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The future is now. Many homeowners across the country have embraced technological advances and incorporated them into their everyday lives. Thermostats, lighting, locks, security cameras, washing machines and more all come available as internet-connected devices and can be combined in a house to create whats been dubbed a smart home.

The added convenience of these devices, however, has also created new opportunities for cybercriminals. To help protect your smart home, the security experts at Norton offer the following tips:

1. Name your router. Your WiFi router is like the front door to your smart home, so dont stick with the name the manufacturer gave it, which might identify the make or model. Give it an unusual name not associated with you or your address. You dont want your router name to give away any personal identifiers.

2. Use strong WiFi encryption. In your router settings, its a good idea to use a strong encryption method, like WPA2, when you set up WiFi network access. This will help keep your network and communications secure.

3. Change default usernames and passwords. Cybercriminals probably already know the default passwords that come with many smart products. That makes it easy for them to access the devices and, potentially, the information on them.

4. Use solid passwords for WiFi networks and device accounts. Avoid common words or passwords that are easy to guess, such as password or 123456. Instead, use unique, complex passwords made up of letters, numbers and symbols.

5. Check the device settings. Your smart devices might come with default privacy and security settings. You might want to consider changing them, as some default settings could benefit the manufacturer more than they benefit you.

6. Disable features you might not need. Smart devices come with a variety of services such as remote access, often enabled by default. If you dont need a feature, be sure to disable it.

7. Keep your software up to date. When your smartphone manufacturer sends you a software update, dont put off installing it. It might be a patch for a security flaw. Mobile security is important, since you may connect to your smart home through mobile devices. Your home device makers may also send you updates, or you might need to visit their websites to check for them. Be sure to download device updates to help stay safe.

8. Audit devices already on your home network. It could be time to upgrade that old security camera. Take time to check if newer models might offer stronger security.

9. Use authentication. Two-factor authentication, such as a one-time code sent to your cellphone, can keep the bad guys out of your accounts. If your smart-device apps offer two-factor authentication, or 2FA, use it.

10. Avoid public WiFi. When managing your smart home remotely, its not a good idea to use public WiFi networks, as they can be very vulnerable. If you choose to use public WiFi, consider subscribing to a virtual private network (VPN) for additional security.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

Are you a bookworm? Do you want to give your home a chic update using what you already own? Perfect. Below are five tips for turning your favorite books into accents, centerpieces, and more.

Stacks on stacks. Stack books on end tables, counters and coffee tables that seem a bit naked on their own. Curate a small grouping”odd numbers work best”and stack or fan them in a way that’s pleasing.

Fill the fireplace. What can you do with your fireplace during off-season months? Fill it with books, that’s what! Stack an appealing group of books up high, add a potted plant or two and boom, you’ve turned a dead space into a book nook. Just be sure to clear them out when winter comes.

Color by room. This works best for people with a huge reading collection. Simply organize and arrange your books by color. You can segregate all your earth- and fire-toned books into a room that could use some natural accents, pile your crisp and clean colors into that all-white guest room, stack those daisy-yellow reads into the sunroom, etc.

Color by shelf. If you have a massive book shelf in one room and want to keep your family of books together, you can organize them by color in one place, much like you might with your clothes closet. One shelf for those bright greens and blues, another for pastels, another for blacks, and so on.

Create a tower or table. Find several wide books of the same size and heft, stack them on top of each other next to a low-lying bed or sofa, and boom: a side table! Top them with a vase of flowers and voila ” an accent extension.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

Do you dream of a light, airy living space? Do you want to feel like you’re living inside of a cloud? Below are five tips for a lighter living space, now.

Paint it white.Well this is an obvious one. From walls to wood paneling and hardwood floors, two coats of white paint will turn your living space into a year-round winter wonderland. Done and done!

Minimize.Do you really need all twenty of those awkward family photos on that side table? De-cluttering surfaces will lighten space with smooth lines. Cut clutter by adding hidden storage systems (like an ottoman with stow space), and minimize furniture to a handful of necessary pieces.

Add mirrors.Mirrors have long-since been a go-to trick for opening up a space. In addition to wall mirrors, consider adding mirrored back splashes or mirrored trays. Not into mirrors? Sparkle can do the trick, too. Glass-top tables and crystal candle holders, anyone?

Lighten the linens.Breezy, airy curtains and snow-white throws will make your space seem plush and comfortable, like snuggling with a sheep.

Shades of gray. To avoid looking as if you doused your house in bleach, consider adding soft, light shades of gray or blue to your color scheme.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

A rule of thumb when determining how much money to set aside for ongoing home maintenance is to budget 1 percent of the homes purchase price each year.

If your home cost $300,000, then setting aside $3,000 per year is a good start. You may not spend that much every year on home maintenance, but it can be a good idea to save that much whether you spend it or not in a given year. Setting aside up to 3 percent of your homes purchase price would give you more room for bigger maintenance costs. Here are some to plan for:

Leaking roof: Sometimes a leaking roof can be as simple to fix as replacing a few shingles or hammering down one that popped off. But an older roof of 15 years or more may be in poor condition and could require a complete replacement. A new roof can cost $5,000 or more.

Broken air conditioner: If youre not getting cool air from your air conditioner, then an inspection by a heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) professional is probably needed. General maintenance of a few hundred dollars may solve the problem, but an old unit of 15 years or so may need to be replaced, costing about $5,000.

Leaks: Pipes can last a long time, but sometimes they leak or a small gap in the bathroom floor, for example, can lead to water stains below. This can lead to mold and other problems, and the leak should be found and fixed quickly.

A small leak can cost a few hundred dollars to fix, while broken pipes can cost thousands of dollars and may require you to ask your home insurance company if it will cover the loss if the cost is more than your deductible.

Pests: Ants, spiders, mice, squirrels and other pests can make your home their home, requiring immediate extermination or some sort of plan to get rid of them. Termites can be discovered during a home inspection, though a clean inspection may only give you peace of mind for a year if they hatch in your neighbors home and fly into yours.

Removing termites can cost $2,000 or so, while getting rid of ants and spiders may only require a $5 can of spray you can buy at a hardware store.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

When its time to file taxes, people want to claim as many deductions as possible. Home improvements are defined for tax purposes as work that increases the value of a home, extends its useful life or modifies it so it can be used for a new purpose. Examples include adding a new room, upgrading plumbing or electrical wiring, remodeling the kitchen or bathroom, replacing the roof, and adding a deck or walkway. Home improvements may be tax-deductible, but only in specific circumstances.

Home Used Exclusively as a Residence
If you only use your house as a residence, the costs of home improvements are not tax-deductible, but they may reduce the amount of taxes youll need to pay later when you sell your home. The basis is the amount of money you have invested in your home, including your down payment, mortgage payments and the cost of home improvements. Money spent on repairs is not included in the basis. Paying for home improvements now can increase your basis and may lower your tax bill down the road.

The basis is deducted from the sale price to calculate the amount of profit. The first $250,000 of profit from the sale of a primary residence is not taxable for a single person, and $500,000 is non-taxable for a married couple filing jointly, provided youve lived in the house for at least two years in the five-year period prior to the sale.

Home Used for Business or Rental Purposes
If you use part of your home for a purpose other than as a personal residence, you may be able to depreciate the costs of home improvements by deducting them from your taxable income over a period of several years.

If you run a business out of your home and use part of your house exclusively for that purpose, youll be able to deduct 100 percent of the money spent on home improvements that only affect that portion of the house, such as installing shelves or new carpeting in a home office. If you make improvements that affect the entire house, such as repairing the roof, you can deduct a percentage of the cost based on the percentage of the house thats dedicated to your business.

If you rent out part of your house, you can deduct the cost of home improvements from your rental income. If you make upgrades that only affect the room(s) you rent out, you can deduct the entire cost of those improvements. If you make renovations that improve the entire house, you can deduct a percentage of those costs that reflects the percentage of the house you rent out.

Financial Benefits of Home Improvements
Improvements you make to your home might save you thousands of dollars in taxes, but depending on how you use your house, you might not see those savings for many years. Keep receipts for all home improvements you make, and understand how they could affect your tax burden.

This article is intended for informational purposes only and should not be construed as professional or legal advice.

Published with permission from RISMedia.