How to add a Personal Touch to your New Place

What does it mean to personalize something? How do we make something our own? The answers might be more complicated than you think because every human being is different. Who we are and what we do often reflect in our living spaces. Sometimes, we are not aware that we follow fashionable styles instead of finding what best works for us. Things like having a favorite color, type of outfit, historical period, interior design style, movie genre all define us and give us certain uniqueness. Thus, to add a personal touch to your new place, ask yourself what you want to achieve with this project? Is it to make it more visually appealing or to make it comfortable? And even though these two can come together, achieving balance can be a little more complicated than you think.

Follow your interior design style

If you want to stay within the limits of tastefulness, it's essential to pay attention to the home interior while expressing your personality through it. For example, if your apartment follows minimalistic interior design standards, the amount of accessorizing the space will be limited. This style has variations, but it often seems detached and depersonalized because nothing in this concept should stand out. Now, some designs allow playfulness and combination, but everything should be meaningfully assembled. Unlike minimalist, boho, and southern style interior designs are all about the personal touch. Their aesthetic allows playfulness and expression of your tastes. When it comes to living spaces, they should never blindly follow fashion. Just because it's in, it doesn't mean it's the right fit for everyone.

Memorabilia and hobby decor display

And while following standardized design traits might make it easier to furnish our apartments, we need to figure out how practical it is and how spending time in it makes us feel. To have everything you need in your new home, you shouldn't only focus on functionality but also overall aesthetics. Things around us can trigger many good and bad emotions that subconsciously affect our thoughts and memories. In the era of fast living and unhealthy lifestyles, our homes are sanctuaries for our minds and bodies. The basic furnishing will make the skeleton of the house, and by decorating it, you will add meat to the bones. Still, only after displaying some memories will your new home gain a heart. Add a personal touch to your new place by expressing your tastes, preferences, emotions, and memories. Nothing makes it feel more like home than that.

Decorating a place with natural elements

For those who like spending a lot of time in nature and those that wish they could do the same, decorating a home with natural textures and elements might be just the right thing. Wooden pieces are incorporated in many interior home designs, so combining them with rock, leather, or wicker details can be a good combo. Also, adding plants to your home is a great idea. But if you haven't had experience in growing plants before, start with the beginner houseplant kit. Focus on plants from Ficus, Cactus, and Succulent family. They are very decorative plus easy to maintain. However, if your home design doesn't allow that much experimenting, or you don't feel like taking care of plants, there are always temporary solutions. You can refresh the space by adding some vase flower decor.

Adding elements to achieve a "warm vibe"

Warmth is something every home needs. And the best way to achieve it is by dedicating some time to wall colors, textiles, and accessories. If you don't plan to change the colors of your walls to brighter, eye-soothing tones, other things can help you bring coziness into your apartment. Whether it comes to the palettes and textures of your furniture, bed covers, cushions, wall decor, or adding rugs and carpets to your home, textile elements are always game-changers.

Use originality and creativity to add a personal touch to your new place

With moving to a new place, you have the perfect excuse to "feather the nest" and make it feel like your own. Naturally, this will come much easier for you if you are an artistic and crafty person. There are plenty of DIY projects you can engage in, expressing your true self. From making collages to refurbishing the furniture, everything is easily and affordably done with a bit of will and creativity. And even if you're using someone else decor ideas to enhance the features of your place, add something new to make it original and yours.

Light brings the best features of any living space

Natural light is one of the most important features of every room. It provides brightness while emphasizing the details and colors, making the place more welcoming. But if your home cannot give enough of it, solve it with creative lighting ideas. Traditional fixtures can be dull. Thus, adding unique and trendy lighting solutions will transform the place. Ways to do it are plenty, but before making these changes, decide on their function and style. Installing recessed lights, decorative wall sconces, or chandeliers will provide ambient light, while lamps, swag lights, swing-arm lamps, up-lights, and spotlights can help with the task and accent lighting.  

Personalizing your home will help you adapt faster

There is nothing worse than feeling unfamiliar in your own home. After the move, we are overwhelmed with a mix of emotions because changing homes is never easy. The break of routine, nostalgia, stress, caution towards the new environment make it harder to adapt to your new place. And even though we might not be able to accept all new things at once, we can start embracing the changes by making our house feel like a home. The best way to do that is to discover your taste if you haven’t already and add a personal touch to your new place. 

Features to Consider When Investing in a New Roof

A new roof is necessary if you notice signs, such as water leaks, cracked or damaged shingles, roof sags, and an aged roof. New roofs are essential investments for homeowners, so you should be careful when deciding on the right roof for your home. You may consider a multitude of features like architectural style and preferences when looking for a new roof for your home. If you plan on installing a new roof, consider these factors.

Material

An important feature to consider when replacing your roof is the roofing material. You need a material that matches your preferences, style, and appearance. It would be wise to choose a different material from your previous one, and consider new roof types. Analyze each roof material carefully by thinking about their pros and cons. If you are unsure of the right material to match your home needs and style, you may consider consulting an expert. They will assist you to choose the best roof material to invest in your home.

Your Local Climate

Climate is an essential feature when looking for a new roof. It can help to determine how long the new roof lasts. Roof materials are engineered for different climates. If you live in an area that is susceptible to heavy rains and snow, choose a new roof that can best protect you from the harsh weather conditions. Also, investing in the right roof based on your area’s climate can extend the roof’s lifespan. Additionally, considering the roof’s color in relation to climatic conditions is necessary. For instance, dark roods retain heat, while lighter colored roofs repel it. Therefore, consider your climate when choosing the roof color to reduce your energy bills.

Architecture

Your home’s architectural style can influence the type of roof you select. It’s best to install a roof that matches with the style of your home. Some homes look well with asphalt shingles while others might require an extra mile to maintain the building’s integrity.

Budget

As with any home project, your budget plays a vital role. Some roofs are more expensive than others. Therefore, understand your budget so that you choose a roof to match it. You can talk to professional or roofing companies in your area to help you choose a roof that fits your budget without compromising its quality. Also, browsing inventories helps to compare your options.

You can easily get overwhelmed when replacing your roof. However, the features above, such as budget, climate, and architectural design make the decision easier to make. Also, you will choose a roof that compliments your home.

Ready to Finish Your Basement? 4 Steps You'll Need to Take

Finishing your basement is a wonderful way to add useful space to your home. However, the process is an involved one, and you’ll want to ensure you avoid potentially costly mistakes. Here are four steps you’ll need to take when finishing your basement.

Apply for Appropriate Permits

The permits you’ll need to pull to finish your basement will vary depending on where you live, but it’s critical to ensure your work is appropriately permitted to avoid potentially costly fines and other sanctions. Note that permits are designed to ensure work is done in a safe manner; improperly done work can lead to serious injuries and potential legal liabilities. In many cases, work done without a permit, even if done well, may need to be removed or redone.

Waterproof Your Basement

Basements are notoriously leaky. Although small or even undetected leaks might not seem to be too much of a problem in unfinished basements, even the tiniest of leaks can wreak havoc on your basements once it’s finished. Basement waterproofing helps you locate and mitigate leaks early on in the process, and it can save you from significant repair bills in the future when done properly.

Focus on the Walls

You have several options for finishing your basement walls, but drywall is the most popular due to its low cost and relatively easy installation. While setting up the frames and before installing drywall, make sure to think about utility hookups and plan accordingly; it’s far easier to place electrical outlets while in the planning phase than redoing work once your drywall is installed. You’ll also want to consider your insulation options beforehand.

Install the Ceiling and Flooring

Make sure to consider your options for finishing your ceiling, but don’t discount the option of having an open ceiling if you like an industrial look. Drop ceilings are a classic option, and drop-ceiling kits give you excellent aesthetic options. Drywall ceiling can also work well, but, again, make sure to consider your utilities before settling. It’s likely that you’ll need to install subflooring as well, which gives you a flat surface to work with. Finally, choose which flooring is right for you; fortunately, there are plenty of DIY-safe options to choose from. Make sure to think about pets and kids when comparing different flooring options.

Whether you’re finishing your basement to create an entertainment center, an office or even a bedroom, make sure to plan ahead. Basement finishing isn’t as costly as some other types of remodeling, but the costs can add up if you make mistakes along the way. Fortunately, there are more options available today than ever before.

What You Need at Home in Case of a Power Outage

Power outages don’t just occur during lightning storms; they can occur for a variety of reasons. Fallen trees, equipment failures, and even extreme heat can cause your power to cut out. Nobody likes getting stuck in the dark without warning, so it's crucial to stay prepared. Since you never know when your electricity may shut off, you need to keep a few essentials on hand. Here's what you need at home in case of a power outage.

A Portable Backup Generator

If you have children, elderly relatives, or people who require medical equipment in your home, it’s crucial that you get your power back as quickly as possible. You should consider investing in a quality portable backup generator that will allow you to keep your lights on even during a power outage. These generators use fuel sources such as gasoline or propane to provide power. As a result, you should keep a considerable amount of fuel around for your generator. If your power is out for a couple of hours, you'll need quite a bit of fuel to keep the lights on.

Candles and Flashlights

If you want to be able to see at least a foot in front of your face, you'll need a light source. Your smartphone will have a flashlight, but using it will quickly diminish your already dying battery. That's why keeping candles and flashlights nearby is a good rule of thumb.

Also, don't forget to keep batteries on hand for your flashlights. Nothing is worse than seeing your flashlight burn out in a power outage with no backup batteries!

Bottled Water

For many areas, water is the next thing to go after the power. It's a good idea to have some extra bottled water at your home just in case your water runs out. Some areas may also be subject to mandatory water boils during power outages. In such instances, you will not only need this bottled water to drink but also bathe and clean dishes or laundry.

Canned Food and Can Opener

When the power goes out, it's a race against the clock for the food in your fridge. If the power stays off for more than a few hours, your food will spoil. Having some canned food on hand at all times is a great way to ensure you can stay fed without needing to use your fridge. Also, don't forget an excellent old-fashioned can opener! Make sure you have one that is manual and not electric.

First Aid Kit

Being in the dark increases your risk of trips and falls. You don't want you or your family members to suffer from a cut or bruise without the proper aid available. That's why you need a first aid kit in emergencies such as these.
As long as you have these essentials, you'll be prepared for power outages no matter when they occur.