Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Life

Category: DIY How-to and Inspiration

  • Higher Costs Cutting into Your Home Improvement Budget? Opt for These DIY Solutions

    Renovations can add value to your home and increase the enjoyment of your dwelling, but the costs for various projects also have the potential to pile up. What do you do when you want to prepare a home for sale or give it a makeover without going into major debt or depleting your savings?

    Many homeowners turn to DIY solutions that may take some time and a bit of research but often prove worth it in terms of money saved and happiness gained.

    Projects like painting and power washing typically require only a few days to a week of your attention. Others, such as laying tile or resurfacing floors, may demand a lengthier commitment, but with the right attitude, they can produce years of benefit for little cost.

    Here are some DIY solutions you might want to take on if your budget is tight but your inspiration lofty.

    Paint Your Home

    Interior walls with scratches, scuffs, and outdated colors can use a new coat of paint. Fresh paint will likely make a dramatic difference in the overall look of your home and present it nicely to future buyers.

    Depending on your style and interior design goals, you may want to play with color, for instance, painting a statement wall or an entire room in a bold hue. Homeowners who plan to sell in the near future should heed expert advice that says to stick to a neutral shade carried throughout the house.

    Painting an exterior might take a little more work, especially if you have a two-story home. But, those not opposed to erecting and climbing ladders and scaffolding may want to dive into this project.

    With any painting project, it’s important to properly prep your surfaces, research the different paint types and materials, and test your color on a small section. While involved, this DIY solution is usually a much cheaper option than hiring someone to do the job.

    Update Fixtures

    Swapping old outlet covers, switch plates, curtain rods, door knobs, light fixtures, and faucets can be a cheap and easy way to give an outdated home a quick update. Often, homeowners overlook these minor parts of a home until they look so bad they can’t be ignored or it’s time to sell.

    Consider that attractive switch plates and outlet covers typically cost less than $5 each. Additionally, you can usually get modern curtain rods and door knobs cheaply. Good quality light fixtures and faucets may run you a couple of hundred dollars or more (especially for luxury versions with touch or sensor technology built in), but consider their impact on your home for a relatively low cost.

    And, remember that instead of paying a handyman, electrician, or plumber to install fixtures, you can do it yourself and save money. Some great video tutorials available online walk you through every step of the process. Of course, when working with electricity and plumbing, it’s wise to research ways to keep you and your home safe before you begin.

    Upgrade Window Treatments

    Shabby curtains, shades, and blinds don’t add value to your home and they may, in fact, decrease it. For just a small cost, you can upgrade your window treatments yourself to lighter, brighter, and more contemporary versions that provide privacy while giving your home an airy and open look.

    There are plenty of low-budget options available for beautiful drapes, shutters, and horizontal or vertical blinds. Some of the most impressive window treatments we’ve seen, however, require a bit more of an upfront investment (i.e., smart shades and blinds with voice-activated opening and closing) but are still a cost-effective solution if installed yourself.

    Restore or Reveal Hardwood Floors

    It’s possible to bring original or replacement hardwood floors back to their like-new splendor with a little time, elbow grease, and money. Consider that flooring often makes or breaks a room. Imagine, for example, how much more dramatic a dining room or study could be with pristine hardwood to set the mood.

    Likewise, pulling up old flooring to reveal hardwood underneath can be worth the effort, especially in a period home. Not sure if you have hardwood underneath your laminate, tile, or carpet? Some homeowners are willing to take the risk of time and money to pull up a small corner of old flooring and potentially reveal a treasure underneath.

    Stain or Paint Kitchen Cabinets

    Purchasing and installing new cabinets, or even new cabinet doors, is not cost-effective in many markets. Instead, homeowners often trade a little time for a fresh coat of paint to breathe life into a stale kitchen or bathroom.

    As on walls, new paint on cabinets and cabinet doors can completely transform a room. Depending on your design and real estate goals, you may want to paint cabinets a neutral shade or go bold with a dark or bright hue, or lather on an ultra-high gloss.

    Remember, though, that before you start this DIY project, it’s essential, again, that you research methods for prepping your surface and choosing the right materials.

    Are you considering fixing your home and putting it on the market? Better Homes & Gardens Real Estate® can help you when you’re ready.

  • Easy DIY Entryway Ideas

    One of the most overlooked spaces in homes and apartments is the entryway. People often find themselves stumped for low-cost, high-impact ideas to make this area sing. Whether your entry is long and narrow, open and undefined, or just plain small, there are terrific design options that will allow you to make a real change and can (often) be done over a long weekend. So, what are some of our favorite DIY entryway ideas?

    towel hangingDazzle with Entryway Color Blocks

    There are few spaces that won’t benefit from a fresh coat of paint. This is especially true of your entryway, which sees a lot of traffic. Whether your door opens into your main room or a long hall, it might benefit from a dash (or more) of color. Adding a brilliant yellow, soothing blue, or moody green color to your door will transform your entryway instantly. It’s an easy DIY project that has big results for renters or owners. Yes, renters will have to return the door to its original state before moving out, but that is an easy fix, and the joy you feel whenever you look at your new door will be worth it.

    Geometric design is taking over interiors, and painted shapes are being used to create visually appealing zones even in homes with open-concept living. Picture a colorful oval that extends above your doorway and onto the walls around it or a gentle arch that incorporates the door. Both techniques will draw the eye upward, making your ceilings look higher. 

    Is your entryway particularly small or short? Dramatic colors can transform the space into an experience. Dark, moody colors can feel like an embrace when coming from outside. Is your entry a tricky shape? Consider adding a freehand (or stenciled) mural as one of your renovation ideas. Depending on your design inspiration, this DIY project could require very little paint, keeping the cost of your renovation low. 

    Introduce a Drop Zone

    Are you frustrated that you don’t have an easy place to drop your purse, keys, wallet, masks, mail, or other paraphernalia when you walk in the door? One of the most popular DIY entryway ideas in the last two years has been the introduction of a front door drop zone. Do you have an older console table, bench, or bar cart that isn’t getting as much use as it once did? A coat of paint, a new stain, or a good polish can make your older furniture like new again. The upcycled piece placed near the door can help keep your stuff organized and easily located when you add bins, baskets, or trays to collect small, easily misplaced items and mail. 

    If you are particularly handy, consider bringing some extra style to some unfinished wood cabinets and turning something uninspiring into the perfect entryway console table. The experts at Martha Stewart Living took two unfinished IKEA “Ivar” Cabinets and made them into a functional and fabulous console unit. You can make this idea your own by painting the units your favorite shade using low VOC or vegan paint, adding wood legs to raise the units to a more comfortable drop zone height, and installing hooks inside the doors to add even more storage. If you are short on space in your entryway, you could choose to stack the cabinets or even mount them to the wall. 

    Install Wall Hooks

    Wall hooks or pegs are a terrific option for improving organization in an open-concept or small space. They offer a place to hang your coats, umbrellas, masks, and keys that is easily accessible and neatly contained. Real Simple loves small-space organizers like the Parker Mirror and Hook Rack because “it has a mirror, comes with hooks for holding keys and scarves, and includes a shelf for that hand sanitizer you need to slather on when you get home.” You can also install design-forward hooks directly into the drywall or get crafty by screwing hooks into a rustic piece of wood that you can stain or paint to complement your décor. 

    Upcycle Seating

    According to Real Simple, “one element every functional entryway should have: a spot to sit down and take off your shoes (and coat, and scarf).” We agree! Is your entryway tiny? Look for a small bench or footstool at your local flea market that can be restored. If you are handy with a staple gun, you can grab some of your favorite leftover fabric and foam to create a cushion that will make your entry seating look beautifully customized without spending a lot of money.

    Of course, if you have a long entryway, your renovations could include a refurbished Deacon’s Bench or a narrow settee. Like Martha Stewart Living’s editor Lorna Aragon, your next great DIY idea might start with a vintage church pew you find at auction. Aragon thought “the curved arms reminded her of Swedish antiques” and painted it Scandi blue. But rather than stopping there, she added a “ticking-striped cushion made with two-inch-thick foam.” The piece’s final look included a slightly weathered-looking finish that also protected it from snowy hats and spring rain-dampened coats. 

    entryway with mirrorIncorporate Useful Storage

    Once you’ve added your upcycled seating and space-saving wall hooks, ponder the best places to incorporate helpful storage. For small entryways already boasting wall hooks, Real Simple loves the idea of placing “a sturdy … hamper, or cubby shelf to corral shoes.” 

    Is there space below your door-side bench? You can add organic cloth or sustainable bamboo baskets under the bench to house hats, gloves, shoes, and more. Even if your entryway is tiny, you could incorporate something like the Container Store’s eco-friendly Lotus Bamboo Storage Bench. It’s only 20 inches wide, but it opens at the front to reveal hidden shoe storage that will instantly organize and tidy the shoes you use each day. While the cushion it comes with is lovely, you can easily detach the top and recover it in your favorite leftover fabric (or latest find) for a DIY renovation project that will take only a couple of hours. 

    Welcome the Weather

    Do you live in a region that sees abundant rainfall? While you can always hang umbrellas from the pegs or hooks, you will need to place a tray or mat below that space to capture falling water droplets or mud. Martha Stewart Living is a big fan of the shiny copper boot tray from Williams Sonoma. The Magazine explains: “It’s long enough to hold the entire family’s footwear, and so great-looking, you’ll want to keep it out ….”  

    As for your umbrellas, a simple DIY idea also comes from Martha Stewart Living. They detail a DIY project that transforms “an inexpensive flower bucket into a nice-looking umbrella stand by painting the bottom of the bucket with glossy oil-based enamel paint.” It does take 24 hours to dry, but the basics can be accomplished with only a few supplies (including sample size paint) and at a minimum of expense. 

    Create a Welcoming Landing

    Whether you have a split-level home with a landing, an extended foyer, or a tiny apartment, a quality, high-traffic rug can bring warmth and welcome to your entryway. Southern Living recommends decorating the space with a sustainable, flat-woven rug or cowhide. Why? The Magazine reveals: “Both rugs are incredibly easy to maintain and are available in a variety of sizes and colors.” If you are searching for eco-friendly ideas, consider organic jute options. You can also search for reversible rugs, like the Hebe cotton area rug that Southern Living favors. Not only is this black/off-white geometric gem beautiful, washable, and made from recycled cotton, but it can be flipped for more use between cleanings. 

    entryway at homeDress the Space

    You will be amazed at how quickly the addition of a mirror or engaging artwork can dress your space. Much like the idea of an entire wall mural, a dramatic, soothing, or whimsical art piece will set the tone for guests as they enter your home. Whether you place a large, vertical photograph on a wall opposite the door or at the end of a long foyer, or a horizontal masterpiece that seems visually to flow towards the inner rooms of your home, you can make an impressive statement. You can even upgrade the frame with a little bit of paint, gold leaf, or polish. 

    Mirrors are also a terrific option near the door. Not only are they great for “last looks” as you leave the house, but they bounce light in ways that can make even tiny entryways feel inviting. Real Simple agrees. The Magazine reveals that “designer Robin Henry brought plenty of character into the home’s primary point of access with two large pieces of art—a gorgeous four-foot-wide mirror.”  

    Martha Stewart Living is also a fan of brightening your entryway by “[creating] a ‘window’ using basic bevel-edged mirrors” over a floating shelf. In fact, it’s one of their favorite DIY entryway ideas. Once the floating shelf is installed and painted to match your walls (visually hiding the piece), they recommend: “[Adding] a grid of mirrors above, leaving about an inch around each to mimic windowpanes. For a flush, bracket-free look, attach the mirrors to the wall with construction adhesive made for mirrors.” And voila! You’ve created a focal point that will wow in just hours.

  • How to Set Goals and Achieve Them

    Every time we enter a new year, there is a sense of a new beginning and a fresh start. Many people write down a few New Year’s resolutions but all too often, they stumble and, over time, retreat to old, possibly unhealthy habits or forget their goals altogether. Use the tips below when setting your goals and learn a few tricks that will help you achieve them.

    1. Write them down! Jotting them down is the first step to getting the ball in motion.
    2. When writing down your goals for the year, consider things that are realistic and attainable. Don’t set several huge goals that would be very difficult to accomplish. A more realistic approach would be to form one large goal and break it down into several smaller steps. Having numerous tasks or steps will make it feel more doable, and you’ll feel good as you cross them off one by one. Breaking it down will also make it easier to stay on track. This approach works well when you’re looking for your next dream home. Here you can discover several ways to simplify the homebuying process by breaking it down into smaller steps and tackling them one at a time
    3. Be realistic. Don’t simply set a goal removing something from your day-to-day for the remainder of the year. Instead of never eating bread again, eat it less frequently. If you cut out something entirely, chances are you’ll crave it more.
    4. Keep your list of goals in a place where you will see them regularly. You can tape a list to your bathroom mirror or fridge or take a photo of your list and keep it in your phone.
    5. When setting a goal, consider teaming up with a friend or partner. Accomplishing a task with a friend will help you be less tempted to give up, plus it can make it much more fun.
    6. Make sure you’re checking your progress frequently if it’s something you can monitor.
    7. Celebrate the small wins and achievements!

  • Creative Ways You Can Recycle Through Upcycling

    Over the last few months of safer-at-home orders due to the Covid-19 pandemic, people have had a considerable amount of time to assess their homes, needs, and stuff. Whether you have started pursuing a zero-waste lifestyle, or you have an urge to get creative as you clean out closets, garages, and garden sheds, upcycling is the ultimate way to recycle what would otherwise end up in landfills or overloaded municipal recycling systems. Plus, the process often gives you a chance to get organized or redecorate without a trip to a store. Read on as we reveal some of our favorite ideas about what you can recycle and how to upcycle your way through your latest decluttering efforts.

    Armoire

    Before you try to sell your under-used armoire to a consignment shop, consider giving it a new life as an upscale bar, secret bookcase, or hidden office. It might be hard to imagine initially, but upcycling the unit may transform it from a nuisance into something well-loved and much-used. The editors at Martha Stewart Living are big fans of repurposing an older armoire into what they refer to as a “‘Barmoire’ Cabinet.” From drab to fabulous, the Magazine suggests recycling the armoire into a dazzling entertainment conversation piece that also offers a practical upside. Martha Stewart Living reveals that the revised piece could be a DIY dream; “this armoire is tricked out with everything you need to really shake things up as a home mixologist—liquor, glasses, the works—by taking the basic linen closet, painting it inside and out, and giving it a stylish backsplash with smoky mirrored tiles.” 

    With the addition of some strategically placed shelves and a new coat of eco-friendly paint, you also can create a beautiful, wonderfully deep bookcase out of your under-used armoire. When you close the doors, you have a stylish piece that would work in any room of the house. When you open them, voila! Your library is revealed. Do you need a work or crafting space that can be closed when it is not in use? New shelving and a fold-down table attached to the door, similar to the bookcase desk highlighted by Martha Stewart Living, gives you a fully-functional work-from-home (or virtual school) space that easily can be tucked away at the end of the day.  

    Coolers

    Are your pantry or garage shelves filled with coolers that have long been replaced with other models for your future camping adventures? You might be surprised to find out that, typically, you cannot recycle plastic coolers. The building process involves multiple layers of several different types of plastic, and, therefore, recycling becomes an expensive and burdensome process for most local sites. The good news is that even if their seals are broken, they can be upcycled into something useful. Midwest Living suggests popping off the top and transforming the broken cooler into a very “chill” container garden filled with “flowering tobacco, star flower, hedgerow crane’ s-bill, Helichrysum and blue daze,” as one of many possibilities.  

    Drawers

    Can you recycle a worn-down dresser? Yes, unless it has been painted or varnished. Of course, you can upcycle it with any number of decorative techniques from decoupage to a make-over that involves re-staining the top and framing, painting the drawer fronts (perhaps in the popular “Classic Blue,” Pantone’s “Color of the Year”) and adding new hardware. If the furniture piece is genuinely taking up too much space and is no longer useful in its current form, consider upcycling the drawers alone. Midwest Living raves about the benefits of creating a charming miniature garden in each repurposed drawer. You also can turn the drawer on its side and hang it to create a boho wall cabinet – just add an extra shelf in the middle for additional storage and remove the hardware. You can even create a twist on Martha Stewart Living‘s much-loved “Garden-Shed Crate Cabinets.” Instead of crates, you can stand up your drawers or lay them on their sides and stack them to create a network of useful storage in your garden shed, garage, or patio. As the Magazine remarks: “Once you‘ve established a layout, connect [them] with wood screws and collars near the corners. Use cup hooks to hang smaller items, such as trowels, funnels, and scissors.” 

    Ladders

    If you are wondering what you can recycle in your overloaded garage, you may be surprised to find out that your old ladder, be it metal or wooden, can be upcycled in some remarkable ways. If you have long debated starting a small container garden, your no-longer-useful ladder can have a new life as a ladder planter. With troughs that you can purchase or make yourself out of old containers, “[wooden] ladder planters … provide an easy way to achieve vertical gardening in small spaces such as patios,” according to Midwest Living. Just be sure that whatever flowers, grasses, or herbs you plant thrive in partial shade conditions. Similarly, the editors of the Magazine advocate for transitioning an older “stepladder into a garden focal point with a coat of bright paint, then decorate the steps with your favorite potted combinations in cans.”  

    Are you hoping to repurpose something to add a burst of industrial chic charm to your bedroom or guest room? Martha Stewart Living suggests swapping a small nightstand in favor of your extraneous stepladder. The Magazine explains: “The four wide rungs of an extra stepladder provide a steady spot for a row of books as well as the necessary alarm clock and a reading lamp.”   

    Lampshades 

    In most cases, lampshades can be recycled if you separate each of the primary materials before placing them in the recycling bin. However, the best way to recycle a drab lampshade is to upcycle it. You do not have to be a DIY expert to remake your shade in a way that highlights your room’s color schemes or adds a pop of color to an otherwise neutral space. According to the editors at Southern Living, all you need is a bit of acrylic paint, some painter’s tape, scissors, and measuring tape to create a vividly striped shade that makes your room sing. The Magazine “[recommends] using a paper lampshade for cleaner lines when you pull the tape away, but you can also upcycle an old linen shade….”  

    Mason and Canning Jars

    If you are pondering what you can recycle from your growing mason jar collection, know that most of the jars will be accepted at your local recycler. Keep in mind that the rubber rims that are part of the lids should be removed before depositing them in your blue bins. Before dropping them off, think about whether they can be upcycled into useful storage bins, even outside the kitchen. If canning isn’t in your future, you may want to fill the extra jars with a variety of pasta, beans, and rice. The tight seal of the jars keeps the contents fresh, and the clear jars are terrific for stacking while making it easy to identify the contents at a glance. As canning jars are made to be heat-resistant, try dropping in a tea light to add a glow to your patio table, bathroom vanity, or living space. Mason jars, as well as empty candle jars, can become delightfully rustic vases or even planters, according to Real Simple. And, if your work-from-home space needs organizing, it may be time to grab one (or several) of your empty jars. As the editors at Real Simple suggest: “Use larger containers to hold taller items like pens, pencils, and scissors, and shorter ones to store erasers and paper clips.” You can even add a coat or two of glass-specific spray paint to your new storage jars to bring a pop of color to your workstation.   

    Mirrors

    Real Simple reveals that old mirrors “aren’t recyclable through most municipal recyclers, because the chemicals on the glass can’t be mixed with glass bottles and jars.” Don’t despair. Whether you have an extra mirror tucked away in the closet or an older, scratched mirror hiding in the garage, it can enjoy a surprisingly useful life as a decorative chalkboard. Protect the frame with painter’s tape before applying a couple of coats of chalkboard paint to the mirror. Southern Living adores this as an addition to kitchens as a menu board, a place to write appointment reminders, or grocery lists. Kids will love being able to add their wish lists in vibrant chalk. As the Magazine reveals: “The sky’s the limit when it comes to scale – this DIY can be done on any size of picture frame or mirror.” In the future, if you are planning larger events, recycled mirrors can be used as everything from a welcome agenda of events for weddings to table number markers at reunion dinners or outdoor receptions. 

    Shredded White Paper

    Depending on where you live, recycling centers may not allow you to recycle your shredded white paper as is because it could fly out of the blue bins during collection or the recycling dump. While you can place the shredded paper into another recyclable container or bag, you may be surprised to learn that you can use the shredded paper in your garden, even if you aren’t doing a full-scale compost bin. Shredded white paper can be used around the base of your plants, vegetable, and trees as a mulch – just be sure to use white paper rather than heavily dyed paper. The shredded paper mulch is also effective for anyone trying their hand at indoor container gardening. It’s an easy, free, and environmentally friendly approach to mulching that does not require a trip to the garden center.

    T-Shirts

    Are you staring into your closet wondering what you can recycle? First, as recommended by Real Simple, “check with your local recycling service to see if they accept textiles to recycle into stuffing, upholstery, or insulation.” If you are hoping for a home-based solution to your closet clean-out, you will be delighted to discover how versatile your family’s old t-shirts can be. If you are handy with a sewing machine or particularly quick with a needle and thread, graphic tees can find new life as fabric for pillow covers and tote bags. While consignment of old concert t-shirts was popular for a while, you may be inspired to cut squares from the tour line-ups and graphics as the basis of a perfectly personalized quilt representing your favorite bands and a lot of concert-going memories.

    Wine Corks

    Plastic corks should not be recycled, nor should they be added to your compost. However, Real Simple confirms that after enjoying your favorite bottle of vino, you can place “standard corks in a compost bin.” If you and your family are feeling creative, those standard wine corks can be upcycled in some delightful ways. Wine cork mats only require a thin box to act as a temporary frame, glue, and your used corks. Because cork dries quickly, your new wine cork mat will be a great place for kids to take off wet boots or as a funky bathmat. 

    You can glue corks to a firm backing like poster board, and then frame your design to create a unique corkboard for your home office. If you have enjoyed visiting wineries in your past travels, consider displaying those special corks in glass vases or lay similarly sized corks on their sides and adhere them to the top of a TV tray table to give it a new, fun look, perfect for your next casual happy hour.

  • DIY Tips for Low-Impact Basement Remodeling

    DIY Tips for Low-Impact Basement Remodeling

    One of the best “bang for your buck” renovations you can make to a home is to remodel a basement. Basement project ROI is currently around 75 cents on the dollar. That said, it can be a massive investment of time and involve a huge outlay of cash you may not have.

    Here are a few suggestions for slightly lower impact basement remodels that will improve your home’s functionality dramatically, but won’t break the bank.

    Add a Bathroom

    If you have plumbing lines already roughed in, adding another bathroom will add value to your home and make your life as a family a lot easier. You can install just a powder room if you like, but putting in a full bathroom makes it a lot faster to get out of the house in the morning if your family has grown to the point where everyone is competing for shower time and mirror space.

    Add Cabinets

    The wall across from the stairwell (or under the basement stairwell itself) is the perfect place to install cabinets that can help keep the rest of your home looking uncluttered. Linens, out-of-season clothes, sporting equipment, food and cleaning items bought in bulk, and board games are all good candidates for basement storage. A couple of cabinets and a folding counter installed in a basement laundry room makes the whole process a lot more efficient. 

    Basements shouldn’t be damp and they don’t have to be dingy. Laundry (and ironing) will seem a lot less like a chore if the environment is cheerful and welcoming. Consider partitioning off the laundry area, installing brightly colored cabinets and countertops, painting the floor of that area, and adding an area rug.

    If you’re doing a kitchen remodel and replacing your cabinets entirely, consider installing some or all of them in the basement after painting them. Or look for thrift store or Habitat for Humanity specials on cabinets. You can often find bargains on incomplete cabinet sets. Or you might find a row of lockers from a school or recreation center that’s being renovated. They’ll be the perfect height for a basement, and with the addition of a few shelves can be used to store pretty much anything you need to hide from view.

    Finish Part of the Basement

    If you find your home lacks a room or you need that “getting away from it all” sense of space by being on a different floor, away from the distractions of television, video games, and kitchen chores, you can finish just a portion of your portion by creating a zone with divider walls. A home office in the corner of your basement can still be a room of one’s own — and, more importantly, a room with a door on it if you work from home. 

    Paint the walls rather than worrying about drywalling, leave the ceiling open, and invest in a comfortable office chair and a large, thick rug instead. If you have to do video calls, set up a green screen that makes your hourly rate seem like a bargain to potential clients.

    For a larger area, use drywall sparingly and investigate other lower maintenance, quick-to-install wall treatments. Basements are perfect for a touch of industrial. With their low ceilings, leaving pipes and ceiling joists exposed will minimize any feelings of claustrophobia, save money, and still allow you access to wiring and pipes for the rest of the house. If you want the pipes to recede, paint them a dark color. That will force the eye down so its focus becomes the furnishings and artwork.

    Keep it Clean

    Sticking to white for ceilings, walls, and floors will do more to compensate for the lack of natural light from which most basements suffer, unless you’re lucky enough to have a sloping lot and a basement that is actually a ground-floor walk-out. 

    Add color with posters, paintings, area rugs, throw cushions and seating. Sticking to all-white will make the painting go faster (no need to tape around door frames and baseboards, no worries about getting wall color on the ceilings) and will also make touch-ups a breeze.

    Things to Consider

    Moisture can be an issue in many basements. Before embarking on a full or partial basement remodel, make sure you’ve got good roof drainage that leads water away from your foundation walls. If you do decide to drywall all or part of your basement, use breathable insulation and install a vapor retardant between the interior walls and floors as well as between floor slabs and foundation walls. 

    It’s better to be safe than sorry. Don’t install wall-to-wall carpeting in a basement, even if it tends to be chilly. Use area rugs, carpet tiles in an unconventional pattern, or take a look at vinyl planking, engineered wood, or cork flooring options.

    Let’s face it: pipes sometimes burst, washing machines can run amok, and your basement is the first place that will experience flooding in adverse weather events. Do everything you can to prevent that from happening, but don’t pour thousands into basement flooring you can’t afford to replace if your insurance doesn’t cover everything or you have a high deductible. 

  • DIY Home Improvements and Repair Strategies

    Sometimes as a homeowner, you may realize you’re not going to get your money’s worth on a renovation before you have to sell. Still, if you just can’t live with that mid-20th century pink bathtub or those hideous countertops, a DIY renovation may be in order. Here are some DIY home improvements that won’t break the bank, won’t take forever, and will make you like the house you’re living in (for now) a whole lot more.

    Bathroom Improvements

    Retiling and replacing inset tubs is an expensive and time-consuming process. That said, if your bathroom tile colors make you cringe every time you go into the room, you have to do something about them. 

    Luckily, both tubs and ceramic tiles can be painted. You’ll still have to be prepared to have your bathroom out of commission for at least a weekend, and if you’re painting a shower area, you may have to do touch-ups in a few years, but the cost and skill required to paint is infinitely less than replacing.

    Just make sure to follow all the manufacturer’s directions for surface preparation, priming, drying time, and sealing. Also, be certain you seal your paint can properly so that you have leftover paint for touch-ups.

    Replacing a vanity and a sink can be another expensive project requiring more DIY skills than you might have. Unless your sink is chipped, consider living with it as is and upgrade your taps instead. 

    If you have a mock-oak vanity, painting it a rich, glossy espresso will make the vanity pop and say 2020 rather than 1990. Replacing hardware is almost effortless, and doing so will complete the update. If you enjoy doing weekend home DIY improvements, consider adding a backsplash or framing a flat mirror.

    If you have an integral basin and countertop, some time and patience, you can update the look of your bathroom by about 30 years for very little money. Try using new products to concretize both countertop and sink. Note that you’ll have to allow at least a week for drying time since you’ll need to apply several thin layers of concrete product and sealer.

    To conquer bathroom clutter, consider installing rollouts in your vanity. You can have one for beauty products and another for cleaning supplies.

    Kitchen Improvements

    If you can’t afford the time or money for a complete kitchen renovation right now, there are lots of things you can do to make the heart of your home both more functional and more attractive.

    You can use the same concrete products on your kitchen countertops that you did in your bathroom to get the modern industrial look that’s been in vogue for the last couple of years. If you have linoleum floors that haven’t worn well, paint them in vibrant stripes rather than ripping them up and replacing them.

    Painting your cupboards (especially if they’re particularly dated) and investing in new hardware will make a huge difference. Alternatively, you can replace just the cupboard fronts. 

    Adding kitchen rollouts to your bottom cupboards has two huge benefits: first, it will make items at the back accessible without having to unpack the entire cupboard. Second, it should let you get rarely used appliances off your countertop. Does the toaster you use for 15 minutes every morning really need to live on your countertop all day?

    If you have any wooden valances above the sink, get rid of them and consider reframing the window to update its look. 

    The money you save on cosmetic changes rather than structural renovations can be spent on upgrading your appliances to the most energy-efficient ones you can find. Then you can apply your energy savings to your future renovation fund.

    Bedroom Improvements

    If your home didn’t come with wire shelving systems in the closets, this is one of the cheapest, simplest, and best investments you can make.  These systems are available at home centers and are infinitely customizable. Unless you own a heritage home with tiny closets, the organizational possibilities they provide are endless.

    Take a look around your bedrooms and think about the things that could be stored in your closets rather than on display. That can include both low and tall dressers if you have a double closet and plan your shelving around it. Losing a dresser frees up a lot of floor space and might let you create a seating area in your bedroom. If you discover you don’t actually need a dresser after you’ve completed your bedroom closet renovation, you can always repurpose it as a portable kitchen island.

    Other DIY Home Improvements

    Even though kitchen and bathroom renovations have the biggest resale return on investment, dated living rooms can be depressing. If there’s already a contrasting color, designated feature wall in your living room, consider modernizing it by creating a pallet wall, wallpapering just that wall, or painting to match the room color and then creating a wall-encompassing stencil.

    If you’re lucky enough to own a heritage home with high ceilings, consider investing in a specular central light fixture and paint the ceiling a vibrant color while leaving the room’s walls neutral.

    Whatever DIY home improvements you choose to do, customizing and updating your home will help you love it — until it’s time to leave it.

  • Uses for Decorative Molding Throughout Your Home

    While decorative moldings are used throughout a home for aesthetic purposes, they also protect walls from kicks and bumps. Crown moldings are used to soften transitions between wall and ceiling, while baseboards topped with quarter round do the same thing for the transition between wall and floor. Molding also creates a framed focal point around doors and windows, and in the case of windows can provide a solid structure to hold blind and curtain hardware without plugs. Batten moldings are thin strips of wood used to cover seams between interior or exterior panels (the boards of “board and batten”).

    Here are a few ways you can use decorative wood trim throughout your home.

    Chair and picture rails

    Chair rails and picture rails can be both serviceable and attractive uses of decorative wood trim. Not only do they add character, but they also create two distinct wall areas and provide a focal point within a room.

    In the case of chair rails, they’re visible predominantly at eye level when guests are seated at a dining table. Install one and then try a simple experiment: wallpaper the top portion of your walls with paintable textured wallpaper and paint it the same color as the below chair-rail portion of the room. Paint the chair rail white to match your baseboards or in a bright lacquer to establish a new accent color in the room. As your guest’s eyes are drawn to the chair rail, they’ll also make eye contact with each other until conversation flows freely.

    Try installing a chair rail in your entryway and add some hooks. You may find you can do without a hallway table and still have a place for keys, gloves, hats, and scarves.

    Picture rails make it possible to hang multiple pieces without messing up your walls. Because it’s so easy to hang photos and pictures from hooks nailed or screwed into a picture rail, you can create a gallery feel in a room by changing the artwork whenever you feel like it. Perfect for displaying children’s artwork in a playroom, a picture rail can transform your fridge by providing a less transitional home for the latest masterpiece. In an adult room, they’re a great way to showcase a series of same-size prints or photos. 

    Crown your kitchen cabinets

    Let’s face it: kitchen cabinets are primarily functional rather than decorative, and even if you’ve chosen something out of the ordinary, they’re a lot of a single color, single texture and single design in a busy, high usage and heavily trafficked room. If your kitchen cupboards don’t reach to the ceiling and you can’t justify a complete kitchen makeover, consider giving tired kitchen cupboards a whole new look by replacing or painting the doors and adding crown molding above the cabinets. It will lead eyes upward and give your kitchen a fresh clean look with a shot of white in an area not likely to collect grease.

    Create “picture frames of color” with wall trimmed panels

    Rather than have a single “feature wall” in a different color or texture, using trim to create painted panels on the wall is a very affordable way to give a long plain wall some visual appeal. Paint the wall panel trim the same shade as your baseboards and then decide whether to leave the panels the same color as the room or paint them a shade lighter or darker than its base color. Alternately, you can paint the wood trim for the wall picture frame to match the room’s base color and paint the “panel” in a contrasting color. Use your imagination. The picture frames you create can be big or small, square or rectangular. You can create vertical or horizontal panels. Experiment with some of the options at the planning stage. They can be particularly useful if you realize you’ve chosen too dark a shade for a room but don’t have the time or energy to fix your mistake. A shot of white trim around a panel will contrast nicely and brighten things up considerably.

    Removable crown molding wire management system

    While not made of wood, there’s a fabulous new option for crown molding you can use to make your room look better and while providing far greater functionality without rewiring, an expensive and messy job.

    Removable crown moldings made of hollow PVC can hide cable, audio and communication wires. This can be really useful in older homes with repurposed rooms (that “front room” that now serves as your home office, for example).

    Investing in a little decorative wood trim is a quick, easy, and inexpensive way to achieve a subtle space transformation with very little effort. Let your imagination run wild and spend a weekend “renovating.”  Chances are, you’ll be disproportionately pleased with the results.

  • Fun Ways to Celebrate Cinco de Mayo

    The show must go on! We might be practicing social distancing, but that doesn’t mean we can’t celebrate Cinco de Mayo in style. Below are some fun activities, crafts, and ideas you can use to celebrate using things found around your home. Let’s make this a fiesta to remember. 

    Let’s Taco Bout a Party

    • This Cinco de Mayo falls on Tuesday… Taco Tuesday to be exact. Don’t have any tortillas? Here is a simple recipe using just a few ingredients that can be found in your pantry. All you need is all-purpose flour, salt, water, and vegetable oil. There’s nothing better than a fresh–made tortilla hugging all your ingredients together.  
       
    • For other scrumptious recipes click here. Can someone pass the guacamole? 

    Craft Ideas

    • DIY Maracas 
      Take plastic eggs from Easter and fill them with rice or beans. Place the eggs between the heads of two spoons and tape it in place. You can also wrap the spoons and egg in tinfoil and tape the outside for a smoother finish. Then just shake, shake, shake. Another option would be to fill empty water bottles with beans or rice and paint the outside with festive colors.
        


    • Piñatas
      No piñata, no problem. Click here for fun DIY piñata instructions.  
       
    • Paper Flower Headbands
      Wrap a headband with green ribbon or pipe cleaners and then glue your paper flowers to the top of the band. 
       
    • Plant Away
      Clean empty cans in order to paint and decorate them as planters. If you don’t have paint, wrap the outside of the cans with ribbon or colorful yarn. Fill the cans with the vibrant paper flowers you made to brighten up the room. 
    • More craft ideas can be found here. 

     

    Celebrate Together 

    • Zoom party! Wear bright and festive colors and schedule a time to video chat with your loved ones. Have everyone prepare or order their own tacos so you can all share a delectable Mexican meal together. 
       
    • Take a poster board and paint a llama or cactus on it. Cut a hole out for your head and place your face in the hole to take silly photos you will always remember. 
       
    • Cheers to refreshing margaritas! Sip on this sweet drink.  

     

     

     

     

  • Fun Ways to Celebrate Easter at Home

    We might be practicing social distancing, but that doesn’t mean we can’t celebrate Easter. Below are some fun activities and ideas so you can celebrate Easter using things found around your home.

    Eggcellent Craft Ideas

    Paper Eggs
    Create and draw your very own paper eggs as a family. Grab some paper, cut out egg shapes, and get coloring! Want to step it up a notch? Turn on some happy music and look up silly Easter jokes and write them on the back of the eggs. Have someone hide the eggs around the house and host your own Easter egg hunt filled with laughs.

    Toilet Paper Roll Bunnies
    Use toilet paper tubes to create cute little creatures.

    Toilet Paper Bunny Easter Craft

    Cup Bunnies and Baskets
    Use cups to make bunnies or candy baskets. Paint them white and glue on paper ears and eyes. We recommend filling them with jellybeans or yummy chocolates.

    Decorate Easter Eggs
    If you want to decorate Easter eggs and are looking for some unique and new ideas click here.

    Homemade Easter Baskets
    If you don’t have an Easter basket, here are a few great options you can use to create one from everyday items at home.

    • Each member of the house can paint and design their own flowerpot.
    • Take an empty tissue box and cut off the top. Paint the outside of the box or wrap it in bright wrapping paper. For a handle, glue a ribbon to either side of the box or you can use a piece of fabric. Another option would be to glue cotton balls to the outside of box and glue on some paper ears so everybunny is happy.

    Sock Bunnies
    Create sock bunnies. Cute ideas here.

    Spring Into Action

    Dress Up
    Just because you’ve been social distancing doesn’t mean you have to rock your pajamas every day. Take this time to shake up your quarantine and try on some fun spring attire or put on your favorite Easter outfit.

    Connect with Family and Friends
    Schedule a FaceTime or Zoom brunch with your friends and family. Maintaining a connection is important and what’s better than seeing the faces of your loved ones?

    Home Photo Booth
    Set up a photo booth in your home! Hang a fun sheet as the backdrop and dig through old Halloween costumes for silly hats and props. You can also create your own photo booth props out of paper and glue them to the ends of popsicle sticks. Take silly pictures with your family that you will remember fondly for years to come.

    Easter Cocktails
    Stir up some Easter-themed cocktails. Try some of these incredible recipes.

    New Traditions
    See this as an opportunity to start something new. You can make bunny shaped pancakes to start your day or decorate the living room with homemade Easter crafts.

    Easter Games
    Play some games! Download 6 free printable games for the entire family 

    Easter Brunch or Dinner
    Try some of our favorite Easter recipes here. Or if you aren’t in the mood to cook, order from a local restaurant’s Easter menu.

    Happy Easter!

  • Tips for renovating a nursery

    Whether you’re expecting your first child or renovating a nursery in a new home for your growing family, selecting a nursery design that works for you and your baby should be a joyous project. To make the process a little smoother, here are a few tips for renovating a nursery you can begin to think about as soon as you know you’re about to welcome a child into the world.

    Start with the Crib

    Incredibly, newborns spend 16 to 17 hours a day sleeping—in snatches of as short as half an hour to as long as four hours. While some babies start sleeping through the night by about three months, “night” can be as little as six hours. And other babies may not sleep through the night until they’re a year old.

    One way or another, you will be sleep deprived and your baby will be spending a lot of time in their crib. While it might seem like a good idea environmentally to buy a used crib or go with a hand-me-down from a family member, you also might want to consider investing in a good quality crib that meets today’s safety standards and can be used for other newborns or converted into a small bed as your baby grows into a toddler. A convertible crib can be used until a child is three or so. And of course, if you’re planning a larger family, your next baby can use the crib as well.

    Choose cribs made from natural wood and try to avoid laminates and plastics, all of which contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and will off-gas for at least a year after purchase.

    Invest in as much natural fiber crib bedding as you can, and go organic if you prefer. Cotton that’s been washed and dried over and over again can feel almost as soft as silk against tender skin. Buy extra crib bedding: the last thing you need while trying to juggle night feedings and diaper changes is discovering you need to do laundry. And the amount of laundry you’ll be doing will already have increased exponentially.

    Changing Tables or Pads

    If you have room for a changing table and want to invest in one, many modern versions come with built-in storage for many of the supplies you’ll need while changing baby. Changing tables are hard to repurpose as other furniture though, so if you’re planning to keep your family small, you might want to invest in a changing top instead of a table and use it on top of a small dresser.

    Dresser storage can be easily compartmentalized with drawer dividers and you can keep all the things you’ll need to make your child comfortable in the top drawer while using the others for baby clothes and bedding.

    Don’t Forget Comfort

    Invest in a chair for your nursery and an ottoman so you can put your feet up if your room’s too small to accommodate a loveseat or a couch. You’re going to want to spend time in the nursery with your baby, and a comfortable place to sit is the perfect place to bond while feeding, snuggling, reading, or singing lullabies.

    There will also be those other days and nights when your child is running a fever or has the sniffles and you want to monitor them more closely than via the baby monitor. Give yourself a break and pick comfortable seating that might even let you catch a 20-minute nap when you need it most. Who knows, if you fall asleep, your baby might settle too.

    Soothe and Stimulate

    Much of your baby’s first year of life is going to be spent in the nursery. When thinking about how to decorate the room, take both of your needs into account.

    Pay particular attention to the lighting in the room. You’re going to want to be able to darken the room for daytime naps but you’re also going to want as much natural light as possible. Consider blackout curtains or blinds for the window coverings, and invest in not only a night light but a table lamp and an overhead light fixture that has some visual interest. Make sure you install a dimmer switch.

    When choosing rugs, curtains, cushions, and nursery room colors, start with the textiles first. It will be much easier to match the textiles with paint color than the opposite.

    Build in a ceiling decor concept when renovating a nursery. Decorate the ceiling with wallpaper, bold or neutral stripes, or easily removed, glow-in-the-dark decals. The ceiling will be the baby’s focal point on first awakening, and while mobiles are great, there’s a lot more to a nursery than just the area above the crib.

    Consider painting a mural on the wall across from the crib, especially a mural that lends itself to storytelling. And think about going green when gathering tips for renovating a nursery. If you’re repainting, look for low-VOC or VOC-free paint and rugs made of wool, cotton, sisal or jute. Low-VOC flooring includes wood, bamboo, cork, and linoleum rather than laminate.