Preparing for Guests

Hosting Easter dinner this weekend? Have friends and family coming to visit after church? Getting ready for company but you’re too busy to keep everything pristine? Hosting is always a nice way to spend a holiday but can be stressful leading up to the event. Cut your stress with this quick checklist that will make sure you’ve got everything around the house tidy enough to host.

Take advantage of a long weekend to complete a big project which will pay off for years to come. Here are some ideas to get you started.

Keep it Simple to Prepare for Company

  • Tidy up the existing landscape that may be intruding on the common area
    • Trim trees and shrubbery
    • Mow, rake, pull weeds
  • Clean off patio furniture
    • Power wash or use a washcloth to clean your furniture that has been sitting all winter long
  • Lay down a yard rug
    • A bright, colorful rug will accentuate any outdoor space
  • De-clutter visible areas where guests could be hanging out
    • Consider outdoor storage bins
    • Make an outdoor toy box
    • Utilize a hose hider
  • Pressure wash driveways, patio, and paths to remove any automotive oils or saps that guests could potentially track into the living area
    • Keeping the outside clean will help your end-of-party cleanup in the long run
  • Climate control to keep guests comfortable
    • Set up shade for daytime events
    • Heating lamps for when the sun goes down
  • Upgrade lighting to keep the party going after the sun goes down
    • String lights
    • LED strip lights
    • Tiki torches
    • Candles
    • Solar lights
    • Lanterns
Continue Reading

Winter Décor Ideas

The winter holidays are upon us, and for many, that means family, friends, and lots of eating & drinking. For some, the holidays afford them a break from work and plenty of time to deck their home and yard full of decorations. For others, the holidays only ramp up their hectic lifestyle and grant them little to no time to spice up their space. Whichever category you fall under, here are a few quick & easy suggestions to give you some heading.

  • Inflatable yard decorations

 

  • Bow ties & Ribbons
  • Wreaths

 

  • Wrap up some boxes to look like presents
  • Light up the yard with LED
    • String lights
    • Reindeers
    • Christmas trees
    • Santa / sleigh / elves
    • Snowflakes
    • Raindrops from eaves and trees
    • Stars

 

For more ideas, check out Winter Decoration Ideas

Continue Reading

How to Declutter and Help Your Community This Year?

Are you planning to declutter your stuff that you no longer use? Do you know that you can donate your used things to those in need through charitable organizations? The average U.S. household has been estimated to throw away around 68 pounds of clothing every year, clogging up the landfills in many cities. “Consider going through your closet during your next spring cleaning. You don’t realize how much can be stuffed in their until you pull everything out and organize!” (Claim Quote)

Thus whether you are moving to your second home or just want to clear all your clutters, it is a time to start sorting your unwanted and unused items. When you donate your unused items to charitable organizations, you contribute to making the world a better place.

Before donating your stuff, consider their condition. You should only donate the things which are new, gently used, or unused, which means the items that are in good condition, presentable, and clean. Do not denote things that cannot be used by others or don’t work properly, have missing parts. When it comes to clothing, do not donate clothes that are torn, ripped, or stained.

Here’s what you can donate:

Warm Coats

If you are running out of closet space and have some warm coats that you don’t wear, consider donating them to people who need them. That way you will free up your closet space to store your new clothing and help someone stay warm and safe during the winters.

Furniture

Are you planning to buy new furniture for your living room to give it a more cozy and comfortable feel? If yes, then you can declutter your old furniture. Big, bulky furniture look beautiful yet comfortable but can make your room appear smaller. You can declutter that bulky furniture and donate them to any charitable organization and purchase some smaller-scale furniture.

 

Electronics

If you have some phones, tablets, TV, computers, or related devices that you no longer use, then you can donate them to people who cannot afford the brand new set. Your old tech could be very beneficial for students who need to succeed in their academics. “Consider donating old tech collecting dust in your cupboard to someone in need.” (Claim Quote)

You can contact a professional organizer and figure out what can be donated for the welfare of the community. You can take your stuff to the local do-good organizations and contribute in donations of all kinds.

Besides, you will find ways to make your living room look larger while decluttering you stuff.

So, are you ready to help your community? Start decluttering your things.

To know more details, you can visit https://c-reps.com/home-improvement/

Continue Reading

Backyard ideas

Backyard projects are a fantastic way to get out of the house and get those creative juices flowing, especially as the warmer weather is finally upon us. Get the whole family together or tackle a solo project to customize your space so everyone can get the most out of it. Whether the hands-on approach isn’t possible or you just want to kick back and relax, these ideas can easily be subcontracted out to the professionals.

  • Create an outdoor living area
    • Outdoor sound system
    • Build seating and storage benches
  • Outdoor Recreation Area
    • Lay down artificial turf
    • Gym equipment
      • Pull up bars
      • Monkey bars
    • Courts
      • Basketball
      • Soccer
      • Volleyball
  • Build a deck or patio
    • Add a retractable awning
  • BBQ grill island
  • Pool / Jacuzzi
    • Above or below ground
  • Firepit
    • Temporary (transportable)
    • Permanent
      • In-ground
      • Above-ground
  • Add walkways to yard amenities
    • Stone
    • Colored gravel path
    • Concrete
    • Wooden pathway
    • Brick
    • Glow in the dark path pavement
  • Light up the area
    • Patio lighting
    • Walkway lighting
    • Landscape lighting
    • String lights between trees and the house
  • Fence in the side yard for trash bins and other unsightly necessities
    • Add a shed to store landscaping tools out of the elements
  • Update fencing
    • Paint or varnish
  • Install a fountain
  • Tree swing
  • Fertilize the yard/ landscaping to promote growth
    • Plant native plants/trees
  • Garden
    • Decorative
    • Zen/meditation area
    • Vegetable Garden
    • Herb garden
    • Greenhouse
  • Compost bin/pile for garden
    • Tuck this away from the common area to avoid any unpleasant smells or annoying bugs

 

A special thanks to these page contributors. Click a name to open their public profile for contact information.

Vineeta Pherwani , Anil Kondaveeti , Fred Strickroot , Khoussrow Vissighasabeh (George Vissi)

Continue Reading