Home Improvement

It turns out that real live houseplants have real live health benefits.  Decorating your home with a healthy, thriving plant will naturally cleanse the air, emitting oxygen as they do outdoors, and creating a generally relaxing vibe.  When redecorating virtually any room, don’t forget to pick out a potted plant or two and follow some simple guidelines for optimal growth and safety.

When you want to use plants to incorporate different looks in various parts of your home, realize that some rooms are more suitable for one type of plant than another.  When plant shopping, take note of whether a plant is low-light or high-light, and think of which areas of your home get more sun, or less.  It is often the case that higher-light plants require more water.  If there are pets or children in your home and you want a low-maintenance floor plant, a snake plant is a much safer choice than a cactus.  Always ask when shopping whether a growth is poisonous, and avoid them if you have animals or toddlers that might unwittingly try a bite.  In that case, it’s best to decorate with high hanging plants, or perhaps an indoor tree like a ficus bejamina, with leaves out-of-reach.

It’s wise to select plants with a look that compliments the interior design of your home.  A more modern interior would do well with a funky marginata or colorful bromeliad.  A country kitchen would be lovely with a hanging ivy or pothos, and an Asian-themed living room would be suitable for a collection of bonsai.  Always take into consideration that plants grow.  Choose a pot that will give the roots plenty of space to spread.  Large plants like tropical trees and exotic palms must be in big potters, or else they are liable to topple onto the floor—or worse, perish.

Designing with plants gives you the option to cover up areas of the home like stained carpet and damaged walls.  You can brighten a splintered windowsill or unsightly radiator with a small orchid.  You can liven up an unused fireplace with a collection of warm ferns.  All plants usually do best when stationed in one area, as they become used to the same temperature and sunlight factors, day in and day out.  It’s best not to move them or shuffle them around unless absolutely necessary.  Flowering plants tend to wilt around heating vents or close to a stove.  Try to keep your houseplants in an area with the most consistent surroundings, and even one slightly humid.

Be careful of overwhelming your space with plants.  One single tree is usually sufficient as a warm focal point in a living room or large entry.  The bigger the foliage, the more oxygen it gives off, so a considerably leafy plant may be good in the bedroom to help you sleep better.

Have fun decorating with plants.  Be cautious and creative—your new plants just might last for decades.

Article originally published here: http://www.homeremodelingct.org/connecticut-contractors/12-designer-decorators/76-decorating-with-plants-bringing-the-outside-in.htm

Tags: decorating, plants by iwellbc
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Most residents think about their garage twice a day: when they’re getting into and getting out of their cars.  But the garage is an untapped resource in many homes — one that can be re-organized, re-adjusted or just plain re-worked into something fun, practical or even good for your health. Here are some tips for garage remodeling.

One of the easier outcomes for your garage is to turn it into a home gym.  This process will create a more convenient situation to exercise, as there will no longer be a need to drive to the gym.  It can also save you loads of money in the long run when you no longer have to pay the monthly gym fees. Some ideas to make your garage more appealing for this are to put down a carpet, put up a television or install a radio system, or install shelves and hooks to store less heavy equipment.

Some people might find it a more useful and pragmatic approach to turn their garage into a home office.  For people living in warmer climates around the country, putting an office in the garage is a great way to spend a day because garages tend to be naturally cooler than the main portion of the house.  Additionally, one can always put an air conditioner in one of the garage windows or a heater for those cooler winter months.

The most obvious choice for any garage is to create a workshop.  As the garage is a place where many people already store their tools, one needs simply to organize their supply and create a few additional tables, hangers and storage units.  The first thing to do is create a list of all of your tools and equipment.  Maybe write down some categories on a piece of paper in a way that makes sense to you.  Then, you can use that list to organize your tools accordingly. If you need cabinets, shelves, hooks or racks, plan for them first and the process will be easier in the end.

Once you’ve created your plan, it’s important to clean out the entire garage to get it ready.  When that’s completed, it’s time to work on the main ingredient for any workshop: the bench.  As you can imagine, a work bench can expect to hold a great deal of weight, so this step is not as simple as throwing some plywood over a couple of hobby horses.  You must create a framework with a bracing system designed to hold whatever weight you think will suffice.

Remember, garages today no longer need to be four walls and a roof where you keep your car and other random items.  The garage can easily become a second home for your health, your office, or your favorite hobby.  All it takes is a little time, a little energy and a little commitment and your garage remodeling job can be a success!

Article originally published here: http://www.homeremodelingct.org/connecticut-contractors/19-garage/90-garage-remodeling-in-connecticut.htm

Tags: Home Improvement, Home Remodeling, garages by iwellbc
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