Note: this is a partnered post and consideration was received for its publication. Image by Doorstore.

Deciding which style, what size, which material and what colour your front door should be can take a long time and not only do you need to make sure that the door will make a good first impression, but it will also need to be sturdy enough to withstand Mother Nature. Of course, don’t forget the importance of ensuring your front door is energy efficient and this is something that more and more people are taking into consideration when investing in a new front door.

 The majority of doors nowadays are made from wood, steel or fiberglass and choosing the best material to represent your home is often a personal choice. You can contact a professional door company to get some advice about what the different materials offer in terms of energy efficiency and durability, and you should look online at a selection of doors from Doorstore to get a better idea about what styles and designs are out there.

A front door is the first thing that anyone will come into contact with when they arrive at your home.

Ask yourself the following:

• Does your door make a good first impression?
• Does it represent your family?
• Does it work well with the rest of your interior?

You will need to take all of the above into consideration as well as the following:

1. Materials
2. Size
3. Design
4. Cost

Materials

Choosing what material you want your door to be made from is possibly the most important decision you will need to make and here’s some handy information about the three most commonly used materials:

Wood: Wood offers a traditional look and has a classic appeal to it. Different types of wood can be used, along with various panel styles and even decorative glass can be added to a wooden door to change the appearance.

Steel: Doors made from steel are often the most affordable option and they won’t warp like wood can. They often feature a smooth surface and you can choose to paint it any colour you want and you should choose one with an insulated core for a better energy efficiency rating.

Fiberglass: A fiberglass door can look exactly the same as a wooden door but is far more energy efficient. They are simple to maintain and come in different styles and designs, and this material won’t corrode or rust.

Size

You will need to make sure you measure the space, so you can order a door to perfectly fit your entryway.

Design

Think about whether you want panels, decorative features, glass elements, an artistic look or a traditional style, and don’t forget to think about what accessories you want to add like a knocker or letterbox.

Cost

You will need to calculate what your budget is before you begin shopping around and the cost will be linked to the energy efficiency of the door, what material you choose, the size and how intricate or plain the design is.

Note: this is a partnered post and consideration was received for its publication. Image by RedRhino Flooring.

Epoxy floors are becoming increasingly popular in commercial, industrial and residential settings. There are different types for specific purposes. Some them include, but are not limited to self-leveling, self-dispersing, mortar, graveled, terrazzo coatings, antistatic coatings, and vapor barrier.

Self-Dispersing Epoxy Flooring

 This type of epoxy flooring is commonly used in areas that receive forklift or heavy truck traffic frequently. It has very good mechanical strength. Another durable option is a type of self-dispersing epoxy with quartz sand. It has good anti-slip characteristics. This variety is best used in locations where liquids are present such as in food processing industries.

 Self-Leveling Epoxy Flooring

As the term indicates, these floors level easily, creating a seamless and smooth surface. They are also easy to install. These are usually used over new and old concrete floors. Kitchens, dining rooms, storage places, garages, warehouses, office buildings, and other locations are spaces where self-leveling epoxy flooring is ideal.

Mortar Epoxy Flooring

Being the strongest of all epoxy floors, this flooring type is used to repair cracks before laying other types of epoxy floors. It is commonly used in heavy industry applications.

Graveled Epoxy Flooring

This epoxy flooring is the most decorative and is used for adding brand marks, logotypes and decorative details to floors.

Epoxy Terrazzo Flooring

Just like the flooring type right before it, epoxy terrazzo is not only very decorative, but also easy to clean. It is used in several large areas. These include hallways and entrances of commercial buildings, office buildings and schools. It blends beauty with function.

Epoxy terrazzo is a popular choice for decorative flooring installations, especially in high-traffic retail facilities. It is ideal for commercial, industrial, and institutional facilities. Excellent for multi-colored patterns and designs because of the epoxy resin matrix, it can be pigmented to achieve an unlimited spectrum of colors.

Apart from color and design versatility, this mosaic-like floor topping for concrete substrates is virtually indestructible, durable and needs minimal maintenance. The thickness is only 1/4 to 3/8 inches. It can also be colored with aggregates, including chips of granite, marble, mother of pearl, recycled glass, and various synthetic materials.

Epoxy Antistatic Flooring

This specialized epoxy type is used where a static-free environment is needed. Static-sensitive electronic components are in permanent use. Some of them are electronics equipment manufacturing plants, hospitals and laboratories.

Vapor Barrier Epoxy Flooring

This type of epoxy provides an impenetrable surface that decreases the vapor transmission to nearly zero. It is applied directly over concrete floors. These liquid epoxy vapor barriers are typically applied prior to adding the final flooring surface, including carpet, hardwood floors, sheet vinyl, or tile.

Metallic Epoxy Flooring

This is a new type of epoxy-based flooring. It allows the concrete to be gilded to replicate the look of aged bronze, copper, nickel, silver, and other shimmery patinas. Some of these coatings contain real metallic powders. Others use special reflective pigments that are extremely popular. They are used in specific locations. These include floors in retail, offices and restaurant settings, where a modern and upscale look is desired.

Epoxy Flaked Flooring

This is an epoxy flooring technique and not exactly a type of epoxy flooring. It provides a decorative finish or look. Multicolored chips or flakes are added over the epoxy coating while it is still wet.

The type of fluid the epoxy is mixed with can also categorizes epoxy flooring. Some of these are:

Water-Based Epoxy Flooring

This water-soluble epoxy does not use solvents. It uses water as its main carrier and is not as reactive as solvent-based epoxies, which makes it safer. It is relatively easy to apply in thin/thick coats. Mainly for hydrostatic pressure applications on concrete and concrete slabs, it only needs water in order to be cleaned up.

This epoxy flooring uses a mixture of epoxy and a liquid solution. Water is always used as its main ingredient. Waterborne epoxy coatings are nontoxic, and are therefore safe to use in enclosed areas. It is more of a primer and a sealer. Due to its ability to penetrate into porous surfaces, it is used over degreased concrete surfaces. It gives them a smooth and glossy finish.

Since it spreads out thinly, it is touted as more user-friendly than 100% solid epoxy. However, it lacks durability and resistance. It gives a concrete surface protective capability against abrasions, chemical reactions and stains.

Solvent Borne Epoxy Flooring

One of the first flooring types ever created, solvent borne epoxy coatings are very cohesive. The solvent thins down the epoxy. It can be easily applied to the surface of the concrete. Relying on a mixture of epoxy and solvent, as the solvent dries, it evaporates, leaving only the epoxy behind. It contains solids ranging from 30 to 70 percent. It can be applied in a very thin layer across the surface of the concrete. It is a less favorable choice. It makes use of solvents when used as a floor sealer. As a primer, it is similar to the former.

This traditional kind of epoxy is mixed with a relatively high amount of organic compound called a solvent. The solvents are highly volatile. First used long before other kinds, it comes with built-in cohesiveness.

100% Solid Epoxy Flooring

This highly durable epoxy flooring can last up to 20 years, even on chemical reactions of chemically potent substances and from surfaces that require protection against hot tire marks or possible abrasions. It can also be subjected to heavy human traffic. Professional installers use hardeners that allow it to dry up into solid form as it bonds with the concrete substrate.

Though this type of flooring can become as thick as two millimeters, it is sensitive to temperature. Vapor-migration in the inner concrete should be checked. Made up of a 100% epoxy mixture, this type of epoxy does not have a liquid solution or fluid carrier and is highly viscous. It must be applied in thicker layers.

This epoxy is very different from its water based or solvent borne counterparts. The inner concrete slab needs to be prepared. It requires the application of a topcoat finishing to seal in the bond between the first layer of epoxy material and the substrate. It is much harder to apply. Thin coats or films cannot be produced with this kind of epoxy due to its high viscosity. However, it is very versatile and adaptable for numerous applications.

Out of all the three, the 100% solids epoxy is the most durable. It is strong and resistant. A complete flooring system, it lasts long enough to furnish ample benefits. Water-based epoxy flooring has only one advantage. Since it is cheaper, another layer of epoxy floor coating can be applied as frequently as needed. Lower cost is the only benefit. 100% solid epoxy is more abrasion resistant, chemical resistant, and stain resistant than its water based counterpart. It is used on garage floors most often. It is commonly used for commercial applications and works well as a color coat and medium to accept vinyl acrylic flakes.

Each of these types of epoxy floors has distinct characteristics that make it more or less suitable when compared to the others. Professionals can tell you more. They can also be consulted for more information about these types of epoxy floors or to determine which type is best for your purpose.

Note: this is a partnered post and consideration was received for its publication. Image by The Garden Issue.

The happy individual that gets to call a portion of land under his feet home, garden, backyard surely has to take advantage of this immense opportunity. Regardless of how you currently use your backyard there are a few things you can do to improve it and in this article we will present swiftly a few ideas that we have found interesting to most gardens.

If you garden has a small footprint and a green oasis is all you need it goes without saying that a swimming pool is not a must but there are certain outdoor features that can still emphasize the time you spend outdoors; if you happen to entertain your friends, family, loved ones in the backyard than certainly there are options to consider.

Make sure your green heaven, your mineral oasis of calm and peace is however you want it to be. That should be your main focus, pursue your dream backyard design and spend quality time outdoors.

1. Build a Fire-pit For Coziness and Warmth

The fire pit is an element that connects people, an element that adds coziness and warmth. It invites a group to spend time outdoors; it invites people to narrate stories under the blue sky warmed by the fire. A fire-pit could cost you little to nothing if you decide on using repurposed bricks or salvaged ones.

A fire pit can be realized out of old car wheels and various other metal recipients through DIY projects. Hundreds of DIY tutorials can be found online, building a fire pit can take you one day, in that day you can craft with your friends and family the items that can redefine festive entertaining in your garden.

Spectacular and simple craft worth considering.

2. Redefine Your Space With a Swimming Pool

Any swimming pool is able to change the setting, reshape the backyard in which it resides. Think about how you spend time outdoors and if a swimming pool pops to mind for even a second, you need to have it. Swimming pools are probably the most sough option when it comes to backyard landscaping. Large or small, a water mirroring your décor, refreshing the ambiance can be extraordinary.

3. Nestled a Barbecue or Outdoor Kitchen in Your Design

Warm summer nights with family and friends do come with the extraordinary season. An outdoor kitchen or a barbecue can help you in this regard. A barbecue can be built in a weekend with materials from local store and it can change your outdoor experience for years to come

4. Emphasize Your Lounge Area With a Pergola Designs and Vegetation

The garden is a wonderful place and a proper patio, lounge area should be the first structure to install in it. If you are to emphasize this setting to it full extent through greenery you should consider installing trellises pergolas and latticework in the ensemble. These will help vines to climb up, wrapping the sitting area in a beautiful freshness through greenery. Pergola designs can take any shape and they should be tailored to you décor, perfectly aligned to your landscape, opening focal points to vantage points in your garden.

5. Install an Outdoor Canopy Bed or a Hammock

The most relaxing addition would probably be the outdoor bed or hammock. These do not require an immense effort yet the rewards are plentiful. Sleeping outdoors during warm summer nights is an extraordinary experience and whether you are in a hammock or canopy bed, it will be something you`ll surely remember.

What do you think? How will you emphasize your garden? We would love to hear your thoughts in the comment section below.

Note: this is a partnered post and consideration was received for its publication. Image by Homesthetics.

Spring is here now, unraveling its immense beauty on our humble world. Nature is shaping the realm beautifully, changing everything in a short period of time, preparing us all for the summer, a wonderful season to take advantage off.

In spring we start working on our garden, we do our best to help nature thrive in our small flower pots, in our gardens. In spring is time to plant and re-plant greenery, to emphasize vegetation, to refresh our décor. In the following article we will present a few simple design ideas to realize this spring, ideas meant to emphasize your garden throughout the season. Choose to adorn the natural home in your shelter and the airy ambiance and immense beauty will surely have a say in your backyard landscaping, offering calm, peace, privacy.

1. Add New Garden Paths

Surfing through wild vegetation in your garden is something that you can enjoy but your path can be built in front of you. Use the beautiful spring days to lay down a new path in your garden, you can go for river rock mosaics, mineral white, pallet wooden paths, slices of wood or concrete slabs realized in molds if you are to realize it at home entirely. Needless to say that your local store has an offer on the necessary items for a garden path as well. Choose something that aids you and your garden visually.

2. Install Raised Garden Beds

Raised garden beds have multiple advantages for both flowers and vegetables but maintenance is the real upside. Garden beds allow you to go from one season to the other with ease, changing the crops without digging.

3. Consider Xeriscaping

Xeriscaping is not a very common practice world-wide but is a very appealing method that will ensure the integrity of your lawn or garden. Xeriscaping is a form of landscaping built around plants that can survive in dry conditions, they can last extended periods of time without water and they require no maintenance. Choose plants that can survive your schedule, make sure you have a garden even if you have little to no time to spend on maintenance. There are solutions.

4. Install Climbing Plants

Wines and climbing plants are splendid because they`re offering your garden a third dimension, one that does not exists unless it`s shaped by a tree. The vertical planes holding flowers like wisteria, cascades of flowers and flagrance in your yard is something remarkable, splendid.

Few plants wear their age beautifully, a climbing rose that has 15 years behind or a 7 year old wisteria are an extraordinary presence, these are plants that re-shape the home , items that embellish the garden. All you need to make this happen are either climbing systems on your home, these can be metallic wire based or wooden lattices. If you are going for less intrusive solutions you can install these legendary vines on arbors, trellises, carports or pergolas. If you are don’t know that these are, what is a pergola, an arbor or a trellis, worry not, simple search online will unveil the secret and showcase beautiful green oasis built around these outdoor structures.

What do you think? How will you emphasize your garden this spring? We would love to hear your opinion on the subject in the comment section below.

Note: this is a partnered post and consideration was received for its publication. Image by Homesthetics.

With the current economy, every responsible individual attempts to reduce the amount of money spent in carrying out any activity and therefore directly minimizing the carbon footprint. A sustainable responsible attitude becomes present, one able to change everything.

What is DIY?

DIY refers to the Do It Yourself mantra. This is basically the responsibility and process of taking action rather than handling out work, it`s something that you choose to do by yourself rather than outsource.

Do-it-yourself decorating is the act in which you customize your home, apartment, condo, or room with DIY accents able to transform your space on with little to no costs without completing a full-scale remodel. Whether you're a beginner or an expert, diy tutorials will guide you with instructions step-by-step for wide range of projects, from simple to complex you can have tutorials on how to paint a glass bottle or built a complex outdoor pergola, an arbor, a shed.. There are numerous techniques and tools to get you started on diy, take a moment and think about the scale and the actual purpose.

Simple paintings are probably one of the fastest and the easiest way to freshen up a space or decor swiftly. You can adopt paint on various materials and through different styles; canvas painting can nestle both watercolor, acrylic and oil paintings alike where more interesting projects like the painting laid on your coffee table can require special consumables. Search for painting ideas online and surge inspiration, diy paintings can bring memory and authenticity to your décor.

How beautiful would it be to repurpose an old coffee table through one brush and paint?

Simple and splendid.

But it doesn't stop there! One can learn how to make over furniture through reupholstering, consider dressing your cushions with fabric, update garage sale items with wallet-friendly crafts tutorials using fabric and paper, and create DIY wall art for any space using a variety of materials and techniques. If you want to tackle bigger DIY projects, rethink your kitchen, there are hundreds of remodeling ideas that you can complete yourself, such as tiling a backsplash and creating a kitchen island. Try out a project or two, get your hands dirty, and fall back in love with your space.

Keep in mind that first impressions matter. You can invest in a new front door or paint your old one; it can dramatically change the look of your home and enhance curb appeal. You can also try other easy DIY fixes like repainting the exterior trim, replacing the house numbers or installing new outdoor lighting.

Install a New Sink

A person can upgrade the look of a room by replacing the ‘tired’ hardware. Instead of calling in a professional, all you need to do is buy the new sink read the instructions and watch a guide online on how to replace an old sink, the information is there. With a Do-it-yourself attitude, you will realize that it is not difficult to carry out the task.

Hang a rope-wrapped porch swing

In the porch or balcony you could hang a porch swing or a hammock chair. This could be simply done by wrapping up the metal in extremely thick rope and suspending it on strong metallic or wooden bars in the ceiling area. A swinging chair might be great addition to your home, a place where one can relax or read a book whilst enjoying the outside breeze.

Build a headboard

The headboard is the focal point of the bedroom, it can greatly influence perception, it can look inviting and interesting whilst remaining a design statement and providing full comfort. Literally thousands of headboard DIY projects can be found online and the need for so many is also fueled by the non-existing options currently on the market. It`s very hard to find a headboard to purchase in today`s store and in most of the time, it won`t match. You`re far better off doing it yourself, infusing your own personality in a high profile piece of furniture in your room.

During a free weekend, with an aim of decorating your bedroom or closet space, one could build a trendy blanket or towel ladder. This is an easy way to keep your linen in order but still in style.

Create a pretty jewelry organizer

One can turn store supplies into pretty jewelry organizers. This is an easy process that one can do on his own. You put jewelry in containers that have no other use. You will also find out that branches, old picture frames, pallets and numerous other items can become exemplary jewelry organizers in a matter of minutes.

Pursue your craft today.

Enjoy DIY projects.

Craft today for tomorrow.

Note: this is a partnered post and consideration was received for its publication. Image by Homesthetics.

The world today is corrupted from many points of view but our biggest and most important concern is pollution and sustainability. Air, water or earth, every medium is polluted, corrupted, damaged.

To these problems there are fast answers one might offer: recycling, repurposing and up-cycling. If these three words would give birth to actions in our daily routing, things would change, waste would be diminished, carbon footprints lowered, energy conserved, space saved, a lot of things worth fighting for.

If recycling is not an option in your area there are still things you can actually do: repurpose and up-cycle. Be responsible and try to minimize plastic purchases, do your best to minimize the items that you actually need from day to day, try to be responsible and prevent needless purchases.

The natural habitat requires our help, we`re using its resources and we need its resources and extracting them for endless rows of plastic bottles that are never going to be recycled is not a safe plan. We invite you to think about how what one might consider trash can be repurposed. In the following rows we will feature a few simple, common ideas adopted by many creative individuals but keep in mind that your needs and homes are slightly different and so will your crafting needs be. Adapt to your setting, see how you can work with what you have to conserve as many items as possible. If you still can`t find a use for these items, invite your friends and family to pitch in an idea, participate in a craft or trade them for something that you can use.

1. Use Wooden Pallets for Furniture

Wooden pallets have thousands of uses today thanks to the DIY movement, these can be used as garden beds, and jewelry organizes, outdoor couches and thousands of other items. They`re simply to find and inexpensive to acquire, they offer you a real material, a natural cozy and warm texture that many pay big dollars in design stores for. You have it at your grasp, ready to be used, ready to become something more than a pallet. Surge inspiration and transform the wooden pallets that you have into something useful; maybe a vertical garden, a new coffee table or a low bed for your Scandinavian bedroom design, think about it.

2. Use Bottle Caps To Design Home Décor

If you are going to recycle glass bottles the bottle caps are yours to keep, same goes for plastic bottles even though there you can submit it in the same place with the actual bottle. Bottle caps are really an interesting thing to collect thanks to their diversity. We stumble across hundreds per year and we simply dismiss them in one second without looking at them. Stop now, start collecting metal bottle caps, plastic bottle caps and corks alike, all these can be nestled into really beautiful bottle cap crafts, you can realize wall art pieces, outdoor installations, jewelry, beautiful fridge magnets that contain family photos, coasters and even countertop protections. The principle is simple and the aesthetic values are sustained through color and diversity. Let them talk about your journeys, the rare beverages enjoyed and the memory forged through simple diy projects.

3. Use Old Tires in Your Garden

In certain areas, tires can be recycled. If that is the case for your location, please recycle the tires rather than repurposing them.

If recycling is not a possibility there are numerous ways to use them creatively in your home. You can transform tires in safe swings for children, you can use them to realize beautiful water ponds in your garden or you can transform them in raised flower beds, boosting colors and beauty.

Creativity can forge everything, all you need is patience, will, desire to do better for our planet, for our future and the generations to come.

Embrace change through a responsible attitude, recycle and repurpose today for a better tomorrow.

Note: this is a partnered post and consideration was received for its publication.

Color is interesting to say the least, it can model our state of mind, it can influence our health, it can determine the outcome of a day or improve your productivity or sleep.

Color is magical and it should not be overlooked in interior décor whether we are talking about colorful shabby chic interior designs or minimalist black and white, a drop of color, a small accent should be always there, ready to gain our attention, ready to emphasize our homes and our lives.

Color needs and preferences are born from experience and memory and as a result, everyone, happily, will require a different color profile, cast a glance over the ideas below and choose a way to intervene in your current interior décor today.

1. Use colored flowers

One of the most beautiful ways to see color in your home is through a temporary colorful visit from a natural element. Multi colored flowers in your home might be everything you need in your impeccable décor, rainbow roses can infuse multiple subtle tones in your space in supreme elegance in a noble tone.

The evanescent nature of the colored flowers is also refreshing as it requires constant action, change, a swift refresh. Beautiful colored flowers will also anchor your décor into the seasons, beautifying your home with seasonal flowers and colors can be a very simple elegant touch to remain updated without overdoing holiday décor. Adapt, evolve, invite color in your home through multi colored roses, sunflower, lilies, tulips, narcissuses or whatever you need or desire.

2. Trade white for color in consumables

A non-invasive way to test color in your home décor progressively is through consumables. Your dinner setting may now feature purple, red or green napkins, you can now use colored plastic cups at your parties or simply change the color of your soap in the bathroom. It is true that the color variations in these items are small but you can at least see what palette opens up to you and work with it from there.

3. Invite color in textiles

Textiles are populating our homes in numerous forms, from pillows to bathroom towels and rugs we have a lot of testing ground. If you are convinced you are bold enough for color you can make the first colorful move on textiles. Start with small elements like the two decorative pillows on your sofa or the one on your armchair, experiment with comfortable blankets during movie night, one that can be tucked away when not needed.

The dinner table can showcase color temporary as well, the entire setting can be drawn to a certain theme, one that can fit the holiday, your state of mind or simply color preference; in this small composition you can also mix and match textures, you can see how you feel about purple combined with metal, wood, glass, you can insert certain patterns for testing as well, checkered, dotted or flowered napkins can become testing elements in complex composition. Play your little game in plain sight.

4. Adorn Colorful Wall Art

Wall art is a beautiful way to showcase a color that cannot be discussed on its own, a rare painting in white and pink cannot be argued because it wears white and pink, the painting serves a higher purpose, emphasizes the décor through its sheer beauty, its rarity and authenticity .

This position can be used to negotiate with your décor a color that could not be inserted with ease in a rug or furniture piece. Little by little wall art can turn things around; it can improve your décor fast, beautifully.

5. Insert Accent Through Small Furnishings

The most intrusive décor pieces one could add in its décor are furnishing pieces. Small items like side tables, a hat stand or an umbrella rack can be subtle accents in the hallway, dressing or living room.

Think about what you are trying to obtain through this change, where you would like to focus the eyes of the guests or what color comforts you when you needed the most. A color can summon a memory, an experience, it can trigger joy, nestle your color in your home today.