We’re all looking forward to a fresh start at the beginning of the new year: Whether it’s an updated fitness regime, pursuing new hobbies or getting organized, there are a slew of resolutions to try. In 2013, why not make a few changes to not only yourself, but also your home? By incorporating cutting-edge design trends, you’ll add style and color that’s perfect to kick-start the year.
With spring just around the corner, it’s time to focus on sprucing up your home. But balancing a budget and your home improvement desires can be a challenge. Some simple tips and tricks can help you make over your home for less.
Whether you’re celebrating a new job, new house or new member of your family, fresh starts and major life events herald a time to rejoice. While you’re feeling good about a positive change in your life, it’s also a great time to get organized so you can focus on what’s to come instead of worrying about where to find this or where to put that.
No matter how pressed you are for time, you can spruce up your house by focusing on simple projects that can be completed quickly … in a day or a weekend. Don’t delay – check these easy and affordable projects off your to-do list today and soon your home will be perfectly prepared and instantly updated.
Despite its negative reputation, the number 13 doesn’t always have to be unlucky. Take these top 10 decor trends for 2013 from design experts, manufacturers and trend forecasters across the country. They’re fresh, fun and sure to bring good fortune to any home.
As you prepare to celebrate the holidays, welcoming loved ones into your home is a highlight of the festivities. You may eagerly look forward to gathering with family and friends, but is your house holiday and houseguest ready?
Why is it that some people can do daring things with color in their living rooms or bedrooms, but stick with the strongholds of beige and white in their kitchens and baths? As bright hues are surfacing in kitchen and bath design trends, existing oft-neutral palettes make it easy to introduce bold splashes.
It’s easy to instantly trim your energy consumption and boost the eco-friendliness of your home. The key to easy energy savings is lighting. Though for many homeowners and renters, knowing how and what to do to improve their home’s lighting energy efficiency can be confusing.
Falling out of love is a painful experience – especially when the love affair that’s ending is between you and the pricey, permanent design changes you made as part of a kitchen renovation. While it’s always easy to repaint if you don’t like a wall color, more significant renovations – like cabinets and countertops, flooring and fixtures – require you to live with them for a long time.
Looking for simple and quick ways to spruce up your home this winter? Get your home looking its best with some easy home improvement projects and seasonal inspirations. By making a few simple updates and adding new design pieces to your home, you can deter some of those winter blues while preparing for more time spent indoors.
Looking for a simple, inexpensive way to turn an aging family room into a dazzling showcase? Inspired design professionals will tell you one of the most popular and cost-effective ways to transform a plain space into a room with sizzle is to adorn it with millwork crafted from American hardwoods.
Whether snuggling in for the night or just trying to catch a quick few winks, your environment plays an important role in determining if you’re counting sheep or counting Zzzs. From noise reduction to lighting, there are a few easy ways you can turn your bedroom into a tranquil oasis.
While the holidays are supposed to be a joyous occasion, trying to meet unrealistic expectations can bring out the Scrooge in anyone. A simple way to ease the stress is with a holiday-scented candle. Studies show that “scent memories” can remind us of wonderful events in our pasts, and a candle can trigger these types of memories.
Some might call the fall and winter months the holiday season, but it could just as easily be known as the hosting season. It’s the time of year when cooking for crowds and welcoming friends and family for celebrations is the name of the game. For those opening their homes to guests, it can be hectic, but there are plenty of ways to make the season as full of cheer as it should be.
If April showers bring May flowers, what do winter’s snowflakes bring? Perhaps it’s an excuse to curl up with your favorite magazines and imagine the kitchen makeover of your dreams. When the cold winter months keep you indoors, use the time to take care of things that will make your remodeling plans much easier to tackle in the spring.
When it comes to decorating with lights for the holidays, there are unlimited ways to add twinkle to the inside as well as the outside of your home. Some people favor an elegant, restrained sprinkling of lights around a door, while others go for a more exuberant display of illumination on virtually every surface.
If you’re tired of looking at your outdated kitchen, but feel replacement would be impractical, you’re not alone. In 2013, consumers will be trying to find the beauty in the beast. Projects that help the old look new will be the next big makeover trend – especially in the kitchen where remodeling becomes more pricey.
The front door is often the focal point of a house and the welcoming committee to guests as they enter your home. And as the attention-seeking centerpiece, it should always be looking its best. A great addition to any door is a beautiful wreath – either decorative or seasonal – to greet your guests and neighbors. Although many stores sell wreaths, it’s easy, fun and cost-effective to create a unique and one-of-a-kind statement piece.
Collecting relics isn’t a hobby just for Grandma and Grandpa any more. With the explosive popularity of TV shows centered around unearthing historic memorabilia and valuable pieces of Americana, searching for knickknacks and artifacts that make one-of-a-kind home decor is now a popular pastime for people of all ages. But how do you know the difference between what’s really treasure and what’s simply trash?
As you’re gearing up to watch a major football bowl game or the pivotal match of a college basketball championship tournament, it’s important to set the stage for a great viewing experience.
When you finally tackle that home improvement project you’ve been planning for a while, you’re probably eager to get the job done quickly, well and on-budget. Injuries can delay your project, and cost money for medical expenses or even time lost from your job. It’s important to take steps to prevent injury.
Dry skin, winter weight gain and the common cold – humans aren’t the only ones to struggle with winter woes. Cold weather can affect our pets’ health, too. While you can put in some extra time on the treadmill and layer up for the cold weather, pets rely on their human companions to help them stay healthy all year long.
The holidays are full of fun activities, tasty treats and plenty of celebration, but being busy and eating all the extras can quickly lead to weight gain. With a few key strategies, it’s surprisingly easy to enjoy the season to the fullest and still avoid Santa’s extra bulge.
You might think that by the time the holidays arrive, allergy season is long gone. However, for millions of allergy sufferers, the reality is that allergens still abound. From pet dander to volatile organic compounds, indoor allergens can cause discomfort and health issues as bothersome as when pollen is in season. Take steps to minimize allergy and asthma triggers in your household this holiday season, allowing everyone to enjoy in the festivities.
Like many parents, Heidi Staats had never heard of respiratory syncytial virus, commonly known as RSV, until she almost lost her son to the common, yet potentially severe disease it can cause.
People living with chronic pain face many challenges, and one of the most daunting can be finding ways to pay for treatment.
Healthy feet are essential for overall good health, no matter your age, fitness level or physical challenges. For people with diabetes, however, taking care of their feet is especially vital. More than 60 percent of all non-traumatic lower-limb amputations worldwide are related to complications from the disease, according to the American Diabetes Association.
Coughing is a natural reaction to an airway irritant, the body’s attempt to expel foreign substances, or a symptom indicating an underlying medical condition. A cough is a familiar symptom of a wide range of conditions – from the common cold to bronchitis. Identifying the type and cause of your cough will help you determine treatment and get you on the fast track to kicking your cough.
Today’s busy families are always on the go, which means less time for shopping, preparing and eating food. However, there is one thing you can’t skimp on no matter how fast you’re going, and that’s food safety. From grocery shopping to reheating leftovers, you can use several tips to ensure that the food you eat isn’t going to make you or your family sick.
In the United States, Veteran’s Day is a time to commemorate and thank the veterans of all military branches for their hard work and dedication to our country. Although this year’s Veteran’s Day has passed, it provided an opportunity to remember all that past members of the military have endured and sacrificed for our country, including their health. Though it is not a condition resulting from combat, many current veterans face deadly asbestos-related diseases like mesothelioma due to frequent asbestos exposure while serving in the military.
