How to Find a Kitchen Countertop That Is Built to Last

You've decided to redecorate your kitchen and you’re trying to find the perfect countertops for the area. In addition to having aesthetically pleasing kitchen decor, you also need to find a countertop that will remain sturdy for a long time.

If you’re new to renovating, it’s best for you to familiarize yourself with kitchen countertops that will fit the needs of you and your family. Here are some things to consider when looking for countertop options that are built to last.

Budget

Budget plays a huge role when it comes to selecting countertops that you will be able to afford. Even if you have a conservative budget, you can still invest in quality materials. For instance, using a wooden butcher block is an affordable option that lasts for years. However, you have to make sure it’s properly sealed in order for your butcher block counters to remain undamaged.

Maintenance

If your family spends a lot of time in the kitchen, you’ll need countertops that will last through many cleanings. Between liquid spills and food stains, you need a material that can be cleaned with little to no effort. Quartz is one of the best options for a family that experiences frequent messes. Moreover, quartz countertops don’t need to be refinished.

Space

If you only have a small amount of countertop space, you have more options. Granite and marble can be expensive, but they’re not as costly when you only have a little bit of square footage to occupy. If you go with granite and render it properly with a high-polish sheen, it reflects the light in your kitchen and makes the room appear bigger.

If you have a preference other than granite, you should seek professional help. All you need to do is take your measurements to a local remodeling company and they can give you the option that best suits your needs.

Color Scheme

If you’re someone who changes their mind often, it’s best you choose a neutral color. You can even pick a material with splashes of color that go with any color paint. That way, you don’t have to change your countertops if you decide you no longer like your wallpaper or kitchen layout.

When it comes to kitchen decor, your options are endless. The key to getting the perfect countertops to match your decor is to go in with a game plan. If you're not big on DIY, make sure you hire a professional contractor for optimal results.

Ways for New Homeowners To Save Money

You spent years scrimping and saving enough to purchase your very first home, and you finally have it. It's thrilling to have a place you can finally call your own, but it comes with its own set of challenges. One of the most daunting of those challenges can be saving money. Taxes, utilities, and repairs can quickly eat into your savings if you're not prepared. Below you will find different ways for new homeowners to save money and protect their wallets.

Focus on Bargains

If you spent an extended amount of time saving money before buying a home, you're likely an old pro at buying cheap. Unlike renting, however, it's now on you to buy everything that goes inside your home. If you do a little research, you can find many appliances on clearance that are fantastic quality for much cheaper than buying them brand new.

Check the Thermostat

You're almost certainly going to have to heat and cool a much larger space than an apartment. Heating bills can quickly rack up the charges every month if you aren't proactive. If you live alone or with others, make sure you turn the thermostat off when no one is home. If you have the budget for it, you can also get a smart thermostat that will automatically regulate the temperature to where you're comfortable and turn itself off while you are away.

Patch and Insulate

While being careful with the thermostat helps keep energy costs low, you can help lower them even more with just a few repairs. Check every window or other place where air can come through and see if you can feel a breeze. If you do, you should patch up the leaks with caulk or adjust doors, so they have no gaps. If you have an attic, inspect the insulation and determine if you need to add or replace what’s already there.

Check Water Sources

A leaky faucet or running water inside your toilet will run up your water bill fast. Explore the various fixtures in your home that are connected to water pipes. If you notice a drip coming out of a faucet or see mold and mildew buildup, you may need to do some repairs. Depending on the job, it could be as easy and cheap as tightening a nozzle or replacing a toilet flapper.

Some of these tips may seem obvious. Still, moving into a new home can be overwhelming at first, and you might not think of these things right away, so they’re worth mentioning. With just a little time and effort, you can save a lot of money in the long run that you can spend to make your home more comfortable.

Why You Should Improve the Exterior of Your Home

You might be putting off home improvements due to the cost and time they require. However, the reasons why you should improve the exterior of your home far outweigh the difficulty of coming up with a budget for your yearly home maintenance. Taking care of your home is just as important as taking care of your car, body, or brain. Keep reading to learn all the benefits of improving your home’s exterior.

Increase the Value of Your Home

Simple home repairs can boost your home’s curb appeal. Even if you don’t plan on selling anytime soon, you should keep up with repairs and maintenance so that you don’t have to do a big renovation all at once. If you maintain your exterior elements, your home will look amazing while you live in it, and its value will only increase over time. The most common exterior features of your home you should pay attention to include:

• Windows

• Doors

• Siding

• Fencing

• Gutters

• Roofing

Protect Your Home—and Your Family

Your home’s exterior protects your home’s interior—which protects you. For instance, the siding on your home prevents inclement weather and flying objects from penetrating your home. You should regularly inspect your house to ensure that water hasn’t seeped through your siding, roof, or windows. Water damage can lead to dry rot and dangerous mold problems.

Save Money on Energy

Improving the exterior of your home makes it look better, but it can also save you money in the long run. Properly insulated roofing, windows, and siding will keep heat and cool air inside your home during the appropriate times of the year. If you notice your energy bills starting to rise, inspect your home’s exterior for places where you can make improvements.

Perform Less Maintenance on Your House

Choose a trustworthy window and siding contractor to help you pick the right materials for your home so that you won’t have to perform as much maintenance. With the right siding, roof design, and window materials, you can pressure wash your house once a year and let rain do the rest.

You’ll find many reasons why you should improve the exterior of your home. Whether you want to save money or make money, maintaining your home will protect your family and anyone else who may live in your house after you. Let safety and security be your motivation for being a good homeowner.

Details and Accents That Can Make Your Home's Interior Design Pop

Your home's interior design is a reflection of you and your family. You want it to tell people who you are. Of course, you also want it to look good. And if it pops, that's even better. However, if you're not an interior designer, it can be difficult to create a design scheme that pops and looks attractively cohesive. Instead of blindly trying to figure out what to do, consider these details and accents that can make your home's interior design pop.

Create an Accent Wall

One of the easiest ways to make your home's interior design pop is to create an accent wall. There are so many varieties of accent walls that you have limitless options. You can paint it a bold color or with chalkboard paint. You can showcase a single brick wall or cover it with shiplap. A bold color or texture adds a lot of feeling to a room. You can also use one wall for lots of artwork or personal photos to add personality. With a little bit of thought, your accent wall will stand out from the rest of the place with ease.

Use Functional Items as Decor

When you think about interior design and decorating your home, you might often think the decor needs to be pretty stuff that remains in place. Here's a different thought, though: turn functional items into decor. 

For example, many dinnerware sets are as beautiful as they are functional these days. Display your dinnerware sets on floating shelves or behind glass-fronted cabinet doors when they’re not in use. This way, they can serve as both dinnerware and decor. This strategy can also apply to things like bathroom towels, clothes hampers, storage bins, and baskets, depending on what area of the house you’re redecorating.

Make Bright Furniture a Focal Point

Like an accent wall, a piece of furniture can function as a stand-out piece of decor. A bright pink or yellow sofa in an otherwise white room can really pop. Even if there's more color in the room, large pieces of furniture like sofas, futons, and oversized chairs can grab attention in any room. Try a sofa in a bright color and a couple of smaller end tables or coffee tables in a complementary pastel color for greater effect.

Combine Themes With the 70/30 Rule

Can't decide between two different styles? Maybe you like one and your spouse or roommate likes another? Try the 70/30 rule to give the space some character and avoid an argument. Decorate the room 70% in one style, with the remaining 30% in a totally different style. Decorate a room in a contemporary style with a few traditional pieces for spice, for example. This serves as both an accent and a better expression of the personalities in your home.

You don't need to be a pro to make your home's interior design look like it was done by an interior decorator. You just need a few little details to make your design pop. Give these a try and see what you think.