Tag Archives: Real Estate Agent

The Polite House: How to Deal With Noisy Neighbors

“With so of us people living in closer proximity to our neighbors than ever before, unwanted noise can be a problem. Take some tips from here on how to keep your cool and best deal with the situation.”

Denise Buck & Ed Johnson – DC Metro Realty Team

First and foremost, when dealing with neighbors, safety is your priority. If your neighbor isn’t someone you feel comfortable confronting, then don’t. Use neighborhood associations, or even (if necessary) the police, to manage someone you feel unsafe around or unsure of.

But whether it’s a barking dog, a lawn mower, a crying baby, a kid with a basketball or a loud sound system, unwanted noise is one of the most frustrating aspects of living near others. We want things quiet when we want to sleep or concentrate or enjoy some peace, but we also don’t want to be challenged when we are the ones who may be making noise.

To help you decide whether you can feel good about lodging a complaint or whether you should shake it off and move on, here are some things to think about when it comes to noise in your neighborhood:

Try to determine if the noise is intentional and avoidable. Who is making the noise and how much control do they have over it? Before I let myself get bent out of shape or start thinking nasty thoughts about my inconsiderate neighbor — thoughts that will only amplify the whole situation in my head — I try to identify who is making the noise and if they have any control over it.

A crying baby in a neighboring apartment — sure it’s not fun to listen to, and the crying happens at very inconvenient hours, but there isn’t much that parents can do about it. Clearly they would rather have a happy baby too, so I know it’s not intentional; I know it’s temporary, and knowing this helps calm me down.

Zansitis Painting Inc

Think about duration and tolerance. How long does the noise last and how much does it disturb you? There is a kid who dribbles a basketball on his way to school each day, and his walk time is the last hour of my sleep time in the morning. In that sweet month or two when I don’t need my window air conditioner on and can sleep with the windows open (heaven in my book!), I realize I’m going to hear him and it’s going to last about three minutes. That’s enough time to wake me up and make me realize I’m awake, but I also recognize it’s short enough that I’m going to be able to get back to sleep. It’s something I can tolerate.

Can you tolerate an hour of trumpet practice? What about an afternoon of wood shop noises? Sometimes just knowing that the noise will end is enough to make it tolerable. You can always say, “Hi, Nancy. I was wondering if you could tell me how long Nate plans to practice his trumpet.”

One of the first steps toward finding a solution may just be finding out how much of a problem this noise is really going to be.

Lowe’s Home Improvement

Be understanding and ask about or offer solutions. If it’s my neighbor’s lawn mower at 6:30 a.m. or son’s trumpet practice at 10 p.m. that’s disturbing the peace, well that’s something that might lead me (depending on who the neighbor is and my relationship with that person) to go over and ask if it’s possible for lawn mowing or practicing to happen at a different hour. “Hi, Jim, I was just wondering if it would work with your schedule to mow the lawn later in the morning or even afternoon or evening?”

It never hurts to ask, or at least to let your neighbor know that the activity is affecting others. Jim might respond, “Oh, I like to get it out of the way so that my day is free.” You can reply, “I totally get that; it’s just that it’s waking me up each morning long before my alarm, and I was hoping there was a solution that might work for both of us.” This can at least get the conversation rolling.

This covers the basics of dealing with unwanted noise in your building or neighborhood. With most amicable neighbors, you should feel confident discussing this issue.

And remember that you can always proactively check in with your neighbor. “Hey, Mike, I just wanted to let you know I’m working on a new project, and the chipper shredder is going to be making a lot of noise. Let me know if you need a break from it. I know it can be intense sometimes.” I bet Mike will think you’re a very considerate neighbor, and it may inspire him to return the kindness in the future.

Originally Published on HOUZZ by Lizzie Post

10 Stress Management Secrets for Your Home

“With our lives so filled with things we think we need to do, it’s easy to become stressed. Take some time to relax and enjoy life sometimes with these tips”

Denise Buck & Ed Johnson – DC Metro Realty Team

Relieve stress with our Home Matters experts 10 ways to combat stress. Reduce stress by exercising, being present & practicing serene stress management techniques.

It’s no secret that life can be stressful. However, many of the ways to combat stress do seem like secrets. A life filled with stress due to agitation and anxiety could be the root for an array of other problems circulating in your home. You deserve to lead a tranquil and stress-free lifestyle. And believe it or not, you can actually take the steps to beginning your journey to a stress-free life in the confines of your home with expert stress management techniques.

Below, we have uncovered 10 secret ways to cope with stress all within the comfort of your home.

1.Bring the Outside In

The great outdoors have long been hailed as man’s most rewarding escape from the demands of urban living. A long walk through a lively forest, tending a crackling fire under a starry sky, or enjoying a simple picnic atop a sea of rolling green hills are just a few ways in which we use Mother Nature’s welcoming embrace to detox from our everyday lives. So, it only makes sense that bringing a little bit of that natural remedy indoors will help add a sense of ease and beauty to our homes while reducing stress. If you find you’re combating stress on a regular basis, try adding some foliage to one or multiple rooms in your home. Here are a few peaceful plants to help get you started decorating:

• Aloe Plants
• Peace Lily
• Bamboo Palm

2.Put Down the Devices

That’s right. As difficult as it sounds, powering down will in fact help you calm down. Our mobile devices are great tools for achieving daily goals, entertainment, and connecting with others, but when it comes time for “you” time it’s best to disconnect. There are numerous studies that correlate increased use of digital devices with increased levels of anxiety and stress. As we become dependent on these devices, we begin to expect instantaneous results and confirmations, which in turn makes us more prone to dissatisfaction with minor events, like not receiving an email at the moment you expect it.

3.Tune Out

Now this one’s pretty obvious. If you’re feeling particularly stressed it’s always good to resort to your favorite tunes for solace and comfort. Scientific studies have found that listening to music slows heart rate, lowers blood pressure, and releases your body’s natural feel-good neurochemical, dopamine. So find your comfy spot, cue up your favorite song, sit back, relax and let the melodies soothe your soul.

4.Start Exercising for Greater Stress-Relief

Here’s one you can pair with listening to your favorite tunes: exercising.Yes, exercising can have a tremendous effect on your mood. Although exercising itself can at times be pretty challenging, the natural high you experience once you’ve finished a routine is well worth the strain. Plus, you can complete a full-body routine within minutes, all in the comfort of your own home. Here are a few quick exercise routines to help get you started:

• How to do power Pushups
• How to do bodyweight Squats
• How to do jumping jacks
• How to do crunches

5. Deep Clean Therapy

We all try our best to avoid it, but cleaning your home can actually be quite the stress reducer. Think about it, experiencing unwanted irregularities in our daily lives often causes stress. When our homes are dirty, full of clutter, and out of order, they’re not fulfilling their duty as a place to wind down from a long day. Instead, it’s just adding to the tension. So get out that mop, get out that dustpan, and get down to business.

6. Restock Your Kitchen with Healthy Food Choices

Stress comes in many shapes and sizes. And sometimes all of that stress adds to our shape and size. One great way to reduce stress is to drop the fast food and pick up a habit of paying close attention to what you put in your body. A great way to start is by thinning out your pantry and refrigerator. Get rid of any unhealthy choices and leave behind only that which is healthy for you. If you notice there’s not much left, then you might want to consider changing your grocery list.

7. Take a Relaxing Bubble Bath and Detox the Day

When was the last time you drew a bath? Most of us can’t remember the last time we stripped our troubles away and slipped into a warm, soothing bath. It’s such an easy in-home escape from stress that it’s a surprise so many baths go underutilized each and every day. But to really make it an experience light some scented candles, put on some ambient music, and add some detoxing minerals or other soothing organic material to the water. Here are some natural additives to consider for making it a true detoxing experience:

• Sea Salt
• Hydrogen Peroxide
• Magnetic Clay
• Apple Cider Vinegar

8. Focus on Your Breathe by Breathing In and Out

Now this little trick you can do anywhere in your home. All you need is yourself and the air around you. Simply take a break from whatever it is you’re doing and take some long, deep breaths. You can stand, sit in a chair, or go full yogi on the ground (Hopefully you’ve finished a deep clean session before trying the latter). Taking deep breaths helps reduce your blood pressure, increase oxygen flow throughout the entire body and reduce your heartbeat.

9. Get Social. Invite Your Friends Over.

One way to quickly de-stress or at least curb your stress for the time being is to socialize with others. The presence of friends and family can naturally calm our unease by reminding us what’s most important in life. Try making it an event. The process of planning and preparing a social event at your home will help keep you busy and your mind off of whatever it may be that’s causing you to stress. Here are some ideas for a social event to host:

• Host a party for the next big game
• Invite people over for a backyard BBQ
• Throw a small cocktail party
• Get to know the neighbors with a friendly meet & greet

10. Laugh Off the Day

To cap it off, here’s a really out there approach to stress relief that can be done at home – laughter yoga. Yeah, you heard right. Laughter yoga is a type of yoga made popular by a doctor from India named Dr. Madan Kataria. This revolutionary technique spread across the world in the early 2000’s and is still making headlines today because of its’ effectiveness. You may be thinking, “okay, so you just stand around and laugh uncontrollably like a crazy person?” Well, not exactly, but that is a good place to start. It becomes a bit more of an involved process, and believe it or not, there are actually many different ways to laugh. You can begin practicing this great stress management strategy by learning ‘how to do laughter yoga’ at home while practicing it in your living room.

How Much Paint Do You Need?

“We are always involved in painting projects with our clients and these tips make perfect sense.”

Denise Buck & Ed Johnson – DC Metro Realty Team

My husband and I are avid DIYers, and whenever we start a new project we joke about the number of trips to the home-improvement store it’s going to take to complete the task. A “one-trip job” is considered a smashing success. The unfortunately more common “five-trip job” tends to feel slightly less triumphant.

Lisa Teague Design Studios

I would argue that running out of paint midproject is especially frustrating. Dashing out to the store is the last thing you want to have to do while deep in the throes of painting. But you also don’t want to overbuy either, because custom-tinted paint is not returnable.

Fortunately underbuying or overbuying is easily avoidable. It just requires a bit of measuring and some basic math before you head out to purchase the paint. Here’s how you can answer the question, “How much paint do I need?”

Min | Day Architects

Depending on the manufacturer, a gallon of paint will cover 300 to 400 square feet. Check with your paint vendor, or on the paint manufacturer’s website, to find the estimated coverage.

Once you know the coverage rate of your chosen paint, you need to calculate the square footage of the walls or ceilings to be painted. To get this figure, simply multiply the width by the height (for walls) or the length by the width (for ceilings). You then need to subtract the area of anything within the plane that is not being painted, such as windows and doors.

sophie loubaton / photographe

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For example, let’s say you want to paint an accent wall that measures 25 feet wide by 10 feet high, which has a door opening within it that measures 3 feet wide by 7 feet high.

1. Multiply the width and height of the wall:
25 x 10 = 250 square feet

2. Multiply the width and height of the door:
3 x 7 = 21 square feet

3. Subtract the door opening from the area of the wall:
250 square feet – 21 square feet = 229 square feet

4. Divide this figure by the estimated square footage coverage amount of your paint. In this example, let’s say the coverage is 350 square feet per gallon:
229 ÷ 350 = 0.65

5. Round up to the nearest whole number to get the number of gallons needed. In this example, you’d round up to 1 gallon, to apply one coat of paint.

Note: If you need to apply two coats, you simply double the square footage to be painted and then divide by the coverage:
458 ÷ 350 = 1.31
(Here, you’d round up to 2, so 2 gallons of paint would be needed to apply two coats.)

Alden Miller Interiors

Painting multiple walls in a room? Here are the steps to calculate the square footage of a sample room that measures 12 feet by 20 feet with 8-foot ceilings and door openings that measure 6 feet wide by 7 feet high:

1. Add together the width of each wall to be painted:
12 + 20 + 12 + 20 = 64 feet

2. Multiply this sum by the height of the walls:
64 x 8 = 512 square feet

3. Multiply the width and height of the door:
6 x 7 = 42 square feet

4. Subtract the door openings from the area of the wall:
512 square feet – 42 square feet = 470 square feet

5. Divide this figure by the estimated square footage coverage of our paint. Again, in this example, we are going with 350 square feet per gallon:
470 ÷ 350 = 1.34

6. Round up to the nearest whole number, in this case 2. You would need 2 gallons to paint one coat.

Note: Again, for two coats of paint, you double the square footage to be painted:
470 + 470 = 940

Then divide by the coverage per gallon:
940 ÷ 350 = 2.69
(Round up to 3. You would need 3 gallons of paint to apply two coats.)

Benjamin Moore

Math not your strong suit? No sweat. Most paint manufacturers offer a calculator on their website that does the math for you. You still need to measure your space and plug in the square footage, but the calculator does all the rest, based on the paint you plan to use.

Sherwin-Williams

Of course, there are a few other factors to take into consideration when calculating how much paint you need. Darker colors, especially red hues, require more coats than lighter hues. If you are going with a deeper, darker color, talk to your paint vendor about prepping with a tinted primer before applying paint.

PPG Pittsburgh Paints

Also, take into account the surface you are painting. Rougher surfaces as well as more absorbent surfaces will require more paint than smooth surfaces. And if you are painting a lighter color over an existing dark hue, you will likely need extra coats. A tinted primer might also be useful here, depending on the existing and new hues.

The quality of your paint will also affect the amount you need. Higher quality paint tends to offer better coverage, requiring fewer coats, whereas a lower-cost paint may be thinner and therefore require more coats for proper coverage.

LOOKA DECO

Finally, a few tips I’ve learned the hard way: There can be subtle differences in hue and sheen between two different cans of the same paint brand, finish and color. So try to stick to one single can of paint for the top coat of each wall or ceiling. You likely won’t notice a slight hue or sheen difference from wall to wall, but within the same plane it could be apparent.

Also, it’s a good idea to keep a record of the paint brand, colors and sheens you used, so if you need to touch anything up down the road you know exactly what you need.

Originally posted on HOUZZ.com by Jennifer Ott

5 Decorating Tips for Getting Scale Right

“Have you ever struggled to determine if something was too big, or too little to fit appropriately in a space? Well here are some tips on how to figure it all out.”

Denise Buck & Ed Johnson – DC Metro Realty Team

Having a firm grasp on scale is one of the most important aspects of designing a room that looks and feels right. Scale is the visual representation of size and how objects interact with one another in any given space. For example, the size of a chair relative to the lamp and table beside it can make or break the composition of the pieces. Knowing how to layer in items of varying widths, heights and weights is less about science and design rules, and more about instinct and an understanding of aesthetics. Here are five tips for getting a grip on scale and creating visual harmony in your home.

SoJo design

1. Remember that bigger is better with large or long walls. A common decorating dilemma is the large or long wall. A big blank expanse can fool you into thinking that you need a hundred pieces of art to make it work. Although creating a gallery wall may seem like an obvious solution, it isn’t always the best one. Depending on the style of the furnishings, the proportion of the room and the amount of visual space you want occupied, a single statement piece can solve a multitude of challenges.

2 Lovely Gays

When it comes to large art, consider the following:

Does it work with the space or overpower it? This can depend on the subject matter or colors and how they relate to the furnishings. The gold-and-white art pictured above the console fills the expanse perfectly, doesn’t compete with the room and doesn’t overwhelm the smaller objects in front.

Gentry Raines Interior Design

Does the art fit without seeming crowded? A large piece (or pieces) should hang on the wall while leaving plenty of negative, or empty, space around it. Height is just as important as width when it comes to scale. Higher ceilings call for taller pieces that anchor the space and the objects around it. A lower, longer wall can support a triptych or a single horizontal piece.

Niche Interiors

2. Select seating for the size of your space. Just because your space is small doesn’t mean your furniture has to be, with the exception of the sectional sofa. Determining the right sectional for your room depends on the room size as well as complementary pieces (lamps, side tables) you want to add and whether they’ll all fit comfortably together.

A sectional can be used in a diminutive space, but to scale it properly, you should ensure that it doesn’t take up the whole room, obscure the bottom half of windows, bump up against the fireplace or overflow into other spaces. Accompanying pieces should be more visually spare —think open legs, glass tops, thinner frames — to keep the space feeling more expansive.

Eleven Interiors

When choosing your seating, consider how you use your space. Most guests won’t mind sitting together on a sofa, but it’s always good to have chairs, a bench or a large ottoman as an alternative. When you have a sectional or large sofa, visually and physically pared-down accent chairs work well because the scale of the sofa makes it the most powerful piece in the room.

Found Design

If your sofa is more petite (say, love seat size), you can — and should if you have the room — up the scale of your accent seating by going for pieces with broader arms, taller backs or more width. In this kind of an arrangement, all pieces are on a level playing field and should stand up to one another visually.

Contemporary Living Room Contemporary Living Room

3. Think of your coffee table as a puzzle piece. Imagine how all the pieces are going to fit together in the room. This is especially helpful when choosing a coffee table. Visual scale is a key element in finding the one for your needs. If your seating takes up a great deal of space, look for coffee tables that are visually less weighty, such as ones that are glass, open underneath or in an unexpected shape like round, soft triangular or oval.

West Chin Architects & Interior Designers

Your coffee table should fulfill its function as a place to set a drink, stack books or display beautiful items. Ideally, it shouldn’t be more than an inch lower than the seats of your sofa and chairs to allow for ease of use. It should also cover enough floor space to allow for everyone sitting on the sofa to reach it. You’ll need drink tables for optional seating that’s located farther away.

Contemporary Bedroom Contemporary Bedroom

4. Choose a lamp sized to complement its surroundings.Picking the right-size lamp can be mystifying. There are many types, and each serves a different purpose: task lamps, table lamps, floor lamps, desk lamps. So first and foremost, look for the lamp best suited to your situation.

In an entry, you may want to add a little ambience, so a visually clean lamp with a small base, like the crystal lamp shown here, is the perfect scale. The powerful vignette created by the large art, little but luxurious lamp and wide console is a great example of varying the scale of different pieces for an attractive arrangement.

LAURA MILLER Interior Design

Lamps add height and balance to the overall look of your bed and night tables. They should provide the amount of light you need to either read in bed or gently illuminate the space. Ideally, you shouldn’t be able to see up under the shade when reclined in bed, and the base shouldn’t take up most of the tabletop. Although the corbel used as a nightstand in this photo has a small top, the bedside lamp is long and thin with a simple shade. It’s scaled perfectly for the classic and elegant style of the room.

Sylvia Martin

Also, you don’t need to have two identical lamps on either side of anything. You can have any sort of lamps you like as long as you scale them properly to work with the furnishings surrounding them. A smaller table lamp to add warmth paired with a tall floor lamp to add uplighting and overall brightness works when the shades are kept simple and similar in form. Having two tall floor lamps or two small table lamps isn’t wrong, but neither combo works as well against a rich accent wall like the one pictured.

Design House

5. Let the headboard help frame the bed. Think of a headboard as the finishing touch for your bed. Without one, the blank wall behind your pillows looks sort of, well, unfinished. Whether you go for upholstered, metal, wood or woven, it’s important to consider your ceiling height, your wall space and what look you are going for — dramatic, refined, feminine or modern.

Good to know: Add visual impact to even the most understated headboard by using special fabric and adding luxurious details like nailhead trim, tufting, borders or contrasting piping.

Dana Wolter

An oversize headboard installed in a room with a ceiling higher than the U.S. average (8 feet) adds balance by creating a feeling of grandeur. Putting a king-size bed in a room with tall ceilings would still make the bed seem smaller than it is. Adding an oversize headboard gives a bed presence.

Wick Design

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You may not have a lot of wall space, but that doesn’t mean you can’t have a headboard. To add the illusion of width to a wall, consider something long, low and upholstered, rather than something traditional. Add a piece of art, keep the bedside tables on the small side and pair them with wall-mounted sconces or unexpected pendant lights. You’ll have a beautifully dressed room you’ll never want to leave.

Originally appearing on HOUZZ, by Melisa LaBlancz-Bleasdale

How to Create a Cohesive Color Flow Throughout Your Home

“We work with clients all the time on paint colors and these tips are spot on.”

Denise Buck & Ed Johnson – DC Metro Realty Team

Color preferences vary as much as personalities, with some folks loving the bright and the bold, while others feeling most secure surrounded by neutrals. The good news is that when it comes to color, there really is no “correct” palette.

That said, we’ve all been inside homes where an explosion of color created a choppy feel between rooms — and sometimes, the urge to run. We asked five color, paint and design experts to share their best tips for creating a cohesive flow of color throughout your home. The strategies vary, but any of them can help you come up with a holistic decor scheme for your entire residence. So choose the ones that work best for you.

Dowalt Custom Homes Inc

Pick a Flow-Through Paint

One simple way to create a cohesive feel is to use a consistent paint color on the walls of connecting spaces. “Particularly in homes that have more of an open floor plan, it’s best to choose one color that is going to serve as your main color or your neutral,” saysKelly Porter, an interior designer based in Washington, D.C. “That doesn’t mean it has to be beige or white or gray. But the foyer, the hallways and that main connector room should all be the same color because you want that to have dominant color in your space.”

How to Choose the Paint Color You Really Want

Crisp Architects

Marc-Michaels Interior Design

Pay Attention to Sightlines

San Francisco interior designer and color expert Jennifer Ott frequently works with clients who want more variety in their wall colors. When that is the case, she suggests considering sightlines. When you’re standing in the living room, what other rooms will you see? If you have a view into the kitchen, the dining room and the foyer, then the colors for those spaces need to work well together. “It can start to look really wacky if you have a different color scheme in each room,” Ott says.

Andrew Mann Architecture

Contemporary Living Room Californian Bungalow

Choose Color Groups

One way to increase the likelihood that a color scheme flows from room to room is to limit yourself to colors in the same temperature family. “Some people will stick to a warm color palette — reds and oranges and yellows — or a cool scheme — grays and greens and blues,” Ott says.

John K. Anderson Design

Another option, Ott says, is to select one or two colors and then use variations of it. If the main color is blue, you might select a gray-blue, a pure blue and a navy paint as you move from room to room. The same concept can be used for decorative accessories.

For wall paint, you can ask the paint store to create a “tint” of a particular color, perhaps knocking down the main color by 50 percent, which the mixer will do by adding white. “They can create a lighter or darker version of it,” Ott says. “That’s a good way to unite without putting the same color everywhere.”

“I also tell people if they’re going to do their wall in this color, go two or three shades lighter for your ceiling so it doesn’t look like a sore thumb because you painted it white,” says Keith Wardlaw of Plus Modern Design in Kansas City, Missouri.

Paint decks can also be a good inspiration source for finding colors that work well together.

The Right Way to Test Paint Colors

Donna Dotan Photography

Restrict the Edgiest Colors to Enclosed Rooms

Rooms out of the sightline of other rooms are good places for going wild. Master bedrooms, powder rooms, kids rooms and any other room encapsulated by four walls are great places to indulge, says Carl Mattison, an Atlanta-based designer. “If you turn the corner and go into a little powder bathroom, which you don’t go in all the time, who cares? Paint it black!” It works, Mattison says, “because it’s its own little box.”

Diane Bergeron Interiors

Darci Goodman Design

Linda Holt Interiors

For Bold Colors, Use Accessories

Accessories are a less expensive way to introduce dramatic colors than purchasing a couch or rug in the same tone, and they’re also easier to swap out should you tire of a color. Limiting bold colors to accessories also helps you avoid the shocking effect that can happen when a dramatic shade is painted on all four walls. “The key is finding a way to inject the color that makes rooms interesting and exciting without feeling like you need to escape,” Ott says. Bright color is good when you want to highlight a piece worthy of notice.

+ Modern Design

Tie Rooms Together With Accents

Accents colors can change from room to room, but continuing one consistent color throughout the home can help create a sense of continuity. “Let’s say you have green and blue in your living room,” Porter says. “Perhaps for the dining room, you use one of those two colors, maybe just the blue. Or you could do blue and yellow. So the blue is what will tie those rooms together.” The two rooms pictured are from the same home and illustrate this principle.

Strategies to Create Color Flow Throughout a Home — a Case Study

+ Modern Design

Use the 60-30-10 Formula

Another way to create a cohesive flow from room to room is to think of the palette for your home as a math problem. “Use a base color that you really like as 60 to 70 percent of what you’re going to paint for your interior,” Wardlaw says. “Your next color needs to be 25 to 30 percent. Then you can do your accents of 5 to 10 percent.”

In this photo, which shows one of Wardlaw’s designs, gray is the 60 percent color, blue the 25 percent, orange about 10 percent and brown maybe another 5 percent. “I really try to make people only go with about three colors, four at the max — at least on the interior,” Wardlaw says. “Otherwise it just feels chaotic.”

To pull the colors throughout the home, you might use a variation on the scheme in an adjacent dining room. The walls might be painted blue, and perhaps gray could be used as an accent, with a few small orange accessories providing the 10 percent dose of color. “As long as you keep it cohesive throughout your entire home, it’s going to make more sense,” Wardlaw says.

Paul Anater

Consider Using Color-Planning Tools

Those who love delving deeper into design principles may want to read up a bit on color theory — or at least ask your interior designer about it. “One of the main things I explain to my client is the color wheel,” Wardlaw says. “To keep that cohesive feel throughout your home, one of the main things you can do is consult that.”

You can read up on the color wheel to understand how colors work with and against one another. But a basic rule of thumb is that using analogous (or adjacent) colors on the wheel will create less contrast and a more calm feel, while choosing complementary colors (across from one another on the wheel) will create greater contrast and a higher-energy room. Understanding the relationships between colors will help you see why certain combinations have certain effects on you.

You might also consider making a mood board for each of the rooms to get a sense of how they’ll flow together. You can print out photos of your furniture along with the paint and accessories you are considering, then lay them out on paper, room by room. You can sketch out a rough drawing with colored pencils. And you can preview furniture in your own spaces electronically with Houzz’s Sketch app.

Martha O’Hara Interiors

Studio SHK

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When Unsure, Hire an Expert

Designers have studied color and get paid to advise people on their choices. When you need guidance, they can help.

Porter, who does a lot of color consultations, says her clients tend to know what color they want to use in terms of color, but need validation that the shade they are considering will produce the desired effect. Recently, the designer did a long-distance consultation with a client who passionately loves orange. “The colors she was telling me about were very bright and childlike,” Porter says. The designer suggested a more adult rusty orange instead. “She tried it and loved it,” Porter says.

Originally Published on HOUZZ, by Erin Carlyle

Myth-Buster: The Right Way to Test Paint Colors

“It’s amazing how you can see the difference when paint is actually on multiple walls in a room to test out how light hits it and the impact of shadows.”

Denise Buck & Ed Johnson – DC Metro Realty Team

It’s a common image: Someone selecting a wall color paints several sheets of paper or sample boards and hangs them on the wall to compare colors. It looks artistic and even a bit hip, but it may not be the most accurate way to vet wall paint. We talked to five pros, including painters and designers. Here’s what they suggest instead.

INVIEW Interior Design

Paint Directly on the Wall

This is true for interiors as well as exteriors: You’ll get the best sense of how the color will really look if you paint it directly on the wall. Each of the five pros we spoke with agreed. “If they use a board, I feel like it just doesn’t saturate the same way,” says interior designer Keith Wardlawof Plus Modern Designs in Kansas City, Missouri.

Kelly Porter, an interior designer in the Washington, D.C., area, explains the problem with using boards: “The texture is really not representative. It’s not the same as what’s on your wall, and that can really affect the look,” she says.

In this image, the colors are not samples, but intentional horizontal stripes in a finished room. The paint colors are Benjamin Moore’s Arctic Blue, Palladian Blue and Blue Bonnet.

Alex Amend Photography

Tip: If you’re hiring a paint company, see if it will provide free sample cans of the colors you’re considering. Many companies do. Remember, once you’ve had the paint tinted (mixed), you can’t get your money back. Even if you have to pay for them yourself, sample cans (typically $3 to $8) are well worth the expense.

Jeanette Lunde

Paint Two Coats

That’s the amount of coverage you’ll typically need on any wall. The second coat usually makes a big difference in the way the paint reads. Also, paint large swaths — at least 1 foot by 1 foot, and even larger is better. The 2-inch swatches won’t give you a good sense.

Here, in a white room with white floorboards, the designer used a plain white base.

Color Guide: Myth-Buster: How to Test Paint Colors the Right Way

For Certain Rich Colors, Use a Primer

A small selection of deep paint colors can be created only in conjunction with specific primers. The paint deck will show which colors are in this category. (Pictured here are four by Sherwin-Williams, clockwise from top left: Lemon Twist, Hyper Blue, Daredevil, African Violet.)

For these specific colors, you probably won’t be able to get a sample size in the paint, though you may be able to in the primer, says J.T. Trainor, owner of Freshcoat Painting, a paint company in the Phoenix metro area.

Terracotta Design Build

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Paint Multiple Walls

The colors you’re testing will read differently depending on the amount of light that hits them. “We recommend you paint on a wall that doesn’t get direct sunlight and one that does,” Trainor says.

Екатерина Владимирова

In the above photo, notice how much darker the gray on the right side of the room is than on the left. In the photo of the orange room, the color appears much deeper at the back wall, where it is in shadow, and less intense on the left and right walls, where more light hits.

Also, landscaping outside a window can color the light streaming through it and change how a paint looks on the wall as well. In the above photo, where the green trees can be seen through the window, they’ve tinted the gray on the right side of the room a greener hue. See it, in the corner?

As you view the colors, make sure you consider what time of day you’ll most often be in the room. You want to like how the color looks at that time.

Leslie Saul & Associates

Place Lighting Before You Test

It’s simple, but true: It’s better to use the lighting that fits your needs than try to select your lighting to complement your paint colors. “You wouldn’t want to pick a lightbulb that looks good with your paint color, but you can’t read in the room,” saysJennifer Ott, a San Francisco-based color consultant and interior designer.

Here, the overhead lighting is casting a yellow glow throughout the room, warming the color of the off-white paint toward a pale shade of honey.

Make sure your lighting is in place as you’re considering colors. They may look quite different in bright bulbs that you prefer for nighttime use — or softer yellow-hued ones, if that’s what you’re going for — than they do during daylight hours. Having the right fixtures and bulbs in place can help you decide which shades will work for you.

If you’re not yet sure what lighting you prefer, you can use the time examining your samples to experiment. “Even changing out lightbulbs is a good thing to do,” says Carl Mattison, an interior designer in Atlanta. “Like any color in the world — just like your eyes or your hair or your skin tone — things will change in different light.”

Polhemus Savery DaSilva

Here, the yellow light from the chandelier and sconces warms up the cooler white of the walls.

Originally Published on HOUZZ by Erin Carlyle

10 Succulents That Make Pretty, Easy-Care Ground Covers

“Every year we try to do a least one new planting in the front yard for something a little different. Some of these might be worth a try and look interesting.”

Denise Buck & Ed Johnson – Dc Metro Realty Team

Succulents, with their interesting shapes and colors, have become increasingly popular in the landscape. While larger succulents are often used singly as accent or container plants, smaller succulents are getting a second look for use as ground covers. As with other succulents, they are attractive, drought-tolerant and low-maintenance. Here are 10 low-growing succulents for you to try in your garden.

The Garden Route Company

It’s important to note that all plants profiled below require well-drained soil and, in many cases, some supplemental watering. The amount and frequency of watering depend on several variables, including exposure, temperature and soil. A good rule of thumb is to water 8 inches deep and then allow the soil to dry out before watering again. Succulents need more water in spring, when they are actively growing, and very little in winter.

1. Rock Purslane
(Calandrinia spectabilis)

Gray-green leaves form a dense mound that is transformed by the appearance of magenta flowers spring through fall. The flowers are about 2 inches wide and last one day, with new ones ready to take their place the following day.

For an eye-catching combination, pair rock purslane with pig’s ear (Cotyledon orbiculata),a succulent that produces orange flowers. Rock purslane does best in Mediterranean climates but is suitable as a container plant and can be treated as an annual in colder climates.

Origin: Chile
Where it will grow: Hardy to 20 degrees Fahrenheit, or minus 6.7 degrees Celsius (USDA Zone 9; find your zone)
Water requirement: Low
Light requirement: Full sun or filtered shade
Mature size: 1 foot tall and 3 feet wide; about 3 feet tall when in flower

Phillips Garden

2. Caucasian Stonecrop
(Sedum spurium)

Succulents aren’t just for warm climates. This creeping ground cover can grow in zones 3 to 8. The beauty of this species of stonecrop lies in its tightly whorled leaves, which are often tinged in red. In late spring and summer, star-shaped pink flowers blanket the leaves and attract butterflies.

S. spurium ‘Red Carpet’ grows in the foreground of this photo, with blue-gray S. reflexum ‘Blue Spruce’ in the background.

Origin: Caucasus region of Eastern Europe
Where it will grow: Hardy to minus 40 degrees Fahrenheit, or minus 40 degrees Celsius (zones 3 to 8)
Water requirement: Low
Light requirement: Full sun
Mature size: 3 to 6 inches tall and 1 foot to 2 feet wide

ecocentrix landscape architecture

3. Blue Chalksticks
(Senecio serpens)

The lovely blue-gray and upright 1-inch leaves gradually spread to create an attractive ground cover in frost-free areas. The flowers range from white to chartreuse and appear in summer. Blue chalksticks is ideal for creating color contrast when used next to plants with bright green foliage, such as kangaroo paw (Anigozanthos spp.). It’s a good choice for areas with mild Mediterranean climates. In addition to making a great ground cover, this beauty is often used for erosion control, in containers and as a fire-wise plant.

Here, blue chalksticks grow between Furcraea macdougalii in the background and ‘Elijah Blue’ blue fescue (Festuca glauca ‘Elijah Blue’) in the foreground.

Origin: South Africa
Where it will grow: Hardy to 20 Fahrenheit, or minus 6.7 degrees Celsius (Zone 9)
Water requirement: Low
Light requirement: Full sun or filtered shade
Mature size: 1 foot tall and 2 to 3 feet wide

Noelle Johnson Landscape Consulting

4. Parry’s Agave
(Agave parryi)

Small- to medium-size agave species are unconventional ground cover choices that are becoming more popular. For example, Parry’s agave, with its very attractive rosette pattern, makes a wonderful water-wise ground cover. Use it next to boulders for great texture contrast. This plant and other smaller agave species work well in arid climates, including low-desert climates, since they can handle the full sun and intense summer heat that may cause succulents better suited for mild Mediterranean climates to struggle.

In this photo, A. parryi var. truncata grows among larger species of agave.

Origin: American Southwest and Mexico
Where it will grow: Hardy to minus 10 to 20 degrees Fahrenheit, or minus 23.3 to 6.7 degrees Celsius (zones 5 to 9, depending on variety)
Water requirement: Low
Light requirement: Full sun or filtered shade
Mature size: 1 foot to 3 feet tall and wide

See how to grow Parry’s agave

Noelle Johnson Landscape Consulting

5. Upright Myrtle Spurge
(Euphorbia rigida)

Chartreuse flowers, which gradually turn green and then tan, provide welcome color to drought-tolerant landscapes from late winter into spring. The pointed blue-gray leaves are arranged in spirals, which offer decorative texture throughout the year. Upright myrtle spurge can handle temperatures from over 100 degrees Fahrenheit (37.8 degrees Celsius) all the way down to minus 20 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 28.9 degrees Celsius). Plant in groups of three or five alongside boulders and flowering perennials like beardtongue (Penstemon spp.)

Origin: Mediterranean region
Where it will grow: Hardy to minus 20 degrees Fahrenheit, or minus 28.9 degrees Celsius (Zone 5)
Water requirement: Low
Light requirement: Full sun or filtered shade
Mature size: 2 feet tall and 3 feet wide

Noelle Johnson Landscape Consulting

6. Resin Spurge
(Euphorbia resinifera)

Square light-green stems arranged in clumps give this African native the appearance of a cactus. The sides of the stems are covered in brown spines. Older specimens can grow quite large and look at home next to columnar cactuses. Smaller ones look great next to boulders and drought-tolerant perennials such as desert marigold (Baileya multiradiata) and blackfoot daisy (Melampodium leucanthum).

Here, resin spurge surrounds a Peruvian apple cactus (Cereus repandus), along with soap aloe (Aloe maculata) and its colorful flowers.

Caution: The milky sap is toxic.

Origin: Morocco
Where it will grow: Hardy to 20 degrees Fahrenheit, or minus 6.7 degrees Celsius (Zone 9)
Water requirement: Low
Light requirement: Full sun; can take afternoon shade in low desert
Mature size: 2 to 3 feet tall and 3 to 5 feet wide

Noelle Johnson Landscape Consulting

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7. Royal Dewflower
(Drosanthemum speciosum)

Vibrant flowers in shades of pink, purple and red, depending on the variety, create a colorful carpet in late spring into summer, almost completely covering the foliage. When not in flower, the narrow gray-green leaves add a visually cooling element to the garden. Royal dewflower roots when it comes into contact with bare soil, helping it to spread up to 3 feet wide. Although its low growth habit may lure you to walk on it, avoid the temptation since it doesn’t tolerate foot traffic.

Here, D. speciosum ‘Rosea’ covers a gentle slope.

Origin: South Africa
Where it will grow: Hardy to 20 degrees Fahrenheit, or minus 6.7 degrees Celsius (Zone 9)
Water requirement: Low
Light requirement: Full sun; part shade in the desert
Mature size: 6 to 12 inches tall and 3 feet wide

Noelle Johnson Landscape Consulting

8. Candelilla
(Euphorbia antisyphilitica)

Narrow, waxy stems, with an upright growth habit, add another dimension to the landscape. Rather than spreading outward close to the ground, new stems are produced along the outer part of the plant, gradually increasing its width while still growing upright. Tiny pale pink flowers bloom along the upper half of the stems in spring. Small leaves may appear and are soon shed. Create a visually appealing design by planting candelillain staggered rows.

Origin: New Mexico, southwestern Texas and Mexico
Where it will grow: Hardy to 10 degrees Fahrenheit, or minus 12.2 degrees Celsius (Zone 8)
Water requirement: Low
Light requirement: Full, reflected sun
Mature size: 1 foot to 2 feet tall and 2 to 3 feet wide

See how to grow candelilla

Noelle Johnson Landscape Consulting

9. ‘Blue Elf’ Aloe
(Aloe ‘Blue Elf’)

This small aloe species does what most aloes don’t: It thrives in full, reflected sun. Hummingbirds are attracted to the dark orange flowers that appear in late winter and last into early spring, providing needed color in the cool season. ‘Blue Elf’ aloe starts out small but gradually increases in width as it produces new growth. Plant it alongsidegolden barrel cactus (Echinocactus grusonii) for texture and color contrast.

Origin: Aloes are native to South Africa, but the parentage of this hybrid is unknown.
Where it will grow: Hardy to 15 degrees Fahrenheit, or minus 9.4 degrees Celsius (Zone 8)
Water requirement: Low
Light requirement: Full, reflected sun to light shade
Mature size: 1½ feet tall and 2 feet wide

See how to grow ‘Blue Elf’ aloe

Noelle Johnson Landscape Consulting

10. Elephant Bush
(Portulacaria afra)

The ease of growing this succulent ground cover makes it a popular addition to many gardens, as it thrives in full, reflected sun as well as shade. Bright green circular leaves and maroon stems, which resemble a small jade plant, root where they touch the ground and bring a visually cooling element to the garden. Elephant bush, also called elephant’s food, not only makes a wonderful ground cover, but it is also a good choice as a trailing plant for containers.

In this photo, elephant bush grows beneath an ironwood tree(Olneya tesota) and alongsideParry’s agave (Agave parryi).

Origin: South Africa
Where it will grow: Hardy to 25 degrees Fahrenheit, or minus 3.9 degrees Celsius (Zone 9)
Origin: South Africa
Water requirement: Low
Light requirement: Full, reflected sun to full shade
Mature size: 1 foot to 3 feet tall and 2 to 4 feet wide

Originally published on HOUZZ by Noelle Johnson

How to Make Your Kitchen a Sociable Space

“When you entertain, you almost always end up in the Kitchen. Why not decorate and design with that in mind?”

Denise Buck & Ed Johnson – DC Metro Realty Team

Do you want your kitchen to be the heart of your home and more than just a place to cook and eat? Here are the key ingredients for creating a welcoming space where family, friends and guests will love to spend time.

Contemporary Dining Room Putney, Loft Conversion

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Keep it cozy. On the whole, people aren’t keen on hanging out in stark rooms. If your kitchen feels comfortable, it will draw people to it and make everyone in it feel at ease.

Here, generous seating, an array of comfy cushions and a rustic wooden table with a big bowl of fruit help to give the room an inviting, lived-in feel.

Flik Design Ltd

Include a casual seating area. Once people flop down on a comfy sofa in your kitchen, they won’t be in a hurry to leave. Whether it’s in your main living space or part of an extra seating area, a sofa creates a welcoming atmosphere, and you don’t need a huge kitchen to fit one in.

Here, putting the sofa perpendicular to the peninsula subtly divides the cooking, eating and chill-out zones.

Compass and Rose

Combine kitchen and dining areas. If the kitchen includes your dining area, it’s more likely to feel like the hub of your home, especially when you’re entertaining. You may be surprised at how many people you can accommodate even in a relatively small space.

Here, the kitchen cabinets run along one wall, freeing up the opposite wall for a large table that’s ideal for entertaining. Bear in mind, though, that you’ll have to be a confident cook and not get distracted by your guests’ banter for this arrangement to work!

Morph Interior Ltd

Build in a breakfast bar. If you don’t have space for a dining table in your kitchen, you can still create a spot where family and guests can perch and chat to you while you prepare a meal.

A breakfast bar at the end of an island or a peninsula is the ideal solution. The overhanging lip of this counter provides a comfortable place for people to tuck in their knees as they sit, and the bar stools can be neatly pushed under and out of the way when not in use.

Fancy having a kitchen island? Find out if you have room

Fine House Studio

Make it a room with a view. When you’re planning your kitchen, think carefully about the view you’ll have when working and eating in it. An attractive one will make it much more inviting.

Try to avoid having to do the dishes while facing a brick wall, and don’t position the dining table so that it looks directly at your washing machine. If your kitchen has windows or glazed doors that look out on your garden, terrace or balcony, try to ensure that this is, for the most part, what everyone will see.

Kitchen Stori

Go for an island combo. If you have young children who are out of highchairs but not yet tall enough to climb and sit safely on a bar stool, consider lowering one end of your island to create an informal seating area that little ones and their friends can sit around comfortably.

Different levels identify the different functions of this island, and the standard-height table area is perfect for children to eat supper and do their homework.

Cayford Architecture Ltd

Open onto the garden. If your kitchen opens directly to your outdoor living space, it will feel like the center of your home. Here, bifold doors open the entire room to the terrace, blurring the distinction between the outdoors and inside.

Higham Furniture

Brighten it up. No one wants to spend time in a dark and dingy room, so make your kitchen feel as light and bright as possible — you want people to feel uplifted as soon as they enter.

Painting the space white or in a pale shade is one way to do this, but think about your window treatments too. Here, shutters cover only the lower part of the windows, allowing natural light to flood in at the top.

Also consider whether you can open the space by removing walls, and include a mirror or two, as these can be useful in reflecting light around a room.

Empire Builders (London) Limited

Focus on the TV. You may not want to admit it, but the TV is probably a big draw when it comes to your home’s social spaces. In this kitchen, it’s unashamedly out on display, but if you don’t want the TV to be a distraction all the time, conceal it behind the doors of a purpose-built unit.

Originally Published on Houzz, by Anna Tobin

8 Budget-Friendly Ways to ‘Fun Up’ Your Patio

“Outdoor Living Spaces is something that we all love. If you’re struggling for ideas on how to make yours more fun, take a look at these.”

Denise Buck & Ed Johnson – DC Metro Realty Team

Is your outdoor space more drab than fab but you don’t have the inclination (or budget) for a big makeover? Whether your space is big or small, here are eight easy-on-the-wallet ways to make it more alluring and comfortable.

M.U.D. Landscaping

1. Opt for circular tables over rectilinear shapes. If you’re in the market for an outdoor table and chair set, consider a circular or oval-shaped table over square or rectilinear. Rounded tables are easier to navigate around and can better accommodate another guest in a pinch. No one likes to sit at the corner during dinner.

Sarah Natsumi Moore

2. Maximize your garden walls. Most gardens concentrate on the ground surface, but fences and walls also offer design opportunity. This homeowner repurposed what appears to be vintage mailboxes into planters. It’s a great use of space on a small patio.

JHLA | Jennifer Horn Landscape Architecture

Don’t forget about the top of your garden wall, either. This one sports a layer of wood planters. Consider this route if you have a less-than-desirable view you’d like to screen, want more privacy from neighbors or just want more planting space. Keep in mind that you’ll probably need some carpentry work to support the planters.

Pedersen Associates

Here, architectural corbels create a lovely finish to the top of a wall. They’re secured to a wood cap on the wall and support a small trellis running along it.

Margie Grace – Grace Design Associates

3. Bring some noise. Hopefully your backyard has the sound of chirping birds and buzzing bees; if it doesn’t, incorporating some nature sounds will be good for your mind and soul. The sound of water is not only relaxing but can help mask traffic and other unwanted noise.

Big-budget landscape projects often incorporate water features, but you can enjoy the same benefits with a smaller, free-standng fountain. Margie Gracefashioned this glazed pot into one. Many nurseries sell the components or full kits to create fountains and ponds.

Dick Clark + Associates

If you don’t have space for a fountain or the sound of bubbling water sends you running to the bathroom, a wind chime could be a good alternative. This one, tied to a tree, has an added sculptural effect.

The Cousins

4. Add drapery for privacy, sun protection, softness and drama. Drapery panels are effective at softening the harsh rays of the sun as well as making your patio a bit more private and cozy. They’re also more flexible than shades, allowing you to shift them left to right as needed.

Use an indoor-outdoor fabric, such as Sunbrella, particularly for areas that are exposed to the elements. Also look for panels with weighted bottoms so they don’t blow into your barbecue if it’s a breezy day. You’ll need to anchor them to an overhead structure, like the underside of this patio overhang.

Sheers are semi-private and soften the hard lines of pergolas and overhangs. While they don’t protect from sun and rain, they can help keep bugs out and add a sense of drama and romance to a backyard space.

Craig Reynolds Landscape Architecture

5. String up lights for an inexpensive transformation. String lights can make the saddest of spaces look upbeat. Cost varies from about $10 to $175 per string, depending on the quantity of lights, material, bulb type and whether they’re heavy-duty-rated for commercial outdoor use. Most are in the $20 to $40 range. Design options abound, from small to large globes and with or without decorative shades.

MTLA- Mark Tessier Landscape Architecture

My favorite is strung paper lanterns. While paper isn’t an ideal choice for outdoors, you can find these in nylon and in a rainbow of colors and patterns. For maximum longevity, install them in a covered area.

Chris Snook

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A string of flags is always a festive addition to a patio, whether it’s someone’s birthday or not.

Archiverde Landscape Architecture

6. Personalize your outdoor space. With some creative thinking, you’ll find ways to express yourself beyond your choice of flowers, plants and shrubs. Here, vintage glass marbles have been epoxied to the top of a wrought iron railing.

LESLIE SCOTT DESIGN

A Southern friend of mine introduced me to bottle trees, a favorite Southern garden ornament. Bottles are inserted on the branches of a dead tree or larger limbs tied together. According to folklore, the bottles capture bad spirits roaming in the night. Cobalt blue is the most sought-after bottle color, but green and other colors are popular too.

Author Felder Rushing wrote a book about bottle trees (Bottle Trees and the Whimsical Art of Garden Glass) and shares interesting historical backgroundabout the tradition.

Etica Studio

In this backyard space, homeowner Carla Karsakis painted a mural to show off her affinity for Art Deco illustration.

Lévy Kohlhaas Architecture

If you plan on staying in your house for a while, take that jar of collected rocks, shells and mementos and make it part of your patio wall or floor.

Sarah Greenman

7. Nix neutrals — weave in pattern and color. Decking material, pavers, fencing and home exteriors tend to be neutral, so without some pattern and a punch of vivid color, your space can look lackluster. These days, indoor-outdoor carpet and area rugs come in a bevy of patterns and colors, like the one shown here.

Amy A. Alper, Architect

Throw pillows are another easy way to introduce pattern, color and texture without a lot of commitment. Here, the pillows are actually what you notice first. Pillows also make sometimes stiff outdoor lounge seating more comfy. Make sure the fabric and insert are appropriate for outdoor use if they’re not going to be covered.

Donna Lynn – Landscape Designer

8. Reuse what you already have. Check your attic, basement and garage for underused pieces that might find new life outdoors. This tiered plant stand spent a previous incarnation as a candle holder.

Hanging baskets often come with too few holes, but that’s not the case here. These colorful kitchen colanders have been cleverly repurposed.

Singing Gardens

This vintage Pepsi crate, meanwhile, became a charming planter for a checkerboard of succulents.

Originally Published by Karen Egly-Thompson on HOUZZ

10 Home Hacks for Every Room in Your House

“Everyone can use some ‘Home Hacks’ around the house. It’s amazing all the little things we should have thought of before.”

Denise Buck & Ed Johnson – DC Metro Realty Team

Our list of top home hacks will help you organize your home and get the most out of each room.

Photo by: Shutterstock

Life is a lot less hectic when you find ways to keep your home organized, simplify storage and find DIY solutions that are affordable and easy. Here are some of our favorite clutch tips for your home.

via The Sweetest Occasion

1. Kitchen

Add personality to every meal with customized dishware that you can make yourself in minutes. You don’t need to be an artist or have special art supplies. Just grab a Sharpie® and draw your design freehand (or use a stencil for more intricate patterns) on your dishware or mug. Clean, white enamelware works well. You can personalize your creation with a name, signature monogram or even a favorite quote. To make it permanent, bake your finished design at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Tip: Start with a cold oven to allow the dishware to gradually come up to temperature. Also, hand washing will help your artwork last.

via Storage Talk

2. Family Room

Family rooms often have to do double duty as a playroom and entertainment hub. But finding room to store all your playthings without compromising your sophisticated style can be challenging. This hack meets that challenge head on: Simply store your puzzles, dice and other game pieces in decorative jars. They’re even fun to look at and provide a unique storage solution so you don’t have to make room for bulky game or puzzle boxes. Choose jars in different sizes, shapes and colors to add visual interest and to match your decor. Mason jars, apothecary jars, etched glass jars or pressed glass jars are all great options.

via Buzzfeed

3. Bedroom

Seems you can never have enough storage, especially in the bedroom. This hack lets you add storage and a decorative wall detail at the same time. Just create instant shelves from old drawers. Vary shapes and sizes for an eclectic look. Line the bottom of the drawers with patterned paper or paint for added color. Look for dressers with unusual curved drawer fronts or undulating profiles. Tip: You can often find reasonably priced dressers/drawers at garage sales, resale shops, vintage stores or estate sales.

via Make Space

4. Clothes Closet

It can be frustrating fighting to find your favorite jeans in a cluttered closet. If you’re not ready to slim down your wardrobe, have no fear. This hack lets you retain all your perfectly worn-in pairs, but in a more organized manner: Hang your jeans on shower hooks. Saves a ton of closet space and makes finding your favorite pair a snap!

via Buzzfeed

5. Bathroom

Sure bathroom hooks are essential for hanging wet towels or robes, but no one says you have to use standard hooks that are purely functional without any decorative appeal. Instead, use old doorknobs as hooks. This super simple hack adds a ton of character to your bathroom while it maximizes wall space. Tip: For a cool shabby-chic vibe, use a grouping of vintage doorknobs that have finishes with a little wear and tear.

via Green Idea Reviews

6. Laundry Room

Bet you didn’t know that you could easily conquer dryer static with just some ingenuity and aluminum foil. It’s true! It turns out balled-up aluminum foil can minimize dryer static. Here’s how: When you’re ready to dry your washed laundry, just throw three aluminum foil balls (about 3 inches in diameter each) in your dryer and tumble dry your load as normal. These anti-static wonders are easy to make, economical, reusable for up to 6 months, recyclable and help you avoid toxic chemicals found in dryer sheets. Tip: Heavy-duty foil works best. Wrap a tennis ball in foil. This will help you use even less foil to make a sizable ball and the tumbling tennis ball helps fluff your laundry as it dries.

via Mashable

7. Home Office

Smartphone accessories, like a phone stand, can be kind of pricey…unless, of course, you know how to make it yourself with inexpensive office supplies. This hack makes good use of binder clips, which you probably already have at home. When positioned in just that right way, your binder clips can make a quick and functional phone stand. When you’re done using your ingenious phone stand, just slip the clips back in your desk drawer. Job well done!

via House Logic

8. Garage

Rusty tools are the bane of any true handyman or handywoman. Here’s a great way to make sure you won’t have to worry about that: Use blackboard chalk to prevent your tools from rusting. Just place several pieces in your toolbox. The chalk traps dampness, which helps keep your tools rust-free, giving you one fewer excuse to not be handy around the house.

via Childhood 101

9. Playroom

Playrooms can be a messy prospect, but they don’t have to be with this awesome household hack. Just use an over-the-door shoe organizer for toys or art supplies. The clear compartments make for easy access and easy clean up. So simple, it’s like child’s play.

via Olives ‘n’ Wine

10. Dining Room:

Chances are if you’re hosting and elegant party in your dining room, you’ll want to break out the good china and silver. That means making sure your silver sparkles and shines. Here’s how with just some baking soda and hot water. Line a pot or your kitchen sink with foil. Fill it with very hot water and mix in about 1 cup of baking soda. Add your tarnished items and let soak for about 30 minutes or until you see the black residue lifting off the surface. Then just rinse and dry (or first clean with a mild dish detergent) to use right away! Et voilà, dinner is served!

Originally published on AHS.com (American Home Shield)

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The Polite House: How to Deal With Noisy Neighbors

10 Stress Management Secrets for Your Home

“With our lives so filled with things we think we need to do, it’s easy to become stressed. Take some time to relax and enjoy life sometimes with these tips”

1.Bring the Outside In

2.Put Down the Devices

3.Tune Out

4.Start Exercising for Greater Stress-Relief

5. Deep Clean Therapy

6. Restock Your Kitchen with Healthy Food Choices

7. Take a Relaxing Bubble Bath and Detox the Day

8. Focus on Your Breathe by Breathing In and Out

9. Get Social. Invite Your Friends Over.

10. Laugh Off the Day

How Much Paint Do You Need?

5 Decorating Tips for Getting Scale Right

How to Create a Cohesive Color Flow Throughout Your Home

Myth-Buster: The Right Way to Test Paint Colors

10 Succulents That Make Pretty, Easy-Care Ground Covers

How to Make Your Kitchen a Sociable Space

8 Budget-Friendly Ways to ‘Fun Up’ Your Patio

10 Home Hacks for Every Room in Your House

“Everyone can use some ‘Home Hacks’ around the house. It’s amazing all the little things we should have thought of before.”

Our list of top home hacks will help you organize your home and get the most out of each room.

1. Kitchen

2. Family Room

3. Bedroom

4. Clothes Closet

5. Bathroom

6. Laundry Room

7. Home Office

8. Garage

9. Playroom

10. Dining Room:

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“With our lives so filled with things we think we need to do, it’s easy to become stressed. Take some time to relax and enjoy life sometimes with these tips”

1.Bring the Outside In

2.Put Down the Devices

3.Tune Out

4.Start Exercising for Greater Stress-Relief

5. Deep Clean Therapy

6. Restock Your Kitchen with Healthy Food Choices

7. Take a Relaxing Bubble Bath and Detox the Day

8. Focus on Your Breathe by Breathing In and Out

9. Get Social. Invite Your Friends Over.

10. Laugh Off the Day

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“Everyone can use some ‘Home Hacks’ around the house. It’s amazing all the little things we should have thought of before.”

Our list of top home hacks will help you organize your home and get the most out of each room.

1. Kitchen

2. Family Room

3. Bedroom

4. Clothes Closet

5. Bathroom

6. Laundry Room

7. Home Office

8. Garage

9. Playroom

10. Dining Room:

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