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Lofts are valuable square footage, and in small homes, you don’t want to waste an inch. In addition to making your home more spacious, a loft conversion can also add 20% to your home value.

With the right loft decoration, your space can be both functional and on-trend. Make the most of your space with these creative loft design ideas.

1. The Library Loft

An odd-shaped loft room, with shorter ceilings around the side, is the ideal place for books. DIY bookshelves are cost-effective and would fit well into the dormer area.

Throw in some comfortable cushions, throw blankets, and your loft will be a cozy, quiet space for reading and lounging.

2. The Ultimate Storage Loft Design Ideas

If you’re low on storage space, the loft is the perfect place to organize your extra things. But, a dingy old attic with no real floor or storage organization units isn’t going to make you feel good about your space.

Get some help with loft boarding, so you have a visually appealing and safe floor. Then add some custom, DIY shelves and cubes for organizational purposes. Your attic storage space will go from drab to fab.

3. Cozy Loft Bedroom

When it comes to a loft bedroom, it’s best to stick to minimalism. A bed, a small side table, and some string lights for a romantic and cozy vibe are all you need.

Splurge on luxurious bedding, like velvet throw pillows and a gorgeous quilt for some extra style.

If you’re concerned about the cost of a loft conversion, statistics have shown that an attic bedroom will return at least 53% of your investment.

4. Kids Playroom Loft

What’s more magical for children than playing in a cozy, hidden loft? Lofts are the perfect place for forts, reading in nooks, and playing make believe. Plus, tiny humans aren’t going to hit their heads on a low ceiling.

The first thing you want to do when converting your loft into a play space is to create a bright space. A dingy, dark looking attic is not going to be appealing. Paint the ceiling white, and add some additional lighting if needed.

If you need loft decoration ideas for your play space, consider adding floor cushions with brightly colored pillows and a couple of throw blankets. You could also add some cube shelving for toy storage.

5. Zen Yoga and Meditation Loft

The great thing about a meditation and yoga space is it doesn’t require a lot of stuff. A cozy rug, a yoga mat, and some natural lighting will create the perfect zen space.

If you like to do yoga during the daytime, think about placing your rug or mat right in front of the window where the light comes in. Also, consider adding some real plants to bring nature into your space.

6. Home Office Space Loft

When it comes to a home office, natural light is essential. Especially if you’re working remotely, you don’t want to be sitting in a dark space all day.

Maximize the natural light in your loft space, and position your desk so that you can look out the window. If you have room in your budget, you can also consider adding a skylight or two to increase light.

Design Your Loft Oasis Today

With so many amazing loft design ideas, the hardest choice will be deciding what to do with your space.  Be creative, and, most of all, enjoy your new refuge.

Are you looking for more helpful design ideas? Check out our home section today.

When you play online slots at leading online casinos such as Gold Rush Slots, the same basic principle tends to apply: launch an enticing game, spin the reels and hopefully trigger plenty of bonus features which should see the prizes tally up. But what it is about slots in particular that appeals to people – the soundtrack? Theme? Gameplay, or narrative? We don’t need to worry about it, of course, that’s up to the developers, but to consider the lengthy process from ideal to production can be quite intriguing. After all, the casino software developers are in fierce competition to produce as many high-quality and engaging games as possible.

Player Expectations

By 2024, the online gambling industry is expected to be worth a staggering $73 billion. This is fantastic for slots developers, of course, however, there is a great deal of work ahead. The competition is already intense, and as standard get higher and higher; the expectations of players also increase. The key for slots developers in this case is to produce online slots that truly stand out from the crowd. But, how?

Work in Progress

One might assume that slots online are pretty easy to churn out at a regular pace, but in fact, a slot game of decent quality will actually take around 12 months to develop. The project begins with an end target ideal and a great deal of in-depth research before the final design can even be considered.

As a result, the slots development team includes many people: project managers, designers, mathematicians, developers, for instance. Every small detail must be scrutinised even before the idea of the game is released to anyone outside of the company.

Market research must take place next, in order to discover how well received the slot game is likely to be. The main mission is to appeal to as many players as possible; so how are you going to do this?

Up next is the creative design. Visual design, colour schemes, characters and soundtracks are just a few of the elements that require perfection. Meanwhile, a mathematician will be working hard on the Random Number Generator (RNG) software to ensure entirely fair play thanks to random reel spin outcomes.

Testing

Before the big launch, the game needs to be meticulously and rigorously tested. This testing may lead to last-minute tweaks; each of these will polish and perfect the game that has been in the making for so long.

The Big Launch

Much relies heavily on the launch of a slot game too. At which casinos will the game be available? Naturally, many developers ensure that their game is available to play at multiple casinos in order to increase chances of being enjoyed by players. Furthermore, leading casinos will work hard to promote the new online slot; after all, they are keen to boost their custom too. This might be done via a free spins promotions for the new game, for example. Gaming reviews – both online and on paper – can also have a significant influence on a slot game’s popularity.

 

 

When it comes to lighting up your kitchen, you may already have ideas in your head. Perhaps you’re thinking of introducing layers of lighting in the space to make sure that you get appropriate lighting for tasks such as preparing food, as well as other tasks such as eating and even relaxing. The kitchen is a central space in most homes; as such, you need to give ample thought on how to light it right. There’s task lighting to consider, and you also have to think about accent lighting and decorative lighting if you want the space to be pleasant and look great. But if you want to make the kitchen more personalised with the lighting you choose, here’s a list of top tips and ideas for lighting up your kitchen.

• Think outside the box. Many homes today have open floor plans, and if you have one, then your lighting for your kitchen should fit this as well. When choosing kitchen fixtures, think about how it would relate to the other areas which are seen from your kitchen. Mind you, it doesn’t have to be a complete match, but if you have fixtures in bronze in other areas, for example, then it would be great to have your kitchen lighting fixtures in bronze as well.
• Whilst pendants over a kitchen island are often a brilliant option, you can go one step further and choose two big pendants over a string or row of pendants, or even a single pendant light over your kitchen island, as recommended by popular lighting fixture suppliers like Diiiz.com.
• Consider translucent. Instead of opting for an opaque fixture, why not go the translucent route? Fixtures with a lens placed at the bottom can hide the light bulbs set underneath and still provide you with a good glow.
• Oval-shaped fixtures for the kitchen are a classic, but you can go beyond classic and traditional shapes with rectangular-shaped fixtures and even fixtures with a drum shape, which can make your kitchen look more interesting and unique.
• Artwork for your kitchen is also an excellent idea, especially since more people are spending time in the kitchen than ever. To add more personality to your kitchen’s look, place artwork on the walls and illuminate this with recessed fixtures that are adjustable as well.
• Cabinets with a glow. Open shelves are a big trend nowadays, as are glass-front cupboards and cabinets that showcase your favourite cups and plates and pottery. You can choose to add lighting to the inside of your glass-front cupboards, for example, or lighting for your open shelves. What’s more, it can add more dimension to your kitchen and produce a glow at your line of sight, which creates depth.
• Install lights under your base cupboards and cabinets. These lights can easily illuminate your kitchen’s flooring, which adds a bit of ambience to the space and can serve as a great night light as well.
• Whilst you’re installing lights under your base cupboards and cabinets, you can also do the same with your counters or worktops. You can simply create a groove underneath the lip of your worktop or countertop and install the proper lights in the space, so when you open your kitchen drawers, you can see better inside, too.

Image attributed to Pixabay.com

 

 

Whether it’s because of limited space, unpacked boxes or because you simply don’t want lots of people traipsing across your carpet, there are many reasons why a housewarming party might turn you off.

Luckily, there’s another room in the house that could be put to use: your garage.

That’s right! Garage parties are in this year, and because the garage is often one of the largest areas in the home and has easy outdoor access with lots of fresh air and natural light, it might very well be the best place to throw your housewarming party.

Here are 7 tips that will help you throw an unforgettable garage party that’ll be the talk of the neighborhood!

1. Tidy Up

Before you do anything to transform your garage into party central, you’ll need to do some cleaning!

Sweep the garage floor to remove any dirt or debris, and dust any shelves or items that will be in sight during the party. Also, remember to remove any cobwebs!

If you can, clear any large or bulky items from the garage and put them somewhere else in the house until the party’s over. This will allow for a bigger space for your guests! If you can’t move these items, you can simply cover them with a sheet!

2. Cover the Walls and Floor

An easy trick for transforming your garage into a party venue is to cover the walls and floor. By doing this, you’re instantly changing the atmosphere and your guests will even forget they’re in a garage at all!

Hang white sheets from the walls to make the room seem brighter. This will also give the effect of an actual party venue as it hides the evidence of the room being a garage.

For covering the garage flooring surface, you can choose to lay down a tarp or to add a colorful rug.

3. Add Seating and Tables

Of course, you and your guests won’t want to just stand around the entire party, so adding some seating is a must.

This part can be as simple or elaborate as you’d like — it’s really just up to you! Simple folding chairs or lawn chairs can be placed around the garage for your guests, or you can bring out some of your seating furniture from inside.

If your guests are going to be dining during the party, you need to have an area where they can sit and eat. You can use an affordable folding table for this part, too.

4. Decorate

Garage party decorations are perhaps the most important parts when it comes to setting up. They’re also the part where you’ll have the most freedom since you’ll be able to incorporate your own style and creativity.

Depending on your party’s theme, choose tasteful decorations like accent rugs, table runners, floral arrangements, and even alternative seating like beanbags. You can even add balloons or sprinkle confetti across the floor for added effect!

5. Add Lighting

Whether you prefer the soft, warm twinkle of dainty string lights or the brightening glow of lamps, you’ll need to bring in some extra lighting.

You can string lights from the ceiling or walls, or place lamps or other lighting fixtures around the garage where you see fit.

6. Provide Food and Drinks

What’s a party without food and drinks?

Your guests are going to be hungry when they arrive, so be sure to have snack foods and appetizers out on tables. If you’re wanting to do more of a dinner party, then you can place a table in the middle of the garage and bring the food out when it’s time.

7. Add Entertainment

Nervous about guests getting bored during your party? There’s an easy way to fix that.

Investing in a game table is the surefire way to keep the fun going in the garage even after guests leave. From ping pong to air hockey to pool (or even a table with all three), there are so many types of game tables out there that’ll instantly upgrade your garage party.

Check out some of these multi game table reviews to see which kind of game table is for you!

Kick off Your Garage Party

Now, you have all the tips you’ll need to throw the best garage party your guests have ever been to! Prepare to be surprised at just how simple and fun these parties can actually be.

If you found this information helpful, be sure to check out our other posts!

Almost 80% of all remodeling projects start in the kitchen. In fact, designing a beautiful kitchen comes second only to bathroom remodeling projects.

Are you thinking about redesigning your kitchen this year? Before you do, it helps to have a plan in place. With these 15 kitchen designing tips, you can create the kitchen of your dreams.

Otherwise, you might miss out on some of the finer details.

By updating your kitchen, you can improve the room’s aesthetics and function. You can also add to your home’s value, too.

Cook up your dream kitchen with these 15 easy tips!

1. Start With a Plan

Before you start removing appliances or stripping old cabinets, start by developing a plan.

What are you hoping to accomplish with your kitchen renovation project? Do you want more storage space? Maybe you’re more focused on turning your kitchen into a gathering place.

Start by searching for inspiration online. You can look at Pinterest boards, renovation websites, and online guides. Then, create a Pinterest board of your own!

Try to separate your ideas between “must-haves” and “want-to-haves.” If it comes down to your budget, you’ll know which beautiful kitchen designs to prioritize.

Explore different textures, materials, and color schemes while you’re at it. You might come up with more than one kitchen design. That’s okay!

Once you have a fully developed plan, you can choose your favorites.

Learning how to design a kitchen comes down to your needs. Think about how you work and move throughout your kitchen when you’re cooking. Where do you spend the bulk of your time?

Think about the problems you’ve encountered in the past, too. For example, you might feel like you don’t have enough counter space.

Then, you can focus on developing solutions within your plan.

Once you have a strong plan, you can maximize your time and start putting these kitchen design tips to work!

2. Consider Storage

When designing a beautiful kitchen, make sure to consider your storage space. Many people neglect to plan for storage when developing their design plans.

You’ll want to utilize every inch of space you can. Maybe you want to push your overhead cabinets to the ceiling. That way, you have extra space and you don’t have to worry about dust collecting.

You can also deepen your drawers to make it easier to find the pots and pans you need. Consider adding shelves within your drawers, too. Keeping everything organized and easily accessible will improve your kitchen’s functionality.

Improving the storage space in your draws and cabinets will free up your countertops.

Where else can you add storage space? For example, you can start using your walls! Utilizing your wall space will improve the kitchen’s functionality and beauty.

Consider adding a metallic strip to one of your walls. Then, hang your knives up! You’ll have easy access to your knives while you’re cooking.

If you don’t want to add a knife strip, add hooks to your walls instead. You can hang your pots and pans up instead of filling your cabinets.

Does your kitchen include an island? You can add a chandelier to hang your pots and pans from, too.

Either way, these kitchen designing tips will help you maximize your kitchen space.

3. Utilize Your Counters

Once you’ve added new storage space throughout your kitchen, take a look at the countertops. Choose a surface that’s beautiful but also easy to work on.

You might want to reconsider using tiles. The grout between each tile can become difficult to clean and maintain. Stainless steel, on the other hand, will scratch too easily.

Instead, consider stunning, smooth granite or marble countertops for your kitchen renovation project.

4. Don’t Forget the Details

Kitchen renovations often cost between $25,001 and $50,000. When exploring different kitchen design tips, make sure to keep your budget in mind. Instead of focusing on huge remodeling projects, try a few smaller ones.

For example, you might consider using salvaged wood within your kitchen to save money. You can also expose old ductwork to create a more rustic look.

Think about your trash, too. You can create a build-in trash bin that’s hidden behind a cabinet to improve your kitchen’s look.

5. Let There Be Light

Make sure your kitchen has plenty of light. Placing the light source behind you will leave the room full of shadows. As a result, you could end up working in the dark.

Instead, try to position the light in front of you. For example, you can place small lights or LED light strips under your cabinets. These lights will shine directly onto your countertops while you work.

No more shadows!

Don’t forget natural light, too. Instead of old blinds, consider updating your kitchen windows with classy white shutters. The natural light will help your kitchen look lively and spacious.

6. Out With the Old

When updating an old kitchen, many people remove old appliances, cabinets, and even their sink. Going out with the old can give your kitchen a fresh start.

After years of use, your faucet is bound to look old and scratched up. Adding a new faucet to your kitchen will improve the aesthetic and functionality. You can even look for a faucet that includes a filter to improve your home’s energy use.

As you look for new sinks, consider different materials and colors. For example, you might choose these cement vessel sinks. These sinks feature anti-scratch and waterproof coating that will ensure they’ll last for years.

Don’t forget to consider your budget as you start stripping old appliances and kitchen features away. You might decide on updating old features to give your kitchen a vintage look. Either way, using these design tips for kitchen renovations will help refresh an outdated kitchen.

As an added bonus, choosing energy-efficient products for your kitchen will provide benefits in the long run!

7. Power Up

As you start using these kitchen designing tips, don’t forget to think about your power sources. You might need to relocate outlets to add new appliances throughout your kitchen.

Many people fail to think about power sources until it’s too late. Try to utilize these kitchen design tips as soon as possible. Otherwise, you might block out potential kitchen space.

Take the time to measure your appliances. Will they fit within the spaces you’ve build for them? If not, appliances like your dishwasher could fail to drain properly.

8. Prioritize Safety

Over 10% of Americans completed a kitchen or bathroom remodeling project in a single year. As you complete your own remodeling project, don’t forget to consider everyone’s safety.

You want to make sure your kitchen is safe and family-friendly, especially if you have children running around.

For example, you might decide against a metallic strip for your knives if your kids sit on the counters often. You can also use safety-conscious elements like rounded countertops instead of sharp edges.

What about your floors? You can use slip-resistant flooring to keep your kitchen safe.

If you have toddlers or pets roaming around, consider positioning your oven higher up. Putting your oven at adult-height will minimize the risk someone will get burned.

9. Check the Floors

Don’t forget those floors! If you choose hardware floors, remember they’ll wear down faster around appliances. Natural stone, on the other hand, is durable.

Plus, it can give your kitchen an earthy feel.

10. Choose a Look

What type of kitchen do you want to design? For a French look, focus on earthy elements like marble along with elegant elements like a chandelier.

If you want more glitz in your kitchen, add shiny metallics instead.

Do you prefer an industrial look? Try steel, stone, and wood materials!

11. Add a Pop

Many homeowners prefer a stunning, white kitchen to keep the room looking clean. If you decide on white decor, add a pop of color within the room. For example, you paint your cabinets yellow or blue glass panels to bright brightness into the room.

12. Focus on Function

As you use these kitchen designing tips, don’t forget to balance functionality with elegance. For example, you can add custom storage cabinets. If you have an island, consider hollowing out the space to add shelves.

You can even tuck chairs under your island to turn your kitchen into a gathering place.

13. Lighten Up

A dark kitchen won’t feel very inviting. Instead, consider a color scheme that keeps your kitchen looking light and bright. You can combine white with yellow or a kiwi-green for a lively kitchen.

What about adding a skylight? Don’t forget, natural lighting can go a long way to breathe life to the room.

14. Pair Styles

If you feel stuck between two styles, combine them! For example, you might decide on bringing contemporary American styles with traditional French decor ideas. Use ironwork to bring a French look into your American home!

15. Beautify With Backsplash

Adding a new backsplash is a fun way to update your kitchen. Instead of an outdated look, have fun with it! Consider using tin tiles to give your kitchen a bright, playful look.

Eat Up: Kitchen Designing Tips for a Fun and Functional Kitchen

Balance functionality and beauty! With these 15 kitchen designing tips, you can discover the kitchen of your dreams that works well, too. Get designing with these 15 tips today.

Searching for more helpful guides? Explore the Tips section of our blog today!

The last thing any of us would want to experience is having our house getting flooded.

Even if we live in an area that is particularly vulnerable to flooding, we often do not take the necessary precautions. Even after the devastating Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans, not everyone in the city is properly protected against possible flooding.

So what do you do if you experience a flooded house? If you did not get the time to prepare beforehand, you need to know how to get through this disaster before you can prepare for another crisis.

In this guide, we will show you what to do right after your house gets flooded.

What To Do in a Flooded House

If you do get into the unfortunate situation where you find yourself in a flooded home you want to make sure you take the right steps moving forward.

Make sure you save this guide as a reference so you can always come back to these steps.

1. Stop The Water (If Not an Act of God)

If the cause of the flooding was not by a natural disaster, also known as an ‘Act of God’ then you need to immediately stop the water at its source.

If the flooding was caused by a running faucet in the sink or the bathtub, it needs to be turned off. If your hose was running and the water overflowed, then you should rush to the valve and turn off the hose.

2. Turn Off the Electricity

Once you have turned off the water sources, you have to now turn off the electricity.

First, you should go to the fuse box and turn off the power.

Afterward, you should try to unplug all wires from their outlets. If possible, lift up the wires from the floor and place them on a raised surface; for example, place your wires on the kitchen counter or on the dinner table or on your bed.

If you cannot reach the fuse box or the wires without wading through a lot of water, you should call an electrician.

3. Leave the Home

Now you need to leave the flooded home and make sure everyone else in the home does so.

If there are elderly, children, or any other vulnerable persons in your home – make sure you assist them in evacuating. They should be the first persons to be out of the home.

Once everyone is out of the home, find a safe spot. If the flooding is not so intense, you may be able to stay in your backyard or in the driveway. If it is more serious, you may need to seek a temporary shelter home. This is often the case when the flooding is caused by a natural disaster.

Report the flooding to the authorities and ask them where you should temporarily relocate for shelter.

4. Medical Help

If anyone in your home requires medical help, you should immediately call for an ambulance. This will likely be the case if you have any vulnerable persons in your home.

Make sure this is done right away before moving on to anything else. If you have sustained any injuries or illnesses from the flooding, you must call an ambulance for yourself.

Medical attention cannot be postponed. You need to think about your wellbeing and the wellbeing of your loved ones before you think about the home!

5. What to Do About Your Home

Once you have looked after your wellbeing and the wellbeing of your loved ones, you have to now think back to your home.

If you are a renter, all you have to do is call your landlord and inform them of what has happened. They will be able to handle the rest.

If you are a homeowner, then you need to call your insurer. When speaking to your insurer, make it clear to them how the flooding started.

You should ask them if you are allowed to clean up the house (after the flooding ceases) before the adjuster comes to inspect or if you have to wait for the adjuster to come first

If you don’t have flood insurance, purchase it before the worst happens. This is one of the necessary precautions that is often overlooked. Get it now before it is too late.

6. Document the Aftermath

Once you have taken the above steps, you should try to return to your home to document the aftermath of the flooding.

When you return to the home, take out your phone and take photographs and videos of the damage that has been caused. Make sure you do not miss any spots when documenting the aftermath.

There should be no damaged corner that does not have a photograph or video showcasing the damage. Make sure you keep these photos and videos organized on your phone and ideally, on your computer or a hard drive as well.

If you have photos of your home (prior to the damage) you should have these handy as you may need to show both sets to the adjuster.

7. Cleaning Up

Once the adjuster has looked at the damage and given you the green light, you can start cleaning up the home.

Make sure you disinfect all areas where water was standing. Remove all personal items from the home and throw away any seriously damaged items.

You may need safety gear and a set of supplies for cleaning your home after the flooding.

You should also be aware of the possibility of mold developing after a flood. The best way to avoid mold is to make sure the home is dry and use a strong cleaning fluid (such as bleach) for cleaning the home.

Tackling mold can be challenging, so make sure you follow the instructions so that you do not have to deal with such issues.

Prepare Yourself

Now that you know what to do in the event of a flooded house, you are better prepared. Make sure you keep this guide with you so that if this unfortunate event does happen, you will have less to worry about.

Be sure to check out the rest of the site for more advice on how to prepare yourself and live a great life.