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Having a spare house key hidden on your property can come in handy, especially if you need a house or pet sitter while youre on vacation or, of course, if you lose your main set of keys. However, leaving a key in an obvious spot can make it easy for potential burglars to find it and walk right in through your front door.

If you decide to leave a spare key, youll need to be clever and avoid the most common hiding spots burglars are likely to check. According to home security specialist ADT, these are the best and worst places to put a spare:

Best Hiding Spots

In a hollow, realistic-looking false rock that blends in with its surroundings.
In a small lockbox under the porch.
In the barbeque grill in the backyard.
Under the foot of a chair on the patio.
Under a loose brick in the walkway.
Inside or under a children’s toy in the front yard.

Worst Hiding Spots

Under your doormat.
Under a potted plant by the door.
Under a garden statue.
On the doorjamb.
In the mailbox.

Even the best hiding spots for spare keys arent fail-safe, though. For added security, ADT suggests installing an alarm system and cameras. To eliminate the need for a spare key altogether, you could also invest in smart door locks, which offer keyless options and can also be controlled and monitored remotely on your smartphone.

By taking the proper security measures, you can have peace of mind knowing your home is safe while youre away.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

As the temperatures begin to drop, its time to make your home as cozy as possible. If theres one tried and true method for doing so, its hygge (pronounced hoo-gah). Loosely translated as a warm feeling of happiness, this Danish concept is really more of a lifestyle than a design aesthetic. But creating a living space that exudes warmth and sophistication plays an essential role. With chilly winter mornings right around the corner, here are a few ways to bring hygge into your home.

Keep it Comfy
Above all else, your home should be personal and inviting rather than formal or trendy. Focus on how it makes you feel and try to choose dcor that you find calming. Plush pillows, rugs and throws that beg to be curled up in are always welcome when introducing hygge to your living space. Indoor plants and natural materials, like wood and stone, are also typical characteristics.

Bare Necessities
Like other forms of Scandinavian design, a living environment that achieves hygge has a minimalist element to it. By stripping away all of the clutter, you will naturally feel more relaxed and at ease.

Sentimental Effects
Hygge is certainly not about buying into the latest styles when it comes to interior design. After youve gotten rid of all the unnecessary items, try to decorate with a few objects that have sentimental meaning to you. Ultimately, this will help to create a home that reflects your personality and lifestyle.

Neutral Colors
Shades of white, gray and beige are the most common colors used because they contribute to a clean and soothing environment. When paired with natural materials, this effect is effortlessly modern and welcoming.

Warm Lights
Lastly, you can round out the setting and incorporate hygge with soft lighting. Recessed lights with dimmers, lamps and candles can all be used to provide a warm aesthetic and keep you cozy no matter how cold it gets outside in the coming months.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

Lighting is a defining feature in our living environment, and, like virtually every other aspect of the home, it has received the smart treatment. While smart lighting might sound gimmicky at first, the reality is that it can provide serious advantages. If youre on the fence about upgrading to a high-tech light system, here are a few ways that it can improve your daily life.

Boost Your Energy Levels
Believe it or not, there are a variety of ways that smart lighting can help you feel more energized. These days, you can set most systems to align with your circadian rhythm and mimic natural light throughout the day, meaning the lights gradually brighten in the morning as youre waking up and slowly dim in the evening before you go to bed. Research suggests this may help to improve your sleep quality and naturally end your sleep cycle in the morning, leaving you feeling fresh and ready to seize the day.

Energy Efficiency
If you want to make your home more eco-friendly and lower your energy bill, the good news is that smart lighting systems tend to use significantly less energy than traditional lights. In fact, an energy-efficient LED bulb, which these systems use, can run on anywhere from 25 percent -80 percent less energy than an incandescent bulb and last up to 25 times longer. You can even use smart sensors that turn the lights on when someone is in a room and automatically turn off when its empty.

Take Control
Being able to control your lights via your smartphone is an extremely handy feature. For starters, you can turn the lights on as soon as youre in the driveway and avoid the unsettling feeling of entering a dark house. When youre on vacation, youll never have to worry if you forgot to turn all the lights off and, even better, you can turn them on at night for an extra layer of security when youre away.

Mood Lighting
Lastly, smart lights are an excellent way to set the tone for any occasion. You can have specific settings for a moody dinner party that lends a touch of warmth to the atmosphere or task lighting that you can switch on when curling up with a book for the evening.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

A high-end home should be able to improve your wellbeing. These days, there are plenty of new technologies geared toward this, like cutting-edge air and water purification systems. But equally sought after are saunas and steam rooms, which have been used for thousands of years. For many affluent homeowners, a private steam room or sauna is more than just a luxury, as it delivers numerous benefits to ones mental and physical wellbeing. Following are a few reasons why you may want to put this on your list of essential features in your next home.

Improved Cardiovascular Function
According to a 2018 study by the Mayo Clinic, regularly using a sauna (4-7 times per week) has been linked to improving blood pressure and reducing long term risk of cardiovascular disease. While you may not have time to get to your fitness club to use one several times a week, having a sauna in the privacy of your own home makes it significantly easier to incorporate into your routine.

Calm the Mind
Many people find that a quick steam room or sauna session helps to relax and leaves them in a better mood. In addition to the fact that youre forced to unplug and be with your thoughts,due to the fact that the elevated temperatures stimulate the release of endorphins, you leave feeling energized.

Post-Workout Recovery
Everyone gets sore after a difficult workout, but heat therapy is widely regarded as a means of diminishing that. Steam rooms, in particular, are a chosen method among athletes to relieve muscle soreness and recover quicker. So if you already have a home gym, you may want to add this feature to improve your post-workout routine.

Relieve Cold Symptoms
This time of year, theres nothing worse than the common cold knocking you out of commission for a few days. The good news is that evidence suggests that heat therapy can help boost the immune system, as well as relieve cold symptoms by clearing the sinuses and breaking up congestion in the lungs. Its hard enough to get out of bed when youre sick but having a steam room or sauna at home can have you on the mend in short time.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

Many houses are not energy efficient, which causes homeowners to pay much higher utility bills than they should. The roof is one of the most common problem areas. If your heating and electricity bills are too high, or if your roof is damaged and needs to be replaced, installing a new roof made from more energy-efficient materials can help you significantly lower your utility bills year-round.

How Does the Roof Affect Energy Bills?
Insufficient insulation and damaged or missing shingles can lead to high winter heating bills. In the summer, a roof thats unable to reflect heat can cause the attic and upper floor of a house to heat up, which means air conditioners will have to work harder to cool the house.

Replacing your roof with one thats better at reflecting heat and installing plenty of insulation can substantially lower your utility bills. Roofing materials that carry the ENERGY STAR label are energy efficient.

Which Roofing Material Should You Choose?
Asphalt is the most commonly used roofing material because shingles are inexpensive and easy to install and maintain. They are also available in a variety of colors and designs. On the other hand, asphalt shingles can be damaged by wind, storms, and algae and are less energy efficient than some other materials.

Metal roofing is energy efficient because it can reflect heat away from the house. Metal panels and shingles are relatively inexpensive and easy to install.

Tile roofing is best suited to warm, dry regions since it reflects sunlight and absorbs moisture. Slate roofing is dense, energy efficient and long lasting. Tiles made of slate, clay and concrete are often pre-treated to reflect heat. Non-treated tiles can be covered with a reflective coating after installation.

Shake shingles can improve energy efficiency by increasing air circulation inside the house. Many homeowners choose them because of the attractive appearance of the wood as it ages. Shake shingles are durable enough to stand up to strong winds and storms without being damaged, but they require a lot of maintenance, especially in regions that get a lot of precipitation or that are very humid.

In a warm climate, a light-colored roof is a good choice because it can reflect more heat than a darker one. In a colder region, a dark-colored roof may be preferable because it can absorb some heat from the winter sun and reduce the burden on the furnace.

Is It Time to Replace Your Roof?
If your roof is damaged or worn out, its most likely not energy efficient, and youre probably spending more than youd like on monthly utility bills. Replacing your roof with a new, more energy-efficient one may be expensive up front, but it can allow you to enjoy years of consistently lower heating and cooling bills. Have your roof inspected by a professional. Ask for advice on whether to replace it and, if so, which type of material to choose.

Published with permission from RISMedia.