5 Adorable Home Design Ideas That Will Also Save Your Electricity Bills

Who doesn’t want a beautiful abode and who doesn’t want to save energy? Fortunately, both can be achieved simultaneously.

Energy is a big deal. If you look at some statistics, the world's electricity consumption is on the rise.

One of the reasons for this is people are getting richer and they have now more money to consume energy every day. And with the rapid advancements, electricity is now available to a larger portion of people. We are able to lit, beautify and make our life feasible with a variety of products and appliances.

A glad thing though, but it does arrive with some caveats. As per EIA, the world's energy demand is expected to increase by 48% before 2040. This raises the risk of energy scarcity, and the adverse environmental impacts from power plant facilities also need to be considered.

The solution? We also need to conserve energy while meeting our electrical energy needs. Creating a balance between our needs vs the supply will keep the ball rolling for us. Efficient energy management will not only trim our electricity bills, but will also contribute to a healthier, greener, and safer earth.

So moving ahead while keeping above things in mind, this article will share you 5 home interior design ideas that’ll help you to meet the bottom line you carve for.

1. Use latest energy-efficient appliances

Using energy efficient products and appliances can save a lot in energy costs.

Start replacing your old incandescent bulbs with the LED one’s, the cheapest retrofit option in the product list. Not only LED bulbs save energy, they also run longer and are brighter than CFL or incandescent bulbs. And yes, the beauty which they add to your home is worth mentioning.

Now, if you are having a budget, then you may optimize your kitchen with smart and energy star appliances. Kitchen is the most active room inside any home, so not taking heed is losing a lot of energy opportunities. 

Let’s talk about, say, dishwashers. Using a standard size dishwasher with Energy Star accreditation will cost you just $35 per year to run it. And it’s not just about energy and their bills, they can also save you will gallons of water wastage. On an average, an Energy Star dishwasher can save around 3870 Gallons of water(that’s a huge number) over its full lifetime. Day by day, as they are getting smarter with their cleaning technology, you'll have less energy and water bills at your hands, plus neat and shiny utensils inside your kitchen adding to its beauty.   

Same goes for washing machines inside your house. You can save around $34 on e-bills as compared to standard one’s in the market, and 2000 gallons of water each other. Of-course, manufactures are keen enough to care for the design part so that it doesn’t look like a big box asking you to cover it. So, utility and beauty goes hand by hand. 

Your refrigerators can also be a saving point. You can save around 9% on your monthly electricity bills and savings goes more than $200 over the complete lifecycle of your Energy Star product. 

And finally, there’s one more glad news. Saving from appliances in a longer run is on one side, but you don’t want to wait too much, then you may become eligible for a rebate from your state for purchasing these aesthetic and energy saving appliances!. Make sure you check out the website of Energy Star to get more details on this.

2. Window Treatments

We all use various window treatments just for decorative purposes, we’ll have to admit this. But, you can achieve more than this, and the complete bottom line. And what’s more, it comes quite inexpensive. 

With a variety of colorful window treatments, you can control how much air or light you need inside your home. Not allowing too much light which ultimately means heat inside your home will help you to save your AC/HVAC bills in summer. And doing contrary in winter will give you feasible energy bills on your room heaters in winter seasons.

So, go with thin and light clothes if you want to warm your house in light winters with a breath of fresh air and natural light. Use shutters, blinds and drapes for a cooler environment with your AC turned on, which also turns out to work well if you want a warm air-trapped environment with your home heating appliances.

3. Ceiling Fans, that reverse too!

Hang ceiling fans inside your home, if you aren't using them till now. Now also comes ceiling fans with reverse direction flow. So better to opt these one. Why? We're going to know soon.

You’ll need to invest one time on their cost while purchasing that comes around $200 on an average. And guess what? It just consumes energy equivalent to a bulb for its running!. They can help you to save around 40% on your electricity bills in summer and 10% on an average in winter.

In summer seasons, it works by pulling the hot air above the ceilings and the cool air needed downwards. Using a combination of your fan and AC is also a good idea to save energy costs due to electricity. And in winter, you can make it to work by changing its direction of rotation, where it’ll push hot air downwards and cool air in reverse direction.

Finally, as ceiling fans come with a variety of designs and style, something eye-catching inside your home would definitely make your visitors give a glance at it, at least once.

4. Smart landscaping ideas

Go green with your home landscaping. Planting small easy to maintain trees and herbs not only add beauty to your house yard, but the greenery also helps in sustainability. If you want to feel it, then visit a green area in summer and you’ll find it cool and soothing to your nerves.    

5. Aesthetic Home Insulation

Which means home insulation keeping house aesthetic in mind. 

Insulation is important to maintain house temperatures. If your house doesn't have any, then you have it. You don’t have to worry if you were, or now thinking it means like living in a plastic bag, which actually doesn’t. Consult a Home Insulation Contractor to audit your house and you’ll get the assistance you need.

So, a home insulation with style and sustainability will save your bills and make your house more adorable.

Finally

So, these were some design ideas for your home to save your bills on utilities  with goals of sustainability in mind. Some are quite easy, (Do It Yourself)DIY and some require expertise and substantial costs. But most importantly, all are worth in the long run. So, make sure to start your planning for the implementation of all these ideas. And for DIY activities, like replacing bulb fixtures and drapes for your window, start doing not from tomorrow or today, but NOW itself.

Designing the Perfect Office Recreation Space

Offices are expected to have recreational spaces for their employees to unwind, communicate, and improve their work relationships. These recreational spaces play a key role in preventing burnout and maintaining a collaborative work culture. 

In fact, having a perfect office recreation space could be why large organizations like Google remain at the top of their game. Fun office spaces keep staff members motivated to deliver high performance. They also help to promote collaboration and productivity in the workplace. 

Placing an emphasis on recreational space in the office can be tricky, however. A poorly designed area may not deliver employee contentment and productivity, which could translate to wasted resources. So how do you make sure that you create a recreation space that fits the needs of a workplace?

1. Encourage Conversations

One of the goals of a recreational area is to give staff members the opportunity to get to know their colleagues better. Through socialization, workers can feel more comfortable working with other members of the team on collaborative projects. Arranging furniture and positioning seating areas properly are key to creating a conducive space for employees to socialize. 

You can incorporate a food and beverage area where people can get coffee and juice or treats like granola bars and chips. Adding a coffee table nearby can give you a functional social space where colleagues can chat. You can arrange a sofa as well as bean bags, and armchairs around the table so people can sit down while having coffee or eating a snack. Or it could just be a place where people can pass the time while they’re away from their workstations. 

Spaces that encourage conversations should be flexible. This is why stools and bean bags that can be easily moved to create informal meeting areas are commonly used in recreational facilities.

2. Stimulate Creativity

Top organizations put a premium on creativity, so it’s natural for most companies to encourage employees to get their creative juices flowing. Ergonomic furniture, bright colors, and smart designs can all stimulate creativity. 

If your client has a theme in mind, choose furniture that brings this theme out. Paint the walls with bright colors to make it pop and catch attention. Attractive art prints or even artisan rugs can be a talking point among colleagues and make your space conducive to brainstorming. For example, Cyrus Artisan Rugs at MN offers a wide range of rug types and styles that can breathe new life into a dull space.

3. Provide a Quiet Space

Recreational spaces are, of course, designed to allow staff members to take their mind off work. This helps them relax a bit so they can return to their tasks in the right headspace. As such, there must be areas in the office that are dedicated to this specific purpose.

Dark furniture and muted tones can be used for small, quiet nooks. This can give introverts a private space where they can gather their thoughts and finish their work independently. Hammocks and daybeds can also be used for areas where staff members can take a quick nap to recharge.

4.Offer Various Activities

Most of us are familiar with fun spaces in the office that include a pingpong table, video games, and even a jukebox. However, the activities that can be done in a recreational facility should depend on the preferences of those who are going to use them.

You can ask the management to hold a short survey about what activities that people on the team are interested in. This will determine the kinds of board games, video game consoles, and other recreational equipment that are going to be in the rec room.

Additionally, you can add a play zone where staff members can be competitive and loud. This should be separated from the quiet nooks but can be near other functional areas like the food and beverage station to encourage more bonding moments.

5. Incorporate Biophilic Design

The point of having a recreational space in an office is for employee productivity and wellness. So it should not come as a surprise that natural elements should be part of its design. When people feel connected with nature, they are more likely to feel calm and well. This results in increased productivity and low turnover rates. 

Companies like Plant Solutions can help you design a recreational space with biophilic principles in mind. This will help you decide on a focal point in your area and choose furniture that complements natural elements well.

The key to designing the perfect recreational space is taking into account every employee's needs in the workplace. It’s best to remember that while some people like to chat and eat with colleagues, some may want to have some peace and quiet. Others need to unwind through food and video games, while some may want to see some natural elements in their vicinity. 

So when creating an office rec space, strive for balance. Keep in mind the company's overall goals — to promote creativity, collaboration, and wellness — and the needs of their teams. It’s just a matter of focusing on your goals and being meticulous during the design process. Pay attention even to the smallest of details, such as the kinds of art prints, plants, and artisan rugs you’re going to use.

What are the factors you should consider while carpeting your house?

Are you planning a new carpet for your home? It is an exciting experience for all of us. Making the right choice brings in that extra energy, freshness and glitz. You can literally transform the look and the feel of the space. 

Now there can be many reasons for getting a new carpet for your house. It can warm up your room and enhance the décor of the living area. However, choosing a carpet can be challenging and making the right decision is vital to get the desired results. 

It would be best if you considered several factors ranging from budget to the look and the maintenance. Let's help you with the important ones here. 

Types

There are different types available in the market, and the carpet that you choose necessarily needs to depend on your budget and requirements. The carpets differ based on density, fibre type and twist type. While the carpet's density determines its thickness, it's the twists in the carpet that determines its quality. Higher the twists in the rug, better is the quality. 

Colours

It is important primarily from two aspects. The first one is that the colour of the carpet can augment your house's overall décor if chosen right. It has to go well with everything else in the room: the furniture, wall paint or even the decorative items. Generally speaking, the light colours will make your room look more extensive, and dark colours will make it look small. The second aspect comes into play when you have to clean your carpet. The lighter tones require frequent cleaning compared to the darker ones. 

Patterns

When it comes to carpets, there can be as many patterns as you may ever think of, and that poses a lot of challenges when you go about picking one. Think of an ideal design for your home that goes well with it. Remember, choosing the right pattern will add to the beauty of the space and manipulate its size. It can make your room look cosier as well. 

Cost

When considering this factor, think about the upfront cost and the expenses that you will bear in its maintenance. The upfront cost will include every expense associated with the carpet itself, its installation, among other things. You also need to pick the right material as the softer textures and lighter tones, require frequent maintenance, which adds to the overall cost. 

Maintenance

You will never like to buy a carpet that won't last for a reasonable time and gives you headaches when it comes to maintenance. Ideally, you should consult an expert or the store salesperson for the relevant inputs. Also, consider the traffic in the area where the carpet will be installed. Certain tones and material are more prone to stain and odour and its best to avoid those. Find out if the maintenance of the carpet can be done on your own or requires professional services. The new carpets come with warranties, therefore make sure that you know the details that entail it. 

Need a Change? How to Completely Revamp Your Primary Bedroom

A primary bedroom should be a place for rejuvenation and relaxation. Changing the layout of the room can give it a new look. More space is created for better aeration. Bedroom revamp can be cost-effective when you dedicate your time and energy. Below are some tips to help you completely update your primary bedroom.

Change Your Lighting

The lighting put in the bedroom determines the mood you set. When you want a rejuvenating and relaxing atmosphere, get attractive bedside lamps. Some other lighting systems to use include ceiling fans, mounting sconces on the walls, pendants, rope lighting, and standing lamps.

Paint the Room

Changing the wall colors of your bedroom makes it lively. Paint old furniture to make them look new. Some of the best wall colors include pale pallet, pale beige, light lilac, light grey, and cream. These colors give you control to decorate your walls the way you want. They do not reflect light allowing you to sleep easily at night without distractions.

Change the Floor Appearance

There are many ways to change the floor appearance, including lamination. Laminate flooring is cost-effective and requires less maintenance. Most of these materials mimic premium flooring materials such as stone and hardwood, making your floor look expensive. It is easy to install the laminate flooring as you only need click lock, saving you the money you would have paid a professional to do the job.

Get New Bedroom Furniture Sets

The kind of furniture you have in your bedroom impacts its atmosphere. Changing old bedroom furniture sets from time to time creates an inviting room. Shop for a new bed, beddings, couch, and chair. When shopping for these materials, make sure to leave space to move freely. There are many affordable furniture stores to get these items.

Change Furniture Position

Take time and see how you can reorganize your bedroom to have a new layout. Change the direction of your bed and other furniture. Some of these changes open up spaces for better aeration. If it is possible, look for closet organizers and storage baskets to put your things in order.

If revamping your bedroom sounds like her challenging task, get help from a professional to do the work for you. You only need to have an idea of how you want your bedroom to look like. Create a budget for how much you are willing to spend on revamping and let them do the job for you.