The living room is typically the one room where you spend more of your awake time than any other room in the house. Understandably this room can quickly become dull or feel outdated so it’s a good idea to update your living room regularly in small ways to keep it looking and feeling fresh and fun. Use our quick and easy living room decorating tips to refresh regularly throughout the year.

Undecorate

It seems a little backwards, but undecorating a room is a great way to give is a clean look and feeling, and it’s also great for spring cleaning. Take down everything you’ve put on the walls, on the tops of furniture, remove all throw pillows and blankets, basically strip the room of its personality. This leaves you an incredibly blank slate which can be refreshing by itself but may need a little work, so add pieces back or new pieces sparingly, editing your decisions as you go.

Shop your Storage

Try something new by going back to the old. Bring back old accessories, photos, decorations, pillows, even outdated and tired colors and give them new life in your living room. You really liked these items once, in fact so much so that you stored them rather than throwing them away, so let them breathe once again.

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As most of you know, changing habits is not easy, so that is why if you are looking to streamline your kitchen, the most important thing to do is starting with who you are.

Make note of the workspace and things you use regularly in your kitchen and work around that. Depending on if you have a new kitchen to start fresh with, or you feel like reworking what you already have, there are many ways to get yourself organized.

The first thing to do is store things you use close to where you work.

• There is no need to be conventional, place things in your kitchen where it is most convenient. For example, put all your dishware next to the sink and dishwasher.
• Use the drawers directly underneath the countertop to store things you use on a daily basis.
• Think simple; these are things like silverware, spatulas and Tupperware. Unless you are an avid cook, there is no need to have all your fancy gadgets right at hand. Put them away in a cabinet that is higher up and use the available space for stuff like pots and pans.
• Keep your glasses in a cabinet next to the sink, that’s where the water is and they will also be easier to put away.

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Many options in home flooring are available, but it is important to pick flooring that matches your lifestyle.

Carpet

Carpet (like Empire Carpet) warms up a room and helps keep the noise down in a room. It is great for bedrooms and formal spaces where there isn’t a lot of food and drink, especially with small children and pets.

Spills on carpet need to be cleaned up immediately to avoid permanent staining. Pets can leave odors and hair in carpets. Choosing a carpet without loops is a must with pets.

Vinyl Flooring

Vinyl flooring is easy to clean and maintain. It is also moisture resistant, and it is a quiet flooring option. Vinyl works well with little children. It is susceptible to rips, tears, and gouges, and pets’ claws can nick and damage the surface. (more…)

Energy Efficient Windows

Energy efficient windows can provide many benefits to any home.

Energy Savings
Energy efficient windows in the winter can reduce the amount of heat that is lost through the glass. This means the furnace doesn’t have to run as much. In the summer, energy efficient windows can cut down on the amount of solar radiation allowed into homes. This means the air conditioner does not have to run as much. By cutting down on the time the heating and cooling appliances have to work, this reduces utility costs.

Improved Comfort
When there is less heat loss or heat radiation through the windows, homes are more comfortable. There are not any cold drafts or hot spots in the house. (more…)

The importance of business cards and marketing materials in the home improvement sector can’t be overemphasized. Business cards, printed flyers and pamphlets have been the backbone of advertising strategies for decades. Contractors and home improvement specialists get a lot of bang for their advertising buck when they use pass them out not only to potential customers but at carpentry trade shows.

The key to success in using business cards and other printed materials is to ensure your material appears and sounds professional. The second key to success is in getting your cards and materials into the right hands - this is where networking comes into play.

As with other aspects of your business, a professional appearance in promotional materials is crucial. Business cards and pamphlets are the first and probably the lasting impression you’ll create in the minds of potential customers. Even higher-than-normal prices will be justified in the minds of customers if they feel they’re putting a professional to work in their home. As a contractor in a shaky economy, you want every competitive advantage you can get. (more…)