Guest Post - How to Elevate Your Bathroom to Futuristic Standards

When you think about making modern home upgrades, rooms like the kitchen or master bedroom might initially come to mind. While these areas are important since you might be spending a lot of time there, don’t neglect your bathroom in the process. 

Smart homes and houses that feature futuristic technology are becoming more popular than ever. And, it’s easier to make your bathroom fit in with that futuristic, luxurious look than you may realize. 

With that in mind, let’s look at a few easy, practical ways to upgrade and elevate your bathroom to futuristic standards. By making some changes, you can create a luxurious spa-like feel in the comfort of your own home. 

Focus on Conservation

The environment is a hot topic right now because more people are starting to take notice of the dangers we’re facing. Climate change is a serious issue, but so is water conservation. Water demand has tripled over the last 50 years, and continues to get even greater. Thankfully, when it comes to the water used in your bathroom, there are several different upgrades you can make to use less and do more for the planet, including: 

• Installing a low-flow toilet to save up to 27,000 gallons of water a year

• Checking all faucets for leaks

• Attaching water-saving showerheads

• Installing aerators for your faucets

If you really want to invest in an upgrade, consider buying a new water heater or water softener. Most models today are more energy efficient and can lower your utility bills. Plus, if you belong to the 85% of American homes with hard water, a new water softener can help to keep your bathroom looking cleaner. Your tub, toilet, and sink won’t get yellow/brown rust stains, which will keep everything sparkling and looking more modern. 

The more you’re willing to update in your bathroom when it comes to appliances and accessories that can help with water conservation, the more you’re protecting the environment in the future. 

Let There Be Light

The lighting in your bathroom can make a big difference in the overall look and feel. Modern, large-scale lighting can make your bathroom look more futuristic and luxurious in an instant. Don’t be afraid to get creative and bold with your lighting choices. Installing a chandelier as an accent light, for example, is a great way to make a statement and control the mood. 

Bath bar lights, sconces, and vanity lighting can also give your bathroom an updated look, especially if you’ve been dealing with the same lighting for years. 

If you really want to make your bathroom feel like a modern, expensive spa, consider layering your lighting. This is a technique most spas and salons use to set the right mood. Installing a dimmer switch is a great way to change the mood depending on what you’re doing. 

For example, if you want a nice, relaxing bath, setting the lights low can help you relax. You can use brighter lights in the morning when you’re showering and getting ready for the day. The simple addition of a dimmer can make a big difference in your overall control of the bathroom, and it can make it feel sleeker. 

These are, of course, just a few ideas to help you get started on your futuristic bathroom. Think about some of the features you would most like to see in your bathroom to make it feel more luxurious. Those features may be more ‘doable’ than you realize! 

The future is here, and it’s not impossible to make modern changes to your bathroom that will make things more convenient while bringing your space up to date. Additionally, by choosing energy-efficient, LED bulbs in your fixtures, you’ll be doing another great service to the planet!

Author Bio: Noah Rue is a freelance writer.

Current Design Trends to Incorporate in Your Kitchen Remodel

Families spend much of their time in the kitchen, so this crucial gathering place must be as well-designed as possible. Today's home designers often create kitchens that are open and prominent because this functional room is the home's heart and operations center. More people are opting to cook meals from home these days, so kitchens are becoming more and more important to people. Carefully planned kitchen remodeling that considers current design trends can make a substandard kitchen shine and give a home the greatest appeal if it's put on the market.

Light and Organic With Large Islands

White, beige, or other light-colored quartz countertops and natural-colored cabinets are among anticipated top trends in kitchens for 2021 and beyond, according to recent research conducted by the National Kitchen and Bath Association. Subway-style backsplashes, organic materials and dedicated device charging, and viewing stations are also trending. Large islands will remain a prominent design element, according to the survey, and L-shaped kitchens will be trendier than ever before.

Pop of Color

If neutral color schemes aren’t your thing, you’re in luck. Colorful cabinets have been all over social media and design blogs. An easy way to make your kitchen modern is by painting the cabinets a shade of green or blue. This trend can even become timeless if done correctly. And if trends change in the future, you can just easily paint over the cabinets. You can also choose neutral cabinets, but decide to add your pop of color to your backsplash or walls. Choose an accent wall to paint a trendy color. This is a non-committal way to make your kitchen trendy.

Small-Space Design

Many people are drawn to smaller spaces. The minimalist way of living is becoming more and more popular. This is manifesting in people’s kitchen areas. Utilizing the space you have is key because of this. Instead of purchasing a large dining room table, add a bar table and chairs into your kitchen. Instead of filling your countertops with appliances, purchase an all-in-one toaster oven or air fryer. Don’t overcrowd your kitchen with decor either. Clean and empty countertops are more desirable right now. Remember the phrase “less is more” if you want to achieve a minimalist and compact feel in your kitchen. 

Trendy Hardware

One of the easiest ways to make your kitchen up-to-date is in the hardware. You don’t have to completely tear up your kitchen and add new cabinets, countertops, and flooring. Brass hardware is especially trendy right now. Find some new brass knobs for your cabinets. If you do want to complete a total home remodel, pairing brass hardware with green or blue cabinets will make your home perfectly on trend for the coming year. Another simple way to add some warming hardware to your kitchen is through your faucet. Statement faucets are also predicted to be on trend next year. These may cost you a few hundred dollars, but can make a large difference in your kitchen overall. 

Smart Kitchens Have Arrived

Appliances that are linked to smart home controllers or mobile phone apps are no longer something of the future. Adding smart refrigerators and stoves is possible at any time, but kitchen remodeling is a perfect opportunity to add sensors, smart gadgets and other innovations that may not have been available when the kitchen was built. This can include upgraded LED lighting that can be dimmed and turned on or off without switches. Smart faucets that sense when hands or pots are present under them are available now too.

Hardwood Flooring Still Trending

Some ornate aspects of traditional kitchens are fading away in favor of simpler design elements, but one thing that hasn't faded in its appeal in recent years is hardwood flooring. This classic floor covering is expected to remain the most popular choice for many years to come. For homeowners who want something different, ceramic flooring is now trending because of its wide range of sizes, styles, and designs. In fact, tile is available that looks like hardwood but is even more durable. Ceramic tile that looks like stone is also popping up in more kitchens than in years past.

In 2021, trendy homeowners will be looking for simple, natural design as well as sophistication in appearance and capabilities in their kitchen remodels and in every aspect of life. The ideal kitchen combines personal style with trends that will endure to create a kitchen that meets a family's needs, reflects its style, and doesn't feel dated before it wears out.

Unique Window Styles That Can Become a Focal Point in Your Home

A window can do much more than let in light and fresh air. A carefully chosen window with fine construction and unique styling can become a focal point in a room and the highlight of a home. While decorating around existing windows with high-quality drapes, windowsill gardens, or clear shelving can help an old opening make a better impression, new window installation can change the character of a room dramatically. It can also provide a good return on the investment.

Bay and Bow Windows are Still Popular

Traditionally, one of the most common ways to turn a wall opening into something special is to install a three-panel bay window. Highly visible from outside the home and often functional as a seating area, a bay window is an architectural enhancement to a home's design. Similarly, a bow window, which curves outward gently, can become a focal point inside by letting in light and expanding the view while making a less noticeable change to the outside of the home.

Sliding Windows Connect With Outdoors

For homes with large backyards, a sliding window can help make the outdoors part of the home. Different from a sliding door, which goes all the way to the floor and provides a way to get in and out of the home, a sliding window can fit into a standard casement window space and is excellent for ventilating a bathroom or kitchen or allowing for easy communication from the living room to the outside. Sliding windows offer great views, and the unique styling is something neighbors and friends may find intriguing.

Custom Windows Mean Limitless Options

Awning windows, single-hung and double-hung windows, plus shaped and round-top windows are among choices that can be made from vinyl, wood, fiberglass, and more. Today's custom windows can be just about any style desired. Windows and panes can be almost any shape or size. Frames can be created to match existing design elements of a home or to stand out. With options nearly unlimited, homeowners can create something unique that no one will have ever seen before.

As many as 65 million windows, doors and patio doors are shipped each year, according to the Window and Door Manufacturers Association. Some are simply functional, ordinary pieces that will draw little attention, but many are carefully chosen or even custom-designed to become focal points that raise a home from ordinary to extraordinary.

12 Dreamy Landscaping Ideas for Every Season

It’s a shame putting all that potential curb appeal to waste at some point during the year. Each season has its blessings and challenges, so learning how to use that to your advantage is the key to good landscaping. What you need are dreamy landscaping ideas that are good for every season to give your exterior an attractive look. Mixing colors and materials, playing with structures and shapes, combing purpose and beauty — that’s what you will have to do to create a breathtaking outdoor area. Let’s begin then! 

Winter

1. Discover the berries

Trees and shrubs with berries are the symbols of winter, especially when heavy snowfall is involved. All that white needs contrast and flamboyant berries on your greenery will give it a touch of liveliness. 

Winterberries are leafy during the warm months, but in winter when the leaves fall out, the plant is covered in red berries. If you would like some purple to your winter landscape, beautyberry will help you create areas that pop with color. Crabapples, like Jewelcole, Sugar Tyme, and Wintergold bear their fruits well into the winter if the birds don’t eat them all before January. 

2. Include the evergreens

Evergreens should be part of every landscape that wants to look amazing throughout the year. They are elegant and easy to care for, making them the best solutions for those who are not skilled gardeners. Contrary to popular beliefs, evergreens include a range of colors besides green, like yellow, blue, and red so you can combine different varieties for an interesting landscape.

Silver Koran Fir is a dense and silvery tree with soft needles that are a good fit for minimalist-designed gardens. Small outdoor areas can still have lavish evergreens, like dwarf blue spruce, bringing blue color and festive vibes. Those into classics will adore bristlecone pine which offers green, blue, and white tones you can decorate during the holidays.  

3. Focus on hardscape details

After winter-proofing your home, it’s time to prepare the outdoor area for cold and snowy months. Look for the possible areas to improve your landscape, like missed focal points during the other seasons. You can fill these in with hardscape details, like sculptures, to make them more impactful.

 Structures, like trellis and arbors, are beautiful additions you can use for displaying evergreen climber vines. Cape Honeysuckle with orange and red tubular flowers will be in bloom the whole winter so you can plant it on the gate to welcome your guests. A bench is a nice feature to have in the winter, especially under a pergola or gazebo you can add to your winter landscape.

Spring

4. Time for decluttering and preparing

Spring is the time you should have your garden tools at the ready and start making big plans for landscaping. If you are planning to add a new feature to your landscape, like a pool or a patio, preparing the ground is vital. Take care of the overgrown plants and debris, while at the same time trying to even out the ground with a shovel to create a clean space to work with. 

Check if there are any unwanted pests and potential repairs you need to do after the winter before you proceed with your landscaping work. This is the season to start with small repairs, as well, like fixing the fence and a façade.  

5. Build pathways

Pathways are an excellent way to create sections in your landscape and make every part of it accessible. This feature is available even if you are on the budget by using stones, but as a DIY project, it may be possible to use other, pricier materials.

If you already have a gravel path, you can update it with stone chips and edging, refreshing its look and making it more attractive. Granite stepping stones on the lawn are ideal dreamy landscaping for those who want a more rustic exterior design.  

6. Start planting flowers

Planting flowers should be high on your list since it brings colors and scents to the garden after the winter. One of the earliest flowery plants to bloom is shrubbery forsythia, while fragrant lilacs and magnolias are best for late spring. If you envisioned landscaping with perennials, Virginia bluebells, bloodroot, and primrose will bring clustered flowers you can easily fit into your ideas. 

It's always best to cultivate plants that you can care for, so if you are not much of a gardener keep that in mind. Marigolds and dianthus are wonderful for beginners and can flower for months well into the summer. 

Summer

7. Design a leisure area

Start the warmest season by creating a leisure area where you can spend time outside in the shade.  A patio by the house can serve even during other seasons if you add additional features. A retractable roof and removable walls will allow you to manipulate this space as needed so you can sit regardless of the weather. 

Standing heaters can keep your patio warm, or you can build an outdoor fireplace for a cozier atmosphere. Stone tiles or wood for the floors will help the patio fit in with the rest of the landscaping and nature. all, leafy plants in the large pots can serve as luxurious decorations that will make the patio stand out and be distinguishable.      

8. Arrange the furniture

There are more ways to use furniture in landscaping than just creating an outdoor seating area. A bench underneath a generous tree may be a nice place to read and chat with a friend over coffee. A large dining table by the summer kitchen can turn outdoor eating into an event.

If you have a large space to cover, you can create more than one leisure area and most of them don't require a lot of money. Tree stumpy around the DIY fire pit can give you a campsite-type of a spot to spend quality time with your kids, even during winter. If you have a pond, add a few chairs and a coffee table in front of it for relaxing moments by the sounds of water.     

9. Introduce the special lighting

Christmas lights are a cheap way to add special lighting to your summer landscapes. Wrap the string lights around trees, bushes, and screens, or use a glue gun where possible to fix them more firmly. Solar lamps are simple and trouble-free features that can light the paths and special areas in the garden.

Another solar decoration is mason jar lights you can hang from the branches or place on the lawn to create a dreamy landscape. Mesh fairy string lights can serve as improvised walls for an outdoor structure, or you can hang them on the roof edge to fall over the deck. Large bulb string lights may be more challenging to install, but be just what your outdoor seating area needs to become truly functional. 

Fall

10. Think of pumpkins and plants

Fall has the most beautiful color palette of all four seasons. If you want this to be part of your landscaping, you should plant maples with yellow, orange, and red foliage. These harvest colors are also available on sumac shrubs, like Tiger Eyes. Since maple’s glory lasts through October, planting oak trees will continue to bring warm colors to your outdoor space.

But fall landscaping is also special because of Halloween when everyone decorates their yards to celebrate this holiday. Those who are not fans of the spooky embellishments can stick to the classic pumpkin decorations and dried corn stalks to mark the harvest season.         

11. Make a water feature 

A water feature is a landscaping addition that brings a natural element to space. A fountain encircled by the stone can serve as a focal point in your design, especially if you add an artistic twist to it with a sculpture. A small pond will look charming in all seasons, although having koi fish depends on the winter temperatures in your region.   

Artificial waterfalls create soothing sounds of cascading water and bring a more extravagant appeal to your exterior. If you like big statements, then a rock garden is the right water feature for you and a way to create a new area in your landscaping. The cascades and edge built from natural rocks and a few colorful plants around it will help this feature melt with the surrounding greenery.  

12. Spruce up your doorway

The front door has a lot to add to the curb appeal and thus overall landscaping projects. If you have steps leading to your doorway, place potted plants on both sides with white confederate jasmine and purple coral bells. Plant plants of different colors and sizes together to create a more natural and rustic look that will work well with the rest of your landscape. 

Repainting the entrance and refreshing the look of your house also affects the landscaping, so pay attention to the colors you use. Vibrant tones are cheerful but can turn tacky if you have too many colorful plants in the garden. Instead, opt for natural and earthy tones, like mahogany and chestnut that look dazzling in the fall with color-changing foliage.     

All in all

Landscaping is about finding a balance between nature and exterior design so your property can preserve its beauty throughout the year. Before you start rearranging and planting, begin freeing up space from clutter and unwanted features to see what you are working with. These dreamy landscaping ideas offer fantastic ways to structure the space and give it an authentic style. If you experience a creative block, just take a good look at the existing nature and try to use it as inspiration for future layouts.