Taking care of your home has always been a lot of hard work, but a new way of managing the security on your property is through the use of smart phones. People often want a fast way of making sure that all of the locks in the home are secure at once, rather than having to go around last thing at night and check them. They also want to get rid of that lurking worry, “Did I lock the door before I left?” which causes so much anxiety. With a simple application on a smartphone, home owners can now lock their doors using their phone, and be reassured about security.

The smartphone lock is based upon the same technology that has allowed phone users to monitor central heating, or turn on AC units before they arrive at a location. If you have an internet connection at home, and a small amount of money to invest, then you could put this technology to work on your door, securing it properly. In order to start the process, you will need to purchase a technology device which will fit onto the door lock. There are a variety of devices, and choosing the right one needs to be discussed with a professional locksmith.

[Photo courtesy of Vlada Karpovich/pexels.com]

Once the device has been purchased, it can then be fitted onto the door, and connected to your internet network. This allows you to set up the device, and connect it to your smart phone. This is done by downloading an app supplied by the company. With the app on your phone, you can then start to control the security of your home. Some phone apps are particularly useful for those who are concerned about locking doors, as they have the ability to identify whether doors are locked or unlocked, and it is possible to connect, or disconnect, a security device from the keypad on the lock, saving you time and effort.

There have been some concerns raised about the possibility of hackers getting into the home. This has been dealt with by the companies supplying the apps and other technology. Often the devices now come with a set password, and there are additional security features which ensure that the software program is not bypassed by others. Users who are worried about the possible implications of poor security should consult with the manufacturers of their security systems.

The technology which you will be using to control the locks around your home could also benefit you in other ways. Thermostat and lighting control can ensure that your home is warm and well-lit before you step through the door. Customers using one application, such as security, will be able to add the additional elements onto the same phone, allowing you to control all aspects of your home using your smart phone. This is an important advance for anyone looking to use their phone in a more constructive manner, and will also ensure that your home is fully protected.

You do not realize the effect that the atmosphere can have on a room until you enter one that is completely devoid of one, or has a really bad one. Different atmospheres create different moods and, if like me, you like to be relaxed and chill out in your living room, creating the right atmosphere is essential. Here, I have outlined a few ideas that you too can use to create the best atmosphere for you to relax in and let the stresses of your day simply float away.

Colour

The obvious place to start is with the color of your room, and there are many colors you could choose from. If you need some information on the best colors for the atmosphere you desire, you could visit a website. However, for a relaxing atmosphere, you can always rely on old favorite’s like pastel blues, violets and greens. Any of these colors should create a calming atmosphere that will have you relaxed in no time.

[Photo courtesy of Pixabay/pexels.com]

Warmth

Being able to cuddle up on your sofa with a cup of hot chocolate is a tried and trusted way to relax, though if you are cold at the time relaxing becomes a lot more difficult. Providing a nice ambient temperature will make a lighter atmosphere and help you relax. A great way to improve the atmosphere of a room while also controlling the temperature is with a living flame fire, and if you are lacking a chimney or a gas supply for the fire, you needn’t worry anymore. You will find a selection of bio-ethanol fires that are both stylish and functional, and that will certainly help give you atmosphere with an added warmth.

Smell

They say that the best way to sell a home is by baking bread, and this is because it creates such a homely atmosphere; and you can utilize smell in a similar way to improve the relaxing atmosphere in your home. There are many aroma diffusers available to buy, and many of them can be adjusted to periodically infuse your lounge with the aroma of your choice; meaning that your lounge will always smell the way you want. The choice of aromas is now huge, as more and more are discovered that either smell beautiful, or help medically. No longer do you need a can of spray from the supermarket, now you can bring aromatherapy into your living room.

Music

With the right choice of music, it is possible to forget everything else, and become lost as note after note flows through your consciousness. Whether it is your lounge, bathroom, or a home salon, music is the perfect way to change an atmosphere to one where you can feel at peace with the world. Obviously, music can be changed very easily, and is the most adaptable way to create the atmosphere you want at the time. No home should be without music, and a varied music selection will enable varied atmospheres; be it a relaxing one or not.

Living in a grey home, with a grey atmosphere, leads to grey people. Living in a relaxing home with a relaxing atmosphere leads to relaxed people. Personally, I like to be relaxed, not grey; and if you do too, I hope these ideas will help you.

The indoor air quality in your home isn’t typically something that most people give a lot of thought to. It doesn’t really keep you up at night, nor does it have you stressing out. But here’s the thing, maybe it deserves more attention than you’ve given it in the past? Did you know that poor indoor air quality can lead to a number of unpleasant sympAtoms? You may suffer from sinus congestion, dryness of the eyes/nose/throat, fatigue, dizziness, shortness of breath, sneezing, coughing, nausea, and heightened allergic reactions.

There are a variety of factors that can contribute to poor indoor air quality such as indoor air contaminants, not enough outdoor air intake, the wrong humidity level, and more. If you are concerned that the indoor air quality in your home is less than ideal, then these five tips can make a substantial difference.

Change the Filter in Your Furnace Regularly

This may sound like a really simple tip, but it has a massive effect on the indoor air quality in your entire home. The filter in your furnace is meant to filter out pollens, impurities, dust, and so forth. If it is so packed full of dirt and grime, it is no longer able to perform the job of filtration. That means all those pollutants and contaminants are just circulating through your home.

Experts suggest that you check your furnace filter every 30 days, and then replace it every three months. As soon as it turns gray, it’s time to swap it out. You can easily purchase a replacement filter online through the Discount Filter Store and have it delivered right to your house.

Switch to Eco-Friendly Cleaning Products

The cleaning products you use in your home can also have a negative effect on the indoor air quality. Making the switch to eco-friendly products that don’t contain harmful chemicals will be much better for the air. You can even use all-natural cleaners that are homemade with ingredients such as vinegar and lemon.

Open Up the Doors and Windows

While this may not be practical all year round, another great way to improve the air quality is to ventilate your home and let the air in/out. Opening up doors and windows at least once a week can really refresh the entire home. Even if it is winter, opening up a few windows for a short time won’t be enough to cool down the entire house, but it will help to let that fresh air in.

Indulge in Your Green Thumb

Having greenery in your home is not only beautiful and gives a sense of nature and the outdoors, but plants are heralded for being excellent air purifiers. They are constantly removing toxins from the air and then creating more oxygen. While any plant will be great for the indoor air quality, some are better than others. Ideally you want to look for ivy, bamboo, and various Dracaena plants.

Make Your Home Smoke-Free

Finally, you can make your home a smoke-free environment, as this is one of the biggest offenders when it comes to poor indoor air quality.

All of these tips will help to improve the overall indoor air quality in your home.

Spring cleaning is something that needs to be done in everyone’s house. For some people it seems as though they actually look forward to this time and being able to get their house back in order and things cleaned up. For others it seems like an impossible task to get everything done with the busy life that they live. Regardless of how you feel about spring cleaning you will be happy to learn some great green tips to help you reduce your environmental impact.

Make Your Own Cleaners

Did you know that it is really possible to make your own cleaners? Simple ingredients that you already have around your home like distilled vinegar, Borax, olive oil, baking soda, liquid castile soap, and essential oils are all that you need to replace nearly every single cleaner in your home.

[Photo courtesy of Nathan Cowley/pexels.com]

Choose Eco-Friendly Cleaners

Thankfully, for those who do not want to make their own cleaners, there is a huge selection of eco-friendly cleaners on the market today. These can guarantee you the clean that you are looking for without the harsh chemicals that are dangerous for your family and harmful to the environment.

Line Dry Laundry

One of the biggest things about spring cleaning is that you are going to be doing a lot of additional laundry. This is the time when you should be washing curtains, blankets, and other linens that you might not wash all of the time. Line drying these items will save a lot of energy and will give them the wonderful scent of spring.

[Photo courtesy of PNW Production/pexels.com]

Use House Plants

Did you know that house plants can work like your own air filter? That’s right, having plants in your home can really help you to have cleaner air to breathe for your whole family.

Get Rid of Things You Do Not Use

De-cluttering not only helps you to feel better and more refreshed but it can also help you to have a more efficient home. When you are getting rid of things like clothes consider which ones you can cut up and reuse as things like cleaning rags. Also decide which ones you can sell or donate.

Invest in Reusable Mop Pads

[Photo courtesy of Tima Miroshnichenko/pexels.com]

There are many great companies on the market today (or you can shop handmade marketplaces) where you can find reusable mop pads. This is much better for the environment than the ones that you use once and throw away.

Have Your Attic Professionally Cleaned

Did you know that animal feces and contamination in your attic can make you sick? It is important that you clean up and remove potentially harmful contamination when you are spring cleaning. Make sure that no surface is left untouched during this time of deep cleaning. Just make sure that you pick a company that will work with you for green cleaning and will not be using harmful chemicals to get rid of these contaminates.

Resist the Urge to Use Paper Towels

While paper towels can be handy, they mainly just contribute to landfills and cause there to be a need to cut down more trees. Resist the urge to use paper towels in your spring cleaning and if you must choose environmentally friendly options.

Open Your Windows

Fresh air is a great way to make your whole house smell better. It is also a great way to make your green spring cleaning go easier.

If you really dread spring cleaning you can try some fun spring cleaning activities like these. You might even find that you are more motivated than before and able to get things done quicker.

For most new or experienced developers buying a cheap home and then renovating it to a high standard brings in substantial profits. However, in order to make a successful initial purchase, you should consider a number of factors when viewing potential projects.

Be Proactive

The estate agent’s job is to sell; don’t expect them to give you a comprehensive guide to the house. However, you can ask them how long the property has been on the market. Good deals shift in no time, with professional developers keen to turn each new project as quickly as possible. If it has been on sale for a number of months, there may be a costly problem that is putting off other buyers.

Location Location Location

The most important aspect of any home is often said to be its location, buying a cheaper rundown property in a desirable area could be a money spinner. From a renovation perspective, the structural integrity of a house is far more important than the interior. However, average buyers can be put off by homes that are badly presented, most sellers would declutter before viewings, but with renovation projects, this is rarely the case. Turn this to your advantage by snapping up a less than immaculate property, and then simply employ the services of Anyjunk to clear the refuse before you start work.

Warning Signs

No home is perfect, especially those being sold as renovation projects. However, there are some tell-tale signs that may suggest more serious work is needed. Damp can indicate a plumbing leak, so check for mould or discoloured areas under baths and sinks, as well as on the inside walls. Also check ceilings and the loft space, if rain is getting in a new roof maybe required.

Any problem with masonry could add significant expense; sizeable cracks, missing plaster or uneven floors will require repairs or replacing. However, unseen work like asbestos insulation or chimney flues can also present a risk. Never attempt to remove asbestos yourself; there is a government webpage that explains who to contact for help, there are specialists who can remove and dispose of this hazardous material safely.

Call the Experts

Some properties may not have been lived in or maintained for a number of years, so before you commit to buying, get a professional opinion. You may need builders, plumbers and electricians, and they will be key to the completion of your project. Only choose legitimate, recommended tradesmen, and take them to view the property. They will warn you of any major spends that you may have overlooked, like faulty wiring or outdated plumbing, and give you a rough estimate of costs. Similarly, when you need to declutter the property, Anyjunk are happy to give free estimates for the removal of waste.

Get your Paperwork in Order

Find out from the local council what the planning requirements are, if the property is a listed building you could be looking at extensive time and budget increases. When you have established what will be required, check your finances. Make sure you have a quote to cover every aspect of the job, and also the materials required for the tasks you will be attempting yourself. Go back for a second and third viewing to make sure you haven’t missed anything, be sure to take a notepad and consider each room in turn.

While you love your family and would do anything for them, you know that your home life isn’t always going to be perfect. It takes hard work and dedication to create a happy and healthy environment for you all to live.

Learn what you can start doing today to help ensure everyone’s on the same page and you’re getting along with each other best you can. Your life will become easier and less chaotic and stressful when you’re wise about following through with actions that will help build a stable and thriving household. It’s worth your time and energy, and you’ll thank yourself down the road when you’re all living in harmony.

Clean Regularly

Create a happy and healthy home when you stick to a regular cleaning schedule and choose not to slack in this area. Dirt and grime have the potential to increase the number of germs in your home and make people sick. Come up with a cleaning schedule you can follow to help you stay on track and make sure you’re hitting all areas of the house on a consistent basis. Ask your family members to help you out if it becomes too much for you to handle by yourself.

[Photo courtesy of ErikaWittlieb/pixabay.com]

Spend Quality Time as A Family

You’ll be able to grow a deeper and closer bond with one another when you’re proactive about organizing activities and events you can participate in as a family. Spend quality time together such as going to the park after dinner or purchasing NBA tickets and getting out of the house for a fun family outing. Mix it up and keep it fresh by always thinking of new ways for how you can all get together and enjoy yourselves and each other’s company.

Get Your Finances in Order

Financial troubles can quickly leave you feeling frustrated and cause unwanted arguments between you and your spouse. It’s a wise idea to work hard to get your finances in order and discuss a plan of attack for how you want to save and spend your money going forward. Get organized and come to an agreement about your future goals, so you’re both on the same page. Your home life will be a lot happier and healthier when you and your spouse have this matter under control.

[Photo courtesy of sathyatripodi/pixabay.com]

Learn how to Communicate Effectively

Yelling and screaming at one another isn’t an effective way to communicate and will likely cause a lot of friction in your household. Learn to talk to your loved ones using a compassionate tone and try to get your point across without raising your voices. Hold family meetings and encourage everyone to practice being good listeners if you want to create a happy and healthy home life. Try to understand where each other is coming from and ask questions to clarify anything you’re feeling confused about.

Conclusion

Improve your home life using these tips so you can create a happier and healthier atmosphere to live. Remain patient because these types of changes will take time to implement and adjust to. Get the entire family onboard, so you’re not the only one putting forth an extra effort at home.

If the home is to be considered your castle, it’s imperative that your bedroom is fit for a queen. After all, this is the place where you start and end each day. Achieve perfection in this part of the home, and your relationship with the entire property is sure to thrive.

Gaining the desire to build a better bedroom is one thing, but actively doing it is another altogether. Use these five simple tips for guidance, and you won’t go far wrong.

[Photo courtesy of xiangying_xu/pixabay.com]

Start With The Bed

Finding a great mattress stands out as the obvious starting point for any bedroom upgrade. Given that you probably spend around one-third of your life lying down on your bed, choosing the right type for your comfort and posture is key. A better bed frame can have a positive impact too but isn’t always essential. The main thing is that you get a great night’s sleep. After all, that is the primary function of the bedroom space.

Don’t Forget The Sheets

While the mattress is clearly the most important feature, you mustn’t overlook the importance of linen. Whether it’s coverlets for platform beds or finding a duvet with a suitable tog rating doesn’t matter. When coupled with the right bed, you’ll be sure to enjoy better sleep patterns almost immediately. This is great news for the sake of your health, appearance, and energy levels.

Build A Winning Atmosphere

The importance of your bed cannot be ignored, but the surroundings do have a key role to play too. A good color scheme can instantly bring a happier tone while making the space feel bigger. Decor by Palazzo Collezioni is a great way to bring a sense of style and luxury to the room. Just remember that the furniture and storage shouldn’t leave the room feeling overcrowded. Utilize the walls with shelving, and you should retain a greater sense of floor space.

[Photo courtesy of Pixabay/pexels.com]

 Get The Lighting Right

While lighting certainly feeds into the overall vibe, it is something that deserves extra attention. Without going into too much detail, the wrong lighting (from tech devices) makes it harder to sleep and reach levels of deep sleep. Conversely, having a dimmer switch or touch lamps allows you to maintain greater control. In turn, this can help your body prepare for sleep in those crucial moments.

Think About Temperature

There’s nothing worse than feeling uncomfortable due to the wrong temperature. HVAC system from Ventis encourages good air circulation and a comfortable heat. This won’t just help you nod off, but can also aid the quality of sleep throughout the night. Whether you sleep alone or share the room with your partner, getting this step right is essential. After all, your quality of sleep is on the line.

Creating a great bedroom doesn’t suddenly turn your home into a palace, but it does remove a whole host of issues. Moreover, it will make the faults throughout other parts of the property seem far less problematic.

Moving to a new house is thought to be one of the most stressful things that you can do. Yet, as so many of us are stuck renting for years, as we struggle to save a deposit and get approved for a mortgage, it’s something that we do more often. Moving to a new house never seems to get any easier, no matter how many times you do it, it still feels like a shock. But why, what makes it so stressful, and what could we do to avoid all this trauma? Let’s take a look.

Finding the Right House

The first stress of moving is actually finding a new house. This can be exceptionally challenging. Yes, there’s a lot on the market, but most of it won’t be right for you. Think about your budget, and the area you want to live in, then write a list of other requirements you may have, such as distance from schools or work, off street parking, a garden and how many bedrooms you need. Then, make another list of things that you’d like, but you are willing to compromise on. Now you are ready to start your search.

[Photo courtesy of ArtisticOperations/pixabay.com]

Packing

Packing can be awful. Most of us like to start packing early so that we’ve got time to move slowly and take our time, but this can mean we’re living around boxes for a lot longer. To cut the stress, and use the opportunity to our advantage, take this chance to have a really good declutter. Instead of just packing everything up, ask yourself if you love it enough to pack and unpack again. If not, donate, sell or recycle.

Moving Day

Moving day itself can be both physically and mentally exhausting. Even if you’ve done a lot of work before the move, there’s sure to be a lot to do on the bigleftake things easier by labeling boxes, starting early and using a removalist. Then, at the end of the day, when everything is in, treat yourself to your favorite takeout.

Change of Address

One thing that many people fail to consider, which only adds to the stress of a home move is tellingleftne about your change of addresleftmay think that there are only a few people to tell, but this is unlikely to be the case. Right a list of everyone that needs your address, and everyone that you receive post from. When it comes to utility providers and other services you can usually tell them a few weeks before you move, so start as soon as you can. You can usually also let people know with a simple online form.

Yes, moving to a new house is hard work, and there is always going to be some level of stress. But, it doesn’t have to take over your life. Move bit at a time, write detailed lists of everything that you need to do, book time offleftf possible and take it a day alefte. Remember, it’ll all be worth it when you’ve settled into your lovely new home.

It isn’t easy to maintain a home, and it isn’t easy to keep it nice and modern. Through one reason or another, it can actually become a little boring. But we’re here to change that for you. The home should wow your guests, both inside and out. You don’t even need to do that much! All you have to do is think outside the box and go for something you’ve never gone for before. If you’re still struggling for inspiration, read on to find out more.

Inside

A lot of people consider the inside to be the most important, so we’ll start with that first. When people first walk in, you want them to be wowed. The best way to do this is actually a lot easier than you think. Smell is the most important sense here. Have a nice candle burning, or even one of those scented plugins that releases amazing smells all day long. It isn’t necessarily about making your house look good! Then, for a bit of decoration to spruce the place up. First we’re going to suggest a whole new colour scheme. It is the only way to truly wow your guests. Think of something you’ve never gone for before. Even if it is just switching from the usual white in the hall and landing, to maybe a mink colour. It isn’t too dark, but it isn’t too light. But it does change the mood of the house. Then for the living room, we’re really loving the white and grey contrast look. Paint the walls the brightest white you can ever find. It’ll help to draw in the light as well as look good. Then for the sofas, try and get yourself some grey, to dark grey either leather or other material. It’ll contrast against the white so well. Now, we know white carpet is a nightmare, so you’re going to have to go for grey as well, but it really does look nice. Get yourself some white or black coffee tables and a TV stand and you’ve transformed the room.

[Photo courtesy of wolfields/pixabay.com]

Outside

The outside is easily as important as the inside. All you need to do is wow them from the minute they enter your drive. The first step is the driveway, line it with Italian cypress trees. It is a bold statement that really does set off the driveway, and we guarantee people are going to love it. If you have a front lawn, make sure it is nicely trimmed all year round. If you want to get that extra bit of green out if it, throw down some grass seeds and fertiliser every so often. As for the back garden, you need to make it as colourful as possible. Plant some of the most vibrant colours you can find, and again, make sure the grass is lush and green.

So, after following our tips your guests truly should be wowed. All it takes is a bit of dedication to get your home looking perfect again. If you’re struggling for more ideas on the interior, just check out this link!

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.