It’s that time of year again. Flowers are beginning to bloom, insects are starting to come out and the weather is warming up. Yes, spring is here, and along with spring comes some spring-cleaning. Spring-cleaning does not always have to be strictly for the house though because even your yard can use a little preparation for the warmer months to come.

One of the most important preparation steps you want to take for your garden is controlling the weeds. Weeds are your garden’s biggest predator; they spread quickly and create an eyesore in your lawn or garden.

Luckily, there is a great preventative product on the market that can help you effectively control the weeds in your yard. [Read more…]

Looking for a unique remodeling project that will make a big impact without breaking the bank? Consider upgrading your family room, dining room, or bedroom with cove lighting. Cove lighting is a form of decorative lighting used in many restaurants, hotels, and high-end homes. However, it’s relatively inexpensive to install and it can absolutely transform any room of your home.

Many homes already have all the makings for beautiful cove lighting. If you have a partly recessed ceiling with crown molding in any room of your home, adding cove lights will be easy. You can simply affix thin lighting strips to the top of your crown molding (or any other recessed section of the ceiling) and “wash” the ceiling with light. The result is indirect, elegant lighting that creates an interesting visual effect. [Read more…]

The variety and choice of window treatments is currently immense, and this makes choosing the right one for the right room very difficult. To be clear there is no ultimate right or wrong, but there are some practical guidelines you can follow.

This article gives an overview on how to find the right window treatment for your needs and the needs of the room you need a window treatment for.

1 – Bathroom

Curtains, especially long ones, are a bad idea for a bathroom, as the likelihood of the material developing mould is so much higher than with other window treatments. It is recommended to avoid combining bathrooms with curtains. Venetian blinds on the other hand are very useful, especially PVC venetian blinds, as they are made of plastic so are easy to clean and to get the condensation off them, and their slates also give you full control over the privacy you wish for the room. This is particularly important if you don’t have patterned glass. [Read more…]

There are many reasons why children may have to share a bedroom while growing up. And, while this can provide a great bonding experience, oftentimes kids also need their own space. Although it may not be possible to give each child their own physical space, there are a number of ways in which they can still have their “own” little piece of their bedroom:

Creating a Private Area for Each

One great way to offer each child their own space is to split the bedroom into two different areas. This can easily be done by placing a bed on each side of the room as well as by splitting the room in two by using either a long curtain that is hung from the ceiling or putting a large screen in the center. While doing so, however, be sure that each child has equal access to the bedroom door and/or bathroom and other necessities. [Read more…]

It’s a fact of life that if you have carpet, it’s only a matter of time before spills and everyday wear begin to take their toll on your floors. Carpets seem to get dirty more quickly when the carpet is a light color, or when household has pets or children roam freely. Here are some tips for removing common stains from carpets:

Red Wine

If you’ve ever entertained guests at a dinner party or gathering, you understand how terrifying it can be to serve your guests red wine. Alas, using these easy tricks you don’t have to fear the occasional red wine spill any more.

When you see the wine stain on the carpet, first blot the area carefully with a damp towel to soak up the excess wine. Be careful not to push too much into the carpet as you don’t want to the wine stain to seep in any more. [Read more…]