How to Know if Life in a Big City is For You

Small town living has plenty of upsides, but many people living in rural or suburban areas dream of starting a new life in a big city. At the same time, there are far more people moving outward than in, with most moving from cities to the suburbs rather than vice versa. 

Whether you're thinking about buying one of the houses for sale in Toronto, moving into an apartment in New York City, or a place in any large metropolitan area, there are questions you should ask yourself in order to make the best decision possible. After all, it's going to be very different from what you're used to, with life moving at a much faster pace.

Can You Handle the Noise?

Living in the city can be noisy, with everything from loud voices to construction and garbage trucks. Some people actually thrive on it, but of others, it can be difficult to tolerate, leaving them longing for peace and quiet. Downtown areas in large cities like New York are noisy 24/7. If you have difficulty sleeping without silence, it could be a concern. 

Can You Afford It?

Major cities are always more expensive to live in than the suburbs, with places like New York and San Francisco ranking high when it comes to the cost of living. In Manhattan, you'd be lucky to find a one-bedroom for less than $3,000 a month. Utilities are usually higher and so are other basic necessities like food and drink. Of course, there are usually more job opportunities and higher salaries in major cities too, though it might be tough to find one that pays the elevated rent or high purchase price. 
The bottom line is, you'll ideally want to have a job lined up before moving to ensure you can afford the higher cost of living. 

Do You Treasure Your Personal Space?

If you don't relish crowds and treasure your personal space, it might be difficult to adjust. Whether you're walking down the street or riding a subway, you're probably going to get bumped into frequently, breathed on, and occasionally coughed or sneezed on. Sometimes people do enjoy the hustle and bustle, but you'll want to figure out if that's something you can get used to, perhaps by spending some time in the city you're thinking about moving to first.

Do You Like Getting to Know New People?

Big cities bring many opportunities to meet new people and potentially make new friends or even start a romantic relationship. There are usually people from all corners of the globe, which means you might meet someone you never would have had you not moved from your small town. This is usually a big plus for most, but perhaps for the very introverted it can be perceived as negative.

Do You Have Street Smarts?

If you've always lived in a small town, moving to a big city can be a culture shock in more ways than one. You're bound to come across those who are looking to take advantage of someone new, without a lot in the way of street smarts. While it's something that can be developed, it will be important to have a constant awareness of your surroundings along with a healthy dose of skepticism. You don't want to  always assume the worst about others, but you should be able to think on your feet and recognize red flags.

Of course there are many positives that come with living in a big city - as mentioned, better career opportunities and the chance to make friends from all walks of life, endless restaurants to choose from, cultural activities, and much more. 

Commercial Roofing Materials & Average Life Expectancy

How long does a commercial roof last? That depends greatly on the materials you select. In this infographic from Skywalker Roofing, we survey 13 roofing material options with their respective lifespans.

Commercial Roofing Materials & Life Expectancy

Choosing the right material for your commercial roof is very important. Here are just a few that we cover in the infographic:

1. Modified Bitumen 

Modified bitumen roofing starts with build-up roofing and then adds some polymer-reinforced layers. It takes some specialized labor to install, but provides reliable results. The average life expectancy is around 20 years.

2. Asphalt Shingles 

Shingle won’t work on a large flat roof, but they can work on other commercial roof styles. Shingles are popular for residential roofing, but they’re also viable for some commercial applications. The average life expectancy is around 20 years.

3. EPDM Roofing 

Also known as rubber roofs, EPDM is a popular choice for commercial flat roofs. One drawback is that sometimes it tends to absorb heat easily. The average life expectancy is around 25 years.

4. Green Roofs 

What if there were a way to cover and protect your roofing membrane with something attractive and sustainable? Planting roof vegetation can improve insulation and also extend your roof life. Green roofs can last upwards of 50 years.

5. Wood Shakes 

Wood shakes aren’t for every commercial roof, but they can work if your roof has enough slope. Wood shake roofing are eco-friendly, naturally beautiful, and can deliver a life expectancy of around 30 years.

6. Concrete Tiles 

If your commercial roof is sloped, then concrete is also worth a look. Concrete tile performs like slate, but weighs less and puts less stress on your roof’s infrastructure. The average lifespan for concrete tile is 50 years!

Check out the complete infographic from Skywalker Roofing to learn more!

How to Landscape Without Grass

Perhaps you don’t want to use lots of water and time to maintain a lush lawn, or your yard soil is poor or too shaded. Whatever is the cause for your landscaping troubles, be assured that your yard can look beautiful without grass. You only need a little creativity and some great landscaping ideas.

How to Landscape a Shaded Yard

Grass usually needs lots of sunshine to grow and thrive. If your yard is mostly shaded, consider sticking with shade-loving plants to achieve the best results. It’d be best not to pick flowers but instead use plants with attractive foliage. Here are a few of them.

Groundcover

These grasses spread low, and the height is usually around 12 to 18 inches. Consider growing them between taller patches or alone to cover up spots in your lawn.

Taller Plants

European ginger, Japanese painted fern, and astilbe are a few tall plants that can complement the groundcover in your shaded lawn.

Native Plants

Visit your local nursery and find the best forest-dwelling plants. These plants grow well in shaded areas and don’t frequently require maintenance, such as fertilizing.

Paths and Sitting Areas

You can create an outdoor haven for relaxation using brick pathways or stone pavers, furniture, hammocks, or benches. Consider adding trellises, garden art, or bird fountains for additional beautification. 

How to Landscape a Yard With Poor Soil

If your lawn finds it challenging to grow or has a nutrient-poor or heavy soil, you might have been planting the wrong things. The following are some ideas for using perennials that thrive in poor soils to landscape your front yard without grass.

Periwinkle

This one-foot tall groundcover plant produces star-shaped blossoms. It suppresses weed growth in areas it spreads to and prefers part shade.

Lenten Roses

These plants are very tough and can withstand heat, humidity, poor soil, and drought. They’re usually two feet tall and thrive in full shade areas.

Bleeding Heart

This plant has heart-shaped blossoms that add a cottage-garden look to your landscape. It prefers part shade.

How to Landscape a Drought-Tolerant Yard

Landscaping without grass is recommended for people living in drought-prone areas to enable them to save on water. Consider implementing xeriscaping techniques. The following are low-maintenance plants known for thriving in drought conditions.

Ornamental grasses

There are different varieties of ornamental grass. You can get the splayed or upright ones or the short or tall plants and use it to create a focal point on your lawn.

Cacti

Plants with spikes or thorns like cacti usually work well in drought-prone areas.

Inorganic Mulch

Fill your lawn with stones and pebbles which doesn’t require watering.

Get Help Landscaping Your Yard

Conditions like poor lawn soil, heavy clay soil, or living in drought areas might necessitate the need to landscape your yard without grass. The ideas we mentioned here will help you have that beautiful yard even without green lawn grass. If you’re eager to start implementing it, contact Eden, a professional landscape design service, so our experts can bring your idea to life.

Simple ways to create more in-house storage space

We partnered with a storage 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.

A home that is overflowing with stuff often feels cramped and appears smaller than it actually is. Additionally, it can negatively impact our well-being, creativity, and productivity. On the other hand, we all want our home to be beautiful and charming as well as tidy and well-organized. And the best way to achieve this goal is to declutter and be inventive with storage solutions. However, this process may seem overwhelming, especially as we all tend to accumulate things over time. This task may be incredibly daunting if your home is short on size and you're already struggling with the lack of space. But, with a bit of creativity and effort (and a few helpful tips and tricks), you can make your home look spacious and appealing in no time. With that in mind, we've prepared these simple ways to create more in-house storage space.

Decluttering is the first step

Regardless of how large your home is, it will look messy and unappealing if it's overcrowded with stuff. So, the first task on your to-do list is to make your home clutter-free. It sounds overwhelming, and it might be if you try to do it all at once. The key is to make a good plan and give yourself enough time - don't expect to do it in one afternoon.

Instead, there are several approaches you can use. You can focus first on some of the most common clutter hotspots we all have in our homes, or you can go room by room. Additionally, you can enlist your family and friends to help you. Some items can be difficult to say goodbye to, even if you don't need or use them. Your friend will make this task fun and help you stay on track.

Multitasking furniture

Once your home is free of clutter, you'll notice an instant improvement in the amount of space you have. But there are many more ways to make extra storage for your other belongings. You can use multi-purpose furniture to make the most out of the space in your home. This type of furniture is specially designed to provide additional storage in small areas.  What's more, it comes in many varieties and designs, so it can add a stylish flair to your home. Here are some furniture pieces you can incorporate into your home to add both functionality and chic to your home:

• ottomans or beds and sofa with storage space

• drop-leaf tables

• tables and nightstands with drawers or shelves

• chair storage units

• portable kitchen islands, etc.

Add shelving to increase in-house storage space

We often neglect vertical surfaces in our homes, but optimizing this space can help you create more in-house storage space. For example, you can add shelving and use it for keeping and displaying a variety of items. Whether you opt for traditional or floating shelves, they'll add a lot of space to your home. Not to mention you can use them to showcase your art pieces, books, collectibles, or any other precious items. Additionally, it's a good idea to consider ladders or vertical racks. Not only will you have more room, but they'll add stylish flair to your home.

Be creative with cabinet organizers

When you're organizing your home, your goal is to make it look spacious and airy, with no mess in sight. Another great way to achieve this is to make the most of the inside of your cabinets, closets, drawers, etc. When we put many items in a space without enough racks or shelves, it can quickly become messy and chaotic. Finding what you need is next to impossible, and it seems you have less room than you actually do.

Instead, invest in some good organizers. They're available in different shapes and sizes and made of various materials. If you're handy with DIY projects, you can even make them yourself. Using organizers will transform inside of your cabinets and closets, and you'll be surprised by all the extra space you have.

Use underutilized space in your home

Narrow hallways, small corners, and other awkward spaces often go unused in a home. Instead, pay them some attention and think about how you can turn them into aerosol storage cages, learn more here. Depending on the shape and size, you can choose from a variety of solutions - from tall, thin cabinets to chests with drawers or extra shelves. Additionally, you can hang decorative and stylish hooks. Use them for arranging different items such as clothes, bags, jewelry, or storing kitchen items. Not only will it enable you to maximize your kitchen space, but it will also look modern and stylish.

Decorative bins and baskets

Another great way to add in-house storage space is to use various containers. The purpose of bins, baskets, jars, and boxes is precisely that. What's more, they come in several styles, designs, materials, and sizes. You can use metal containers to add a modern, streamlined look to your home or wooden or wicker ones for the more natural, rustic charm. These containers work great in all sorts of spaces - attics, garages, pantries, kitchens, and bedrooms and living rooms. Just ensure you choose the ones that fit your taste and match in style to the rest of your home.

Don't be afraid to cheat a bit

Last but not least, don't be afraid to cheat a little! Consider renting a storage unit if you simply have too many items and don't want to throw them away. This solution is gaining popularity as more and more people opt for a minimalistic lifestyle or downsizing their homes. For example, if you have a lot of seasonal equipment such as skiing or camping equipment, surfboards, or lavish Christmas decorations, a storage unit will prove priceless.

Naturally, take special care to avoid cluttering your storage unit. Just like your home, you have to declutter regularly and maintain it well. So, keep it tidy and neat to maximize the space and make most of it. That way, you'll not only save money but also keep your precious belongings safe and sound. Not to mention your home will be much tidier and better organized!

Enjoy your home!

With all the clutter out of the way and things neatly tucked into their place, your home will become a different place. Finally, you'll have an oasis of peace and calm, a place where you can be creative and productive. Follow these simple ways to create more in-house storage space in your home and create a home you've always wanted.

Meta description

Keeping one's home cozy and tidy while keeping the mess at bay can be challenging. Check these simple