The Importance Of Good Back Yard

In general, many people spend more time in their backyard than they do in their front yard. SO you have to have an equally well kept backyard where people can spend most of their time. You can begin with landscaping backyard where everyone would like to sit out and enjoy the fresh air. You can turn your backyard into an entertaining space for family and friends that is useful and decorative in appearance. Like you can use it to spend time with your family having family lunch or dinner get together, playing sports, entertaining and just enjoying each other’s company and having quality time or maybe having your morning and evening coffees.

You can begin with having a kitchen garden where you can grow your own delicious vegetables or have lovely flower garden. Flowers add color and beauty to your yard. No matter where you plant your flowers they are always noticed. Having huge trees in your back yard will surely provide you the needed privacy and of course shade in the sunny days. You can also plan out for fruit trees. In short a garden can add a decorative feature to your back yard.

You can place some lounge chairs or swings and gliders, or maybe few bright beach chairs and recliners, and some cushions with colorful fabric and have a good shaded seating area for family and friends to sit and enjoy the nature and outdoors. You can define your area of sitting by putting up a canopy with four posts or pillars, some rope and a large piece of canvas. Or plan out for some backyard patio furniture. Patios are great for your lawn furniture and a place to grill out and entertain guest. You can enhance the beauty of patio table by pairing a wicker basket or a large terra-cotta pot with a piece of glass.

You can decorate your backyard with various items you love like placing a collection of small glass bottles filled with daffodils or violets or hanging wind chimes from a few tree branches. You can also use outdoor accessories like pillows, a hammock, umbrella or some cute table settings by using colorful place mats or exotic bamboo place mats, glassware, dishes in pastel colors and lots of flowers.

For a centerpiece with the spirit of the outdoors, collect old or new bottles in different sizes, shapes and colors. Group them together and fill each one with a different flower or sprig of greenery from the garden. Having a fireplace in the backyard will surely add to its beauty and you can plan out some night campfires in your backyard itself. You can set the mood with outdoor lighting for nights by using easy-to-make lanterns to candle-adorned garden torches or having small lit up pavement areas. You can use fabric lanterns and hang them from tree branches or planter hooks. Or you can Christmas wrapped in small iridescent string of white bulbs around tree trunks and branches this will surely create a romantic, starry atmosphere to your backyard.

An outdoor entertaining area can give your home the feel of an extra room. It is a great way to entertain family and friends. The key to creating a good space whether it’s indoors or outdoors is making sure the environment allows for relaxation and enjoyment. On Houseplancentral.com you get to see lot of virtual tours of various plans where you can surely visualize lot of plans with front yard get an even better idea of what you want.

Tips to Keeping a Clean Home With Kids

When individuals have children, they know it can be difficult to keep their homes clean. Kids make messes. In addition, they generally know that mom and dad will take care of any problems that they have and clean up any messes that they might make. As they get older, they learn to take better care of their space and the rest of the house that they live in. Until they reach that point, however, it is generally the responsibility of the parents to find ways to keep a clean home with kids in it. There are some tips that can be used to help with a cleaner home.

One of the best ways to keep a home clean with kids is to impress upon them from the point that they are old enough to understand that they need to pick up after themselves. They should be taught to do this, and they should lose privileges if they do not do it. However, keep in mind that kids will be kids, and they will need to be reminded to pick up their toys, clothing, and other items. Eventually, it will become a habit, but it has to be repeated enough times to make it stick in the child’s mind in order to be effective. Parents can run out of patience with this tactic, but it is well worth doing. Cleaning up and picking up after oneself becomes a lifelong habit if it is taught early enough.

In addition, parents that have small children find that they often do not have enough time to keep things clean. Parents that have the funds available might want to consider hiring someone to come in and help clean once a week or more. However, a lot of individuals do not have the money for this, or they are not comfortable with a stranger in their home. For these parents, one of the best ways to keep a clean home is to pick up as one goes through the day. If a person is walking from one room to another and sees something that goes in that second room, he or she should take that item along. This keeps things from building up, and can help a home stay cleaner and more organized, even when parents are very busy with jobs and kids.

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5 Easy Tips for Assembling Your Outdoor Furniture

So, you’ve bought a wonderful patio set and you can’t wait to get it together and start enjoying your new purchase. Great! Let’s get to it. But wait, you have what seems like millions of different pieces of wood, screws, and things you’ve never seen before. You don’t even know where to start. The good news is we are here to help. Just follow the five fantastic tips for an easy and painless way to have beautiful assembled outdoor furniture.

#1: First, make sure you have the right tools. Look at the directions and check to see what tools you are going to need to assemble the furniture. Now, check your tool box and make sure you have the tools you will need. Having the right tools on hand will make the assembly much easier.

#2: Next, we want to make sure that safety precautions are taken before you start on your outdoor furniture project. Have a pair of safety goggles, as well as work gloves to keep your hands and eyes safe. If you are using circular saws or any tools for cutting, make sure those tools are sharpened and ready to use. A dull tool is much more dangerous than a sharp one.

#3: Before you start putting the pieces together, make sure that you have all of the pieces that you need. Read through the directions and make sure that every piece is accounted for. If you are missing pieces, contact your retailer and they should send you the pieces that you are missing, or send a whole new product. You do not want to get halfway through your construction and realize that you are missing an important piece of your project. Next you can separate all of the pieces into different piles for easy access. Most of the time, the directions will label each piece of wood and different screws and nuts with letters or numbers. This will make assembly so much easier when everything is already separated and close at hand.

#4: The fourth tip is included for those of you that will need to be cutting wood pieces for your outdoor furniture. First of all make sure that you know how to make the cuts. It is always a good idea to practice the cuts on scrap pieces of wood before you make the final cuts for your project. It is also very important to measure your cuts to eliminate any wrong cuts that might ruin your beautiful new furniture. As my wise father once said, measure twice and cut once.

#5: The last tip is a fun one that will make your time assembly time much faster. It is a great idea to involve a friend or family member in your project. Your friend may have the tools that you don’t have, or more experience in putting together wood pieces. Even if your friend is a novice like you, it is still good to have an extra pair of hands to help out. Plus it is much more fun (and safe) working with a friend than working by yourself.

Now go get started on putting together your stunning outdoor pieces and enjoy your new space. Then, invite all of your friends and family over for a block party to show off your hard work. Who knows, you might even get a few friends that want your help on their next project.

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How To Decorate And Update The Kitchen

What would be in your dream home?

A budget of $10,000 to $40,000 can turn an existing kitchen into a dream kitchen with the addition of high end counter tops, new cabinet fronts, state of the art appliances and great decor. But fear not, here are some great ideas for you if major kitchen upgrades do not agree with your budget.

Perk Up Your Kitchen
Installing pull out shelves in your cabinets will allow you to quickly see everything inside. Sliders under the sink will give you easy access to the trash for recycling containers. A trip to the hardware store will give you many ideas on how to make your cabinet space organized and efficient. Take a look at your sink. Is it scratched, stained or just plain ugly? Update it with an extra deep sink that will make washing large dishes and pots easier. Add sparkle to the area with new faucets. Choose a style with a high gooseneck to make filling large pots easier.

Just Add Furniture
Play with the layout of the furniture in your kitchen to see if you have room for a small comfortable chair. It will become a favorite spot of family or friends as they keep you company while you cook. It is also a wonderful place for you to relax while they clean up after dinner.

A Few More Tricks
Find a pretty piece of pottery or glassware to hold your spatulas, whisks etc. That eight inch bowl that you fell in love with would make a great utensil holder. Do not let your favorite pieces hide in the cabinet - find ways to use them on the countertop. If you have too many favorites and do not want clutter, rotate them every month. It is an easy change that will keep your decor fresh.

A small lamp tucked into a corner on the countertop will softly light the kitchen at night, shop for one that has an interesting shape or shade. A favorite designer trick for adding color to the kitchen is to place tall thin floral arrangements on each side of the sink. Eighteen inch topiaries adorned with lemons or pears make perfect accent pieces.

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Appreciate Your Porch

Porches were originally built for practical purposes. They kept the direct sunlight from pouring into the house during the hot summer days and protected the home from the elements in the winter. It was not long before the residents of the home saw this area as an extension of their living space. It became a place to read, eat and even sleep on a hot night.

Are you using your covered space in the best way possible? Do you need a space for entertaining friends or a quiet place to drink your coffee and relaxing? Will your goals change with the seasons? You should decorate your porch regardless of the season, because you will invariably see it everyday. It might be fun to host parties on the porch. It would be wonderful when your home facilitates love between family and friends.

Porch Of Delights
When the weather is warm, everything is renewed with green healthy plants, bright colored pillows and a freshly set table. In the winter we could change the focus to a winter wonderland. Use decorative snowmen, a tabletop tree, and stuffed animals to brighten the area. Strands of lights bring a bit of magic to the area during the gray months of winter.

Quick Tips for Making Your Porch More Enjoyable

Set up your seating so that it is encourages easy conversation. Make sure there is a place for a beverage glass within reach of each chair. Installing a ceiling fan will bring a much appreciated breeze on a stifling night. Bead board installed on the ceiling adds texture to a forgotten space. Paint it light blue to portray the sky.An unused chest of drawers or dresser can be pulled outside and put to work holding placemats and napkins. Store playing cards, checkers and puzzles in the drawers so they will be within easy reach. Hang a wreath, ironwork, inexpensive art or a poster of your favorite vacation spot on the wall of a back porch.

Craft and floral stores have ready made garlands made from greenery, grapevines or silk flowers. Weave strands of small lights throughout the garland and hang as a border around your outdoor room. Cup hooks spaced around area will hold most intertwined materials.

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Decorating Ideas With Windows

Whether your dream room is formal and filled with fabulous antiques or if it is cozy and sporting worn leather, you can complete the vision with carefully planned window treatments. Privacy, protection from the sun and energy efficiency rank high on the list of consumer needs for their windows. Blinds and shutters will provide this practical layer of window treatments. Purchase the best that your budget will allow because constant opening and closing will wear on the mechanisms that work these coverings.

Let the (Partial) Sun Shine In
Often we want to enjoy the sun streaming into our home or the view of the trees outside our window but we still want the privacy of a covered window. The solution is installing shades with the top down/bottom up feature. Simply put, they can be lifted from the bottom to give a view of the outside world but still allowing the lower half of the window to be covered. When privacy is not a concern, they can be used as traditional horizontal blinds.

Top Down / Bottom Up Shades
It’s recommended for office or media room because they will minimize the glare on your computer or television while maintaining a well lit room. Do not underestimate the damage sun can do to your home and furnishings. Window film can also be used to control the harmful UV rays that will fade your flooring, furniture and artwork.

This coating placed directly on the window panes will block out the heat and deflect glare while allowing sunlight to safely come through the window. You can purchase do it yourself kits or have it professional done.

Clothes For Your Windows
Now it is time to think about the fun layer of window dressing. A room looks complete when you add great treatments. What is the style of your room? What will it look like from the outside? Do you want them stationary or functional?

Panels
Panels are as popular now as when your mother was decorating her home. The difference is the variety in headers.

* Grommets create a modern vibe. The panel has metal rings along the top which threads on to your rod. They look best when used in areas they can remain stationary.

* Pinch pleats are strong in the custom treatment business. The most popular look is to hang them from metal or wooden rings. This look works well if you want to open and close your curtains often.

* Tab tops are fun for casual rooms. The tabs can be of different colors, have added buttons or be adorned with tassels. They should be used on windows that you do not need to close the curtains.

Valances

Valances are strong in window treatment decor. They add a finished look over your blinds by hiding the mechanical header. Hang them high enough so that they cover the top casing but they do not block the sun streaming into your window. There are so many styles of valances from box pleats to swags. Let your fabric design and the style of your room guide you on choosing the perfect valance.

Enter The Romans
They can be easily lower when privacy is needed. When raised, they create a tailored look that works well in so many homes. They look great in crisp cotton as well as a raw silk.

Window Treatment Crazy? Seek Professional Help
If you have a hard time visualizing the end results, choosing decorative window treatments can be daunting. A designer specializing in windows will take you step by step through the process. They will give you access to resources (fabrics, hardware, specialized blinds) that you would not be able to buy at your local big box store. They will also help protect you from costly mistakes.

What kind of window treatments do I have in my upstairs office? Well, looking at my windows I see delicate wispy strands of silk like material. Even though the design is intricate and somewhat pretty, I think it is time to knock those spider webs down! Until next time, enjoy more decorating ideas and video at my site below.

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