Giving your garden a spruce up for summer

Do you have a green space that doesn’t really look very green at the moment? Don’t worry, now is the perfect time to give it a spruce up ready for summer. From laying new lawn to increasing your plant life, there are lots of ways to get things looking green again.

Lay a new lawned area

Laying a new lawned area is going to provide you with an instantly greener looking space. But, if you want to make sure it stays green, do your preparation first. The cost of turf isn’t your only concern. Making sure you know what type of soil is in your garden and picking the right variety of grass for your plot is crucial.

You don’t need to stick to squares or straight lines with your lawn design, or even stick to one lawned area. You could have three different sized circles of lawn spread across your garden instead.

Get tidy and organized

It’s all very well adding more greenery to your garden, but before you start adding in lots of new plants, it’s a good time to assess what you’ve got. Splitting large plants and replanting specimens into more suitable locations could help increase your yield without needing to buy more. You might have cut down some of your old trees and now wondering how to kill a tree stump. Several DIYs work, some involve controlled burning or using Epsom salt. Whichever method you adopt, see to that the stumps are cleared safely and properly.

Having a general tidy by clearing away weeds and cleaning up old pots will also help your garden’s overall appearance.

Put plants in every possible space

Plants are the life of the garden, giving us something truly beautiful to look at. Borders and raised beds are the traditional places you’ll find flowers and other plants. But, you can use containers, hanging baskets, and window boxes too. And if you want to increase your plant life even further you could add vertical gardens along your boundaries. You can also decide if you want flowering or non-flowering plants. To make it greener, you can opt for succulent plants, climbing plants, and so on. If you prefer to have a vibrant and colorful garden, you can check out Woolmans Flower Plants and see if you can grow such flowering plants in your garden.

Also, another way of increasing your greenery is to make sure there’s color in the garden all year round, not just in the summer. Adding evergreens, and late and early flowering plants will help.

Add some summer fun

Once you’ve got your garden’s green areas sorted, perhaps it’s time to think about adding some fun elements for the summer.

Think about adding some play equipment or garden games for family time. This will give youngsters the chance to burn off a bit of energy during the summer months. And perhaps a pizza oven and bench seating for al fresco meals.

Who loves slime?

We do! And your kids do too – so lets get sliming with OOSH

OOSH by Zuru (one of our favorite brands) just released a super exciting new product, Potion Slime Surprise.

https://youtu.be/Z23t0F1nKvY

These kits come in a genie potion like plastic container, that contains all the ingredients needed to make some fun slime. Each kit has 2 slimes creations inside.

The potion options are:

Sea Treasure Tonic

Wild Dreams Potion

BFF’s Elixir

Light As A Could Serum

Endless Energy Tonic

Sweetness Serum

Deep Sea Elixir

Enchanting Potion

https://youtu.be/dXhd3pxD2Vo

All 8 potions are fun and easy to make. While other slime projects include a sticky situation these potions are easy and have was less mess factor, which any adult can appreciate.

When you open the potion bottle you will find all the ingredients for 2 separate potions. Look at the instruction and separate the ingredient so you use the correct ones for each potion.

Typically they all go like this: Mix a potion with another ingredient in the container OR mix a solution with water. Be sure to pay attention to the instructions as some do NOT require water, and by adding water you will ruin the potion. You can use the large potion bottle packaging to mix the ingredients. Each potion bottle comes with a magic wand! The wands are GLOW IN THE DARK! How fun is this?! Use the wand to mix your potion – making this craft easy on the adults’ and fun for the kids. Once the potion is in the works you had bonus ingredients. These can be things like beads, glitter or sequins.

You will need to mix them for 3 to 6 minutes for it to get to the right consistency. If it feels too runny or sticky then keep mixing it. Once you are done with the wand, set it aside and have your child mix it even more with their hands. This helps speed up the process.

Then play! Squish, roll, squeeze and pull. This slime is so fun and looks magical. Each potion comes with a small potion jar. This is how you can safely store the slime so it doesn’t get lost or hard. As a tip – these option bottles actually open at the bottom, not the top. The top part, which looks like a cork, is permanent. Flip the bottle upside down and the bottom pops right off.

My daughter and son both love these kits. While the names may be more feminine, don’t let that stop you. Your boys will love this project too.

Order all 4 sets of

Oosh Slime Potions Lab Surprise DIY Slime Kit

today on Amazon

Natural stone is a sustainable material that has been used in homes for centuries. It is a classic material that will make any space feel luxurious. Integrating your natural stones into your interior design will give your home a cozy feel. If you are considering remodeling your home, here are several ways you can add natural stone into your home.

Granite Shelves

Shelves are great for organizing and adding some elements of design to any room. If you have limited space, floating shelves are a great way of adding some visual features to your bare walls. Go for shelves made from granite remnants; they will allow you to bring out your personality. Since stone can be heavy, ensure you properly support each shelf to prevent accidents. While you can mill down the thickness, you need to consider what you will put on the brackets before going that route.

Natural Stone Fireplace

If you want to make your fireplace the focal point in your living room, then using natural stone is the way to go. Stone will easily integrate with your home décor. Stones comes with unique patterns that will make your fireplace stand out. Besides, the natural stone hues will contrast with the colours of your home, allowing your fireplace to make a powerful statement. Along with some antique items from a site like firesideantiques.com, your fireplace is sure to be the focal point of your living room, helping to create a cosy atmosphere that everyone will enjoy snuggling around.

Tabletops and Kitchen Counters

The best natural stones for kitchen countertops and tabletops are granite and quartzite. They are sturdy, non-porous, durable and clean up easily. There are so many colours to choose from as well as the type of finishes to install. Natural stones can also be used for the backsplash.

Flooring

If you decide to reach out to a local contractor that engages in Bathroom Remodeling, they might suggest that some of the most commonly used natural stones for flooring include; limestone, tiles, marble, travertine and granite. They are highly durable and require little maintenance. Natural stones provide a luxurious feel in a home while exuding earthy vibes. If you are not afraid to experiment, you can mix and match different colours and textures to create unique designs.

Marble Bathroom

Renovating your bathroom? Why not try using marble. This stone has distinctive veining with eye-catching colours making it the focus in your bathroom. When you choose marble for your bathroom, you improve its overall look. The stunning texture of marble can transform your bathroom effortlessly. The easiest way to achieve a perfect look with marble is by adding a marble basin or a wall clad in marble. This will instantly change the look of your bathroom. Consult with professionals who provide bathroom remodeling jacksonville fl (or closer to you) and plan out how you can renovate the bathroom with these ideas.

Furniture Tops

If you need to cut back on the wood furniture in your home, you can experiment with other textures and visuals. You can put a stone top on your coffee table, a dresser or your desk. Then finish it off with some decorative pieces to take it a notch higher.

Limestone for your Bedroom

Limestone is formed from shallow marine waters. It contains fossil fragments. It’s often used in interior décor, and you can add it to your bedroom. Suppose you want an accent wall: Limestone is stylish and classy and will give your bedroom space some elegance. Still, it can be used for flooring as it is soft when stepped on.

Conclusion

Natural stones add value and elegance to your home, especially with their wide variety of colours and textures. If you are considering doing a home renovation, be sure to add some natural stones, even if it’s just some decorative items.

pixabay

Getting on the property ladder is challenging. You have to find the right location, get a Lynchburg home inspection, budget for the mortgage, etc. It can seem like a very daunting step to take but fortunately, there are a few different options for homebuyers, and plenty of people out there, like Red Deer mortgage brokers, available to help guide you through the process and choose the best finance option for you. If you’re looking to invest in real estate for the first time you could consider a shared equity mortgage.

If you’re looking to follow the dream of owning your own home, you’ll almost definitely want to know about two government organizations established to give the housing market a boost – Who are Fannie mae and freddie mac? In order to save money, you could also buy a new build “off-plan”. Perhaps you would prefer to invest in a rental to make earnings from your new property. Nowadays there are also plenty of great real estate apps that can help you decide. Here are five alternative ways to buy a house.

Shared equity mortgage

This is an option for first-time buyers who are interested in real estate slightly beyond their budget. You can opt for shared ownership with the landlord, meaning you only own a percentage of the property. The end goal tends to be to eventually buy the remainder of the property yourself. For more details on how to do this, here are shared equity mortgages explained.

Consider a new build

There are certainly pros and cons of new builds. They tend to be more energy-efficient so cheaper to run overtime. Not to mention they are clean and fresh and a blank canvas to paint your portrait on! Especially if you will use it for rentals, however many people like to keep new builds for themselves because of their novelty. You can also often get a reduced rate on a new build while construction is in progress. This is known as off-plan. Another positive thing about new builds is that there aren’t previous owners to deal with so you can plan a stress-free move with a shorter chain. There are often teething problems with new builds, however, so do your research.

Remortgage your current property

If you’re thinking about selling your current property to move to a smaller place you could consider other alternatives. You could stay in the same property and instead leverage its equity. You can find out how much equity you can leverage using a Reverse Mortgage Calculator. This is a way to boost your retirement funding without downsizing, for example.

Invest in a vacation home

You could invest in a rental and make money from your real estate. One option is to buy a vacation home. These tend to have a higher yield in terms of rent as you can charge more for a shorter time. The staycation trend is here to stay and maybe people are looking to rent properties in more local destinations. You can also use the property for your own staycations. Here are a few more of the benefits of owning a vacation home.

Let technology do the work for you

Viewing property doesn’t have to be restricted to booking a tour with a realtor. With advances in technology such as virtual reality and artificial intelligence, you can check out new homes online. Here are some of the best real estate apps in 2021 you can try. Let technology do the work for you. These apps give you estimated prices, notifications based on your personal preferences, and the means of contacting interested parties. It’s much easier to buy a house remotely nowadays. You can even take a virtual tour of the entire place and get all the information you need.

Deciding to sell your home is a significant change. Whether you need somewhere bigger or downsizing, selling a home isn’t an easy one. It’s not a process that can happen overnight, and it can sometimes take a while before the ball gets rolling, but that’s okay. It can be challenging, tiring, and overwhelming, but it can also be fun, exciting, and thrilling. Starting a new chapter is always daunting, but it’s often necessary. There are various resources available online (such as the article available at https://cristalcellar.com/first-time-home-seller-needs/) that might help you know more about how you could sell your house faster and move on to the next chapter of your life. However, here’s some advice you may want to take on board when selling your home. It can help your home sell faster and make the whole process a lot easier.

Get a realtor

The pressure of selling a home can get a little too much. That’s why it’s best to offload a lot of the work onto a great realtor. In fact, a good real estate agent can make all the difference when it comes to selling your home. A trained realtor will have sold hundreds of homes in the past. This gives them all the knowledge they need to sell any house in the future. They know the markers and home values like the back of their hand and will be able to market your home beautifully. They can speak to the right clients and have your home viewed as soon as it’s put on the market, improving the chances of it selling quickly. Plus, if your Charlotte realtor has charm and charisma, they’ll be able to sell your home with ease.

Stage your home

It’s lovely to visit a house that looks like it has been lived in and shows any buyer that the home is liveable. However, it can also be off-putting seeing certain things around the house. The last thing any potential buyer wants to see is dirty washing, unmade beds, and toys scattered all around. It’s not as appealing as a clean and tidy space, and it can limit a potential buyer’s imagination of the place. They may be too focused on personal items instead of imagining themselves living in the property. If your sofa is looking worn, perhaps your bed looks blander; even if your kitchen utensils need an upgrade, do it. Or maybe you need to get in touch with the likes of a Hinesville soft washing who might be able to pressure wash your driveway or sidings for you! The prettier your home looks, the more appealing it will be. Besides that, you want to make your house look its best when you’re putting up pictures on listing websites or apps for potential buyers to see. When you get the house fully ready, you might want to look for a photographer specializing in real estate/homes to click detailed pictures of your home that showcase its best aspects. A quick search with phrases like “real estate photographer near me” should help you find a good list of potential photographers you can hire. But, it’s vital that you stage your home before you do any of that. If you don’t know where to start, there are home staging companies that can help. Using one of these companies is also ideal if you’re selling an empty home. It’s harder for buyers to picture themselves in the house when there’s no furniture, so by adding some, even just the basics, you’re creating a mental scenario for them to fit into.

Do small renovations

If your home walls are looking a little drab or the carpet is looking a little warn, change them. It’ll make your home look so much more appealing to any buyer. Plus, it’ll be great for you too because you won’t have to look at any dingy work. These small renovations will work well for you in the long run as buyers can envision themselves moving straight into the property before having to work on it themselves before moving in. More extensive renovations are not recommended as you’re unlikely to get back the money you put into it. If you were to spend thousands on landscaping, that’s great for you, and yes, it does make the home look nice, but you certainly won’t get back half of what you paid. The same goes for sunrooms, outhouses, or even loft conversions. These big renovations can be costly, and as you’re planning to move out, don’t waste your time, energy, and money.

It can be tough letting go of a home you love so much but starting a new chapter is entirely refreshing! It’s worth it.