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5 Tips for Adding a Bathroom to Your Home

Adding a bathroom to your home is one of the better home improvement projects you can tackle. Not only does it decrease traffic in your other bathrooms, but it raises the value of your home at the same time. Raising the value of a home should be a top priority for any homeowner and adding a bathroom is an excellent way to do this. However, adding a bathroom is also a complicated process with a lot of steps. To help make it a little easier, here are 5 tips you can use.

Plan Out the Layout Early

First, you should start thinking about the layout. Where in your home is the bathroom going to go and what is it going to look like? For example, against which wall will you install the toilet or the sink or the shower? It’s important to think about this early on because the more plumbing and electrical work you have to do, the more expensive it will be. If you can find a layout that makes use of existing fixtures, you’ll save a lot.

Design Before You Start

Once you have the rough layout down, you should then think about the design. The design of the bathroom includes things like the paint color, the light fixtures, and the type of tile. You may think you can figure this out after the bathroom is built, but it’s better to plan it out as early as you can.

The reason why is that you may need to account for the décor you want to do. For example, if you want a certain type of showerhead, you’ll want to install the shower faucet at a certain height. Or if you want a medicine cabinet with lights on the side, you’ll need to ensure the cabinet is installed far enough away from the corner of a room. You don’t have to pick out every single little detail now – like the paint color or the doorknobs – but the more you plan, the better.

Maximize Space

A lot of homeowners don’t build an additional bathroom because they believe they don’t have space for it. However, you can fit a lot into a tiny bathroom area. In just a 5×5 room you could fit a toilet and a sink. Make it a little bigger and you can even add a shower to make it a full bathroom.

In a tiny area like this, you’ll want to maximize space. Some ways to do this are shelving along the walls, a deep medicine cabinet for storage, and getting longer pieces of furniture. If you can, also find a sleeker, smaller sink to save even more room.

Find a Good Local Plumber

Chances are you won’t be able to add this new bathroom in by yourself. Unless you are a professional contractor or very handy, you’ll need the help of some experts. One such expert you’ll definitely need is a plumber. A plumber will be able to add the lines in you need for your sink, toilet, and bath while also ensuring everything is waterproof.

There are a few things you should look for in your plumber. First, try to find someone local. Then, check online reviews to see what kind of feedback they have gotten. Finally, make sure you are hiring the right type of plumber. You’ll want one with experience in residential homes. To learn more about the benefits of working with local plumbers, check out Fix It Right Plumbing (www.fixitrightplumbing.com.au/).

Look for Ways to Reduce Costs

If you aren’t careful when adding in another bathroom the costs can quickly add up. Throughout the process, you should look for ways to save money, but without sacrificing quality. Spend plenty of time shopping around for products to ensure you are getting the best deal. For each step, you take in your bathroom development, see if there is a more affordable option that will still allow you to get a bathroom you’re happy with.

Start Planning Your New Bathroom

Once you add in a new bathroom to your home, you’ll be glad you did. Don’t put this project off anymore because you think you don’t have the room or money. An additional bathroom is a great investment for your home, and it might not cost as much as you think. It’s just a matter of taking your time through each step and conducting thorough research to ensure you’re making the best possible decision. If you can do that, your new bathroom will soon be increasing the value of your home and the happiness of everyone living in it.

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DIY Home Decorating Ideas To Consider

Decorating your home is a highly subjective process that you need to always be honest about. There are things that you can do and things that you cannot do. There are also things that you can afford and things that you cannot. Fortunately, since it is your home, you can make many different changes that would make you happy about the space you live in.

There are many different DIY home decorating ideas that can be mentioned. If you are good with your hands, you can make various modifications that are very cheap and that you can surely afford. You cannot do something really complex, like dealing with Canberra blocked drains, but you can always paint walls and make furniture modifications.

Think About What You Can Do Yourself

Almost all redecorating or remodelling jobs are going to be a lot cheaper when you are the person doing them as opposed to hiring professionals. You can definitely save hundreds of dollars for something as simple as installing linoleum flooring. Even installing a kitchen backsplash will help you save around $500 while interior painting can save you around $1,200 for an average-sized room.

Make a list of decoration changes that you can do alone. Then, see if it is worth it, based on what you would get and how much it would cost.

Rearrange Furniture

In so many cases, the problem with interior design is that you are bored with how the home looks like. This is why rearranging furniture is one of the simplest ways to change a room’s appeal and how you feel inside it.

As an example, in the event that the very first thing that is seen as you walk inside the living room is the back part of the couch, you need to move it as it blocks traffic. Move it right on the opposite wall and you end up with a brand new focal point that will look better as traffic flow is improved.

Take an objective look at the room that you want to decorate. See if there are some furniture-related problems that can be fixed by simply rearranging the layout.

Repurpose Accessories And Furniture

You do not always need to buy something new to decorate and change the way in which a room looks. Sometimes a very simple DIY project like repurposing furniture or accessories can do wonders. As an example, from some dresser drawers that you do not use anymore, you can create a bookcase. From a dresser, you can build shelves.

The best part of repurposing furniture and accessories is the fact that you do not have to buy some new accessories or furniture. You simply use something that you already have. All that is needed is a good set of tools to use and the necessary time to finish the project.

Secondhand Shopping

Last but not least, if you cannot start a DIY project, seriously consider secondhand shopping. There are many places that you can visit and that give you access to so many incredible opportunities. This includes reuse centers, Craigslist, thrift stores and garage sales.

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Choosing the Best Artisan Fireplace for Outdoor Living

Just like fireplaces can completely change the way you see and interact with the interior of your home, fire pits can be a revolutionary addition to your backyard.

From providing warmth to cooking up something good barbecue style or to just boosting a cozy aesthetic, fire pits can do everything fireplaces can do (and maybe even better!).

Of course, as with anything else, a fire pit should be carefully considered as an investment. The sheer amount of options available can overwhelm the most seasoned of home designers, but fear not!

Before you start shopping around for fire pits, come to a rough agreement with your family about the size, style, and function you are looking for in a fire pit. Here are the most vital choices you will have to make in your search for the perfect artisan fire pit.

Size

To determine the best size for your fire pit, you will first need to identify its intended purpose. Are you a party animal that hosts the entire neighborhood for a weekly barbecue? Or maybe it is just you and your spouse that are looking to cozy up and relax.

Your intended use of the fire pit should inform the size you purchase. Some materials and designs will be bulkier than others. An elliptical fire pit will naturally be slimmer than something built into the structure of your patio or porch, like a stone fire pit might be.

Aesthetic

There is a fire pit style to fit the aesthetic of every backyard imaginable—you just need to find it! When considering a fire pit, imagine it sitting squarely in the middle of your backyard or patio. Does it look out of place in your mind’s eye? Does it look right at home, or will it require some rearranging?

If you have a traditional mid-century patio, a stone facade would be perfect. Brass coloring or metal can be a great accent in a setup that boasts rustic, woodsy vibes.

Also consider the type of statement you want your fire pit to make. Is it a center piece or just an accent? Busy designs like stone, masonry, or patterns will be more eye catching than sleek, monochrome metal.

Space

Before taking the plunge into outdoor fireplace arena, carefully consider the placement of your fire pit, available seating arrangements, and fuel sources.

If you opt to fuel your outdoor fireplace with wood, then it stands to reason you will need a place to store all that lumber! You will want to choose a place that is easily accessible while also aesthetically appealing, while remaining far enough away from the fire that it is not liable to catch flame via errant sparks.

The shape of the firepit yourself is equally important. A circular firepit will generally accommodate less people sitting around it, but heat will be distributed amongst your guests more easily.

On the other hand, a square or rectangular firepit is a less common shape in wood burning pits, so you will likely have to opt for a gas sourced fire pit. These shapes also tend to take up more space, so this is something to consider when dreaming up your perfect pit.

Fuel Source

The most popular options for fueling an outdoor fireplace are gel canisters, gas, and wood burning. Each have their own merits and demerits, so consider carefully which is right for you.

Gel canisters and gas both provide exceptional flame control, which is just not possible when dealing with burning wood. Therefore, gas and gel canisters are generally considered safer options. Over time, gas and gel canisters are more expensive than lumber.

If you are ready to get down and dirty with your fire pit and hope to make some good ol’ fashioned barbecue, skip the gel canisters and gas as potential fuel sources which are not considered food safe.

Those looking for a fire pit as a source of warmth should opt for a wood burning fire pit. Gel and canisters cannot compete with the heat generated by burning wood.

If you opt to burn wood as your fuel source, you should factor in the cost of sourcing good quality, dry wood when purchasing your firepit (or you will just have a useless, pretty planter sitting in the center of your patio!).

Stay away from soft woods, such as cedar and pine, which tend to carry more moisture. Moisture in firewood can lead to errant sparks as well as build up on the inner walls of your pit. As an extra precaution, make sure that your lumber has been “seasoned” for at least a year before burning, so that you have more control over the duration and strength of the fire and sparks.