What do you do with containers on your front porch or deck once you have yanked out those sorry-looking, frost-killed petunias? Now is the time to welcome the holiday season by decorating with holiday containers filled with seasonal arrangements of greenery and other natural material from your yard and landscape. It’s easy to forage for material from your property on or around your home for your holiday containers. With pruners in hand, I venture into roadside edges and woods and gather lichen-covered branches, fall-colored foliage, pine cones, and seed heads. All of these make amazing accents for my arrangements. Be sure to get permission from the landowner if you are roaming around to avoid anyone chasing you off their property! I always ask neighbors permission to browse on their property—and I promise them a beautiful holiday arrangement in return. Holiday Decor from Your Own Yard As a landscape designer, my first consideration in planting any tree or shrub … [Read more...] about Decorate with Simple, Sustainable Holiday Containers
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Six Affordable Ways to Update Your Home
Whether you’re selling your home or merely looking for a change in your environment, there may come a time when you decide to make some updates to your home. Yes, it is easy to put off the task because of the potential cost and time needed for renovating. But there are many ways to spruce things up without breaking the bank. You’ll also find that you can do these projects little by little so that you don’t have to make major adjustments to your schedule. To help you out, here is a list of affordable ways to update your home. 1. Look at Color Trends Before you make any purchases or updates, examine current color trends. Right now, cool neutrals are popular in homes for both new properties and remodeling existing homes. Using these neutral colors can make a home seem clean and modern. Start your renovation process by repainting your walls, windowsills, and doors. If the walls have any minor dents, you can fill them in with toothpaste before going over them with paint. … [Read more...] about Six Affordable Ways to Update Your Home
Keep Your Bedroom Clean and Organized
How do you keep your bedroom clean and organized in your crazy busy life? Just as you need to keep the rest of your home clean and organized, it’s crucial you devote that same attention to your bedroom. A bedroom acts as a sanctuary from the stress of everyday life. That’s why a tidy bedroom can rejuvenate you after a long day. A clean and organized bedroom can also prepare you for whatever a new day throws your way. Follow these tips to keep your bedroom neat and organized, and you will always have a calming place to retreat for rest and relaxation. Step One for a Clean and Organized Bedroom: Deep Clean Once a Month Taking the time to properly clean your home, particularly your bedroom, will help you continue to work efficiently. This is especially the case if you work from home. This process could include everything from tossing out unused items to dusting and rearranging what’s already there. It helps to regularly maintain this space with weekly vacuuming It’s also … [Read more...] about Keep Your Bedroom Clean and Organized
How to Reduce Noise in Your Home
It’s frustrating when your home isn’t quiet. If your house isn’t peaceful and quiet, then considering how to reduce noise in your home is probably near the top of your “to do” list. When you first moved in, you might not have minded the barking dogs, blaring car horns, and noisy neighbors. But now this noise pollution diverts your attention and disturbs your sleep. Now you’re thinking, “I’ve had enough. It’s time to come up with a solution.” After all, everybody deserves uninterrupted periods of concentration and a peaceful night’s rest. Unfortunately, many older homes don’t have the sound-dampening construction that newer homes do. With a few small tweaks, however, you can turn your home into a noiseless paradise. Below, we share six effective ways to reduce noise in your home. Hang Heavy Drapes The first tip for how to reduce noise in your home is: consider the drapes. Drapes and curtains not only make a room feel homey, they can complement the other décor in your … [Read more...] about How to Reduce Noise in Your Home
Go Green with These Eco-Friendly Home Renovations
Many people want to be more environmentally conscious these days. Luckily, going green is easier than you may think. These four eco-friendly home renovations prove that you can help save the earth without sacrificing on style and efficiency. 1. Go low-flow to start eco-friendly home renovations Even if you don’t live where droughts are common, water conservation is important. Installing low-flow toilets and shower heads is a great way to conserve water. Today’s low-flow fixtures and appliances make saving water easy and automatic. New models of low-flow shower heads provide plenty of water pressure. The same goes for low-flow faucet aerators and faucets in the kitchen and bathroom. Not only do newer faucets use less water, they are also sleek and stylish. Another great upgrade is a new toilet. New water-conserving toilets get the job done while using far less water than models from previous decades. All of these new fixtures will reduce the amount of water used in … [Read more...] about Go Green with These Eco-Friendly Home Renovations
