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Every home has a need for renovations, and as nice as it would be to have the time and money to take care of minor repairs as soon as problems arise, the truth is most homeowners put repairs and renovations on the back burner until bigger problems arise and the whole house needs a makeover. If you’re currently in this situation, here is some advice to making your renovation projects easy to complete while on a budget. Get your home appraised Before you renovate, have your home appraised according to Beauty and Bedlam. Knowing what your home is worth in the condition it is already in will let you know exactly how much you need to do in order to increase the value. Discuss with the appraiser how much other homes in the area are going for, and how much your home would be worth if it had necessary upgrades. Set goals so you know what you are working towards without getting distracted during the project. After your upgrades and renovations are complete, have your home appraised again, and create a plan for how to keep the value of your home high or rising with regular maintenance. Make a list of needs and wants Spend time in each area of your home and make a list of all the renovations and upgrades each area needs, and add any upgrades that are not as vital, but that you would like to add. When creating your list, try not to think about a budget right away, just go with what you want and need most. Once your list is created, prioritize the list into needs and wants, and then prioritize the list again in order from the most necessary to the projects that can wait a little bit. Even though some upgrades that are more necessary might not be as fun to complete, get them out of the way so you can focus on the projects that are more exciting. Set a budget Once you have a solid list of all the upgrades and renovations you need, determine how much you are willing to spend in order to fix up your home. As much as you might want to take care of your entire list, it is not worth going into debt for. Work your way down your list, and save money for projects that do not need to happen right away. On pay days, put away a little money specifically for home projects. If you are not in a hurry to sell your home, upgrades and renovations can be completed a little slower, so take your time and make sure you can afford them before draining your savings and racking up credit cards. Spend time online viewing tutorials for DIY projects that can help you save money and complete more projects. Interior decorating and remodeling news brought to you by *REMOVED* Source: beautyandbedlam.com/home­renovations­on­a­budget/

If you’ve been to an urban area lately, you may have noticed a growing trend: green roofing. Not just “green” as the environmentally conscious sense but literally “green” as in made of living things. Many commercial buildings in urban centers are opting for green roofs because they cut cooling and heating costs and benefit the environment in important ways. Though the popularity of green roofs is a rather recent development, the concept of a green roof is nothing new. People have been using soil and plant life as a roofing material for centuries. Today it’s making a comeback not just for commercial buildings but on residences as well. If you’re looking for an alternative roofing solution and think that green roofing may be a good option for you, here are six considerations to make: 1.Weight. Green roofs weigh more than standard roofing materials such as asphalt shingles. Depending on the type of plant life and the soil depth required for those plants, a vegetative roof can weigh between 16 and 60 pounds per square foot. You should find out how much weight your roof can support to see if green roofing is an option. 2.Structural considerations. Some roofs will require structural enhancements to be able to support a green roof, especially if the depth of the vegetative layer is greater. 3.Underlying roofing system. Green roofs still need to function like traditional roofs, they need to allow for water drainage. An inspector when need to look for any potential problems that could lead to leaks or water pooling up. 4.Landscaper or roofer. Both have different areas of expertise. It’s likely that you’ll need an expert of each type to pull off a high quality green roof. 5.Maintenance. Vegetative roofs typically require a lot more maintenance than traditional roofs though some very simple green roofs are pretty easy to maintain. You need to plan ahead to maintain your new roof and factor that into the cost of the new roof. 6.Doing repairs. Roof problems are a little harder to fix when there’s a layer of vegetation atop it. Modular green roofing is becoming more popular because roofers can more easily remove the vegetation in the area they need to work on and then replace it. Home improvement news brought to you by bartonroof.com Source: facilityexecutive.com/2015/05/green-roof-considerations/

Most homeowners cringe at the idea of organizing their home because before a home can be organized, a lot of mess has to be sorted through. While organizing might not be the most fun project, once your home is organized you will notice a lot of stress, anxiety and tension will be gone from your home. Clutter and mess has a way of bogging down happiness, but organizing your home will allow more happiness, and should be done on a regular basis. Here is some advice for organizing your home in order to simplify your life. Everything needs a home Decluttering can be the hardest part of organizing a home, but it doesn’t have to be. The easiest way to get rid of unnecessary clutter is by making sure everything you own has a place, and the items that don’t have a place you don’t need. House Mix Blog suggests that you try not to own more than one of anything unless it is absolutely necessary. Multiples of the same item just add more clutter and more mess for you to worry about. Work your way from room to room getting rid of unnecessary items so open up space and start a more simple life. Needing vs. wanting We have all been victims of stores making us believe we need to purchase items that we really don’t need. When you feel the urge to buy something, fist consider if it is something that will be used on a regular basis. Once it has passed that test, ask yourself if you already own something similar to the item that can be used for the same purpose. If you still think you need the item, determine where it will go in your home. If you can’t think of a place for it to go, you don’t need it. Where to start organizing What makes organizing a home so stressful is trying to organize it all at once. You might be anxious for a simpler life, but be even more patient and organize one room at a time to prevent you from creating an uncontrollable mess and becoming overwhelmed. Start in the rooms you spend more of your time in such as the kitchen and living rooms. Understand the space you have to work with and consider where you would like more space. Empty each drawer, closet, pantry and shelf getting rid of unnecessary items to open up space and make the room feel clean rather than cluttered. Organization tools As you make your way from room to room, make a list of organization tools that would benefit you such as bins, baskets, shelves, drawer dividers, pull out drawers and other tools that would make your life more simple and convenient. You will be amazed how much space organization tools can open up. Interior decorating and remodeling news brought to you by baseboardradiatorcover.com Source: housemixblog.com/2014/07/03/how-i-simplified-and-organized-my-house-room-by-room/

Every homeowner understands how quickly and easily clutter can accumulate in your home. If the clutter problems are not taken care of, they can easily get out of hand and overwhelm you as well as make your house seem smaller than it really is. Obviously all clutter is not unnecessary, it just needs a home. Here are some helpful ways to keep your home from being taken over by clutter. Getting rid of clutter As more and more stuff accumulates in your home, it can be tough to determine which stuff is necessary, and which stuff you can stand to part with. Before getting overwhelmed, work your way from room to room making a pile of must keep items and items that you don’t need. Once you have gone through the entire home, hold a yard sale to make some money off those unused items, donate whatever doesn’t sell, and rejoice in your new found freedom from clutter! Hiding eye sores Once the unnecessary clutter is gone, it is time to create even more space in your home by hiding eye sores. Use your yard sale money to install shelves, cabinets and other built-ins that can house your items. Buzzfeed suggests installing deep drawers in your laundry room so hide laundry hampers. Hang a hollow crown molding shelf above your kitchen sink to hid paper towels. Hang inexpensive, yet stylish, canvases over thermostats, outlets and other wall features that draw the eye in a negative way. If you have a window AC unit, hang café style curtains in front of it so they can easily be opened when you need the AC. Lastly, hide your modems, DVD players, and cable boxes by storing them is stylish boxes and cutting out squares in the back for the cords. Use a doormat or purchase stylish vent covers to cover up ugly vents. Hiding eye sores can change the entire look of your home. Stylish ways to upgrade item Put a personal touch on your home by decorating your appliances. Electrical tape is a great way to decorate your washer, dryer and refrigerator, and it is easy to remove when you are ready for a change. Temporary wallpaper is another great way to change the look of your appliances. A new trend that is great for multiple purposes is chalkboard paint. Paint your refrigerator with chalkboard paint so you can easily jot down quotes, entertain kids by drawing pictures, or avoid searching the junk drawer for a pen to write your grocery list. Turn obnoxious cords that are impossible to hide into works of art with inexpensive wire blooms clips. If you have old wooden doors in need of a makeover, transform it with a fresh coat of paint. Use masking tape to create designs, whether classic or unique. Interior decorating and remodeling news brought to you by baseboardradiatorcover.com Source: buzzfeed.com/peggy/genius-ways-to-hide-the-eyesores-in-your-home?sub=2871905_2223435#.jmJg1jeKK

Every homeowner understands how quickly and easily clutter can accumulate in your home. If the clutter problems are not taken care of, they can easily get out of hand and overwhelm you as well as make your house seem smaller than it really is. Obviously all clutter is not unnecessary, it just needs a home. Here are some helpful ways to keep your home from being taken over by clutter. Getting rid of clutter As more and more stuff accumulates in your home, it can be tough to determine which stuff is necessary, and which stuff you can stand to part with. Before getting overwhelmed, work your way from room to room making a pile of must keep items and items that you don’t need. Once you have gone through the entire home, hold a yard sale to make some money off those unused items, donate whatever doesn’t sell, and rejoice in your new found freedom from clutter! Hiding eye sores Once the unnecessary clutter is gone, it is time to create even more space in your home by hiding eye sores. Use your yard sale money to install shelves, cabinets and other built-ins that can house your items. Buzzfeed suggests installing deep drawers in your laundry room so hide laundry hampers. Hang a hollow crown molding shelf above your kitchen sink to hid paper towels. Hang inexpensive, yet stylish, canvases over thermostats, outlets and other wall features that draw the eye in a negative way. If you have a window AC unit, hang café style curtains in front of it so they can easily be opened when you need the AC. Lastly, hide your modems, DVD players, and cable boxes by storing them is stylish boxes and cutting out squares in the back for the cords. Use a doormat or purchase stylish vent covers to cover up ugly vents. Hiding eye sores can change the entire look of your home. Stylish ways to upgrade item Put a personal touch on your home by decorating your appliances. Electrical tape is a great way to decorate your washer, dryer and refrigerator, and it is easy to remove when you are ready for a change. Temporary wallpaper is another great way to change the look of your appliances. A new trend that is great for multiple purposes is chalkboard paint. Paint your refrigerator with chalkboard paint so you can easily jot down quotes, entertain kids by drawing pictures, or avoid searching the junk drawer for a pen to write your grocery list. Turn obnoxious cords that are impossible to hide into works of art with inexpensive wire blooms clips. If you have old wooden doors in need of a makeover, transform it with a fresh coat of paint. Use masking tape to create designs, whether classic or unique. Interior decorating and remodeling news brought to you by baseboardradiatorcover.com Source: buzzfeed.com/peggy/genius-ways-to-hide-the-eyesores-in-your-home?sub=2871905_2223435#.jmJg1jeKK

Home organization becomes tougher as your family grows, and it is not uncommon for families to give up on the idea of home organization all together. There is no greater feeling than an organized home, and an organized home makes home cleaning much easier of a task. No matter the size of your home and the number of people residing in it, organization is possible, and should be a priority of the homeowners in order to utilize all the space the home has to offer. Here are some tips for keeping your home organized. Start with cleaning Before any organizing can occur, a good deep clean has to take place. Clean out closets, drawers, cabinets and every other area that collects clutter. Get rid of items you never use and are unlikely to need. Work your way from room to room de-cluttering so you know exactly how much room you have to work with, and which organization tools you need. Once you have de-cluttered, it is time to dust, vacuum, mop, and wash every area of the home. Cleanliness will keep the air in your home clean as well as prevent unwanted pests. Organizing tools Use drawer organizers for every drawer in the home – especially the junk drawer. The more organized drawers are, the less likely they are to accumulate unnecessary clutter, plus everything has a place, making it easier to clean up messes. Use drawer organizers, baskets and small bins to organize your pantry, refrigerator and closets to keep things easy to find. Use a shoe organizer as a home for art supplies, snacks and other items that need a home. Organizing for convenience The purpose of organizing is to keep your life simple, so organize simply for your convenience. How to Nest for Less suggests creating a kitchen command center to house notes, keys, grocery lists, calendars and everything else that controls your family’s schedules. Install cheap bookshelves in the mud room or garage to house shoes so they do not pile up in the doorway. Organize your kitchen cupboards so the items you need are easy to find and near where you use them the most. Teaching children to organize The best way to keep your home organized is by teaching your children to stay organized. Put child friendly items on lower shelves in baskets or easily accessible bins so when the time comes to clean up, the children can easily put their toys away without help. Put their snacks on low shelves in the pantry, so they know where to find them, and how to put them away. Help them organize their rooms with drawer organizers and baskets in order to encourage continuous organization, and make cleaning up messes fun instead of tedious. Teach children that organization is not a chore, just daily life. Interior decorating and remodeling news brought to you by baseboardradiatorcover.com Source: howtonestforless.com/2014/01/08/15-home-organization-projects-to-a-happier-home/