It may be because you have just welcomed another person into your family, it may be because an elderly relative needs to come and stay with you so you can look after then more effectively, or it could just be because you are looking to create some extra space in your family home. Either way, extensions can provide the perfect solution and there are many options to choose from.

Loft Conversions –

Do I need Planning Permission?

Generally you will not need planning permission to have your loft or attic converted but this can depend on a few things. The only reason you may need planning permission is if your home overlooks a public highway or a conservation area. It is always best to find out from your relevant council before you start any work though.

What Is Involved?

Loft conversions make good use of space that a lot of people only ever use for storage and will create a whole new level to your home. They come in a variety of different styles depending on whether you want more actual space or just more headroom and whether you have a flat or slanted roof.

Average Cost?

The average cost of the most popular loft conversion, a dormer, is around £25,000 but this will ultimately depend on where in the country you live.

What Are The Benefits?

There are plenty of benefits to having your loft converted but the main one is the fact that you will have a whole new room inside you home to do whatever you like with. This could become a playroom, an extra bedroom or, with some added plumbing, a luxury en suite bathroom. Loft conversions are the least intrusive way of extending you home as all the debris goes down an external shoot and not through your home.

Conservatories –

Do I need Planning Permission?

Conservatories do not normally require planning permission but this could change depending on how big yours is going to be. Again, it is always best to find out from your council first.

What Is Involved?

Instead of converting an already existing space; conservatories are usually added onto the back of your home. A conservatory can be fully integrated with the rest of the home or made to stand alone away from the existing building. They often take more time to complete than other extensions because of the fact that a new ‘building’ is being constructed from scratch.

Average Cost?

The average conservatory costs between £4,000 and £12,000 depending on size and style.

What Are The Benefits?

The great benefit of having a conservatory is that it opens your home up to so much more light. The ceiling and walls are often made of glass and so it becomes a great room to enjoy in the summer months. Another great benefit is the value that it will no doubt add to your home.

Garage Conversions –

Do I need Planning Permission?

As long as you don’t enlarge the building and the work remains internal then you will not usually require planning permission.

What Is Involved?

A garage conversion obviously involves turning your garage into an external room that can be used for anything you like. A lot of people then choose to rent this room out to guests or use it as a place where a family member can live in more independent living quarters than if they were trapped inside the house. Garages these days are rarely used for cars and therefore they often just get used for storage. However, a garage conversion could make much better use of this space.

Average Cost?

The average cost of a garage conversion is around £6,000

What Are The Benefits?

The most beneficial part of having a garage conversion is that you will create a completely separate building that offers a refuge from the house itself and is often a lot bigger than most conservatories or lofts. This new space will be perfect for a personal gym or the ultimate games room.

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•  License: Creative Commons image source

Chris Mayhew is looking into options for extending the family home. He is writing on behalf of MPK Lofts who offer loft conversions in Bristol and Bath.

Ian McCaig of First Utility said government should change energy policies to reduce the impact on consumers – some say that green policies are adding an extra cost to our gas and electricity charges – and his best advice to hard-pressed consumers is simple, turn the heating down.

McCaig’s belief that energy will replace housing costs is based partly on the current historic low in interest rates, a situation that looks like being her for at least the next few years.

8.5% a year increases

But his company’s own research reveals that UK bills for the combined supply of gas and electricity have risen by 8.5% a year in the last five years. If this rate of increase continues and mortgage interest rates stay the same, then within 12 years energy costs will outstrip mortgage payments in cities including Stoke-on-Trent and Liverpool a couple of years later.  In other parts of the country – Birmingham and Norwich for example – the switch will take longer as fuel bills head to around £5,000-a-year.

First Utility claims to have a completely different approach to the energy market, in that they want customers to use less of the energy they supply. Mr McCaig says that customers can cut their bills by between 5% and 20% just by turning down their heating. However, First Utility has also raised its prices substantially recently – by 18% on one of its tariffs last month.

An energy crisis we will all pay for

Britain faces something of an energy crisis. Even before the challenges of switching to a much lower carbon economy are faced, our power generating infrastructure is coming to the end of its life and hundreds of billions of pounds need to be spent on replacing it. Much of that huge investment will be met by consumers in the shape of higher energy bills.

The Government also predicts rising energy costs, but by a much lower figure than First Utility’s research suggests. The official estimate of a £76 annual increase by 2020 is dependent on all of us making huge cuts in our energy consumption. The Government has just launched its Green Deal, which offers cheap finance to homeowners who spend the cash on energy efficiency projects – however, it’s too early to know what the take up of these schemes is likely to be.

Green deal doubts

Mr McCaig is doubtful that the Green Deal will have much of a real impact and says more and better schemes will be needed. He would also like the energy market to be reformed.

There are a number of ways consumers can save money on energy bills.

Consumer organisation Which suggests that you should regularly switch to find the best supplier and check that you also have the best tariff. The Energy Saving Trust offers a £250 home energy check that will highlight where your home is costing you money, and it’s all free. Buying an energy monitor will also help you keep an eye on your home’s energy performance and prioritise your savings plans. Taking 1 degree centigrade off your central heating will save you £65-a-year. Efficient use of your heating – turning off radiators in empty rooms, for example – will also help. Green light bulbs can save more than £50-a-year. Draught excluding will save up to £70-a-year. Buying the most energy-efficient appliances can mean huge percentage savings in running costs – a boiler can save hundreds. Insulation too can save hundreds of pounds and there is support for installing it in the Green Deal.

Invest to save

We all have money worries and the best financial guidance is always to pay off debt, on mortgages, credit cards, AMEX Cards or loans. However, investing in energy saving is a long-term thing that can pay dividends for years to come.

John Self is a writer and green deal specialist who has written for a variety of sites in the past

When choosing flooring for your patio, you have to consider many factors including the design or style of the patio, the weather in your area, and how you intend to use the space. If your patio is covered, you have more leeway when it comes to choosing floor materials. You have to be more careful with an open patio, and choose a floor that can withstand different weather conditions. You need to consider the options available so that you can choose the best floor for your space.

Traditional wooden planks

If you want to create a rustic atmosphere in your patio space, wooden planks are a very good option. The planks will give the home a cozy and traditional feel and it helps if you have followed the same theme when designing the interior of your home. The planks are easy to install and you can get different shades depending on the wood you choose.

The downside of the planks is that they can be quite costly and if you use real wood in wet climates, you will have to contend with constant wear and even rot over time. You can maintain the planks using a good finish but you need to do this regularly for best results.

Laminate wooden tiles

If you want the look of wood without the downside, you can install wooden tiles throughout the entire patio. Laminate is relatively affordable, the modern tiles are beautiful, and they are made to mimic real wood. When installed correctly, your patio will look like it has a real wooden floor. The unique texture helps to enhance any décor that you choose. Laminates are durable and easy to clean, and they can withstand different weather conditions much better than real wood. You can get tiles that are simply installed over a concrete floor.

Concrete floor

A concrete patio is one of the most affordable options out there. The floor is easy to build and it is also quite durable. It is convenient if you are working with a tight budget, but the result is not usually the most attractive. If you choose to install a concrete floor, make sure that you choose décor that will distract the eye from the floor surface. You can use plenty of plants and flowers, as well as colorful furniture. A good design will hide the concrete floor, but it is important to treat the concrete to make it weatherproof.

Natural stone

If you want your outdoor space to blend in with the environment, you should consider installing natural stone. The materials come in huge slabs that are available in different colors and patterns. You can get a design that will work well with the architectural details of your home. When you choose colorful stone, make sure that you choose patio furniture that will work well with the floor.

You can also choose to create a colorful mosaic using different colored stones. There are different stone floor qualities and the best quality tends to be quite costly. The materials can be inconvenient in regions that experience wet or icy weather. The surface tends to get quite slippery in these conditions, making it dangerous.

Outdoor tiles

These are tiles that are designed for outdoor use and they are perfect for patios. The tiles offer versatility as they come in a wide range of colors, patterns and designs. You can get custom-made tiles that will give your patio the perfect unique look. A tiled patio will look modern and fun and the materials are quite durable.

There are different grades of tiles in the market and the best ones can be quite expensive. They are, however, the best option as they are weatherproof and easy to clean. On the downslide, the tiles become slick when it rains and this can make the surface dangerous.

When choosing flooring for your patio, you should consider your home design. It is important to create a seamless look in the interior and the exterior of the home. When people see a modern looking patio, they expect the rest of the home to have the same style. You should also look at the architectural details of the home in order to get the perfect look. Make sure that you get a professional to install the flooring to ensure that you get the best results.

Featured images:

•  License: Creative Commons image source
•  License: Creative Commons image source
•  License: Creative Commons image source
•  License: Creative Commons image source
•  License: Creative Commons image source
•  License: Creative Commons image source

This article was submitted by Ridley Pierce; he is a keen writing enthusiast and he works for Broadway Hardwood Flooring Ltd. When he is not busy offering clients laminate floors in Toronto, he likes to unwind and spend quality time with his family.

Safety First

Before you start installing new kitchen lighting you should check that your wiring and electrical fittings meet current safety standards. If you’re completely rebuilding your kitchen, wiring should be installed before plastering or painting and you should carefully consider where you want it to be.

Hire qualified, recommended or approved electricians to install major lighting groups as they may need to run on different circuits. Basic common sense should prevail. Don’t place standard lamps in kitchens, they can be knocked over and trailing wires are dangerous. Keep anything you have doubts about for another area of your home, there are lots of exceptional lighting choices specifically designed for kitchen use.

Planning Your Kitchen Lighting Scheme

Lighting is one of the most important aspects of any room, but kitchen lighting in particular needs careful planning. The very nature of the room requires that safety and function is taken into consideration to a greater degree than in other rooms in the home, so that as well as looking fabulous you’ll have enough illumination to carry out tasks such as food preparation and cooking.

How To Begin

There are some excellent ways to illuminate kitchens these days and they’re a far cry from the harsh strip lights of the past. Firstly, you need to take a few basic points into consideration including the size of the room, the general layout and what you’ll actually use your kitchen for apart from cooking. There are three main requirements in kitchens, good overall lighting for the room in general, task lighting which allows you to clearly see what you’re doing such as cooking and ambience, or mood lighting which allows you to create a certain feel.

Choosing Lighting That You’ll Love to Live With

Gone are the garish strip lights of the past with their colour altering, shadow casting shortcomings. In their place you can choose from halogen and Led lighting and even energy saving lighting. A good approach is to consider the lighting in stages with the general or main lighting being fitted first, to be followed by the task lighting and then additional mood and feature lighting. Stage one will illuminate the entire room. Recessed ceiling fittings, pendant lights, cabinet top lights, under cabinet lights, uplighters, downlighters and a new generation of HD Led strip lighting offer many possibilities. There are even terrific plinth lights, such as the John Cullen Lighting Oslo range which can also be used if you have steps in your kitchen, or the Sensio 4 x Led Plinth Light type which allow you to light the room from the bottom up instead of traditionally from the ceiling down.

Lighting up Your Space

Once you have the overall lighting sorted out and have chosen fittings, you can concentrate on stage two. This part of your lighting plan aims to ensure that you have optimum illumination in areas where you’ll be carrying out certain tasks. Spotlights are a good way to ensure safety when cutting and cooking and they can be directed as you wish. Under cabinet lighting can also be installed in areas where you carry out certain tasks. Illuminated splashbacks provide excellent sink and worktop cover, try RGB Slinky Led lighting strips which are safe to use near water. A hood over the cooker can provide light combined with extraction. Check if your appliance comes with this feature or install your own. The Sensio SE9030HD drawer light is battery operated and comes on when the drawer is opened and can also be used as under cabinet lighting which comes on when you pass your hand over the area, ideal for finding objects easily when cooking or working. Sensors provide a hygienic choice for kitchens and can also be used creatively to achieve the feel or mood you’re looking for.

Mood and Ambience

Perhaps your kids will do homework in an area of the kitchen and you might consider spotlights which can be moved, track lighting or lamps. All of these enhance your room and create a certain mood and can be switched off and on or dimmed as you wish. Pendant lights over tables can be raised or lowered and are a great choice for intimate or relaxed dining. A group of pendant lights at different levels is an eye catching and modern approach, as is a row of ceiling pendant fittings.

Different coloured lighting such as SieMatic’s Chromotherapy, which you can set at one colour or on a continuous rainbow effect, is a great way to get the atmosphere you’d like. Choose cool lilac or blue accent lighting, or just try warm white instead of brilliant white in some of your fittings, the options are endless.

Featured images:

•  License: Image author owned

Irina Gaffney writes on behalf of Voltstar Electrical covering various topics on home and property buying in the London area. With over 5 years experience in property acquisition and sales from an online property portal VueProperty.net

Preparation
You need to first decide what you want to grow. The ground you will be growing in will largely dictate what you can grow and how often.

Prepare the ground you have by mixing in manure and fully air the soil by forking it over. Also, thoroughly water the soil in preparation for planting.

If you have a greenhouse or glasshouse, plan what you want to grow in here and start setting up. You will probably need lots of growing trays and pots. It may be also an idea to ask local gardeners or allotment owners if they sell seeds themselves or young plants. It is much more organic to get seedlings and small plants from local growers than commercial seeds. This will obviously depend on the types you want to grow, but ask around and see what you can get hold of.

Wooden planter boxes are a great way to grow any type of plant or vegetable if you are short on space. Everybody would like to grow something but are usually put off by thinking they do not have the space to do so. Planter boxes are great as they are self-contained growing environments, which also look very elegant in your garden. Make sure you buy ones that are thoroughly weatherproofed and match the look of your environment. There are plenty out there for you to choose from, in different styles and colours. Have a look online for local distributors and ask their advice for the ones that will best suit your needs. You should be able to grow successfully most types of plants and vegetables in a planter box. They are also easier to protect, as you can use netting or something similar to keep the nasties out.

Planting
Manure and mulch is a needed thing for any growing environment. Try and source locally or build up your supplies yourself. You can try building up your own compost heap as this is also a great organic way forward.

Liquid manure is one of the best to use when growing tomatoes or similar in your greenhouse. The smell is enough to put most people off, but the produce will more than make up for it. Ask around locally if you are willing to try this.

Mulch is ideal to be spread around everything that is growing as it will not only give a protective layer to your plants and vegetables, but also keep unwanted pests away. Make sure that you keep on top of the level of mulch in your garden, as it can easily degrade or be washed away.

If you are mostly growing vegetables, try and grow a few flowers dotted around your environment as this will bring colour and variety. It will also give you something visually more appealing when you are spending your hard earned hours weeding and looking after your produce.

Never be tempted to use any type of pesticides or weedkiller. It is much better to manually get rid of all the weeds and provide organic solutions for any pests. This will not only be better for the environment but also save you money.

Many people think that growing things organically is more time-consuming and costly. If done right, it should be the exact opposite where you spend less and have the peace of mind that everything you have grown is organic and the most helpful to the environment.

Barry Holmes has been an organic gardener for over 20 years, having written for many online gardening blogs, along with designing wooden planters and garden boxes.

First, Try to Clean the Grout if Possible

However, there are many ways to get the grout within your bathroom walls or floors clean again. If the grout has many stains with mould, mildew, soap scum or dirt, you can first try scrubbing it with a nylon stiff-bristle brush that is dipped liberally in some scouring powder. You can then give the surface of the grout a rinse with clean water.

However, this doesn’t always work and you might find that the stains still exist. In this case, you can mix a 50/50 solution water and liquid bleach and apply it to the grout with a sponge. Leave it for 10 minutes and then soak it again with another solution of bleach. After another 10 minutes you can rinse off the surface of the grout with clean water.

But what if this still doesn’t work? If your grout is still looking dirty after attempting all of these methods, you might need to remove it and replace it with fresh grout. If the grout is permanently stained or badly cracked there is not much you can do at this point. This is where your oscillating multi-tool will come in handy.

You might be thinking that you can attach a scrubbing pad to the oscillating multi-tool and use it to clean the tile. However, once you have gotten to this point and the permanent stains are not being removed with bleach, it will be much more effective to use the tool to scrape out the grout so that you can replace it.

Using the Oscillating Multi-Tool to Remove Grout

Many brands of oscillating multi-tools, such as the Rockwell SoniCrafter, have settings and attachment blades that are perfect for removing grout.  These blades are coated with very hard materials such as carbide and titanium which allow them to cut through tough grout without breaking or overheating. Because the multi-tool blade oscillates and it doesn’t spin at high speeds, it will be much easier to control than most other tools. Also, the multi-tool is lightweight and compact with an easy-grip handle, so that it can be manoeuvred into tight spaces with ease.

When you are removing the grout with the multi-tool, you can protect the walls with two layers of duct tape so that you will not accidently scrape the tiles. Simply let the multi-tool do the work and apply as minimal downward pressure as possible.

After removing all of the grout with the oscillating multi-tool, you can use a stiff-bristle nylon brush to clean out all of the joints from grit, dust and any other loose debris. The next step is to mix up a fresh batch of grout and smear it into the joints. Follow the directions for how long to wait before wiping the surface clean from grout residue. Usually, it will take around 48 hours or longer for the grout to cure, after which you can apply a silicone based sealer which will make the surface watertight and help it resist stains in the future.

If you have stained and unsightly grout, using the multi-tool to remove it and replace it is the solution when you have tried and failed with all other methods for cleaning and removing stains.

Clint Hazard is a freelance writer and DIY enthusiast who recently gave his dark and dingy bathroom a complete overhaul. He couldn’t remove the stains from the grout, so he used his Rockwell Sonicrafter to replace it instead.

While home insurance is one of the most important tools a homeowner can have, many don’t understand exactly how it works.  There are some things it doesn’t cover that many people think it does, and some things it covers that would surprise you.

What Does Home Insurance Cover?

Home owner policies actually differ from state to state.  Some states require certain coverage that other states don’t, so there’s no “one size covers all” answer to that question.  To be sure that you understand what your insurance covers it’s always a good idea to read the policy.

The main purpose of homeowner’s insurance is to protect the owner against the loss of value due to fire or other events that can harm the structure of the house.  However, if you want coverage for earthquake or flood damage you’ll need to get a separate policy.  It also helps cover any medical expenses and protect against liability if a guest is injured at your home, as well as any damage your pets cause to your house.

One thing homeowners insurance doesn’t cover is any problems that arise from poor or no maintenance or any damage from regular wear and tear.

What do You Need In Your Homeowner’s Policy?

There are several things you need to consider when buying home insurance.  One is the liability limit of the policy.  This is the amount of money it would cost to replace your house if something happened to it.  This is not the same as the actual market value of the house and is usually lower.   If you want to replace your house as it is, you have to make sure you have enough liability to cover that cost.

You’ll also want to consider how much of a deductible you want with your insurance.  Just like with car insurance, the higher the deductible the lower your monthly payments.  Just remember, if you have to use your insurance the deductible will come out of your pocket so make sure to choose one that you’ll be able to pay.

Your choice of policies will depend a lot on your house and where you live. The insurance company will take into account things like whether you live in area that gets a lot of storms, or has a high crime rate.  You will also want to consider flood insurance if your house is an area that’s subject to flooding.

When you find yourself choosing between different homeowner’s policies, you should make an effort to avoid smoke the common mistakes that other consumers have made in the past. The unfortunate truth is that a lot of individuals focus almost entirely on their monthly premiums rather than paying adequate attention to the level of coverage that they are purchasing. It really does not do much good at all to purchase one of these policies if it is not going to provide the type of protection that an individual is going to need later on. While the premiums are important, they are not the only thing that you should consider.

There are a lot of things to consider when choosing a home insurance policy but as long as you take the time to consider all the factors it shouldn’t be too difficult..

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•  Image by http://smartphotostock.com/uploads/2/building-in-the-garden.jpg

Stephanie Frasco is the Community Manager for the MyReviewsNow website.  She wrote this blog post about choosing home insurance and you can read more at our http://www.myreviewsnow.net website.

Choose the Right Window Curtains

The first and easiest way to let natural light into your home is to choose window curtains and dressing that have the ability to be drawn back, and to also have some level of sheerness. You don’t have to go without window curtains because you need them to maintain some level of privacy, especially on the ground level of your home, but if you choose light, sheer fabrics, and set up your window coverings to easily pull open, you’ll be able to take advantage of all the natural light coming into your home as possible.

Use Mirrors Strategically

Another great interior design trick to maximize natural light flow throughout a home is to place mirrors strategically across from windows and natural sources of light. This allows the natural light to reflect directly off the mirrors and essentially allow the light to literally pour all over the room. No need to go crazy and get a floor to ceiling length mirror, but a nice full mirror over a mantle, a decorative framed mirror, or a standing mirror leaning against the wall, are all great options.

Mix in Clear Furniture Pieces like Glass and Lucite

To further enhance the natural light flow in your home, choose furniture pieces that are clear such as glass and lucite. When you place clear furniture pieces throughout a room, especially bigger items such as desks, tables, and chairs, which usually come in beautiful glass and lucite options, you keep the room feeling light and airy and allow the light to stream through effortlessly.

Knock Down a Wall

This is a drastic way to help add natural light to your home, but it is still certainly an effective one. Depending on the position of your home relative to the sun, one side of your house will be hit with the greatest amount of sunshine. If you have an older home, of if your home’s walls are positioned in such a way as to block the light flow from this particular side of your house to another, you lose a lot of natural light just because of the layout of your home. If it’s financially possible, and structurally feasible, knocking down an interior wall of your house can make a huge impact on the natural light flowing through your home.

Making your home beautiful, comfortable, and stylish all at the same time is not an easy task. And not only that, it almost always seems to cost an arm an a leg. But luckily, it’s not a completely impossible task when you take advantage of the things you have easily available to you, one of which is natural sun light. By being resourceful, putting in a little legwork, and using some of these interior design tricks to allow natural light to fill your home, you’re that much closer to having the home of your dreams.

George Dennis is president of King Shade and Window, a home improvement company  that supplies replacement windows for the Boston area. They also help customers compare roller shade and replacement windows in Boston for all windows. Find the perfect Custom Shades from KingShadeandWindow.com for your home, apartment, or condo.

But, as an adult, my dreams have almost come true, as I realised that my garden was big enough for a hot tub. Although not quite the swimming pool I had dreamed of, I soon realised that my hot tub was even better than my fantasy pool, as they are cheaper, take up less space, and have tons of health benefits.

Life of Luxury

You don’t have to be born with a silver spoon to experience the joy of your own personal hot tub. Prices of quality hot tubs are lowering and they come in a variety of sizes. Starting from a small tub that seats two, you can pick a hot tub that fits in with your garden landscape and personal needs.

Having a hot tub outside your back door means you can pamper yourself as often as you like, but there are also plenty of other uses. Apart from using it as your own personal spa, your hot tub can be a focal point for your party (even the reason to have a party!) or an excuse for a romantic evening. They even come in handy when teaching children how to swim!

Health Benefits

If you’re finding it hard to justify your purchase of a hot tub (other than just the fact that you really, really want it!) you should probably know the health benefits. Spending 15 minutes in a hot tub on an evening can help ease the pain of muscle and joint problems, can act as a natural sleeping aid and improve blood circulation. Spending time relaxing in your hot tub could help relieve the stresses of day to day life and regularly pampering yourself will make you happier.

Safety

With great fun, comes a need for great responsibility. Every person that has ever spent time at a swimming pool, has experienced the embarrassment of slipping and falling. Just because you’re in your own home doesn’t mean that you should neglect health and safety.

I’m not saying that you should get everyone that uses your tub to sign liability wavers, but making sensible precautions will help you enjoy your hot tub in the safest way possible. Prevent slips by installing safety mats and if needed, handrails to help people get in and out of the hot tub. When your hot tub is not in use, make sure that it is covered to prevent anyone accidently falling in and to keep the water clean.

Fun for the Family

Adjusting the heat, or turning it off will turn your tub into a place to chill on hot, sunny days. Having a ‘cool’ tub reduces cost and will make it more appropriate for family fun.

Children will love splashing around in your hot tub all year round, but the summer months provides a great opportunity for child friendly pool parties. The minimum space that a hot tub takes up means that there will be plenty of space left for regular party games.

Remember, mixing children and water means constant supervision, so if you’re hosting a children’s party, invite some parents along, too. Who knows? Maybe they’ll also find it hard to resist the temptation of the tub.

Beth Stubbings works for Smith Brothers. She loves coming home from work and spending a relaxing evening in her hot tub.

The whole idea of monochrome remains largely charming and appealing only on television or in photographs. To have real life devoid of a vivid array of colors would just be too glum. And the daily routines of life take care of that anyway. So, yes, we could all use some color. Perhaps, in little more than necessary amounts too. Now, what better place to start this than home sweet home? These five creative, crazy yet surprisingly well-balanced ideas bring in an awesome burst of color into your home, without even so much so as a mention of paint. Nevertheless, when nicely done, you’ll see your home in a whole new color- literally!

1)   Wall decals

Wall decals are an absolutely amazing thing to have happened to mankind after white bread. When it comes to home décor, wall decals are the very epitome of convenience, beauty and creativity. What’s more, they are easy to remove and perfectly reusable (all you have to do is stick the decal on the protective back, and make sure the back of it remains cleans). This way you get to use the same decal in multiple rooms when the occasion calls for it, as well as take it off when needed, if you live in a rented flat where you’re not allowed to alter the walls. Plus, they come in such a countless array of choices, there’s one for EVERY kind of person.

2)   Lights

The wonders lights can work are boundless, and can be fit into any room, irrespective of the size. Quirky wrought iron lampstands and chandeliers, tiny fairy lights along the mirror or window, or even ambient LED concealed lighting do amazing things to even the plainest rooms. Be it classy, cute, creepy or quirky, there is nothing that some smart lighting cannot take care of.

3)   Window Panels

Windows can do a lot more than bring in light, breeze, dust and offer a view. It can bring in some much needed color into a room in its own sneaky way. Resort to drapes and panels in interesting patterns and colors that pop out. Drapes and panels have a way of bringing in a good measure of drama without making the room look over-the-top. And because they can be instantly and easily removed and put back, it gives you a whole lot of room for experimenting and mix-matching. If you intend to keep everything else in the room simple, you can easily make the windows the focal point of some color drama.

4)   Furnish and Accessorize

Furnishings and accessories are what make up the room, and one of the first things that are noticed by visitors. Furniture and accessories are a smart way of scattering color all over the room without actually doing anything much. Things like rugs and pillow cases come in handy for this purpose. In addition, interesting accessories like a little bird cage, a single cane swing, classy little metal or wood installations and quirky accent pieces add a great deal of character and life to any room.

5)   Natural infusions

Potted plants and flowers are a great and inexpensive way to bring nature’s very own color palette right into your home. Moreover, in this day and age of absolute concretization, plants that thrive well indoors and won’t die on you easily come as an amazing respite. Ideal choices could be the Grape Ivy, the English Ivy, the Jade Plant, the Fiddleleaf Fig, or the Mother Of Indoor Plants- the heart-leaf Philodendron. For something apart from the greens, flowering plants like Cyclamen, Begonia, Impatiens, African Violets and Kalanchoe form excellent options.

Featured images:

•  License: Creative Commons image source
•  License: Creative Commons image source
•  License: Creative Commons image source
•  License: Creative Commons image source
•  License: Creative Commons image source
•  License: Creative Commons image source

Today’s guest author, John Smith, is an interior designer for www.outerart.com.au, a leading dealers of decorative screens in Melbourne, Australia. He believes that any room can be given a makeover without having to paint it. He enjoys reading various designing magazines in his free time.