Equipping Your Dressing Room

Equipping Your Dressing Room

A good, quality dressing room can tell a lot about someone as a person, in addition to being a wonderful sight. Easy as it may seem, designing a perfect room isn’t that simple, which is why we’ve come up with a list of ideas that you can use to come up with a gorgeous dressing room.

Color

Dressing room color hugely depends on its size – some are pretty big, other are pantry-sized. If you’re blessed with a large dressing room, coloring the walls completely white and getting a black bed and black furniture is a fantastic idea. Now give your sleek dressing room a black closet for maximum luxury.

On the other hand, if your dressing room is pantry-sized, you should avoid painting it in black – even though it does evoke a feeling of prestige, if you do so, it will feel dark and dingy; think white, light blue instead.

Mirror

Regardless of how large your dressing room area is, it’s still going to be a smaller room in your home and mirrors can go a long way in making an indoor space appear significantly larger than it really is. Besides, having a mirrorless dressing room doesn’t really make sense – you have to be able to see how you look before leaving the room designed for dressing. Now, placing the mirror (or mirrors) strategically is crucial, so you should do it in a way that makes the room feel longer, rather than wider. If you have a lot of space on your hands, you can install several mirrors, for various angles.

Pro tip: buy a dressing room mirror that will display the true representation of yourself, without making you fatter, thinner, taller or shorter – its purpose is giving you a clear picture of how you look.

Lighting

The mirror you’ve bought excels at reflecting light, but it won’t do you too much good if there’s not enough light around to begin with. Although this issue is present in every room in the house, poorly-lit dressing rooms will make it easy for you to mismatch your colors and types of clothes and you’ll spot a stain on your clothing once you’re already out.

Now, natural lighting is always the best choice, but supplying your dressing room with it isn’t really easy, in fact, it is often completely impossible. Browsing for lighting online will help you find great deals!

Pro tip: buy LED, although these bulbs are more expensive, they will save you money if you are patient enough.

Clothing Assignment and Storage

Designing your dressing room has a lot to do with your clothing storage and assignment – it’s the whole point of the room to begin with! Aim at arranging your clothing from top to bottom, just as you wear your clothes – this will help you imagine how different pieces of clothing will work together, without having to arrange the items on your bed. If you are a watch enthusiast, having a drawer in which to store them is a fantastic idea; it will make you feel like James Bond!

Furniture

If the ‘room’ part of your dressing room is more than just a part of its name; in other words, if it’s really a medium-sized room, you’ll want to equip it with some furniture. Choose the central island as a place for accessory, jewelry and toiletry storage and get a backless chair that will only serve as a place to sit when trying on stuff.

Arranging your stuff in a particular order is the whole point of a dressing room, but doing so without proper lighting, a mirror and clothing storage isn’t a good idea – it will make you leave your stuff all over the place! A large mirror (or mirrors), some quality lighting and a sleek color scheme are the very essentials of a good dressing room.

Guest Contributor, Diana Smith

How To Successfully Link An En Suite Bath And Bedroom

How to Successfully Link an En Suite Bath and Bedroom

If you are wondering how to make the optimal synergy of bathroom and bedroom, with corresponding colors and ambiance that will make that Feng Shui friend of yours very hard to get rid of, you have come to the right place.

In the following article, you will learn the dos and don’ts of en suite linking and how to turn your vision into reality. 

Complementary, but Different

Use the technique of reversing the scheme of the en suite, creating a link between the bedroom and the bathroom. If you have light colors in your bedroom, go for darker tiles in the bathroom with lighter furniture to complement and connect the schemes of the two rooms. Conversely, dark hues in the bedroom correspond with lighter tiles and darker furniture in the bathroom.

Bare the Floor

A great way to add a sense of space to any room is by applying wall-hung fittings to it. Things like vanity units or more modern style designs with shapely legs that will allow you to still see the floor will work perfectly. In order to achieve perfect synergy, equip your bathroom only with furniture that compliments the pieces in your bedroom, by choosing similar finishes and materials.

Design a Smart Storage Solution

Do your best to declutter the space by devoting a bathroom wall to some storage solutions that will free up space and keep all of your essentials nicely packed, leaving the room looking tidy. Also, try implementing various design solutions to create a cozy feel, like displaying decorative items such as shelves, flowers, or figurines.

Use any additional space for storage. For instance, you can put your bathroom essentials in decorative boxes or storage ottomans. Instead of using those stylish shelves to stuff bathroom utensils, put books on them - this will create an intimate feeling and also entice you to catch up on your reading while taking a relaxing bath.

Make Both Rooms Look Bigger

Implementing small changes into the setting, quite literally, can make both rooms seem more spacious and comfortable. The same way you would choose the en suite furniture to match your bedroom furniture, consider making small adjustments to your bedroom as well. Try investing into some DIY shelves and additional storage solutions like decorative boxes, or hanging open nightstands and add a chest at the base of your bed.

Additionally, opting for a bed that perfectly fits your needs will not only accentuate the spaciousness of the room but it will also look amazing. Make sure to invest in a quality mattress that will work wonders for your sleep. And if you don’t have too much space in the sleeping segment and you’ll be the only person using it, deciding on a bed with spacious super single mattress could be a great way to create some additional space and sleep on a bed that perfectly fits your needs. 

Combine Complementary Colors

Color coordination is very important if you want to make two rooms feel like two halves of a whole. En suites are often small but practical rooms designed to offer everything a big bathroom does, so in order to make it feel as spacious as possible, you need to introduce lots of light to it.

Try combining a neutral carpet from your bedroom with porcelain floor in the bathroom; also choose styles that are similar both in tone and color. A good, waterproof floor in the bathroom directly complements a soft, fuzzy carpet in the bedroom.

Choose the Right Finishes

Choosing the right finishes can be a bit tricky and if not done correctly, it can ruin the entire concept of the room. Try to use complementary, yet different upholstery, colors, tiles, fabrics and patterns in order to let the rooms speak their own story but give a feeling that they absolutely need each other. If you do the opposite, the rooms will look forced and distasteful.

Finally, details are the ones that can make or break your overall design. Use an accent color from your bedroom, and implement it in your bathroom through shelves, blinds and other accessories.

When you think about it, designing and successfully linking your bedroom with your en suite can be fun. By following these tips and tricks, you won’t go wrong.

Guest Contributor, Lillian Connors

Decorating On A Dime

We all can have a cleaner and more harmonious home at a fair price. This can be achieved by getting rid of clutter, proper placement of items and paying attention to what's on your walls and doors. My name is Krystal Brown and I run a blog entitled “Freedom in Frugality”. In this quick article, I am going to teach you how to have a more pleasant looking home for pennies. If you find this article useful, please subscribe to my blog at https://krystalbrownblog.wordpress.com/. I pledge to keep your email address private. Now, let's get started.

The first order of business is getting rid of clutter. If you haven't worn something in a year, you aren't likely to start wearing it. Now is the time to get rid of things like old purses, shoes and kitchen equipment you know you won't get around to using. Place your items on the free section of Craigslist. You can also give away the items on Freecycle. Freecycle is a list where people can give away and receive free items. If you need something, you post a message detailing what you need. If you have something to give away, you make a post telling about what you have to offer. I subscribe to their email list and everyday I get a newsletter telling me what is being offered. I have received free sheets for a new twin bed I purchased just by posting a request on Freecycle. The sheets were almost new. I simply washed them in hot water and they have been a fixture in my home every since. I have also given away a lot on Freecycle including clothing I had not worn in a long time.

Next, combine style and functionality by hanging needed items on your walls and doors using Command Damage-Free Strips and “over the door” hangers. They have both at my local Dollar Tree. I put the Command Damage-Free strips on my walls to hang everything from keys to shower caps. I use over the door hangers to hang up my purses, umbrellas and scarves. This keeps needed items at my fingertips and also reduces clutter. I use the hanging strips on my front door as well. I have about 4 strips in strategic places on my front door. Every season, I hang different decorations on the strips. My door is decorated differently for every season and all of the decorations are purchased from the Dollar Tree because they don't need to last a long time—they just need to last for a season or even just a month. On Halloween, I had a felt scarecrow and some felt pumpkins. For Christmas, I had a wreath and some golden angels and doves. For Valentine's Day, I had a “Happy Valentine's Day” sign with several hearts hanging from the strips. If they don't have the Command brand of strips, they are likely to have another good brand like VELCRO. I don't buy “generic” or “off brand” strips because even though I change out the decorations frequently, the strips themselves have to last season after season. So, if they don't have Command strips or another brand name, I simply go to Dollar General or Family Dollar instead of Dollar Tree. Dollar General and Family Dollar are low priced as well, but they have more brand names.

My next piece of advice is this—everything in your home needs a “home”. Don't leave keys or mail just sitting around on counter tops and tables. Get some decorative baskets and make sure that everything—from remote controls to paper bills—is in a basket. These baskets can be metal, plastic or wood. Get several glass vases from a dollar store. Use them on your bathroom sink to reduce clutter. Fill one vase with cotton balls, another with make up swabs and so on. All homes automatically look better when everything is in its place. You can use colored mesh laundry bags for stuffed toys and other things that are too big for baskets.

The last step is decorating our walls. Buy a dollar store calendar and about 5 $1 picture frames. Choose five of your favorite calendar pictures and put the pictures in the frames. Hang the frames on your wall and you have several beautiful pieces of wall art for next to nothing. I also use silver “wall clings” from the Dollar Tree on my walls. They have inspirational sayings or some are just pretty to look at—like wall clings in the shape of flowers or vines. Just follow the package directions. I also put up greeting cards on my bedroom doors. I use birthday and holiday cards that I've received for this purpose. Put a little tape on the back of the cards and stick them on your doors. You have just used something that you probably were going to throw away anyway to make your home look nicer!

Having a more beautiful and organized home does not have to be expensive at all. You just have to be aware of what you hang on your walls, reduce clutter and make sure that everything in your home has a place. You also have to shop at the right stores. All of the items I wrote about can be purchased at discount stores such as Dollar Tree, Dollar General, Family Dollar, Roses', Ollie's' and TJ Maxx. I hope this article was useful to you! If so, please consider subscribing to “Freedom in Frugality” at https://krystalbrownblog.wordpress.com.

Guest Contributor, Krystal Brown

Remodel Smart: How To Save Money On Remodeling

Remodel Smart: How to Save Money on Remodeling

Even if they consider every little detail, people still usually spend about 20 percent more money on remodeling than they originally planned. Remodeling can be full of little surprises, misunderstandings and a lot of stress, and it’s next to impossible to stay on the budget. Still, there are some ways you can save money and spare your budget by simply being smart, resourceful and unafraid to get your hands dirty.

DIY - Demolish It Yourself

If you feel like you can demolish your front porch or pool deck yourself we say go for it, but leave the interior of the house to the professionals. You can unintentionally knock down the bearing wall, or even hit a live wire or plumbing. Still, you can do some of the demolishing yourself and save up to a thousand dollars you can later spend on remodeling. But remember, safety first!

Think Long-Term

When remodeling, don’t look at the price tag that’s on the item, but think about its price at the end of the project. Sometimes it’s cheaper to get a finished product that you can simply install, then to start from scratch. It might seem cheaper to DIY something, but when you add up all the costs, it ends up being more expensive, plus you wasted your time. Also, think about installing energy-efficient appliances and lighting, insulate your doors and windows, and you will save money in the long run.

Get a Trailer

Don’t pay companies to bring materials to you when you want to do a DIY project, but pick them up yourself. Use a pickup truck or get a used single-axle utility trailer for about 300-400 bucks. If you repeat the trip 5-6 times, the trailer will pay for itself. Plus you get to keep or resell the trailer. 

Get Supplies at Auctions

At auctions, you can find all sorts of things, but don’t get distracted and focus on supplies. You can find many good scores like custom items someone didn’t like, concrete building blocks, overstock supplies, scratched and dented items and so on.  The amount of money you will save here depends on the other bidders, but it’s usually not an insignificant sum. Think good and hard whether you can find a use for an item you’re bidding for. If the answer is no, stop bidding - otherwise you’re wasting money.

Do it Off Season

It is best to save up money, and wait for winter to do your remodel. The thing is that people are usually short on money in this period because of holidays, so the demand for various contractors is significantly lower. If you want to do a roof restoration however, the best time is during spring. During winter, the demand for this type of service is huge, and so are the prices. Then again, if you plan everything right, you can save a significant sum.

Know What to Keep

If it is possible in any way, try not to change the position of your bathroom or windows. Depending on where you plumbing is costs can vary a lot. When it comes to windows, try to keep them the same size as well. Also, think about insulating your windows to save money on your electricity bill and reduce sound pollution.

If you follow these smart remodeling tips, you will not end up with a drained budget half way into your project. You just need to make some strategic moves and remember that every dollar counts. Remember, if you do things right, you might even save up enough money for a nice vacation.

Guest Contributor, Diana Smith

Image credit: https://toolsarehome.com/

Introducing Hi-Tech Solutions To Your Bathroom

Introducing Hi-Tech Solutions to Your Bathroom

When it comes to increasing the value of your property, most homeowners know that kitchen and bathroom upgrades usually create the best return on investment. Still, even if you’re not looking to sell your home any time soon, the benefits of sprucing up some of the rooms will reflect in the improved quality of life.

Since technology has penetrated almost every aspect of our lives, there’s no reason why we shouldn’t use it to improve the conditions in one of the rooms which we use several times each day. Yes, our bathrooms can also enjoy the progress brought about by the latest technology advancements.

Toilets

You might not expect it, but toilets have become quite smart. Some don’t even require from us to use our hands or paper, since they come equipped with temperature-controlled water, spritzing wands and automatic dryers, while others feature seat warmers, for example.

If you can’t stand germs or simply loathe the idea of having to clean the toilet, fear not. Some state-of-the-art toilets are self-cleaning and feature antimicrobial seats. Speaking of the seats and lids, the latest generation of toilets come with motion sensors, which trigger raising and lowering of the lid.

Generally, the trend is to make the toilet as smart as possible. This is usually achieved by automating as many operations as possible, with a particular focus on eliminating the need for touching anything, including a handle or button for flushing.

Faucets

Although most people associate faucets only with the aesthetic component, it has to be said that modern models are also very eco-savvy. They help us save both water and energy, while at the same time adding to the overall design of the bathroom.

Some models come with a reduced tap flow and digital temperature-control settings, while others focus more on touchless technology or programmable features, such as those for taking a shower or brushing your teeth. That allows us to use only as much water as necessary, thus also saving money.

Shower

The chances are you’re familiar with the concept of chromatherapy, i.e. use of colour lights to affect our mood. If so, you’ve probably been tempted to introduce it to your shower booth. Even though it’s generally recognised as pseudoscience, it most certainly has its appeal, which is why many people like it.

In terms of other improvements to your shower, there are powerful, sleek and water-resistant speakers that provide excellent sound quality, which means you can enjoy your music while showering. Finally, a great touch of luxury can be achieved by an in-home steam room, which uses moist heat to help you relax both your body and mind.

Tubs

The days of huge tubs are long gone in case you were wondering. The latest trends suggest that the best options are stand-alone tubs or small Japanese-style soaking tubs. If you’re ready to step it up a notch, you can also opt for an air-bath, which uses streams of warm massaging bubbles.

Gadgets

Now, this is where hi-tech makes a difference. Who wouldn’t appreciate having refrigerated bathroom cabinets, which help our medicines and/or drinks stay cool or a waterproof TV, which eliminates the need to bring in your tablet with you to the bathroom. These Brisbane-based TV wall mounting pros can install aTV in your bathroom and help you create a perfect entertainment environment.

Naturally, having a state-of-the-art, hi-tech bathroom is not the cheapest investment you can make, but there are a few improvements that you can make to your home that can bring more satisfaction and joy. Also, the fact that most new homeowners are looking for smart upgrades and features in their prospective new homes means that the property is quite likely to increase its value enough to justify the investment.

Guest Contributor, Lillian Connors