10 July 2019

Fab Furniture Pieces: Strategies to Arrange Them Like A Pro in Any Room

Arranging furniture pieces, no matter how much space you have, can be really challenging. Here are some ideas on how you can arrange yours just like a pro.



So, you've browsed through interior design magazines and online furniture shops, like https://www.roomstogo.com/, and have picked the pieces you want for your space. But, are you sure that cabinet will truly complement your bed? Will it even fit in your door?

There's something enjoyable about arranging furniture; after all, interior design will always be a fun home project. However, it can also be challenging, whether it's your first time creating a layout for your home or are simply rearranging a room. Thankfully, there are a few tricks you can incorporate to make your arrangement work without compromising a lot of things. Here are some ideas on how to arrange your furniture at home like a seasoned pro:

Work your Pieces Around a Focal Point

The easiest yet most effective way to create a solid layout for your room is by arranging all your furniture pieces around your chosen focal point. A “focal point” refers to a certain element that draws a person's eyes as soon as they walk into a room. It's better and easier if your chosen focal point is something that already exists in a room, but if you don't have one, say, a window that highlights a stunning view of your backyard, you can work with window companies to make the arrangements. If you have an old fireplace, a huge television, or a built-in shelving for books, it could also work. You can also hang some interesting photos or an artwork with bold patterns on your wall or choose one statement furniture. Once you've decided on a focal point, arrange all your furniture pieces in a way to put the focus on that feature. Create visual clues with your furniture oriented towards the focal point.

Move Away from the Walls



The most common design mistake homeowners commit is lining up all of their seating against the walls. This isn't exactly an illogical choice, as many people think doing so will open up the space and make it look brighter. However, this could actually backfire. When you choose to follow this trick when it comes to arranging furniture, what happens is you create some dead space in the middle of the room. This, in turn, makes the area look incomplete. So, move things away from the walls. Instead of spreading your furniture pieces in every corner of the room, make an intimate grouping to make the area look more professionally staged. This could also encourage more interactions with your guests and family members.

Keep the Traffic Flow in Mind

When arranging your furniture pieces, never forget about the “traffic flow” – the way people move throughout the living space. The ideal scenario is to have all your pieces arranged in such a way that people can move freely and go about their routine without bumping into them. To identify the traffic pattern in a room, make a quick floor plan and draw some arrows to show all the pathways available. Then, place the furniture around them.

When you've finally found the right combination, start rearranging the furniture properly.

09 July 2019

Choosing Concrete Driveways in Orlando vs Other Materials

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Choosing the right material for your driveway is a critical decision all homeowners must make. It has to be durable and have good longevity, but should also look attractive and blend in with the rest of the house. Stain resistance and resistance to tire marks are also a plus for choosing the driveway material that’s right for you. Here are the three most popular driveway materials and their respective pros and cons to help you decide which driveway material is best for you:

Concrete

Concrete is an extremely popular choice for driveways. Made up of cement and aggregate stones and other rough materials, concrete is extremely durable and cost-effective but it does have its drawbacks. It is a classic and popular choice for driveways and will suit almost any home. If you’re considering concrete driveways, here are its pros and cons:

Pros

  • Concrete is extremely durable. When installed by concrete driveway contractors experts, well taken care of and regularly resealed, a concrete driveway can last for at least 50 years. 
  • Concrete driveways hold up well against most extreme weather such as rain and heat, though heat is a bigger problem in Orlando.
  • It is a cost-effective choice that offers a good price for the longevity it offers. And not only is it affordable, but it also has a quick installation time that further cuts down the costs of hired labor.
  • Though it starts its life as grey, it can be customized to look any way you want it to.

Cons

  • Bare concrete does not have the most attractive appearance and can be off-putting. However, this can be remedied by decorative concrete methods like staining and stamping.
  • It usually requires a contractor to install a concrete driveway as the mixture is vulnerable to mistakes and can be a delicate process.
  • If you want your concrete driveway to last well, you will need to have a regular reseal done to ensure its longevity.

Asphalt

People usually talk about asphalt driveways in relation to concrete driveways because they are similarly popular and comparable in cost and durability, but asphalt has its own distinct characteristics. It is a form of petroleum and can be either found in natural deposits or created as a product. Because of its characteristic as a kind of petroleum, it is more flexible than concrete. If you are considering getting an asphalt driveway, here are its pros and cons:

Pros

  • Asphalt driveways can last up to 20 years with regular maintenance.
  • Unlike concrete, asphalt driveways last well in the sun and are less likely to form cracks after exposure to sunlight.
  • Asphalt is generally cheaper than concrete.

Cons

  • Asphalt driveways need regular maintenance and resealing to ensure its longevity.
  • Though cheaper than concrete, asphalt is more expensive than gravel, another popular driveway material.

Gravel

Gravel is any loose quantity of small rock fragments and stones. It comes in a number of classes depending on the size of the particles. It’s a popular choice for a lot of rural homes and can last decades with proper maintenance. While many homes that use gravel driveways only use the one driveway, many homes with a larger area size will use a gravel driveway to lead up to their actual driveway which could be made of concrete or asphalt. If you’re considering gravel driveways, here are the pros and cons:

Pros

  • Gravel driveways are generally cheaper than most other driveway materials.
  • It can last for up 100 years with proper care and maintenance.
  • Gravel driveways can be repaired and renewed very easily unlike driveways made of other materials.
  • You don’t have to worry about cracks or freeze-thaw cycles as neither will affect gravel driveways.

Cons

  • Gravel driveways need near-constant maintenance and replenishment to keep it effective, which can add up in costs.
  • It is hard to clean and plow a gravel driveway as it does not have a flat surface that can be cleared and cleaned.


05 July 2019

Are You a Slave to Trends?

It's one thing to design a stylish house, but it's another to follow trends too religiously. Your wallet might be suffering unnecessarily.


In this day and age, everything is a commodity. You may think social media is just a fun way to interact with your friends and to share the highlights of your day, but even they turn your attention into a commodity. Brands compete for your attention, and most times, they are succeeding.

You may not be aware of it, but you have become a slave to trends.

Replacement Instead of Repair 

We live in a world that takes pride in “instant” products. Everything is available to you with a few clicks of a button. As long as you know the number to call or you have the app on your phone, you’re set to get whatever you fancy. And this has given rise to the trend of replacing everything that doesn’t work according to your specifications. Sure, it’s better to replace old appliances if they have not been updated in the last decade, but if you just bought them last year and already want to replace them, that’s a problem. It’s the same with smartphones; as companies launch new models, you feel like your functional phone is suddenly incompetent. It’s easy to justify why you want the latest model for these things, but when it comes to garage door repair or window replacement, there’s more to consider than just trends in Provo. Consider the cost of replacing a perfectly good garage door that just needs repairs. Insisting on following trends may be losing you more money in the long run.

Endless Renovations 




Going for renovations for no other reason than to get the latest items is just like replacing your older kitchen or bathroom with a newer one. These parts of the house are commonly used, so it’s understandable that they will show signs of wear and tear, but if your tiles and backsplash are perfectly functional and intact, is there really a need to replace them with the latest trendy color you see in magazines? Especially if you’re looking to sell that property in the future, these trendy parts of the house might look outdated once new trends have surfaced. This means you’ll either have to spend more money to replace them again or you’ll have to sell the house for a lower price. This isn’t a concern if you had gone with an evergreen but also stylish design and maintained it properly.

A Digital Life

It does sound cool if you can live in a smart home. You don’t have to worry about setting the thermostat because it’s done for you automatically. Forgot to lock the doors? Do so in an app that you have with you even if you’re out of the house. Convenient, right? However, these are not foolproof and are not exempt from human error. Your life may be automated, but each decision is still controlled by your actions, whether pre-programmed or triggered remotely. There’s also the added vulnerability that comes in the form of hacking. As technology gets smarter, so do hackers. The more reliant you are on online systems to keep the house secure, the more prone you are to hacking attempts.

How much of your life is defined by your personal preferences? How much is defined by trends? If you want to be happy with your life without spending money unnecessarily, don’t be a slave to trends.

01 July 2019

4 Decorating Tips for Home Improvement Projects

When you’re planning to decorate your home to give it a makeover, it helps to be prepared first. This allows you to take proper precautions to protect carpeting and floors during the decorating process. It’s also useful when on a tighter budget to use creativity and time rather than throwing more money at the problem.

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Here are four decorating tips for your next home improvement project.

1. Protect Your Floors During Painting and Plastering

Whether you have hardwood flooring or carpeting in place, don’t expect dust, wall debris or paint to not make its way to the floor. Even the most careful of decorators are going to get paint splashes, flecks of plaster embedded in the carpeting, and other debris flying about. It’s tough to get it out later and makes for extra work, which is completely unnecessary.

What you should invest in is flooring paper like Trimaco’s X-Paper, which is what the professionals use. It is thicker than builder’s paper, breathable to avoid heating the floor if it’s being cured, and prevents wetness from spills too. It’s a step above what you can usually find in a DIY store. Don’t start a new project without it.

2. Get Creative When on a Budget

When you have more time to consider your options and are on a tighter budget, let this spark your creativity. Instead of feeling restricted, allocate the budget where it’s most needed during a decoration or renovation project and find new ways to solve existing problems.

For instance, perhaps you’d like a piece of artwork on the living room wall or a custom paint finish but it’s pushing the boundaries of your finances. In which case, why not focus on emotions by putting up several affordable wall art frames filled with family photos or if you live alone, photo from your travels. This is better than having tiny photos on the mantlepiece that aren’t large enough to enjoy fully and the framed photos will act as a conversation starter too.

3, Use Textures to Create Different Tactile Sensations

Don’t just think about colors and fabrics when changing furnishings or linens.
Try to activate the senses. Choose interesting fabrics with textures that provide new sensations; not just arresting colors. Even small things like cushions on the sofa selected for their rugged textured feel contrast nicely with the sofa’s smooth surface.

Also, a rug on the floor can provide alternative sensations for your feet in the living room or family room too.

4. Look at Minimalism to Reduce Decorating Complexity

If you’re finding that a decorating project looks too time-consuming, consider focusing on reducing the number of pieces of furniture in each room. Using techniques from minimalism, it’s possible to simplify the task of decorating by doing more with less.

When freed up to focus on fewer items, this allows you to invest greater time in each room without getting frustrated by making slow progress. Similarly, keeping a simpler decorating color scheme avoids overcomplication that drags out a project too long.

The important thing with decorating is first, don’t damage anything you own. Protect floors using flooring paper and place cloth dust covers over the furniture too. Then, avoiding overdoing it is key to bring the decorating project to a successful conclusion.


03 June 2019

7 Cheap Kitchen Renovation Ideas

Moving to another house doesn’t only require hiring the best moving company or Brooklyn movers; you still have to unload and unpack all of your moving boxes to make your house feel like home. This is an essential step to ensure that your entire household will be comfortable staying indoors. And being one of the most important areas of your house, you should start by renovating your kitchen. This is especially true if you’re an aspiring chef who wants to impress your guests and family with your cooking skills.

Contrary to popular belief, renovating your kitchen doesn’t have to cost an arm and leg. Sure, you might need to allot a certain amount of money, but this will become a worthy investment in the long run. To help you start off, here are some cheap kitchen renovation ideas to try out:




1.    Bring in the pattern.

Soft hues and pastel colors are common choices for a kitchen wall. These colors can easily complement any color you might have in your home. If you want your kitchen to be unique, opt to bring in a pattern. This means using wallpapers or decals on your kitchen walls instead of painting them with soft hues and pastel colors. You can also use printed rugs, hand towels, and silverware in your kitchen. Bringing in patterns to your kitchen will surely bring this area back to life!

2.    Hang floating shelves.

Regardless of your cooking skill, you will always need storage in your kitchen. You need to properly store all of your silverware, spices, and cooking utensils, just to name a few. Aside from using cabinets (which are usually built-in in every kitchen), consider adding floating shelves in your kitchen. This renovation idea will not only improve the functionality of your kitchen, but it can also improve its aesthetic value. Just make sure that you’re using a material that’s suitable to the strength of your kitchen walls.

3.    Add color with stools. 

Your kitchen will never be complete without seats. You’ll need to have chairs on your dining tables and countertops. If you want your kitchen to be as colorful as possible, invest in colorful stools which have contrasting colors to your overall theme. For example, if your kitchen has gray walls, look for stools in bright colors of green, blue, red, and yellow. Using these types of stools is like hitting two birds at the same time – you’ll improve the seating options in your kitchen while adding pops of colors.

4.    Use plates as wall décor.

Do you have any broken plates? Are you having second thoughts in throwing these out because of their sentimental value? Worry no more because you can still use these plates even when they’re already shattered – but this time, as decorations. Glue broken pieces together and hang these plates on your kitchen walls. If possible, use plates which have different sizes and designs. You’ll be surprised how this simple tip can make your kitchen luxurious and attractive.



5.    Invest in an expensive dining table. 

A dining table is essential in every kitchen. Every family will have to have an extendable dining table in order to eat comfortably. If you’re looking for a showstopper piece for your kitchen, invest in an expensive dining table. If you’re leaning towards this direction, make sure that you’re choosing a dining table which fits the overall theme of your kitchen and your budget, as well. You don’t want a single dining table to become the reason why you’ll face too many debts, right?

6.    Add in plants.

You don’t need to be a rocket scientist to know how beneficial plants are to your health and environment. Plants can improve air quality while being an excellent source of nutrients and minerals. For you to enjoy these benefits, add in different plants in your kitchen. You can add in small plants which fit in your countertops or bigger ones which can stand alone. When choosing which type of plant to have in your kitchen, always consider your lifestyle and schedule. Don’t have plants which will require daily watering when you’re available during the weekends.

7.    Improve lighting. 

You might not know it, but the amount and quality of lighting you get from your kitchen can affect the ambiance of the space. If your kitchen is too dark, don’t expect that you’ll be motivated to cook anything or your guests will stay here for long. If you don’t want any of these to happen, improve the lighting of your kitchen. Add in pendant lights or lights under the cabinet for added functionality and style.

Choose The Best

Cheap kitchen renovation ideas aren’t only limited to the information from this article. If you have the time and interest, you can do your own research online and get ready to be bombarded with several other options. To narrow down your search, determine what you really want in your kitchen and while you’re at it, don’t forget to let your creativity and personality shine, as well!