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How To Give Your Living Room A Facelift On A Budget

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Sometimes the desire to redesign your living room will just hit you. You’ll be lying on your sofa, staring at the ceiling or walls of the room or even just at the furniture and just think “it’s about time I changed this room up a bit”. However, not everyone can afford to make really expensive changes and buy new furniture but whilst this is unfortunate, it is not the end of the world.

 

It is entirely possible to redesign your living room on a budget, so below are some handy tips which will help you do this.

1. Analyse what you currently have and what you really need

A lot of people will just go out and spend money on things they like…not things they actually need. Therefore it’s a good idea to make a list of everything you currently have and then see if you’re willing to get rid of anything (sell it for a small sum) and then it will be clearer as to what your living room is now in need of.

Keep in mind all that you plan to keep will have to fit in with your new theme or style, so be stringent but also beware of getting rid of things you might be able to customise or revamp later on. (Discussed in point 4)

2. Spend less, buy more

Many people are snobbish about buying furniture or fabrics at sales or at online auctions but that’s just silly. Just think about how much money you will be able to save through buying in the sales or from buying second-hand goods. A lot of sites like eBay, Gumtree and Freecycle offer thousands of products that have hardly been used but are at hugely discounted prices.

Buying second-hand furniture also means your goods have a bit more history to them, rather than buying brand new from the store, where they have no history at all. You need to be prepared to do a lot of digging before you find exactly what you are looking for though, so be patient because there are so many good deals out there.

3. Change the room’s layout

This is, without a doubt one of the cheapest options when it comes to redesigning your living room; this costs nothing! You’d be amazed at just how much a room’s outlook can change when you just shift the furniture around a little bit. For instance don’t be afraid to place furniture at angles or even completely remove certain furniture from the room, both of which will totally change the room’s look.

It’s a good idea to have a think about how you are going to be able to create the most space in your living room. Living rooms always look and feel nicer when they are open, so do a few trials before deciding on what your favourite layout is going to be.

4. Customise and revamp

Before getting rid of any furniture and spending any money to replace what you’re getting rid of, think about whether you can revamp your goods. Often, people will throw out sofas simply because the colours no longer match the colour scheme of the room, or the sofa covers have become a bit old and tattered.

It can often be cheaper to reupholster your old sofas than it is to buy a whole brand new suite so look into the costs involved in reupholstering. Alternatively if you’re up for a challenge, buy the fabric you want and do it yourself. With wooden furniture, it’s also very easy to revamp. All you need to do is sand down the varnished finish and re-varnish to make furniture looks as good as new, or even paint it to fit in with the new look of your living room.

5. Create a focal point and add accessories

One of the cheapest options for redesigning a living room is to paint it. Paint is very affordable and can really make a huge difference to how a room looks. It’s always a good idea to give your living room a lick of paint every few years or so anyway, just to keep it looking fresh. However, keep in mind you can really make your room stand out by adding a focal point. You can do this very cheaply by just painting one wall a different colour.

You should also look at adding a few accessories here and there, such as lamps, rugs, artwork and cushions. Not only can you pick up all of these kinds of accessories for very reasonable prices, thus saving a lot of money but they will also really make your living room look lovely and homely. You can also inject a whole range of new colours into the room, as well as make old furniture look a lot nicer, i.e. by using new throws and cushions.

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Laura writes for Jaga vertical radiators. When not blogging, she can often be found switching out her radiators on a whim.





Snow Globes – Not Just For Christmas

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Snow globes are making waves in home décor. From fun and kitschy mementos to beautiful centre pieces, you can easily tailor this new craze to fit your tastes. The good news is snow globes aren’t just great Christmas present, but can be used as ornaments in your home all year round. Here are some fresh takes on the traditional snow globe that are easy to incorporate into your house no matter what you taste, style or budget.

Create a Visual Travel Diary

Many tourist areas sell branded snow globes as mementos of your vacation. Collecting one from each of your visits will not only allow you to remember the good times you had on that holiday but also create a quirky collection to show off in your home.

This is also a great reminder for the whole family of all the places you’ve visited together, especially when placed alongside framed snapshots of your travels.

Display Your Family Photos

Many companies have cottoned on to the growing snow globe trend, and are coming up with inventive new ways to integrate them into your home decoration. One of the most popular new uses for snow globes is as a unique photo frame. Many designs allow you to place a photograph of your choice in a waterproof compartment within the snow globe. These are available reasonably cheap on the high street and are useful not only as decorations for your home, but as gifts for friends or loved ones.

Get Creative

If arts and crafts are your thing, consider making your own snow globe and personalising it to your tastes. There are many online resources and blogs to help you build your own snow globe, using materials that can easily be purchased on the high street. Making your own snow globe is not only cost effective but allows you to express your own creativity in a variety of ways.

There are many inventive and playful ways of creating a snow globe of your own, including infusing the water with the liquid from a glow stick, which makes perfect decoration for parties, or children’s bedrooms.

Shop Around

If crafting isn’t your thing, or you are looking for a fun take on the traditional Christmas snow globe, there are many stores which offer personalised snow globes without you having to get your hands dirty. Many companies offer a diverse range of snow globes decorated to fit your taste. These range from traditional Christmas scenes to iconic foreign landmarks. Purchasing a snow globe online doesn’t have to make it any less personalised or sentimental, and it can still be aesthetically pleasing in your home. Whether you want your name printed on the outside, or a secret compartment containing a card to your family underneath, there is a company out there for you.

Josie Tall is a home decor enthusiast and lifestyle blogger.

Tips For Decorating Your Garden

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Garden Group ~ Tucson Botanic GardenFor most of us, our gardens are an extension of our living spaces. It’s a place to entertain guests, children and pets. Or it can be a sanctuary and place of relaxation. And with a little effort, your garden can be a little piece of heaven. Here are five tips to decorating your garden and having your own space to escape from life’s daily stress.

Choose appropriate outdoor furniture

When purchasing outdoor furniture, consider the purpose of your garden. Will you use it to entertain guests? Will it be a playground for your children? Or, will it be your own quiet retreat place? Also, consider the amount of space you have and take accurate measurements. Lastly, try to match your outdoor living furniture with your indoor design. Your outdoor furniture and décor must be able to withstand the weather, be that wind and rain. Therefore, it is important that your furniture is made of sturdy, weather resistant material.

Take lighting to the next level

Many landscapes can become romantic at night with the right lighting. By placing electric lights in trees and pathways, you can set the ambiance for your patio or garden. Consider hanging gracious outdoor lanterns from the trees. This will make for a dreamy atmosphere. You can also use streetlight-style lamps to punctuate patios and pathways. Try to pick fixtures that coordinate with the lights placed on the house’s exterior walls.

Showcase plant collections

Your garden should be the center of attention in your backyard. Display your favorite specimens in pots and pedestals. For greater exposure, place these objects at eye level. Embrace unusual displays and place plants in vintage pots or a painted chest of drawers. If you just plant flowers in beds they will disappear in the background. This is where you can get creative. Take advantage of antique shops and yard sales for the perfect outdoor décor.

Add a splash of color

Lighten up your backyard with color accent pieces such as bright colored ceramic pots and chairs. Try filling bright colored pots with plants that can draw the eye from a distance. You can also paint patio chairs in bright colors and arrange them around a neutral tabletop. Wall art is also a great way to liven up your backyard. You can even add color to your outdoor décor by covering a fence with suspended flowerpots. Create even more impact by using the same color throughout your yard.

Give life to your garden

Objects that a visitor can actually see and touch, like birdbaths and statues. For example, statues are an easy way to make your garden unique and fun. Accent your yard with frolicking animals and garden benches. Decorating your garden will make your backyard more inviting and encourage your guests to stay longer.

Accentuate with flowers

What could be more inviting than a flower-filled garden? Plant a mixture of roses, verbena and foxgloves to create a charming atmosphere. Or you could plant a bed of flowering perennials. Use climbing roses on a fence or arbor for a dramatic focal point. When it comes to planting beautiful flowers, the options are endless.

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Ann Michaels is a freelance writer with a green thumb. Every spring, Ann prepares her garden for the New Year. She recently purchased great products like dog statues from Saint Francis Garden for her budding garden.

Are Bugs Creating A Nuisance At Your Home? Have A Look At Acquisitive Solutions

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It’s not just the dirt that affects our space but lot of other pesky things like weeds, bugs and rodents also kills the serenity of the home. Pests have been part of the human process since the start of the human history. They are varied animals and plants that obstruct the human process. Some of the pests may bug while you walk along the streets while others may just stay hidden in your living space, creating a nuisance at your home. A lot of chemicals have been designed to fight with these pests but few are effective and those that are very effective do not fit in well in everybody’s pocket. In fact it is seen that half of the times, these pest control chemicals do not even work properly and are least effective after a certain time gap. Apart from the issue of effectiveness, some of the pest control solutions are made using hazardous chemicals and these chemicals are not only dangerous to the humans especially the young children at home, but are also a threat to the environment. Look at some of the simple acquisitive solutions that can help you get rid of the pests.

Cucumbers are not just for glowing skin

Cucumbers are considered the best for eliminating dark circles, curing puffiness, and yes not to forget, putting the slices of it in the salad.  However there is another side to this “good for skin” element. These are considered as one of the best natural ant repellents. Just like the picky toddlers, even ants dislike cucumbers and do everything possible so as to avoid interaction with it. So if you see the little buggers sliding down your window panes, just place a few cucumbers alongside the edges and the ants will push their steps back.

Fly away the flea

One of the best ways to keep the fleas off your pet is to use ground rosemary leaves. These leaves once sprinkled over the beds or even on the pets can help keep off the fleas. With this little steps avoid the nuisance that the fleas create.

Mash potatoes and kill unwanted buggers 

Mash potatoes taste good but are they tastier even for the unwanted pests? Well, if you place a bowl of desiccated mashed potato flakes and some water, all the tiny critters that come near it and try to eat will experience an unexpected shock. When the water comes in contact with the potato flakes, they puff up like sponges and eventually bloat out, killing the little buggers.

Protect your garden with vinegar

Vinegar is a favourite of gardeners and lawn lovers as it helps kill the unwanted pests like weed. Weed are of different forms but vinegar identifies all as one and equally effective on each of them. So, next time you go to any grocery store, buy a solution that has the highest concentration of vinegar in it.

Keep away the snail and snugs

Snails and slugs are beer lovers and get attracted to this intoxicating drink the fastest. So, all that you are required to do to keep them away and keep your garden safe from them is to pour about one inch of beer into some empty can. Attracted by the smell, these unwanted creepy crawlies try to carve their way to the beer and as soon as they reach out to it, they tumble in it and drown. After this only that you need to do is clear the mess.

Chase Cullen is the author of this informative post. He is an excellent writer, a loving husband and a caring father who enjoys blogging in his spare time. He just got a bed bug heat remediation treatmentdone in his house and is satisfied with its end result.

How To Pay Less For The Same Products

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Having the financial freedom to buy whatever you like is a great thing but the reality is that most of us have to compromise to some degree on the purchases we can make. This could mean cutting down in terms of the quantity we purchase or perhaps a compromise in quality and in some cases we may even have to do without altogether. If it is a product that you need then you may even need to consider asking for financial help such as pay day loans to help you afford the purchase. If you shop wisely, however, you may find that you don’t have to compromise after all as you could find the same goods at a more affordable price.

Buy Wholesale

From the manufacturer to the shop where you buy your goods there is a distribution chain and in behind every link of that chain is a person or a business that wants to make some money. This of course means that the more links there are in the chain before you make your purchase, the more you are going to pay. By going to a wholesaler instead of a supermarket or local shop you get to reduce the number of mark-ups that have been added to the product meaning you get to buy it cheaper.

When you do buy through a wholesaler it is likely that you will be expected to buy in bulk so it may not always be suitable. If you are buying bottled goods that will last for a long time, for example, then buying wholesale could be a great idea. Buying up a bulk quantity of milk, however, may not be such a good idea as it is likely to perish before it can be consumed which would be a waste of money. Having somewhere to store your bulk purchases may also be a challenge but if you are able to take advantage, buying wholesale could help you to pay less for the same product.

Do You Really Need That Label?

Did you know that a lot of brand name fashion labels purchase items themselves from 3rd party factories and simply stick their own label on it? Obviously this is not the case when it comes to more specialised items but where T-shirts are concerned, for example, you could buy exactly the same product for a fraction of the price for no other reason than it doesn’t have a flashy name on it. In many cases the label is so small anyway that it is barely noticeable, yet still you pay a premium on an item that will cost you much less elsewhere. If having that label is not so important to you then you could well end up paying much less for an item that is just as good in terms of quality.

If you do find that you are struggling to pay for what you want and you are considering asking for same day loans to help you out, it could be that you could simply pay less for the item instead. Try to take into account mark-ups and branding and you could find that it is much easier to afford what you want after all.

When Jamie Finch finds an item he would like to purchase but cannot afford it he might use a same day loan from Fast Forward to Payday to help. Otherwise he may look to source the goods from another supplier that may be able to offer the same product for less.

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