House Design News

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• Giving your home a makeover? Make sure you follow these safety tips
• The Most Desired Accessories for Decorating Your House
• Six Ways to Save Money on DIY Projects

Giving your home a makeover? Make sure you follow these safety tips Posted: 20 Jan 2014 06:40 PM PST It's a new year and you're looking to make some changes. You don't want to be the dull, old, boring you anymore. You're tired of the monotonous and you want to feel like this New Year is going to bring some respite to your dreary life. Why not start with a makeover? Not for you, silly. For your house! Trust me—if you change the settings of the house you live in, it makes for a different and possibly more conducive environment. But I'm here to give you some practical advice. Don't just jump into it. There are some safety tips that you should follow that all us DIY project enthusiasts usually don't care about when we get really excited about home makeovers. These tips should not be ignored and must be followed while making the changes, because as exciting as change may be, safety does come first. Here they are: 1.Fixing that furniture So your furniture has become old and dull looking. You want to use some finishing products to revive it and make it look like its old self. Be careful though. Some finishing products can be harmful to your lungs, skin and eyes. Be sure to wear protective eye wear, a nice pair of painter's gloves and a good respirator to protect yourself from the harm that can easily be avoided. 2.Powering those tools Any DIY project can require power tools like saws or sanders. But usually, we don't think about our ears and eyes while using them. It is important to wear disposable ear plugs because of the irritatingly high noise levels that power tools have a tendency to create. Also, protective eye wear is a must. Also, remember to never leave active power tools unattended. Unplug them after using and keep them away from children. Credits: http://anchormarineservices.in/images/products/tools/4.jpg 3.Walking under ladders I'm not talking about the superstition here, but ladders are the main cause of most DIY accidents. Remember to erect the ladders as per the manufacturer's instructions. Don't lean too much to one side because that will cause the ladder to tip over. Be careful otherwise you could lose your balance and end up really hurting yourself. 4.Be careful while repainting It might seem like an easy job. Removing old paint and coloring your walls with all sorts of new, exciting paints. But old paints have an evil underbelly—No, really. Old paints contain asbestos which is not only harmful for you but is also extremely harmful for the environment. Wear protective clothing—gloves, eye-wear, respirator, the works. Keep the room ventilated. Also, contact your local environment department on advice on how to best dispose of this material without hurting Mother Nature. 5.The right attire So you're doing odd jobs around the house. Fixing something here, painting something there. The usual. It's not like someone's going to come and judge your fashion sense. Clothing doesn't matter, right? Wrong. When using power tools, especially, which is required in more DIY projects, you need to wear tight fitting clothing which has the least chance of getting snagged on a drill or a nail. 6.Planning is important Rush jobs don't just look bad, they can also get you injured. It's important that you meticulously plan out your DIY home makeover. There is very little margin for error. When in doubt, it's always good to hire a professional. If you're looking to replace your doors or windows, Champion provides free, in-home consultations. It's a good place to start. It's good to be enthusiastic because, let's face it, DIY projects are super fun. But between all of that, it's very important to follow safety procedures every step of the way. You don't want to end up injuring yourself or those around you in situations that can be easily avoided. Follow this list through and you're good to go!

The Most Desired Accessories for Decorating Your House Posted: 20 Jan 2014 11:34 AM PST A good décor is, above all else, one that fits your unique tastes. There are many ways to inject your personality into your house from color to furniture. Still, the only way to turn a house into a home is to personalize it even further with home accessories. Read on to learn about the most desired accessories for decorating your house and turning it into a home. Candles Without a doubt, every home should have candles. Although we rarely need them as a primary source of light, candles are perfect for soft accent lighting. What's more, candles come in an endless variety of scents, allowing you to choose the best fragrance for your desired atmosphere. Rugs No matter how beautiful your floor is, it could probably stand to benefit from an equally beautiful rug. People have been using rugs to accessorize their homes for centuries, so you can be sure that doing the same is a good idea. For one, who doesn't love the feel of a perfectly soft and warm rug under their feet? Plus, there are practically an infinite number of different patterns, colors, and textures—one combination of which is bound to complement your floor and the rest of your home wonderfully. Vases Vases are another type of accessory with a long history of being used to decorate homes. They work great as accent pieces for tables, bookcases, and the like and can even be displayed prominently on their own. Today, most vases are made of crystal, glass, or ceramic, but there are no limits to their shapes and colors. Regardless of what your current décor is like, there is certainly a vase out there to match. Still, the best thing about vases is that they can be used to beautifully display yet another kind of home accessory—flowers and other plant life. Even artificial plants and flowers can look lush in the right vase. Plants Although artificial plants and flowers can look good in a home, nothing beats real, living plants for gorgeous home decor. Not only is having plant life inside of your home a great design choice, it is also a great idea for improving your overall health and well-being. This is because plants can act as filters for the air inside your home. In addition to creatingoxygen, they also filter many of the chemicals and toxins that build up in our home out of the air we breathe. Not to mention, many plants and flowers can give your home a fresh, lightly fragrant aroma. Mirrors Nowadays, mirrors are not just for helping you get ready in the morning. Mirrors can actually serve important decorative functions within your home. For instance, long or large mirrors can be used to make a smaller space seem larger. This is especially great for those living in small apartments wherein a mirror can turn an otherwise somewhat cramped space into a bright and open home. Mirrors also come in a variety of shapes and sizes. There are few things as stunning as a bold, round mirror. In addition, the most gorgeous mirrors are accented by beautiful, detailed frames. Mirrors like these can even be used in the place of paintings or other wall art. Art Yet, you'll likely not want to replace every piece of art in your home with mirrors. Paintings and other wall art such as posters and even wall decals are the number one mainstay of interior design. They also give you the opportunity to really personalize your home in a way that is not present with other accessories. Think about it. Any image, any photo, and any phrase can be displayed as prominently or as inconspicuously as you desire. Unless you are going for a minimalist design, every home should have at least one piece of visual art that means something to you. This meaning doesn't even have to extend any further than you simply enjoying the piece on a purely aesthetic level. Outside Whether you have a large backyard or a tiny balcony, it's important not to forget your home's outdoor space. By far, the easiest way to accessorize your outdoor space is to add some outdoor lighting fixtures. Torches and solar lights are perfect for backyard spaces while battery-powered lights are great for balconies. Either way, the right outdoor lighting can really make your outdoor space feel like an extension of your indoor decor. MicheleDuchet is an Interior designer at 1800lighting.com in NJ, USA and she works with schools and homeowners to help create a safe an elegant home decor, that feature lighting with a variety of lights and lamps .

Six Ways to Save Money on DIY Projects Posted: 19 Jan 2014 11:34 PM PST Well-intended DIY home projects provide an excellent way to spend less on awesome upgrades to any home. The trick is to make sure the quality does not suffer and that the end result is the same high quality that a professional would deliver. While saving money is a very important reason for taking on projects yourself, it is also equally important to save money in ways that do not compromise the project results. Below are six recommended ways to save money. 1. Obtain advice and plan the project before jumping in with both feet. Getting advice from experts is always a good idea. Consulting with professionals before getting started can definitely save a novice from making costly mistakes. There are many unfortunate stories about projects taking on a life of their own and costing a bundle. 2. Rent expensive tools to get the best quality and to save money. There are often many rental shops that offer high-quality tools. For example Tool Rental San Francisco loans tools out. The other benefit provided by tool rental stores is that they will also show you how to use their tools and answer questions you have. In addition to renting tools that are of the highest quality and would be unaffordable for purchase, there is free advice available. 3. Do not consider tackling plumbing or electrical issues on your own. It is illegal and unsafe to take on these projects without a licensed professional. Considering the amount of damage that plumbing and electrical mistakes can create, it is critical that professionals be called upon to handle any related project word in these areas. 4. Get all necessary permits before starting any project. One of the quickest ways to go over budget on any project is by paying for fines levied by municipalities that require permits for certain projects. 5. When in doubt, put quality as the top priority ahead of cutting costs. Otherwise you might end up having to redo the project later from using inferior products that wear out prematurely. 6. Select one color of paint for the entire project whenever possible. In any DIY project, combining a good plan with quality tools and materials will reward you with good results. It is important to avoid the impulse to get started before you are fully prepared. The rewards of a job well done and money saved are worth the effort.

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