Now that the winter is finally leaving us, many people are starting to think about projects they can do in the home. You may fancy getting your hands dirty in the garden, ripping out the bathroom or simply painting the walls a fresh new colour.

With it being the first few months of the year it can be difficult for us to afford larger home projects without having to take out signature loans or dip into the holiday fund. However you can still make some fresh changes to your home without having to spend the earth.

Reshuffle

Rather than going out to the furniture store and buying a ton of new items for your home, why not have think of what you already have? Take a look at the way your living room is currently set out. Is there any way that you can move things around to create more space and light? Sometimes, simply moving the TV to the other side of the room can have a massive impact on the way your living space feels.

Lighting Is Key

The right lighting can instantly make a dull room feel so much brighter and modern. If you have an old fashioned light fitting with yellow light beaming into the space, your home will look dull and old. However simply by changing to a modern fitting such as a spotlight and using a cool toned light bulb, you will add a sense of light and space into the room.

Soft Furnishings

If you can’t afford to buy a whole new sofa for your space, don’t fret. You can update your living room easily by covering up your sofa cleverly with soft furnishings. By investing in a soft fleece throw and some brightly coloured cushions you will immediately be able to make the space feel put together.

Mirrors

Mirrors are your absolute best friend when it comes to decorating your home. A mirror can make a huge impact on the look and feel of your living space. No matter how small your living room is, a well placed mirror can add length and depth to your living space. It won’t cost you the earth and can add that missing element to your living room.

Paint Everything

Sometimes all you need to make your room feel brand new is a lick of paint. This weekend try buying a tin of white or pastel coloured paint and using this to revamp your walls and the ceiling. You can even paint wooden floors to add a new design feature to the room. If you have an old or tired bookshelf in your living room, a great way to change things up would be to paint the bookshelf white and then add colour to the back of the shelves. This will make the room feel instantly bigger but also give you a new design features that you will love.

Plants

Every room looks better with a plant in it. If you have some space in the living room which feels as if it is missing something, a great idea would be to add a houseplant. It will make your home feel much more lively and add some texture to your design.

Give your bedroom that long overdue makeover that you have putting off for months. With just a few subtle changes and additions, you can add flair and vibrancy to your bedroom that you are sure to love. Upgrading your current bedding to a sleek beautiful bed that is draped in stylish Laura Ashley bedding is a great place to start your bedroom makeover. This designer collection helps bring your bedroom a fun and colorful ambiance to your bedroom.

[Photo courtesy of Pixabay/pexels.com]

Changing the look of your bed can significantly alter the aesthetics of your room, as it is the centerpiece. One great way to enhance your bedroom aesthetics is by adding a platform bed. The countless options of this type of bed include faux leather, tapered and king. Designer collections offer many accessories to suit your bedding needs, including sheets, blankets, comforters, bed skirts, shams and pillows. Find the bedding that best suits your room’s decor, such as floral print beddings or goose down pillows with European shams in the color of your choice. You can find full, queen and king-sized bedding available to spruce up the look of any bedroom in your home.

Whether you are doing a complete redesign or simply want to change things up for a new beginning, a new faux leather platform bed draped in your favorite designer bedding and accessories is certain to do the trick. Browse the broad selection of beds and bedding to find the ideal home solution to enhancing your bedroom.

One of the things that a lot of people struggle with is being able to turn their home into the kind of stylish environment that they see in magazines and online. It can often feel as though, no matter what you do, you can never make your home into the kind of place that you want it to be. However, the solution to this problem might be much simpler and more straightforward than you think. The truth is that the way to make your home feel more stylish can be summed up with a single word: simplicity. Most homes are simply too complicated when it comes to the way that they’re designed and decorated, and by stripping much of that away, you’re able to make the things that you want to stand out really pop. Here are a few things that you can do to bring a sense of simplicity into your home.

Get rid of the clutter

The truth is that most of us simply have too much junk in our homes. It’s a natural part of being a human being to want to hang on to things because of sentimental value, but there is a point where that can go too far, and when you start holding onto absolutely everything, no matter how insignificant, it can start to cause a problem. Having every single surface covered in knick-knacks and junk can make any home feel cluttered and cramped. If you really want things like decorations and ornaments to stand out, it’s best to contrast them against the simplicity of the rest of your home.

[Photo courtesy of Skitterphoto/pexels.com]

Pick the right furniture

If you don’t have a sense of consistency among your furniture at home, you’re never going to be able to give it a distinctive sense of style. This is a trap that a lot of people fall into, but it’s easy to get out of. Picking the right furniture and coordinating different pieces together can make a huge difference. Things like Stag furniture bring a stylish simplicity to any home and being able to use that throughout the house can immediately make the place more effective in terms of design. Sure, you don’t want your home to be totally uniform, but having a consistent throughline can give it a much stronger identity than it would otherwise have.

Learn how to coordinate colours

Colour theory is something that everyone should have at least a decent understanding of. If you don’t, you’re going to end up falling into the trap of using colours that aren’t right for each room and that clash with each other in an ugly and overbearing way. Don’t try to use too many different colours throughout your home. Pick a specific palate and then work from that as much as possible to create a sense of consistency.

Of course, it’s always possible to go too far. The last thing you want is to end up with your home looking like a bare prison cell or a showroom. Striking the right balance between simplicity and personality isn’t easy, but when you do, you’re really going to be able to feel the difference in your home.

There are lots of improvements adults can make to their gardens to encourage their kids to spend more time outside. Now is the best time to create your plan because you have a few months to get the backyard ready for the summertime. There are some suggestions below that you might like to consider, and you can always conduct some extra research online if you need some inspiration. When all’s said and done, most kids spend too much time sat in front of the television these days. With that in mind, you need to work hard to turn that situation around.

[Photo courtesy of Jesper Sørensen/flickr.com]

Create a fun play area

When it comes to creating a play area in the garden for your kids, the possibilities are endless. You could purchase swings, slides, and lots of other equipment to make the outdoor space seem exciting to the little ones. Of course, you might have to employ the services of an affordable tree arborist if you don’t have enough space at the moment. Once you remove all those unwanted trees; you can start turning your backyard into a thrilling activity hub where your loved ones can spend time with their friends. Again, if you need some extra inspiration; just look through Google images.

Start growing fruit and vegetables

Most children find mother nature fascinating, and so you could spark their imagination by growing some fruits and vegetables in your garden. Your kids will love learning about the plants and caring for them as they grow. The best thing about that idea is that, in a few month’s time; you can sit down at the dinner table and enjoy some organic produce. Put your kids in charge of watering the plants and ensure they take an active role if you want the best results. Who knows? Maybe you’ll inspire them to take up an agriculture hobby or something similar? Stranger things have happened!

[Photo courtesy of Ricardo’s Photography/flickr.com]

Bring wildlife into your garden

There are lots of steps you can take if you want to bring some wildlife into your garden for the kids. Firstly, you need to secure the land to ensure your neighbour’s cats can’t get into the backyard. That should encourage more birds to land and eat from your feeders. You could also dig a small pond if you wanted to attract frogs and tadpoles. Some people choose to build chicken coops and benefit from fresh eggs every morning. The idea is just to make the backyard seem as vibrant and alive as possible.

If you put those suggestions into practice; there is a decent chance your kids will peel themselves away from the TV screen a little more often. Just be sure you spend lots of time in the garden as a family when the weather improves. Building a brick barbecue is a wise move because it will mean your family can enjoy a few meals outside during the summer. You might also think about adding some waterproof outdoor speakers, so you have some entertainment in the backyard. Just create a plan and work out your budget before the spring.

If you are keen to learn a little about DIY, then you are not alone. This is the kind of activity that many people all over the world decide to get into every day, and it’s for a very good reason. After all, learning a little DIY can radically transform the way you think about your home, and it can equip you with much more understanding of how to make use of the space you have. In this article, we are going to try and get you started with the process of learning DIy by taking a look at a few of the basic projects you can begin with. Learn these, and you will develop a set of skills which you can then use to carry out more complex DIY tasks in the future.

[Photo courtesy of Pixabay/pexels/com]

Make A Shelf

It doesn’t really get much simpler than this, and yet it will be a great way to learn some of the absolute basics of DIY. If you have never made a shelf before, you might actually be struck by how easy it is to do, and you might find yourself wondering why you have left it so long to begin learning some basic DIY. To build a normal shelf, you only need three pieces of wood, a decent set of glue gun spray adhesives or a similar adhesive, and sometimes – if you prefer – nails instead. You should find that putting a shelf together is relatively straightforward and simple, but if necessary don’t be afraid to look online for a little advice. It is a simple beginning, but one which will build your DIY confidence quickly.

Install Some Outdoor Lighting

We mention this particular project because it often appears to be an especially popular one. If you have often thought it would be good to have a little outdoor lighting – or a little more of it – then the good news is that this is pretty easy to do. The good news about this is that there are so many ways in which you can do it too, so you can really begin to use your own creativity with this one and so develop even more confidence and understanding with the practices of DIY. You can make candle lanterns, tiki torches from bottles, or anything that you think will be good for your own home. Use your imagination, and create whatever you think most appropriate. That is the joy of DIY.

[Photo courtesy of Skitterphoto/pexels/com]

 Fix A Tap

Of course, much of DIY is all about fixing the pre-existing, rather than creating the new. If you want to learn how to fix things, it is best to start with something relatively minor, where it won’t matter too much if you can’t do it. Fixing a leaky tap is a great one to start with for this very reason, and because it tends to be quite easy to do. Look online for an in-depth guide on how to do this and then get to work. You might find that it is much easier than you had ever thought, and it will mean you no longer have to rely on the plumber quite as often.

With the colder weather setting in, now is the perfect time to switch up your sleeping area to suit the season. Chilly evenings and mornings can feel so much easier to cope with if you have a warm and peaceful haven to hibernate in during your daily downtime. By adding just a few simple touches, you can transform your bedroom into a warm and snug spot to relax in until the warmer weather comes around again. If you’re looking for some inspiration, here are our top five ways to make your bedroom a cosy retreat this winter.

1. Get Your Glow On. Your bedroom should always be filled with really good lighting, even if the lights are off. Whether you’re bedding down for the night, or waking up gently in the morning, soft, natural light adds a natural cosy feel to any room. Place small lamps on either side of your bed and replace your existing pendant lights with low watt bulbs to create an ambient and inviting glow throughout the room. If you really want to create a winter wonderland, drape string lights from your bedstead, around a mirror, or across your windows to add a magical touch to your bedroom this winter.

2. Go With The Throw. Throw cushions and blankets always add extra depth and interest to any room. The winter months are perfect for creating a super soft sanctuary using faux fur throw cushions, velvet bedspreads, and sumptuous brushed cotton sheets. Not only will your extra cushions, bedspreads, and blankets come in useful as the mercury plummets, they will also make your bed feel extra inviting.

3. Choose Your Winter Hues

The colors we use in our rooms help to set the mood in our homes. Warmer tones like reds, golds, and oranges are a surefire way to generate a bit of heat. If you don’t fancy a complete redecoration, simply look for accessories in rich deep hues to help fuel the warm feeling in your bedroom this winter.

4. Sleep Comfortably. Investing a lot of time and effort into dressing your bed becomes irrelevant if you are sleeping on a worn out mattress. A good night’s sleep feels better than ever when it is cold out, so make sure you have a high quality mattress that is not only comfortable, but also made from natural materials. LA based sleep and mattress specialists Brentwood Home offer finely crafted natural latex mattresses, made from 100% fully natural materials.  Comfortable and eco-friendly, the all natural latex layers are computer-designed to cut into zones of pressure relieving comfort. Their natural latex mattresses are perfect all year round, but feel doubly delicious when it’s cold out.

• Tread Softly On Sumptuous Floor Coverings. Rugs are an awesome way to keep the drafts at bay. Used for many centuries as a way of insulating houses, they still do a great job of keeping us cozy even in modern times. If you have natural wooden floors, exposed boards, tiled or laminate floors, rugs add softness and help to keep you feeling toasty.

Have you ever thought about completing some renovation work on your home? This is a possibility worth considering for one key reason. It will allow you to add a lot of value to your property. So, eventually, when you decide to sell, you’re going to be able to put it on the market for a lot more than it was originally worth. The best part is that the changes we are talking about here don’t have to be dramatically expensive. In fact, they can be fairly cheap and completely affordable even if you are working on a budget. Let’s look at some of the possibilities, and along the way, we’ll think about the type of value you could add to your home by making these changes.

New Flooring

[Photo courtesy of Pixabay/pexels.com]

One of the most important points to remember when you are changing your home is that it’s not about how expensive it is or how much it’s worth. It’s about how much it appears to be worth. If your home looks like it’s worth half a million, that’s exactly how much buyers are going to be willing to pay. A lot of people make the mistake of thinking that when you sell the home, the price is determined by the building and the land rather than the interior. This isn’t true, and buyers can be influenced by a modern home design.

That’s why you should consider replacing carpeted floors with laminate flooring. This looks stylish and contemporary, but it is surprisingly cheap. You can get laminate flooring for your entire home for just a few thousand. If you don’t have that type of money home loans from GoBear and similar companies could provide the solution. They can lend you the money you need to pay for the change, and you can pay them back in the period of a year.

Light Fixtures

[Photo courtesy of SplitShire/pexels.com]

Lighting is a brilliant way to make a property look different without actually changing all that much about it. If you want a key area of your home to focus on, you should look at the kitchen. By changing the kitchen, you can add as much as ten thousand on to the asking value of the property. However, that doesn’t mean that you have to spend ten thousand renovating this room. Instead, you can spend a couple of hundred replacing the light fixtures and adding spotlights that look stylish. The other benefit of spotlights is that they draw attention to key features in a room that you want buyers to focus on.

Aesthetic Materials

[Photo courtesy of Pineapple Supply Co./pexels.com]

It would be wonderful if you could add marble or granite fixtures to your home. However, most people don’t have this type of money in their budget and are reluctant to borrow large amounts of cash. That’s understandable, so instead use aesthetically similar materials. You can buy materials that look like marble for a fraction of the price, and unless they ask directly, you don’t have to divulge that it’s not the real deal.

Good luck with your own home renovation. We’re sure you’ll be thrilled with the level of value it adds to your property.

Finding discount for household essentials is the foremost reason why homemakers spend longer hours when shopping at the malls. If you happen to be the husband of a woman who loves a bargain, chances are, get irritated every time you go shopping with her. It is an instinct for housewives to control their spending, so their families can survive until the next payday.

The curtains are one of the things that homemakers would like to buy at discounted prices. They have the patience to wait for the best, whether it is a holiday, Thanksgiving or a closing out sale. Discount curtains are no longer a rare opportunity for shoppers since they are made available at online shops as the competition is becoming stiff.

[Photo courtesy of Markus Spiske/pexels.com]

Curtain products are advertised online; hence, the online stores are offering them at a lower price so they can dispose of them and allow the new product line to replace the old stocks. This is the time that homemakers and shopaholics are waiting so they can buy many curtains for their homes.

Some online shopping portal offer discounts for various curtain types from 50% up to 77% discounts. The best example for this is the five-piece set of Zebra-five piece set curtain which includes a topper, two tiebacks and two panels. Its retail price was $29.99 and now it is sold at $14.99 which entitles you to a saving of $15. A purple voile sheer curtain with floor length of 84 inches including two panels was originally priced at $34.99 and now it is available at $14.99 which entitles you to a saving of $20 or 57% discount.

These examples clearly show that discounts for curtains can help low income families buy affordable curtains that are made of various designs and patterns. It only needs patience and extra time to enable you to discover the online store that sells cheap but high quality window coverings.

In the experiences of many, getting adjusted to life in a new home can have something of a rocky start. It’s only natural that we take a little time to adjust to a brand-new space. It might be yours, but it can still feel alien, especially as you start to discover the little quirks you don’t love as some of the other features. But the best approach to change your mood on something is the proactive one. If you want to start feeling at home in your new home, you have to hit it running.

[Photo courtesy of BusyHomeschoolDays/pixabay.com]

Taking care of the essentials

One of the biggest mistakes of homeowners is waiting to find out that their new home has flaws. The vast majority of places, unless they’re new builds that you designed yourself, are going to have them. The trick is not let them catch you by surprise. When you move in, start looking over all the essentials that might lead to problems. Start with the utilities, testing every light, every socket, and every tap, as well as learning where the mains and shutoff valves are. Consider the security of doors and windows, the possibility of air leaks in the windows and roof, and more.

Bring out the comforts of home

Regardless of what you didn’t like about where you lived before and why you moved from it, there’s a good chance that there will be some aspects of it that you liked. You might have even been able to bring some along. It might be some of the photo displays you put up. It could be familiar smells that aroma providers like www.livelyliving.com.au can help you replace. Bring out some of the more emotionally engaging parts of the new home first to really establish your identity in the home and make it feel more ‘you’.

[Photo courtesy of kaboompics/pixabay.com]

Making changes

A real issue is moving to a new home when you don’t really have any ideas on what you want to do with it or you have few pieces of furniture or décor ready to be put up. No-one likes living in an empty space. The best way to avoid that issue is to prepare in advance and start buying items to put them in storage. If you neglect to do so, however, then teams like www.therenovationcompany.com.au can help you get a running start at it. The longer your home feels like a “project” rather than a home, the longer it will take you to start feeling at home.

Thinking outside the box

Don’t neglect the outdoors while you’re making changes inside, either. If they haven’t been maintained by the seller, overgrown gardens and faded exteriors can remove any trace of welcoming from the home. Give the grass a cut, add some living space outdoors and give the front door a lick of fresh paint. It can make a huge difference to entering the home.

If you’re content to sit and wait for your home to suddenly become everything you wanted, you might find that you never quite end up getting that. Instead of waiting, take it into your own hands and finish what you started when you first moved in.

The bedroom is the inner sanctum of a home, the place where you go to rest, relax and rejuvenate. Because a bedroom is not a common area which will be seen by family and friends, many people scrimp on decorating the bedroom and go with a simple Hollywood bed fame, skipping headboards or any other sort of ornamentation. They have the basics – a nightstand or two, a dresser and perhaps a chair.

When you think about it you spend almost a third of your life in bed – don’t you deserve to treat yourself at least as well as you might treat company? It does not cost much to outfit a bedroom in a style that is warm and welcoming; creating a bedroom that is a reflection of your personal style can be a rewarding effort that pays dividends for years to come.

[Photo courtesy of Burst/pexels.com]

If your mattress is a bit tired you can easily improve conditions by investing in a foam or feather mattress pad or mattress enhancer – these help to extend mattress life and provide a better sleeping surface. New bedding is a fast and easy way to change the look of a room and you don’t need to be a designer or interior decorator to create an amazing look. Most bedding ensembles include a bed skirt, quilt or comforter and one or two pillows shams, all of which have been selected to coordinate perfectly.

A net canopy enhances any bed – the simple mesh netting can be draped at the head or foot of the bed or gathered to one side as a swag; bed canopies add drama and romance to the look of a room and are easy to install in minutes. A bed throw is another way to add visual interest to a mundane bedroom.