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Expert Tips For Decorating A Child’s Room

January 27, 2022
Expert Tips For Decorating A Child's RoomDecorating a room for a child allows you to create a whimsical space that will inspire creativity and joy in your child. But, you also need to consider your child's age, design tastes, and the space you have.To create a fun and functional room for your child, use these expert tips:Add Pattern and Texture With Easy To Change ProductsYour child will probably change their taste within a year or two, which means you'll have to redecorate. Use temporary products and fixes when you're decorating so that you can easily and quickly change the look of the room. Look for products favored by renters because they are designed not to be permanent. Peel and stick wallpaper is a great thing to use in a kid's room because you can use it to add color and texture to walls, dressers, nightstands, even a bed frame. And it's easy to change when your child's taste changes.Paint is another way to add a lot of personality to your child's room without making any permanent changes. Sample pots of paint are inexpensive and can be used to create stunning murals and accents in your child's room. And when your child is ready for something different, you can easily repaint. You can also use linens, pillows, area rugs, curtains, or blinds to add patterns and texture to the room that are all temporary and easy to change when your child is ready for a style switch. Focus On FurnitureThe furniture you choose for your child's room should be appropriate for your child's age and designed to grow with them. Furniture that does double duty and has storage is a great way to give your child the tools to keep their room organized and tidy.Choose furniture with a classic look that will go with any design theme that your child chooses in the future. That way, you won't have to replace all furniture every time your child wants to change the room's design. You use temporary solutions like Washi tape or contact paper to make the furniture blend into the room. Think Outside The Box When It Comes To BedsWhether you want to make the best use of a small space or your child doesn't really like traditional beds, don't be afraid to think outside the box when choosing a mattress. Futons, hammocks, swing beds, lofted beds, and other alternatives can make your child's bedroom more comfortable for them and help them get a better night's sleep.Non-traditional beds also can help you make the most of the space in the room if the room is small or oddly shaped.Go CustomEven though custom furniture and built-in shelves are a little more expensive than buying pre-made furniture and storage solutions, the extra cost is often worth it. Custom shelves, a long countertop that can be useful as a desk or an art space, and a bed built into an existing nook or small alcove will maximize the room's potential. Having custom shelving and other items added to your child's room is the best way to use every possible inch of the space. 
Expert Tips For Decorating A Child’s Room

The Best Ways to Share Your Home Buying Journey

January 20, 2022
The Best Ways to Share Your Home Buying JourneyBuying a home is an emotional journey, especially if it’s your first home. It’s only natural to want to share that journey with your friends and family. And you may even be able to help your friends and family with their own home purchases in the future as they watch you go through the process. So what’s the best way to share this journey with the people that you love?You have several options like:A BlogSome people might think blogs are old-fashioned, but blogs are still going strong. And they have some distinct advantages if you are looking for a reliable way to share your home buying journey with the people you care about.Blogs are easy to set up and most blog sites are free. Although you can invest in a custom domain name and pay for hosting if you want to make it easy for others to find you online. Some of the advantages of using a blog to document your home purchase and renovations are: • Low cost if not free• Custom domain name option• Easy for people to find• You can customize the way the site looks• You control all your photos, videos, and information• Your blog can’t get shut down or mass reportedSome of the disadvantages of using a blog are:• Cost if you use a custom domain• Time spent updating the blog• Time spent on design or learning how to use the blog effectively You can also use a blog in conjunction with social media by creating short posts on social media that direct people back to your blog where you can put more information, longer video clips, and photos. InstagramInstagram is a wildly popular social media app that is photo-based, which makes it a great choice for sharing something like a home buying journey. You can share photos of homes you are considering, renovations that you do on the home you purchase, and photos of items that you want to buy for your homes.A big advantage of using Instagram for sharing with friends and family is that you can link directly to products. So instead of setting up a new home registry for gifts, you can link a post directly to items that you would love to receive as housewarming gifts.Some of the other advantages of using Instagram include:• You can post photos and videos to your feed• You can link photos to products or link back to your blog• Friends and family can comment directly on your posts• You can post stories that are temporary videos and will disappear after 24 hours• Accessible on smartphones or a computer Some of the disadvantages of using Instagram are:• Your friends/family need accounts to see video or comment• Your content will be lost if you lose your account• It can be tough to reach customer service if you have a problem A good compromise is to use Instagram for some things but not put all your content on Instagram.FacebookFacebook is the most senior-friendly social media platform so if you have a lot of older relatives who are interested in following your home buying journey Facebook is a good platform to use. Many older people are familiar with Facebook and how it works and they have Facebook accounts.They will be happy about not having to sign up for a new platform to see your content. Facebook is a relatively easy platform but the interface can be clunky. If you are going to use Facebook to post photos and videos of your new home it’s a good idea to make a private group for your friends and family where you can share your home safely. TikTokTikTok is one of the newer social media platforms and even though it’s perceived as being a social media platform primarily for younger people it has some great features that would make it ideal for sharing a journey like this. TikTok users create and share short videos, so you would be able to share fun video clips and informative videos too. There is a learning curve for figuring out how to make great video content. And your friends and family would need smartphones with the TikTok app on them to see your content.But if you’re planning on documenting renovations TikTok is a great platform for that. Ultimately no matter what platform you use to share your home buying journey your friends and family will be excited to watch you find, buy, and decorate your dream house. 
The Best Ways to Share Your Home Buying Journey

Bathroom Trends for 2022

January 12, 2022
Bathroom Trends for 2022 The past few years have brought significant changes in how people view their homes. Spending more time in the house has accelerated homeowners’ desires to create ideal living spaces for themselves and their families. On the top of that list is one of the most high-trafficked rooms in the house: the bathroom. There’s a lot to consider when building or remodeling a bathroom. Here are the top trends we’ve seen to guide homeowners’ plans as we head into 2022.Revamping the Shower Open showers, as well as an alcove or free-standing tubs, are being favored over shower stalls. As more options become available – from tile material to tub color and shape – people are getting a bit more creative with their showering and bathing fixtures. But upgrading your shower doesn’t always require construction work. Instead of tearing out and updating the entire shower, consider instead upgrading just the showerhead. Rain showerheads, hand-held features, and even installing a second showerhead can transform the experience without breaking the bank. Using Large-Format TilesStained, grimy, mildewy bathroom grout is out. Large-format tiles with minimal grout (and minimal maintenance) are all the rage and for a good reason. Larger tiles, especially natural materials such as stone, look both minimal and luxurious and have far fewer grout lines to clean. Additionally, fewer grout lines to distract your eyes make the room seem bigger, which is helpful if homeowners don’t plan to expand the footprint of their existing bathroom.Add Some ColorMany people are opting for bolder colors like charcoal or sage and are incorporating new materials like marble into their countertops, walls, bathtubs, and floors. Neutral colors beyond white are becoming increasingly popular as well. These combinations create a stark contrast to the traditional white-and-bright bathrooms of the past. Contrasting colors or patterns can make bathrooms much more visually appealing, especially when you combine different types of tiles in the same space. However, white finishes still tend to be a top choice for homeowners, so it’s essential to make sure the colors you use can work nicely with whites. Built-In Storage – Not So ImportantStoring hair care products, soap, and other shower accessories can be a pain. Built-in storage cubbies have been used to solve that problem for a long time. But more and more, homeowners are considering other options. Storage that drains and dries well – as opposed to cubbies that hold water and, ultimately, mold – is key here. Some alternate options include a built-in or free-standing (waterproof) bench, which provides seating and storage. Ample storage elsewhere in the bathroom is a must and can house the lesser-used products or other accessories. A clutter-free shower is certainly more relaxing. Bathrooms are becoming places of luxury and relaxation. Every design trend we’ve seen is aimed at making the bathroom more visually appealing and comfortable. Instead of purely functional, bathrooms are turning into aesthetic fixtures in the home. 

The Benefits of Using Natural Cleaning Products in Your Home

January 4, 2022
The Benefits of Using Natural Cleaning Products in Your HomeMost of us know standard cleaning products contain harsh chemicals, like bleach. But those chemicals are what keep us germ and grime-free, right? Natural cleaning products might not have the same caustic materials, but that doesn’t mean they’re any less effective. In fact, many green products are more effective than other products on the market.Here are a few of the benefits you will enjoy when you make the switch to all-natural cleaning. 1. You’ll Keep Your Whole Family SafeNon-natural cleaning products contain toxic chemicals that can cause all types of problems, from triggering asthma attacks to damaging your lungs, throat, nose, and eyes. Breathing in harsh chemicals from standard cleaning products can cause real long-term health problems as well. Additionally, young children are always at risk of getting into cleaning supplies. Green products present a much lower risk.2. Less Risk of Creating a Dangerous Chemical ReactionMixing bleach and ammonia creates chloramine gas, which causes potentially toxic fumes. Bleach and ammonia also happen to be common chemicals in cleaning supplies. If you’re using natural cleaning products, you won’t have to worry so much about accidentally creating a harmful gas while scrubbing your bathtub or cleaning out the kitchen sink.3. You’re Doing Your Part for the EnvironmentNatural cleaning products tend to be eco-friendly. Their packaging is often made sustainably from recycled materials and isn’t tested on animals. Additionally, they don’t contain the harsh chemicals that can get into the water system. Green cleaners are better for environmental health and the health of your family.4. Everything You Clean Will Last LongerStandard cleaning products contain harsh ingredients meant to disinfect, clean up gunk, and leave behind a pleasant smell. But those ingredients can often be corrosive and damaging, which wears down surfaces, including floors, countertops, appliances, and children’s toys.5. You Avoid Accidental Stains (or Worse)Staining fabrics or stripping varnish are real concerns when using a mixture of harsh cleaning materials. If you’re not using natural cleaning products, your chances of damaging something beyond repair – whether it’s your new cloth couch or a family heirloom dining table – are much higher.6. Your Skin Will Never Feel HealthierNatural cleaners are typically made with ingredients that won’t cause skin irritation. No bleach, dyes, perfumes, or synthetic ingredients can react negatively with your skin. If you or anyone in your family has sensitive skin, natural cleaners can help reduce flare-ups. Wearing gloves when using other cleaning products can help, but not always.7. You’ll Save MoneyMany people are skeptical of this one. Green cleaning products are less expensive in the long run since they tend to keep surfaces clean longer than their non-natural counterparts. Additionally, you can make natural cleaners at home with just a few basic ingredients! Generally, all you need is baking soda, vinegar, and lemon.Here’s a list of some simple DIY cleaning solution recipes.Whether you purchase certified natural cleaning products or make your own at home, rest assured you’re making the safest choice for yourself and the environment. 
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