Winter Doesn’t Last Forever: Get Your House Ready For Summer 2017 Now

You may think that the winter season is never going to end, but there are only a few months to get ready for the summer, and this is without mentioning any bikini figure! You need to think about getting your house ready for the hot season, and this isn’t something that you can delay too much. It is important to start planning right now with this list of summer essentials for your to go through.

Make Sure You Have All You Need To Keep The House Fresh

It might seem odd to think about keeping cool when the weather is still cold outside, but now is the right time to check the state of your air conditioner system, fans, and your swimming pool. If you don’t have any air con, it is time to consider an A/C installation to prepare for summer. As you still have a handful of months left before the hot months arrive, it is good to get in touch with expert engineers to service your pool and keep your cooling systems up to date before the summer rush begins.

Look After Your Garden Now To Find Freshness In Summer

You’re sitting inside, looking through the window to see only cold, gray rain. Taking care of your garden might well be the last thing you want to do with your time. But it is essential to maintain your trees and plants throughout the cold months to help them be strong and healthy for when you will need their shadow and their freshness. While you don’t need to spend every week kneeling outside in the wet grass and the mud, a monthly list of maintenance tasks should include:

Summer Garden, Garden Bench, Green Lawn, Iron Trellis

[Photo courtesy of jensullivan113/pixabay.com]
  • Mowing the lawn,
  • Trimming the trees so that they can grow strong and high in summer,
  • Pruning flowers and fruit trees to ensure a beautiful and vibrant garden,
  • And protecting your precious plants from the frost and the rain.

Prepare For A Change Of Interior Décor

[Photo courtesy of pexels.com]

Winter is naturally characterized by a change of décor inside your house: A warm blanket lies on the sofa to keep you warm in the evening; a series of tall mugs is piled up in the sink for a hot cup of tea; and every room has received a touch of warmth with scented candles and fluffy cushions. Everything is there to provide a cozy sensation. But soon the time for bbq parties and summer drinks will come: You need to rethink your décor to bring back a sense of sunny freshness inside your home. There are many options to do so on a budget: You can choose to hide all reminders of the winter months away, such as blankets, heating units, and candles, or you can decide to bring touches of bright colors inside the house with picture frames, funky cushions, and decorative plant pots. Just remember to check every room to make note of the wintery elements to store away during summer. And why not already plan your first bbq party of the warm season? Maybe you could celebrate the arrival of spring around a grilled burger with friends, so if you start now, you could prepare your DIY décor.        

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Brrrrrr-illiant Winter Safety Tips For Nervous Moms

What three words would you use to describe winter?

A safe bet is that one of them would be “cold.” It’s simple, and it’s accurate. The others will depend on where you live. Some people will say “wet”; others will say “snowy.” Many will say “beautiful” – because, as lovely as everything looks in summer, bathed in light, winter has its beauty too. Everything showered in a little tinkle of frost, or covered in snow? It doesn’t get much prettier than that, does it?

Switzerland, Mountains, Winter, Snow, Grindelwald

[Photo courtesy of thomasstaub/pixabay.com]

So if we’ve got cold, and beautiful, what’s the third word? How about “terrifying”? Let’s be honest; snow is pretty. If you’re wrapped up warm, it can be fun to play in. However, when you try to do anything more practical, it can be hazardous. Winter, in general, is a season where you have to be safety-conscious.

Snow: Stunning When It Falls, Stubborn When It Stays

When you’re a kid, your first snowfall is one of the most magical experiences imaginable. The blanket of white outside is otherworldly at first. When you play out in it, you don’t even mind that it’s cold. Your parents do, though. And when you’re the parent, you start to think about that. What will happen if the driveway freezes, or you’re snowed in (http://lifehacker.com/all-the-best-things-to-do-when-you-re-snowed-in-1754156328)?

A look at what’s on offer at snowshifts.com should lift at least some of this concern. You can blow the snow off your driveway and at least get the car to the road. Once it’s in a safe spot, there’s more to play in!

Ice, Ice, Baby…

Ice, Winter, Cold, Frozen, Nature, Cool, Weather, Tree

[Photo courtesy of Fotocitizen/pixabay.com]

Even if you’re confident on snow, ice presents its own challenges. Forget any idea of looking graceful when you walk on a frozen patch – it’s not happening. It’s all about function and safety. One fall can cause serious injury. Heck, it’s not even that pretty unless it forms somewhere out of walking range.

If you haven’t already, invest in a bag of rock salt. Scatter this over any icy patches people might have to walk on. It will melt some of the ice and give a bit of grip to the surface. It can, quite literally, be a lifesaver.

Come In From The Cold

As you grow up, you become less interested in investigating everything new about winter weather. You develop a keen interest in getting in out of it and warming up. Your kids may be harder to convince in this new interest, as the snow is still a novelty.

You may need to be the bad guy occasionally and persuade your kids to come in to warm up, even if only for a while. Every half-hour is reasonable. Some older children can be trusted to judge when they are in need of a warm-up. But for toddlers and older infants, you’ll need to make the rules. You can always have hot cocoa waiting for them as an incentive.

Cappuccino, Foam, Coffee, Cup, Benefit From, Cafe

[Photo courtesy of AndreaB1009/pixabay.com]

So that’s winter – cold, beautiful and dangerous all at once. As long as you take the necessary precautions, it’s a season where most of the memories made will be ones to treasure. And don’t miss the chance to make snow angels!

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Why You Must Hire the Services of a Moving Company

Moving companies are created to minimize time waster and worries during travel. Trying to do the moving alone can result to mishap and damages. Long distance moving can be taxing for it needs painstaking effort to pack, wrap and load your things so they will not break apart. If you want your travel to be less stressful, you have to hire the Ottawa movers to ease the burden from start until you get to your destination. You might think that moving your things using their services could be expensive but they are actually cost saving.

Getting the services of professional movers like ottawa movers can give you the peace of mind as you entrust your belongings in safe hands while you and your family are enjoying sightseeing. The moving company will entirely solve your financial woes as they collect their fees reasonably. While adjusting your new life in this side of Canada, you can feel the homey ambiance once your things are delivered intact.

Moving Company

Compare yourself doing the packing and unloading with that of the moving company in Gatineau, you will realize the big difference if you do it by yourself. The movers are composed of professional and experienced workers who are trained how to pack fragile and breakable objects such as dinnerware, glassware, frames, and wall decors.

Electronic gadgets and home appliances are made of sensitive parts that a single mistake during loading and unloading can harm their functionality, but with the help of a trusted firm moving company in gatineau, it will surely save your time in wrapping and packing your belongings and less effort, save on gas and insurance cost.

The moving company has long experience in this business and their familiarity with the terrain assuring you that no accidents can happen during the trip. Driving your van in unfamiliar road can be dangerous for you and your family. With a moving company to carry your belongings, you can opt to travel by plane so you can still have time to familiarize the neighborhood and the environs.

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Is It Practical To Create A Room Just For Relaxing In?

The short answer, of course, is yes. We have room for eating in, cooking in, sleeping in and washing in. So why not have one just for relaxing in? It makes sense, doesn’t it? But creating this type of room can be a challenge, especially if you have never done anything like it before. Luckily we have created a guide to help you, so read on for some inspiration to for the most relaxing of rooms.

Light

First thing’s first, once you have chosen a room to make into a relaxing space you need to assess the light situation. Some rooms are flooded with natural light. But it may be that you think low light is relaxing. So you will need to address this by installing some thick blackout curtains and a dimmable lamp.

Light, Lamp, Bedside Lamp, Illumination, Lampshade

[Photo courtesy of stevepb/pixabay.com]

Other rooms may be dark and pokey. But if you find space and light relaxing this could be problematic. Then you will need to paint the walls white to create the illusion of space. Also, it is vital to keep pieces of furniture to a minimum to give that illusion of having more room.

You can also use different shades and tones of light to encourage a relaxing atmosphere. This is easy to do with smart bulbs. As they can be controlled remotely, so you can change the color easily without having the hassle of replacing the bulb.

So whatever you do in your room, just remember to adjust the rooms lighting levels to one that you will find relaxing.

Seating

A relaxing room needs to have comfortable seating in it, that fosters a relaxed attitude in both mind and body. Happily, there are quite a few different options you can get that fulfill this role.

Firstly why not consider something like the Shiatsu Chairs that are available now? These are not only supportive and comfortable, but they have a massage function that will relax your body as well.

Or, you could go for some non-traditional floor seating with supports. These can make lounging around comfortable and good for you posture as well! You could even go avant-garde, and invest in nest set up, which is a pod filled with cushions and is just perfect for naps and chillout sessions.

Scents

Once you have established somewhere comfortable to sit, you need to think about how your senses play into getting into a relaxed state. One of our strongest senses is small so you can use that to aid your relaxation.

Why not try at atmostizer with lavender or chamomile scents to help you relax even quicker? Or you can go for some incense or a candle or two.

Incense, Pots, Smoke, Oriental, Culture, Pottery, Burn

[Photo courtesy of Pexels/pixabay.com]

Sounds

Sound is another strong sense that can assist in the relaxation process. As most of us a have a smartphone these days, it very easy to use these in your relaxation room to play relaxing sounds for meditation.

All you really need for this is a docking station with a speaker. Then you can time your meditations and play relaxing classical music. Or you can even do a guided Yoga Nidra session  or body scan. Perfect for relaxation.

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Creature Comforts: Be A Friend To Wildlife This Winter

Winter can be tough for all of us it’s cold, dark and the last thing you want to be is outside when you can see icicles hanging from the trees. However, animals and birds aren’t so lucky so it’s important we do all we can to help them through the colder months. Food is often scarce for many animals in winter so why not help hedgehogs by leaving out some tinned meat? Make sure there’s a small bowl of fresh water visitors can drink from and that visiting birds to your garden are rewarded. By following a couple of the ideas listed not only will you be assisting animals at a difficult time, but be able to enjoy the variety of wildlife snuffling around your garden.

Beautiful Bird Table

Pop a lovely, wooden bird table in the centre of your garden and scatter breadcrumbs, seeds, peanuts, cheese, and fruit you’ll be able to find grocery online as well as buying mealworms from your garden store. Birds often find it hard to get enough food at this time of year as berries, insects, seeds and worms have either died or are covered by a thick layer of snow. Once the word has gotten out that there’s food your bird table will be filled with hungry feathery visitors. However, bear in mind these are all wild animals and will get lazy quickly if they receive regular handouts, which makes them unwilling to source their own food so it’s important to limit how much is given.

[Flickr Image Courtesy of Tony Hisgett]

Help Squirrels Go Nuts

Despite what many people think these fluffy tailed creatures don’t actually hibernate instead they collect a store of nuts to munch on in their cozy, dry drey’s, or nests all winter. The gathering starts in early autumn and only ends when they’ve found enough to eat so you can help them out by leaving nuts such as hazelnuts, walnuts and almonds as well as sliced apple, carrot and even spinach or beans. A regular small handful of these foods will see squirrels safely through till spring.

Break The Ice

Many animals don’t possess the strength to make a hole in water that’s frozen over so when people think they’ll be alright often wildlife struggle to find enough to drink. Check your water bowl, or dish regularly as it could have frozen overnight and make sure to refill it regularly as you don’t know how many animals are using this precious water source to survive. If you have a pond you also need to make a hole as overtime toxic gas can build up and harm any fish or frogs living in the water. Don’t use a sharp item as you may injure any fish swimming near by instead take a pan of boiling water and pour it on the surface and the ice will then melt.

Let Your Garden Grow

Now isn’t the time to be doing any weeding, burning or leaf clearing in the winter months simply let your garden rest and grow wild. Don’t worry when spring comes you’ll be able to clean up but for now compost heaps, piles of leaves and even overgrown brambles can become the perfect winter retreat for many a creature.

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Tips on How to Keep Your Home Clean

A clean home is a pleasure and helps to promote personal well-being. Maintaining a clean house also boosts design inspiration for interior living space. Whether you live in small apartment, or a large house – keeping your space clean is essential to maintaining an environment where you can feel happy and at peace. Below are some tips to help you clean more effectively at home.

1. Cleaning Supplies

When basic cleaning supplies are available, it becomes easier to keep your home clean. You need not go overboard with cleaning supplies. However, be sure to include dish-washing detergent, cleanser, vinegar, mops and scrub brushes. In most cases, these go a long way in achieving a spotlessly clean interior.

2. Create a Schedule

Develop a schedule that allows you to clean your home regularly. This helps to prevent a pile-up of chores. Spread out cleaning chores, with different tasks assigned to different days. It helps to make the cleaning less of a dreaded obligation compared to cramming all tasks into one or 2 days. By sticking to your cleaning schedule, you’ll find that cleaning becomes much easier and less time-consuming.

Washing Windows, Window, Clean, Person, Human, Woman

[Photo courtesy of cocoparisienne/pixabay.com]

3. Clean Regularly

Whatever the size of your home, certain parts require cleaning on a regular basis – every 2 days or at least weekly. This includes the kitchen, bathroom, living room and yard. It is best to develop a schedule for regular cleaning of these areas. This should also include cleaning the appliances and fixtures in the kitchen and bathroom. Weekly cleaning of appliances such as the fridge and oven helps to prevent the growth and spread of bacteria. Weekly bathroom cleaning is vital in preventing the development of mold and mildew. Other areas such as the study room, garage and back yard may not require to be cleaned as often. A bi-weekly or monthly cleaning may work for you.

4. Delegate Tasks

Involving household members in cleaning chores is an excellent idea. By delegating specific tasks to everyone, it becomes easier to keep the home clean. Young children can learn how to put away things to create a neater environment. They can also wipe surfaces of chairs, tables and counters. Older children can take responsibility for cleaning their own rooms, do the laundry, wash the dishes, vacuum and empty the garbage. Other tasks such as cleaning floors, washing the bathroom, mowing the lawn and cleaning the yard can be done by adults.

5. De-clutter

Most homes easily get cluttered due to items being left all over the place. It is best to make household members aware that each person has a role to play in home organization.  If you have small kids, obtain large boxes for them where they can place their toys and items. Teach kids how to store their items in boxes once they’re done with playing. Older children and adults must also be involved in keeping personal effects and household items in their respective storage places. Even after items have been stored accordingly, there’s always a chance that you could be storing more stuff than you need at home. Set aside one day every month or so to de-clutter your home. You could organize a garage sale to dispose of stuff you don’t need, donate to charitable causes, while some stuff may find its way into the garbage.

Sources:
  • House Cleaning London. (2011) HouseCleaning.org
  • House Cleaning Tips. Retrieved February 13, 2012. Professor’s House.
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A Haven For Wildlife: Encouraging Birds And Animals Into Your Garden

Gardens are not just about flowers and growing food. They can be a great way to learn about wildlife; something particularly important if you have a family. And they are a great way to help maintain species of birds and animals.

Bird, Finch, Feeder, Bird Feeder, Niger Seed

[Photo courtesy of DroolingDogs/pixabay.com]

Regardless of your outdoor space, there are simple steps you can take to encourage birds and animals to visit or set up home in your garden.

  1. Create A Pond

Creating a pond is the quickest and simplest way to introduce wildlife. Once your pond has been built, you can fill it with your choice of fish. There are many different varieties to choose from, depending on the areas you live in and the space available, etc. Butterfly koi are a popular choice as they are known for their beauty and stunning colors.

Ponds will attract other wildlife such as frogs and insects. It is important to monitor and clean your pond regularly to ensure it is a safe environment for fish and other animals. The plants and grasses surrounding your pond will also attract visitors.

Greenfinch, Bird, Foraging, Garden

[Photo courtesy of Oldiefan/pixabay.com]
  1. Garden Design

When designing and maintaining your garden, think carefully about the animals you wish to encourage. Birds like trees and bushes for nesting. If you have the available space, try creating zones. Some birds may prefer not to come close to the house, and so a quiet space towards the back of the garden may be preferable.

Frog, Water Frog, Animal, Green, Nuphar Pumila Leaf

[Photo courtesy of Couleur/pixabay.com]
  1. Frogs

Frogs like ponds, as mentioned, but they also like piles of leaves. When raking your garden next fall, leave a few piles of leaves in a dark area to encourage frogs. Ensure you leave some space in walls or fences for them to enter.

  1. Birds

To encourage birds into your garden, put up a bird table and several feeders. A bird bath is also important. Vary the seeds and food that you provide to attract different species. To ensure they keep coming back, feed birds daily, particularly in the winter months when food will be scarce. It’s always pleasant to watch a garden full of birds, and you’re helping them at the same time. Try setting up some nesting boxes to see if any of the birds set up residence.

  1. Insects

Insect hotels provide a safe environment for insects to hibernate in the winter months. They are made up of several compartments or suites to allow insects to choose a warm place to stay. Encouraging insects into your garden is good for them and the environment. Some like dry environments and others prefer the damp. So try to establish insect homes in several areas.

Bee, Flower, Pollen, Color, Blue, Purple, Orange

[Photo courtesy of NickRivers/pixabay.com]
  1. Bees

Bees are vital pollinators for our gardens but, unfortunately, their numbers are declining. Insect hotels make a safe place for solitary bees. Introduce some bee-friendly plants to your garden. Bees like flowers such as white clover, bluebells, alliums, and buddleia, etc.

Encouraging wildlife into your garden is a win-win situation. You’re providing a home and food for them to help them thrive. And you get to observe them in their natural habitat. Many will contribute to the garden by pollination, turning over soil, etc. So, it’s good for you, and it’s good for them.

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Garden Maintenance – Keep On Top This Winter

You may think now that winter season is here, you can sit back and leave you garden alone. Unfortunately – that’s not the case. There are still a few things you have to do if you want your garden to survive this winter.

Lawn

Although it may be cold and icy, and you have perhaps even seen mini icicles on the lawn, this isn’t an excuse not to cut the grass. True – it’s not growing as it would in the spring and summer time. But there is still slight movement, and if you want to keep your garden looking fabulous, you need to keep looking after it.

Garden, Spade, Soil, Gardening, Work, Plant, Spring

[Photo courtesy of walkersalmanac/pixabay.com]

There are many ways you day decide on cutting your grass. But as it is the winter, a machine is best because it is the quickest and most efficient way. There can in all sorts of brands, sizes, and power, so get your own model that works right for you.

Watering

Just because it’s winter, doesn’t mean we no longer have to water our plants. There may not be any bright, colourful flowers, but that is not to say that there is no life. Things are still growing, and they are going to get thirsty. So give some water! Do in during the day when the sun is up so they have no risk of freezing over.

                         Vision Protection Hedge, Privacy, Hedge, Door, Input  

[Photo courtesy of Antranias/pixabay.com]

Plant A Hedge

Hedges are a great alternative to fences as they effectively filter strong, damaging winds. A mixed variety of native plants provide the perfect habitat for birds, insects and small mammals such as hedgehogs, as well as giving year round interest from flowers, seeds, berries and colourful tones of foliage.

Eradicate Weeds

Weeds have been having a wonderful time during this mild winter, quickly germinating and getting ready to cause all the havoc again in spring. Hoe through the roots of annual weeds and dig out the roots of the more stubborn ones to stop them in their tracks. This will save a whole lot of time and effort in spring time.

Early Potatoe Chitting

Begin the process of chitting early potatoes at the end of the month. The best way to do this is to stand the tubers in a recycled egg box with the end that has the most buds uppermost, and place in a bright, cool, frost-free area.

After a couple of weeks, shoots will begin to sprout, get these to about three or four per tuber to get the most productive crop.

Prune Wisteria

As beautiful as this plant may be, wisteria can be a bit of a nightmare and needs pruning in summer and winter to keep it manageable.

If you don’t bother to do this, wisteria naturally produces a very messy mass of foliage and barely any flowers. So prune the whippy growths back to five or six buds in late August, and prune further in January or February to two or three buds. Don’t worry if you missed the summer prune, it’s simple enough to spot the elongated stems.

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To Buy Or Not To Buy: Should You Rent Equipment For Your Big Projects?

From the smallest of home renovation projects to big new build constructions, you find yourself faced with one particular problem.

Well, okay, you find yourself faced with many problems. You find yourself waking up in the morning to a light layer of dust over everything, and wondering why you ever began this project. You find yourself visiting friends, staring at their walls – without holes in them! – and daydreaming of living in such a place. We all reach a point where the downsides seem to be so substantial, there’s no possible…

Free Back view of unrecognizable workman in apron mounting window near drilling machine and doors in flat Stock Photo

[Photo courtesy of Ksenia Chernaya/pexels.com]

Hang on; that wasn’t the point I was trying to make. Okay. Let’s refocus. No more whining; we all know the benefits of home-style construction and why it’s worth it. We live with our choices and embrace them – even if they can be a little problematic at times!

The issue I was originally referring to was much more simplistic. No matter the scope of your project, you’ve probably encountered it: should you buy or rent expensive machinery?

[Photo courtesy of Mark Schellhase/wikipedia.org]

This applies to everything, from a humble power washer when sprucing up your home’s exterior – right through to an excavator for a garden project. Hiring can seem the easiest answer, but it can also be prohibitively expensive. The choice is usually an individual one, but if you’re struggling to make a decision, here’s a few pros and cons on the hiring/buying debate. I’ll take it from the perspective of buying for yourself, for the sake of clarity.

PRO: It’s yours.

The most obvious one, but an important aspect to consider. If you do something to a piece of machinery you have rented – an accident, or misuse that results in a breakdown – you could be in for a massive bill. With your own machine, any potential mistakes that you make are your own. It will be cheaper to repair an item than to compensate a hire company for any damage that results from your use of it. Then when it is repaired, you can still use it free of charge when you own it.

cut, cut grass, garden

[Photo courtesy of pixabay/pexels.com]

CON: You’re responsible for repair and maintenance.

Even if you decide the initial purchase price is cheaper than renting on a cost-per-use level, that’s not the end of the road. With renting, if a piece of machinery breaks down, it’s not your problem. You can hand it back to be fixed, providing you’re not the one who broke it.

If you own it, however, any breakdowns are going to be yours to deal with. Factor this in when you look at the purchase price.

As an example, let’s say you want to hire a mini digger for a big garden project. Rental is going to cost you $200 per day. You anticipate you’re going to need it for around seven days. The cost to buy your own is $1000 – a saving of $400. Seems an easy choice, until you factor in potential repair costs in future.

There are ways and means of lowering the cost. Performing routine servicing will keep an item running as it should. Replacing parts from a reputable retailer such as Woods equipment and the like can also insure against future issues. There should also be a warranty that means any issue not of your fault will bounce back to the manufacturer. But it’s still worth keeping in mind.

PRO: You can expand future projects thanks to it.

Staying with the example of the mini digger, you might have planned to use it for one particular project. That means it’s going to be surplus to requirements for anything else, right? So hiring might be more expensive, but at least you don’t then have to store a digger you have no other use for it.

You will probably find that you do find a use for it. The scope of your existing projects can change and expand because you now have a piece of machinery that makes more innovative ideas possible.

CON: You run the risk of not being able to take it back.

If you hire something, you always have the option of returning it if it’s not a good fit. You might choose something that isn’t up to the task at hand; or even an item you just don’t feel comfortable using.

When you buy, you’re stuck with it – within reason. All the usual buying laws apply to you, but you have to be careful to read the small print to ensure you can return an item. Some sales policies – especially for larger machinery – may only allow you to return an item for store credit, partial refunds or not at all if the item has been used. Be aware of your rights in case something doesn’t work as you hoped.

PRO: You can hire it out to friends and family.

One way of keeping a piece of machinery running is to make a little money off it. There’s nothing stopping you from hiring it out to your nearest and dearest for a small fee to help contribute to maintenance.

CON: You might not use it.

Cement Mixer

[Photo courtesy of Peter Griffin/publicdomainpictures.net]

There is always the risk that you will buy something, planning many future projects… and then never feel the need to touch it. If buying is cheaper than renting, then this still might be worth it – it all depends on the storage space you have available.

For smaller items like pressure washers and wallpaper strippers, you probably have a corner of your attic that you can use. For large machinery, then it might be a little trickier to give over space for something from which you’re not getting much use.

PRO: You can always sell it.

However, if the above happens, you always have the option of selling an item on. Returning to the mini digger: you saved $400 when you bought it, paying $1000. If you then sell it on, even for a small amount like $200, your saving goes to $600. Providing you get a good deal on the purchase price, this is definitely something to keep in mind.

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Reasons You Think You Can’t Change Your Home Decor and Design – And Why You’re Wrong

Coming around to the decision to give your home a makeover is an easy one.

Of course, the reasons in the pro column are long and substantial. Who doesn’t want their home to look better? Give everything a refresh; change things around so that it all feels like new again? Perhaps your eye has been caught by a new decorating trend, and you can’t wait to try it out for yourself. Or perhaps you’re just the kind of person who tends to need a project.

You find yourself imagining the changed decor; the fresh paint; the new levels of comfort that you can explore. Then, with a screech of brakes, your mind remembers all the reasons you shouldn’t do it.

Sometimes, though, you just have to seize the moment and go for it. If there’s something you want to change about your home, then it’s time to banish the concerns to one side. I’m going to go through all of the usual objections and show why they’re not anything that should stand in your way. Just call me your home decor and renovation enabler!

“I can’t afford it.”

Fall, Hurricane, Money, Finance, Currency, Crisis

[Photo courtesy of PublicDomainPictures/pixabay.com]

Of course, this one is pretty difficult to argue on the surface of it. If you don’t have the money, then what can you do? You can’t magic it up from thin air and progress on developing a money tree is still limited, so you’ll just have to wait until you can afford it.

The best option in this scenario is to look at a way to change something up without breaking the bank. Rather than a full-scale kitchen remodel, for example, why not go for a facelift? You could change the cupboard doors rather than fitting entirely new cupboards.

The same philosophy applies throughout the house. Craving a new bed to snuggle down into? Maybe that’s outside the budget, but memory foam mattress toppers can give a boost of comfort without the same price tag. Does the carpet really need replacing, or will a deep clean and brush be enough to bring it back up to standard?

“I don’t have the time.”

Clock, Time, Stand By

[Photo courtesy of obpia30/pixabay.com]

Realistically, you probably don’t have the time for most things you do. We get it; life is busy, it’s stressful, and you’re struggling to do the basics. Why should you make your workload easier?

Because you don’t have the time! It’s that simple; the same thing arguing against the scenario is the thing that makes it a necessity. Unless you have a huge chunk of holiday time coming up that you know you can dedicate to DIY, where is it going to come from? You’re going to have to fit it in somewhere. There’s no time like the present, or so the old saying goes.

Putting something off to some fantastical period when you’re going to magically have “more time” isn’t going to work. You can break it down into chunks. Do a little as often as you possibly can to make it less draining.

“It’s a lot of disruption.”

Yes, of course, it is. You have to shop, make decisions, then implement them. Depending on the scale of your project, that might involve a builder being involved or transferring items into new furniture. It will be disruptive – but it’s always going to be. It’s the same as the point about time. Unless you can foresee sometime in the future when you will be able to do these things unencumbered, there’s no point holding back.

“It’s a lot of mess.”

Chaos, Regulation, Shield, Board, Directory, Sign, Note

[Photo courtesy of geralt/pixabay.com]

Even the most basic things do cause a mess, but so does life. I’m going to imagine your house tends to require cleaning anyway. So, given the potential end result, what’s the harm in a little extra?

“It’s not a good time.”

There’s a chance this is a legitimate concern and I don’t discount that. If you’re particularly busy, going through a stressful situation or have health concerns – you’re right. It’s probably not a good time and you should wait until it’s more something you can cope with. There’s also seasonal considerations; it’s little use deciding to renovate the garden in winter, for example.

Window, Nature, Interior, Decor, Design, Natural, Blue

[Photo courtesy of Unsplash/pixabay.com]

Only you can know if the problem is just where you’re at in your life – you know if this is a genuine reason or not. Often, this argument might be masking a concern about one of the above, so check your thinking to see if that’s the case. If it is, then see if there’s something you can do about progress. If not, and it really is a bad time, consider yourself un-enabled for now!

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