Simple Steps To Building a Shed in Your Backyard

Some homeowners find themselves in a situation where they need to store items and lawn equipment in their backyard for easy access. They might also be looking to build a space that can double as an office, play place for the kids, or hobby room. Building your own shed is not as hard as it sounds, but there are some things you should know before you get started. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to build a shed that will be functional and last for years.

Choosing the Right Plans

The first step is choosing the right plans for your shed. You want to find plans that will best suit your needs and style. Some people prefer a traditional shed, while others might want something with more of an industrial look. You also need to consider the size and shape of your backyard space when choosing your shed plans.

Planning Your Shed

The first thing you need to do is decide what type of shed you want. Will it be a storage shed? Or, will you use it as a place to build things or have a hobby? You will also have to decide the size and color that will best suit your needs. The next step is determining where you want to put the shed. Considerations should be given for accessibility and space. Once you've decided on a spot, mark out the area where the shed will go with stakes and string line. This is important because it will help show where your foundation should go.

Purchasing Materials

You should purchase building supplies for your shed before you start the construction process. If you already have a shed and are looking to expand, then purchase the materials needed to do so. Some of the supplies you will need include:

• Plywood, 2x4s and 1x3s

• Nails or screws

• Framing tools such as a hammer, saw, leveler, drill, drill bit, screwdriver

• Fabricated metal doors

• Cement to help create a foundation

• Windows for ventilation

• Doors that can be locked if desired

Building Your Shed

There are many ways to go about building a shed. The first thing you will need to do is decide on the size of your shed and what size door it will have.

Once you know these two factors, you can build the base for your shed with boards and posts. You will then cover this structure with 2x4s before attaching them to one another and covering them with plywood and tar paper.

Next, attach the doors to your opening and install windows if desired.

You will also need materials for your roof such as tin, tar paper, and shingles - or tiles or metal sheets if preferred. You can also use prefabricated panels.

Adding the Finishing Touches

Once you have built the frame of your shed, you can add windows and a door. You can also choose to add a wood or metal roof. These additions will increase the size of your shed and make it more functional.

Another option is installing shelving in your shed to give it an office-like feel. If you need a place to store your lawn care supplies, tools, or holiday decorations, shelving is a good way to do this without taking up too much space and providing some organization to your storage at the same time.

If you want to make your shed into more than one room, you can use curtains or screens to separate the rooms. This will not only create different areas for different purposes, but it will also provide privacy when needed.

So there you have it! The four steps are: frame the walls, create windows and doors, install shelving/additions that suit your needs, and finish with curtains or screens. When you’re done, you’ll have a fully functional shed that you’re proud to have taken the time to build yourself!

4 Things That Will Kill Your Home's Value

As you know, your home has been without a doubt your biggest investment. Because of this, you want to do everything possible to keep its value as high as you can. While some things you can do to accomplish this are in your control, others are not. If you are curious about what things can kill your home's value, here are four that may or may not come as a surprise.

Bad Neighbors or Neighborhood

Unfortunately, you can't control who may move into a house near or beside yours. If you happen to get neighbors who have a penchant for throwing wild parties, keep their yard filled with junk, or get regular visits from police, this can significantly impact the value of your home. If you're lucky, they won't stick around very long.

Poor Exterior

If the exterior of your home is in poor condition, expect the value of your home to decrease. Whether you have paint that is peeling, old vinyl siding in need of replacement, or decided to have the outside of your home be a very unusual color, potential buyers will be turned off in a hurry.

Lack of Maintenance

For many homes that have a sharp decline in their value, a lack of maintenance can be the primary reason for the drop in value. While almost all homes have some things that need to be fixed, having major issues that have been left to decline further will always make your home worth less. Thus, if you have a leaky roof, contact a roofing contractor about getting repairs made, or even a new roof installed. Also, make sure you take care of big issues with your plumbing or HVAC unit, both of which will also make your home worth far less.

Foreclosures in Your Neighborhood

Last but not least, foreclosures of other homes in your neighborhood will ultimately decrease your home's value, as unfair as this sounds. When foreclosures occur, property appraisers estimate your home's value by comparing it with the selling prices of comparable homes in your neighborhood. Thus, when a home is foreclosed and eventually sells for a very low price, this hurts your home's value.

Though such things as foreclosures or who moves into your neighborhood are beyond your control, you can be proactive on maintenance and other things that will keep your home at its maximum value. By tending to your roof, plumbing, and keeping your home's exterior and yard beautiful, you'll have a home that is always valued at a high price.

The Best Ways To Display Collections in Your Home

Whether it is a collection of antiques, wall clocks, seashells, photos of places you have been, or vintage items, you should display your work with pride. That said, what are the best ways to display collections in your home? Use these tips to show your collection and make the most of the years you’ve spent building it.

Create Customized Shelving

Shelves are good for toys, figurines, or sculptures. Shelving can help you display your collection in an uncluttered and secure way, all while avoiding using up precious floor space. You can build a room with various-sized shelves and sort everything according to the type of collection. Consider even adding a glass cover so dirt and dust won’t get through. Customized shelving, whether handmade or ordered, ensures you can fit every piece of your collection into your display with ease.

Show Them on the Wall

If you are full of pride in your assemblages, you can create a wall that is an exclusive space. You can hang the collections and make them visible to visitors to guests where you can share the story and how you come to collect them. Make the wall the point of conversation that you and your guests can enjoy. Just keep in mind that where you set up your wall displays matters. For example, one rule for storing a crystal collection is to keep the stones out of direct sunlight. Quilts, photographs, and documents are also susceptible to sun damage.

Dedicate a Room to Your Collection

If you want to have your entire collection display without letting it take over your home décor, you can dedicate a room’s interior design to your collection instead. A library or an exhibit room where you can have them on full display with distinction is a perfect idea. You can use furniture, color schemes, and materials to give your collection the best backdrop possible.

Display Them With Pride

Overall, the best way to display collections in your home is with pride. Sometimes our favorite items disappear into storage, unseen but certainly not forgotten. Keeping your collection on display doesn’t just provide you with happy memories and a sense of accomplishment; it allows you to keep your collection safe and well-maintained as well. Whatever it is that you collect, celebrate it and enjoy the fruits of your labor!

Guest Post - Home Improvement Trends You’re Going to Observe In 2022

If you’re looking to renovate your home and looking for the latest trends that you can include in your project, you’ve come to the right place. 

Renovations are essential and updating your property will give you benefits like low power bills, more utility, style and comfort. Depending on your need and budget, you can think of small or big renovation projects which can make your home modern. 

So, here are a few ideas that we think you should include in your next home improvement project. These are focused on giving more utility, less electricity consumption and cutting down on your other monthly expenses. 

Home Improvement Trends in 2022:

• Investing in a home office

Though work from home is there for so long, many companies implemented it during the pandemic. Many employees had to work from home and attending calls and meetings would be quite difficult if there isn’t a proper environment. You should have an office like experience at your home to have seriousness and activeness while working.

So, if you’re planning to renovate your home, make sure you’re allocating some space for an office. For instance, you can have a small portion of your living room transitioned to your office desk. You can have a glass partition or if your budget is less, think of a curtain to separate the space from the rest of your home. Invest in proper furniture to replicate your office environment so that you can work peacefully without getting disturbances.

• Improving outdoor features

Though this pandemic restricted ourselves to home, you can entertain yourself by improving your outdoor features. You can improve the sitting system in your backyard or deck. To have a nice time at night, you can update the lighting system. However, more lights mean more electricity consumption. So, here you can think about the ways you can use outdoor solar lights to use the natural energy to light up your house. Using solar lights is a one-time investment, but you get the benefits of it throughout your lifetime.

• Multifunctional rooms

Multi-functional rooms give you the maximum utility not only to you but also to your family members. As this pandemic allowed kids to attend school virtually, everyone working in a single room may not be ideal. So, it’s better to think about the ways to use a single room in multiple ways. 

So shift your hall or living room so that it serves a double purpose. Make sure you have enough plug points, charging stations, work zones, etc. Talk to your renovator to know how you can have a multi-purpose room according to your requirements.

• Luxurious bathrooms in budget

The bathroom is a space where you can be yourself and unwind all your frustrations and emotions. So, make sure you have a relaxing bathing area (in a tub or shower), storage cabinets to keep your belongings, designer vanities, relaxing and bright lighting system (you can think of adding bathroom chandeliers for more lighting and ambience). Also, invest in proper locks so that you can have your privacy while taking a long bubble bath.

• Giving importance to storage

To increase more utility and to have a more organised home, you should give importance to the storage space. The more storage you have, the more organised your house will be. However, you should take care that you’re not stuffing things in the shelves or closets that you build during a renovation project. You should first remove or throw the unnecessary items and then focus on the extra shelves or storage spaces you should have in your home.

Renovations Are For You and Family

No matter how many latest trends come up in renovation, you should concentrate only on those which are useful to you and your family. For instance, converting to solar is the best cost-efficient option during renovation, and here you can think about why switching to solar garden lights is beneficial and entertaining for you. On the other hand, buying luxurious and expensive bathtubs, vanities, etc. can be avoided if you want to focus more on functionality. 

Hence, during renovations, always think about your family and invest in those which give you the maximum utility and comfort. 

Author Bio:

Hello, I’m Erika Rhein, a professional writer, and blogger obsessed with good design and all things pretty. I travel, read, and eat my way through various cultures across the globe. I utilise my writing skills to inspire and render my readers with informative, at the same time, creative articles. However, when not writing, I crochet, cook, or buy craft supplies.