Six Decorating Traps to Avoid in a Small Apartment

When you live in a small studio or apartment, you want to express your own decorating style without taking up too much space. However, you may feel stuck between a rock and a hard place when you have to decide between displaying all your favorite prints and knick-knacks, and conserving space for your furniture. To create a space that’s both vibrant and functional, avoid the following decorating pitfalls. This way you can have a great look without a ton of clutter in the way.

Using Too Many Colors

You might think your apartment appears dull if you stick to a neutral palate. But while accenting your room adds pizzazz to an otherwise blah living space, too many bright colors can crowd out your furniture—or worse, make your apartment look like a nursery. Don’t fall into the trap of using too many bright colors in a small space.

Instead of painting your studio or front room with every color of the rainbow, stick to two accent colors and one neutral base. That way you can highlight your room with decorative pillows and picture frames, while keeping your carpet and furniture versatile and basic. Choose an accent wall if you do decide to paint with color and try to use the other blank walls as a canvas for tying in the accent wall with the rest of your décor.

Shutting Out Natural Light

When you’re working with a small space, natural light gives each room an open, natural feel. When you obscure windows with dark blinds or large curtains, you close off the space and make it feel smaller than it already is. Don’t forget how minimal blinds can help keep out unwanted light while still adding a larger feel to a room.

If you do choose to decorate with window coverings, keep them light-colored and simple. You can also make windows look bigger by purchasing an oversized curtain rod and keeping curtains away from the window. To maximize natural light, you should also purchase glass furniture and mirrors to reflect sunlight and bounce it around your room. Remember to use sheer curtains that won’t block too much light and still can give you relief from a hot window.

Keeping Everything on the Floor

If you have lots of books or magazines to store, you might feel the room is too small to merit bookshelves or counter space. But actually storing all of your belongings on the floor will make your room feel both overcrowded and small.

To responsibly and attractively store your items, invest in a mounted bookshelf or wall hooks to display plates. When you take advantage of wall storage, you use your belongings to add personality and color to the walls, and you keep you walkways clutter-free. Use small totes and bins to hold magazines for easy access on shelves and under tables. Any kind of vertical space or storage will save you valuable floor room. Make sure your shelves are being used effectively by packing in items tight and organizing so they don’t become a mess in the long run.

Putting All Your Furniture Together

You may think the best way to create more space in your limited apartment is to cram all furniture against one wall. But when guests come to have a chat with you, they’ll feel more claustrophobic when the chairs and couch are placed so close together.

Group your furniture together in odd numbers, and spread out your pieces across the room to create open space without crowding your guests. Make sure you have a good arrangement that can accommodate the max amount of guests you might have.

Forgetting About Walkways

Likewise, you also shouldn’t forget that people have to be able to get in and out of the rooms. If you arrange your furniture in such a way that you have to climb or crawl, or squeeze between furniture to enter a room, you’ve made your apartment entirely unusable.

When you place your furniture, first think about the natural pathways you use to get around your apartment. Leave enough space between tables, shelves, and seating so a person can easily maneuver the floor to get from one room to the next.

Buying Furniture Bigger Than Your Space

If you try to fit a three-piece sectional couch into your 200-square-foot apartment, you won’t have any space leftover for anything else. Tailor your furniture selection to match the size of your apartment, and you won’t risk feeling trapped.

You can also buy furniture that serves multiple purposes to conserve space. Look for a side table that also has shelves or drawers for storage, or use an organizing tray to turn your kitchen table into your work desk.

When you avoid these six dangerous traps, you can enjoy your apartment regardless of its small size.

Information Credit: Susan Hopkins Interior Design Portfolio (http://susan-hopkins.com/portfolio/)

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Distinction between decorating your Home and Staging it to Sell

There is a big difference between decorating your home and getting it ready to sell. When you come to sell your property you want it to look its best, but in a way that will appeal to a stereotypical part of society; whether family, student or bachelor. The trick is to create a home that looks fresh, warm and inviting, but, is also open to a new identity. A prospective buyer will want to know that they can make the home their own. When re-decorating, prior to selling, it is important to keep the following tips in mind:

Focus on color – keep it neutral

Color is good; very few people will find an all white house palatable. However, if you use bright colors you will be risking turning potential buyers off. The best option is to stick to neutral colors; beige, tan and soft grey are all popular at the moment and can add a touch of class to your home. Neutral colors have a different purpose too; they help the potential buyers envision changes a lot easier. It’s just like having a blank canvas and getting ready to paint it. If the walls of a house are already too colorful, it can be a challenge to picture what furniture pieces would fit there.

The theme – don’t give the house a personal vibe, not everyone will like it

You may have fallen in love with the 1950’s style houses or the ancient Aztec’s. However, if this theme is too overpowering in your house you will be minimizing your potential market. To ensure you attract a buyer remove all excessive parts of a theme; this is easy to achieve if you remove the accessories around the home. This will ensure the home retains its appeal to the maximum number of buyers.

Ditch items that look old and dated

Simple styles and colors are unlikely to date; however, there are plenty of fashionable items which will quickly make a house look dated. Anything that looks dated will create a dreary look to potential buyers and put them off your home. Use minimal splashes of color to brighten a room and remove the dated items; even if this means giving the walls a fresh coat of paint.

Make your home sellable to both men and women

The majority of homes need to appeal to both men and women. This means the colors used should be neutral and not overly patterned. Accessories should be kept to a minimum to create clean lines which will appeal to both sexes. Simple but eye catching is the best way to create a memorable look which will encourage someone to purchase your home.

Lighting and space

There are various nooks and crannies in any house which can appear much bigger and brighter with the addition of a light. Under the stairs is a prime example in many houses of a space which is wasted. A bright spotlight and an appropriate size desk can make it look very appealing. When creating an image such as this, a notepad and pen on a desk will draw the buyer’s eye and help them to associate the space and find the appeal in your home.

Kitchens and bathrooms

These need to be modern! This does not mean you need to rip out the old kitchen and replace it all with new. Simply ensure the colors are neutral and the kitchen is in good condition. Improvements can easily be made by replacing the cupboard doors and the fixings on the sink. Even the cupboard door handles can make a difference. On top of this it is advisable to make sure any appliances on view look clean and shiny; this helps to create the illusion of a new kitchen. Replace old cabinet handles too, just to give the kitchen a fresh vibe. If the cabinets look really unappealing, you could repaint those too. Make sure to use a neutral color.

Accessories shouldn’t be ignored

Your home needs to have pretty and practical accessories; a bunch of flowers on a tray with two coffee cups suggests romantic notions. It may never normally look like this but it will encourage a potential buyer to fall in love with that Turkish property for sale. Perhaps the most important element of staging your home is to step outside the box. View your home as a potential purchaser not as the seller. Look at what may appeal to buyers and what may put them off; then stage your home accordingly. Remember you are creating an illusion of a lifestyle!

Last but not least, it is important to keep things simple. Even when selling a house, less is more. Don’t exaggerate with the decorations and accessories, and allow potential buyers to see themselves living there too by coming up with decorating ideas of their own.

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The Specifics of Growing Herbs Indoors and Outdoors

If you are into cooking, you know just how beneficial herbs can be for your meals. Adding a touch of freshly picked herbs can truly change the taste and turn an ordinary dish into a culinary perfection. Herbs also possess a great deal of medicinal properties, which can be really beneficial for human health.

With all of these benefits, growing herbs at your own home really seems like a great thing to do. What you have to consider is that growing herbs doesn’t require a great deal of gardening skills, or that much effort for that matter. Additionally, if you think that you cannot grow your own herbs just because you don’t have a garden space in home, you are most certainly wrong. You are more than welcome to plant herbs outside, if you have the available space, but in case you live in an apartment or your garden is filled up with other plants, nothing is stopping you from growing herbs indoors.

Both locations present great benefits. Growing outdoors allows for more herbs and better yields, while growing indoors requires less garden care overall and provide supply of herbs whole year round. Here is what else you should know about growing indoors and outdoors.

Specifics of growing outdoors:

• Garden location – choosing location for your outdoors herb garden is very important. Even though the plants in question don’t require much, receiving adequate amounts of sunlight will lead to strong and healthy harvest. Consider at least 6 to 8 hours of unobstructed sun daily in order to ensure healthy growth. Pay attention to the size of your garden and space that your herbs will occupy. To best determine how much space you need, read the instructions on the packs of the seeds.
• Soil – well-drained loam soil makes for the best growing conditions. Adding compost, manure or peat moss will greatly reward your gardening efforts. The soil you plant your herbs in should have good drainage and it should be able to retain moisture and nutrients. Test the acidity of the soil to best determine if conditions are good to plant herbs – generally herbs require a pH between 6 and 7. Raised beds are a viable alternative, should you find that the soil in your area is not ideal for growing herbs.
• Watering outdoor herbs – the thing to remember about outdoors herbs is that you should keep the soil moist, but never soggy. Too frequent watering may lead to shallow roots, or roots that are drawn to the surface and you don’t want that. Soak the plants occasionally, but not that infrequently as to allow the plants to wilt. Group herbs by types that have similar watering needs to make it easy for you to water them all.

Specifics of growing indoors:

• Garden location – choosing the right location for your herbs is the most important factor for starting a garden inside your home. As with your outdoors garden, you should be mindful how many hours of sunlight an area receives each day. According to many gardening experts, herbs that are grown indoors require at least 6 hours of bright sunlight every single day. Keep that in mind and situate your herbs near a southwest facing window so that light is not a problem. The most ideal location would be a corner between window facing south and one facing west. Should you find yourself lacking such location indoors, consider grow lights, which are a viable alternative to natural sunlight.
• Pick growing medium over garden soil – organic growing medium works better than garden soil when it comes to growing herbs indoors. You can find such product in every gardening center. Making your own mix is also an option. There are few recipes for this. One is to mix equal parts sterile topsoil, builder’s sand and compost; possibly adding organic fertilizer. A soil-less mix consists of one part vermiculite, one part perlite and 4 to 6 parts peat moss. Introduce some nutrients to better the quality of the mix.
• Watering indoor herbs – over-watering herbs is definitely not the way to go. Keeping the soil moist, but not soggy is extremely important for indoor herbs, as too much moisture can cause the roots to rot. Keep an eye on the top layer of growing medium – when you see it has completely dried out, then it is time to water. Acquire a moisture meter if you have any difficulties with determining when is best to water.
• Best indoors grown herbs – normally you can expect good results from growing annuals such as dill, basil and oregano all year round. Perennial types you should focus on are chives, sage, sweet marjoram and thyme. Purchase them from seed or young plants. Consider that keeping those inside during the winter months, but take the pots outside in the summer – that is good garden care for herbs.

Herbs are considered sturdy plants that can be easily grown in your home. By investing some effort and time in gardening, you can reap the great many benefits of having a fresh supply of herbs.

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8 Modern Home Improvement Hacks of 2015

Regardless the size of your home, living spaces can be quite troublesome to organize, improve, and design especially when you have a tight budget. However, if you are willing to open up and be more creative in exploring and testing ways on how to improve the outlook and appeal of your home just like how they do carpet cleaning in Adelaide, you will discover that there’s more to these hacks than offbeat ideas that seem to never work—in the past.

Make your dining table a work of art.

If you have a big family and your house does not have enough room to place a dining table and form a dining area, a life-saving hack is to re-purpose the table into a painting. Draw some art or ask a skillful painter to paint an abstract picture or someone close to your heart at the back side of the table. When nobody is eating, you can turn the table up against your wall. This pretty artwork table can serve as a conversation starter piece that can even accentuate the ambiance of your dining hall. You can do the same on your bed and make plenty of space available by restructuring the bed with bed mattress at daytime when not in use.

Turn your closet to a room divider.

Not veering too far away from the first tip, you can also draw pictures or art on a side of your wardrobe closet and easily make your closet as a durable divider of two adjacent rooms. To minimize expenses, it will be cool idea to think of a good design or pattern and paint it like a pro. Let it dry overnight before exposing that side of the closet in a trafficked area. This will help save your budget and hold up to your plan of reconstructing your home and building a wall.

Utilize potential storage.

If you have some more space above your book shelf, you can utilize this space to store not only books but also other items such as bed linens, stuff toys, and bags that you won’t be using regularly. To hide your stash, use a wrapping paper with nude or plain color so it won’t get much attraction from visitors.

Use wine racks in the toilet.

It would be cool to use your old wine racks to hold things in the toilet including your towels, clothes, scarfs, magazines, gears, and toiletries. This will free up space for other storage hangers that look unpleasant. For organization, paint the wine rack to a different color per section and then assign each section to a family member.

Use a plastic hanger to put cords in order.

After some time, cords become so messy and it gets difficult to identify what cord is for which appliance. To keep away from clutter and eyesore, a borderline genius hack is to use a conceal cords by winding each of them around a plastic hanger. In effect, you can get rid of tangles and also avoid purchasing special cord keepers that will just do the same from a hardware store.

Transform your attic into a room for slumber parties.

When you have house guests, they would feel extremely cozy and comfortable to sleep in a room full of pillows right at your attic. The attic usually has low ceilings and not very livable. Turning it from a dull nook into a space where you can watch movie marathons just by lying on bed mattress would be so fun. Instead of hosting house parties in the living room or in the kitchen, you can spend more time with your close friends in the attic and enjoy the slumber party till the wee hours of the morning.

Place books at the back or under the stairs.

When there’s limited space at home to stash all your books, you can use the back of the stairs and build racks to store and display your book collections. If there is not much space either, under the stairs is also a fitting spot to make drawers and brackets.

Paint your bedroom ceiling with dark blue and draw stars.

Instead of the typical ceiling, you can paint your room ceiling with a dark color (preferably blue or black) above your bed so you can visually imagine watching the stars at night and fall asleep faster. You do not have to walk in the park or go outside of your home to witness this impressive illusion.

Conclusion

In this modern day, there are a lot of creative ideas that don’t require putting a dent in your bank account. In the event that you want to redecorate your home, spending a lot of money should not be a problem. All these hacks can help optimize your space and improve your home in an easy but effective way.

Author Bio

Randolph Hoover and his family were originally from San Diego California but he is currently studying Business Administration in Umea University in Sweden. Aside from being a student, He also helps his parents with their home maintenance business in their home in Umea. Because of this, he landed a job as one of the marketing guys for Electrodry and is commonly the go-to guy when it comes to the latest home improvement and car maintenance tips. When he’s not busy, he spends quality time with his family and friends during the rest of his time. His reason for writing is to redeem the uplifting feeling reminiscent of a swallow fluttering through the skies while the cold breeze of the alps flow through him as he wins a writing competition he joined back in junior high, or to stop conversing with his pet dog Munchkins during night time.

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Protect Your Farm with Perfect Style of Picket Fences

A fence is the most significant part of the infrastructure of any farm. It is such an item, which will last for several years and will also save your valuable time and money besides guarding your farm. However, you will have to think of your present and future needs before buying the fence.

Farm fencing is accessible in different varieties and a range of materials. However, the one you choose depends highly on the definite number of the available options of fencing. It is also good to know the maintenance needs of the particular farm fence that you have in your mind. Farm fencing requires great care and consideration because it encloses all the resources of your farm. The location of your farm also matters while installing the hedge. There are some zoning rules, which must be considered, and it means that you must discuss with the area authorities.

One of the most popular options of fencing in farms is picket fence. Installing this type fence has several advantages; it will smarten up that entire area at a comparatively low price. While making a decision on the installation of the picket fence, you have to consider the various types as well as designs, which are available. Some other options like spacing among the pickets and also the overall figure and the length of these pickets will have to be considered.

Options of Different Picket Fences

When most individuals consider picket fencing, they generally think of buying the short varieties that are just a few inches in height. The picket fence of these heights may really give some appeal to your farm, but it will not give much amount of privacy.

Still, it is possible to find a picket fence that offers privacy if you prefer one with almost no spaces among the pickets. Moreover, the pickets applied in this sort of fence are very high, usually between 6 and 8 feet. It means that no one will be able to peep over its top. However, though privacy fence offers a lot of advantages, it has only few pitfalls. As the pickets are nailed together very strongly, they can never expand from heat or moisture, so eventually this may cause warping.

If you are not much concerned on privacy, you can go for the spaced picket fence. A spaced fence has a certain gap between every picket, which offers more traditional appearance. The width of gap can be altered depending on your need; however, anything from 1 to 6 inches is usual. The pickets utilized in this sort of fence are likely to be little shorter, as they are available at about 4 to 6 feet. Of course, you can change it on the basis of the look that you wish. Because of the space between these pickets, a spaced hedge allows the separate pickets to expand, and it means that they are less expected to crack or bend outwards. Another benefit of these fences is that as there are fewer pickets, it costs much less.

Shadowbox Picket

This hedge merges the features of both the types of fences that are stated above. This fence gives privacy without completely walling off from your background. When you are utilizing a picket of four inches, the gap between each of these will be 4 inches. The other line of pickets is nailed onto a different side of the hedge that covers up the space left by the space of 4 inches. As this method makes use of more number of pickets, this can be slightly more expensive. But, it appears more attractive than a normal picket hedge and even makes peeping into the garden very difficult.

Lattice Top Picket

If you wish to have a more complicated look, lattice top picket hedge can be your best option. It is mainly manufactured with a privacy hedge. However, when that has been placed, parts of the lattice are put and then secured on the top portion of the pickets. These lattice panels generally differ in length as these may vary from six to ten feet, and are fixed to both the ends of the pickets and the posts. The additional lattice works not just adds some factors of detail that are missed by the other fences, but even gives an extra height.

Material of Fence

• Vinyl- Those who wish a different appearance than typical wood will choose the options presented with vinyl fences. Dust can be easily removed from vinyl fences because of their sleek, non-porous surface. Moreover, these qualities also make it easy to eliminate graffiti. Fences made of vinyl will not split or break. They do not get termite scratch, mold or dry rot. They are also resistant to fire. Installation of this vinyl fence is uncomplicated as all you have to do is glide the bars into the posts and then secure all posts into the land.
• Wooden-Wood fences are also affordable to install and its initially cost is considerably less than the vinyl ones. They also combine well with blossoms and plants for natural look.

Cost of Fencing

It depends totally on whether you want to install these fences yourself or not. However, it would be wise to appoint a professional for picket fencing, because they will be competent to do the task appropriately and provide you with a protected fence, which would last for several years. The cost of materials may vary. Ask the local tradesmen for some plans as they can tell you something on the low cost items when you are on a limited budget.

Author Bio: Think Fencing is the largest PVC fencing supplier and manufacturer in Australia. Every PVC fencing product we produce, from PVC Post and Rail Fencing to PVC Picket Fencing, is completely 100% Australian Made. You can connect with me on Facebook or LinkedIn.

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How to Accessorize a Small Bathroom with Style

When having a small bathroom, one must think about smart space saving, creating an illusion of a larger room and using colors that will open up the atmosphere and create a feeling of freshness. Therefore, besides the pure functional touches, a good bathroom also has to be stylish and well decorated. Accessorizing your small bathroom the right way, and creating a luxurious feel, is simple and possible even with a tight budget. Here are some great accessories that you can add to your bathroom at any time.

Towel Rails, Rings & Racks

Towels rings and racks are simply practical when it comes to bathroom organization. You barely see any bathroom without them. The best place for a towel ring is next to the vanity. As for the towel racks, place them next to the shower or bathtub, in your hands reach. Additionally, having a towel rail right next to your bathtub or a shower and a towel ring beside the sink is very functional and practical. By choosing a nice, chromed rail and ring would certainly look luxurious in your bathroom. Also, there are professionally designed and crafted heating towel racks that can fit to your bathroom design, match any style or color and keep your towels warm during the cold winter days. Be careful when you chose your towel rails because the come with 1 or 2 years of guarantee depending on the manufacturer.

Vanities, Shelves & Medicine Cabinets

By choosing the right shelves, you achieve optimal storage space and greater convenience. Spaces over the door, above the toilet, next to the window or beside the tub, are great places for adding a vanity, shelf or medicine cabinet. In this way, you will minimize the clutter and take advantage of underused areas. Take out everything out of your cabinets and drawers, and leave only necessary things and bathroom essentials. Bathroom space is perfect for decorative, wall-hung or small floor shelves, where you could place your towels or hygiene products. As for the vanities and sinks, there are different types you need to consider. They include wall mounted sink, pedestal sink, vessel sink and vanity, framed sink drop-in sink, under-mount sink, and cabinet style vanity.

Mirrors

Get a large mirror and mount it above the vanity or sink. It will reflect the light and spread it around the room, and increase visual space. A large round mirror with interesting frames is always a great choice. Try to add two rectangular mirrors, or a grouping of smaller mirrors, leaving a small portion of space between them. It will look compelling, while still reflecting your head and torso. On the other hand, you can also try to make your old mirror more stylish by simply adding a decorative frame cover for achieving a classy and chic look. Inspiration is everywhere, you can even get amazing ideas just by looking at Sydney bathroom renovations showrooms. Remember, since you won’t have enough place for two mirrors, go with the one that you will use when you wash your face, or shave. A full length mirror should definitely go next to your wardrobe, where your clothes are. Therefore, do not exaggerate.

Floor Rugs

Rugs on bathroom floors are gaining in popularity. There are stores that offer rugs in a great variety of patterns, smooth fabrics, warmth, and colors, for creating a cozy feeling for your feet. They are washable, functional, and stylish. They come in various materials such as bamboo, polyester, and cotton. Cotton can wear out fast if you do not keep your bathroom floor dry. The next option is bamboo. Although it is a durable material, it is not as soft as cotton. If your bathroom has a lot of people coming in and out, go for the polyester rug since it is the most durable. Do not fall just for the design and color. Every bathroom rug has to possess high slip resistance. This is achieved if the rug is lined with either anti-skid material or rubber.

Shower Curtain

Shower curtains are good because they add a splash of color and liven up the bathroom, create the illusion of height and can make your bathroom look luxurious. Mount the curtain rod near the ceiling for a more extravagant look. Instead of traditional shower curtain, you can use a curtain panel.

Decorative Accessories

You can create your own eclectic bathroom style with nice decorative accessories like wall artwork, small cupboards, old tissue boxes, pretty soaps and beautiful plants (real or silk) that would slick up your bathroom. This is where your inner DIY comes into place. Pinterest has many options for creating your own luxurious crafts, all you need to do is buy the material and follow the instructions.

Final word

The key to decorating a small bathroom lies in knowing when to stop. If you feel like there are many things and the space feels crowded, you are doing it wrong. Focus first on the necessities, and then move on to the overall appeal. And don’t forget to enjoy in accessorizing!

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Home Declutter

It is very easy to accumulate belongings. At the time, we think everything is important and can be slow to part with things. However over a longer period of time, things can start to build up to the point where your home is a mecca for random objects that you no longer use or are even aware of possessing.

It is possible to bring some order to our lives through decluttering. The benefits far out-weigh the negatives. While it may require a bit of effort and organization, it will be certainly worth it in terms of lowering anxiety and creating a positive head space.

This info-graphic from HalfPrice.com.au aims to uncover the secrets to successful decluttering and why you need to implement it in your life. It covers methods for getting things done and also offers some advice on how decluttering will help make life easier and less chaotic in the long term.

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