Best Tips on How to Organize Your Indoor Garden

An indoor garden can be messy. We know. Soil all over the place, water dripping on the floor… oh and even insects!

But here is the truth- there is actually a way to organize your indoor garden. Turn a grubby indoor garden into the centerpiece of your home decoration by following these easy steps:

1. Go with clustering

Most homeowners take their indoor plants as decorative pieces. They just place one plant in each corner of their house.

This is not the right way to do it.

Placing a single plant in each corner of your house can be messy. This is because you have to go all over your home when you’re watering them or fixing their soil. 

On the other hand, you can avoid all these water and soil messes if you cluster your plants into one area. They will also look more beautiful since you can get to play with their textures, colors, sizes, shapes, and other aesthetic elements when placed together.

They won’t just be a plain decorative piece! 

2. Rule of center and edges

Speaking of aesthetic elements, decorative indoor gardening is not just about plant colors and sizes. You should also consider their position.

The rule of center and edges is pretty simple- you place one big indoor plant in the middle and place smaller plants around it of different kinds.

This rule prevents the feel and looks of overcrowding despite clustering your plants. The contrast between big and small plants will actually make it seem that they have more space. 

Furthermore, the shadow of the large plant in the middle will give a shadowy effect on your indoor gardening without blocking the sun altogether. At the same time, the smaller plants on the edges will give a cute and dainty touch to your place!

3. One kind of container

Another thing that greatly contributes to the messy look of your indoor garden is the consistent pots and containers. A single kind of container will be the unifying element of the various plants that you have. 

Just imagine the chaos of having various plants and various containers in one corner! It will feel like you just hoarded various plants from the neighborhood.

You can use ceramic pots, fabric grow bags, or fiberglass containers, depending on your preference and the kind of plants that you grow. You can also use them in various sizes and colors as long as they’re of the same kind.

4. Smart drainage system

Watering your plants is the messiest indoor garden task. But no matter how messy it is, you really have to do it. The best thing to do is to improvise a drainage system in your indoor garden.

The most common way is placing saucers under your pots. But you shouldn’t stop there. You can place rocks (real ones) on these saucers. These rocks will look like a decorative touch, but really they’re placed there to absorb the drained water from your pots!

If you have hanging plants, make sure that there are larger plants under them. These plants will serve as a basin to the drained water of your hanging plants.

It would also be smart to place your indoor garden near your kitchen. This way, all the water and wet corners will not look messy and misplaced since they will fit into your kitchen!

See? It’s all about proper placements of plants!

5. Play of space

It’s highly recommended that you designate a small space in your house for your indoor garden, simply because you wouldn’t want to turn your own house into a jungle or a full-blown greenhouse. This is a common mistake among indoor garden owners. 

When you already allot a space, make sure that you stick with it. It’s not that hard to maximize space, despite how small it is. You can try placing your plants into hanging pots, trellis for walled plants, and even make-shift garden stairs. 

These techniques will not just help you make the most out of your space but will also emphasize your creativity in container gardening!

So, what do you think about our tips on how to organize your indoor garden? Always remember that beauty and organization always come together. 

The Advantages of Using Tempered Glass for Your Home

We have been using glass as a building material for our homes for a long time.

We use glass primarily for windows at home, but we have since been using them for doors, interior partitions, shower enclosures, and stair rails, among other things.

The most commonly used type of glass in homes is annealed glass. Also referred to as standard or plate glass, annealed glass is a popular choice mainly because it tends to be cheaper.

However, you might want to consider tempered glass instead the next time you need to replace a glass window, door, or partition at home. 

Many residential and commercial glass providers recommend tempered glass for home use because it offers several advantages over standard glass, including:

Unmatched Strength and Durability

Tempered glass is reputed to be four times stronger than annealed glass.

Making tempered glass requires heating glass to 600 degrees Celsius, then cooling it through “quenching,” a rapid and high-pressure process that gives the finished product much of its strength.

While it takes 6,000 pounds per square inch (psi) to break annealed glass, tempered glass is proving tougher to break at around 24,000 psi.

If your home is located in an area regularly battered by strong winds, tempered glass would be an excellent choice. 

Enhanced Safety

Glass will always break, regardless of how tough it’s supposed to be. 

Even supposedly “bulletproof” (the more accurate term is “bullet-resistant”) glass eventually breaks when struck by bullets repeatedly in the same spot or hit by higher-caliber firearms.

When standard glass breaks, anyone close by is at risk of sustaining deep cuts because of the resulting sharp and jagged shards. Cleaning up the mess could also prove difficult and risky, as even the tiniest pieces can break the skin.

No such risk is present with tempered glass.

Instead of producing deadly pieces of broken glass, tempered glass shatters into hundreds of dull, harmless pebble-like pieces when it breaks.

Making tempered glass even safer when it breaks is the fact that all its shattered pieces interlock with one another, which means they mostly stick together, making it so much easier to clean up.

The safety that tempered glass provides makes it ideal for homes with energetic kids who are at risk of accidentally breaking glass fixtures at home and injuring themselves.

Better Heat Resistance

Regular glass breaks or gets bent out of shape when regularly exposed to high temperatures.

However, tempered glass has a much higher tolerance for heat, thanks to the unique process it goes through during production. 

Tempered glass can withstand temperatures of up to 243 degrees Celsius, which makes it perfect for use in the hotter-than-usual parts of your home, like the kitchen and the bathroom.

Crystal Clear Clarity

Some might think that the process of producing stronger tempered glass affects the clarity of the finished product, but it doesn’t.

Every pane of tempered glass coming out of the factory is crystal clear, making them perfect for windows, doors, cabinets, and display cases.

Improved Scratch Resistance

One of the more annoying things about regular glass is that they scratch easily. Glass panes with visible scratches don’t look good in any setting and are often a reason for some homeowners to replace them altogether.

On the other hand, tempered glass is better at resisting scratches, thanks to the process that makes it thermally tough. If you use tempered glass for glass doors, windows, and display cabinets, you can rest easy, knowing they will remain crystal clear and scratch-free for a long time.

Creative Versatility

While homeowners generally prefer the crystal-clear quality that tempered glass offers, there are homeowners who go for a bit more creativity in its look.

Fortunately for them, tempered glass can also come in a variety of designs, patterns, colors, and styles.

Frosted tempered glass is popular, and so is the stained variety. Some homeowners want their tempered glass panes engraved as well.

Whatever your creative preferences and needs, you can be sure that there are tempered glass panes to suit them.

The Best Applications For Tempered Glass

Tempered glass is quite versatile, as you can use it for any part of your home. 

It’s great for windows, patio doors, walls, balcony enclosures, and stairway landings.

Tempered glass would also be excellent for shower partitions or bathroom doors. After all, the risk of slipping and falling is always present in the bathroom. With tempered glass doors, the likelihood of suffering cuts when they break would be minimal.

The next time you shop for glass panes to use at home, always remember to ask your home glass provider about tempered glass and its superior characteristics. 

Tempered glass may be more expensive than regular glass, but its advantages, particularly regarding safety, make the added cost worth it.

Guest Post - How to Protect Your Home From Pests

Bugs can enter your home through openings in your walls. They are often more prevalent during the winter months, but they can invade at any time of year. To help keep your home protected from pests, follow the tips below. 

1. Trim Your Trees and Use Less Mulch

Cutting off excess tree branches reduces the chance of bugs entering your home. The extended limbs can act as bridges for them. Make sure to trim the ones closest to your house first. 

Also, when doing yard work, limit the amount of mulch you use. Mulch can be a hiding place for many pests. Consider using rocks as an alternative ground covering. 

Here are some other alternatives to mulch that you can add to your garden: 

• Pea gravel 

• Newspaper

• Leaves

• Grass clippings 

• Pine needles 

2.  Seal Doors and Windows 

Pests can squeeze through the cracks in your windows or doors. This is why it is essential to inspect them regularly. Also, look out for any rips or tears in your window screens. Properly sealing your doors and windows can help eliminate these gaps. You can use either caulk or weatherstripping to close up any holes. 

3. Remove Animal Nests From Your Roof

Insects can create nests on top of your roof. During the winter, they enter your home through small openings within your exterior. Regularly perform a roof inspection to keep your house protected. You want to get rid of these nests before the bugs reproduce and you end up with an infestation. 

4. Properly Dispose of Any Trash or Litter

Your garage can attract pests inside your home, so make sure your garbage bins are tightly covered. You should also rinse out the cans and remove any food spills. 

Here are some additional ways to keep your trash can pest-free:

• Keep all garbage in the bag 

• Clean out any containers before throwing them away

• Repair holes 

• Install motion detectors 

• Spray ammonia

Your yard can also provide homes for pests to hide in. Keep your lawn free of debris, such as leaves, paint clippings or standing water. 

5. Use the Right Lightbulbs

To help reduce the number of bugs around your windows and doors, add high-power pressure sodium vapor or halogen lights. Bulbs with pink, yellow or orange tints can help keep pests away. Yellow lights are often used because bugs confuse the light source with the moon, which they use as a navigational tool. They will want to keep a distance from the light. 

You may also consider changing the location of your lights. It is common for exterior lights to be located near your doors. Instead, you might want to place them further away from your home on a pole. This can draw insects away from your house. 

How to Keep Your Home Pest-Free 

Your home should be a place to relax. However, bugs can find their way in through gaps in your exterior. Consider these tips to keep your house safe from unwanted pests.

Author bio: Rose Morrison is the managing editor of Renovated, where she offers advice on home renovation, maintenance, and organization.

What To Look For in Your New Apartment

Figuring out what to look for in your new apartment is no easy task. There are so many aspects to consider, and when there’s a plethora of options on the market, it can be hard to narrow down what’s most important to you. Hopefully, this guide will help you get a better idea of what’s necessary for your next apartment and what isn’t.

Check Out the Neighborhood

Nobody wants to move into the bad part of town, but sometimes you don’t have that luxury due to price restraints or what’s available at the time of looking. The key thing to remember is not all sections of the bad area are all that horrible. Some neighborhoods might be better than you originally heard. Be sure to do your research before making a decision.

On the other side of things, even if you’re looking at the best apartment complex in the whole state, it might not be the best fit for you. The neighbors might be unbearable. The owners might nickel-and-dime you for every little thing that goes wrong. It could even have horrible construction nearby that will make you late for work every day. Many overlooked details could make a place that seems great be the wrong choice for you.

Ask About What’s Included

It’s a good idea to know what you’ll be paying for in your new apartment. The common things to ask about are electricity, water, gas, and Wi-Fi, but there are plenty of other things to consider as well. Find out if there are washers and dryers. If there are, ask if they are in-unit or communal. The same goes for parking. Figure out how many spaces you get, if they cost extra, and if there is guest parking. If you have pets, ask them what their policy is for them or if they’re even allowed in the first place.

These are some of the most important questions to ask. There are plenty of others that might be more relevant to you, so make sure you list them out and set aside some time to get them answered.

Find Something That Fits Your Style

When people ask friends and family what to look for in a new apartment, one thing that no one ever seems to suggest is to find something that fits your style. If you’re going to be paying a lot of money to live there each month, we would hope that it’s something that you enjoy living in. When searching, make sure you like the layout of the apartment. There are so many aspects to consider when looking at the floorplan.

If you can’t find the perfect fit for your style, ask the landlord what you can change. Chances are there won’t be too much you can change, but it doesn’t hurt to ask. Some apartment complexes don’t mind you making changes as long as you change them back when you leave. This can open a lot more opportunities for you if making changes is an option.