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6 Things You Should Know about Your House’s Electrics

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The lighting and electrical plan of your house are more important than you think. Every time you effortlessly search for an outlet to charge a phone but can’t seem to find one, this occurs because the house’s electrics are poor.

Even worse, the whole place could go up in flames if something is wrong with your home’s electrical grid. Getting to know your house’s electrics better is important both for safety reasons, as well as convenience.

Smart lighting within the hand’s reach

Nearly all smart lighting systems are remotely controlled using a phone app or a special remote. However, you can go one level down in terms of technology and install a multipurpose switch next to your bedside. If you own a king-size bed, then your partner can have a switch on their side of the bed as well.

The smart switch would regulate all the bedroom lighting, from the bedside lamp to the LEDs above. Some smart lighting systems include dimers that help you regulate the intensity of bedroom lighting, which can even be programmed (the lights dim down after dark).

Extra sockets where you need them the most

Don’t you just hate it when you need to charge your smartphone but the socket is far away so the phone has to hang in the air from the charger? Well, if you get to know your home’s electrics, then you can plan a better schematic layout of AC power sockets and plugs.

The area where we need the outlets the most is around the bed, especially if the bed is not for one person. The standard number of sockets for this area is 2 and this is the bare minimum as well. However, you can always install extra sockets, so 4 sockets are nothing out of the ordinary. You can add a USB port to speed up the charging process.

Illuminating the stairwell

The stairwell is an important part of the house that needs to be extra safe because the last thing you want is to fall down a flight of stairs. There should be a light switch at the top and at the bottom of the stairs, allowing you to turn the lights on and off with ease.

If you want to have an opulent home, add mini lights along with the steps, increasing visibility in the process. Saving energy is also an option if you install a motion sensor that would turn on the lights only when there is someone coming up or going down the stairs.

Hiring professional electricians

Redoing your home’s electrics can be a DIY task but if you’re not familiar with technical details of the job beforehand, better leave it to professionals. Residential electricians such as Sparkys NOW usually have 24/7 emergency service, so they can help you with a power outage as well. When it comes to your house’s electrics, electricians will help you with safety switches, switchboards, LED lighting issues, smoke alarms, solar systems installation, etc.

A powerful walkthrough

The best way to determine where the power outlets should be placed around the house is to walk through each room and write down the appliances you use in it. Apart from sockets, you should think about the placement of light switches as well, although they are usually set at the uniform height near the door frame.

As far as hallways are concerned, they should have a switch at each end, much like the stairwell. The bedroom, the living room, the bathroom, etc. ought to have a single light switch near the entrance.

Motion-activated lights for you seldom use

Your home’s electrics should be efficient and safe but they should save power as well. We’ve mentioned earlier that the stairwell will benefit from installing motion sensors but these can be placed in all the rooms seldom used.

Garages, the attic, pantry, garden shed, closets, etc. are all spaces you don’t spend much time in, so there is no need for a constant light source. If you forget to switch off the light in the attic, it will stay on until the light bulb fails.

The basement is the ideal room where motion sensor lights can be installed. In fact, every room that is used for storage and not living should have such lights to save energy and money. Strong light fixtures should be reserved for rooms that need illuminating the most, such as the living room.

It might not seem as much, but the positioning of sockets and light switches inside your house is intrinsically connected to comfort and safety. Taking the time to learn the 6 things about your house’s electrics listed above will help you create a functional home after dark.

Tips for Designing Your Home Exterior

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Tips for Designing Your Home Exterior

The exterior of the house is one of the most important parts to consider in the design, as it gives the first impression of the home and its residents, in addition to being a key to home security, so it is important to pay attention to its design and give it an aesthetic look without neglecting practicality and safety.  In this article, we will present to you some easy and actionable methods that enable you to maintain the appearance of the exterior and create a beautiful design for your homes while ensuring it is maintainable, practical and secure. 

Lively Colors 

If there is anything that has the power to completely change the looks and aesthetics of the front of the house, it is painting it. Regardless of the color used, the paint should always be in good condition, but with the passage of time, the quality and the color of the paint erodes due to natural causes. The paint will start to fall off and the design will lose its elegance little by little until the house looks like an abandoned house, so it is important that we keep the external paint always in good condition and make sure that the walls are not affected by moisture, etc. 

Adding Wood to the Equation 

The presence of wood in the exterior adds an atmosphere of warmth to the house. Without a doubt, wood is one of the most popular materials in many modern designs, but the use of wood means that you should take a set of important precautions regarding how it is placed and maintained due to wood being much more fragile and susceptible to damage. 

Because wood, by its nature, is greatly affected by the passage of time and weather changes, and its condition can seriously deteriorate if it is not properly cared for and preserved. Cracks that affect the look and feel of the home can easily occur if you’re not careful. That’s why you need to read up on how to properly take care of wooden figures. 

Don’t Forget About Plants 

The presence of plants as part of the front design is always a great idea, as plants are what give life to the place and add a cheerful color and a sense of movement and vigor to the front of the house. Although there are some plants that do not need regular watering or maintenance and are most commonly used in home designs, other types of plants cannot be completely ruled out depending on your needs and design! Maintaining the beauty of the front of the house requires good care of the existing plants and flowers – large trees can make the entrance to the house a magical place if taken care of well. 

The Importance of Detail 

When caring for and attending to the plants, we should pay special attention to climbing plants and vines, as they are one of the most important ways that can completely transform the front of your house and give more life and a homely character to any design. 

In many cases, you can cover the entire wall covered with plants, which gives it a wonderful shape, but then we must pay special attention to the roots and not forget pruning when they start covering the windows, doors or other places that can affect the integrity of the building and damage it, such as the roof, for example.Having a lot of plants on the exterior will make it much more enjoyable to stroll through your garden and spend time outdoors. So, install one of these excellent awnings from London and enjoy your summers amid nature.

Smart Small Bathroom Remodelling Ideas On A Budget

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The most common problem that owners of small-sized apartments are facing is the very modest size of the bathroom. During the repair, you have to solve a difficult problem: how to properly plan a room so that it is both functional and not cluttered?

In fact, everything is much simpler – you just need to use your imagination and a little bit of work. Here are some useful and interesting ideas for a small bathroom.

Layout Features

If you start repairs “from scratch”, and the size of your bathroom is very small — you can think about increasing it due to the redevelopment of walls and partitions. The important thing is to consult an appropriate specialist for this. As a result, it will be possible to combine a bathroom with a toilet, or with a corridor. However, this is a very difficult job, it is better to save this option as a last resort.

A more affordable option may be the thoughtful layout and design of a small bathroom. Due to the visual effects and the arrangement of plumbing, you can greatly expand the visible boundaries of the room and not change its actual size.

First, you need to pay attention to the location of the plumbing — perhaps the toilet is too far from the wall or it can be moved closer to the drain. A door can also take a lot of space, especially if it opens inward. It is necessary to change the door so that it opens outward or even put the sliding doors that take no space at all.

Preparation for reparations  in the bathroom

Walls and floors are needed to be cleaned to the ground. It is necessary to remove all the old coating: tiles, paint, old glue, etc.  If the floor tile is very difficult to remove, then the solution can be to lay a new one on top of it. The cleaned surfaces need to be coated with a primer.

Preparation also includes plumbing and electrical work. For this type of work, you should also seek the help of a specialist.

When these works are completed, you can begin reparation and install plumbing.

Materials used for walls and floors

The most common and ideal option for covering walls and floors in the bathroom are ceramic tiles. Its diversity is so great that it can satisfy any, even the most sophisticated, needs. Just remember the main thing — tiles for a small bathroom should be small. In this case, a mosaic will be an ideal option.

The choice of tiles is one of the most important tasks. After all, it sets the main tone for the bathroom, but you should definitely check other options for your bathroom floor and walls, such as:

You can paint the walls with moisture-resistant paints;

Plastic panels or plastic tiles can also be a great solution.

You can use glass tiles, which are becoming more and more common and popular.

For the floor we recommend tiles.  But, not the ordinary ones, with a smooth glossy surface, but rough. This kind of tile is made of porcelain. It is much stronger and will prevent falling and injuries on the wet floor.

Also, don’t forget about the ceiling – it should have moisture protection and fit into the interior.

Chose of colours

When designing a small bathroom, the choice of the right colour is very important. After all, the main task is to visually increase the small space. In order to do that, choose the tiles in bright colours. But do not get carried away with white and chrome interior details if you don’t want your bathroom to look like the operating room or laboratory.

However, you should keep in mind that designers do not recommend using more than three colours at the same time. You can also use the accessories in the same colour as the interior. Youll get the effect of “merging” when objects seem to be there, but they do not stand out against the general background and do not come to the fore.

It is better not to use large drawings on the walls, floor or ceiling – your bathroom can only visually decrease due to this.

Let there be light

Lighting is very important for a small bathroom. A dim light is absolutely not an option in this case. It needs bright artificial light. How to do it? Firstly, you can install many lights on the ceiling — then the light will be evenly distributed throughout the room. It is also desirable to have a light bulb above the sink.

In order to save energy, you can install energy-saving light bulbs, and enhance lighting with mirrors. But we will talk about this later. If there is a possibility, then make a window in the bathroom -it’s always better to have sunlight in the bathroom during the day! If this option does not fit, then you can make an imitation of a window with the appropriate highlighting — a very original idea.

How to choose furniture

As you may have guessed, the furniture shouldn’t be large, dark and clutter up all the free space. Furniture should create the illusion of transparency, “zero gravity” of the room, and not oppress with its quantity and dimensions.

The colour of the furniture should be light, ideally – merge with the walls or have similar tones. Instead of cabinets, you can use hooks and hangers, or hang a rack over the toilet.

Mirrors

The design of a small bathroom must include mirrors. Together with the right lighting, they can work wonders and significantly increase the room.

Corner mirrors look very original and are able to create a beautiful game of colours and highlights. If you want to install a mirror above the sink, do not forget to add lighting to it.

Decoration for a small bathroom

For a small bathroom, it is better to stick to the principles of minimalism and not to use a large amount of decor. If the design involves the presence of tiles of bright colours or unusual shapes, a small space does not need additional decor. It is better to use bathroom accessories that decorate the interior and are functional at the same time.

Shower curtain. An original curtain for a bath or shower will decorate the entire room. Neutral or similar in design fabric will work well.

Laundry basket. This item can be selected based on the design and style of the bathroom (a wooden basket for the Scandinavian style, metal for the modern, etc.)

Mats, towels. Bright fabrics will add the necessary accents, and brightness but only if your tiles are simple and plain and not too bright.

A set of holders for towels, toilet paper — it is better if the kit is from the same collection.

A set of dispensers for soap, shampoo, shower gel. Multi-coloured bottles and jars will not decorate the bathroom. Therefore, it is worth choosing sets consisting of dispensers and containers of the same design. It is better if they fit in the design of the interior of the bathroom.

Conclusion

If you follow all the instruction above while remodelling your bathroom, we are sure that you will forget that you ever considered it too small. But the most important thing is that you should listen to yourself, your preferences and needs. Don’t be afraid to experiment and include your own ideas. Options and possibilities are countless.

Good luck!

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Bio: Patrick Adams is a freelance writer and rock-blues fan. When he is not writing about home improvement, he loves to play chess, watch basketball, and play his guitar. More than anything, he loves to spend his time in his garage, repairing appliances and creating stuff from wood.

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Image source:

https://www.pexels.com/photo/architectural-photography-of-toilet-1571462/

How to Choose The Best Rug For Your Lifestyle

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Rugs play an important role in decorating your home. Not only can they add a touch of elegance and glamour to your space, elevating your home décor to a completely new level, but they can also help you reinvent your space. You can use them to bring your design elements together and create a cohesive, harmonious look. Area rugs can also be used for introducing a feeling of warmth and comfort to your space, creating an inviting, homey ambiance. However, if you want a rug that can achieve all of this, you need to pick the perfect one, and in order to do so, you should ask yourself the following important questions.

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Are you eco-conscious?

Whether you have a green home or not, deciding to go with eco-friendly rugs will affect other rug-related decisions you’ll need to make. Above all, this will affect your rug material options, which means that you’ll have all those healthy, natural materials like bamboo at your disposal. They include sisal, jute, hemp, woven seagrass and wool, all equally charming and stylish materials. Not only will eco-friendly rugs bring you one step closer to a greener home, but they will also help you create a healthier environment by eliminating all those toxins and allergens that hide deep within the fibers of your favorite rugs. Furthermore, eco-friendly rugs feature an organic, natural design of soft, neutral hues, which will help you invite natural energy to your home.

What is your style?

Your personal sense of style is one of the most important factors to consider when choosing area rugs for your home. Fortunately, rugs come in all colors, designs, and styles, so you can find those that will undoubtedly reflect your personal taste. However, it’s also important to consider the general style and design of your home to create a cohesive look. This often entails picking rugs that complement your furniture style, which will enable you to create balanced aesthetic appeal in your space. Thus, if your home’s (and yours) predominant style is traditional, you should go with beautiful vintage rugs. On the other hand, minimalist homes call for simple, yet elegant rugs with monochromatic patterns and subdued colours.

How do you use your rugs?

Rugs can have multiple functions in your home, serving as accent details, bringing comfort and warmth, elevating décor, etc. For instance, the most popular and stylish rugs in Australia are often used as mesmerizing focal points that dominate the entire space. If you use an area rug as a focal point, it should feature an impactful design that will come into focus when combined with other design elements. If you want to use rugs to create a cosy home environment, you should go with plush area rugs or layer them in your space. Once you know the function of your rugs in certain rooms, you’ll be able to pick the perfect ones for that particular purpose.

What about your space?

You should keep in mind that the particularities of your space can be crucial for choosing the perfect rugs. For instance, you should go with enchanting round rugs if you have the open floor plan because this will create a warmer atmosphere. If you have narrow hallways, you should go with long runner rugs in order to accentuate the length rather than the width. It’s essential that you choose rugs that will emphasize your home’s positive features rather than draw attention to its shortcomings.

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Do you have children?

Children bring a whole new set of rules when it comes to choosing area rugs. Going with eco-friendly rugs may be an appropriate solution here because they are healthy and toxin-free, which is extremely important when you have children who love sitting on the floor. Low-pile or flat area rugs are one of the most popular choices for families because they are easy to clean and hide fewer hazards than high-pile ones. You should also go with durable materials if you have children, preferably stain-resistant ones. Wool and sheepskin are beautiful, cosy and family-friendly options that will help you create a healthy home environment for your kids. Synthetic rugs are also a practical solution, but keep in mind that they aren’t that eco-friendly.

Are pets allowed inside?

Pets also bring certain considerations that you need to keep in mind when choosing rugs for your home. First of all, if you have pets, you shouldn’t spend a fortune on your rugs because they’ll become worn-out fairly quickly. You should choose easy-to-clean, functional and stain-resistant rugs that will enable you to keep your furry friends inside without worrying about spills and stains. Polyester rugs with dark colors or intricate designs are pet-friendly because they can easily mask a stain or two.

Answering these important questions will help you find the perfect area rugs for your home and lifestyle.

Great Information If You Are Interested In A Robot Vacuum

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Keeping a safe and orderly home has been shown to be drastically correlated to staying healthy, maintaining lower stress levels, and of course an overall happier household. However, even though we clearly know the benefits to keeping our homes safe and in order, it’s not always the easiest thing to achieve while living a busy lifestyle. Luckily, advancements in technology and the rise of automation have brought us things like home security systems, smart thermostats and of course things like dishwashers and robot vacuums. These products and services are all designed to allow us to maintain our busy lifestyles all while keeping our homes safe and in order.

With all of the excitement and potential it’s natural to want to rush out and buy these home-helpers, but it’s important to do your research first. Reviews.com is a great place to start your search. They offer tons of help on what to look for, tips for use, and recommendations. Robot Vacuums for example, when purchasing your own there are many factors to consider and some key elements to watch for:

What it should do – A robot vacuum should take care of basic cleaning with minimal human intervention. It should suck up every day dirt build up with ease.

What to watch for – When selecting a robot vacuum there are a few major factors to consider; brush design, battery power, navigation algorithms, strength of brushes and section power. Anything that feels dinky, has plastic discs, or is overall an unimpressive clean won’t save you any time at all. You’ll spend twice the amount of time re-doing the vacuuming and searching for missed spots.

What do you want – Is budget important? Or are you willing to spend whatever for the ultimate device. Obviously not everyone has $1,000 laying around for a top of the line robot vacuum but that certainly doesn’t mean you can’t afford a really great one for your own budget. Also watch for things the robot vacuum does, if you have all hardwood floors, you should probably look for one that specializes in that. If you have pets, you probably want to know which ones can suck up the most pet hair.