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5 Small Home Improvements That Can Make a Big Difference

November 24, 2020 by Anne Sweet 1 Comment

It’s easy to get bored with your surroundings, but not know how to change them up. What’s more, many alterations can be expensive and disruptive to your daily routine. Here are five small home improvements you can make to your home, which won’t break the bank and will give your space the refresh it deserves!

Feature Wall

If you’ve got any budding artists in the family, why not devote one wall to becoming a feature wall? This could mean a bold, eye-catching wallpaper design, block colour paint or space to let imaginations run wild! Feature walls are great to add a pop of personality to a room, on a budget. Painted murals can be gorgeous to look at, and a chance to practice those art skills. Everyone can contribute in some way, making your wall a visual representation of your whole family. What’s more, you could even paint or paper over it as often as you like, allowing you to refresh and update it constantly.

Artwork

Prints, wall hanging, portraits; there are endless options when it comes to updating your space with artwork. Supporting independent artists through platforms like Etsy is the perfect way to improve your home and help out a small business. You could choose a specific theme for a room, like the ocean in the bathroom, or florals in the living room, and over time your collection will grow! The artwork is also really mobile, so you can rearrange your pieces as often as you like, changing frames and locations to freshen up any room in your home.

Heating for Home Improvements

With the winter months moving in, it’s a great time to update your space with a stylish new radiator or heating system. They are available in a huge variety of shapes, sizes and colours, with places like Warmrooms providing a vast range and making it easy to find something you love. Something as simple as a new wall radiator can make a huge difference to a room, whilst also improving your comfort.

Co-ordinate

Another great way to update your home quickly and easily is colour coordination! Why not try ordering all your books by colour to add a little rainbow to your shelves? Super easy, cheap, and fun, this will also allow you to take stock of what you’ve got, maybe freeing up some space, or adding to your ‘to be read’ list. If you have a favourite colour, you could spend time finding accessories or appliances for a room in that colour. Imagine a deep purple kitchen, or a bright blue bathroom, with fittings and furnishings to match.

Upcycle

If you have lots of furniture that you don’t want or need to get rid of but want to update, why not try some upcycling? Another great task for the whole family, you can turn old pieces into something brand new, with books like Reinventing Ikea making it easy to the potential of an old chair or table. What’s more, the things you create will be completely unique to your home, making it a true representation of your family’s creativity and personality

home improvements, an old chair, lamp and curtains ready for upcycling. — Furniture in need of upcycling for home improvements

What to Get Someone when they become new Homeowners.

*This is a collaborative post

Using Succulents to Spruce up Your Home

October 29, 2020 by Anne Sweet 4 Comments

I’ve a confession to make, I’ve never been one to be able to keep plants alive in my home. But succulents are different, they are so much easier to care for and live longer. Not only that, succulents in the home can be very cute and you can buy some beautiful pots to put them in too.

Image shows five mini succulent plants with different leaves and colours ranging from white to brown.

What Succulents Should You Buy for your Home?

Succulents are very popular in the home because they are easier to care for and look pretty amazing. You can buy your succulents from local garden centres or even buy online. Here are my top five choices.

The Jade Plant

This plant has glossy thick leaves and stems and only needs watering when really dry. It’s sometimes known as the Money Plant as according to Feng Shui, if you had one of these in your home you would never be short of money. I had one for many years and it’s one of the few plants I’ve managed not to kill. Overwatering can be dangerous for this plant, so it’s good for those who forget to water very often.

Aloe Vera

This spiny plant has been used for medicinal purposes of healing wounds and skin care for many centuries. It likes to be in a sunny place as it comes from the Arabian peninsula.

Echeveria

The echeveria is a pretty rosette plant and if you are lucky it may even flower for you in the summer.

Bunny Ears Cactus

The Bunny Ears Cactus is also known as the prickly pear. It’s a real unusual looking plant, but can be poisonous for pets.

The Old Lady Cactus

The old lady cactus is a puffball cactus that also flowers. This cactus is not fond of direct sunlight and likes to be watered weekly. It can live for a long time with proper care.

Tips for Caring for Succulents.

Here are my top tips for caring for your succulents.

sunlight – most succulents like sunlight so make sure they get some every day. Some are not so keen on direct light though, but even a net curtain or sheer blind can help this
Move your succulents around. Maybe just turn the pot so more than one side of the plant gets some sun, or move to another window for a different amount of sunlight. This will help stop browning or leaning to one side.
Water carefully. Most succulents like more water during their growing season of Spring and Summer, but less so in the winter. Over watering can be disastrous. Get to know your plants and what they need.
Water the soil and not the leaves. The plants love a moist soil, but wet leaves can cause them to rot.

How to display your Succulents.

This is the best bit. There are so many ways of displaying succulents in your home. They look fabulous in pots or terrariums. You can get big plants or small, Have one or several together. It’s easy to get creative.

Mix up your succulents so you have small and large ones together, or use different textures and colours.

Get inventive with ways of displaying your succulents. They look great in so many ways. Here are a couple of my favourites.

Here is my cat pot. I bought two of these for my plants. I couldn’t resist them being a cat lover.

Image shows white ceramic pot with a sleeping cat face and planted with a small succulent. — small cat planter from Etsy £4.50

I bought some diddy succulent plants and they came in little brown pots. I re-potted two in my cat planters but I decided to crochet some little covers for the other three.

image shows a succulent plant in a little pot covered with a green crochet cover.

Terrariums are a lovely way to display your succulents. You can buy complete kits to make your own easily at home. This one is definitely one of my favourites. I love the little lights and the shell. You can customize it to your liking.

Have you discovered succulents? What’s your favourite way of displaying them?

This is a collaborative post and it contains affiliate links, thanks for your support.

5 things to tick off the checklist when buying a house

August 25, 2020 by Anne Sweet Leave a Comment

Buying a house is an exciting time, whether you’re a first time buyer, or you’re taking advantage of the stamp duty holiday, but there are a few things you should consider before signing on the dotted line.

What’s your budget?

Whilst we may all want the 5 bed detached on a quiet cul-de-sac with large front and rear garden, we have to be realistic with our budget, and our expectations. To find out what your realistic budget is, there are few things to consider:

How big is you deposit? For most, a deposit of 10-15% is standard, although 20% of the property value would be ideal, especially given the current climate. However, there are some government schemes and some mortgages that allow a 5% deposit.
Your debts and credit score? Before you can borrow any money, lenders will look at your financial history to check you’re a good bet.
What can you afford per month? Look at your spending habits, if you’re living hand to mouth for the last few days before payday, you’ll need to reassess your spending habits. Generally, lenders will only lend 4.5 times your annual income.

Where do you want to live?

Buying a house is a long-term investment, and whilst we can’t predict the future it’s always worth bearing in mind where you want to be in 5 – 10 years’ time. Do you want to live somewhere close to good schools? Perhaps your daily commute is important? Or will you be changing jobs? You might love the buzz of city life now, but will a rural idyll be more suitable? These are all things you should consider when looking for your new home. But don’t forget the wild card option Sometimes, it can be somewhere we’ve never even dreamed of that we end up falling in love with.

buying a house, image shows a house on a street with trees and other properties in the background.

What type of property do you want?

Are dreaming of a detached period property? Or, perhaps you want a new build in a modern housing development? Are you after a project? Or, are you more a turnkey person? Think about the lifestyle you want to live, as well as the style that appeals. It’s no good looking at Victorian properties if you don’t like steep steps and don’t want the upkeep that comes with older properties.

Does it need much work?

If you’ve found the house for you and want to make an offer, it’s worth taking a builder round as they’ll be able to spot any potential pitfalls. This will help ensure you minimise your risk of making any asbestos claims in the future or making expensive underpinning reparations. Perhaps there’s a smell of damp and you want to make sure it isn’t rising? If you’re unsure, ask an expert.

Do you have a solicitor or mortgage broker?

Having a solicitor and a mortgage broker on your side will help make the conveyancing process much easier, and hopefully less stressful. A solicitor, or conveyancer will be able to communicate with the mortgage broker and the other parties solicitor, so you don’t have to. Whilst a mortgage broker will be able to critically assess your affordability to ensure there are no holdups with your mortgage application.

This is a collaborative post

How to Revamp Your Teenager’s Bedroom

July 1, 2020 by Anne Sweet 6 Comments

The change from child to teenager certainly is a big one and it is important that they have a bedroom that is more appropriate and a reflection of their personality. Stereotypically, teenager’s spend a lot of time in their bedroom and you will want this to be a space that they enjoy and feel is their own and no longer childish.

With this in mind, here are a few tips for revamping a bedroom for a teenager.

Let Them Choose a Style

Teenagers won’t want their parents to choose how their bedroom looks so you should always sit down with them and let them choose their own style. This will help them to feel more mature, ensure that it is a space that they enjoy spending time and also make sure that you do not get it wrong and feel their wrath!

Throw Out What is No Longer Needed

When kids reach their teens, their tastes and interests change drastically and they might find that they no longer want items like toys and games. It is a good idea to throw out/sell/recycle anything which they no longer want/need so that you can free up space and give them a fresh slate.

Fitted Wardrobes

Fitted wardrobes from places like Hammonds are a great option for a teenager’s room because they can help you to maximize the space while also giving them plenty of space to store clothes and other items. Teenagers rooms are stereotypically messy so providing them space to store things is important for keeping the space neat and tidy.

Invest in New Furniture

You might also want to invest in new furniture which suits the new decorative style and also their needs. They may want to spend time in their room doing homework, playing video games, watching films and socializing so you need to have high-quality furniture that will allow them to do this, including a desk and office chair.

New Bedding for a Teenager’s Bedroom

You are also likely to find that they will want new bedding for their new space, especially if it is currently something childish like their favorite superhero or Disney film! Again, it is best to let them choose so that you don’t get it wrong and they can create a space which they feel is their own.

It is a major change when your child reaches their teen years and it is likely that they will want a bedroom which better reflects their personality and is less childish. It is important that you get this right as it is such an important space for them during these years and these tips will hopefully help you to revamp their bedroom to their liking.

Essential House Upgrades to Consider This Year

June 30, 2020 by Anne Sweet 3 Comments

When you are considering renovating your home, it can be difficult to distinguish between the house upgrades that you need and those that you just really want. To ensure that your renovations are beneficial to your home and that you can eventually get a return on your investment, here are some of the best upgrade options that are available to you.

1. Replacing Your Windows

Your windows can often be one of the most neglected features of your home, with upgrades to them often prioritized beneath flashier and more exciting alternatives. However, replacing your windows is paramount if you want to reduce your energy bills, to ensure that your house is safe and secure for years to come, and if you’re going to prevent issues such as damp and mould from creeping into your home. If you are looking to replace your windows, you should consider investing in ready made wooden windows from Timber Windows Direct, as these can be easily installed DIY while being custom made for the specifications of each individual space in your home.

2. Updating Your Bathroom

To ensure that your bathroom remains a hygienic and easy-to-maintain room in your house, it should be high up on your list of potential upgrades. While pink and green bathrooms are now out-of-fashion, old bathrooms can also often be great breeders of mould and damp, especially if you have tiled walls and flooring or if the room is not well-ventilated. Some of the best bathroom updates that you should consider include installing energy-efficient appliances, such as low-flow showers and high-efficiency toilets, using marble on your walls rather than tiles to reduce issues with your grouting and sealant, and using pedestal sinks to disguise your plumbing.

3. Spruce Up Your Kitchen

The next important room that you should consider upgrading is your kitchen. Kitchens can quickly become out-dated due to the fast-paced nature of technology innovation. To ensure that your kitchen area can keep up with the times, you should consider installing a range cooker or AGA to help you to cook high-quality dishes for a large number of people, and replace your devices with smart alternatives which can connect to your mobile phone. You should also consider installing a breakfast bar or island to help to create a more communal space, as well as help you to increase the preparation space and storage facilities in the room. For kitchen gadgets and appliances check out Kitchen Home.

4. Landscape Your Garden

However, in all the excitement of your latest home renovations, you should not neglect your garden and the exterior of your home. This will ensure that you can create a relaxing extra living space that will make use of every inch of your home and allow you to bring nature closer. As well as hiring a landscape gardener to help you to create beautiful flower beds, paths, and water features, you should repair your fencing, paint your exterior walls, and install outdoor furniture to allow you to enjoy your garden to its maximum potential.

This is a collaborative post.

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