Many things about home renovation are flexible. You can always change wall colors or nudge a wall another six inches. One thing is certain: you need money. Not a single nail gets hammered, no wires run or foundation poured without money. Here are the most popular ways of funding your home renovation, from the most desirable to least desirable: Cash & Liquid Assets The most readily available money you can have is in savings, checking, CDs and savings bonds near maturity. Cash

Creating your own personal meditation space can be a powerful part of your meditation experience. The perfect space can invite your entire body, mind and spirit to relax and be mindfully present. When you walk into this space, you want to be able to release the stress and tensions of your life and seek clarity, unity and awareness. With just a dash of creativity and inspiration, you can create the perfect meditation space wherever you are. Here are four steps you can follow t

The fall months typically mean a few things are inevitable: the pumpkin spice latte, cooler weather and pumpkins. After you’ve carved a beautiful face into the pumpkin or simply just decorated it, you’re going to want to show it off. Without taking the proper steps to keep your pumpkin from rotting, it can start to decay in as early as three days. Don’t let your pumpkin pieces fall victim to becoming a mushy, sunken mess. Read through these tips and tricks to help you stretch

Pumpkins come in all types of shapes and sizes; there are small ones, round and stumpy ones, tall and skinny ones and even ones that are so lumpy they could be mistaken for something other than a pumpkin. With such a variety and distinct characteristics, it’s difficult to tell what pumpkin is going to best fit your needs. Using our pumpkin guide, you will be able to pick the best pumpkin in the entire patch. Leave the patch feeling like a Pumpkin King (or Queen) with our tips

A survey done by Consumer Reports lets us into the minds of millennials when it comes to what today’s buyers are looking for. Now, before you write off the wants and needs of a millennial, you should know they accounted for 32% of purchased homes in 2014. Consumer Reports spoke with 1,573 millennials to learn what decisions need to be made to begin improvements on their home and its final value. The Kitchen Kitchens hold a lot of power when it comes to a prospective buyer, es

What in the world is upcycling? You’ve probably heard this term used amongst your Pinterest-savvy friends or on TV, but what does it actually mean? Upcycling is defined as the process of converting old or discarded materials into something useful and often beautiful. Upcycling gives normal everyday items that would otherwise be discarded a chance at a better purpose. Recycling vs. Upcycling When we think of recycling, we think of consumer goods - typically plastic, paper, gla

The perfect addition to your backyard is no more than a few simple steps away. This DIY project will take your ordinary backyard and transform it into a cozy camp site. Planning and assembling your own DIY firepit is not as challenging as it may sound. Before long, you and your guests will be huddled around the fire making s’mores and telling stories into the wee hours of the morning. Before You Begin Before you start construction on your firepit, you’ll need to round up some

There are a few things you probably didn’t know about tape measures. For example, did you know that today is National Tape Measure Day? You read that correctly, don’t worry. July 14 is a nationally observed day for the tape measure. Alvin J. Fellows changed the course of history and the lives of carpenters, seamstresses and craftsmen worldwide when his patent for “Improvements in Tape Measures” was granted on July 14, 1868. So, if you’re feeling appreciative toward the retrac

Your natural wood decks could lose their charm and beauty if they’re not properly cared for. Wooden decks are exposed to far more extreme conditions than anything you have inside your home. There’s constant foot traffic, and the horizontal surface plane constantly exposes your decks to the sun and rain. Improper care could lead to water pooling and damaging the structural integrity of the wood. Pooled moisture attracts pollen and eventually fungal spores which can discolor th

If you’ve recently had granite installed, you know that they don’t come cheap. Now you’re a little worried about how you’re going to protect that investment. There’s a lot of misinformation and myths out there when it comes to caring for granite. Your granite is not as fragile as it may appear. Remember, your counters and floors are made of stone. Pyramids have been built entirely of granite. So, there’s a good chance that your countertops and floors might outlast both you an

If carpet is new to both you and your home or perhaps you’ve upgraded to something better with a different color, proper carpet care will help keep your floors looking as fresh and as clean as they did on the day they were installed. Keeping up with your carpet on a daily basis might seem like a hassle at first, but in just a couple of weeks, these tips will become second nature to you and your family. Here are a few tips to keep your newly installed carpet looking brand new.

Durability and an easy-to-clean nature make ceramic tile a popular flooring option among homeowners. To protect and ensure your tile will stand up to the test of time and your family, follow these tips on how to clean and protect your tile floor. General Care Sand, dirt and grit can dull and scratch the surface of your tile. Prevent this by sweeping or vacuuming your tile floors at least once a week, twice if you can manage. You might find that dust mops can help you pick up

Painting a room or rooms in your home can be a relatively inexpensive way to renovate and change the mood and atmosphere of a room. Before you should start picking out paint colors there are a few things you want to consider and plan for before you start going crazy at the hardware store. Proper planning and knowledge of the materials and tools you will need to accomplish the look you are going for are going to be paramount in the painting process. Here is a list of items, su

Your brand-new wood floors are finally installed, and they look beautiful. After careful planning, purchasing and installation, keeping your new floors in pristine condition should be a top priority. If this is your first time owning wood floors or perhaps you just updated, we’re going to cover all you need to know about keeping your floors looking brand new and in excellent condition. Sealents Before you start purchasing any cleaning solutions or equipment, find out if your

Painting your own home can be difficult, especially if you don’t know what you’re doing. Even if you have invested in some of the top-preforming paint brands in Consumer Reports’ testing, your paint job won’t look good if you don’t know how to apply it properly. Paint runs, roller marks and thin spots are just a few of the mistakes that are commonly made when interior paint has been applied incorrectly. You can have smooth, beautiful results in just one coat with the right to