Ways To Make Neutral Home Decor Exciting

Neutral doesn’t mean bland. Many people embrace neutral home décor because it’s relaxing and calming. Still, too much brown can make your space look boring. Find ways to make neutral home decor exciting when you embrace the right tones and textures.

Popular neutral tones include:

• Beige

• Gray

• Off-white

• Ivory

• Black

• Silver

• Gold

• Blush

• Taupe

Design With Texture

To make neutral colors pop, give them texture. Create dimension when you choose textures you can see and feel. Tactile textures are 3D and make your space more vibrant. Find a balance of rough materials like brick and wood along with soft textures like fur and suede. Wall hangings, rugs, and throw pillows stand out when you use enticing textures.

Learn To Layer

Another way to create tactile texture is with layers. When choosing a transitional area rug, consider multiple shapes and sizes that will pair together. To layer rugs or pillows, you’ll start with the biggest one you have on the bottom (or at the back for pillows). Place smaller pieces on top to create a layering effect.

Include Plants

Get away with adding color to your neutral space with plants. They blend in seamlessly to any design. Bring the natural world inside your home to freshen it up and make it comfortable.

Choose a Bold Accent Color

Decorating with neutrals doesn’t mean you can’t add a splash of color. Amp up your design with a bold accent color like yellow or blue to draw attention to or away from certain areas in your space. Consider a colorful accent pillow, chair, or wall hanging to stand out against everything else in the room.

Make It Shiny

One of the best ways to make neutral décor look great is with metallics and mirrors. Balance muted shades with shiny and reflective surfaces. Use metals, crystals, mirrors, and more to give your space a little sparkle.

With so many ways to make neutral home decor exciting, you may find it difficult to choose a direction. Neutral designs are forgiving and transitional, so you can easily swap out items you don’t like. Edit your space as you get acquainted with it so your home becomes a relaxing space you love.

What to Do in Order to Prepare for Spring and Summer

Spring and summer will eventually be here. Hopefully, they're a pleasant time of year. However, if they're a pleasant surprise, then it might be a case of you not being ready. Knowing what to do in order to prepare for spring and summer lets you make the most of each season.

Plan Your Vacation

Most years, the first few months of a new calendar year are known as “wave season” for the cruise line industry. People know how much money they have to spend after the holidays are over, and they're looking forward to getting places that are warm, sunny, and maybe even exotic. Get the best deals and options by planning early.

Get the Yard Ready

Make sure the lawnmower still works, and have some idea when the grass will need its first cut. Check with gardeners in your area for when to plant specific herbs, fruits, flowers, and veggies you want to enjoy in the coming months. If you decide to do indoor seedlings for later transfer, you'll need to start that while it's still wintertime.

HVAC Inspection

If your heat is still running, then your air conditioning might be the last thing you're thinking about. However, it's been sitting there idle all winter. You want to make sure it works the first time you fire it up for long sunny days. Have an air conditioning repair technician come out early in the spring to give it a lookover and standard maintenance. If you didn't have this done in the fall, then you might especially need more work on it than you think. This will likely save you a headache in the upcoming summer months.

Clean the Pool 

One thing that is often overlooked is having maintenance done on the pool. It’s often an easy thing to do, but if forgotten, can cause issues long-term. Make sure to contact a local company and have your pool and pump inspected to ensure everything is running smoothly and all the gunk is cleaned out.

Bust Out the Decor

Whether it's a flag you fly in front of your home or just a seasonally patterned throw you put over your good sofa, you might have some spring- and summer-specific decor to mark the sunny time of year.

The calendar always keeps moving, and March will come again. Spring will also come, whether that's March where you live, or earlier or later. Be ready for it when it does so you can spend time enjoying it instead of catching up.

Your Guide to Cleaning Your At-Home Gym Equipment

With gyms getting shut down during the pandemic, many people reverted to building an at-home workout space to remain consistent with their fitness goals. When it comes to gym equipment, cleanliness and upkeep are just as important as putting in the physical work. Did you know that weights have 263 times more bacteria than a toilet seat? That’s why it’s important to keep up your cleaning routine alongside your fitness regime. Below we include tips on how you can start cleaning and caring for your at-home gym equipment. 

3 Step Cleaning Routine for At-Home Gym Equipment 

Here’s an overview of a cleaning schedule for your workout essentials: 

1. Wash your equipment daily with a simple soap and water solution to clean daily dust and dirt build up. 

2. Sanitize and spray down your equipment after each workout to reduce the spread of bacteria and germs. 

3. Disinfect your equipment monthly with strong solutions for a deep clean that eliminates germs. 

How to Clean Your Gym Equipment 

Every piece of fitness equipment deserves its own TLC. Here’s how to clean germs and bacteria off of different pieces of gear.

Cardio Equipment 

Cardio equipment includes stationary bikes, treadmills, stair masters and any other equipment you usually use to get your heart rate pumping. Follow the steps below to ensure you’re putting safety first: 

1. Unplug the machine. 

2. Mix a few drops of dish soap with warm water. 

3. Dip a cloth into the soapy water and towel wash all of the non-electrical services including the areas that get the most love—the pedals and seats! 

4. Dry the washed areas with a second, clean cloth. 

5. Finish the cleaning routine by wiping down all surfaces with a disinfecting wipe or solution and let it air dry. 

Our shoes and workout clothing can also carry germs, so make sure you’re cleaning them often to avoid spreading the germs onto your clean equipment. 

Strength Training Equipment 

Strength training equipment includes gear like weights, dumbbells and resistance bands. Here’s a simple 4-step cleaning routine to implement into your strength training regime: 

1. Mix a few drops of dish soap with warm water. 

2. Dip a microfiber cloth into the mixture and wipe down the equipment. 

3. Dry the weights with a separate microfiber towel. 

4. Finish off by wiping them down with the disinfectant solution or wipe and let them air dry. 

For more tips on how to clean different at-home gym equipment along with a DIY cleaning recipe, check out the infographic created by adidas below. Happy cleaning! 

Top Tips for Maintaining a Clean and Organized Garage

The extra space available in the garage can easily become a messy and cluttered storage space. If you're looking to improve the organization and cleanliness of your garage, read on for some helpful tips.

Get Rid of Your Old Stuff

It is essential to get rid of old items to maintain a clutter-free garage. Not only can you improve organization, but you also improve the aesthetic of your garage with this change.

There are several ways to get rid of your old stuff. One way is to rent a dumpster or use a garbage removal service---this is a good option if you have a lot that needs to be thrown out. You can also consider metal recycling services for things like wires and metal scraps. Lastly, you can sell your old items online to make a little extra cash.

Establish a System for Organization

A garage is a place where you can store all kinds of things. You can keep your car, sports equipment, bikes, holiday decor, gardening tools, furniture, and other things that can get cluttered and messy-looking.

The best way to organize a garage is to have a system. Having a place for everything will help you to find the things you need when you need them. The first step in organizing your garage is to identify what you want to store in it to eliminate anything that doesn't fit into your plans for the space. Consider labeled bins or boxes to keep similar items together.

Take an Inventory

Garage organization can be a big task that requires a lot of work. To organize a garage, taking an inventory of what you currently have and what items you need to purchase is essential. It is important to organize your garage into sections and see what you have. Once you complete the inventory, designate an area for each category to provide easy access.

Maximize Wall Space

Maximizing wall space will help organize a garage because it provides you with the space to store your goods. You can also maximize wall space to store your souvenirs with a little creativity. You can also add panels that you can cut and rearrange to fit whatever you need.

Final Thoughts

For many homes, the garage is a multipurpose area. Maintaining a clean and organized garage will improve the functionality of this space and make it easier for you to find the things you need when you need them. Keep these tips in mind as you find an organization system that works for you.