Explore tips & tricks to improve and transform the specific aspects of your home for the better – from home exteriors, furniture, walls, and ceilings to garage, flooring, and outdoors.
Home Improvement
Whether you’re into a vintage or mid-century modern vibe, you can add much warmth to your interior by painting the walls a complementary color to go with your dark trims. Let’s take a look at some examples below:
The standard length measurement of a paint roller is 9 inches, though paint rollers also come in smaller and larger sizes for specific projects. The pile or ‘nap’ of a roller will also come in different measurements, and it’s important to pick the right roller nap for the job to get the best results.
Club chairs come in a number of different sizes, but the standard dimensions of a club chair usually range from 37 to 39 inches in width and 39 to 41 inches in depth. Here we explore all about club chairs and their dimensions.
Appliances
The water heater is responsible for heating, storing, and supplying hot water to different parts of the home on demand, such as a showerhead, a kitchen faucet, or a bathtub. Here we look into the various parts of a water heater in more detail and how they work.
If you want to figure out what is going on with your vacuum, then first you need to get to grips with the different parts of a vacuum, what they look like, what they are called, and how they work. Here we address all of these points.
Understanding the size of gas line you need for your stove is probably going to be the trickiest part of the job since there is no standard size for gas lines, and instead, you need to select a size of gas line that is compatible with the energy required by your stove. Here we look at how to calculate the size of gas line you need to ensure your new stove works as it should and is safe to use.
Basements
The basement is often the most overlooked part of a home regarding design value. This extra storage room is incredibly versatile and can be used for a variety of purposes, including as a games or entertainment room, additional living space, storage, or home office. But when it comes to redesigning your basement, the floor color you select will give your area a fresh and clean feel.
The color you choose should reflect the type of feel you want to achieve in your basement, and of course, this depends on what you intend to use the room for. Here we look at some stylish basement ceiling paint colors and explain how they can affect the atmosphere in your basement.
It’s nice to have a basement where you can take a shelter, set up a home office, or store out-of-season items. And if you’re going to renovate your basements or looking for ideas for some types of basements for your new home, this guide is for you. Here we’ll discuss the many basements types and what you can do with your basements.
Ceilings
When your room is small, it can feel cramped and dingy. By painting the ceiling a bright coat of paint, you can open up the space. But it is important to choose the right paint color in order to trick the eye into thinking the room is larger than it really is.
Exposed ceiling beams are an inviting and stunning feature of any home. After all, they contribute to the overall mood of the interior and their color can make the room appear larger or smaller. Beams can sometimes go completely unnoticed if it’s not painted a solid color. This is why it’s important to decide on what color to paint ceiling beams in order to showcase them in your room.
Ceiling cracks are a common problem in older homes. They may be caused by various factors, including settling foundations and poor construction. However, cracks in the ceiling are not always a sign of foundation problems. This page will tell you about types of ceiling cracks and what they mean.
Doors
The way a frameless shower door is installed means that there will be a slight gap between the glass door and the shower wall it’s fitted to. This should not result in any leaks, providing the door is installed and used correctly.
Gloss paint looks great on doors, but if you make a mistake, the glossy surface can highlight your error. Below, we’ll cover how to get the best finish using gloss paint.
Sliding patio doors can be reversed, but it’s not a simple process. A sliding patio door is made up of several parts that must be disassembled, re-routed, and put back together again.
Entry
Replacing a stair banister can be a very expensive project, but there are also ways to reduce the cost, for example, by choosing a material that is cheaper to source. Here we look at the different materials you can use when replacing a stair banister and the different levels of costs you can expect to encounter when embarking on this project.
There are a variety of stair treads – they can be made with different types of wood and can be tiled with many material options. Learn all about stair treads in this article.
When building a staircase you will need to decide on an appropriate stair angle. This is important because it greatly impacts the overall safety of the stairs, since the stair angle will dictate both the depth of the treads and the height of the risers.
Fasterners
Brad nails are used for the final detail of a project and have a smaller head than their cousin. The length of your brad is generally determined by the thickness of wood you’re fastening together and its intended use.
When framing interior walls, you need to choose the right size nails to ensure the framing is strong and that your job isn’t too physically strenuous. This means you will want a nail that is large enough to be sturdy and robust while being small enough that it isn’t difficult to drive into the wood. You should also stay away from nails that are too bulky because they can split the wood upon entry, rendering your framing weak and unsuitable.
To effectively attach drywall to studs, you’ll need to select the correct size of screw. While there is a huge variety of screw sizes available for building work, there are only a handful of sizes that are suitable for use with drywall.
Flooring
While brown isn’t the most popular color for the walls, fortunately, it is versatile enough to complement many lighter and darker carpet colors without clashing. If you’re unsure of the best carpet color pairings for your light or dark brown-walls, here are some suggestions that work well with this earthy color:
There is nothing like a beautiful blue carpet to bring a calming vibe to the room. But when it comes to deciding what wall colors go with blue carpet, you must ensure the flooring doesn’t become an eyesore. There is also the size of the room to consider as darker shades can cause a small room to feel dreary.
To help you make the right choice for your home, let’s look at some of the pros and cons, along with considerations you should factor in when selecting hardwood flooring colors.
Furniture
Club chairs come in a number of different sizes, but the standard dimensions of a club chair usually range from 37 to 39 inches in width and 39 to 41 inches in depth. Here we explore all about club chairs and their dimensions.
Side chairs are versatile chairs with a simple design that can be utilized in various ways around the home. They typically have a seat height of around 18 inches, an overall height of around 32 inches, and a width of 18 inches.
Divan beds come in a wide range of different standard sizes to suit a variety of mattress sizes, and you can also get custom made divans in specific dimensions. It’s helpful to know the size of a divan before you order one so that you can plan the layout of your bedroom, and ensure it is going to work in your space.
Garages
What garage wall paint colors should you choose, and how should you paint them like a professional? We will give you some ideas as well as step-by-step instructions on how you can paint your garage walls in a fast and affordable way. Let’s get started!
If you have a roll-up garage door, you might be wondering if this needs to be approached in a different way than painting a regular garage door. Here we look at the process you will need to follow to properly painting a roll-up garage door.
The average cost to build a garage is $50 per square foot. A 24-foot by 24-foot garage will have a total square footage of 576, which brings the average cost of building out to $28,800.
Green Living
When warmer months roll around, many people find it difficult to stay cool in their own homes. This can make it especially difficult to sleep at night or even to concentrate during the day. If you have children in the home, they can become very uncomfortable and irritable if they overheat, and this can actually be potentially dangerous for babies. So, why is your house so hot?
Since the times of the industrial-chemical boom of the 1950s, when all chemicals were regarded as beneficial, we have come a long way in understanding how even everyday household cleaning products can adversely affect our environment and our health.
Our homes have high energy needs. To satisfy them, we have been burning massive amounts of fossil fuels, which produces greenhouse gasses. The greenhouse gas buildup has created the current climate crisis – probably the largest threat and challenge humanity had yet faced. Let’s dive into the innovative world of green building together and get some answers!
Home Exterior Remodel & Improvement
If your home is painted in light or dark blue, you will find very limited options in roof colors. That said, some neutral, as well as bold colors, look beautiful when paired with blue siding. So what color roof goes with a blue house? Here are some calming and cohesive suggestions:
Metal roofing for homes started becoming popular at the turn of the century. Many people no longer perceived this roofing type as suitable for commercial buildings as there were many advantages that came with metal roofs. Not only are metal roofs lightweight and durable, but they are also fire and hail-storm resistant.
When you are choosing a color for your new metal roof, you might initially think only in terms of how the color coordinates with the rest of your home’s exterior. Many people will choose a metal roof color that matches the color of their front door or garage door, or you might want to opt for a color similar to your siding color so that it blends in and creates a uniform look.
Painting
The standard length measurement of a paint roller is 9 inches, though paint rollers also come in smaller and larger sizes for specific projects. The pile or ‘nap’ of a roller will also come in different measurements, and it’s important to pick the right roller nap for the job to get the best results.
Gloss paint looks great on doors, but if you make a mistake, the glossy surface can highlight your error. Below, we’ll cover how to get the best finish using gloss paint.
People are turning to DIY more than ever, and painting is a great way to update your home for less. However, you should know exactly what kind of paint you’re using – and how to use it – before starting.
Porches and Patios
We have compiled a few practical porch roof designs with pictures to give you inspiration. But before we start, let’s delve a little into roof overhangs in case you’re not familiar with this topic.
The standard canopy size is around 10′ x 10′. There are also other common sizes, including 6′ x 6′, 8′ x 8′, 10′ 15′, 10′ x 20′.
The standard porch swing size is around 48 inches wide and 28 inches in depth. Porch swings come in various widths, including 2 feet, 3 feet, 5 feet, and 6 feet. Common depths are 18 inches, 28 inches, and 46 inches.
Tools
Rental pressure washers at Lowe’s start at just $6 an hour for a minimum period of 4 hours, so you can complete quite an extensive task during that time for a really reasonable cost. By comparison, you can expect to pay a professional around $80 per hour to come and pressure wash your driveway, so that’s a significant saving.
Having an electric nail gun is beneficial, especially if you have a do-it-yourself home improvement or construction project. Compared to hammering nails by hand, using an electric nail gun is easier and safer. Plus, it offers greater precision. However, what type of nail gun should you use?
Knifemaking is a process that’s been around for hundreds of years. To make a knife, one has to follow a series of processes, and all of these processes require tools. The earliest knives were made from such materials as flint, obsidian, brass, iron, copper, or bronze.
Walls
Whether you’re into a vintage or mid-century modern vibe, you can add much warmth to your interior by painting the walls a complementary color to go with your dark trims. Let’s take a look at some examples below:
There is nothing like a beautiful blue carpet to bring a calming vibe to the room. But when it comes to deciding what wall colors go with blue carpet, you must ensure the flooring doesn’t become an eyesore. There is also the size of the room to consider as darker shades can cause a small room to feel dreary.
When it comes to deciding on the best wall color that goes with a green carpet, you’ll want to make the right choice for your interior. Green works well with neutrals like beige, gray and cream. But if you want to add a little contrast, why not select a pop of color like pink or blue?
Windows
Window sills are routinely painted white, as this is a popular, inoffensive color choice. However, window sills do not have to be white, and instead you can paint them in a color to coordinate with your color scheme, or to blend in with your walls.
Should bedroom curtain length be long or short? The length you choose can turn your bedroom into a casual or formal space, so it comes down to personal preference not to mention the size of the bedroom.
External shutters can add a chic country cottage vibe to a home, adding personality to a property that might otherwise look bland or uninteresting. External shutters are purely decorative; however, their size is important if you want them to look authentic and properly finished. Here we look at the standard size for shutters and how to measure them for your own home.