The nicest home on the block? Think about it. It is usually the cleanest one. With kids and pets, it can be difficult to keep you house clean. Particularly in the winter. My favorite trick is using baskets (with tops) - these are perfect places for hiding mail and other loose items. And they look better than a traditional toy box.
| What is the hardest part of any project? Finishing it! There is always the siren call of the next project to get past. Put these winter days to use and get those jobs done. Finish painting the trim, put on those fixtures that have been sitting in the closet. Winter is a great time to play catchup.
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*Painting
a room that has tall base boards? don't want to remove the baseboard?
Try sliding a piece of card board between the base board and wall, fold
over and move with you as you paint over that area to keep the paint
off the base board.
| *Does
part of your room get less light than the rest? I had an entrance
hallway that connected to the living/dining rooms but got virtually no
natural light. My solution? I used the same color paint but in a Semi
Gloss. Semi Gloss (or High Gloss) paints will reflect any available
light and make the room appear brighter. The same theory can be applied
when painting a small bathroom.
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*There
is a reason they call Oak a "hard wood". If you are thinking of using
oak for any trims in your house (baseboard, crown molding etc...) Do
Not try cutting this wood by hand. If you do not have the tools
necessary to saw the wood, take your measurements and see if your local
home center will do the cuts for you, or switch to pine. |
*Redoing
a vinyl floor in your home? In some cases you have the option to lay
the new floor overtop the existing one. When this is not possible, a
heat gun is your best tool for removing the old tile. |
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*Do
you have an old drum set gathering dust in the attic? Why not put them
to use in your game room? Take the Floor Tom and have a piece of glass
cut to size. Put it next to your favorite chair as a wonderful and
unusual end table! Lay the Base Drum on its side and make a coffee
table! |
*Planning
to use vinyl tile to redo a kitchen or bathroom floor? Make sure to let
the boxed tiles stand, ON EDGE, for at least 24 hours before
installing. The weight of the tiles, if stored flat, can cause them to
expand. |
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*Want
to brighten up those bathroom or kitchen cabinets? A coat of paint is a
great way to get a fresh look for less. My personal favorite?
Rust-Oleum “Painters Touch” paint. You can’t MAKE this paint streak. It
leaves a great professional finish. Easy to apply and easy to clean –
what more could you want? |
*Replacing
the visible light switch plates in any room is a great way to add a
little extra style. They come in a wide variety of styles and
materials. Add an apple shaped cover, done in wood, to your kitchen for
a cute touch. |
*Do you have 12" square, or larger, ceramic tiles left over? Put them to use in the garden as stepping stones. If they are a thicker type of tile, you can keep them out all year. It's a great inexpensive way to brighten up your garden.
| *Planting new rose bushes? Add a banana peel to the hole prior to putting the bush in. The nutrients from the banana peel will help it grow strong and healthy.
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Like the smell of Sachets? An easy, and Cheap alternative is a tea bag. There are so many herbal teas on the market that have delightful scents, trying using one or two in your drawers.
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