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Trying To Keep Up With The Joneses? 5 Improvements To Make To Your Home

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Trying to “keep up with the Joneses” can be a bad thing if you feel pressured to spend more money than you can afford; but it can be a good thing if it motivates you to apply more effort in various aspects of your life. One way in which trying to keep up with the Joneses can be beneficial is if it motivates you to invest more money in maintaining and updating your home. Investing money and effort into improving your home can increase property values for your whole neighborhood.

Here are 5 home improvements worth making:

1. New siding or outdoor paint

If the outside of your home has siding, adding new vinyl or fiber/cement siding gives the outside of your home an instant facelift. According to HGTV, new siding is an investment that will definitely pay off if you ever choose to sell your home. Similarly, if you don’t have siding, painting the outside of your home can bring equally good results. Make the outside of your home something that reflects well on your neighborhood.

2. New roofing

A roof that’s in poor repair instantly brings down the value of your property – as well as the value of the surrounding homes. Leaking roofs can bring water damage, which can in turn wreak havoc on the inside of your home. An old, worn-out roof is noticeable and unattractive. Even though a new roof is expensive, it’s definitely a worthwhile investment. When it comes time to sell your house, potential buyers will be relieved to know that they won’t be facing the ordeal of having to repair their roof.

3. Plantation shutters

Window treatments are an important but often overlooked investment in your home, and plantation shutters are the top of the line choice. Many people opt for less expensive blinds, shades and curtains, but the trade-off is a significant difference in quality. Taking shortcuts on your window coverings is a bad idea, and it’s a mistake that’s sure to be noticed by your neighbors. Plantation shutters last longer, do a better job of keeping out the weather and they look better. In addition, plantation shutters improve the value of your home.

4. Extra bathrooms

The larger your family, the more bathrooms you want to have. Adding an extra bathroom should be a high priority if your house only has one, or if you have fewer bathrooms than other houses in your neighborhood. Today’s home buyers want multiple bathrooms. Although adding another bathroom is not inexpensive, but it is an investment you will appreciate on a regular basis. When it comes time to sell, you’ll especially appreciate the way the extra bathroom increases the value of your home.

5. Adding a back deck

Curb appeal – the impression your house makes when a visitor first drives up – is a big deal. However, focusing only on the front yard is missing out on the fact that the back yard holds a lot of potential. According to the DIY Network, building a deck adds to your property value in several ways. By providing an extra space for relaxing and including amenities on your deck such as a hot tub and furniture, a deck increases the total square footage of your home and provides a great place to unwind.

Keeping up with the neighbors can be a very positive form of peer pressure, especially when it motivates you to invest more in making your home a source of pride. Your home is your biggest investment; treat it accordingly!

Nicole is a freelance writer who enjoys writing about home decorating and home improvement projects, including everything from home decorating on a budget to the best shutters in Perth, Australia.





How To Keep Your Refrigerator Gleamingly Clean In 5 Easy Steps

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How To Keep Your Refrigerator Gleamingly Clean In 5 Easy Steps

1. First, take all removable components out of the fridge

Many people make the mistake of trying to give their fridge a good, deep clean without taking out all the drawers and shelves. You can’t do the job properly unless you remove them, so this is the very first thing to do (obviously after removing all of your food and drink stuffs).

Take all the removable components out and soak them in warm water. You can use your washing up liquid if you wish; however, bicarbonate of soda works just as well, if not better because there is no lingering after smell. Please note: it is probably a good idea to let the components come up to room temperature before soaking them in hot water, especially if made of glass.

Be sure to check all evidence of grime and food is removed from these items. Take particular care to make sure all the shelving brackets are free of grime, as these are ideal places for bacteria to flourish. Never put anything back into the fridge until it is 100% dry.

2. Work your way down – top to bottom

Cleaning your fridge is going to be a lot more straightforward if you start at the top and then work your way down. Simply because if you start at the bottom, you’ll only have to clean it again since scum and dirty water from the top will probably be knocked off and drip down as you start cleaning the top of the fridge.

3. Make sure you clean all food containers before putting them back in the fridge

There is no point spending time cleaning your fridge and getting it gleaming with cleanliness if you’re going to put dirty containers back into it. Take time to clean the outsides of all your jars, tubs, tins, crockery and anything else you store in your fridge.

This is also a very good time to check all containers are tightly sealed and that the foodstuffs within them are still nice and fresh. People often forget about the old ham in the plastic container at the back of the fridge, or the baked beans that have been in the bowl under some foil for weeks. Keeping gone off food in your fridge will cause other food to turn bad.

4. Aim to do the following at least once a week:

– Take out every shelf and removable compartment, soak and then wash them in a warm water and bicarbonate of soda (or washing liquid) mix. Make sure they are rinsed off fully.

– Use a warm water and bicarbonate of soda mix to clean up the entire inside of your fridge. Use paper towels (kitchen towels) to dry off the inside of the fridge. Make sure it is dry before putting anything back.

– Take time to really get into all the small sealant areas around the door. A top tip is to use an old toothbrush for this grimy job.

– Give the exterior of your fridge a good wipe down too, especially the door handle!

5. Aim to do the following at least twice a year:

– Take everything out of your fridge (and freezer if you have a combination.) Note, if you have a fridge/freezer, it is a good idea to do this cleaning activity when you don’t have a lot of foodstuffs. Aim to do it when you’re due to go on a big grocery shop.

– Turn off your appliance.

– Take your duster and give the cooling elements at the back of the fridge a good clean. You may even need to resort to getting the vacuum cleaner out if you haven’t done this before. Not only does this make your fridge a lot cleaner but it also makes it a lot more efficient too.

Laura writes for Accessible Hire. When not writing about AHR cold storage, she can often be found cleaning out her fridge–over and over.

5 Surprising Window Treatments For Different Rooms In Your Home

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Are your drapes a drag? Are your blinds too blinding? To paraphrase an old saying, windows are the eyes to the soul – of your house, that is. More than simply a functional portal to let stale air out and sunlight in, windows represent a wonderful opportunity to showcase your home decor style.

Here are 5 rooms in your home you can “snazzy up” with unexpected window treatments:

1. Living Room Windows

Beyond curb appeal, the first impression that visitors receive of your home is typically a front window. As designer Tosha Scott recently told HGTV.com, big, bold grommet curtains are a hot trend right now. Rather than using clunky rings or suspension strings, these curtains have metal holes pierced through them, allowing the curtain rod to thread directly through the fabric. The results are crisp, consistent pleats that look as lovely from the outside of your home as they do from the inside. For added punch, pick a bright retro pattern when it comes time to select your fabric.

2. Kitchen Windows

Of all the rooms in a home, the kitchen is king when it comes to staging unexpected artistic flair. Though it’s a practice born of necessity in the old days of apothecaries, putting small colored bottles on the upper ledges of your kitchen window will add a cheerful “stained glass” feel to the light hitting your linoleum or tile. Select bottle colors that complement your existing decor or opt for a line of cobalt blue for a truly electric effect. Need to open your window often? Consider hanging the bottles with thread from the top frame – this technique makes a unique curtain that remains in place whether the window is open or closed.

3. Garage Windows

Transoms and sidelights are excellent at letting light into a garage or workspace, but clear versions aren’t a great choice if you’re trying to finish a project uninterrupted. If you’d prefer a little more privacy when you’re changing your oil or building a birdhouse, look into window films. With both adhesive or residue-free vinyl versions available, these translucent films allow light in while hiding the interior of your space from prying eyes. Plain opaque or frosted films will certainly get the job done, but for a little extra flair, try out a stained glass pattern and enjoy the view!

4. Bathroom Windows

Homeowners have long struggled to find the perfect window treatments for this humid, privacy-demanding space. Cloth curtains tend to mildew and retain odors, while blinds are often too large or awkward for smaller bathroom windows. The answer is curtains – but not traditional ones. Shower curtains are easy to modify with nothing more than a pair of scissors, and are custom-made to withstand high-humidity conditions without flinching. The next time you’re selecting a shower curtain, simply pick up two and a sill-mounted rod system – you’ll have a snazzy matching bathroom set. If you end up embracing this decorating trick, Apartment Therapy notes that fabric “outer” shower curtains also make excellent additions to other rooms in the home.

5. Bedroom Windows

When most people think of beaded curtains, they think of the cheap plastic or splintering bamboo travesties from several decades ago. But things have changed for the better in recent years. Modern beaded valances use beautiful ribbons, velvet cords and subtle crystal beading for an elegant bohemian vibe. Pair a beaded valance with some dupioni silk curtains and turn your bedroom into a bedchamber fit for exotic royalty.

These window treatments are a great start to making the look and feel of your home into something truly personal. Ditch the drapes and tweak, swap and experiment your way to home decor heaven!

Nicole is a freelance writer who enjoys writing about home decorating. For more traditional window treatment options, she recommends looking into blinds in Perth from Sola Shade.

Buying A New Wardrobe

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The wardrobe is one of the most popular forms of storage used in bedrooms today, and has been in use for hundreds of years. Wardrobes are generally used to store clothing and items of a similar nature, but what you keep in your wardrobe is up to you.

If you are planning on buying a new wardrobe then there are a number of factors you should take into consideration before beginning your search, and doing so will result in more confident shopping. Buyers may be confused as to what it is exactly that they need from their storage unit, but this article will detail on the important aspects you should think about.

What is it For?

The first thing you should think about is what you are going to store in the wardrobe, as this should influence the size and style of unit you purchase. For example, if you are mainly going to store dresses in the wardrobe then you should look for a tall model with a high rail, as this will keep the dresses straight and stop them from trailing on the bottom.

If the wardrobe will be used for a combination of shirts and trousers then you can buy one with an in-built shelving system for folded clothes. A number of modern wardrobes have customisable rail heights, and it’s always a good idea to keep an eye out for these.

What Space do You Have?

As well as the size, style and amount of clothes you are looking to store, the actual space you have in your bedroom will play a big part in the decision process. You need to decide on where the wardrobe will be kept and measure out the dimensions of the space available.

You should also consider the form in which the wardrobe will be delivered, as if it is already built you will need to ensure that it can be successfully brought through your house. The size of the wardrobe will also have a direct influence on the price of the unit, so you will need to consider your budget when working out measurements.

Freestanding or Fitted?

Wardrobes are divided into two categories; freestanding units and those that are fitted. Freestanding wardrobes are the traditional style and as the name suggests these are an independent unit that are not connected to the room in anyway. Freestanding wardrobes are less expensive than the fitted style, and can be bought in a large variety of materials, designs and colours.

A fitted wardrobe is built into your bedroom and this style offers you much more room for storage. If you are thinking about buying a fitted model, or have an existing wardrobe but want to update its look, then I recommend that you think about purchasing sliding doors for your unit.

Fitted wardrobes traditionally have hinged doors but sliding doors are much more aesthetically pleasing and can be bought in a large number of styles, sizes and with different finishes. If you are considering buying a fitted wardrobe then I advise you to buy your sliding doors from a professional manufacturer such as Superglide Wardrobes. This will guarantee that the doors are expertly made and fitted.

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Terance Nichols is a DIY fan who spends his time devising ways to get the maximum space out of his home. In his spare time Terance enjoys visiting art galleries and museums.

How To Save Water In Your Shower

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Water conservation is an extremely important aspect of life that the majority of us ignore or are unaware of. As the planet’s population continues to grow at an alarming rate, water becomes more and more precious. Those of us lucky enough to have access to clean drinking water and appropriate sanitation need to ensure that we are not wasting water.

Most of us could save over one hundred litres of water a week if we cut our showering time by one minute. Water conservation is not hard to do, and it will save you a lot of money on energy bills.

The easiest place to save water and money is in the bathroom, and the best place to implement your water saving ideas is the shower. There are a number of inexpensive devices you can buy that will cut you shower water consumption in half, and these devices are easy to install and require virtually no maintenance.

I advise you to purchase one if not all of the following as soon as possible.

Water Saving Devices

shower headAs I’ve previously mentioned, water saving devices for use in your shower are very low priced and will help save you a lot of money in the coming years. The first thing you need to do is determine if your shower utilises a fixed head or a handheld head as this will influence what devices can be used. A fixed head is connected directly the pipework within the wall and is non-operational when removed.

A handheld head is connected to a shower hose and held in place with an adjustable wall rail. Handheld heads can be removed for use in precision cleaning. You will generally find fixed heads in older houses, while handheld heads are typically found in newer houses and apartments.

Low Flow Shower Heads

Low flow shower heads are the most popular water saving device sold on the market today. A low flow shower head works by adding air bubbles to water. This increases the mass of water released, but reduces the overall amount needed to clean. Contrary to belief, low flow shower heads do not affect water pressure or spray strength, and can dramatically improve your shower experience.

These devices can reduce water consumption by up to 50%, and are available in a variety of designs offering you a number of spray styles to choose from. If you’re considering purchasing a low flow shower head then I’d advise you to buy oneFaucet Aerators from a specialist site such as Agua Flux.

Aerator

An aerator is a very small metal device that can be attached in between the shower hose and the faucet. Aerators work in the same way as low flow shower heads, and are able to reduce water consumption by up to 60%. These items are extremely low priced and very easy to install. If you’re interested in buying an aerator then make sure you buy one made from brass and coated in chrome.This will ensure that the device is resistant to corrosion and lime scale build up.

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Terance Nichols is an energy saving expert who specialises in energy efficiency within the home. Terance likes to spend his free time visiting galleries and museums.

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