Console Table Placement and Designing Tips to Amp Up the Entire Space

Interior designing, of any room or corner in the home, can be the most exciting and fun-filled task. On the contrary, the same can turn out to be one of the most daunting tasks also. It all depends on your knowledge, experience and the resources you count on. As lack of options can be frustrating, the abundance of them can be intimidating too. The more options, the more overwhelmed and confused you would feel. 

Take, for example, the table choices to make for your living room, drawing room or entryway. You have multiple choices, from purchasing a trendy coffee table and vintage center table to buying a console table online. You got to have a taste for all these tables and then only you can end up making an ideal choice. This article is all about console tables and how you can enhance the overall appeal of the room with them. 

Perfect for narrow spaces, these tables can be placed and styled anywhere you feel like. Here are some tips that would help you make console tables stand out and become the highlight of the room or entryway.

Accessorize

The best console table would be a simple piece with a basic color and minimal design. The purpose here is to use warm accessories to make the simple console table an accent piece of the room decor. A brown console table here can be decorated by placing a golden colored lamp, bright yellow or orange colored flower sticks or mixed colored potpourri in a tray.

Paint it Red

If you have an old console table lying in the store for long and you wish to incorporate it into your new room decor, then this tip is for you. Take that table out, polish it and paint it red. You can opt for some other bright color also, which you think would best suit the overall interior decor and elements. The best part here is that you don’t even require additional accessories to make the console table stand out if you have painted it bright.

Contemporary Art

If by any chance you have an antique living room console table, you can enhance its charm by surrounding it with some contemporary art. You can hang a modern painting on the wall behind the table, place a very trendy vase on the table and even place an elegant and modern ottoman or an upholstered bench in front of the console table. 

Chandelier

Suiting the overall aesthetic appeal and theme of the interior decoration and the way your console table looks, you can choose a chandelier. It doesn’t necessarily have to be big and luxurious but a small/trendy piece can do the trick. Rather, you should go in for some gold-toned chandelier that is small yet classy to create a special console corner.

Luxe Material

These days you have plenty of choices, as you can buy a console table online right from the confines of your home. You can go for simple/conventional ones, contemporary ones and the ones that come with luxe materials. You can also buy a console table that comes covered with luxurious faux leather and like. 

Pattern on the Wall

So you have picked a vintage charm console table for a room that is minimal in design and color. To make the table stand out, you can place it against a wall on which you can apply patterned wallpaper. You can opt for striking pattern wallpaper or a simple pattern in an eye-catching color.

With a Mirror

Another simple yet attractive way to style your console table is to pair it with a mirror. You can buy mirrors in different shapes, sizes and styles. You can go with frames that are plain wood or decorative frames like golden metal frames. You can pick different shapes and sizes of mirrors, which you feel go best with the rest of the interior décor. 

Put Up Some Chairs

For the living room console table, you can add some chairs to it. Nicely upholstered and plush chairs placed on both sides of the table make a stand out seating. You can match the upholstery with the rest of the seating in the room. 

Don’t Forget to Balance

As compared to side tables and end tables, console tables are longer. This is why you must keep the element of balance in mind while designing or placing them. You don’t have to put everything in the middle or more stuff on either side. Rather, strive to create a balance.

Collage

Finding a perfect spot to put up a family collage is pretty tricky. It has to be somewhere where everybody visiting your home can have a glance over. One such place is the wall behind a console table in the entryway or the living room. 

People love console tables for their unobtrusive presence, as well as the wide range they are available in the market. You can style them in multiple ways to make them the highlights of the space.

Guest Post - 8 Smart Ways to Turn Your Home Into an Eco-Friendly Space

According to a 2018 Nielsen survey, 48% of US consumers are willing to change their consumption to save the environment. These are the same consumers who spent almost $130 billion on sustainable fast-moving consumer goods.

This signifies that more and more people are willing to make changes to live a sustainable lifestyle.

However, going zero-waste does not have to be grand. If you follow the tips listed below, you can get started doing your part in saving the environment.

Decorate with Plants

If you feel like your house is drab, consider adding indoor plants.

For one, they add color to your home decor. Second, indoor plants are believed to help purify indoor air. Because in case you do not know, the air we breathe at home is also filled with pollutants.

What's cold about having indoor plants is that you do not have to use a chemical-laden air freshener. Thus, you are reducing your risk of incurring respiratory health issues.

Make a Rain Garden

A rain garden is a shallow depression designed to help flowers, grasses, shrubs, and plants grow in wet conditions. It is also meant to collect rainwater, allowing the ground to seep it back. Doing so slows down the runoff rate while using the plants or vegetation to filter the water pollutants.

It is a moderate infiltration method that can filter various pollutants. A rain garden also helps the pollutants break down in the soil instead of flowing through the drains and the water system.

But other than that, a rain garden also serves as an ornamental decoration. So, you get to beautify your house while helping save the environment.

Create Your Compost

Composting is an efficient and environment-friendly way of reducing your kitchen waste. That's because it allows you to turn your food scraps into fertilizer.

What happens is that you save your food scraps and add them to your zero-waste kitchen composting bin. The bacteria and other microorganisms break it down and transform it into dark and crumbly fertilizer. You can then use the fertilizer for your backyard vegetable garden.

Hence, you are making a circular economy from your kitchen.

Cook Intelligently

Other than green cleaning, green cooking is also becoming a popular trend for sustainable living.

Green cooking is simply the process of cooking in a more environment-friendly manner. This includes the following:

• Buying in-season and local produce from the farmer's market

• Conserving energy while cooking

• Making the most out of your ingredients

• Composting your leftover

If you are unsure how to get started with green cleaning, here's a quick tip: Shorten the food chain.

Meaning, buy locally sourced products as these likely consume less gas from the farm to the market to your table.

Repurpose Old Furniture

If you are thinking of sprucing your house, we suggest that you repurpose old furniture pieces.

An affordable way to do that is through upcycling. For instance, you can transform an old oak door into a dining table. Another is to upholster your stools using an old shirt.

The rationale behind this is to reduce as much waste as you can while beautifying your space.

If you have the budget, though, you can spend on customized furniture pieces using refurbished wood and other materials.

Add Window Treatments

These days, being eco-friendly is no longer limited to individual efforts. There are now brands and companies that allow people to start with their zero-waste journey. This includes your window treatments.

Here's the thing: A house can lose up to 30% of heating energy through your windows. But when you install window blinds, for example, it can help regulate the indoor temperature.

As a result, your heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system does not need to exert much effort to warm up or cool down your home.

Optimize Water Consumption

Next to air, water is an essential factor for the preservation of life. Water is a limited commodity that, if not handled properly, will result in a shortage of resources.

That said, you should consume water efficiently.

Having a rain garden is one of them. Another is replacing your toilet with ultra-high efficient models. Such toilet models limit your water usage runoff, ensuring that you only consume 1.28 gallons of water per flush. As a result, you get to save around $150 per year.

Get Solar Powered

If you are willing to invest in having a sustainable home, consider installing solar panels. Doing sp allows you to reap the following benefits:

1. Reduced monthly bills

2. Get rebates from collected SREC

3. Increased property value

Other than that, solar-powered homes are environment-friendly. That's because you are turning sunlight, a renewable resource, into energy. Doing so reduces your need to rely on fossil fuels to power your home.

And we all know that fossil fuels emit carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases, contributing to global warming.

The key to having a sustainable home is to be conscious of what you consume and send to the landfill. So, not being able to afford solar panels should not be an excuse to not do your part in saving the environment. And the tips listed above include budget-friendly and cost-effective ways you can have a sustainable home.

Author Bio: Robert Helms is a freelance writer based in a NYC. When not writing for clients, he spends most of his time on DIY projects that can make his 800 sqft. apartment a home. 

Guest Post - Simple Tips To Change Your Garden Into a Personal Haven

We all need a little more nature in our lives, but it can be hard to get enough of it without hiking or mountaineering every other day. It's why we've started to cherish the little slice of nature we have in our backyards. There's nothing quite as charming as sipping coffee in the morning while checking out the garden that you've built with your own two hands. 

Why not add a bit more charm to your garden? You'd be surprised at what a little handiwork and clever design can do for your gardening efforts. If you're short on ideas, we've come up with a few tips to help you get started with your garden overhaul.

Grow some natural walls

When spending time in your garden, you'll obviously want some privacy. If your backyard is oriented towards neighbors’ homes and yards, it can be a bit difficult to feel comfortable with people being able to see you. Getting a high enough fence is an option, but it can make you feel like you've boxed yourself in or created a little green prison. Plus, it's an expensive endeavor. 

A much better alternative would be to plant or grow your own walls—in the form of hedges! There's no better way to give yourself a gorgeous view while also obstructing neighbors’ views of your backyard than with a hedge. Plus, they're much better at keeping away pests and unwanted intruders than a simple fence. You can grow them from scratch or get a medium-sized hedge and maintain it until it grows large enough to suit your needs. Afterwards, all you need to do is maintain it and you'll have the perfect all-purpose fence. 

Plant some produce

While you can enjoy your garden from an aesthetic point of view, why not also enjoy it from a practical one? There's no rule that says you have to strictly plant decorative vegetation. You can and should go for a few edible plants that will help you appreciate home-grown food. 

It may seem like a challenging and time-consuming task, but there are plenty of produce options that don't require too much effort. Take an old pot, get a bit of compost, and you can start planting things like herbs, tomatoes, squash, and many other delicious plants with relative ease. They thrive in the summer without drying out, meaning that you can simply water them regularly and they'll be okay for most of the season. 

The best part is that you can use leftover food for compost. It's an eco-friendly solution that also helps you save a bit of money here and there. If you're aiming for a more ambitious garden full of various fruits and vegetables, you should get familiar with their seasons. Some of them will only grow during specific times of the year, while others tend to be okay as long as it's not too cold outside. 

There's nothing quite as charming as picking up fresh fruit from a plant that you grew yourself and eating it while lounging on your deck. Keep in mind, plants can give you quite a bit of produce during the season. It'll often be tastier than its store-bought counterparts, and you'll get to cut back on your grocery spending a tiny bit. With all the benefits involved, it's no wonder people like to plant produce whenever they can. 

Introduce extra pots

Speaking of plants, you should remember that you aren't limited to the garden surface when it comes to adding new ones. Potted plants aren't just an indoor thing, you know. You can add plants of various shapes and sizes all over your backyard, and even put some on your porch or deck if you have enough pots. They're a pretty cheap investment that can enhance the beauty of your home garden quite a bit. 

You'll want to pick and choose your pots wisely if you want them to match the overall look of your garden. Stone, terracotta, and pots with earthy colors are recommended for most gardens, but you don't have to stick to the mold. You can get colorful pots or even bleach-white ones if you believe that they'll go well with the garden's design. 

Don't just think in terms of horizontal surfaces either. If you have any walls that seem a bit empty compared to the rest of your backyard, why not hang a few pots on them? It's a pretty straightforward change that doesn't take much of your time or effort, but it can have an enormous effect on your yard's look. If you're short on pots, there's no reason to fret. You can use old aluminum cans instead! They're not as conspicuous as they seem when there's a plant inside. Setting them up is easy, and you can put most plants in a can without issue, as long as you don't intend to grow them to an unreasonable size. 

Add a water feature

Other than plants, you might be wondering what else can add a cozy and natural feel to your garden? Well, water features fit the bill pretty well. Not only do they add extra charm and flair to your personal oasis, but they can also have a calming effect. Imagine listening to the sounds of flowing water while relaxing on a summer day. Sounds pretty good, doesn't it? 

You might think that water features are essentially just fancy fountains, but you have several different options to choose from. Ponds and birdbaths have become especially popular in recent years. They add quite a bit of nature aside from the feel of flowing water. Birds are attracted to birdbaths, which means you'll probably have fewer pests in your garden after you install one. If you don't like having birds all around your garden, you could create a small pond with some stone details. They benefit the local environment and create a quaint visual detail. Plus, a pond is much easier to maintain than a fountain.

If, on the other hand, you want to get a fountain—you're in luck! There are countless different types of fountains, each with its own unique design. You can go for a fancy and magnificent marble design that will be the envy of all your neighbors, or you can go for something quaint and simple that won't demand so much attention. Fountains are surprisingly easy to set up, so you shouldn't have trouble DIYing the job. 

Introduce seating options

What good is a gorgeous outdoor area if you can't sit back and relax while enjoying the view? While standing might be a good option, you’d be much better off with some comfortable seating. Most people opt for the typical sturdy, metallic chairs for their deck and outdoor area, but these kinds of options don't provide much comfort. The good news is that you don't have to limit yourself to ordinary outdoor furniture. You can bring indoor comfort right to your deck or patio with ease.

Adding a sofa or comfy chair outside is now more doable than ever. Plenty of them are made from materials that can handle outdoor weather just fine, as long as you protect them from direct contact with rain and snow. Adding a pergola to your deck would go a long way towards creating a comfortable outdoor area. Afterwards, you can add most types of furniture that's great for lounging around and spending time outside. 

One of the most-practical choices for outdoor furniture is a bean bag. It's cozy, lightweight, and easy to transport. You can place one just about anywhere and move it out of sight when the weather forecast shows there'll be rain or snow. Plus, comfortable bean bags come in all kinds of shapes, sizes, and colors. You can get one that matches the rest of your furniture, or choose a colorful one that stands out and makes a statement. 

Keep out the clutter

Decluttering is just as important for your garden as it is for your home's interior. It can be difficult to enjoy the gorgeous greenery and water details if there are tools and boxes everywhere. Taking care of this problem will help you make the outdoor area much more peaceful and relaxing.

Start by organizing your tools properly. Taking care of the garden requires a lot of work and accessories, but you shouldn't leave them all around your yard. If possible, create a small tool shed where you can keep things like shovels and the lawnmower, as they can be a sight for sore eyes. You can also hammer a few nails in a wall or fence and hang tools there. It might not get them out of sight, but it will make the space look more organized. 

If either of these options doesn't work for your outdoor area, try to store tools in the basement. It might be a hassle to move them in and out every time you maintain your garden, but you'll be able to enjoy the gorgeous view a lot more without the excess clutter.

Conclusion

There are many ways to transform your garden from just a quaint detail into a gorgeous haven. With a good plan and some handiwork, you can create a perfect natural oasis that you can enjoy every single day. Consider some of the aforementioned tips and you'll be well on your way to overhauling your garden and backyard. 

Author bio:

My name is Grace Wilson. I’m a 27-year-old biotechnologist and kind of a bookish girl. Surfing the Internet is my favorite, that’s why I’ve turned into blogging. Following a healthy mindset and lifestyle is what I consider my life principle. If interested, follow my Twitter.

Six Things That Can Assure You Are Hiring the Best Plumber

We partnered with a home maintenance company for this post. The opinions in the post are honest. All reviews and opinions expressed in this post are based on our personal views. We are excited because we know you will love it

Plumbers are very important professionals that we need in our daily lives. They help us in many ways by fixing frozen pipes in winter, clearing blockage, stopping leakage, and replacing broken pipes. They are highly trained and experienced in carrying out the required job. But there are many rookies also that address themselves as professional but are not. So, to make sure you are hiring the best plumber, remember seven things mentioned below.

6 Things to Look for in Your Plumber.

Hiring a plumber is not an easy task. You must hire a person you will not regret opting for later. If you want to take the service from the best plumber, you need to make sure that you check the following points:

#1. Business Experience

Before hiring a plumber, it is good to investigate the individual about the period he has been working in the particular industry. You must be aware of the kind of work these people provided in the past. The reviews of their previous clients will give a good idea as to who you must hire. Getting an experienced plumber means standing a better chance to get results. Good workmanship is expected to last longer.

#2. License

The next thing that you must check is your plumber’s license. Ask your plumber for to prove his ability and qualification to do plumbing work. The law clearly states that the person doing the plumbing work needs to have a proper license. You do not want to get involved in the case of hiring an unlicensed plumbing company and suffer the loss.

#3. Price

Make sure to ask your plumber for a quote and compare them with others. It is very important to measure the cost of the services to avoid being cheated. There are many plumbers who will ask you to pay more than they are serving you. Quality service for the cost you are paying is a must.

#4. Ask For Reference

Ask your family, friends, relatives, and neighbors if they know any good plumber in the area. A reputable worker always has many references to speak about their work on their behalf. They impress the clients so much that their clients suggest others also to take service from them. List all the suggestions on a piece of paper, and the name that appears most of the time go for that plumber.

#5. Avoid Those Asking for Upfront Payment

Do not trust plumbers that are asking for upfront payment. These individuals often delay the work or, even worse, disappear with the money altogether. There is no saying as to who you can trust these days. There is a high risk of losing money in the hands of fraud people. However, if you are carrying big projects, then you can still pay milestones and pay a partial amount after the work is completed. Do the research work well before actually hire someone.

#6. Ask About the Kind of Services

Before you hire a plumber, ask about the kind of services they provide and evaluate whether they fall in the area of your need. There is a wide array of services that these plumbing companies offer. It includes maintenance, repair, installation of hot water, etc. There are some companies that only specialize in one type of service. Hiring these company increases the quality of work. So, once you figure out where you need service, hire the company accordingly. There are also individuals who are experts in certain tasks they do. You will know their reputation and will trust with the work.

Consider the points mentioned above, so you make no mistake in hiring the best plumber for your house. It will ensure genuine, cost-effective, and quality work. Plus, you can expect that no matter the cause, the professional will restore the water system once again. Call these professionals any time you think you need their help to dot the repair work.