Holiday Window Decoration Ideas

When it comes time to decorate for the holidays, be it Halloween, Christmas, or anything else your family may celebrate, there’s a lot that has to go into it around the house - but have you considered your windows? Whether you have new vinyl windows or the windows that came with your home, there’s plenty of ways to make your windows just as festive as the rest of your home.

Stickers and Clings You probably haven’t thought about these since you were a little kid, but there’s still plenty of options out there for easy, removable window clings to help get you in the holiday spirit! Holiday- or party-themed retailers will offer a wide variety of vinyl static-based window clings that will hold tight to your windows through the whole season without any mess or cleanup!

Window Paint Or if you prefer something a little more personalized, there’s plenty of options to paint directly on the window! Tempera paint provides a safe and easy to clean option for painting directly on the window pane, allowing you to paint pumpkins, turkeys, Santa Claus, or anything else you want directly on the window for a more personalized look - and you can wash them right off when you’re done! This might be a fun project for the kids to get in on to help them feel like they’ve had a hand in the decorations!

Repurpose Other Decorations or Items Why stop at just using items intended for windows? Depending on the shape and layout of your windows and the rooms they hang in, you can take other decorations and re-use them on your windows instead. String garland and Christmas tree ornaments along the tops of your window panes, or re-use holiday-themed table settings to create impromptu window treatments.

Don’t just stop here - there’s plenty of decorations that you can use to make your windows just as festive and decorated as the rest of your home during the holiday seasons!

Tips to Use Storage Space in a Small Kitchen

Living with a small kitchen can be tough. Countertops can become overcrowded, which leaves less room for food preparation. However, there is a solution for homeowners as most kitchens do not take advantage of the vertical space. The following are some tips to help you organize and decorate using the vertical space in your own kitchen: Floating Shelves Floating shelves can be placed almost anywhere in your kitchen, including on the sides of cabinets. Those that are closest to your workspace can hold items that you normally place on your countertops. This will free up that space for your food prep.

Vertical Wall-Mounted Spice Rack For those who love to use spices in their cooking, finding the right spice in an overcrowded cabinet can be tough. Instead, place a vertical wall-mounted spice rack on the wall in your kitchen. Not only will it help you to stay organized, it may just give you more inspiration when cooking.

Wire Shelves in Cupboards If you look in your cupboards, you will most likely find a lot of wasted space above the area where your items are stored. If you place wire shelves in your cupboards, you can store two or three times as many items inside and it will give you the opportunity to be more organized.

Hanging Pot Rack To free up some of your cupboard space, consider hanging a large pot rack above the island in your kitchen. This will get your pots and pans organized and can put everything you need to cook a fabulous meal right in front of you.

Unused Window Space Another way to organize your kitchen is to place a tool rack horizontally in front of your window. This rack can hold your kitchen tools, like spatulas and spoons, and provide you with more space. It can also help to create the atmosphere you want for your kitchen by placing your most useful tools in sight while still allowing the view through your window.

A small kitchen is not hard to live with when you factor in the vertical space that is available. It is simply a matter of using your own imagination to figure out the best way to utilize it.

Tips for a Less Stressful Renovation

The renovation of your home is going to cause you a lot of stress, whether you live in your home during the renovation or not. Dealing with contractors is not always easy, especially when you do not understand the length of time that it takes to do certain projects. However, the following tips are a great way to help you to eliminate some of the stress that comes with renovating your home: Create a Budget for the Renovation Before you hire a contractor, you must determine exactly how much money you have to spend on the renovation. The money will need to be divided between materials and labor. You also need to have a small amount set aside for unplanned expenses. They will come up and, being prepared for them, will reduce your stress greatly.

Hire a Contractor You Trust Hiring the right contractor is crucial in reducing a potentially stressful remodel job. You must find one that you can trust to get the job done right while staying on budget. Before you hire anyone, be sure to interview several contractors after checking their references and work experience.

Create a Communication Plan Many homeowners get stressed when they don’t know what is happening with every little detail of the renovation. Prior to the start of renovation, create a communication plan between you and your contractor. Whether you keep a project detail book at the home or you communicate through email, it will help to keep you calm and can keep you from wasting your contractor’s valuable time.

Be Realistic and Patient The hardest part for any homeowner is being realistic and patient through the renovation process. You may not have a complete understanding how much time it takes to put in walls or flooring, but your contractor does. It may be hard to be patient during this process, but it is a must if you want to get through it with your own sanity intact.

The renovation process is not an easy one to go through, but the homeowner can take the above steps to reduce some of the stress. If you have not made any plans to move out during the renovation, it may be something you need to consider. Trying to live in your home while it is being worked on is going to add more stress. If it is possible, find another place to stay while your home is being worked on. It will benefit you and your family greatly.

Real Wood VS Laminate Flooring: Which Is Right for Your Home?

When it comes to flooring, carpet is out and wood is in. The fact is that the people in today’s world understand just home many contaminants and allergens can get trapped in carpet and the concern for their health trumps comfort. However, there are several types of flooring to consider, including real wood floors and laminate flooring. Before making a decision, there are several factors that must be considered. Price The cost of laminate flooring is much less than real hardwood flooring. The high cost of hardwood takes into account that real trees are being cut down. Also, as it is more time consuming to install than laminate flooring, even the installation charges will be higher. When budget is a large concern, laminate flooring may be the right decision.

Durability Laminate flooring is made from composite wood that is pressed together and it is very sturdy. In fact, laminate floor is almost scratch-proof and it is moisture-resistant. On the other hand, hardwood flooring is easily scratched and will get warped if there is too much moisture. However, hardwood flooring looks beautiful in any home, while many types of laminate flooring look like the fake that it is.

Maintenance Laminate floors are simple to maintain, but if it does get damaged, it is extremely difficult to replace. You may only have one or two places that need repair, but it could require the whole floor coming up to replace those areas. Hardwood floors are extremely easy to maintain. They may need to be sanded down and refinished every so often, but the floors themselves will last for many years to come.

Regardless of your choice in laminate or real hardwood flooring, you will find that your home will feel complete when they are installed. Both types of flooring will add value to your home and give it the appeal you desire.

Re-Organize Your Garage More Easily

For garage owners, the ideal scenario is to come home from work and park your vehicle inside the garage where you know it will be safe. The more common situation, however, is that the garage is too packed full of your items to fit your vehicle in it. The solution is a simple one, but one that many people often ignore. The vertical space in your garage is perfect opportunity to get your garage organized so you can park in it. The following are some tips to assist you in utilizing the vertical space:

Ceiling Racks To get your bikes, canoes, and anything else you have on the floor out of the way, consider hanging ceiling racks. These racks can help you organize the garage and, because they can hold heavy items, store heavier and bulkier items. The key is to use heavy duty hooks and rope to hold your items secure.

Floor to Ceiling Shelving Many of the items found in the garage are not able to be placed on the ceiling racks. However, floor to ceiling shelving is perfect for items that can be packed into a box and labeled. Whether it is Christmas decorations or seasonal clothing, the boxes can be stored from the floor to ceiling and give you the space back to park your vehicle.

Wall-Mounted Cabinets Wall-mounted cabinets are not just for the kitchen anymore. Many people are repurposing kitchen cabinets and using them in the garage for storage. It is often one of the most economical ways of adding vertical space as you can get them for free or cheap from people who are remodeling homes.

Pegboard Siding Pegboard is one of the most popular items to use in the garage for a reason. Simple hooks can help you to hang up items that can take up valuable real estate in other areas of the garage, including counter space. Organizing tools is one of the main benefits you can get when you use pegboard. If your garage space has been overtaken by household items, sports equipment, and Christmas decorations take it back by creating vertical storage. By following some of the above tips, you will soon be able to park your vehicle where it rightfully belongs.