Last updated Mar 29, 2019 | blog
While so much energy in the world is devoted to perfecting design, we never really spend time talking about bad design. If you’re looking for interior design advice, there are some basic rules and tips about how you should be true to yourself while also throwing everything out. It’s hard to know which advice is better for you when it’s typically all over the map.
Here are four tips to consider when you’re trying to give new life to your space.
1. Paint Can Change Everything
If you want to improve the look and feel of any space, all you have to do is to paint the walls. Painting smaller rooms with lighter colors will make them feel larger and brighter. If you’re looking to maximize your space in small quarters, this is the way to go.
Small rooms might feel cramped, even with large windows. However, if you go with light colors, bright pastels, or even white walls, you can make the whole room look much bigger. When we’re in a darker space, even one with the same dimensions, it’ll feel cramped and smaller.
Avoid dark colors and you’ll have rooms that feel inviting and give people a sense that they’re much bigger than they really are. If you can rearrange your furniture to make the most of your natural light, you’ll be able to keep from feeling boxed in.
Paint not only brightens up a room, but it also gives you a fresh take on an old space. If you’ve been in the same house for a while or are rehabbing an older home, you can make it feel very fun and modern with paint. All that you need is a creative take on what the space should look like to get started.
2. Mirrors Make A Difference
While you could chalk this up to a mere optical illusion, decorative mirrors work wonders when you’re trying to brighten or expand a space. One of the major tricks to interior design is to give a space more light and get control over not only the look, but also the feel.
Making a space feel larger changes the way someone reacts to any other element inside of it.
If you have limited natural light in a space, add mirrors to give it more light and a wider feel. Placing mirrors directly across from windows increased the amount of light in a room in a measurable way. It also helps by filling in empty wall space.
A gorgeous decorative mirror becomes more than just a mirror. It can be its own category of sculpture or decoration. With some of the beautiful woodwork you can find on these mirrors, you can make a space feel more friendly and like home.
3. Mix Things Together
When you’re trying to get more out of your interior design, don’t think about having a single and boring unified aesthetic. While this is great for catalogs, it’s not as interesting to actually live inside of. If you have a piece of super modern furniture, having a family heirloom kicking around won’t take away from that.
You want your home and your interior design to reflect who you are and what you’re interested in. Your personality and style don’t come from a catalog, so if you’re going to create a space that reflects you, then you should have something more realistic.
Older items bring a story to tell. They can enliven and embolden those older pieces of furniture, bringing much-needed personality to minimalist design.
When you’re adding art, don’t be afraid to put unlike things in the same room. Sculptures and paintings from different eras or in different styles might go together better than you’d think. One might be a centerpiece of the room while the other fills in the space, keeping the first piece from having to do all of the work.
You can and should mix old and new, expensive and inexpensive together. That’s what will make your home feel unique.
4. You Have What You Need
In most cases, you have most of the things you need to get started in decorating your space. There are surely some possessions in storage, in closets, or that you haven’t thought about in a while that could use the light of day. By pulling them out, you could bring a whole new feeling to your space.
Simple trays, ashtrays, or glass dishes can fill a space with a lively spirit. By placing some simple items in there, you can make your interior decorating feel a little like poetry.
Drink carts and tea carts are a great way to make guests feel at home and also let them know where to go to fix themselves a drink. Simple bedside tables, end tables, and coffee tables can be spruced up with a dusting or a wipe down to bring them back to life.
Even pages from old children’s books and illustrated academic books can bring a lot of interesting energy to a space. Imagine an old illustrated life cycle of a frog, framed nicely, and hanging in your bathroom. It makes sense in a way while in another way, it’s playful and quirky.
For an interior inspired by what you find interesting, check out some guides to learn more.
Interior Design Advice Should Suit Your Life
When you’re getting interior design advice, take it with a grain of salt or try to make sure it can meet your needs. No two designers are the same and no two designers are going to agree on what’s good for you.
If you’re looking for some modern living room ideas, check out our guide for tips.
Last updated Dec 13, 2020 | blog
Some might say the best ideas come from those who aren’t afraid to march in the opposite direction of everyone else. At least that’s the trope of the mad genius, which pervades mathematics, science, art, and even design.
Having a unique home doesn’t have to be an epoch-changing work of art. You must simply make it your own.
It can be difficult to do so with so much social pressure to fit in!
But it’s your home, and you can do whatever you’d like. You can use these 3 weird decorating tips to start turning heads in your neighborhood.
1. Build Furniture out of Scraps
This tip should inspire both creativity and sustainability. It’s something everyone is thinking about at the moment. Humans need to move toward a more sustainable way of life.
Why not repurpose old fencing wood into a coffee table? With some time and effort, you’ll have a one of a kind coffee table.
People will ask, “Where did you get this? An antique shop?”
Nope! You made it.
You can even repurpose old ironing boards or drums into bedside tables. The possibilities are as limited as your creativity.
2. Eye-Catching Windows
Windows are like the eyes of your house, and eyes are the windows to the soul. It follows, then, that windows are the windows to your home’s soul.
Depending on where you live, you may or may not be able to make drastic changes to your home’s exterior appearance. HOA rules and regulations can really rain on your uniqueness parade.
If you don’t have to worry about such rules, think about stained glass windows. They can evoke an old-time or even religious feel.
3. Play Around with Color
One of the easiest ways to turn your space into something unique is to play with the color scheme. You don’t have to settle for what’s popular (i.e. neutral earth tones).
Color can have a huge impact on mood and may even be a reflection of your personality.
There is one popular New York woman whose whole life revolves around the color green. There’s no way you can say she isn’t unique and beautiful.
When you allow your home to reflect who you are, you create a more comfortable home. This has a dramatic impact on the way you live your life and raise your family.
Being unique doesn’t have to be aggressive, but it can be incredibly fun.
Decorating Tips for a Better Home
Building a home goes beyond putting up the walls and roof. What makes a home feel like home is the love going into the space.
You deserve to live in a home you thoroughly enjoy. With some guidance and decorating tips, you can elevate your home to something special.
Create something special for you and your loved ones.
Are you looking for more ways to upgrade your home? Look no further. Check out these modern design ideas to continue elevating your home.
Last updated Mar 28, 2019 | blog
The average US household spends more than $500 every year caring for their lawn.
And with good reason. A well-kept, lush lawn can make your home look stunning, and is a great place for the kids and pets to run around.
But taking care of your lawn and garden is an ongoing task. It takes year-round maintenance to keep it in top condition.
So read on as we look at 5 great tips for preparing your spring lawn.
1. It’s Called “Fall” for a Reason
We tend to get far less use out of lawns during fall and winter.
When you come to start working on your spring lawn, the first thing it will probably need is a serious raking. Even if you raked up all the leaves through the fall, and kept it up in the cold of winter, there is still likely to be some debris on your lawn.
You are also going to have a build up of thatch, the dead grass that gets trapped within the fresh green growth. Make sure you rake all of this out to give your lawn a chance to breathe.
2. Weed Between the Lines
If you’ve not spent much time on your lawn during the fall and winter, there will definitely be a fair amount of weeds.
Weeding is a necessary evil if you want to have a beautiful garden. If left to their own devices, weeds will spread and starve your lawn of nutrients.
And remember that you don’t have to tackle it all at once. Try weeding a little at a time, and you’ll be done before you know it.
3. Lime Your Spring Lawn
If there’s a lot of moss that’s grown on your lawn over the winter, then it may be a sign that your soil is acidic.
Grass prefers a neutral pH, so for the best spring lawn, you’ll need to redress the balance. Applying lime to your soil will help to neutralize the acid, making it a better environment for the grass.
But don’t overdo it. Too much lime will make your lawn too alkaline, which isn’t good for grass either.
4. Overseed
Some patches of your lawn may be a little bare.
This is the time to overseed. Sprinkle some grass seeds over the bare patches, and apply a little fertilizer. After a few weeks, you should have new growth that begins to fill in those bare patches.
The ideal time to do this is in the fall; you don’t want to go the whole summer with a patchy lawn.
5. Mow, Mow, Mow
A mistake many people make when preparing for spring is not mowing enough.
If your grass gets too high before you cut it, the roots can become stunted and your grass won’t grow back as well. Start as soon as spring arrives and try to mow at least once a week if not more. This will give you a lush, green lawn.
If all of that sounds like too much work, then you might consider hiring a landscaper, such as All Terrain Landscape and Irrigation LLC.
Are You Looking for More Great Advice for Your Home and Garden?
If you’re looking for more tips on caring for your spring lawn or elsewhere around the house, then we’re here to help.
We have a ton of great articles covering everything from cleaning up after your pets to updating your kitchen. Whatever you’re looking for we’re sure you’ll find something to help and inspire you.
Feel free to take a good look around.
Last updated Jun 17, 2020 | blog
Red wine. Chocolate milk. Muddy shoes. Crayons.
If you live in a home with carpet, you’ve likely seen it all. As comfy and cozy as it can be underfoot, it seems to attract all kinds of spills and stains.
The good news? You can restore your flooring to its original glory. All it takes is some elbow grease and a little know-how.
That means the next time your toddler wants to show you the artwork he created on the rug or you overfill your coffee mug too high, you don’t have to worry.
Today, we’re sharing some of our favorite tricks for carpet stain removal. In a perfect world, you’ll never need these, but perfection is boring, anyway.
Ready to learn more? Let’s get started!
1. Always Blot, Never Rub
What’s the first thing you do when you encounter a stubborn stain? You soak your rag in solution and start scrubbing!
Yet, even though you have good intentions, you’re working against yourself. Rather than lifting the stain, you’re pushing it deeper into the carpet fibers.
Over time, this causes them to break down. That means your carpet won’t only look dingy with half-treated stains. It will also look older than its age.
Instead, when you go to remove a stain, grab the solution, along with either a clean towel, sponge or paper towel. Then, start blotting, moving inward from the outside diameter as you go.
2. Keep Shaving Cream on Hand
You may have watched an infomercial for every carpet cleaning product under the sun. Yet, one of the most effective solutions is sitting in your bathroom cabinet: shaving cream.
That’s right. A can of shaving cream, which you can find for mere dollars at the drugstore, is ideal for removing stains.
Instead of applying it and immediately blotting, let it sit for about 30 minutes. Once it has set, you can use a dry cloth to blot it up. Complete the process by spraying the area with a mix of one part vinegar and one part water. Use a cloth to wipe away the solution.
3. Use Club Soda the Right Way
Sure, your mother and grandmother both swore by club soda as a stain removal extraordinaire. They were right, but do you know how to use it the right way?
Pour a little soda on a clean cloth. Then, blot it on top of the stain. If it persists, mix a solution of equal parts vinegar and water, then spray it on the area.
After about 15 minutes, dab a sponge on the area to soak up the liquid and lift the stain. Repeat the process a second time if it’s still there. If it’s gone, rinse the spot with warm water.
Place a few paper towels on the carpet to absorb the water, weighing them down with a heavy book to speed up the process.
4. Grab the Detergent
It makes sense when you think about it. You should treat a grease spot on your carpet the same way you’d treat one on your pots and pans: with dishwashing detergent!
The next time you spill bacon drippings on your rug, mix a drop or two of your favorite grease-fighting detergent into a cup of warm water, then stir. Pour it into a spray bottle and get to work on your stain, being careful to blot.
Larger stains may require a few repeats, but you’ll marvel at how effective (and simple!) this method is.
5. Give Gum the Cold Shoulder
It’s never a great feeling when you pull your shoe off the ground only to find that it won’t budge. When you realize it right away, you can remove it on the spot.
Sometimes, though, we aren’t aware that we’re tracking around someone else’s half-chewed candy until we get home.
When you step in gum and track it onto your carpet, don’t panic. Run to the kitchen and grab a few ice cubes.
Run the ice over the gum for around 30 seconds to freeze it. Once it’s solid, you can lift it up (using a spoon, not your fingers!), then cut the strands as close to the top as possible.
6. Make Your Iron Pull Double Duty
Burning candles can make a home feel warm and inviting. It’s also a quick way to add some serious hygge during dark, colder months.
They lose their charm, however, when they drip sticky, hot wax onto your carpet or rug. When it dries, that wax hardens and gets embedded into the fibers, making it difficult to remove.
The best way to get it out? Heat it back up again!
Place a clean white cloth over the area, then lay a warm iron on top. When it’s melted, use a dull knife to scrape it away. After a few applications, swap the cloth for a paper towel and repeat the process. The remaining wax will bind to the towel.
It’s important to use a white cloth in this case, as you risk transferring colored dyes onto your carpet otherwise. Also, remember to never iron on your carpet for more than 30 seconds, or you could burn the fibers.
7. Fight Blood with Hydrogen Peroxide
If someone is bleeding in your house, seek medical help immediately. When the storm has passed and all is OK, then you can take the time to clean the stains it left.
To do so, turn to the do-all solution that homeowners around the world swear by hydrogen peroxide.
Start by blotting the stain with a mixture of detergent and warm water. From there, scrape up any blood you can.
If some persists, apply hydrogen peroxide right onto the spot, no blotting cloth required. It will begin to foam immediately. Use a few paper towels to blot the area dry.
8. Avoid Chemicals with Fido
Few things smell as foul as animal excrement or urine in a home. Yet, you don’t have to give up your favorite pooch or feline because she isn’t potty trained yet!
When accidents occur, resist the urge to grab a commercial cleaner full of chemicals. In the event that your pet returns to the same spot again, you don’t want him walking on such products and transferring them to his paws.
Instead, opt for an all-natural, organic spot treatment so you can keep everyone in your family safe, four-legged members included.
Do these messes happen on a routine basis? You may want to bring in an expert to deep clean every once in a while. This carpet cleaner hiring guide is full of tips on how to find a carpet cleaning professional in your area who uses green, non-toxic methods.
9. Lift Up Smashed Candy
Especially if you have kids in your home, crushed candy pieces wind up on your carpet at some point or another.
From candy canes to Sweethearts, there’s no shortage of hard candy that can leave a cloud of fine, sticky dust all over your area rug.
Instead of vacuuming it all up, scrape it with a dull knife first, getting up all that you can.
Then, mix a solution of warm water and a few pumps of gentle soap. Apply it to the spot using a sponge to remove all of the sugar from the fibers. Leaving them there can attract bugs, dust, and debris.
Dry the spot with clean towels once you remove the candy.
10. Set up a Cleaning Schedule
Still wondering how to clean a carpet? The short answer is “every day.”
Make it a point to vacuum your carpet on a routine basis, taking the time to spot treat any surprise stains you come across. This way, you’re more likely to spot issues and you can prevent dirt from settling into the fibers.
Want an even deeper clean? Rent a steamer or another portable carpet cleaner and go over your floors. Do this twice a year and notice the difference it makes.
Carpet Stain Removal and Other Home Tricks
Knowing a few carpet stain removal tips is key to not stressing every time someone fails to take their shoes off in your home, or your toddler brings you a sticky snack he made all by himself.
With this guide, you’re ready to spring into action any time a spill occurs, and it will occur.
Want more tips and tricks on how to maintain, decorate and beautify your home?
That’s why we’re here.
We offer you timely advice on ways to make your personal space as creative and dynamic as you are.
Moving into your new space and looking to install carpet? Check out our guide on the best kinds to buy. Then, enjoy it while it’s new and stain-free…for now!
Last updated Dec 13, 2020 | blog
Summer is almost here and that means it’s time for barbeques, lawn parties, and planting vegetable gardens.
But if you aren’t familiar with the basic principles of landscape design, it can be difficult to fit everything you want into your space and create the optimal layout.
But with a little bit of research and careful thought, you can create a fun and beautiful yard full of blooming blossoms. Continue reading to learn how to make the best selections when it comes to plants and features to include.
1. Always Include a Water Feature
One of the best ways to add a relaxing feel to your garden is by installing a pond fountain. With a water feature, your garden will be filled with the nice sound of trickling water all of the time.
Water features are also a great way to attract birds into your yard. Consider putting in a bird bath and a couple of bird feeders around for the greatest effect.
2. Take Care With Tree Removal
Removing trees from your yard is one of the most dangerous activities that you do while you are gardening. If you aren’t careful you can easily drop a limb on yourself or your home.
It’s best to hire a professional to do the work for you, learn more here.
3. Consider the Climate When Choosing Plants
Not all plants can grow in every climate. Make sure you do research into what plants grow best in your area before you make a purchase.
While you can sometimes push the limits a little bit if you are an experienced gardener, trying to fight mother nature can be a trying process.
4. Don’t Take on Too Much
It’s easy to get carried away when you are planting your garden. There are so many beautiful flowers and plants out there.
But if you don’t know much about gardening, then you should only purchase a few different kinds of plants at one time and come up with a watering schedule that makes sense. Otherwise, you may get confused about which plant needs what and over or under water your plants.
Try to select plants that are similar when it comes to their care instructions if you want to ensure they grow well.
5. Know What Projects You Can Do Yourself
There are many gardening projects that you can take on yourself. But there are also some tasks like installing irrigation and pruning large trees near your home that are best left to a professional.
Know your limits when it comes to gardening and reach out for help if you need it. The last thing you want is to waste a lot of money or injure yourself when you could have just asked for assistance.
6. Think About the Maintenance Your Choices Require
Not only will you have to spend hours planting in order to start your garden, but you will also need to take time each day to care for your plants.
Think carefully about how much time you have to dedicate to your garden, particularly if you are planting vegetables. Avoid the most finicky plants if you know you can’t be dedicated to caring for them on a regular basis.
7. Choose Environmentally Friendly Options
There are so many ways to choose the plants that will go in your garden. You can pick the most beautiful flowers, the ones that smell the best, or the ones that fit in the best with your existing home design.
But one of the best ways to make your selection is by choosing environmentally friendly options for plants. That means choosing plants that will support the ecosystem around you.
Try to plant flowers that the animals in your area are able to use as food and that can be fertilized naturally so that you don’t have to add harmful chemicals to the soil.
8. Ensure Proper Drainage
One thing many new gardeners ignore is the amount of water their plants will get. They think about watering them, but they don’t consider where excess water will go in the event of a storm.
Make sure that your plants have some sort of method for drainage if you want to ensure they survive any big storms that blow through your area this summer.
9. Keep Shade in Mind
Many of your plants will need some sort of shade in order to grow properly. When you are planning your garden design, you should consider where you will put large trees and bushes so that they can provide shade for the flowers and plants that you want.
If you don’t pay close attention to the amount of sunlight your plants get, then they will die and you will have wasted your money.
10. Install an Irrigation System
If you don’t have an irrigation system in your yard, then you will have to be very careful to water your plants when they need it. If you have the money for a professionally installed system of sprinklers, then you should definitely invest in one.
Today’s units can be programmed to turn on in certain areas for different amounts of time. They’re more than just a convenience, a sprinkler system ensures that you never miss a watering session.
Going Beyond Landscape Design
The tips for landscape design that we shared in this article can help you plan out the perfect garden and yard. It’s time to start thinking about summertime and deciding what features you want to include in your space.
For more great design suggestions for your home, check out our catalog.
