Six Warm-Weather Home Improvement Projects
Summer is the perfect time to revamp your home from the inside out. The warmer weather allows you to get started on outdoor projects you can’t do in the winter. Plus, temperatures are more desirable for some indoor tasks as well. There are projects you can tackle on your own or with the help of qualified professionals without having to sacrifice all of your summer weekends.
Here are six warm-weather home improvement projects that will add value to your home and make it more enjoyable!
- Makeover Your Backyard:
- What comes to mind when you think of summer? Is it relaxing outside? Maybe it’s sitting by a fire or having a barbecue. Consider buying a new patio set, hanging a hammock, or installing a fire pit. Another easy way to spruce up your backyard is to add some lawn games like croquet, horseshoes, or cornhole, so entertaining guests is a breeze.
- Paint a Room:
- A great way to freshen up your house is through painting; you can paint one room, several rooms, your deck, or even the exterior of your home. The professional painters in Southern Westchester, NY say repainting your home has a return-on-investment since it’ll make it easier to sell your home in the future.
- Power Wash your Home:
- The colder months are rough on your house, so your home’s exterior could use a bit of love in the summer. Power washing your house makes it appear brand new, adds value and improves curb appeal. If you don’t feel comfortable power washing yourself, it may be best to hire a professional. They are trained in the proper ways to power wash your siding, driveway, deck, and fences without creating damage.
- Install Windows or Window Treatments:
- Having newer windows or the right window treatments can help keep your house cool during the hot summer months. Plus, it’ll keep the heat in during the cold months. The right windows can make your room more aesthetically pleasing and lower your energy bill. Sealing, repairing, or waterproofing your windows are some ways you can conserve energy. Consider getting new drapes, blinds, or curtains to cut down on the UV rays and glares that enter your home.
- Clean Out Your Gutters:
- After the fall and winter, it is common for dirt and debris to become jammed up in your gutters. Cleaning them out is a simple way to prevent damage from happening to your home in the future. If gutters are not properly draining, water damage can occur, or your roof can become leaky.
- Organize your Closets:
- If you want to improve your home but stay indoors as you do so, organizing is a great option. Go through your winter clothes and decide what to keep, what to throw out, and what to donate. Summertime clothing can be brought out and organized. You can organize by color or style. Browse Pinterest for additional organizational ideas.
Check some of these warm-weather home improvement projects off your to-do list this summer, and your home will be in tip-top shape for the fall!
Five Simple Ways to Makeover Your Kitchen
When was the last time you updated your kitchen? Since the kitchen is a natural gathering place in the home, you want to make sure the space is optimized and up-to-date. Some kitchen makeovers require a complete gutting, but that doesn’t have to be the case.
Here are five simple ways you can remodel your kitchen:
- Update your appliances: Are your appliances still working properly? If so, that’s good news! You don’t have to toss them. An easy, budget-friendly appliance upgrade is slapping on a coat of paint. If your appliances are making funny sounds or have stopped working altogether, it’s probably time for a replacement. Splurge for a new stainless-steel refrigerator or range. If you have room in the budget, make the switch to smart appliances, as they are becoming more and more popular.
- Redo your kitchen cabinets: The easiest way to update your kitchen cabinets and drawers is to replace the hardware. Their knobs and handles come in a variety of finishes, colors, and designs. Choose a hardware style based on the other elements in the kitchen. Another option is to stain or paint your kitchen cabinets. This will require more time and effort, but the results will be a drastic change. You can also remove the cabinet doors completely if you’re into the open shelving look.
- Refurbish countertops: Kitchen countertops come in many different materials. The key to having them stand the test of time is to opt for something classic and durable like granite. If you like chopping your food without a cutting board, you can get butcher block countertops. Other materials to consider include quartz, copper, marble, or stainless steel.
- Paint the walls: If it’s been more than a few years since you’ve last painted your kitchen walls, now is the time to do it. Granbury painters say you should choose a neutral color if you have an interesting and bold backsplash. If you want to go a more playful route, pastels like marine blue, pale lime, or citrus orange can really stand out in a kitchen. Dark colors like navy, forest green, and black are also making a comeback.
- Add a backsplash: If your walls are strictly painted, consider adding a backsplash in between your cabinets and countertops. This is one area of the kitchen where you can really take risks. Bold patterns, mirrored or metallic finishes, and alternative materials are all welcome. You can also think about extending the backsplash past the bottom of the cabinets all the way to the ceiling.
We spend a lot of time in our kitchens cooking, entertaining, and eating. That’s why we want them to be both functional and beautiful. Start thinking about the ways in which you want to makeover your kitchen today.
How Do Colors Make You Feel?
Used by professional interior decorators and designers,
Design By Color
- Red. The color red stimulates your appetite, which is why many restaurants implement color theory in their décor. For weight-conscious people, avoid using red in the kitchen to ensure you don’t overindulge as a result of your paint color. Instead, incorporate red in your dining room where you want your appetite to be stimulated.
- Blue. Shades of blue, which are rarely found in food, can suppress appetite, so if you’re dieting, blue can be a great help in the kitchen. Blue also has a calming effect, so introduce the color in your bedroom or bathrooms.
- Yellow. Studies show that babies cry most in rooms that are yellow more than any other color. Although associated with sunshine and cheer, yellow can actually increase anxiety, so limit this color to transitional spaces in your home, such as hallways and entryways.
- Green. Soft, moss-colored greens act as neutrals and can help make a space feel tranquil. Bright greens in citrus tones, though, invigorate a room instead. To get a jump start on your day, paint your closet or dressing room a citrus green.
Design by room:
- Bedroom. For a bedroom that evokes feelings of a relaxing retreat, incorporate light blue. Studies show that blue helps slow down your heart rate and can also lower your blood pressure. Both of these effects help you get to sleep.
- Bathroom. For a bathroom that feels like a spa-like retreat, consider sage green tones since they have soothing qualities. Incorporate mosaic tiles that include various hues of green. Don’t forget to accessorize with items like green hand towels and soap dispensers. To strike the perfect balance, integrate white throughout the bathroom as well.
- Living room. To achieve a happy, inviting living room, implement subtle hints of yellow. Bold punches of yellow will uplift your mood and fill it with optimism. Too much yellow, though, can make you feel lazy, so choose yellow accessories, but don’t avoid doing an overall yellow paint for every wall.
- Home office. Painting a black accent wall in your home office can motivate you to get to work. If you’re daring enough to attempt this bold color scheme, balance it with white and bright accessories. Avoid a black wall if your home office doesn’t have a window. Instead, opt for a shade of purple, which is said to stimulate your creative jucies.
Now that you’re well-versed on color theory, contact Houston house painters and take control over the moods in your home.
Office Colors That Inspire Creativity
When it’s time to focus all of your efforts on your work, you want your workspace to be a productive and inspiring place. Honing in on our creativity can be difficult to do, especially if our workspace isn’t up to par. If you work in a space that lacks color, your are dulling your creative juices. Use these three inspiring colors to create a workspace that will ignite your passion and get your mind working!
- Busy Blue: Hues of blue create a calming environment that allows for focus and productivity. The color blue has been linked to improved cognitive performance, making it a great choice for people in the creative industry. Marketing professionals, animators and creative writers can all benefit from the use of blue in their workspace.
- Go Go Green: This calming, natural color is great for creating a comfortable and soothing workspace. Like blue, certain shades of green can enhance a person’s creativity. As a reassuring and balancing color, green works well in retail stores where money is being exchanged. Green is a color of productivity and works well in workspaces that you spend a lot of time in.
- Raging Red: Bright colors like red and orange work well if your job requires physical activity. These colors inspire passion and productivity, and studies have shown that they can increase heart rate and overall blood flow. If you work in a fitness center or in the civil service industry (like firefighting), red and orange are excellent colors that will keep you motivated and passionate about the work you do.
Whether your workspace is your office or your bedroom, there are certain colors that you can use to make yourself more productive. These office painting tips are brought to you by the experts of Huntington Township residential and commercial painters. Call today with more help with color theory or to schedule your free, detailed estimate!
Best Placement for Mirrors In Your Home
In the Feng Shui world, mirrors symbolize wealth, health, and happiness. The Feng Shui culture recommends certain places to hang mirrors to promote these ideals and gain the most positive benefits. In addition to happiness and wealth, mirrors are great for making spaces appear larger than they are, providing extra light or serving as a piece of art. Discover the best placement for mirrors in your home in our room-by-room breakdown:
Foyer/Entryway. Placing a mirror in your foyer is a no-brainer. Never hang a mirror directly across from the front door. Instead, install one adjacent to the door or above a console table. Mirrors help expand the appearance of small foyers and entryways and make them feel more open and inviting.
Living Room. One of the best spots you can hang a mirror is in the living room. If there isn’t a lot of natural light already flowing in your living room, hanging a mirror can create the illusion of a window. A mirror could also serve as the focal point of a living room. To do so, hang the mirror at a height where every member of your family can see themselves fully.
Dining Room. Dining rooms are another great place to hang a mirror. When the table of food is reflected, you are promoting wealth and abundance. In dining spaces, the bigger the mirror the better. To really reflect light all around the dining room, line two adjacent walls with mirrors.
Bedroom. Contrary to popular belief, mirrors aren’t supposed to be in the bedroom! According to Feng Shui practices, you should never place a mirror across from your bed or on the ceiling. The best placement for mirrors in the bedroom is on the interior of your closet doors or above your headboard. Wherever you decide to place a mirror in your bedroom, keep in mind that your reflection shouldn’t be the first thing you see when you wake up.
Bathroom. A lot of people hang mirrors in their bathroom without putting much thought into it. As a general rule of thumb, the mirror should never reflect the toilet. Install a mirrored medicine cabinet above the sink to completely avoid this issue.
When it comes to using mirrors in your home, get creative! For extra drama and illusions of space, line an entire section of a wall with a mirror and place a chest or buffet table in front of it. Place a mirror behind a lamp or light source for a dramatic effect. In rooms with dark paint or patterned walls, mirrors can appear as windows and break up the boldness. If any room has a view of your garden, find a way to hang a mirror to reflect the greenery.
Remember that mirrors are wonderful additions, and placing them in the right spots can create a more positive and peaceful environment. For more help with mirror placement, contact Pamela Ryalls, a San Jose, CA interior decorator.