A Complete Change

We’re going to get out of the gates saying that it might need a complete change. If there isn’t much that you like about your home anymore, then it’s time to do something about that. It’s no use making little changes if you know that this is not going to make you happy, and it’s not going to help you feel better about where you live.

So, if you’re going to need a complete change, then you will need to think about the best way to approach this. We recommend contacting a design build contractor, getting their thoughts, getting quotes and so much more. Of course, you can’t move forward with anything without a plan in place, so you’ve got to get that done.

An Extension

It might be the case that you are just so limited on space in your home and you constantly feel as though there is no room. Whether you feel like you’re constantly on top of the other people in the house, or you feel as though you don’t have enough room for all of your items, an extension is a fantastic idea. 

If you have the space around your home to make this happen, then great. Get in touch with someone who can help you get started sorting out what comes next. If not, but you don’t have enough room, perhaps consider a loft conversion. This is like getting an extension, without an extra part of the home being built!

A New Design

Finally, maybe a new design will be enough to help your home pass the vibe check going forward. Look at your home, and think carefully about how you would want it to look in your head if you could make that happen. If a lot of it is the same, but you would just have a different design, then that’s a super easy fix. Move some things around, get some new furniture and pieces for your home and you’ve got the space you want.

We hope that you have found this article helpful, and now see some of the things that you should be doing with your home to help it pass the vibe check in the future. The thing about your home is that you want it to feel like a safe space for you, somewhere that you are happy, and somewhere you love. If this isn’t the case, then changes are going to need to be made asap.

The post What Does Your Home Need To Pass The Vibe Check Going Forward? appeared first on InstantELLA.

That doesn’t mean you have to throw them out and replace them, however. Instead, you could customize your clothes with a little know-how. This doesn’t have to take too much time or effort, and you could end up making everything look nicer than you’d think.

There are more than a few ways you can do this, some of which can be more interesting than others.

Customize Your Clothes: 3 Great Ways

1. Dye Or Paint Them

While you mightn’t have thought about it, quite a few clothes can be painted or dyed relatively easily. That’s especially true when it comes to cotton clothes and similar fabrics.

You’ll just need to get a little creative with it, and you’ll have your old clothes looking brand new. Pick whatever colors you like, and you wouldn’t have a problem making sure you love them. Though it can be a bit of a messy process, it’ll be more than worth it.

You’ll have unique, stylish clothes before you know it. There’s no reason not to consider it.

2. Change The Labels

While there are plenty of ways to customize your clothes, not everyone wants to spend a lot of time and effort on them. That’s why most people prefer simply replacing them.

Thankfully, there are more than a few minor ways to customize what you have without needing to spend a lot of time and effort on them. One of the more notable is changing the labels to something you like better. All you’ll need for this are some custom clothing labels, and a bit of stitching skills.

You’ll be done before you know it, and you’ll add a nice touch to your clothes.

3. Try Elbow Patches

With any clothes that have long sleeves, you’ll have plenty of options to customize them. Some of these could be simpler than you’d think.

Adding elbow patches could be a great way of doing this. They’ll help make any long-sleeve shirt or jacket stand out a little more while looking nicer. There are more than a few styles and designs of patches you could add to the elbows to make this happen. Putting them on doesn’t even take too long.

As long as you know how to stitch or sew, it’ll be a quick and easy process. You’ll be done before you know it.

Customize Your Clothes: Wrapping Up

If you’re getting a little bored of the clothes you have, you might consider getting rid of them. As natural as this feeling is, it’s not the only option you have.

You could customize your clothes and give them a new lease on life. They’ll not only feel refreshed, but they’ll look a lot nicer than you’d think. You shouldn’t even have to put a lot of time and effort into them.

With a little bit of know-how, you shouldn’t have a problem getting it done quickly.

The post 3 Great Ways To Customize Your Clothes (& Make Them Look Nice) appeared first on InstantELLA.

The question is: how can you tame the chaos? 

Fortunately, we have some answers. In this post, we look at some methods you can use to retake control over your living space and get peace of mind. 

Vacuum Your Upholstery

One of the most important jobs for keeping a clean and healthy home is to vacuum your upholstery. Removing tiny dust particles can help furniture last longer and make it more comfortable. 

The reason for this had to do with the abrasive effect of dust. Constantly sitting down and standing up causes friction that can damage the fabric and cause sofa upholstery to wear out faster. 

Removing these particles regularly reduces the risk of damage. Seating is more likely to last longer and continue to serve you well, long into the future, meaning you can afford to invest more today in new seating. 

Apply A Fresh Coat Of Paint

Applying a fresh coat of paint is another way to keep your home healthy, fresh, and new-looking (even if it’s old). Plus, it’s a simple job anyone can do. 

If you have wooden elements on the exterior of your home, you’ll want to repaint them every couple of years or so. That’s because they can wear out and rot over time if you don’t. Eventually, the weather can get to them and cause them to degrade, leaving them vulnerable to insect attack. 

Again, applying a fresh coat of paint is something you can do over a weekend. Make sure you use paint suitable for the exterior that contains waterproofing elements to keep everything dry and intact. 

Focus your efforts on window frames, soffits, and sills. If wood pulls away in your hands, remove it and install new material. Don’t allow it to rot away further. 

Conduct Regular Inspections

You could also try taming the chaos through regular inspections. Checking the roofing, foundations, and other elements can prevent damage from becoming more serious and spreading more widely throughout your property. 

Things to look out for include cracks up your walls, missing tiles, leaks coming through your ceilings, broken exterior materials, and so on. You can also hire professionals to look over your property and check everything’s where it should be. 

If there are issues, consult with a contractor to deal with them immediately. Don’t leave them until later when the problem might get worse and the damage could become more extensive. 

If you have had a professional assessment that indicated problems as serious as subsidence, get work to correct the problem immediately and tell your insurance company. 

Clean Your Exteriors

Cleaning your exteriors is another critical element to keeping your home healthy and spotless. Pressure washing your driveway and brickwork prevents unnecessary damage to your home and stops organics from building up and causing chaos. 

Generally, it’s not a good idea to pressure wash your home unless you have experience. That’s because the risk of damage is high. While pressure washing is convenient, it is also risky because of the force of the water ejecting from the nozzle. 

For this reason, many homeowners use professionals once or twice a year. Experts can adjust the pressure and ensure the water doesn’t cause damage. Furthermore, they can also take care of things like drainage (which can be an issue on larger properties or those that don’t have the property systems in place). 

Add Outdoor Lighting

Adding outdoor lighting is also something you can use to keep your home looking healthy and clean. Illuminating key areas can help elevate how they appear and make them more attractive in general. 

For instance, many homeowners add lighting to the porch area so that they can see what they’re doing and avoid fiddling around for keys when they’re trying to let themselves into the house. 

People also light their driveways and paths leading to the front door. Again, this helps with accessibility and makes getting from the street to the front door more convenient. 

If you have a nice facade on your home, you might also consider lighting it up in various colors. Brightening the exterior can make the property more saleable and attractive from the street. It can also deter criminals who might want to enter your property by eliminating dark areas. 

Adjust Your Landscaping

Another way to keep your home looking healthy and vibrant is to take proper care of your landscaping. Mowing the lawn and trimming the hedges keeps everything presentable. 

If you’re clever, you can actually adjust your landscaping to make your life easier. Making more use of gravel and getting drainage right can reduce general maintenance and make better use of the space. Some people can reduce the time they spend on their front yards to just a couple of hours every month. 

Sweep High-Traffic Areas

You can also keep your home healthy and clean by sweeping your high-traffic areas and removing dust that people might drag into the rest of the home. Keeping spaces clean is easier than you might think with the right equipment. 

If you don’t have suitable flooring for high-traffic areas, consider changing your setup. Think about whether you could benefit from adding hard floors, like tiles, to the space. 

If you can’t do that, think about putting down mats and rugs you can clean and wash by themselves. 

Make The Bed

Finally, it helps to make the beds regularly. Changing and washing the sheets eliminates the bed bugs that could eventually make their way into your mattress and cause damage. It also removes pollution particles that could have gotten inside by coming in through the windows. 

Once you’ve made the bed, you’ll feel cozier and happier in your room. All of a sudden, your home will feel more like a sanctuary and less like somewhere you have to survive. 

The post Taming The Chaos: How To Keep Your Home Healthy And Clean appeared first on InstantELLA.

Building a clear and defined strategy will provide the foundation for success. Focus on the simple projects below, and you will see stunning outcomes.

1. Tidy Up External Areas

Many homeowners overlook the importance of their exteriors. However, they are the first thing you see when returning from work or days out. They set the atmosphere, which is why they must be kept in good condition. Experts at 15cent Pressure Washing can clean sidings, driveways, roofs, and windows to get the home sparkling. It is one of the quickest ways to make the home look brand new. And it’s far cheaper than replacing items.

A little landscaping can go a long way to creating a more inviting home too. When coupled with additions like house nameplates or mailboxes, the property will feel better. On a side note, it should become the envy of your neighbors.

2. Clean & Organize Internal Settings 

Cleanliness isn’t only vital for exterior areas. Keeping rooms clean and organized is an essential step that enhances the interior design of any space. Firstly, then, you should use this as an opportunity to declutter. It’ll make the home feel bigger while selling unwanted items also frees up more money for other projects. Following this, a deep clean that also gets into appliances and hidden spaces will naturally make the home feel better.

A decluttered home should be easier to keep clean, especially if you invest in tools like robotic vacuums. Any opportunity to create more storage space should be embraced. Wall-mounted shelves, attic boxes, or hooks behind doors all work well.

3. Paint The Walls

When you want a room to take on a fresh sense of energy, painting the walls is ideal. Opting for a similar coat will restore a new vibe while a change of color can change the atmosphere. Prepping the walls should not take long, and most people can paint a room within one day with ease. Better still, paint is relatively cheap. When combined with the absence of labor costs, it is one of the most affordable projects available.

Painting the walls can also make rooms look bigger. When opting for a lighter shade, natural light will be reflected with greater effect. Crucially, if you do change your mind at a later date, you can easily switch to another color. 

4. Revamp The Guest Room 

If you currently have a guest room, the harsh reality is that the space is going to waste. On a brighter note, this does give you an excellent opportunity to build a better living space. In today’s world of WFH models and distance learning, a home office could be ideal. Home gyms, art studios, and playrooms are all good options. The key is to find a practical function that works well for your household. 

Right now, the project is all about adding function to the room. Luxury can come at a later date. Add the essential items now and the home will instantly feel more aligned with your needs. It also gives you a long-term project to consider.

5. Upgrade Outside Living Spaces

As the summer approaches, you will naturally be eager to spend more time enjoying outside spaces. Now is the perfect time to update them, not least because it’s affordable. Pressure washing patios and decks is a good starting point. Retailers like USA Garden Furniture can help you build the desired look. Add a heater, lighting, and sound system to make it the favorite part of your home throughout the warm months.

You could also look to install sliding doors to combine internal and external spaces. It’s a simple move but makes the home perfect for hosting friends. It will cost a little money, but an expert can do the job pretty fast.

6. Improve Your Security Features

Whether looking to protect the home while on vacation or prevent the threat of intrusions, increased security is always a wise move. If nothing else, it is very difficult to truly relax in the property when it is left in a vulnerable state. From increased lighting and surveillance cameras to robust locks, you must go the extra mile. The great news is that security tools are now more affordable and accessible than ever before.

As well as adding the right security features to prevent burglaries, you should rule out pest infestations. Patching any exterior holes is vital. When combined with habitual changes like regularly emptying the trash, you should be well protected.

The post The Simplest Ways To Transform The Look & Feel Of Your Home appeared first on InstantELLA.

9 Tips for Removing Scratches from Wood Floors

There’s a downside to this though – the rug pad will leave marks on your floors. Many floor installation companies know how to deal with this problem, and thanks to the tips listed below, now you do as well.

Use a Solution Like WD-40

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WD-40 is a lubricant, and is probably the last thing that you’d reach for when you have sticky rug pad residue on your concrete floor. However, it’s actually one of the best things to use. All that you need to do is spray the WD-40 onto the residue and then let it sit for a few minutes.

Run a microfiber towel over the mess to pick up as much of it as you can, and then repeat as needed. In most cases, you won’t have to do this more than two or three times.

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Be careful to not let the WD-40 sit on the floor for more than a few minutes at a time, since it will seep into the concrete and stain it. If this happens, pour a little laundry detergent over the stain and cover it with sawdust or cat litter. (Yes, this is similar to what you do in order to remove oil and stains from your driveway.)

If you don’t have any WD-40 on hand, you can use any lubricant, or even things like Goo Gone or any other adhesive remover.

Use a Paint Scraper

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Depending on the type of floor that you have, you can also use a paint scraper to remove the rug pad residue. Don’t use this on tile or wood floors, as it can scratch them, but if you do decide to be brave and test this method, be very careful.

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(Most floor installation companies will simply tell you not to use this method at all.)This method works best in conjunction with the WD-40 and lubricant, since it can help with the stubborn bits of residue.

Mix Up a Vinegar Solution

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If you have vinyl or tile flooring, then you’ll need to mix up a concoction that consists of ¼ cup of white vinegar, 1 tablespoon of liquid dish detergent, ¼ cup of baking soda, and 2 gallons of hot water.

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Soak a rag in the mixture and place it on top of the residue, then let it sink in for about five minutes. Wipe the spot with the rag or soft cloth and then repeat as needed until the residue is gone.

Avoid Getting Rug Pad Marks in the First Place

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Ideally, you won’t have these marks in the first place. They can be avoided fairly easily, just by picking up the rug and its pad every six months in order to clean them and the floor underneath very thoroughly.

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