Category Archives: House and home

Decorate Your Home for Less This Christmas with Repurposed and Natural Decor

Introduction

Christmas is a time for joy, celebration, and creating a cozy, festive home. But transforming your home into a holiday wonderland doesn’t have to break the bank. By focusing on repurposed materials and natural decorations, you can achieve a stunning Christmas aesthetic while keeping your budget in check. Read on to discover creative and affordable ways to decorate your home for less this holiday season.


1. Repurpose What You Already Have

Before heading to the store, take a look around your home for items that can be transformed into Christmas decor.

  • Mason jars can double as elegant candle holders when filled with fairy lights or decorated with ribbons and pinecones.
  • Old picture frames can be painted or repurposed as rustic chalkboard signs featuring holiday messages like “Merry Christmas.”
  • Unused scarves can be draped over tables as festive runners.

Quick Tip: Repurposing not only saves money but also adds a personal, unique touch to your holiday decor.


2. Bring the Outdoors In

Nature offers a treasure trove of decorating materials that are both beautiful and eco-friendly.

  • Use fresh greenery like eucalyptus, pine branches, or holly to create wreaths or table centerpieces.
  • Collect pinecones and twigs to craft garlands or tree ornaments. Add a dusting of white paint or glitter for a snowy effect.
  • String together dried citrus slices to create fragrant and eye-catching decorations.

DIY Idea: Combine fresh greenery with candles to create a simple yet elegant centerpiece for your dining table.


3. DIY Christmas Crafts

Get crafty and involve the whole family in creating budget-friendly decorations.

  • Make paper snowflakes to hang from windows or ceilings.
  • Craft pinecone ornaments using ribbons and paint.
  • Transform old wine bottles into chic holiday vases with a coat of paint and some glitter.

Fun Activity: Turn DIY decorating into a family tradition by dedicating an evening to creating personalized ornaments or garlands.


4. Shop Smart for Natural Materials

If you need additional materials, head to thrift stores, local markets, or after-season sales to find affordable and sustainable options.

  • Look for reclaimed wood signs or second-hand wreaths that can be refreshed with a little creativity.
  • Buy bulk packs of candles, ribbons, or fairy lights to elevate your decor without spending a fortune.

Conclusion

This Christmas, skip the expensive store-bought decorations and embrace the beauty of repurposed and natural decor. By using what you already have and incorporating elements from nature, you can create a festive and inviting atmosphere that reflects your creativity and sustainability. Not only will you save money, but you’ll also reduce waste and make your holiday season even more meaningful.

Start decorating your home for less today and experience the joy of a budget-friendly, beautifully styled Christmas!

How to Plan a Budget for Your Entire Home’s Furniture

Whether moving into your first home or upgrading your current one, the cost of furnishing can quickly add up. Luckily, there are some simple ways to keep your costs down. Read on to learn how to budget for furnishing your entire home! We’ll give you a room-by-room breakdown of furniture costs so you can plan accordingly.

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Think About Storage

Furnishing a house is an exciting endeavor but often comes with an extensive price tag. When creating your budget, there are various factors to consider, including furniture costs and the time frame you want the project completed. The size, layout, style and quality of the furniture you select will all impact the typical cost of outfitting a home. Understanding these variables can help you create a realistic budget that works for your individual needs and budget. For example, top-quality pieces are worth the investment if you plan to hang onto them for years, but it may not be worth it if you need to replace them in months or even less. Striking the right balance between durability and value can be challenging but achievable with little planning.

To keep your budget under control, take the furnishing process room by room. It will allow you to spread the cost of your purchase over a longer period and reduce the pressure on your wallet. Also, feel free to get creative with your shopping. Check out for an Ashley Furniture promo code and look for discounts at big-name furniture stores during seasonal sales (like Labor Day or President’s Day blowouts). You can save even more by shopping for furniture that isn’t on your wish list but fits your home’s overall theme.

Decide on an Overall Budget

Setting a spending limit before shopping is essential since furnishing a new house may be pricey. It will help you stay within your means and ensure you spend your money wisely and avoid debt. A few factors can affect how much it will cost to furnish your home, including your style, the size of the house and where you shop. Experts suggest that you budget between 10 and 50 percent of the total purchase price for your new home to cover furnishings. Make a list of what you’ll need for your new home once you’ve established your budget. It will help you to prioritize your needs and focus on obtaining the essential pieces before moving on to more decorative items.

It may also be helpful to break down your list of items into smaller sections or categories. For example, you might prioritize furniture for your living room, kitchen and bedroom, as these are the areas of your home that you will use most often. It’s also a good idea to take the time to browse online marketplaces to find furniture that’s in your price range. It is particularly effective when it comes to obtaining larger pieces of furniture, such as beds and sofas.

Prioritize Your Needs

When creating your home furnishing budget, it’s important to prioritize your needs. It can be tempting to buy many pieces you want or think will look great in your home, but this may not be realistic if you’re on a tight budget. Start by writing out a list of things you need to complete your home and then decide what can be put on the back burner for now. It will help you avoid overspending in the future and can save you money in the long run. It’s also helpful to pay attention to seasonal sales and promotions found at furniture stores. The end of summer and the beginning of fall are when retailers offer big discounts as they make room for new styles or shipments. It can help you find amazing deals on beds, couches, and dining tables. Another way to help keep your costs down is to consider buying secondhand furniture pieces or repurposing furniture you already own. Repurposing can be fun, allowing you to create something unique and personal for your family while saving you some cash. 

Know the Size of the Space You’re Furnishing

The size of your home is a big factor in how much it will cost to furnish. It will also determine which pieces of furniture you can purchase. You will need to take measurements of all of the rooms in your house, including the hallways and entryways. Measures include the room’s length, width, height, and diagonal size from one end of the room to the other. You will also need to make note of any architectural features that affect how large or small certain pieces of furniture can be. These include things like fireplaces, radiators, and doors. Once you have a firm idea of how many spaces in your new house will need to be furnished and what the dimensions are for each of those spaces, it’s time to create a budget. The average cost to provide a three-bedroom, two-bathroom 2000 square foot home can be quite high, and it’s important to have a clear idea of the costs involved before you start shopping. You should prioritize your needs above your wants if you have a limited budget. It will help to keep the total furnishing costs down. For example, you can buy a basic bed for sleeping or a table for eating and purchase more decorative items.

The Benefits of Using Wooden Deck Tiles

There are many benefits of using wood deck tiles, from durability to antimicrobial properties. But how do you choose the best ones? Here are a few things to consider. Read on to learn more. Besides their durability, they are also easy to install and offer other benefits. The main advantage of using wooden deck tiles is their low maintenance. This makes them an excellent choice for the deck of your home.

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Durability

When choosing the best wood for your wooden deck tiles, there are several factors to consider. They are available in various wood species and come in multiple colors and tones. They feel soft underfoot and reflect natural beauty and warmth. Most good-quality wooden deck tiles are made from exotic hardwoods, denser and finer-grained than other types of wood. They are also more resistant to insect damage than different types of wood.

Unlike other decking materials, wood deck tiles are easy to install and durable. They snap into place, which is convenient for people who are not handy. Additionally, wood deck tiles are aesthetically pleasing and resistant to termites, mildew, and decay. They are also waterproof, perfect for boats, sauna rooms, and balconies. These tiles can also be used as door mats or floor coverings in homes and businesses.

Resistant to rot

Using a wood deck tile will ensure the longevity of your outdoor space. While the weight of each tile isn’t secured to the floor, the entire set will not move unless the tiles are stacked together. Likewise, they can be cleaned using traditional deck cleaning methods. Wood products, however, do require routine maintenance and periodic power washing. IPE: IPE is an exotic hardwood that is naturally resistant to rot. Ipe is eight times harder than California redwood. When used on a wooden deck, ipe tiles are resistant to rot and last for decades—the wood ages to a silvery gray patina. In addition, Ipe wood can be treated with a penetrating wood sealant to help maintain the golden color.

Antimicrobial properties

Using various methods to evaluate the antimicrobial properties of wooden deck tiles, researchers can determine the safety of the wood. Several types of tests are used to measure the concentration of active compounds, determine how the materials vary from each other, and identify factors that affect antimicrobial behavior. In addition, they can also select the effect of different treatments and disinfectants on wood. But which tests should be used? Composite wood is made from a combination of wood flour and polymer resins. It resists rot and other harmful organisms and is available in several colors. Most wood deck tiles are treated with fungicides and insecticides. As a result, they do not expand or contract significantly in temperature changes, which prevents mold and mildew development. These tiles also look like natural wood and come in various finishes ranging from traditional to modern.

Easy to install

Installing wooden deck tiles is easy, provided you know a few things. To begin, determine where the tiles will go. You can cut each tile to fit using a hand saw, but a jig saw with a carbide-tipped blade is best. Next, cut tiles no less than three inches wide but not less than the width of a single panel. Finally, cut along the edge of the tile to make it easier to reinstall.

To determine the size of tiles required, you will want to take measurements. Most tiles are 1 square foot, so you should order extras to compensate for oddly shaped areas and damaged tiles. As a general rule of thumb, you should contain about 10 percent more than you measure, and you should make sure to account for the border. Once you know the size of your deck, you can calculate the number of tiles required for the area and order accordingly.

Flexible design

While many traditionally used solid wood deck tiles in many decking applications, more recent innovations have made it possible to connect individual tiles using an integral plastic base. These interlocking wood deck tiles also feature a flexible design to be laid over many different surfaces, including grass and concrete. However, wood decking products are sensitive to contact with surface water, which could bend and twist the wood pieces. Integral plastic bases solve this problem by lifting the wood off the surface and enabling them to be connected.

Wood deck tiles can be installed directly onto the ground, screwed onto joists, or on height-adjustable PVC rider pedestals. These are easy to install and can mimic any other type of deck. Moreover, they are highly resistant to mildew, decay, and termites, so they are ideal for areas where harsh weather conditions are expected. Finally, the flexible design of these tiles allows you to create any design you desire.