Home & Interiors

How to Give Your Home an Identity from the Ground Up

With Light or dark wood vinyl becoming a highly preferred choice in the home for many families due to its durable and professional look, but how to best capitalise on the rest of your home to suit this new look. 

There are many things that can be done to make your home that little bit extra special, so here we discuss some potentials to finalise your home.

Furniture that Compliments your Floor

It may not necessarily strike you as something to think of, but the color of your flooring can have a stylish effect on your furnishings such as sofa sets or coffee tables.

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A brown wood coffee table on a grey wood vinyl floor would create a clash that would set the tone of the room slightly off. Matching your furniture to your floor not only gives consistency but also shows guests that effort has been made in presenting a proud environment.

For grey or stone flooring, think of matching it with silver or black legged set pieces that give a genuine feel of cool. This is great for those areas like the kitchen and dining spaces.

Decoration for Full Effect

If going for a natural wood feel in your flooring, decorating the room with floral arrangements or even throw pillows with a flowery design can bring a freshness to those daylight hours.

Alternatively, you could have your fireplace or TV unit match the floor to give a feel like your home has grown out of the floor and has a life of its own. Both options give your flooring a central character that is instantly drawing attention and admiration.

Throw a Rug in the Mix

If you have a large space that feels too spacious within the room, buy a rug that compliments or contrasts the room to give it a bit of extra character.

Dark brown or black for woods or a white rug for grey can really give an extra layer of comfort to an otherwise drab space whilst also complimenting the shine from the vinyl. If you have accompanying underfloor heating, those rugs will keep the room nice and warm on cooler or cold evenings.

Keep the Room Bright

Find bright coloured curtains if you have opted for light wood vinyl to bring out a brighter finish. 

Blue and cream colour curtains and blinds offer a natural feel on sunny days and a sense of warmth at night. This also works for grey oak vinyl giving an equal feel for comfort and a lived in quality. Dark wood vinyl would suit those darker or black out curtains which, if you are a photography buff, will also give just the right amount of reflection if you are choosing it for a studio based environment. 

Get an Opinion from Experts

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To know vinyl flooring is to know the matching qualities that really bring out a person’s home. 

With so many options to choose from it is worth getting the opinion of a supplier as to how people have implemented the flooring to suit specific styles and tastes. Luckily there are suppliers for luxury vinyl flooring that have decades of experience at the top of their field to be able to provide advice and guidance on your flooring matches.

Amtico is a market leading supplier that provides functionality for everyday life with an eye for expert quality and unrivaled craftsmanship. Their collections range from Signature Woods to Spacia Stones to match your feel of any room. Luvanto bring style and elegance to your home with excellent stocks such as Endure Pro and Herringbone and can advise on a perfect fit to your existing lifestyle. Invictus replicates natural materials in any area of your home, with superior levels of durability and a full range of  designs. 

However your style finds itself evolving, vinyl flooring will help it build from the ground up.

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Your kitchen is where you cook up lots of lovely meals to keep your family full and healthy, but it doesn’t need to be the heart of the home. Your living room can easily become the ultimate nest for the whole family, the place where you spend long winter nights together snuggled up and in absolute comfort. 

Many northern Europeans take the notion of cosiness seriously. You have to, when daylight hours are minimal and dark clouds often make the days feel dreary. 

If you aren’t yet completely satisfied with how cosy your home is, follow this guide to create the ultimate den and finish it just in time for the upcoming winter. 

Use Natural Materials 

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We are connected to the natural world. Simply spending time out in a field or in the woods on a walk can do wonders for our health and mental wellbeing. In winter, of course, you won’t have the ability to just head out for a comfortable walk. In winter, you need to bring all those comforts into your home.

This can be done in two ways. The first is to use natural materials. Woods, natural textiles and earthy tones can all do wonders to make the place visually comfortable. 

The second way is to use houseplants to add that element of the outdoors throughout the year. House plants can really improve the comfort of a space, making them the perfect way to increase the cosiness of your den during winter (and summer alike). 

Upgrade the Fireplace 

Every great den needs a fireplace, but that fireplace also needs to work well with how you and your family live. You don’t need to have a woodburning fireplace when you can have a flueless fireplace, an electric fireplace or a gas fireplace from stonewoods.co.uk, one that has zero clean-up but all the creature comforts. 

Not only will the fire instantly improve the look of your den, but you can also go further and invest in antique features, like fireplace tiles or mantels, to truly make your living room otherworldly with comfort. No matter what kind of fireplace you want, ensure that the design is superb, and you will have invested in a timeless comfort that you will enjoy for the rest of your life in your home.  

Add Multiple Lounging Corners 

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A big comfortable couch is a great feature piece in a living room. If you can, however, try to add multiple lounging corners in your den. This way, you can change the perspective of your living room and keep it interesting and engaging throughout the winter. A window seat, for example, a reading nook in the corner, and a living room set can give your family three ways to enjoy your den. 

Add Comfort 

Pillows, comfortable couches, blankets, rugs – they all do wonders for your comfort levels. Invest in high-quality versions to really improve the comfort of your living room throughout the winter and beyond. You could even add floor comfort, so that your kids can enjoy playing on the floor while you are on the couch. With comfortable décor, the options are limitless and changeable. 

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When it comes to furnishing our homes, many of us flock to the nearest furniture showroom and spend a small fortune on new pieces. Now, not only does this cost us far too much money – often more than we can afford – it means that second hand furniture becomes less popular and can end up being dumped into rubbish. 

However, Kwiksweep, want to share their  secrets on how you can furnish your home with upcycled furniture, all for a fraction of the price it would cost you to buy new furniture. 

Should You Upcycle Yourself or Buy Readymade? 

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These days, a lot of people are upcycling furniture in their spare time. Which means, if you’re not keen on doing the work yourself, you can easily find pieces for sale online. Just look for pieces on the likes of Gumtree and other local selling sites. Just be prepared to pay more for ready upcycled pieces than you would for second hand furniture in need of some TLC. 

If you choose to upcycle yourself, you can furnish your home very cheaply. Plus, because you are painting or altering the furniture yourself, you can really upcycle it to match your décor and tastes, choosing exactly the colours and accessories that you like. 

Where Can You Find Furniture to Upcycle? 

Of course, in order to furnish your home, you’ll need some second hand furniture to upcycle – so where can you find good pieces? Well, there’s a number of options: 

• Look on local selling sites for people selling furniture cheaply 
• Try your local charity shops 
• Auction houses often have sets of furniture for sale 
• Look for local second hand furniture shops 
• Ask friends and family if they have any old furniture they don’t want anymore 

How Do You Get Started with Upcycling? 

Often people feel intimidated by the idea of upcycling, however, in most cases you just need some sanding paper, a primer and your paint of choice. Add to this a little patience and in no time at all you’ll have brand-new looking furniture. 

Pic Credit: Pixabay

If you’re feeling braver, look for upcycling groups on Facebook or YouTube, where you’ll find lots of inspiration as well as guides to new techniques – such as decoupage – to really give your furniture a professional finish. 

It’s also possible to turn old furniture into entirely new items for your home. For instance, many people are using old bedframes to make benches or converting cribs into a tepee. There are also hundreds of hacks for altering Ikea furniture into new things. 

When it comes to upcycled furniture, it might seem like more work than simply buying new. However, not only will it save you a lot of money, your home will also look far more unique compared to others who all buy the same types of furniture from similar shops. Indeed, your friends and family will be desperate to copy your style. 

Plus, instead of encouraging more new furniture to be created, you will be helping items destined to end up on landfills to be reused for many years to come.  

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When thinking about home improvements, the majority of people typically start to think about big projects indoors that need to be done and all the work that will have to happen. But what about a different thought process when it comes to improving residential homes? Home improvement projects in the outdoor space can be a great way to add awesome curb appeal as well as value for the future. One of the easiest ways to transform the outdoor space and tackle a major home improvement project is to put in artificial grass!

What are the benefits of adding artificial grass to your home? 

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There are actually so many benefits that can come from using artificial grass in your yard! Not only is it a great way to ensure that your yard is always going to look amazing and alive but it’s also a great way to ensure that your children will have green grass to run and play on as well. Using artificial grass in your yard means that your yard will look uniform, healthy, and inviting for the pitter-patter of little feet!

While laying it in your front yard can look great for the curb appeal, having it in your back yard and garden space can create quite the tranquil place as well.

Home Improvements That The Entire Family Will Enjoy

When it comes to improving the area and space of your home, don’t forget to turn your attention to the outdoor space. Spending money now on laying artificial grass is a dividend that will continue to pay for itself for many years down the road, take a look at sites selling clearance artificial grass for example.

Home improvements don’t have to be something that requires a ton of work and effort which is why you might find that laying new grass outside is going to be your best bet. And being able to wake up every morning and seeing that beautifully maintained yard is a great reminder of your choice to improve your yard and backyard space.

While the inside of your home is important to update, it’s also just as important to update the outside area of your home as well!

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The process of planning a coast to coast move is no easy task. There are many things that you need to take into consideration before making any decisions. However, with the right information and careful pre-planning, your move will go smoothly and be much less stressful than it would otherwise be! In this article, we’ll cover why DIY moves for coast to coast relocation are impossible, how much moving costs will likely run you, downsizing tips for when space starts running out, and what an important part packing plays in the process. We’ll also talk about hiring professional movers versus doing it yourself.

DIY Moves are Hard

When you are relocating from one coast to another, a DIY move is not an option. You need to account for things like the distance, climate zones- that can affect how much time you’ll be spending packing and unloading your belongings at both ends of the trip! One thing I cannot stress enough is to do your research from multiple sources, that could be for example asking around in the neighbourhood you want to move to, or making use of searches via search engines. For example, you could search Knoxville real estate into your preferred search engine and it will bring up a lot of useful information that can help

You also have to consider any potential obstacles along the way- like mountains or other natural features that might make travel more difficult. That’s why most people choose professional movers when doing a coast to coast move: they are insured and licensed experts who know all there is about long distance moves. They will handle everything from the start (packing) to finish (unloading). And it doesn’t matter if you’re moving across town or across the country; hiring a professional mover makes good sense for everyone involved in this type of relocation.

Moving Costs Associated with Coast to Coast Move

Coast to Coast move is indeed expensive. There are various costs associated when you are relocating from one coast to another. For example, there are storage and packing costs. And don’t forget about transportation costs for bringing your belongings to the destination coast.

Depending on the size of your move, you may need to pay for an entire truck or van.

The average coast-to-coast move cost is $14,000 in total (Source: US News). A large chunk of this price tag will be the transport costs ranging from $8000-$12,000 depending on your destination and whether you use a truck rental service.

Moving costs are difficult to predict as they fluctuate based on distance traveled and the number of items moved. In general, though, it’s safe to say that moving long distances tend to incur higher transportation expenses than short distances due primarily to the increased fuel consumption associated with driving greater distances at slower speeds.

The best way you can reduce these expenses is by looking for deals on all of these items before moving day. This may require some research, but it will be worth it when you find that perfect deal!

You should also plan to book a vehicle if you need one or hire professional movers, so they’re all set up with their truck/van well before arrival at the new location.

And finally, consider using special discounts from companies like U-Haul (including offers such as “U-Box”) which offer discounted rates during certain periods throughout the year because this could save money down the line.

Benefits of Hiring Professional Movers for Coast to Coast Move

As explained earlier, DIY is not an option when you are relocating coast to coast. Instead, while planning to move from one coast to another, it is recommended to hire professional movers to take care of all the logistics involved.

• Professional movers offer you peace of mind – the y are experts and have been trained on packing your belongings, which will help keep them safe during transit. They also provide insurance for your items should anything happen while being transported!
• Hiring professional helpers not only saves time but is also affordable when compared with renting a truck or moving vans that could be used just once (or twice). Moreover, most professional movers can even store your furniture while you find an apartment/ house for rent at the other end. This way, there’s no need to worry about storage space either!

Downsizing

It is very important to downsize during a long-distance relocation because you will be living without a garage and vehicle.

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Start by clearing the clutter accumulated over time in your home, such as clothes you haven’t worn in years or old books you won’t read again. You should also clear out any kitchen appliances which are more than ten years old because they may no longer work properly, if at all.

And finally, it is important to get rid of anything sentimental that can only remind you of what was left behind – so think about those mementos from your childhood bedroom before packing them away!

Packing

When moving long-distance, it is very crucial to pack your items carefully to minimize damage. Packing delicate and valuable items separately from less-fragile objects is the best way of reducing risk for breakage or loss during your move, especially if you’re shipping these items across country lines.

Start by making a list of what needs to be packed, including all fragile belongings like china, hangers in clothes, closets, etc. Then pack them neatly into boxes before loading them onto shelves and filling up empty drawers with packing paper so that nothing shifts when they are moved. You can also use old sheets as soft padding between heavy furniture pieces such as TVs or bookcases – remember not to wrap anything too tight!

You must make sure everything stays dry because when you travel from one coast to another, climatic changes could lead to wet items. Pack a dehumidifier or plastic wrap in the car with you and use it immediately when your belongings arrive at their destination.

Before making any big plans, find out what’s important for each item that will be moved so you can protect them during transport. For example: if transporting books on shelves from one coast to another, make sure they are well-protected by having hardcovers wrapped in paper of some kind – this should help keep these fragile volumes intact!

Conclusion

We hope you found this post informative and helpful. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us at your convenience! Thank you for reading about how to plan a coast-to-coast move from start to finish. Enjoy the journey of life as it unfolds before your eyes in these new destinations!

We have moved house 3 times over the last 10 years each a different stage, before kids, with one kid and when pregnant with our second. While im no expert I can certainly share from a practical point of view what worked for us thus making a stressful process a little easier on all involved. Moving can be especially hard on kids. I have actually written about this before so if its relevant to you have a read here.

• Planning – I know this may sound like im stating the obvious but planning really is key from the outset, line up the trades, the dates, the help etc.
  

  Pic Credit: Pixabay

  The aim is that it will flow as seamlessly as possible. Having been through this before as much as we all hope it goes smoothly it does take a huge effort to try to achieve this so don’t get disheartened if things do slip a little.

• Removal Company – Unless you have access to a van or lots of help you will like us most probably need to assistance of a domestic removals company. The key here is to shop around, get personal recommendations if you can.  You want somebody who will pack and transport as quickly and as efficiently as is possible and if needs be work with your timetable which can often move.
• Charity/ Dump/ Sell –  You need to be a little ruthless when packing up. If you haven’t wore it or used it in years what are the chances you will now? Lots of options to either donate good quality clothing, dump or even use site like ebay or local deal site to sell goods. This can sometimes even be a nice way to earn a little bit of extra cash for the house move.
• Labels, labels, labels – I went a tad crazy with white labels and my sharpie, every box had labels, notes, instructions and priority rankings as I was never going to  have it all unpacked in a few hours! Slightly related also is a tip from my Dad to take a pic of the cabelling for TV’s etc as for the non techie like me, trying to piece that kind of thing back together wouldn’t be the easiest task. However bad the packing up the unpacking can be twice as bad!! If you can pack up as efficiently as possible room by room it will make the unpacking that bit less stressful hopefully.
• Help! – Take all the help you can for either packing or unpacking or even making dinner until you get sorted. Particularly if moving any large furniture yourself.  And crucially don’t stress to have it all done in a day, likely not possible so my advice is to take your time and do it right. It will work out far better in the long run.

Ill be the first to admit moving is so stressful but hopefully with these simple tips it can make it a little easier.

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Save on Your Energy Costs With Energy Star

One of the complaints I hear from some folks thinking about a new appliance is that Energy Star certified appliances are too expensive and don’t really save you a lot of money on your prepaid energy bill.

Well, the first part is true. Energy Star certified appliances are more expensive because they are more energy efficient. The part about them not saving you a lot of money is… well, wrong. The truth is they do save you money. However, consumers must face the hard part: educating themselves about the appliance they are looking to buy. Just because something has the Energy Star label on it doesn’t mean it will save you money if it doesn’t do the job you need it to do. Different consumers are going to use different appliances different ways. You need to keep you usage habits in mind when you go shopping.

The big energy loads that are going to make a difference when it comes to Energy Star compliance are refrigerators, air conditioners, furnaces, washing machines, and water heaters. Take for example water heaters. Water heating can account for 14%–25% of the energy used in your home. Generally speaking, consumers have three options (not counting solar) when it comes to water heaters: the standard tank, an energy star compliant tank, or an on-demand system. Water heater tank will heat the water but they have the hidden cost of stand-by energy use. In other words, they keep the water hot while its waiting to be used. The only way to save money on a tank is to make certain that the energy used to heat the water has as much thermal energy wrung out of it as possible.

The Department of Energy estimates that in 2018 most residential hot water in Texas is heated in a hot water tank heater that is 5-9 years old and does not have a heater blanket installed. A 50-gallon standard electric tank water heater costing about $200 rated at 0.86 to 0.95 efficiency can use $370 to $410 per year.. Electric heat pump water heaters can cost 3 to 8 times more but use half as much energy to provide the same amount of hot water (compare these two hot water energy guides for a standard and a heat pump from Lowes). Gas waters are also available with similar comparison results. One of the chief differences is that more efficient heat transfer means it is more difficult to vent cooled exhaust so heaters now have fans built into them.

Most tank heaters will last about 10 to 12 years depending on the water. Like it or not, the tank will eventually rust out and begin to leak. The best way to beat this is by using a whole-house tankless on-demand system. By heating water only when it’s needed, gas tankless water heaters cut water heating expenses by 30% to 60%, while also providing continuous hot water delivery. The drawback is they cost about on average 5 times more (about $1000; not including labor and additonal parts). Lifetime averages are 20 years. The point is that if you can cut your yearly bill in half, you are saving money. Let’s look at the costs this way:

If you go the tankless route, you can also eliminate the expense of replacement every ten years and save even more. Either way, you DO save money with Energy Star appliances and add value to your home.

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