Lifestyle

A living room truly brings life into a home. This portion of the house allows for a comfortable space to visit with guests, so it should feel inviting.

If your living room looks a little dark, you cannot easily add windows or change the position. But, you can bring color to this area in creative ways.

Read on to learn how to brighten up a dark living room and make it feel and look livelier!

Paint the Walls Light Colors

Bold colors on the walls will set a dark tone for the entire room. Brighten up the room with light-colored paint.

White walls will make everything appear bright. If you want to add a pop of color, keep the trim bright white and choose a warm orange, rose, or yellow with gold undertones to pick up any hints of sunlight shining through.

Feeling unsure about your color choice? These painting services can help you choose the perfect hue!

Go Glossy

Low gloss paint finishes do not reflect light, so the room may appear darker if you choose flat, matte, or eggshell. Pearl or satin finishes may not even do the trick in rooms that do not receive enough natural light. Choose a gloss finish over your living room paint to help the place shine.

Lay Light Wood Flooring

Glossy wood floors also reflect light as opposed to carpet. Opt for lighter shades to prevent the atmosphere from feeling dark. Blonde wood offers a natural look while giving the space a trendy vibe.

Install Overhead Lighting

Lamps work well for reading, so keep one or two in your living room. But, you still need a bright overhead light source to make the room more inviting.

Stay away from low wattage bulbs that give off yellow light. Instead, use fluorescent or LED lights in your fixtures.

Use Mirrors

Mirrors will bounce light around a room, both brightening it up and making it appear more spacious. Hang a couple of mirrors on your living room wall. Try to place the mirrors so they reflect a light source towards the darkest corner of the room.

Add Plants

Bringing more life into your living room will lighten the mood. Plants give off vibrant colors and bring character to a space.

Small succulents look adorable on bookshelves and ledges. Place larger potted plants with lots of greenery into corners, but make sure they can thrive in low light. Near a window, hang a prayer plant or some flowers for a color pop.

Accent With Bold Art Pieces

Add in contrast to all the light colors of the room. Accent the room with a bold painting or sculpture that jumps at you with bright colors. Metalic art pieces will also radiate.

Don’t Know How to Brighten Up a Dark Living Room Yet?

Changing your home can feel a little nerve-wracking. But, it also brings excitement and fresh possibilities! No better time to start than today!

Did this article help you learn how to brighten up a dark living room? If so, keep browsing for more tips!

 

Are you a wine lover? If so, join the club!

After all, there are few things more enjoyable than driving a glass of fine wine while spending time with friends or family. Best of all, wine is one of those things in life that get better with age. That’s why it’s so much fun to collect bottles of wine, store them somewhere cool and shady, and let the passage of time do what it does best.

This article takes a look at how to build a wine cellar in your own home. Keep reading to learn the secrets of wine cellar construction so that you can transform your basement into a wine lover’s dream.

Assess Your Basement

The first step is to make sure that your basement is suitable for a wine cellar. This includes checking the room for air leaks that might pose a threat to your wine collection and negatively impact the aging process.

Keep in mind that the quality of your wine cellar will have a direct impact on how your wine will age and taste over the passage of years. Thus it’s important to remember that air leaks and exposure to light will damage your wine. This is why the basement needs to be prepared before the wine cellar is built.

Install Vapor Barrier Sheets

Once you’ve checked for air leaks, you’re ready to install the plastic sheets that are designed to protect the room’s insulation. Vapor barrier sheets should be installed on the warm side of the wall to prevent mold from growing, which creates rot that can quickly ruin the finish on your walls.

For help remodeling your basement, check out RLP Enterprises INC.

Prepare the Floor and Walls

Now you’ll need to seal the concrete floor and begin furring the walls. Keep in mind that a concrete floor can be extremely porous, so you’ll want to apply a high-performance coating such as epoxy or urethane.

Next, use 2-inch by 4-inch strips of foam to serve as wine cellar insulation. These strips should be installed after the vapor barrier sheets are in place. It’s also important to use spray foam to fill any cracks found in the walls.

Select a Door

One of the most fun parts of building a wine cellar is selecting an attractive door. Just make sure to choose a door that provides adequate insulation and won’t allow outside air to leak into the cellar. A glass door should be sealed around the entire frame and be at least 1 3/4″ thick.

Install a Cooling System

You’ll also need a cooling system. Keep in mind that your wine cellar cooling unit will be responsible for the task of maintaining the ideal temperature for your wine, regardless of the weather outside. Therefore it’s crucial to choose a system that’s right your specific space.

A Homeowner’s Guide to How to Build a Wine Cellar In Your Basement

When you’re ready to start collecting wine, you’ll need a great place to store it. Fortunately, these tips will help you build a wine cellar that you’ll love in the convenience of your own home.

Keep scrolling to discover more great home improvement and lifestyle advice on our blog.

Are you trying to sell houses but getting nowhere? Now that everyone is online, it’s harder to reach them if you’re not personally connected.

Growing your business and selling houses with social media doesn’t have to be a big mystery, though. You can use the power of social platforms to reach new clients and potential new homeowners. Use these tips to get started.

1. Curate a Group

If you want to sell your house fast, curate a group on Facebook. Post the most beautiful new homes every day that you know people will want to see.

Some people really love to look at houses, especially if they’re unique. Even if they aren’t looking to buy, they’ll still follow and share your amazing photos.

When you have an especially beautiful home you’re selling, throw it in the mix. They’ll see a property like others you’ve posted, but this one might be one they could actually buy (more local, better price, etc.).

Because of the outreach and legwork you’ve done to build up your group, other followers will see it, too.

2. Selling Houses on Snapchat

Update your story every day to build followers. Post interesting aspects of the house you live in or a house you want to show off.

Don’t be boring! If you share monotony every day, your followers will skip through and stop paying attention to you. Post anything that demonstrates unique features and interesting homes to build a reputation as a realtor with taste and an eye for detail.

3. Video Tours

Use video to your advantage. Drones and other equipment are more readily available and higher quality than ever. It’s not hard to produce a video that shows off a home. If you don’t have the skills, hire it out like you would for a home’s photos.

Your posts get more attention if you have a virtual tour. More Instagrammers share it, and it’s a better way to tour a home during a global pandemic. Buyers feel more comfortable if they’ve seen a video, not just photos.

4. Harness the Power of Influence

Instagram influencers are accounts with many followers. These personalities often make a living at it, with corporate sponsorships. If you partner with an influencer, your posts will get more views.

While you may not have a lot of money to pay an influencer, you can probably think of local celebrities who you could contact. Talk with them about a partnership. If one of them shares your property, you’ll have a lot of extra exposure.

5. Create Meaningful Content

Use your blog and Pinterest to create meaningful content. If your followers see posts about how to clean their den or throw a bbq, they’ll check back more often.

Giving your followers something of value keeps them interested. Hitting the “unfollow” button is too easy to risk.

Share decor ideas and other home tips and tricks on Pinterest. Curate boards that will be helpful to people looking to buy, move, or redecorate.

Selling and Promoting Online

It takes a lot of work to sell a house. Using social media can be a job all by itself. Yet if you start selling houses with social media, you’ll find you can reach more people.

Use the tips above to help build a following and harness the power of social platforms to grow your business.

Did you find this article helpful? Check out the rest of our website for more information!

To set the tone of a room, Malibu interior designers rely on lighting. Whether it is a flood of natural light through the window, an elegant pair of lamps on matching end tables, or a string of fairy lights along the crown molding, lighting is an essential part of your living room design. Keep in mind that lamps are typically less expensive than furniture, making them an easy and affordable way to update your space without a complete remodel.  To make the most of your living space, try these five lighting ideas that are at the top of designers’ must-haves for their California clients.

Lots of Layers

In the past, matching light fixtures were all the rage. Today’s style is more about creating textures by layering light. A combination of task lighting, perhaps for reading near a table, blended with ambient lighting, such as recessed lighting overhead, creates a mood and enhances the other design elements. Use the color of light as another way to add a layer; for example, soft, yellow lighting mixes well with natural light for a relaxed atmosphere.

Superior Sconces

Another idea that you may see from almost any interior designer Santa Monica is the return of the sconce. These wall-mounted light fixtures are having a moment, especially since they run the gamut from traditional shaded lights to abstract pieces of art. Sconces used to work in pairs, but now, designers may feature just one as a focal point or conversation piece in the living room.

Modern Mounts

Homeowners dearly love their ceiling fans, but if it were up to interior designers everywhere, they would have to go in favor of a chandelier. Pendants and smaller ceiling-mounted chandeliers have been a big part of trends in kitchen remodel Los Angeles, and that focus on lighting from up above has made its way to the living room. Look for geometric motifs, multi-armed lighting, and even mixed materials.

Larger Than Life

Balancing elements in a living room has focused on furniture, rugs, and artworks, but again, it’s time for lighting to take the spotlight. Oversized ceiling pendants or enormous architectural floor lamps are showing up in design magazines and showrooms. To make the style work for your living room, be sure that the scale of your lamp is appropriate for the size of your space.

Tactile Textures

How about a word or two on lampshades, that often-overlooked aspect of lighting? Designers have found a way to breathe life into dull shades by recommending new colors or textures to their clients. The new rule is that there are no rules, so if you want to add a bright color, chunky woven texture, or pattern that reflects onto the walls, go for it. Do not forget that shades should be sized according to the base; otherwise, that bold, daring shade may look awkward or out of place.

These five lighting ideas may get you thinking outside the box for your living room, but they are just a starting point. For more ideas, talk to a knowledgeable interior designer who can listen to your desires and make suggestions that fit with your lifestyle.

When people are pulling up to your home, what’s the first thing they notice? You might think it’s your home’s exterior, but your lawn is actually what carries the most potential for a powerful first impression.

So, what makes a great lawn? Having an impressive lawn is about so much more than planting things outright. In order to keep your lawn looking beautiful, you’ll have to stay on top of lawn maintenance. This isn’t a simple or passive task: in fact, it requires special knowledge and skill to do it successfully.

Luckily, the basics aren’t difficult to learn. By following the right guidelines, you can build and maintain a lush lawn that will be the envy of all of your neighbors. Keep reading to learn all about lawn maintenance.

Planting Grass

The first step in lawn maintenance is getting your lawn started! Even if you’re working with a lot of bare dirt, there is still potential to grow a lush, green lawn.

Here are a few tips for planting your grass:

1. Choose the best grass type for your region. Different types of grass thrive in different climate conditions, so it’s best to know what is most suited for the climate in which you live.
2. Plant your seeds at the ideal time for your grass type. Many kinds of grass do best when planted in the early fall, but you should check what time of year is best for your particular type of grass.
3. Prepare your soil beforehand. Pull out any weeds, roots, or other stray plants that could inhibit the growth of your grass.
4. Loosen your soil before planting. Using a hoe or a rake, loosen the top layer of your soil before laying down your grass seed. If needed, purchase healthy lawn soil and layer it on top of your existing dirt.
5. Spread your seeds evenly. You can purchase a spreader at your local hardware store to ensure you spread an even layer of seed.

Most grasses take about 7 days to start growing. If you notice any bald or sparse areas, you can re-loosen the soil and lay down more seed as needed.

Watering Your Lawn

In the beginning, your grass will need plenty of water to create food and grow. After your initial seeding, be sure to water enough to penetrate 6″ of soil twice a day.

Once your lawn has become established, you won’t need to worry as much about lawn maintenance and watering. However, if you’re living in a particularly dry area, you might need to water your lawn frequently to keep it from drying out.

Lawn Maintenance Basics

After you’ve successfully grown your grass, how do you keep up with lawn maintenance? To answer this question, let’s focus on a few key areas of lawn maintenance.

Aerating Your Lawn

Aeration is the process of creating small holes in your lawn area at fixed depths and intervals. By doing this, you make the soil more permeable for water, fertilizer, and other nutrients.

You can purchase aeration tools at any hardware store. You can also get machines or shoes that will help you achieve evenly-spaced holes.

For most lawns, doing this every few years should be sufficient. For higher-traffic lawns, though, you might want to do it once or twice a year.

Feeding Your Lawn

Another key area of lawn maintenance is feeding your lawn. Generally, this is done twice a year. Again, depending on the type of grass you’re growing, it may be more or less.

For most grass types, you should feed them with a nitrogen-based lawn feed in the beginning of spring. Then, once the cooler temperatures of fall arrive, feed your lawn with a phosphate-based lawn feed.

Mowing Your Lawn

Most people tend to mow about once a week, but the best way to determine how often to mow is by looking at the type of turf you’re working with. If you know your species of grass, then you can better determine its growth rate and use this information to plan out your mowings. However, even if you don’t know what type of grass is on your lawn, you can still observe the growth habits of the grass.

As a general rule, you should mow often enough to remove about 1/3 of the grass’s height. If you remove too much at a time, you could remove the healthy part of the grass that produces “food” for the lawn via photosynthesis. As a result, your lawn will thin out and look a lot less vibrant.

If you want to take the guesswork out of mowing, look for these services to professionally mow your lawn and keep it looking healthy.

Over-Seeding Your Lawn

If your lawn starts to thin out or look less vibrant, there are ways to get it healthy again. Cover the affected areas with a mixture of seeds and fertilizer. This should fill in any bare spots and rejuvenate your lawn to perfect health.

Weeding Your Lawn

The most labor-intensive task of lawn maintenance is weeding, but it’s very important for the health of your grass. Weeds can easily take over a lawn and suck up vital nutrients, leaving your lawn malnourished.

To keep weeds under control, you can pull them up by the root. If there are a lot of weeds, you can use a grass-friendly herbicide to help you get rid of them.

Landscaping for Beginners

If your lawn is bare, or if you’d simply like some more foliage to look at, there are endless landscaping options that will have your lawn looking beautiful. Look for shrubs and flowering bushes that are suited to your area’s climate and sun level. Again, the key to success here is buying the right plant varieties that will thrive under the conditions in your yard.

Growing a Beautiful Lawn

Your lawn is what drives the positive impressions of your home, so be sure you treat it that way! Now that you know the best tips for lawn maintenance, you’ll be able to grow a beautiful lawn that you can be proud of.

For more home topics, check out our other blog entries.

More than 10 million homes in the U.S. are lucky enough to enjoy their own backyard swimming pool.

But while being able to take a dip without leaving your yard is a great perk, it also comes with plenty of responsibility.

Without a little elbow grease, that sparkling pool will quickly turn green and become filled with leaves and other debris.

If you’re curious how often you should be cleaning your pool, keep reading for our pool cleaning guide.

Give Your Pool a Weekly Quick-Clean

How often you need to clean your pool is a tough question to answer. That’s because where your pool is located can affect how clean it stays on its own. There are also many levels of keeping a clean pool, including some tasks that you need to do more often than others.

The best advice you can follow when you want to learn how to keep a pool clean is to expect to do a little bit of work every week.

Once a week, you should check your pool’s pH levels and adjust your chemicals as necessary. This will help keep your water clear.

You’ll also want to skim your pool with a net at least once a week. If you have trees close to your pool or if your yard gets a lot of bugs, you may need to do this task more often.

When it comes to how to clean the bottom of a pool, skip the net.

Instead, you’ll want to vacuum the bottom of your pool to capture any debris that may have sunk. Of course, if you hate vacuuming, you can always invest in an automatic pool cleaner to do the work for you.

Deep Cleanings Every 2-3 Months

Every couple of months, you’ll want to give your pool a more thorough cleaning to keep it looking great.

This includes using a filter cleaner and degreaser. How often should you clean your pool filter? That largely depends on how dirty your pool gets, both through use and through debris getting in.

But a degreaser will help strip any built-up grease and oil that naturally forms. It’ll also help keep your filter running properly.

Next, you’ll want to use a flock or metal remover in your pool. Add it to your pool, then wait a few days. After that, you’ll be able to vacuum out what the treatment caused to sink to the bottom.

Keeping Your Pool in Top Shape

Keeping your pool clean is about more than just regular cleanings.

Checking your equipment and performing both regular and emergency maintenance will also help keep your pool sparkling clean.

Whether you’re re-sealing your pump, deep cleaning your filter, or repairing cracks in the liner, regular pool repair will help ensure that your pool looks as good–and performs as well–as it did the day that you installed it.

Mastering Your Pool Cleaning

Mastering your pool cleaning takes some work. But once you’ve set up a schedule and tackled your weekly and monthly tasks, you can enjoy a clean, beautiful pool year after year.

For more tips on maintaining your pool, backyard, and home, check out the Lifestyle section of our website.

Regardless of how busy the housing market gets, selling a home can be a long process. One thing that helps a lot: improving curb appeal.

As a general rule, homes with great curb appeal fetch higher prices. The secret lies in providing a good first impression. Studies show that people gain impressions of objects after a few seconds, and these initial ideas are hard to shake off.

Not sure how to improve the curb appeal of your home? Here are 4 effective tips that should help you out!

1. Clean the Exterior

Before doing anything else, you should wash your home exterior. A thorough washing – a couple of weekends’ worth – can remove years of dirt and dust. All you need is one pressure washer, a long-handled brush, and a bucket of soapy water.

If this doesn’t make your walls shine, you may want to repaint them. This isn’t a low-budget option, but it can be worth its weight in gold. If you can’t afford a complete paint job, consider focusing on the trim.

2. Manicure the Lawn

Proper landscaping is another thing that can make a big difference in curb appeal. That said, you don’t want to go overboard. A simple yard facelift will only set you back a few hundred dollars while increasing the home’s value by 5-10%.

Focus on trimming the trees, pruning the shrubs, and making sure the grass is neat. If you notice any dead patches, replace them with sod from a local department store. Pulling up weeds, removing foliage, and putting down more mulch also helps a lot.

3. Inspect Your Roof

Does your roof have curled, faded, or missing shingles? If so, that can have a significant impact on your home’s value. You may not think about your roof too often, but this is one of the first things potential buyers will notice.

This is why repairing your roof is one of the best ways to increase curb appeal. You may also be able to get away with just a thorough cleaning, which could set you back about $1,000. For more information, contact a professional roofing contractor.

4. Add More Style

Curb appeal isn’t only about repairing what you have. Knowing how to add curb appeal can go a long way toward expressing your home’s personality. Keep in mind that buyers are more likely to go for a home they can picture themselves in.

For example, most front doors are boring to look at. Why not add a burst of color by painting it red or even replace it with a rustic wood door? You can also install a gray picket fence, add a new mailbox, or lay down an interesting welcome mat.

More on Improving Curb Appeal

These days, most home buyers start their journey online. Many of your prospective buyers will decide whether to drive by your home based on what they’re able to see from the street. The above tips can help you impress them.

Want to know more about improving curb appeal? Interested in making the most out of your driveway or concrete patio? Check out our Lifestyle section!

Many homeowners often use their living room as a relaxation spot whether they want to spend time alone or with their loved ones. Given this, it should allow your unique style shine through effortlessly and remain functional.

It’s ideal to focus on the living room first whenever you’re enhancing your home instead of working on all the rooms at the once. Without much ado, here are some little steps you can take today to transform your living room.

1. Introduce artwork

The artwork is one of the elements that can give an instant lift to any space. This step doesn’t require much effort or money. A large one can come in handy if your living room feels empty.

The good thing is that you can roll up your sleeve and create something stunning. Apart from that, adorn your living room with your children’s artwork.

2. Get quality furniture pieces

The furniture in each room in your home should be comfortable and durable. Bear this in mind as you shop for designer cushions and sofas. Introducing colorful throw pillows in your living room will help to achieve a more vibrant look.

At times, your living room may only need a slight alteration to the seating areas. If you can’t afford new pieces, consider rearranging and cleaning the existing ones.

3. Create a new focal point

In case your fireplace or accent wall has been serving as your focal point for a while, it’s time to switch things up. Other ways to create a focal point is to design a gallery wall and hang a large painting.

4. Use bold colors

Colors can make or break your living room design. Your best bet is to rely on bold colors that will make your home welcoming with a neat appearance. Colors like beige and cream can be used for your walls.

5. Your layout matters

It’s common for some homeowners to have attractive décor pieces and furniture but lack a proper layout. This will make their living room look unappealing. Try to get the furniture pieces that are the right size for your space.

Stick to a layout that will help you achieve a cohesive look and give enough room to move around freely.

6. Lighting fixtures

The lighting system of your living can affect mood, create the illusion of a bigger space, and accentuate other features. The latest LED models can be controlled remotely. This will go a long way to boost the security of your home regardless of your location.

Lighting fixtures come in different sizes. It’s imperative to get your lighting right and opt for the size that’s perfect for your space.

7. Keep it simple

Your living room can reveal a lot about you. Simplicity will help you achieve a balanced and classy look in your living room during each season. Remember to consider this when choosing your furniture and accent pieces. Another thing is to keep the items you rarely use out of sight.

About Author: Rabin is a popular home DIY topic. He is well known to inspire other homeowners.

 

A warning light on your vehicle is designed to inform you of an emergency repair or maintenance issue, but it can be difficult to know what to do when you see one. Learn the signs of an emergency what to do when you see a warning light on your dashboard. Find the exact error code related to your dash light, what wiper blade size you need and other information to maintain your vehicle.

What Flashing Lights on Dashboard Means

Most dashboard warning lights are either yellow, orange or red. Lights are often color-coded to indicate the level of urgency. A red light is usually a more serious issue than a yellow or orange one. If you see a red light on your dash, you should pull off the road as soon as it is safe and inspect the issue.

Flashing lights on dashboard, just like red lights, are used when there is a serious issue. A flashing light should be dealt with immediately to prevent further damage to your vehicle. Examples of a flashing light are dangerously low oil pressure, high coolant levels or transmission issues.

Pay attention to other warning signs on your vehicle. While lights are helpful, there are typically other signs when your vehicle is experiencing a significant issue. Here are some common sights, sounds, smells and other sensory signals that you need to pull over when it is safe to do so:

• Black smoke from under your hood
• Grinding, scraping sounds
• Stuttering or stalling engine
• Sudden increase in RPMs
• Difficulties steering, stopping or accelerating
• Burning odor

These may not always be present, but these signs typically show that your vehicle needs to be serviced. Pull over and inspect your engine, coolant level, brake pads and other components for signs of damage. If you don’t experience any of these symptoms but still see a vehicle warning light, it may be a sign of a loose wire. You should still proceed with caution, otherwise a minor repair issue could cause additional damage to your vehicle and require more costly repair parts.

How To Find Out What Windshield Wiper Blades Best Fit Your Car or Truck

Windshield wipers are a common item that needs to be replaced on your vehicle. If you haven’t inspected or replaced your wipers recently, it may be time to inspect them. Look carefully for damage, a loose fit or other signs that you may need new blades.

Windshield wiper blades are sorted based on size and type. You can use conventional, hybrid or beam-style blades for your car or truck, but you shouldn’t adjust the size. The ideal size should be located in your service manual. You can also ask your local auto parts store representative or use an online database to search for relevant blades that match your make, model and year of vehicle.

For more information on the proper size for windshield wiper blades, stop by your local auto parts store or shop online. Your local auto parts specialist can help you find the exact size you need to see clearly on your next drive.