Category Archives: ORGANIC HEALTH & HOME

Tips from fixing the room to finding health remedies in the kitchen.

ORGANIC HEALTH & HOME

Stop Putting It Off: Your Home Needs A Makeover

Stop Putting It Off: Your Home Needs A Makeover

inside-apartment-design-homePicture Source

If you’ve been a homeowner for a few years or more then you’ve probably started to notice the gradual changes in your house. Maybe some of the furnishings are starting to look a little dated, or maybe, one by one, things are slowly starting to break around the household. It can be a hard job to keep on top of making your home look appealing and work on a fully functioning level when you’ve got such a busy life; work, kids, bills and other adult responsibilities might prevent you from pouring as much time into keeping your home looking pretty as you’d like.

Nevertheless, there comes a time at which you need to stop putting it off. You need to stop ignoring that leaky faucet in the kitchen or the peeling wallpaper in the lounge. You need to stop ignoring the clutter which seems to be overflowing in the spare room or that stain on the carpet which came from a spilled glass of wine three years ago. If you’re wondering where to begin with giving your home a proper makeover, at long last, then these are some helpful pieces of guidance.

The long-overdue clean.

Everybody hates clutter. However, when you’ve got so much on your plate already, you probably don’t realize that your cluttered study or living room is affecting your productivity. A cluttered environment breeds a cluttered mind, and that’s why you need to break the cycle. The messiness of your house shouldn’t be seen as a part of the house, and the easiest way to stop this from happening is to clean regularly.

Before you reach that stage of a healthy, frequent tidying routine, you’ll have to conduct the deep clean. That means going from room to room in the house and throwing out all that old junk to clear some space. You’ll be amazed how open your house really is if you just get rid off the unnecessary clutter. A fresh paint job with a consistent color scheme could help too. That minimalistic look will seem achievable in no time at all. Next time, just tidy up or repaint little and often; you’ll never have to go through the stress of a massive declutter or clean again.

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DIY repairs.

Get your gloves on, and start fixing all those problems around the house that you’ve been ignoring. Replace old door handles with new ones, fix the hinges on cupboards and sort out the dodgy tap in the bathroom sink. Of course, even though you can fix so much around your house with a little self-maintenance, it’s important to know when you’re out of your depth. For example, you could look into house leveling pier and beam repair if you think your home’s foundations might be at risk; not all maintenance jobs call for DIY. Nonetheless, quite a lot of your home’s maintenance can be kept in check through regular work on minor issues; then you won’t have to worry about the big ones.

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Find or create a focal point.

When it comes to decorating each room of your house, you need to always think about the focal point. This is the thing which stops a minimalistic and spacious room from looking empty and lifeless. There needs to be at least one thing to add soul and character to each room of your house. Perhaps you have a fascinating window in the bathroom or a majestic plant which almost touches the ceiling in the living room. You just need focal points which add character and something fresh to your house. Those objects of which you’re proud should be the centerpiece of any room.

Tia, and TipsfromTia.com  is trying to keep you looking good and
feeling good, from the inside out. If you’ve got a problem or a tip email me! Be sure to Like and share on Facebook or Follow on Twitter or Instagram

ORGANIC HEALTH & HOME

Home Renovation Ordering: 4 Questions To Answer

Home Renovation Ordering: 4 Questions To Answer

painting-black-paint-rollerVia Pexels

It is a rare state of affairs when there is only one part of a house that needs renovating. For most of us, it’s a battle that we constantly face, ticking off one problem just as another development takes its place. Still, at least it always means we have a project on the go, right?

Given the fact that your home might need a series of changes to get it to the point you feel you can declare it finished, prioritizing becomes a necessary part of renovation. Rather than just guessing at which project you should focus on first, it’s wise to ask yourself a couple of questions to determine where your attention should be falling.

Question 1: What Do I Use The Most?

If you like to have guests coming to stay, it might be tempting to launch yourself into a spare room renovation and change everything. After all, when we invite people into our homes, we want them to be comfortable. We want the house to reflect well on us.

However, when it comes to prioritizing, this is something that should be pretty low down the list. You should choose to start with areas that are most often used by your family. As an example, a kitchen renovation would therefore take priority over installing a new bathroom in the guest bedroom.

Question 2: What Is Holding You Up?

A classic example of this issue would be the following:

  1. You know the floor in the bedroom needs to be replaced. You have dreams of lifting the cheap laminate, installing proper wood flooring, and creating that modern bedroom sanctuary we’re all supposed to dream of.
  2. However, you also want to repaint the walls as they are looking a bit tired. It doesn’t make sense to change the flooring until you have repainted the walls, of course.
  3. Knowing that you need to paint before you can get to the work you really want to do (the new flooring), you ignore the bedroom and move onto other tasks.

What’s holding you up in this instance is the need for you to paint. As that is preventing you from doing other tasks in one room, that means you should always prioritize the tasks that are holding other things up. The same applies throughout the house.

Question 3: Can You Group Tasks?

Let’s say you have two tasks in different areas of the house: you want to repaint the kitchen and you want to repaint the bedroom.

These could be treated as separate tasks – but they involve much of the same process, the same supplies. It makes sense to group them together for minimal disturbance. You can do the same throughout the house, rather than treating each room as its own separate entity.

Question 4: Do I Know What I Want To Achieve?

Having a finished look in mind is essential for any home renovation. You have to know what you’re doing if you’re going to be able to prepare the steps to get there. Browse for inspiration online and even visit showrooms for furniture stores – it should all give you a concrete idea of the finish you want to achieve.

Tia, and TipsfromTia.com  is trying to keep you looking good and
feeling good, from the inside out. If you’ve got a problem or a tip email me! Be sure to Like and share on Facebook or Follow on Twitter or Instagram

FOR THE GUYS, ORGANIC HEALTH & HOME

The Handyman Can: How To Become Helpful Around The Home

The Handyman Can: How To Become Helpful Around The Home

It’s amazing how many problems occur in your home at all times. You have small problems, such as a door handle breaking, and bigger problems, such as a toilet that won’t stop running.

There are also annoying problems like needing a specific tool like an Allen wrench or bronze wood screws to repair a current situation and not having the right thing for the job at hand.

Either way, a problem is a problem, and that means it needs to be fixed. When you live alone, you can usually get away with leaving some non-essential problems for as long as possible. However, when you’re living with a partner, they tend to want things fixed as soon as possible. Which, when you think about it, is probably the smart thing to do.

The Problem

The problem is, that getting things fixed usually means hiring a professional and spending time figuring out when they can come over and sort out the problem. Not only is this an inconvenience as one of you needs to stay home, but it also costs money.

Granted, when there are really big problems, it pays to get someone in to help you as you have no other option. But, for the small to medium-sized problems, you could save a lot of money if you learned how to handle them yourself. Every time your other half tells you there’s a little problem, you can get on it right away and fix it within the next few minutes. You become more helpful around the house, and your other half will be so appreciative, as will your bank balance!

Bearing that in mind, this guide has been put together to show you how to become more helpful around the home and unlock your inner handyman. Check out all the advice below to find out more:

keys-workshop-mechanic-tools-162553(Photo: http://bit.ly/2p3x5AG)

Buy Some Tools

If you want to be handy around the house, you need to have some tools to help you. Generally speaking, every guy up and down the country should have a little toolkit in the home. You never know when you might need a hammer or screwdriver to take something apart or fix it back together again.

But, your toolkit needs to go above and beyond this if you want to be truly helpful in the home. You should consider the different areas of your house where problems are likely to occur. If you have generic tools like hammers, spanners, and so on, then this equips you to be able to handle a lot of the general physical problems in your home. For example, screws coming loose and making a chair feel wobbly, or a door handle breaking and needing to be replaced.

Then, think about getting tools to help you with electrical faults in your home. Problems happen with the electrics all the time. Most of the time, you can fix them safely by yourself, and don’t need to call in an electrician. But, this means you need the right tools and equipment.

For example, get yourself a multimeter so you can test the voltage of things and check if batteries are broken or not. This is a tool electricians use themselves, and, as you can see on the Tool Nerds website, you can get some that are affordable for everyday people like yourself. Then, think about getting wire cutters in case you need to strip or trim a wire. Of course, you can’t forget to have a huge backup supply of fuses and light bulbs – a blown fuse or broken light bulb are two of the most common electrical problems in your house.

Thirdly, consider getting some tools to help you with any plumbing problems in the home. It’s no secret that there are plenty of plumbing issues that occur, most of which can be fixed by yourself. For example, if you have a wrench, you can tighten bolts on a pipe to stop it from leaking. Likewise, you could have some sealant that’s used to fill up cracks in baths or sinks that are causing leaks too.

Finally, think about outside your home too, and get some handyman tools to help with exterior issues as well. We’re talking about gardening tools to cut down overgrown weeds, etc.

If you have a full array of tools for all different situations, then you’re a lot closer to being a proper handyman in your home. You’ll have everything you need to tackle all the small and medium-sized tasks.

confused-muddled-illogical-disoriented(Picture: http://bit.ly/2qLlD96)

Watch Video Tutorials

Generally speaking, a handyman is a jack of all trades, but a master of none. If you ever hire a handyman, it’s rare they’ll be fully qualified in all the different areas of work that they claim to be able to do. Most of the time, they just pick up on skills throughout life and get better and better as they practice.

Bearing that in mind, you can become a handyman for your family purely by learning how to fix things. To do this, you should watch video tutorials online. Basically, if your house has an issue, you can search for how to fix this issue and be greeted with tons of videos showing you exactly what to do. You can follow along and fix the problem while watching the video at the same time.

In essence, you’re teaching yourself how to become good at fixing things. Now, if that same problem happens again, you’ll know how to fix it. It seems like such a simple piece of advice, but that’s because it is. There’s really no better way of fixing something than watching a video that shows you the steps to take. In fact, if you’re ever bored, you can spend time watching tutorials to prepare you for common home problems when they happen.

That’s really all there is to it, being helpful around the home is much easier than you think. If you’ve got your full selection of tools at the ready, then you’re already halfway to being a handyman. The only other thing you need is the knowledge to use your tools, which can be presented to you in the tutorial videos!

You’ll be surprised at how many of the problems in your home can be solved when you’ve got tools at the ready and can know how to fix the issue. This will save you so much money, and will also keep your partner happy as you’re finally helpful around the house!

Tia, and TipsfromTia.com  is trying to keep you looking good and
feeling good, from the inside out. If you’ve got a problem or a tip email me! Be sure to Like and share on Facebook or Follow on Twitter, TikTok, or Instagram. 

ORGANIC HEALTH & HOME

Simple Ways to Modernise Your Home

Simple Ways to Modernise Your Home

We all get bored of our living space now and again. A new room often means a new you because a change of scenery can be inspiring. It can totally change your mood. When you think about the word ‘modernizing’, many people assume it applies to major changes like renovations and extensions. However, there are lots of simple ways to modernise your space, without having to break the budget. Take a look at these ideas.

Cleaning supplies
Cleaning supplies

Flickr

De-clutter

When you have work and a family life, it’s difficult to find the spare time to devote to your home. It’s easier to ignore the clutter and think of it as part of the furniture. Modern design has become more simplistic, so clutter is a big ‘no, no’ if you’re hoping to keep up with the trends. An easy way to modernise is your home is to do a spot of Spring cleaning. It’s time to get cut throat. Throw out anything you don’t need and anything that looks like it needs an upgrade. You may come across more than you’d hoped for during your clean. Don’t panic, follow the link for what’s pest control and get those blighters out of your home.

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Lighting is Everything

There are so many new and creative ways to add lights to your home. If one of your rooms lacks natural light, adding more lighting could be the making of it. One of the best lighting trends at the moment is having lights hang over a dining table. It creates a warm and comfortable atmosphere for guests and can be romantic for partners. If you want to save money on an electrician, you could install the lights yourself.

Change Accessories

Did you know that changing the door handles on your kitchen cupboards can give them an entirely different look? Simple changes can often make the biggest impact. You can do the same to furniture handles and drawer pulls. If you change the theme or colour of a room, you’ll also want to update other accessories to match, like cushions or throws.

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Up-cycle Furniture

Shabby-Chic isn’t going out of style any time soon. The great thing about it is you can do it all by yourself. If you’ve got an old dining table or cabinet you want to update, all you need is a bit of paint. Stick to light colours but have fun with it. It’s surprising how a bit of paint can make something look new. If you want to stay on trend, make your furniture two-toned by leaving some of the original wood unpainted.

Landscaping

Your garden is as much a part of your home as your kitchen. If you’re lucky enough to have a decent sized garden but you have no idea what to do with it, you may want to consider landscaping. You can hire someone to design the garden for you and either you or the same designer can implement the ideas. A well looked after garden can add real character to a home and often a fantastic selling point.

Tia, and TipsfromTia.com  is trying to keep you looking good and
feeling good, from the inside out. If you’ve got a problem or a tip email me! Be sure to Like and share on Facebook or Follow on Twitter or Instagram

ORGANIC HEALTH & HOME

What First-Time Homeowners Wish They Knew

What First-Time Homeowners Wish They Knew

Could there be anything more exciting than setting foot in your first home? If you are a first-time homeowner, you will probably find that there is nothing more thrilling in the entire world. However, if you are a cookie monster, you may disagree, but this is a story for another day. Your first home is full of potential and possibilities to explore and discover, and naturally to improve. There is no doubt that you have already thought of décor ideas for the living room, the bedroom, the bathroom, and all the other rooms too. But there is something that you probably haven’t thought about. Don’t worry, most first-time homebuyers wished they had thought about it too. Here are the top four things that first-time buyers forget to consider.

new-england-378726_960_720My dream first home

#1. Choose Your Financial Options Carefully

It’s likely that you will only look at mortgage options when you decide to buy a house. Most young people don’t get to deal with these until they hit the property market. However, navigating the sea of home equity loan rates is a trip for an experienced sailor. There are many shipwrecks at the bottom of the sea, and most of them have only realized too late that they were drowning. It is essential, when you pick a mortgage that you carefully calculate how much you can repay every month. It may mean that you can’t afford the house of your dream for now. But don’t worry, that manor with a swimming pool can wait. After all, all you need to do is to climb the property ladder, one house at a time.

#2. Research The Neighborhood

When you move into a new home, you are moving into a new neighborhood too. In short, getting to know the neighbors beforehand is a smart move. It’s not specifically about introducing yourself, but also about understanding what the common issues in the area are, and whether you are about to step into an old neighbors’ dispute by buying the house. For example, when a couple found their new home, they were over the moon, But when they talked to the neighbors, they discovered that the basement of most houses was regularly flooded, which wasn’t mentioned in the seller’s description.

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Meet the neighbors

#3. Take All Costs Into Account

Buying a home come with more costs than just the price of the house. Indeed, you need to consider the home insurance, the utility bills, the cost of remodeling and maintaining the home, and much more. So it is important to be aware of these additional fees when you come to make an offer. Remember that buying a house that you can’t maintain has no value to anyone.

Feel free to use this image, just link to www.SeniorLiving.Org
Feel free to use this image, just link to www.SeniorLiving.Org

Flickr image

#4. Spend Time In The Area

Last, but not least, make sure to spend a few days in the area before you make your final offer. This will allow you to find the local shops and facilities and to discover what the region is made of. When you buy a house, you choose to live in a new region. Therefore, it is essential that you learn to love this region. Additionally, don’t force it. If you don’t like the town, there’s no way you will enjoy your new life in your new home.

Tia, and TipsfromTia.com  is trying to keep you looking good and
feeling good, from the inside out. If you’ve got a problem or a tip email me! Be sure to Like and share on Facebook or Follow on Twitter or Instagram