How to Create a Homey Guest Bedroom

Have an extra room you’re not really sure what to do with? Turn it into a guest bedroom! Transforming a spare space into a welcoming rest zone will not only please your future guests, but can also be a fun weekend project. Listed below, we dive into the many ways this can be done.

Paint Walls or Add Wallpaper If you were to look at a house that didn’t have any grass, you’d be able to tell right away that something is off about it. Likewise, it’s nice to have walls dressed up in a coat of paint or a comforting wallpaper design. If you plan to paint, consider stylizing your room with a consistent color scheme. Earthy tones like beige, light green, or vanilla - these hues breed a welcoming sentiment and overall air of hospitality to any space.

Comfy Bed If you have company staying over night, there’s one thing they’ll need beyond anything else: a bed! To be safe, opt for a medium-to-large sized mattress. Stay consistent with the color scheme of your walls’ paint job or wallpaper by purchasing matching sheets.

Provide Accommodating Furnishings Outfit the room with the type of furniture you might find in your standard bedroom. By supplying essential home furniture - like a nightstand, clock, armorer, lamp, and set of magazines - your guests are bound to feel both entertained and right at home. Other furniture like a mini cabinet to store clothes (for longer stays) or a mirror can play a large role in attending to your guests’ level of comfort.

Control the Airflow If there’s no heat or air conditioning in your appointed guest room, you may want to consider adding an extra fan or heat generator depending on which season it is. Secondly, give the windows a checkup for any sign of a draft as this could be lead to discomfort for guests. If you’ve tried sealing gaps in your window frames and are still experiencing trouble, contact Wallside Windows to speak with an expert and learn how we can help replace your windows.

Spruce up the Place Outfit the walls with soothing pictures that you think your guests will enjoy - sort of like how a hotel does. If you really want to up the ante, add a television from across the bed. With such great hospitality, they’ll never want to leave!

Four Reasons Why People Love Our Custom-Built Windows

As a leading manufacturer of vinyl replacement windows for over seventy years, Wallside knows the ins and outs of what makes quality windows. With their factory stationed in Taylor, MI, their expert team assembles hundreds of windows on a daily basis, which are then installed to Michigan and Ohio homes. We take a look below at three reasons Wallside’s factory-built windows are renowned as the area’s most preferred.

Customization Options At Wallside, there’s no stock-sized windows that is produced over and over again. Hand-crafted in our 72,000 square-foot factory, we employ precision care to your windows and pay meticulous attention to the small (but essential) details. Every home is different and requires a specific size and installation. Our builders keep this in mind during the construction process so that the window will be placed in a location that promotes the best views, opportunities for nice airflow in the summer, and the best openings for sunlight. But even before we even get started on windows, we’ll give a free estimate appointment to best understand and cater to your home window needs.

Diverse Styles Everyone has a unique taste when it comes to the style of windows they want to incorporate into their home. Our team of professionals craft dozens of different window designs each day. Ranging from double hung, bay and bow, to doorwalls, our variety of window styles is sure to meet the vision you have for your home.

Top-Rate Technology Wallside doesn’t take energy efficiency lightly, which is exactly why we implement warm-edge stainless steel spacers into each window. The spacers and sealant we use provide stalwart UV protection and defense against condensation and other causes of weathering. By lessening the effect of harmful ultraviolet light and containing inside-generated heat during the winter and blocking unwanted heat rays during the summer, proving Wallside’s Low-E glass coating to offer some of the industry’s most sophisticated insulation performance.

Factory Guarantee For 35 years, Wallside guarantees unwavering commitment to your windows. Whether it’s a gap, worn-out seal, damage from rust or problems with the frame’s pain, we have you covered. We understand the importance of maintaining your home’s re-sale value, which is why we are only a phone call away when your windows need assistance.

Five Upgrades that Raise Your Home’s Value

If you plan to own a home for more than five-to-ten years, it’s likely you will make a significant amount of changes to it along the way. These alterations will vary depending on the state of your house when you purchase it. There are some upgrades, though, that are universally beneficial for any homeowner. Listed below are five home upgrades that are valuable across the board.

Polished Landscaping Similarly to how the inside of a home is decorated to reflect a homeowner's tastes, the outside landscaping should do the same. Fill yours with variations of plants, trees, light fixtures, and other swanky garnishes such as a lamp post or a cobblestone walkway. The opportunities to experiment all rely on what your tastes are; some of which you may not even be aware of without the expert help of a professional landscape contractor.

Energy-Efficient Windows If your home windows are outdated or experiencing issues such as drafts or faulty weatherstripping, it may be time to replace yours. Greater home ventilation, insulation, and a lower energy bill are just a few of the many benefits to be had from installing new windows. However, if your windows are in decent shape, you could also add a picture window to provide an expansive view over a lake or a double-hung to breathe air into an otherwise stuffy room.

Swimming Pool or Hot Tub It’s no mystery that swimming pools and hot tubs cost a pretty penny. If it’s within your budget, adding one of these are sure to raise your home’s value. This said, it’s not the only reason to consider incorporating one of them in your backyard. Everyone, for the most part, loves swimming - it’s a luxury - and could also be the deal breaker that wins a prospective homeowner over to to finalizing a purchase deal.

Updated Technologies Old-fashioned technology can be fun to keep around for a while - such as a classic telephone with circular dials - but there comes a time when not getting up to speed with new equipment becomes a detriment to your livelihood and bank account. Incandescent light bulbs, for example, are inefficient compared to the more modern, energy-saving LED and CLF bulbs. Other technologies to update include air conditioning units, thermostats, security systems, light fixtures, in-wall microwaves, and thermostats.

Renovated Rooms In spaces such as the kitchen, bathroom, or living room, a well-executed design can go a long way. Features such as the paint job, flooring, storage capacity, backsplash, and other nuances in design all collectively influence a room’s ambiance. For instance, some people place high importance on the layout of a kitchen. If yours feels clunky or possibly needs more space, it may be in your best interest to remodel it into a more accommodating space.

Easy Steps to Removing Dirty Fingerprints

Over time, it’s inevitable for our belongings to become dirty with fingerprints. Wiping them clean may not be as pressing as say, taking preventive measures against window drafts, but that doesn’t mean it should be ignored. Spanning from our most cherished technologies to home furniture, we take a look at how to effectively clean up pesky patches of fingerprints. Laptops Grimy laptop screens look gross and negatively impact the quality of picture they provide. To wipe away fingerprints from your laptop screen, unplug it from its charger, turn it off, and find yourself a cleaning kit. These come with a microfiber cloth and cleaning solution that are purposefully tailored for the delicate screens of a laptop. Apply the cleaning solution onto the microfiber cloth, then, gently wipe the perimeter of your screen; make sure to get in between the corners and cracks for the best cleanse. Lastly, make sure to apply soft pressure - but still enough to remove the dirt and fingerprints.

Discs - CDs and DVDS CD and DVD discs are handled on a consistent basis, so it’s no surprise that they collect so many fingerprints. To wipe these clean, the first thing you’ll want to do is remove them out of their containers. Hold the disc with caution, being careful to not add any additional smudges. Next, grab a delicate cloth, warm water, and soap. Moisten the cloth - don’t soak it, the cloth should only be a little wet - and smoothly wipe in a circular motion. To finish, dry the CD with a dry rag or cloth that won’t damage the screen.

Windows Along with energy efficiency, replacement windows play a huge role in a home’s appearance and overall aesthetic. The quickest, most effective solution to dealing with smudgy fingerprints on your replacement windows is none other than the classic window cleaning solution of Windex. Grab a paper towel or rag, spray some windex, and scrub away. After a quick once-over, any signs grease-stained imprints from your fingers will be washed clean in no time.

Walls No different from dealing with the goods above, it’s important to employ an attitude of caution when clearing walls of abrasions and grubby fingerprints. Before you get started, take notice of which walls have paint or wallpaper and which are a standard white; if possible, research the type of paint and wallpaper material you have used to see if the providers have a “best practice cleaning guide.” Next, scout out a delicate cleaning material so that paint isn’t smeared. After you acquire the right materials and are ready to get to work, dip your cloth in lukewarm water mixed with soap. Gently scrub the fingerprints until sufficiently washed; let dry and all signs of fingerprints should be gone.

Brighten Up the Outside of Your Home

By nightfall, if there isn't enough lighting, all of our hard work put into lawn care falls out of sight. Keeping a home's exterior visible after sundown - not to mention making it navigable for walking - requires a spaced-out spread of strategically placed light fixtures. We show the way to a well-lit outdoor space with the tips below.

Pathways Especially for guests that aren’t well acquainted with the exterior layout of your home, lighting the way leading to your door is top-priority. Otherwise, family or friends could fall and face injuries. For pathways, consider adding a row of mushroom landscape path lights on each end to provide safe travels; place them in rows at opposing ends for maximum spread of light. Most pathway lighting fixtures are bought in bulk because of the tiny spread that each individual one provides. Whatever style you choose, make sure these are positioned in a way that sufficiently shows the way and illuminates any obstructions.

Front Yard A large aspect driving home security is signaling to outside passersbys that your home is well-lit. ppoint flood lights around your front lawn so that any opportunity for questionable activity is exposed out in the open. Place an outdoor post light near the front, which acts as a savvy way to foster both a suave look and shed light on your front yard. As for the doorway, there are dozens of wall light options to comb through; for security purpose, choose those with LED bulbs that radiate extremely bright. Lastly, for those concerned about home security, another effective tip is to flick on inside lamps nearby windows; this conveys that you are indeed home and mitigates the chance of suspicious activity around your quarters.

Driveway Another main home entry-point, driveway lighting is used to communicate to others where to park and is helpful for squeezing cars in tight. For best lighting, install bright lanterns parsed out between garage doors. Dozens of fashions - ranging from traditional, industrial, to minimal, and several others - can be experimented with to highlight your home’s core characteristics.

Patio or Deck The patio and deck are prime spots for family parties or social get-togethers. For this reason, it’s vital to light all aspects of them. A fun first option is step lights, which can be installed inside the step and emit a glow to help guide the way up or down a flight of stairs. Similar to the front yard, outdoor posts are great for offering an ambiance and serving as a radiant marker amidst a dark night.

Adding ample exterior lighting to your home is no doubt important. However, at the same time it’s important to keep your energy costs down. If you decide to add new light fixtures to your outdoor home environment, be sure to research energy-efficient appliances and tips so that your bill doesn’t take an unexpected hike.

Sources: http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/article/0,,213652,00.html