Got a Guest Room? How to Furnish It for Comfort

If you’re lucky enough to have a guest room, then you’ll have a much easier time inviting friends and family to your home. Staying in another person’s house is often a bit comfortable, but your guests will feel much better with a room of their own. You’ll also have an easier time welcoming others into your home, since guests with their own space aren’t nearly as intrusive as cousins and friends who are flopping on your couch. If you really want people to enjoy their stay, you should furnish the guest room to be as comfortable as possible. Inviting guests to stay in an uncomfortable room is hardly an example of good hospitality. Here’s how you can create the perfect guest room for friends and family,

Get a Truly Comfortable Bed

Some hosts make the mistake of buying a discount bed and mattress for their guest room. This might seem like the smart financial play at the time, but they’re setting themselves up for future embarrassment. Nothing is as awkward as seeing guests stretch their backs and wince after a night in your home. You don’t need to break the bank, but a decently comfortable bed is a necessity. A queen murphy bed would be suitable for individuals and couples alike.

Include a Desk and Chair

Some guests will need to get some work down while staying at your home. They’ll appreciate having a true desk at which they can type, write, or study. You don’t need anything fancy since it will only ever be used for a few days at a time. Just a simple desk with an adjustable desk chair should be sufficient.

Install Solid Curtains or Blinds

While some of your guests might rise with the first light of the sun, others will enjoy sleeping in. They might become especially late risers if the visit includes a robust social program. Opaque curtains or blinds are a must if you want them to get the rest they need.

Put a Small Dresser Against the Wall

Nobody enjoys living out of a suitcase for days. That’s why guests will appreciate a few drawers or shelves where they can leave their clothes and personal belongings. A smaller, cheaper piece should be fine since it will only ever hold a few days’ worth of clothes.

Good hospitality starts in the guest room. Take these tips to heart if you want your guests to truly enjoy their stay.

How to Start Safeguarding Your Home Now From Spring Pests

Springtime is one of the longest seasons by most people after braving the unforgiving and harsh wintry conditions. To many, it means short sleeves, blooming flowers, and warm weather. Unfortunately, it also marks the return and invasion of pesky pests. Pests are not only a nuisance but can cause several diseases, like Malaria, Hantavirus, and yellow fever.

After hibernating from the freezing temperatures, pests like ants, rodents, and termites may be planning a comeback in your premises. As a homeowner, it's time to have a plan to safeguard your home from these uninvited guests.

They say prevention is better than cure. Pests can be stressful, inconveniencing, and harder to control when they invade your home. Fortunately, there are some steps you can take to keep off pests from your premises.

Keep Your Home Clean

Spring cleaning is the word. It is a season to clean up all potential clutters and dirt built up, especially during wintertime. Build-up waste is an inhabitant and food for pests. Unkempt homes and extra junk means an opportunity for these insects to invade. It also means more hiding areas. The trick here is to keep your home tidy and clean.

Eliminate Moisture

Pests like mosquitoes thrive in a moist environment. That said, ensure you seal up any openings in your windows and doors. Fix leaky pipes and drain off any water that might have collected around your home.

Keep Food and Waste Where It Belongs

After winter, most pests are out looking for shelter, food, and water. To keep these creatures away from your home:

•    Be mindful of how you store food and throw away the waste

•    Store your food in an air-tight container

•    Seal up your waste or trash containers

•    Always clean up any spills and dishes immediately

Plant-Based Repellents

While the occasional sight of flies and mosquitoes flying around your home might implore you to rush for an insecticide in your local shop, you can repel these pests organically. Some plants like citronella and lemon eucalyptus serve as good pest repellants. And even better, they are gentler to the environment compared to synthetic repellents.

Pest problems are inevitable, especially in springtime. But with the above tips, you can safeguard your home from unwanted pests. Good still is that you can engage professional exterminators.

You see, sometimes a pest infestation can be overwhelming. While DIY pest control strategies are essential, they only provide a Band-Aid solution to the pest problem. That said, involving pest control companies becomes the safest bet for long-lasting pest solutions.

Sleep in Style: How To Personalize Your Bedroom

Whether you just got a new place or need to remodel your childhood bedroom into a more sophisticated space, it can be hard to decide which direction to go. If you’re eccentric and have many hobbies, you might find it difficult to focus on one theme. Maybe you love warm colors but don’t want bright yellows and oranges to keep you up at night. Keep this guide for how to personalize your bedroom nearby for all your remodeling projects.

Decide Your Room’s Theme

Before you begin arranging your bedroom, you may want to consider a theme. Having a theme in mind will guide you when considering what bedroom furniture to choose and how to decorate your room. If you follow a fandom, collect pieces from a historic period, or enjoy any other hobby, you could include it in your theme.

Let your theme guide you when picking paint colors or wallpaper. While it’s best to keep bedroom furniture to a minimum, your theme can guide you toward decorative pillows, ottomans, and lamps you can mix and match. Even if you don’t have a major theme in mind, choosing cool colors—such as shades of blue, green, and purple—are ideal for bedrooms due to their soothing effects.

Pro Tip: When you have two themes you want to showcase, use the 80/20 rule! Eighty percent of your room should follow your main theme while 20 percent of the room should be modeled after your secondary theme.

Hang Art in Your Bedroom

You can display your personality in any room with a favorite piece of artwork. Display your sophisticated and serious side with functional wall décor such as calendars, clocks, and mirrors that are available in a plethora of designs. Bedrooms are a great place to display personal and meaningful items, such as family photos. Art and other framed images should be hung at eye level—also known as gallery view—to make the ceiling seem higher and your room look bigger. Hanging smaller pieces of art on your bedroom walls will exaggerate the size of the walls.

Pro Tip: Decorative mirrors can add space to a room! You can provide the illusion of double windows by hanging a mirror across from one.

Lay a Rug in Your Room

A simple way to personalize your bedroom is with a rug. Rugs instantly transform any space and are especially good for small rooms. They add texture, pattern, and color—and can protect your feet from a cold floor in the morning if you don’t already have carpet.

Make Your Bedroom Smell Good

When considering how to personalize your bedroom, you may want to consider all the senses. An often-overlooked sense is smell. Add a candle, plant, or potpourri to your room with your favorite scent. Rose, lavender, and vanilla are popular scents soothing for nighttime. Be aware of what scents you have, though, to ensure they don’t clash and result in something unpleasant.

You can personalize your bedroom in multiple ways. Whether you add some new decorations to freshen up the place or refurnish your room with all new furniture, paint, and flooring, let your bedroom represent you.

5 Electrical Safety Tips Every Homeowner Needs To Know

As a homeowner, it's essential to understand that there are several safety concerns relating to your home's electrical system and appliances. Your electrical system is present in almost every space of your home. There are five electrical safety tips every homeowner needs to know.

1. Protection for kids. Take note of any unused outlets in your home. If ignored, they can cause serious harm to children. You can prevent an electrical shock by using plastic inserts to cover the outlets, which will also save energy by cutting down on drafts. You should also hide cords and keep all dangerous electrical devices are out of reach of children.

2. Fuses. If a fuse in your home blows, it is essential to turn off any appliance that is on the same circuit as the blown fuse. A fuse often blows when there is a power surge or a disruption in the electrical flow. You can protect your valuables by using a surge protector. Just make sure you get the right surge protector for your needs and don't overload it. Furthermore, when you replace the fuse itself, replace it with one with the same rating to avoid any problems.

3. Overload. As mentioned, putting too much strain on an outlet is one of the most dangerous things a homeowner can do. Doing so has caused thousands of fires in American homes. If you notice flickering lights or discolored wall outlets, that may be a sign that you have an overloaded outlet in your home. Reduce the use of all multi-line converters and plug major appliances directly into the wall.

4. Extension cords. There are a few tips for extension cords that you likely have around the house. Always pull the plug itself, not the cord. Removing the plug will prevent fraying and stress on the end of the cord itself. Also, keep extension cords out of wet or damp areas. A situation like that is a recipe for disaster.

5. Fire. If you have to face an electrical fire, it is essential to remember one thing: never try to put it out with water. You run the risk of electrocution and harming yourself even more. Make sure you have a household fire extinguisher with an A-B-C rating. This substance is safe for electrical fires.

Just like any other part of your home, it is essential to pay attention to your electrical system. We hope these five electrical safety tips every homeowner needs to know will help you understand your home’s electrical system a little better and keep you and your family safe for years to come.