Top 10 Most Common Household Dangers to Pets

Pets of any age can be nosy, often getting into household items. However, puppies and kittens generally get into these mischievous situations most frequently, as they are young and prone to explore. Because pets often investigate the unknown by tasting or smelling, they may be putting themselves at risk, especially if they are licking or sniffing toxic products.

Unfortunately, your home contains many items that are detrimental to your furry friend’s health. To ensure your pet stays safe, you must first identify these harmful products. Here are the top 10 household dangers that could make your pet sick.

1. Over-the-Counter Medications

Over-the-counter, human-grade drugs are safe for human consumption only. Some people believe these products are safe for pets, but many are extremely dangerous. If your pet ingests anti-inflammatories, cold medicine, or vitamins, it may suffer from any of the following: diarrhea, vomiting, lethargy, reduced appetite, increased urination, stomach ulcers, or kidney failure.

Additionally, most people store over-the-counter medications in purses or tote bags, as they often need them on the go. To ensure your pet can’t get into these toxins, you should be vigilant about where you put your bag when you get home. For example, instead of tossing it on the couch, you could hang it in a closet.

2. Prescription Drugs

To ensure you remember to take your prescription medications, you might store them in a weekly pill organizer and set them on your nightstand. While this scenario may work well for you, it could be hazardous for your pet. If your furry friend can jump, it can grab your pills and ingest them before you even know they’re missing.

Make sure you keep all medications in a drawer, cupboard, or medicine cabinet. If you’re afraid you’ll forget to take your prescription drug, try setting an alarm or leaving yourself a reminder note.

3. Household Cleaners

While pet-friendly cleaning products are relatively safe, other cleaning items can be detrimental to your pet’s health if you’re not careful when using them. Even if your pet doesn’t lick up a cleaning product, it may get remnants on its paws and ingest the product when cleaning itself. Therefore, it is best to put your pet in another room while mopping the floor, scrubbing a rug, or using any other harsh cleaner.

Instead of storing bleach, toilet bowl cleaner, and detergent in low cabinets, you should keep them in higher locations. Your four-legged friend (especially a dog) may pull one out and chew on the container, ultimately causing it to break. Ingestion symptoms range from drooling and vomiting to difficulty breathing and death. Prevention is the best solution to keep your pet safe.

4. Laundry Detergent Pods

Unfortunately, laundry detergent pods look appetizing to pets. If your pet bites a hole in the pod but you intervene directly, your furry friend should be fine. Simply flush its oral cavity and wash the soap off its fur.

If the chemical goes into your pet’s eye, the matter becomes more serious, as it can burn your pet’s cornea and cause an eye infection. You must flush its eye out with clean water and contact your vet immediately.

Lastly, if your pet eats the entire pod, you should seek help directly, as there is no cure. Your vet will treat the symptoms and keep your pet safe and comfortable with IV fluids and respiratory care while this toxicity passes out of its system.

5. Xylitol

Many human products contain xylitol, a sugar substitute. These include sugar-free gum, breath mints, and some baked goods. Although xylitol doesn’t seem to have the same dangerous effects on cats as it does on dogs, it’s good practice to keep it away from all pets.

When a dog ingests something that contains xylitol, the xylitol gets absorbed into its bloodstream quickly, rapidly releasing insulin. This process results in low blood sugar. A dog suffering from xylitol poisoning may become weak, have seizures, or stagger around. Depending on how much xylitol a dog has consumed, it can even become comatose in as little as 15 minutes.

6. Plants

Image URL: https://unsplash.com/photos/8ZELrodSvTc

Before buying plants for your home or yard, make sure you do your research, as many are toxic to cats and dogs. For instance, some lilies cause tremors or gastrointestinal issues. Sago palm and oleander are a little more dangerous, as they can trigger heart or liver failure in cats and dogs.

7. Chocolate

It turns out that chocolate isn’t only enticing to humans. Pets, especially dogs, also like it! Chocolate contains theobromine, a chemical similar to caffeine, as well as caffeine, both of which are toxic to dogs. While ingestion is rarely fatal, it can cause indigestion, vomiting, diarrhea, and a fast heart rate. More severe cases may result in heart failure or seizures.

8. Garden and Grass Treatment

Be careful when using products on your lawn, especially if your pet goes outside. Fertilizers and herbicides contain hazardous compounds that, when ingested, can cause mouth burns and gastrointestinal ailments.

Make sure you follow each product's guidelines and keep your pet off the lawn for the recommended amount of time. Consider putting up a dog barrier fence to keep your pet away from the affected area.

9. Electrical Wires

Unfortunately, wires resemble toys. So when your pet sees a cord, it may be tempted to play with it or chew on it, potentially leading to a dangerous outcome. Pets who get shocked may suffer from oral burns, a fast heart rate, muscle tremors, shortness of breath, or seizures.

The best course of action is to keep cables out of a pet’s reach. However, if you cannot move a cord, try to hide it behind furniture or block your pet’s ability to get to it. You can also try a deterrent spray, as it will make the cable much less appealing.

10. Coins

Finding loose change between the couch cushions or your pockets isn’t unusual. However, if you have a pet, you may want to gather this change and put it in a piggy bank, as some coins contain zinc, which is toxic to dogs, cats, and birds, and it can be lethal when ingested in large quantities. Zinc poisoning may cause a lack of appetite, vomiting, diarrhea, liver damage, heart failure, or severe anemia. Additionally, loose coins present a choking hazard.

As a pet parent, it’s your responsibility to ensure your home is safe for your fur baby by putting everything away that’s hazardous to your pet’s health. Knowing your four-legged friend is always protected will give you peace of mind and allow your pet to have a long, healthy life.

The Best Nursery Design Trends for 2022

One of the most enjoyable parts of your pregnancy is decorating the nursery. It’s like all those times you played house as a child, only on a grownup scale. What will you create?

 There are endless ideas, but what’s in style these days? Here are eight of the best nursery design trends for 2022.

1. The Theme’s the Thing

Some things never go out of style – like selecting a unifying theme for your baby’s room. Gender-neutral designs are currently on-trend for parents who want to break away from the classic pink or blue, which opens up some fun options. You can coordinate your nursery colors and decor with the rest of your home’s decor while adding a touch of whimsy. The choice is yours.

 Part of the reason gender-neutral themes are so appealing? You don’t need to wait for your 20-week scan to start planning your nursery space. For instance, it helps to decide before you register for your shower gifts. That way, you can request furnishings and decor that align with your vision and stay a little more organized with the decorating process.

 You can get detail-oriented, too – let your attendees know that your theme is aligned with a fun color scheme or literary inspiration. That way, even those guests who can only afford something small like a sippy cup and bib set can still unify your vision.

2. Rich, Colorful Hues

Peel & Stick Wallpaper: Etsy

2022 should be the year you bid adieu to lightweight pastels and bring on the bold hues. You don’t necessarily need to go with primary colors. Green is one of the most popular colors of the season, so think evergreen and deep forest moss.

 You don’t have to do your baby’s entire nursery in a striking shade, however. It can feel overwhelming in a space meant for sleeping and cuddles. Plus, too much of a darker color can make the space look smaller, and you might already have situated your wee one in the tiniest room of the house.

 Instead, consider creating an accent wall that you can use to create a mural or hang beloved photographs. Another idea? Get geometric with your accents. A wall of green-and-white squares or mismatched triangles can make a stunning focal point, and you don’t need much artistic talent. The trick? Use painter’s tape to create straight lines.

3. Think Vintage

If you’ve checked the prices of things lately, you noticed that it’s more expensive to get the necessities than ever. However, you don’t have to buy new to rock the latest nursery design trend. Since old is new again, think vintage and take full advantage of all those offered hand-me-downs.

 Of course, you want to make sure your crib and changing station meet modern safety standards — a Victorian crib isn’t going to cut it. But rocking chairs, bookcases and other furnishings with vintage touches can be an excellent way to add character to your nursery.

 You can also save considerable cash by antiquing and visiting yard sales. Your best bet at getting a killer deal is to learn to haggle. It might feel uncomfortable asking, “Is that your best offer?” at first, but you’ll soon overcome your fear the first time you score a vintage dresser for less than the sticker price.

4. Soft, Textured Fabrics

Blanket: Mark & Graham

Mindfulness is all the rage, and part of it entails tuning in to your senses. When you feed and bond with your baby, surround yourself with sumptuous, soft fabrics that swaddle you and your infant.

 Look for blankets and throws lined with soft fleece to keep you both toasty during 3 a.m. feedings without making you adjust your thermostat. Natural, breathable fabrics like bamboo are ideal for summer months, as they release warmth and don’t get too stuffy from your body heat.

5. Creative Lighting

You need to see your baby – especially if you’re using cloth diapers with pins. However, a glaring overhead fluorescent or bright white incandescent can leave you with a headache. Worse, it can keep your infant from the restful night’s sleep you so desperately desire.

 Instead, direct lighting where you need it. Overhead track lighting looks better than a bare hanging bulb and shines illumination right where you need it most – like the changing table. You can also use floor and table lamps with gentle amber-tinted bulbs to prevent the light from further interrupting your sleep cycle when you get up to feed.

6. Bringing the Outdoors In

Nature has the power to heal adults. It can provide similar benefits for your baby. Bring as many houseplants as you care for into your nursery. When winter weather or new responsibilities keep you indoors, bring some nature inside with you.

 Why? There are two reasons. One, plants help clean your indoor air, allowing you and your baby to breathe more comfortably. For some people, they also have a calming effect, particularly if you feel a little stir-crazy in those first few months at home with your baby.

7. Going Wild

West Elm Kids

Speaking of nature, one popular nursery design trend is going a bit wild. Animals and nature are fun themes that appeal to children, open up creative design options, and help your growing collection of stuffed animals feel right at home. What’s not to love?

 There are a few directions to go from there. Rainforests are a colorful inspiration for any nursery. Why not paint a rainforest mural on your accent wall if you’re artistic? You can include colorful toucans and stately giraffes.

 Of course, if you’re interested in this theme, make it personal. If you have a favorite animal, unite your theme around it. A nursery full of lively monkeys or cuddly bears can appeal to your inner child while also providing a sweet, fun environment for your baby to grow up in.

Nursery Design Trends for 2022

One of the most exciting aspects of new parenthood is decorating the nursery. Here’s your chance to let your creativity shine! Of course, you want to remain in fashion – so try out one of these eight nursery design trends for 2022.

Author

Evelyn Long is a Baltimore-based writer and the editor-in-chief of Renovated. She publishes home decor advice and product roundups for readers in spaces both big and small

The Five Best Apps to Use for Your Home

Searching through the major app stores can be an overwhelming experience. With over 800,000 apps just between Google and Apple, simply trying to separate the good from the bad becomes a full-time job. From the moment you hit the home screen of an app store, you are overrun with apps all claiming to be the “best” of their category. And, with more and more popping up every day, the app store is developing into a never-ending rabbit hole. Whether you’re looking to take on a new home improvement project or simply better your living conditions, we’ve found the best apps for the home.Color Capture by Benjamin MooreWe are surrounded by beautiful colors, so it’s about time that someone created Color Capture. Color Capture is an app that allows you to take a picture and match the colors in it to Benjamin Moore paint colors. If you find an advertisement or an invite that has a palette you love, the app will also match the palettes for you. You can also experiment with different color combinations to finally pick the perfect color palette for your bedroom. For anyone who doesn’t want to spend hours staring at paint chips next time they decide to spruce up their walls, this is the perfect app.HomeZadaThe home management app HomeZada is dedicated to helping homeowners get organized, save money, and protect and improve their home. The app offers a long list of helpful tools specifically for homeowners, including financial management tools, a digital home inventory creator, and management for your home maintenance deadlines, duties, and inspections.PinterestEveryone is familiar with Pinterest, but that’s because it really is an amazing app for fashion, project inspiration, home decor, and so much more. From self-improvement to interior design, surfing through Pinterest will provide you with much needed inspiration for every aspect of your life. And, when it comes to anything DIY, Pinterest is king. If you are feeling crafty, or entrepreneurial, hop on Pinterest and you’re sure to fuel your creativity.Belkin’s WeMo app (w/ WeMo Smart Plug)The WeMo app gives you complete control over anything you plug into a WeMo Smart Plug. Instead of having to replace all of your devices with new, expensive smart devices, WeMo lets you have full control over the devices that you already own. From coffee makers to lamps, anything that you can plug into an outlet can be turned into a smart device - simply plug it in and open the app to control it from anywhere. Forgot to turn off your coffee maker when you left for work? Open the app and turn it off - so simple! The app also gives you easy to understand reports on your energy usage and lets you create schedules, rules, and receive notifications.SleepIQ by Sleep NumberWhile you might not have thought much about smart beds, they are the future of sleep, and Sleep Number is leading that future. The Sleep Number smart beds are surprisingly affordable and feature built-in biometric sensors that record and analyze movement, breathing patterns, and heart rate. Then, the bed syncs with your SleepIQ app to provide personalized sleep reports and make adjustments aimed at improving your quality of sleep. More and more we’re realizing just how important sleep is to a healthy and happy life and just how sleep-deprived people are - so it is time that we start focusing on improving our sleep health.We’ve all spent hours searching the app store for a helpful home app just to use it for five minutes and realize its garbage. The app stores have become so crowded with thousands of useless apps that even the homepages are littered with 1-star apps. If you’re trying to find a useful app for the home, you can be sure that it will take you hours of trying and failing until you can finally find one. To prevent you from wasting your valuable time, we’ve done the research and found five of the most useful apps for the home. Whether you need help with a home project or you’re looking to turn your house into a smart home, use these five apps to turn your house into your dream home.  Guest Blogger-Elise Morgan  

7 Strategies That Will Take the Hassle Out of Moving House

So, you’ve decided it’s time for a new beginning? With the thoughts of moving from your humble abode and making new memories in your brand-new home, moving house can be an exciting time indeed.

But before you let the excitement of your new adventure take over, you should remember that you still have to go through the not-so-fun process of packing and moving all your worldly possessions from one house to another!

It’s no cakewalk. In fact, moving house has been proven to be one of the most stressful events we can undergo in our lives! It doesn’t have to be this way though.

Here are some strategies to take the stress out of moving home.

1. Say Goodbye to the Things You Don’t Need

Generally, when you look around, each part of your home holds some significance or sentimental value. The souvenirs on your shelf from your trip to Belize. The cabinet you bought from that vintage store which happened to perfectly match your interior vibe. It’s hard to say goodbye to anything that ‘may come in handy later’ or holds a certain emotional pull.That said, before you start mindlessly packing your life away, it’s important to purge any unnecessary items that will end up cluttering your new space.  Remember the words of Marie Kondo and ask yourself, ”Does this spark joy?“ when deciding what to cull. The items you decide to eliminate or donate now will help ease your packing process and without a doubt help activate your house-moving zen.So, put up some moving sale banners and have yourself a gold old lawn sale a couple of weeks before you move. 

2. Make a Plan!

Before you begin aimlessly packing your home in no particular order, stop! If you want to eliminate stress from your move, write a ‘moving-house’ to-do list. Set out each part of your move by setting yourself tasks and goals to achieve by certain dates.Packing up your home can be overwhelming, to say the least. Many of us accumulate an incredible amount of ‘stuff’ so getting it all from a to b can feel like a mammoth task. By breaking everything down into sizeable chunks, you’ll not only pack more efficiently, but you’ll also reduce your stress level too!What’s more, creating a list will ensure you don’t forget any essential steps which come with moving house. While on the surface, you may think that moving only involves packing your things into boxes, writing a list will help you remember things like changing your address or cleaning your new home. The time spent writing a list now will ultimately save you time, money and heartache in the long run! 

3. Protect Your Stuff!

Moving house can take its toll on your furniture, fixtures and fittings. Before moving day comes, make sure you have a plan in place for how you’re going to protect everything. One of the biggest victims of your move will undoubtedly be your floors. If you have carpets, make sure you lay some plastic so dirt trailed in from the high volume of foot-traffic doesn’t impact them.Wooden flooring is perhaps the biggest concern with moving though. Even if you have the best hardwood floor with the highest Janka rating, scratches and scrapes from furniture are still possible. Make sure you have plenty of towels to put under heavy items, including boxes, to preserve your floors. 

4. Take Photos of Your Rooms

The trouble with moving is that sometimes it feels like you’re destroying your masterpiece. If that’s the case for you, before you pack everything up, take some photos or draw a sketch.  While your new place may not lend itself to your old style, you can still use these images as guides to reinvigorate your design mojo or challenge yourself to switch it up. 

5. Use What You Got!

You just got back from your fifth trip to store but you forgot the one thing you went there for in the first place: plastic wrap for all your precious breakables. Not to worry. Save yourself some time and re-purpose what you have lying around. For example, spare towels or old tea towels, or even odd socks can be used as padding to keep your glassware and fine china safe from harm.Also, remember that garbage bags can be your best friend. It’s likely that you have an abundance of these little gems in your kitchen drawer, so use them wherever you can. Keep hung clothes on coat hangers and simply cover over with a bag; toss your shoes in one; or even fill one with your children’s soft toys. Just don’t forget these garbage bags don’t belong in the trash! 

6. Categorize Your Belongings

Categorizing your belongings can reduce the headache of both packing and unpacking. You can either do this by belonging type or by room, depending upon how you want to unpack at the other end. If you’re doing it by room, make sure you do one room at a time. If you’re doing this by belonging type, get out your trusty pen and paper and categorize your items before you start! 

7. Label or Color-Code Your Boxes

There’s nothing more frustrating than neatly packing all of your things into boxes, only to forget which is which. This is where you can get creative and have a little fun with your packing. Add labels or color-code your boxes so you know exactly what’s inside. Just like with the previous tip, you can choose to label by room or item type, it’s up to you! Either way, this hack will save you a headache later on. Future ‘you’ will thank you! 

8. Make a First Week Survival Kit

So many people get so caught up in packing up their old home that they completely forget about what happens when they get to their new one! It’s something you rarely think about until you’re standing in your new home, surrounded by boxes, but your things are not all going to be unpacked as soon as you arrive. The last thing you want to do after long and exhausting moving day is sift through a mountain of boxes in search of those few essential items. So, plan ahead and prepare a box or bag that will see you few the first few days. Consider personal items as well as essential household items that’ll add a sense of comfort in your otherwise unfamiliar new space!  Guest post by: SignMission 

Using Feng Shui to Improve Your Condo Layout

Over 3,000 years ago, the Chinese created an art and science called Feng Shui, which is now used as a methodology for the placement of objects to ensure positive energy and good fortune. Feng means wind, and Shui translates to water. In Chinese culture, the elements of wind and water are correlated with good health. So, a positive Feng Shui means good luck, and a negative Feng Shui can mean misfortune or bad luck.When applying the concepts of Feng Shui, you are providing balance and harmony to the energy within your space, such as your office, garden, or even your condominium. Feng Shui continues to grow in popularity as more and more people are looking to develop a healthy lifestyle and incorporate aspects of wellness into what they do and where they live. If you live in a condo, there are a variety of tips that you can leverage to assure that good fortune and state of wellness that you desire.

Three Quick Tips to Bring Energy through Feng Shui to your Condo

1. Especially important if you have a smaller condo, make sure that you keep your clutter to a minimum. Keeping too much clutter can add stress and anxiety, and can make it difficult for you to relax, both mentally as well as physically.
2. Keeping your condo clean is a great way to ensure positive energy and wellness. Be sure to clean your condo at least once per week, and more if needed. It is important to get into even the tiniest of spaces to help rid your unit of bad energy.
3. Open the blinds, and pull curtains open to let natural light into your space. And, be sure to open exterior windows a few times a week to let bad energy escape, and let positive energy enter. Air circulation is important, so if your air is stagnant, invest in a fan that can help circulate the air, especially on those dates that you open your windows and doors.

   Maximizing Your Layout to Maintain Feng Shui

   Aside from cleaning, decluttering, and airing out your rooms, there are a variety of strategies that you can apply to ensure your layout is aligned to the Feng Shui methodology. And, there are three primary areas that you should focus on, to get started: your front door, your kitchen, and your bedroom.

   • Your front door – Your front door is what brings new people and new opportunities. When your entrance is designed properly, it can allow money, wealth, and other opportunities to enter your space. If your entry is blocked, then the chi (life energy) is unable to enter. While this can be more difficult with condo or apartment living, do what you can to ensure that nothing is blocking the entry to your front door. No objects should be pointed at your front door, such as that of a corner, a t-intersection, or something that blocks your door or is directly in line with it. These items are considered Sha chi (killing chi), and should be avoided.
   • Your kitchen – Your stove is a source of food, and represents the ability to gain food through your career or job. As such, make sure the top of your stove is always clean and that it functions properly (make sure all burners work). You should be sure that your stove is cleaned thoroughly as part of your regular cleaning habits. And, make sure that you use your stove regularly, especially for boiling water for tea. Also, look for gaps between your stove and sink; if these items are positioned close together, and the gap is less than two feet, then this creates a clash between fire and water (the elements)
   • Your bedroom – This is where you sleep, and thus it is also where you rejuvenate and relax to prepare your mind and body for the next day. Your bed should be placed in a command position. When your bed is positioned directly in line with the door, this is considered the coffin position and is believed to cause health concerns in the feet or legs. Also, avoid placing your bed on the same wall as the door; this can cause poor sleep. Avoid bedrooms that are round, L-shaped, or triangular in shape. It is best if your bedroom is square or rectangular, which represents stability. The command position allows you to see the door from your bed, but you are not in direct line with it. The command position is the location furthest from the door, that is not in a direct line with it. In most cases, it is located diagonally from the door, and facing the door.

   Look at Floor Plan and Chi Flow Before You Purchase a Condo or Lease an Apartment

   If you are in the position to assess the floor plan or layout of your condo before purchasing, it will help to ensure that you have space to work with to maximize furniture placement while assuring proper flow of energy. If the chi flow is already smooth, or you can improve flow through furniture positioning, then you are in good shape. But it can be very difficult, if not impossible, to reposition the kitchen and bathroom, or even the bedroom.With Feng Shui, walls, especially with the right positioning, will promote the good flow of energy. This, in turn, will provide more positive feelings inside the home, which can aid in wellness. While it is possible to use artwork on a wall that is not positioned as you desire, when you can work with proper wall placement in the first place, it will be much easier for you to achieve a proper Feng Shui.

 *Guest Blogger- Emmy NoelMarble.com

Head Turning Home Interiors

When I think of Missoni I think of distinctive fluidity and motifs that transcend the spirit of time. Poetic multicolored extensions of luxury fabrics that have draped everyone from models, celebrities and myself a time or two. I’ve been a Missoni devotee for years and fondly remember trips to our local vintage store scavenging the racks in hopes of that one great find!  Established in 1953, sheer fortitude brought the once mom and pop knitwear shop in Italy to the global empire it is today. Missoni has been affectionately diversifying and growing prosperously far beyond their iconic and refined womenswear. Known for their instantly recognizable vibrant patterns I’ve been obsessed with the whimsicality of it all! Chevron, zigzag and vibrant patterns adorn Misson’s archives. Saturated with color their fabrics can alter a dwelling into an inviting and exhilarating experience. What some of you may not know is that they design equally fabulous home décor collections! They have been dominating in all segments and I love how they brought their infamous brand to the world of interiors! The fashion powerhouse has stayed true to their brand with their bold colors and contrasting prints. I wanted to share with you some of their new home décor pieces that has captivated me once again. Sit back and relish in the visual and tactile prints intertwined with great layers of colors and textures. The new energy is inescapable in the most satisfying way…       

Tips On How To Make Your House Refreshing After Your Move This Spring

Moving in spring can be fun because you’ll get warmer weather right around the corner. After a tiring relocation process, it’s time to open up the windows and let the fresh air breeze through your new house.

If you’re looking to enjoy a refreshing home after your move this spring, here are a few tips to refresh your home with some DIY improvements.

1. Do a surface cleaning

If you want to invigorate the feel of your new home after moving, there’s something useful about dusting, vacuuming, and polishing. After a long, dark winter with the accumulation of dust and dirt, it feels good to make your place look clean and bright before organizing your stuff. A deep clean inside and out of your new home can transform it into a welcoming one. With a super dwelling place, you may feel more excited about welcoming people in once again. Besides, doing surface cleaning is all about preparing the space for family and guests for your welcome party.

2. Remove the extras                 

Eliminating unnecessary stuff doesn’t only happen before moving. Sometimes, you still have to declutter some of your belongings even after you relocate. Spring is the right time to refresh your new home before you get settled in. By this, start purging unused and unwanted things. You can do that by holding a garage sale or donating the stuff to a local charity within the area.

Another thing is that if you see some items that you haven’t used for a year now, it’s probably the perfect timing to really let go of them for good. Make sure you don’t keep one or two boxes in your garage after moving. Remove all the extras and enjoy the things you currently have.

3. Organize spaces

           The rooms in your new house are absolutely in complete disarray due to piles of boxes you’ve got from moving. Since spring is the time for awakenings and renewal, it’s a good idea to organize some cluttered areas to provide them with an inviting look and feel. Start by cleaning up the spaces. Once you’ve cleaned the space, arrange your stuff in their designated place and tidy fashion.

When it comes to furniture, you may consider re-situating them to make your new house more relaxing. If you need someone to haul your furniture back and forth into the moving truck, seek out help from professional movers near me for help.

4. Let natural light comes in

 After a whole season of dark, cold winter months coupled with stressful moving days, it’s time to catch a few rays going forward. Always keep in mind that natural light doesn’t only make the surroundings bright, but it also minimizes anxiety and improves your mood. For that reason, washing your windows first before doing any other tasks can be the first thing you should do. Make sure your windows can let the light in. If you have curtains, use the thin ones so that natural light comes through it. By doing this, you’ll definitely enjoy every ray from nature.

5. Try painting or wallpapering

Having a fresh coat is one of the best ways to incorporate a pop of springtime color to your new living space. Thus, choose the color that makes your place more colorful. However, if you sometimes fear the task of painting, you can try using wallpapers to give your space a refreshing look. When it comes to the kitchen, you can add new paint inside the cabinet and cupboards. In the bathroom, go for bold prints for revitalizing effects. You can apply this to your bathroom accessories and shower curtain.

6. Add some green

 A simple way to make your new house refreshing after your move this spring is to bring nature in. By adding a bouquet of fresh flowers, you can enjoy the fresh smell, thus making you smile all week long. Even if spring isn’t a gardening season yet, you can still add some greenery that will surely brighten up your day.

7.Use new décor

      A spring refresh after your move is more than just cleaning and getting rid of unnecessary belongings. It’s more about making your new home more refreshing with the addition of unique home décor, pieces of artwork, and other accessories. If you have existing decorations from your old houses such as an antique painting or a family portrait, you can display them to add some personal touch to your living room.

Conclusion

 With warmer weather in spring, moving can the perfect time to jumpstart a new beginning. To get started, make your house refreshing after your relocation with these simple DIY home upgrades. Doing so will not only make the moving process less stressful, but it’ll also make it a great success. However, if you’re still looking for assistance for your move in New York City, there are moving companies NYC that can take care of all aspects of the process.

Guess What Designers Are Calling The Next "It" House Plant?

While glossing through the pages of the latest House Beautiful or Architectural Digest magazine have you noticed a common thread among the accents of greenery? We have certainly taken noticed and incorporate this stunning house plant into our designs when we can. If you haven't guessed it already, I'll give you a clue. It's a plant that features very large, heavily veined, leathery, violin-shaped, glossy green leaves that grow upright on a tall plant. It's the perfect specimen indoor plant, the fiddle fig leaf tree that can grow quickly and beautifully for years! I've always been quite fond of these ornamental trees for their style and ability to grow swiftly..  Their green and shiny leaves, coupled with their unique shape make this plant your go-to choice for entertaining areas.Rule number one about your fiddle leaf fig: It loves light! This is one of the most important factors for the health of your tree. They loath sunlight so placing close to a window where sunlight is available. Your Fiddle Leaf Fig will grow best with consistent, bright, filtered light. Rotate your plant periodically to ensure success on all sides  If you live in a darker climate with not a lot of sunlight all year long, this can present a problem for your plant, so beware.Number two rule to remember is your fiddle leaf plant loves rich, well-drained soil. You will have to re-pot your plant once a year because the roots will become crowded growing through the container's drainage hole, causing possible root rot. Your fig can grow a couple of feet every year, 6 feet in total if given the proper care.Number three rule is watering your plant. Fiddle leaf figs like through watering, but do not like to sit in water. An under watered plants leaves will turn brown and an overwatered plant will begin to smell. Only water when the soil is dry to the touch, water thoroughly then allow to dry out again.Lastly remember to dust the leaves often so the plant can photosynthesize properly. The dust can interfere with the plant's breathing and could invite fungus the leaves.   Every so often inspect the underside of the leaves and keep an eye out for little pests. You will also want to fertilize during the spring to enhance the plants foliage and promote new growth. .Then sit back and enjoy your beautiful house plant! 

How Can You Coordinate Colors in a Room?

Individual colors might have their own separate appeal, but together, they can completely fail to coordinate. To grasp the relationship between reds and blues, whites and blacks, greens and browns and more, you have to understand and appreciate the "character" of each color. What do we mean by character?Every color has a unique personality, which changes not only the appearance of a room but also its mood. You need to find colors that cooperate and agree with one another, serving to complement or contrast each other in attractive or exciting ways. In doing so, you'll create the perfect scheme for your space.Planning that scheme is among the most enjoyable parts of the interior design process. In this article, we'll walk you through some suggestions for color coordination that are easy to follow and relevant to both beginners and experienced decorators alike. Before you begin your renovations, review the advice below.

1. Leverage the Color Wheel

The color wheel should remain one of your primary tools throughout the design process. It indicates the color families and shows how they relate to each other, simplifying your task of finding the right paints for your project. If you need to validate ideas and schemes, the color wheel is the first place you should turn.

2. Contrast With Complementary Colors

Complementary colors are on opposite sides of the color wheel, and each tone emphasizes the richness of the other. When you're pairing these tones, your best option is to match a subtle color with a more dominant color, such as a lighter orange with a stronger blue. This combination is liable to change with your design, of course.

3. Add Nuance With Related Colors

Related colors are adjacent to each other on the color wheel, and they give a nuanced alternative to those who are hesitant to embrace the contrast of complementary colors. The combination of similar tones isn't necessarily striking or memorable, but it brings cohesion and harmony to a space. 

4. Determine Your Accent Colors

An accent color can pull your room together. You can choose a specific wall as a focal point and add white or black to bring out patterns or paint with two bold colors to tie in with the rest of your decor. If you employ your accents well, they'll contribute to the unity of your space.

5. Decide Color Placement

The arrangement of your colors is integral to your design, and you should determine your placement based on the value scale. Walls and floors are often a lighter value, with floors slightly darker than walls, and window coverings and furniture are usually a medium value. Your darkest values are your accent colors.

6. Apply the 60-30-10 Rule

The 60-30-10 rule will ensure that the colors in your space are proportional and balanced. The main color for your room should take up 60 percent of the design, the secondary color should take up 30 percent and the accent color 10 percent. This guideline includes more than your paint choices, covering furnishings . 

7. Avoid Overcomplicating Your Design

Selecting too many colors or patterns can make your walls loud and distracting, drawing from the value of the rest of the room. As a general rule, four core colors and two patterns are the maximum. As for accents, you should use as many as you need to realize your vision, but again, don't overcomplicate things.

8. Consider the Flooring in Your Space

The flooring in your space is crucial to consider when you're deciding on a color scheme. If it's properly leveraged, it'll highlight the attractive qualities of your design. When you're developing strategies to coordinate your walls and flooring, ensure that the colors lend themselves to a sense of continuity, not contrast.

9. Acknowledge the Effect of Your Colors

To restate an earlier point, each color has its own unique character, and these distinct personalities are critical to acknowledge during the design process. Red is energetic, powerful and passionate, while blue is peaceful and dignified. Violet has an air of serenity, while green conveys renewal and growth.

10. Keep Adjacent Rooms in Mind

As you develop your design for the room you intend to change, you should factor in the adjacent rooms as well. Depending on how much of each room is visible from the next, it's essential to plan your scheme so that it won't conflict with the flow of your home. Remember, each room exists within a much larger space.

Color Coordination Is Simple

Color coordination is simple as long as you follow time-tested techniques and general rules for managing different elements of your space. With that in mind, have a great time decorating! Holly Welles believes in making the most of any space, no matter how cramped. You can subscribe to her own real estate and home décor blog, The Estate Update, for the latest tips in figuring out homeownership. Guest Blogger- Holly WellesReal Estate Writer, The Estate UpdateW     https://www.theestateupdate.com