Category: small spaces

Basic Things to Consider When Hiring A Domestic Electrician in Inner West
Inner West is a city that thrives on many businesses, including ones based on a sustainable outline. The region prides itself on being one of the most diverse in culture and has a thriving economy to match. More on this can be found here.

via Katie DeStefano

When looking for someone to fix things in your home of which you have no idea how to, or because it is too dangerous to do it yourself, the logical thing to do is to hire a professional who can do this for you. In Inner West, there are several different services that you may get, but the difference between finding one that is good as opposed to the one that is too far or too busy to handle your immediate queries is tricky.

This is why you need to look for the services that offer an emergency electrician service, this is usually the concept that defines a company that works 24/7 and 7 days a week. This is however hard to decide, what with all the multiple companies advertised on google every day. A company that has a diverse portfolio of electrical services can be hard to find but without the information below, you would achieve this in no time.

We’ve given you some basic information below, on how to go about choosing an electrician in Inner West, including a list of a few other common things the right company should be able to fix for you, in your home, for when the next time something stops working or breaks, you know whom to call and you can rest assured they will come at odd hours of the evening as well.

There are a few things you should check when you’ve got to hire an electrician to fix things in your house. One of the most important reasons for this is, if it is your first time, and you choose the right company. They can work with you for life and you don’t need to go through the hassles of finding one again the next time you need it, you can just pick up the phone and give them a call.

Let’s jump in.

via Katie DeStefano

Things to Note When Hiring an Electrician

When in search of someone who offers an emergency job to fix any exposed wiring in your home, or anything that involves electricity and can be dangerous if left without repair, there are some important thing you should pay heed to before picking up that phone to call the first company you see in the results bar on google.

Mistakes can prove very hazardous in any environment and more so in the home environment if you have kids around. There are a few key aspects you should know that can help you make your final choice.

Do Some Background Research first. The first thing to do is research. You will get the experience, qualified people, and then you could get the ones who did a bit of internet research and decided to call themselves an electrician. A bit of background investigation can go a long way. Things such as replacing sockets or exposed wiring on light switches can be accomplished by many, but comparing quotes and pricing would be a good first step.

Another reason for doing a bit of research is that you would be a step closer to knowing what to ask for. This way you can check to see that when the work is completed, that it is done to the highest standard and according to the safety regulations of the area.

Katie DeStefano Design

via Katie DeStefano

Check Out Their Qualifications. When hiring anyone to work for your home or office, checking qualifications has become a mandatory thing, especially within the domestic environment when you have children and are letting a stranger inside the home.

Those who have gotten their qualifications and certifications from an institute would usually have the appropriate paperwork to show for it. Companies that hire certified workers usually check this and if their employees do not have the right type of qualification, they would either offer an apprentice program to them or ask that they enrol in a college.

Photo by Emmanuel Ikwuegbu on Unsplash

In Australia, they could either get themselves certified in a Certificate II in Electrotechnology (UEE22011) or a Diploma in Electrical Engineering, https://www.seek.com.au/career-advice/role/electrician, whatever the paperwork, any reputable company would be happy to discuss this with you.

Work That Electrical Companies May Offer

Sometimes you may be lucky and find a company that offers just about everything using their well-experienced team and this can save you a lifetime of hassles. Things to look out for when finding such an establishment would be one that offers all the important services such as:
- Switchboard Upgrades
- LED Downlight Repair and Installations
- Handling, testing, and repairing smoke alarms
- Safety switch installations and repairs
- Installations of power points in and around the home or office
- 24 emergency support
- Repairing of ceiling fans
- Fault finding in electrical aspects
via Katie DeStefano

Additional Items to Check Off on The List. Advice from Westcork in Inner West is that a good company would also be open with the prices and quotes, if you ask them for any hidden costs they would play open cards with you. The majority of the time they would have set prices for different jobs, however, if you want something extra done or out of the ordinary, it is good to keep in mind that they may charge you extra for this.

They would also be good at communicating with you about everything, have good customer service and be able to answer your questions appropriately, be friendly and courteous, and the company and services would typically be backed by a warranty, something to ask them about as well. Also, it won’t hurt to check the areas they work in. if they are local, even better.

Photo by James Kovin on Unsplash

Lastly, to get a feel of the work they do, one can easily find customer reviews either on their website or on the internet if you a search for them. You can ask them for references as well, of people who they have previously worked for, and contact these clients to speak to them and get a feel for the way they operate.

We hope that this concise article above about how to choose the right electrician in Inner West will help you get the best services in no time, and one that will be kept in the books. Thanks to Westcork for consulting.
June 23, 2021
Deciding On the Best Rental Property for Your Needs
You may be set on renting out a place in the city for a specific purpose – most of the time, it’s to be near a place of livelihood or employment. However, there are many other important factors that you may want to consider, apart from proximity to your place of work. Here are other significant details you may need to consider in order to make the best decision regarding where to rent out property.

Photo by Element5 Digital on Unsplash
1. The rental rates
You have to make sure it will make financial sense to pay for the monthly rental fees and still have enough to cover your living expenses, among other things. You may get the convenience of living near your work, but if it drains your funds, then it may not make sense in the end.
1. The neighborhood
Check out the area you plan to live in, and make sure that it is a safe and comfortable place for you. Be sure that it is quiet enough to help you rest when you need to, and recharge after a hard day’s work.

Photo by Alisha Hieb on Unsplash
1. Your landlord
Talk to your landlord and get a feel of how they are as a manager of the property. Assessing how well-kept the unit is also part of your homework. This can lend insight as to how well they are able to maintain their property for renters or buyers.

If you want to connect with the best landlords or view the best properties available, you can consult with property management specialists such as Emerald Management & Realty in order to know all the available options and even streamline some of the leasing processes. You don’t have to do all of the dirty work on your own, as they will be able to take care of all the required administrative tasks.
1. Functionality of utilities
Basic utilities such as plumbing, HVAC, and electricity should be available and well-maintained. You would want all these basics in place without needing to be repaired, especially if you are just starting your tenancy.

Photo by Timothy Buck on Unsplash
1. Amenities
If you have a car or a bike, will you have a place to park it? Does the property have access to amenities such as a pool, a gym, a park, or even a grocery store – things that you consider essentials in making your residence a complete and convenient experience? Make sure that all your needs are answered and are easily accessible to you. Thanks to Emerald Management for consulting.
1. The size of the space
Make sure you have adequate space that is enough for you to move around comfortably while accommodating your belongings and appliances. Additionally, ensure there’s enough room for any decorations, additional furniture and fixtures that will help brighten up your new living space.

This is a good checklist to start with as you decide on renting out property. Make sure that you have everything you need in order to make it a worthwhile and comfortable experience. Thanks to Emerald Management for consulting.
October 21, 2020
6 Ways to Decorate Your Home With Flowers

Home design trends come and go, which is why it’s often inadvisable for homeowners to spend money on trendy furnishings because they can quickly go out of style. What interior designers recommend is infusing flowers into the home design, as these are timeless and add character to any home or design scheme. If you plan to add flowers into your home, here are some ways to pull it off:

Photo by Leonardo Wong on Unsplash

1.   Highlight the Hallway

Most homeowners overlook their hallways when it comes to designing their home. Perhaps it is due to the heavy traffic that most hallways have. However, placing a flower in your hallway is a great accent to consider. Imagine entering your home, and there welcoming you is a burst of flowers with an exquisite look and smell. If you have a spacious hallway, decorating it with an arrangement is ideal. For those with limited space, an orchid is the best option to have.

2.   Decorate the Dinner Table

Dinner tables are a perfect way to display an assortment of flowers. If you have a long table, you can place a row of different but complementing flower arrangements. Ideally, your table design should follow an odd number, like three or five vases lined in a row. For round dining tables, a single statement piece will do the trick.

Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash

3.   Beautify Your Bedside

You can bring the beauty of the flowers to your bedroom. You should never forget to include your bedroom when designing with flowers. Carefully match the vase with the overall scheme of your bedroom. If you have a bedside lamp, make sure your choice of flowers will not block the light. Ideally, you should choose short-stemmed flowers that you can arrange on a low sitting vase. Make the arrangement as lush as possible to make up for the height of the flowers. Don’t be afraid to use bright colors to add life to your home.

4.   Play With Texture

Take a good look at your space and look at the overall design scheme. See what are the dominant lines and textures and consider adding a mixture of flowers with varying textures. For example, a glass center table can be best designed with round purple alliums. Their large flower heads can add a bit of life to the table. In the corner of your living space, you can play with long-stemmed flowers on a simple vase to add depth. Try to mix it up with neutral prints of paintings to be easier to play with different colors of flowers that you can source from shops like Euro Flowers every week.

Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash

5.   Bring in Minimalism

Most of the time, the best aesthetics that mirror the classics are best amplified using minimalistic designs. Sometimes working with fewer flowers in a home with heavy designs is the best approach. Say your living room has a mostly masculine design. It will best be infused with mostly greens that do not overwhelm your design but perfectly blend with it instead.

6.   Get Inspired by Nature

Whenever you are facing a wall in designing your home, always think about nature. Use it as your inspiration when decorating your home with flowers. Add elements that you usually see in your surroundings. Add twigs and incorporate them into your flower arrangements.

Flowers are an excellent investment to liven up your home. You can opt to change your flower arrangements every week, or you can invest in different kinds of orchids that you can strategically place in various areas of your home. Thanks to EuroFlowers for consulting

October 21, 2020
Cozy and Pretty Eat in Kitchens

There’s something I love about an eat-in kitchen. To me it’s a great place for intimate family dinners. Dining rooms are mostly for formal occasions, and let’s face it, rarely used. Eat in kitchens provide a spot where you get to gather with just the immediate family and create a fun and cozy setting. So skip the fancy china and just have everyone pick his or her favorite dish or tumbler, and get ready to tuck in!

via thehousediaries

Keep it informal

There are some spaces that are better left being informal! They allow for slow, lazy Sunday mornings doing the crossword or a puzzle with the kiddos. If you’re feeling indulgent (or especially lazy), order out for the best breakfast delivery. A breakfast nook with banquette seating would be the best option if this sounds appealing to you.

Once our pedestal table is finished, my hubby plans on building a banquette to match our cabinetry. On the other side of the table I plan to add some black Windsor style chairs. While you see a lot of circular tables around banquette, I am going with rectangular. Circular tables make it easier to climb in and out of the banquette, but they can’t seat as many people as a rectangular one. Rectangular ones also make the best use of space if the area for dining in your kitchen is on the small side.

via houseofharper

Easy Entertaining

I also love the idea of everyone in the middle of kitchen. In our kitchen, guests tend to congregate around our large island while we’re cooking or preparing food, so we have an overhang on two sides of the island to accommodate extra stools.

It’s possible they are also congregating there to be close to our coffee bar and the bezzera coffee machine! When we aren’t entertaining, I put extra stools in the basement and enjoy a little extra prep space.

via centsationalgirl

Separate but Together

If you like the separation you can make the eat-in part around the edge of the kitchen instead of the middle. This will allow for a little quieter meal times if someone is busy at the sink or around the stove with the pots and pans.

A Cozy Nook

Or get really cozy with a little nook area at the end or in the corner of the kitchen. This is perfect for small spaces! We have a sliding glass door on the end of our kitchen where our dining table is, so having a banquette removes the need for chairs on one side of the table that would otherwise block the door.

Do you have an eat-in kitchen and if you do, what is your favorite thing about it? Do you use it more than your dining room? Thanks to Anthony Espresso, Luxe Hydration, and Freedom Jars for consulting.

October 14, 2020
Diamond Painting – Square vs Round Diamond

Hello, fantastic painters!! Would you know there are lots of types of diamonds are provided by PaintingsCart? Then we’re here in order to allow you to know we provide an assortment of diamonds such as square/round/special shaped diamonds to your incredible gem paintings. If you’re a newcomer to the Diamond paintings, then you could be overly excited to begin with Diamond painting. But using a query in mind what type of diamonds if I choose? Should I proceed with round square or diamonds diamonds? If so, then no worries beloved we’re here in order to aid you with this situation. We’ll be going to inform you all of the advantages and disadvantages of a Round Diamond Drill. via Amy Bartlam We give you the choice whether you want round or square stones with your new Custom Diamond Painting. But what is the real difference between both types of stones? We are going to explain it to you here. SQUARE STONES/DRILL Diamond stones of square shape have a perfect fit and all stones therefore fit together almost seamlessly. There are no spaces between the stones, which ensures a beautiful whole without uncovered parts on the canvas. Many customers indicate that square stones require a little more precision than round stones. Many customers find the end result of the square bricks more beautiful because there are almost no spaces between the bricks. via Amy Bartlam Our advice: Choose square bricks if you don’t mind working meticulously. It is also useful if you already have a little experience with Diamond Paintings Netherland or other precision craftwork. ROUND STONES/DRILL Round diamond stones are often used with small Diamond Paintings because the image on the canvas nicely fills the empty spaces between the stones. With round stones there are always small spaces between the stones because they cannot connect seamlessly. The big advantage of round stones is that they are easy to pick up and that you can stick them on the canvas in any direction. With this you will generally finish faster with a Diamond Painting with round stones than with square stones. Our advice: Go for round diamond stones if you want to make your Diamond Painting without much thinking. Round stones are also highly recommended if you are going to make a Diamond Painting for the first time. via Amy Bartlam WHAT NOW? By reading this article you will be ready for the real thing! Would you like to view our offer? Then view our Broderie Diamant. Would you rather choose your own personal painting? Then choose your Diamond Painting Deutschland Or would you rather start right away? Then order the Diamong Painting World. Thanks to Paintings Cart for contributing

September 21, 2020
How to Create a Cozy Nook in Your Home
There’s something so inviting seeing a cozy nook in someone’s home. Nooks have a way of just making you feel warm and comfortable just looking at them. They’re the perfect spot for reading, sleeping or just relaxing. Nooks are like your own private getaway within your own home. Don’t have a cozy nook in your home just yet? No worries. Carving out your own special space for quiet time is a relatively easy thing to do. Here’s some things you can consider to get you started. via Jenny Keenan Design
1. Determine Its Purpose
First of all, how many people need to fit in this nook at a time? When planning your nook, make sure everyone is going to fit inside comfortably, without ever having to feel claustrophobic. What activity is going to be taking place within the nook? If it’s only going to be used for reading, then it can be relatively small, especially when you choose a comfortable reading chair. Sites like homeideas.com can help in this regard. However, if your three kids are going to be playing with their toys there, you may want to create a nook up in your attic area where they’ll have plenty of space.

Comfortable place for rest with different cushions near window
1. Decide On Its Location
Since most nooks are small, it shouldn’t be too difficult to find a little space to set up your nook. If your home has stairs, you can set it up underneath them. Otherwise, all you need is a corner in whatever room you’ve chosen. If possible, utilize a window within your nook, so you can enjoy the natural light flowing in. A simple padded bench placed under the window gives you a well-lit space to enjoy a good book. Simply paint your nook in a different color so it stands out from the rest of the room. If you happen to have a closet you can sacrifice to use as a nook, you can use it to make one that is large enough for one person to fit inside. You might even place a little nook at the end of a hallway. If you have enough money in your budget, you may opt to put a larger nook inside of your attic. Its low roof lines will make your nook feel extra warm and comfortable.
1. Define the Space
If you’re setting up your cozy nook in the corner of a room, you need to make sure you’re somehow defining it from the rest of the room. A good way to do this is by laying down an area rug. Not only will it provide definition, but it will keep your toes cozy warm. via Jenny Keenan Design
1. Decorating Your Nook
The furniture you select for your nook will depend on what you’re using your nook for. For example, if you’re creating a breakfast nook in a corner of your kitchen, you would need a table and proper seating. On the other hand, if you’re designing a reading nook, you might opt for a big, comfy chair with a throw blanket, throw pillows, and a small bookshelf next to it. It would also be a good idea to always have a small table or surface to place a cup upon. You don’t want to have to figure out where to put your morning cup of coffee while you read the paper. Allow your personality to shine through when decorating your nook. This is your special space, so it should reflect who you are. Think out of the box, and don’t be afraid to try something new. The only common thread with your nook is that whatever design elements you choose should have a relaxing feel to them, which is relative to the individual. Think about the things that make you feel happy, and surround yourself with them. via Jenny Keenan Design
1. Provide Appropriate Lighting
When it comes to designing your nook, don’t overlook the importance of the right lighting. Even if your nook is in front of a window, you’ll need a light to be able to read at night. To make your nook look elegant, you could go with a crystal chandelier that becomes the focal point of your nook. If space is limited, you could opt for wall lights, such as a dimmable LED sign. This will help create the perfect ambience without taking up any space.Overhead or recessed lighting can also be used as an accent to bring attention to your special space.

Final Thought Creating a cozy nook doesn’t have to be a big investment of your time, money or effort. Allow your imagination to guide you through your design process and in the end you’ll create something amazing. So are you ready to create a cozy nook within your home? Thanks to HomeIdeas for consulting
September 3, 2020
Common Mistakes to Avoid when Remodeling

Remodeling the home may be necessary after a while to catch up with trends in the market and improve the overall appearance of the home. Currently, most people prefer DIY solutions to their décor problems, which is a great way to save money. On the flip side, the project can easily become a disaster, especially when one is not well versed in aspects such as structural engineering, among many others. Do not bring done any wall before consulting with pros in the construction industry as one wrong move could cause permanent damage to the entire structure.

Remodeling the entire home is a cumbersome task that one cannot undertake alone. Hiring a helping hand may be necessary for certain areas. Remodeling without any help is the first mistake that most people make. Seeking expert help is fundamental in any remodeling journey. The other common mistakes that people make include;

via J Patryce Design

Forgetting the existing house plan

It is intricate to have the blueprint of the house in mind before the remodeling begins. Knowing the existing structure of the house helps identify where the plumbing pipes are as well as the electrical cables, among other things. If possible, markers should be made to identify areas that should not be touched unless someone has the necessary skills and knowledge to handle things like wiring. Always work with the house plan to prevent any form of damage to crucial amenities.

via J Patryce Design

Remodeling the entire house at a go

In some cases, it is necessary to remodel the entire house, and this means that no one lives on the premises. Remodeling can start with one area of the house then gradually progress to others. This way, it is easy to control the process and get things done faster. The cost of remodeling an entire home is high, and doing it in phases will make it easier to manage the financial burden that comes with this undertaking. There are many other reasons why gradual remodeling is better than an overhaul, but one should weigh the pros and cons against their budget to decide which option is the best.

via J Patryce Design

Purchasing cheap materials

Remodeling that involves bringing down walls and setting up new designs in the home is similar to building a new home. Cheap materials may serve the purpose, but they will not hold for long. The materials used should be top-notch and complement the existing ones used for the construction. Cheap materials will require repairs and replacements after a few years, raising the maintenance cost of a property.

via J Patryce Design

Pick an unfit contractor

Most people want to make remodeling as cheap as possible, and they may end up picking the wrong man for the job. This is a common mistake that could cause more damage than good. This is not to say that all cheap contractors are unfit. It is critical to access the skills of the person to confirm that they are good at what they do. For remodeling, working with referrals is one of the ways to get a good deal. Checking previous work done by the contractor is critical in determining whether they are the best fit for the job or not.

Rushing the process

Renovations ought to be a slow and sure process to ensure that the transformation is impeccable. Pushing the contractors to finish the project is a common mistake that homeowners make for different reasons. The pressure on the workers may lead to shoddy work so that they complete along the timelines set. Asking the contractor how long the process will take and setting timelines together is the best way to work when dealing with remodeling the home. Thanks to Structures Made Easy for consulting

September 1, 2020
Space Saving Homes: 7 Key Ways to Save Space in Your Home

Decluttering is not the only way to save space in your home. Keep reading for space saving homes: 7 key ways to save space in your home.

Are you in a small home where space saving is a huge concern?

If so, you might be at a loss as to how to maintain both utility and the space you need to move around comfortably.

No one likes a cluttered home but you don’t need to cut back on the things you love as much as you’d think.

Read on and we’ll share some excellent space-saving tips that will help you make the most of your home’s limited floorplan.

1. Organize Those Cabinets!

via Blackband Design

Many people fail to make optimal use of their cabinets and other built-in storage like linen closets. Saving space in your home is about decluttering as much as it is about getting innovative.

If you’re willing to put in the work then you’ll find that you may have more storage space than you thought. Just open up the cabinets, get rid of everything you don’t need, and make sure that you use the space optimally.

If you want to take things a step further you can even get organizers for both the inside and the door. Just make sure that they’re not banging into shelves and you can turn the back of a cabinets door into even more storage space.

You can buy organizers pre-made or find a surprising array of ideas online if you’re the handy type.

2. Storage in Furniture

via Blackband Design

One of the most overlooked tiny living tip s is to look to space saving furniture solutions. If your budget allows you’ll be surprised at how much space you can save by picking up ottomans, couches, or even coffee tables that have internal storage.

You don’t have to replace everything. Even a couple of items will help out, an ottoman may have a few extra cubic feet of storage for instance.

In addition to making sure that clutter isn’t lying around and taking up valuable space, these specially-designed pieces can be utilitarian: stick board games in a coffee table, throw blankets in an ottoman, and get set up for a fantastic game night.

3. Hang Your Pots and Pans

Let’s face it, many of us just have way, way too many appliances for our kitchens. The modern world faces us with an array of tempting food prep items that can be hard to turn down.

And then they end up cluttering our kitchen.

Most peoples under-counter cabinets are filled to the brim with pots, pans, and cooking implements.

Why not buy a hanging storage array for them? Or, even better, make one yourself? A few hooks and a couple of pieces of wood from a pallet can make for a unique, rustic display with no advanced woodworking skills required!

By opening up more cabinet space you’ll be able to keep clutter, both real and visual, from taking up a ton of space in the kitchen.

More storage in the kitchen is always a win in the end.

4. Storage Headboards

In smaller living spaces bedrooms often suffer. The usual setup in a smaller home involves a bed and a nightstand or table.

Why not ditch the nightstand and create a functional headboard with storage space?

Those with DIY skills can design drawers and sliders that allow for a super functional piece that looks great. Those who aren’t quite on the handy end of things can still build some pretty awesome pieces by following a design.

Give it a shot, they’re a nice custom touch and many people find them to be invaluable in the end.

Photo by Amy Bartlam. Design by Blackband Design.

5. Multi-Use Furniture

If you ditch the usual suspects when you’re first filling your apartment then you may be surprised at how many awesome, functional pieces of furniture are available that serve multiple purposes.

Whether it’s a kitchen table that doubles as shelving or a pool dining table these pieces of furniture can make an enormous difference in the utility of your home.

So, when you’re looking to outfit a new apartment or studio you should always keep an eye out for things which have more than one use: they’ll end up saving you a whole lot of space in the end.

via Blackband Design

6. Corner Shelving

Quite often smaller apartments have a lot of tight corners that seem to limit the amount of space you can use. Whether it’s a tiny hallway on the inside of a door into a room or just oddly shaped walls… you can use these to your advantage.

You can buy ready-made shelves for any ninety-degree corner. They usually stick in with minimal damage and allow you to make sure you have more storage space in every corner of the home.

Apart from their obvious utility… they can look quite nifty if you go the extra mile and construct them yourself.

So, when you’re checking out a new living space keep an eye out for any extra space that you can use for storage.

via Blackband Design

7. Overhead Storage

If you’ve got higher ceilings than normal then you should look into using the room above you as well.

You can build shelving for storage overhead and either use it for decorations or just things that you don’t need to access all that often. If you’ve been following along then chances are you have enough room somewhere to keep a step ladder handy when you need to get up there.

Don’t let that space go to waste! Finding solutions is as easy as raising your gaze.

Implement These Space Saving Tips Today!

When it comes to space saving techniques these are only a sample. Whether you’re looking to cut down on clutter or just make the most of a tight situation you’re in good hands when you start working actively on the process.

So, sit down and get ready.

Why not start implementing these tips today? Thanks to Gaming Blaze for contributing!!

December 30, 2019
Live Small: 5 Undeniable Benefits of Downsizing Your Home

Is your current home too big for you and your family? It might be time to downsize! Read on to learn all about the benefits of downsizing your home.

The tiny house craze has taken the world by storm. All around the world, many folks have decided to take up the benefits of downsizing and reduce the size of their home to something much smaller than they lived in previously.

There are many significant benefits to downsizing — if you’re not yet educated on why you should consider moving to a smaller home, then you’re in the right place. in this article, we’ll explore the five most critical advantages of moving into a smaller space.

via Havenly

1. Live Minimally

The downsizing trend is part of the larger minimalism trend. Minimalism is a philosophy that’s fairly self-explanatory. It’s all about minimizing the things you have and only keeping around the absolute minimum of that which you need.

It’s obvious of how living minimally and downsizing your home fit together. Chances are, especially if you’re downsizing for retirement, you don’t need a home even half as big as the one that you’re in now. The kids are gone, life is less hectic, and you just don’t need the space.

Because minimalism is all about using only the space that you absolutely need, it fits in well with the downsizing philosophy. Downsizing will teach you how to live minimally in all other aspects of your life as you learn how to make do with less space.

via Havenly

2. Less Space to Clean

Another obvious benefit to downsizing to your home is the fact that there is now less space to clean! Yes, gone are the days when vacuuming the house and mopping the kitchen took an hour or more. With a tiny house, you can just buy a Roomba for a couple hundred bucks and let it take care of keeping your area clean in just a few minutes every day!

via Havenly

3. More Money to Spend

When you live in a smaller home, that means that you pay a smaller mortgage or less rent. The natural consequence of this is that you have more money to spend on other things!

That money can go into purchasing cool life experiences, like a Caribbean cruise, or even making your living space nicer without increasing the size. Consider, for instance, a bathroom remodel.

via Havenly

4. Cozy Vibes

There’s something infinitely cozier about a tiny home that there is about a bigger home with massive open spaces. The cozy vibes of a smaller home are well worth the downsizing effort.

via Havenly

5. Reduce Carbon Footprint

Last but not least, downsizing your home means that you can reduce your carbon footprint. Your HVAC system will need less energy to run, and the house will require fewer materials to build that are often manufactured with non-environmentally-friendly practices.

Endless Benefits of Downsizing

There you have it — all the best benefits of downsizing your home to a smaller one. Whether it’s cozy vibes, doing a better job at going green, or saving money, a tiny house will improve your life to no end!

For more home improvement advice, be sure to check out the rest of the articles on the website! Thanks to 800renovations.com for contributing!

December 26, 2019
Entertaining Ideas for a Little Living Room
via Fresh Home

When you are a host at heart, it can be hard to grapple with the fact that you don’t have much space to entertain. There are dozens of merits to living in small homes, from the lower cost of rent and purchase to the freeing sense of owning less stuff. However, one serious downside is lacking places to put people when you want to have a party, or even a rather small gathering of friends.

Where this is felt the most tends to be the living room. It’s here that everyone who comes over should have a seat, and they should all be able to participate in whatever activities are on offer. If you are struggling to imagine a way to organize and decorate your living room to make it inviting, functional and attractive, read on for some inspiration.

via idealhome.co.uk

Use the Walls

Your room is small because it is bounded by walls — so you should take full advantage of those walls for storage and décor. It’s a good idea to get whatever you can off the floor, so you have more space to move and place essential furniture. Here are a few choice ideas:
- Mount your television. It’s 2019, so most everyone has a flat screen TV that can hang on the wall. If you rent in a city like Washington D.C., using TV mounting services instead of DIY can prevent damage to your walls, so you can get your full security deposit back.
- Install floating bookshelves. Hopefully, you have Marie Kondo-ed your books and reduced your collection to a manageable number. In doing so, you make it easier to find smaller, chicer floating shelves on which to stack your books.
- Hang artwork high. Common wisdom states that you should hang pictures and art at eye-level, but by moving hung items up a few inches or feet, you draw visitors’ eyes upwards and create an illusion of size and grandeur in your living room.
via BHG

Play with Scale

If you dare to be bold in your design, you might consider filling your space not with diminutive furniture and accents but rather with the exact opposite: oversized design elements. While it might seem like large furniture and décor will make your room feel cramped and unusable, in truth a few big pieces take the space of dozens of smaller ones, reducing the amount of clutter and providing a sense of style. Some items you might want to supersize include:
- Lighting. An over-the-top chandelier above your coffee table will create intrigue and draw the eye upward instead of around the small room.
- Rug. Small rugs and mats only emphasize the lack of floor space, especially if there are many of them that break up the floor. Ideally, you will have only one rug per room, and that rug should fit in the center and extend almost to the walls.
via ?

Make Everything Cozy

When you want to make your living space appropriate for entertaining large groups, your first concern should be seating. People should be comfortable when they visit your home, even when there is an inordinate number of guests to fit into a smaller space. To that end, you should strive to fill your living room with pieces that can serve as seating in a pinch, so everyone who visits will have a place to rest.

Obviously, your sofa and chairs will function as seating, but you should consider investing in a coffee table that is sturdy and comfortable enough to hold a human — perhaps an ottoman that can flip from a hard, flat surface to a cushioned one. It might also be wise to invest in large pillows, which you can use as decorative bed or sofa pillows when they aren’t needed for entertaining.

via Real Living

Keep It Light

Finally, this is the most crucial rule in small room decoration: light. You should avoid hanging heavy curtains or blinds over your windows; instead, that natural light can be used to bring an airiness that your close living room definitely needs. To encourage the spacious atmosphere, you should also decorate primarily with light colors, especially on the walls. Painting with dark hues makes the room feel smaller and tighter, so white, light gray and pale pastels are your best friends.

A little living room shouldn’t be the end of your hosting dreams. You can enjoy the company of all your friends and family without worry, as long as you decorate to maximize space and accommodate everyone’s needs. Thanks to Michale Ben for collaborating!
March 13, 2019