great spot for grilling and barbecuing!

In conclusion, these outdoor upgrades will have your home looking brighter and more refreshed than it has appeared in a very long time. Sometimes small changes to your property’s exterior can lead to a dramatic overall improvement.

14 Design Do's and Don'ts to Make Your Airbnb Stand Out

It's easy to neglect careful planning when rushing to prepare your house for visitors. Many Airbnb hosts make the mistake of assuming their guests won't care if the place looks a little sloppy because of the photos, or maybe they're more concerned about the location and the price.

When renters see how much care you took in furnishing your property, they are more likely to treat it respectfully. Care for your guests' comfort through thoughtful design. They will respect your personal space more because of it.

Are you confused about how to get started? Here are 14 simple ways to improve the design of your Airbnb. Read on if you want some do’s and dont’s ideas for a small change or a major overhaul of your home.

The Do's

1. Do Establish a Firm Base

A strong base is the cornerstone of any successful design. Most of your financial resources should be allocated there as well. Invest in high-quality flooring and furniture in neutral tones to lay the groundwork for your design; they will stand the test of time and complement any future color additions.

2. Create a Cozy Atmosphere At Home

Start adding color and warmth once the framework is in place. Throw pillows, cozy blankets, rugs, table lamps, plants, etc. One or two of those additional elements can dramatically improve the visual appeal of a room. If you're adding little details, ensure they fit in with the overall aesthetic and color scheme.

3. Do Design With Comfort In Mind

The area must give visitors the impression it was created specifically for them. Making something with more care and attention doesn't have to break the bank. Put coat hooks in the entryway and a chalkboard in the kitchen with a few quick recipes written. 

Ensure sufficient towel pegs are in the bathroom and provide an ottoman in the lounge for weary feet after a day of sightseeing.

4. Do Create Thoughtful Design Moments

Invest in a bar cart and equip it with essentials like a cocktail shaker. You could also set up a coffee station in the kitchen by placing a coffee maker, jars of coffee beans or tea bags, and a prominent sugar bowl. Vinyl records can be showcased on a credenza next to a record player; featuring local musicians is a bonus.

5. Do Decorate Your Walls With Local Touches

Not having access to family portraits does not mean you have to have bare walls. Display local photographs of the outdoors, vintage postcards, or a travel poster from a popular attraction. Or, you could hang a gallery wall of Chicago-area artwork.

6. Do Choose Well-Constructed Pieces That Will Last A Long Time

Many hosts make the mistake assuming that their guests share their taste in entertainment and food. More people will visit your rental, so investing in high-quality pieces that can withstand heavy use will save you money in the long run.

It will improve in appearance over time and save you a significant amount of money compared to the cost of buying brand-new furniture every few years.

7. Do Think About How Well It Works and How Long It Lasts

Furniture for a rental property needs to be durable enough to withstand frequent use. Choose pieces of furniture that are appropriate for the number of people staying at the property. There shouldn't be a shortage of couches and dining chairs. 

Consider using a commercial rating when making your fabric selection. To increase your earnings, replace your regular sofa with a sofa bed.

The Dont's

1. Don't Make Your Guests Do Work

Having a strategy for watering your plants is a must if you intend to cover your property in greenery. However, it is unrealistic to expect visitors to maintain the garden. Go with succulents, which can go longer without being watered, and incorporate plant maintenance into the responsibilities of your cleaning crew.

2. Don’t Photograph At Night

No one will know that your Airbnb is a work of art if all your photos were taken at night and the rooms look like caves. Unless, of course, your home is literally a cave.

3. Don't Exaggerate The Number Of Available Services To Customers

However, if you advertise a record player but then lock up all of your vinyl when guests arrive, they will be disappointed. Do not show any more than you are willing to share with your audience.

4. Don't Share Photos That Include Other People

You want guests to be able to visualize themselves in your home. Don't ruin it by revealing that you and your loved ones are actually living the good life. Because of this, pictures of people should be avoided when advertising goods online. 

Similarly, avoid making the house a museum of your life by displaying countless photos of your loved ones. Whether staying for a week or just a few nights, visitors to a home should sense that it is theirs for their stay.

5. Don't Make The Space Too Focused On One Thing

There's a fine line between hip and kitschy or bonkers. Consider the locations of your events where guests would appreciate a theme. Your lake house's hallway will look stunning with its collection of vintage fishing lures. Smallmouth bass toilet paper holders are cute, but they might get old.

6. Don’t  Leave Any Of Your Belongings

Don't take this as a green light to start piling clutter in your living quarters. Guests may feel uneasy if too many family photos or personal items are displayed. It's a security risk.

7. Don't Buy Furniture Sets

Choose a variety of statement furniture pieces and one-of-a-kind secondhand pieces to create an intriguing listing. If you want to make an experience and a layout that tells a fascinating story, a furniture set is not the best purchase you can make.

This is the perfect excuse to spend an afternoon browsing through your town's thrift shops, searching for unique and intriguing finds.

Conclusion

You shouldn't let things like unanswered messages from guests or a lack of cleanliness detract from the time, money, and effort you put into decorating your Airbnb. Guests can have a more enjoyable stay if they take the time to do interior design work. We hope you enjoyed the above tricks and found them useful. 

Tips for When You're Running Out of Room in Your Home

Sometimes having a small home can be great and exactly what you need. However, when is a small space too small for what you need? Extra furniture, new family members, and any tenants who are renting rooms can all be taking up more and more space, limiting the useable living areas in your home. Here are a few tips that can help you create more space if your living quarters have started becoming a little cramped.

Do a Major Cleanout

You can go through your entire home and clear out the things that are taking up space that you don’t need. There may be items that you no longer use or want and have forgotten about, and throwing away these possessions, selling them, or giving them to charity can help create more room in your home. Certain items that you wish to keep but don’t need in your home for immediate use can be put into an off-site storage unit.

Add More Shelving

Shelves can be added to different parts of your home to hold many of the items that might be taking up space in rooms and hallways. You can install new shelves on the upper and lower levels of any bare wall. Shelves can even be placed on the insides of the pantry, closet, and bedroom doors. Even floating shelves, which are tied to a string and suspended from the ceiling, can help you save space in your home.

Expand Your House

If you have the money and enough space on your property, you can have new additions built onto your home to make it larger and roomier. Top and ground floor additions along with granny flats are some of the home extensions to think about when deciding on this plan of action. These additions may be necessary if your home is beyond its capacity because of new children or people who’ve moved into your house.

Pack Unused Clothes and Linens in Luggage

If you don’t plan to use any linens or out-of-season clothes for a while, you can pack them in luggage to save closet space. Rolling linens and clothes instead of folding them can allow you to fit more items into luggage pieces. You can also place linens and clothes into vacuum storage bags before placing them into luggage pieces to save even more room.

You don’t have to continue to live in a house that doesn’t give you the space that you need to move freely and feel comfortable. With these space-saving tips, you can reclaim much of your home. The only question now is whether you plan to do it through a small, immediate fix like a little spring cleaning or a big, permanent fix like expanding your house.

Quick Ways To Style a Whole Room or Even a Whole House!

Whether you’re modern or a traditionalist, a change is always inevitable. Styling your house or different rooms is essential to remove the monotony of your house. Here’s a list of different approaches you can adopt to style your house and make it look different.

Mix Lights

If it’s your living room, you don’t have to make it look so bright. Such a look makes it uncomfortable for visitors. At the same time, your living room should not be too dark as it feels dull. Therefore, mix dark and bright colors. However, ensure that they at least match with the main fabric in your living room, like your couch and curtains.

Use Wallpaper to Your Desired Effect

The monotony of color on your walls is one reason you no longer consider your house attractive. Instead of frequently repainting with different colors, use wallpapers. They are cheaper and enable you to incorporate more varieties of shapes and images.

Bedroom Furniture Sets

Besides the living room, your bedroom is the next most significant room. It’s a place to relax when you need privacy or aren’t interested in what other people are doing in the living room. You may also find yourself handling unfinished tasks of your workplace in your bedroom, maybe during the weekends. However, you’ll need bedroom furniture sets to find the comfort you seek wherever you’re relaxing.

Add Flowers or Plants to Your Rooms

Flowers and plants represent nature. Whenever your house loses attraction to your eyes, it loses nature and instead appears dormant or dead. Besides, flowers and green plants make your room more aesthetic. However, you’ll need more care to ensure they don’t overgrow to the extent you don’t like.

Mix Textures

Your living room is among the most important in your house since it’s where you spend the most time while awake. Whereas you have your favorite textures, they may not always be the best to style your living room. Seek the advice of an interior designer who can easily complement cotton, leather, paints, and plants to give your living room the spark you can’t achieve on your own.

Whatever kind of person you are, the attraction of your house determines how motivated you are in life. Waking up in a boring bedroom or arriving in a dark living room can spoil your mood for the rest of the day. Use these tips to style your different rooms or your entire house.