Author: Platinum Team

Nice temperatures call for spending lots of time outdoors.  But, if you have a drab yard that is either uninviting or just plain boring, you may not want to spend a lot of time outdoors.  Just because your outdoor space is not ideal it does not mean it needs to stay that way.  DIY is all the rage right now and with many easy to use products available today, you can easily upgrade your outdoor space and start enjoying spending time outdoors in your yard again.

Upgrading your outdoor space does not need to be a daunting and overwhelming task.  There are many fun ways to increase the how enjoyable your yard is as well as the luxury and value of your home.  The first way you can make your outdoor space more exciting is with patio pavers.  Pavers can be used to extend patios, create new patios or make pathways through your yard.  Patio pavers come in a variety of styles, sizes, patterns and colors and can be arranged in a wide range of patterns to fit any needs.

You can create a new seating area with your brand new patio and you will have a new place to hang out in the yard.  With pathways, you make walking through your yard easier and it adds a touch of class and luxury that your yard may have been lacking before.  While you are adding those patio pavers, you may think about adding a fire pit.  Everyone can enjoy the fire pit, whether relaxing by the warm fire or toasting marshmallows for s'mores. There are many ways you can create a fire pit for any style or design aesthetic and having a fire pit right in your own backyard will be a nice touch that you can enjoy but will also add value to your home.

Next, you can add new furniture to create a living room feel while enjoying a cool breeze.  Add a comfy couch, some throw pillows or some chairs to your patio for a comfortable seating area.  Create a dining space with a table and lighting for a special touch.  There is outdoor furniture to fit every need and style and nothing is more enjoyable than dining al fresco with some food fresh off the barbecue.
Also, nobody wants to spend time outside if they cannot see anything.  Do not sit outside in the dark, add some lighting.  While there are many electrical outdoor lighting options, there are many lighting options that are solar powered and very simple to install.  Not only are they eco-friendly but, after the initial investment, they will not cost you anything because they derive their power from the sun, not electricity.  Spruce up your view with some newly potted plants which is an easy way to add color and variety to your outdoor space.

With a beautiful and comfortable place to hang out and enjoy the weather, you may want to host some friends or family.  If you want to have a lot of gatherings with guests, one way to make entertaining easy is with an outdoor bar.  You can purchase a bar cart or with some basic supplies from the hardware store you can build a bar area very easily.  Rather than having to constantly run inside to get a drink, you can serve delicious drinks up to your guests without ever having to leave the party.

Pick and choose from these options or do them all, either way, you will add luxury and comfort which will upgrade your outdoor space and make spending time outside fun and enjoyable.

When it comes to keeping your home looking its best and in proper working order, there are few things more important than regular home maintenance.  Home maintenance helps prevent major repairs that are expensive, time consuming and downright frustrating.  But, time tends to fly and often, we neglect proper regular maintenance because life just gets in the way and we forget.  It can be difficult to remember the last time we checked the smoke detector batteries but doing so is important.  To help remember what needs to be done, having a monthly checklist will help you ensure you are getting things done routinely and nothing is being neglected.
Clean the Gutters
As temperatures drop and leaves fall, gutters tend to get clogged.  Dirt, debris, and leaves get caught in the gutters and as rain falls, it can divert water towards your home instead of away from it.  Water being directed toward your home is the last thing you want, and if temperatures drop enough, the backed up water could also freeze.  Clean the gutters so that you are ready for cold winter temperatures.
Change Your HVAC Filter
When filters do not get changed regularly, it forces your HVAC system to work harder which shortens the life of your HVAC system and also leads to higher energy bills.
Adjust the Thermostat
As temperatures cool down, it is time to adjust your thermostat for energy efficiency.  Rather than running your heater all winter long, around the clock, consider adjusting the thermostat by two or three degrees.  By adjusting it just a few degrees and wearing warmer layers, socks or throwing an extra blanket on the bed to keep warm, you could save a significant amount of money.
Prepare Guest Rooms
If your guest rooms have gone relatively unused during the summer months, it may be time to give them some extra freshening up before holiday guests arrive.  Wash linens and clean the room thoroughly so that your holiday guests are welcomed nicely into your home.
Close Vents
If you have rooms that will go unused during the winter months, close the vents in those rooms.  Rather than heating a room that no one is in, conserve energy by closing vents and directing warm air to other rooms in the home.
Trim the Trees
Trim long tree branches back before cold temperatures arrive. Trimming them now will help prevent problematic breakage during winter weather.Check for Leaks and Seal
Inspect windows and doors for leaks.  If you can see visible leaks or air appears to be escaping through cracks, seal the cracks.  You are paying for all that hot air in your home so you do not want to waste money by letting it escape through cracks and gaps.  Sealing is incredibly simple and supplies can be bought at any local hardware store.
Test Smoke Detectors
Fall and winter holiday season is notorious for being a dangerous fire season.  More home fires occur during the holidays than any other time during the year.  Check every smoke detector in your house to ensure they are working and replace batteries as needed.

When moving into a new home, it is easy to stick your couch, some chairs and coffee table in a room and call it a day.  But, there is more to arranging furniture than simply putting it in a room and pointing everything at each other.  When you take the time to arrange your furniture properly, not only will your home look more put together and stylish but you will also maximize your space.  How do you know what is right for your space and your furniture, though?  It may seem confusing but you do not need to hire an interior designer to learn how to properly arrange your furniture.  Follow the tips below to arrange your furniture correctly and make your home look its best.

Use an Online Floor Plan Designer

In today's virtual world, there is a program or an app for everything.  Furniture layouts are no exception.  There are many free programs and apps available in which you can input your rooms dimensions as well as furniture dimensions and virtually arrange your furniture to see what works best in the space.  It can be a pain to move furniture around so doing it virtually first will save you time and energy.

Aim for Balance

An unbalanced room will look awkward and strange.  A room full of way too small furniture will look smaller and just downright strange while a room full of furniture that is way too big will look cramped and small.  Just because you have a small room does not mean you have to avoid large furniture all together, and the same is true for large rooms and small furniture.  It simply means you need to aim for achieving a balance.  Arrange large pieces with small pieces mixed in so that things look visually interesting without being matchy-matchy and strange.

Determine a Focal Point

Depending on what room you are in, there will be different focal points.  Perhaps in the family room, the focal point is the television.  But, in the living room, the focal point may be a beautiful bay of windows that overlooks the scenery.  Once you determine the focal point of the room, it will help you decide how you want to arrange furniture.

Start with the Largest Piece of Furniture

For a bedroom, the largest piece of furniture is typically the bed.  For the living room, the largest piece of furniture is probably the sofa.  The largest piece of furniture will determine how you will arrange furniture in the room.  Perhaps the sofa only works well in one place in the room, this will subsequently determine where you will place the coffee table.

Use Area Rugs

Area rugs anchor the room and help create specific areas within a room.  It is important to go big with the rug.  A too small rug will make the room look smaller and just look out of place.  A rug that flows underneath furniture but not all the way to the wall looks luxurious and stylish.

Consider Natural Traffic Flow

Even though a sofa may look good in one place, it may impede natural traffic flow and end up being more of a headache than a stylish decor choice.  When arranging furniture, consider how people move through the home and what is most practical.

The laundry room - hardly the most exciting room in the house.  But, even if it is not the room you get excited to show guests on the home tour, it does not mean that it should go completely neglected.  In fact, it should have just as much attention paid to it as the other rooms in your house because, even if it is just the place you do laundry, you will be spending time in there and it should be a place in which you enjoy spending time.  If your laundry room, like many others, is looking a bit drab and sterile, there are some very easy ways to spruce it up and give it the makeover that it deserves.

Clean & Organize

It is difficult to start any new project without first cleaning and organizing the room first.  Take everything out and take stock of what you want to keep in your laundry room.  By doing so, you will be able to know what types of organizational items you need and how you want to prioritize your laundry room makeover.

Purchase Supplies

How much you need to buy depends on how in depth your makeover will be.   Whatever your budget, your laundry room can experience a truly transformative renovation with even a few small tweaks.  Purchase your supplies or organizational items before starting so that everything can come into place easily.  Leave tags on items like baskets or trays so that you can be sure it will work properly in the space before completely committing.

Plan for Tasks

While you probably will not spend hours reading a book in the laundry room, you will be completing tasks.  For this reason, it is important to keep in mind what tasks you will be working on in the space.  You will be sorting laundry, folding laundry and more.  Organization is the key to a laundry room that flows nicely and eliminates clutter.  If you have the room, make plans for a sink in the laundry room for pre-washing items or soaking things.  Make space for folding by adding a folding workspace.  Even in the smallest laundry room, you could add a small surface directly above the washer and dryer that will increase your workspace for minimal cost and maximum efficiency.   If you anticipate your tasks in advance, it will help clarify what you hope to accomplish in the space.

Drying and Hanging

A luxury that everyone would enjoy is a place to hang clothing in the laundry room.  Even in a small laundry room, a wall-mounted drop down drying rack can be installed on the wall so that it is out of the way when not in use.

Shelving or Cabinetry

If you do not already have shelving or cabinetry, now is the time.  There are many low cost, easy to install options for the DIY lover or the novice.  Cabinetry or shelving takes advantage of that wall space you have that is going unused and helps give you a place to store things like laundry detergent and dryer sheets.  The benefits of cabinetry is that things can be hidden away.  Open shelving makes a space feel bigger but will show more.  One way to use open shelving but hide the things you do not want on display is with some baskets or bins.  There are many available in different colors, patterns and styles and you can even label them so that you know what is in each one.

Most homeowners will tell you that a lot of time is spent in the kitchen.  Whether preparing meals throughout the day for yourself and your family or hosting guests for parties, you will be spending many hours in the kitchen.  If you are designing a new home or remodeling your existing kitchen, you know there are a lot of choices out there.   One important decision to make about your kitchen is what type of countertops to install.  While the popular choice in recent years has been granite, there are certainly additional choices available that are appealing, durable and low maintenance.  Below we discuss three low maintenance kitchen counters choices every homeowner should consider.

1. Soapstone

Soapstone is a natural quarried stone that is both beautiful and low maintenance.  The stone contains talc which is what gives it its soft, soapy feel and milky or powdery appearance.  Soapstone is less hard than granite but it is still incredibly durable.  It is very resistant to cracks because it is somewhat pliable and is non-porous, which helps it resist stains.  Because it is non-porous, it is far more resistant to stains than granite or slate and does not need to be routinely sealed like those materials do.  It can also stand up to acidic materials if spilled on the surface and is heat resistant so you can put those hot pans right on the surface and it will not do it any damage.  Because it is non-porous, it also resists bacteria so harsh chemical cleaners are not needed.  While soapstone may incur some nicks or scratches over time, it is considered a beautiful part of the surface and part of its rustic appeal.  If the nicks or scratches bother you, you can simply sand them down and they will be gone.  Soapstone is a hardworking, low maintenance countertop that will look beautiful for decades to come.

2. Quartz

Quartz countertops are engineered stone countertops that are both incredibly beautiful and have lived in the shadows of granite for far too long.  Quartz countertops are made from a combination of primarily quartz granules mixed with resins and colorants which means you can find quartz countertops in a wide range of colors.  Quartz countertops are incredibly durable and long lasting.  They are much stronger and harder than granite countertops and are very scratch resistant.  Quartz is a wonderful kitchen countertop surface because it is tough and can stand up to spills, slips of the knife, and more.  Additionally, quartz is non-porous, unlike granite, and will stand up to spills well.  You will not need to worry that the tipped over glass of red wine will leave a permanent mark.  Also, unlike granite or marble, quartz does not need to be sealed regularly because it is resistant to damage and bacteria so it is simple to clean and maintain.

3. Laminate

Laminate kitchen countertops may have gotten a bad rap over the years in favor of products like granite or marble but laminate deserves a second look.  Laminate countertops have come a long way in recent years and are now available in a wide array of colors, patterns and looks.  The variety and quality available is truly amazing.  In addition to being one of the most inexpensive countertop options, they are very low maintenance.  While you cannot use your countertop like a cutting board, laminate countertops are still a very durable countertop option.  Laminate countertops do not need to be sealed and are easy to clean with household cleaners, soap and water, and a sponge.  They are also resistant to stains, making them an appealing option for many homeowners.

It is festive and inviting to have a seasonal wreath on your door.  There are many available in home decor and craft stores and you can also make your own.  If you are feeling particularly crafty, take a look at Pinterest for inspiration on how to make your own fall wreath!  It is a fun a personal way to say that your home is ready for the change of season and will warmly welcome guests inside.

Bring a little of the outdoors inside with natural items like pumpkins and flowers.  Fresh or faux, it does not matter!  There are beautiful orange pumpkins if you want to be traditional and painted pumpkins to match any style of decor.   They look great on the ground next to a potted plant or if you find some small pumpkins they look wonderful on the counter as well.

Fall flowers, leaves and branches are a warm addition that are easy to transition in and out of any existing decor in any home.  If you have a vase that had some vibrant sunflowers for the warm summer months, when fall arrives, simply change them out for some flowers, leaves and branches that exude fall colors like autumn red and burnt orange.  A beautiful fall centerpiece will make a lovely addition for a fall dinner party or house guest.

Things like branches, pinecones, dried berries and more will transition nicely from fall to winter.  This way, they do double duty and make it easy for you when it comes time to decorate for the winter months.

One easy way to quickly change the look and feel of your decor without completely replacing your furniture is to add pops of color or style for the season with fall throw blankets and pillows.  Whether it is the color, weight or pattern of these items, a fall throw blanket or pillow will immediately change the decor from summer to fall.

Small vases, mason jars or large hurricanes can be filled with seasonal decor to create a fun addition to the space.  This is an inexpensive (or free!) way to decorate for the season.  You can purchase vase filler at most home decor or craft stores or you can head outside and collect fall leaves, branches, acorns, pinecones or other natural elements to give your table that warm fall flair.  When fall is done, remove the filler and transition it to winter filler.

You do not need to spend thousands of dollars on a new chandelier or pendant lighting.  There are lighting fixtures for every budget and every design aesthetic.   The impact of new lighting can be very significant and will help set the mood for the room.

While you may think adding new hardware or updating existing hardware will hardly be a noticeable change, you will be amazed at just how big of a change it will be.  Outdated hardware can really put off the wrong feel in a kitchen.  Some cabinetry is classic and in perfectly good condition but the hardware is out of style.  Rather than completely gutting your cabinetry, give it a facelift with new hardware and stand back in awe of how good the update looks.

Faucets may seem like something that never really changes over the year but, in fact, they change quite a bit.  If you have not updated your faucet in many years, it may look outdated or just be boring.  These days, there is a faucet design for every home design aesthetic.  Let your faucet design blend seamlessly with the rest of the room or enhance the existing look.

Buying all new cabinets for your kitchen will look beautiful but they will cost a lot.  If you are trying to stick to a tighter budget, there is probably not enough money to purchase all new cabinetry.  But, if your kitchen cabinetry is in relatively good shape, consider painting it or staining it.  Sometimes, it is the stain that is looking worn out, outdated, or is just not the color direction you want to go with your new kitchen.  You would be amazed at what some paint or stain can do.  It will give your kitchen cabinetry a new life and, in many cases, a completely new look.