The 4 Types of Wall Finishes and Which Would Be Best for Your Home

A pleasing home is one with many great details in place. One of the most important is the right choice in wall finishes. All rooms need to look and feel inviting. If you're not sure where to begin, our company can help. We know precisely how to create pleasing wall finishes based on details such as the application of color theory. Below are four types of finishes you could choose from.

Flat

One of the single most important things to understand when it comes to interior painting choices is that paint finishes have certain amounts of shine to them. Flat paint has a lot of uses. It provides a lot of coverage on walls. However, flat paints are not as durable as other kinds of paints. This one can easily crack and chip. It's best to keep this one to areas that don't get a lot of traffic. Use it on your ceiling as you're far less likely to touch that space on a daily basis.

Eggshell

Another option is what is known as an eggshell. Eggshell paints have just a bit more luster than flat paints. This is a good choice when you need to cover flaws with your existing walls. This is an ideal choice as they are more durable than standard flat finishes. This is a good choice when it comes to painting areas in your home that get only a bit of traffic now and then. They work in areas like your dining room that aren't used as frequently.

Satin

Satin finishes are actually the most common kind of wall finish. That's because they combine a great many qualities in a single paint finish. They have a low-level sheen that brings in light and helps add color. They're also very easy to clean. Use them in areas such as the laundry room and other areas where you need to clean often.

Gloss

Paints with gloss to them include semi-gloss and high-gloss. These are shiny and durable. They're also very easy to clean. Use them in your bathroom, kitchen, and other high-traffic areas. This is a great way to show off beautiful details such as intricate woodwork and trim. Keep in mind they will show stains immediately so they need to be washed as soon as you see a problem.

No matter what choice you make, you'll find it easy to pick out fabulous wall finishes with a little research and expert advice that will make your walls look amazing. The more effort you’re willing to put into your walls, the better the result is likely to be.

Ways to Get More Natural Light In Your House

Natural light has been connected to boosts in our welfare and happiness, and in the house, it may make a room brighter and lighter, giving the illusion of greater space. These recommendations are a terrific place to begin if you would like to flood your house with natural light.

Install Bigger Windows and Doors

If you're in the market for new windows and doors, now is a great time to boost the natural lighting coming in. Because of advancements in window production, there is less framework, resulting in the more exposed glass. For the most effect, choosing something like bow and bay windows can help you achieve just that. These may be used with fixed and operable units to enable lots of light and ventilation.

Mount Transform or Radius Windows

Another option could be to mount transom or radius windows over your existing windows to provide light while maintaining privacy. Any room may be transformed into a "sunroom" by replacing a solid outside door with a garden or patio door, blurring the borders between outdoor and indoor living areas. Add beautiful sidelights to surround your main door for an additional source of illumination in your entryway that does not require electricity.

Wash Your Windows

If you need a stronger reason to wash your windows and glass doors, here it is: unclean and dusty windows may prevent a lot of sunshine from entering your home. Clean windows, believe it or not, make your home appear more inviting and visually beautiful. As a result, you must wash your windows on a regular basis or contract professional window cleaners to do that for you.

Lighter Window Coverings

Replace heavy, brocade curtains with light, airy sheers. Recall your grandma's old house, when the drapes were so dense that you couldn't distinguish if it were night or day? Window decorations have evolved drastically throughout time to reflect more simple patterns.

It's time to remove those Roman shades which block sunlight even if they're open and allow in some natural light. Choose sheer drapes in a single frame so that you may draw them back and enjoy the magnificent view outdoors. Blinds are also another common option since they enable you to regulate the quantity of light coming in and can be angled in any direction.

Install skylights

Skylights are a one-of-a-kind and efficient method to bring sunlight into your house. They are available in a range of sizes and layouts and are frequently utilized in high-traffic areas such as restrooms and family rooms. You'll definitely want an expert to handle this project since you'll have to make a gap in the roofing, site-build the skylight, and then place the skylight so that it fits exactly without leaking.

Natural light can be a great boost to your mental and physical well-being when you can get it into your home, and as a result, you may want to try and incorporate it into your home as much as possible. The first step to doing that is finding the right kind of windows for your home to get the light you need, whether that be just the style of the windows or dependent on how the windows operate.

Household Items You Should Be Replacing Regularly

Replacing items in your house comes at a price, but if you don’t keep up with it, these things can lead to costly repairs down the line. There are a few different things in your home you should be replacing regularly, but some are more important than others.

If you’re having trouble figuring out which ones to prioritize, don’t worry. Here’s a list of household items you should be replacing regularly.

Air Filter

It’s easy to forget to replace your air filter because it’s out of sight and therefore, out of mind. However, forgetting to replace it can cause your HVAC system to work much harder, and if left unchecked, it can damage your system.

You replace your air filter at least every three months. Consider learning about the pros and cons of washable furnace filters if you don’t feel like buying a new filter every couple of months. Disposable air filters are pretty cheap, and they’re much more affordable than paying a few thousand dollars to repair your HVAC unit.

Carbon Monoxide Detectors

Replacing your carbon monoxide detectors every few years could potentially save your life. You should replace them every five to eight years depending on the model you use.

If your detector is newer, you can examine the back of it to find the expiration date. But if you can’t find the date, you should just replace the detector anyway.

They’re quite cheap, often costing as little as $15, but if you want one with a digital display, it’ll be closer to $40. Spending the money to prevent yourself from inhaling dangerous chemicals is well worth the cost.

Water Filter

Safety should be the top priority for your household, so replacing all of these items should be on your annual to-do list. Changing your water filter is another item you should add to the agenda, whether you use a pitcher with a filter or a filter attached to your refrigerator.

Depending on the type you have, you might need to change the filter more or less frequently. To be safe, review the manual for your filter to make sure you’re accurate with the schedule.

Replacing your water filter prevents it from developing mold, which leads to numerous health consequences. Faucet water filtration systems only cost between $30 and $60, and for a pitcher with a water filter, the cost is only between $16 and $30.

Overall, staying on top of what you need to replace can lead to a happier and healthier home. Now that you know which household items you should be replacing regularly, go ahead and make a list!

How to Choose What Type of Hardwood Flooring to Install in Your Kitchen

When redesigning your kitchen space, choosing the material and style of flooring is essential. The texture, colors, and overall design can considerably impact how you feel about the space. Depending on your needs, some materials will do the trick than others. Hardwood floor has become a popular and luxurious choice among homeowners for its natural aesthetic appeal and warmth. Hardwood floors are stylish, durable, and water-resistant and offer you countless options for customizing your floor. If you're planning to install a new kitchen floor, here are a few tips for choosing the best type of hardwood flooring.

Type of Flooring

First, decide whether you want engineered or solid wood flooring. Engineered hardwood floors have become increasingly popular. A thin veneer layer of hardwood gets laid on top of numerous layers of plywood and composite material. These multiple layers help protect the flooring from shifting. However, some engineered floors have a thin top layer, making it hard to sand down and refinish over time. Solid floors have thick wood planks. They get joined with a groove and tongue along both sides. Solid hardwood floors feature a thick board, allowing you to sand down and refinish several times in the future.

Type of Wood

Wood type is another significant factor to consider when choosing hardwood flooring for your kitchen. There's an array of options for wood types, which can significantly impact the overall design of your home. Oak is a popular choice among homeowners. It's durable, has an eye-catching, natural grain, and takes stains well. In addition, it's widely available in the market. Walnut is another ideal choice. Although softer than oak, it offers a rich and warm tone, making it a perfect choice for you if you want your kitchen to have a darker finish. Other popular types include cherry, ash, Brazilian, mahogany, and bamboo. The choice largely depends on personal tastes and preferences.

Grain Pattern and Appearance

When choosing hardwood flooring for your kitchen, the grain pattern is another crucial factor. There are three ways of cutting wood, plain-sawn, quarter-sawn, and rift-sawn, which result in three different grain patterns. The plain-sawn pattern is the most popular. It features conventional grain with patterns called cathedrals. Rift-sawn has long, consistent grains with no cathedrals, while quarter-sawn resembles rift but features irregular patterns that form a unique, in some cases, 3D pattern. Some manufacturers combine multiple grain patterns to create a unique pattern for you, but you can still have exclusive types if desired. There's no wrong or good pattern when it comes to wood grain- it largely depends on the application and personal preferences.

Finishing Options

The finishing will determine how you will clean and care for your hardwood floor. When shopping for wood floors, you can purchase them unfinished and let a professional finish them after installation, or prefinished, which comes with the topcoat and stain already applied. When you opt for prefinished hardwood flooring, you can see exactly how your kitchen floor will look. Also, you can view samples in your kitchen to determine how the finishing will match with your current décor.

Unfinished floors come raw and unfinished. The technician will apply the finishing layer after completing the installation. This option allows you to include a personal touch and determine the stain and sheen of your kitchen floor. It can be a perfect option if you're looking to pair new planks with the existing flooring.

If you want the appeal of natural flooring material, hardwood flooring is a perfect choice for your kitchen, but you must be diligent about maintaining it. It might be a less successful option if you have a messy or busy family or budget concerns.