Turn Your Bathroom Into A Spa
In your hectic life, do you often daydream of getting away to a restful spa retreat? In today’s busy world, a trip like that may be few and far between. How about making your own private spa retreat at home? Turn your bathroom into a spa for a respite of welcome relief. Here are a few ideas to make that possible. Nature is calming. Bring in natural elements in your decor. Something as simple as a couple of plants would work. If you do not have a green thumb, faux plants will also have a calming effect. White towels. Fluffy white towels are a quintessential spa element. Choose a good quality cotton or bamboo material for their durability. If you have open shelving, fold or roll a few on a shelf for aesthetic purposes. Upgrade your bathroom fixtures. Particularly your shower head. A modern rain shower head or a massage sprayer would give you a more luxurious shower experience. Calming colors. Science has proved that colors affect our moods. Create a peaceful color palette using nature inspired colors. Shades of green or blue, or even more earthy tones like tan or ivory. Upgrade your toiletries. Display your toiletries and other bath accessories in the colors you chose. Perhaps invest in glass containers to store essentials like cotton swabs and cotton balls. Arrange these items, along with a natural sponge or two, in a visually stimulating way. Calming scents. Fragrance is also proven to affect our moods. Incorporate calming scents in your bathroom. A few ways to do this is through an essential oil diffuser, candles, incense or lotions. Walking into your bathroom infused with a calming scent will immediately transport you to a relaxing state of mind. Our lives are busy and we often get run down. Transforming your bathroom into a spa would give you the refreshment you need to reinvigorate you for the next day. Try adding some of these elements to turn your bathroom into a spa.
How To Choose The Best Flooring For Your Kitchen
When it comes to choosing flooring for your kitchen, there are a lot of factors to keep in mind. Kitchens are high traffic so you definitely want something durable that doesn’t scratch easily. Spills and leaks often occur in the kitchen so something water resistant might be a good idea. Cooking messes probably happen daily so, of course, you will want flooring that is also easy to clean. Today, there are so many beautiful flooring choices that meet all this criteria. Here, we will discuss a few to help you choose the best flooring for your kitchen. Hardwood is one of the most traditional choices. This is for good reason, hardwood is not only beautiful but very durable. Although it is not waterproof, it can be water resistant with the right finish. Cleaning up spills right away would be to your best advantage with this flooring. Choosing the type of wood is essential with regards to scratching. Some woods are softer and more susceptible to scratching and dents, while a harder wood will hold up better. Another benefit to hardwood is that if it wears over time, it can easily be sanded and refinished for a fresh, new look. If you love the look of hardwood but it is not in your budget, vinyl planks are a great option. These planks are made to look like hardwood and come in a variety of shades and sizes. Some benefits to vinyl plank flooring are that it is waterproof, soft under your feet and so easy to clean. This would be a wonderful choice for your kitchen especially if you are doing the work yourself as it is also easy to install. Tile is another long time, popular choice. Tile is waterproof, long lasting and super easy to clean. You may want to seal the grout to prevent staining there. With tile, you have a lot more options as far as color, shapes and sizes to create a variety of different looks. There are so many choices available for kitchen flooring. Considering these few will hopefully help you make the best choice for your floor.
Small Bathroom: Tile Ideas That Will Help Your Bathroom Feel Bigger
Use neutral color tiles. White, cream, light grays or blues will make the space feel bright and open. Lighter tile colors will reflect either natural light from a window or the light coming from the bathroom fixtures. Use white (or a light color) grout. A neutral colored tile with white grout will help the tile blend into the space. Choosing white on white may mean the tile will not be the focal point in the bathroom, but in a small space that is not necessarily a bad thing. It can help the small bathroom feel open and clean. Many will agree, nothing feels and looks cleaner then the color white and that is why we see that color palate in so many spaces Go diagonal. Having the tile laid in a diagonal pattern can trick us into thinking the space is larger and longer than it really is. Use larger or medium sized tiles. Our tendency is to think, if the space is small then the tiles should be small. However, using a larger tile will again trick us into thinking and feeling that the space is bigger than it actually is. Tile the walls. Using the same tile on the walls as the floor will create a nice flow and bring the eye upward. However, there is nothing wrong with mixing and matching the floor tile with the wall tile. Having a contrast can be more visually appealing and with the right tile choice the bathroom will feel open. Please make sure whatever tile you choose will work with the surface you are putting it on. Use the same tiles on the floor as the shower. This will create a seamless and cohesive look. It will elongate the bathroom and once again, help the small bathroom feel much larger than it really is.
Renovation Projects That Add Value
Renovations are often necessary to improve the look and functionality of your home. Many assume that any renovation will increase the value of their home, but that is not the case. Renovations are costly and time consuming, therefore it is in your best interest to put your time and money into projects that increase your home’s value. We will discuss a few of the top renovation projects that will add value to your home. Kitchen. Renovating your kitchen adds huge value to your home. It doesn’t need to be an extravagant remodel. Simple changes will have a big impact. Examples are… painting your cabinets, updating the cabinet hardware, new appliances, new countertops or new flooring. Even just one of these changes will make a difference. Bathrooms. Updating your bathrooms greatly increases your home’s value. Painting or replacing the cabinets, updating cabinet hardware, replacing old sinks and countertops, updating the sink and shower fixtures. Don’t forget the vanity mirrors and lighting. Windows. Any type of energy efficient home improvement bumps up your home’s value a great deal. Replacing all of your windows with energy efficient windows is costly but definitely worth the time and money with regards to adding value. Decks. Adding a deck or replacing a worn out deck is a highly sought after element when people are looking to buy a home. A lovely deck extends your living space, making the outdoors more accessible. This renovation project would bring great value to your home. Curb appeal. The outside look of your house and property definitely affect value. The more attractive, the better the value. Simple changes here can have a big impact. Refresh the paint on your house, clean up and streamline your landscaping. Even a little mailbox renovation makes a difference. Repaint your mailbox and add a few flowers. Your time and money are valuable. Use them wisely and choose renovation projects that will increase your home’s value. We hope these few ideas will help!
How To Choose The Best Flooring For Your Kitchen
When it comes to choosing flooring for your kitchen, there are a lot of factors to keep in mind. Kitchens are high traffic so you definitely want something durable that doesn’t scratch easily. Spills and leaks often occur in the kitchen so something water resistant might be a good idea. Cooking messes probably happen daily so, of course, you will want flooring that is also easy to clean. Today, there are so many beautiful flooring choices that meet all this criteria. Here, we will discuss a few to help you choose the best flooring for your kitchen. Hardwood is one of the most traditional choices. This is for good reason, hardwood is not only beautiful but very durable. Although it is not waterproof, it can be water resistant with the right finish. Cleaning up spills right away would be to your best advantage with this flooring. Choosing the type of wood is essential with regards to scratching. Some woods are softer and more susceptible to scratching and dents, while a harder wood will hold up better. Another benefit to hardwood is that if it wears over time, it can easily be sanded and refinished for a fresh, new look. If you love the look of hardwood but it is not in your budget, vinyl planks are a great option. These planks are made to look like hardwood and come in a variety of shades and sizes. Some benefits to vinyl plank flooring are that it is waterproof, soft under your feet and so easy to clean. This would be a wonderful choice for your kitchen especially if you are doing the work yourself as it is also easy to install. Tile is another long time, popular choice. Tile is waterproof, long lasting and super easy to clean. You may want to seal the grout to prevent staining there. With tile, you have a lot more options as far as color, shapes and sizes to create a variety of different looks. There are so many choices available for kitchen flooring. Considering these few will hopefully help you make the best choice for your floor.
Simple Tricks To Make Your Kitchen Look Bigger
Do you have a small, rather cramped kitchen and long for a more spacious, open kitchen? All hope is not lost, with a few simple tricks you can make your small kitchen look bigger and feel more open. Let’s explore a few of these tricks. Color is by far the most cost effective way to make your space look bigger. White, in particular, is the best color to create a more spacious feel in your kitchen. If you love color, add some accents with lighter shades of teal, green or yellow to keep a bright open feel in your kitchen. Mirrors are often used in other rooms of the house to create the illusion of space. You may have never thought to use them in your kitchen too. If you have a full wall in your kitchen, covering it with a large full length mirror will make your kitchen appear much bigger. Using mirrors as a backsplash underneath all your cabinets will also add a much more open feel. Mirrors reflect light, making your space brighter as well as reflecting surfaces, creating the illusion of a much bigger space. The way you decorate will affect how big or small your kitchen looks. If your kitchen is overly decorated it will look cluttered, cramped and small. Keep it as simple as possible. The less items you have on your countertop, the more spacious your kitchen will feel. Keep all your kitchen items stored away, off the counters. This might require a bit of purging. Think about what you actually need and consider donating the rest. With a little creativity and a few tricks, a small kitchen can be transformed into a seemingly larger space. We hope these few tricks might help you transform your small kitchen.
Dress Up Your Fireplace
The fireplace is a natural focal point in the room. The way you decorate it will set the mood and style for the whole room. We will explore some ways you can dress up your fireplace to be a beautiful focal point. The mantle is a main feature of your fireplace. To create interest you could consider using a repurposed log or branch as a mantle for a chic, rustic feel. You can continue this look by arranging antique items on the mantle and possibly a contemporary style farmhouse painting. At the base of your fireplace, a metal bucket with firewood logs and a sheepskin rug would round off your rustic look. Perhaps you would like to add a bit more polish. A large mirror positioned above your mantle with a vase of greenery and a few other well placed items would refine your area. As well as a chic fireplace screen. What if you have a non working fireplace? You can still make your hearth glow by arranging varying sizes of the same color candles in your firebox. Perhaps incorporate a basket with throw pillows and a small blanket draped off the side and a few other arranged items on either side of your firebox. Light your candles for that warm ambiance! If you have a TV above your mantle, this can present a decor challenge. However, you can work around this challenge with simple designs like a string of greenery placed under the TV and lanterns on either side. If you have room for it, you could make mini barn doors that slide to cover the TV when not in use. You want your fireplace to stand out as a feature and to set the right tone of your room. We all have unique decor styles. We hope some of these ideas may work for you to dress up your fireplace and upgrade the look of your home.
Deep Cleaning Made Easy: Kitchen
No doubt, you clean your kitchen everyday, multiple times a day. However, there are areas in your kitchen that you probably don’t get to often because you are too busy cleaning everyday messes. It is a good idea to periodically plan a deep cleaning. Don’t let the words “deep cleaning” overwhelm you. It is truly a simple process that you can be done with in no time. It is often a good idea to clean from top to bottom. Start all the way at the top, your ceiling. You can vacuum it with a brush attachment or simply use a duster to remove the dust particles. If there happens to be stains from food splatter, use a gentle cleaning mix and a damp rag to wipe it clean. Next, use a damp rag to wipe your light fixtures. Move on down to your cabinets. Wipe the top of your cabinets with a damp rag to clean possible sticky residue. As well as any decorative items you may have up there. With a cleaner of your choice, wipe all of the cabinet fronts, sides and handles. Although you probably wipe your countertops everyday, it is good to go deeper by removing all surface items and wipe every inch, including corners and creases where crumbs like to hide. Next, you can tackle your appliances. Give them a good surface scrub and then clean the insides thoroughly. Don’t forget about your sink. It is the place where things get clean, but it also needs a good cleaning itself from time to time. Last, but definitely not least, is your floor. No doubt, it often gets swept and mopped. On occasion it is good to get down and scrub your floor, making sure you get in all the corners and underneath appliances. Refresh your kitchen rugs with a good washing to finish it all off. Deep cleaning seems daunting, but having a plan in place and a list of what to do can make it a rather simple process. We hope these ideas help you reach your cleaning goals.
Defining Spaces In Open Concept Floor Plan
Open concept homes are attractive to many people, with good reason. When you walk in it feels large, open and airy. It’s easy to entertain in an open concept. Your guests can flow from the kitchen to the dining or living room without you missing a thing. A common challenge, however, in these open spaces is a lack of definition. A few design techniques will help you meet this challenge. You need to think outside the box to create “rooms” within a larger room. A good first plan of action would be to plan your space. Establish intent for each area of the room whether it be dining, lounging or entertainment. Take note of negative space and make it useful by adding accent furniture and/or plants. Once you have your spaces planned out, you need to define them. Area rugs function amazingly as an anchor for each space. They create a physical border to define your “room”. All your spaces will have different functions, but you can bring it all together with cohesive furniture. It doesn’t have to be all matching furniture, but rather complimentary, as if part of the same family. Lightning can work wonders to define your spaces. The dining area could have some overhead lighting. If you create a sitting area, a table or floor lamp will make it feel cozy. If you have a vaulted ceiling, a beautiful chandelier over your living area would add a dramatic effect. If you have a large open space, try bringing your main furniture in, off the walls. You can create a more inviting, cozy area. Don’t let the design challenges of open concept get you down. Hopefully some of these ideas will help you meet those challenges by defining your spaces. Happy designing!
How To Add Character To Your Home With Beadboard
Are you looking to add a farmhouse or seaside flair to your home? You may need to look no further than beadboard. This wall panel is so versatile it can be used in any room of your house. Beadboard works in many décor genres including farmhouse, rustic, shabby chic, nautical… just to name a few. Let’s explore how you can use beadboard to add character and charm to your home! The entryway is a good place to start. Beadboard can give this space a lot of personality as well as function. Imagine it covering ¾ of the wall, trimmed out with a number of hooks along the top where you can hang your jackets and bags. This is especially practical for those of you without a coat closet. Beadboard is often used in the bedroom as a feature wall. An option here would be to cover one whole wall, top to bottom, also adding some crown molding. Painting it a different color from the other walls would really make it pop! How about the bathroom? You’ve probably seen beadboard on the wall in a bathroom, which sure does add character, but have you thought of putting it on the ceiling? This idea works great in a small bathroom. Adding crown molding to trim it out really adds on some charm. This is also a nice way to hide that popcorn ceiling. The kitchen is not to be overlooked. Beadboard can add a lot of texture as a backsplash. It would even look nice on a wall featuring open shelving. Beadboard is definitely a great option to give your home that certain flair you’re looking for. If beadboard is something you have in mind, we hope these ideas help. However you decide to beautify your home, we wish you much success!
