Home July 30, 2024

Home Improvement Tips & Hacks That Work

Being a homeowner comes with many projects, maintenance tasks, and chores. Luckily, we’ve compiled some helpful home improvement hacks and tips. Discover which projects make the most financial sense and learn some cleaning hacks to accomplish more in less time.

Consider your return on investment

Some home improvement projects are worth the expense because they’ll result in a higher return on investment. Check out these home improvement projects that add value to your home instantly. Consider converting your HVAC system from gas to electric (with the expertise of a professional). Or, here in the Pacific Northwest, siding replacement can be beneficial to protect your home against the wet weather we face much of the year.

Two types of doors in your home also have a high return on investment: your entry door and garage door. Check out this article for more detailed information about deciding if a new garage door is right for you. In addition, a new front door can add tremendously to a home’s curb appeal. In particular, replacing a wood door with a steel door can quickly add value to your home. Steel doors offer a sleek, modern style as well as long-term value for their durability.

Monitor for issues and make needed repairs ASAP

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. In homeownership, this underscores the greatest tip of all: monitor the house. These are home repairs you should not put off. Watch out for signs of water damage, electrical issues, pests, or a gas leak. Check your roof for leaks or missing shingles, and keep all gutters clear. If you find your lights flickering or outlets feeling warm (especially if it’s an older home) call a professional electrician to examine it. Similarly, any signs of rodents or pests should be handled immediately and, if required, professionally. If your home runs appliances on natural gas and the tell-tale rotten-egg smell begins, exit the home immediately and contact your gas company. The smell could mean there is a gas leak. Additionally, this maintenance checklist is also handy to consult. Get in the habit of inspecting and repairing home features in the fall and spring to prevent large, expensive repairs down the road.

Buy gently-used home décor

If you’re looking to decorate your home with statement pieces or to add accents, consider purchasing them secondhand. Often, thrift stores, garage sales, and online marketplaces offer home items at a discounted rate. This might make sense for seasonal décor for the holidays or furniture for children that they will quickly outgrow. There is also a growing movement to upcycle furniture. It’s amazing what a coat of paint, elbow grease, and new hardware can do, giving a desk or dresser a whole new look.

Use tech to visualize a space

Thanks to augmented reality, there are many ways to visualize a space before you make any home improvements. You scan a room with your phone’s camera. Then, you digitally move items around to play with the space (and save your back!). Many apps let you change wall colors and shop for furniture. Here are some popular home furniture layout apps. If you want to compare interior design apps, here’s a comprehensive guide that compares the pros and cons of over 25 interior design apps.

Now that we’ve reviewed some of the biggest home improvement tips, let’s examine some easy cleaning hacks to make your home sparkle.

Employ the power of decluttering

Often overlooked in the home-cleaning process, decluttering can naturally make a room appear cleaner. There are also other benefits to decluttering. First and foremost, you will have fewer items to clean, and then it will be easier to find items when you need them. Also, some people find it helps them focus and reduces anxiety caused by visual clutter.

While it can feel overwhelming before you begin, starting with just one room can simplify the process. Or, get one small box for donations and another for keepsakes to store, and simply stop when you’ve filled those two boxes. It’s amazing what you can accomplish when you have a focused approach. If you have many special mementos that fill tabletops and shelves, consider picking a handful of them to display and then rotating through them every few months. You’ll appreciate that select group even more when they aren’t overcrowded. The same concept applies to kids’ artwork if that’s something you have a lot of in your home. Also, check out these kid art displays and storage ideas.

Speed-clean with the best of them

A decluttered space will also allow you to benefit from speed cleaning. Do you have guests coming over but don’t have the bandwidth to clean the entire house? Check out some of the best ways to clean high-traffic areas in an hour or less. By deliberately focusing on areas where people congregate, such as the kitchen, living room, and guest bathroom, you will be ready for your guests in no time. This speed cleaning video also showcases how to quickly get your home ready for visitors. Set a timer for yourself, put on some fun music, and get moving.

Discover new uses for baking soda and vinegar

Baking soda and vinegar are two highly used, natural cleaning products that work great for many surfaces. Place baking soda on a sponge and gently scrub away dirt and grime around the kitchen. It can even be used to help absorb oil stains on a carpet. For mineral buildup, take a bag of vinegar, wrap it around your showerhead, and secure it in place overnight. In the morning, all that buildup will be gone. Baking soda and/or vinegar can also be used to clean tough grime or burnt food on pots and pans.

Want even more ideas? Try these additional cleaning hacks.

Deodorize your pet-filled home

One of the first things guests notice in a home is the smell. If you have furry loved ones, you can take steps to ensure their scent isn’t the first thing they encounter.

  1. Keep your pet(s) groomed to prevent excess shedding.
  2. Invest in a good hand-held vacuum and/or robot vacuum to make upkeep a breeze.
  3. Rub dryer sheets against your baseboards to pick up dirt and pet hair, and to prevent future build-up.
  4. Keep pet food and litter boxes out of the main living spaces.
  5. Open windows to air out your home.
  6. Light one of your favorite scented candles.

We hope these home improvement projects and cleaning hacks help you maintain and enhance your home so you can spend more time enjoying it today, and for years to come.

Home December 10, 2023

2024 Color Trends & Interior Design Inspiration

A new year means new color trends, and interior design inspiration to brighten your home. Check out these helpful home decor takeaways from interior designers and color experts.

Color of the Year: PANTONE 13-1023 Peach Fuzz

The results are in. PANTONE selected 13-1023 Peach Fuzz as the 2024 Color of the Year. This subtle, soft color is meant to embody the idea of embracing yourself. The PANTONE Color of the Year is an educational program that began in 1999. It was developed to celebrate the design community. In addition, the organization wanted to draw attention to the relationship between culture and color. On its 25th anniversary, the program coordinated with many stakeholders to make its final selection.

Warm Neutrals

In much the same vein, many color experts have predicted a return of warm whites to homeowners’ color palates. Lighting can have a huge impact on a space. And, there has been a noticeable shift toward LED lighting in homes. The warmer neutral paint tones help soften the bright lights in a space. Also, many interior design experts noted the return of browns. Whether it’s brown furniture, cabinetry or wall colors, this neutral shade is making a name for itself in 2024.

Bold, Dark Colors

Dark colors that really grab your attention can pair nicely with a lighter, neutral color. Professionals in the interior design world are drawing attention to bold, dark colors for 2024. First, the popular paint brand, Behr, chose Cracked Pepper as their color of the year. Then, another mainstream paint brand, Benjamin Moore, chose Blue Nova 825, as the “it” hue. These rich colors can draw attention to special design features in your home. From dark cabinetry or a vibrant choice for an accent wall, they are here to make a statement in any room.

Texture

2024 is all about texture and textiles that bring tactile experiences into your living space. Boucle furnishing accent pieces or fluted cupboards embraces a homeowner’s desire to make a space cozier. In addition, patterns have returned. Geometric wallpaper or terra cotta tiled flooring is adding to the feeling of comfort in many interior spaces this year.

Environmentally Sustainable (and Durable) Pieces

When making design choices, many people are focusing on a greater awareness of how and where products are made. Interior design decisions that consider environmental impact are gaining greater traction. Furthermore, handmade pieces and those that are made sustainably are adding a unique touch to interior spaces. For example, this furniture is made from recycled cardboard by Max Lamb. Consumers are more willing to invest in products and pieces that can withstand multiple uses and have different functions.

Projects That Add Home Value

When considering how to upgrade a space, first and foremost in many homeowners’ minds, is a return on investment. Check out these design decisions that will have a positive affect on your bottom line. For instance, a new garage door that incorporates this year’s warm white trend will have a return on investment of about 97%. Additionally, siding replacement can recoup 98.3%. A new front door in a dark, bold color could recoup 88.7% of the cost.

Turning a space into something on-trend, (while still warm and cozy) will be fun for any DIY expert or interior designer. The mix of many bold and classic elements of home design can merge into something truly unique. From warm, classic colors to striking pieces with texture, sustainability and durability, there are many wonderful ways to enhance your home.

Home February 1, 2023

Home Decorating Ideas: Enhance Your Space on a Budget

Wanting to spruce up your home without breaking the bank? Check out these simple, affordable home decorating ideas to enhance your space on a budget. 

Declutter and Organize 

This home decorating idea isn’t only free, it may also make you money. Selling unneeded items can fund other home improvement projects. Decluttering is a crucial, but often overlooked piece of the design process. Luckily, discarding unnecessary things is a perfect weekend project. 

Marie Kondo made the KonMari method of decluttering famous and you can modify this method to fit your goals, home, and time constraints. We suggest going room by room to better organize your space. Or, you can even go so far as to journey into the minimalist movement.

Add a Fresh Coat of Paint

For many, the hardest part of any paint project is choosing the correct color for a room. Speak to your local paint shop for suggestions and take home paint samples. Use the samples to test the color in different areas. Lighting can make a big difference in a color’s appearance, so be sure to examine it with different lights on as well as at different times of the day.

Once you’ve chosen a color, the next step of this DIY weekend project is to prep the space. Take the time to clean the walls, tape off baseboards and window sills, and put down coverings to prevent any painting accidents.

Depending upon the base color of the wall and the brand of paint purchased, painting may require more than one coat to get the coverage and look desired. This cheap hack makes a space feel brand new. It’s amazing how even painting one wall as an accent wall can positively impact a room and change the entire mood.

Rearrange or Repurpose Furniture

Many home stagers use this hack: pare down existing furniture in the home and/or move it to new spaces for new purposes. Having trouble visualizing the space? Don’t worry: there’s an app for that! Check out these furniture layout apps to get started. 

Another option is to use good old-fashioned graph paper. Measure your space and furniture pieces, and cut them out on equivalent graph paper squares. This strategy will save your back from moving furniture around unnecessarily and provide a visual guide to the space.

You may have some nice pieces of furniture that you don’t want to part with yet you know it’s time to spruce up your home with a new bench, headboard, or bookcase. Try repurposing your old pieces so you can use them in a whole new way. Here are some repurposed furniture ideas to inspire you.

Change a Room’s Lighting

Lighting can really affect each room in your home. Professional interior designers often consider if a room really has enough light, how to strategically place it, and which high-quality lighting fixtures will be best for that space. Here’s some helpful lighting advice from an expertAlso, watch this video with useful lighting tips to learn how to create many different design styles on a budget. Strategies highlighted in the video include backlighting, furniture lighting, and adding accent lights.

Want to splurge? There’s also a wide variety of smart home lighting devices that can improve the look of any room. While some lights may need to be professionally installed, many have the ability to connect to other smart home systems and can be controlled from smart devices. 

Include Greenery

Bringing the outdoors inside instantly makes a space feel like a safe haven. There are even some health benefits to indoor plants such as reducing stress and improving indoor air quality. Don’t have a lot of space or want to start small? Decorative little pots with herbs will instantly brighten your kitchen and elevate your meals. Also, empty nooks are the perfect spot for a tall indoor plant. If you’re convinced you do not have a green thumb, many of today’s artificial plants look very real, and you can use other tricks to make a space feel like you’ve invited nature into your home. 

Highlight a Statement Piece

Finding a statement piece for a space is another interior designer trick for home decorating. This unique piece can vary by the location of the space it is in. In the dining room, splurging on an overhead lighting fixture may be just what you need to bring the space together. In bedrooms, a decorative accent wall is often used to draw attention to one part of the space. You can also purchase a large area rug to better frame your living room and/or bring the room’s colors together. Additionally, a new floor lamp could easily be used to highlight a piece of antique furniture, a beautiful work of art, or even a thriving houseplant. 

Visit Local Home Stores

To get inspired, we suggest visiting local home stores. You just never know what you’ll find and many have very helpful staff who can give you ideas or help you find the perfect addition to your kitchen, living room, or bedroom. Here in Kitsap County, we have wonderful places like Eclectic Home Furnishings in Silverdale, Josephine’s Mercantile in Port Orchard, and better-2-gether in Poulsbo. Stop by to find beautiful decor, antique furniture, and more.