Category Archives: Home IMprovement

Creative Storage Solutions For Small Spaces

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Creative Storage Solutions For Small Spaces – Tired of shoving things into places they don't belong? Sick of losing things because there's simply not enough room in your home? Problem solved! With these creative storage solutions, you can regain control over your space and achieve organization once more. 

 

Wall Strips

Some spaces you may not have deemed useful are those tiny strips of wall that are too small for artwork or pictures. We can often find these above or beside sinks in your bathroom and kitchen. Install some floating shelves in these spaces to de-clutter countertops. Then throw your toothbrush or dish soap on the shelving to provide a few more inches for your primping or cooking. Ikea offers great floating shelves of every style and length that might work for your small wall space.

 

Vertical Space

Another option for storing goods is to stop looking around you and begin looking above. Vertical space is a prime area for storage solutions you may have not considered before. Keeping dishes and appliances often used for special occasions may fit nicely on top of your kitchen cabinets. Also, installing a pot rack is always a no-brainer, storage saver. You can even mount pegs on your wall to store foldable chairs to keep on hand for extra guests in your living room or dining area.

 

Cabinets & Closets

You may already have a few storage spaces, such as under sinks or inside closets that you aren’t using to their maximum potential. Attach baskets to the back of cabinet doors to add a few extra inches of space for sponges and cleaners. Additionally, install shelves under the sink to take advantage of all the space, not just the ground space. Add a shoes rack to your closet door to open up floor space, hooks on the walls under your clothing rack for purses, totes, and briefcases, and low shelves on the floor for knick-knacks and other storage needs.

 

Smart Furniture & Creative Decor

Your bedroom can be especially frustrating place to store items due to the amount of storage it actually requires- space for clothing, shoes, jewelry and accessories, linens, etc. Buy some framed corkboard to hang on your walls, and artfully hang your jewelry to make space on your dresser for other needs. Purchase some under the bed drawers for extra blankets and pillows.  Rather than having a table nightstand, buy one with shelving to add some extra room.

 

For creative storage solutions, take a walk through your home with a new perspective on space. Seek out square footage that is not typically considered- under your couch, high on your walls, your ceilings, and take advantage of what you find. With a few pieces of hardware and a little imagination, you can transform your home into a more organized place. 

 

 

Homeowner Tip: Undoing Water Damage In Your Home

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Homeowner Tip: Undoing Water Damage In Your Home – Water damage in your home can be devastating. Not only can you lose meaningful mementos, there can also be serious damage to the foundation. Here are six tips to help you undo the water damage in your home.

 

Dry It Out

Whether you need to rent industrial-size fans, or you have a small fan that will do the job, get them going to dry out the area that has been affected by the water. Once the area is dry you can assess the damage and figure out how to move forward.

 

New Paint Job

When you've dried out the area, if there is only visible damage on the exterior of a wall, a new paint job will do the trick.

 

Wet Insulation

If you find out there is wet insulation in the interior of the wall, check it out and replace it. It could be hiding damaged areas or screws. It’s best to replace the insulation immediately, rather than find out later on that it has done too much damage.

 

Mold

With water damage comes mold, and even less-harmful kinds of mold can affect your health. Tackle mold with a solution of 1 part bleach to 8 parts water – spray on the area, wait a few minutes and wipe away.

 

Clean Hard Surfaces

Some hardwood floors can bend and buckle, so it’s best to clean them and get them as dry as possible, as fast as possible.

 

Seek Help

Water damage is not something to take lightly – you’d rather be safe than sorry. Contact a water damage restoration professional to assess the damage and inform you on how to take care of the problem before it gets worse.

 

For more tips on how to undo water damage in your home, visit here.

 

 

Cleaning Tricks To Kick That Pet Hair and Smell

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Cleaning Tricks To Kick That Pet Hair and Smell – Although we love our pets for their loyalty, friendship, and overall cuteness, nobody likes the inevitable pet smell and hair that accompanies our furry friends! Keeping a home clean with a pet is certainly a daunting task. Whether you hire a team to tackle it, or you do it yourself, there are a number of ways to get rid of these unfortunate side effects of pet ownership. Here are six cleaning tricks to kick that pet hair and smell – for good.

 

Dryer Sheets

Dryer sheets aren’t only useful when you’re doing laundry. but they’re also useful for removing pet hair from your furniture.

 

Get Helpers

When you don’t have the time to pull out the full-sized vacuum, invest in a smaller helper to get the job done. An automatic Roomba or a smaller dust buster will help smaller messes in just a few seconds, with very low maintenance.

 

Bathe Your Pet Regularly

Give your pet regular baths to keep him/her feeling healthy and clean. Also make sure he/she is eating well – unhealthy foods can do horrible things to your pet’s digestive system.

 

SEE ALSO: DIY Homemade Cleaning Products

 

Self-Cleaning Cat Box

If you’re busy, think about investing in an automatic, self-cleaning cat box. It will clean itself every time your cat uses it, eliminating most of the odors that come along with a used cat box.

 

Use Microfiber

Brooms don’t always do the trick when it comes to getting all of the hair. For a quick and easy fix, wrap a microfiber towel around your broom and secure it with an elastic band to gather up all the unwanted pet hair on your floor and furniture.

 

Eliminate Odors

Keep a small spray bottle of white vinegar handy for times when your pet has an accident (let’s face it, it’s inevitable!) Spray the vinegar onto the space and sprinkle it with baking soda. The baking soda will help pull out the odor as you clean.

 

For more tips and tricks to help you get rid of pet hair and odors, visit here. 

 

Tree Planting Tips for Ohio Homeowners

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Wanting to amp up your landscaping? Planting trees in your yard will yield a multitude of benefits, including shading your house, decreasing energy costs, curb appeal, improvement of the quality of air you breathe, and more! The best part is, trees are low-maintenance once planted and can help improve your home’s property value. Check out the tree planting tips below help you get started.    

 

Where to Plant Trees: Where you plant trees on your property can affect a variety of things. Houselogic.com suggests the following tips to guide you.  

  • Plant deciduous trees on the west side of your house for shade in the summer and to let the heat in the winter. Deciduous trees are trees that shed their broad leaves seasonally, such as the fall months.

  • Use evergreen trees on the north side of your home. These thick-branched trees keep their needles all year long, blocking icy winds from the north in the winter.

  • If you are planting trees decoratively, make sure to avoid planting below power lines. As trees grow taller, branches can become entangled in the lines. Furthermore, broken branches can fall into the lines causing power outages and potentially harmful electrical conditions.

  • Plant trees a safe distance away from your home’s foundation. When trees mature, roots can grow into the foundation, causing expensive and unsafe problems.

 

What to Plant: Better Home and Gardens recommends the variety of trees below to suit your tree-planting needs.

  • Decorative Trees- If it’s beauty you are looking for, the following trees may be idea for your landscape and curb appeal: Japanese Maple, Crabapple, Redbud, or Weeping Cheery

  • Shade Trees- Seeking trees to nap under or shade your home? Check these options out: Honey Locust, Willow Oak, Northern Red Oak, Freeman Maple, or Slippery Elm

  • Conifers- Love conifers? Want to block those cold winds? The following options might work for you: Arborvitae, Pine, or Spruce

 

How to Plant: Depending on the tree you purchase, the ways in which you need to plant your tree will vary. The Arbor Day Foundation provides specific instructions for the following types of trees.

  • Bare Root trees come as they sound- with their bare roots exposed and ready for the ground. These trees dig into the ground quicker once planted effectively.

  • Containerized trees are small trees that are rooted into a container. Planters loosen the dirt from the container and plant the soil and tree directly into the ground.

  • Balled and Burlaped trees are trees with roots wrapped in wire and burlap. Once in the ground, the burlap is cute loose for roots to freely breathe and plant.

 

Planting the right trees for your home is worth the while. Visit your local nursery today and begin soaking up the benefits of beautiful trees as soon as you can.

 

DIY: Homemade Cleaning Products

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DIY: Homemade Cleaning Products – Have you ever ran out of cleaning products in the middle of cleaning your home and don’t have time to run out to the store to get more? Or do you just want to be more conscious of the chemicals you’re using to clean your home? Lucky for you, there are a number of cleaning products that you can make right in the comfort of your own home. Not only will you be able to control the portions of your cleaning products, but you will also have visibility into exactly what you’re using. Here are five homemade cleaning products you can make and use today.

 

All-Purpose Cleaner

An all purpose cleaner is a must-have to take care of the messes around your home. To make, combine 3 drops liquid castile soap, ¼ cup washing soda, 1 cup white vinegar, ¼ cup vodka, 4 drops tea tree oil, and 8 drops essential oil for scent (optional).Heat the vinegar in a microwave until boiling; add the washing soda and stir until totally dissolved. Lastly, add castile soap, tea tree oil, vodka and essential oil, and shake until combined. Keep it in a spray bottle and shake it before you use it every time.

 

Glass and Mirror Cleaner

No Windex? No problem. Create an easy glass cleaner with 1 teaspoon of dish soap, ½ cup of white vinegar and 3 cups of distilled water. Combine in a spray bottle and use on the mirrors and windows around your home.

 

Heavy-Duty Scrub

Every cleaning closet needs a heavy-duty scrub for things like rust stains, sinks and tubs. To make and use, dip half of a lemon into half a cup of borax and scrub directly onto any surface.

 

Oven Cleaner

Everyone needs a good oven cleaner, but a lot of the products on the market are crawling with unnecessary chemicals. For an at-home option, combine ½ cup of baking soda and a few tablespoons of water. Spread the mixture all over the oven and allow it to sit overnight. In the morning, wipe away the mixture. Add white vinegar to a spray bottle and spray over any remaining baking soda residue. Wipe it down with a dampened cloth until interior is shiny.

 

Furniture Polish

Keep your furniture looking fresh and clean with a combination of ¼ cup of white vinegar (you can also use ½ cup lemon juice) and ¾ cup of olive oil. Spray the mixture onto any surface and wipe with a clean rag.

 

Do Organic Home Remedies Really Work?

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Do Organic Home Remedies Really Work? –   There is a home remedy for everything to help keep your home free of harmful chemicals, while still getting the job done. Organic home remedies can be of use indoors, or outdoors, it all depends on what you’re trying to accomplish. Here are five home remedies that really work.

 

Baking Soda

Baking soda mixed with a small amount of water can act as a great oven cleaner without all of the harsh chemicals that come along with store-bought oven cleaner. Just make a paste, put it in your oven for a few hours, then wipe down and voila – you have a chemical-free, clean oven to work with.

 

Lemons

This is quite possibly one of the most commonly known organic home remedy. Lemons are extremely acidic, and will remove dirt and rust. It can clean an array of objects including your cutting board, dishes, faucets, grout and more. Pro tip: it’s most effective when mixed with salt.

 

Citrus Infused Vinegar

Fill up a jar with citrus peels and vinegar and leave for a few days, after that drain out the vinegar and put it into a spray bottle. You can use this mixture as a window cleaner (better if you dilute with water), for mopping floors, or for disinfecting surfaces.

 

Olive Oil

Olive oil doesn’t need to be restricted to the kitchen, it also has a number of uses when it comes to chemical-free cleaning. Use it to clean cast-iron pans, to remove scratches on leather, to shine stainless steel and to polish wood furniture.

 

Vinegar

Vinegar can be used as a weed killer in your yard or garden. You’ll need a commercial solution that’s 20% acetic acid. Be careful when spraying it on your weeds, as it has the potential to dry out your other plants around it.

 

Most home remedies do work, but you need to do your research and make sure you’re being safe throughout the process. To learn more about home remedies that really work, visit here.

 

10 Gadgets To Build Your Own Home Theatre

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10 Gadgets To Build Your Own Home Theatre – Having your own personal home theatre is a dream that a lot of people have. However, many homeowners don’t even know where to start. It can be expensive, so don’t feel pressured to do it all at once. Here are 10 useful gadgets to help you build your own home theatre.

 

Apple TV

Consider something like Apple TV for your home theatre system. You’ll be able to watch a number of different things using the resources available to you through Apple TV.

 

Skip Doctor CD/DVD Repair Kit

No one likes it when their DVDs get scratched and start skipping in the middle of an important scene. Luckily for you, you’ll have a repair kit on hand right in your own home.

 

Noise Reduction Blackout Curtains

If you don’t have the resources to soundproof your entire theatre right now, pick up some noise reduction blackout curtains to make sure your movie isn’t heard throughout your entire house.

 

3D Glasses

3D movies might not be an option every time, but you’ll be glad you have the glasses on hand when you can watch the next thriller in 3D!

 

Wireless Headphones

If you have a sleeping baby in the house, or you just want to be conscious of the sound you’re making, invest in some wireless headphones for your home theatre.

 

Power Protector

Safeguard your home system from a lightning strike or power surge. Choose a power protector with built-in line conditioning to ensure cleaner power, a better picture, and more accurate audio.

 

Universal Remote

No one wants to mess around with four or five different remotes for their home theatres, so get one universal remote that you can use for everything.

 

Projector

For a larger screen, like one you would see in a movie theater, use a projector. It’s one step above a tv and will add that much more value to your home system.

 

Surround Sound

The surround system in some home theatres varies; however, most of them use a 7.1 surround sound system. This includes one subwoofer and seven channel speakers – left, right, center, two side surrounds, and two rear surrounds. Action movies will never be the same after you watch them in your own home theatres.

 

Lighting

Lighting in a theatre can be important, so make sure you take the time to figure out the lighting in your home theatre.

 

For more information on gadgets to help you build and/or enhance your home theatre, visit here.

Highligh: A Treehouse in Columbus

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Highlight: A Treehouse in Columbus

What do you do when you find the perfect house lined with old shade trees? Build a treehouse!

That’s exactly what Mike and Jamie O’Leary did when they found their home in Clintonville, Ohio. All they needed was the right sized yard, an old tree that was big enough, and they were able to accomplish their dream.

It’s not just for kids, either! “I do yoga up there occasionally,” says Jamie.

Before this, they were living in Italian Village in a small industrial loft, so they really wanted to find something more “family friendly.” Although they loved living in Italian Village, they needed something more practical for kids.

The O’Leary’s wanted a place that kept them near certain things, such as parks, farmers’ markets, and libraries.

After a year of looking, they finally made a decision on the Clintonville house.  They adorned their home with pieces from Grandview Mercantile, IKEA, Clintonville online Facebook groups, Etsy, and Wholly Craft.

After moving around from Philadelphia, to D.C. and New York, they settled on Columbus to be closer to both of their families and found an amazing food and beer scene in central Ohio.

Mike aims to soundproof the garage for space to practice with his band, We Are The Movies, make the porch an art room for his daughter, finish the attics, clean up the yard with some landscaping, and making some improvements to the basement.

The O’Leary’s are very happy with their decision in Clintonville, as it is very kid-friendly and Clintonville did just top Columbus Underground’s reader poll as the Best Neighborhood of 2014. Let’s see if it can keep it’s title in 2015!

Do you spend any time in Clintonville, Ohio? Let us know in the comments below!

4 Home Updates That May Hurt You When Selling

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4 Home Updates That May Hurt You When Selling  – Updating your home is something that everyone wants to do, but thinking that they will make a positive return on their investment isn’t always accurate. Customized updates might be the best thing for you and your vision, however, they might not be the most practical option. Here are four home updates that will ultimately hurt you when you explore the options of selling your home.

 

Personalization

Personalizing your home might seem like the right idea for you; however, it won’t provide you with a positive ROI. It has the possibility of inhibiting the potential buyer from picturing themselves in your home, and therefore not purchasing it in the long run. To avoid an over personalization of your home, give it non-permanent personalized touches like furniture and accent colors.

 

Home Office Renovation

Many homeowners dish out a lot of cash to create their very own home office. Unfortunately for them, that isn’t necessarily an important feature that potential home buyers are looking for. To avoid this costly mistake, make updates to your home office that won’t necessarily be permanent. You want to give the person who buys your home the option of converting the room into a bedroom, or recreational room of their choice.

 

Additions

Additions to your home, like a sun room or additional garage, might end up hurting you in the long run. The extra space has the potential to hook the potential buyer into being a homeowner; however, they will not want to foot the bill of your expensive renovation and expansion.

 

Luxury Upgrades

Any type of luxury upgrade to your existing home sounds like it would be a benefit and provide a positive turn on your investment, right? No, not every luxury upgrade is beneficial. Unless you have a very high-end home, making upgrades like marble floors and custom bathrooms, will likely not pay off in the long run.

 

Customized updates to your home might be the best thing for you at the time, however, it might not be the best option for you to get the best return on your investment. To learn more about home updates that will hurt you when you sell your home, visit here.

 

Ice Dams: What They Are and How to Avoid Them

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Ice Dams: What They Are and How to Avoid Them – Colder temperatures means less lawn care, but the cold and snowy weather can lead to several serious problems for your home. These issues can be troublesome and costly while adding stress to your life. One such problem is ice damming, which if left untreated can damage your roof, gutters, paint, drywall and structure extensively and even lead to mold. In this post, we’ll discuss what ice dams are, how they form and offer several tips to help you avoid them.

What are ice dams?

Ice dams occur when melting snow runs off your roof and refreezes at the edge, causing water to become trapped on your roof and creating a larger ice dam. They form most often after a large snowfall because the snow acts as an insulator. The heat from your home makes your roof warmer than the freezing point and the snow begins to melt, then refreezes in the cold winter air.

How can I prevent ice dams?

The best way to prevent ice dams during the winter is to reduce or get rid of any sources of heat in the attic of your home and ventilate the attic space of the roof. The goal is to make the roof of your house the same temperature as the eaves, so water won’t freeze at the end of your roof. There are several things you can do to properly ventilate the area under your roof and prevent heat from escaping:

  • Cap the attic hatch or whole-house fan with weatherstripped caps made from foil-faced foam board held together with aluminum tape.
  • Make sure all exhaust goes to the outside, preventing heat from warming the roof.
  • Add more insulation on the attic floor.
  • Seal and insulate your ducts.

If you’d like to learn more about how to prevent ice dams, this article from This Old House offers good advice.

Keep these tips in mind and you’ll be able to prevent ice damming, keeping your home in top shape this winter.

Do you have tips for winterizing your home? Leave them in a comment below and we could feature them in a future blog post.