When making plans for a home decorating project, it is important to sit down and write down your ideas and goals. Without a plan the experience may become confusing and frustrating. There are many details to work out when planning to decorate your home such as theme, materials and intentions for the space being decorated. It is pointless to get up one morning thinking I'll decorate my dining room today. It would be a nice thought but without previous planning, doubtfully the project would amount to much. Failing to plan is planning to fail. Home decorating tips such as this are helpful.
After jotting down ideas and goals for your home decorating project, the next phase might be to consider your budget, how much can you afford to spend on redecorating. Materials and accessories could be costly depending on what your decorating plans are. If desiring to make changes to your entire home, you should have access to a sufficient amount of money. Helpful home decorating tips should always make your budget a priority. There are hidden costs when making huge improvements in your home. Better safe than sorry.Once the home decorating begins, little expenses seem to jump out of the woodwork. Planning a home decorating project that fits your budget is a helpful home decorating tip.
Once you are all straightened out regarding the financial situation, you will want to choose a style or them for your home decorating project. There are many to choose from and the decision should be made based on your likes and interests. Country decorating provides a sense of warmth and coziness, while a modern theme might be loud and alive. Remember when planning to decorate, this theme may be around for awhile. For this reason another good home decorating tip is, choose a theme or a style you can live with.
After making a final decision about your decorating theme, a helpful home decorating tip might be to sit down and sketch your plan on paper. Using a pencil and paper, sketch a diagram of the area you are about to decorate. Considering the size, spend some time arranging and rearranging, through drawing, the items to go in this space. Let's keep the ball rolling.Using a mental visualization and the sketch, you should be certain of your goal before the actual work begins. Another helpful home decorating tip at this stage of the game is aiming to highlight.
Your imagination, your creativity ? these are two great assets in home decorating. Perhaps one of the most helpful home decorating tips is to make use of your own creative abilities. When your project begins, if an idea pops in your head or you discover you would like to try orange instead of beige, go for it. Often times it's those off the wall ideas that make a space look astonishing. It's your home, your idea, use your judgement. Go the extra mile.
There are many helpful home decorating tips. They can be found in home decorating magazines, books, on programs or on the Internet. If having concerns and inhibitions about starting a decorating project in your home, you could certainly get some helpful home decorating tips from these sources. Decorating your home is meant to be an exciting and joyous occasion. The number one tip for home decorating is have fun.
If you are looking for more information on decorating the interior of your home please visit my site at http://www.home-decorating-now.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mel_Beauchamp
Thursday 27 May 2010
Sunday 23 May 2010
DIY Home Renovation Tips - A Step by Step Guide to Home Renovations
When it comes to investment property renovations the question I always get asked is - "how much work should I do"? The answer to this question will change dramatically depending on each person and their current situation. Are you the kind of person that loves DIY (do it yourself) home renovations? Do you love researching cheap renovation ideas? Or does the thought of a month's DIY home renovation make you feel sick? Only you can answer these questions but believe me there are huge advantages of doing minor renovations let alone a full month's work on a property
So let's assume that you have 2-5 weeks to complete your DIY renovations, what is a realistic goal to try and achieve? To a certain extent this will depend on your budget but you would be surprised at how much you can get done if you find some good cheap renovation ideas. My DIY renovation budget is the same for every project I do - I like to call it the "Spend as little as possible" budget! Below is a list of the most obvious and important things that you should look at when attempting a cheap DIY renovation.
Interior Painting
A fresh coat of paint is the easiest way to make a house feel new again. The great thing about painting is that everyone can do it and it's such a rewarding job. I love watching the house slowly get transformed as each new wall is painted and best of all if you do it yourself it shouldn't be too expensive.
RENOVATION TIP: If you're going to paint the house beige don't even bother! Property investors always make the mistake or choosing plain and boring colors. Paint the house as if you were going to be living in it. If you're feeling really adventurous you could even include a feature wall.
Floors
Replacing the existing flooring is another way to make your property feel brand new. You can either replace the carpet or in some houses you can polish the floor boards that are under the carpet.
RENOVATION TIP: This is one part of the DIY renovation process that I would recommend hiring somebody to it for you (floor polishing &carpets). The professionals do such a quick, good and cheap job that it's hard to make an argument for doing it yourself. To save some money you can rip out the old carpet and left over staples before the professional come.
Bathroom & Kitchen
These two rooms are very important when it comes to renovating your investment property. If you do have some money in your budget then the Bathroom & Kitchen are a pretty good place to spend it. How much work you do here is up to the individual but I would recommend trying to get both of these areas clean, modern and usable.
RENOVATION TIP: Rather than re-tiling you can use Tile Paint to great effect. I have used 'White Knight' tile paint over the top of outdated 80's tiles and the results have been outstanding.
Fittings
Replacing old Light fittings, door handles and cupboard fittings is a great DIY renovation idea. It is a very easy and cheap way to create a more 'modern feel' in your Investment property.
RENOVATION TIP: Look at the expensive designer brands and then find good quality imitations that are a quarter of the price.
Garden
One full day in the garden and you can make a big difference to overall appearance of a house. Pull out some weeds, trim some branches, mow the lawns, sweep the driveway and suddenly your property is looking pretty good. You might be saying "Since when is sweeping the driveway considered DIY home renovation"? Well I don't care what you 'call it' - Gardening, DIY, Renovations, Cleaning - the fact is that putting a day or two's work into your garden will definitely make your house more attractive to potential renters and bank valuers.
RENOVATION TIP: This is a great part of the DIY renovation to get some help from family and friends with. Everyone has done some gardening at some stage and you can even turn it into a bbq event. This will make it more fun and easy as the whole family can come.
Exterior Painting / Render
This might not be your first priority but it will drastically improve the first impressions that people have of your house. If your property is a weather board then a few coats of paint is a great idea or if it's a Brick house then rendering your property can make a massive difference. Render can turn an old and ugly brick house into a modern a beautiful place in a few days.
RENOVATION TIP: DIY rendering is an incredibly cheap way to improve the value of your house. It can be messy and laborious but the results are fabulous.
Hopefully there is something here for everyone. So my answer to the question "how much work should I do on my investment property"? Do as much as you can whilst spending as little as possible. In the perfect world you would complete all the ideas that I have mentioned in about month and for under a budget of $10,000. Is this a realistic DIY renovation goal? Yes I believe it is very achievable, especially if you (or someone you know) have a few 'handy man' skills. Remember that renovating you investment property should be fun and exciting. Best of luck.
CLICK HERE for access to a FREE INVESTMENT DVD and an amazing Free Wealth Creation pack valued at over $1000 or for more information on Home renovations visit www.BanjoSmyth.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Banjo_Smyth
So let's assume that you have 2-5 weeks to complete your DIY renovations, what is a realistic goal to try and achieve? To a certain extent this will depend on your budget but you would be surprised at how much you can get done if you find some good cheap renovation ideas. My DIY renovation budget is the same for every project I do - I like to call it the "Spend as little as possible" budget! Below is a list of the most obvious and important things that you should look at when attempting a cheap DIY renovation.
Interior Painting
A fresh coat of paint is the easiest way to make a house feel new again. The great thing about painting is that everyone can do it and it's such a rewarding job. I love watching the house slowly get transformed as each new wall is painted and best of all if you do it yourself it shouldn't be too expensive.
RENOVATION TIP: If you're going to paint the house beige don't even bother! Property investors always make the mistake or choosing plain and boring colors. Paint the house as if you were going to be living in it. If you're feeling really adventurous you could even include a feature wall.
Floors
Replacing the existing flooring is another way to make your property feel brand new. You can either replace the carpet or in some houses you can polish the floor boards that are under the carpet.
RENOVATION TIP: This is one part of the DIY renovation process that I would recommend hiring somebody to it for you (floor polishing &carpets). The professionals do such a quick, good and cheap job that it's hard to make an argument for doing it yourself. To save some money you can rip out the old carpet and left over staples before the professional come.
Bathroom & Kitchen
These two rooms are very important when it comes to renovating your investment property. If you do have some money in your budget then the Bathroom & Kitchen are a pretty good place to spend it. How much work you do here is up to the individual but I would recommend trying to get both of these areas clean, modern and usable.
RENOVATION TIP: Rather than re-tiling you can use Tile Paint to great effect. I have used 'White Knight' tile paint over the top of outdated 80's tiles and the results have been outstanding.
Fittings
Replacing old Light fittings, door handles and cupboard fittings is a great DIY renovation idea. It is a very easy and cheap way to create a more 'modern feel' in your Investment property.
RENOVATION TIP: Look at the expensive designer brands and then find good quality imitations that are a quarter of the price.
Garden
One full day in the garden and you can make a big difference to overall appearance of a house. Pull out some weeds, trim some branches, mow the lawns, sweep the driveway and suddenly your property is looking pretty good. You might be saying "Since when is sweeping the driveway considered DIY home renovation"? Well I don't care what you 'call it' - Gardening, DIY, Renovations, Cleaning - the fact is that putting a day or two's work into your garden will definitely make your house more attractive to potential renters and bank valuers.
RENOVATION TIP: This is a great part of the DIY renovation to get some help from family and friends with. Everyone has done some gardening at some stage and you can even turn it into a bbq event. This will make it more fun and easy as the whole family can come.
Exterior Painting / Render
This might not be your first priority but it will drastically improve the first impressions that people have of your house. If your property is a weather board then a few coats of paint is a great idea or if it's a Brick house then rendering your property can make a massive difference. Render can turn an old and ugly brick house into a modern a beautiful place in a few days.
RENOVATION TIP: DIY rendering is an incredibly cheap way to improve the value of your house. It can be messy and laborious but the results are fabulous.
Hopefully there is something here for everyone. So my answer to the question "how much work should I do on my investment property"? Do as much as you can whilst spending as little as possible. In the perfect world you would complete all the ideas that I have mentioned in about month and for under a budget of $10,000. Is this a realistic DIY renovation goal? Yes I believe it is very achievable, especially if you (or someone you know) have a few 'handy man' skills. Remember that renovating you investment property should be fun and exciting. Best of luck.
CLICK HERE for access to a FREE INVESTMENT DVD and an amazing Free Wealth Creation pack valued at over $1000 or for more information on Home renovations visit www.BanjoSmyth.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Banjo_Smyth
Wednesday 19 May 2010
DIY Home Improvement For Beginners: The Basics of DIY
DIY or do it yourself is a goal-oriented hobby initiated and completed by individuals or small groups. The basic premise is that if a person learns reasonably fast and knows how to apply basic skills to projects, then the person doesn't have to hire other people to do the work for him.In recent years, DIY home improvement has made impact in television and in the hearts of interested homemakers and professionals. The idea of improving the looks of your home using your own basic talent appeals to a lot of people. If you wish to begin your own journey in DIY home improvement, certain things have to be taken into consideration so that you can increase your success rate in any DIY home improvement projects.The basics of DIY explained:1.Skill- the acquisition of skill in DIY is self-paced, and depends largely on your enthusiasm for the task at hand. Enthusiasm translates to willingness- the willingness to finish tasks and the willingness to learn. If you're just beginning with DIY, stick to small, doable projects that you know would be fun for you. Sustaining interest is also one key problem, so if you're improving your house with your own two hands, make sure that the part of the house that you wish to alter won't make you miserable after a few days.2.Knowledge- certain things cannot simply be assumed- and this includes electrical systems and cabinet designs. Read all that you can about what you want to do. Limit yourself to doable ones. Making a table is doable, but replacing your living room's large chandelier on your own isn't. Learn, have fun and then go to the next task. This is the formula to successful DIY home improvement projects.3.Time- let's face it. DIY home improvement projects need a lot of time. If you can't find time for the project, then postpone your attempt first. You can reschedule next summer or during the holiday season. This would minimize clutter in your house and cut down waste materials due to expiration dates.4.Finances- the aim is to save money and enjoy the DIY project. However, there are some DIY projects that require a lot of money. Never sacrifice the integrity and safety of your house by buying substandard yet cheap materials. It doesn't matter if you save or not. Example, if your roof fails due to thin braces and support trusses then you would be spending a lot more in repairing the damage.5.Help- sometimes, doing it alone can be difficult. Try to find people of similar interests and start collecting 'tried and tested" formulas for DIY home improvement. On the World Wide Web, there are small yet reliable organizations that gives out DIY home improvement tips, through collaborations with companies that supply the materials to DIY enthusiasts.6.Creativity- creativity will sustain your early attempts, and would push you to do better in future DIY home improvement projects. Being creative also means being able to go past boundaries in craftsmanship and design. You can customize if you want, being creative is a much prized quality for any DIY enthusiasts.
Retrieved from "http://www.articlesbase.com/home-improvement-articles/diy-home-improvement-for-beginners-the-basics-of-diy-677132.html"
(ArticlesBase SC #677132)
Retrieved from "http://www.articlesbase.com/home-improvement-articles/diy-home-improvement-for-beginners-the-basics-of-diy-677132.html"
(ArticlesBase SC #677132)
Saturday 15 May 2010
Learn the Art of Plumbing
Becoming a plumber demands a lot of time and effort from you but the rewards from this career are very promising. A plumber's services are needed by almost all homeowners and commercial business owners. This career provides plenty of opportunities because there are lots of clients waiting for your services.
You must take formal plumbing courses in order to learn plumbing. You can take these courses and trainings from community or online plumbing schools. Aside from formal trainings, you must also finish an apprenticeship program and pass a licensure exam.
Becoming a plumber takes a lot of work but you can make it a lot easier by having the right mindset and dedication. So here are the 4 easy steps that you need to take in order to start your plumbing career.
You Need to Earn Your High School Diploma
One of the most important steps toward becoming a plumber is to earn your high school diploma. If you finished high school, you will find it a lot easier to get into plumbing schools. It is more difficult to learn plumbing basics if you do not have a background on math, practical arts, and blueprint reading. This is the primary reason why a high school diploma is an important stepping stone to become a licensed plumbing professional.
Take Formal Studies in Plumbing Schools
After finishing high school, you can now easily get into plumbing schools in order to take formal plumbing courses. These courses are usually provided by trade schools in your locality. You can learn plumbing in these trade schools, complete your plumbing courses, and earn your certificate.
But if you already have a day job, you should consider getting plumbing courses from online schools. By enrolling in online plumbing schools, you can keep your job and still earn your certification as a plumber.
Finish Your Plumbing Apprenticeship
It is not enough to take formal plumbing courses. You still need to undergo at least 4 years of apprenticeship to take your career into the next level. As an apprentice, you will be guided by a professional licensed plumber.
Advanced hands-on trainings and practical plumbing skills will be taken up during your apprenticeship. Everything you need to learn about plumbing and its applications can be provided by the apprenticeship program. This program is a necessary step to get supervisory positions or to establish a private practice.
Pass the Qualifying Exam to Get Your License
You may be required by local regulatory authorities to get a license first before you can start a practice as a professional plumber. In most cases, you may need to pass a qualifying exam in order to secure a license. After getting your license, you are now officially recognized as a professional plumber. With this status, you can now operate as an independent plumbing contractor. You can also apply for government jobs or get employment in the housing, construction, and industrial sectors.
Becoming a plumber is not easy. It requires hours or formal trainings and studies. It is very important to have the right dedication so you can take your plumbing career to the next level.
If you want to become a plumber visit plumbing-schools.net and learn more on how you can get a professional plumbing certificate.
Article Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Yssabel_M.
You must take formal plumbing courses in order to learn plumbing. You can take these courses and trainings from community or online plumbing schools. Aside from formal trainings, you must also finish an apprenticeship program and pass a licensure exam.
Becoming a plumber takes a lot of work but you can make it a lot easier by having the right mindset and dedication. So here are the 4 easy steps that you need to take in order to start your plumbing career.
You Need to Earn Your High School Diploma
One of the most important steps toward becoming a plumber is to earn your high school diploma. If you finished high school, you will find it a lot easier to get into plumbing schools. It is more difficult to learn plumbing basics if you do not have a background on math, practical arts, and blueprint reading. This is the primary reason why a high school diploma is an important stepping stone to become a licensed plumbing professional.
Take Formal Studies in Plumbing Schools
After finishing high school, you can now easily get into plumbing schools in order to take formal plumbing courses. These courses are usually provided by trade schools in your locality. You can learn plumbing in these trade schools, complete your plumbing courses, and earn your certificate.
But if you already have a day job, you should consider getting plumbing courses from online schools. By enrolling in online plumbing schools, you can keep your job and still earn your certification as a plumber.
Finish Your Plumbing Apprenticeship
It is not enough to take formal plumbing courses. You still need to undergo at least 4 years of apprenticeship to take your career into the next level. As an apprentice, you will be guided by a professional licensed plumber.
Advanced hands-on trainings and practical plumbing skills will be taken up during your apprenticeship. Everything you need to learn about plumbing and its applications can be provided by the apprenticeship program. This program is a necessary step to get supervisory positions or to establish a private practice.
Pass the Qualifying Exam to Get Your License
You may be required by local regulatory authorities to get a license first before you can start a practice as a professional plumber. In most cases, you may need to pass a qualifying exam in order to secure a license. After getting your license, you are now officially recognized as a professional plumber. With this status, you can now operate as an independent plumbing contractor. You can also apply for government jobs or get employment in the housing, construction, and industrial sectors.
Becoming a plumber is not easy. It requires hours or formal trainings and studies. It is very important to have the right dedication so you can take your plumbing career to the next level.
If you want to become a plumber visit plumbing-schools.net and learn more on how you can get a professional plumbing certificate.
Article Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Yssabel_M.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)