Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Life

Category: DIY How-to and Inspiration

  • DIY with What You Have

    Refreshing your home doesn’t have to mean getting bogged down in major projects. These easy DIY ideas offer serious design inspiration without the big commitment.

    Paint a pattern.

    A fresh coat of colorful paint will revive a piece of furniture, but you can take it a step further by adding a pattern, too. Use paint pens to draw designs on drawer fronts, tabletops and more.

     

     

     

     

    © Meredith Operations Corporation. All rights reserved. Used with permission.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Embellish with watercolor.

    To give a plain lampshade an artistic makeover, moisten a large paintbrush with water and sweep a wavelike pattern around the bottom of the shade. Then, tap wet paint into the pattern with a soft, round watercolor brush. (Use watercolor paint for paper lampshades and fabric paint for fabric shades.) The paint will bleed to the edges of the moistened area. After the paint dries, dot the wave with more paint in alternating colors. For dots that blend, paint them with edges touching.

     

     

     

  • How to Organize Your Closet Fast When You Move into a New Home

    There’s no better time to organize a closet than when you move into a new home, if only because you’ll get a fresh start. While it may be tempting to simply throw things on hangers and put them into your new closet, taking a little time to consider what you own and how it should be arranged will make your life a lot easier. Below are a few tips to quickly and efficiently organize your new closet.

    Start organizing before you move

    The most cluttered places in a home are the last ones a homeowner will pack. Due to leaving these spaces until the last minute, people will simply throw things into a box and they take everything to their new home.

    Rather than wait until the moving truck arrives, plan ahead and pack up your closets and cluttered spaces at least a week before your move. Be strategic. If a pair of shoes is sitting in a dusty heap in the back of your closet, chances are you won’t wear them again. Same goes for your kids’ soccer equipment from 10 years ago, that extra yoga mat you no longer use or the clothes that haven’t seen the light of day in over a year. Set aside two boxes. In one box, put items you no longer use. In the other, put things you know you’ll use in your new home. Challenge yourself by seeing if the objects in each box can take up the same amount of space.

     

    Figure out what you want to keep in your closet

    Figuring out what you want to keep in your closet might seem like a no-brainer, but it’s actually easier said than done. Some closets are used just to store clothing, while others are for coats and sports equipment. Others may need to be more multipurpose. Install shelves in your closet to store various items, making sure to keep seasonal or rarely used belongings to the higher shelves. Once you’ve figured out what should be in your closet, stick with your plan. For example, if your closet is only for clothes, you’ll need to find another home for your linens and extra bedding. All too often, we put things in closets that don’t really belong in them, leading to the space becoming cluttered.

     

  • Stylish and Space-Saving Small Room Décor Ideas

    Make a small space a place for big living. From tiny houses to studio apartments, these small room décor ideas will maximize any space with both style and storage.

    Less is More

    If you have a small room, keep it simple to make the space feel open and airy. Make sure a room isn’t cluttered with too many decorative items. Pick just one piece to add visual interest instead of multiple items. Embrace a minimalistic mindset by adding only the pieces you love. Adding an oversized painting above the sofa keeps the lines of the room clean and fresh while also giving the room a striking splash of color. Remember, the less clutter, the better!

     

    Paint Walls White

    Two words of advice for wall color: use white. White paint on the walls and floor makes any room feel more expansive. Having a light color scheme also offers the flexibility to play with decorative items, throw pillows and bedding, which can be changed as frequently as you wish.

     

  • Top 10 tips to get your home ready for baby

    10 Tips for Babyproofing Your House and Getting Ready for Baby

    Whether your due date is right around the corner or your baby has just been born, you’re likely thinking about how to babyproof your home. From the moment a little one enters your house and becomes part of the family, safety is a concern.

    We’ve put together some tips that new parents can take to make their home a place where infants can safely thrive.

    Here are 10 ways to babyproof your home and prepare for baby.

    1. Give your house the safety test

    Babies who simply lie around in bassinets quickly turn into toddlers crawling all over the place. In the kitchen and living room, as well as the bathrooms and bedrooms, there are many things that little ones shouldn’t get into at all.

    Parents might not think that a baby can open a cabinet or drawer.  Kids surprise adults all the time. You never know when the little one will start crawling. Well, before your baby is mobile (which ideally means before birth or during those first few days at home), give your house a safety check.

    According to The American Academy of Pediatrics, cleaning products and medication should be out of sight and locked away. Magnetic locks are popular and easy to install, without pinching fingers as other locks do.

    Lock firearms ammunition separately from guns. Check smoke detectors and install carbon monoxide detectors.

    2. Target high-germ zones

    Even though the baby won’t be able to crawl or walk for a while, you’ll be moving about your house and don’t want to transfer germs to your little one. You might think that doorknobs and light switches are the germiest places that need to be cleaned. However, the real target zones are dish rags, stove knobs, countertops and refrigerator handles.

    The National Sanitation Foundation International notes that these places, along with the kitchen sink, cutting boards and toothbrush holders, are the most germ-infested spaces in a home. This is likely because they’re high-use areas that we don’t think to clean as much.

  • Top 10 DIY Hacks and Projects for Home Improvement

    Owning a home requires a lot of work. Fixing up the house can also get expensive. Tackling a few DIY projects is a great way save a lot of money and add value to your property.


    Storage, storage, storage
    A common complaint among homeowners is that there is never enough storage. One easy solution to maximize the spaces in your home is to look up. For example, there’s usually a lot of empty space in the laundry room above the washer and dryer. Hang galvanized pipe fittings  from the ceiling so that you can hang clothing. After cleaning and spraying the fittings with metal primer, paint them to match the room and then attach them to the ceiling. Other ways to use high areas of your home include building shelves where there was previously unused wall space.

     

     

    Don’t forget your patio
    The summers are the perfect time to start an outdoor project. There are thousands of DIY patio projects online, including tips for how to build a trellis or a fire pit. Some projects are more labor intensive than others, so be realistic about how much time you have to devote to executing your idea.

    Plant some bushes or trees
    DIY projects can be extended to the garden. Plant a row of evergreen shrubs or trees along the side of your house for privacy or as a windscreen. Many shrubs or trees grow many feet per year, which means that within a couple years, you’ll have one of the most enviable homes on the block.

  • 4 Ways to Create the Effect of a Luxurious Bathroom Makeover

    You always know a luxurious bathroom when you see one. It sparkles, shines and looks like something straight out of Better Homes and Gardens magazine. However, a luxurious bathroom makeover doesn’t have to be expensive. You can increase the value of your home and achieve the effects of a luxury makeover by implementing these unique, budget-savvy renovation tips.

    1. Pay Attention to the Decorative Details
    The details in your bathroom make a powerful statement. Ignoring them can make the space look mediocre and plain. To achieve the effect of a luxurious bathroom on a budget, place importance on the small things instead of large, costly items.

    Ornamental items, such as artwork, statues, candles and other décor can change the appeal of the entire space. Think about the tones that are often associated with luxury, such as gold, silver, chrome and sparkling, shiny elements. Focusing your decorative details on fancy materials and colors will add a spark of luxury.

    Additionally, the color of your bathroom holds great power, as it can create an astonishing visual effect that impacts the ambiance. Keep this in mind when choosing decorative elements.

    2. Add Character with an Accent Wall
    If you’re not looking to do a complete renovation, focus your luxury design aspirations on an accent wall. Pick one wall and add crucial details that will take your bathroom to the next level of luxury.

    Finishes and textures can be expensive if you’re adding them to the entire room. They’ll also blend in rather than making the powerful statement you want to achieve. An accent wall is an affordable way to add impact.

    Add textured wallpaper that has the appearance of luxury materials, such as stone or marble. It’ll instantly add dimension and elegance into the space.

    Match luxury finishes to your accent wall to create the effect of a luxurious bathroom makeover. Add large decorative details such as mirrors with a gold frame, or large art pieces that will turn a plain wall into a masterpiece.

    3. Natural Materials are Timeless and Luxurious
    If you look at any luxury bathroom, you’ll see one common element – almost all of them incorporate natural materials into the space. Whether it’s on the walls, floors or in the small details, fancy spaces take advantage of natural aesthetics. They’re timeless, elegant and can instantly increase the value and style of your bathroom.

    Marble and onyx are certainly among the top natural materials used in luxury bathrooms. However, they’re also among the most expensive options. The good news is that any natural material will work wonders when trying to achieve a fancy ambiance.

    New wood flooring, wooden vines and green plants can add a spark of nature, ambiance and luxury into the space for a fraction of the cost. You receive all the benefits of luxury without the big price tag.

    4. Lighting is Everything
    If there’s one thing you’ll continuously hear associated with flawless interior design, it’s lighting. Lighting holds the power within any space. It can make a small room appear larger, a dark room appear livelier and a boring room appear more luxurious. Lighting affects the ambiance and design of your home, which is why it’s so important when creating the effect of a luxurious bathroom makeover.

    There are two options available. You can go grand and extravagant with large, statement light fixtures, or you can go with a subtler approach and use strategically placed accent lights. Both will have a similar affect when used properly.

    Large light fixtures such as a gold-toned chandelier will achieve a powerful statement of luxury, while spotlights throughout the space offer a sweet, softer glow.

    Since the bathroom is one of the most important rooms in your home, it’s time to give yours a little TLC. Bathrooms are a huge selling point when you decide to list your home. Create the effect of a luxurious bathroom with these home decorating tips, and increase the value, aesthetics and enjoyment of your home.

     

  • Top 4 Pantries to Model Your Own After

    Without a pantry, kitchens can quickly become a space full of cluttered countertops and minimal cooking space. Pantries are perfect for storing everything from bulk ingredients to small appliances, as well as any extra items you come home with after finding a great deal at the grocery store. If you’re ready for a little home improvement that will enhance the aesthetics and increase functionality while also adding value to your home, here are some pantries to inspire.

     

    Use organizers

    Contrary to popular belief, you don’t need an abundance of extra space to reap the benefits of a pantry. Just add shelves to the back of your cupboard doors to store everything from spices to condiments. You’ll make space on countertops, cupboard shelves and drawers, which can be used to store other items.

     

     

     

    Think barn doors

    If you’re looking for a pantry that will receive compliments from your guests, hide it behind barn doors. This rustic, humble aesthetic is certain to increase the value of your home.

     

  • How to Create a Perfect Reading Nook in 5 Easy Steps

    If you are a book lover, you know that there are very few pleasures in life that compare to curling up with a book and a glass of wine or hot chocolate (whatever your preference is) and spending some quality time with your true love – a good book. There are two types of book lovers: those who have switched to reading books on a Kindle and the “traditionalists” – these people love the smell of books, love the feeling of turning actual pages, can’t walk past a bookstore without walking in and spend countless hours online searching and ordering books by favorite authors. If you belong to the second category, you can probably skip a couple of steps outlined below. In either case, read up! Our today’s priority is to create the perfect space for you and your books.

    Step 1: Allocate the space
    There is nothing better than reading a book by the window on a rainy day or a sunny lazy Sunday morning. Therefore, we recommend selecting a spot closer to the window. Plus, it gives you the advantage of natural light. If you have space to take over the entire area, even better. If not, a corner will do.

    Step 2: Create a home for your books
    A book nook will not feel right if you are not surrounded by books when you’re in it! Luckily, there are plenty of ways to go. Here are a few fun options if you can afford to or prefer to buy bookshelves or can build a more elaborate set of shelves yourself:

    However, if you can’t invest (or don’t want to) in a major transformation or want to create something yourself but don’t happen to be too handy, don’t worry because there are numerous options for incredibly easy DIY bookshelves. Here are a few tutorials:

    Here’s one made entirely out of IKEA boxes and binder clips (instructions here)

  • A Few Festive Fall Decorating Ideas for the Home

    Fall is the perfect season to bring colorful elements from the great outdoors into your home. From quick do-it-yourself projects to seasonal home improvements, we’ve got you covered with a few of our favorite fall decorating ideas.

    Colorful autumnal crafts

    Arts and crafts don’t need to be time and labor intensive. It’s easy to transform a plain pillow into an autumn masterpiece. Collect a handful of fallen leaves from outside and trace their shapes over pieces of felt. Cut out the shapes and use fabric glue or another adhesive to attach them to the pillow.

    Another simple craft idea is a fall wreath. Pick up an inexpensive grapevine wreath from your local craft store and then decorate it with foliage, berries, mums and other fall flowers from your garden. When you’re done, hang the wreath over the mantle, on your front door or in another central space in your home.

     

    Prepare your home for fall decorations

    Just as spring cleaning is a must, so is preparing your home for fall and winter. Before decorating, hire people to clean the chimney and check the heating and furnace systems. Doing these things before cold weather comes means you can prevent any problems down the road. Making sure to prepare your home means that it will not only be prepped to keep you warm, but the fireplace and other areas will be ready to decorate. Hang the wreath you made above the mantle and artfully scatter a handful of leaves and small pumpkins.

    Paint your home

    Painting is a great way to update your home for fall. Although summer might seem like the best time to paint the exterior of your home, it’s better to do it in fall when temperatures are moderate. Painting exteriors when it’s too hot causes the paint to dry too fast, leaving marks. Painting when it’s too cold results in cracking.

    Of course, painting indoors can happen any time of the year. Fall is a great season for many reasons. First, it lets you apply a fresh new coat of paint right before you redecorate your home for fall. Second, the walls in your home are probably the perfect temperature for painting. They should be above 60 degrees, but under 85 degrees. Choose a soft, neutral color such as driftwood grey or creamy latte as the perfect backdrop for fall decorations.

  • Refreshing Ways to Spruce Up Your Home with These DIY Ideas

    There comes a time when a home can be too perfect, too staged and too purchased. In order to balance the interior, you need some DIY crafts. Finding a personable piece of furniture, artwork or décor item to bring character into your home is only a click away. Try your hand at these DIY ideas; there’s nothing like a unique piece of interior.

    More Than a Wood Coffee Table

    Custom woodworking has never been so popular as it is now. People are collecting twigs, branches, logs and trunks to turn them into DIY displays. One of the chicest styles of wood furniture that’ll instantly spruce up your home is a wood coffee table. Cut a slice off a trunk, glaze it or stain it to your liking, screw in some legs, and you have a modern-day masterpiece.