Category: Home Improvement

A cluttered home creates a lot of confusion. A 2019 study found that procrastination in work environments is tied to office clutter. The more stuff that is in a person’s immediate space, the harder it is for them to focus on one thing.

If you want to improve your mental health, you need to learn how to get rid of clutter. But organizing a house is more difficult than it seems.

 What should you throw away right now? Do you need an old furniture removal Sydney service? What can you donate or try to sell for a little money? What are important things you should keep, including papers?

Answer these questions and you can expel home clutter in little time. Here is your quick guide.

Things You Should Toss

You should get rid of all items that have no use to you. But you should distinguish between items that have no use at all and things that may have use for someone else.

Expired food has little use for anyone else. You may be able to turn certain foods into mulch or garden feed. If you or your neighbors don’t have a garden, they can go in the trash.

Old and dried-out makeup should also go in the trash. The same goes for expired medication or used toiletry materials like toothbrushes.

You can throw away most craft supplies. This includes paints, markers, and stencils. You may want to keep posterboards and a few Sharpies if you need to write something in large and permanent letters.

Broken electronics and appliances are home clutter, but they should not go in your garbage bins. You should find ways of recycling them, including through municipal services. You can find rubbish removal in Sydney and other major cities.

You should recycle all papers you don’t need anymore. This includes receipts to products you no longer own or need. It is okay to keep a few papers as scrap, but you should put them in a place where you will use them.

Belongings You Should Donate

You can give most of your old clothes to a charity or thrift store. Most stores accept shirts, coats, and pants. Some stores do not accept underwear or socks.

Your clothes should not have holes, stains, or tears in them. They can have patches, but the patches should be secured onto the fabric. If you have some spare time, wash your clothes with disinfectant substances.

Spare toiletry products can go to a homeless shelter. Many people want toothbrushes, hairbrushes, and similar products. You can give yours, as long as they are in their original packaging.

You can give children’s books to a shelter as well. If you are having trouble letting a book go, you can scan its pages before handing it in. Books for adults can go to a library or community center.

Any objects of historical value can go to a museum. You can ask a curator if they would be interested in adding an object to their collection.

Items You Can Sell

You can sell anything that you can give away. But most people do not want to buy old clothes or books.

Working electronics tend to be popular commodities at yard sales. Try to put out several different electronics. You can sell a camera, a cable for a smartphone, and an electronic book reader.

Video games are popular amongst children. Make sure to tell children which consoles you do not have games for. Some kids will assume you have Nintendo games when you only have Sony ones, and they may become disappointed.

Jewelry is good to sell to adults. It may be better to sell your jewelry through an online buyer or friend than at a yard sale. Look at a site like eBay and see what the going rate is.

Important Papers You Should Keep

Clutter removal usually involves sorting through thousands of papers. It can be hard to tell which ones to give away and which ones to keep.

For the most part, you can throw away your papers. You just need to digitize them so you have access to their information. You can take photographs, scan them, or type their information into a document.

You should keep your birth certificate and Social Security card. You should store these documents in a box that can resist water and fire damage.

You should also keep documents you need for work, including future job applications. You may need a list of references and a letter of recommendation from an old boss.

Essentials You Should Find Places For

You should keep everything you need for your daily life. It is essential that you keep all medications and usable toiletries. Put them on accessible shelves in your bathroom or kitchen.

You may not be using all pieces of furniture in your house. But you may need a couch or chair in the future, especially if you plan on moving. You can move the furniture into the attic for the time being.

Family mementos can go in your attic. But you can turn mementos into features that you can see every day. Hang up a portrait in front of a couch, or put it at the end of your dining room.

How to Get Rid of Clutter

You must learn how to get rid of clutter. Everything you don’t use should go. Anything that no one else can make use of should go in the trash.

You can give intact clothes to a thrift store. If you want to make a difference, you can give excess toiletries to a shelter.

Electronics and jewelry are good for quick cash sales. Beyond that, you can keep everything else. Important documents like birth certificates should go in sturdy storage containers.

Getting rid of clutter is one way to improve your home. Find out more by following our coverage.

Are you thinking about giving your yard a makeover? Do you wish you could maintain a beautiful yard all year round, no matter the weather?

If your answer to either of those questions is “yes,” don’t worry. Keeping your yard beautiful all year round is easier than you might think!

There are plenty of plants, decorations, and landscaping practices that can keep your yard and garden sustainable. Even if you are brand-new to landscaping and gardening, you can still find the perfect system for your lawn.

Keep reading, and we’ll give you all the landscaping tips you might need to keep your lawn looking great all year round.

Every Landscaped Yard Is Different

It is up to you to design the perfect landscaped backyard or front lawn. Every homeowner is different, and everyone’s lawn needs to be different to suit their individual needs.

Your landscaped yard should be designed with your expertise and schedule in mind. If you are passionate about gardening, you can focus your attention on planting a unique arrangement of flowers or fruits and vegetables, or both.

If you work full time and take care of kids, you may want to design a more low-maintenance garden. It is important to keep your expectations realistic so that your landscaped yard can thrive.

You should also design your lawn based on your individual values and aesthetic sensibilities.

For example, if environmental sustainability is one of your priorities, you may want to plant an organic lawn.

If you like the rustic, wild look, you can choose grasses and plants that will grow big and tall and threaten to engulf your house. If you like lawns that are highly sculpted and meticulously cared-for, you can design your lawn with that in mind.

Your lawn and garden are yours for a reason. Don’t compare your landscaping to that of your neighbors, your friends, or anyone else.

Give Your Garden a Makeover

When you’re revamping your lawn, you might as well give your garden a makeover while you’re at it. In most areas of the United States, the best time to plant a new garden is in the spring after your last frost.

If you want, your garden can be the centerpiece of your lawn. You can primarily grow flowers, or you can grow fruits and vegetables. It all depends on whether you want your garden to be purely aesthetic, or functional too.

Regardless of what purpose you want your garden to serve, giving your garden a makeover can completely transform your lawn.

Let’s break down some of the easy ways that you can give your garden a makeover this year.

Plant Year-Round Greenery

If you want your garden to stay green and fresh all year round, consider planting evergreen trees and shrubs. These pieces won’t turn brown when it snows or lose their leaves in the fall.

Planting evergreen trees and shrubs, such as the American Arborvitae, will keep your garden colorful all year round. Plus, there are evergreen trees and shrubs that are indigenous to almost every region in the U.S.

Year-round greenery requires minimal maintenance and will make great statement pieces in your garden. It is always a good idea to design your garden around some larger trees or shrubs.

Plant New Grasses

There are many types of grass that will keep their color all year round. When you’re giving your garden a makeover this year, consider planting some resilient and colorful grasses.

Grasses require little maintenance compared to some other plants. They only need to be seeded, watered, and cut properly.

The right type of grass can completely transform your lawn and garden. Think of your grass as the canvas that the rest of your plants will sit on top of.

You can’t make a beautiful painting without the right canvas, and you can’t keep your lawn beautiful without the right grass.

Plant For Your Region

When you’re designing your new garden, keep your region’s climate and indigenous plants in mind. You can often plant things that don’t naturally grow in your area, but it will always be more difficult to maintain them.

Plus, growing indigenous plants can be beneficial to the wildlife and food chain of your area.

Trees and flowers that naturally occur in your region are more likely to successfully pollinate and grow on their own. This can be great for local plants, insects, and even small animals such as squirrels.

If you live in a more rural area, this is especially important. Metropolitan areas are already fairly disrupted as far as wildlife goes. If you live out in the country, you can have a real impact on your local ecosystem.

Maintaining a Beautiful Garden

So, you’ve completed your garden makeover. What do you do next? Maintaining your garden is even more important than planting it in the first place.

That is why it is vital that you plant a garden that you can maintain. If you have the means, you can also always hire outside help to care for your lawn and garden for you.

Regardless of who is doing the maintenance, you must make sure that you take proper care of your lawn. If your lawn is not properly maintained, it is more likely to turn into an expensive problem later on.

Keep reading, and we’ll break down a few tips for maintaining your new lawn.

Mow and Water Your Lawn the Right Way

The first step to keeping your lawn healthy all year round is cutting it properly. Your lawn is a lot like your hair; if it isn’t trimmed regularly, it won’t grow in a healthy way.

The way you trim your lawn is important too. You should make sure you cut your grass with sharp blades. You can get your lawn mower’s blades sharpened by professionals.

According to the folks at RDS Lawn Care, you should sharpen your lawn mower’s blades twice a year. Dull blades will rip your grass unevenly, which can lead to grass diseases.

You should also make sure that you water your grass, especially if you live in an area that is prone to droughts. Each variety of grass is different, and some need less water than others.

Regardless of what type of grass you have on your lawn, it is most important that you give it the individualized care that it deserves. Just like every lawn is different, every type of grass has different needs.

If lawn care is a little out of your depth, hiring a professional lawn care service can really help you out.

Address Weeds Immediately

Another vital part of lawn maintenance is taking care of weeds. You might think that a small patch of weeds isn’t a big deal, but that could not be further from the truth.

As soon as you see any unwelcome visitors in your garden, you should pull them aggressively. With most weeds, if you give them an inch, they’ll take a mile.

The same rule should apply to unwanted insect visitors too. Many insects are harmless and even welcome in your garden, but some can do serious damage.

Before you plant anything, you should do your research about what insects you may see, and how to handle them. You should also stay informed about what kinds of weeds are most likely to pop up in your area.

Feed Your Lawn 4 Times Per Year

As a general rule, you should feed your lawn four times a year, or once every season. Of course, depending on the climate you live in, you may not be able to do that. The closer you can come to following this rule, the better.

You must do your research and figure out which seeds and fertilizers are right for your lawn.

Remember, a healthy lawn means a healthy and beautiful garden. The better you take care of your lawn, the better your entire home will look. Feeding your lawn frequently throughout the year is the best way to make sure it stays healthy year-round.

Read more:  yard maintenance by tree expert Escondido

Follow the Trends

If you need a little guidance for your landscaping makeover, you can always consult with landscaping trends. Of course, some of these trends may go out of style, but that’s where your personal taste comes in.

As long as you implement these landscaping trends with a refined eye, you won’t need to worry about your lawn becoming out of date.

Let’s break down a few of the hottest landscaping trends right now.

Low Maintenance

If you don’t have time to take care of an intricate lawn or garden, you’re in luck! Low maintenance lawns are in this year.

Since the world was turned on its head by a pandemic, low-maintenance, lifestyle trends are hot in general. Everyone has realized how important it is to take care of themselves, and that includes making it easy to take care of their homes.

The most stylish lawns this year will look refined and beautiful, but not high maintenance. You don’t need any intricate gardening tools, fancy turf, or huge sculptures.

All you need is a lawn that looks neat, tidy, and fun.

Sustainability

Environmental sustainability has been hot for years, and it keeps getting hotter. As we mentioned earlier, you can always get an organic lawn if you want to really commit to this cause.

However, there are lots of other ways to keep your lawn sustainable and healthy for the environment. For instance, low-water landscaping is one of the hottest lawn trends of 2021.

Since droughts have been more common in recent years than ever before, many homeowners have been unusually conscious of their water consumption.

This is certainly something you should keep in mind when designing your garden, especially if you live on the West Coast of the United States.

Quality Over Flashiness

Along with healthy, low-maintenance lawns comes a new appreciation for quality plants and wildlife. You don’t need to curate a flashy lawn just to impress the neighbors anymore.

On the contrary, you may be more likely to attract sideways looks if your lawn looks too high-effort.

We are in an era of comfort and self-care. The most trendy lawns right now are cozy and natural yet elegant. While trends are fleeting, of course, you can rest assured that a lawn of this kind will never really go out of style.

Add Unnatural Elements

Once your garden and lawn are in great condition and you’ve mastered taking care of them, why not add a few man-made elements to your lawn? Fountains, sculptures, and beautiful fences all make great additions to a front lawn.

With man-made elements, less is often more. We’ve all seen a lawn where someone went overboard with unnatural decorations. We don’t like to gossip, but it can certainly look a little tacky.

Your lawn and garden should always be the star of the show. After all, you’ve worked hard on them!

However, there is nothing wrong with accenting your lawn and garden with a few man-made decorations that match your personal style.

Keep a Beautiful Yard All Year Round

Keeping a beautiful yard all year round is much easier than you thought, isn’t it? As long as you follow these tips, you can’t go wrong.

Remember to keep up on lawn maintenance with a routine that is realistic for you. Taking care of your lawn should be fun and relaxing.

For more home care tips, check out the rest of our blog! We provide you with all the advice you need to keep your home looking beautiful, inside and out!

A lot of things can damage your home, with wind and hail topping the list. Water damage is one of the other most common reasons that people file a homeowner’s insurance claim. Pipes burst, water heaters leak, and you can even see water damage from flooding if a severe enough storm blows through.

Most homeowners assume that, if they pay their premiums and made good faith efforts at home maintenance, insurance will cover water damage. So, what should you do if your insurance company comes back with a brusk “water damage claim denied?”

Legit Reasons for Denial

There are several reasons why insurance companies may deny an insurance claim for water damage. Some of the reasons are legitimate and some are less so. We’ll start with the legit reason in this section.

One reason for the denial is most insurance companies exclude certain kinds of water damage. Almost all policies explicitly exclude flooding from the coverage, which is why many homeowners carry a specific flood insurance policy.

If your sewer backs up or your sump pump, there is a good chance that your policy doesn’t cover that either. If your home suffers damage from these sources, you’re probably on the hook for covering the repairs.

Gradual Water Damage

Insurance companies throw the term gradual water damage around a lot. As the homeowner, keeping your home in good repair is a prerequisite for coverage. If you allowed a leak to cause damage in your home for weeks or months without getting a repair, that’s your fault and not the insurance company’s problem.

At least, that’s the way they’ll put when denying your claim. Unfortunately, many insurance companies will just use that as an excuse not to pay.

Gather Evidence

Once the insurance denied a water damage claim, you should gather evidence. In fact, you should gather evidence in advance. Take a lot of pictures of the cause of the damage and the damage itself.

Get copies of your utility bills as well, as these often help prove that you didn’t ignore a leak for months. If your bills didn’t change, it likely means you didn’t ignore a leak.

Talk with a Lawyer

In the face of home insurance denying the claim for water damage, you’ll want help from a lawyer who handles this type of case. They’ll know what kinds of pressure they can bring to bear on the insurance company to get your claim covered. You can learn more here.

Water Damage Claim Denied? Take Action

If you get a water damage claim denied, it’s not necessarily the end of the story. Fighting over legitimately excluded problems like flooding or a sewage backup is probably a lost cause.

If your damage didn’t come from an excluded source, you can do something. Gather evidence in the form of pictures and utility bills. Then, speak with a lawyer who specializes in insurance claims.

Looking for more tips about managing home repairs and insurance claims? Check out the Home Improvement posts in our Lifestyle section.

When you live in European cities, especially in buildings that were built a hundred (or hundreds) years ago, storage space is hard to come by. They just didn’t have as much stuff back then as we do now – and they only lived about 40 years, so they had much less time to accumulate it.

And while we thank our ancestors for building our countries, cultures, and our buildings, living in modern times requires creative storage solutions. Know exactly what we mean? Here are 3 hacks to sneak in storage space in your home or apartment.

1. Always Shop for Furniture with Storage Options

A couch used to just be a couch. But if you shop smart, now that same couch could be a pull-out bed and a place to store all those things in your living room that don’t have a place.

Big cities, like London and Paris, have stores with furniture specially made for small spaces, like tables that fold out to seat more, and even some that can hide their own chairs (you can also find these items online)! And while we don’t expect you to have the funds to completely re-furnish your home with modern solutions, replacing items over time can make a big difference in the long run.

2. Get Rid of Things

Do you feel like you have too much stuff but never know what to get rid of and what to keep? Joining your local Buy Nothing group may be the answer. These are completely free, localized Facebook groups where your neighbor’s post “asks” for things they need and “gives” for things they want.

You’d be surprised at how amazing it feels to give something you’re not using to someone who wants it, and how much space it clears up! Plus – you may just get to know some great people along the way!

To find your local group, google The Buy Nothing project and find your super centralized group!

3. Loft Boarding

Do you have a home with attic space or own the top-level unit of your building? Then you have dead space that you can make work for you. How? by adding space in the loft – or the attic.

You’ve probably seen these scenes in movies, where someone pulls downstairs from the ceiling and accesses a dusty storage space. Just because your home wasn’t initially built with a loft, doesn’t mean you can’t have one of your own!

Loft boarding from Instaloft is surprisingly affordable and a quick process. It’s your home – it should work for you!

Storage Space Ideas for Small Places

When it comes to increasing storage capacity, each home has unique needs. You may not have the space to put a loft in or the money to buy a new couch – but we hope one of the options above sparked some storage space inspiration for you.

For more helpful content that improves your day-to-day life, bookmark our blog. We take pride in i

It’s not just Sim-logic: Hanging art on your walls can have immediate benefits to your mental health and stress levels. Whether it’s an office, a study, or your own home, you can benefit from having gorgeous artwork on your walls.

However, if you want that artwork to last, you need to frame it. Paying for someone to frame your artwork for you can be expensive, but matting your art on your own can be time-consuming and even more expensive if you mess it up. Thankfully, precut matboard can help you to frame your finest art without having to break the bank in the process.

First, Why Do You Need Precut Matboard?

If you want to frame the art you created or purchased, you need a mat board. Whether you purchase the precut matboard Michaels has on sale or get it custom cut, you need matting to protect your artwork from damage and to separate it from the glass of your picture frame.

Whether it’s a photograph or a painting, you don’t want to see what happens to it when it gets stuck to a glass pane on a hot day. Trust us.

When Is It Better to Get Custom-Cut Mat Board?

Sometimes, you have to pay for a custom picture matting kit. While there are precut mats for multiple pictures, if you intend on displaying many pictures in a single frame, you should probably have that custom-made.

If the artwork you intend to display is outside of the normal size limits, that might also be a reason to have a custom-cut mat board. You can find a thousand and one precut mat board in 24×36 dimensions, but you’ll struggle to find something over three feet ready-made.

How to Use Precut Matboard for Your Pictures

Precut matboard can be used not only to protect your artwork but to amplify it. For example, if the piece you wish to frame is monochromatic, you can use colored matboards to add a splash of bright liveliness to your wall. Or, if the piece itself is rather loud, a subdued, plain mat board can soften the impact it makes on your wall and let it blend in better.

Layering matboards can add a sense of depth and visual interest to a piece of artwork as well. Just make sure not to get too involved with it, or you could end up distracting from the piece you’re trying to highlight!

There are also different types of matboard that you may need depending on the artwork you frame. In general, you should look for acid-free mats, as these will not cause damage or discoloration to the artwork over long periods of time.

Looking for More Decor and Framing Tips?

Precut matboard can simplify the framing process for any artwork you decide to hang in your home or office. However, you may need more help getting your place to look the way you want it to. If you’re looking for more decor and framing tips, then check out our blog for more informative articles like this one!

Are you wondering how you can make home improvements with some outside financial assistance? If you’re interested in the CDBG program and other assistive programs, keep reading.

One of the biggest issues homeowners face is being able to afford to make the improvements their home needs using professional services. Luckily, there may be grants available to you in your location to help you handle the costs of repairs and remodels. To learn more about this option and whether you qualify, keep reading this helpful guide.

Home Improvement Grants: The Basics

There are many different government-funded grants out there that can help homeowners who need to update their property, however, not everyone or every project will be eligible for certain grants. It’s important to note that these grants tend to be highly competitive and are designed to assist improvements that will specifically ensure that the home updates will make the property more accessible, safe, livable, and non-hazardous to those living on the property. These grants are also referred to as home repair grants.

Home improvement grants differ by region. However, as long as the project, as well as the applicant, meet the requirements, they will not need to pay the grant back.

How to Find the Best Grant for You

There are many different grants available and you should search for the right one for you based on your own unique circumstances.

For example, some grants will be designated for certain home repairs whereas others will be aimed at assisting low-income homeowners. You can also fill out an application form with the National Residential Improvement Association in which you tell them about your property, the projects, and improvements you hope to take on, as well as the history of the home. This is a helpful step in the process because it can point you in the right direction.

After submitting this form, a specialist from the NRIA can get back to you with information regarding the potential grants you may be eligible for based on your unique circumstances. They can also give you additional information such as tax credits you may be able to receive, or home improvement loans you may be legible for instead. They may also be able to direct you to discount programs or local incentives that your area offers that could help you either reduce or completely cover the costs of your upcoming home improvement project.

Head to House Hunters for more options.

CDBG Program: Who Does it Assist?

The CDBG program, or Community Development Block Grants, is specifically assigned to those that are hoping to buy, build, or fix public facilities such as sewer and water systems. For this reason, those that receive these grants can use the funding to meet community development needs. This grant covers the cost of utility repairs that can improve water treatment, create new water sources, or replace the piping in the distribution systems.

If this sounds like it could help you with your upcoming project, reach out and apply for the grant today. For more, head to the “Business” section of our site.

Texture and stencils are wonderful ways to enhance your home decor and make it more elegant. Using textures can play with your sensory perceptions while colorful stencils can heighten the visual elegance of the space. There are a variety of creative options that can be used with different colors and multiple patterns. You can use texture and stencils in your living room, bedrooms, kitchens, and dining rooms. Here, we will introduce you to some of the most amazing trends that have been in vogue.

Top textures to choose

Textures can be used for a variety of purposes in homes. It can be used to create a focal point for the room. Shiny textures make the room brighter, while rugged textures make it cozier. They can give a wide range of effects.

Check out the top interior house paint colors to add more elegance to your space.

Using soft texture can give a sensation of openness and lightness in the room. It can balance the effect of a dark color to give a mild and toned-down effect. Some of the most popular examples of light texture designs by Asian Paints are Safari Classic, Brushing, Canvas, and Dune Drizzle. These textures are perfect for soft interiors. Colorwash, Dapple, and Marina are also some interesting textures to explore. Using wood and metal surfaces can also be an elegant way to add texture. They give more detailing to your walls and give a better sense of perception in the room.

For exterior walls, the textures should be chosen to give a coarser effect. This forms a rough surface that gives a tough appearance and also protects the wall from damages. Best texture surface can be provided by using tough rock and sandy materials

Top stencil designs

Stencils come in a range of beautiful patterns and motifs representing various forms of art and design traditions. They can be used in multiple shades that come out in contrast with the main color of the walls.

If you want to have simple borders on the edges of the walls, you can try Classy Creepers, Maragaret, and Rising Waves to add a touch of design. These designs can be suitable for any type of room. They create a pleasing effect on the walls.

Check out the best outside color of Indian house with us.

If you want to cover entire walls with stencil motifs- you can try Rich Tapestry, North Star, and Wheels of Fortune. They give an elegant look to space with their detailed design and vibrant colors. Graphics of plants, trees, and animals are also widely popular to give a touch of nature to your space and add a sense of serenity. Some of the most popular designs are Dreams of Paradise, Spring Diaries, and Summer Bloom. Designs like Stardust, Damask, and Kaleidoscope can give a royal touch to your walls with their heavy detailing and traditional connotations.

You must have realized that there is no end to the wide creativity of textures and stencils. Use them in your homes to create the perfect vibe that cannot be gained with simple, plain walls.

For more articles visit this website