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If youre the type who likes to get hands-on with the interior design process in your home, then you know that finding just the right upholstery fabric can be both incredibly exciting and surprisingly difficult. Whether its for the entire couch in the living room or just a few throw pillows in the bedroom, there are plenty of considerations to take into account before settling on the perfect fabric. Here are a few tips to help find the right choice for each room in the house.

Style and Aesthetic
Of course, the first thing we look to when picking out new upholstery is the visual aspect. How will it complement the rest of the room? Will it make this piece of furniture the new focal point or will it blend in with its surroundings? From solid colors to vibrant patterns and prints, the hardest part is usually narrowing it down to a fabric that suits your design aesthetic.

Durability
There are certain parts of the home that receive more wear and tear than the rest. In these particular spaces you may want to opt for a performance fabric. These days, there are plenty of luxurious options that can withstand whatever your children and pets throw at it. A stain-resistant fabric is also ideal for entertaining areas because theres nothing worse than when someone spills a glass of red wine at a party.

Care and Cleaning
Since not all fabrics are created equal, youll want to take note of any particular cleaning instructions before making a decision. Some fabrics might simply need to be vacuumed occasionally while others could require using a specific cleaner or brush regularly to keep it looking its best. If the fabric is not resistant to UV-fading, then try to make sure its out of the sunlight for most of the day.

Tactile Experience
While some people prioritize a fabric that looks luxurious, for others its even more important that it feels luxurious. Whether its a silky satin or a plush velvet, your furniture should be finished with a material thats comfortable when sitting or lying down on it.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

Painting a room yourself can be a hassle if you dont know how to do it and dont take steps to avoid problems. Here are some tips to make things go as smoothly as possible.

Choose the Right Paint and Gather Supplies
Start by deciding which color(s) to use. Get samples from a local home improvement store so you can see them in the room and hold them up against your furniture. Think about how the room would look at different times of day with different lighting.

Some brands sell products that contain both paint and primer. The brand of paint, the type of primer you use (if any), the new color and the color youre covering will all affect the amount of paint youll need. Ask an employee for help if you arent sure how much to buy.

Gather essential supplies, including paint, paintbrushes, rollers with extension poles, a paint tray, drop cloths, rags, painters tape and a putty knife. Some brushes and rollers work better with certain types of paint”ask which kinds you should buy. If the room has high ceilings, you may need a ladder for areas that you cant reach with a roller extension pole.

Focus on Prep Work
Wear clothes that you dont mind getting paint on. Try to avoid painting on a rainy or humid day since the paint will take longer to dry. Open windows and use fans to ventilate the house.

If possible, move all the furniture to another room before you start painting. If thats not an option, move the furniture to the center of the room and cover it with drop cloths or lightweight plastic. Cover the floor as well.

Remove any cobwebs and wash the walls before you get started. Use painters tape to cover molding and window and door casings. Remove covers from outlets and light switches and use painters tape to protect them from stray paint. Use a putty knife, if necessary, to create a tight seal.

Follow the Right Process
Use a wooden paint stick to stir the paint before you begin painting and several times later. If youre using multiple cans of paint, pour them into a bucket and stir them together in case the cans have slightly different colors.

Start at the ceiling and work your way down. When using a roller, paint in a W pattern to get broad coverage and to avoid roller marks. If youre going to paint one wall a different color to serve as a focal point, paint the lighter walls first, let them dry, then apply painters tape before you paint the accent wall. Before painting the trim, remove the painters tape, let the walls dry, then place painters tape along the walls.

Set Aside Plenty of Time
Painting a room isnt difficult, but its often time-consuming. Give yourself time to move furniture, apply painters tape and paint”plus time for the paint to dry. Dont be surprised if the project takes longer than you anticipated.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

If youre house hunting and find a great deal on an older home that youre ready to jump on, just remember that in addition to having more problems to deal with than a newer house, the energy efficiency in the home is probably going to be something less than ideal.

After all, though an older home will have some nuances and design characteristics that a newly constructed home will not, chances are that unless there have been some major upgrades since being built, its energy efficiency rating will be nowhere near that of a new home.

But people will argue correctly that its easier to make changes on these sort of eco-friendly elements on an older house than it would be for a new home to get the charm of an older house.

If youve pulled the trigger on buying an older home, here are some things that you should be doing to ensure your energy efficiency improves.

First, have an energy audit conducted or check with your utility company to see if they are offered for free”and many are. A professional will analyze the home and recommend a set of measures to improve energy performance. This will help guide you into finding the areas of your home that are most vulnerable to energy inefficiency.

Upgrading appliances is always an easy solution and there are plenty of energy efficient refrigerators, dishwashers or washers and dryers out there that you can buy reasonably. Many stores have no-money-down deals and no interest rates, so you can buy these when first moving in and not have to worry about immediate payments.

Changing out windows can be a costly endeavor, so if you dont want to install energy-efficient windows, a smart alternative is to use interior window Low-E (low-emissivity) films. Energy films block 97 percent of UV rays and 70 percent of thermal infrared light. This will help keep heat gain from getting in during the summer months and retain warmth better in the winter.

Insulating the house better is something thats not too hard to do and can be relatively inexpensive. You can most likely do this yourself with some friends by following along to a DIY YouTube video. Keep in mind, older houses usually have insulation lacking in attics, crawl spaces, basements, heating and cooling ducts and around water pipes.

Additionally, cover the water heater with an insulated water heater blanket so the heater retains more heat and consumes less energy to heat the water.

Next, buy some ceiling fans as they are great for an old home. In the summer, one should use the fan in a counter-clockwise direction so that when you stand directly under the fan, you will feel a cool breeze. In the winter, one should reverse the motor and operate the ceiling fan at low speed in the clockwise direction to produce a gentle updraft, which forces warm air near the ceiling down into the occupied space.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

Chances are, wood doesnt come to mind when thinking of the best materials to use in your bathroom. As it turns out, however, if you take the necessary steps, it can be an excellent choice for showers, soaking tubs and practically anything else in this space. Of course, what makes it even more appealing is that appointing your bathroom with rich wood grain finishes can really be tailored to a variety of styles, from a sleek and modern aesthetic to laid-back, rustic vibes. If this sounds like something you might be interested in, here are the basics of what you need to know when using wood in the bathroom.

Choose the Right Type
First off, you need to choose a type of wood thats naturally resistant to rot and moisture, otherwise youre going to end up with problems very quickly. Teak, ipe and cedar all exhibit these qualities, which is why they are often the go-to for outdoor showers, but of course, can fare just as well when used inside.

Ventilation is Key
If your bathroom stays moist and humid for long periods of time after you take a shower, that can cause the wood to warp or even rot. A proper exhaust fan will help to remove the steam and allow the wood to dry quickly after each use so that it doesnt get damaged over time.

Keep It Safe With a Sealant
Just as you would apply a sealant to your wooden deck, its wise to do so in the bathroom to further protect the wood from moisture even if it wont be coming in direct contact with water. This can be done with a natural oil, such as linseed oil, which is so effective that its used for wood soaking tubs. In addition to repelling the water, a natural oil will also be able to maintain the distinct feel and smell of the wood, unlike a harsher chemical-based sealant.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

Clothes, shoes, belts, bags. Are these items taking over your closet? Get organized without the hassle of an overhaul or the cost of hiring a professional. These simple tricks will help keep your closet clean and keep you stress-free each and every time you get dressed.

Use the Back of the Door
More often than not, the closet door is nothing more than the entry to your wardrobe. By maximizing this vertical space, you can easily organize your accessories. Attach hooks, decorative knobs, towel bars, a cork board and even a mirror. This organizational hack will make it easier to mix and match jewelry, belts and other accessories to your favorite outfits in no time.

Install Some Hooks
Inside the closet, put up a few additional hooks on the wall, perfect for hanging belts and ties. Hooks will provide additional storage without taking up too much of your precious space. Hanging bags or purses, no matter how large or small, is a great way to use this hack, freeing up any floor or shelf space.

Maximize the Floor Space
Clear any clothes or bags off the floor – they dont belong there. Add a mat, tray or even a rack to organize shoes while keeping the floor clean of dirt or grime. For easy access to your shoe collection, add a rolling tray that you can slide out.

Color-Code Your Hangers
When seasons change, so does fashion. And pieces can easily get lost in the shuffle. By color-coding your hangers, you can make seasonal items easy to spot. This method can also be helpful for taking inventory to determine what pieces you may be missing or to prevent you from overbuying.

Label Bins and Drawers
Avoid the hassle and mess of digging through any drawers or bins you may have in your closet. Whether its a large bin full of cold-weather sweatshirts or a small drawer for your socks, labeling helps you keep your closet organized, clean and easy to manage.

Published with permission from RISMedia.