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3 Things to Do With an Abundance of Autumn Leaves

October 3, 2014 By

Fall is officially here and that means the trees will be filled with brown, yellow, and red leaves. Although the leaves look beautiful in the trees they look less than beautiful scattered throughout your lawn. Luckily, there are beneficial things that you can do with your leaves (after you jump in the big pile).

1. Mulch: Use leaves to make mulch. Rake the leaves into a pile and spread them across and around your garden. This gives the garden more depth. The leaves also eventually break down and provide your garden with natural protection and nutrients, helping it stay healthy through the cold winter months.

2. Insulation: You may have not realized it, but fallen leaves are a great source of insulation. Pack the leaves into garbage bags and then place the bags around an exposed exterior, such as a crawlspace or basement window. The leaves provide natural insulation which may help decrease your heating bills this season.

3. Craft: There are countless crafts that you can do with leaves. Spend the day working on arts and crafts projects with your family. Make a decorative pillow by placing the leaves in ink then pressing them on the outside of a pillow. Spray paint the leaves and use them as name cards for a dinner party or make a festive fall wreath for your door. You can also make art for around your home. Make a collage or a rubbing then frame it and hang it up. The possibilities are endless!

There is no need to throw away all the fallen leaves in your yard. Get creative and upcycle them. Your garden, your home, and your family will thank you!

Recommended Reading:
-Summer Savings: 5 Ways to Decrease Your Energy Bill
-How to Make a House a Home: Creating Memories
-Landscaping 101: Great Grass Alternatives

 

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Dressed for Success: Outdoor Improvements

September 13, 2014 By

It’s the season for outdoor improvements. Where to invest? Here’s how to decide.

Making a great impression starts with your home’s exterior. In fact, a recent survey by the National Association of REALTORS® indicated curb appeal was a “major factor” in 49 percent of all home sales. And in a survey by Real Estate Agent Community Trends, 82 percent of agents said they’d had buyers decline to look at homes based on exterior appearance.

Here’s how to weigh your outdoor project options:

Pricey Replacements: New vinyl siding appeals to many buyers, but it can be expensive. Often a new paint job can freshen and protect the exterior. “Choose a neutral color that blends,” says CENTURY 21® Sales Professional Suzy Stone of CENTURY 21 AdVenture in Fredericksburg, Virginia. If the siding and paint are sound, give your house a power-washing. “It’s inexpensive and effective,” Stone advises.

You’ll increase your comfort and lower monthly utility bills by adding new energy-efficient windows, and they’ll appeal to future buyers. But the upgrade may make sense only if you plan to stay in your home a long time. If window replacement isn’t feasible in your timeline and budget, make sure existing units and window trim are in good repair and freshly painted. These simple, budget-friendly steps can go a long way in making a good first impression. Thorough caulking can help on the energy front too.

Low-Cost Necessities: Some of the most important exterior improvements you can make are the least expensive, says Stone. They also can provide quick and substantial payback.

Repaint or restain the front door, replace exterior light fixtures and add new welcome mats, inside and out. “People want to wipe their feet when they enter a stranger’s house,” Stone says.

While you’re at it, replace any rotted trim around the front door and garage doors.

And don’t forget your landscape. Trim bushes, remove leaves, edge the driveway and sidewalks and add fresh mulch around trees and shrubbery.

Acceptable Indulgences: If you’ve always wanted a swimming pool and plan to stay in your home for a while, go for it. “Enjoy the pool, but don’t assume that it will add value to your house,” Stone cautions. “Many people don’t want pools or hot tubs.”

Decks and porches, on the other hand, have broader appeal. Especially if they’re the norm in your neighborhood, they can increase your enjoyment of the house and add value when you sell.

Suzy Stone CENTURY 21 AdVenture, Fredericksburg, Virginia

Professional involvement: Suzy was president of her local REALTORS association in 2007, and she now serves as the part-time government affairs director.

Giving back: As president of her local no-kill Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals shelter, Suzy spends a lot of time fund-raising.

In the “people business”: “I like to see my clients often,” Suzy says. That’s why she keeps her business limited to the Fredericksburg area.

 

Recommended Reading:

-Small Changes, Big Difference: 5 Low-Cost Ways to Give Your Home a New Look

-How to Style a Patio

-How to Decorate Your Home on a Budget

-10 Secrets for Making Your Bedroom Feel Larger

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How to Make a Rental Feel Like Home

June 14, 2014 By

Living in a rental can be a bit of a challenge because you want to make the space your own – even if it technically isn’t. Luckily, we have come up with a few creative (and inexpensive) ways to makeover your rental without upsetting your landlord or incurring hefty fees!

  • Paint Your Walls: Most landlords allow you to paint your space as long as you paint it back to the original color when you move out. Painting your walls a different color or even a crisper shade of white makes a huge difference. If you paint your apartment a shade of white, your landlord is less likely to make you repaint it. You can also paint just one wall (an “accent wall”).
  • Change Hardware: Changing hardware makes a big difference. Buy cabinet pulls, door knobs, and drawer pulls that match your style. Keep all the old hardware so that you can put them back when your lease is up. Take photos before you make any changes so that you remember where everything goes when it’s time to move.
  • Cover the Walls: If you can’t paint, there are other ways to decorate. We recommend making a gallery wall. A gallery wall is a wall of art and/or personal photos arranged to look like a wall in an art gallery or museum. Removable wallpaper and decals are also a great way to cover the walls, without upsetting your landlord.
  • Let There be Light: Rentals often have fluorescent lighting or unsightly light fixtures. Take down the light fixtures and put in new ones. Also consider buying floor lamps, desk lamps, or table lamps and using them instead of the main lights for a room. You can also buy new light switch covers as long as you put the old ones back before you move. There are a lot of different types of decorative light switch covers like mirrored ones, or ones in almost every color imaginable.
  • Area Rugs: Area rugs can help to divide a small space like a studio apartment into sections like a breakfast nook, living room, and bedroom. They also cover up floors with scuff mark or tiling that you don’t like.
  • DIY Backsplash: If you are feeling creative, make a DIY backsplash in the kitchen! We especially like the removable tile and removable mirror ideas from Apartment Therapy.
  • Curtains: Buy curtains that match the color scheme or aesthetic of your home. They make a space feel fancier and also hide broken or ugly blinds.
  • Furniture: If you are moving or renting a home that is furnished, you can still make it feel like your own. Style the pieces differently and add little things that fit your personality. For example, add some of your favorite books and photos to the bookshelf, coffee table, or nightstand and bring your favorite bedding!

Everyone deserves to come home to a home that feels like home. We hope these tips help you make your rental into a home you love.

Recommended Reading:

-Your Guide to Summer Rentals

-How to Style a Bookshelf

-How to Style a Centerpiece

-How to Style a Coffee Table

-How to Style a Nightstand

-Sweet Dreams are Made of These: How to Style a Bed

-Five Simple Chalkboard Paint Projects for the Home

 

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