Is your living space feeling more like a storage closet?

Luckily, there are ways you can make the most out of your living arrangements, even if it’s tiny. Whether you want to transform that cramped guest bedroom, or make your tiny college apartment seem larger than it really is, use these helpful tips to trick your eye.

Add Mirrors

Familiar with the term ‘smoke and mirrors’? It’s often used when describing a clever illusion. Mirrors are fantastic for tricking the human eye and work well in home decor for this very reason.

Select a large mirror, with a minimal frame and place it against the wall. The light will bounce off of its surface to give that desired illusion of space. If you wish to hang your mirror, hang it low, to make the walls appear taller than they really are.

Paint the Walls With a Light Colored Air Purifying Paints

There are no hard and fast rules when it comes to painting your home. It’s your space, and you have the freedom to do whatever you want with it. However, any interior decorator will tell you that if you want to make your area feel roomier, use neutral and light colors. An eggshell paint, for example, is classy, but will also brighten up the room. Like the mirror trick, this brings more light in and makes it feel more clean and appealing.

Also, if you’re in such closed-off quarters, use air-purifying paints to help improve the quality. They are non-toxic and rid the air of harmful pollutants such as acetone and formaldehyde.

Pass on Heavy Drapes and Rugs

These items can drag the room down, so opt for light linens and ditch the rug altogether.

Scale Your Furniture Down

Purchase smaller furniture to give you more room, and also make the area seem larger than it actually is. Instead of a queen bed, purchase a twin. Instead of having an entire coffee table in the middle of the room, opt for a small matching bedside tables on either side of the bed.

Purchase A Bed That Doubles as Storage

Storage is another huge factor to consider. Clutter can make the room feel cramped, so eliminate what you don’t need and find a clever way to store the items you want to keep.

If your living space feels more like a broom closet than an actual room, use some of these helpful tips to open up the area. By adding mirrors, using neutral air purifying paints, and improving your storage skills, you’ll become a minimalist master.

Everyone has that one old couch or antique dresser that they can’t bear to part with. Whether it’s because of sentimental value or actual value as an antique, some furniture is just difficult to part with. However, not all furniture and upholstery is meant to last forever, and at some point, you’ll likely be in need of furniture or upholstery repair. Here’s how to know if it’s time for some furniture repair or upholstery repair for your most treasured household items.

• Fading upholstery: If the fabric on your favorite couch or chair is starting to look a bit off-color, it might be time to have it repaired. Sunlight and UV rays can fade fabric over time, turning your once favorite piece into an eyesore. Upholstery repair, however, can get it looking as good as new in no time.
• Stained fabric or wood: For some stains, you might be able to save the material if you catch it quickly enough. However, for stains that have long since set, you might need to replace the upholstery to get it back to where it once was. Check with local upholstery services to see what you can do to fix that stubborn spot on the sofa; sometimes, there might be ways to remove those stubborn stains, but chances are replacing the fabric will result in a better final product.
• Worn out cushions or upholstery: After years of use, some furniture just won’t look quite the same as when you first got it. Cushions may seem slack, or a particular corner of a seat on a chair might be worn thin. Upholstery services can help bring new life into your favorite furniture without having to replace the items entirely.

If you’re going to be repairing your furniture, make sure that it’s worth the investment to repair it rather than replace it. The average cost of reupholstering furniture is $660, with small chairs costing as little as $150 and large pieces like sofas costing as much as $1500 or more, depending on fabric choice. However, for those pieces that you can’t put a price on, upholstery repair and furniture repair is a great way to restore and save treasured household items.  

If you’re considering updating your flooring in your home, then you’ve come to the right place. With so many different options and price points, it can be hard to decide which type of flooring is the right for your home. While hardwood flooring or vinyl flooring might be attractive, but you’re leaning towards laminate flooring. So, to help you make your decision, here are some benefits of going laminate.

Durable

Laminate flooring is extremely strong and is a scratch-resistant. That means it’s perfect for areas and rooms with a lot of traffic, specifically by children or pets. Compared to hardwood, which scratches easily, laminate can be your saving grace when it comes to keeping your floors looking new, longer.

Easy Install

For the majority of homeowners and Do-it-yourselfers, laminate can be the best choice. That’s because it doesn’t take much effort to install and the boards are premade to interlock with one another. It also doesn’t require glue, nails, or staples to be installed. So if you’re looking to tackle your flooring project by yourself, laminate is the way to go.

Inexpensive

Compared to traditional hardwood, laminate is much less expensive and doesn’t sacrifice appearance by any means. You can find a type of laminate that fits within any budget, or even if you just want great looking flooring that will stand the test of time.

Subfloor compatible

No matter what type of subfloor you’re working with, laminate can be easily installed over the top of it. It can even be installed over existing vinyl flooring as well. In many cases, hardwood flooring isn’t able to be installed on certain types of subflooring or preexisting flooring, which makes laminate your go-to choice.

Stain resistant

Because laminate is so durable, it’s even stain resistant. That means cleaning up spills or general maintenance is a breeze. No more having to buy specific cleaners or scrubbing those old floors, all you need is a broom and you’re good to go.

Hypoallergenic

Due to the moisture barrier which prevents mold and mildew from building up as well as the fact that there are no crevices are cracks for dust and other particulates to be trapped, laminate is great for those with allergies. Since 81% of homeowners tend to choose their flooring type based on how it looks and feels and 63% choose based on the durability, all homeowners would be more than happy with laminate flooring.

When it comes to roof repair or the installation of roofing, siding, and sheet metal, consumers have a broad spectrum of service providers to choose from. In the US there are currently more than 50,000 enterprises conducting commercial and residential roofing repair, vinyl siding repair, and window replacement. Most homeowners have a tendency to view the exteriors of their homes as a single entity as opposed to a collection of individual segments. This is, of course, far from the case. A home’s exterior is more complex than meets the eye and consists of a wide variety of materials including glass, wood, stucco, vinyl siding, sheet metal, steel and more.

Fun Fact: In a recent homeowner survey, one-third of those participating expressed that the appearance of their homes were limited to certain color palettes mandated by their local government or homeowner’s association.

Roof Replacement
When deciding on purchasing a new roof, the overwhelming majority of surveyed homeowners (88%) said that their top priorities were durability and longevity. As many as 72% of homeowners indicated that they would contract a roofing company to install a roof consisting of materials that require little or no maintenance. Depending on its overall quality, a standard roof with shingles over asphalt has a lifetime of 12 to 20 years before needing to be replaced. In the US, the average shingled roof requires replacement after 17 years. Throughout its lifetime, roof repair will be needed periodically.

Metal roofing, on the other hand, has longevity two to three times that of asphalt shingles and will require significantly less roof repair. The recycled material used in the composition of a metal roof distinguishes it from shingled asphalt, with 56% of the steel being recycled. A premium product does come with a premium price tag as metal roofing tends to cost at least twice that of standard shingles. However, in the long run, consumers would be wise to consider that a metal roof will not only last longer but save them what would have been spent on roof repair.

Home Maintenance and ROI
Each year, the average homeowner spends approximately 1% to 4% of their home’s overall value on routine maintenance and various repairs. As the structure becomes older, these costs typically continue to rise. Roof repair cost is at the top of the list as it pertains to expense. Seamless gutter installation is vital in keeping maintenance costs to a minimum. Siding repair costs and window repair costs deserve to be taken into account as all home exteriors eventually require repair. As homes age, it often becomes crucial to install replacement windows. The average return on investment (ROI) for installing new windows is 78.6% which pales in comparison to ROI for other improvements. Take, for instance, the installation of a new steel front door, which according to HouseLogic’s “Cost vs. Value Report,” ranks at the top with a long-term return of 98%. Leaky repair and gutter replacement top the list of common fairly minor repairs, both of which can be handled by a roofer, roofing contractor or roofing companies. Siding for homes needing repair is a more costly replacement and will require the skills of professional siding contractors.

When it comes to home renovations, there is a lot of information to be aware of before starting any major project. However, there is also a lot of incorrect information that people often take as fact. Here are some common myths about installing new windows that you should watch out for.

1. Replacements in winter: First, many people are under the impression that it’s just not feasible to install new windows during the winter because of the low temperatures. In reality, most window replacement specialists know what they’re doing and will take every precaution to protect your home from the elements during the replacement process. This involves closing off the rooms where the windows will be replaced, and then it’s just a matter of getting the work done quickly and efficiently.


2. Wood windows: People are also quick to assume that wooden windows are the best types of windows because they’re so common. However, experts say vinyl windows are superior to wood in many ways. Wooden windows can swell with moisture and can get moldy, but vinyl windows are designed to be strong, safe, and water-resistant. They also don’t require the level of maintenance that wooden windows require. You can even opt for a woodgrain finish if you prefer the look of wooden windows. Best of all, vinyl is about 25% cheaper than wood.


3. Energy efficiency: A third common myth surrounding new windows involves the idea that windows don’t have an effect on energy efficiency. This is a big misconception considering experts estimate that up to 70% of energy is lost through windows and doors, and 90% of that loss occurs through the glass. But there are some measures you can take to save some energy. Choose low emissivity windows that will protect your furniture and other parts of your home from UV damage and keep heat in. You can also add a layer of argon air between the panes or double or triple pane windows to protect insulation. Ask a window installation specialist for more information about improving your home’s energy efficiency through windows.

Overall, you should make sure to do plenty of research when it comes time for you to replace the windows in your home. Make sure you look at company reviews to avoid working with a less-than-reputable window replacement company. For more information about new windows, visit Albemarle Siding and Windows.