Skipping Stone Design

Skipping Stone Design

Lenny

The Complete Guide to Navigating the Waters of a Flooded House

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.

Spring Lawn Care Tips

Spring is an important season for your lawn. With the right care, you will be able to prep it for a year of healthy growth. On the other hand, if you neglect it – your lawn could suffer for the rest of the year.

The good news is that spring lawn care really isn’t all that difficult, nor is it a lot of work – as long as you know what to do:

  • Properly rake your lawn and remove thatch

People often assume that they only need to rake their lawn in the autumn, and that simply isn’t true. By raking your lawn in spring you can not only remove any dead leaves, but also the thatch (i.e. dead grass) that will have accumulated.

Thatch can block air, water and nutrients from reaching the roots of your grass – which is why you need to remove it. On top of that too much thatch can get in the way when you mow your lawn too.

  • Prevent weeds

One of the first steps you should take to make sure your lawn is on the right track is to prevent any weeds. If crabgrass, dollarweed, clover or other weeds have been an issue in the past you should try to use pre-emergent herbicides so that the seeds that dropped in the summer don’t get the chance to germinate.

For perennial or winter weeds you could find the right post-emergent herbicide, dig them out manually, or look for all-in-one herbicides.

  • Repair bare spots by overseeding

Technically spring isn’t the best time to repair bare spots in your lawn, but the alternative is waiting until autumn to get it done. If you would rather not wait that long, you can overseed your lawn to fix them.

To help ensure the bare spots are filled out, try applying a slow-release nitrogen fertilizer when you first overseed your lawn. In five weeks when the grass has germinated you can apply a quick-release nitrogen fertilizer as well.

  • Lightly fertilize with mulch

Fertilizing your lawn with mulch can help it to grow lush, but you should wait a few weeks into spring before you start so that the soil is warm. In most cases you should wait till the grass starts to green (i.e. after the first two or three mowings).

It would be best to come up with a schedule and plan out your fertilization for both spring and fall so that you don’t end up applying it too early and feeding the weeds.

If you follow all of these tips, you should be able to ensure that your lawn care is on the right track. As you can see none of the tasks are particularly difficult, but each of them will help to pave the way to a better lawn.

By ensuring that your spring lawn care is on point, you can avoid many issues in the future and help your grass to grow lush and even throughout the rest of the year.

What Are the Pros and Cons of Installing a Metal Roof

Are you thinking of installing a new roof, and looking at the different options that are out there? As you may know there are many different types of materials that you can use for your roofing nowadays, and one of the more popular options right now is metal.

Keep in mind that just like any other type of roofing, metal roofs have both pros and cons. Before you decide whether or not it is the right option, you need to know about both.

Pros of Metal Roofing

The popularity of metal roofs is well deserved, and is due to the many advantages that it brings to the table. Some of its more notable qualities are:

  • Impressive longevity and durability that allow it to typically last for four decades or more – which is more than double what other types of roofs provide. Metal roofing won’t corrode or crack, and is fire resistant and fungus proof too.
  • Good energy efficiency due to the fact that it is reflective and will minimize heat. Typically a metal roof can reduce air-conditioning and cooling costs by 10 to 20 percent.
  • Quick and easy installation with panels that are light and comes in sections. If you already have a different type of roofing installed, it may be possible to simply place the metal roofing on top of the material without any issues.
  • Excellent in all climates as well as seasons. It can keep your home cool during hot summers, and help to prevent snow and ice from accumulating into snow dams during winter.

Cons of Metal Roofing

As attractive as metal roofing may be, it is not perfect and it does have drawbacks of its own. Some of the disadvantages of metal roofs are:

  • Prohibitive upfront costs that can be up to two or three times more expensive than conventional types of roofing. In theory this is offset by the longevity and energy-efficiency of metal roofs, but it still means you’ll have to fork out more initially.
  • Noise levels especially during heavy rain or hailstorms. While this can be mitigated by using additional insulation or adding structural barriers, there are limits to what can be done.
  • Requires proper installation otherwise other problems may surface. For example metal roofs that are not properly installed may cause water to accumulate, or could end up loosening due to the metal’s expansion and contraction.

Final Words

Before you decide whether or not to install a metal roof, be sure you take into account all of the pros and cons described above. Keep in mind that this is a decision that should last you several decades, so it is best that you take your time and be sure about it.

If you do decide to go for metal roofing, the next step is to look at your options then find a qualified and reliable contractor. Be sure to look for one with the right experience, so that you can be assured that the installation will be done right.

4 Signs That You Have a Dirty Air Filter

Is your car slow to start? Guzzling gas? Emitting black smoke?

These are concerning issues for any car owner, but what you might not realize is that they can all be caused by one thing— a dirty air filter.

Air filters are essential to the running of any engine, and if they are dirty, you may be left with a hefty mechanic bill.

Read on to learn the most common signs of a dirty air filter, plus how you can deal with them.

1. Problems With Your Ignition

Is your ignition not starting on the first try, or seems to be much slower than it should in starting? If so, a dirty filter could be the culprit.

If your filter isn’t clean, it’s hard for air to get through the filter into the engine, via your spark plugs, which is what starts your car. You may also notice the engine misfiring as well, which can also be caused by the bad air filter.

Any suspected ignition problems should be investigated right away.

2. A Dirty Air Filter Causes Lower Mileage

If you drive regularly, you’re aware of how much mileage your car gets per tank of gas. There are many ways to improve gas mileage, but one way is to always have a clean filter.

If you start to notice that you’re filling up more often than normal, this could be caused because the engine isn’t receiving enough airflow, and therefore is working harder than it should be. This uses more gas, which means your fuel efficiency rate is no good.

Keeping your air filter clean is an easy way to save money at the pumps.

3. Black Exhaust Smoke

Black smoke coming from your exhaust pipe is never a good sign. If you notice this coming from your car, or even worse, flames, stop driving immediately and take your car to a mechanic.

Dark smoke can be a sign that fuel isn’t properly going through the combustion cycle, which can be caused by a dirty air filter.

A car with this problem can be very dangerous to drive and should be examined as soon as possible.

4. Air Filter Looks Dark

An easy way to check the condition of your air filter is with a visual inspection. The normal color of your air filter should be either white or off-white, so if you notice it looks grey, darker than it should, or full of small particles, it is probably a sign that it needs either changed or cleaned.

If you’re unsure of how to find your air filter, consult your car’s manual to find the exact location. It should be checked regularly by either yourself or a qualified mechanic.

An air filter cleaner can be an effective way to keep your car running smoothly.

Check Your Engine Today

Now that you’re aware of the serious and potentially expensive problems that can be caused by a dirty air filter, check your car and its engine today to make sure your air filter is clean.

With cars, prevention is the best medicine, and regular maintenance will go a long way to prevent vehicle problems in the future.

Did you find this article helpful? If so, head over to our blog and check out some of our other content!

Sunsational Outdoor Patio Design Ideas

Are you interested in turning that outdoor area into a place that you can find meditation this summer?

Perhaps it can be transformed into space where you can escape the realities of your everyday life, if only for a few minutes at a time. No problem at all!

In fact, with just a few adjustments and a little decorating, you can have an outdoor patio that looks and feels entirely brand new. It’s like a vacation, only it’s only a few steps from your house!

Here are several fun and creative patio design ideas to encourage you to find a new style for your outdoor area.

1. White Everything

If you truly want an area that seems almost detached from your reality, then cover it in white.

That means white awning, white curtains, white cushions, white outdoor furniture, etc. Anything that can be white, will be white.

The white coloring of everything will provide you with an outdoor patio that rivals the snuggles fabric conditioner commercials. It will make the nature around you “pop” and stand out more than it usually would as well.

Granted, you’ll have to wash everything occasionally in order to protect your white oasis from becoming a grey oasis, but it’s worth the extra effort for an entire week’s worth of comfort!

2. Beachfront Aesthetic

Who cares if you don’t have a vast blue ocean outside of your house? You can embrace all the feelings of a beachfront with the furniture you surround yourself with.

If you have a swimming pool, pond, lake, or even a puddle of water around your house, then that’s all the excuse you need.

Find a white dining table with mesh beach-style chairs to complete the look and have comfy furniture that will last through the elements.

Better yet, find a table with a giant umbrella that you can stick in the middle of it and have protection from harmful ultraviolet rays. That umbrella will turn your minutes of comfort into hours of comfort!

You can even get more creative by installing a bit of sand around that table. Bring your sandals, sunglasses, and favorite tunes, because it’s time to hit the beach that’s right outside your house!

3. Outdoor Shower Space

What’s more comforting on a hot summer day than an outdoor shower with crisp and refreshing water?

For those of you that haven’t tried an outdoor shower before, you’ll never want to go back to an indoor shower ever again.

You can build a booth around the shower fairly easily if you want an area where you can take a full-fledged shower, or just keep the swimming gear on for your afternoon shower session.

Better yet, there are outdoor showers to fit almost any aesthetic that you’re going for.

If your backyard has a garden theme, you could find a rustic shower head that meshes perfectly. If your outdoor patio is a penthouse overlooking the city, you could find a sleek, chrome shower head to fit that vibe. Whatever floats your boat.

4. Hanging Daybed

Does your outdoor patio have a tree that’s firmly rooted to the ground? If so, then use that to your advantage!

You can invest in a swinging love seat or get a bit fancier by purchasing a hanging daybed with cushions galore… talk about comfort!

This idea is perfect for those of you with an outdoor patio that doesn’t have much space but has plenty of shade. There are several different styles to choose from without an issue.

If you’re trying to save on your budget for this project, then a simple canopy swing or a hammock would fit quite nicely as well.

The main thing here is to find a method of laying down and soaking up the sun. How you end up achieving that is completely up to you!

5. Garden Wall

Nothing says “seclusion” and “meditation” quite like a garden wall that’s covered in lush green plants.

You can kick it up a notch by installing waterfalls or drains that protrude from the garden wall and make that ever-peaceful sound of pouring water. It will look great and provide your patio with some much-needed white noise.

This can become a place where you go to in order to wind down from a long day, spend your saturdays reading a good book, or even having a family dinner.

You can invest in a farm-style table (or build one on your own) to have a place that’s entirely unique and beloved by all who visit.

6. Fire Pit

Maybe you’re worried less about making your outdoor patio a place of tranquility and more interested in turning it into a go-to hangout spot.

If so, then even the smallest size of outdoor patios can be turned into a designated fire pit of sorts.

You can dig your own in the ground or simply purchase a standing metal fire pit that you can use whenever you need it. Either way, the pit will be good for warming you up on summer nights, making s’mores and talking the night away.

Use These Patio Design Ideas for Your Space

Now that you’ve seen several different patio design ideas, it’s time to find the one that best fits what you’re looking for.

Don’t be afraid to pair a few of these ideas together in order to create something that’s entirely unique to your home!

Be sure to browse our website for more articles relating to home design, as well as many other helpful topics!

What to Do When Your Eyesight Starts to Go

Fourteen million Americans struggle with visual impairment. This could include nearsightedness, farsightedness, or difficulty seeing in certain circumstances. If you’ve recently realized that you’re having trouble seeing certain things, it might be time to consider making a change. Here’s what you should do when your eyesight starts to fail.

Get an eye exam.

Adults should be getting eye exams regularly, depending on their age. For those in their 20s, an exam every five to 10 years should be sufficient, unless you already have eyeglasses or contact lenses. If this is the case, you’ll need an eye exam at least once a year to check your prescription. As you age, you’ll need to get your eyes checked more frequently.

Those who are 65 or older should be getting their eyes checked every one-to-two years. If you’re having trouble reading signs while driving or you’re squinting at the diner menu, it’s time to schedule an appointment with an ophthalmologist or optometrist. The doctor will perform an eye exam and determine what would most benefit your eyesight. You want to be able to see the beautiful pictures of your grandkids that have been uploaded to ibi, the smart photo manager. See a professional if you’re having trouble making out their faces.

Invest in corrective lenses or contacts.

After your exam, the doctor might recommend prescription glasses or contact lenses, which can correct nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism. Glasses might give you the clear vision you’ve never had, and both glasses and contacts are easy to use and care for. You can purchase lenses for your glasses that are shatter-resistant, UV protected, and anti-reflective.

Driving at night while wearing glasses can be dangerous if your pair doesn’t have the anti-reflective coating, so it’s smart to invest in that. Many people find contacts more comfortable than glasses. Contact lenses are placed inside the eye and allow the wearer to look and feel the way he or she did before needing eye care. Contacts can be uncomfortable for some people, though, so ask your eye doctor if you can test the contacts before purchasing a box. Both contacts and glasses are an investment, so make sure you love what you’re purchasing.

Try reading glasses.

If you’re only struggling to read small print, like a book or menu, you might want to try reading glasses before investing in daily prescription glasses or contacts. Reading glasses can help you see better while reading and reduce headaches caused by the strain of trying to make letters more clearly. Readers are also more affordable than prescription glasses or contact lenses.

NJ Glasses offers excellent reading glasses at an incredible price. Check the strength of each pair, measured in diopters, to decide what you might need. If you’re only noticing slight blurring while reading, try a pair of readers with 1.00 diopters. NJ Glasses sells glasses up to 6.00 diopters, so you’ll find what you’re looking for no matter your eyesight. Give reading glasses a try if you’re looking for a simple and inexpensive fix.

Change your diet.

Diet can affect your vision and make it worse, so it’s important that you eat well and eat the right things. You’ll want to ingest plenty of vitamin C, zinc, and Omega-3 fatty acids. Eat a diet full of leafy greens, like kale, salmon and tuna for those Omega-3s, and oranges and other citrus fruits. A good diet will increase the number of nutrients you’re consuming while also keeping you at a healthy weight. Type 2 diabetes is the leading cause of blindness in adults, so do what you can to keep yourself and your eyesight healthy.

Stay aware of your eyesight and visit your doctor regularly. A few simple changes could improve your eye health forever.

5 Tricks for How to Clean Windows Without Streaks

It’s estimated that the average house has about eight windows in it. Because these are your gateway to the outside world and your sources of natural light, it’s crucial that you open these windows, appreciate them, and, yes, clean them.

Here, we’re going to talk about how to clean windows without streaks so that you can enjoy your time basking in the sunlight!

1. Choose the Right Time

In order to do as good a window cleaning job as is possible, you’ll need to choose the right day to get scrubbing.

Choose a day that’s cloudy and a bit dark outside. This will let you see the places that you’ve sprayed already and whether or not they have streaks. If you live in a place where it doesn’t rain much, clean your windows in the evening as it gets dark outside.

2. Create the Right Cleaning Solution

There are lots of window cleaners that you can buy offline. However, most of these get a bit pricier than you might want them to be. Also, there’s a DIY solution that’s just as effective, so why waste the money?

When it comes to a cleaning solution, simply mix water and vinegar in a plastic bottle. Spray it on before wiping it down. This is sure to make your window nice and clear.

3. Use a Soft Cloth

When cleaning your windows, make sure that you get a soft microfiber cloth that’s completely free of lint. In a pinch, a sponge will also work.

Paper towels and napkins just aren’t going to cut it- using them is a surefire way to scratch the glass or plastic surface.

Usually, you’ll need to go through two rounds of cleaning and drying with your cloth before your window is clean and streak-free.

4. It’s All in How You Move

Many people make horizontal or vertical movements when cleaning windows. This seems like a good idea in theory, but it’s going to leave streaks on your window in the direction that you wipe in.

Instead, use your cloth to make Z-shaped motions in all directions. This will ensure that your cleaner isn’t streaked across the window, but instead applied in an even coat.

If you don’t like this idea, another option is to wipe in small circles all across the window. However, this will take longer and be a much more meticulous process.

5. Bring in the Pros

Every once in a while, you’re going to want to hire professional window cleaners. These window cleaning experts will make sure that your window is clean and streak-free.

If you bring in the pros every few months, they’ll ensure that your window never gets too dirty and that you have the best window cleaners that you couldn’t DIY. This will make it so that you don’t have a lot of dirt and grime on your windows that would smear and streak during your DIY cleaning days.

More on How to Clean Windows Without Streaks

There are a lot of ways that you can clean windows, but it’s important to do it correctly so that your home continues to look amazing.

Now that you know how to clean windows without streaks, it’s time to get some more information on keeping your house neat and tidy. Check out the ‘tips’ tab on our home page for some pointers on how to get started!

3 Tips For Making Your Home More Comfortable When Entertaining Guests

 

Between inviting family over for the holidays, or friends for dinner parties and get-togethers, most people entertain guests at least several times a year. It’s always a fun time hosting as long as you have enough room to accommodate everyone. Failing to have the right space, however, can lead to everyone feeling cramped, and you feeling a bit stressed out trying to make things work.

 

If you’re ready to start feeling more comfortable when you invite guests over, it’s in your best interest to start making your home more entertainment-friendly. Here are some of the best places to start.

 

Plenty Of Seating

 

When you attend a get-together, one of the first things that you do is sit down. Whether you’re planning on feeding your guests or not, it’s important to have enough room for everyone to be able to have a seat. It can be awkward if only one or two guests are left standing.

 

The seating should be well spread out and provide balance. For example, rather than placing rows of chairs in a room, think about putting a couch next to a few chairs, as well as a bean bag chair, or bench. Guests should have plenty of options for places to sit so that they can mingle and chat.

 

A Place To Keep Their Things

 

Guests usually come bearing belongings, especially if they’re going to be staying at your house for a while. It’s important that you have the space to be able to accommodate all of their things. You should have a few empty drawers to offer them and a shelf or two.

 

If they’re only coming for the evening or afternoon, you should have hangers to keep their coats and purses. There’s nothing worse than attending a party where the only option is to throw your coat and purse in a pile mixed with everyone else’s things. Usually, someone ends up accidentally taking other people’s things home, particularly if there is alcohol involved.

 

Have an Extra Bed

 

If you don’t have an extra guest bedroom where friends and family can sleep, then you should consider investing in a pull-out couch so that you can offer them somewhere to sleep. If space is an issue, then as a last resort, you should consider an inflatable mattress that can be easily stored in a closet or under a bed.

 

The idea is to have a way for them to be able to stay with you if they’re visiting from out of town. However, as an extra courtesy to guests, you should always be willing to offer your bed to them to sleep on the pull-out couch or inflatable mattress yourself.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Everything You Need for the Absolute Best Home Theater

When you decide to build a home theater, you have to be ready to spend big money.

There’s nothing more luxurious than installing a legitimate theater in your house. If you’re a cinephile, it’s probably something you’ve always dreamed of but never thought you’d be able to accomplish. Well, here you are, ready to outfit your home theater the way that you want it.

So, in light of this advancement in your home life, we’re going to discuss anything and everything that you absolutely have to include in your theater room. What’s the point of doing this if you’re not going to do it the right way?

You can have a massive HD television to make your favorite films look crisp and a powerful stereo system so that you’re immersed in the experience, but you can’t stop there. There’s comfort, decor, and a few extra features that you might want to think about as well.

We’ll cover it all and then some. Let’s build the best home theater from the ground up.

Why a Home Theater?

There are countless benefits to having a home theater setup. Not only can you use it to dig into your movie collection to watch some of your favorites, but it’s perfect for families with kids of all ages. Why go out to the movies when you can stay in and get the same experience in your own house.

It doesn’t stop there, either. If you’re a gamer or a fan of sports, your home theater will make you feel like you’re in the game or at the stadium, which is something a normal living room setup could never provide. With a great picture, booming sound, and comfy seats, you’ll never have to leave your home again.

What Do You Need to Make the Best Home Theater?

What do you need to make a home theater great? You’ll have to start by making a home theater budget, then you can move forward with the basics: a well-prepped room, a huge screen, and a booming sound system. The rest is really up to you and how creative you’re willing to get.

Prepping Your Room

You don’t have to be a rich and famous person with a gigantic mansion that has 15 spare rooms to build yourself a home theater. You just need an unused room that’s big enough to fit a screen on one of the walls and plenty of comfortable seating.

Many people will tell you that the ideal size for a home theater room is somewhere in the neighborhood of 20’x13′, which is enough to fit a projector screen and a row or two of recliners, but you can get away with a 12’x12′ room.

Try to choose one that’s away from everything else because it’s going to create a fair amount of noise, even after soundproofing. Speaking of which, let’s talk about the overall construction of the room. If you’re building it as an addition to your home, you’ll have to frame it and put a special focus on insulation.

If you’re building within an existing room, you may want to reinsulate the outer walls, floors, and ceiling with R30-rated insulation. Saving that, you can put up homemade sound baffles and soundproofing to minimize the amount of volume that gets through.

Once you’ve prepped the room and carved out space for your surround sound system, you’re ready to start outfitting the theater.

For the Visuals

Choosing your screen is arguably the most important decision that you’re going to have to make during this process. There are essentially two ways to go about making it: you can get a massive TV or you can get a projection setup. Both have pros and cons, so let’s quickly go over them.

A TV with 4K resolution is going to give you the clearest and brightest picture of all. It’s going to have better contrast and it’ll be more versatile if you’re going to be watching movies, watching TV, streaming, and playing video games. It’s also easier to install a TV.

However, for a movie theater, you’ve got to be somewhat preoccupied with size. You can get an 85″ 4K television for around $3,000, but a 100-120″ projector screen with 4K resolution is probably under $1,000. Also, projectors have gotten a lot brighter in the last few years as they’ve risen in popularity.

This decision depends on what you use the theater for. If it’s exclusively for watching films, then go for the projector screen, but if it’s an all-purpose room, get the best TV you can afford and move on to the sound system.

Audio World

When it comes to the audio portion of your home theater, you’ll need to get an AV receiver and some surround sound speakers. Since it’s what’s doing a lot of the work, home theaters live and die by the quality of the receiver. Basically everything that you see and hear passes through this thing.

As you’re setting up your room, you may want to carve out holes in the walls and insulation for your surround sound speakers to go in. If you know a thing or two about speakers, you may want to select specific ones that will work well in your room.

Most people just want it to sound clear and loud, as you would hear in a real movie theater. Whether you’re going for a 5.1 or 7.1 surround sound is up to you, as is the positioning of the speakers. You can play around with this a bit before you install anything permanently.

Comfort

Once you’ve got the audio/visual components set up in the room that is to be your theater, you can start to have a bit of fun. Depending on the size of the room and where you’ve got the speakers situated, you may be able to vary up the seating arrangements a bit.

The typical home theater setup would have 2-3 rows of identical recliner seats so that everyone in the room has the same viewing experience. If you’re not a formalist, however, you can add a daybed, bean bag chairs, and a big comfy couch to your theater setup.

The goal is to enjoy yourself and relax, so your seating situation should reflect that.

Decor

How you furnish your home theater is important, as is the decor that you move forward with. Movie theaters have very specifically designed rooms that are all about the viewing experience, but this is a home theater we’re talking about.

When you’re watching films, you’re going to have the lights dimmed low to have all of the focus on your screen. But, when you’re having some buddies over to watch the football game, you’ll want to have the lights up to expose your decor. Speaking of lighting, choose some cool looking colored ones with dimmers for a real spectacle.

Add some sconces to give it the theater vibe and hang your favorite movie posters to set the mood. There are some other features that will take your home theater over the top. We’re talking about a popcorn machine, a record player (and vinyl records), and a theater bar at the back of the room.

You might as well make this an all-purpose party room if you’ve got the budget for it.

Video Games

Whether you’ve got kids or not, you’re probably going to want to purchase some video game consoles, both old and new, to include in your theater room. The vintage ones will be for you, but your kids will never speak to you again if you don’t have a PS4 and Playstation’s VR system set up in there.

You can find lists upon lists of the best PS4 games to get, but we’re sure your kids will help you out with this one.

Streaming Help

Lastly, unless you’ve got an extensive Blu-ray collection at your disposal, you’re going to need to subscribe to some (or all) of the streaming services if you’re going to be able to call this a real home theater. Here’s a list of the best ones for TV, movies, and online content:

  • Netflix
  • Hulu
  • HBO Max
  • Disney Plus
  • Amazon Prime
  • Sling TV
  • YouTube TV

Getting all of them will set you back at least $100-150 per month, so select the ones that make the most sense for you and don’t look back.

Living Your Best Life

If you’re a film and TV lover, building yourself a home theater with whatever resources you have is going to be a no-brainer. Use this post as your guide for making the best home theater and give it a personal touch along the way.

This room will be your sanctuary. It’ll be where you go to unwind after a long day at work, to enjoy quality time with your family, or to blow off steam after a tough day. You can truly live your best life with a home theater.

Did you enjoy this post? Come back and visit us again for more on real estate and home decor.

4 Tips For Styling Your Condo

 

When decorating your condominium, it’s important that you keep the total size of your space in mind. If you try to fit too many things in, it won’t be long until you feel like you’re squished in. In order to feel comfortable in a condo, it’s important to decorate it with the correct ratios.

That doesn’t mean that you can’t use a few large pieces of furniture here in there; however, they should be few and far between. A house that’s over crammed with very little floor space starts to feel messy or much faster. Therefore, when creating the interior design of your condo, keep these tips in mind.

 

Let In Plenty Of Light

 

One of the easiest ways to make a space look much larger than it is is to use natural light to your advantage. You can maximize the space that you have by opening all of your windows. Depending on what floor you live in, you may even want to consider adding a skylight.

 

In addition to natural light, you should also and plenty of lighting inside. Doing so will give the illusion of a much larger space.

 

Use Cohesive Colors

 

When choosing colors for your condo, it’s more pleasing for the eye if you choose colors that are unified. Use a cohesive color pattern and so that your space will flow together as if it’s one single piece of artwork. Get creative with your color palette and use colors that make you feel good. Most interior designers recommend using lighter colors in a condo because darker colors can make your space feel smaller.

 

If you like bright colors, consider using them on accent walls rather than every single wall. You may even choose to opt for a wallpaper, which can be a bold addition to your home’s design.

 

Get Creative With Storage

 

Unfortunately, small condominiums are not known for their plentiful storage space. It’s important to get creative when it comes to creating places to keep your belongings. Find unique places to put shelves and make use of baskets. When possible, buy furniture that can be used as storage as well. For example, consider buying a bed frame that has drawers that pull out for storage space.

Add Plenty Of Plants

 

When most people think of condos, the first thing that comes to mind is city life. While some people thrive in the cosmopolitan lifestyle, some people feel a lack of nature around them. It helps 2 add plenty of plants to your condo to give it a more natural feel.

 

Make sure that you place your plants where they receive plenty of sunlight, and don’t forget to water them.