Uncategorized

These are the four smart devices luxury homebuyers are looking for…

Security

There are tons of options to keep your home safe with motion sensors, cameras and locks that can be monitored and controlled from any device.

Lighting

Smart lights do much more than set the mood when youre entertaining. Motion sensors illuminate hallways at night and can turn on upon your arrival home.

Smoke Detectors

They may not be glamorous, but theyre one of those small details that make a difference.

Thermostat

Smart thermostats automatically adapt to your schedule and keep the temperature just the way you like. They also regulate themselves to be more energy efficient.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

Decor trends ebb and flow, and as time passes, hard and fast decor rules start to become more fluid. Dont limit yourself because of decorating restrictions you heard long ago; let your creativity out by ensuring that you know these decor myths have been busted.

Dont Mix Patterns
Traditional rules suggest that you should never risk mixing patterns. This is a myth from a bygone era that you shouldnt be afraid to disregard. Contemporary maximalist style looks stunning and glamorous, and its bold mashup of a variety of patterns, floral and colors reminds us that a cohesive aesthetic is possible to achieve without requiring all accents to be uniform. You dont have to embrace the maximalist decor style to benefit from a pop of variety with a few well-selected contrasting patterns.

Stay Away From Dark Colors
Dark colors, particularly for wall paint, were considered taboo and to be avoided at all costs. The popular perception was that dark color choices would make rooms feel cramped and dingy. However, this decor myth is slowly being busted as more and more homeowners are choosing rich and bold colors for their rooms. Deep navy blues, rich emeralds and even matte blacks are heralding a new era of luxurious design trends. Surprisingly, some rooms may even appear a little larger when all walls are dark, creating a cozy and enveloping feel thats ideal for a room meant for relaxing. Still not ready to commit? Try a bold and dark accent wall in your room to anchor the space.

Hang Art High on the Walls
You may naturally gravitate toward hanging your art high on the walls, but this is one decor habit you need to break. This is a myth brought about by simple ignorance. Bust it and instead take a page from art galleries; hang your art at eye level so that everyone can enjoy its beautiful aesthetic.

We all fall prey to decor myths from time to time, its natural since style continues to evolve. Dont let yourself get stuck in a rut because you were limiting your creativity by following decor myths.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

Even if you vacuum frequently, your carpets may be dirtier than you realize. Periodically deep-cleaning them can remove dirt, dust and allergens, which can make the carpets last longer and help your family stay healthy.

How Dirty are Your Carpets?
All sorts of toxic particles can be carried into your home on peoples shoes and pets feet, and some household products release volatile organic compounds. When carpet fibers are dirty and people and pets walk on the carpets, the dirt and grime get ground in.

Even if you vacuum regularly and clean up spills immediately, youre only cleaning the surface. A lot more toxins are farther down, attached to the carpet fibers. If carpets arent deep-cleaned, those substances can lead to poor indoor air quality that can affect your familys health. Dirt and allergens in carpets can be particularly troublesome if you have young children who play on the floor.

How Deep-Cleaning can Help
The most commonly used carpet-cleaning method is hot water extraction, often referred to as steam cleaning. Water and a cleaning solution are sprayed on carpets, then water and dirt from the carpets are sucked back into the machine.

This process can get rid of ingrained debris. The hot water breaks down and removes substances stuck to carpet fibers and kills germs, bacteria and dust mites. Deep-cleaning can also reduce the risk of mold. In addition, shampoo lubricates carpet fibers and reduces the possibility of breakage, which can extend the life of the carpet.

When and How to Clean Your Carpets
How often you should deep-clean your carpets depends on your familys lifestyle, how frequently you vacuum and the amount of foot traffic the carpets receive. Every 12 to 18 months is recommended, but you may need to clean your carpets more often if you have kids or pets, if your carpets get a lot of foot traffic or if they have experienced frequent or particularly messy spills.

The color of the carpets can also influence your cleaning schedule. Lighter carpets will show dirt more than darker colors. Dont wait until your carpets look dirty and dingy or the color is significantly darker than it was when you bought them. The carpets will be hard to clean and may not fully recover from the effects of all that accumulated dirt.

You can buy or rent a machine to clean your carpets yourself, but the machines that professionals use heat water to a higher temperature and have more powerful suction and therefore do a better job of cleaning. If you clean your own carpets on a regular basis, you should still schedule an occasional professional cleaning.

Do Your Carpets Need to Be Cleaned?
Even if your carpets are in good condition overall, trapped-in dirt can detract from their appearance. Deep-cleaning can make carpets look like new and help them last longer. Clean carpets look and smell better, feel softer and more pleasant to walk on and can make your home feel more inviting to guests.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

Here are a few reasons to incorporate smart faucets into your home design…

Hands-Free Control

From motion-activated to voice control faucets linked to your smart home system, the hands-free control is a lifesaver.

Precise Dispensing

Forget about measuring cups! Just say the amount of water you need”and the faucet will dispense it.

Usage Monitoring

Some smart faucets utilize a sensor to monitor usage and leaks, which is then displayed on an app.

No Fingerprints and Smudges

With a smart faucet, you can be sure your sink will never lose its luster, regardless of how much use it sees.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

If you have a small house and/or a growing family, it can be a struggle to find enough space to store all your belongings. Not having a clear and effective organizational system can make the problem even worse. Here are some tips to make room for your stuff and make things easy to find if you have a limited amount of space.

Only Keep Things You Need
Start off by going through your home and getting rid of anything you dont need. Many people hold onto items for sentimental reasons or because they think they might need them someday. This results in a lot of unnecessary clutter. You can probably get rid of something if no one in your family has used it in the past year, or if you own another item that can perform the same function. Sell it, donate it or recycle it. Whatever you do, dont let it continue to sit around just taking up space. Before you buy a new item, ask yourself if you really need it, would use it often and have enough room for it.

Use a Variety of Organizational Strategies
Separate rooms into areas with specific functions. For example, in a childs bedroom, make areas for clothing, toys, books and art supplies. A clear system that both parents and kids can understand will make it easier to stay organized.

Maximize the use of available space. If you have a closet where you hang clothes on a rod and theres empty space underneath, thats the perfect place to put a shoe rack, or possibly even a dresser.

You can buy shelving units in a wide range of heights and widths at any home improvement or big box store or online and put them in a room or inside a closet. Use boxes, baskets or plastic storage bins that are easy to stack and arrange on shelves to store childrens toys, off-season clothes, toiletries or pretty much anything else. If you have some free wall space, install hooks to hang items such as kitchen pans.

It may seem like a good idea to neatly arrange your shoes on the floor in your closet or in the entryway, but its also easy to just drop shoes on the floor when youre tired and wind up with a mess. Use shoe racks instead.

Look for furniture, such as tables and ottomans, with built-in storage. You can use space under furniture, particularly under beds, for storage, as long as items are organized in containers.

Make a Plan to Get and Stay Organized
Staying organized in a house without a lot of storage space takes planning, creativity and discipline. Start by figuring out what you dont need, then create a plan to find places for all the things you do. There are plenty of clever furniture pieces and strategies to make it easier.

Published with permission from RISMedia.