How To Clean Out Your Garage

If your garage is anything like most garages, it’s probably a dumping ground for all the unwanted items in your home. This mess can be really frustrating, especially when you can’t find anything because of the clutter. Not to mention, it’s dangerous having all this stuff just lying around. If you’re ready to take control of your garage and clean it out once and for all, then read on for some comprehensive garage clean-up ideas!

Decide What To Keep and What Can Go

The first step in cleaning out your garage is to figure out what you want to keep and what can go, which might be a little difficult, but it’s important to be honest with yourself. If you haven’t used something in the past year, then chances are you don’t need it.

Take Your Donate Pile to a Local Charity

Once you’ve decided what items you want to keep and what can go, it’s time to get rid of the stuff you don’t need, which you can do by taking your donate pile to a local charity. Donating is a great way to declutter your garage and help those in need.

Sell Items in Good Condition

If you have any items in good condition that you don’t want or need, then consider selling them. There are several ways to sell them, including online platforms, such as Craigslist and eBay. You can also have a garage sale.

Plan for Junk Removal

Even after you’ve decluttered your garage, chances are there will still be some junk left over, which is where dumpsters come in handy. You can simply rent a dumpster and have it delivered to your home. Then, you can fill it up with all the unwanted junk in your garage and call the dumpster company to come and haul it away. If you plan to clean your garage over a few weeks, then talk to your dumpster company about any weekly junk removal Los Angeles CA options they might have.

Take Your Time

It doesn’t have to be difficult to clear out your garage. You may tackle it one step at a time and reclaim your parking space in a single weekend with these ideas.

4 Awesome Game Room Ideas

If your home has some open and extra space, why not consider turning it into an entertaining game room? No matter what your style or personal preferences, there are many ideas to try.

Whether you enjoy playing darts or you have thought about custom pool tables, there are several directions you can go. On the other hand, maybe you like videogames or watching the big game with a group of friends. If you need some more inspiration, check out this list of awesome ideas to try.

1. Create a Sports Room

What is your favorite sport? If you really like baseball, hockey, football, golf or soccer, one fun idea is to turn your game room area into a sports room. By adding memorabilia to the walls, shelves and light fixtures, you can create the perfect environment for ultimate fans.

2. Embrace Natural Light

For something a bit more subtle, you should think about embracing natural lighting opportunities. Because there are numerous natural light benefits including improved mood and boosted Vitamin D intake, you can enjoy seeing better around your game room while also taking advantage of several other perks.

3. Install Cool Lighting

Speaking of lights, an alternative idea to try is installing cool styles of different lighting. Whether you add some black lights, string lights or a lava lamp, there are multiple ways you can create a unique ambiance that will easily increase the coolness level of your game space.

4. Create a Game Closet

Calling all board game lovers! Where do you currently store all of your games? If most of them are scattered on your shelves or in a box, why not create a game closet to give them their own organized storage? If you want to be super organized, put your shelf in the closet.

When it comes to creating an awesome game room, there are many ideas to try. Let this list be your inspiration.

4 Design Tips To Elevate Your Dining Room

The dining room serves as a lovely respite from the typical day. Although not used often, this room acts as a celebratory spot, marking momentous occasions with others. It’s the area where you clink glasses with toasts, carve the holiday turkey and blow out those birthday candles. When you walk into it, you should smile and feel the same joy in the decor as you do at those times. Consider the following tips if you’re ready to upgrade your dining room to match your happiness.

1. Ask for Help

There is no shame in seeking out a designer’s advice. After all, people have different talents. Designers understand the latest trends and colors, and they have a keen awareness of space. Locate someone specializing in commercial interior design Great Falls VA, and ask for a consult.

2. Don’t Skip the Floor

Your flooring makes a statement, so don’t ignore it. If you’re keeping the original material, have it cleaned. If you want to spruce it up, consider adding a sleek, elegant look with wood or vinyl plank. If you’re going to add some softness, splurge on a rug. It delivers texture and color.

3. Let the Light Reflect Your Personality

Dining lights have traditionally been chandeliers. This piece now comes in a variety of styles and colors so that you can make a personal statement. You can stick with traditional; you can go bold with bright colors. You might even find yourself having fun with a geometric shape.

4. Invest in Some Art

Once you have your color scheme, look for artwork that enhances the look and feel you desire. Get one or two pieces you love and let them speak for you.

This significant room deserves attention to showcase how much you like life. Pick out pieces that reflect you, and enjoy making them memorable.

Home Repairs To Leave to the Pros

When you’re considering updating your home, you’re likely looking for ways to save money along the way. However, you want to ensure that you don’t cause yourself more stress and problems in your quest to save a dollar. Here are some home updates that you should always leave to the pros. 

Electrical

Electrical fires are the third cause of home fires and happen in approximately 50,000 homes each year. While you might feel that you can watch a video online and learn what you need to, you never want to take the chance with something so serious. If you wire something incorrectly, you could quickly find that replacing your home and all of your belongings will be much more costly than simply hiring an electrician in the first place. 

Flooring

While you’re likely okay to pull up and dispose of old carpet, you never want to remove any other type of flooring yourself. Getting too aggressive when removing old tiles could mean that you go right through the subfloor, which means your costs just went up.

You’ll also want to rely on the experts when laying the flooring. If you try to lay and stretch the carpet yourself, you’ll likely find that you have bunches and pockets where the carpet doesn’t lay correctly. Similarly, suppose you try to take on the floor tiling installation Jacksonville FL yourself. In that case, you’ll quickly realize that the amount you spend purchasing the tools and supplies you need for the job will likely surpass what you would have paid a tiler for the job. 

Finishing Drywall

If you hung the drywall in your home, you might feel like tackling the finishing of it yourself. However, you’ll likely want to leave that to the pros. Applying drywall compound is a much more complicated process than you might realize. Not spreading and sanding the compound correctly could mean that you see the drywall seams through the paint, or your walls will be obviously uneven. Instead of hassling with it, let a professional do it for you. 

Effective Ways To Have a Successful Home Remodeling Experience

Buying a home is something that millions of Americans do every year. Once you have the home of your dreams, keeping it in good shape should be one of your top concerns. The only way to accomplish this goal is by taking on the right home improvement projects.

Every year, over 115 million home improvement projects are taken on in the United States. Are you thinking about taking on a home remodeling project? If so, consider these tips on how to have success with your upcoming project.

Working With the Right Professionals is Important

The average homeowner knows very little about how to remodel their properties. This lack of knowledge can lead to numerous mistakes being made. The last thing you want is for your home to be in worse condition after a remodeling project. If you want to avoid this problem, then you need to realize the importance of hiring professionals to do this work.

Finding the right construction services Montreal QC will require some time and research. Assessing the experience and reputation a construction company has is important before hiring them. In most cases, you can find this information by going online. Seeking out recommendations from your friends and family members is also a great way to ensure the right company is hired.

Don’t Forget To Develop a Budget

One of the worst mistakes you can make when taking on a home remodeling project is failing to establish a budget. In most cases, this mistake will lead to you overspending. Instead of dealing with the financial problems, this will cause, you need to get itemized estimates to figure out what you have to spend on your improvements. With this information, you can avoid putting yourself in a financial bind.

By using these great tips, you can have an enjoyable and stress-free home remodeling experience.

What You Should Know About Tax-Deductible Home Improvements

Different homeowners have different motivations for making upgrades to their residences. Some contemplate resale in a few years and want to maximize their return on investment. Others want to create their dream home and go all-out with major renovations. You may be interested in how improvements may lower your tax burden. While you should consult a tax professional, here are some other things to know. 

Medical Home Improvements

Renovations made for medical accommodations for you, your spouse, or any children may be tax-deductible to the extent that they don’t improve the value of your property. In the IRS’ view, getting a tax deduction and an increase in value from a sale would be a double benefit. Medical home improvement deductions can be taken the same year. Not all improvements are created equal. For example, adding handrails to your bathroom wouldn’t impact your value as much as installing an elevator

Home Office Upgrades

If you use part of your house as a home business, some upgrades involving that space may qualify for deductions. For example, if you’re upgrading the floors throughout your house and your business space makes up 10% of the overall square footage, you may be able to write off 10% of the cost for new floors. That’s something to think about when you’re contemplating upgrading to hardwood stairs Westerly RI

Energy-Efficient Modifications

Home improvements that make your place more energy-efficient aren’t usually tax-deductible; however, some upgrades count as tax credits. Whereas deductions lower your taxable income, tax credits are subtracted from your liability. Depending on your situation, some upgrades may save you more money. It’s strongly recommended that you consult a tax professional before proceeding. 

As a property owner, you may have various motivations for upgrading the features of your residence. If lowering your taxes is the goal, you should know that not all changes will provide a benefit. Talk to a tax attorney or knowledgeable professional as you put together a plan.