Category: Home

2021 Designs That Will Complete Your Kitchen And Home

Post author By Sarah Barkley
Post date January 9, 2021
2 Comments on 2021 Designs That Will Complete Your Kitchen And Home

2021 designs for the kitchen, 2021 designs for the home, 2021 designs, home design 2021

Upgrading your home often takes time and money. You could troll through pages of inspirational content but sometimes, you just can’t find what is going to be right for you. There are ways you can figure out which 2021 designs to adapt to your kitchen and home, however.

With a custom home builder, you can make decisions that do fit you perfectly. Let’s say you are looking to upgrade your kitchen to modern appliances and give it a general fresh feel. It’s important to know the types of tones and styles that you like the most. It may be hard to pick exactly, but here are some ideas to get you started.

2021 Designs To Adapt To Your Kitchen And Home

A Work Triangle

In the kitchen, it is important to have a work triangle – refrigerator, sink, stove. Comfort and accessibility between the elements will create comfort at work. Drawer for pots under the stove, our spice rack close and available, cutting knives and the like.

Make sure that all the things you use will be arranged in a convenient and accessible way within easy reach. The lighting should also be arranged in a functional way. Continuous lighting about one foot from the end of the cabinet line will make it so that when you open the drawers, you will see exactly what they contain.

Plan According to Your Exact Needs

Just before starting kitchen design, it is most important to understand your needs. Consider whether you cook a lot or a little. Is life lived in the kitchen or is it used for food only? What are the needs in terms of storage, characterization of the seating, and other important things? Figuring these things out ahead of time will give you a space that will meet all your needs.

Make it an Exciting Experience

Today, design and cooking are a social experience in themselves. You likely don’t want to be in an enclosed space, so the kitchen design changes and it is part of the whole house. It should be open and appealing to everyone, and also allow everyone to enjoy the cooking experience. So, design the kitchen in an open and inviting way.

2021 Designs are Taking Hold For the Home

In recent years, the concept of ‘power wall‘ has become a very strong trend (literally) in the field of interior design. This means investing in one prominent and central wall leads to the creation of a special atmosphere in the space. But this trend, it seems, will give way in 2021 to something more fluid, more integrated, and more inclusive.

In 2021, you will see more and more uniformly painted spaces, and not just one prominent wall. Life in Corona times has left us at home and pushed some of us into harmony.

One of the most prominent trends that was born in the pre-Corona period, but intensified greatly thanks to it, is a return to nature. This includes an understanding of the importance of using natural and recycled materials, alongside a growing discussion on sustainable design. A sustainable design is a simple design, accessible to all and not very sophisticated.

This trend has evolved from raw materials, which have been perfected over the years into combinations that fit the everyday lifestyle. Green and eco-friendly materials that are simple and unsophisticated such as straw, which started out in rugs and baskets, now go into elements on walls and textiles. These elements are found in the natural plaster, recycled wood cladding, and more. It is these materials that bring us home and comfort us.

Has Covid Shaped Our New Design Trends?

Another trend that will be seen in the 2021 designs is the use of calm and peaceful shades. This has a direct connection to the Corona Virus Pandemic, and to the mood and optimism we so desperately need at this time.

Pastel pink, for example, transmits a delicate and sensitive optimism. It connects to natural materials and vice versa – wood and iron for example – and together they form a complete and harmonious look. This harmonious look brings with it both softness and innovation.

A narrative of simplicity, serenity and convergence will be expressed in both materiality and color. This is achieved by using basic raw materials (wood, straw, terracotta, bamboo, jute, and rattan), recycled materials, and a great deal of DIY.

One color palette that reflects peace is earth tones such as a sand color, aqua shades with an optimistic and hopeful saturation, and shades of green that will symbolize environmental trends in the world. Add in some bright colors that will stand out even when things seem dreary to symbolize happy optimism.

Using these tips and following the new trends for 2021 designs, you can create a peaceful space that you love. Make your home a place you always enjoy, and a place that helps you forget about your problems.

What are some of your favorite ways to design your space? Are you changing things up for 2021? Let me know in the comments!

Tags Home, home decor, simple home decor

Adulting For the Home Home Life

4 Easy Ways to Make Your House Feel More like a Home

Post author By Sarah Barkley
Post date January 7, 2021

make your house feel more like a home, house feel like a home

As the old saying goes, “there’s no place like home.” In many ways, our homes are the places that we turn to for comfort, rejuvenation, and even inspiration. Our homes are where we spend some of our most cherished moments with the people closest to us, and they are where we refine our sense of who we are. For these reasons alone, you must make your house feel more like a home.

Taking care of your home is so important, and there are many things that can contribute dramatically to making your home feel more like a home. You can make it the kind of place where you enjoy spending time, and where you and your family can thrive.

Perhaps you have just moved into a new home and haven’t quite settled yet. Or, maybe you just aren’t quite happy with how you relate to your existing living space. Either way, taking steps to help make your house feel more like a home is essential.

How to Make Your House Feel More Like a Home

1. Get a Pet

There are many brilliant upsides to getting a pet – especially for families with young kids.

For one thing, getting a pet such as a new Labrador puppy, from a responsible breeder such as https://chocolatelabradorretriever.ca, can immediately fill the home with a rich sense of innocent, jubilant energy, while simultaneously allowing every member of the family to participate in the wonderful aura of enthusiasm that results from this.

For another thing, pets – for many families – symbolise the real solidification of a home. They complete the “white picket fence” dream of what a family home should look and feel like.

In addition to all of this, pets can teach all sorts of valuable lessons to all members of the family, but especially to children. Lessons concerning things like responsibility, to give just one example.

2. Personalize Your Home with Things that have a Personality and a Story

There is certainly a kind of allure connected to the simple and streamlined aesthetic that you will find in many home décor catalogs these days. But, there are setbacks to filling your home with this type of furniture.

The things you fill your home with will dramatically affect how the place feels to you, how you perceive it, and how capable you are of relating to it. If everything in your home was mass produced in a factory, there’s a good chance you will feel alienated from your home.

This is because for a living space to really feel like a home, it has to feel like something that you have a relationship with. Something that has character, personality, and that is personal and relevant to you – rather than just being something broadly utilitarian and pretty.

The more you can ensure that the objects in your home are more than just “objects,” but that they have a story and personality – or, at least, can develop a story and personality over time – the more your house or apartment will come to feel like a home.

3. Get Your Home in Order and Keep it That Way

No matter how great your house may be or how many meaningful items it contains, it will be hard to feel comfortable in your living space if it is messy, and chaotic.

While “comfort” isn’t exactly the same thing as your house feeling like a home, it is at least a significant factor to consider. If you find yourself in this situation, it can be difficult knowing just where to start. You may even struggle with getting the energy and momentum to step forward and begin the process.

Despite those obstacles, the best thing you can do for transforming how your home feels overnight is to dive into the cleaning and organizing process. Make sure that there is a place for everything, and that everything gets put away.

From there, you will be able to see, feel, and appreciate the unique and beautiful features of the place that had been obscured before.

4. Develop Routines to Create a Sense of Happiness and Meaning Each Day

Your home is much more than a place where you simply sleep and eat in between going to work or school.

It’s meant to be a place where you flourish, and where you can get in touch with yourself and appreciate some of the small pleasures of everyday life.

One thing you can do to make your house feel more like a home is to come up with routines that can introduce a sense of happiness and meaning on an everyday basis.

This might mean having a family breakfast each morning at a beautiful dining table, or it may mean sitting on your porch with a cup of coffee before starting the day properly. It could even be as simple as enjoying a good book in your favorite chair.

Your home is supposed to be a special place where you can truly let go. You should be able to relax and enjoy the time you spend at home. This means finding a way to make your house feel more like a home is essential.

What are some of your tips for making a house feel more like a home? Do you have any simple daily routines that help you find pleasure in your home each day? Tell me in the comments! I’d love to hear about it.

Tags Adult time, adulting, Home, home decor, Self Care, simple home decor

Big Kid Home How To Life Our Family Parenting Teenager

How to Handle Family Issues Positively in 2020

Post author By Sarah Barkley
Post date December 13, 2020

It’s no secret that 2020 has been a real struggle for most of us. With so many unknown situations occurring and life constantly changing, it’s been hard. Unfortunately, this causes many issues for families. Luckily, however, there are ways to handle family issues positively.

handle family issues, handle family problems positively, family conflict, family problems, positive family, positive parenting — Pexels-CC0 Licence

Challenging situations will affect everybody, be that in our jobs, or physical and mental health, and in our relationships with our friends and families.

While it is natural in all relationships to experience rough patches, placing a global pandemic that leaves us all trapped inside all the time into the mix makes it worse. The feeling of wanting to escape or take it out on others around you increases dramatically.

In challenging times you will need the support of your family to get you through. However, family relationships can be complicated at times, and conflict within the home is hard to escape from.

Here are some of the things you can do to help to restore your family (dis)agreements during one of the most challenging global crises in the 21st Century.

How to Handle Family Issues Positively

1. Stop playing the blame game

Relationships, particularly within a family unit, are about more than just one person. Attempting to, or even suggesting changing any family member can invite defensiveness. Nobody likes to be told that they are doing things wrong or need to change.

When dealing with issues, it is vital to come at them from a place of wanting to fix them, not of wanting to come out on top. This may mean coming to tackle an issue by starting with your role in the disagreements or tensions within family relationships. By admitting your fault in it, the other person will be more likely to accept your suggestions.

If all of you seek to facilitate your own changes individually, the family unit will flourish as you all try your best to be a good mom, dad, husband, wife, son, daughter etc. Each person in the family unit has a responsibility to uphold, so it is important for everyone to work together.

Quite often, problems in relationships are just that: problems that need addressing. Stop blaming yourself or others and think about what the issues are that cause tensions.

2. List all of the things that spark disagreements

From not completing chores, to harsh tones in communication, small things can build up to a pretty big deal when managing family relationships. If you’re constantly asking your kids to clean their rooms, or your partner to give you some space in the mornings and these requests are ignored, you can feel disrespected and lacking in value.

That said, it may not just be you that ends up feeling that way and tensions may be high from a number of reasons.

Have everyone in the family write out what they feel causes tensions within the household. Create a safe space in order to allow them to do so. The key is to not get offended by some of the responses you get.

The lists should include all of the things that each family member fears talking about due to not wanting to run into any disagreements. Doing so will help to identify any potential issues within the family unit.

You may notice several family members will identify similar areas of concern which will make it easier to deal with the issues – especially if you can come to an agreement as to how they can be dealt with. Do this collectively and each of you will feel responsible for the rest of the family unit.

However, if it seems impossible to write just a few things on the list because you argue about everything, then this determines that the issues run deeper than simple misunderstandings.

3. Express concerns constructively

It’s easy to come into addressing concerns with accusation, but as previously mentioned, issues are rarely to do with an individual and precisely to do with a root cause.

Take the pandemic, for example. The outbreak wasn’t anybody’s fault. How it was dealt with and the things that have happened as a result have sparked a whole load of discontent and disappointment that certain things haven’t gone according to plan.

Having each of you expressing your concerns constructively will open the doors to honest and open discussions. Ensure that any comments are not accusatory comments, but comments that demonstrate how you feel. Here are some examples of ways to open up a dialogue which limit the potential for conflict.:

My concern is….
I feel/felt (one word eg- sad, anxious, scared) …when/ that (what it’s about?)
What are your thoughts about….?
I would like to (and never use I would like YOU to…)
How would you….?
I love it when…

Attempt to move away from unhealthy, accusatory comments which go nowhere and more often than not end up causing further fights.

4. Seek outside help

Sometimes it feels impossible to deal with things on our own. This means we need a neutral, outside perspective to give us the clarity that we need to get through. Going through some family counseling together will help you all to work through any issues that you’re facing as a family unit.

Family issues can occur as a result of traumatic experiences, so having a professional is necessary to help you to navigate them as a collective and deal with them head on.

Their job is to help you all identify which behaviors are a direct response to the trauma and to give you the tools to work through them.

5. Prioritize family time

Pre COVID-19, many families would struggle to find evenings to do things together. Now, forced time together isn’t always the blissful time together you had hoped for. Especially if you haven’t quite been as informed about the goings on in your family’s lives as you would have hoped.

There may be tensions due to people feeling ‘misunderstood’ and ‘unheard’ which can cause friction. Even while at home, your teens may wish to spend more time in their rooms speaking with friends. However, it is important to try and figure out the things that most of you enjoy doing together and make those things a priority.

Find the joy in getting to know your family again. While going out at the moment comes with additional risks, there are plenty of things you can do at home. Small things done together can make the world of difference to everybody’s emotions during this incredibly challenging time.

6. Recognize The Right Decision For Everyone Involved

When you become emotional due to a domestic issue, it’s easy to do what you think is right without focusing on anyone else’s point of view. Once you calm down, you must swallow your pride and lose your ego. When you work together properly, solutions become so much more apparent.

Whether it’s something that leads to the contact of custody attorneys or something much less significant, be sure to talk it out and understand all angles. You’ll be a lot more content and issues will be handled so much more positively.

Family conflict is impossible to avoid. Luckily, there are ways to handle family issues positively. The key is to work together as a family unit and figure out what the issues are.

Once you have determined the issues, figure out how to solve them. Involving everyone in the solution will make it easier, and it’ll make everyone want to do their part.

Do you have any other tips for handling family issues positively? Leave a comment and let me know!

Tags big kid, family, How to, little kid, Parenting, Teenager

Adulting Home How To Life Parenting

Easy Stress-Busting Tips Every Work From Home Mom Needs Now

Post author By Sarah Barkley
Post date December 13, 2020
2 Comments on Easy Stress-Busting Tips Every Work From Home Mom Needs Now

work from home mom, tips for working from home with kids, work from home with kids, virtual learning and working from home, how to work from home when you have kids

Being a work from home mom may sound like the ideal solution to earn money while raising your kids. However, as any work from home mom will tell you, it is not always as idyllic as it sounds.

While working from home does allow you to enjoy flexibility in your day, it can leave you feeling like you are trying to do everything at once. You may feel as though you are not giving either your home life or work life your full attention. This can leave you feeling stressed out and emotional.

To make working from home efficient for you and your family, you need to find a way to ease the stress and strike a better balance in your life. If you are wondering how you can enjoy the benefits of working from home while minimizing stress, you should find these tips helpful.

How a Work From Home Mom Can Make It Work

Perfect Your Workspace

Perfecting your workspace is an essential ingredient for working from home successfully. If your work setup is not suited to your needs, you will feel uncomfortable, and it will be impossible to be productive.

If you can, try to create an area of your home that is dedicated to work, so that you can give your job your full attention.

This space should be as quiet as possible and away from the constant interruptions of your kids. If that isn’t possible, simply make sure your workspace is efficiently setup and allows you to develop a nice work flow.

Use headphones to minimize the sounds around you, or learn to tune them out when necessary. Plus, make sure your kids don’t mess with your setup or touch any of your work supplies.

Take Regular Breaks

While it may seem like a good idea to just plow through your work and get everything done as fast as you can, this is not necessarily going to make you more productive. Failing to take regular breaks can make you less productive rather than more. So, you may find that you are putting in lots of hours but not making as much progress as you would like to.

When you take a break, you are allowing yourself to clear your mind and then return to your task with a fresh outlook. This can be hugely beneficial, especially on more taxing tasks.

Plus, by taking regular breaks, you will find comfort knowing your kids don’t need anything right then. This will help you focus on your work rather than wondering what your kids are doing or if they need help.

Minimize Distractions

When you work from home, distractions are everywhere. It is so tempting to get sucked into chores when you are supposed to be working. When you have kids at home with you during the day, it can be even harder to resist this temptation. If you have five loads of laundry waiting to be washed, dried, and ironed, you may be tempted to crack on with this before you get started on your work.

However, once you start on your chores, you may find it difficult to slip back into a ‘work mindset’ and focus on your job. Wherever possible, try to ignore the laundry basket calling to you and, instead, use your work time just for work.

This will likely mean setting up your work from home space in an area where you can’t see the chores that need to be done. Then, you won’t think about them as often which will make them easier to ignore.

Don’t Be Afraid to Use Childcare

Being distracted when you are trying to concentrate is hugely frustrating. Even simple tasks can take ages to complete when you are repeatedly distracted.

With little ones at home, the chances of being distracted when trying to work are pretty high. You may find yourself struggling to get any work completed at all while the little ones are running around asking for snacks.

Using childcare may seem to go against the reasons why you chose to take a work from home job. However, there will be times when using a preschool daycare provider is a necessity. This doesn’t mean you have to use the service often, but it will be nice to know that you have the option.

Having a childcare provider on standby for when you need them is a wise idea. You can turn to this option for those times when you need to attend an important Zoom call or if you have a deadline fast approaching. There is nothing wrong with seeking childcare help when you need it.

Of course, with Covid-19 changing things constantly, it is important that you select a daycare that is staying open during these challenging times. If your children are grade-school age, many daycares are helping students complete their virtual school work, too.

Set Up a Work Space For Your Kids

If you find that your kids want to be right next to you all day, then make that work for you. Teach them how to be quiet while you are working, and teach them to work, too. Set up a space close to you that they can use as their dedicated work space.

Include a surface big enough for activities, a comfortable chair, and any supplies they may need. This includes pencils, crayons, markers, paper, etc. I did this for my daughter, and I included this awesome Lego desk organizer. She was so excited to build her own, and she uses it nearly every day as I work.

They will love sitting next to you as they work, and you can teach them some good habits along the way. With virtual learning being the norm right now, this can be a great option.

This post contains affiliate links. It costs you nothing extra, but I may receive a small commission.

Stick to Regular Hours

When working from home, it can be hard to create a separation between being an employee and being a mom. With no physical barrier between your working life and your home life, you can unintentionally merge the two. You might find yourself working at all times of the day and night to keep on top of things.

Creating the separation between your career and your personal life is essential, however. It is much easier to achieve if you stick to regular working hours. Setting a boundary and working only until a specific time means that once your time is up, you can stop thinking about work and focus on your family.

Learn to Switch Off

Switching off is something that many people find hard to do. It is essential, however, if you want to reduce the stress of being a work from home mom. Giving each aspect of your life your full attention and focusing on one task at a time is the best way to do this. It should help your stress levels to drop dramatically.

This doesn’t mean to only learn to switch off “work mode”, either. During important work times, you have to learn to switch off “home mode” or “parenting mode”, too. If you find that you can’t do this with your kids in the house, this is when you should highly consider childcare a couple of times a week.

Finding the work/home life balance is incredibly hard for parents. Now that being a work from home mom is becoming more normal, it is even more difficult. It is SO hard for moms to switch off “home mode” or “parenting mode”, even when their job is incredibly important to them.

Keep in mind that being a work from home mom won’t become easier overnight. As you work on these tips, it will take time to find the routine that works for you.

These tips for work at home moms will help, however, and they will get you started on a stress-free situation. Are you a work from home mom, and when did you become one? If you have any additional tips to add, leave a comment and let me know!

Tags adulting, Making money online, Parenting, work from home

Adulting For the Home Home Life Mental Health Organization

What Are The Benefits Of A Minimalist Lifestyle?

Post author By Sarah Barkley
Post date November 19, 2020

‘Stuff’ can get very tiring after a while. It only adds complications to a life that really should be simple and easy to live enjoyably. It’s little wonder that some people choose to remove this added issue and live a much more minimalist lifestyle.

If you like the idea of doing this but you’re not sure if it’s going to help you, keep reading. There are many benefits of living a minimalist lifestyle.

Benefits of Living a Minimalist Lifestyle

You Will Declutter and Keep It That Way

The idea behind living a more minimalist life is to have fewer possessions around you. You’ll only have the things you actually need, and nothing more.

To get to this point, you will need to declutter your home and remove anything that is no longer going to serve you. This is an excellent thing to do even if you’re not becoming minimal – it gives you more space, it’s good for your mental health, and it makes your home more comfortable to live in – but whatever your reason, it’s a job that needs to be done carefully.

Of course, there will be some items, often more sentimental ones, that you don’t want to throw out but you can’t keep if you choose to be more minimal. The best option here is to compromise and rent a storage unit for anything you can’t bear to take to the dump or donate to charity.

You Will Refocus on What Matters

When you become more minimal in your life, you will be able to truly focus on what matters. There will be far fewer things around to distract you from taking the time to think about your life and ensure you are on the right path, and to reassess if you know you’re not.

You might want to think about your:

home
career
finances
family and relationships
happiness

By having fewer distractions around you and worrying less about material things, you can really think about the important things in life (and work out what those important things are in the first place).

You’ll Save Money

In the most practical sense, being minimalist means you will save money. If you want to clear debts faster, save up for something specific, or you just want to be able to have an emergency fund in place should you need it for something, the more minimal you are in your life, the more money you can save.

When you add up everything you spend over the course of a single month, you might be surprised – and not in a good way – at the amount of money you spend on ‘stuff’ that is either not used or wasn’t needed. Put that money into a savings account instead, and it will soon add up.

Spending money can quickly become a bad habit. The idea of instant gratification and retail therapy as a means to making yourself feel better is a problematic one. It is something that many people rely on to boost their mental health. Break away from this trend, and you’ll quickly understand that these material items don’t matter at all.

The benefits of living a minimalist lifestyle are amazing, and ones that everyone could benefit from. Do you have any benefits you would add to this list? Tell me about them in the comments!

Tags Home, mental health

Adulting Home Life

Top 5 Things To Do Before Moving Out of Your Home

Post author By Sarah Barkley
Post date November 14, 2020
2 Comments on Top 5 Things To Do Before Moving Out of Your Home

before moving out, things to do before moving, prepare for moving

If you had to use one word to describe moving out of your home, it would more than likely be ‘stressful.’ However, it doesn’t need to be that way. There are things you can do today and in the coming weeks leading up to moving day to make your relocation much easier.

Earlier on the blog, I explained the 8 Signs That It Is The Right Time To Move Your Family and the 4 Steps You Must Not Forget When Moving Into A New Home. Well, this post explains what you should do before moving out of your current home.

Things to do Before You Move

Hire a Moving Company

Removalists offer various services to suit your budget and needs when moving home. You will want to do this as early as possible to make sure they are available on the dates you need them. Otherwise, you could be stuck figuring out another, less reliable option for moving your things.

If you think you’ll need transport and help to move and pack your things, contact reputable businesses like Two Men and A Truck to see how they can help take the stress out of your moving day.

Start Clearing Out Your Home

No matter how far away your moving date is, it’s never too early to start clearing out any unwanted or irreparable things in your home.

Cutting down the amount of stuff you own is beneficial when moving because:

You can hire a smaller moving truck, which will cost you less
There will be fewer things for you to pack and organize
You can make a fresh start in your new home, with less junk and clutter.

Keep it simple by decluttering one room at a time. You may want to give things you no longer need, such as clothes or old toys, to family or friends, sell them on eBay, or donate them.

Call Important Contacts

Call your bill providers to let them know you’ll either be leaving their company or want to use their services in your new home. You will want to tell them which date you need to end service in your current home, as well, so you don’t continue to get charged after moving out.

Here are a few other contacts to call when you are moving:

Employer
Bank
Dentist and physician
Insurance provider
Pension
Tax agencies
Post office
Loan providers
Subscription services
Social Security Administration

Making contact in advance of your move date will give you ample time to work through each provider and ensure they can process the address change on their end.

Other essential contacts to tell your moving address are your family and friends.

Overnight Essentials

Before your moving date, pack one bag to keep with you during the move. This bag will have essentials to see you and your family through the first night and following day. These essentials include:

Non-perishable snacks and water
Pajamas
Change of clothes
Toiletries and towels
Toothbrushes and toothpaste
Clean bed sheets
Phone and phone charger
Purse with money and cards
A couple small toys for the kids

Keeping a bag on you with everything you’ll need will save you from searching through endless boxes on moving day.

Arrange Child Care

Moving is a lot more challenging to do when you have little ones around. For this reason, asking a family member or friend to take care of them while you move everything will be extremely helpful. Alongside the kids, if you have any pets, it may be worth thinking about finding a sitter for them, too.

By following the tips above, there will be no important mail sent to your old address. Plus, you’ll have a moving company ready and waiting on your moving day. Taking time to plan for your move will make a world of difference and make what is likely to be a busy day much more manageable.

Tags adulting, Home, How to, Life, Plans

Adulting For the Home Home How To Life

4 Steps You Must Not Forget When Moving Into A New Home

Post author By Sarah Barkley
Post date October 21, 2020
2 Comments on 4 Steps You Must Not Forget When Moving Into A New Home

don't forget when moving, moving to a new home, things to do when moving

Are you about to move into your new home? This is an exciting time and there’s probably going to be a lot on your mind. However, it’s important to ensure that you are not making any key mistakes here. There are quite a few mistakes that you need to be aware of as precautions that you should take.

Things to Do When You Move Into a New Home

Change The Locks

When you move into a new property, the previous owner should give back all the keys. This includes any copies that they have made. However, it’s easy to forget to give back all the keys and still end up with a few from a previous property.

That’s why it’s worth changing the locks. Even if you trust the previous property owner, a key that they kept could still ultimately end up in the wrong hands and leave you in a difficult situation.

It’s better to just play it safe and change the locks. Then, you will know without a doubt that no one has keys to your home except your family.

Clean It Up

Make sure that you clean the property when you move in. This does provide a psychological benefit. By cleaning it up you are going to send the message that this is a new property rather than someone else’s home.

It’s immediately going to feel fresher to you and that will be important when you are aiming to get the best experience possible from this move. If you are anxious to clean it, you could consider hiring professional carpet cleaners. This will save you a lot of time and effort, and you will know it is done thoroughly.

Completing A Survey

Ideally, you should have completed a survey before you chose to move into the property. However, this isn’t always an option, especially with a rushed move.

Sometimes a seller is going to be anxious to get the whole process completed without delay. If that’s the case, you should be ready to complete a survey after you move in.

This is going to reveal any issues that you might be dealing with and that you perhaps aren’t fully prepared for. It can save you from any unexpected headaches further down the line.

Check Problem Areas

If you’re not completing a survey, you should at the very least check some of the problem areas with your home quite thoroughly. The key areas to consider are the basement and the attic.

If there is an issue with your home, this is where they will be lurking. You must inspect every part of these sections of your home and ensure that there aren’t any nasty issues that are only going to grow.

With most home issues, if you catch them early, they are going to be far easier to handle. Plus, you’ll likely be able to avoid some expensive costs, too. The sooner you find out what’s causing an issue and get it taken care of, the better off you and your home will be.

During the home-buying process, it may be difficult to survey a home or even find problem areas, especially if it’s a long-distance move where the house was purchased online. For more information on remotely buying your house, check out the infographic below!

Infographic provided by Master Movers, a residential moving company

Things to Remember Before Moving into a New Home

Remember these important things to do before moving into your new home. Some home buyers get so caught up in the excitement that they forget some of these steps. It’s essential that you do them all, however, so the moving process can be easier and more enjoyable.

don't forget when moving, moving to a new home, things to do when moving

#moving #buyingahome #packing #new home

For the Home Home How To

4 Practical Ways To Improve The Look Of Your Home

Post author By Sarah Barkley
Post date September 30, 2020

improve the look of your home, improve your home, easy home improvement, make your home relaxing, simple ways to update your home

Your home means a lot to you and is a significant investment. It’s best to keep it looking beautiful so that you can enjoy it and it’s easier to sell in the future. There are certain things you can do that will drastically improve the look of your home, and you can probably do them yourself.

You have to be willing to put some time and effort into these projects but know that your hard work will soon pay off. You’ll be able to sit back and enjoy having a home to live in that’s not only nice to look at but also comfortable and cozy.

1. Perform A Deep Clean & Declutter

You can improve the look of your home by performing a deep clean. It should be in addition to routine maintenance and regular tidying up. Also, take the time to declutter your rooms and closets. Sort through your belongings and don’t be afraid to get rid of what you no longer need or use and is taking up space. It’s simple to do but will require you to put forth some extra time and energy to complete these tasks.

2. Enhance the Curb Appeal

Another practical way to improve the look of your home is to enhance the curb appeal. It’s your chance to make a good first impression for visitors, neighbors, and passersby. Focus on cleaning up the landscaping first and foremost.

Get yourself some trimmers and a good lawnmower so you can perform most of the work yourself. Go online to see this information about how to choose a lawnmower, so you secure the best one based on your needs. You might also want to consider replacing an old mailbox, decorating the front porch, and hanging some plants or flowers.

3. Apply Fresh Paint

Fresh paint will go a long way in helping you to improve the look of your home. There are so many options when it comes to painting your home inside and out.

For example, you can paint bathroom cabinets and your kitchen countertop, add accent walls, or commit to a neutral pallet that will be beautiful and timeless.

It’s also a project you can do yourself if you’re feeling up to it and want to save yourself some money. Go to the paint store and bring home a few samples to put on the walls before you choose your final colors.

4. Updating the Lighting & Fixtures

A dark and dingy home isn’t appealing and may negatively impact your mood. Therefore, focus on updating your lighting and fixtures as a way to improve the look of your home. You can brighten up your space and make it appear more modern with this simple enhancement.

Start with the rooms where you spend the most time and that are the most important to you, such as the bathrooms and kitchen, and work your way around the home. Give yourself lighting options in each room such as using dimmer switches, lamps, and candles so you can set the mood and right ambiance for the occasion.

Improve the Look of Your Home

The time you spend in your home should be enjoyable. You should feel relaxed and comfortable, and this can only be accomplished if you make it look nice.

It’s hard to relax when surrounded by clutter, and it would be nice to come home to a beautiful house after work. Use these tips to improve the look of your home and you’ll be happy you took the time.

Tags Home, How to, Organization, tips

Adulting For the Home Home How To Life

How to Keep Your Home Clean and Free of Unwanted Dirt And Mess

Post author By Sarah Barkley
Post date September 23, 2020

How to keep your home clean, keep your home free of unwanted dirt and mess, tidy your home, home organization, home cleaning

Have you ever had chaos in your home and did not know where to start? Even if your house looks like a bombed-out landscape, you can clean it in 24 hours by following some simple steps. Plus, these tips will show you how to keep your home clean in the future, too.

Look for Huge Problem Areas

First, you need to look at any significant problems. Identify what they are, such as damp spots, or infestations. It would help if you always were on top of these things, which is why preventative pest control is significant.

These problem areas can hinder your ability to keep your home clean. Plus, if there is moisture or mold, it could cause you to become sick.

Now more than ever, it is important to have a clean home. With COVID-19 taking hold, we need to protect ourselves and our families.

Clean Before Disinfecting

Do not just disinfect. Clean first and then disinfect. Many people who buy disinfectant wipes or sprays, use them on all surfaces. But it is better to clean the area first with soap and sponge or cloth and then apply any disinfectant.

Also, leave the disinfectant on the surfaces for about 30 seconds before wiping it. One of the surfaces that you need to clean and disinfect daily is the kitchen counter.

In the Kitchen

Remember to clean the areas you touch often. The kitchen is one of the rooms in which we are often and in which we touch many surfaces and objects.

So, in addition to the counter already mentioned, do not forget to clean the kitchen utensils you use, the coffee machine, the knobs on the doors and windows, the power switches and of course the cabinets and their handles. You can clean all these every day with disinfectant or hot soapy water.

Then, you should put your sponges in the washing machine. The things you use to clean other things are often filled with germs. The World Health Council has found that an average of 19.6 billion bacteria lives on kitchen sponges in an average house.

The good news is that it’s easy to get rid of these 19.6 billion bacteria in a straightforward way. You can clean them by merely throwing them in the washing machine, or you can rub them well yourself with warm soapy water.

Another tip is to use microfiber cloths because they are easy and swift to clean. By taking these additional steps, you’ll be preparing your home well!

Furniture

If you want to use furniture polish, make sure you read the labels carefully and that it is suitable for the job you want. But know that the polish is not designed to clean but to polish.

Some furniture items can “withstand” water. These can be cleaned with the soap solution mentioned above. Dry the surface quickly to leave no marks.
Next, use the furniture polish and wipe according to the instructions.
If it is a hydrophilic wood, then you can use liquid soap for parquet.

All-Purpose Cleaners

Be careful with all general purpose cleaning products. It is not always safe for every purpose. Be sure to read the labels carefully before buying them and make sure they fit your needs.
Do not mix cleaners! Use one at a time and follow the instructions.
Consider natural cleaners without chemicals.

Outside the Home

You shouldn’t neglect chores outside the home (garden, yard, deck) as they are necessary to create a more pleasant environment. The rake and broom will prevent the growth of mold after the rain, will reduce the appearance of insects and will improve the overall image of your home. Prune your plants, take care of your garden and wash the patios or decks regularly.

Cleaning the Floors

The vacuum cleaner is by far the most effective way to clean dust, bristles and debris from the floor before mopping. On wooden floors now, the brooms with a special cloth are more effective, which “pulls” the dust thanks to the static electricity and at the same time polishes the wood.

Mopping

Some mop replacements can be very effective, but no better solution has been found for when you have to get rid of the dirt that is stuck:

If you have tile, nothing will work more effectively for the dirt that accumulates.
Cloth mops are more effective than sponge mops.
Use warm water and a good cleanser (reread the instructions)

Washing

It is much easier to wash the dishes immediately after using them, as you will not have to rub the dried leftovers for hours.
Wet the sponge with hot water, add a little dishwashing liquid, clean each dish on both sides and then rinse well.
Avoid filling pots or deep dishes with water and leave them for a long time because on the one hand, they will smell and on the other hand, they can collect flies and all kinds of germs.

House work and cleaning may seem like an unbearable task. It doesn’t have to be difficult however, especially if you regularly keep up on it. Do you have any other tips for how to keep your home clean?

Tags adulting, Home, How to, Organization

Adulting Decor For the Home Home How To

The Best Halloween Decor Must-Haves to Buy Now

Post author By Sarah Barkley
Post date September 7, 2020
4 Comments on The Best Halloween Decor Must-Haves to Buy Now

Halloween Decor, Decorating for Halloween, Festive Halloween, Best Decor for Halloween, cute Halloween decor

Halloween is one of my favorite holidays to decorate for. The Halloween decor is so cute, and there are options for every taste and design idea.

No matter how much I bought the year before, I still find myself adding to my Halloween collection when the season is approaching. Do you find yourself doing this, too, even after promising yourself you wouldn’t? LOL!

I gathered all of my favorite Halloween decor from Amazon and put them into this post for you! Since I can’t buy it all, I’m hoping I can live vicariously through some of you!! In the end, I’ll let you know which pieces I decided to add to my collection this time around!

**This post contains affiliate links. It costs you nothing extra, but I may receive a small commission.**

Halloween decor, halloween decor must-haves, halloween vibes

Halloween Decor for the Kitchen and Dining Room

Decorating these two rooms can be so much fun! From centerpieces to cute Halloween plates and napkins and adorable runners or tablecloths, the options are endless. Plus, you definitely have to have dish towels for the kitchen and placemats for the dining room.

DII 54x72" Rectangular Polyester Lace Tablecloth, Black Spider — Lace Tablecloth with Black Spider Webs

Cornucopia Brands Black 16-Ounce Glass Apothecary Bottles (3-Pack); Boston Round Bottles with Designer Labels Ideal for Aromatherapy, DIY, Herbal Treatments and Halloween, Matte Black Coated Bottles — 3 pack, Black Glass Apothecary Bottles with Labels

DII Halloween Accessories Party Décor, 14.7x13.5x6.3, Spider Candy Dish
Color:Spider Candy Dish — Spider Candy Dish

DII Jute/Burlap Placemat, Set of 4, Haunted House - Perfect for Halloween, Dinner Parties and Scary Movie Nights — Set of 4, Burlap Halloween Place mats

DII Cotton Halloween Holiday Dish Towels, 18x28" Set of 3, Decorative Oversized Kitchen Towels, Perfect Home and Kitchen Gift — Oversized Halloween Dish Towels

Halloween Decor for the Living Room and Bedroom

Both the living room and the bedroom should be cozy, so lots of the decor can be interchangeable between the two rooms. Throw pillows, blankets, Halloween wall decor, flowers, and small pieces to go on a shelf are all perfect.

Manny's Mysterious Oddities Coffin Shelf - Spooky Gothic Decor for The Home - Black Hanging Wooden Shelf for Wall or Table Top - 14 Inches Tall by 7 Inches Wide — Mysterious Oddities Coffin Shelf

Twinkle Star Halloween Decorations, 18.5" Lighted Table Artificial Flowers, Halloween Ghoulish Garden Succulent Piranha Plant Fake Corpse Flowers, Horror Biting Blossoms Centerpieces Tabletop Decor — Light Up Artificial Flowers

Dulcii 3 in 1 Halloween Black Lace Spider Web Lampshade Topper/Window Wag/Fireplace Mantle Scarf, Halloween Home Decor Essentials, Size:20x60inch / 51x152cm, 2 Pack — Halloween Black Lace Spider Web Lampshade Topper

PSDWETS Happly Halloween Decorations Crow Skull and Pumpkin Pillow Covers Set of 4 Home Decor Cotton Linen Throw Pillow Covers Cushion Cover 18 X 18 — Crow Skull and Pumpkin Pillow Covers Set of 4

NTBAY Flannel Throw Blankets Super Soft with Black and White Stripe (51"x 68") — Flannel Throw Blanket

Want to see some cute and easy Halloween crafts for kids?

Check out this post —–> Halloween Crafts for Kids

Halloween Decor for the Bathroom

While the bathroom may seem like a weird place to decorate for Halloween, it is actually one of the most fun! You can choose a creepy bath mat or hand towel or, if you’re feeling super festive, you can even get a Halloween shower curtain. Plus, there are other Halloween decor items that are designed just for the bathroom.

Skull Makeup Brush Holder, Pen Holder, Vanity, Desk, Office Organizer, Stationary, Decor Planter by Wicked Vanity Beauty — Skull Makeup Brush Holder, Pen Holder, Office Organizer

Kikkerland JK17 Palm Reader Jewelry Stand — Palm Reader Jewelry Stand

Shocur Halloween Shower Curtain Set, Pumpkin Lights, Bats and Moons Over The Ghost Woods, Bathroom Decor Polyester Fabric 69 x 70 Inches with 12 Hooks — Halloween Shower Curtain Set

Bloody Bath Mat – Color Changing Sheet Turns Red When Wet – Make Your Own Bleeding Footprints That Disappear White – Sheet, for Shower/Bathroom – Novelty Gag Gift — Color Changing Sheet Turns Red When Wet to Make Bleeding Footprints That Disappear White

Did you know many Halloween candy favorites contain common allergens?

Click to read this post! >> Popular Halloween Candy That Isn’t Safe for Kids With Allergies

Halloween Decor for the Entryway or Outside

You can’t go wrong with a Halloween mat inside of your doorway. Plus, Halloween door hangings are the perfect way to set an immediate tone of festivity for your home.

For the outside of your home, fall-inspired flower pots filled with mums or other fall plants are a must-have. Put in some pumpkins, gourds, hay bales, and corn stalks and it will be a complete look.

If you are going for something creepy, you can include skeletons and other creepy creatures.

Wonderwin Beware of Well Just Beware & No Trespassing We're Tired of Hiding The Bodies 8” x 12” Retro Metal Sign Vintage Bar Decor Yard Signs — Beware of Well Just Beware & No Trespassing We’re Tired of Hiding The Bodies Metal Signs

Crazy Bonez Pose-N-Stay Skeleton — Pose-N-Stay Skeleton

JOYIN Halloween Décor Groundbreaker Zombie with Sound and Flashing Eyes for Yard Decorations — Zombie with Sound and Flashing Eyes

LUOEM Halloween Hanging Welcome Sign Trick or Treat Wooden Plaque Board for Haunted House - Witch is in — The Witch is in Halloween Hanging Welcome Sign

Homeschooling or looking to work on math with your child?

Check out this post —- Halloween Math With Free Printable

Halloween Decor for the Office

Since you spend much of your time in the office or at work, you have to decorate there, too! You’ll want to make sure the decor won’t take up much space but still sets an awesome Halloween vibe.

Twinkle Star Halloween Decorations Ghoulish Garden Artificial Flowers with Pumpkin — Ghoulish Garden Artificial Flowers with Pumpkin

Skeleton Set Hear See Speak No Evil

DWK - Murder & Mystery - Ravens on Skulls Bookends Gothic Poe Crow Reading Bookshelf Library Home Décor Book Shelf Accent, 8.5-inch — Ravens on Skulls Bookends

Halloween Decor For Anywhere in Your Home

akeke Skull Decor Vintage Dictionary Art Print Two Set - Skull Decorations Gentleman Lady Hat - Bone Art Wall Decor 8x10 inch Unframed Skull Couples Gifts... — Skull Decor Vintage Dictionary Art Prints

White Barn Candle Company Bath and Body Works 3-Wick Scented Candle w/Essential Oils - 14.5 oz - Halloween 2020 - Hot Cocoa & Scream — White Barn Candle Company Bath and Body Works – Hot Cocoa & Scream

Bath and Body Works Halloween Night 3 Wick Candle Holder. — Bath and Body Works Halloween Night 3 Wick Candle Holder

Looking for things to do with your kids this fall?

Check out these 2 posts!

1. Fall Sensory Play with Dyed Rice (this dyed rice is SO easy to make!)
2. Fall Bucket List With Free Printable

My Picks – Halloween Decorations

I seriously want every Halloween decoration I posted in this blog post. Unfortunately, I could only choose a few! So, after long deliberation, I chose:

1. Hot Cocoa and Scream Candle
2. Skill Decor Vintage Dictionary Art Prints
3. Ravens on Skulls Bookends
4. Beware of Well Just Beware & No Trespassing We’re Tired of Hiding The Bodies Metal Signs
5. Palm Reader Jewelry Stand
6. Skull Makeup Brush Holder, Pen Holder, Office Organizer
7. Crow Skull and Pumpkin Pillow Covers Set of 4
8. Mysterious Oddities Coffin Shelf

Tell Me!

Which ones were your favorites? What is your favorite holiday to decorate for?

Let me know in the comments! I can’t wait to hear from you!

Tags halloween, Holiday, Home, How to