It’s official: the UK is preparing itself for one of the coldest winters on record. Insulate your home, boil your kettle, and settle in for a harsh one. Of course, the tabloid newspapers tend to say things like this every year, so whether or not we’re actually going to get the winter we’ve been promised (or threatened with) is a moot point. If we are, though, it might be time to start thinking about how to protect your garden against the elements. During particularly cold winters, your garden can suffer immensely. The cold freezes the water in plant cells, which damages the cell wall, impedes growth, and possibly leads to…

Renovating is one of the most satisfying activities you can engage in, especially if you’ve had your home for a while. Different colour schemes can seriously improve your mental health, while adding new furniture to your home transforms a room from a dreary, familiar place to an exciting and fresh base for you and your family. Renovation is something everyone should get to experience. Sadly, not everyone will, because the cost can be prohibitive. This doesn’t have to be the case, however. Here’s how you can renovate your home on a budget. Consider a custom kitchen No, seriously. You can actually get good-quality custom kitchens for relatively little money these…

No garden is ever really finished. You can touch it up and change it all you like, but in the end, there will always be something else you can do. Like all art, a great garden cannot be completed; you’ll always find some aspect of it that needs extra work. The goal, therefore, becomes not to “finish” it, but to get the garden to a state where doing anything more would ruin the balance you’ve created. In this way, you’re technically still adding “finishing touches” even though you’re not completing the project. Here are 8 ways you can add final flourishes to your garden. Add some more plants Wildflowers, fruit…

Let’s face it: gardening requires time and effort in making something grow healthy. This is to ensure that the seeds you’ve been sprinkling will grow into nutritious fruits and greens. Maybe you’ve always been a green thumb but you haven’t had time to get started, or you’re intimidated by the thought of gardening. There are actually several easy ways to do gardening that you can use as a beginner.  A popular example would be raised garden beds, a setup that involves propped-up boards filled with soil to allow planting above ground level. This can benefit owners who might be dealing with limited space at home. Having a raised garden bed…

Almost every week, we’re greeted by more new of skyrocketing property prices and the idea of home ownership seems further and further away for a lot of people. The reality is, more and more people are spending longer and longer in the rental sector. With that comes a shift in the way people want to treat their homes. The idea of a rented home being temporary is no longer the situation in a lot of cases, and people are wanting to know what they can do to make where they live more personal and to their own taste – without getting into territory like house extensions and kitchen replacements. There’s…

Houses or offices – these are the places where most of us spend a major portion of our daily lives. It is thus natural to expect that these places are comfortable and help us concentrate, either on work or on resting. Pivotal points that affect the comfort level of any place are the temperature of the environment and the noise level. No wonder why any structure built these days for human beings involve air conditioning and special materials to block out sound. While these things surely help, they also cost way more than a simpler solution that most people tend to overlook. Window Panes – so simple, yet so underestimated.…

My brother used to rent out properties. He loved interior design so always aimed for a luxury feel and of course charged rents to match. However, it is hard to work out the best flooring choices for landlords as there is a risk of damage and also you never know quite how long you need it to last. It’s a balance between showing your property off at its best to potential tenants and not spending too much money. Best flooring choices for landlords The best flooring choices from outlets like JHS Carpets need to protect the landlords but also appeal to tenants or the property will not be rented out…

The washroom is one of the most frequently visited places in any house. Therefore, it needs a pleasant and tempting aesthetic. While it’s not a difficult task to transform your current bathroom to lavish one, however working with small bathroom remodel ideas can be a difficult job. Not everyone can work on bathroom makeovers within a strict and limited budget. Here are a few bathroom design ideas that too within a budget, which you can possibly use for your next renovation project. (1) Chose vanity mirrors The first redesign thought is to supplant your current bathroom mirror with a new vanity mirror. Round vanity mirrors are in style at the…

Rope has a magical quality I think presumably because it has stood the test of time. Can you remember the ropes we climbed at school? I hated them but always loved rope itself quite possibly because my Dad was a sailor. Rope can also give a natural and attractive look to your garden. Here are 5 uses for rope in your garden. Uses for rope in your garden Anything that gets children outside willingly to play has to be a good thing. Rope swings are an old favourite and will tempt your kids away from their screens. That is great for their physical and mental wellbeing. Safety is paramount of…

Hiring the right roofing contractor for your home isn’t as easy as it sounds. Since roofing is a major expense, you’d wish to make sure that the roofing professionals you hire are the right ones for the job. But do you know exactly what you should be asking before you hire one? Most homeowners ought to collect estimates, compare, and then make the decision, before hiring the right one. Of course, it makes more sense to hire the one that fits your needs, the best. But, is this approach the best? Well, to be true it might work best for some, but certainly not for all. We are going to…

Good lighting is an important part of any well-landscaped exterior, patio, swimming poolside, or other outdoor space. If planned carefully, properly lit outdoors can add to the ambiance and mood of any party or get-together in a community or commercial premises. Also, it can go a long way in highlighting the most impressive aspects of the back garden, lawn, yard or other open areas in residences. Given the wow factor that outdoor lighting imparts, you cannot help but include it to illuminate the architectural features of your personal space.   Tips for Lighting your Outdoors Effectively Home décor is not restricted to interiors alone. Your outdoor areas are equally important…