You’ve got a beautiful home with a beautiful yard, but it’s not always easy to take care of, which means its curb appeal isn’t exactly telling about its true state.

With stressful deadlines and work leaving home projects piling up, your yard is the one that takes the brunt of the neglect; and while that tradeoff can’t be remedied immediately, there may be a solution that your home is ready for: a shed. If you have a decent sized yard and no shed, here are five reasons it’s time for you to finally put one in.

You Can Avoid Clutter

Your yard becomes the catchall for anything that doesn’t belong in the house. You have probably tried to keep everything in one place, organizing it as best you can so you can find each thing when you’re looking for it later, but items in the garage becomes items along the side of your home spilling into both the front and back yards.

In this case, a shed is an ideal solution. It can become a catchall that hides away ongoing projects, leaving your yard looking sharp and welcoming to your family and visitors.

You’ll Have More Storage

Becoming a homeowner means investing in a lot of maintenance tools and equipment that you probably didn’t anticipate purchasing. A shed functions as a great place to organize and store these things so they are easy to find the next time you need them.

It doesn’t have to be restricted to your lawn mower and hedge shears either. Store skis during the summer and during the winter, you can store bikes and tubes for floating the river.

You’ll Have Easy Access to Equipment

If instead of employing yard services like yardmasterservices.com your children are taking care of the yard work or you’re paying the neighbor’s boy to do it, having a shed gives your workers easy access to the tools they need.

They won’t have to pick through projects in the garage, move things so you can’t find them, or be dissuaded from their chores because of any extra work just getting ready to start working.

You Can Make Tools Last Longer

A major selling point for investing in a shed is protecting your tools, equipment, and other belongings that are too big or too dirty to score a place inside the house.

You’ll not only keep them safe from being stolen or taken without your permission, but they’ll be sheltered from the elements, preventing rusting and weathering that could mean replacing them sooner rather than later. It’s also a good idea to keep them out of sight of your children during regular play time so your children don’t get hurt and your tools aren’t damaged either.

You’ll Have a Designated Work Area

With so many projects going on, it can be hard to find a place to work that’s safe and quiet. Kids are always playing in the yard or riding bikes down the driveway, and working in the garage means moving the cars elsewhere.

Building a shed gives you a space where you can work without disrupting normal life activities, and if it’s time to close up shop for the day and you’re not quite finished, you don’t have to clean up everything just to get it out again later.

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It’s widely regarded as one of the easiest ways to make a room look larger, yet if one casts their eye around homes around the country it will soon start to become clear that far too many people make mistakes with their lighting.

A well-lit room can be transformational, yet one in the opposite group can be completely devalued. As such, to ensure that you don’t fall into the latter category, let’s now take a look at some of the most common lighting mistakes that are made and help to make sure that you don’t commit them.

Mistake #1 – The fixture isn’t the right size

Fortunately, this first mistake can be easily rectified. In other words, it doesn’t relate to any form of technical knowledge, and it’s simply about appreciating what size light fixture you should be purchasing to match the rest of your room. If you have invested in something like Pagazzi ceiling lights, only to realize later down the line that they just aren’t proportionate to everything else in the room, it’s a complete waste to your space.

For example, if you have a gigantic dining room table and hang a small ceiling light over the top, it stands to reason that it’s going to border on the ridiculous. At the same time, a huge ceiling light over a tiny table will have the same effect. If we were to hone in on chandeliers, a common rule is making sure that they are a foot smaller than the table’s width.

Mistake #2 - Forgetting about the shadow effect

Another common mistake is forgetting about the shadows that lighting creates. For example, in the case of a kitchen, if the lights sit above the edge of the counter, a shadow will be created over the counter when you start to work on there. It’s in cases like this where you need to test exactly how the light reacts, as well as considering alternative means of lighting (such as under cabinet ones).

Mistake #3 – You ignore dimmer switches

Dimmer switches seem to have a bad name in some sources, which is surprising when you consider their power. This is one tool that you really should be looking to tap into the advantages of. They allow you to set the tone for an occasion, or even your mood. For example, having a room full of light for a quiet dinner is hardly appropriate – and is something that a dimmer can rectify pretty quickly.

Mistake #4 – You don’t consider the energy-factor

Finally, you might have installed the perfect lighting system and be completely happy with the end result. However, at the same time, it costs a fortune to run.

Nowadays, there is no excuse for spending a fortune on lighting upkeep. LED bulbs are now readily available and don’t have the prohibitive price tags that they once did. The energy savings here can be fantastic, although it’s worth mentioning that not all types of lighting is going to be suitable for this.

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The trend of Hygge (pronounced "hue-geh") is becoming more and more popular these days. More than strictly a home decor trend, Hygge represents the Danish way of life: joyous, carefree, and serene. This cozy way of living life includes a few key decor aspects designed to help you feel truly at home in your home. Each one of the five Cs — clutter-free, canvas, cotton, candles, and comfort — all represent an important aspect of Hygge decor.

Clutter-Free Surroundings

While Hygge decor is far from blank and soulless, it should never feel cluttered. Clutter will add to your stress levels, and the objective of Hygge is to provide a feeling of serenity and comfort.

If your beginning decor feels cluttered, start by clearing it up before you do anything else. Adding Hygge decor on top of clutter will only create more chaos and make you feel overwhelmed. The further down to the “bare bones” of the room you can get, the more successful you will be. Remember, you can always add more items later if the room feels too empty to you.

Canvas and Visual Textures

The usual color schemes used in Hygge are neutral palettes, with visual interest being provided by textures rather than loud colors. This allows even subtle textures to be noticed and appreciated.

An easy way to add visual texture is by selecting artwork with rich canvas rather than glossy prints. You can add a deeper level of meaning to your Hygge decor by using a custom canvas art service such as Canvas Vows to create your own personalized canvas art, using the words or photos that mean the most to you.

Another way you can incorporate visual textures into your decor is through three-dimensional decorations, such as a vase filled with fresh flowers or delicate tree branches, or a hand-carved wooden bowl of fresh fruit. Natural textures are best for Hygge as they provide a connection to the balance of the natural world.

Cotton and Textures You Can Feel

In order to embrace the carefree and cozy lifestyle of Hygge, you need to feel snug and secure. Surrounding yourself with natural textures not only adds to the aspect of visual interest, but provides you with the important key feeling of comfort.

Decorate your seating and nooks with fluffy pillows and soft blankets, and consider a thick area rug for hard flooring. Choose fabrics that are a solid color rather than printed, and don’t be afraid to mix and match smooth cotton with chunky knits. If it’s something you would love to curl up in on a rainy afternoon, it belongs in your Hygge decor.

Try to stay with textures and materials that you enjoy, and avoid any that are itchy or uncomfortable.

Candles and Warm Glows

One aspect of Danish culture and the Hygge lifestyle includes cuddling with loved ones by the fireplace. As lovely as fireplaces are, unfortunately not all homes have them.

Not to worry, though! You can still embrace the warm radiance by utilizing candles in your decor. The soft, warm glow of candlelight provides a feeling of relaxation and romance that simply cannot be replaced with artificial light. You can light your favorite jar candles, decorate with candle lanterns, or even place candles in a (fire-safe) faux fireplace.

You can embrace Hygge decor a step further by replacing harsh, bright lights with strands of fairy lights. Using these lights provides a twinkling glow and offers a feeling of warmth and joy.

Comfort – The Hygge Atmosphere

The final C represents the atmosphere and overall objective of the Hygge lifestyle: comfort.

The calming neutral color scheme, the taking the time to notice textures, the soothing lighting — it all contributes to the feeling of comfort and ease you experience in your home.

In order to fully appreciate the atmosphere of your Hygge decor, spend some time embracing the lifestyle it represents.

So, enjoy your new surroundings. Throw on a soft robe or some yoga pants and kick off your shoes. Invite a few friends or family members over to catch up and reminisce. Curl up with a good book and a warm cup of tea. Who knows, with any luck, your decor will just be the first part of your life to become carefree and comfortable.

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The two questions to ask when thinking about renovating your kitchen are 'why' and 'how.' These questions will prompt you to look for answers, which, in turn, will cause you to reflect on a wide number of things from your opinion about aesthetics to the type of functionality you’re seeking.

By researching remodeling ideas and designs and by looking at plenty of photos online, you’ll get a fairly good idea about how to add the type of style and function you want. Take your time, of course, as it's never a good idea to make quick decisions when planning a kitchen makeover. Give yourself time to get inspired and to change your mind.

Here are 10 ideas to consider:

1. In your quest for answers, you should read blogs on home improvement and visit websites like Gilmans Kitchen and Bath to get a deeper appreciation for the many design options available.
2. One theme you’ll come across quite often are suggestions for choosing eco-friendly ideas. Until recent times, there was not much awareness about health hazards like volatile organic compounds, or VOC. These are organic chemicals that create high vapor pressure even at ordinary room temperature and can cause lung irritation. The use of the wrong paints and coats designed to beautify your kitchen may introduce VOC into your cooking space.
3. You can make your food preparation area more attractive and functional by adding some subway tile backsplash.
4. Don’t be in a hurry to replace your kitchen cabinets because they look old. If your cabinets are spacious and made of beautiful wood, you may not need to replace them to get a new look. You can save an enormous amount of money by simply adding a coat of fresh paint. Usually, neutral tones work best, as they create a clean look. With the right choice of paint, no one will even know that your cabinets aren’t new unless you tell them.
5. When you walk into a modern kitchen, one of the things that jump out at you is the kitchen island. It’s warm, welcoming, and attractive, and it also adds utilitarian value. Islands are useful for meal-prep, for storing things, and for seating. Even if you have a small kitchen, there's probably an island that will work for you.
6. Space is always a good thing in any room and one way to increase kitchen space while also improving storage is by adding shelves. They won’t take up as much room as upper cabinets, will make it convenient to store things, and will create the illusion that your kitchen is larger.
7. Gorgeous countertops can add flair to your kitchen. Granite countertops, for instance, will give your kitchen a focal point and create a sleek, modern look-and-feel.
8. If you haven’t bought new appliances for some time, you’ll be surprised at how much kitchen technology has improved. Modern appliances are not only far more attractive than what was available only a few short years ago, but far more energy-efficient, too. Your dishwasher will save more water and your range and microwave will give you perfect heat without the extra cost. All you need are a few black stainless-steel kitchen appliances to give your kitchen a futuristic appearance.
9. Convert unused areas of your kitchen into usable space. If your kitchen has an empty corner, you can convert it into a nook, a place for quick snacks or enjoying a cup of tea or coffee. Accessorizing nooks can be as simple as adding a bench and a few plump cushions.
10. It’s worth spending the money to create an eco-friendly floor that does not have toxic materials like formaldehyde. Although organic bamboo is actually a grass, it looks like wood and comes in attractive tiles.

In conclusion, think of these ten ideas as idea starters. It’s easy enough to get carried away and just focus on what looks good, but you’ll find it helpful to also consider the value of research, eco-awareness, and energy-saving appliances, among other things, when it comes to designing your dream kitchen.

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Our old friend Russ Billington dropped a note to alert us to a sale of important A&C metalwork:

My old friend John Armstrong at Fair Oak Workshop has unearthed some interesting stock from his collection and is offering them for sale at 1973 prices. The Jarvie Candlesticks can be found here, and the Frank Lloyd Wright is here.

When working on the layout of a room, an interior designer has to take multiple factors into consideration. Whether working on a bathroom or a television room, you need to figure out how you can strike a balance between form and function. While comfort is undoubtedly an important aspect of any room in which you spend time, the aesthetics of the room and how the individual elements work together can be thought of as equally important. Your bedroom is where you sleep and maybe even work, which is why the way you decorate this personal space is crucial.

There is no denying the importance of the furniture in your bedroom. Mattress store shopping to find a mattress that fits your bedroom and is comfortable to lay on is obviously part of the process, but there are a number of other pieces you can incorporate to help bring your bedroom to life.

Furniture plays a big role in how a room looks but, after careful inspection, you may realize that there are plenty of smaller details that help put a room together,too. This article will dive into some of the ways you can decorate your room to make it a more pleasant place to be.

A Soothing Scent

When decorating your bedroom, it can be easy to focus on the big pieces you need to fill the room. A mattress to sleep on, a desk to work at, and an armoire for your clothes are all critical pieces you will need, but there is a lot more you can add to improve the room.

Incorporating more senses can enhance a room, making it more interesting and unique. What your bedroom looks like is important but paying attention to how it smells is also vital. A soothing and light scent that is not too overwhelming can truly tie a room together and make it that much more inviting. While heavier scents work well in larger rooms, like the television room or kitchen, stick to lighter scents, such as pine, mint, or chamomile, for the close quarters of your bedroom. Candles, incense, or oil diffusers with lighter scents add better accents to the room without giving you or your guests a headache.

A Hint of Nature

Another way you can decorate your bedroom is to add nature to it. Simply being in the presence of nature can boost your mood. Studies have shown how effective moving to greener urban areas or taking nature walks are for improving people’s mental health. Studies have shown that green plants can reduce stress, increase vitality, and put people in happier moods, simply by being nearby.

If you wish to add some color to your room and experience these calming effects, look into purchasing some small green plants you can place on your desk, by your nightstand, or anywhere else where you can easily see them. If you are concerned about not having enough direct sunlight in your bedroom, plants like the dracaena and the bromeliad both look great and can survive in the shade. If you do not want to worry about any kind of maintenance, some stores even sell fake plants that look real.

While introducing plants to your room can have soothing mental effects, it is also a very easy and cost-effective way to add a pop of color to your room. Your room will look and feel fresher immediately.

Final Thoughts

In conclusion, decorating your room can feel like an overwhelming and stressful task. Since you may spend a good amount of time in your room sleeping or working, you want to make sure the room is comfortable but also reflects your personal style. Thinking about the smaller design decisions, such as what color to paint the walls, which accessories to include, or how to arrange everything can be just as important as the actual furniture pieces you choose to put in the room.

Aiming for a layout that looks and feels nice is important, which is why you cannot ignore the small details that can complete a room. Ultimately, this may require some more creative thinking but finding the right elements to enhance your bedroom will be worth money and effort.

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Your house becomes a home when it's somewhere you can be proud of, somewhere that you delight in bringing visitors to, rather than just a four-walled shelter for you and your family. That's why embarking on a program of property renovation and refurbishment can be the best thing that you ever do, and it can even cover its own cost by adding value to your home. To make the most of a renovation project, however, you should concentrate on the outside of your home as well as what's inside, so with that in mind here are three simple steps that can help you obtain a landscape to be proud of.

Turning a Lame Lawn into a Laudable Lawn

The crowning glory of any exterior landscaping should be the garden, and at the heart of that is the lawn. A great looking lawn is a place where you'll enjoy relaxing with the ones you love, watching the clouds float by, but a sad and tired lawn can show your whole property in the wrong light. If the look of your lawn is getting you down, you should call in specialists in lawn grading and leveling. They'll be able to repair, reseed, or rejuvenate your lawn so that it's in the best condition ever, and that's a great starting point for a landscaping renovation.

Add a Soothing Water Feature

Whether you're busy raising a family, working, or even if you're now retired, the pace of modern life can be frenetic, so we all need a place we can call our own where we can simply let the day's worries drift away. A well-kept garden landscape is the perfect place to do this, especially if it includes a water feature. They come in all shapes and sizes, from garden ponds to waterfalls and fountains, and so there's one to suit every budget. It has long been known that the sound of running water is calming, so waterfalls in particular can be soothing, as the creators of Zen gardens have known for centuries.

Adopt a Greener Approach

A perfect landscape should be green in more ways than one. We all see the effects of man-made climate change around us, which is why it's essential to do all we can to reduce our carbon footprint. One way to do this is to make our property as eco-friendly and energy efficient as possible. Externally, this can be done by installing solar powered lighting, and using water butts to collect rainwater that can then be recycled and used to water your lawn and plants. In this way, you'll not only be transforming your landscape, but you could be helping to transform the environment for generations to come.

Your garden is the first thing that visitors to your property will see. When you have a well-kept or newly renovated lawn, beautiful water touches, and other elements such as high-quality paving stones or pathways, you'll be creating a perfect impression from the very first moment. It can cost less than you think, and of course you can use a landscape rejuvenation project to install greener garden solutions too.

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With record temperatures all over the world in 2018, it is more important than ever to reduce your carbon footprint. Expert scientists have put their finger on global warming as the reason for sweltering heat throughout Asia, Europe, and the United States, and when you consider there are wildfires raging in the Arctic Circle in August 2018, you can no longer deny what environmentalists have claimed for years. Is your house sustainable? Does it reduce your carbon footprint? Here are some tips you can implement to ensure it does; otherwise, the entire planet is in danger.

Insulate Your Abode 

Keep your indoor air in and the outdoor air out by insulating your ceiling, floors, and walls. Your home should be wrapped in a protective bubble, if you will, to ensure that your air conditioning and heating units run minimally throughout the summer and winter. When properly insulated, outside air cannot make its way into your home to either cool or heat the indoor environment, and this keeps the inside temperature set. An added benefit is lower utility bills alongside a reduced carbon footprint. 

Don’t forget about your doors or windows, either. Make certain they are properly sealed and that you install new double-paned windows if you currently have single-paned units. If you cannot afford to replace your windows, and even if you do upgrade them, redo your interior with thermal-backed curtains that block the sun’s rays and outdoor heat or cold. In the winter, open the drapes during the day to let the sun’s warmth in, and then close them at night to trap the heat.

Renovate Your Kitchen

If you’re tired of your outdated kitchen, now is the perfect time to renovate it. Purchase all new energy-efficient appliances and don’t stop there. Get a new energy-efficient washer and drying, too. Upgrade your flooring and countertops to natural materials that are sustainably farmed. When you are ready for another upgrade, these materials can be recycled rather than tossed in a landfill, which is where parquet, Formica, and other manmade materials end up. 

Don’t stop with the indoors. Redo your backyard space to include an outdoor kitchen. If you live in an area with enough solar energy, you can cook outside in a solar oven. You can also grill outdoors, which keeps the kitchen heat outside and gives your AC a break during the summer. Invest in outdoor appliances that utilize solar energy or other alternative fueling methods. You’ll find you love cooking outdoors as much as indoors and you’ll notice a difference in your utility bills.

Redo Your Landscape 

Consider ripping out that expensive lawn and redoing your landscape with drought-resistant, indigenous plant life. You should always use native plants no matter where you live, because they thrive in their environment and are easier to keep alive with minimal water waste. Have your home’s indoor and outdoor plumbing redone to trap gray water and push it outdoors to water your plants. You can also set up a rainwater collection system and use solar energy to make the water safe for consumption.

Realize the Benefits

Alongside the money you will save on your utility bills if you implement the above, your Washington DC homeowners insurance, or your homeowners insurance wherever you live, might just reduce your premiums after your renovation. Some insurance companies encourage their policyholders to go green, and you could also save money at tax time depending on current state and federal credits. Yes, the renovation will cost you money, but you’ll get that cost back over time.

Record-breaking heat waves that are claiming lives. Wildfires all over the planet, including in Sweden of all places. Concrete melting in Europe. Think global warming doesn’t exist? Think again. It does and it’s hazards are becoming more and more prominent every day. Do your part and upgrade your home to make it more sustainable.

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This pool was designed to match the clean, simple lines of the house. Note how it appears to be an extension of the house with matching levels. The pool filtration system and pumps were located under the pool at the end furthest from the house to minimize noise around the patio areas.

A pool's design is an extension of the house's external features. Revisions on planning regulations and technological advancements allow pools to be constructed along the boundaries of buildings and properties. This means good news for home owners, especially those who plan on boosting the value of their property so they can sell it for a higher price in the future. Local real estate agents would agree that properties with pools can be sold at high prices compared to those without.

Another reason why installing a pool is highly recommended is because this gives you a beautiful centerpiece for the garden. It can be a focal point for fun and entertaining activities for friends and family. The best part is it's not just there for display, you can actually use it especially during those hot summer days.

If You Fail to Plan, You Plan to Fail

Fact: the pool's design can make or break the deal. If you had any miscommunication with your landscape artist or architect, you will have to deal with an eyesore, instead of enjoying the pool that you can take a dip in when need be. It's crucial to plan ahead before installing a pool so you can identify what size you'll be getting, where to put it, what materials to use, and how it can complement the design of your home.

Not only that, some pool filtration equipment that's essential in keeping the pool clean can be unsightly. Since aesthetics is key, it's crucial to come up with creative ways to hide the filtration system when planning the pool's design. In the planning it's also important to identify where to get the materials from. For example, some pumps tend to be noisy and break easily that's why it's only fitting to purchase from reliable retailers like Mr. Pool Man.

Complementary Design

We can't stress this enough: the pool's design has to complement the exteriors of the house and there's a good reason why. If the house has a modern feel to it, the pool should be designed in such a way that it blends with architecture. This can include tiles, furniture, and clean lines that will suit the modern vibe of the house. If it were designed to look traditional or old school, it would feel that there's an imbalance or that there's something off. Your house guests will feel that, and so will the future buyers making it even more difficult to sell your house.

Let Creativity Flow

You may not be aware of it yet, but the pool will function as everyone's entertainment and relaxation area. The pool has to look like it can be a source of fun and peace of mind because if it only stresses you out, then it's pointless to have it installed.

This is where the pool landscape artist comes in. They have the artistic perspective that's needed when coming up with a design that will blend perfectly with the aesthetics of your house. They know how to design a pool that will serve as the hub for relaxation, entertainment, and socialization. All those filters and pumps won't be that much of an issue because these artists can come up with different creative ways to hide them. If you wish to add your own personal touch to the design, all you have to do is collaborate with them.

But do check out work that the artist has done for other people before engaging someone for such an important task as designing a new pool. As the famous swimming pool artist David Hockney once said, “It is very good advice to believe only what an artist does, rather than what he says about his work.”

The house and the pool needs to have a harmonious relationship especially when it comes to the design. Designs that complement each other will give you peace of mind.

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