
A resource for those seeking information on organizing and transforming spaces.
Building Your Home Library: A Guide to Beauty and Functionality
Transform your home with a beautiful and functional library! Learn how to curate the perfect collection and set up your space for reading bliss.
This post was developed via a partnership with BetterHelp. The opinions in the post are honest. All reviews and opinions expressed in this post are based on our personal views. We are excited because we know you will love it.
Transforming a room in your home into a beautiful and functional library is a dream for many book lovers. You may be already an avid reader. Maybe you love the cozy look and feel of a dedicated workspace. Or, maybe like so many people, you've set a goal to read more this year.
Whatever reason you're considering building a home library, the project can be fun and exciting.
Designing a personal library can add both aesthetic appeal and practicality to your living space. In this guide, we'll explore the steps to building the perfect home library. How can you conceptualize the space? What books should you choose?
Creating A Space For Your Home Library
The first step in building your home library is to choose a space for it. Consider the layout and size of the room to start. It's also wise to consider natural light sources and room for comfortable seating options.
Ideally, you'll also want a quiet area with ample shelving for your book collection. Imagine yourself curling up with a good book. Can you visualize the space?
If your home is small don't worry. You can transform even a small corner or alcove into a charming reading nook. All it takes is the right furniture and decor.
The easiest way to conceptualize your new library is to consult the experts. A consultation with a home improvement company removes the guesswork. Skilled contractors can guide you and handle all details and construction.
Incorporating Personal Touches: Adding Character to Your Home Library
Once the space is set, it's time for personal touches and decorative elements. Embrace your unique style and interests as you curate the space to reflect your personality. Consider displaying cherished artwork, family heirlooms, or mementos collected from travels. This can evoke special memories and add warmth to the room. It adds visual interest and makes your library eclectic!
If you have a creative flair, some DIY projects can personalize the space further. Craft custom bookends, create gallery walls featuring favorite photographs or prints, or repurpose vintage furniture pieces.
These kinds of projects take time, but the personal touches are often worth it. They can enhance the aesthetic appeal of your home library but also create a space that feels deeply meaningful and inviting.
Lighting Considerations for Home Libraries
Choosing the right lighting for your home library is crucial to create an inviting and functional reading environment.
It's smart to include a mix of ambient, task, and accent lighting. This can enhance the overall atmosphere while providing the light you need to prevent eye strain.
Ambient lighting like overhead fixtures or wall sconces contribute to the room's overall brightness. Dimmer switches to adjust the light levels can be a great library option.
Task lighting options include adjustable floor or table lamps. These additions are essential for focused reading and studying. Position task lights strategically. They work best near seating areas or over reading nooks where they can minimize glare and shadows.
In addition to functionality, lighting also creates the mood and aesthetics of your home library. Opt for fixtures with warm color temperatures to create a cozy and inviting ambiance. Statement lighting fixtures like chandeliers or pendant lights, add visual interest. These are small ways to elevate the design of the space.
Natural lighting is also important. Maximize natural light with window treatments that allow for ample sunlight. The right window coverings can also reduce glare on screens or reflective surfaces. Lastly, experiment with lighting placements and layers to achieve the perfect balance.
Populating Your Library With Books
Once you've established your library space, it's time for the books. But where do you begin? The key is to curate a collection that reflects your interests, passions, and values. Think about the types of books you love to read, in genres or topics that resonate with you. The goal is to create a diverse and well-rounded collection that will keep you engaged and inspired for years to come.
Your books can also become conversation starters when guests visit. Home libraries are wonderful places to entertain.
Choosing Your Titles
When selecting books for your home library, it's important to strike a balance between pleasure and utility. It's tempting to fill your shelves with beloved classics and bestsellers. However, pay attention to the value of reference books, self-help guides, and other practical resources.
Consider the specific needs and interests of your household. Choose entertaining books and some that serve a purpose.
Resources And Guides
In addition to pleasure reading, consider incorporating books that serve a purpose. From home improvement guides to cookbooks to legal reference materials, countless books can provide practical knowledge and assistance in various areas.
Think about the specific challenges and responsibilities you face in your daily life. What kinds of books might help you navigate these situations with confidence and ease?
Consider Including Family Law Books:
Having family law books in your reference library can be useful. You may reach for them when legal issues arise. Family law relates to more than just marriage. They can help you properly plan for your family's future.
Having access to reliable legal resources can provide peace of mind and ensure that you're well-informed about your rights and options.
Consider Including Psychology Books
You may also want a few psychology titles in your library. Psychology books can offer valuable insights into human behavior, emotions, and relationships.
Whether you're interested in improving your mental health, understanding the dynamics of interpersonal relationships, or exploring the complexities of the human mind, psychology books can enrich your life and deepen your understanding of yourself and others.
Books on psychology or therapy can help support you through life’s challenging times.
Books For Pleasure
To identify books that bring you joy, take some time to reflect on your favorite hobbies, pastimes, and experiences. What activities make you feel most alive and engaged?
Do you enjoy exploring new worlds through fiction? Are you drawn to fascinating historical events? If you're an art buff or a collector, books on these topics may belong on your shelves. Make a list of the things that truly inspire and delight you. Then, seek out books that align with these interests and passions. That's a good strategy to build the enjoyable half of your library collection.
Build And Enjoy A New Home Library
Building a beautiful and functional home library is a rewarding project. It can enhance your living space and enrich your life in countless ways.
With a plan and maybe a little help from contractors, your dream becomes reality. Create a personal sanctuary where you can relax, unwind, and explore the world of literature and knowledge.
4 Potential Benefits Of Cold Therapy & Incorporating It At Home
Why would I take a cold shower!? Learn about the potential benefits of cold therapy and how to do it at home.
This post was developed via a partnership with BetterHelp. The opinions in the post are honest. All reviews and opinions expressed in this post are based on our personal views. We are excited because we know you will love it.
Most people are looking for ways to stay warm at home during the winter. However, some adventurous souls are taking the plunge... literally.
Cold therapy is a popular wellness trend. A myriad of benefits for physical and mental health are attributed to this form of mild stress. Claims include pain reduction, mood improvement, and even resiliency.
How can you separate fact from fiction and begin incorporating this practice into your wellness routine?
Learn about cold therapy and some options you can use at home.
Types of Cold Therapy
There are a variety of ways to use cold in a therapeutic way. They range in severity and although each causes some discomfort, the benefits might be worth it.
The research is promising and popular. Ironically, cold therapy is a hot topic among both researchers and wellness fans.
Ice Baths/Cold Water Immersion
Ice baths or cold water immersion involves getting into a vessel full of icy water. People who engage in this type of cold therapy could have certain goals in mind. They may want to reduce physical inflammation. Participants may be curious about relieving sore muscles. Some people even think the cold might help their fatigue.
There is also intrigue around the concept of potentially creating so-called brown fat. According to a study by the University of California, San Francisco, brown fat is more metabolically active. Furthermore, the study suggests that cold temperatures activate this kind of fat.
Cold exposure may have an effect on amino acid behavior as well. The UCSF study also states, ''The findings suggest that boosting SLC25A44 activity, thereby enhancing BCAA utilization, may be a promising strategy for removing excess BCAAs from the bloodstream and potentially treating conditions such as obesity and diabetes.''
Cold Water Showers
Simply taking a cold shower for several minutes is another popular cold therapy method. It doesn't get much easier than this methodology. Although, tolerating the icy stream is another story.
Fans of cold showers hope they'll experience invigoration and improve circulation. Some report increased mental clarity as well.
Cold therapy like cold showers may also improve immune function and mood.
Understanding Hormetic Stress
Before diving into cold therapy, it's helpful to understand the concept of hormetic stress.
Hormesis is an adaptive response the body goes through during stress exposure. Deliberately using hormesis as a tool has become popular with the functional health and biohacking community.
Hormesis is sometimes also called preconditioning, pretreatment, cross tolerance, and rapid stress hardening.
According to a study published on Science Direct, most research has been conducted on animals. Additionally, the study reveals that hormesis involves antioxidant enzymes and oxidative stress protection.
There is a popular theory that deliberate exposure to hormetic stress can create a stronger physical system.
Potential Health Benefits
Cold therapy offers a range of health benefits that are still under study. A few are age old, dating back to our grandmothers suggesting that bag of frozen peas for our bruised knee.
Others are a bit more cutting-edge.
Some of the current health indications and claims include cold's beneficial effect on pain. The cold may reduce swelling and improve circulation as well. Generally, most fans of cold exposure believe in a general, overall positive effect.
The Science Behind Cold Therapy: 4 Potential Benefits
Let's take a closer look at some of the science behind cold therapy claims. We'll also provide the published research behind the claims.
Vasoconstriction
Cold temperatures cause blood vessels to constrict, reducing inflammation and swelling in injured tissues. If you've ever applied a cold pack to an injury, you may have experienced this effect.
Reduced Oxidative Stress Markers
Cold water immersion was shown to reduce oxidative stress markers in a study published in The International Journal of Circumpolar Health.
Numbing Effects
Cold exposure numbs nerve endings. This can lead to a temporary reduction in pain. This exposure can be useful in treating acute injuries or soreness.
Thermogenesis
Exposure to cold temperatures stimulates thermogenesis. This may enhance circulation and tissue recovery. It also creates an increase in metabolic ean increase in metabolic energy expenditurenditure.
Research and Evidence
Although there appear to be numerous studies on cold therapy, it is not quite a settled science. The research is still emerging, although promising.
It is an exciting field to watch as it develops. Who minds some shivering if a little cold exposure can improve our health.
Enjoying Cold Therapy at Home
Some people travel outside the home to facilities that offer cold therapy. While it can be good to dedicate yourself to a routine around health, this does create an obstacle. For this reason and many others, some people want at-home options.
The good news is that it can be easier to practice cold therapy at home than to utilize other forms of stress therapy like saunas.
Here are some DIY cold therapy options.
Cold Plunges
There are a few ways to take a cold plunge at home. The easiest may be to fill your bathtub up with ice and hop in!
Having the right kind of bathtub can help this practice. It may also be wise to take safety precautions like having non slip bath mats in place.
There are also a variety of barrels and large buckets that allow full or partial immersion. These do require more space but can be more convenient.
Cold Showers
Luckily, you can easily enjoy cold therapy by turning the shower down. You don't have to shiver the entire time. Some cold shower proponents suggest starting with 30 seconds and working up to a minute or two of exposure.
It's important to go slowly and follow your intuition and physical responses. This is true for all the methods mentioned here.
Ice Water Face Plunges
If you aren't ready for the shower or ice bucket, you might try submerging your face into a bowl of icy water. This can be a quick and easy way to avail yourself of the benefits of hormetic stress. It's also a tactic to work up to tolerating that cold shower.
Considerations Before Starting
Only you and your healthcare provider know if cold therapy is safe or right for you. Always consult a professional before engaging in stressful behaviors.
Your medical history is unique and what is safe for others may not be for you. This is why personalized advice is always best in these matters.
Essential Steps To Ensure a Smooth Home Setup for Air Conditioning
Spring is coming up, which is the season everyone loves, but excessive warmth frequently makes it challenging to exist. A good air conditioning system is a must for homeowners to keep themselves and their family members comfortable. Having an air conditioning system at home can make your living space more comfortable and will help in maintaining peace of mind. If you want to make sure that your home has a proper air conditioning setup, follow a few essential steps. In this blog, we'll discuss some important steps that can help you ensure a smooth home setup for air conditioning.
Spring is coming up, which is the season everyone loves, but excessive warmth frequently makes it challenging to exist. A good air conditioning system is a must for homeowners to keep themselves and their family members comfortable. Having an air conditioning system at home can make your living space more comfortable and will help in maintaining peace of mind. If you want to make sure that your home has a proper air conditioning setup, follow a few essential steps. In this blog, we'll discuss some important steps that can help you ensure a smooth home setup for air conditioning.
Plan the Installation Location
The first step towards ensuring that your home has a proper air conditioning setup is choosing the right spot for air conditioner installation. An adequate location or suitable position for installing the air conditioning unit can lead to poor performance and additional costs to fix the issues created by poor installation. Always choose a location that has the right amount of airflow, is away from obstructions, and is free from dust or debris. Make sure the unit is not placed in direct sunlight to ensure its longevity and performance.
Consider the Size of the Air Conditioning Unit
Another critical aspect that needs to be considered is the size of the air conditioning unit needed to cool your living space. The size of the unit depends on the size of your home. If the unit is too small, it will have to work hard and may eventually cause more problems or difficulties during warmer months. Conversely, a big unit will use more energy, which may lead to more bills and consume more resources. Make sure you choose the right size of the unit.
Get the Right Air Duct Installed
During the installation process, ensure that your air duct is installed correctly. Improper installation or damaged ducts can lead to the air leaking out of its intended service areas, reducing the overall effectiveness of your air conditioning system. This could also result in poor air distribution, meaning certain areas in your home lack proper cooling. Ensure the air duct is assembled correctly, sealed, and insulated to guarantee effective cooling throughout your home.
Ensure Proper Maintenance of the Air Conditioning Unit
A timely and proper maintenance inspection of your air conditioning unit will help prepare your air conditioning system for optimum performance during the warmer season. This includes cleaning the filters and coils, evaluating wiring and electrical connections, examining refrigerant levels, and ensuring there are no obstructions near the unit. Proper maintenance is significant for any electronic machine. By following regular maintenance checks, one improves the performance and efficiency of the air conditioning unit, reducing the chances of costly damages.
Opt for a Professional Installation and Seek Appropriate Certification
To ensure a proper air conditioning installation at your home, opting for a professional service is always better. House owners who try to install an air conditioning unit on their own may end up damaging various parts, which could lead to costlier repairs down the road. Only trained professionals with proper certification can ensure that the installation is done safely and correctly. Make sure the professional company has certification from a trusted authority, as it demonstrates their expertise.
In conclusion, the above-discussed essential steps will help you ensure a smooth home setup for air conditioning. Having an air conditioning unit at home can make a significant improvement to your home environment, elevating your quality of life by lowering and regulating home temperatures. With these essential tips for setup, you can ensure that your family can indulge in the comfort and freshness provided by your properly functioning air conditioning system. Follow these steps, and you'll be able to enjoy the warmer season comfortably!
Small Bathroom Décor: Versatile Downstairs Bathroom Ideas to Transform Your Space
Furnishing a small downstairs toilet can be a challenge. Discover downstairs bathroom ideas to make your space feel spacious and inviting with H2H Organizing.
We partnered with a home design company for this post. The opinions in the post are honest. All reviews and opinions expressed in this post are based on our personal views. We are excited because we know you will love it.
When it comes to refreshing a small downstairs bathroom, space is at a premium, which makes it absolutely imperative that you choose décor capable of improving your tiny toilet’s accessibility, light, sense of spaciousness, and style.
In this post, we have put together a guide to styling small downstairs bathrooms, wet rooms, shower rooms and toilets, complete with downstairs bathroom ideas for décor – such as installing a range of slimline storage – to help you create the perfect space for family and friends to use.
Let’s find out how to completely transform your bathroom, whatever its size.
Preparing for your downstairs wash closet renovation and redesign
First thing’s first, before we get to the fun part of choosing all-new small bathroom décor it’s important to take a moment to declutter, tidy, and plan for the redesign ahead.
Step 1: Declutter and organize
Before you can start to imagine what your dream downstairs bathroom might look like, it’s time to crack out the cleaning supplies and roll up your sleeves. Start your small downstairs bathroom redesign by emptying the existing space of all unnecessary clutter, including décor and bathroom furnishings which you don’t plan to keep.
Next, give your freshly decluttered space a good deep clean. Once the installation of the new downstairs toilet décor is complete, your space will likely need another clean before it’s ready to use. However, cleaning at this point in the planning stage allows you to get a better feel for the space you have to work with.
Step 2: Planning the layout
Depending on whether you’re opting for a quick and classy redesign, or a full-blown renovation, the next step is to plan the layout of the new small downstairs bathroom. Since space is the main issue with any tiny toilet space, time spent here is time (and money) saved further down the line. Below we take a look at a few key aspects of any small bathroom layout.
Pipes and ventilation
If you’re building a small downstairs bathroom or stripping an existing room to newly fit as a toilet, you’re going to have to think about where the plumbing will go.
Soil pipes leading away from the toilet are best placed in an outside wall, so if there’s a wall in your downstairs that faces the exterior of the property, this may be the best option for where to place both the toilet and sink.
Of course, if an exterior wall isn’t an option, a macerator – which breaks down waste so that it can be pumped to your drainage plumbing – will need to be incorporated into the toilet’s installation.
Ventilation in downstairs bathrooms is also fundamental – to help make the space light, airy, smelling fresh and free of moisture build-up, which can quickly lead to mold, damp, and damage.
Dimensions and clearance
Next, it’s time to dig out your measuring tape. Make careful note of the exact dimensions of your bathroom so that you can reference back to these when choosing your small toilet décor.
You’ll need to work out not only what can fit where, but also how you and your guests will be able to move in and around any new fittings – in a word, clearance.
The key to making a small downstairs bathroom feel more spacious than it actually is is to maximize empty space, especially along the floor, so compact fittings and slimline décor are a must.
Accessibility
In line with assessing the dimensions and clearance of your tiny toilet space, it’s worth also considering accessibility for disabled and less mobile family members and friends.
Whether this is an immediate factor of concern to you or not, it’s worth remembering that we all age – as we get older, our accessibility requirements may change. Make sure your small downstairs bathroom ideas take this into consideration.
Downstairs toilet décor: How to style a small downstairs bathroom
Okay, time already for the exciting part! Choosing small toilet décor need not be stressful. With a huge and versatile range of bathroom furnishings, fittings, décor, and accessories available on today’s home improvement market, there are always options suitable for your space, no matter how tiny it is.
In addition to choosing your décor, though, there are a few other factors we think it’s important to bear in mind: things like color, material, and lighting. A careful combination of all three could be the difference between a room which feels cramped and uncomfortable, and a small downstairs bathroom you never want to leave.
Color and materials
One of the joys of styling a small bathroom is that your budget may be able to accommodate materials which would not be cost-effective in a larger space. Marble tiles, for example, look exquisite in small bathrooms, but tend to be more costly than ceramic or porcelain.
A small downstairs toilet redesign may be the perfect opportunity to welcome some more luxurious and opulent materials into your home.
To keep a small space feeling big and bright, we recommend opting for a single uniform tile or color scheme. Keeping the color the same throughout avoids the distinct chance of a small bathroom becoming a dizzying eyesore.
Another top tip, if tiling, is to tile your small downstairs toilet from floor to ceiling. The higher your tiles go, the more they create the illusion of a room much taller than it actually is.
Finally, we’d suggest leaning toward a lighter color scheme than elsewhere in the home. Small rooms by design receive less natural light, so a light-toned waterproof paint or tile can help lift the brightness of the room.
Lighting
As we’ve just mentioned, the lighting in small downstairs bathrooms tends to be in short supply. Not all have windows to let in natural light, and those which do tend only to be small.
A great hack for immediately enhancing the brightness of your toilet is to hang your bathroom mirror on a prominent, well-lit wall. The reflection of light in the mirror – be it natural or electrical – will bounce around the room, helping to lighten the overall feel of the space.
As for small bathroom décor ideas, a backlit mirror is highly recommended. Not only could the mirror’s built-in lights replace other, less space-conscious lighting, but it also serves to create the charming vanity mirror effect which your guests will love. After all, a trip to the home’s smallest bathroom needn’t make you feel like a gremlin – we should be emerging full of the glow of self-confidence in our appearance.
Fixtures and fittings
Fixtures and fittings is a category of small toilet décor which covers just about everything essential to the function of your bathroom. This includes the toilet, sink, bath and/or shower.
There’s no getting around the fact that your bathroom fixtures are going to take up a considerable amount of space, which in a small downstairs toilet poses problems. Thankfully, however, there are ways to minimize the impact of these installations whilst maximizing their look and how they complement the overall style of your redesign.
Floating mount for toilet and sink
The parts of the toilet and sink which occupy the most space are the toilet’s cistern and sink’s plumbing. A crafty way to erase these dimensions from consideration is to wall-mount both fixtures. By hiding the toilet cistern and wash basin’s plumbing within the wall, you can install floating units which not only sit flusher with the wall, but which also sit off of the floor.
Floor space is the first thing our eyes are drawn to when assessing the openness and spaciousness of any room, so a floating toilet/sink installation is a great small bathroom idea.
Design a wet room
If having the option to wash is a necessity for your small downstairs toilet redesign, then one of the first ideas we’d put forward is to create a wet room.
A wet room is typically an open plan, fully-tiled (and thus waterproof) room with a shower head and drain occupying one corner or side. Because the room is open plan, there is no need for a space-guzzling shower screen, doors, or glass.
Of course, if a wet room isn’t your thing, you can still maximize the free space in your small downstairs toilet by opting to install a space-saving corner shower instead of a bath. Bathtubs are big and unruly and not well-suited to small, compact downstairs spaces.
Other small bathroom décor ideas
Last but not least, let’s look at a few final small toilet décor ideas which don’t neatly fit into the categories explored above.
Heated towel rails
Tall vertical heated towel rails are a godsend for small bathroom designers. By combining bathroom heating with a storage space for your towels, heated towel rails take up half the space their constituent parts otherwise would.
Bathroom cupboards and consoles
Creating the right amount of storage space for you and your family in a small downstairs toilet is a puzzle – a bit like bathroom Tetris!
We suggest shopping around for integral bathroom fixtures and fittings which have storage built into them. For example, there are plenty of backlit mirrors which also come complete with slim in-built cupboards.
Shelving is also a neat idea, since it can be installed on any wall – at any height which is convenient – and be used to hold anything from toothbrushes and toiletries to houseplants (which will love your bathroom’s humidity!) to candles and photo frames.
For freestanding storage, we recommend opting for an attractive slimline console with open storage space below the tabletop and drawers above.
Accessories
So you’ve planned the layout of your small downstairs bathroom based on accessibility and style, chosen the perfect fixtures and mounted them in a space-saving way, and have decorated the room with small toilet décor designed to match your color palette and make the room feel big and bright. At long last, it’s time to put the finishing touches on that brand new downstairs bathroom redesign of yours. Take a look at our blog on unmissable bathroom accessories and get inspired!
A few final thoughts on small bathroom décor
Tiny toilets and wee water closets can feel impossible to redesign. Limitations on space and light, not to mention the necessity for large and unwieldy fixtures, make styling a small downstairs bathroom potentially more challenging than any other room in the house.
Thankfully, there are numerous expert tips, cheats, and hacks out there to help you along the way. Be sure to take your time during the planning stages, considering accessibility needs and the potential for hidden wall-mounts, before shopping for slimline décor which combines storage and style. Finish off with the right light, color, and accessories for the ultimate small downstairs bathroom makeover.
Happy styling!