Monthly Archives: January 2017

How To Prep Your Garden For Cold Winter Months

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Having a nice and healthy garden requires certain effort on your part, especially when colder months are as good as here. Of course, your outdoor garden has to get proper sleep so that it can flourish during the spring season. With some changes and a little bit of work, you’ll give your lovely garden perfect conditions for quality winter sleep. So, if you’re unsure about the basic needs of your plants and trees during this cold period, keep on reading.

image-5Some cutting is necessary

Take a good look at your plants and bushes. There will undoubtedly be some dry foliage and stems. It’s very important to cut those back so that you can avoid further decomposition. Also, make sure to collect all the seeds that plants have to offer for the following season.

Remove the weeds

Any type of weed and debris should be removed from the plants’ surroundings before the ground gets too hard. This will allow them to get enough nutrients even during the winter months so that they can look healthy in spring. Also, weeds and debris can attract different pests, so your garden will definitely benefit with them gone.

Add organic compost

With dead plant debris, leaves and other organic waste you can make your own effective and protective compost soil that will keep the plants warm and provide them with nutrients. Make sure to add an extra layer of protective soil once the ground hardens completely. Snow will act as a good protective layer from the cold, but you also need this alternative since you cannot count on snow throughout the whole winter.

image-2Protect the trees

Trees also need adequate protection during winter months. Make sure to add tree-guard products. You can make these yourself or purchase the premade ones. This will significantly reduce the possibility of hungry critters munching on the bark. Also, don’t forget to prune the trees properly. Even though snow will act as a protective layer, drier branches can break under its weight which can be very dangerous.

What about Christmas tree?

If you plan on having a live Christmas tree, make sure to tend to it properly beforehand. This includes digging the hole in the ground for the tree before it gets too hard. Also, make sure to keep the soil somewhere safe in order to prevent freezing. Your garage can serve this purpose perfectly.

image-4Turn off all water sources

Removing water from your garden will actually prevent the soil, plants as well as garden props from freezing. Therefore, make sure to turn off your garden pipe and store the hose in the garage. If you have garden sprinkles, don’t forget to turn these off, too. Moreover, drain the fuel from any of your garden machinery such as lawn mowers.

Rake the leaves

Don’t leave the fallen leaves scattered around your garden. Instead, make sure to rake them and gather them on your pile for organic compost. Still, there will always be organic material that’s too decomposed for this purpose. Don’t try to make it work, but get the organic waste removed in JNS skip bins and similar services.

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Some plants will require more specific work compared to others when it comes to prepping for the winter season. In that respect, make sure to do a thorough research so that you know how to deal with every type of plant, herb, vegetable or shrub in your garden. The above-mentioned steps are the ultimate basics for effective winter garden prep, but you still need to pay special attention to tenderer flora that you want to take care of.

7 Budget-Friendly Curb Appeal Makeovers

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Our parents always told us that beauty comes from the inside, but when we talk about houses, it’s what’s on the outside that counts, too. No matter how cozy and stylish your interior design is, you need to invest a bit into the exterior as well. Such investment will pay off since it can bring many benefits for you and your house, while its curb appeal can add to its value. However, you must know which projects will pay off.

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Landscaping

A lush and green front yard will completely change the atmosphere of the whole house. While dry and neglected yards exude emptiness and a bit eerie atmosphere, great landscaping can give a fresh look and healthy feel to the entire property. You can plant a lot of plants and perennials that will provide color and depth to the whole yard. Also, you can decorate the yard more with a few stone paths and even a smaller fountain.

Windows

If your windows are quite old, chances are that they waste energy and heat. Plus, they probably don’t look very nice from the outside, either. That is why you should consider replacing the old ones with new, energy-efficient windows, which will save you plenty of energy and money. Additionally, you can always repaint the new front windows to match the exterior design and keep the atmosphere of the whole façade.

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Façade

The façade is the face of your home and it should shine. For a start, you will need better insulation in order to preserve energy in your home. This can easily be done by updating or replacing your cladding systems and resolving all the insulation problems. Additionally, you can improve the curb appeal by repainting the façade. If the paint has started peeling off, or you just simply don’t like it anymore you should find a new, neutral color that will save the day. It’s best to stick to such neutral colors, because you can later add contrast with details and still keep everything classy.

Entry Doors

Entry door replacement will certainly pay off in the long run. It is a chance for you to provide more security for your home, while at the same time you are working on the curb appeal. If you like wood, custom made doors are vastly available, but if you want more security, you can always opt for a steel front door. Moreover, if you choose an unusual color, or simply repaint the existing doors into a bolder shade, you will provide contrast and an amazing wow factor for your exterior design.

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Garage Doors

Replace the garage doors to match your home’s age, style and enhanced look. New, shiny and functional garage doors will provide the needed security and they will contribute to the curb appeal. While you are at it, you can upgrade the material of the doors and opt for wood, steel, aluminum or fiberglass, depending on your set budget and style of the entire design. Also, make sure you opt for the sturdiest material that will protect your car and other belongings, while it should be easy to maintain as well.

Deck Addition

Decks are always popular addition to a home and they can bring plenty of benefits. They expand the existing living space because they can serve as an entertainment, dine or relaxation area. Also, they are always appealing to potential buyers and can greatly increase the value of your property. Additionally, if you choose to add a wooden deck, it will perfectly blend into any design and it will contribute to the overall curb appeal and your neighbors will envy you.

Owning a home is a lifetime commitment and there is always something to improve. However, you shouldn’t despair over it. Rather choose projects that will pay off in the future and that can add value and curb appeal to the house.

How To Decorate Your Kids’ Room

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Adequate room décor is a really important part of child’s developing personality. Like the rest of their peers as well as adults, kids also love to have their own corner that will properly represent their individuality and creativity. What’s more, when they feel comfortable in the environment of their room, they will be able to concentrate on different tasks better as well as rest with ease. In that respect, make sure to approach the kids’ room décor with them as main guides and advisors.

Specific themes

Always make sure to discuss the possible décor options with your kids. If there is a certain hero, movie, TV show or book that they especially like, they might express the wish to have their room décor done accordingly. Matching the colors and adding details that would suit the chosen theme is not at all difficult, but it can make for a very happy and satisfied child, so be sure to ask these questions and work together before you start doing anything else.

Functionality and comfort

Even if you go by certain theme for décor, the room still has to be pretty functional with enough space for both work and play. In that respect, try not to overstuff your child’s room with furniture and accessories that they won’t use or benefit from. Try out different layouts until you reach the conclusion what would be the perfect organization for your child’s room. Remember, you shouldn’t have to sacrifice comfort over functionality or vice versa.

Think ahead

When you start your décor and room equipping, you can consider the essentials for a few years ahead. This is a pretty useful approach especially if you don’t have to use really bold thematic colors and special furniture. For example, buying a bigger bed for your kid can serve them for many years, in the future as well. When it comes to study area, you can check out adjustable chairs and desks. That way, you can change up the height to suit your child’s growth properly. Of course, if your kid is still very young, you should expect some drastic changes again in the future, but you should still try to be frugal and future-oriented, even if it’s just for a couple of years.

Essential accessories

Kids’ rooms still need more than a simple bed, wardrobe, chair and desk. Think of some effective storage solutions for toys and such. If you want the wardrobe to be for clothes only, some decorative trunks that agree with your child’s liking can be a great storage solution for toys when they’re young, and other bits and pieces when they get older. Also, you can play with different types of affordable lighting you can find online and make the whole room brighter so your youngest can play and read. Do not forget to leave a small light near the bed in case your child is afraid late at night. Find some great lamp in shape of their favorite hero and make it look funny and usable.

Make it all about your kid

It’s essential that you don’t forget whom you’re decorating the room for. It shouldn’t be about you and your wishes when you were young, but your child’s. In that respect, always listen to your kid’s requests and use your ideas as suggestions. If you want to inspire creativity and confidence in your child even more, think about creating an interesting DIY art wall display that will feature some of their best drawings, crafts and even poems and stories.

Kids’ rooms are usually smaller compared to the rest of the rooms, so make sure to assess the space you have at your disposal properly. Remember, kids need their own room to spend time in and have fun or relax, not live in it. So, make it as creative as possible but refrain from introducing too many things that they don’t need in their own little paradise.

7 Landscaping Tips to Increase Your Property’s Market Value

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Home sellers often forget they are not selling only a house’s interior, so they put all of their money, and all of their efforts into upgrading the bathroom or the kitchen. This kind of thinking has one major flaw – before buyers even decide to take a look at the house’s interior, they will see how the yard looks like and that impression will affect their further judgement. According to a study by RealEstate.com, landscaping can deliver a pretty impressive return of investment of as high as 150%. Let’s see how you can use these facts to your advantage.

image-6Make the Lawn Edges Look Neat

Some people prefer their gardens lush and untamed. However, the majority prefers a neater and well-maintained look and you should play to their tastes. Use a spade to separate the lawn from the path, garden bed or fence, give it a proper mowing and you will instantly create a neater look. If you want to make the impression even stronger, try finding the pieces of stone or brick and line the lawn.

Tame the Plants

Too many different plants will make your garden look less harmonious. You don’t have to be overly conservative when deciding on the number of plants that will have to leave the garden – plants are good for biodiversity and local ecology. Just try to give your garden an orderly and more uniform look.

image-4Use Mulch

This way, you’ll enhance the well-maintained and cared-for look that will spark the customers’ interest. Since you are trying to achieve a short-term effect, you don’t have to invest too much or leave the mulch sit throughout the winter as you are supposed to. For this occasion, you can use ordinary utility mulch you can buy in any specialized shop. Just keep in mind this – mulches that are too visually distracting can put off the potential buyers.

Plant a Few Trees

Threes have a very broad appeal. They provide shade, they look stunning and they can be used to give your backyard some privacy. What’s the most important, you don’t have to wait forever for them to grow – you can buy semi-grown specimens. If you don’t want to make such an investment, even small potted trees placed in front of your house will make a very strong visual impression.

Divide the Yard into Several Distinct Areas

By organizing the yard this way, you will vastly improve its look and functionality. The zones can be carved out in a number of ways. If your yard is not that big, you should strive for a more open look and solve this problem with pavers and planters. On the other hand, if the yard is more spacious, the new owners would probably appreciate some secluded place where they can relax. In this case, carve the distinct yard areas with fences and garden walls.

image-3Create a Patio

When buying a house, people often look for the ones that have a patio or terrace where they’ll be able to spend some pleasant time with their friends and family. Meeting those desires can have a great influence on your house’s market value. Traditionally, a patio should feature enough hard surface to host a table and six to eight chairs. To add even more value, you can cover the patio or terrace, install lighting and heating, and make it more comfortable.

Take Care of the Hedges

Hedges have a great influence on the look of a yard. If they are properly maintained, they will elevate its appearance, so be sure to give them a facelift. Companies that provide professional landscaping service can help you trim hedges in unique shapes, which will leave much stronger impression on the potential buyers. If you don’t already own hedges, consider planting them – they will allow the yard some privacy, and they can be a very effective tool for splitting the yard into different areas as we mentioned above.

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The current real estate market is very competitive and buyers are growing increasingly choosy with each passing day. In such circumstances, neglecting your house’s exterior and yard can be a devastating blow to its market value. Don’t make such a mistake and use every possible landscaping mean to rise above the competition.

 

 

Hot Wheel Storage

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the-best-diy-home-tips-and-oraganizing-hacks-19-680x533I wish I had the instructions to make these so I could share them with you. If anyone has the original post for this please let me know so I can provide credit. This is such a neat idea to store the hot wheels in. It gets them off the floor and it looks cool enough your child may want to keep it filled. They will be the envy of their friends.