Readying Your Home for Summertime
As summertime approaches and the days get warmer, homeowners should begin to ready their outdoor spaces for summer heat, outdoor entertaining, and the emergence of pesky bugs. Remove Excess ThatchDecaying plants are more than likely built up on top of your grass. Rake this away so that sunlight and rain water can reach the soil to help your grass grow green and luscious in time for summer. Fertilize Your GrassOn average, 30 days before summertime is a great time to fertilize your grass. The type of fertilizer you should use depends on the type of grass you have. Water Your LawnKeep roots in mind! Most grass needs 1 inch of irrigation each week during peak growing season. The best time to water your yard is the early morning or at night so the grass has more time to absorb the water before it dries out from the sunlight. Keep Your Grass MowedMowing grass properly is super important! Follow these general rules: -never cut more than ⅓ of the height of the grass -mow often, it strengthens the grass-raise the cutting height of your mower as the summer goes on Open Your Pool (if applicable)It’s about to be pool season! Those who have pools know they require a lot of maintenance. Begin cleaning the pool and deck area, sorting out any problems with the equipment, add chlorine etc. You’ll thank yourself for doing it now when the temperature is high enough to take a dip! Bring out your outdoor furniture if it’s stored awayIf you have outdoor furniture, fire pits, outdoor pillows and cushions, umbrellas, etc. packed away, it's time to bring them out! Consider buying tarps to use to cover them in case of storms, rather than lugging them in and out of storage with each summer rain.
8 Ways to Go Greener at Home
Celebrate Earth Day this year by going greener at home! There are lots of little things we can do in our homes to play a small part in reducing landfill waste, cleaning the air, and preserving the natural landscape. Every year on April 22nd, billions of people world-wide celebrate Earth day; a holiday created to demonstrate the importance of environmental protection through a wide-range of global events. Everyone can do their part to keep our home planet clean, and you can too! Here are 8 small, easy, and environmentally-friendly choices we can make in our homes to go green this year! Start Using Reusable Bags- Most stores offer Canvas bags as an alternative option to wasteful plastic bags. These bags are actually more sturdy than plastic bags, as well as better for the environment. Plant a Garden- By growing your own garden, you are the one to decide what goes on your plants and into your soil, allowing you to reduce the amount of harmful chemicals polluting our environment and waterways. Organically growing your own food is sustainable and nourishes your soil by using safe and natural fertilizers. For tips on how to start your own garden, click here. Wash Laundry in Cold Water Instead of Hot- According to The Worldwatch Institute, 85% of the energy used to machine-wash clothes goes to heating the water. Plus, clothes tend to not bleed color so much when washed in colder water, saving you from doing separate loads for lights, darks, and whites! Switch Out Light Bulbs for Energy-Efficient Options- Look for ones marked “CFL.” Compact fluorescent lights use much less electricity than standard incandescent light bulbs do and they last 5x longer. Save Water- Fix any leaky pipes or faucets, take shorter showers, and stop buying water bottles. You can always purchase a water filter if you aren’t a fan of tap water! Go Paperless- We’re living in the digital age- so it’s time to get digital with your bills and other mail. Reduce the number of papers going in and out of your home by going paperless with monthly subscriptions and billing payments. You may find that your finances are actually easier to track digitally right from your smartphone with options like auto-pay, digital reminders, and more. Unplug Electronics When They’re Not in Use- There’s no reason to leave electronics plugged into the walls when you aren’t using them. Unplug phone chargers, speakers, and kitchen appliances like the toaster until you need to use them. This eco-friendly tip will also help lower your energy bill! Use Paper Less and Recycle More- Swap out paper towels for cloth napkins/towels when drying hands and cleaning up liquid messes. This way you save yourself from buying so many paper products because you can wash and reuse the cloth items instead. You’ll be saving money and the planet at the same time.
Accentuate with an Accent Wall
An accent wall can totally transform a room, taking it from boring and drab to bold and exciting. Accent walls create a new focal point in your space, add liveliness and contrast, and are typically an inexpensive, but fun DIY project. Pop of Color You can easily add an accent wall to your room in one afternoon by applying a new paint color. Deep blues and bright oranges are common choices for accent walls, but choose a color that will complement your existing decor and overall design aesthetic. Interesting Textures Bright, contrasting paint is a good starting point, but there are other options for accent walls that are even more eye-catching and distinct. Floor-to-ceiling wood planks can make your home seem both rustic and modern all at once and provide a natural, outdoors-inspired feel. It’s more work than simply painting a wall, but it’s still relatively inexpensive. You can source the wood from pallets on Craigslist or Facebook marketplace and stain it yourself before attaching it to your wall. It takes a little extra elbow grease, but it’s worth the effort. Patterns + Murals Paint and wood are bold enough on their own to transform a room, but they’re still pretty subtle compared to other accent wall options. A chalk paint accent wall is a creative idea for any room and makes for some fun moments when you’re entertaining. There are also endless options for wallpaper and stenciling if you want some patterns, or you can get really bold with a mural or oversized art print. Art Gallery Use your wall to tell your story. A gallery wall not only can add style, but also can be used as a unique way to make a personal statement or document your experiences and travels. Don’t feel pressured or intimidated by uniformity; a gallery wall can indeed display a variety of artwork! Feel free to mix it up by including personal or family photographs, paintings you’ve purchased, souvenirs from your travels, and even personal mementos like children’s artwork. To avoid looking like a haphazard jungle, you should look for some way to tie it all together. Source
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