Making Your Home Ready for Your Retirement

As you approach your retirement, you will be thinking about all those things that you want to do. Maybe go fishing more often, or start going out to social clubs. These things are vital to keeping your mind and body active once you retire, however, you will also need to think about making your home easy to use and navigate for when you get older. Here are a few ideas to help you prepare your home for your retirement.

What Are the Challenges?

Firstly, you need to decide if you are staying where you are. If you are thinking about selling up and buying somewhere else, then you should check out sites such as Homes In Meridian before you move to see what houses are available. In your current home, take a look around your home and see where you might be able to improve the access for the future. If there becomes the need for a wheelchair, can you access the house? By adding ramps and making doorways wider, you can make your home more accessible. Plus, if you start to do these things now, you won’t have to wait for them to be done when you need them.

Adding Rails

If you are starting to struggle with walking, then adding bars that you can hold onto are extremely useful. By adding a few beforehand, you are helping to keep your home accessible and safe for you and your partner. The best places to add bars is in the bathroom by the toilet and bath, upstairs if there is none there already, and outside by the front and rear doors.

Making Your Shower Safe

If you currently have a bath, then you might want to consider changing it for a shower or a tub that you can sit in. These showers and tubs are far safer for those with movement problems, and they prevent falls and slipping. If possible, you should have a walk-in shower, as they provide the best safety as there is no ledge to walk over. By adding rails and putting down a tiled floor that has a gripped surface, you can minimize slipping and also make showering much easier.

Adjusting the Toilets

As people get older, they may start to have issues sitting and standing from the toilet, one way that you can help with this, is to have a taller toilet fitted. They raise the height so that you don’t have to sit so low down. If you also add grab bars to the walls at the side of the toilet, you will make sitting and standing much easier. Adding taller toilets isn’t a big job, and you can easily get someone to fit them for you. They are usually available at most hardware stores.

By thinking of these things in advance, you are helping to make your retirement easier and planning for the future. It will also help you if you suffer an injury, so you are not struggling while you recover.

5 Ways to Create a Focal Point in the Home

Do you want to create a beautiful home that will impress your guests? If so, you will need to incorporate striking items into your décor. To help you find the perfect objects for your interior design, we are providing the five ways to create a focal point in the home.

1. A Graphic Rug

Have you decorated your home in neutral colors? Add a little color and personality to your décor with a bold graphic rug, which will complement your color scheme. Pick a block color that will tie in with your palette while grabbing your guests’ attention.

2. An Exquisite Chandelier

A traditional or contemporary chandelier can add a touch of refinement to a room. You can trust it will capture your guests’ eyes from the moment they step inside a living space. Glass elements within a chandelier can also beautifully complement the light, so it is a delicate, romantic light fitting that will suit almost any color scheme and theme.

3. Statement Accessories

Strike up a conversation by incorporating statement accessories into your home. For example, a quirky sculpture will add a little curiosity into your home’s design. A one-of-a-kind rock salt lamp will also add a little natural beauty to your property, which will become a conversation starter.

4. Layer Your Interior

Have you noticed how a beautiful scarf can add a touch of sophistication to a t-shirt and jeans? Well, the same rule can apply to your interior design, too. Adding layers to your property can add a splash of sophistication to your décor, which will stand out in its own right. For example, a luxury rug can create a cozy, plush home style, whilst a soft throw can create an inviting space you will be proud to call your home. Simply pick a color or pattern that will stand apart from your furniture and fittings.

5. Perfectly Position a Large Storage Item

Large storage doesn’t have to be solely functional. The right item can become a beautiful focal point within the home. For example, a large armoire can become the central point in a room. Arrange the seating on either side of the large piece of furniture to add instant balance, and flank the furniture with identical artwork to add symmetry into a living area.

6. Any Eye-Catching Mural

Allow a photo to do all the hard work by incorporating an eye-catching mural into your interior design. To do so, create a feature wall with an oversized image, as it can add style and drama to a space. Simply pick an image that highlights both your personality and interior style.

7. A Striking Mirror

Do you want to add a little wow factor to your home? All it might take is a striking mirror, which will make a statement in any room. Not only that, but it can reflect both natural and artificial light, while emphasizing space within the room. Select a quirky design that will contrast with your décor, so you can add a little fun and texture to your property.

Creating Your Dream Home in Four Easy Steps

Making a home is one of life’s greatest pursuits. Your home is, after all, your sanctuary. It is where you go to when you need to escape, it is where you relax, it is where you and your family grow. Being committed to making your house into the home of your dreams is a perfect endeavor for everyone. Making your house your dream home is how you can carve out your own piece of the world.

1. Find the Perfect House

The first step to creating your dream home is to find your dream house. When choosing your house, you will need to make sure that it is structurally sound, in a neighborhood you like, and has the space you need. Don’t limit yourself to where you grew up, either. There are so many neighborhoods, cities, and even states that you can make your home in. Miami, for instance, has the sun, the beaches, and the community life that is perfect for everyone – all that is left is finding the house you can build a life in. Once you have found it, you will need to contact credit union mortgage loans. Once the deed is signed over, you can start building your new house into your dream home.

2. Cosmetic Upgrades

The ideal house is one that doesn’t require extensive renovation, and as such only needs a few cosmetic upgrades. This means making the flooring, walls, lighting and other fixtures work for you and your style. Consider these aspects of your home as the canvas. Furniture and decorations are the focus, yes, but having a uniform look for the walls, floors, and fixtures can make your entire home feel cohesive.

3. Decorate

Once you have your canvas set, it is time to decorate. A good way to decorate so that your home is eclectic, unique, and perfect for you is to only buy the base furniture at once. Base furniture are the bare bones needed for comfort. It means buying the beds, the couches, and the dressers, but leaving smaller decorative furnishings for later. The more patience you have for finding the perfect pieces, the better your home will look. As a bonus, each one of the smaller, more decorative pieces will come with beautiful and cherished memories.

4. Landscape

A mistake when creating your dream home is to neglect the exterior. Curb appeal is the pride and joy a person has in their home, reflected for their neighbors to see. The backyard, however, is your own private oasis. Plan your garden out so that it fits you. This could mean a vegetable garden, or a flower garden, or even no plants at all, but a lovely porch with outdoor furnishings.

Creating your dream home means taking the time, effort, and energy to decorate it. It means creating memories inside the home and filling the building with life and warmth. Your home is your lifelong project, take pride and care when you curate it.

Reclaim Your Outdoor Space This Winter

When the weather turns colder, our natural response is to hunker down and hibernate, and all too often our gardens get neglected. We spend so much time and money creating the perfect space for spring and summer, that when autumn rolls around it can feel like our efforts have been wasted.

However, falling leaves and bare branches can be just as beautiful as a lush green lawn, so there is much enjoyment to be had outdoors during this colder season. So don’t let the mulch of wet leaves and the blustery winds keep you indoors. Instead, embrace the change of the weather and make the most of your outside space. Here are five ways you can reclaim your garden this season.

Add Attractive Features

Most people give their gardens a makeover in the spring, but why wait until then? Invest in some overalls to keep you warm, and get to work. Creating an inviting outdoor space will encourage you to spend more time out there on crisp, sunny days. Plus, come summer, all the hard work will already be done, and your plants can thrive. Consider adding some fence panels to shelter your outdoor area from the harsher weather, and to give the space a more finished look. Garden Trellis Company creates bespoke joinery and also offers a range of premade panels.

Help Wildlife

Instead of pruning your garden, use your space to help wildlife this winter. Rather than cutting back your unruly and bushes and collecting stray logs, allow them to provide cover for hibernating hedgehogs and other creatures. Similarly, a compost heap is the ideal habitat for toads, slowworms, and even grass snakes, so resist the urge to tidy up and embrace the mess.

Get Warm

Winters can turn wet and miserable, but temperatures in recent years have still been relatively mild. Throughout the autumn months, sunny days should create a warm enough garden to spend time in, but what about the evenings? Sharing a glass of wine or a steaming mug of hot chocolate outdoors makes for the perfect night, so don’t let the cold deter you. Treat yourself to a patio heater or fire pit, grab some blankets, and enjoy a cozy garden all year round.

Add a Covered Seat

Adding a covered seat to your garden will provide a great relaxation space all year round. During fall and winter, you can retreat to your chair and watch the rain fall without getting wet, and come summer you will have a shady reading spot. For added comfort, invest in a seat pad and some outdoor cushions.

Plant Winter Flowers

The best way to keep your garden looking cheery this season is by adding winter plants that will thrive even in cooler temperatures. The Algerian iris, for example, flowers between November and March, whereas the 17 Narcissus (a tiny, sun-loving daffodil) will bloom just in time for Christmas. If you’re worried about keeping plants alive in a harsh climate, or you don’t have space for planting beds or pots, invest in some artificial greenery to give your garden or courtyard an aesthetic boost.

Why You Should Have an Architect Plan Your Home Renovations

When you want to do a little more than refinish your hardwood floors, there’s a reason why a professional architect can be helpful. So, you can hold a measuring tape and hang sheetrock fairly well, and therefore you assume that all home renovation jobs should be done on your home. After all, DIY home improvements are still a big thing with homeowners all over the globe. The professionals at the Chris Doehrmann Architect company don’t just remodel homes so that occupants get more space or access to natural light. These remodeled and renovated homes are adjusted according to personal specifications. 

Have Your Home Redesigned Especially For You

Homeowners who do their own home improvements usually find instructions on the internet and then follow the plans exactly. This means that you’re following someone else’s ideas because you don’t have the experience to create new floorplans yourself. What’s the point of renovating an entire home if it isn’t going to be to your precise tastes? An architect will ask you what you want in your newly designed home, such as more storage space, a guest bedroom, or an open kitchen, before sketching out several concepts that you can have executed within your home. 

Get Modern Home Remodeling Design Suggestions

There’s a big difference between adding on a wing and building on a modern addition to your home. Whether your architect suggests a stone tiled bathroom with a spacious shower or a sitting room made of recycled materials, getting help with conceptual design of your remodeling job will assure that the space is unique and functional. No one wants to have their home remodeled and yet look like it’s 150 years old. Find out how you can have your house updated for less and avoid buying lots of materials and spending too much time sampling looks.

An Architect Can Help You See Yourself In Your Home

When you’re completely honest with yourself about home design and architecture, do you actually know what you like? There’s a lot of homeowners who watch home design shows and see elements here and there that look nice, but they haven’t developed a true design identity. An architecture can learn if you like cool colors and natural materials or if you like things that are shabby chic and made with repurposed supplies. If you are modern and minimalistic, your home renovations should take on your personality as well as your style aesthetic. When you’re busy trying to not bang your fingers with a hammer it can be difficult to focus on design rather than getting the structure right.

If you’d rather have a home that is remodeled in a personal way than a basic, drab, and ordinary manner, go with an architecture firm that specializes in residential homes. Style is personal and you can only do so much to a home with paint and border paper. Have your home structured in a way that meshes with your lifestyle, habits, and family members and work with an architect who wants you and your home to feel like a perfect match in harmony.

4 Home Decorating Trends You Can't Afford To Ignore

Updating your home is a tricky task. You have to be in the right mindset to take on the challenge and stay patient throughout the process. It’s a project to look forward to because of the beautiful outcome, but not all homeowners are comfortable doing it themselves.

That’s why it’s important to educate yourself and study the latest styles. Give yourself time to map out what you like, and highlight the ideas that you believe would look best in your home. The experts are called that for a reason and they do offer up great concepts and tips for you to adopt. See four home decorating trends you can’t afford to ignore.

Navy & White

If you’re unsure of what colors to paint and decorate your home with, you can’t go wrong using navy and white. These are the hues that are making a splash and taking over homes everywhere. Interior designers are even going as far as calling navy the new black. Navy blue is the perfect color for updating your kitchen cabinets or adding an accent wall to a bedroom. It won’t make your room feel small and goes with just about any color scheme.

Look of Luxury

Make it a goal to bring in the look of luxury to your home. Do this by shopping online at retailers like Luxury Decor and find exclusive items you can’t buy anywhere else. This is the place to go for all home interior décor enthusiasts that value quality and uniqueness of amazing home and living accessories. Décor has the ability to quickly transform your home from drab to fab in no time. Guests will be admiring all of your hard work and wanting to know where you were able to locate such wonderful pieces.

Textures

Texture is quite a difficult concept, but follow what the experts suggest and you’ll be able to create the look with no problem. It’s about bringing in items to your home that you can touch, feel and engage with, like a fluffy pillow. Pleating and folding of fabrics and materials is big right now. The softness that you bring into your home creates a sense of comfort and security, which is exactly what you want when you come home from a long day of work in a chaotic world.

Mixed Patterns

Mixed patterns and colors are another trend that’s hitting homes lately. Don’t be afraid to decorate with a little bit of funk and add that surprise factor to your space. For example, select a comforter that anchors the room with a mix of patterns, colors and shapes. Another idea is to include mixed patterns in your area rugs and wallpaper. It may feel uncomfortable at first, but give the new look a chance to work its magic.

Conclusion

When you’re unsure what to do with your home, turning to the latest styles is always a safe option. Theses updates will improve the look of your home and have you loving your new space. These are four home decorating trends you can’t afford to ignore.

Easy Refurb Tips That Can Improve the Look of Your Home

Even when you have spent time redesigning your home, there can be little things that can add a touch of warmth or practicality to it. You have picked out the right colors, chosen fabrics that go well together and even selected nice furniture. However, there may be other things that you need to add. Maybe some home touches that can bring it to life? Here are some simple ways that you can make your home décor even better.

Adding Corner Shelves

When you think about adding storage, you can sometimes miss an area that doesn’t get considered. By adding corner shelves, you are using a dead space that many rooms have, and you are freeing up space elsewhere. You can use shelves that run around the corner of the wall, or those that sit like a semi-circle in the corner. It all depends on how much space you need and the area of the wall you have available.

Family Pictures

Adding pictures of your family can instantly make a room feel more like a home. It doesn’t mean that you have to have shelves of pictures lined up, in fact, you should make your family pictures stand out. Try adding pictures to different style frames to make them individual; you can even repaint them to match your décor. You can even get creative with the way you present your family photos. You can try creating a collage of all your family members and fitting that into a frame. You can get an easy to use collage maker from Adobe Sparks; it will let you add what you want and help you design it.

Add Lighting

You can create amazing looks just be altering the lighting in a room. Instead of having one main light, think about adding some side lamps or some under shelf lighting. You can use the same techniques in every room so that the atmosphere is continued throughout the house. If you have a smart hub, you can even control the lights in each room depending on what you’re doing. You can have them bright if you are reading, or softer for when you want to relax.

Use Natural Light

As well as adding additional lighting, you also need to make the most of the natural light you have. Try not to place furniture against the windows where they can block out the light. You can also change the curtains in the summer to lighter and less bulky curtains so that the light can shine through. It is especially important in rooms where you have chosen a darker color for the décor because you won’t get as much reflected light. Mirrors are also a good way to reflect the light and make the room seem bigger.

If you add these simple techniques, you can quickly transform your home into something even better. You will also have a family feel to it with all of the pictures; you can also add your child’s favourite artwork as well.