10 Steps To Design The Backyard Of Your Dreams

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If you’re lucky enough to have an outdoor space you’ll want to make the most of it. The key to creating a beautiful backyard is about planning your design, and learning a few new skills. To design the backyard of your dreams these ten steps are just what you need.

1 . Make a plan

If you’re looking to redesign your space the first step is to create a plan. Drawing up a design plan can help you to figure out various elements, including:

  • Which style are you looking to create? For example, minimal and neat, or quirky and wild?
  • Which color schemes would you like to focus on? There are lots of ways to create a color scheme, whether it’s planting flowers or using accessories.
  • Are you looking to make any adjustments to your lawn? For instance, creating a shaped lawn.
  • How will you separate your backyard into different areas? or get rid of landscape debris
  • Set yourself a budget 

    When you’re designing a backyard it’s a good idea to create a budget first. Laying out a budget can help you to figure out what you need to buy, and split your spending into categories. A budget can stop you from overspending and even make savings on the supplies you need. If you’re looking to improve your yard without spending too much money you should check out affordable backyard design ideas.

    If you’re keen to get creative you might try making a few garden decor objects yourself? Alternatively you could also try buying a few second-hand items to help you save money.

     

    1. Hiring a professional gardener

     

    When you’re improving your outdoor space you’ll need to decide if you’d like to hire a professional gardener, or whether you’d like to do the work yourself. The decision will probably depend on how complex your backyard design is, and how strong your gardening skills are.

    If you’re keen to design a shaped lawn you’ll probably need to hire a landscape gardener to do this for you. If you’re laying down decking or paving you might be able to do this yourself, (however it’s important to level the ground first).

    1. Purchase gardening tools

     

    If you’re keen to improve your garden space what you’ll need are the right gardening tools. Basic gardening tools for beginners include pruning shears, gardening gloves, a hand trowel, a garden fork, loppers and a spade.

    Having the right gardening tools will help you to improve your gardening skills, and boost your confidence as a gardener. Once you start having fun with gardening, you’ll create the perfect space to relax and unwind.

     

    1. Create a vegetable garden

     

    Making your own vegetable garden has so many different benefits. When you create a vegetable garden you can grow yummy food, live sustainably and improve the look of your backyard. Getting started doesn’t have to be difficult; there are lots of vegetable garden tutorials that you can check out online.

    If you’d like a little more guidance try using apps like Gardroid, Vegetable Tree or Garden Answers, all of these have plenty of cool features and tips, to help you become a gardening pro.

    1. Attract wildlife 

     

    Creating a stunning garden space is about embracing the natural world, designing a space that’s thriving with life. If you want to make your backyard beautiful you’ll want to attract lots of wildlife. One of the best ways to do that is to choose the right plants and flowers. To fill your yard with butterflies, try planting flowers like sedum, lavender, buddleja or hebe. To attract bumble bees, plant sage, toadflax or snapdragon.

    If you want to bring frogs into your backyard you’ll want to add a pond and ensure that you avoid using pesticides. Frogs tend to avoid sunlight, as it can make them dehydrated, so it’s a good idea to build shady spots. Remember, while you’ll want to attract wildlife you’ll also want to keep pests away from your home. Chrysanthemums are the perfect flower to ward off pests, (so make sure that you plant plenty of these)!

     

    1. Create an outdoor living room 

     

    Every garden needs a relaxation space, creating a backyard oasis is all about designing a peaceful place. Over the last few years outdoor living rooms have become incredibly popular. Homeowners are purchasing plush garden sofas and rugs, which are very similar to indoor furniture. There are so many accessories you can use to enhance an outdoor living space. Try using cushions, throws, tablecloths, wall hangings or mirrors. Hang fairy lights or paint your fences in bright colors. 

    Designing an outdoor living room is all about finding your style. Many people design their outdoor space as a continuation of their indoor space. This means focusing on a similar style, color scheme and aesthetic. Of course there are no set rules, if you want to create a whole new look for your backyard, go right ahead.

     

    1. Try the permaculture approach 

     

    Wild gardens are back on trend, it’s all about letting your garden get a little ‘unkempt’, and creating a natural look. Permaculture gardening means improving the health of your garden with natural and sustainable practices. Permaculture gardening follows several different principles, a few of which include:

    1 . Learn from nature and take an ethical approach to gardening.

    1. Catch energy from the earth and use it, (for example growing your own food with help from the rain and sun).
    2. Ensure that you do not produce any waste.
    3. Any dead plants should be utilized as mulch to enrich the soil.
    4. Focus on plant diversity

     

    1. Smart garden features

     

    Looking to improve your garden with tech? There are many ways that you can create a smart garden. For example, you might consider investing in a robotic lawnmower, these do a great job of mowing the lawn, and can save you plenty of time! Other options include smart sprinkler systems, smart garden lights, or smart water features. If you’re a tech-nerd who wants to create a cool garden, these upgrades are certainly for you. As technology advances there are so many new ways to improve and enhance your outdoor space.

     

    1. Find inspiration 

     

    When you’re designing a new garden it’s a fab idea to collect plenty of sources of inspiration. Here are some great podcasts to make a start:

    1 . Roots & All: If you’re keen to make the most of your garden Roots & All has got plenty of tips. Here you can learn how to create a green garden, minimizing waste and saving resources. The podcast discusses plenty of different topics including , ‘Creating A Wild Garden’, and ‘New Nordic Gardens’.

    1. Gardening With The RHS: Throughout this podcast you’ll get plenty of seasonal advice, practical tips and inspiration. You’ll hear about scientific research, techniques and horticultural advice. There are lots of topics covered on the show including lawn care, flowers, vegetable growing, and gardening with children. 

     

    1. The Plotting Shed: This podcast is packed with plenty of awesome advice about gardening. If you want to design a gorgeous garden, but you’re not sure how this is the show you need. The plotting shed aims to make gardening fun and interesting, you’ll learn plenty of new things and boost your confidence in no time.

     

    Using these ten steps you’ll create the garden of your dreams. Designing the perfect garden can be a gradual process, and you may well need to hire professional gardeners. Creating your design is all about finding inspiration, and planning your key elements.

Practical Tips And Tricks To Keep Pests Away From Your Home

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Pests are undoubtedly the bane of many homeowners in America and beyond. Getting rid of them can be expensive, with research indicating that you can spend about $450 to hire a pest control service to eliminate these animals in one treatment application. Consequently, it is prudent to take proactive steps to prevent these animals from getting into your home in the first place. Here are some practical tips to keep pests away from your house.

 

 

  • Get rid of stagnant water

 

 

Stagnant water is an excellent breeding ground for mosquitoes, so their presence on your property puts you at risk of battling these insects later on.  Therefore, conduct regular checks for stagnant water around the home, as it is easy to miss these puddles sometimes. You can look in rain spouts and pick up toys left in the yard, so they don’t collect water. Additionally, check for any leaks near your air conditioner and keep any buckets in your bathroom dry when not in use. Also, clean drains outside your home regularly to prevent stagnant dirty water from collecting. For added protection against mosquitoes, you can reach out to mosquito control experts to treat your property, ensuring that these insects can’t breed or live in or around your home.

 

 

  • Dispose of your waste regularly

 

 

Waste is a prime source of food for mice, birds, flies, rats, cockroaches, and other pests. As such, you can battle a huge pest problem if there is a lot of waste spread out all over your home. Therefore, consider getting rid of your home’s waste every day. Also, remember to dispose of your garbage correctly and keep your trash bins closed at all times. This way, you can prevent food waste from lying around your home, making your property unattractive to many pests.

 

 

  • Use the right light bulbs

 

 

There is no denying that many flying insects are attracted to bright or bluish light. Therefore, to reduce their presence around your doors, windows, and other entryways, consider replacing your standard mercury vapor light with halogen lights or high-pressure sodium vapor lights. Insects reportedly find yellowish, pinkish, or orange lights the least attractive, so you can select lights in these colors to reduce the number of insects on your property. Furthermore, consider changing the location of your lights if possible. Although fixing lights on exterior walls near doors is common, positioning the light farther away from your home on a pole is a better idea to keep many of the insects by the pole and not on your property.

 

 

  • Declutter frequently

 

 

Decluttering your house is also essential to effective pest control, so keep this in mind. Old items like shoes, toys, plastic bags, torn luggage, and packaging materials are hot spots for various insects and germs. Therefore, sell, dispose of, or give away these old items to prevent them from accommodating any pests in your home. A reported 78% of Americans have no idea what to do with their clutter, so they just let it build up. Consequently, if you struggle to decide whether to get rid of something, ask yourself if you will use the item in the next three months. If not, this item is undoubtedly worth getting rid of through sales or donations.

6 Practical Strategies To Maximize Space In Your Home Office

work from home

As more people move to remote work, having a clean home office that prioritizes comfort is increasingly vital for optimal productivity. Creating a home office space helps you stay efficient and productive. However, most homes don’t have ample space to dedicate a room or sufficient space to a home office. So, how can you maximize your space for a home office? Here are a few tricks.

  • Don’t eat up space with a huge desk

Working remotely, you most likely conduct most of your work behind a screen, like your computer. This means you don’t need a large desk space to work on. You should consider purchasing desks with cabinets with a surface wide enough to work on comfortably and place or store your working equipment, such as your stationery, but not too wide to take too much space. A corner desk, console desk, folding desk, or writing desk are space-saving desks or modular office solutions you can consider.

  • Opt for vertical storage 

Storage solutions are essential to keep your home office space neat and organized. However, these are usually horizontal and tend to take up valuable floor space, leaving your office space cramped. Instead, you should utilize the entire height of your wall by installing vertical storage solutions such as storage cabinets. Full-extension file drawers under your desk are another excellent vertical storage solution you should consider.

  • Use drawer dividers to improve organization

Due to limited space, organization is exceptionally vital for your home office. Drawer dividers are one technique to keep your drawers orderly. Dividers conserve room in your desk drawers and make it easier to keep office supplies and other items. Drawer dividers also help to keep your drawers neat and functional. Rather than rummaging through your drawers for what you need, dividers make it easier to find what you need fast so you can go back to work.

  • Install wall mounted storage units

Installing a floating desk with wall-mounted storage, such as cabinets, is one option to create more room. You’ll have additional space for filing cabinets or other storage solutions beneath your desk. You could also want to consider wall-mounting your monitor, so it doesn’t take too much space on your desk phones.

  • Be paperless

You can reduce the amount of storage you require by minimizing the amount of paper you use. Digitize anything you can and save it to your PC or a shared folder. Make all of your purchases and pay all of your bills online. You can use electronic signatures to sign crucial papers. Instead of utilizing a paper calendar, use online calendars like Google or Outlook.

  • Go wireless as much as you can

Spending time undoing tangles of your various wires adversely affects your productivity when working remotely. In addition, leaving different electrical cords such as your computer and phone chargers tangled and piled up can take up space- not to mention it can also be a tripping hazard. You can reduce this by going wireless. You should get a wireless mouse, wireless keyboard, wireless or Bluetooth-enabled printer, Bluetooth speakers, and so on.

Palm Oil is Destroying the Environment – This Man Is Challenging the Skincare Industry

Palm oil is the most common form of edible vegetable oil. It is made from the fruit of oil palm trees, which originally grew in Western Africa but are now grown in tropical regions all over the world.

Palm oil can be found in more than 70% of cosmetics. The palm oil industry also has a devastating impact on the environment, contributing to global deforestation, greenhouse gas emissions, and biodiversity loss, the palm oil industry also has a devastating impact on the environment.

Sure, you may not see “palm oil” in the ingredients, but palm is hiding as emulsifiers and surfactants with generically chemical-sounding names—like sorbitan olivate, sorbitan stearate, cetearyl glucoside, glyceryl stearate, and more.

Additionally, palm oil offers NO benefits to soap or other beauty products – it is simply a filler.  We are needlessly destroying the environment for no reason. Sadly, most major soap brands use palm oil.

all natural soap

This is why David Bass founded Peet Bros. Palm-Free Soaps and Lotions. Filled with all natural and moisturizing ingredients such as Shea Butter and Olive Oil, Peet Bros. makes products that are good for your skin and good for the environment.  But great ingredients also mean being completely free of parabens, sulfates, phthalates, and artificial fragrances.

Harvesting palm oil destroys rainforests, wipes out endangered species, and violates human rights. Sustainable palm oil does nothing to reduce the destruction. We exist to expose the industry and make way better, moisturizing products that are palm oil free.
Peet Bros are activists with a much better solution to make palm oil free soap. 

Peet Bros puts themselves and their brand’s profit second so they can put you and the planet first. Our 100% palm oil free soap bars and lotions are filled with more good stuff like Shea Butter and Olive Oil because they believe you are how you clean—and you don’t need to compromise. P.S. Palm free bar soaps work wonderfully as hand soap.

They smell nice, they feel good, and they don’t harm the planet to make or to use.
Seems like a no brainer to me- this is one product that everyone should try.

Head over to the site and place your order today- you can get %10 off your first order when you visit the page, as well.

The Most Common Home Maintenance Issues (And How To Handle Them)

Whether you live alone or are raising a family, there are always steps you can take to make home management easier. For example, you could create a cleaning schedule that helps you and those you live with keep your home sparkling clean. However, one of the biggest problems we face when managing a home is dealing with maintenance issues.

This is likely due to the fact that many of us choose to ignore maintenance issues as opposed to solving them right away. This means that instead of resolving the problem, you are actually allowing them to get worse – which can cost you even more money, time, and effort in the long run.  

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With that in mind, here are some of the most common home maintenance issues (and how to handle them). 

Broken HVAC Machines. You likely use your HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning) machine every single day – after all, it’s what helps keep your house warm in the winter and cool during the summer. However, consistent use also means that they are prone to breaking down from time to time. While this is often out of your control, ensuring that you work alongside a HVAC maintenance company ensures that you’ll never have to go without your HVAC machine. For example, you can simply give them a phone call whenever you need support – and they’ll be around as soon as possible to fix it for you. This is particularly important as you don’t want to be without your machine during the winter months, where being cold can present a significant health risk instead of a minor inconvenience. 

Leaking Pipes. There are various reasons why a pipe may begin to leak – whether it is damaged by extreme weather conditions or the fixings have come a little loose. However, while this may seem nothing more than an annoyance, to begin with (especially if you can hear constant dripping), the longer you avoid the problem – the worse it will get. This is because leaking pipes can lead to the build-up of moisture and mold within your home and could be the cause of disaster should this occur near any electrical outlets. As a result, you must be able to recognize the signs of a leak when they occur so that you can stop the problem from escalating. You should then contact the relevant plumber of the technician – who can do the repairs on your behalf. This is because even relatively ‘simple’ fixes come with an element of risk best handled by experts. 

Damaged roof tiles. Damaged roof tiles are one of the most common roof issues that homeowners have to deal with. While they are often made from highly durable materials, they are not immune to damage. For example, bad weather such as storms can easily cause tiles to break apart. When this happens, you again need to ensure that you reach out to the experts who can repair this for you  – sooner rather than later. This is because damaged roof tiles can open your home to dampness, flooding, and even pests. 

Ways to Purify the Air in Your Home

More and more people are thinking about the air quality in their home and how it can be improved. If you’re not sure about all of this and you want to make some positive changes, you’re in the right place. We’re going to take a look today at some of the most impactful changes that you can make that should help you to improve the air quality in your home. So read on to find out more.

Check for Mold and Banish it When It’s Found

One of the things that can dramatically impact the air quality in your home in a negative way is mold. If you have moldy patches on the walls of your home, even if they’re hidden and you don’t notice them, the spores from the mold will enter the air and eventually enter into your lungs. That’s why you should regularly check for mold and have it removed wherever it’s found.

Open Your Windows

Simply opening up your windows and letting in more air from the outside world can have a huge impact on how pure and clean the air inside your home is. This is a simple case of nothing more than good ventilation, and it matters a lot more than you might imagine. So try to make sure you open your windows on a regular basis and keep the air in your home as fresh as can be.

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Add a Bonsai Tree

We know that houseplants are great for purifying the air in your home and absorbing CO2. It’s also true that bonsai trees are even better at doing that job. They’re great at purifying the air and they’re one of the only types of trees that can fit comfortably in your home and survive as well. So if you want to add some life and greenery to your home, consider a bonsai tree.

Take Your Shoes Off at the Door

Taking your shoes off at the door is not something many people associated with air purity, but it does have an impact. When you take your shoes off and avoid treading in dirt from the outside into your carpets throughout the home, you keep out grime and allergens that might have otherwise festered in the carpets and eventually impacted the air quality.

Clean with Non-Toxic Products

When it comes to keeping your home clean, you should definitely try and stay away from artificial and toxic cleaning products. These are still the norm in many homes, but that shouldn’t be the case. Toxic cleaning products release all kinds of chemicals into the air that you’re breathing in your home, and that’s no good for you.

As you can see, there are plenty of steps to take if you’re looking to purify the air in your home. The more you do to improve your home’s air quality, the greater the impact will be on yours and your family’s health. That’s what all this comes down to, so make the most of the ideas discussed above.

Routines That Will Make Your Life Simpler and Home Management Easier

Do you feel like your life is too hectic? Do you seek out Routines That Will Make Your Life Simpler and Home Management Easier?

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Do you often forget to do the things that need doing around the house because they’ve become such a routine? You’re not alone. If this sounds like something you need help with, here is how to establish a better home environment.

Clean Up Throughout the Day

It can be a huge pain to try and get everything done in one day. There’s never enough time for it all, so you end up letting things slip through the cracks.

Cleaning throughout the day is just as crucial as cleaning once a week or month. However, just because something isn’t dirty doesn’t mean it needs no attention at all. For example, if there aren’t any dishes in the sink when mealtime rolls around, then put them away. And don’t forget about tidying up before bed.

Don’t clean for hours at a time –  have a clear routine and pick out one or two things and get them done. If you spend too much time on housework without giving yourself any breaks, it’ll become exhausting quickly. Instead, tackle your most dreaded responsibilities first thing in the morning when you’re fresh and motivated. 

Once that task is finished, more energy will be left if something else needs attention later on down the line. Many people say they don’t know where to start, but if clutter isn’t taken care of once it starts accumulating, everything eventually becomes impossible to workaround. Start by making an effort to keep things organized. Try putting away items sitting out on the counter or table, folding clothes instead of leaving them in a pile, and keeping your closets clean.

Conduct Repairs and Maintenance on Time

Please do not wait until your dishwasher, washing machine, or vacuum cleaner stops working before you get it fixed. Inspecting the appliance at least once a month will help you identify issues early on and save money in the long run by preventing major problems from occurring all of a sudden. Also, if there is an issue with any specific part, replace it immediately so that your unit does not have to work harder than usual.

At this point, you should also consider if replacing the entire unit would be more efficient for your needs. If yes, then do whatever necessary steps are required to quickly sell off a broken-down one and purchase a new one that fits well into your kitchen space without taking up too much room.

Switch to Energy-Efficient Practices

All around the world, people are switching to energy-efficient practices because of the growing concern for saving resources and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. As a result, there is an increased awareness about how these changes could make a real difference in your lifestyle by helping you save money on utility bills while also making homes more comfortable.

For example, switching to LED lighting or solar panels for home will help reduce your carbon footprint and positively affect your wallet since LEDs use less electricity than other light sources such as fluorescent or incandescent bulbs. When choosing lights at home, try to replace regular lamps with dimmable floor lamps that allow you to adjust brightness levels depending on where they’re placed so that no part of a room is left in the dark.

Another great way to make your home more energy-efficient is by reusing water. Installing a greywater system can allow you to recycle up to 80% of household wastewater that can be reused for non-potable purposes. With these new healthy habits, you will see an improvement in air quality, so start creating positive changes today.

Arrange for Power Washing at Least 2x Yearly

This will help your house look great and increase its value. Frequent power washing can also keep mold, mildew, algae, dirt, and other problems at bay. Because this service is so important, it is recommended you set up a routine for getting this done once or twice per year, typically in April through July when weather conditions are ideal. 

You should not wait until winter because leaves have fallen off trees containing debris that could harm equipment used for pressure washing. Thus, causing damage to both property and expense if issues arise after work has been completed on the home exterior. You should also set up a yearly window to have this work done after the season’s first significant snowfall. However, it is not recommended that you wait for warmer weather as ice, rain, and cold temperatures may cause problems with equipment used in pressure washing exterior surfaces of your home. This may result in additional expenses or damage if issues arise following the completion of service by a power cleaning company.

Do Laundry Every Other Day

Please get rid of things you don’t need or won’t use in a month, no matter how much you paid for them, do laundry every two days instead of every day, so there is less ironing and clothes smell better when they are clean. Get off your phone while doing chores to avoid distractions. Keep the number on the speed dial, so it’s easy to call someone if something goes wrong with a load. Be willing to pay more for washing machines that have enough capacity for all your clothes. 

It will save time and money in the long run. Learn how many minutes each cycle takes before buying new appliances because different kinds take different amounts of time to complete tasks. For example, if too much clothing gets put into one machine, some items might not get clean.

Declutter Your Home When Things Begin To Pile Up

One of the best things you can do for your home is to declutter when the clutter starts piling up. If you wait until things are completely out of control, it will be much harder to fix and clean up after yourself.

Conclusion

So there you have it! Making your life easier is just a matter of creating good habits for yourself. And that’s awesome because being organized can change the way you live positively in so many ways. So once you start working on simplifying certain areas of your home or workspace, don’t stop there – keep going until all aspects are covered and perfect for your lifestyle. It doesn’t take long before these routines become second nature to you and make everything much more efficient and easy-going.

Task Master: Making Your Chores As Easy As Possible

cleaning dishes

No one likes doing chores. Even those who work hard to keep their home as clean as possible will usually only do so for the end results. The process of cleaning, tidying, and doing other housework can be very tedious, swallowing up time that you would much rather use for something else. To help you out with this, this article will be exploring some of the best ways to make it as easy as possible to complete your chores. You can keep your home looking beautiful with hardly any effort, you just need to take the right steps to make it happen.

Cleaning Automation

Automation has become a big deal in the industrial world, but it can also serve a vital role in your home. You can have a lot of your daily cleaning work done for you, with the technology powering your cleaning work and giving you the tools you need to make your home look great all the time. Automatic vacuum cleaners are a great example of this. These tools can move around your home on their own, vacuuming the floors and saving you from doing this job for yourself. While it may seem lazy, this could save hours of your life in the long run, and this can be well worth it.

Vacuums aren’t the only automated home cleaning tool on the market. Dishwashers are another good example of tools like this, giving you the chance to avoid doing most of the washing up that comes with your meals. Most families can make very good use of a machine like this.

Hiring Help

While robots may not be able to handle all of the cleaning in your home, you can still pay other people to do the jobs that you don’t like. There are loads of companies out there that can help with your house cleaning, and you can often pay for this sort of service on a rolling basis so that you can stop thinking about it entirely. Paying someone to clean your entire home will cost quite a bit of money, but this can be worth it to save the time that would usually be spent cleaning yourself. Of course, this will come with the benefit of professional service and a very high level of cleaning.

This sort of service can also work outside of your home. Windows, for example, can get very dirty over time, especially when you live close to roads. Having your windows and gutters cleaned can be a great way to make the outside of your home look better, and you don’t need to do this very often to get the best results out of it. Of course, it’s always worth making sure that you take the time to improve the other elements of the outside of your home, too. Gardening can play a major role in this, but this is another area that can be covered by professionals.

Getting The Family Involved

As the last idea to consider, it’s time to think about doing chores yourself, but also getting the family involved to lessen the load a little bit. Once the kids are old enough, you can start giving them weekly jobs to do that will contribute to the house as a whole. Some parents choose to reward their little ones for doing work like this, though you can also have them do it as part of their general responsibilities. Not only is this a great way to make sure that the house stays clean, but it will also help to instill a sense of importance in your children when it comes to housework.

Of course, you also need to think about your partner in this. It can be hard to push another adult to do cleaning work, but it will be worth doing this to make sure that you both put the same amount of effort into your home. You can factor jobs into this, as it can be unfair for someone to do the same amount of housework if they are working full-time to support the house.

As you can see, cleaning and chores don’t have to be the end of the world when you take the right steps. Most people are able to improve this side of their family life, and it doesn’t take much to enable you and your loved ones to make the best of the place you call home.