Immediate Updates to Make to Your Backyard if You Want to Host a Fall Party

A fall party is a great way to mark the end of summer, a time to relax among the colors of autumn before the hectic holiday schedule begins. Your yard may need a bit of care to provide the right setting for your party. Here are a few ways to update your backyard, so you can host a memorable fall occasion.

Tidy Your Landscaping

Take a close look at the landscaping in your backyard to see where improvements can be made to create a cleaner, more attractive setting for your party. Replenish the old mulch in beddings. Give the grass a good cutting and remove excessive leaves. Look for broken limbs on trees or dead limbs that could create a hazard for guests. Trim back shrubbery to provide a neat appearance. Adding new ornamental trees or potted plants can provide a fresh look for your yard party.

Repair Your Deck

If you have a wood deck, you should look for signs of wear or hazards to footing. Make repairs to stabilize floorboards and railings. Summer winds and rain may have collected dirt on the surface. Give the deck and thorough cleaning. You may want to apply a new coating of stain to make the surface brighter and more attractive.

Replace Worn Outdoor Furniture and Add New Items

Outdoor furniture can take a beating from blazing heat and summer rains. Take a good look at your furniture to see if it is worn, broken, or unusable. A new outdoor furniture set will make your outdoor party more attractive and welcoming. You may need additional seating for your guests. Today, homeowners have a broad range of materials and colors to choose from in outdoor seating.

Set Up Areas Into Zones

You can then separate your yard into separate “zones” where activities are done. For instance, you can have an area covered with a canopy awning for food serving. Eating and conversation areas should be set in groups of two and three. A play area can be set aside for children. If the weather is chilly, you may even want a firepit to help warm up your guests. Make sure grass is cut and patio areas are thoroughly cleaned before starting a fire.

Fall can be the perfect time for outdoor entertaining, with hearty foods, fun decorations, and chatting about summer vacations or upcoming holiday plans. If you make your outdoor preparations carefully, your yard will make an attractive and comfortable background for your guests to enjoy.

Can You Spray for Pests on Your Own?

Pests are a fact of life. These small, and sometimes large, creatures can be a nuisance and spread diseases. A local pest control service can help to eliminate these problems for a fee, but you can also tackle the job yourself with the right equipment and chemicals. There are a few important tips to keep in mind when doing your own pest control.

Learning About the World of Bugs

Identifying the type of pest you have to eliminate is not just an exercise in science. It’s a critical method for determining the right pesticide to use and where to apply it. Ants, roaches, flying bugs, and other pests have different behaviors and may cause problems at certain times of the year. When you have identified the pest, you can then develop your strategy for applying pesticides and eliminating the opportunities to nest in your home. Online Pest Control CEU Classes can be a useful tool for identifying common household pests. In addition, online classes can help you make the right decisions when it comes to safety as well.

Understanding How Bugs Invade Structures

Some pests will follow moisture paths into the home. Others will look for warmth and a food source, so you will have to carefully remove papers, inspect your home for plumbing leaks, as well as fill in voids around windows and doors. Check the areas where electrical wires and pipes enter the structure to find gaps that allow pests to enter. You should also remove any piles of debris in yards, basements, or other storage areas. All food should be well sealed, and trash should be taken out on a frequent basis.

Safety Concerns When Handling Pesticides

Professional pest control technicians use high-quality products that last longer than those sold in stores. These use chemicals that kill pests faster and generally need much smaller amounts to be effective. However, there are a number of safety concerns when using these products. Pesticides may come in the form of sprays, oils, dust, or solid baits. You should learn the safest ways to handle these products, using appropriate goggles, gloves, masks, and other equipment to avoid contact with the product that could pose a health problem.

Yes, you can spray for pests on your own, but it requires some time and study to understand the types and behaviors of these pests, as well as learning how to safely use the equipment and materials needed to eliminate them. However, once you have mastered these skills, you will be able to manage the ongoing task of pest control successfully.

Home Shopping? 5 Factors That Determine a Good Location

Finding the perfect home with just the right location isn't easy, especially if you’re moving to a new area or need to buy quickly so that you can move before your lease ends. The home you buy can determine your quality of life as well as the time and money you spend on your commute every day, so it's important to choose carefully. These five factors will help you find a house in the perfect location.

1. Look at the Surrounding Neighborhood

Experts from John Hook Team: KYRO Real Estate share that one of the first steps to finding a new home is to look at the surrounding neighborhood. While everyone has their criteria for what they’re looking for, it's important to gain an understanding of the other families and homeowners in the area. Are there a lot of young parents in the area? Will you be moving into more of a sleepy cul-de-sac? These types of questions will help you choose a neighborhood that best meets your needs.

2. Think About Your Commute

Where you choose to live can make a huge difference in your quality of life. If you want to live somewhere that allows for easy commuting, it might be wise to avoid rural areas or suburbs that are far from large employers. You should also consider transportation options before buying a home.

Are buses and subways available? How close is your nearest airport? Are highways nearby? Where are bike paths located? These details can play a role in how satisfied you are with your living situation.

3. Analyze Crime Statistics

To find an area with low crime rates, compare your city’s statistics to those of neighboring cities. For example, if you live in LA, you can look at crime statistics for Los Angeles, Compton, Inglewood, and Glendale to get a good idea of which neighborhoods are safe. If your city is larger, consider looking at statistics for individual zip codes to help narrow down your search area.

4. Consider Proximity to Nature

The location of your home can impact your day-to-day happiness. For example, recent studies show that people who live near parks, trees, mountains, or other green spaces tend to be happier than those who don’t. If you’re looking for a new place to call home, make sure your ideal neighborhood happens to be relatively close to nature.

5. Look at the Nearby Schools

If you have kids already or are planning to start a family soon, don't forget to look at nearby schools. Research the closest schools and rate them based on their grade as well as any reviews from parents online. Remember, where you choose to live will dramatically impact your children's quality of education, so choose wisely.

If you’re in the market to buy or rent a home, it can be difficult to find one that checks all your boxes. Keep these five ideas in mind as you look for the right place.

The Best Kitchen Layouts for Hosting Family and Friends

Whether you’re holding a big party or entertaining a small gathering of close family and friends, the kitchen is often where everybody gets together for food and drinks. With this in mind, it makes sense that you’d want your kitchen to have all that you need to make your guests feel comfortable and have everything they need.

If you want a kitchen that will impress guests during parties, here are some great kitchen layout options that will help you host parties they will remember for all the right reasons.

1. Open-Concept Kitchens

Open-concept kitchens make for an excellent venue for you and your guests. With an open-concept kitchen, you can seamlessly focus on preparing food and drinks while also mingling, and your guests will have plenty of space to relax and enjoy themselves.

Remember that it’s a great idea to establish work zones in an open-plan kitchen, so you have plenty of space to operate in. In many cases, “natural” barriers like countertops will help make it clear where boundaries are. The strategic placement of chairs and appliances can also help draw boundaries in a way that’s obvious but not too formal.

With your work zones established, you will have enough room to work while being close enough to your guests to make the most of your hosting skills.

2. Kitchen Islands

If you have enough space, kitchen islands are great for entertaining. A kitchen island is an ideal place for food and drinks as everybody has easy access to them, making it a focal point of the room or the house.

A kitchen island also gives your guests easy access to all the food they like without you having to spend your time playing waitress. If you don’t have a large kitchen and budget, a conveniently placed table can work just fine.

3. Bar

Your guests are likely to get thirsty, and a bar is a great way to allow them to help themselves. Ideally, it would help if you created a bar area with all they’ll need, including a range of glasses and other items such as olives and lemon slices for cocktails and other drinks.

Having a fridge close to your bar is ideal. If you have the space, a refrigerator dedicated to drinks and sundries can be even better. Also consider installing a built-in wine rack that will look great while not taking up too much room in the kitchen.

You can even make things a little more fun and recommend some great ideas for cocktails; you can also use a TV screen or even a digital menu board to technologically display your cocktail recipe suggestions.

4. Seating

If it’s a dinner party, seats are a given, but if it’s another type of party, remember that people won’t want to stand the whole time. Arranging bar stools in your kitchen is a great option because they take up little space and can be located at countertops, islands, and bars to help make them more of a focal point.

Also make sure people have a place to eat if islands and other areas are taken up. You can also consider comfortable benches along walls that won’t take up a lot of space, and the base of some benches can also double as storage space.

5. Open Shelving

Open shelving looks great in any kitchen and is also very affordable. With a coat of paint, open shelves can add character to otherwise bland walls, and they can also make a small kitchen look larger. The benefits don’t stop there either, because they make it easier for you and your guests to grab kitchenware as needed.

6. Clutter-Free Layout

A clean layout that’s easy to move about in and with nothing to trip over is essential for your kitchen. Before your guests start arriving, remove as much clutter as you can. Items like unnecessary toasters and kettles can be stored in your cupboards or even in another room if necessary.

Less clutter will help provide more space so you have more room to put out some great-looking spreads.

7. Mood Lighting

The right lighting will help you get your kitchen feeling bright and energetic for larger occasions while allowing you to opt for a more intimate ambience if you’re entertaining a small group. In addition, mood lighting can help you create a different ambience for different parts of the room, such as lowered lights in seating areas away from where the action is.

Strip lighting can also be very effective at creating the right ambience. For example, when placed in strategic places such as underneath cabinets, strip lights can provide light for bars and other kitchen features while also adding a “glow” that attracts people to certain parts of the room.

8. Get a Trash Compactor

You don’t want to be spending too much of your time clearing trash away, but you also probably don’t want trash to start piling up. A trash compactor will make it easier for you to dispose of trash quickly without it taking up too much of your time.

If you don’t have the budget for a trash compactor, keep plenty of trash cans available so your guests can also help by throwing trash away. Being prepared for the inevitable trash will also mean less work for you to do the next morning.

The Bottom Line

Hosting a party can be daunting, no matter how large or small. There are issues like catering to deal with, and you will want to make sure that your guests are entertained and as comfortable as possible.

Having a suitable kitchen layout is one way to help ensure that your gathering goes well and everybody has an evening to remember. With some effort and a little creativity, your kitchen can be a center point for a party you can be proud of.