Plants and Pools: How Can You Prepare Your Yard's Landscaping When Adding a Pool?

A pool can be the focal point of a backyard oasis, with the right landscaping. Planning your landscaping and preparing your yard for your new pool takes considerable thought. So, here are a few points you need to know about landscaping when installing your pool.

What Not to Plant

The wrong plants can create extra pool maintenance as will planting grass too close to the pool. For example, bougainvillea will shed tons of pretty pink flowers into your pool that can clog your pool’s jets and drains. You will want to avoid these kinds of plants around your pool. You'll also want to avoid plants that attract a lot of bees, such as honeysuckle.

Grass too close to a pool can also create problems. Not only will grass clippings fly into the pool, but the roots can eventually cause damage to both in-ground and above-ground pools. In fact, do not plant anything with invasive roots, such as oleander, around a pool.

Plants Appropriate for Around the Pool

If you want a tropical look and feel, stick with non-shedding poolside plants. Go with plants like canna lilies, bird of paradise flowers, and hibiscus plants. These are hardy plants that do not shed.

While lawn grass must be kept away from the pool, decorative grasses, such as feather reed grass, zebra grass, and mondo grass are very appropriate for around the pool.

In desert regions, succulents are a good choice. They can withstand heat and intense sunshine like cactus, but unlike cactus, they do not have dangerous thorns.

Landscaping Around Above-Ground Pools

While in-ground pools have a rim of cement decking, above-ground pools do not. That means, before you decide on any plants, you'll need to decide what to surround them with. Several inches of gravel or decorative rock around the pool is a popular option. However, before you lay down any rock, put down a layer of landscaping fabric to prevent weeds. The rock should extend two or three feet from the pool.

Not only does the decorative rock look attractive, but it also allows for evaporation. This keeps water from building up around and under the pool. Once you have your rock laid out, you can plant it around the perimeter of the gravel. You can place potted plants around the pool too. Potted plants also give you the option to change your landscaping seasonally.

When you’re planning the landscaping for your above-ground pool, talk to your installation company about which plants work best for your area and style of pool. They can give you specific advice for what will work well in your yard.

With some research into the best plants for your region, your pool's landscaping will not only create an oasis but will also be relatively low maintenance.

Color Psychology in Interior Décor – Infographic

Here at House to Home Organizing, we love to help people to declutter and get their homes in tip-top shape. However, did you know that you can incorporate psychology into your color choices for your home too? With so much color choices available in paint stores, it can easily get overwhelming in your renovation project. Even if you're planning to overhaul just one room, choosing the color can be a stumbling block. Coupled with that is the fact that the choice of color has such huge repercussions for the rest of the home's theme so you really want to get it right! Of course, you can use magazines, home décor TV shows or social media to help inspire you with color choices too. Pinterest and Instagram are fantastic places to begin your color choice journey; both platforms have tools for saving any inspiration you find so that you can easily refer back to it at any stage. Another great tip is to look at wall art in the room as a source of inspiration. You can use that to form the idea or theme of your color choice too and create a really cohesive look! 

We also like to ask the opinion of a small select group of family and friends - ask too many though and you might incur a wide difference of opinion and thus end up in even greater confusion about what direction to take your color journey! 

The guys at EZ Living Interiors have put together this infographic below; it outlines color by color what is suitable for different areas of the home. We know that it can be challenging when it comes to color selection because there are so many to choose from! Coupled with that is the worry that you're not selecting the right colors for the "look" that you want to achieve. That's why incorporating the psychology of color into your decision making process is the ideal way forward. The graphic also examines the interesting concept of the 60-30-10 rule for timeless-s decorating. Sometimes having an anchor like this when in your color selection mode of the renovation can really focus the mind and allow you to think in a clearer way. Check out the full infographic below for all the details! 

Furniture Options to Make the Most out of the Space in Your Apartment

If you live in a small apartment, finding room for all your stuff without sacrificing space to sit, sleep, and entertain guests can be extremely challenging. The good news is that you can furnish your apartment and make the most out of limited space without sacrificing decor, style, and appeal.

Use Furniture to Create Separate Spaces

One of the best ways to use furniture in small apartments is to use couches, loveseats, and chairs to create separate spaces. By defining different areas with pieces of furniture, you can keep entertaining areas apart from your work, dining, and sleeping spaces.

Add Furniture That Uses Vertical Space

Making use of vertical space is the best way to keep a small apartment uncluttered and functional. Adding shelves to walls, using bookcases, and using desks with hutches can give you more room for storage without taking up additional floor space. You can also utilize more vertical space by adding desks that fold into walls and Murphy beds.

Make Use of Apartment Space

Before you sign a lease for an apartment, consider how you want to decorate and the type of furniture you have or would like to use to furnish the space. For smaller apartments, make sure there are enough kitchen cabinets and closet space to suit your storage needs.

Finding the perfect apartment that fits your budget is not always easy, so sometimes, you have to be creative when furnishing and decorating small apartments. If possible, view several floor plans of apartments that suit your needs and offer space-saving amenities such as outdoor storage, built-in shelves, and large closets.

Add Furniture With Built-in Storage

Adding furniture that has built-in storage space will go a long way to creating more space. Coffee tables with built-in storage and desks with extra drawers can give you more space for storing small items.

Another great option to make the most out of space in your apartment is to use a bed with storage space underneath. Underbed storage can be as simple as placing storage containers beneath the bed or adding under-bed drawers for storing clothing and other items.

Living in a small apartment doesn't mean you have to live in a space that's cramped and uninviting. The key to living in a small apartment is to find a balance between what you need, the amount of space you have, and using the right decor and furniture to maximize living space.

5 Modern Decorating Tips to Design Your Home Office

You can work in style from your home office.

You deserve more than a desk and chair in a corner. Why? You'll love to work in an office that mirrors the style and comfort of your home.

Tips for designing an office at home

1. Designate a space

Your home office will be where you spend the majority of your time, so don’t limit yourself with space. To preserve your guest room, you can squeeze a small desk into a closet.

Consider traffic flow and how you can withstand distractions. Are you more productive in the midst of bustling activity or in a private space? A private area with plenty of seating is essential for clients who will be visiting your office.

2. Do not sacrifice form for function

Your desk, shelves, and storage should be functional. Before you buy furniture, think about your workflow and the items that you use most often. Then look for pieces that are beautiful and practical.

Your home office furniture should be a complement to other rooms in the house, not a "soulless cubicle". Warm wood, soft, comfortable chairs, or a loveseat, are great options for traditional home decor. Modern metal furniture or artistic pieces can be used in a contemporary home office.

3. Invest in a great chair

Your office chair is a place you spend hours in. A beautiful, ergonomically-correct, comfortable seat will make your workday more enjoyable.

4. Give yourself a view

When you look up from your computer, position the desk so that you can see something interesting other than a wall.

The natural light from a window is the best, but you can also hang a picture or place your chair so that it faces the door. To control the light entering your room, consider sheer and blackout curtains.

To reduce eye strain and headaches, ensure that your office is well lit. Place the computer monitor in a way that it doesn't glare from overhead lights or windows. A small lamp can be placed on the desk to provide task lighting.

5. Inspire Yourself

A mini-shrine is a collection of favorite knickknacks and framed art. It can be a photo of your children or a piece of art that inspires you to make things happen. You might find inspiration in a Paris print or a picture of your children to remind you that it's all about them.

These decorating tips can make your work-from-home experience more personalized and enjoyable. Spending time working at home does not have to be boring and bland. Level up your home office design so you can do your work with comfort and ease.

How did you decorate your home office? Let us know in the comments!