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The lifeblood of interior design is making sure the inside of people’s homes look the very best they can be. However, in the rush to perfect the interior, sometimes the potential of the exterior is overlooked. Fortunately, the advice in the post below should help you rectify this, so read on to find out how to ensure the outside of your home is just as beautiful as the inside.
Think of the garden like an additional room One of the best approaches from an interior design perspective is to treat the garden, not so much as a separate space, but as an additional room. Indeed, there are many tactics that you can use here that will help to create an outside area that is not only beautiful but comfortable and usable too. One of them is to create privacy by using fencing and shrubbery, which helps the garden user not to feel overlooked when outside. Also using color as an ongoing theme, you can delineate different parts of the garden for different purposes. In fact, you can use colour in the planting and by painting the furniture or walls and fences in that area. Finally, when treating your garden like a room, furniture is very important. In fact, you will need to pick pieces that are not only practical but comfortable enough to encourage people to spend more time outdoors. With that in mind, choosing chairs and loungers with plump cushions that are more like interior pieces is a good call. Consider how you will interact with the wildlife in your garden Of course, when it comes to spending time outside it isn't only you that will be in your garden. Indeed, it is very likely that you will share this space with local wildlife, and by considering this in your design you can truly get the most out of your garden. For example, try to pick plants that you know will encourage local insects like bees and butterflies. In particular, flowers like lavender, bluebells, and primroses can work particularly well for this, as bees love them! Also, consider adding things that will attract birds such as a birdbath and feeder. Although, pondering the question of how do i get birds to come to my bird feeder before you install it is a good idea. The reason being that you can build strategies that will maximize the number and the variety of birds that will visit your garden, which can really boost your enjoyment of your outside space. Low maintenance is OK
Finally, remember that it is totally OK if you want to maximize the pleasure you get from your garden but keep the amount of effort you have to put into maintaining it low. After all, you don't need to be a prize-winning horticulturist to ensure your garden looks great and is a pleasant place to spend some time. Indeed, even putting a little effort in when it comes to the garden can make all the difference and add value to your property to boot!
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When you’re someone that really loves the idea of working on your home, or you’re looking to move, you may be thinking more and more about renovating your home. This is something that can often seem like a lot of work. And in some cases it can be. But when you’re thinking about adding value to your property, it’s often always worth it. As much as the idea of living in a construction site or with different rooms all up in the air isn’t that appealing, it can be a great thing to do. But the thing is, if you are looking to renovate so that you can increase the value of your home, you have to be smart about this. You’ll want to make sure that you approach this in the right way so that you don’t overspend and that you do actually add value in the end. Here’s what you need to bear in mind. Sort The Finances First The very first thing you need to do is sort the finances. Be sure to know what your home is worth now and then also what the ceiling is too. That way, you can look at your financial situation, set a budget, then get to work. But you have to be very objective and practical here if you want to make sure that there is profit left in your home. Make Wise Choices Then, when it comes to the fittings, you will want to be thinking about what will add value and what will appeal to others – not just yourself. The idea of improving your home means it should appeal to the market and not necessarily be your personal taste. So keep this in mind and see what options will and won’t add value. Get Expert Help But then also, you may find that you need to bring in experts to help you with some or all of the work. Whether that’s a general contractor for most jobs or just an electrician to help with the electrics. Think about whether you have the skill to do the work or whether it’s much better to leave it to the experts so that the job is done well. Be Patient Finally, you’re going to want to make sure that you’re being as patient as possible with the process. Adding value to your property might not be something that you can do overnight. It may take months or years for you to be able to get all of the renovations done. But that’s okay. The idea here is for you to add value – not do it quickly. And you may also have to wait for market conditions to approve too. So really, playing the waiting game is best. Looking to add value to a property is always a good thing to look to do. You can gain so much more to add to your next property purchase just by investing a little bit. So really try to do what you can here to make your current home worth so much more. Interior design can be a pretty good business to get into. For a start, it’s evergreen. Meaning people will always need certain spaces designed and decorated, more to the point, they’ll want other people to do it for them, hence the need for business. You can specialise in industry or residential space, and even dial even further into a specific niche or keep it wide and open. Each designer starts somewhere different. Maybe you’ve always had an eye for design and art and want to go into business, or perhaps you’ve worked for someone and want to try it yourself. Whatever the case, you can make it a success if you’re careful. As everyone is different, what works for you might not for someone else. So try some trial and error and try to apply advice in a bespoke way so it suits yourself. Know The Industry You might not be liaising too much with mortgage brokers, surveyors, estate agents etc but it’s really important that you know the industry as best possible. This is especially the case if you’re working to deadlines and trying to get homes designed before people move in, or if you’ve landed a contract to help out with apartments that haven’t been built yet, you need to know how they’re going to look and be formed. It’s worth knowing how everything is tied together, Mercury Network is a good place to start. Each country operates to different laws and speeds too, sometimes different places in each country differ widely in terms of rules and governance, let alone the country. Read up on the industry. It’ll help you get some of those bigger commercial clients and ensure that you can put your best foot forward in terms of your business.  Source
Work On Your Brand You want to be known for something. Whether it’s futuristic interiors or those with a rustic traditional feel. Becoming known for something is important...it’s like the voice of an author. If a developer likes it they’ll use you again. The trick is in being able to use your brand in a way that fits into a customer’s requirements. Sure, sometimes you may not be able to use your branding at all and have to fit it into their wants, but being able to show them unique matchings and styles will set you aside from your competitors. A lot of design work is quite similar so you’ll find it difficult to come up with something totally unique. However, putting your own spin on a design element is what it's all about. Look at some of the leading designers in your field for inspiration. Your Website Must Be Majestic It has to showcase your best design. This means you need good photos, but more importantly you need a great website theme. There are a lot to choose from, some are free, some are not. If you’re using Wordpress you can customize your theme really easily. Go for one which leans heavily on photo based posts. The landing page has to of course be inviting but also showcase what you do best. You need to tell people what you do, including your services, along with key contact information. Price lists are usually used but design jobs can vary dramatically so it’s important to be open ended with these. You can hire a website developer for you if you’ve got the funds, otherwise there’s no harm in putting it together yourself, it’s easier to do these days than it used to. Then you need to work on bringing people to your website. A blog is necessary, imparting all of your design wisdom to those who have decided to read what you have to say. Look After Yourself It’s a busy business, but you have to remember to look after yourself throughout it all. Especially if you’re taking multiple jobs with competing timelines. Focus on what makes you money. Your eyes. You use your eyes to see colour matches and to design tweaks etc. It doesn’t matter if it's dry eyes, cataracts, or degrading vision, you need to get it seen right away by a medical professional. If you don’t it’ll only inhibit your ability to work. Amongst all of this you need to ensure you get the right levels of sleep. Take time away from your desk and the materials so you can get refreshed, it often works wonders. Building up an all important network helps too. People you can ask for help and bounce ideas off of. It’s probably the most important thing you can do, because if you don’t look after yourself and something happens a sa result, you won’t have a business at all.  Image credit.
If money were no object, would you immediately move into a huge mansion? For most people, the answer is yes. When we think about our ideal home, most of us think that bigger is better. In recent years, however, smaller houses are becoming more and more popular for single people, couples and even families. With the rise of tiny houses becoming a trend on social media, and a decreasing number of people being able to afford to buy homes, perhaps downsizing is going to become the ideal in future real estate. In this article we will take a look at whether small homes are better than large ones, and what to do if you’re thinking of downsizing. Are smaller homes better?First of all, there’s no definitive “better” or “worse” when it comes to the size of your home. What constitutes perfectly-sized home for you depends on many factors, including:
A smaller home will save you money in all areas. Not only will you spend less on the initial purchase, but you will also be spending less per month on tax, overall maintenance and energy.
Are mobile homes good places to live?When downsizing their homes, some people consider living in a mobile or manufactured home. This is a perfect option for people searching for low-cost, simple living that doesn’t waste any energy! In order to get educated on mobile homes, you will need to read about modular vs manufactured homes, ensuring you choose the right version of mobile home for you. Additionally, you should speak to others who have lived in mobile accommodation to see if it is the right decision to make for your lifestyle. ConclusionDownsizing your home isn’t an admittance of failure - it can be a positive decision for many reasons!  (Image Credit)
Everyone knows that the environment is incredibly important at the moment. With some dubbing the current state of the world a “climate disaster” or “climate emergency”, there is more pressure than ever before to clean up your act. Many of the methods you see online can take a lot of effort each day, though, and this makes it hard for many people to keep up. To help you out with this, this article will be exploring passive ways to improve your home’s carbon footprint and environmental impact. Better Windows Windows are a weak spot for many homes. Glass isn’t a very good insulator, and this means that it will let a lot of warmth out of your home during winter, and a lot of heat in during summer. Double glazing from companies like the one found here can solve this issue, with gas between the panes of glass that will be able to trap hot or cold air inside your home. Adding Insulation Alongside changing your windows, adding insulation to your home can also make a big difference. This can be added inside your walls and roof, making it possible to achieve much lower energy bills without having to change the look of your home. Options like this are great for the environment, and there are loads of companies out there that can help with it. Low-Flow Toilets Low-flow toilets have been on the market for a long time, but many homes don’t use them. It takes a lot of energy to purify water, and there is a limited supply on Earth, making it worth saving as much as possible in your day to day life. Of course, though, you have to be willing to compromise on a strong flush for this. Boiler Servicing Boilers are the heart of the heating systems in most homes, providing hot water that comes out of your taps and showers, along with heating your radiators. Old boilers can become inefficient over time, and this makes it worth spending some money to have your boiler serviced on a regular basis. While this may not sound passive, it’s far less work and a lot more comfortable than turning heaters off all the time. LED Light Bulbs Filament light bulbs have been on the market for a very long time, but they haven’t gotten much more efficient. While LED bulbs can cost more to buy, they will use significantly less power than those that use wire filaments, without making your compromise on the light levels in your home. In fact, LED bulbs can often be brighter than filament ones. Automatic Power Systems Power is important to homes, but you don’t need to use it all the time. Having timers in place to turn off lights, televisions, and other non-essential appliances can be great ways to make sure that you are using as little power as possible. This will always positively impact your footprint. There are a lot of methods available to those who want to reduce their impact on the environment, but it’s always worth looking for ones that require as little work as possible to ensure that you can stick to them.  (Image Souce)
Artwork comes in a lot of different forms. Unlike in the past, just about every type of art can be found in the modern world, and there are very few restrictions on the pieces that you can use to decorate your home. Of course, though, most people will stick photos, prints, and paintings when they are decorating their place. To help you to break away from this, this article will be exploring some of the best ways to use interesting artwork in your home to make it look extra special. This process is nice and easy, but you will need to be creative to find the very best options for your home. Water Features Water has long been a popular decor choice for large businesses like hotels, giving them the chance to create a unique feel with their spaces. In recent years, though, this sort of option has become far more accessible for those looking to make their own home look more interesting. Many people assume that this sort of option can only work outside, but there is a huge market for indoor water features. Many of the options you find don’t require any special plumbing, as they use a reservoir and power source to keep themselves running. Kinetic Sculptures Kinetic sculptures have been around for a very long time, with examples like a Newton cradle being extremely popular. This type of sculpture incorporates movement into its design, often using no electricity to create hours of fun. A wood sculpture that has been designed like this can make a wall look far more interesting than it used to, giving you the ability to start it at the beginning of the day and enjoy movement for the rest of it. As time goes on, more and more products like this are being added to the market, giving you access to a wealth of options when you are looking to improve the look of your home. Clothing Fashion has changed dramatically over the last few years. Across the world, people from all walks of life are being able to embrace the chance to indulge in clothing that they wouldn’t have been able to afford in the past. Of course, though, how can this be something you decorate your place with? Sports memorabilia, music merchandise, and a huge range of other clothing options can feel too good to wear but will look awesome hung on your walls or kept in display cases. This sort of idea is becoming increasingly popular as the years go by. Plants & Animals Plantlife has long been used as one of the main decor options for gardens and other outdoor spaces, but this idea can be taken inside, too. Plants can look great in loads of different forms, from being kept in simple pots to being hung on your walls in vertical gardens. A lot of work will need to be done to maintain the plants you keep in your home, but this can be worth it to make the whole place feel lush and fresh. You can find websites that can deliver plants to your door. This next idea can be somewhat controversial, though it can be perfectly fine if you approach it correctly. Animals like fish can thrive in a home environment, with beautiful tanks that can be decorated with loads of different features. Of course, though, if you decide to go down the route of using fish or other animals as part of your decor, you have to make sure that you are willing to put the time into caring for them properly. This sort of idea can easily be achieved in most homes. Clocks As the last idea to explore, it’s time to think about clocks. In most cases, you probably won’t want to have more than one clock in each of the rooms in your home. This doesn’t mean that you can’t use this sort of decor option to make your rooms feel interesting, though, as there are loads of different types of clocks on the market that can make your place look great. It’s well worth exploring websites like Instagram and Pinterest when you’re looking for products like this. Social media can be a great source of inspiration. With all of this in mind, you should be feeling ready to start moving away from the standard artwork ideas people have for their homes. Of course, there is nothing wrong with pictures, but it can make a lot of sense to be more creative when you’re choosing the look and feel of the place you call home.  I recently came across a great source for area rugs - as well as a great Amazon Decor source: https://amazon.com/walkonme - and while the Amazon store is a great go to, the line is also sold on Overstock, Wayfair, and HomeDepot.com too.  For almost every project, I’m always searching for affordable area rugs. The Walk On Me line offers: - Thick, plush and super soft area rugs - Vegan / Fake / Faux Fur - Animal and Eco Friendly - Real non-slip integrated backing - Machine Washable  Having machine washable area rugs is especially important with kids and pets - the convenience and worry-free insurance of being able to throw in the washer.  Love the idea of a thick, plush, and super soft area rug for a cozy sitting area. The plushness makes a space feel warmer and inviting as well.  Because these area rugs are not only washable but also offer a non-slip integrated backing, they’d make great use for commercial spaces like waiting areas or offices.  Walk On Me is currently offering a 15% discount in their Amazon store for a limited time only by using promo code: JSID15OFF - check out the selections here: http://amazon.com/walkonme
Happy Rug Shopping! When it comes to buying your first house, it is something that is really exciting. However, as a first-time buyer, there can also be some surprises along the way. There may be some costs that you might not have considered before the house buying process, as well as a few things that you simply just didn’t know about. So with that in mind, here are some surprising things that first-time buyers might encounter. image
Your mortgage could get sold When you are getting a mortgage it can feel like a whole new world of finances and paperwork. But did you know that it is quite likely that your mortgage will get sold at least once? Many mortgage brokers will sell some mortgages in order to make money, as well as allowing some capital to free up, so that they can continue to loan money to people. If this happens, then there is no reason to panic. You should just listen to what your lender says about where new payments need to be made to. You can buy a house without seeing it completed When it comes to buying a new-build home, which is quite common for first-time buyers, you can often buy a house or apartment off the plan, which means that you haven’t seen it finished, but buy it anyway. This is something that can be quite common, if you look at Meriton apartments and homes, for example. Although there is an element of risk of not liking the house or apartment afterwards, when there are a lot of potential buyers, getting in there early and buying off plan can be a good way to make sure that the property becomes yours. More bills If you are going to buy a house from renting, then you will quickly realize just how many more bills that you have. Landlords can often cover a lot of costs, such as repairs of appliances, for example. As a homeowner, all of that will be up to you. Your landlord may have also combined energy bills and things like broadband, but now it will be all of your own responsibility to sort and arrange. The value of the home depends on a lot of things By keeping your home in good shape and decorating it well, doesn’t mean that the value of the house will increase. There are so many other factors to consider when it comes to the value of a home, and whether it will increase or decrease. The location, accessibility to good schools, and other factors can play a part, as well as what work you do to the home, such as extending to add an extra bedroom. If you are a first-time buyer, then be prepared for some unexpected things to come your way, as well as unexpected costs to come your way. Having a little extra money in your budget can really make a difference, and that will mean that you can have a little bit of relief should something very unexpected come your way.  Pexels
You may love your home but know that it requires some attention. A little refresher and updating can go a long way but you may not know where to start or how to go about completing these types of projects. The following advice will outline what you should be doing and how you can begin to tackle these important enhancements. Be patient and take your time because while you want to get it done in a timely fashion you also want to do it right. Create A Project List Start by creating a project list of what you want to tackle and get done. Getting organized will help you stay on track and ensure you’re taking care of the most important to-dos first and foremost. Go around your home and take inventory of what needs your attention the most. Do your homework and figure out which of the ideas you come up with will revitalize your home and give you the best return on your investment so your efforts pay off. Research Ideas Once you know what you want to do to your home then you should conduct some research regarding trends and possibilities. Learn more about the different material options and styles and looks that are out there. Not only think about what other homeowners are doing but also your own taste and what you believe will be the most attractive and right elements for your home style. Set A Budget You should never dive into house projects without first setting a budget. Review your finances and figure out how much you have to spend and want to spend on each project. You may discover that you want to address a few of the smaller tasks right away and take some time to save up your money for the larger updates so you can pay straight cash for them instead of using a credit card. Determine What You Can DIY Another step in the process of updating your home is to determine what you can DIY and what projects you want help with from a pro. There are many projects that you can likely handle and will do just fine at completing once you watch a few How-to-videos. It’s not only fun to learn and challenge yourself but you can save some money by doing it yourself too. However, it’s also important to know your limits and areas you may want to avoid such as plumbing or electrical. Interview Multiple Contractors For the projects that you decide you want help with from a pro then it’s wise to interview multiple contractors for the job. Avoid hiring the first person you meet or think of and have a few different options to explore. Get recommendations from friends and family members and read reviews online to understand better who might be the best fit for your home updates. Be sure to have a contract in place and read the fine print before you begin any work. Confirm the contractor is fully licensed and insured and that you both agree to a timeline in advance.  pexels
Buying a new home is an incredibly exciting time, you’ll be looking forward to a new chapter, and making a great investment. House hunting can be a complicated progress, and many people find it stressful. To help you ease the stress, here are four mistakes to avoid when you are house hunting.1 . Failing To Set A BudgetBefore you start house hunting it’s important to establish a budget, and understand what you can afford. Failing to budget means you could end up looking at homes that are way out of your price range. Equally, you might be able to afford more than you think. According to NerdWallet, ‘you shouldn’t spend more than 28% of your gross monthly income on home-related costs and 36% total on debts.’ Whether you’re looking for high end real estate and properties or an inexpensive flat, it’s important to know your budget from the get-go. 2. Not Knowing The NeighbourhoodWhen you’re buying a property in a new neighbourhood you need to spend plenty of time getting to know the area. You might have found your dream house, but choosing the wrong neighbourhood can affect your quality of life. The neighbourhood will also have an impact on the value of your property over time. Spend time in the area, go shopping, eat at restaurants, explore the parks and research the schools. When you’re working with your real estate agent, you can ask questions about the neighbourhood. You might want to ask:
Your agent will be able to support you to find out more about the area. With plenty of information, it’s easier to make an informed decision. 3. Failing to shop around Buying the perfect home takes a little time, if you don’t shop around you could end up settling for the wrong place. To help you shop around you should make a list of your wants and needs. Think about how many bedrooms you need, and how important it is that you have a garden. Are you looking for a new build or an older property? Which amenities do you need on your doorstep? Answering questions like these will make your house hunting journey a whole lot easier. 4. Skipping the house inspection Before you commit to buying a property it’s important to get a house inspection. A house inspection will identify any faults with the property, it might be structural damage, electrical faults, or asbestos risks. A house inspection will highlight any issues that need urgent attention. If there are issues which affect the value and safety of the home, you might find yourself rethinking the deal. The house hunting process doesn’t have to be stressful. It’s important to get organized, and know exactly what you are looking for. Avoiding these mistakes will get you that little bit closer to finding your dream home. |
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