Wednesday, December 31, 2008

Bathroom Storage Set

Bathroom stuffs will also need its proper place to be safely kept. End your problems by adding the Panda Storage Set. This is an ideal solution for storage in any bathroom. This piece of furniture is an ideal upgrade for bathroom makeovers. It features its neutral tones and straight lines. The bathroom shelving is constructed from environment-friendly bamboo and recycled glass. This is a convenient way to supply an additional storage to your home most especially on bathroom area and help the environment. You can put your towels here, bathroom supplies, shower caps, and other things you need in bathroom. The Panda Storage set is easy to assemble although it will require you to ask help from your friend or a neighbor. More than just a piece of functional furniture, it is designed to make your bathroom stylish and attractive.

Tuesday, December 30, 2008

Recycle Your Old Furniture

• Instead of throwing away your old furniture, you can still repaint it or rewordked it to complement it n the style that your prefer.
• Get a new environment for your old furniture. You can freecycle it. Not only you save space on your house but your furniture is used by others.
• If you have the heart of a giver, you can just donate it to a thrift store, domestic abuse shelter or another non-profit of your choice.
• Using steel and aluminum, you can scrap it, and some plastic furniture can be melted down and reused. Put them into your plastic milk jugs and think for some ways to be recycled.
• You can sell it. Place it on ads or simply display them on your yard.
• Place your furniture outside with a “free” sign and wait them to disappear.
• Give it to someone you know just staring out.

Monday, December 29, 2008

Old Furniture Refinishing

After you repair your old furniture, the next process would be refinishing. The dented parts of the furniture are re-glued or replaced as needed. Keep in mind that to repair your damaged furniture cost you a little fraction of the cost of new furniture. Furniture is just a simple task but if you are not confident that you can do it, better seek a reputable professional to make sure that you get the best out of your old furniture.
The refurbishing process will only need for relatively newer furniture to give it a transformed look. This furniture will only demand a little makeover so you can just apply minor sanding to remove accumulated dirt and wax. Unlike refinishing, refurbishing is a cheaper option. It is highly recommended for unpainted wooden furniture and antiques due to its obvious benefits. Whatever you choose, these two options will renew the look for your old furniture aside from it will save you from buying a new one.

Friday, December 26, 2008

Spicy Red for Living Room

Add a spice for your life by adding a splash of red in your living room. A vibrant space with color red is truly fresh and fun, without being overwhelming. A white sofa will aid to offset the multiple hues of red, keeping the room anchored. You can add your pillows with white pillowcases. Although this is ideal, it doesn’t really limit you from adding more color and texture with additional throw pillows. Keep in mind to use the different shade of red for the room to prevent this from looking over powering. You can also add area rugs which is a good way to put additional texture and color tones to any room. The matting offsets the artwork and keeps it from blending in with the walls. Choosing the right color is essential in decorating your home. Don’t let bright colors scare you. Just enjoy and have fun expressing your personality in your home living space.

Thursday, December 25, 2008

Renovate Your Old Furniture

Makeover for your old furniture is a great idea not to mention that it can save you from buying a new one. You can renovate your old furniture by means of re-finishing and repairs. You can simply removing the paint or polish using the sand paper so that the furniture grains are evidently visible. This process is called refinishing. This method can also take out the stains by using a sand paper or a good stain-removing agent. This old furniture will now have a brand new look according to your preferred color. This technique is principally useful in re-doing a solid piece of furniture like Amish Oak furniture. You can supply a new paint with by glazes, crackled paint and others.

Reinventing a new design of upholstery, slipcovers, cane chairs and wicker furniture is a slightly typical task. But as much as possible, these kinds of home decors will professional help to get them into original shape.

Wednesday, December 24, 2008

How to Paint Old Furniture

• Lay down a drop cloth or old sheet to shield your floor against paint splatter.
• Wipe your furniture with mineral spirits.
• Use sandpaper and remove the gloss and give your paint a surface to adhere Or you can choose to paint or varnish stripper to take the furniture to the bare wood. Follow the manufacturer's directions carefully and sand after the process is completed.
• Make necessary repairs by means of using wood filler or wood spackle. Make sure to carefully follow the manufacturer's directions and sanding after filler/spackle has dried fully. Remove any dust residue by wiping the surface with tack cloth.
• Apply a heavy duty primer and allow drying carefully.
• After the primer has dried, the next step is sanding the surface lightly with 220-grit sandpaper and wipe down with tack cloth.
• To dry completely and lightly sanding between the coats, apply 2 - 3 coats of your topcoat allowing each coat, wiping down with tack cloth.

Tuesday, December 23, 2008

Do-It-Yourself Sanding Furniture

Instead of stripping the finish of many wood tables, cabinets and desks, as a diy-er you always look for the opportunity of refinishing furniture by painting over the existing finish. You must ensure that the original finish does not have cracks within it, or else those cracks may show even after your furniture refinishing project has been completed. This is the necessary consideration before you refinish your furniture.

If the finish gets bad, the first step you should always undertake in your furniture restoration project is the removal process. But if the finish is juts perfect, you can now move straight into preparing the surface for refinishing. You can remove skin oils and furniture polishes you've used while cleaning or even traces of food or drink that have been left on the surface of the furniture. But how do you do this? Simply wipe down the surface you are working with.

Monday, December 22, 2008

The Right Wood for Your DIY Bedroom Furniture

Nowadays, there are so many types of premium quality wood that have been developed by modern technology. Most of them are made from wooden 'sheet' materials; these are flat sheets of laminated or compressed wood products. They are known for being naturally stronger, more flexible and less capable of splitting than ordinary timber.

Good news for those who are planning to make their own beds because they can select their material like teakwood, rosewood and laminated box. You can also decide the height and width of your wardrobe. It must suit however on the sliding doors where it offers space solving storage and easy access to your clothes.

Of course, you will also decide the height of your bed. You can create headboards that are sleek and chic and will look good with cabinet tablets. You can also look for stylish lamps. It will also depend on the kind of ambiance that you like to portray on your own bedroom.

Friday, December 19, 2008

Restore Your Teak Patio

There is no need to hire for professional cleaner to clean your weathered teak patio. All you need is caustic soda.

1. Remove the piece from any finished surfaces or remove any items that will affect cleaning process. Wet the wood thoroughly using the hose.
2. Open the applicator lid of the first cleaner. It is ideal to work on a small area at a time that overlaps each area. Go from top to bottom without allowing the cleaner to dry on the wood.
3. Use the soft bristle brush or pad to scrub the base of the teak patio. Rinse thoroughly, and then apply the acid on the same area. Scrub it in the same manner, and the wood will then turn much lighter.
4. Finally, rinse the teak patio with water. The furniture material must appear lighter and cleaner. Repeat the same procedure if you still see any marks of stains. The wood will lighten as it dries.

Thursday, December 18, 2008

Disassemble Your Office Cubicle

Cubicles come in different shapes and sizes. They are fashioned from light materials and some even with windows. It is easy to build office cubicles but do you know how to disassemble them when needed?

1. Inspect your cubicle and check if it has rods, screws, or spring lever attached to it. Grab a friend or a chair if you think you might need help.
2. The middle desk is the best place to start because this is the portion that holds both sides of the cubicle walls together. Check for the screws connected to it or if it has release spring level near the back wide part of the walls.
3. Go underneath the desk and place your feet against the bottom of the desk. Hold it so it won’t fall on your face when your disable the desk part of the cubicle.
4. Use the flat head screw driver and wedge the latches off the cubicle wall. Most of the desk have hooks and must be pushed and pulled.
5. Check the side walls and see how they connect.

Wednesday, December 17, 2008

Do-It-Yourself File Cabinet

File cabinets are costly. So to save many, here are some steps that you need to follow to make your own file cabinet. You can organize tow things that you can buy from your local furniture discount store.

1. Sort out your mess of papers to identify how much room you need to store essential things. You shred and discard other papers that are not needed.
2. Go to your discount store or a fancy store. Buy the plastic milk crates and the hanging file folders with tabs.
3. Take out the hanging files folders and put them next to your sorted out papers. Pick of a stack of papers and organize them in separate hanging folders by subject. In the file folders, fill the tabs with accurate subject.
4. Place the hanging folder in the milk crate. This will perfectly suit on your papers and you can slide folders back and forth to find your documents easily.

Tuesday, December 16, 2008

Creating Your Own Cheap Desk

1. Prepare your supplies. You need tow saw horses, wooden board, glue, shellac, and paint.
2. Gather your covering materials. You can cover your desk with black and white materials. You can use used newspaper for background and glue cartoons.
3. It’s time to use your glue and shellac after gathering all of your materials. Glue all the pictures and pieces onto the board. Cover everything with a thin layer of shellac when finished.
4. Paint. Paint the saw horses if you want to make your cheap desk even more personalized. Ensure that they are completely dry before you put the pieces together.
5. Put them together. It’s time to put your desk furniture together after each part is finished. Check if all the pieces are completely dry. Stand the saw horses up and place the board on top, making sure that they are in accurate length apart to support the weigh of the board and anything that will be place on it.

Monday, December 15, 2008

Fixing a Wobbly Wood Chair

Buying a new furniture like your chair is expensive nowadays. So instead of replacing it, why not repair it by yourself? Here are some simple ways to

1. Place the damage chair upside down on top of the plastic tarp or drop cloth.
2. Cautiously measure the length of each leg to identify the wobble maker and its length.
3. Make a pencil mark at the same length as the wobbly one of the other three legs.
4. Use a sand paper for each of the longer three legs until you reach the pencil mark. Begin with 80-grit coarse sandpaper and ending it with fine (220-grit) sandpaper. It’s perfect to sand outdoor to keep the fine wood dust particles from permeating your home.

If the chair has metal, cork, or plastic glides, examines the legs to desire that one is not missing. Buy a replacement right away if a glide is missing. This is a small disk used to secure the floors from furniture.

Friday, December 12, 2008

What’s the Right Desk for You?

There are many types of desk that fit on your specific needs and purpose. Not al desks are created for computers. For instance, if you are working at home with papers and pens, there are specific desk that will suit on what you need.

• Student desk- it features drawers under one side of the writing’s surface. On the other hand, the other one is open beneath in order to accommodate the sitter. This is also an ideal add-ons to your bedroom.
• Secretary desk- unlike student desk, it has fewer drawers below the writing desk yet it has a when to be closed when not in use. A closes secretary desk bears resemblance to a small armoire and ideal to put in living room.
• Writing desk- it normally features enough surface for writing or placing a laptop. It has few cubby holes and typically some type of closable top. This writing desk can be a cool piece of addition in a bedroom.

Thursday, December 11, 2008

How to Choose an Office Chair

The ergonomic desk chair is perfect for office to help you avoid strain on your back and neck due to sitting for long periods of time. However, buying this chair will consider a budget. Here are some few reminders that make an office chair and ergonomic chair.

• Size- the chair is adjustable according to your height. Most seats are varying from 16 to 21 inches. The seats require being deep enough. So when you sit back in the desk chair, you will have about two inches between the edge of the seat and the back of your knees.
• Structure- this chair must have a lumbar support, a place where the desk chair curves in at the lower back. Ensure that you can rest your arms without the suffering from shoulder strain and your forearms will not touch the armrest while you are typing.
• Material- an ergonomic chair has a breathable cloth fabric that will provide comfort.

Wednesday, December 10, 2008

Home-made Kitchen Cabinets

Instead of buying kitchen cabinets which can be very expensive, why not design your own? All you need to have is the right tools and plans you will realize that have some carpentry skills.

Getting Started

1. Measure the dimension of your kitchen by making a scale drawing that includes the cabinets you want to build. There are lots of sites in the net that will provide you cabinet building plans.
2. Visit you local lumber supplier that sells cabinet. Check for different types of finished wood and note the price.
3. Once you choose your, give your measurement to a lumber store employee.

The Construction Procedure

1. Design the final draft of kitchen dimension. Don’t forget to calculate the cabinet measurement. Ensure that your cabinet is perfectly arranged.
2. Create a list of supplies that you will need such as the exact dimension of the wood pieces. Buy your supply from a home improvement or lumber supply store.
3. You can now build your cabinets following the step by step plans of your choice.
4. Stain or paint your newly accomplished cabinets following the instructions of product label.

Tuesday, December 9, 2008

Create You Own Dining Table

Here are the simple and basic steps in designing your own dining table.

1. Buy a piece of plywood with the thickness of ¾ inches.
2. Cut off 6 inches the plywood using the table saw and design curved corners by utilizing the router.
3. Get a piece of wood lumber cut into four pieces to size. You can also buy ready made table legs.
4. Look for a flat surface and put the plywood with the underside up. Screw on each leg and join it using the drill and screw driver. Connect the legs by means of 2 inch screws on each leaving 5 to 6 inches overhand on each corner.
5. Toss the table over ensuring that it is eve. You can make necessary adjustments when you think it is unstable.
6. Sand the top and sides of the table top until it is smooth and free from splinters. Use tack cloth in removing the dust.
7. As a finishing touch, paint the completed table and let it dry before using.

Monday, December 8, 2008

Home-made Daybeds

If you need to have the kind of room that can be functional more than just a dressing, why not construct a daybed? Daybed is the ideal option for a small room because they will only need a little space.

1. On a chosen wall, center a sturdy prebuilt bed frame.
2. Put down a twin mattress on the frame top.
3. To make it stylish and creatively designed, accessorize it with a colorful and bed skirt, comforter, and pillows that will match together.
4. You can make use of the unfinished base cabinets in making end tables.
5. Provide a finished look by adding a plywood plank to the top of the cabinet.
6. Add the base molding across the bottom.

You may choose to paint using the same base color as the walls and dry brushed in black. These components which act as the “arms” of the daybed will identify its boundaries and give extra storage space for your room.

Friday, December 5, 2008

Ensuring balance in home decor

The balance in interior decorating should be within your reach. And just like ratio and proportion, balance is one thing any serious interior decorator should have in mind. Balance in general is just like the balance that you know all along in other subjects. In short balance is known as the arrangement of the objects that create an even feel in the room. If you think that the home furniture is well balanced with the new home accent, then yes you know that there is an appropriate balance in your room. The balance that you can strike in the room can be asymmetrical or symmetrical. Symmetrical balance is the kind of balance that is achieved when the objects are arranged like a mirror image. The other type of balance is known in the industry as asymmetrical balance yet the home furniture are not arranged in a mirror image. Example is a console table with floral arrangement at one end and a candle on the table on the other.

Thursday, December 4, 2008

Caring tips for Flokati rug

When you are gifted with the Flokati rug t match any furniture then it is imperative that proper attention and maintenance should be done on this particular area rug. When you own then it is recommended that you comb the flokati rug with the use of a wide-toothed plastic hairbrush or you can use the simple wood or the plastic garden rake in order to fluff this area rug. Shaking the rug will also bring in the results and shaking the area rug will fluff up the new rug. Washing the area rug is a good idea as well. If the area rug is small then this can be placed on a washing machine on a gentle cycle and can be dried out even under direct sunlight. If you own a larger area rug then the rug should be washed in a commercial washer and you can find one in the many Laundromats in your area. You can add a mild detergent as the water is filling in and you can only add the rug after the detergent has mixed well with water.

Wednesday, December 3, 2008

Stripper of paints

So you have already painted an area in your house, and suddenly a friend of yours wants to remove that paint and suggested a newer and better one. If you would like to remove the paint and re-paint the area, so what needs to be done? Well if you check out the market right now you will be surprised at the number of tools that can be used by the interested DIY homemaker if she wants to remove some of the paint. She can take advantage of the paint removes, the varnish removers or the wax removers. These are commercial products that can be used on the floors, the trim, the window frames, home furniture and objects. Just a warning though; though strippers can help in removing the paint, you need to take note that these strippers are highly dangerous. Strippers are highly caustic and can cause severe burns on the skin when not used the right way.

Tuesday, December 2, 2008

Indoor fountain for the DIY homemaker

Indoor fountains can do wonders for indoors too. If in the past the idea for fountains will be for the outdoors only, this time a lot of people are taking interest in fountains that can be used indoors. This is an easy indoor improvement that can be accomplished by the DIY type of person. Most of the time the fountains that can be used in any homes are pre-made and this can be installed by the DIY homemaker in less than an hour. These products and home accents are designed and manufactured with functionality in mind and some of the available fountains in the market may require no plumbing attachment or other home furniture or structure modifications. These home accents don’t even need regular attention from homemakers. Wall fountains that can be used in many homes can range in sizes, colors, shapes and patters. For this reason, fountains can be customized to suit the needs of the family. Great to match the furniture.

Monday, December 1, 2008

Selecting the best lights

Busy moms will find it hard to find the best match of lighting for their targeted room. This is true because for every task at hand, a very special lighting can be used. For this reason, it is always suggested to ask yourself first where the lamp or the light will be used and for what purpose. One type of lighting is the recessed strip lighting which can be useful for providing that counter top light in the kitchen. The accent lighting can be used to show off the plants in the garden or in the living room and this can be used as well to show off the many kinds of plants, pictures, collections and other interesting architectural features in the room. The narrow beam halogen down light can be used to light a single piece of home furniture or accent in any area of the house.

Friday, November 28, 2008

Painting tips

Doors are not the only ones that require painting and re-painting after a period of time. You also need to paint other parts of the house like the skirtings, the fireplaces and even your staircases. When you need to paint these areas, make sure that you break down the painting operation into logical steps in order to get the desired results. For example, you need to decide if you will start off at a corner and work your way along and laying each section back off into the previous one. Or you can list a separate way of doing the staircases. With the staircases, you can paint the component parts separately. Here is one suggestion when painting the staircases; try the spindles from top to bottom starting at the top of the stairs working down the hand rails. If you will be painting the stair treads and that part has no carpet, then you can paint all of the risers alternately.

Thursday, November 27, 2008

Start your painting job on the right note

There are a few steps that should be remembered before you paint the door in order to match your contemporary furniture. You need to remove all handles and other obstacles and you lay down the newspaper under the door in order to prevent the brush from picking the dust around. So which part of the door frame should be painted? Most homemakers find this a difficult decision to make. Well the answer here is simple; you need to paint all the frame edges up and that will include the parts of the room where the door opens up or closes. It is suggested that it is best to paint the frame before the door. The door edges must be painted before the face, for better results. And when painting the face of the door, you should work slightly outwards at the edges rather than inwards in order to avoid what others say as the ‘fat edges’.

Wednesday, November 26, 2008

Looking for the best area rugs

How do you look for area rugs that you can use inside your living room? Well there are a few considerations that you should keep in mind. First and foremost is the size of the area rugs. What is the use of the area rugs if you cannot accommodate these inside your living room? Make sure that you get area rugs that are not too small or not too big for the living room area. And when you are fitting the area rugs inside your living room, remember that a simple rule should be remembered and followed. The furniture need not be completely off the rug or on the rug. But you have to remember that too much furniture will make the area rug look small so be responsible when choosing area rugs and when arranging the furniture in the area rugs. There are times when it is favorable to select two small rugs than to get one large rug.
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Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Major home checks

There are some major checks that should be done on the house on a regular basis. For example the gutters and the downspouts should be checked regularly. When you check these areas, make sure that you remove the leaves and the debris that can be found on the gutters and the downspouts. You can re-attach the gutters that have been pulled away from the house. You can run a hose on the roof and check if there is proper drainage used. If you can note a leak in the area then you can dry first the area and use caulking or an epoxy to seal the leak. The siding should be checked too, and you can clean the siding with the pressure washer so as to keep the mold from growing. The wood surfaces should be checked for weathering and paint failure. Place attention on the exterior caulking and replace it if it is deteriorating.

Monday, November 24, 2008

Using stain to color the outdoor wooden deck

Leaving the outdoor wooden deck as is will be boring. It is suggested that you make some moves in order to finish the outdoor wooden deck. You can use a stain in order to color and then seal a deck. The use of this material is one of the more popular ways on how to color your outdoor wooden deck. Others usually like and prefer applying semi-transparent deck stains to the wooden decks since the transparency of the stain will allow the natural beauty of the wood to really stand out. Applying this kind of stain is easy and can be done without the services of a professional. Even you can do the painting and this can be done by following simple steps and by using the right products. You can choose from many different brands of semi-transparent deck stain which can be purchased for use on the wooden deck. Check the many brands available in the market.

Friday, November 21, 2008

Easy cleaning of adhesives

Adhesives are helpful home tools as you can use adhesives for a variety of applications. For the kid’s home projects, adhesives can be used. For your home office needs, the adhesives can be used as well. Simply put your adhesives are great help inside the house. But did you know that adhesives can be very messy as well when these are overused and misused? Here is an old method of cleaning the remains of the adhesives on any surface. What you can do is to mix one teaspoon of a mild pH balanced detergent, like a mild non alkaline non bleaching detergent with a cup of lukewarm water, then blot. And a repetition of this step until the remains of the adhesives is removed. So what is the new method of cleaning the remains of the adhesives? Well, it is thru the use of a commercial cleaner- petroleum based, commercially and industrially proven formulation that can remove the stains and more.

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Tips For Cleaning

This is a constant for homeowners as we all want our house to be as clean as can be. Some of us dread the coming of cleaning day as it entails getting down and dirty. Also, you could work up quite a sweat while cleaning your home especially if you have a large house.

To make it easier for you, you should leave organizing your closets and drawers during cleaning day. You should just focus on cleaning your furniture items. Organizing your things could take up a lot of time and you might not be able to focus on cleaning. Another tip is to have plenty of rags at the ready. Since you are cleaning the whole house, you will need them. Also, when washing the rags after cleaning, don’t mix them with your clothes. That's just not right.

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Make A Skirt For Your Coffee Table

If you have a wooden coffee table in the living room and you feel that it lacks something, maybe it could be a skirt. Adding a skirt to a wooden coffee table is a simple job that almost anyone can do. All you have to do is to find a fabric which suits the color of your curtains as well as the finish of your coffee table. Then, it's just a matter of sticking them inside the coffee table using either fabric glue or tacks.

Sunday, November 16, 2008

Create Your Own Bed Skirt

If you think your bed sheet is not enough to give your bedroom that look that you want, maybe you should try adding a bed skirt. What you need are hand towels and bath towels as well as ball fringe, fabric glue and some bed skirt tacks.

All you have to do is to arrange the bath towels and hand towels with the latter placed over the former. Then, glue the ball fringe to the hand towels and secure the towels to the bed using bed skirt tacks. Be sure to choose towels which complement the color of your bed sheet.

Thursday, November 13, 2008

Making A Photo Cube

If you want something new for your home, you can try making a photo cube. What you would need are six 16x20 inch photos, 20 4x4 inch wood cubes, adhesive, sealer, ruler, and a crafts knife.

The first thing you need to do is divvy up the photos into 4x4 inch pieces. Then, use the adhesive to stick them to the wood cubes and apply the sealer to protect your pictures. To do this properly, line up the cubes to form a 4x5 rectangle and use it as a guide to complete your picture. Do this to all the sides of the cubes.

After the cubes, it is time to create the frame. What you will need are pieces of wood. Two 18 inch plank with a width of 4 inches, and two more 22 inches in length with the same width. Pick a wood plank about an inch or two thick for the frame. Then, assemble it with the cubes inside as a guide. Use wood glue for the frame. Then, you can make your own stand or you can just set it up upon a pedestal or any shelf big enough to accommodate it.

Using A Floorboard For A Shelf

If you want to make your entryway look cooler but lacks in space, you can use a shelf instead of a table or bench, or any furniture for that matter. What you need is a floorboard, preferably of good quality. Installing it to your wall is just as easy as finding the stud and drilling through them to affix some brackets for the floorboard to sit on. After that, you can find a mirror of the right size and secure it over the floorboard. If you want, you can add a fabric over the floorboard if the wood you used is not that good-looking.

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

How To Remove Beer Stains

If you are a beer drinker or anyone in your house drinks beer, chances are, some of it will get spilled onto your furniture. If it stains the furniture, there are easy steps you can follow to remove it. If the stain is still wet, blot it with a clean white towel or paper towels. Do not rub the stain as it could only get worse.

After that, mix a teaspoon of detergent and a cup of warm water. Apply the mixture to the stain and let it sit for about five minutes before blotting it again. If the stain is not removed, try a solution of one part white vinegar and two parts water to remove the stain.

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

Finishes For The Outside

When you talk about finishes, you might think about the finish of your indoor furniture like chairs and tables. But it could also be applied to the exterior of your home like the door. If your home has some attractive wood, you might want to use transparent finish so that the beauty of the wood will still be visible. If you choose varnish or synthetic resins, it could not last long against the harsh sun. Therefore, it is recommended that you use semi-transparent stains as they are easier to use and can last longer against the harsh sunlight.

Monday, November 10, 2008

How To Reduce Energy Consumption

Today, most people are looking to save money and the energy bill is one place to start.  There are a lot of steps you can o to reduce your energy consumption at home.  For example, you can install a programmable thermostat which would control the temperature inside your home.  You can program it so that when no one is around, the air-conditioning system would shut down to save on electricity.  Also, you can use ceiling fans by reversing it in the winter as it will push the warm air down.

Thursday, November 6, 2008

How To Clean Bricks

If you opted to use brick for your home like for the patio, you have to keep in mind that it needs to be cleaned every now and then.  When cleaning it, you should use a moderately strong alkali solution.

To make your own solution to be used for cleaning bricks, mix one ounce of soap with an ounce of table salt and water just enough to make a cream.  Apply this cream to the surface of the bricks and let it dry for more than ten minutes.  After the ten minutes, use a stiff brush to remove it.

Wednesday, November 5, 2008

Simple Window Decorating

A window need not look bland anymore with different curtains offered in the market.  With this variety, it is easy for people to choose the ones that will look well with their home furniture.  Making a window look appealing does not only involve a change of curtains though.  Even a simple project such as replacing curtain rods can alter how your window looks.  These are inexpensive so it would not be much of a hassle to undertake.  Just pick the curtain rod with the same design theme as your curtain and your ready to go. 

Tuesday, November 4, 2008

How To Strip Old Wallpaper

If you moved in to a house with old wallpapers you want to replace, chances are you are going to strip it yourself.  It is an easy job of course so there's nothing surprising about that.  Although there are types of wallpapers that need professional help when being stripped, the majority of wallpapers can easily be taken down.

Basically, what you would need is a cleaning solution made up of water and dishwashing detergent.  Use a sponge to wet the backing of the old wallpaper after stripping its outermost layer.  Then use a scraping tool to get rid of the backing.  The longer you let the wallpaper soak in the solution, the easier it would be to strip.

Painting Your Fence

While it may sound like an easy task, painting a fence properly is a task that should not be taken lightly.  First, you have to make sure that the paint you are going to use is resistant to ultraviolet rays.  Also, it should be able to withstand the elements.

Paintbrushes should also be chosen with care.  While brushes may look the same, they are not.  Look for brushes with bristles of uniform size and looks firm.  Also, you have to make sure that the surface you will be painting is cleaned thoroughly to make sure that the paint would stick to it.

Monday, November 3, 2008

Simple Home Décor: Pressed Flowers

If you love flowers and you want to decorate your home with it, there's a simple project you can do by yourself and that is pressing flowers.  All you need to do is gather the flowers that you want.  If you have a garden, this makes the project easier to tackle.  After collecting the flowers, place them between absorbent papers and put them in between the pages of a heavy book.  Give it eight days to dry and take them out and you have the materials for any home decorating project you might have in mind like having them laminated and displayed in your living room.

Thursday, October 30, 2008

Beeswax Kit Lets You Make Your Own Candle

An easy do-it-yourself project becomes easier if you have a kit to start with.  Case in point is making a candle.  If you purchase a beeswax kit, you can make your own candle design without the hassle of melting wax.  You can just mold the beeswax directly and give it the shape that you want.

A beeswax kit will cost you about $8 so it's not that heavy on your wallet especially if you are buying expensive candles for your home.

Make Your Own Soap

We each have our own preferences when it comes to the soap that we use. If you want to be really unique, then you can try your hands on making your own soap. A soap making kit would set you back about $23. That's not too bad really if you really want to have soap with the scent made right for you. A soap making kit would hold soap cubes, dyes, different scents, and plastic molds among others. This is a great investment if you want everything in your home to be personalized to suit your lifestyle and personality just like you do with your home furniture.

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Necessary Tool For Craft DIY

If you are tackling any home décor do-it-yourself project, you know that you are gong to need the right tools. And if you are working on arts and crafts for your home, you definitely need a craft hand drill. You can get one of these for about $20 and it will be worth it. I'm sure you cannot use that power drill for small things like a stack of paper or something like that.

Monday, October 27, 2008

Tips On Plumbing

If you have a blocked drain, do you call for the professionals instantly or do you try to tackle the problem yourself? If you are the latter, you could certainly use some tips like using a coat hanger. Straighten it first then use a pair of pliers to make a hook on the end and use it as an alterative to plumbing snake.

Also, when you are working under the sink, you can use a two-liter soda bottle as an air pillow to keep your neck supported. If you want to keep your hand tools shiny, you can use toothpaste to shine it.

Sunday, October 26, 2008

How To Repair Grout

That space between your tiles is called the grout and almost all of the time, with the passing of time; they might get cracked or be stained. But before you call professionals to replace or repair your grout, remember that you can do it on your own.

What you will need is a grout saw, grout mixture, colorant, and a sponge. First, use the grout saw to remove the old grout. Then clean the area using water. Remember to use the right type of grout depending on the type of tile you are using. Then, using the sponge, apply the grout mixture. Follow the instruction on the container of the grout filler to know when it has cured properly and use the sponge and water to wipe off those excess grout filler. If the grout is just stained, then you can just use the colorant.

Friday, October 24, 2008

Inspect Your Own Home

You can save a lot of money if you can cut down on your energy consumption. So if you have a cooling or heating system at home, it is always good to keep them working efficiently. Also, since these systems heat or cool air, keeping those conditioned air inside your home is one way of cutting down on your energy bills.

One way to check if you are wasting conditioned air due to leaks is to close all doors and windows in your home and shutting down combustion appliances. Then, turn on all exhaust fans. Use lighted incense sticks to track down the spaces where your precious conditioned air leak.

Thursday, October 23, 2008

Treat For Halloween

With the Halloween coming right at us very fast, you might want to grab some ideas for your kids. Apart from making their costumes and decorating your home with a Halloween theme using furnishings from your local furniture stores, you can also prepare a treat for your kids.

For one, you can make a pizza with monster faces. What you need are the same ingredients for making a pizza. The only variation with this treat is that let the children design scary faces on the dough using the toppings. After they have designed the faces, cook them as per instruction and there you go, an easy treat for your kids this Halloween.

Wednesday, October 22, 2008

How To Replace Shingles

If you have a shingle that needs replacing you might enlist the help of professionals which could set you back some serious bucks. So if you want to save, you can replace it yourself. What you need to do is get a shingle that matches the one you use. You will also need a hammer, some roofing nails, a crowbar, and a caulking gun with roof tar tube.

You have to replace the shingle on a warm day but not too hot as it could crack the shingle. Also, it is not advisable to do it on a cold day for obvious reasons. First thing you have to do is to remove the damaged shingle carefully as not to break any undamaged shingle, use the crowbar for this. After the damaged shingles are cleared, align the new shingles carefully and affix them to the roof using your hammer and the roofing nails. Then use the tar roof over the head of the nails to keep water out.

Monday, October 20, 2008

Pick Your Own Windows

It is known that keeping your cooling and heating system working efficiently does a lot to reduce your energy costs. But, you should not also forget that your windows can also help you keep that precious conditioned air inside your home. Therefore, you should choose the right window for your home.

Steel windows are the best when it comes to durability. But these are pricey so if you cannot afford them, it is best to find other alternatives such as vinyl. These are affordable and could help you keep your home insulated. The only drawback though is that they deteriorate fast when exposed to extreme heat or cold.

Friday, October 17, 2008

Easy Letter Holder

If you are bored and would like to make something for the home just to pass the time, maybe you could try making a letter holder. All you would need are panel boards, wood, panel pins, wood screws, key hooks, some sandpaper, and a small amount of wood glue.

Basically, you just have to cut the panel boards in your desired shape of the letter holder and use the wood to connect the panel boards on its three sides. Of course, you have to leave the top side open. For the complete instruction on how to go about making a letter holder, click here.

Thursday, October 16, 2008

Adhesives We Use At Home

In almost any home do-it-yourself projects, we need to join pieces of materials together. There are some cases where the old fashioned use of nail is enough or screws for that matter. But when these are not applicable, we turn to adhesives which we have to know better.

There's the epoxy first. It could come in two tubes for resin and hardener which you have to mix first to use. Epoxies after drying is rock hard and can be used to join several types of materials like metal, wood or glass. If you want something made especially for wood, then there's the wood glue. Of course, there's also the all around use duct tape if you dare to use it.

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

Basic DIY Tips

So you have found a DIY project for your home, the next step of course is putting them into action. And when doing these projects, it helps to know some basic tips. For example, if you are working using a tool belt, make sure you have a magnet in there to help you with keeping track of small metallic objects you might lose otherwise.

Another basic tip you might want to consider when working with epoxy is to squeeze resin and hardener simultaneously. This will make sure that you will get the right mixture every time. When cleaning sawdust and dirt from your floor without a dustpan, all you need is a piece of newspaper and tape. Just tape the paper onto the floor and sweep the dust onto the paper. After that, just wad up the paper and dispose of it properly.

Monday, October 13, 2008

Repair Or Replace Tiles

If you have a cracked tile in the bathroom or the kitchen, you need not replace it if there is only a slight crack. All you have to do is a get a paint matching the color of your tiles and mi it with tile filler. Using a cotton swab, apply it to the crack and before it hardens completely, wipe it with a damp cloth.

If the damage is beyond repair and you have to replace the tile, get a towel and drape it over the tile then shatter it with a hammer. Remove all the debris and you are ready to put on that new tile. This replace or repair mantra should also be used on other furniture pieces in your home.

Sunday, October 12, 2008

General Tips For Messy Jobs

There would be times when decorating your home means more than just rearranging furniture pieces. Sometimes you will have to get down and dirty and for these jobs, I have a few tips for you. For one, if you are going to drill a hole in your ceiling like when installing a ceiling lamp, you sure don't want dust falling directly into your eyes. To solve this problem, first drill a hole in the center of a plastic container lid. Then, push it into the bit while you drill the hole in the ceiling. It will collect the dust.

Also, when pouring materials like powder and you are out of a funnel, just cut out a corner of an envelope and you have a funnel. And when washing clothes, it is recommended that you use cold water and a cold-water detergent. It will do the same cleaning job without the energy consumption required when you use heated water.

Friday, October 10, 2008

Turn Your Basement Into An Entertainment Room

Are you looking to add an entertainment room into your home but still does not know what to do? You can add a patio to entertain guest if you want to. But the best way to go about making an entertainment room is by refurnishing your basement. You can turn your basement into an entertainment room by cleaning it up, installing carpets on your own, and adding the essential entertainment room furnishings. By doing it yourself, you can save a lot of money especially in laying out the carpet. All you need is the right attitude towards tackling the project.

Thursday, October 9, 2008

Choosing A Towel Rack

If you are looking to add something to your bathroom without shelling out too much, then you should go for a towel rack. Apart from being very practical to have inside the bathroom, it can also change the way your bathroom looks. Since there are different types of towel racks, you have to choose what will fit the style of your bathroom.

If you are short of space, then a towel rack for rolled up towels is the right choice. There are also towel stands which can pivot meaning the towels can be positioned is such a way that they do not hinder your movement in the bathroom. There are also two-tiered bathroom towel racks which are more sophisticated but would set you back more than those simple towel racks. If you are wiling to spend more, you can try those heated towel racks.

Clean Shower Heads With Vinegar

If you have a showerhead which you want to clean but is not to keen about dumping chemicals down the sink after using them, there is an alternative I'd be more than happy to share with you. You can clean those gunks off of showerheads using vinegar.

Here's what you should do: First, find a pot which will accommodate the showerhead and can be filled with vinegar so that the showerhead is submerged completely. Now, pour in vinegar in the pot and submerge the showerhead into the pot without it touching the bottom of the pot. Use your ingenuity on that one. Then, warm the pot over a fire but don't let it boil. Just let the vinegar warm up and simmer for a few minutes. After that, the gunk would be easy to scrub off the showerhead.

Tuesday, October 7, 2008

Insulating Basics

To save on your energy bills especially during winter, you have to have your home properly insulated. And if you are thinking about doing the insulation yourself, then you should at least have an idea about insulation materials. One thing that you have to be familiar with is the R-value.

It stands for resistance to heat flow. That means, the higher the R-value of the insulation material, the better it would insulate your home. If you live in an area known for harsh winters, then you have to use insulating materials with high R-value. This is just another way of protecting your investment that is your home along with its contemporary furniture pieces.

Make Your Own Autumn Decoration

The color of autumn is such a good thing to look at. It is thus not surprising that many homeowners tend to use the rich colors connected with autumn on their homes. It can match up perfectly with a casual themed or a formal themed home.

To make your own autumn décor, all you need is a Styrofoam which you need to cut into a shape of a maple leaf or an oak leaf. After cutting it to desired size, attach artificial pine cones, leaves and other things you'll see around during autumn. Then, stick it to your front door and you are ready to welcome autumn.

Friday, October 3, 2008

Create A CD Lamp

If you are into computers, then chances are, you have a lot of CDs at home for which you have no use. Instead of throwing them away and adding to our waste problem, you should put them to good use by making a CD lamp. Intrigued?

The end result would be a good addition to any bedroom or study table. For the steps in making a CD lamp, click here. This is surely one DIY project that you would love if you are into cool furniture that stands out.

Thursday, October 2, 2008

Stencil A Candle

Personalizing is definitely part of home decorating. It is always a good choice to match your personality with the things that surround you. The good thing about this is that you can personalize even small things such as a candle.

To stencil a candle for decorating purposes, you will need a vanilla candle, a stencil, stencil adhesive, white craft paint and candle painting medium, rubbing alcohol, sponge brush, and some cotton balls.

Start off by putting on the stencil adhesive on the stencil and allowing it to dry. Then, using the cotton balls, swab the candle surface to be painted using the rubbing alcohol and let it dry. After that, mix the craft paint with the candle painting medium. Stick the stencil into the candle and with the sponge brush, apply the paint mixture. After removing the stencil carefully, you're done!

Tuesday, September 30, 2008

Room Cleaning Basics

While most of us know when to clean a room, we sometimes end up using up a lot of time in cleaning a single room. The problem is not that we don't know how to clean a room as that is very elementary. What gets in the way though is the lack of planned actions to be taken. It is recommended that we at least have an idea what to do first in cleaning a room and the steps after that first one.

So if you want to make cleaning around the house easier to handle, I suggest this article. This should take care of that wasted time in cleaning at home.

Friday, September 26, 2008

Paint It On Your Own

In decorating a home, there will always come a time that the homeowner would need to change the paint scheme. Or, there will come a time when the old paint needs to be replaced. Instead of hiring people to paint your house, you can just do it on your own.

There are things you have to consider when painting. First of all, you have to prepare the surface to be painted. It should be cleaned thoroughly so that the new paint will adhere to the surface meaning it will last longer. Another thing to keep in mind during painting is that you should always work with proper ventilation as paint fumes are dangerous. Also, it is recommended that you use the right tools for the job so don't use oversized rollers when you are just painting a narrow surface.

Tuesday, September 23, 2008

Making A Circular Tablecloth

Circular dining tables have their own appeal. Thus, people would tend to pick circular tables over rectangular ones. Now, if you are one of those people, then you would surely want to have a circular tablecloth to match your personality. If you want to make your own, then I have the right site for you.

All you need is a sewing machine and all other tools like scissors and tape measure aside from the fabric of your choice. Head on over to Marcus Fabrics to see how you can make your own circular tablecloth.

Monday, September 22, 2008

How To Make Your Own Pillow

This is an easy task to do with as you will only need a basic knowledge of sewing and you'll only need fabric of your choice, and the filling of your choice. The first thing to do is to cut the fabric to your desired size giving it a few centimeters of allowance for the stitches.

After you have the two fabric pieces cut into the desired length, take out the sewing tools and sew the two pieces together all around leaving about 8 inches open. After that, it's time to stuff your pillow with your filling. It could be down feathers, polyester filling, or pillow form. With that done, you can sew the fabric all around and that's pretty much it.

Friday, September 5, 2008

The Focal Point In A Room

In decorating a room, there is a thing called the focal point. This comes from the idea that a room will look more inviting if furniture pieces are arranged in such a way that one point is the center of attention. That area is called the focal point and in this post, I'm gonna help you find the focal point in any room.

First, look around your room and pick the most eye-catching feature. This could be an architectural feature like a fireplace. Apart from that, a conversational piece can also serve as a room's focal point.

You can create one by creating a design in the room which would be the first thing that one will notice upon entering the room. If the focal point is an architectural feature, make sure that you design it with accents fitting to its size, color, and other attributes.

Wednesday, September 3, 2008

A Simple Slipcover Project


In the dining room or the living room, a chair is always present.  Apart from these two rooms in your home chairs always seem to be present in almost every room.  Thus it is a great idea for our first project to be based around chairs.

Just a glance at the above picture and you'll see how you can turn a simple slipcover into something fashionable.  And it doesn't take a lot of imagination how to create such a masterpiece.  Cords in the color of your choice can be easily purchased and just as easy to attach to any slipcover.  The buttons are for accents and they really look good and it just takes a basic knowledge of sewing to get those buttons on your slipcover.

This is an easy project which can do wonders on how your chairs look.

Monday, September 1, 2008

Just The Beginning

Do-It-Yourself. This is not only for people looking to save a few bucks on home decoration. This is also for people looking to express their artistic side. In home decoration, a lot of people would just buy furniture pieces and fixtures since it is usually easier to do.

But for some people, like me, giving a home a personal touch in terms of decoration is a must. Thus, DIY projects are important to me. Through the years, I have undertaken some DIY projects and with this blog, I'm looking forward to sharing them with people with the same interest as me.

So be sure to check back this here blog in the future. Bye for now. :D

Wednesday, August 27, 2008

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