Now more than ever, people around the world are becoming increasingly concerned with the air quality in their homes and businesses. Because certain germs can be spread through the air, in addition to things like pollutants, allergens, and more, it’s important to know what you can do to keep the air around you clean.

To show you how this can be done, here are three tips for improving the air quality within your home or office.

Get Rid Of Indoor Pollutants

Before you can start improving the air quality, you first need to make sure that you’ve eliminated anything that could be causing your air quality to be diminished.

According to Noma Nazish, a contributor to Forbes.com, there are many common household items that create indoor pollutants that are bad for people to be breathing in. Some of these things consist of air fresheners and harsh cleaning supplies. In addition to these things, you also want to make sure that you’re consistently cleaning your home to reduce dust and dander, which can also irritate your breathing and cause your home and offices’ air quality to drop.

By finding a natural way to use these types of products and keep your property clean and fresh, you’ll be able to boost the air quality as well.

Be Careful With Indoor Plants

One thing that many people have heard can help improve the air quality within a space is to bring in some plants. However, while they can be helpful in some situations, they can also cause more harm than good.

Harvard Women’s Health Watch shares that having plants inside can actually make your home or office more susceptible to mold, which can wreak havoc with your air quality. Additionally, if anyone has allergies, bringing in plants could exacerbate their problems and make it even harder for them to safely and comfortably breathe.

Bring In Fresh Air

Once you’re sure that there’s nothing in your space that is creating pollutants in the air, you should then focus your attention to bringing in fresh air.

To best do this, the U.S. EPA recommends using natural ventilation, like opening doors and windows to outside. If you don’t want to do this, you can also use your HVAC system to force more outside air into your home or office. By doing this, you’ll be able to reduce the amount of pollutants within the air inside by essentially flushing them out with fresher air coming in from outdoors.

If you think the air quality of your home or office isn’t where it should be, consider using the tips mentioned above to help you find ways to begin improving it today.

 

As crisp, brown leaves fall off the trees and crinkle underfoot, your thoughts might be mainly on conkers and Halloween preparations rather than checking the state of your roof. However, a roof left neglected can pick up issues before you realise, including along its roofline.

The roofline marks where the roof meets the rest of the house and is especially vulnerable to weather-induced damage. Hence, you should set aside time to carry out the following checks.

Clear leaves and debris from your gutters

It would be best to do this after nearby trees have entirely shed their leaves. However, as you obviously want your ladder to stay in place, be careful how you place that ladder against plastic gutters or pipework. Ideally, you should use a ladder in combination with an extension bracket.

From that ladder, you can also look out for cracks and leaks in your downpipes and gutters – but The Inverness Courier urges readers unsteady on ladders to “call in the professionals” instead.

Opt for a gutter guard

Though the Scottish news site advocates clearing gutters of leaves and debris at least once yearly to prevent blockages, you could instead have a gutter guard fitted to save yourself even that task.

The Telegraph explains that gutter guards “ingeniously prevent moss, leaves and debris from blocking up the gutters”. This is a particular boon considering how easily you could forget to clean out gutters manually instead – and, of course, the potential safety risks of doing so anyway.

Watch out for peeling paint

You could spot this on your fascia (your roofline’s horizontal surface with guttering attached) or soffits (used for connecting your roof’s overhang to the home’s side) if your home has a fascia or soffits made of timber and, hence, painted to enhance their aesthetic appeal.

As timber fascias and soffits need repainting regularly, you should consider switching to uPVC for those elements of your roofline, as you could still beneficially bring fresh colour to that roofline.

If your fascia suffering from water ingress?

One warning sign of this would be if you see water pouring down your walls, as loose or blocked guttering can be a culprit for this. When damage is inflicted to the soffit and fascia boards, water can be allowed to trickle through to the roof rafters.

If you suspect damage but aren’t sure exactly what to look out for, a local roofing firm might be able to help by assessing that roof’s condition for you – perhaps even for free.

Don’t delay roofing repairs for longer than necessary

While you might be able to repair minor damage yourself, a certain amount of damage will call for a roofing professional’s touch. The roofline’s height and, for the average householder, the serious difficulty of checking progress made with work means that you need a trustworthy professional.

Whether the required roof repair is in Newcastle, Durham or anywhere else, it should be provided before winter sets in and potentially worsens the existing damage and, hence, cost of repairing it.

 

 

 

If you would like your home to look attractive in the eyes of others, then you need to step up and do something about it. Having a beautiful looking backyard is possible, and you do not have to spend a fortune to have one. There is more than one website where you can find amazing ideas on how to upgrade the overall look of your backyard. With a little bit of research and resolve, you can do many things that can turn heads and give you compliments for a job well done. Here are some great ideas for you to begin with.

1. Add walkways

If you have many plants in your garden, it is essential to keep them healthy and trimmed all the time. Since you cannot avoid stepping and walking on the ground, the best solution is to create walkways. You can use concrete slabs to create a stairway to the elevated parts of the garden, or you can use thick pieces of wood as an alternative material. Having pathways keeps your footwear from collecting mud and soil, especially during rainy days.

1. Fix your garden bed

Garden beds are one of the most popular attractions in a backyard. However, some do not get noticed at first glance because they’re plain-looking. You can make them stand out by adding borders by using different sized rocks, bricks or pebbles. If you want to add more colour to the edges, then you can spray paint them to make the surface more visible. Adding borders to your flower and garden beds will only cost you a small amount of money.

1. Conceal your air-conditioning unit

If you have an AC unit on the ground floor, then the rear end is typically exposed. Although its presence will not affect your garden and plants in any way, for some people, its appearance is considered an eyesore. To get rid of the problem, hire a carpenter or handyman to cover the air-conditioning unit. You can also conceal it by using plants or adding other decorative items.

1. Keep your garden free from clutter

Having a messy looking garden can be a significant turn off to other people, especially visitors. It would be best if you arranged your tools like the garden hose, lawnmower, shears, leaf blower and rakes by placing them in one place. You can build a small shed in the farthest corner of the garden or a wooden cabinet that will serve as a permanent storage area for garden tools to prevent accidents from happening, especially with kids who love playing non-stop.

Other things that you can do to make your backyard look extra appealing include painting your yard fence with light-coloured paint to give it a refreshing look. Also, it is a good idea to add some lighting along the pathways to prevent people from tripping while walking at night.

Lastly, you can look at magazines and different websites to get more inspiration for how you want your backyard to look.

Image: https://pixabay.com/photos/seating-patio-furniture-outdoor-1929000/

 

 

As desirable as the prospect of improving a kitchen may be, it is by no means an easy feat. After all, these types of home improvement projects often require not only a considerable commitment of time but financial resources as well. And it is because of this fact that many eager homeowners either blow their budget or avoid the idea entirely.

But even with the challenges and difficulties that it presents, it’s not impossible to give the kitchen area a facelift. All you need is to have a design or vision of what you want your kitchen to look like and tackle each project one step at a time. To this end, here are a few things you can do to spruce up your kitchen without putting a sizeable dent in the bank account.

1. Try to add some flora in the area

There’s a good reason why smart homeowners decorate their kitchen area with flora: not only are there a wide variety of different plants to choose from, but they are quite affordable too. More importantly, they can turn even the most drearily dull kitchens into areas that are inviting and full of life. And best of all, some plants have air-purifying qualities that can detoxify the air as much as it can lift the aesthetic appeal of your kitchen too.

1. Consider getting a kitchen worktop

Kitchen worktops have become a common fixture in many homes today not only because of the aesthetic appeal that they add to the area but also their functional purpose too. And while they may seem to be expensive pieces to own, there are inexpensive quartz worktops London suppliers sell that are good value for money. But it is well worth noting, however, that it’s a general rule of thumb to ensure that the kitchen has enough space for the desired worktop before making any purchase. In this way, you will be minimising the possibility of doing any additional alterations during its installation.

1. Give the area a fresh coat of paint or new wallpaper

There are times when all it takes to breathe new life into an area is to give it a fresh coat of paint or new wallpaper, and kitchens are no different. Not only are the necessary tools and materials affordable and cheap, but with plenty of references and tutorials online on how to paint or hang wallpaper properly, it’s a task that you can do yourself without the assistance of professional services. While it may cost you time, doing the work on your own can save you a small fortune on labour costs.

While it may not be an easy task to give the kitchen area a lift without spending a small fortune, it’s not impossible to get the desired results at a reasonable price. And with the ideas mentioned above, not only are you far more likely to overcome the financial obstacles that the home improvement project entails, but it may even cost you a lot less than you think.

To read more on topics like this, check out the home & garden category.

 

There’s a ton of things you can do to revamp your house this year. First, you can start by repainting the walls with brighter and livelier colours. Then, you can update your furnishings. You can also work on your garden by adding new plants or garden beds.

Learn all the trendiest and most practical home revamp ideas – from the famous Living Coral Pantone colour of the year to eclectic prints and patterns used in the kitchen – in the article below.

Repaint the rooms

Experiment with the latest Pantone colour, Living Coral. Its light, refreshing and playful vibe adds a nice touch to any room in the house. Repaint the walls of your living room, kitchen and even bedrooms with different shades of Living Coral. Complement the colour with other light shades of Avocado Green or Lemon Yellow.

Add bold prints in your lounge or home office

Bold, geometric and eclectic patterns are quite trendy these days. These types of patterns are used selectively in home offices, lounges and study rooms. Feel free to add the pattern to your room using your rugs, carpeting, tiles or textiles. You can layer them or match them with another bold pattern.

Tidy up the space with a party wall

Large sections of a house can be updated by building a party wall. You can use the new section by creating a storage room for your kid’s toys, paperwork from work, and all sorts of personal valuables. Contact a professional to survey and build the wall for you. Since there are many professionals in the area, it’s best to compare the party wall surveyor fees before you hire a service.

Bring back the classics!

This year, kitchens are expected to switch from modern and industrial looking to something more subtle, classic and natural. If you wish to revamp your kitchen this year, you must highlight the raw material you use by minimising the paint you use. Go for wood stains or earth-toned colours to decorate your kitchen furnishings.

Upgrade your garden with pavers

Improve your existing walkway in your garden using pavers or bricks. These are super cheap materials you can readily buy in any home improvement shop. It’s best to use concrete, clay and stone pavers because they last longer compared to other materials.

Once you have the pavers ready, you can proceed to install them beside your existing concrete walkway. Make sure to dig trenches along the concrete walkway in your garden before you put the pea gravel mixture and the pavers.

Spend a bit more time in the garden

Having a garden is one of the main goals of every homeowner. If you already have one on your property, make sure that you spend enough time to attend to its needs. For example, you should make sure that every plant is watered regularly to avoid wilting.

Aside from regularly maintaining your garden, you should also think about growing new plants. For starters, you can try adding flowering shrubs around the garden to create a green perimeter fence.

Upgrading your home doesn’t need to be extravagant. A few simple upgrades are enough to significantly boost the charm of your house. Try the home improvement tips we shared above so that you can begin enjoying a newly revamped house without spending too much cash.

Your outdoor setting is often the unsung hero during the warmer months. If you haven’t experienced the joys of outdoor living, visit Domayne online for a great range of outdoor furniture and Garden Living Ideas. Your outdoor furniture survives sweaty bodies, food flung with reckless abandon and sharp clawed pets clamouring for pole position. Not even the baking sun can dissolve its will to keep you comfy. But what about when summer’s heat gives way to winters icy breath? During winter your outdoor furniture is more susceptible to damage and a nasty frost can destroy your favourite piece of furniture. How do you keep your outdoor furniture safe from harm this winter?

Keep it dry

Some materials are such as plastic and aluminium are more resistant to moisture, but it is still a good idea to keep your furniture in a dry space. Materials such as Wrought Iron are very prone to rusting and sometimes even a cover or tarp won’t keep all the moisture away. If your furniture is kept directly outdoors it would be advisable to have a water repellent cover made to fit your furniture. If you can move your pieces, a shed or patio would be an ideal storage space when your furniture is not in use. Cold temperatures can make plastics brittle and can also make wood rot and crack.

Keep it clean

If you have a piece of wooden outdoor furniture, chances are it is made from Teak. Teak is a beautiful and oily wood with natural moisture resistant qualities. Even the most water-resistant piece of wood is still going to absorb moisture if it’s left untreated. In very cold conditions water can freeze in the grains of wood, cracking the wood in the process. Unsightly mould can grow and take over a surface if food or organic matter is left to soak into the surface. Yearly maintenance is advisable for all furniture, especially for wooden items. All you will need for wood is mild soapy water and an abrasive pad to give it a good clean. Once it is thoroughly dry apply some outdoor furniture sealant with a brush. Some manufactures recommend two or more coats of sealant but refer to the instructions of your chosen sealant. A clean and sealed piece of teak will last for decades.

Under the patio

Where you place your setting is more important than what setting you have. A covered patio ensures a dry environment which is a boon for any type of furniture. Being protected from the harsh rays of the sun mean a patio will even give you benefits in the summer. A dry covered patio, with the addition of a heater can open your outside space for winter living too. These Outdoor Lounges ensure there is room for the whole family regardless of whether you’re entertaining inside or out. The less exposure to the elements, the longer your setting is going to last.

Won’t Somebody Please Think of the Cushions?

Many outdoor settings come with plush cushions to ramp up the comfort levels. These cushions are sometimes suited to the outdoors, with special anti-mould fabrics and foam that allows water to drain through. Whilst some of these cushions may be able to survive the odd downpour it is recommended that when not in use, store these cushions in a dry space.

As winter creeps up, it would be wise to prepare your beloved outdoor area for the possible harsh conditions ahead. A simple yearly maintenance routine coupled with keeping your items covered and dry can ensure you and your outdoor setting enjoy nature for years to come.

To read more on topics like this, check out the home & garden category.

You need to be cautious in determining who you want to do any plumbing job at home. You want someone whom you can rely on to fix the problem and ensure it won’t continue. You are spending money to pay for this service. Being a plumber is not easy as it requires expertise in handling the tools and figuring out what to do with the problem. Therefore, you need a quality plumber who possesses these qualities.

Patience

It is not easy going through all the technicalities of plumbing. There are times when the problem seems too complicated; after several tries, it remains unsolved. The plumber needs to be patient in determining what went wrong and how to fix it. An impatient plumber will most probably give up after the first try.

Experienced

You need someone who has years of experiences in doing the job. There is no guidebook in dealing with all sorts of plumbing issues. However, experience helps a lot in figuring out what to do. Some plumbers have a lot of experience dealing with specific issues in the past, making it easy for them to deal with the same problems if they face them in the future.

Critical

Plumbing requires lots of critical analysis and thinking. You need someone who can find a way to solve the problem by thinking in detail. You also need someone who understands how things work and how they can use the plumbing tools to their advantage.

Cheerful

It might seem like out of place to have this quality on the list, but it is necessary. When you deal with plumbing issues, you can quickly run out of patience. You will endure hours of problem-solving. You need to find someone who can find joy in doing a tough job.

Optimistic

You need someone who has optimism because it is easy to give up on a difficult task. When you have a plumber who tells you that it is impossible to fix the problem, you will hear that replacing the old parts would be necessary. Replacing rather than repairing is easy for them to do, but it will cost a lot. Therefore, you need someone who will do everything possible to repair things before recommending replacement.

Physically fit

You want a plumber who is in good shape. It takes a lot of effort to get the job done. Plumbers also have to fit under the sink, go to the roof, and insert themselves in cramped spaces. If you don’t have a fit plumber, it might be impossible to finish all the tasks.

Good communicator

You will discuss the issue first before the plumber starts fixing it. Therefore, you need someone who can communicate well. After solving the problem, the plumber will explain to you what happened and what you can do to avoid the same issue in the future. Having excellent communication skills is crucial for doing the job.

You can look for plumbers in Winchmore Hill if you reside in the area. They can offer emergency plumbing services if you need them.

You have stumbled over that game for the infinite time, and the idea flashes over your mind “I should clean up my life!” Wherever you look there is stuff. The children have such a significant number of things and you think that it’s difficult to dispose of anything… furthermore, you think, there is opportunity to be a less complex way to live than this…

Maybe one way would be to do a big clean out, but you know that it will soon get like this again if you don’t change something. It has happened before. How do you go about changing things enough to start living a clutter-free life? The best way to make progress is to just make a start. Do not keep putting it off, it will not go away by itself. After that, develop a routine or hire professionals like Simplymaid – cleaning in Australia. As you keep working on it, you will develop good habits over time, ones that once established will help you stay clutter-free. Here are some ways to get started:

Get the family involved in cleaning

Encourage the kids to start picking up the rubbish on a regular basis and when they have been on the “paper patrol” a few times they will be more motivated to throw as they go…Have competitions to see who can have the tidiest bedroom encouraging individual creativity, and reward them by doing things like letting the winner pick an activity to do one evening or weekend. Encouraging team effort with the children will help the clean-up go faster and help everyone become accountable to each other.

Have a time schedule

Deciding to systematically work through the house one room or task at a time, helps to break down the whole job into bite-size bits. This will help you get through it. Set aside a block of time to tackle these sessions, not too long as to be discouraging and not too short, otherwise, no real progress will be achieved. Celebrate your successes. Do not be afraid to reward yourself for each tick checked off the list, just don’t buy more stuff you do not need!

Do quick elimination of the trash

As you go through the house, the quickest way to declutter it is to first get rid of all that is truly rubbish. This should be done quickly and without too much thinking, apart from “Is this really important?”… “No?”… Then biff it! It is surprising how much tidier the house will look once this is done. The next quick trick is to sweep and wash or vacuum the floors. This does two things, it creates a feeling of space, and makes it easy to move around and work on organizing the rest of your home.

File your paperwork

Paperwork is one of the biggest sources of clutter in most homes. Collecting all your paperwork and sorting it out by using a filing system, not only gets rid of the pieces of paper you do not need to keep, but it also gets all your important papers into an order that makes it easy to find a particular document as you need to. This can be exceptionally fulfilling, knowing where things are, especially the critical things.

Maintain only useful items

The following activity is to choose what you really need to keep, what is only good for throwing away, and what you can give away to help somebody else out. One of the most empowering things you can do is minimize your belongings. There are fewer things to look after, to clean and to clutter your living space.

Fewer things to spend time on means you have more time for what is really important to you… like spending time with someone you love, playing sports, spending a weekend painting, or just living life! A clutter-free house means you achieved your goal to declutter your life. By persevering, you built good habits that will help you maintain a clutter-free home.

Let’s face it; not everyone has extensive knowledge of interior design. So when it comes time to redecorate your home, you end up confused by all the terminologies designer’s use to distinguish one style from another. Basic knowledge of the most popular interior design styles can help you in selecting the right furniture for your home. The design style will also be the template of how you ultimately want your home to look. The design style you choose will also be a reflection of your personality and taste.

Coastal or Island inspired

This interior design style is popular in coastal regions of the country like the Hamptons. You can distinguish this style for its use of light, neutral colours with furniture typically made from wood and elements inspired by the ocean like hints of blue and aquamarine. Tommy Bahaman pan Asian design furniture is a perfect fit if you want to evoke the feel of an island or coastal living in your home.

Modern interior design

Modern interior design usually refers to clean lines and color palettes. Materials used in designing the home often include metal, glass, and steel elements. Modern homes look quite elegant and sleek, but can sometimes seem a little too cold.

Contemporary interior design

It is easy to confuse contemporary style and modern interior design if you don’t know the difference between the two. Modern design strictly refers to a design which began in the 20th century, while contemporary usually pertains to something that is current, but not strictly adhering to a particular style.

Minimalist interior design

A minimalist design is related to modern style but taking it a step further by simplifying some of the details. A minimalist home usually looks airy, with very few pieces of furniture. You are also less likely going to find much accessories or decorations. The focus of minimalist design is to retain functionality and emphasize clean lines.

Industrial design

The industrial interior design is quite popular these days especially with old buildings converted into living spaces. An industrial style aesthetic usually features high ceilings, exposed brick walls, old timber showing in the ceiling, uncovered ductwork, and the like. The color scheme is often neutral, but there is always room for a bit of eclectic furniture to add a splash of color.

Mid-century modern interior design

This particular style derives inspiration from homes in the 1950’s and 1960’s. The design is also typically referred to as ‘retro’. The design is usually simple, and the shapes are organic.

Traditional interior design

Traditional design is inspired by European homes with lavish furniture and abundant accessories. The color palette is usually darker, with a lot of emphasis on wood furnishings. Furniture also has intricate details, a variety of textures, and patterns.

Bohemian interior design

Bohemian reflects a carefree attitude where there are no rules except you follow what you desire. Bohemian homes typically have vintage furnishings, multicultural influences in rugs and other accessories. The best description for a bohemian style is ‘eclectic’. As long as you love what you see, you can design a Bohemian home as you please.

Image: Unsplash.com

https://unsplash.com/photos/DhFHtkECn7Q

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Restructuring a home can be a fun task for homeowners. Finding a different design choice that they might fancy can be a relaxing and refreshing chore that allows them to feel like they’ve just bought a new property. If you’re looking for a modern and sleek look for home improvement, here are some suggestions that can help ensure the use of your room’s space reaches its optimal potential.

Improving your room’s lighting

You might want to invest in more light if you’re looking to set up a contemporary vibe in your home. Natural lighting is an excellent way to make your home feel as if it has more space than it does. You won’t just be able to save on your energy costs; you’ll also enjoy a strong sense of indoor natural light for breakfast and quiet reading sessions.

If you’re looking to sprinkle in a bit of character to your rooms regarding lighting, you can add LED fixtures to different areas. LED strips are great additions to corners of your room and can make for an attractive backlighting option for your mirrors, shelves, and even underneath your cabinets. LED panels and bulbs can be hung on the ceiling and attached to walls to give your room the variety in colour depending on the tone of the gathering. The versatility of LED lighting is that it can change colours and can be attached with a dimming option to regulate your energy usage.

The third option in contemporary design is having hanging fixtures such as lamps indoors. They also come in LED bulbs that won’t just give a sharp and distinct look to your home, but they also add an outdoor feel to the comfort of your living room.

Shuffling your layout

Contemporary house design is all about blending functionality and creativity. Practical modern design choices make use of a lot of floor space, which enables you to relocate different furnishing pieces elsewhere. A smart way to reshuffle your home’s layout is in changing where you enter by redirecting traffic. Looking for services that install contemporary staircases like those found at SmartSteels.co.uk can give you a grand bargain on modern furnishing options. Having an idea of what spaces you want to prioritise in widening can make it easier for you to know where to relocate entry points.

Furnishing for more floor space

More and more contemporary designs are letting go of bulky furniture to give way for more practical and efficient furniture usage. Most models can be arranged in different modular positions to serve various functions such as barstools that can be shelved in and out of the wall space or stools that can be a storage box. Purchasing furnishings that can do more things besides looking pretty is a great way to give more room for floor space while giving you the added functionality of having optimised equipment. Having the designs match with your room’s theme gives you space to play around with the different aesthetic choices that you can incorporate in the variousplaces of the house.

Image: Pixabay.com

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