Not always we enter the university in our hometown. Sometimes students want to enter a foreign university or an institution in another city. Studying involves moving to a university dormitory where you have to share a room with other students. 

There are different aspects that you should care about when moving to a university dorm. Let’s explore them and see what things you should take with you. 

Bedroom Items

The basic furniture as a bed, lamp, chair, wardrobe will be provided by your institution. However, you still need to pack some things. So don’t forget about:

• pillows;
• blanket;
• towels;
• mattress pad.

So check the size of your bed in a university dormitory to pick up the right size of a blanket and mattress pad. 

Likewise, you should take a trashcan and a desk lamp. This is because not all dormitories provide students with such things. So check their presence in your future dorm. 

Decor

If you’re fond of decorating the place where you live, take your favorite things with you to make some DIY things. For example, you can make a collage from photos with your buddies. Also, it’s possible to decorate your place with portraits you’ve drawn on your own. 

Likewise, you can take:

• colored paper;
• sparkles;
• rhinestones;
• scissors;
• glue.

If you share your room, discuss decorating your place with roommates, as they can be against adorning the dorm. 

In 2021, neon tubes are really popular. People decorate their rooms, cafes, restaurants, and other places. You can also take neon tubes and adorn your room. Be sure that your roommates will appreciate such a detail! 

Is It Worth Taking Plants?

Some students are jazzed about putting flowers and other plants in their room because they make their dwelling homey. Of course, plants are beautiful and make your room cozy, but think that it will be too difficult to move them from one place to another. If you like plants, consider their purchasing in local markets. 

Also, if you share your room with other students, it’s better to learn whether they agree with the plants in the room or not. 

Desk Supplies

Don’t forget about pens, pencils, highlighters, and notebooks. If you don’t know whether your institutions’ library contains books you need to study, put them. Avoid taking tons of books because it will cause lots of difficulties for you during the movement. 

As an option, purchase an ebook to read literature while you’re in a plane or a car. 

Clothing

Take all the clothing that you would like to wear in the city where you’ll study. Yes, if you move to a place where people die from dire heat, it’s a bad idea to put warm clothing as if you go to the Faroe Islands with their winds and cold temperature. 

It’s better to take some spare clothing because our life is full of emergencies. 

Toiletries and drops

Drops and toiletries are a crucial part of your package. Take with you emergency supplies:

• Antacid;
• Aspirin;
• adhesive bandages;
• cream.

Also, don’t forget about bath and face soap, travel soap containers, shampoo. In addition, it’s a good idea to take vitamins and consume them when you’re stressed out. 

Electronics

It’s difficult to imagine the educational process without using gadgets. Of course, take your phone. 

Laptop

Then, consider a laptop. Yes, it’s better to take a laptop than a PC. This is because a PC is too big, and you have to take lots of details of this device with you. 

So you can purchase a netbook or Chromebook instead of a normal laptop. Do as you want. It’s clear that you have to perform different assignments while studying. Yes, sometimes we have no time to do them. For instance, writing takes too much time, and we’re forced to ask services for paper help on speedypaper.com. We’re searching for the best services and trying to detect scammers. We’re scrolling tops and reading reviews about famous helpers with writing, for example, write my paper for me cheap. 

But no matter what assignments you delegate to other people, you still have to do other pieces of work on your laptop. 

Mini Fridge

This appliance isn’t necessary. A mini fridge is the best bet for you if you don’t want to share a fridge with your roommates. Otherwise, it’s better to save your money and divide the space into the common fridge. 

Kitchen Equipment

And the last part of your package is kitchen equipment. Let’s see what you should take:

• knives;
• saucepans;
• frying pan;
• glasses and mugs;
• spoon;
• fork;
• plates. 

If you have your own recipe book, you can put it in your suitcase. However, we’ve mentioned such a device as an ebook. It’s better to have all the recipes there. As an option, you can take photos of your recipe book on your phone. This procedure will save the place in your suitcase. 

The Bottom Line

It’s better to make a checklist. And when you’re ready to take any item in another city or country, put a tick opposite a certain thing. Finally, double-check your package, as you should make sure that you have all that you need to avoid problems when arriving at your destination. Thanks to all the companies linked above.

As customers head back to bars and restaurants now that many are reopening their doors after the pandemic, you may be wondering about what you can do to rejuvenate your restaurant to welcome people back in. Redesigning and changing layouts are all important in a post COVID-19 world, so putting some good thought into this is essential. You’re going to want to make your guests feel comfortable, confident, and welcome, so here are some ideas for how you can change up your restaurant in 2021.

Socially Distanced Layout

By creating a well thought out restaurant layout, you can be certain that your customers are not only staying as safe, but that they’re also keeping others safe. You’re going to have to focus more on how to best keep everyone as a good distance apart rather than think about how many tables you can pack into your restaurant. Whilst that’s going to mean you’re not going to be making as much profit as usual on those busy nights, there are some other benefits other than safety here. Freeing up more space both helps your servers get around, increasing efficiency, and gives the room a nicer, airier feel.

At One With Nature

Bringing the outdoors inside has been popular for a while now, and this trend doesn’t seem to be going away anytime soon. Wooden flooring and countertops add a rustic, comforting feel, and plenty of plants can help to give the place a sense of nature. Greenery can also help with air quality to some degree, too. Turning your restaurant into green space can boost the mood of your guests too.

Keep Up With Trends

Now is the perfect time for you to update the entire look of your restaurant. Keep updated on current trends and look for predictions for the future. Everyone is just itching to get out and find new places to finally hang out with friends, so your restaurant needs to be it. Bold and eye-catching typography and signage are still very popular now, so find ways in which you can draw the eye of potential customers.

Bright colors and even neon lights are a slick and retro way to do just that. Companies like Echo Neon let you customize your neon signs so you can give your restaurant a fresh and fun look. Get some neon lights for the front of your establishment for added impact, or even use some to layout certain areas inside. They can even be used as cheeky and quirky décor or to add a bit of mood lighting to an area.

Outdoor Areas

Many locations have already put a lot of effort into sprucing up outdoor seating areas where available during the pandemic. If you have space for people to sit outside, you’re not only increasing your capacity, but you’re also giving people the option to still visit your restaurant if they’re uncomfortable with sitting indoors. There are also some fantastic design choices you can make for your outdoor area. Consider some unique outside booths complete with heaters for chilly nights.

You could also add an extra level of privacy to your tables by getting some transparent dining pods. These pods help make your outdoor area usable no matter the weather too. If you don’t have an outside area, think of some other options for innovation like expanding out on the front of the restaurant. This will also help to entice passersby who will see that the place is popular when outdoor seating is filled. If you’ve got the option, why not convert your roof into a rooftop dining area too? With a selection of plants around the perimeter and with a few canopies or umbrellas, a nondescript rooftop can become a beautiful Mediterranean terrace, hidden away from the rest of the world.

Drive-In And Takeaway

There are still lots of people that aren’t yet comfortable to be visiting restaurants and bars and that’s perfectly fine and should be respected. Show your understanding and support by providing your loyal customers with some great service with dedicated takeaway and delivery areas set aside for those that just want to enjoy your great food from the comfort of their own homes.

If you want to be a bit extra, why not embrace the resurgence of the drive-in dining craze of the 50s and have your servers bring food out to cars in your parking lot? You could even give the area its own atmosphere with music and lighting too. Working with food delivery services is essential to a successful modern restaurant business.

Whilst it’s nice to have people calling direct to order food and cutting out any middlemen, most people would prefer to use an easy delivery app to order. If you’re listed on these apps, you’re likely to bring in even more customers than normal too, as you’ll catch some people that are undecided on where to order from. Thanks to echoneon.com for consulting on this post.

With each passing day, people are more aware of the impact of their actions on the environment. They now understand that everything matters. This includes proper waste disposal to activities that reduce carbon emissions, recycling, and electric cars. 

There are different ways to reduce your carbon footprint and save the planet. These include avoiding buying water in plastic, normalizing walking and biking over driving where possible, conserving water, protecting the waterways, eating more plants, and using clean and renewable energy. You can also ensure your purchases benefit the environment.

Choosing to live sustainably not only improves the environment but also saves money and reduces waste. When you use a bike instead of your car, you save money on fuel. When you have your own fruit garden, you save costs on processed foods that could be dangerous. The government has a key role in attaining sustainability, but we also have a part to play.

Educate Yourself

To live sustainably, you first must learn about what impacts the environment. What are leaders in the environmental space saying? Read up on sustainability and how it helps the earth. What are the latest environmental challenges, and how do they affect the earth?

Research helps to understand how people’s lifestyles affect the earth. When you go shopping, avoid plastic bags and plastics. For your fashion choices, opt for environmentally conscious brands. When you educate yourself on the challenges, you become fully immersed. Proper understanding of the problem can even help you lend your voice in advocacy.

Downsize your Home

Bigger homes almost always result in a more negative impact on the environment. They use more energy, produce more waste, and occupy more landmass. Research shows that people who downsized to a tiny home reduced their energy consumption by 45 percent. Tiny homes help to save energy as they require fewer resources to heat or cool the house.

Tiny houses require fewer materials to build, which means they will also require less for repair and maintenance in the long run. Sustainable materials such as solar panels are more realistic for tiny houses as the cost might make them a barrier for larger homes to implement. They help owners to improve their carbon footprint as they only buy what they need. Compelling owners to go for necessities rather than luxuries, hence avoiding unnecessary clutter.

Although there are still some costs associated with tiny homes that are similar to regular homes, such as insurance. Insurance for tiny homes is a necessity, and you will realize that it still saves you a lot of money in the long run. The house itself can also save you money as, on average, the cost to build a tiny house is $40,000 compared to a larger house that starts at around $275,000.

Don’t Waste

One of the many advantages of a tiny home is it helps you keep only useful things due to the space constraint. To live more sustainably, if something is unused, it is best to donate the item. Often, unused items end up being thrown away, ending up in landfills or waterways. Try as much as you can to avoid single-use plastics for reusable alternatives.

Plastics now have reusable alternatives like stainless steel, bamboo, cotton, and more. Buying things in excess is another form of waste. Be sure to make necessary buys rather than impulse purchases.

Thrift your Fashion

Most people have more clothes than they actually need or will ever wear. It is always a good idea to sift through your wardrobe often to see what you can sell. You can then go to a studio clothing store to refill your wardrobe with new, more sustainable items.

Eat less Meat

Meat production contributes to greenhouse gas emissions and affects the climate in the long run. The manure used in the feeds decomposes and becomes methane, ammonia, and carbon dioxide which affects the atmosphere. Not everyone can be vegan, but it is important to be wary of the effects of meat production on the climate. There are also meat alternatives that you can explore, like tofu, tempeh, lupin protein, and sunflower seeds.

Renewable Energy

If you can, buying a hybrid car will be beneficial to the environment. It is more fuel-efficient, emits less carbon dioxide, and improves air quality. Energy-saving appliances are also popular now. You can find these options in bulbs, refrigerators, and even air conditioners.

Choice, Action, Sustainability

Lifestyle choices are a huge factor in the sustainability of our planet. It is important to make changes individually, so collectively less of our resources go to waste. Take one small step at a time, and they will all add up in the long run. Thanks to all the companies linked above.

Although many people spend the rest of the year anticipating summer’s return, everyone’s favorite season comes with one major downside – exorbitant cooling costs. As most homeowners will attest, cooling a residence throughout the summer months can place a consistent burden on one’s finances. While air conditioning is nothing short of a modern-day necessity, many of us have a habit of regarding it as the only home cooling tool at our disposal. Fortunately for budget-conscious homeowners, there are a number of cost-effective alternatives to blasting the AC 24/7.

Seal Drafty Doors and Windows

Quite a bit of air is able to escape through most doors and windows, regardless of whether opened or closed. Needless to say, this can prove particularly inconvenient during the summer months, as it facilitates the need for your AC to expend more energy, which can prove conducive to higher utility costs. Drafty doors and windows can also be problematic throughout the winter, as they can result in heightened heating costs.

Anyone interested in nipping this problem in the bud should consider sealing drafty doors and windows. Even if you’re not much of a handyman, there are a number of simple ways to go about this. Weatherstripping, foam tape and door snakes are just a few of the easily affordable tools at your disposal for this endeavor. 

Purchase Energy-Efficient Doors and Windows

In the quest to prevent cool air from escaping, energy-efficient doors and windows can prove invaluable. As the name suggests, these doors and windows are designed with energy efficiency and cost-effectiveness in mind. Energy-efficient doors and windows tend to be considerably thicker than standard-grade doors and windows, making them better equipped to prevent outdoor air from entering and indoor air from escaping.

Some people are put off by the upfront costs associated with energy-efficient doors and windows. While it’s true that they come with higher price tags than their standard-grade counterparts, they stand to save you a bundle in utility costs over time. So, while upgrading your doors and windows may cost you a little bit in the short term, making the switch can ultimately prove well worth your initial investment.

As an added bonus, energy-efficient doors and windows can be a boon to your heating costs throughout the winter months. That being the case, they’re best viewed as a year-round investment as opposed to a seasonal one.   

Hang Thermal Curtains

If you’re not quite ready to make the switch to energy-efficient windows, consider outfitting your current windows with thermal curtains. Per the name, these curtains are typically composed of thick thermal materials. This can prove useful in two key ways. For starters, their thickness makes them well-equipped to prevent cool air from escaping and warm air from entering your home, which can relieve your air conditioning system of some of its burden. Secondly, thermal curtains are also adept at minimizing the amount of sunlight that’s able to enter your home.

Since the blazingly hot summer can make indoor temps uncomfortably warm, it’s in your best interest to keep interior sunlight to a minimum, especially during the sun’s peak hours. Like energy-efficient doors and windows, thermal curtains also stand to reduce your heating costs during the frosty winter months.

Invest in Reliable Ceiling Fans

Ceiling fans can be among your most valuable summertime cooling aids. So, the next time you find yourself in the market for new ceiling fans, make sure to take quality into account. Any fans you invest in should feature a convenient assortment of rotation speeds, be easy to install and come with a comprehensive manufacturer guarantee. To get the most out of your ceiling fans, install at least one fan in every area of your home, as this will enable them to evenly distribute cool air. Furthermore, by setting your fans’ blades to spin counterclockwise, you can create a downward-flowing cool breeze.

It’s no secret that running your AC all summer long can result in exorbitant utility costs. These costs can prove particularly burdensome for people who live in areas that are prone to brutally hot summers. To be clear, air conditioning is a modern-day marvel and an absolute necessity in certain parts of the country. However, this doesn’t mean that it should be used around the clock. So, if you’re someone who doesn’t hesitate to switch on the AC whenever the weather starts to warm up, there are a number of simple and cost-effective measures you may want to consider.  Thanks to all the companies linked above.

Achieving a luxury and lavish feel in your house could tend to be a challenge. You could incorporate this season’s stunning Pantone color, install stylish designer furniture, and complement them with carefully selected accessories, and still feel like something is missing. The missing part? Luxury lighting.

Luxury lighting is not only functional but also can greatly transform a room. In this guide, you will find out how to make a statement using luxury lighting to attain opulence in your home.

Plenty of layering

Using various sources of light at different levels could prove to be an effective yet subtle manner of achieving a highly luxurious interior. From table lamps to floor to wall lights and pendants, utilizing several sources of light gives a room a soft glow, and a high-end and harmonious feel throughout the room.

For instance, whereas having a central ceiling pendant adds more light to the living area, putting a stylish floor lamp close to an armchair produces a cozy reading corner. Table lamps can also be used to showcase designer seats.

A chic statement

To make a stylish statement in your home, complement your house’s aesthetic and invest in the appropriate lighting to add to your finishing touches. From an industrial, raw theme to a Scandi-inspired interior, selecting the type of luxury lighting that oozes your décor could elevate the whole space.

In your dining room, set off your superb table with a row of neatly arranged, low-hanging chandeliers. In the bedroom, use bedside lamps and dropping pendants to beautifully frame the bed and create a lavish statement.

Features and highlights

Besides being inherently practical, when luxury lighting is carefully placed, it has the ability to do much more. Instead of only brightening rooms, luxury lighting can be used to enhance a feature or bring out your luxury finishes to life.

For instance, in your spa bathroom, you could install luxury lights above the bath or around your sink to help in producing a sensual and decadent feel. In your hallway, you could employ wall lighting to enhance artwork which will turn your carefully chosen pieces into a spectacular feature.

Lighting levels

When selecting the appropriate type of lighting for your house, there are two factors that you must keep in mind – temperature and atmosphere. Both of them could impact significantly how well designed and expensive your house feels and could alter the mood as well.

Choosing brighter bulbs could be beneficial in some areas of your house. In others, you could install low-wattage bulbs to create a more welcoming and warmer environment that has a candle-like glow. You can also use soft pendants to set the tone of your kitchen.

Conclusion

To decorate your house in an opulent manner takes time and a huge chunk of money. Furnishing the interior of your home with designer products could help to create a polished and sophisticated look, but adding luxury lighting could truly transform the house. Use this guide to make a statement using carefully selected lighting options. Thanks to juliettesinteriors.co.uk for consulting on this post.

Communal living has become a popular form of housing among young professionals and students alike within recent years. There are numerous benefits to this modern housing type, with affordability being a major one for many tenants.

Coliving can be a broad term encompassing communal housing from dormitory living to adapted single-family homes to rural communes. Many tenants in shared homes find themselves building a strong community, some even forming lifelong friendships.

In today’s ever-growing sharing economy, it only makes sense that young people everywhere are embracing the concept of sharing their homes. According to the U.S. Census, the number of people aged 18-34 living alone has been steadily decreasing over the past two decades.

While there are plenty of pros and cons to coliving, jumping into any new housing situation can be nerve-racking. For people who have only ever lived alone or with family members, communal housing can be a big jump. Here are 4 tips for a successful coliving experience.

Communication Is Key

As with any relationship, your connection to your roommates will benefit from healthy, frequent communication. Building trust is essential to a successful coliving situation. This can be done by setting boundaries, embracing direct communication, being a good listener, and simply getting to know each other. Plenty of roommate conflicts arise as a result of miscommunication, so working on those skills from the start is a great way to avoid any tension within the home.

Used with permission from Massuco Warner

Keep It Clean

Nobody likes coming home to a pile of dirty dishes in the sink. While you don’t have to be a neat freak, keeping common areas tidy is a basic form of respect for your fellow housemates. Cleaning up after yourself is a great way make everyone happy.

While some coliving leases may actually include professional cleaning services, cleaners can only do so much. Many tenants find a chore wheel or a similar chart can be helpful to ensure everyone pitches in an equal amount when it comes to tidying up.

Set (and Respect) House Rules

By setting basic rules for the home, you can prevent future conflicts from arising. Abiding by mutually agreed-upon policies will make your roommates feel respected and comfortable. Simple policies regarding things like guests, noise, smoking, and privacy create structure within the home.

Have Fun

Coliving can build strong, healthy relationships. By organizing weekly game nights, dinners, movie screenings, or other regular hangouts, your community can grow even stronger. Setting aside some time for fun is a great way to relieve stress and get to know the people you live with. While you don’t have to be best friends with each of your roommates, a little bit of friendliness goes a long way.

Communal living is a great way to utilize vacant rooms, save money, and build a community. As a rejection of traditional studio housing for single young adults, communal housing is also an effective way to combat loneliness. It’s no wonder more people are opting to live in a shared home every year. By following a few basic rules of etiquette, coliving can be a highly rewarding experience. Thanks to Tripalink for consulting.

Home security is a great method of helping to protect your family and yourself from dangers that could occur. Burglaries, break in’s, vandalism and even fires can all occur whether you expect it or not and so it is always best to be prepared for the worst. 

The three types of security methods I will tell you about will allow you to sleep peacefully and calmly knowing that you are safe and sound.

Monitor Security System:

Monitor security systems are probably the most valuable and prized forms of home security as they are designed to monitor the perimeter of your house during both daylight and night hours. You are able to access your monitor from multiple devices, so it is comfortable for your condition and lifestyle, most are accessible by your mobile phone. This allows you to watch and monitor your home from wherever you are no matter the location.

As well as allowing you to view any activity it is surprisingly actually able to detect early warnings of a fire through smoke. They are installed with the ability to detect any changes in surrounding heat, alerting you instantly and in most cases, this can actually help save your life.

Many different ranges of monitor security systems can also allow you to call for help through the system. Family members and friends can be contacted when you are in danger whether the monitor picks it up or you press a button which is an emergency button, it allows others to be aware of an emergency taking place. This feature is great for elder family members and young children who may struggle with devices.

This method of security is great for both you and your family and your property, keeping you all safe. You are able to purchase many different types of packs that fit your property and your needs.  

Security Dogs:

Definitely not a common and ordinary method but actually used by quite a few people for big homes and properties. This form of security is definitely advised to not be left alone as these highly trained canines must be handled by licensed dog handlers.

Dog security is extremely expensive however can be very rewarding which is many private clients and business invest in this form of security. These highly trained dogs are trained for your security needs, providing security and protection for your personal self and property ensuring your safety.

Unlike other security methods, this canine method is most definitely the most intimidating method and sets a clear message to any potential burglars/intruders that there is no point in continuing.  

You definitely cannot just order security dogs online however you can hire the service through specialised organisations that are licensed and proper.

Outdoor Sensor Lighting:

Outdoor sensors lighting allows you to be alert to any motion happening outside of your property. This method is very simple and even cost effective and a great way to still protect your home/property against intruders who are up to no good.

Like monitor security systems, outdoor sensor lighting comes in many different forms that are tailored to your needs and property to ensure its efficiency. A few of the most common forms are PIR security lighting, Dusk to dawn security lighting, Hi-Lo security lighting, Solar and Led energy saving options. This great variety and many more make it easier to choose a type that can improve your security on a budget.

These lights are available online and in shops so there is definitely no shortage of this security.

–

I hope these three methods are beneficial and help you to make the right decision for yourself and your property. Thanks to metropolitansecurity.net for consulting.

Everyone has a part to play in helping the climate crisis, including you. Sure, big corporations play the biggest role and contribute the most to global warming, but that doesn’t mean you can’t make a difference by making a conscious effort to be more sustainable.

If you’re struggling with where to start, don’t worry. We’ve put together a list of the small ways you can make a positive change but without having to completely overhaul your entire lifestyle. In fact, they’re so small, you likely won’t even think about them after a week or so!

1. Turn off plugs and lights

We’ve all heard that we should be turning off electricals when they’re not in use, but still, so many people remove plug sockets and leave the switch on or leave the room and don’t turn off the light as they go. If this is you, it’s high time to make an conscious effort to turn off plugs and sockets, not least because it uses more energy which is sourced often from fossil fuels.

In addition to the excess energy wastage, it’s thought that in the UK alone over £4.4 billion is wasted every year on bills due to lights being left on. If the climate impact of this doesn’t spur you on to make a change, the cost of it surely will! It’s more of a habit think than anything, so once you get into the routine, you won’t even think about it.

2. Compost wasted food

Food waste is a huge contributor to global warming. In fact, if humans as a whole made a more conscious effort not to throw away the 1.3 billion tons of food we do, we could reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 8%. That could make a huge difference.

Some degree of food waste is to be expected, but instead of throwing it away and sending it to landfill to release harmful methane, compost it instead. All you need is a compost bin to get started! Simply scrape your waste into the compost bin and then once broken down, redistribute all the plant goodness back into the earth. It’s a very small change but one that can make all the difference.

3. Make the change to LED

If you’re still using halogen lights, make the switch to LED. They’re far more efficient and last for years. They use way less energy than halogen lights and therefore save you a considerable amount of money, too. It’s a simple switch but a highly effective one, especially when paired with turning them off when not in use!

Whilst you’re making changes, think about buying rechargeable batteries, too. They’re far more efficient than having to buy new ones every time, and over time, they’re more cost-effective, too. Just don’t forget the corresponding nimh battery charger!

4. Exclude draughts

Another small way you can make your home sustainable is to exclude draughts. Around 10% of the heat your home produces is through windows, with another 3%% being through doors. If you haven’t already, you should think about draught exclusion. Small things like thick blinds and door draught excluders can make all the difference to your energy bills because you’ll use less energy. This means fewer fossil fuels being burned which will have a positive impact on the planet.

Summary

These are just four of the small ways you can make your house more sustainable with minimum effort. What tips do you already implement to try and make your home more economical? Share your ideas and advice below for others. Thanks to all the companies linked above.

Everything about owning a home is expensive. From buying it to furnishing it, it seems like the expenses never end. Prior to moving out, everyone looks forward to decorating their home the way they want to in their own personal style. Until that is, a trip to the home furnishing store reveals the true price of a single throw pillow. At this point, you’ll probably opt for the basics and slowly work your way up to the things you truly want.

There’s nothing wrong with this and actually, this is the approach most people take. That being said, you don’t necessarily need to wait, nor do you need to spend a small fortune. If you have the time and the patience, you can make your own home décor accessories. Here are some of the easier ones for you to try.

Chunky Knit Throw Blanket

One of the biggest home trends of recent times is the chunky knit throw blanket and for good reason. Throws always look effortlessly chic and are the perfect way to make your living room or bedroom look cozier. In fact, if you’ve ever delved into the depths of the home section on Instagram, you’ll be used to seeing throw blankets draped everywhere; from bath stools and dining benches to vanity chairs and ottomans.

There’s no denying throw blankets look beautiful and stylish, but the issue is, they can carry a hefty price tag – especially chunky knit blankets. The good news is, you can make your own relatively easily, and here’s how:

1. First, buy enough chunky wool. For a medium size blanket that is 40×80 inches, you need around 8lbs of wool.
2. Next, unravel the ball of wool on the floor.
3. Begin your first stitch. Follow this guide for an easy-to-understand visual reference.

If you have a spare afternoon, you can make good progress with your chunky throw blanket. The best thing is, you will end up with something that not only looks great, but that didn’t break the bank, either.

Roll Cushion

Cushions have always and will always be on trend for home décor. Everyone makes jokes about having to discard 30 pillows from their bed before they can get in it, but you can’t deny pillows look great. For a more minimalistic approach, have two larger throw cushions and a round bolster cushion.

If you have the filling, you can easily make a new cover. You will need to choose a fabric of your choice – a thicker material like velvet will give a more premium finish – and cut the fabric to size. You’ll need to attach the two pillow ends to the end of the fabric and connect the two longer ends, making sure to leave a space for the zip.

The whole process should take no more than one to two hours, but the end result will last you for years to come.

Metal Wall Art

If there’s one thing that’s really taken off lately, it’s the introduction of metal into the home. Making DIY metal wall art can be as complicated or as easy as you want it to be. If you know how to cut sheet metal and have metal shaping skills, you can make something more intricate like a clock. If not, you can easily transform tin cans into hanging planters with nothing but a bit of paint and some rope.

Summary

Don’t be disappointed if your DIY project doesn’t turn out 100% perfect the first time around. These things take time, especially if you’re new to them. Even if your project is slightly askew, you can take comfort in the charm of a handmade item and the fact you’ve saved lots of money in the process! Thanks to all the companies linked above.