#it is exercise but it doesn't actually raise the Fitness skill

[victorluvsalice]

Speaking of which -- Alice, having meditated her Fury down to acceptable levels, went to take care of a spooky symbol in Smiler’s room before going to entertain the cat with laser times, while Victor set about fizzing up a batch of plasma fruit and planting some new crops in his new planters (daisy, sage, taro root, and green peas -- he’s up to Gardening 9 now by the way!), and Smiler practiced their Mixology skills in the barn for the amusement of the dog. Everybody keeping nice and busy! And it was midway through these activities that I remembered --

They had to make their resolutions for the upcoming new year! Very important holiday tradition, that. So I clicked on everybody in turn and checked what was available -- Alice I decided would want to get fit (as she’s gotten a lot more active since becoming a werewolf); Victor to complete an aspiration milestone (since he’s so close to getting to the next level of Freelance Botanist anyway -- just gotta do some PROPER grafting!), and Smiler to raise a skill (always a good standard option). So now the gang have some goals to achieve before the end of spring, nice. :)

But first -- time to try out that plasma fizz! Victor was busy getting Shadow ready for a walk, so I went ahead and had Smiler just go and grab it themselves and try a bottle. They seemed to enjoy it, but to my disappointment, it didn’t seem to relieve any more Thirst than your standard plasma pack or plasma fruit -- that is to say, not much at all. I mean, look, I know nothing compares to the rush of getting the plasma straight from the vein, but you’d think carbonating it would at least give SOME benefit. Meh. At least Smiler has it as an alternate source of nourishment going forward -- and hey, they got to share a nice chat with Alice while they were drinking. Can’t do that if your fangs are buried in someone’s wrist!

[spotaus]

please know whenever you give any ichor lore in either tags or a post, i am going

i love love love lore drops.

Wooo!!!! It is so freeing to hear that, thank you haha!!! Everytime you rb or ask or smth I always kinda just go

AND. Y'know- ya know what this gives me the chance to do??? LORE DUMP (putting it under the cut because it might get long lmao-)

I went back on my old phone (basically my art storage system) to find some old art of Ichor!! Like, the four pieces above are not completely Canon anymore, (I couldn't draw Paps to save my life 😭) but this was from before I had decided how Ichor and Reward were created!

The first one labeled 'Judgement' is actually a pretty accurate portrayal of New God aged Ichor! This was when I had it planned that Ichir was the God of judgement abd he made some poor choices so Balance chipped a piece of his power into Reward and Ichor had to raise him. That's no longer the case, but the design transfers over! In the second one 'Punishment and Reward' you can see that Balance's Halo was going to be on Ichor too! This is technically something he *could* manifest still but he deeply chooses not to. The design from 'Eclipse Era' for Ichor is 100% accurate. This was the Era when Ichor ran away from the god's to go stop a prophecy + ended up falling in love and having a full mortal family. (They- they're dead as hell but uhhh-) Then the training fits were scrapped, but the concept continues. Ichor has to train to keep himself healthy since his godly magic is weakened, abd Reward drags him out to do little exercises once they're trapped in the Catacombs!

Another thing is this one specific tree? (Looks goofy af, ignore that- it's meant to be a weeping willow but fluffier lmao-) It's on a ridge a few mountains away from Mt. Ebbot, overlooking a mountain village that Ichor always went back to. It's their sacred tree, but Ichor was the one who made it so different. Smth smth his blood got to the roots once. But basically if he's mourning, if he's celebrating, if he has any big occassion he goes to this tree. It would break his heart if this Tree was ever cut down or severely damaged by anything that wasn't Weather related.

And (old art again, rip my skills-) once upon a time, Ichor could manifest Dragon Features from his magic! Now this translates into a Canon ability to turn into a dragon-ish beast form, but that's more his bones reshaping and less Gold Magic Manifestations lol. He's always had a connection to dragon-vibes, and because he doesn't use gaster-blasters, he *is* the blaster. Only when he needs it though. (And with the chains he can't change shape at all, so that's only a post-story kinda thing or pre-chains thing lol-)

I also have another scheme cooking (two, actually?) One with his Sons (the immortal ones that exist in Catacombtale and escape into the Omega Timeline if that happens-) and the other is Regarding the first drawing I ever made of him and doing a comparison lol- Hoping this was fun lore in the meantime!!

[asdpawprint]

Book recommendations/reviews for my fellow service dog owner trainers:

(I kept reading for years after successfully training my service dog, because autism.)

Forward Together: An Inside Look at Guide Dog Training by Christie Bane

Yes, it's about guide dogs specifically. Yes, it's very long. But it's by far the most detail I've found about the entire process of training a service dog. Read it for the temperament descriptions, read it for the puppy raising chapter, read it for the examples of breaking down complex behaviors into smaller pieces, read it for the discussion of which behavior issues are generally worth the effort to fix vs which issues generally justify a wash out, read it for the consideration of how corrections look to the surrounding public.

The only substantial dislike I have of this book is the escalator section. It's harsh and very dependent on how extremely resilient and forgiving guide dogs have to be. But that's 12 pages out of almost 600 total.

Read it! It's so good! This is genuinely one of my favorite books of any topic, and certainly my favorite service dog book!

Control Unleashed: Creating a Focused and Confident Dog by Leslie McDevitt

This one is written in the context of reactive dogs in agility classes, but most of the exercises are excellent for teaching a dog that potential distractions predict that good things are about to come from the handler! It's especially great for dog distraction training, obviously. Plus great skills for a handler wanting to reduce or avoid punishment in your training!

Some of it seems counterintuitive if you're reading it from a perspective of simply "reward good behavior and punish bad behavior," but it genuinely does work. Looking at it in terms of classical conditioning instead of operant conditioning helps it make a lot more sense.

The Ultimate Service Dog Training Manual by Keagan Grace

"Finally," you say, "something specific to what I'm trying to do!" But this is actually my least favorite of this list. It is a decent wide overview, but doesn't go into complex details or nuances, and was almost entirely information I'd already learned online after a few months of research. The proportion of accurate information is also pretty similar to the internet, meaning there are weird or outright wrong tips mixed in there alongside the helpful parts.

My biggest dislike is the breed recommendations in this book. I think too many guardian breeds are included, and too much benefit of the doubt is given to various designer crosses. But in all fairness, the book also has enough emphasis on genetic temperament and disqualifying traits to mostly offset that. By following the information in this book, a person may waste time looking for the right temperament in a poorly fitting breed, but they probably won't pick a poorly fitting temperament just because of the breed.

This particular book might be helpful if you're brand new to learning about service dogs and prefer to read a book rather than learn online, but otherwise I wouldn't bother. (Read Forward Together instead. It's so good!)

[helpconnieandsuz]

Five Effective Techniques To Stay Enthusiastic In Your Physical Fitness Journey

While passion might initiate our journey towards physical fitness, it is actually inspiration that preserves us. It could be testing to maintain the travel and excitement when the results do certainly not come as swiftly as counted on. However, the secret is actually to keep inspired. This article highlights 5 tried and tested strategies to stay stimulated in your physical fitness journey. These efficient recommendations can easily assist switch your fitness targets from discouraging tasks right into possible breakthroughs.

5 Practical Tips to Transform Your Fitness Target

Set Reasonable Goals

Setting possible targets creates the cornerstone of any sort of physical fitness adventure. It's critical to recognize that enhancing your body doesn't occur over night. Start by setting tiny, sensible goals that may serve as tipping stones in the direction of your much larger physical fitness objectives. The feeling of success you'll obtain from completing these much smaller goals will certainly raise your motivation as well as peace of mind, promoting genuine, long-lasting modification.

Discover an Exercise You Love

Physical fitness performs not automatically imply investing hrs in a gym. Discover an exercise routine you delight in, and it will not appear like a duty. It may be dance, treking, cycling, and even walking your dog. The even more you enjoy your workout, the even more determined you'll be actually to continue. Physical fitness should be exciting, certainly not a burden.

Create a Fitness Schedule

Congruity is the key to achieving long-lasting fitness targets. Creating a routine creates a behavior, making it less complicated to adhere to your physical fitness program. Select a time of the day when you are actually very most lively and also book your workout session then. Consistent attempt is going to undoubtedly produce end results, and also observing development will definitely keep your motivation degrees high.

Consist Of Day Of Rest

While exercising is actually vital for physical fitness, thus is actually rest. Over-exertion can result in exhaustion or even trauma, which can derail your physical fitness journey and also minimize your motivation. Include day of rest right into your routine to permit your body to recover. Throughout these times, involve in lightweight activities like stretching or even doing yoga to keep your body active while still healing. When prioritizing wellness, have a look at the nestleporusza.pl internet site. Discover a gold mine of wellness and also fitness info, consisting of skilled insight, motivational content, as well as practical pointers for a more healthy life.

Train Pal

A little bit of pleasant competition never injured anyone. Possessing a workout pal that shares your fitness goals may dramatically increase your inspiration. They can easily help push your perimeters, celebrate your achievements, and choose you up when you are actually down. Together, you are actually more probable to keep dedicated to your fitness adventure.

Summary

Remaining encouraged in your fitness experience is actually an endurance, not a sprint. It has to do with finding pleasure at the same time instead of only paying attention to the result. By specifying practical goals, locating workout sessions you enjoy, setting up a regular, consisting of remainder times, and also exercising with a friend, you'll uncover that motivation comes normally. Keep in mind, every tiny action in the direction of your fitness goal is a triumph and also a factor to celebrate. So, lace up your footwear and also embark on your physical fitness journey with restored vitality and also interest.

[worurntas]

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The exact Alpilean equation is made of ingredients that happen to have been cautiously picked in addition to established for their own overall performance. That they put a different super foods that demonstrated raise your major body temperature and therefore make positive changes to energy. Which include, ginger could greatly reduce bloodstream glucose ranges or sustain a normal slimming. Aside from that it stimulates a feeling of height, that will help you stay in order together weight loss desired goals. An additional effective ingredient with regard to Alpilean is normally chromium, which is to be able to decrease passion in addition to strengthen your vigor. Moreover it comes down your entire television leptin stages and even can support a good metabolic rate. Many other products normally include moringa leaves, which you'll find loaded with nutritional value for instance vitamin c, calcium, iron, and potassium. Moreover improve a normal functioning coronary heart and additionally enhance ingestion. Alpilean also includes African mango seedling, which is actually a highly effective facility which happens to be with higher vitamin antioxidant and anti-inflammatory houses. This also sustains human brain as well as liver organ get the job done and then navicular effectiveness. It's just a robust trigger of fatty acids, which can help an individual handle fat not to mention triglyceride certifications. By addressing the internet site, an discover expertise in Alpilean weight loss more quickly.

[softsebnbuckystan]

Soul ties - Part 6 (Bucky Barnes au)

"Hold, hold on, hold onto me

'Cause I'm a little unsteady"

Word count : 2061

Sleep didn't seem to come to you that night, and you didn't know whether the reason was the pizza you'd had for dinner, your husband's obvious neglect or your supposed soulmate sleeping in the same building. After tossing and turning in your bed for over three hours, you grabbed a pillow and a plaid, put on your slippers and went into the main kitchen. A herbal tea under the stars should  be a good way to help you sleep, right? You tried to stay as silent as you  could despite the boiling water in the kettle – you always refused to microwave water – and picked some chamomile infusion Wanda had chosen. With your cup in one  hand, you opened the picture window. One thing you liked about the compound was the few balconies it had : they weren't too big, but they were large enough for you to sit on a pillow and look at the stars, your back against the wall. You were once again trying to spot constellations,  the August sky being perfect for this kind of exercise.

"Can't sleep?"

You almost spilled your tea on your plaid.

"Sorry I scared you."

You smiled weakly at the man who'd just joined you. "It's fine. Wanna sit here with a fellow insomniac?"

Bucky ran a hand through his hair before sitting on your left. His right arm brushed against your exposed skin and you tried to hide your shivers.

"What's keeping you up?" You ask. "I mean,  you obviously don't have to tell me."

"Nothing much. Some nightmares."

"Are they ones about...about the war?"  Your question startled him ; he shot you a  confused look as you lowered yours. "Sorry. Steve told me a few times about his best friend Bucky and I... I made the connection."

"I thought Steve avoided talking about those things."

"What? The way he lost you?"

"Yeah."

"Sorry, that was tactless."

"Don't worry about that." He looked at the sky, leaning his head against the wall. "Wanna tell me what's keeping you up?"

"Well, it's quite ridiculous really," you eluded.

"Steve told me why you're spending time here. Is it him that keeps you up at night?"

You sipped on your tea for a few seconds. "I guess so. It's just that I keep thinking about what I'm doing wrong, you know? I must be doing something wrong."

You heard him take a breath, his shoulders raising with his chest. His arm against yours felt strange, in a good kind of way. You'd never felt so close to anyone in such a short amount  of time, and you wondered what made him so special aside from the meaningful tattoo you shared.

"I don't think you're to blame. Can I be honest?"

"Sure."

"I'm sorry if I seem out of place, because we only met a week ago but..."

"You feel like I get you, right? Just  like I feel that you get me."

He nodded calmly. "He doesn't seem to realise who he was lucky enough to marry."

"Lucky, huh?"

You looked at him with a smile and had it not been so dark, you could've sworn a red tint had reached his cheeks. "You're hella smart," he explained. "And from what I've seen, you're kind."

"And you think that after two days with me?"

He shrugged and allowed himself a quiet laugh. "You let Sam get the last piece of pizza earlier. I would have never done that."

"True. That is my most selfless act ever." Jumping on his joke felt natural and as it turned out, he had a communicative laugh.

"Why  don't you laugh more often? I like it."

Bucky looked you  in the eyes, paralysing you with his blue pupils again. It seemed as if he was searching for what to say.

"There aren't a lot of things that make me laugh. You do, though."  This one didn't sound like a joke, and you placed your hand on his forearm, instantly sending a funny feeling down to your stomach.

"Consider me flattered," you said. "Can I ask you a question? Don't feel like you're forced to answer, though."

"Sure."

"I'm just curious, working in biochem and stuff... I'm basically the school nurse for theses guys," you explained. "So how does it feel, the metal arm? Do you...feel things the way you do with your right arm?"

He stopped for a moment. "I did not expect that question. That's a good surprise." He raised his left hand in front of him. "It's weird, actually. This one is really advanced. Shuri did an amazing job with it, but... sometimes I'll touch something and think I feel something. I know it's my brain playing tricks on me, but it's not that sentient. I feel pressure, tension...but not actual human sensations." He let his hand fall down on his knees.

"Do you miss it?"

"I got used to it. But yeah."

"Okay, close your eyes."

"What?"

"Do you trust me?"

"Y/n, we met last week."

"I know! But like, it's not a 'do you trust me with your life' situation. Think of it as 'do you trust me with basic skills' kind of thing." You chuckled. "Now close your eyes."

Bucky gave in and you gently grabbed his metal hand. "What do you feel now?" you asked,  stroking the back of his hand.

"I know there's something on my hand. And I know it's harmless. But...nothing more, I'm sorry."

"Don't be. It's part of you."

"And you don't mind that?"

"Why would I?" you shrugged. "It's you."

"Even if I were to do this?" He slowly raised his hand, approaching your face. You let him place his hand on your cheek. It didn't feel like flesh and bone, but it still felt right.

"Yes, even then." You held up his gaze, searching those blue eyes for any sign. Signs of what exactly, you didn't know yet. All you wanted was to stare into them forever, never leave this state of mind.

When Bucky's hand fell down your shoulder and kept running down your arm,  a thousand shivers ran down your spine. You couldn't – shouldn't – feel this way. You were married now, and doing this... To prevent  you from doing anything stupid, you looked away and leaned back against the wall. Getting away from him still was out of your league, though ; you settled for resting your head on his shoulder and spread your plaid over both your bodies. It might've been because nights were fresh, even in August, but it was mostly to make sure you were as close to him as you could be. Before falling asleep, the last thing you felt was Bucky's head letting itself fall on top of yours.

---

"Hey, you need to wake up."

The morning sun made you blink and you felt something on your thigh. Lowering your gaze, you noticed Bucky's hand. You tried not to freak out and looked up at whoever had spoken : Steve. Bucky shifted next to you, woken up by Steve's words  as well.

"What's going on?" you asked. Steve might have been the best at hiding concern, he couldn't always hide it from you.

He sighed. "Darren's here."

"Shit." You got up more abruptly than you should've, causing you to lean on Steve's shoulder for a second. "Where is he?"

"Right here."

You turned around, seeing Darren standing in the doorframe. Well, that was unfortunate. You thought you should've been feeling some sort of guilt after being found in another man's arms – technically ; all you felt was anger. You were angry that he'd showed up after standing you  up last night, you were angry about the neglect and his overall lack of care.

"What are you doing here?" you asked sharply.

"Bringing you home. Why didn't you come back?" His arms were crossed over his chest and he shot Bucky a furious look. "And why were you sleeping outside with this guy?"

Rubbing your forehead, you gestured towards Steve and Bucky.  "Could you guys leave us a minute, please?"

Even though Steve nodded and walked back inside, Bucky seemed unsure about  leaving you alone with your husband. You gave him a brief smile and he took the hint.  As you closed the door behind him to have some privacy – the door was made of glass, but oh well –, Darren started pacing.

"Did you cheat on me last night?"

"What the hell?" You  couldn't believe your ears. "You're kidding, right? You stood. Me. Up. You didn't even bother telling me in advance that you'd go at Brad's, and you didn't even come home. Didn't you think I was tired of being alone every night?"

"You're never alone."

"Damn it, Darren,  you came home past dinner every day since we got married! We should be on our honeymoon right now, and yet you don't even bother kissing me goodnight."

"That's all this is about? I work a little too much and you go away to your so-called family?" He'd stopped pacing and raised an eyebrow, proud of his innuendo. His insinuating Steve and the gang weren't your family made your blood boil.

"So-called? So-called, Darren? I love these people. They are my family and they've been more present for me today than you have in a week. What did you expect? That I would happily ask to be invited at Brad's, when I clearly am not welcome there?"

"You are welcome, what the hell are you talking about?"

"They don't like me, and you know that very well." You looked at the ground. You might've been angry, but never being able to fit in within Darren's social circle had always hurt you.

"Maybe you're not trying hard enough."

No words came out of your mouth. How could you say anything to that? This was the ultimate insult. You had given so much to this relationship that you'd never even thought that 'not trying hard enough' could've been  the reason they  disliked you. First dinner with them, Brad's wife had made fun of what was left of your Sokovian accent, asking Darren if he wanted you to help you get a green card. Of course you'd called her out on her racism. She got upset, but was it your fault? No. During a night out, Brad had been too handsy with you and when telling Darren about it, he'd told you that you were reading too into it, that he was just being friendly. They weren't good people, and you'd always wondered why Darren bothered hanging out with them.

"That's it, go away." You let out an exasperated sigh, opening the door. "You're going to leave the compound to go home and calm down. Maybe I'll be back in a few days."

"I'm not going anywhere without you." That could've sounded romantic. In his mouth, it sounded more like a threat.

"Hell yeah, you are. Now go. My birthday is in three days, and I don't want you to be like this then."

"Right, your birthday. Don't count on me to celebrate it if you don't bother coming home."

You closed your eyes for a moment before gesturing him to leave. He ultimately walked through the glass door and you saw him make eye-contact with Wanda on his way out. You knew she was trying hard not to throw him against a wall or something. You ran your hand through your hair, taking in what had just occurred. You knew Darren would feel better the next day and that it would be like nothing ever happened. You just weren't sure anymore whether it was a good thing or not.

"Don't worry, you can stay here longer," you heard Steve say.

"You're better off with us anyway," Wanda told you.

"You know he's-"

"Please, don't defend him," your sister pleaded. "He's not treating you right and you know it. He hasn't for years. Why are you-"

"Wanda, please. Not here."

You looked at Bucky out of the corner of your eye ; you didn't want to have that conversation in front of him, for some reason. Maybe deep down, you knew he'd side with Wanda. Having your sister call you out was hard enough ; you didn't need your soulmate to start doing it as well.

--- I just finished part 9 so I'm posting part 6 because I can't wait to have your opinion on this one!! Don't forget you can message me anytime to be added to the tag list :)

Tag list :

@ginger-swag-rapunzel @joscelyn02

[terubakudan]

My Lesbian Experience with Loneliness by Nagata Kabi - Book Review and Impressions

(light reflection) Perfect :D Hoping Tumblr doesn't flag me for this xD

Ok, I'm going to start this off with 'this is probably the first and only book review I'm going to do' xD Because I rarely do read books now, and just as rarely buy them. Also, I would have preferred to buy the English version but alas they only had the Chinese version in stock ^^"

Stumbling upon this on the Internet, I was immediately compelled to buy this, as if I knew I would love it and that Nagata's story would resonate with me.

【Short Version】 I can't recommend this book enough, it doesn't matter what sexuality you are or from what culture are you. Nagata makes sure to tell an honest and 'naked' (without embellishments) portrait of her own personal experiences. How she herself is a college drop-out (having only graduated from high school), pushed herself to live/work while struggling with depression and eating disorders, not being sure of what she wants and feeling that she doesn't 'deserve' things, realizing her own sexuality in that she likes girls, and just not feeling 'good enough'...all through her cutesy and unassuming art style.

I will say again though, cutesy art style aside, the book deals with some very heavy topics. Nagata is very honest and doesn't shy away from the gritty details, and I admire her all the more for doing so. Many yaoi and yuri comics often portray an unrealistic and fetishistic view of the LGBTQ+ community whereas Nagata's story is much more grounded and sincere. This is not an easy read, but it's not an overly depressive one either. Nagata literally struggled for years with her mental health, but ultimately found light on the other side. Not mainly through the help of others, but through her own choice to forgive and love herself.

5/5⭐ Definitely recommend and would read again. And if I could, I'd give Nagata a big hug and a heartfelt 'thank you' for sharing her story.

【Long Version】 While it's written primarily from an Asian (particularly Japanese) perspective, Nagata's experiences are ones that should resonate with anyone who has been through the same or similar things, regardless of one's personal background. And I myself, while being fortunate enough to not have gone through eating disorders or self harm, am no exception.

I grew up in an Asian (Taiwanese/Chinese Filipino) household, while my parents weren't Tiger Parents (no offense but fuck Amy Chua for thinking that's a proper way of raising your children), they still had certain expectations on their children: to find a good husband/wife, have a good education, have a 'stable' career, etc. And while I love my parents very much, I'd be lying if I said there weren't any times where I felt they were smothering me, there weren't any times where they kept on nagging and bugging me for very trivial details. My biggest pet peeve: guilt-tripping me just for wanting to spend time alone.

"For me, my parents' opinion of me is absolute." (NOTE: While I won't be providing exact translations of the excerpts I used here, I'll do my best to summarize the gist of them.)

At the same time, I cared very much about their opinion of me. I made it a point to do well in school, to do things according to their wishes, and just like Nagata, I didn't know what I wanted. This even extended to caring about others' opinion of me, more than my own. In my freshman year of college, I 'went along' with being friends with someone, who while was nice to me, turned out to be a manipulative bitch skilled in passive-aggressiveness xD Being half-Taiwanese/half-Filipino, it was hard to fit in since people always treated me differently, it didn't occur to me I could be choosy with friends, I thought as long as they were 'nice' to me, that would do.

Asian culture is largely a collective one, where we define ourselves by our relationships with others, compared with Western culture (primarily America, I'll be using America as a reference point) where individualism is absolute, where you define yourself as you like. In Asia, it's also normal for children to still live in the same house as their parents well into adulthood, compared with Americans who are expected to move out the house once they finish high school or start college, and they're quite literally 'on their own', having to pay their own tuition, rent, etc. Where I live (Taiwan), it's normal for adults to continue relying on their parents financially well until college. Nagata for instance, while saying her parents really make her feel so pressured, is grateful that she still had a home to stay in (and she's 28!).

If you ask me though, neither a collectivist culture or an individualist culture is absolutely good nor bad. Each have their own pros and cons, and both Asian culture and Western culture could learn a thing or two from each other.

After going through quite a few job applications, one of the interviewers tells her "Ganbatte!" (You can do it!) after Nagata tells her what she really wants is to be a manga artist.

And sometimes that's all we need really, a small gesture or kind remark can do wonders. Even if there's no base or reason for it, it's something worth believing in.

I often have doubts if I'm doing what I really want, if I chose the right major for college, if I'm doing the right thing, if I'm 'good enough'. I didn't grow up with much self-esteem as a kid, and often derived my value from others. But even at my lowest times, a 'you're doing ok' was very reassuring to me, be it from family, strangers, or people I care about. Sometimes that's exactly what we need, it may be small but it could be the difference between continuing to wallow in depression or re-evaluating and choosing to be better to oneself.

I find it's really important to know, that however alone you may feel sometimes, there are other people out there going through the exact same thing. It's something universal, and while a lot of things are really unfair in life, each person has their own lot or burden to deal with. I have a Taiwanese friend who, while being more financially well-off than me, has terrible parents. And I mean parents who are quite so literally toxic, unsupportive of her, and would outright say the worst things to their own daughter.

How depression and anxiety can feel sometimes, we can literally feel like it's impossible to breathe and be in a state of disconnection from the world.

"The sounds that invaded my ears occupied my empty brain, making me unable to think at all."

If you only did what your parents asked you to do, wouldn't days like those be very painful? In the end, only you can understand what you really want.

Nagata's art style is one I would describe as simple, cute, and effective. I personally think had her story been drawn in a more serious style, it would have been even harder to read, much less finish. It's also a choice that has artistic appeal to me, serious subject matter juxtaposed with a 'kawaii' art style.

Nagata also depicts very well her mental state and thoughts throughout her struggle and journey to self-actualization. Depression is a really tough thing to deal with, and sometimes we don't even realize that we have it or if we do, refuse to acknowledge it. In Asian cultures especially, mental health has always been something of a taboo subject and there is a very heavy social stigma associated with it. Nagata herself even said that her parents seemingly refused to acknowledge that their daughter's mental health was in a state of distress. In Japan, there is a concept called gaman (我慢), which is described as 'enduring the seemingly unbearable with patience and dignity', and while it is portrayed as an ideal virtue that inspires perseverance, it can be a source of heavy pressure for others. Gaman also means that you are expected to suppress whatever emotion or negative feelings you have, often for the sake of others and no matter how tough the situation becomes for you. And while I agree that through gaman you can become more selfless for others, it shouldn't have to come at the expense of your own well-being.

I was quite fortunate to have grown up in a more liberal Asian household, but even when it came to mental health, our family also adopted the same kind of attitude towards it, by carrying on as if nothing was wrong, or just not talking about it. And to be honest, there were numerous times I wished we had been more open about what was bothering ourselves at that time. Talking and being open about your feelings is not a 'weakness' but something incredibly brave to do, and it's my wish for that to slowly become more acceptable in Asian cultures, which I know is kind of a stretch, but it doesn't hurt to hope.

Nagata makes the decision to clean herself up, by taking a bath everyday, habitually exercising, and no longer wearing worn-out clothes.

Depression especially can be a bitch. It deprives you even of your physiological needs, like your need for food. Nagata had to struggle with that on top of eating disorders for a long ten years. She ate so little and even felt that she didn't 'deserve' to eat, and at one point, anorexia became hyperphagia, and she would feel so guilty for eating almost expired/expired food. Things that would otherwise be simple to do also end up becoming difficult/impossible to do, like taking care of your personal hygiene, getting up from bed, doing simple tasks etc.

Thankfully, after Nagata realizes that she never truly 'valued herself', she starts to turn over a new leaf. Even just starting with cleaning herself up, she takes this as a form of 'valuing oneself' and her mood starts to improve, which her family also points out. In the end, taking care of yourself is not a selfish thing to do, it can even make you a better person who is there for others.

Nagata meets up with the female escort she hired, as a means to experience human sexuality, which she had always repressed her curiosity for and treated as a taboo subject. (NOTE: And I'm glad that she met a really nice girl for her first time too!)

Sex and sexuality is also a subject that I feel is hard to talk about sometimes, which I think also owes itself to most Asian cultures being relatively conservative about it. I myself have only recently identified as bisexual, which I attribute to internalized homophobia, not wanting to admit I was into girls too. And to be honest, 'coming out' is something I'm still uncomfortable about, because I don't want to risk my relationship with my family and it's still something I would choose to be selective about with colleagues and friends. I'm grateful though that as crazy the Internet can be sometimes, it can be quite accepting and tolerant towards things that we wouldn't otherwise discuss with even the closest people in our circle. Nagata's memoir ended up capturing the hearts of many readers ever since she first published it on Pixiv.

Exploring your sexuality doesn't have to be scary, it should be something exciting and liberating. Nagata decided to take matters into her own hands, and while the days leading up to the encounter made her really nervous and she even considered not going through with it at all, she willed herself to continue, because she wanted to do this for herself, it would be pointless if she gave up after coming so far in her decision to value herself.

And it's these series of actions that she decided to do that ultimately led to her life turning out for the better, it gave her the courage to do what she always wanted: to be a manga artist, which lead to the publishing of this autobiographical memoir, something she wanted to create that would 'make people want to buy this book' and from her own preference for reading stories that 'speak of secrets people wouldn't want to tell others'.

Nagata mentions what she calls 'honey': something that varies from person to person. It could be your reason for living, that thing that drives/pushes you, or even your sense of belonging. It may not be something permanent, but you can always find yourself a new one. (she mentions the last time she had her 'honey' was during her high school days, and while she has grown apart from the friends she made, she has found her new 'honey' in the form of being a full-time manga artist.)

Nagata stumbles and trips a lot on her way to being a better version of herself, but who doesn't? She admits to things not necessarily being smooth, but at least she's doing better than before. And it's that decision to at least try that counts. We don't have to be perfect, we're all human after all.

TL;DR My Lesbian Experience With Loneliness is a honest, down-to-earth, and ultimately hopeful memoir about the struggles of mental health and learning about one's sexuality. It's an amazing book, and very much worth the buy.

A big thank you if you read through all of this too. I know it's a mess and writing isn't exactly my strong point, but hopefully I've convinced some people out there to give this book a read! Please feel free to share your thoughts and I'd appreciate it very much too if you reblog/like this post.

[btskismet]

Kismet (Chapter 18): A BTS Jin Imagines Fanfic

First ever fanfic. Contains some fluff and smut. Please read sequentially as it is a long story arc. Please provide feedback! My IG is btskismet.

November 7, 1944

Jun-seok was staring at a short Japanese man with a funny mustache. It was as if this man was trying to copy Adolf Hitler's tiny mustache. However, his mustache didn't seem to grow as well as Hitler's so it was half the length of the German dictator's, which made it look slightly skewed.

He expected for the Shosa (Major) to look a little more... refined. After all, he was the highest ranking officer in this district so far. He overheard that General Isumi was traveling to the capital of the country but would be back soon. So, Shosa Kimori would be calling the shots in this district for sure.

The man was smoking a tabacco as he was sitting inside what used to be a meeting room in the government building. He was looking at several papers placed on top of the table beside him.

He saw that he was looking at the military application form he filled out when he applied to be part of the Japanese Army. As the man looked at each page intently, Jun-seok shifted his weight while standing, anxiously waiting for what he had to say.

"So you know how to speak both Japanese and Korean, eh?", the man asked.

"Hai, Shosa Kimori", Jun-seok answered with a loud voice.

"Oh, I'm not Shosa Kimori. I'm Tai-i (Captain) Yuzawa. The Shosa couldn't meet you today. He went to the next town."

Jun-seok bowed really low and expressed his apologies. He felt stupid and for sure, he would be getting a beating. What a horrible mistake.

"It's alright. Stand up. I have another question for you.". Captain Yuzawa said, motioning Jun-seok to stand up straight.

"Do you know how to speak English?", the Captain asked, looking up to Jun-seok with one of his eyebrows raised.

Jun-seok hesitated. He thought he might need to lie because he might be sent to the enemy lines if he said he didn't speak it well enough, especially after what he said earlier. Would it matter if he didn't?

Before he was about to respond, the Captain raised his right hand and waved it slightly in front of his face. He was letting Jun-seok know that he didn't need to answer. "If you don't know, it's fine. The Mayor has someone in his family who can speak Japanese. It's important that you can speak both Japanese and Korean. Not all the locals speak very good English either."

Captain Yuzawa sets aside the papers and stands up to look out the window. He smoothens the creases on his pants. Jun-seok can tell that this man was stern and very detail-driven - his office was impeccably clean and all items on his desk, though minimal, were placed in a very purposeful way. Nothing was out of place.

When he faced Jun-seok, he started to speak in a very firm voice and said, "First of all, I don't agree having you here, Ittohei (first class private) Sakurai. We are having problems with some of the platoons here so if you do the job Shosa Kimori wants you to do, I think it will cause more trouble."

The Captain came up close to Jun-seok, peering into his eyes as they were of the same height. "Do you think you can speak to your fellow stubborn-minded Koreans to stop killing the populace?"

Jun-seok was flabbergasted in so many levels with the Captain's question. Yes, he heard the blatant insult to his race but what perplexed him was the fact that they were killing people and he was challenged to stop them.

"I will do my very best, Captain.", Jun-seok said as firmly as he possibly could. He knew he wasn't as confident as he would've liked, especially in front of this man who has profound disdain of his presence.

"Tch.", the Captain muttered and sat back down. "Dozo", he said and offered the seat across his table for Jun-seok to sit on. "I have a lot to share regarding your orders. Sit."

They spoke for almost an hour about what Jun-seok was ordered to do. It involved him knowing all the Korean platoon leaders and soldiers in the camp.

Lieutenant Akagi aka Gang Cheol was the one the army had most trouble with. Since he was the only commanding officer in certain remote areas of the district, he was the one who gave orders of having several locals killed on the spot. He also executed them as well. Though he was diligent in following orders from up top, if he was the lone officer with his platoon, he would exercise brutality in the most horrid way. 

“Lieutenant Akagi's platoon is fiercely loyal to him because they are all Koreans. But a few follow him because they are afraid to be beaten up.”, the Captain said with a bit of displeasure. Jun-seok thought that the Captain probably had several issues with Lt. Akagi in the past. After all, the lieutenant reported to him. He must’ve been reprimanded before in not being able to keep Lt. Akagi in line, he thought.

"We are stern and brutal if we need to be, especially to set examples to the locals. But if we just randomly kill them, then it doesn't serve our purpose here. Plus the Shosa is friends with the Mayor and he needs to have the coffee fields removed so we can build the tarmac. But he can't just order them to be done or else he destroys the friendship he has with the Mayor."

"Why is the Shosa friends with the Mayor of the town?", Jun-seok asked.

"Wouldn't you be if the man saved your life?"

The Shosa was in camp the first few days he arrived to the country and then rebel forces infiltrated it. A bullet struck the Shosa's abdomen and was bleeding heavily. The Mayor was on his way to the camp since he was summoned minutes before the fighting broke out and to take cover, he went inside the tent where the Shosa was at. He saw him and instead of running away, he dragged him to a nearby jeep and drove to the town hospital and had him treated. If he didn't do that, the Shosa would've died.

"Since then, Shosa Kimori wants to respect the Mayor and his community's needs to keep the town's resources running and for them to keep supporting us. Akagi and his platoon's antics are ruining those chances."

Jun-seok assessed how dangerous this was going to be. He knew that he would have extreme difficulty dealing with Akagi-san if he found out that Jun-seok is really Kim Man-seok's son. He had to make sure they thought of him as purely Japanese. But he won't be able to communicate with them if that's the case; they would shut him out.

"Captain, none of them must ever know that I am Kim Man-seok's son." Jun-seok said hurriedly. "Or else I'll never get close to them."

The Captain nodded in agreement. “Yes, you would have that difficulty. We have to make sure they don’t know. Did your face appear in any of the photos in the newspaper?”

Jun-seok tried hard to remember. He knew it was only photos of his father and brother that appeared in the papers. Since he was younger then, his mother made sure that he was not exposed to the media as his father and brother were recovering in the hospital.

“No. I’m sure of it”, he replied to the Captain.

“Alright then. You are to mingle with the rest of the platoon and make sure to get the others soldiers to change their mind about Akagi so they will follow him less. If Akagi sees that his soldiers are not as loyal to him, he would be less confident and then we can easily move him out of the platoon. If we did that now, his platoon will rebel against the higher officers and we will never get anywhere. Knowing them, they would kill everyone on sight. And I don’t want to lose soldiers anymore by executing them. We still have the rebel factions to deal with and I have less troops as it is.”   

Jun-seok nodded and understood his orders. He also surmised that he had to be crafty to make this work. His life depended on it too. Looking at Captain Yuzawa, he wasn’t one who would accept failure. He wouldn’t hesitate to execute Jun-seok if he failed.

“Before we assign you to the barracks to meet the platoon, you will have to report to the Jun-i (Warrant Officer) Watanabe. He handles our military equipment and you’ll be reporting to him. He is aware of your ‘other’ mission and agreed to help you.”

Jun-seok’s face lit up as soon as the Captain mentioned about the warrant officer and the latter noticed. “Yes, you are getting what you wanted, private. We are not going to let your skills go to waste. After all, you are going to work to get that tarmac built - it’s only fitting you get to work with actual aircraft.”

“Yes, sir! You can count on me, sir!”, Jun-seok said, beaming because of this news.

“You are dismissed.” 

Jun-seok stepped out of the office and was given information by the other private outside. He had to pick up supplies from the local market and meet the warrant officer there.

He couldn’t contain his happiness with the news. Finally! I’ll be able to do what I really wanted to do.

Jun-seok was pleased and he did a bit of a skip as he was walking to the market. He was smiling to himself, thinking of what it would be like to get close to an actual fighter plane. “I hope I can work on a Zero* or even the new Hayate**! That would be so cool!”, he thought with a huge smile. 

He was jostled from his thoughts of fighter planes when he reached the market. It was a busy area that morning and he was surprised that a lot of the locals were there and it was pretty noisy. He noticed that the locals didn’t seem to be too scared of the soldiers here as they were also quietly mingling with them, buying produce and food. The locals were selling their wares of vegetables, fruits, rice and fish. The smell of coffee was pretty strong as there were stalls brewing coffee and selling coffee beans. 

He came upon one stall and looked at the beans being sold. They were of good quality and they smelled wonderful. A young man talked to him in broken Japanese, asking if he wanted some. He said yes and he was given a small bag of ground coffee. When he was about to pay, the man decline. “Muryo de (free of charge)! Ok?”, the man said.

He bowed and thanked the man. As he walked away, he put the bag near his nose. The coffee smelled so good and this made Jun-seok smile. But he stopped in his tracks when he was in front of the sundries store where he was to meet Warrant Officer Watanabe.

“There she is again.”, he muttered. He was looking at the young woman he saw earlier who helped the man who was beaten up by the soldier. She was still wearing the same clothes and the nice 1940s hairstyle she had. She was smiling and talking with a Japanese officer in a very respectful yet comfortable way. he could see that the officer was smiling and acknowledging her, pleased that they were conversing.

She was bowing slightly for every comment the officer gave and though she moved respectfully, he could see that she was comfortable in her own skin. Like she was not about to be bossed around. She was very confident, even though she was acting gracefully and respectfully towards the superior officer. 

“She really is beautiful.I wonder who she is.”, he thought, observing her intently.

He started walking towards her and the officer but as he was about to approach them, she started saying goodbye to the officer.

“Gokigen'yō, Jun-i! Atode mata hanashimashou!” (Have a nice day, Officer. Talk to you later!), the lady said to the officer and waved. She didn’t look where she was going and bumped into him, which startled her. 

“Ah, gomen nasai, Yakuin (I’m sorry, officer)!”, she said loudly and bowed her head low.

Jun-seok gave a short chuckle as soon as she bowed, finding her quick change of disposition amusing. Because of this, it made her look up quizzically.

“Daijobu desu (It’s fine).”, he said softly. This made her stand up straight and bowed slight before walking away quickly. 

He looked back as she walked away, quite curious about this beautiful woman who was sparky and exciting underneath the surface. And to his surprise again, she looked back at him with that intense stare before walking away.

“I will meet you again.”, he declared in his mind before his attention was called by someone.   

 - - - to be continued - - -

*Mitsubishi A6M fighter plane - used by the Japanese army from 1940 to 1945

**Nakajima Ki-84 - a well-known Japanese fighter plane introduced in WW II in November 1944

[ill-be-istj-if-no-one-else-is]

1/4. I work in a tech job where I demonstrate the operation of latest/advanced instruments to clients (usually hospitals/universities). I don't find it personally fulfilling, but it pay bills while I figure out my life. Since my clients are usually more learned in the theory side of things, some ask why the instrument/software doesn't function in a theoretically ideal way (it's usually because of logistical constraints).

2/4. I get a bit frustrated with those kind of questions because I understand the impulse as a thought exercise, but I'm not being paid to speculate and its not part of my job to explain why the instrument doesn't work a certain way. As the job involves picking up the workings of a new instrument every other week, I have a lot of expertise in operation/function, but I don't know very much about the principles behind their functioning. 3/4. I know it's not relevant to my ability to do my job, but I feel the incompleteness of my knowledge gives me a sense of baseline anxiety and frustration, like I don't know enough and it unsettles me, like one question could unravel all my knowledge, even though I've largely received good reviews from my boss and clients for two years. Is this frustration something Te users experience? 4/4. INTP fits me otherwise, but I'm a little confused, because I find it easier than most Ti users to "let go" of answers when I know they're not relevant to the task. But I was also raised by two formidably competent STJs, so I wonder if I too use Si-Te or I've just superficially picked up their "get it done attitude" while internally retaining the Ti frustration that comes with not having a complete picture. Do you think parenting can affect how your functions manifest? Thanks!

---------------------------

Hi anon,

This is an interesting question and I’m not actually sure of the ultimate answer of whether you use Ti or Te but let’s talk through it!

Reading through this your writing style doesn’t strike me as INTP at all but I wouldn’t rule out ISTP or one of the IxTJs; that said if you did a decent amount of editing the ask or if you’re experienced in having to write business emails you might just be an INTP who’s picked up the skill.

Something I’ve been thinking about recently re: my own frustrations with high Ti; I think the problems I have aren’t with the desire to know everything, which I actually support to a decent extent; it’s not knowing when it’s appropriate to try to know everything and when you have to just get to work with the information you have. (Te users can have the opposite problem, of trying to go to work with insufficient information instead of taking more time to gather additional info).

So with that in mind, I think this could fit with either Ti or Te, but again based on what you’ve said I’d look at ISTP before INTP (granted, I do not know what led you to type as INTP), as the Se can often temper some of the Ti “but I must know everything” tendencies through pragmatism and the desire for real-world action. Your mention of one question potentially unraveling everything does make me think a little more of Ti, so yeah: check out ISTP.

As for the question at the end about your parents having an influence - I definitely think so! My mother is an ISFJ raised by TJs, for example, and I had a lot of trouble early on in learning MBTI in figuring out if she used Te or Fe since her management skills are pretty strong. It’s hard to predict exactly how they’ll influence you (eg: said ISFJ mom managed to produce my extremely ENFP brother), but if you know their types you can definitely see how you learned certain behaviors from them that are often associated more with their types than yours.

[badbitchbigtits-blog]

Improve Your Living Space And Be Happy Learn some simple home improvement projects that will allow you to change, upgrade or repair your living space. You don't need a lot of money or skills to get started. These tips are a great starting point for choosing your next home improvement project. You should gain some idea of the choices available to you. Two PVC pipes can be easily attached using primer and cement made for PVC. You need to make sure you use products designed for PVC so they'll hold and not leak. Furthermore, the pipe surfaces must be completely dry. You should put windows in the bathroom for more ventilation. You do not want to get stuck with unnecessary mold growth due to the humidity from the hot showers. Painting only covers mold up, it doesn't eliminate it. The key is to prevent the mold from growing in the first place. Add a window or some type of ventilation in order to cut down the humidity. Sitting on chair cushions flattens them over time. However, you can breathe new life into those flattened cushions with a a little sunshine. When cushions are placed in direct sunlight, they regain their bounce as moisture evaporates from the fillings inside the cushions. Be sure to flip over the cushions, and don't just leave them out in the sun because the colors can fade. Get some extra space on night tables by selecting floor lamps over table lamps. Floor lamps are free standing and can be moved around, while table lamps take up quite a bit of table space. Make sure the lamp you choose fits your decor and tastes. Think about installing motion detectors near the door that you use as the entrance. Since the light won't be on constantly, your energy bill will be lower. Motion-sensitive lights are a security asset, too, as they make it harder for burglars to approach undetected. Remember, a good door is worth its weight in gold. This item is your first chance to make a good impression on guests. If the door is not insulated properly or does not fit correctly, there will be a great loss of heat. If the locks and door frame aren't made well or are old, your security and sense of safety is lowered. If there are repairs that must be finished before moving in, focus on the heaviest repairs first. Simpler projects, such as updating your bathrooms or finishing up the basement, can be performed after moving in. Replacing your old windows for energy efficient windows will give your house a great new look, and it will also save you money on your energy costs. These windows offer quite the reward, so consider them. Do not use price as the only consideration when choosing a contractor. It may look like a bargain up front, but many contractors will bid low in order to secure the job, and tell you later about the extra money you will need to spend. Others will give poor craftsmanship that corresponds to their price. Thoroughly research what you want done, and select your contractor accordingly. Get windows that have a secondary glazing. These windows cost more, but they lower energy bills and reduce outside noise. Switch to these windows during renovations to ultimately save money and time. These windows are energy efficient, which means it will be simpler to cool and heat your house, and you will not have to worry about noise. If you want to get rid of popcorn ceiling, be sure it's first tested for asbestos. It is imperative that asbestos is removed and disposed of carefully, because it is a harmful substance. If you find asbestos in your ceiling, a professional may be needed to remove it. A new look and fresh appearance can be achieved easily with a low-cost coat of paint on your walls. You can browse through the different color options by checking out paint chips at the hardware store. Find colors you find complementary to your home. If you aren't happy with the look, repaint! When painting your walls, it is important to make sure to properly tape off the trim. Even if you exercise care when painting, you'll find that paint can still drip or run. Careful use of tape will protect your woodwork from unwanted paint drips. If paint does run onto the trim, you may have to repaint it. Shorten dryer hoses to boost energy savings and dryer power. Disconnect and vacuum your existing dryer hose. Cut the hose length down to just a few feet. It should be long enough to remove the dryer cleanly behind it. Shorter hoses run better. If you are having work done on your house before you sell it, focus on sprucing up the exterior first, before you do any interior work like plumbing or heating upgrades. The curb appeal of the home is what will drive people to come inside for a closer look. There is a easy solution to reduce power consumption when making your home improvements. Utilize a power strip instead of keeping all your home's electronics plugged in to the wall. You can turn a surge protector on and off. You can save energy by turning the strip off when you are not using it. When painting your home, use neutral colors. Neutral colors will make your rooms seem larger. Installing larger baseboards will make a room appear larger. Both options are able to be done for little money and make a home look a lot better. If you're unhappy with the work that your contractor has done, you need to be vocal. Have a meeting with the contractor in which you point out the parts of the contract you feel have not been carried out properly. If phone calls do not resolve the situation, follow through with registered mail correspondance. After that, contact your community consumer protection affairs office for assistance. Hopefully, these tips have helped you realize the potential of home improvement. You can make your home your own if you have the pertinent tools. Not only can doing your own home improvements save you money, but it can be something fun and enjoyable.

Home Improvement 101 - Read This Before Beginning

Equip yourself with the latest and greatest information on making improvements to your home. Take some advice from these time-tested approaches to improving your living space.

Sometimes, it only takes one small improvement to increase the value of a house. If you want to sell the home, think about making a few small changes. One example is giving your home a new coat of paint. This is simple and can increase the value of your home.

There are two main ways that you can make your ceiling look like it is higher than it actually is. Either use a floor lamp that is tall or paint stripes. These additions create the optical illusion of height. It makes your eyes focus on following lines and makes the room look higher.

Lampshades of simple structure and design are quite a bore. By using stencils, creativity, and paint, you will be able to transform your boring lampshade into a masterpiece. This will give your rooms some personality, taking away from the reality of how boring an ordinary lamp shade can be.

Do not allow your contractor to start unless a contract is signed. You may even be better off if the contract is looked over by an attorney before the first hammer is raised. It needs to clearly show warranty information, the amount of work that needs to be performed, total costs, and beginning and completion dates.

Organize your garage using some clear boxes made of plastic and arranging your items by type and use. Label the boxes and stack them. This is an affordable and easy way to protect belongings.

It's hard to overstate the impact that a really well-made front door can have. It's both the first, as well as last, sight of visitors to your home. Also, if you have one that is old or damaged, heat may be escaping from it. If the locks and door frame aren't made well or are old, your security and sense of safety is lowered.

Soundproofing rooms is a great investment. However, soundproofing each interior wall of your home might not be in your budget, so determine which walls are the most important. The best soundproofing areas include bathrooms, bedrooms, and media rooms. The kitchen can be a nice area to soundproof as well, unless it's a fairly open kitchen that attaches to a lot of different areas.

Don't just eyeball it. Get out the level and make sure everything is straight when you're installing your kitchen cabinets. Ensure that counter tops will be all of one height by creating a bench mark that begins at the highest point of the kitchen floor.

Pick an overall color story for your room. Selecting a complementary scheme is an excellent suggestion for your home's formal areas like your dining room. To find complementary colors, use the color wheel and find colors that are opposite of each other. For example: yellow and blue or orange and purple. Schemes based on complementary colors have a clear contrast between tones, yet they are visually appealing.

Add motion-detecting lights to your home's exterior to save money and increase security. These type of lights are only active when someone needs them, so you save money on electricity bills. Of course, if an intruder is trying to sneak onto your property, being hit with the sudden burst of light will send them running away.

Take the time to drain the water from your water heater bi-annually. A properly maintained heater will have greater longevity and efficiency. Just put a hose on the drain value and release the water.

If you don't care to do a lot of landscaping yourself and you'd prefer not to spend money on professional maintenance, one alternative is to put together a yard that requires minimal maintenance. This type of yard is made of rock beds that contain plants which require very little amounts of water. This will reduce the maintenance costs that you have to pay.

Most of the home improvements that you need done can be done on your own. Naturally, if a certain home-improvement job is extensive, you may make things worse if you don't have a professional handle it for you. You can easily work on your plumbing, painting or drywall if you do not have any previous experience. By doing the work yourself, you can save quite a bit of money.

A well-made stainless steel taping knife will doubtless be of great benefit to you if you plan on doing sheetrock taping. Not only will a high quality stainless steel taping knife last longer, it's also easier to clean after you're finished with a job. You will only ever need to buy one if you choose a knife that is stainless steel. Clean it after use, and store it carefully.

It can be inconvenient to live in a home that is undergoing a home improvement project. The best thing to do is work on the project when less people are in the home. Things will just be tense and stressful if others are home are feeling inconvenienced.

Prior to launching any home improvement project, know the cost involved by getting a precise estimate. A mistake people often make is underestimating the price tag of the project. When developing a budget, get several estimates and budget in extra money for unforeseen complications.

When planning any type of home improvement project, remember to allow room to place any debris you accumulate. A big mess results when demolition takes place, and you must put the debris somewhere. Make sure you know what to do about the debris ahead of time so that you don't end up having a huge pile when you are working.

Always be safe when you attempt any home improvement project. Make sure the gas is off if you are working around the fireplace, in your kitchen in the basement or anywhere else there may be danger. It can be dangerous if the gas leaks. You need to find out where your shut off valve is located. In addition, you want to be aware of any gas lines and their locations to avoid accidentally hitting one.

Now, with these tips in mind, you are prepared to conquer your next home improvement project. Take your pride of ownership into your own hands by initiating a new home improvement project.

End of lease cleaning melbourne

[fuckingfuckingchickentown-blog]

Improve Your Living Space And Be Happy Learn some simple home improvement projects that will allow you to change, upgrade or repair your living space. You don't need a lot of money or skills to get started. These tips are a great starting point for choosing your next home improvement project. You should gain some idea of the choices available to you. Two PVC pipes can be easily attached using primer and cement made for PVC. You need to make sure you use products designed for PVC so they'll hold and not leak. Furthermore, the pipe surfaces must be completely dry. You should put windows in the bathroom for more ventilation. You do not want to get stuck with unnecessary mold growth due to the humidity from the hot showers. Painting only covers mold up, it doesn't eliminate it. The key is to prevent the mold from growing in the first place. Add a window or some type of ventilation in order to cut down the humidity. Sitting on chair cushions flattens them over time. However, you can breathe new life into those flattened cushions with a a little sunshine. When cushions are placed in direct sunlight, they regain their bounce as moisture evaporates from the fillings inside the cushions. Be sure to flip over the cushions, and don't just leave them out in the sun because the colors can fade. Get some extra space on night tables by selecting floor lamps over table lamps. Floor lamps are free standing and can be moved around, while table lamps take up quite a bit of table space. Make sure the lamp you choose fits your decor and tastes. Think about installing motion detectors near the door that you use as the entrance. Since the light won't be on constantly, your energy bill will be lower. Motion-sensitive lights are a security asset, too, as they make it harder for burglars to approach undetected. Remember, a good door is worth its weight in gold. This item is your first chance to make a good impression on guests. If the door is not insulated properly or does not fit correctly, there will be a great loss of heat. If the locks and door frame aren't made well or are old, your security and sense of safety is lowered. If there are repairs that must be finished before moving in, focus on the heaviest repairs first. Simpler projects, such as updating your bathrooms or finishing up the basement, can be performed after moving in. Replacing your old windows for energy efficient windows will give your house a great new look, and it will also save you money on your energy costs. These windows offer quite the reward, so consider them. Do not use price as the only consideration when choosing a contractor. It may look like a bargain up front, but many contractors will bid low in order to secure the job, and tell you later about the extra money you will need to spend. Others will give poor craftsmanship that corresponds to their price. Thoroughly research what you want done, and select your contractor accordingly. Get windows that have a secondary glazing. These windows cost more, but they lower energy bills and reduce outside noise. Switch to these windows during renovations to ultimately save money and time. These windows are energy efficient, which means it will be simpler to cool and heat your house, and you will not have to worry about noise. If you want to get rid of popcorn ceiling, be sure it's first tested for asbestos. It is imperative that asbestos is removed and disposed of carefully, because it is a harmful substance. If you find asbestos in your ceiling, a professional may be needed to remove it. A new look and fresh appearance can be achieved easily with a low-cost coat of paint on your walls. You can browse through the different color options by checking out paint chips at the hardware store. Find colors you find complementary to your home. If you aren't happy with the look, repaint! When painting your walls, it is important to make sure to properly tape off the trim. Even if you exercise care when painting, you'll find that paint can still drip or run. Careful use of tape will protect your woodwork from unwanted paint drips. If paint does run onto the trim, you may have to repaint it. Shorten dryer hoses to boost energy savings and dryer power. Disconnect and vacuum your existing dryer hose. Cut the hose length down to just a few feet. It should be long enough to remove the dryer cleanly behind it. Shorter hoses run better. If you are having work done on your house before you sell it, focus on sprucing up the exterior first, before you do any interior work like plumbing or heating upgrades. The curb appeal of the home is what will drive people to come inside for a closer look. There is a easy solution to reduce power consumption when making your home improvements. Utilize a power strip instead of keeping all your home's electronics plugged in to the wall. You can turn a surge protector on and off. You can save energy by turning the strip off when you are not using it. When painting your home, use neutral colors. Neutral colors will make your rooms seem larger. Installing larger baseboards will make a room appear larger. Both options are able to be done for little money and make a home look a lot better. If you're unhappy with the work that your contractor has done, you need to be vocal. Have a meeting with the contractor in which you point out the parts of the contract you feel have not been carried out properly. If phone calls do not resolve the situation, follow through with registered mail correspondance. After that, contact your community consumer protection affairs office for assistance. Hopefully, these tips have helped you realize the potential of home improvement. You can make your home your own if you have the pertinent tools. Not only can doing your own home improvements save you money, but it can be something fun and enjoyable.

Home Improvement 101 - Read This Before Beginning

Equip yourself with the latest and greatest information on making improvements to your home. Take some advice from these time-tested approaches to improving your living space.

Sometimes, it only takes one small improvement to increase the value of a house. If you want to sell the home, think about making a few small changes. One example is giving your home a new coat of paint. This is simple and can increase the value of your home.

There are two main ways that you can make your ceiling look like it is higher than it actually is. Either use a floor lamp that is tall or paint stripes. These additions create the optical illusion of height. It makes your eyes focus on following lines and makes the room look higher.

Lampshades of simple structure and design are quite a bore. By using stencils, creativity, and paint, you will be able to transform your boring lampshade into a masterpiece. This will give your rooms some personality, taking away from the reality of how boring an ordinary lamp shade can be.

Do not allow your contractor to start unless a contract is signed. You may even be better off if the contract is looked over by an attorney before the first hammer is raised. It needs to clearly show warranty information, the amount of work that needs to be performed, total costs, and beginning and completion dates.

Organize your garage using some clear boxes made of plastic and arranging your items by type and use. Label the boxes and stack them. This is an affordable and easy way to protect belongings.

It's hard to overstate the impact that a really well-made front door can have. It's both the first, as well as last, sight of visitors to your home. Also, if you have one that is old or damaged, heat may be escaping from it. If the locks and door frame aren't made well or are old, your security and sense of safety is lowered.

Soundproofing rooms is a great investment. However, soundproofing each interior wall of your home might not be in your budget, so determine which walls are the most important. The best soundproofing areas include bathrooms, bedrooms, and media rooms. The kitchen can be a nice area to soundproof as well, unless it's a fairly open kitchen that attaches to a lot of different areas.

Don't just eyeball it. Get out the level and make sure everything is straight when you're installing your kitchen cabinets. Ensure that counter tops will be all of one height by creating a bench mark that begins at the highest point of the kitchen floor.

Pick an overall color story for your room. Selecting a complementary scheme is an excellent suggestion for your home's formal areas like your dining room. To find complementary colors, use the color wheel and find colors that are opposite of each other. For example: yellow and blue or orange and purple. Schemes based on complementary colors have a clear contrast between tones, yet they are visually appealing.

Add motion-detecting lights to your home's exterior to save money and increase security. These type of lights are only active when someone needs them, so you save money on electricity bills. Of course, if an intruder is trying to sneak onto your property, being hit with the sudden burst of light will send them running away.

Take the time to drain the water from your water heater bi-annually. A properly maintained heater will have greater longevity and efficiency. Just put a hose on the drain value and release the water.

If you don't care to do a lot of landscaping yourself and you'd prefer not to spend money on professional maintenance, one alternative is to put together a yard that requires minimal maintenance. This type of yard is made of rock beds that contain plants which require very little amounts of water. This will reduce the maintenance costs that you have to pay.

Most of the home improvements that you need done can be done on your own. Naturally, if a certain home-improvement job is extensive, you may make things worse if you don't have a professional handle it for you. You can easily work on your plumbing, painting or drywall if you do not have any previous experience. By doing the work yourself, you can save quite a bit of money.

A well-made stainless steel taping knife will doubtless be of great benefit to you if you plan on doing sheetrock taping. Not only will a high quality stainless steel taping knife last longer, it's also easier to clean after you're finished with a job. You will only ever need to buy one if you choose a knife that is stainless steel. Clean it after use, and store it carefully.

It can be inconvenient to live in a home that is undergoing a home improvement project. The best thing to do is work on the project when less people are in the home. Things will just be tense and stressful if others are home are feeling inconvenienced.

Prior to launching any home improvement project, know the cost involved by getting a precise estimate. A mistake people often make is underestimating the price tag of the project. When developing a budget, get several estimates and budget in extra money for unforeseen complications.

When planning any type of home improvement project, remember to allow room to place any debris you accumulate. A big mess results when demolition takes place, and you must put the debris somewhere. Make sure you know what to do about the debris ahead of time so that you don't end up having a huge pile when you are working.

Always be safe when you attempt any home improvement project. Make sure the gas is off if you are working around the fireplace, in your kitchen in the basement or anywhere else there may be danger. It can be dangerous if the gas leaks. You need to find out where your shut off valve is located. In addition, you want to be aware of any gas lines and their locations to avoid accidentally hitting one.

Now, with these tips in mind, you are prepared to conquer your next home improvement project. Take your pride of ownership into your own hands by initiating a new home improvement project.

End of lease cleaning melbourne

[madroxxordam-blog]

Improve Your Living Space And Be Happy Learn some simple home improvement projects that will allow you to change, upgrade or repair your living space. You don't need a lot of money or skills to get started. These tips are a great starting point for choosing your next home improvement project. You should gain some idea of the choices available to you. Two PVC pipes can be easily attached using primer and cement made for PVC. You need to make sure you use products designed for PVC so they'll hold and not leak. Furthermore, the pipe surfaces must be completely dry. You should put windows in the bathroom for more ventilation. You do not want to get stuck with unnecessary mold growth due to the humidity from the hot showers. Painting only covers mold up, it doesn't eliminate it. The key is to prevent the mold from growing in the first place. Add a window or some type of ventilation in order to cut down the humidity. Sitting on chair cushions flattens them over time. However, you can breathe new life into those flattened cushions with a a little sunshine. When cushions are placed in direct sunlight, they regain their bounce as moisture evaporates from the fillings inside the cushions. Be sure to flip over the cushions, and don't just leave them out in the sun because the colors can fade. Get some extra space on night tables by selecting floor lamps over table lamps. Floor lamps are free standing and can be moved around, while table lamps take up quite a bit of table space. Make sure the lamp you choose fits your decor and tastes. Think about installing motion detectors near the door that you use as the entrance. Since the light won't be on constantly, your energy bill will be lower. Motion-sensitive lights are a security asset, too, as they make it harder for burglars to approach undetected. Remember, a good door is worth its weight in gold. This item is your first chance to make a good impression on guests. If the door is not insulated properly or does not fit correctly, there will be a great loss of heat. If the locks and door frame aren't made well or are old, your security and sense of safety is lowered. If there are repairs that must be finished before moving in, focus on the heaviest repairs first. Simpler projects, such as updating your bathrooms or finishing up the basement, can be performed after moving in. Replacing your old windows for energy efficient windows will give your house a great new look, and it will also save you money on your energy costs. These windows offer quite the reward, so consider them. Do not use price as the only consideration when choosing a contractor. It may look like a bargain up front, but many contractors will bid low in order to secure the job, and tell you later about the extra money you will need to spend. Others will give poor craftsmanship that corresponds to their price. Thoroughly research what you want done, and select your contractor accordingly. Get windows that have a secondary glazing. These windows cost more, but they lower energy bills and reduce outside noise. Switch to these windows during renovations to ultimately save money and time. These windows are energy efficient, which means it will be simpler to cool and heat your house, and you will not have to worry about noise. If you want to get rid of popcorn ceiling, be sure it's first tested for asbestos. It is imperative that asbestos is removed and disposed of carefully, because it is a harmful substance. If you find asbestos in your ceiling, a professional may be needed to remove it. A new look and fresh appearance can be achieved easily with a low-cost coat of paint on your walls. You can browse through the different color options by checking out paint chips at the hardware store. Find colors you find complementary to your home. If you aren't happy with the look, repaint! When painting your walls, it is important to make sure to properly tape off the trim. Even if you exercise care when painting, you'll find that paint can still drip or run. Careful use of tape will protect your woodwork from unwanted paint drips. If paint does run onto the trim, you may have to repaint it. Shorten dryer hoses to boost energy savings and dryer power. Disconnect and vacuum your existing dryer hose. Cut the hose length down to just a few feet. It should be long enough to remove the dryer cleanly behind it. Shorter hoses run better. If you are having work done on your house before you sell it, focus on sprucing up the exterior first, before you do any interior work like plumbing or heating upgrades. The curb appeal of the home is what will drive people to come inside for a closer look. There is a easy solution to reduce power consumption when making your home improvements. Utilize a power strip instead of keeping all your home's electronics plugged in to the wall. You can turn a surge protector on and off. You can save energy by turning the strip off when you are not using it. When painting your home, use neutral colors. Neutral colors will make your rooms seem larger. Installing larger baseboards will make a room appear larger. Both options are able to be done for little money and make a home look a lot better. If you're unhappy with the work that your contractor has done, you need to be vocal. Have a meeting with the contractor in which you point out the parts of the contract you feel have not been carried out properly. If phone calls do not resolve the situation, follow through with registered mail correspondance. After that, contact your community consumer protection affairs office for assistance. Hopefully, these tips have helped you realize the potential of home improvement. You can make your home your own if you have the pertinent tools. Not only can doing your own home improvements save you money, but it can be something fun and enjoyable.

Home Improvement 101 - Read This Before Beginning

Equip yourself with the latest and greatest information on making improvements to your home. Take some advice from these time-tested approaches to improving your living space.

Sometimes, it only takes one small improvement to increase the value of a house. If you want to sell the home, think about making a few small changes. One example is giving your home a new coat of paint. This is simple and can increase the value of your home.

There are two main ways that you can make your ceiling look like it is higher than it actually is. Either use a floor lamp that is tall or paint stripes. These additions create the optical illusion of height. It makes your eyes focus on following lines and makes the room look higher.

Lampshades of simple structure and design are quite a bore. By using stencils, creativity, and paint, you will be able to transform your boring lampshade into a masterpiece. This will give your rooms some personality, taking away from the reality of how boring an ordinary lamp shade can be.

Do not allow your contractor to start unless a contract is signed. You may even be better off if the contract is looked over by an attorney before the first hammer is raised. It needs to clearly show warranty information, the amount of work that needs to be performed, total costs, and beginning and completion dates.

Organize your garage using some clear boxes made of plastic and arranging your items by type and use. Label the boxes and stack them. This is an affordable and easy way to protect belongings.

It's hard to overstate the impact that a really well-made front door can have. It's both the first, as well as last, sight of visitors to your home. Also, if you have one that is old or damaged, heat may be escaping from it. If the locks and door frame aren't made well or are old, your security and sense of safety is lowered.

Soundproofing rooms is a great investment. However, soundproofing each interior wall of your home might not be in your budget, so determine which walls are the most important. The best soundproofing areas include bathrooms, bedrooms, and media rooms. The kitchen can be a nice area to soundproof as well, unless it's a fairly open kitchen that attaches to a lot of different areas.

Don't just eyeball it. Get out the level and make sure everything is straight when you're installing your kitchen cabinets. Ensure that counter tops will be all of one height by creating a bench mark that begins at the highest point of the kitchen floor.

Pick an overall color story for your room. Selecting a complementary scheme is an excellent suggestion for your home's formal areas like your dining room. To find complementary colors, use the color wheel and find colors that are opposite of each other. For example: yellow and blue or orange and purple. Schemes based on complementary colors have a clear contrast between tones, yet they are visually appealing.

Add motion-detecting lights to your home's exterior to save money and increase security. These type of lights are only active when someone needs them, so you save money on electricity bills. Of course, if an intruder is trying to sneak onto your property, being hit with the sudden burst of light will send them running away.

Take the time to drain the water from your water heater bi-annually. A properly maintained heater will have greater longevity and efficiency. Just put a hose on the drain value and release the water.

If you don't care to do a lot of landscaping yourself and you'd prefer not to spend money on professional maintenance, one alternative is to put together a yard that requires minimal maintenance. This type of yard is made of rock beds that contain plants which require very little amounts of water. This will reduce the maintenance costs that you have to pay.

Most of the home improvements that you need done can be done on your own. Naturally, if a certain home-improvement job is extensive, you may make things worse if you don't have a professional handle it for you. You can easily work on your plumbing, painting or drywall if you do not have any previous experience. By doing the work yourself, you can save quite a bit of money.

A well-made stainless steel taping knife will doubtless be of great benefit to you if you plan on doing sheetrock taping. Not only will a high quality stainless steel taping knife last longer, it's also easier to clean after you're finished with a job. You will only ever need to buy one if you choose a knife that is stainless steel. Clean it after use, and store it carefully.

It can be inconvenient to live in a home that is undergoing a home improvement project. The best thing to do is work on the project when less people are in the home. Things will just be tense and stressful if others are home are feeling inconvenienced.

Prior to launching any home improvement project, know the cost involved by getting a precise estimate. A mistake people often make is underestimating the price tag of the project. When developing a budget, get several estimates and budget in extra money for unforeseen complications.

When planning any type of home improvement project, remember to allow room to place any debris you accumulate. A big mess results when demolition takes place, and you must put the debris somewhere. Make sure you know what to do about the debris ahead of time so that you don't end up having a huge pile when you are working.

Always be safe when you attempt any home improvement project. Make sure the gas is off if you are working around the fireplace, in your kitchen in the basement or anywhere else there may be danger. It can be dangerous if the gas leaks. You need to find out where your shut off valve is located. In addition, you want to be aware of any gas lines and their locations to avoid accidentally hitting one.

Now, with these tips in mind, you are prepared to conquer your next home improvement project. Take your pride of ownership into your own hands by initiating a new home improvement project.

End of lease cleaning melbourne

[screamowyabois-blog]

Improve Your Living Space And Be Happy Learn some simple home improvement projects that will allow you to change, upgrade or repair your living space. You don't need a lot of money or skills to get started. These tips are a great starting point for choosing your next home improvement project. You should gain some idea of the choices available to you. Two PVC pipes can be easily attached using primer and cement made for PVC. You need to make sure you use products designed for PVC so they'll hold and not leak. Furthermore, the pipe surfaces must be completely dry. You should put windows in the bathroom for more ventilation. You do not want to get stuck with unnecessary mold growth due to the humidity from the hot showers. Painting only covers mold up, it doesn't eliminate it. The key is to prevent the mold from growing in the first place. Add a window or some type of ventilation in order to cut down the humidity. Sitting on chair cushions flattens them over time. However, you can breathe new life into those flattened cushions with a a little sunshine. When cushions are placed in direct sunlight, they regain their bounce as moisture evaporates from the fillings inside the cushions. Be sure to flip over the cushions, and don't just leave them out in the sun because the colors can fade. Get some extra space on night tables by selecting floor lamps over table lamps. Floor lamps are free standing and can be moved around, while table lamps take up quite a bit of table space. Make sure the lamp you choose fits your decor and tastes. Think about installing motion detectors near the door that you use as the entrance. Since the light won't be on constantly, your energy bill will be lower. Motion-sensitive lights are a security asset, too, as they make it harder for burglars to approach undetected. Remember, a good door is worth its weight in gold. This item is your first chance to make a good impression on guests. If the door is not insulated properly or does not fit correctly, there will be a great loss of heat. If the locks and door frame aren't made well or are old, your security and sense of safety is lowered. If there are repairs that must be finished before moving in, focus on the heaviest repairs first. Simpler projects, such as updating your bathrooms or finishing up the basement, can be performed after moving in. Replacing your old windows for energy efficient windows will give your house a great new look, and it will also save you money on your energy costs. These windows offer quite the reward, so consider them. Do not use price as the only consideration when choosing a contractor. It may look like a bargain up front, but many contractors will bid low in order to secure the job, and tell you later about the extra money you will need to spend. Others will give poor craftsmanship that corresponds to their price. Thoroughly research what you want done, and select your contractor accordingly. Get windows that have a secondary glazing. These windows cost more, but they lower energy bills and reduce outside noise. Switch to these windows during renovations to ultimately save money and time. These windows are energy efficient, which means it will be simpler to cool and heat your house, and you will not have to worry about noise. If you want to get rid of popcorn ceiling, be sure it's first tested for asbestos. It is imperative that asbestos is removed and disposed of carefully, because it is a harmful substance. If you find asbestos in your ceiling, a professional may be needed to remove it. A new look and fresh appearance can be achieved easily with a low-cost coat of paint on your walls. You can browse through the different color options by checking out paint chips at the hardware store. Find colors you find complementary to your home. If you aren't happy with the look, repaint! When painting your walls, it is important to make sure to properly tape off the trim. Even if you exercise care when painting, you'll find that paint can still drip or run. Careful use of tape will protect your woodwork from unwanted paint drips. If paint does run onto the trim, you may have to repaint it. Shorten dryer hoses to boost energy savings and dryer power. Disconnect and vacuum your existing dryer hose. Cut the hose length down to just a few feet. It should be long enough to remove the dryer cleanly behind it. Shorter hoses run better. If you are having work done on your house before you sell it, focus on sprucing up the exterior first, before you do any interior work like plumbing or heating upgrades. The curb appeal of the home is what will drive people to come inside for a closer look. There is a easy solution to reduce power consumption when making your home improvements. Utilize a power strip instead of keeping all your home's electronics plugged in to the wall. You can turn a surge protector on and off. You can save energy by turning the strip off when you are not using it. When painting your home, use neutral colors. Neutral colors will make your rooms seem larger. Installing larger baseboards will make a room appear larger. Both options are able to be done for little money and make a home look a lot better. If you're unhappy with the work that your contractor has done, you need to be vocal. Have a meeting with the contractor in which you point out the parts of the contract you feel have not been carried out properly. If phone calls do not resolve the situation, follow through with registered mail correspondance. After that, contact your community consumer protection affairs office for assistance. Hopefully, these tips have helped you realize the potential of home improvement. You can make your home your own if you have the pertinent tools. Not only can doing your own home improvements save you money, but it can be something fun and enjoyable.

Home Improvement 101 - Read This Before Beginning

Equip yourself with the latest and greatest information on making improvements to your home. Take some advice from these time-tested approaches to improving your living space.

Sometimes, it only takes one small improvement to increase the value of a house. If you want to sell the home, think about making a few small changes. One example is giving your home a new coat of paint. This is simple and can increase the value of your home.

There are two main ways that you can make your ceiling look like it is higher than it actually is. Either use a floor lamp that is tall or paint stripes. These additions create the optical illusion of height. It makes your eyes focus on following lines and makes the room look higher.

Lampshades of simple structure and design are quite a bore. By using stencils, creativity, and paint, you will be able to transform your boring lampshade into a masterpiece. This will give your rooms some personality, taking away from the reality of how boring an ordinary lamp shade can be.

Do not allow your contractor to start unless a contract is signed. You may even be better off if the contract is looked over by an attorney before the first hammer is raised. It needs to clearly show warranty information, the amount of work that needs to be performed, total costs, and beginning and completion dates.

Organize your garage using some clear boxes made of plastic and arranging your items by type and use. Label the boxes and stack them. This is an affordable and easy way to protect belongings.

It's hard to overstate the impact that a really well-made front door can have. It's both the first, as well as last, sight of visitors to your home. Also, if you have one that is old or damaged, heat may be escaping from it. If the locks and door frame aren't made well or are old, your security and sense of safety is lowered.

Soundproofing rooms is a great investment. However, soundproofing each interior wall of your home might not be in your budget, so determine which walls are the most important. The best soundproofing areas include bathrooms, bedrooms, and media rooms. The kitchen can be a nice area to soundproof as well, unless it's a fairly open kitchen that attaches to a lot of different areas.

Don't just eyeball it. Get out the level and make sure everything is straight when you're installing your kitchen cabinets. Ensure that counter tops will be all of one height by creating a bench mark that begins at the highest point of the kitchen floor.

Pick an overall color story for your room. Selecting a complementary scheme is an excellent suggestion for your home's formal areas like your dining room. To find complementary colors, use the color wheel and find colors that are opposite of each other. For example: yellow and blue or orange and purple. Schemes based on complementary colors have a clear contrast between tones, yet they are visually appealing.

Add motion-detecting lights to your home's exterior to save money and increase security. These type of lights are only active when someone needs them, so you save money on electricity bills. Of course, if an intruder is trying to sneak onto your property, being hit with the sudden burst of light will send them running away.

Take the time to drain the water from your water heater bi-annually. A properly maintained heater will have greater longevity and efficiency. Just put a hose on the drain value and release the water.

If you don't care to do a lot of landscaping yourself and you'd prefer not to spend money on professional maintenance, one alternative is to put together a yard that requires minimal maintenance. This type of yard is made of rock beds that contain plants which require very little amounts of water. This will reduce the maintenance costs that you have to pay.

Most of the home improvements that you need done can be done on your own. Naturally, if a certain home-improvement job is extensive, you may make things worse if you don't have a professional handle it for you. You can easily work on your plumbing, painting or drywall if you do not have any previous experience. By doing the work yourself, you can save quite a bit of money.

A well-made stainless steel taping knife will doubtless be of great benefit to you if you plan on doing sheetrock taping. Not only will a high quality stainless steel taping knife last longer, it's also easier to clean after you're finished with a job. You will only ever need to buy one if you choose a knife that is stainless steel. Clean it after use, and store it carefully.

It can be inconvenient to live in a home that is undergoing a home improvement project. The best thing to do is work on the project when less people are in the home. Things will just be tense and stressful if others are home are feeling inconvenienced.

Prior to launching any home improvement project, know the cost involved by getting a precise estimate. A mistake people often make is underestimating the price tag of the project. When developing a budget, get several estimates and budget in extra money for unforeseen complications.

When planning any type of home improvement project, remember to allow room to place any debris you accumulate. A big mess results when demolition takes place, and you must put the debris somewhere. Make sure you know what to do about the debris ahead of time so that you don't end up having a huge pile when you are working.

Always be safe when you attempt any home improvement project. Make sure the gas is off if you are working around the fireplace, in your kitchen in the basement or anywhere else there may be danger. It can be dangerous if the gas leaks. You need to find out where your shut off valve is located. In addition, you want to be aware of any gas lines and their locations to avoid accidentally hitting one.

Now, with these tips in mind, you are prepared to conquer your next home improvement project. Take your pride of ownership into your own hands by initiating a new home improvement project.

End of lease cleaning melbourne

[greekmythologyaesthetic-blog]

Improve Your Living Space And Be Happy Learn some simple home improvement projects that will allow you to change, upgrade or repair your living space. You don't need a lot of money or skills to get started. These tips are a great starting point for choosing your next home improvement project. You should gain some idea of the choices available to you. Two PVC pipes can be easily attached using primer and cement made for PVC. You need to make sure you use products designed for PVC so they'll hold and not leak. Furthermore, the pipe surfaces must be completely dry. You should put windows in the bathroom for more ventilation. You do not want to get stuck with unnecessary mold growth due to the humidity from the hot showers. Painting only covers mold up, it doesn't eliminate it. The key is to prevent the mold from growing in the first place. Add a window or some type of ventilation in order to cut down the humidity. Sitting on chair cushions flattens them over time. However, you can breathe new life into those flattened cushions with a a little sunshine. When cushions are placed in direct sunlight, they regain their bounce as moisture evaporates from the fillings inside the cushions. Be sure to flip over the cushions, and don't just leave them out in the sun because the colors can fade. Get some extra space on night tables by selecting floor lamps over table lamps. Floor lamps are free standing and can be moved around, while table lamps take up quite a bit of table space. Make sure the lamp you choose fits your decor and tastes. Think about installing motion detectors near the door that you use as the entrance. Since the light won't be on constantly, your energy bill will be lower. Motion-sensitive lights are a security asset, too, as they make it harder for burglars to approach undetected. Remember, a good door is worth its weight in gold. This item is your first chance to make a good impression on guests. If the door is not insulated properly or does not fit correctly, there will be a great loss of heat. If the locks and door frame aren't made well or are old, your security and sense of safety is lowered. If there are repairs that must be finished before moving in, focus on the heaviest repairs first. Simpler projects, such as updating your bathrooms or finishing up the basement, can be performed after moving in. Replacing your old windows for energy efficient windows will give your house a great new look, and it will also save you money on your energy costs. These windows offer quite the reward, so consider them. Do not use price as the only consideration when choosing a contractor. It may look like a bargain up front, but many contractors will bid low in order to secure the job, and tell you later about the extra money you will need to spend. Others will give poor craftsmanship that corresponds to their price. Thoroughly research what you want done, and select your contractor accordingly. Get windows that have a secondary glazing. These windows cost more, but they lower energy bills and reduce outside noise. Switch to these windows during renovations to ultimately save money and time. These windows are energy efficient, which means it will be simpler to cool and heat your house, and you will not have to worry about noise. If you want to get rid of popcorn ceiling, be sure it's first tested for asbestos. It is imperative that asbestos is removed and disposed of carefully, because it is a harmful substance. If you find asbestos in your ceiling, a professional may be needed to remove it. A new look and fresh appearance can be achieved easily with a low-cost coat of paint on your walls. You can browse through the different color options by checking out paint chips at the hardware store. Find colors you find complementary to your home. If you aren't happy with the look, repaint! When painting your walls, it is important to make sure to properly tape off the trim. Even if you exercise care when painting, you'll find that paint can still drip or run. Careful use of tape will protect your woodwork from unwanted paint drips. If paint does run onto the trim, you may have to repaint it. Shorten dryer hoses to boost energy savings and dryer power. Disconnect and vacuum your existing dryer hose. Cut the hose length down to just a few feet. It should be long enough to remove the dryer cleanly behind it. Shorter hoses run better. If you are having work done on your house before you sell it, focus on sprucing up the exterior first, before you do any interior work like plumbing or heating upgrades. The curb appeal of the home is what will drive people to come inside for a closer look. There is a easy solution to reduce power consumption when making your home improvements. Utilize a power strip instead of keeping all your home's electronics plugged in to the wall. You can turn a surge protector on and off. You can save energy by turning the strip off when you are not using it. When painting your home, use neutral colors. Neutral colors will make your rooms seem larger. Installing larger baseboards will make a room appear larger. Both options are able to be done for little money and make a home look a lot better. If you're unhappy with the work that your contractor has done, you need to be vocal. Have a meeting with the contractor in which you point out the parts of the contract you feel have not been carried out properly. If phone calls do not resolve the situation, follow through with registered mail correspondance. After that, contact your community consumer protection affairs office for assistance. Hopefully, these tips have helped you realize the potential of home improvement. You can make your home your own if you have the pertinent tools. Not only can doing your own home improvements save you money, but it can be something fun and enjoyable.

Home Improvement 101 - Read This Before Beginning

Equip yourself with the latest and greatest information on making improvements to your home. Take some advice from these time-tested approaches to improving your living space.

Sometimes, it only takes one small improvement to increase the value of a house. If you want to sell the home, think about making a few small changes. One example is giving your home a new coat of paint. This is simple and can increase the value of your home.

There are two main ways that you can make your ceiling look like it is higher than it actually is. Either use a floor lamp that is tall or paint stripes. These additions create the optical illusion of height. It makes your eyes focus on following lines and makes the room look higher.

Lampshades of simple structure and design are quite a bore. By using stencils, creativity, and paint, you will be able to transform your boring lampshade into a masterpiece. This will give your rooms some personality, taking away from the reality of how boring an ordinary lamp shade can be.

Do not allow your contractor to start unless a contract is signed. You may even be better off if the contract is looked over by an attorney before the first hammer is raised. It needs to clearly show warranty information, the amount of work that needs to be performed, total costs, and beginning and completion dates.

Organize your garage using some clear boxes made of plastic and arranging your items by type and use. Label the boxes and stack them. This is an affordable and easy way to protect belongings.

It's hard to overstate the impact that a really well-made front door can have. It's both the first, as well as last, sight of visitors to your home. Also, if you have one that is old or damaged, heat may be escaping from it. If the locks and door frame aren't made well or are old, your security and sense of safety is lowered.

Soundproofing rooms is a great investment. However, soundproofing each interior wall of your home might not be in your budget, so determine which walls are the most important. The best soundproofing areas include bathrooms, bedrooms, and media rooms. The kitchen can be a nice area to soundproof as well, unless it's a fairly open kitchen that attaches to a lot of different areas.

Don't just eyeball it. Get out the level and make sure everything is straight when you're installing your kitchen cabinets. Ensure that counter tops will be all of one height by creating a bench mark that begins at the highest point of the kitchen floor.

Pick an overall color story for your room. Selecting a complementary scheme is an excellent suggestion for your home's formal areas like your dining room. To find complementary colors, use the color wheel and find colors that are opposite of each other. For example: yellow and blue or orange and purple. Schemes based on complementary colors have a clear contrast between tones, yet they are visually appealing.

Add motion-detecting lights to your home's exterior to save money and increase security. These type of lights are only active when someone needs them, so you save money on electricity bills. Of course, if an intruder is trying to sneak onto your property, being hit with the sudden burst of light will send them running away.

Take the time to drain the water from your water heater bi-annually. A properly maintained heater will have greater longevity and efficiency. Just put a hose on the drain value and release the water.

If you don't care to do a lot of landscaping yourself and you'd prefer not to spend money on professional maintenance, one alternative is to put together a yard that requires minimal maintenance. This type of yard is made of rock beds that contain plants which require very little amounts of water. This will reduce the maintenance costs that you have to pay.

Most of the home improvements that you need done can be done on your own. Naturally, if a certain home-improvement job is extensive, you may make things worse if you don't have a professional handle it for you. You can easily work on your plumbing, painting or drywall if you do not have any previous experience. By doing the work yourself, you can save quite a bit of money.

A well-made stainless steel taping knife will doubtless be of great benefit to you if you plan on doing sheetrock taping. Not only will a high quality stainless steel taping knife last longer, it's also easier to clean after you're finished with a job. You will only ever need to buy one if you choose a knife that is stainless steel. Clean it after use, and store it carefully.

It can be inconvenient to live in a home that is undergoing a home improvement project. The best thing to do is work on the project when less people are in the home. Things will just be tense and stressful if others are home are feeling inconvenienced.

Prior to launching any home improvement project, know the cost involved by getting a precise estimate. A mistake people often make is underestimating the price tag of the project. When developing a budget, get several estimates and budget in extra money for unforeseen complications.

When planning any type of home improvement project, remember to allow room to place any debris you accumulate. A big mess results when demolition takes place, and you must put the debris somewhere. Make sure you know what to do about the debris ahead of time so that you don't end up having a huge pile when you are working.

Always be safe when you attempt any home improvement project. Make sure the gas is off if you are working around the fireplace, in your kitchen in the basement or anywhere else there may be danger. It can be dangerous if the gas leaks. You need to find out where your shut off valve is located. In addition, you want to be aware of any gas lines and their locations to avoid accidentally hitting one.

Now, with these tips in mind, you are prepared to conquer your next home improvement project. Take your pride of ownership into your own hands by initiating a new home improvement project.

End of lease cleaning melbourne

[sterlingfink-blog]

Improve Your Living Space And Be Happy Learn some simple home improvement projects that will allow you to change, upgrade or repair your living space. You don't need a lot of money or skills to get started. These tips are a great starting point for choosing your next home improvement project. You should gain some idea of the choices available to you. Two PVC pipes can be easily attached using primer and cement made for PVC. You need to make sure you use products designed for PVC so they'll hold and not leak. Furthermore, the pipe surfaces must be completely dry. You should put windows in the bathroom for more ventilation. You do not want to get stuck with unnecessary mold growth due to the humidity from the hot showers. Painting only covers mold up, it doesn't eliminate it. The key is to prevent the mold from growing in the first place. Add a window or some type of ventilation in order to cut down the humidity. Sitting on chair cushions flattens them over time. However, you can breathe new life into those flattened cushions with a a little sunshine. When cushions are placed in direct sunlight, they regain their bounce as moisture evaporates from the fillings inside the cushions. Be sure to flip over the cushions, and don't just leave them out in the sun because the colors can fade. Get some extra space on night tables by selecting floor lamps over table lamps. Floor lamps are free standing and can be moved around, while table lamps take up quite a bit of table space. Make sure the lamp you choose fits your decor and tastes. Think about installing motion detectors near the door that you use as the entrance. Since the light won't be on constantly, your energy bill will be lower. Motion-sensitive lights are a security asset, too, as they make it harder for burglars to approach undetected. Remember, a good door is worth its weight in gold. This item is your first chance to make a good impression on guests. If the door is not insulated properly or does not fit correctly, there will be a great loss of heat. If the locks and door frame aren't made well or are old, your security and sense of safety is lowered. If there are repairs that must be finished before moving in, focus on the heaviest repairs first. Simpler projects, such as updating your bathrooms or finishing up the basement, can be performed after moving in. Replacing your old windows for energy efficient windows will give your house a great new look, and it will also save you money on your energy costs. These windows offer quite the reward, so consider them. Do not use price as the only consideration when choosing a contractor. It may look like a bargain up front, but many contractors will bid low in order to secure the job, and tell you later about the extra money you will need to spend. Others will give poor craftsmanship that corresponds to their price. Thoroughly research what you want done, and select your contractor accordingly. Get windows that have a secondary glazing. These windows cost more, but they lower energy bills and reduce outside noise. Switch to these windows during renovations to ultimately save money and time. These windows are energy efficient, which means it will be simpler to cool and heat your house, and you will not have to worry about noise. If you want to get rid of popcorn ceiling, be sure it's first tested for asbestos. It is imperative that asbestos is removed and disposed of carefully, because it is a harmful substance. If you find asbestos in your ceiling, a professional may be needed to remove it. A new look and fresh appearance can be achieved easily with a low-cost coat of paint on your walls. You can browse through the different color options by checking out paint chips at the hardware store. Find colors you find complementary to your home. If you aren't happy with the look, repaint! When painting your walls, it is important to make sure to properly tape off the trim. Even if you exercise care when painting, you'll find that paint can still drip or run. Careful use of tape will protect your woodwork from unwanted paint drips. If paint does run onto the trim, you may have to repaint it. Shorten dryer hoses to boost energy savings and dryer power. Disconnect and vacuum your existing dryer hose. Cut the hose length down to just a few feet. It should be long enough to remove the dryer cleanly behind it. Shorter hoses run better. If you are having work done on your house before you sell it, focus on sprucing up the exterior first, before you do any interior work like plumbing or heating upgrades. The curb appeal of the home is what will drive people to come inside for a closer look. There is a easy solution to reduce power consumption when making your home improvements. Utilize a power strip instead of keeping all your home's electronics plugged in to the wall. You can turn a surge protector on and off. You can save energy by turning the strip off when you are not using it. When painting your home, use neutral colors. Neutral colors will make your rooms seem larger. Installing larger baseboards will make a room appear larger. Both options are able to be done for little money and make a home look a lot better. If you're unhappy with the work that your contractor has done, you need to be vocal. Have a meeting with the contractor in which you point out the parts of the contract you feel have not been carried out properly. If phone calls do not resolve the situation, follow through with registered mail correspondance. After that, contact your community consumer protection affairs office for assistance. Hopefully, these tips have helped you realize the potential of home improvement. You can make your home your own if you have the pertinent tools. Not only can doing your own home improvements save you money, but it can be something fun and enjoyable.

Home Improvement 101 - Read This Before Beginning

Equip yourself with the latest and greatest information on making improvements to your home. Take some advice from these time-tested approaches to improving your living space.

Sometimes, it only takes one small improvement to increase the value of a house. If you want to sell the home, think about making a few small changes. One example is giving your home a new coat of paint. This is simple and can increase the value of your home.

There are two main ways that you can make your ceiling look like it is higher than it actually is. Either use a floor lamp that is tall or paint stripes. These additions create the optical illusion of height. It makes your eyes focus on following lines and makes the room look higher.

Lampshades of simple structure and design are quite a bore. By using stencils, creativity, and paint, you will be able to transform your boring lampshade into a masterpiece. This will give your rooms some personality, taking away from the reality of how boring an ordinary lamp shade can be.

Do not allow your contractor to start unless a contract is signed. You may even be better off if the contract is looked over by an attorney before the first hammer is raised. It needs to clearly show warranty information, the amount of work that needs to be performed, total costs, and beginning and completion dates.

Organize your garage using some clear boxes made of plastic and arranging your items by type and use. Label the boxes and stack them. This is an affordable and easy way to protect belongings.

It's hard to overstate the impact that a really well-made front door can have. It's both the first, as well as last, sight of visitors to your home. Also, if you have one that is old or damaged, heat may be escaping from it. If the locks and door frame aren't made well or are old, your security and sense of safety is lowered.

Soundproofing rooms is a great investment. However, soundproofing each interior wall of your home might not be in your budget, so determine which walls are the most important. The best soundproofing areas include bathrooms, bedrooms, and media rooms. The kitchen can be a nice area to soundproof as well, unless it's a fairly open kitchen that attaches to a lot of different areas.

Don't just eyeball it. Get out the level and make sure everything is straight when you're installing your kitchen cabinets. Ensure that counter tops will be all of one height by creating a bench mark that begins at the highest point of the kitchen floor.

Pick an overall color story for your room. Selecting a complementary scheme is an excellent suggestion for your home's formal areas like your dining room. To find complementary colors, use the color wheel and find colors that are opposite of each other. For example: yellow and blue or orange and purple. Schemes based on complementary colors have a clear contrast between tones, yet they are visually appealing.

Add motion-detecting lights to your home's exterior to save money and increase security. These type of lights are only active when someone needs them, so you save money on electricity bills. Of course, if an intruder is trying to sneak onto your property, being hit with the sudden burst of light will send them running away.

Take the time to drain the water from your water heater bi-annually. A properly maintained heater will have greater longevity and efficiency. Just put a hose on the drain value and release the water.

If you don't care to do a lot of landscaping yourself and you'd prefer not to spend money on professional maintenance, one alternative is to put together a yard that requires minimal maintenance. This type of yard is made of rock beds that contain plants which require very little amounts of water. This will reduce the maintenance costs that you have to pay.

Most of the home improvements that you need done can be done on your own. Naturally, if a certain home-improvement job is extensive, you may make things worse if you don't have a professional handle it for you. You can easily work on your plumbing, painting or drywall if you do not have any previous experience. By doing the work yourself, you can save quite a bit of money.

A well-made stainless steel taping knife will doubtless be of great benefit to you if you plan on doing sheetrock taping. Not only will a high quality stainless steel taping knife last longer, it's also easier to clean after you're finished with a job. You will only ever need to buy one if you choose a knife that is stainless steel. Clean it after use, and store it carefully.

It can be inconvenient to live in a home that is undergoing a home improvement project. The best thing to do is work on the project when less people are in the home. Things will just be tense and stressful if others are home are feeling inconvenienced.

Prior to launching any home improvement project, know the cost involved by getting a precise estimate. A mistake people often make is underestimating the price tag of the project. When developing a budget, get several estimates and budget in extra money for unforeseen complications.

When planning any type of home improvement project, remember to allow room to place any debris you accumulate. A big mess results when demolition takes place, and you must put the debris somewhere. Make sure you know what to do about the debris ahead of time so that you don't end up having a huge pile when you are working.

Always be safe when you attempt any home improvement project. Make sure the gas is off if you are working around the fireplace, in your kitchen in the basement or anywhere else there may be danger. It can be dangerous if the gas leaks. You need to find out where your shut off valve is located. In addition, you want to be aware of any gas lines and their locations to avoid accidentally hitting one.

Now, with these tips in mind, you are prepared to conquer your next home improvement project. Take your pride of ownership into your own hands by initiating a new home improvement project.

End of lease cleaning melbourne

[throughhappyeyes-blog]

Improve Your Living Space And Be Happy Learn some simple home improvement projects that will allow you to change, upgrade or repair your living space. You don't need a lot of money or skills to get started. These tips are a great starting point for choosing your next home improvement project. You should gain some idea of the choices available to you. Two PVC pipes can be easily attached using primer and cement made for PVC. You need to make sure you use products designed for PVC so they'll hold and not leak. Furthermore, the pipe surfaces must be completely dry. You should put windows in the bathroom for more ventilation. You do not want to get stuck with unnecessary mold growth due to the humidity from the hot showers. Painting only covers mold up, it doesn't eliminate it. The key is to prevent the mold from growing in the first place. Add a window or some type of ventilation in order to cut down the humidity. Sitting on chair cushions flattens them over time. However, you can breathe new life into those flattened cushions with a a little sunshine. When cushions are placed in direct sunlight, they regain their bounce as moisture evaporates from the fillings inside the cushions. Be sure to flip over the cushions, and don't just leave them out in the sun because the colors can fade. Get some extra space on night tables by selecting floor lamps over table lamps. Floor lamps are free standing and can be moved around, while table lamps take up quite a bit of table space. Make sure the lamp you choose fits your decor and tastes. Think about installing motion detectors near the door that you use as the entrance. Since the light won't be on constantly, your energy bill will be lower. Motion-sensitive lights are a security asset, too, as they make it harder for burglars to approach undetected. Remember, a good door is worth its weight in gold. This item is your first chance to make a good impression on guests. If the door is not insulated properly or does not fit correctly, there will be a great loss of heat. If the locks and door frame aren't made well or are old, your security and sense of safety is lowered. If there are repairs that must be finished before moving in, focus on the heaviest repairs first. Simpler projects, such as updating your bathrooms or finishing up the basement, can be performed after moving in. Replacing your old windows for energy efficient windows will give your house a great new look, and it will also save you money on your energy costs. These windows offer quite the reward, so consider them. Do not use price as the only consideration when choosing a contractor. It may look like a bargain up front, but many contractors will bid low in order to secure the job, and tell you later about the extra money you will need to spend. Others will give poor craftsmanship that corresponds to their price. Thoroughly research what you want done, and select your contractor accordingly. Get windows that have a secondary glazing. These windows cost more, but they lower energy bills and reduce outside noise. Switch to these windows during renovations to ultimately save money and time. These windows are energy efficient, which means it will be simpler to cool and heat your house, and you will not have to worry about noise. If you want to get rid of popcorn ceiling, be sure it's first tested for asbestos. It is imperative that asbestos is removed and disposed of carefully, because it is a harmful substance. If you find asbestos in your ceiling, a professional may be needed to remove it. A new look and fresh appearance can be achieved easily with a low-cost coat of paint on your walls. You can browse through the different color options by checking out paint chips at the hardware store. Find colors you find complementary to your home. If you aren't happy with the look, repaint! When painting your walls, it is important to make sure to properly tape off the trim. Even if you exercise care when painting, you'll find that paint can still drip or run. Careful use of tape will protect your woodwork from unwanted paint drips. If paint does run onto the trim, you may have to repaint it. Shorten dryer hoses to boost energy savings and dryer power. Disconnect and vacuum your existing dryer hose. Cut the hose length down to just a few feet. It should be long enough to remove the dryer cleanly behind it. Shorter hoses run better. If you are having work done on your house before you sell it, focus on sprucing up the exterior first, before you do any interior work like plumbing or heating upgrades. The curb appeal of the home is what will drive people to come inside for a closer look. There is a easy solution to reduce power consumption when making your home improvements. Utilize a power strip instead of keeping all your home's electronics plugged in to the wall. You can turn a surge protector on and off. You can save energy by turning the strip off when you are not using it. When painting your home, use neutral colors. Neutral colors will make your rooms seem larger. Installing larger baseboards will make a room appear larger. Both options are able to be done for little money and make a home look a lot better. If you're unhappy with the work that your contractor has done, you need to be vocal. Have a meeting with the contractor in which you point out the parts of the contract you feel have not been carried out properly. If phone calls do not resolve the situation, follow through with registered mail correspondance. After that, contact your community consumer protection affairs office for assistance. Hopefully, these tips have helped you realize the potential of home improvement. You can make your home your own if you have the pertinent tools. Not only can doing your own home improvements save you money, but it can be something fun and enjoyable.

Home Improvement 101 - Read This Before Beginning

Equip yourself with the latest and greatest information on making improvements to your home. Take some advice from these time-tested approaches to improving your living space.

Sometimes, it only takes one small improvement to increase the value of a house. If you want to sell the home, think about making a few small changes. One example is giving your home a new coat of paint. This is simple and can increase the value of your home.

There are two main ways that you can make your ceiling look like it is higher than it actually is. Either use a floor lamp that is tall or paint stripes. These additions create the optical illusion of height. It makes your eyes focus on following lines and makes the room look higher.

Lampshades of simple structure and design are quite a bore. By using stencils, creativity, and paint, you will be able to transform your boring lampshade into a masterpiece. This will give your rooms some personality, taking away from the reality of how boring an ordinary lamp shade can be.

Do not allow your contractor to start unless a contract is signed. You may even be better off if the contract is looked over by an attorney before the first hammer is raised. It needs to clearly show warranty information, the amount of work that needs to be performed, total costs, and beginning and completion dates.

Organize your garage using some clear boxes made of plastic and arranging your items by type and use. Label the boxes and stack them. This is an affordable and easy way to protect belongings.

It's hard to overstate the impact that a really well-made front door can have. It's both the first, as well as last, sight of visitors to your home. Also, if you have one that is old or damaged, heat may be escaping from it. If the locks and door frame aren't made well or are old, your security and sense of safety is lowered.

Soundproofing rooms is a great investment. However, soundproofing each interior wall of your home might not be in your budget, so determine which walls are the most important. The best soundproofing areas include bathrooms, bedrooms, and media rooms. The kitchen can be a nice area to soundproof as well, unless it's a fairly open kitchen that attaches to a lot of different areas.

Don't just eyeball it. Get out the level and make sure everything is straight when you're installing your kitchen cabinets. Ensure that counter tops will be all of one height by creating a bench mark that begins at the highest point of the kitchen floor.

Pick an overall color story for your room. Selecting a complementary scheme is an excellent suggestion for your home's formal areas like your dining room. To find complementary colors, use the color wheel and find colors that are opposite of each other. For example: yellow and blue or orange and purple. Schemes based on complementary colors have a clear contrast between tones, yet they are visually appealing.

Add motion-detecting lights to your home's exterior to save money and increase security. These type of lights are only active when someone needs them, so you save money on electricity bills. Of course, if an intruder is trying to sneak onto your property, being hit with the sudden burst of light will send them running away.

Take the time to drain the water from your water heater bi-annually. A properly maintained heater will have greater longevity and efficiency. Just put a hose on the drain value and release the water.

If you don't care to do a lot of landscaping yourself and you'd prefer not to spend money on professional maintenance, one alternative is to put together a yard that requires minimal maintenance. This type of yard is made of rock beds that contain plants which require very little amounts of water. This will reduce the maintenance costs that you have to pay.

Most of the home improvements that you need done can be done on your own. Naturally, if a certain home-improvement job is extensive, you may make things worse if you don't have a professional handle it for you. You can easily work on your plumbing, painting or drywall if you do not have any previous experience. By doing the work yourself, you can save quite a bit of money.

A well-made stainless steel taping knife will doubtless be of great benefit to you if you plan on doing sheetrock taping. Not only will a high quality stainless steel taping knife last longer, it's also easier to clean after you're finished with a job. You will only ever need to buy one if you choose a knife that is stainless steel. Clean it after use, and store it carefully.

It can be inconvenient to live in a home that is undergoing a home improvement project. The best thing to do is work on the project when less people are in the home. Things will just be tense and stressful if others are home are feeling inconvenienced.

Prior to launching any home improvement project, know the cost involved by getting a precise estimate. A mistake people often make is underestimating the price tag of the project. When developing a budget, get several estimates and budget in extra money for unforeseen complications.

When planning any type of home improvement project, remember to allow room to place any debris you accumulate. A big mess results when demolition takes place, and you must put the debris somewhere. Make sure you know what to do about the debris ahead of time so that you don't end up having a huge pile when you are working.

Always be safe when you attempt any home improvement project. Make sure the gas is off if you are working around the fireplace, in your kitchen in the basement or anywhere else there may be danger. It can be dangerous if the gas leaks. You need to find out where your shut off valve is located. In addition, you want to be aware of any gas lines and their locations to avoid accidentally hitting one.

Now, with these tips in mind, you are prepared to conquer your next home improvement project. Take your pride of ownership into your own hands by initiating a new home improvement project.

End of lease cleaning melbourne