Welcome to Gaia! :: View User's Journal | Gaia Journals

For many of us, our home is our most valuable asset in terms of our financial security. In addition to being the place where we spend the majority of our time. Having a home that is well maintained and attractive can increase our financial stability, as well as our psychological peace of mind.









Renovate your home to allow for the use of more energy-efficient and natural lighting. This is an easy way to reduce your electric bill while also helping to save the environment. Compact fluorescent bulbs will last longer, use less energy, and provide a more comfortable lighting than incandescents. It is easy to replace the bulbs in your home with these.



Focus on exterior lighting for your next home improvement project. Installing an outdoor motion detector is a good choice; the sensor will ensure that the light only comes on when you need it to. Not only does this save you money on energy bills, but the motion detector is also a good security feature. It alerts you if anyone is walking around your property.



Put in an outdoor motion detector for your outside lighting. This way the lights will only be on when they are activated and not all day or all night unnecessarily. Most people don't need their outside lights other than when they come home or leave after dark.



When it comes to home improvement, think twice about decorating the walls of your house in anything extreme such as a wild color or print. A potential buyer may get a bad impression by seeing a house decorated in a way that is distasteful to them. https://www.cnet.com/news/3d-room-scanning-comes-to-ipad-via-structure-and-canvas-app/ may choose to look elsewhere, if they do not want to put in the work to redecorate.



If you live in an older home with a wooden floor that is beyond sanding and staining, add a few coats of oil-based paint over the planks. Choose a paint that is intended for outdoor use on decks or porches; this ensures that it will be able to withstand the occasional wet spill and light traffic. http://www.investopedia.com/stock-analysis/111516/home-depots-results-continue-impress-hd.aspx can also hold you over until you have the resources to replace the floor altogether.



Give your bathroom a unique touch by deciding on a theme. Most people spend hours in their bathrooms, but apart from the coordinated colors, nothing seems to be unique. Come up with fun themes like pirate, under the sea, at the beach, or shipwrecked. Finding accessories for your idea can be fun and give your bathroom a sense of personality.




<img src="http://www.clipartoday.com/_thumbs/005/001/Business_Occupations/Home_Improvement/Construction/construction_worker_92132_tns.png" />



One valuable home improvement project that could save you money is the installation of ceiling fans. Having a fan in each of your rooms can help keep them cool and allow the air to circulate. If you use the fans instead of air conditioning, your summer energy bill will be much lower.



If you have kids, you know that they like to color and leave their coloring books and crayons lying around. You can simply organize them with a dish drying rack. Purchase a dish drying rack and stack your kid's coloring books between the dish prongs and insert the crayons or markers into the utensil caddy space.



Floor stain can make your basement look better. Staining a concrete floor is not only stylish, it is cheaper than replacing it. Stained concrete is also easier to keep clean, as it is less porous. Look for stains to add shine and lustre. This will give the illusion that your floors are fancy.



Make sure that any contract you sign when buying a home has your interests at heart. You need to have time to get financing, arrange a home inspection and discuss any problems in the home that may need repair. A contract that is written to protect you, is essential in giving you peace of mind and allowing you to enjoy your new home.



After you have finished the painting part of your home improvements, it is important to clean up properly. If you used latex paint, all you need to clean up is soap and water. If your surfaces were painted with alkyd paints, you will need paint thinner to clean the brushes and gear that you used to do the job. Remember to not pour paint thinner or excess paint down the drain since it can lead to ground-water pollution. Both paint thinner and excess paint needs to be disposed at a toxic waste collection facility.



A basement is a great space to convert into a playroom, home office or gym. If your basement has at least 7 feet of head room and remains dry, the remodel should be relatively straightforward. If dampness is a problem, consult a professional to correct the issue before you begin your project.



Now that you are armed with a few solid tips to guide you, making a sound decision regarding home improvement should seem less daunting. Remember, quality home improvements to your home will not only allow you to have a more desirable space but will also improve the overall value of your home.