Everyone wants a complete home that matches stylistically and looks the best it possibly can. Nothing can lower the appeal of your home like strange bathroom wallpaper or living room furniture that isn’t in sync.

Even worse is an important feature of the home that you frequently use not meeting the mark. A subpar bathtub, fridge, or especially a sink, are a constant reminder that your home could have been better.

Kitchen sink styles in any house are an important feature that guests will notice. Choose wisely! That goes for whether you are selecting your first sink in a new home, or if you are renovating and replacing your old sink.

Let’s take a look at seven kitchen sink styles you’re sure to love.

1. The Top-Mount Sink

One of the first major decisions to make with your new sink is to select either a top-mount sink style or an under-mount sink style. Both options have strengths and weaknesses and there are numerous subgroups to choose from either.

For top-mount sinks, an easier installation is a nice plus. But keep in mind that is just a small part of the process, as a sink could last decades. Top-mount sinks are an attached rim over the opening on the counter and might be tougher to clean around for the long haul.

One more positive of the top-mount are the numerous styles and materials that fit its conventional style.

2. Under-Mount Sinks

A counterpart to top-mount, under-mount sinks has a more even flow for the counter. Under-mount sinks often have more space, with larger and deeper areas for dishes.

Some of the most extravagant designs are under-mount sinks. One downside would be the need to seal the sink very tightly to the counter to avoid leaks. For some of the top-end options, look more towards under-mount sinks.

3. Sink Material Pros and Cons

Next on the agenda for the perfect sink for you is to decide what material best fits your needs. All materials are available in under-mount and top-mount sinks, but some are common in one or the other.

For example, stainless steel is very common for top-mounts, and under-mounts offer more options for cast-iron or copper sinks. The aforementioned stainless steel is by far the most popular choice for both sink types.

If you opt for stainless steel, take special note of the thickness of the material and the grade. This will affect its performance. There are also granite and sinks with a majority granite material as a secondary option.

Copper and cast-iron kitchen sinks may have the wow factor you are looking for but might not last as long as more conventional options. Now, let’s look at specific designs of some of the best sink styles for your kitchen.

4. Fluted Farmhouse Sink

A supreme stylistic choice, the farmhouse selections are strong in functionality as well. Farmhouses are under-mount sinks with a lot of space. They look great in a traditional kitchen or a modern kitchen.

Both single and double-bowl sinks are available, but it is hard to beat the look of a single-bowl fluted farmhouse sink. They’re available in stainless steel, copper, or porcelain.

Another huge positive of the farmhouse kitchen sink is the enormous space you will have for washing large bowls and kitchen appliances (if you opt for a single sink).

5. Corner Sinks

Corner sinks are perfect for double sinks, and you get the most out of your counter space and kitchen. There are some limits as to what types of kitchens can allow for this type.

But there is no doubt that two sinks only connected by a corner give you maximum space for the whole family to help out with dishes. It might be a little more costly, but this option is one of the more popular kitchen renovation tips.

6. Kitchen Island Sink

Continuing on some of the best kitchen sink styles, the island kitchen sink is another that saves space in a unique way. Having access to each side of your sink with walking space is an obviously huge bonus for cleaning and general maintenance.

They’ll also allow for more counter space throughout the rest of your kitchen!

7. Drainboard/Work Station

Lastly, you can select a sink with extra compartment features or additional drainboards. A positive for this type of kitchen sink is that they aid with cooking, washing dishes, and separating your food prep from dishes more easily.

A negative is that you are giving up the additional sink space you gain with other double-sinks while still paying a double-sink price.

More Kitchen Sink Styles & Kitchen Remodel Tips

If you’d like a second sink in the kitchen, a bar sink is perfect to have off to the side.

A true luxury, integrated sinks are when the countertop and sink are both reformed and combined. They act as one, which is a huge plus for cleaning the sink and leakage.

Sometimes you aren’t buying a new home and working from scratch — you are replacing your old sink in your current home. That makes it oh-so-important that you nail it and find the best kitchen this time.

Whether your sink broke down over time or had a glaring early issue, kitchen remodeling is a time to do your homework. Some of the best tips are simple: Stick to conventional options.

Keep in mind that you want the maximum sink space possible. You should be able to find an option that fits what you need and is of high quality for under 500 dollars.

The Best Kitchen Sink Styles: Now You Know

Buying the perfect sink for you can be a little intimidating because there are so many great options. It’s definitely a choice that you shouldn’t take lightly, given how much time the average person spends in the kitchen.

As long as you keep all of the kitchen sink styles and the sink’s fit within your home in mind, then you will find a great option for all of your hand and dishwashing needs.

For more articles on home and garden, travel, and cooking, check out the rest of our blog.

 

You always want your home to look picture perfect and be inviting for friends and family to visit. Deciding how to make your dream home a reality can be difficult – where do you start? What are the best accessories to include? How do you make your main living area as attractive as possible without being overwhelmed?

Experts suggest the following 7 ideas to help you decide an overall look for your main room, what items to include in your décor, and the best way to make your main room beautiful, welcoming, as well as functional.

Start with colour

Better Homes & Gardens suggests that you start by choosing a colour palette for your room. Do you want your room to have a cool, peaceful feel? Go with soft blues. Do you prefer a room that energizes and excites? Choose warm colours, like reds and yellows.

Starting with a colour scheme in mindsets you up on an easy path to choosing how to decorate and design your room. This will give your room a base from which you can choose furnishings and accessories that will compliment your room design and each other.

Remember, though, that picking a colour scheme doesn’t mean go monochrome, though. House Beautiful suggests adding pops of bright colour on top of a neutral base to make your room more lively without using a ton of colour. A bright red throw, navy pillows, and a bold painting with another splash of red or blue may be all you need to turn your neutral base into a gorgeous showpiece.

Paint Those Walls

Get ready to spread colour – or a nice neutral – all through your room by painting the walls. Giving them a new coat of paint can instantly change the look of your room. Pick your colour carefully, though. The Spruce suggests picking paint after your large furniture items is the best way to go to avoid any colour mishaps.

Don’t forget that you can take the colour up to the ceiling, too. Painting your ceiling can bring an extra pop of colour, a surprising detail, and a statement to your room. If you choose to paint your ceiling a surprising colour, be certain to find a few accessories that tie the colour into the rest of the room. Throws, pillows, and artwork can help with this.

Choose the focal point

A focal point helps to anchor your room and draw your visitors in. Your focal point can be a gorgeous view out of a picture window or a statement piece of art. In many homes, a television and media centre often serves as the room’s focal point.

A fireplace is usually an easy choice as a focal point for your room. Spruce it up a bit to add to its appearance and make it a work of art in itself. You can also hang an attractive mirror above it to help bring light and the appearance of a larger room. Be certain to check what’s reflected in your mirror, and you may want to tilt it a bit for the perfect angle.

Arrange furniture

An interior website suggests arranging your furniture so that your room has a nice flow to it – pieces that can be used for multiple purposes arranged so that people can move around the room easily. The magazine also suggests furniture with a low profile if you have an open floor plan – this will help make your room cozier.

Multiple seating areas can give your guests the feeling that while they’re all together, they can move into small groups, too. These separate areas are great for getting cozy, snacking, games, and more. Also, be sure to include conversation areas in your furniture layout. Give people cozy groupings of chairs to encourage people to sit and visit, whether it’s old friends catching up or new ones getting to know each other.

Area rugs can also be used to define spaces in your room. Plan to get rugs a bit larger than your seating space, experts advise. Larger rugs will make the room look larger and give plenty of space for all the pieces in your arrangement. And be sure to incorporate design elements like colour, pattern, and texture that compliment your room design.

Lighting and windows

Statement lighting can bring a show-stopping focal point to your room while still being utilitarian. Choose a fixture that is unexpected and provides a “wow” factor. Beautiful lamps can also add beauty and function to your overall design. Pick lamps with an aesthetic that match other decorative elements in your room.

You can choose heavy or light and airy window treatments depending on the look of your room and how much light you want to let into your room. Choose window treatments that best showcase your windows and room – different lengths and styles can change your room’s look dramatically.

Accessorize with art

Good Housekeeping suggests using a tight grid of art displayed in inexpensive frames to achieve a more high-end, expensive feel. You can include your own art, your kids’, mirrors, a forrest canvas with family names, or anything else that has special meaning to you.

A gallery wall can also be an excellent way to display your art – especially if your collection is eclectic. Using different sizes and looks of frames will give your display a personal touch while providing a bold statement about your style.

Other Accessories

House Beautiful states that you can “get weird” with collections of pieces in unexpected places. For example, instead of sticking to the same stack of books and decorative bowls on your coffee table, display a quirky collection of pottery or something else you’re in love with.

Green up your room with some nice plants, too. They not only bring a splash of colour and a bit of life to your room, but they also help clean the air and can help lift your mood. Oversized plants are a perfect way to fill in underused corners. Pop the plant into a woven basket or a favourite piece of pottery to change up its look.

Putting together an attractive yet comfortable living room may seem like a daunting task, but following these tips can help you design a room with a cohesive look, but that still has a few surprises. Your friends and family will love their time at your home and be impressed with your decorating savvy.

If you care about the environment and your quality-of-life, you must invest in making your home energy-efficient.

There are several advantages of energy-efficient homes. You spend less amount of energy to provide heating and cooling for your house. Hence, you end up saving money on electricity and gas bills.

An energy-efficient home also benefits health and makes living comfortable. With proper ventilation, you avoid the risk of mold formation in the house. Hence, it reduces the risk of diseases and illnesses, leading to a healthier lifestyle. As a homeowner, investing in energy-efficient systems helps increase the value of your property.

Although having an energy-efficient home has many benefits, one has to spend a considerable amount of capital. It may seem like a huge investment, but in the long-run, it leads to higher gains. So you will not regret spending money to make your home energy-efficient.

Buildings contribute to carbon dioxide gas emissions which is one of the causes of climate change. Through better designs and energy-efficient homes, we can reduce carbon emissions while ensuring that our quality of life does not suffer.

Here are a few ways to make your home energy-efficient.

Smart thermostat

About 40% to 60% of the energy bill is spent on heating and cooling our homes. With smart thermostats, we can end up saving money and make our homes energy efficient. Smart thermostats are Wi-FI enabled, which allows you to control the temperature remotely. Some smart thermostats change the temperature setting according to your preferences throughout the day. There are various smart thermostat manufacturers. The best is perhaps the Nest Learning Thermostat, which has excellent performance.

Lighting

We tend to waste electricity when lighting our homes. With a few changes, we can save electricity and ensure that our house has proper lighting.

Incandescent light bulbs are only 5% efficient, meaning that they only convert 5% of electricity into light. The bulbs convert the rest of the electrical energy to heat. Hence, these are not energy-efficient at all. Instead, LED light bulbs are energy-efficient and are a better alternative for lighting homes. Moreover, these are long-lasting as well. LED light bulbs are available in various colors, including warmer tones.

Leaving lights on not only wastes electricity but also adds to the utility bills. According to an article by Save on Energy, leaving lights on for 8 hours every day adds up to $900 per year in bills. Hence, we need to be more vigilant about saving electricity by turning off lights that are not in use.

Boiler

Boilers currently available in the market are condensing boilers. These boilers are not only energy-efficient, but they also reduce the carbon footprint of your house. Moreover, it provides central heating and cooling to your home.

There are various types of boilers available. The type of boiler you install in your house depends on the size of your property. If you get the wrong boiler, it may lead to high bills. Hence, consult an expert when getting a boiler.

Visit this site for further information.

Insulation

Some homeowners forgo insulation in their houses because it adds to the cost of construction. However, it costs them in the long-run. Insulation maintains the temperature inside the home, no matter what the temperature outside it. It makes it easier to cool and heat the house. Without insulation, your heating system would require more fuel to keep the house warm, adding exponential cost to the electricity bill. But you need to keep the check on your heating oil as well, because if it completely goes out then there will be a huge problem. So if you notice that there is less availability of heating oil then try to get it delivered at your home and store it. In case you are new to home delivery of heating oil then Learn more about it as this will save your time as well as open the option to get the heating oil anytime at your home.

Conclusion

Apart from these tips, we must try our best to be more conscious of our environment. For this, we need to change our behavior. We need to be more vigilant about our actions and how they impact the environment.

Most homeowners tend to forget that their garage door involves complicated mechanisms and tracks that need a little bit of maintenance from time to time. Perhaps this is because, costing an average of $125 to $290, professional garage repair isn’t too costly.

That being said, you could save tons of money over the course of your homeownership just by learning a few basic garage maintenance tricks. Checking out your garage and addressing faulty parts as needed once or twice a year is a great way to preserve your garage door in the long run.

How do you make sure that your garage is functional and what do you do if you notice any maintenance issues during your biannual checkups?

Read on to learn how to maintain your garage door with a few simple hacks.

The Quick Test: Watch and Listen

To begin your regular garage maintenance, start with the most basic test to detect any irregularities or malfunctions. Head to the garage, hit the garage opener, and listen closely. Oftentimes, when a garage door isn’t functioning at its best, you’ll hear scraping, grating, or rattling sounds.

Once the door is fully open, go ahead and hit the garage opener again. This time watch all of the mechanisms at work and take not of any jerking motions or any mechanisms that are asymmetrical.

Clear the Tracks of Debris

With the door open, inspect the tracks on either side. Use a rag and basic household cleaner to get rid of any dust or debris. If you notice rust, spray the track with WD-40 and use a scrub brush to wipe the rust away and prevent it from returning.

At this point, you can also use a level to ensure that both tracks are still standing at a perfect vertical angle and don’t need realignment.

Tighten Up the Hardware

Check all of the fasteners and brackets holding the garage door track in place on the floor, along the wall, and on the ceiling. As your garage door goes up and down several times a week, the vibration caused by that movement can loosen the hardware that holds the track in place. If you notice any loose bolts, grab a socket wrench and tighten them back up.

Inspect the Rollers

Garage door rollers should be replaced at a minimum of every five to seven years. If either of the bottom rollers needs replacement, you will want to call in a professional, as these two rollers are usually attached to the lift cables and can be difficult to remove.

If you notice that any of the rollers are cracked or worn, replace them immediately. With the exception of the bottom two, the rollers are very easy to remove and replace. All you need to do is unscrew the bracket holding them to the frame, pull them out, and pop in a new one.

Inspect the Pulleys and Cables

The pulleys and lift cables are attached to the bottom rollers and need to be inspected regularly. These pulleys and cables enable your garage door to open and close at a smooth, steady rate, which makes the process safe and reliable. Check for signs of broken or fraying edges and call a professional if you notice either.

While you’re inspecting the pulleys and cables, take a look at the springs–garage doors use either extension or torsion springs–and see if these parts for doors need replacing.

Lubricate Any Moving Parts

Keeping all moving parts well lubricated is a great way to reduce stress on all of your garage door hardware. This lowers the chance that parts will break, fray, or wear down. In other words, lubrication can lengthen the lifespan of all of the individual pieces that make your garage door function.

Grab a spray lubricant like white lithium grease and apply it to the hinges and rollers. If you have torsion springs, you will want to grease the bearings on the door’s openers. If you have extension springs, grease the pulleys.

If any of those components seem stuck, spray them down with WD-40 before you apply the grease. This will help penetrate the spaces between each piece and get everything up and moving again.

Make Sure the Door’s Auto-Reverse Feature Works

Any modern garage door has an auto-reverse feature that is a crucial part of garage door safety. The idea is that if something stands in the path of a closing garage door, it will detect the object and begin to open in response. This can protect your car, your property, and even people and pets.

To test that the auto-reverse feature works, stick something disposable and durable (like a piece of wood) on the floor where the garage door rests when it is fully closed. Hit the garage opener to close the door. If the auto-reverse feature is working, the door will begin to open upon hitting the object you’ve placed beneath it.

Auto-reverse features rely on sensors, which you can also test. Prompt the door to close again and wave your foot in the door’s path. Even after you move your foot clear of the door’s path, that movement should trigger the censor and stop the door from closing.

Save Money With Easy DIY Garage Maintenance

Don’t neglect your garage door! With our easy DIY garage maintenance hacks, you can keep your garage door running smoothly for years to come. All it takes is a little know-how, some basic tools, and about an hour or two of your time twice a year.

Looking for more DIY tips and homeowner hacks? Browse around the rest of the website and pick up some useful skills that will come in handy for any homeowner.

Feeling like you’re running out of space in your home? Need a place to spread out? It might be time to plan for a home extension.

Your home should feel like your own personal oasis. That means customizing it to fit all of your wants and needs. Transform your home into a place where you can relax and feel you’re most comfortable.

Now that you’re planning on adding another room or two, what will you do with it? Not sure how to design your extension? No worries, here are some ideas you’re sure to love.

Cozy Bedroom Suite

One of the best home improvements you can make is by adding another bedroom to your home. Bedrooms always add value to your home. So if you’re looking for an addition to your home, consider a bedroom suite.

Turn your home extension into a cozy space to rest your head with luxury linens and comfortable pillows. Paint the walls a warm color that promotes restful sleep.

Make sure you give some attention to the attached bathroom by adding updated features and a great design. Don’t forget details like large closets and ample lighting.

Personal Library

Consider yourself a book lover? Do you have a lot of books and nowhere to put them? Then you might want to turn your home extension into your own personal library.

Transform your home extension into a library with built-in shelves on every wall. Fill those shelves with all your books to give them the feature display that they deserve.

Don’t forget to add comfortable seating like armchairs and couches to lounge on while you get lost in the pages. Cozy blankets, pillows, and warm lighting are the room’s finishing touch.

Screening Room

If you’re a movie buff, then you absolutely need a screen room in your home. What better way is there to watch a movie than on the big screen, surround sound speakers, and on the comfiest chairs?

You can hire a company to turn your home extension into an in-home movie theatre. But you can just as easily create the atmosphere yourself with the right supplies.

Add in some amenities like a popcorn machine and mini-fridge so you’re never far from the movie snacks.

Extended Pantry

It always feels like there’s never enough room in the kitchen for all of the groceries. Cabinets can quickly become overwhelmed with all the dry goods modern kitchens hold.

So if your home extension will be near your kitchen, consider using some of it to extend your pantry. Deepen the space so you’re able to walk in and add floor-to-ceiling shelves to fit all your groceries.

You can even take it a step further by adding a secret door to your garage for easy unloading after a shopping trip.

Updated Laundry Room

For many families, laundry day is an all-day affair. If you’re going to be spending so much time in one room, then it should be as stunning as the rest of your home’s design.

The truth is, many people don’t think to update their laundry rooms. So these spaces end up being dark and dingy. In turn, many people hate doing laundry.

But if you treat your laundry room like any other room in your house and give it a little attention, you can make it a place you don’t mind being in. Laundry may not become your favorite chore; it might make doing it a little more fun.

Home Office

Even if you don’t work from home, you still need a place to handle all the family affairs. And if you do work from home, you need a dedicated space where you won’t get interrupted.

These are only two reasons why you could turn your home extension into a home office. From this room, you can run the household. Handle bills, keep important documents, and stay organized all within your home office.

When hiring your home addition contractors be sure to be explicit about your needs. Being clear about what you want out of your space will ensure the finished project is just as you like it.

Study Room

Just as you need a place to get your work done, your kids need a space to get their homework done. Consider turning your home extension into a dedicated study room for your kids.

Create a dedicated space for them to work on daily homework and school projects without it all getting in the way of your home’s functioning. A study room just for the kids can help them stay focused on their work.

You can add personal desks for them to do their individual work. But you can also have a larger table for group study and large projects like presentations.

Kid’s Playroom

Your kids need a place to study, but they also need a place to have fun. Dedicate an area of your home to your kids’ play space. The best part is that this kind of room can grow as they do.

While they’re young, it’s a great place to keep toys, books, and art supplies. This will help the rest of your home from feeling messy and overwhelmed.

As your kids get older, you can transform the room with their interests. It’ll also be a great place for older children to spend time with their friends. This dedicated space can even be the designated sleepover room.

Gift Wrapping Room

How many times have you tried wrapping a gift last minute on the kitchen table? If you add a gift-wrapping room to your home, there will be no risk of knocking over the salt when you reach for a piece of tape.

Create a gift wrapping room with a dedicated table you can spread out a present of any size. Organize all of your wrapping papers, bows, ribbons, and tags to make wrapping easy.

This room will come in handy all year with celebrations like birthdays and anniversaries. But you will especially love it come the holiday season.

Home Bar and Game Room

Love to entertain your friends and family? Want your home to be the center of the social scene? Then you may want to consider adding a home bar and game room during your addition.

This is one of the most popular home improvement ideas since you will get so much use out of the space. Create a home bar by adding a counter you can serve drinks on and a place for your guests to sit.

Add a space for games to keep everyone entertained for hours. Have a table to play your favorite card and board games. Add a little extra flair with classic arcade and bar games like pinball, pool, and air hockey.

Art Studio

Anyone with an artistic hobby knows just how hard it is to find a place for all the necessary supplies. Whether you work with paint, yarn, or fabric, you’re going to need space to organize without overwhelming the rest of your home.

So if you’re adding an addition to your home, consider turning the space into an art studio. Build some storage like shelves and drawers to keep all of your supplies organized.

Add a table where you can spread out and work on your current project. This dedicated area will allow you to be as creative as you need to create your next masterpiece.

Music Room

There are a few ways you can incorporate music into a new space in your home. If you play an instrument, you can turn this addition into a soundproof space to practice.

You’ll be able to turn off the rest of the world to practice your craft. And you don’t have to disturb anyone in your home or your neighbors while you do it.

But if you’re just an appreciator of music, you can still have a music room in your home. If you have vinyl or CDs, display your extensive collection here.

Set up your record player or stereo and a comfortable place to listen to your favorite songs. This will be a great place to entertain guests in a laid back and relaxing environment.

Glass Sunroom

One of the most unique home improvements you can choose is creating a home extension made of all glass. Not only will this look stunning, but you’ll have a unique area you can enjoy all year road.

It’ll feel like you’re outside without having to be directly in the elements. Fill the space with comfortable, plushy furniture that you can lay back and relax on. You can even add a patio table so you can eat there as well.

Fill the space with plants to add color and life. You can find easy patio plants that require little maintenance but look stunning year.

Transform Your Space With a Home Extension

You’re going to be spending a lot of time at home, so your space should be exactly as you want it. But sometimes the home as it comes isn’t enough space to fit in all the amenities you want and need.

That’s where a home extension comes in. By adding another room to your house, you’re able to transform your space exactly as you want it. An addition creates a blank canvas that you get to design.

Inspired to make a home transformation? Share this with a friend and check out more home and design articles!

According to the FBI, a burglary occurs every 25.7 seconds in the United States. From cities to rural areas, houses to apartments, criminals can target any sort of residence.

Because of that, it’s important to take steps to protect your home from burglary. The majority of properties that intruders break into don’t have any form of home protection or deterrent.

But what if you don’t know how to protect your home from burglary?

Keep reading to learn about nine home security tips that can help you and your family stay safe.

1. Upgrade Your Doors

Many people are under the misconception that burglars sneak through windows or lockpick their ways into doors. While some may enter that way, many are able to just walk through the front door.

Make sure that you lock your home at all times, whether you’re at home or out of the house. If your home doesn’t have them already, installing a deadbolt or a strike plate can also be a good idea.

2. Secure the Windows

After tackling your house’s doors, turn your attention to the windows. These are another common point of entry that burglars and intruders use to get into your house.

While the locks that come with your windows are better than nothing, they don’t do a good job at keeping skilled intruders out. Consider installing additional locks to help secure your home.

Planting prickly bushes along your first-story windows can also be a good deterrent.

3. Turn on the Lights

Burglars and intruders rely on the cover of darkness. They have an easy time approaching and sneaking into homes that have no outdoor lights.

While you shouldn’t have to install a spotlight on the exterior of your home, adding outdoor lights can help deter intruders. Put lights by pathways, the garage, and the front door.

Aside from keeping your home safe, you also won’t have to worry about tripping when you get home at night!

4. Install a Security System

Of course, one of the best ways to secure your house is with a home security system. Whether that means having a DIY system or a professional setup that offers around-the-clock monitoring, anything is better than nothing.

To find the right system for you, consider what sort of neighborhood you live in. Are you fine with a simple alarm system, or do you need something more secure and comprehensive?

Check out this site to find out more about what goes into a security system installation process.

5. Secure Your WiFi Network

Aside from getting access to banking information and other sensitive materials, burglars can also use your home’s WiFi network to learn more about your house.

If you have smart or automated security devices connected to your WiFi networks, they may even be able to disable them before breaking in.

Make sure that you have a firewall, a strong password, and a reliable antivirus program to keep you safe.

6. Consider Getting Security Cameras

Security cameras are one of the best deterrents against home invaders. Sometimes, just having cameras outside of your doors is enough to scare burglars away altogether.

Aside from serving as a deterrent, cameras are also practical. If someone does break into your home, they may help you identify who the intruder is, helping you ultimately get justice.

Cameras can work alone or as part of a security system. They can come with advanced features like night vision, motion detection, and two-way talking.

7. Put Valuables in a Safe

If someone does manage to break into your home, you don’t want them to be able to get away with anything valuable. Make sure to store your most valuable and expensive items in a locked safe.

Put everything from expensive jewelry to documents like passports and Social Security cards inside the safe. For more protection, get a safe that offers multiple locks instead of just one.

Storing your valuables in a safe will also protect them from fire, water, and other types of damage.

8. Use Smart Devices

If you’ve dipped your toes into the world of smart devices, better security is a good reason to fully take the plunge. Automated and smart devices often do a great job at protecting your home.

Smart cameras can provide you with an instant video feed that shows when anyone arrives at your home, while a smart doorbell that has a two-way talk system can scare away intruders.

You can even schedule lights and TVs to turn on when you’re out of the house, Home Alone style, to convince anyone watching that people are home.

9. Don’t Forget About the Garage

Another common entry point that many people forget about is their garage. Whether or not burglars can break into actual homes, many people have plenty of expensive things taking up space in their garages.

Make sure that you always lock your garage doors, both on the inside and the outside. If you have a garage door opener, try and remember to keep it inside of your house instead of in the garage.

You can also look into things like smart garage doors and extra locks.

Wondering How to Protect Your Home From Burglary? Follow These Tips

Most people don’t get to work securing their home until it’s too late. If you’re wondering how to protect your home from burglary, make sure to incorporate some of the home security tips mentioned in this guide.

You don’t want to jeopardize the safety of you, your family, or your home.

Did you find these home security tips to be helpful? If so, then make sure to check out some of our other posts for more helpful guides and tips.

Have you ever heard a scritching-scratching sound coming from the walls?

Or maybe you have spotted tiny little rice-shaped droppings around your house.

If so, then your house might be suffering from mouse infestations. Although mice can be very cute when kept as pets, they can also be disease-spreading pests. So, if you are thinking “how can I prevent mouse infestation?” Then you have come to the right place.

In this guide, we’ll show you what to look for, and how to prevent unwanted furry visitors in your home.

How to Spot Mouse Infestations

Whether you think you might have mice in the walls, or mice in the attack, one thing is for sure. Unwelcome mice are a problem that no homeowner wants to deal with.

Mice tend to find their way into homes during the fall, so they can get protection from the cold weather. But, this doesn’t mean they can’t creep into your home any other time. As they like to chew on pretty much everything – from walls to wires – and they can carry diseases, it is important to take care of your mouse problem ASAP.

Here’s how to tell if you have mouse infestations:

• Droppings – small, dark, and moist but become hard and crumbly. Pointed both ends
• Urine – mice mark their trails with urine
• Mouse nests – a little stash of food and household debris in a corner
• Gnawing – chewed up edges of furniture, magazines, wires, etc
• Noise – you might hear scurrying sounds in the walls or under the floor

Now you know what you are looking for, how can you prevent them from coming back?

Best Ways to Keep Mice Out of the House

Here are our four best ways for stopping a mouse from living in your house. Follow these steps and enjoy a pest-free home.

Find the Entry Point

You’ve spotted the signs of a mouse infestation, so now it’s time to find out where they are coming from. Inspect every inch of your home. You might need to open cabinets and cupboards, and possibly remove kickboards. If you spot a couple of holes, you have most likely found their entry points.

Next, you want to seal the openings. Patching plaster, steel wool, and insulating foam can all have good results.

Create a Barricade

You can use peppermint oil to help create a barricade to prevent an invasion. Peppermint is a very strong smell that mice do not like.

Spray the essential oil in different areas of your home, or create a barricade at entrance points with kitty litter and a few drops of oil. Wrap the litter in bundles and place them around your home.

Clean and Remove Food Sources

Mice have an amazing sense of smell, and can find a crumb of bread behind a cabinet! Keep your home as clean as possible. Vacuum under the couch and under cushions where cookie crumbs tend to spill.

Clean between kitchen appliances, and try to seal all open food in airtight containers.

Call the Professionals

When in doubt, get pest control out! If you feel like your mouse issue is getting out of hand, or other conservative methods aren’t cutting the cheese, then a call to the professionals might be in order.

The Easy Way to Prevent Mouse Infestation

Even if you find mice cute as pets, when they are wild and unwelcome, they can cause a bit of a pest issue. Now you know the best ways to prevent mouse infestations, you can relax knowing that you won’t be getting any crumb-loving visitors.

Like what you have read? Check out the rest of my blog for more handy tips for around the home.

 

Are you planning to renovate your home and make room for a new family?

Starting a family is one of the most exciting and happiest experiences of someone’s life. More than a million millennial women become mothers every year. However, it’s also a huge transition.

If you’re planning to welcome a child into your life, you need to make some adjustments. One of the primary changes you need is the family home. You want to ensure that your home can accommodate a new family member.

Looking to make some home renovations for a family house? This article covers some great home upgrades to help you settle into a family home.

1. Encourage Natural Light

When creating the framework of your home, ensure that you let in a lot of natural light. Studies show that exposure to sunlight is crucial to a child’s development. Sunlight protects your child from various health problems like multiple sclerosis.

It can also boost your child’s mood and enhance their focus. A lot of natural sunlight also allows you to save money on lighting solutions. Ensure that you have wide windows facing east or west to welcome the most sunlight into your home.

Looking to replace your windows? Check out this window replacement service.

2. Offer Privacy and Protection

When raising a family, your kids are often your priority. A family home must be private and safe. When renovating your home, don’t neglect the exterior.

Consider installing a security gate in front of your home. Ensure that your windows give you easy visual access to your street. This improves your natural surveillance ability, especially if your kids like playing outside.

However, it’s also crucial to prioritize your privacy. Ensure that you can keep an eye on your kids even while inside, but don’t give neighbors easy access to your home. You can install pergolas and awnings to enhance your home’s privacy.

3. Stay Connected

Ensure that your family home has enough accessibility between rooms. Young kids need constant supervision even while doing daily chores. Create an open layout so that you can see what your kids are up to even when you’re in another room.

You can also double your living room as a study room so you can supervise your kids. It’s crucial to give your kids the privacy they need as they get older. However, it’s best to stay connected around the house in their early years.

4. Create Functional Rooms

Even if you’re making small rooms, use every corner to its full potential. This helps you maximize space and enhance function. It’s best to draw furniture while creating a layout of your home.

This gives you a solid idea of what to expect when you start renovating. You can turn unused corners into a reading nook. You may also add a table or day bed.

5. Prioritize Space and Flow

When renovating a family home, considering space and flow will enhance its livability. Choose the right size for each room in your home and ensure it flows well with other rooms. Your home should be easy to navigate and should make you feel great.

Consider the material you use while conducting home renovations. Timer offers natural warmth but can require extra effort on maintenance. Even if you have a looser budget, it’s best to prioritize design over a bigger size.

6. Declutter and Create More Storage

Ensure to think about storage solutions ahead of time. If you’re welcoming kids into your life, this will help you avoid stress in the future. Building a family will require better and smarter storage options.

A proper storage solution will also make your home look more tidy and cohesive. You may install a butler’s pantry or a cupboard bench space to hide your kitchen utensils. There are plenty of innovative storage ideas, like drawers that blend into the walls.

You can also get beds with built-in storage for compact bedrooms. If you’re planning to get individual closets, don’t neglect to consider square footage.

7. Invest in Bedrooms

It’s always better to have your child’s bedroom closer to the master bedroom. This gives you easy access to your children in case of emergencies. This ensures that your kids can reach you whenever they need you, like if they have a nightmare.

When planning your child’s bedroom, consider long-term changes. Your child may need to upgrade to a bigger bed when they get older. Ensure that your child’s bedroom can grow with them throughout the years.

8. Build a Deck

Encourage your kids to play outside by building a deck in the garden or backyard. In the modern age, fewer and fewer kids are spending time outside. Many kids would now rather spend their time watching TV or playing video games.

A deck provides a fun incentive for kids to play outside. You may also set up a small seating area for picnics and tea parties. If you’re planning to resell your home in the future, a deck adds to its value.

9. Carpeted Surfaces

In your child’s early years, they’re prone to stumbling and falling. While this is a normal part of childhood and development, no parent wants to see their child hurt. You can make your home a safer place by getting carpeted walls and floors.

If your child falls, they’re less likely to get scrapes and scratches. It will also soften falls in case your child falls or drops something.

10. Make a Family-Friendly Kitchen

The kitchen and dining room is where the family often spends the most time together. Families have many meaningful conversations over mealtime. If you’re looking to save room, consider getting an island kitchen with a countertop.

This allows you to prepare food and serve your kids without too much time in between. You may also consider getting a bigger dining area when family members or friends visit.

Build Your Dream Family Home Today

The perfect family home isn’t complete without these design elements. When raising a family, it’s crucial to have careful home renovation planning.

Are you ready to welcome a family into your new home? If you’re looking for more tips on family life at home, we got you covered. Check out our other blog posts for more tips on raising your family.

 

On average, homeowners spend about $1,100 every year on annual maintenance and repairs. And, around 30% of homeowners have to pay for an unexpected, emergency repair each year.

A good chunk of that annual spending goes to hiring plumbing services. After all, there are few things in life more inconvenient than dealing with clogged drains or a broken toilet.

But, did you know that plumbing issues can also pose a hazard to your health? It’s true! Clogged drains, specifically, could put your family’s health at risk, without you even realizing it.

Keep reading to learn more about the potentially harmful effects of clogged drains and when it’s time to call a plumber for help.

Unpleasant Odors

When you’re dealing with a clogged sewer drain, the smell can be especially foul. While the odor itself may not be toxic, it can still lead to health issues for your family.

Upon smelling foul odors, some people experience extreme headaches or nausea. Additionally, as the smell intensifies, it could contribute to mental health issues like anxiety.

Since the smell will never go away on its own, it’s best to call local plumbing services to fix the issue before it gets even worse.

Bacteria Growth

Another dangerous aspect of a clogged drain is that it’s a breeding ground for bacteria. If you come in contact with this bacteria growth, you’re at risk of getting a bacterial infection like typhoid.

You could also come down with Legionnaires’ disease, which is a respiratory illness that leads to fever, muscle aches, vomiting, and shortness of breath. Some other bacteria present in clogged drains can lead to stomach ulcers and other intestinal issues.

Not only are these health issues unpleasant, but they can be especially dangerous for those with a compromised immune system. The good news is that most of these health issues are preventable, as long as you fix clogged drains quickly and eliminate the environment in which bacteria thrive.

Irritants in the Air

If you or a family member already suffers from asthma or allergies that make it difficult to breathe, a clogged drain can exacerbate those existing health conditions.

The bacteria we mentioned above can get into the air, causing more frequent asthma attacks or prolonged breathing issues to those who are sensitive to changes in air quality.

Diseased Insects

It’s an unsettling thought, but most drains are an ideal home for insects like cockroaches, flies, and centipedes. They thrive in the dark, moist conditions of a clean drain, but when it becomes clogged, it’s more likely that they’ll venture out into your home.

While many of these insects are harmless, if not gross, some of them carry dangerous diseases that could be passed along to you and your family.

Don’t Put off Repairing Clogged Drains

As you can see, clogged drains in your home can pose a serious threat to the health of your family. Clogged drains don’t fix themselves, so the longer you let them sit, the more dangerous they become. Call a plumber as soon as you notice an issue to help keep your family safe.

For more advice on how to keep your home clean and safe, browse through our other articles before you go.

 

If you live in a warm climate or you’re nearing the summer months, having a faulty air conditioning unit can be an uncomfortable surprise. In warmer months, living without AC can be almost unbearable.

It can affect your quality of living, especially your sleep.

The best way to ensure you’re AC works properly when you need it is to be proactive and understand when maintenance is needed.

To make it easy, here are five telltale signs that you may need AC maintenance.

1. Your AC Unit Is Making A Lot of Noise

One of the most common signs that you need AC maintenance services is if your AC is making a lot of noise. A loud AC noise can be a sign of a couple of different issues.

It could mean your AC unit has a few loose screws or there could be a malfunctioning motor. Your AC could also have some built-up debris or bent blades. Either way, you’ll need air conditioning repair for your unit.

2. Your AC Unit Is Blowing Out Warm Air

Another sign that you may need maintenance is if you notice your AC unit blowing out warm air. This is especially problematic if you experience this issue during the summer months when your home is already hot.

If you notice this issue, a dirty air filter could be the culprit. Replacing the air filter with a new one can fix the problem. If this doesn’t work, you may need to reach out to professionals.

3. You Notice That Your AC Unit Is Frozen or Leaking

If you notice a puddle of water around your AC unit, it’s a red flag. You don’t want to ignore this issue because it could lead to mold.

If your AC unit looks frozen, you may have a refrigerant leak.

Both frozen AC units and leaking AC units can turn into major problems, so you’ll want to address them as soon as possible.

4. Your AC Unit Has an Odd Odor

Your AC shouldn’t smell – and if it does, there’s probably a problem. Usually, the culprit is dirty condenser coils. If the condenser coils are baked in bacteria and dirt, it can cause an unpleasant odor as air blows out.

The best way to fix this issue is to contact a professional in your area for AC unit maintenance.

5. Your AC Is Experiencing Significant Temperature Swings

The purpose of air conditioning is to provide specific air temperature across your entire home. If your AC unit is blowing out uneven temperatures, there’s probably something wrong.

It also wastes energy and costs a lot of money because your AC unit is working inefficiently. Your best bet is to contact a professional and get it looked at.

Now You Know if You Need AC Maintenance

These are the most common signs that you need AC maintenance. Knowing and recognizing the signs of a faulty AC system helps you act early, reducing future inconveniences.

You’ll regret procrastinating AC maintenance during the winter months once it gets warmer. Plus, acting early can reduce potential costs down the line!

So, why push it off longer? Take a look at your AC unit today!

And if you’re looking for other articles related to your home, be sure to check out the rest of our blog. We have a ton of great content you’re sure to enjoy!