How to Make Your Home Baby-Friendly

Once the baby arrives, it’s easy to see just how much trouble they can get into when they start crawling or walking. The best way to make sure the home is safe is to get on their level and see what might look interesting to a baby. Today, there are numerous products designed to make the home baby-friendly and to help keep the baby safe as they grow and learn more about the environment around them.

Have Safe Places for the Baby

Always make sure there’s a safe place for the baby to be when your hands need to be free. A baby swing is typically well-received by babies and can be a great place to put them while you finally sip that cup of coffee you made an hour ago. Pack ‘n plays and similar products are also a great way to contain the baby when needed, but make sure they’re always under supervision.

Keep Bathrooms Secured

Bathrooms should be secured at all times to keep the baby out. Along with the risk of drowning, babies can flush things down the toilet, causing a huge plumbing bill, or end up burning themselves by turning on the hot water and splashing it or putting their hand in it without knowing it’s hot.

Keep Them in The Crib – Or Get a Toddler Bed

Once the child starts to climb, it’s probably time to move them to a toddler bed. There’s no set age for moving from the crib to the toddler bed, but experts agree it should be done before the kid can climb out. They can easily fall when trying to get out on their own, while they are less likely to get hurt if they get in and out of a toddler bed at night.

Use Safety Straps on Heavy Furniture

Heavy furniture can cause severe injuries or death if it tips over on the child. Safety straps are available for almost any type of furniture, from dressers to bookshelves and TVs. Purchase as many straps as needed and make sure all furniture that could be tipped over or that is heavy will be mounted to the wall.

Cover Outlets Not in Use

Outlets look interesting to someone too little to know what they are. Many kids end up shocked because they decide to stick something into the odd-looking hole in the wall. If an outlet isn’t being used, make sure it is covered. Check out products designed to help keep things from being unplugged, as well, to make sure the child can’t get to any of the outlets.

Tie Up the Window Blinds Cord

The cords for blinds may not be something many parents think about, but it’s all too easy for a young child to end up tangled in them, and some have died as a result. Instead, tie up the cord to the blinds to keep it out of reach. If the budget allows, opt for cordless blinds throughout the house to eliminate this risk.

Block Off the Stairs

Stairs can be incredibly dangerous for babies, so make sure they’re baby-proofed. In two-story homes, have something to stop the kid from going up or down the stairs. For porches and decks, it may only be necessary to block the child from going down, as they’ll be supervised more closely if they’re playing in the yard.

Keep Cleaning Products Out of Reach

Many people set down cleaning products between working on different parts of the house or opt to place cleaning products under the kitchen sink. With a baby, doing either of these can be dangerous. Instead, make sure cleaning products are always out of reach for the baby, even if they’re being used, and that the child can’t get to them. Ready for the baby to clean? Use gentle products or just offer a rag with water. It’s not going to get deep stains, but they’ll get to practice cleaning without access to dangerous chemicals.

Stop Doors From Slamming

Most people have experienced a finger caught in the door. Whether the concern is kids catching their finger in the door or slamming the door to the home, there are products to help. A variety of products are designed to prevent the door from closing completely. The product can be removed easily when it’s not needed, but during the day, it can be kept in place to make sure little fingers are safe.

Are you starting to notice just how dangerous the house can be for a baby? There’s a lot for them to explore and do, but there are plenty of things that can harm them, as well. Make sure you’re ready for the baby by going through this list and baby-proofing the house. Once it’s more kid-friendly, you won’t have to worry as much about some of the more serious injuries that can occur in the home. 

Ways to Spruce Up Your Dining Room

While hanging artwork and beautiful chandeliers might be some of the obvious ways to spruce up a dining room, there are plenty of approaches you can take when you're considering your decor. As you work to create a gorgeous dining room, consider implementing the following tips.

Paint the Ceiling

Most people focus on the four walls of a room when it’s time to paint. However, don't forget about the ceiling. There's so much that can be done to a ceiling in order to make a major statement. Consider painting the ceiling a specific color. Colors like slate gray, navy blue, and gold can elevate the entire vibe of a room. Think about a stunning wallpaper install to provide artistic flair and texture.

Install New Furniture

While a great DIY project might be a ton of fun with thrift store furniture and a can of paint, there are times when you just need to upgrade. By investing in new dining room furniture, you'll create a certain appeal that is elevated and chic. By taking good care of the furniture, it can also last and serve as a great investment. Try to avoid trendy styles of furniture. You can Infuse trends through the accessories and decorations that surround the furniture. Classic options will help you to develop a timeless look while still maintaining relevant beauty.

Add Stunning Window Treatments

You have windows in your dining room, don't just hang the boring white plastic blinds. Instead, elevate the look of your windows by layering. A great window treatment involves layers and textures. For starters, pick out a set of blinds in a different texture such as bamboo or wood. This adds depth and interest. It's also nice to change the fabrics of your window treatments as the seasons change. During the colder months, use a thicker fabric such as velvet. Velvet can look really luxurious in a dining room. During the warmer months, use a simple linen fabric or cotton in order to create a lighter look. Throughout the seasons, you can also layer the blinds with a sheer panel to add extra dimension.

Add Rugs

Even if you have carpet, a great rug will make the area look more contained, and it provides a sense of uniformity. Before you purchase a large rug, be sure to get the correct measurements of your furniture. Your dining room rug should fit all of the dining room chairs and the table. If it's too small, it'll defeat the purpose.

If you map out a plan and pull inspiration from online photos and magazines, it'll be much easier to curate the look of your dreams. Even if you're just looking to spruce up the appeal, these tips can quickly make your room look as though it were designed by a professional.

Reasons to Upgrade the Electrical Wiring in Your Home

The wiring in your home is responsible for carrying power to all of the electrical equipment in your house, including lights, computers, and televisions. When you upgrade the wiring in your home to include more safety features like grounding wires or surge protection, you will decrease the risk of fires caused by faulty wiring. Here, we will explore four reasons why upgrading the electrical wiring in your home can benefit both cost savings and peace of mind.

To Bring Your Home Electrical System Up to Code

Suppose you bought your home and intend to live in it for a while or want to resell it one day; having the electrical system updated by a qualified electrician will make some potential buyers more comfortable. The local building codes change constantly, and older wiring systems may not meet these new requirements. Upgrading the electrical wiring in your home ensures that both you and any future owners are safe from faulty wiring.

To Prevent the House From Fire Hazards

The National Fire Protection Association reports that faulty electrical wiring is the number one cause of house fires and claims more than 600 lives every year. Every home should have some surge protection installed to help prevent electrical surges from damaging your appliances and burning down your house. Surge protectors are relatively cheap for what they do in preventing damage to you and your home.

To Meet Power Need of New Appliances

As new appliances are added to your home, you may find that they need more power than your current wiring can handle. Upgrading the electrical system in your house by adding circuit breakers will allow you to have enough electricity for all of your devices. This ensures that they run at their peak performance and allows for future upgrades.

To Take Advantage of Home Renovation Opportunities

Home renovations are a great way to add value to your home and improve your quality of life. These renovations can often be completed at a fraction of the cost of moving. Upgrading the electrical wiring in your home allows you to take advantage of some of these home renovation opportunities without having to worry about the safety of your family.

Deciding to upgrade the electrical wiring in your home is a wise choice that can provide both safety and cost benefits. By taking into account some of the reasons listed above, you can be sure that you are making the best decision for your family and your home.

How To Organize Your Kitchen In Time For Christmas

If you’re hosting a Christmas lunch this year or are having a quiet family affair, you will likely need to create some order in your home, especially in the kitchen. The kitchen is the heart of the home, especially over the festive season and getting your kitchen into some kind of organization can provide you with some much-needed sense of calm over the holidays. 

The reality is that Christmas can be very stressful and if you’re planning on spending time in the kitchen, having an organized space in the kitchen can make the day so much easier and allow you to organize, plan and prepare well ahead of time. With that in mind, here are some top tips on how to organize your kitchen in time for Christmas. 

Clear & Organize Your Countertops 

The first step you should take when it comes to organizing your kitchen is clearing and organizing your kitchen countertops. There is nothing more frustrating than having too much clutter on your countertops or having to always clear things out the way when cooking or putting out dinner. When you’re dishing up a Christmas dinner, often with many more pots, pans and plates being used than a normal weekday dinner, this can become very annoying, very fast and can cause the process to slow down considerably. 

The most common items that clutter flat kitchen surfaces are the day to day essentials such as keys, posts, bags and wallets, especially by doorways or on dining tables. If you don’t have time to sort through the clutter over the festive season (after all, who has any spare time over Christmas!), then one of the best and easiest ways to combat this is to use decorative baskets or boxes where you can put daily clutter to give you more space. 

Have Snacks To Hand

There’s nothing worse when you are cooking than people coming in and asking for snacks, or how long the food is going to take. It can also be stressful when you have family and friends around and they’re not sure where to look for snacks and treats. 

Having some festive snacks and treats organized in jars or tubs around your kitchen that are easy for people to grab on the go or for you to point people in the direction of can make things a lot easier, plus they can add to the overall festive aesthetic of your kitchen. A festive biscuit selection, mini chocolate yule logs, fun Christmas sweets and chocolates or even a Christmas themed trail mix are all good ideas for snacks and treats you can have to hand. 

Re-Organize Your Fridge

You will need some extra space in your fridge over Christmas for all those delicious festive leftovers and party foods. In the run-up to Christmas, try to use up as much of your fridge supplies as possible to clear out some extra space and give the fridge a really good clean. 

If you are planning on doing a big pre-Christmas food shop, then coming back to a partially empty fridge will make putting everything away so much easier and then you’re not juggling and balancing things on top of one another. It also means that you can create some form of system that works best for you (meat in the bottom drawer, drinks and bottles in the door, fresh fruit on the top shelf etc) so that everything is easy to find when you need it, or if you have family or friends helping out with the cooking who may not know where certain items are. 

Stock Up Your Cleaning Station

Celebrations of any kind create a mess and this is especially true at Christmas. Having an organized kitchen can make the cleanup mission quicker and a lot less painful! Have an area near your sink that has a pile of fresh, clean tea towels and stock up on your dishwashing supplies, such as dish soap, sponges, washing up gloves, dishwasher tablets and bin bags. 

You should also have a food waste bin to hand should plates come back with food leftovers on. Before your guests arrive, ensure that the dishwasher is empty so that it can just be stacked and turned on after dinner. Clear any worktops, keeping the space next to the sink tidy and free from clutter so that dirty plates can just get placed there.