Inexpensive Home Decor Project - Rearrange

Perhaps one of the least expensive home improvements that can be made is the re-purposing of current furniture. With just a little creativity, you can change the presentation of your home simply by moving the items around or changing the functionality of one item into that of another item all-together.

For example, one person that had an old wooden bench that was being used outside for seating grew tired of it serving as a bench. They decided that they would move it into the house and use it for a decorative piece to add to the appearance.

Some furniture may not need to have its purpose changed, it might just need to be relocated. By placing furniture in a certain arrangement, you can create the impression of more or less space. It is even possible to make one area into two areas without the need for walls. Moving your furniture around regularly has another benefit. If you  have carpeting, moving the furniture will allow your carpeting to wear more evenly and you may even lengthen its life. Incidentally, if you are rearranging the furniture in your home, that would be the perfect time to have your home's carpet cleaned.

By using this technique of changing your home's appearance, or by combining it with one or more of the other ideas we've mentioned in previous posts like adding crown molding or painting, you can give your home a makeover for a really low price.

Inexpensive Home Decor Project - New Fixtures

Another inexpensive home decor project that can add to the appearance of your home is adding new fixtures or updating the exiting fixtures.

Can you improve the quality of the lighting fixtures? Many times a new home will have bargain priced lighting. Whether this is because people do not notice or they do not want to spring for the added fees, the light fixtures in a home can have an impact on the room.

What about adding ceiling fans? Ceiling fans also can add to a room's overall appearance. Additionally, ceiling fans can contribute to other aspects of the homes appearance and operating costs. Utilizing fans can keep the temperature in the room stable by circulating cool or warm air. The temperature of the room contributes to the room's 'appearance'. And who knows, maybe you will even save a few bucks on energy costs as well.

So keep your eyes open for a great deal on home fixtures. If you can get your hands on lighting that is on clearance, it can be translated into a home decor project for cheap.

Inexpensive Home Decor Project - Crown Molding

The first post in our series covering inexpensive home decor projects that we wanted to share is one that can truly make a difference in the appearance of your home without requiring special knowledge or extensive experience as a carpenter.

Crown Molding

This home decor technique is simple, yet effective and can create a dramatic change in the appearance of the room in which it is installed. Crown molding enables one's eye to clearly distinguish the borders where ceilings and walls may be similar in color. In rooms where the walls contrast with the ceiling, crown molding bridges the gap between the two and adds a complimentary piece of decor to the room.

Crown molding comes in a variety of materials and an array of designs. It can be purchased in strips and with a few tools that many home already have, can be installed relatively easily with very basic skills.

Further more, it is fairly easy to find instructions for installing it by browsing the internet. In fact, one set of such instructions can be found here:

http://www.bhg.com/home-improvement/walls/trim/how-to-transform-a-room-with-crown-molding/

Inexpensive Home Decor Project - Painting

Another great, inexpensive home decor project is painting. Applying a fresh coat of paint to the walls can really renew the appearance of the home. Fresh paint covers up hand prints, smudges and small chips in the paint. While these blemishes might not draw attention individually, they can collectively make an impression without being readily noticeable.

Painting Techniques

Just adding a new coat of paint can make a difference, but there are also other painting techniques that can improve your home's appearance. Some of these techniques include:

• Murals - if you have an artistic side, this one might appeal to you
• Faux Painting - this is the technique of painting that appears to be a texture
• Stencils - this technique can be great for kids rooms or inspirational messages in strategic locations

You might be saying to yourself, "I don't know anything about painting". Take heart! You can get a lot of tutoring online in the form of how to paint web pages and even videos. And if you are willing to splurge, you can always pay someone else to do the actual work.

Whatever the case, painting can be an inexpensive home decor project that can improve your home's appearance.

Inexpensive Home Decor Project - Wall Tile Decor

One inexpensive method for decorating your home is tile. Although tile is an excellent material for use as a floor covering, it also is a great way to decorate your walls as well as other areas of the house. Using a variety of sizes, shapes, and colors you can create a nice accent in a kitchen, bathroom, or other location where a hard surface and some color can jazz up the space.

Using tiling as a back splash is an inexpensive way to create interest. And while bright colors might be right up your alley, the tiling does not have to be strong, primary colors to add beauty to a kitchen.

Another space that might benefit from tile as a decorative solution is the fireplace. often times fireplaces are already constructed using tile or stone. Just because the fireplace was built using stone or tile does not mean that you cannot add some color or texture to breath some life into the room.

So whether you are in the market for a kitchen update or getting ideas for a fireplace hearth, tiles can be an inexpensive and lean option.

Inexpensive Home Decor Projects Series

We realize that carpet and upholstery cleaning is only a small part of all that goes into keeping your home feeling like a true home. That's one reason why we decided on the following topic for our LACC blog:

Throughout the rest of the month of August, we will be briefly sharing some ideas for doing some simple decor in the home that are effective and inexpensive.

These home decor techniques are not extensive, involved tasks that require a great deal of skill and/or experience. So keep an eye out for each of these techniques and we hope you will see one that you can use to freshen up your home.

Three Reasons You Should Not Choose a Carpet Cleaner on Price Alone

One of the biggest factors for many people when trying to decide on a carpet cleaning company is the price. This is for good reason, no one wants to pay more than they need to for a service. However, when it comes to making a decision on carpet cleaning professionals, there are other factors that need to be kept in mind. Here are three factors that can affect the price of the service. 

 

Bait and Switch Tactics

The first reason to avoid choosing a carpet cleaner on price alone is that some companies use low prices to get you hire them and then once they are at your home or business, they begin trying sell you more services or products. Remember the old saying, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. 

 

Reputation and Customer Service

Another important aspect of choosing a carpet cleaner is the company’s choice of service policies. Prices might be low, but how is the service. Do they have a guarantee of some kind? If a business is willing to guarantee the work performed, they are showing that they are confident in their ability to do a great job. What about their reputation? If the company you are considering has been in business for many years, then you may know someone that has made use of their services. This can be a valuable resource to you. Consider asking around to get an idea of the reputation of each carpet cleaner you consider hiring. 

 

Cleaning Methods and Equipment Quality Varies

There are a variety of methods that are used to clean carpeting. Since this is the case, it is wise to get some clarification on what type of cleaning methods each company uses. Some cleaning methods do not get your carpeting as clean as others do. This differentiation can affect the price. Additionally, cleaning equipment comes in a variety of forms and not all machinery is the same in quality or performance. Professional cleaning machines are more costly than other machines and as a result, they can cause variations in prices.

Questions to Ask a Carpet Cleaner You Are Considering

It seems simple enough, call a carpet cleaning company and ask for the price so you will know what it is going to cost. Yet there are other factors to consider when hiring someone to clean your carpets. Here are some things you might want to ask when interviewing a company fro hire.

What method of carpet cleaning do you use? There is more than one way to clean a carpet  and each method has advantages. You want to be sure that you are aware of the method used and ask appropriate questions to determine if your objective will be met.

What training have you had in cleaning carpets? Listening closely to the answer to this question can help you to determine whether the 'specialist' has the skills necessary to accomplish your goal.

What certifications do you possess? A professional that has been certified is one that has been educated in the proper areas and will be more familiar with the best practices of the industry. This is a great question to ask any carpet cleaner you are considering hiring.

What sort of a guarantee do you provide? If the company offers a guarantee, you are most likely not going to need to use it. However, if a company will not guarantee the service it provides, it means that they do not have confidence in their technicians. Be sure to ask this question.

So, although it may seem easy to choose a carpet cleaning company, the reality is that your conversation while interviewing potential professionals can shine some light on what you are actually getting.

Evironmentally Safe Flooring Choices - Tile

In a previous post, I explained that I am writing a series of floor covering posts in which I will be discussing environmentally safe flooring options and in the last post I talked about the factors that make stone flooring a green choice for protecting the environment. Here I will discuss some of the things to consider when choosing tile as a floor covering material.

Tile flooring can be made up a variety of materials. To gauge the degree of environmental friendliness, the buyer needs to know what is in the tile. You will want to be sure to research the materials that comprise the flooring so that you can make an educated decision regarding the company and the product.

If you are wondering what types of things can contribute to the 'green index' of the tile, here are some ideas I found on a web site that sells tile flooring:

One aspect of environmentally friendly tile flooring is the process of manufacturing the tile. Gaining as much information as you can on the the manufacturing process can help you to see if the end product is something you would choose to use in your project.

An additional aspect of measuring the tile's 'friendliness' to the environment is the material itself. There are many substances that can be added to the 'mix'. Knowing what materials are used in the tile's construction an help you decide which tile to choose for your home or business. For example, is the tile constructed of partly recycled material? If so, what material was used?

As with many of the substances that I have considered in this series of posts, tile comes in a variety of kinds and the more information you have about the process and the substances as well as the rate at which the material is replenished, the more comfortable you will be with your decision.

What to Consider When Choosing a Carpet Cleaner - Trustworthiness

One of the most important things to consider when choosing a carpet cleaning professional is the reputation of the company. This is not always easy to determine. However, there are some indicating factors that you can look at to help you get a feel for the degree of trust you can feel toward the company.

The Company's History Can Foster Trust

While history alone does not necessarily reveal the degree of trust you can invest in your carpet cleaning service, it is a good indication of how long that particular company has been performing the service. The company's history can give an indication of how long the company has been in business. Additionally, you may be able to determine if the carpet cleaner has been working in your area or if they have recently started serving your neighbors.

If the company has been in business for a number of years, most likely you can find a friend or family member that has heard of or even used the services of the company you are considering. This can be a valuable resource to you in making your decision.

Advertising Can Play a Part

If the carpet cleaning company advertises through television or print, the message conveyed in the ad can ad a sense of security or throw up a red flag. If marketing message is solely focused on price and that price sounds extremely low compared to other pricing you are familiar with, you may want to beware. Often times companies will use a low price to get into the home and then the team will try to sell additional services or even worse, change the deal altogether. Our official web site features a news video that demonstrates bait and switch tactics being done in one area.

Up front pricing that may seem like higher prices could end up costing less in the long run and a company that is honest with you about pricing will most likely be honest about other aspects of the service.

In conclusion, when choosing a carpet cleaning company, make sure you have a good indication of what the company is focused on and if they have a history of treating customers honestly.

Evironmentally Safe Flooring Choices - Stone

As mentioned in a previous post, I am writing a series of floor covering posts in which I will discuss floor coverings that are safe for the environment. In the last post I talked about bamboo flooring and in this post, I will discuss some of the environmentally friendly benefits of stone.

When it comes to Eco-friendly flooring, you readily think of stone as a material that ranks up toward the top of the list, then again, you may not know the specific reasons why that may be the case. A quick look at a list of items to consider when contemplating environmentally friendly building materials will show that stone has some important factors mentioned on that list. Here are things to keep in mind about stone flooring.

Durability

No doubt that the durability of stone contributes to its popularity with many which may play a part in its being listed as one of the ten natural building materials in this list. After all, stone has existed for countless years even prior to its being installed in a home as a floor covering.  Additionally, the material is hard and that makes it durable as well. Since it is so long lasting, stone floors do not require replacing as frequently which translates into a green benefit.

All Natural Material

Another factor that makes the stone flooring choice appealing to those that are concerned about the environment is the rate at which it is regenerated. Since stone is a natural material it is being replenished regularly and does not require manufacturing plants. True, it does need to be harvested, but it stands to reason that processing a natural material would require less resources than producing and then processing a comparable material.

Another point that contributes to benefit of stone being a natural material is that is already earth friendly, since it is technically part of the planet and is easily cleaned without the need for harsh chemicals. Your choice of sealer is an important contributor to how environmentally friendly your stone flooring will ultimately be. Consider using a low toxic sealer.

Temperature Efficiency

Stone is a material that acts as a thermal mass when used in the proper manner. This technique used in building can result in heating and cooling efficiency increases which leads to not only a cost savings but also to a savings in resources.

In closing, stone is a material that can be used as an effective tool for offsetting the use of resources that are not so environmentally friendly. Its durability, and efficiency are properties that enhance the appeal of this natural material.