House

Over the past year, we have all spent a lot more time at home – and you may have noticed that your space is feeling a little more cluttered than you would like. If you want to change up your home, it could be as easy as decluttering your environment. We have collected some top tips on how to clear your space.

Follow the one-year rule

Are you unsure about whether or not you need everything in your home? One good idea is to follow the one-year rule. If you have not used or worn an item for a year, you may not need or want it anymore. Obviously, this might not apply to seasonal items, but you might want to have a little look at some of those old, broken ornaments, anyway!

Get some storage in your house

If you have a home with little built-in storage, knowing where to put all of your odds and ends can be challenging. Nowadays, you can get some truly inspired storage solutions, from bookcases that fit under your stairs to beds that lift up to reveal a hollow base. Getting some of these genius storage solutions can help you to put your essentials away neatly and tidily without having to give them away. This can create a clearer, calmer space for you and your family.

Donate

Do you have items that you love but which no longer serve your space? They can find a new home when you donate them. Check-in with friends and family whether they want your old items – furniture and children’s clothes always find a home – and then give them to charity or sell them on. This can be an excellent way to make a little extra cash as well as clearing out your home to create a beautiful, decluttered blank canvas.

Utilise self-storage

If there are items that you love but do not use that often, such as sentimental items or those belonging to your children, then you may want to consider utilising self-storage. This is an excellent way to place your items in a secure storage unit that will give you plenty of space. You can visit your possessions whenever you need them and bring them back home at any time. And in the meantime, you will be able to have a much clearer house with much more space to enjoy. There are plenty of self-storage options in London and around the country where you can store your items.

Are you feeling inspired to clear that clutter? It might be simpler than you think, and there are so many ways to do it. Now you can transform your space the easy way!

It might be a tough choice between spending your money on home improvement and pursuing a vacation. Both are expensive, and you can’t have them at the same time. If you need to sacrifice one, here are some standards to look into.

What is your priority?

If you want to relax because of mental health problems, going on a trip helps. It’s an urgent problem you need to address. Home improvement can take a backseat until you recover. However, if you only travel for fun, and there are urgent repair issues, home improvement should be the priority.

When was your last home improvement project?

If you can’t remember the last time you improved your house, it might be time to do it. You keep spending money on other things, but your home looks terrible. Besides, you recently completed a trip, and there’s no need to pursue another one soon. Look at your bathroom and see if there are urgent and necessary changes. You might need to buy a frameless shower enclosure to elevate your bathing experience. Don’t feel guilty about the expenses since you deserve to have a relaxing bath.

What will make you happy now?

You spend money because of necessity. Each month, you receive your pay check, and everything goes into the recurring bills. Perhaps, it’s time to use your earnings to do the things you love. If travelling makes you happy, you should go for it. If improving your house will make you feel satisfied, start the changes now.

What can you afford?

Both are expensive, but you might afford one over the other for now. You can choose to spend on the cheaper option or wait until you save enough money for the other. If there are simple changes at home that you can afford with what you have now, you should do them. However, if you intend to pursue a significant home improvement project, try to wait for a while. Save whatever amount you have until you can afford it.

Are there alternatives?

What is your reason to go on a trip? If you want to relax and feel good, travelling might not be the only option. Look for cheaper alternatives that won’t require you to travel to distant locations. Use the amount saved to pursue the improvement project.

It’s tough, but you have to make a choice

After answering these questions, you will know which one to prioritise. Take your time to compare the choices until you feel satisfied with the results. You don’t want to regret it since both are expensive. It might take time before you can go on a trip if you decide to pursue home improvement.

Don’t worry since there’s time for everything. Take it easy and enjoy the process. Once you already figured out what to prioritise, try to stand by it. If you decided to travel, you can’t regret that you didn’t continue the home improvement plan. Think about these ideas later when you saved enough money.

There are a couple of home investments which really pay off and are well worth investing in. To discover a few big house investments that you should consider, simply continue reading. Especially if you’re ready to make a few significant improvements to your home in order to increase your quality of life and to increase your home’s value.

Big House Investments that Pay Off:

Solar panels:

Solar panels are one investment which definitely pay off as after a couple of years, your solar panels will pay for themselves. As you’ll no longer be reliant on sourcing your household’s power from a local power company. As you’ll be able to power all of your appliances using the power generated from your own solar panels. Better yet, solar panels are one household feature that can significantly increase your house’s value. Which is definitely a selling point if there is a possibility that you may sell your property in the next decade. Check out Sunly.ca to learn more about solar panels and if they are a good investment for you!

Skylights:

Skylights are well worth investing in, if there are areas of your home that have a tendency to get dark in winter. As if you place skylights in areas of your home which are prone to becoming damp, you’ll be able to prevent your home from developing potentially harmful mould. Skylights will also brighten up your home, particularly in winter and in some cases you won’t need to turn on your lights as often if you have skylights installed. As you’ll be able to rely on natural sunlight early in the morning and late in the afternoon.

Underfloor heating:

If you live in an area which experiences low temperatures in winter, it’s also well worth investing in having underfloor heating installed underneath your floorboards. As underfloor heating will help keep your home warm and comfortable in winter and will decrease your reliance on heating systems such as heat pumps. Especially as heat pumps are a lot more expensive to run than underfloor heating.

Extensions:

If you have a significant amount of money put aside for home improvements, you may want to seriously consider having an extension built onto your current home. Especially if your home only offers a single level or is nestled on a large section, which you’re currently not taking advantage of. While home extensions can be costly, adding extra rooms to your home will definitely increase your home’s value and will give your family much needed extra space. Particularly if your family has grown over the years and your family is now in urgent need of a bit of extra space.

Floor to ceiling windows:

Not only will floor to ceiling windows instantly update the look of your home but floor to ceiling windows are also practical and will allow much needed sunlight to stream into your home.

Roof replacement:

If your home’s roof is over 10 years old, it’s a great idea to have your roof repaired or replaced entirely. As the older a roof is the more likely it is to develop structural damage. Remember that if you keep your roof in great condition, you’ll be far less likely to be faced with a large roofing bill in the future.

So if you’re ready to undergo major renovations, in order to improve your quality of life and to increase the value of your home, you can’t go wrong following some of the tips listed above!

All of us absolutely adore our doggos for their funny antics, unselfishness displays of love, and of course, those countless licks and cuddles. And while there is absolutely no questioning the love we have for our furry friends, it’s also true that cleaning after them can be quite a task.

Since they quite literally own the living room and everything in it, it’s also the carpet and furniture that suffer their furry brunt the most. To help you in your ordeal of removing dog hair from your carpets and furniture, read on our list of some useful hacks below:

Investing in a vacuum cleaner for pet hair

Currently, there are several vacuum cleaner models available in the market that have accessories and suction power to easily remove even the most stubborn dog hair. The good news is that in addition to the fur, any harmful allergens that may cause conditions like asthma can be controlled as well.

Try to look for a vacuum for pet hair that has a HEPA filter to properly dispose of any dirt. As for the additional attachments, look for models that have a brush, crevice, or anything similar that could make the chore at hand easier.

Give a good rub with a damp hand

A common mistake that pet parents make is deep cleaning their furniture or carpet without removing the fur beforehand. Not only does this make the entire task messier but also more time-consuming.

To avoid such situations, dampen your hand and gently rub it over your carpet or furniture. Soon a small ball of dog hair will start forming that can be easily disposed of. You can also use a rubber glove instead if you want to cover your hand. You see, the generated static electricity helps to attract the fur in a much faster manner.

Take the help of the good ol’ baking soda

The is only one way to describe baking soda – versatile. There is absolutely nothing that this magical ingredient cannot do. It works for nearly everything, the easy removal of dog hair being no different.

For this purpose, you only need to let the product sit for a couple of minutes after you have sprinkled a generous amount over the furry place. Proceed to use a vacuum to clean it. This can also be great for keeping bad odors in check and instead, having a fresh-smelling upholstery.

Use a lint roller

Probably one of the best ways to remove dog hair, a lint roller can be very efficient in such cases. You simply need to give a good roll on your carpet or furniture and nearly every strand of hair will disappear.

You can also use a carpet cleaner for your carpet if you own one as they are most certainly amazing. But in case you don’t, any sticky tape can come in handy as well. Simply place the sticky side of the tape on the carpet or furniture, and using a blotting motion dab it about to remove dog hair.

Get that squeegee out

Almost as fun as it sounds, a squeegee can be very useful when it comes to removing pet hair. For removing fur, you only need to run the squeegee over your upholstery or any affected area. These tools have a rubber attachment on it that will collect the fur entirely.

Again, the disposal of dog hair becomes relatively easy as the fur accumulates on the squeegee itself. You only need to remove the hair after picking up the squeegee and you’ll be done. There are also squeegees with long handles available in the market which can help you cover larger carpet areas.

Give the carpet and furniture a good brushing

Before we discuss this hack, we would like to warn you that this will be a bit more time-consuming than the ones mentioned above. But, it is also the simplest on this list.

Take a hairbrush that has stiff metal bristles and simply brush your carpet or sofa. Remember, you need to make quick, short strokes in different directions to loosen the dog hair and get it off. Having said this, if you have wood, leather or velvet upholstery, we would advise you to skip the furniture in such cases. The sharp bristles may scratch the material or cause dents.

Get a dog bed and then wash it

As the name suggests, a dog bed is a personal space for your dog where they can spend their time lying down or relaxing. This, in turn, will help minimize the pet hair from your carpet and furniture.

The next thing that you have to do is to periodically wash the dog bed to remove any stuck hair. Hence, once your dog roams around the house, there won’t be any hair stuck on his or her body. A good tip would be to select a dog bed that is machine friendly and has removable covers. While you remove the sheets, don’t forget to spray an anti-static spray to remove any fluff.

Bathe your dog frequently

Frequent grooming will keep your pet protected from any illness that may cause excessive hair loss. At the same time, any loose hair will come off when you rub your dog’s coat preventing it from falling out on your carpet or furniture. After bathing your dogs, try to keep them outside of your home for about an hour. This way, there won’t be any issues with potential shedding either.

These are some hacks to help you get rid of your dog hair easily and effectively. While you can use a tip that you may find the most convenient, try to remove the dog hair as quickly as possible to prevent it from getting embedded. Trust us when we tell you that it’ll save you a lot of time in the long run!