THE CUTEST DIY GIFTS FOR YOUR LOVED ONES HOLIDAY DIY GIFT IDEAS

The holidays are here with us, and with them comes our need to spread some cheer. There are so many ways to do it! You could go to the best online dating sites and get your introverted best friend a blind date or go to your favorite store and buy them a lavish gift. There’s no limit to your imagination.

But here’s the truth for all of us: this year has been a particularly hard one. So chances are you are on a budget, and you still want to get all your loved ones something unique to cherish. And something like a DIY gift bag will surely help you pass the message across!

The thought, time, and effort it takes to make something for your loved one give DIY gifts that extra kick. And they can be as cost-effective as you wish them to be.

So whether you’re an amateur or an expert, here are some DIY gift ideas that will surely inspire you this year!

DIY GIFTS TO EXPRESS YOUR LOVE

Family Art Illustrations

What an excellent reminder that family is forever no matter where you or the other person is. These are the perfect DIY holiday gifts for the people in your life to show them your affection and care. Such DIY gifts are thoughtful but will require you to channel your inner Sherlock Holmes.

You can design family art illustration DIY gifts to display ancestry branches as far back as you discover them. Be careful to fill in specific details such as dates of birth, maiden names, marriages, or even deaths. If you can’t find some details, ask older family members or try your luck on Ancestry.

Tie And Dye Party Kit

You can get many DIY gits from a single tie and dye party kit. Everyone knows tie and dye are back in style, and whoever you give this DIY gift box will appreciate it even more. If you have a fashionista in your life, they may be looking to get other people DIY homemade gifts, so party kit gift ideas are a great way to show them how thoughtful you are.

Flower String Art

Flower string art DIY gifts are a huge hit with nature lovers. Whether you choose to make string art lilies, daffodils, roses, or sunflowers, the choice is yours, and all you need is a day of fervent concentration to complete one. Making these DIY gifts isn’t hard at all. However, you will need to be careful when pushing the nails onto the wood or cardboard.

Washi Tape Mirror

Everyone needs an extra mirror in their house. These are great DIY gifts for mom if she’s been complaining about adding a little ‘zhuzh’ to her bathroom. You can use washi tape to give an ordinary bathroom mirror some personality.

If you want it to look festive, get a few colors and layer them in a colorful pattern around the target mirror. Think of it as sprinkling a little of your personality to your loved one’s home. Other than that, this is also among some perfect DIY birthday gifts or DIY gifts for a bridal shower.

Roasted Cinnamon Almonds

Some of the best DIY gifts for your boyfriend, girlfriend, family; anyone really, are those that are made with love and care, and what better way to show it than making some delicious sweets? One such yummy treat is roasted cinnamon almonds. This treat is pretty easy to make, and in fact, will just take you a couple of steps. Bake roasted almonds scrubbed in cinnamon if you’re looking for sweet DIY gifts to present to your new neighbors or thank your hosts for such a lovely evening.

Dog Treat Jar

Do you know what are the best DIY gifts for dog owners? A dog treat jar! It will not only make the canine companion excited, but the owner as well, as they love their pets, and want to see them happy. So, you can get a sizeable mason jar and etch the dog’s name on it. And then just fill the jar with all sorts of treats the dog would love.

Other than that, this is among the best DIY gifts ideas for your dog, and you can just make this gift for them. After all, we adore our pets, and they deserve treats and small gifts just like humans do!

Custom Cheese Board

Custom cheese boards are the perfect DIY gifts for best friend in your life who loves to cook, whether it’s your mom, dad, grandma – anyone. So help your friend showcase their culinary skills with a personalized cheese board that speaks to their art.

You can also make a custom cheese board if there’s a loved one in your life who loves to host parties. Let them know that someone appreciates their effort in the kitchen, make them a present, and they’ll cherish this gift forever.

Customized Quote Pillow

How about soft and cuddly DIY birthday gifts for your siblings? You can customize a pillow by adding art or quotes the person you’re presenting it to will appreciate. A personalized pillow is an excellent way of telling someone you care for them, and they’ll add an uplifting aura to the space they love to be in.

Macrame Making Kit

Macrame DIY gifts are a great choice if big projects aren’t your thing. These DIY gifts are excellent stock stuffers that won’t take much time or space to make. You can make plenty of simple things with macrame kits, so keep your mind open to different possibilities.

Bath Bomb Mold Set

These DIY gifts are an excellent reminder to your loved ones to take some time off and relax. With these DIY gifts, they can quickly turn their bathrooms into a personal spa complete with sweet-smelling essential oils. You can package these DIY gifts in different dyes so they can turn their bath experience into a rainbow explosion.

A Book About Them

If you’re looking for DIY gifts that will express to your significant other or loved one exactly how you feel about them, this could be the perfect one.

An ideal title for book DIY gifts would be, This is How I Feel About You. Remember that this is one of the most intimate DIY gifts, so focus on situations you’ve been in together, how this person makes you feel or the kind of future you envision with them.

Knitted Blanket

If you don’t know how knitting may not be the easiest way to do DIY gifts. However, some beginner-friendly patterns will make the process much easier for you. Knitted blanket DIY gifts are the perfect choice for the couch potatoes in your life or movie night with your family.

Plus, there are many colors, and patterns to choose from! So ask your loved one what their favorite color is and gift them a blanket.

Conclusion

And that’s all the DIT gift ideas that we wanted to share! All and all, the holidays are the perfect time to practice your DIY skills, and whichever gift idea you choose, think of the ones your loved ones are sure to love. We have no doubt that you will have a fun time coming up with a gift, and the recipient will adore it!

So, what do you think are your best DIY gifts from our list? Or perhaps you even have your own idea? Let us know in the comments below!

Author bio:

Aria Green is a family photographer, relationship psychology writer. A wife and a mother of two adorable kids who won’t get bored even for a minute. As for a writing passion, she loves personality psychology, helping people with advice on the relationship between a man and a woman

HALLOWEEN DIY DECORATIONS

Are you looking to spruce up your house, inside and outside, but can’t afford to spend much money on decorations? Luckily for you, fall and Halloween decorations don’t have to cost much if you’re creative! There are so many ways you can take leftovers from previous projects you’ve done or things lying around the house and make good use out of them for super cute decorations around your house.

Look at this super cute jack o’lantern with mums sprouting out of the top. This is a super cute decoration that can be done easily by going to a local dollar store and buying the trick or treat baskets and planting your own mums or buying some locally at a farm, pumpkin patch, grocery store, or anywhere else that sells mums!

Another cheap but cute little project! Take any bottle that you have laying around your house, could be filled or empty, and buy little googly eyes. Those can also be purchased at a local dollar store and usually come in many different shapes and sizes. This would be a good DIY to make when you’re having friends over, and confuse them when you go to drink out of it!

Fan of The Nightmare Before Christmas? Jack Skellington is super popular around this time of the year into the end of the year, it’s a classic! You can find this specific light again, at a dollar store and you can take a permanent black marker and draw his face on the light yourself! You can buy a couple and make him have multiple facial expressions!

This DIY is easy for everybody to do since it includes everyday necessities. Do not throw away all of your toilet paper or napkins to get to the roll (those things were once scarce because of covid!), instead just wait until it goes empty. You might be able to make a couple of these little cute rolls out of one napkin roll since they’re longer.

This is the perfect DIY if you have pool noodles from owning a pool! Most noodles get gross over the winter, so what better way to make use out of them before tossing! Don’t worry, you can still find these at a dollar store if you don’t own a pool.

Such a cute decoration that can be placed inside or outside! Easy to do, and can be substituted with other materials to make this project work. All you need is some paint and patience to make this cute halloween craft!

Have left over materials from other projects you’ve done? These creepy cool hands can be made out of almost any materials. Wood, cardboard, plastic. If you use wood or cardboard, remember to weather-proof it!

This is so adorable!! This one can be done with fresh sunflowers or fake ones, but just remember the real ones can’t be reused, so fake is probably the best bet! You can find the skulls and fake flowers at a dollar store, and can use hot glue to glue the faces into the center! Perfect for those who love skulls and sunflowers, and can even be used year round.

Halloween is one of the best times of the year, and decorating your house with spooky decorations can make the spooky spirit even better. Most things can be found at your local dollar store, and if not there are always alternatives to materials. Get creative and stay spooky!!!

Guest Contributor: Tiffany Powell

Hardware Tools and Supplies For Home

Tools For Your Home

Hardware tools are those tools that are very necessary to improve and maintain our house. Hardware tools include plumbing supplies, power tools, hand tools etc. In this article, I’ll explain that what the most important tools that every house owner must have that helps to maintain daily home tasks, and why these are necessary.

Following are the basic and necessary hardware tools and supplies,

Plumbing supplies:

Plumbing supplies (fixture) is an exchangeable machine which helps you to drain water and also connected to a plumbing system. The most frequent and important plumbing fixtures are bathtubs, drains, kitchen sinks, and strainers. Draining is not considered as the most attractive part of a house, because it is critical. The process of the drain-waste system is to carry waste water and dirt from sinks, bathtubs, shower, toilets and all water related appliances that mostly include dishwashers and washing machines. It is hard to get done this job, but you can do it when you have a collection of good plumbing supplies and a little know-how about the process.

Power tools:

A power tool is a tool that starts by an extra power source and machinery. Without power tool, you cannot do your electric work with the help of hand tool or manual labor. Most common type of power tool includes electric motors, miter saw, battery power drill, circular saw, and jigsaw. Power tools can be classified as portable (handy) or stationery power tools. The main advantage of using portable power tools is you can do the task by moving machine freely and effortlessly. Whereas stationary power tools give benefit in speed and accuracy, metal work can be done by stationary power (machine) tools. Power tools are also used in industries, in production, in a garden, and at home as well.

Hand tools:

With the help of hand tool work can be done manually. It includes the wide range of wrench and axes. It is a set of traditional gadget that contains crescent wrench, hammers, pliers, saws, tape measures, utility knives, flashlight, and screwdrivers. Hand tools are less risky than power tools and also easy to use, with the help of these hand tools you can do the minor and major task by self. Let’s take an example of the hacksaw, you can cut through metal pipe, screw, nuts, and bolts with hacksaw easily and it can’t be done with any other tool. Same with the pipe wrench, it used to stiff and slacken threaded pipes, fixtures, and nuts.

Tools and supplies are the most important and necessary thing that every household should have as well as should have an adequate knowledge that how to use hardware tools and supplies in an effective and efficient way. Hardware tools help you to manage minor as well as major daily tasks without any trouble. For this you must have a quality toolkit that lasts longer, it is obvious to buy expensive tools all in once but, you can buy some basic tools that are needed the most.

Author Bio:

Shawn Michaels is an engineer and a documentary maker who likes to review mechanical tools. He loves to explore new places full of natural beauty and enjoys tool shopping! He writes regularly for www.BestAdjustableWrench.com

Simple Way To Revamp A Bathroom

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If your bathroom is looking a little tired, it may not take a complete renovation to bring it back to life. Some planning and a few simple alterations can go a long way and make your bathroom feel like a brand new space that will wow your visiting friends and family. We all know that bathrooms serve a pretty important function in our homes; they’re one of a few rooms that the whole family will use daily, and it might be the only room that guests use as well. It’s one of the rooms that’s most important for potential buyers to like (the bathroom, along with the kitchen, can often be the make it or break it for a sale). Your bathroom should be functional, but it also can be a place where you can kick your shoes off and relax at the end of a busy week.

The first thing that you should look at when it comes to bathroom revamping is the walls. Is that paint colour giving your bathroom a case of the blahs? Maybe it was chosen by the previous owner or tenant, or maybe you painted on a whim and have realized that your paint colour just isn’t working anymore. Whatever the case may be, painting your bathroom can be the single biggest change you can make in the feel of the room. Before you grab another can of colour, check out your wall condition. It doesn’t take a whole lot of elbow grease to fill in small holes and sand them down. Use a spackle that turns pink to white (wet to dry) so you know when to grab that sandpaper and get to work. Spend your time getting the wall nice and smooth and then figure out what colour is going to work best. Even if you’re a person who loves colour, a pale neutral on the walls can actually breathe a lot of life into a space. Save the punches of colour for your accessories. Giving your trim and baseboards a fresh coat of white can make a bigger impact that you probably imagine as well. The key to a good paint job is to take your time and don’t opt for the cheapest paint out there; a good quality paint may actually save you money in the long run as the coverage will be far better than with a cheap, thin paint.

So your walls look a lot better, what now? Take a look at the vanity mirror. Often even in brand new houses, the mirror is a large pane of glass with no trim. If that’s the case and you’re short on budget, use a nice baseboard cut to size to create a frame for your mirror. Give it a fresh coat of paint in the same colour as your trim and baseboards. If your mirror is smaller and you’re able to remove it, either update the one you have with paint or search the stores for a mirror that better fits your taste. The mirror and vanity are often focal points and a great choice can update your entire room.

If your towels, hand towels and facecloths are visible (if they’re on an open shelf or rolled in a basket, for example), you’ll be surprised at how much nicer a matching set in a beautiful, complementary colour can look. Towels are primarily functional, of course, but they can most definitely serve double duty as decor as well. Here’s where you can add those punches of colour I mentioned earlier. If you love red, go for shades of cherry or wine in your bathroom linens. Teal remains the colour of choice this year and towels come in some gorgeous varieties. Whatever your choice, always keep them rolled or folded neatly. Check out matching bathmats in luxurious pile to give your bathroom a boost.

Look up! Your light fixture might be keeping your bathroom looking dull and it’s not hard to shed more light on the situation. If you love the fixture, make sure to clean it so it’s free from dust and debris, and check your bulbs. There are a number of different shades and functions in light bulbs and you’ll want to ensure that yours is doing the job it’s supposed to. Go for bright white especially in bathrooms that don’t have the benefit of natural light through a window. Your lighting should make your bathroom feel welcoming and certain lights can make it appear dingy.

Your decor should also complement your bathroom colours and style, so ensure that it’s doing the job you want it to. Craft projects can be fun and look store bought, so if you have the knack, get to work putting a few things together for a room you’ll love!

Thank you to Nina Wells who wrote this article. Nina is a guest author from Steam Shower Store and is a respected and expert voice in a plethora of health related subjects with over 10 years of writing under her belt.

5 Simple Bedroom Makeover Ideas

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Are you the kind of person who likes to spend the maximum amount of time in your bedroom? Do you think it’s time your bedroom got a makeover so that it’s more comfortable, attractive and healthy to be in? For this, you needn’t call in an interior decorator and spend big money. Just a few small tweaks here and there can change your room marvelously. If you’re ready to make small changes that could make a big difference to your room, read on:

Bring character to your bedroom with nice wood flooring: By installing a great wood flooring such as white oak flooring to your bedroom, you’d lend a lot of character to it. However, this doesn’t mean spending huge money. You can do this installing the floor yourself.

Bring the outdoors inside: To get the widest possible view, it’s a great idea to bring the outdoors into your room. One way of doing this is to have large windows, from floor to ceiling that will keep the room warm with sunlight streaming in and give you a wonderful view of the landscape outside. Make your layout in the room simple and easy to walk around so that the windows get all the importance. Let your bed be parallel with the window so that you can enjoy the view and turn over in bed if you find the light too strong.

A spot to sit but not in bed: You might want to sit in your bedroom to do a bit of personal reading or writing–something you can’t do comfortably in bed. So, create a corner where you can have a couple of comfortable chairs and table, where you can do what you want–even if it means having a chat with your partner, getting into shoes or checking your email.

Have an interesting headboard? If you’re the type that sits up in bed to read, you need an interesting and practical headboard. The Net is full of interesting designs of headboards, so why not choose among them? You could make it yourself if you’re a talented woodworker or have it done professionally. Use your imagination and create a unique headboard. After all, it’s your headboard that you want for a specific purpose.

A nightstand with everything you need: It makes sense to have a nightstand that accommodates everything you might need in the middle of the night. You’re obviously going to need room for a jug of water, a book, your medicines, a torch and a bedside lamp. When putting your necessities together on your nightstand, don’t think your nightstand must be absolutely perfect. It only needs to be perfect in having enough room for all that you want there. Finally, your nightstand has to reflect your personality, so go ahead and fill it with all your needs.

How is you room lighting? Rather than installing the lights directly over your bed, you should install them in a way that you can look up at them when you are in your bed. Direct light is pretty uncomfortable if installed overhead as compared to the soft light at face level.

Conclusion

If you like all the changes you’ve just made in your bedroom recently, sit back and admire your creativity. Then, get up and start enjoying your new-look bedroom.

Author Bio: Manisha Kumar is a versatile writer and editor of thebasicwoodworking.com. She loves blogging about DIY tips on woodworking and home décor. When she is not blogging, she is watching movies or cooking her favorite recipes.

Guest Contributor, Manisha Kumar

If you enjoyed our Blog Post, please visit our Home Improvement and Plumbing Blog.

KNOW HOW TO FIX THE IMPULSIVE PLUMBING PROBLEM

Know How to Fix the Impulsive Plumbing Problem

Plumbing problems are usually impulsive because they can take place at any point of time either in the day or night. Usually, they do provide warnings beforehand; which most of the homeowners tend to ignore or try to fix them on their own. Without knowing the root cause of the problem, one cannot fix the issue, however, can provide a temporary relief. As a result of which after few days from the repairing, the problem tends to come back again and may become much more complicated. This is when people look for the emergency plumbing services.

Usually the reputed plumbing companies offer services of emergency plumber specialist who work round the clock and even on the weekends and national holidays. In fact, they do not charge anything extra from the client for providing services at the mid of the night or early in the morning. The emergency plumber specialist offers a vast range of services such as:

Drain cleaning
Clogged toiler repair
Bathroom sink repair
Faucet repair
Frozen pipes
Dishwasher repair
Garbage disposal installation
Main sewer line repair
Camera Line Inspection

In fact these emergency services include basement plumbing, laundry room plumbing, kitchen plumbing, bathroom plumbing as well as outdoor plumbing. Apart from providing all these services 24×7, the Emergency plumber specialist companies are reliable companies and are licensed and insured and provide free estimates or quotes for the ease of the customers.

The emergency plumber specialist companies suggest that unpredicted plumbing emergencies can be avoided by checking the plumbing system throughout the year. Many plumbing situations are caused due to the presence of the defective plumbing supply lines. Examining plumbing beneath sinks at least twice in the year; ensure that the water shut-off controller is working and that the connections are checked for twists or erosion on the pipes. These simple procedures can help reduce unanticipated plumbing problems and will ultimately help the customer to save money.

Just like we have to look for a professional electrician, painter, carpenter or handyman; similarly when it comes to plumbing; one should always choose a professional plumber. This is because the professionals are well-trained; they do not guess what needs to be done to fix the problem; rather they confidently do a task to fix the problem. Apart from this; hiring a professional can involve lots of advantages which are mentioned below:

A professional plumber understands the level of frustration that a customer goes through due to the plumbing related problems. Thus, the plumber provides assurance to the customer and works efficiently so that the problems can be fixed in no time.
A professional knows the importance of time; thus they always arrive on time and get the work done within the stipulated time frame.
Since, the professional plumbers are trained and experienced they provide high quality services so that customers do not need to come back again for the same problem.
A professional plumber will not hesitate to discuss about the fee before starting with the work whereas an unprofessional plumber will not disclose the fees. Thus, the customer does not need to worry for paying extra charges.
The professional plumbers always use the advanced tools and techniques for getting the issues fixed. The use of advanced tools and techniques helps in getting the issues fixed quicker and more efficiently.

Apart from all these benefits, a professional emergency plumber specialist will also help you with tips to prevent common plumbing problems. Thus, fix the impulsive plumbing problems by contacting the professional plumbers who offer emergency services throughout the day and night.

Guest Contributor, Jack Louis

If you enjoyed this post, please visit our Home Improvement and Plumbing Blog

HOW TO DEAL WITH COMMON PLUMBING EMERGENCIES

Most home-owners shy away from problems connected to plumbing. However, unless you are faced with a pipe bursting, a massive sewage backup, a flooding or a broken water line, these emergencies are not as serious as you might think, and you can deal with them yourself. To learn how to fix the problem, here is how you can deal with the most common plumbing emergencies, without calling a professional.

CLOGGED SINK

Whether in your kitchen or bathroom, a serious clog in your sink can cause a complete stop to your daily activities. It is not a high-emergency situation, since you can turn off the faucet, but it will need your attention. A sink clog can be caused by numerous substances, most notably by mildew, soap scum and food particles. If you notice a slow drain, you can make a homemade drain cleaner to get rid of the clog. However, in severe cases, you will need to unscrew the pipe from the drain and de-clog the pipes manually.

CLOGGED BATHTUB OR SHOWER DRAIN

Soap scum and hair buildup can are also the most common causes of clogged bathtub and shower drains. If you notice the water rising during a shower, or notice strange sound as the water recedes, you are faced with a clog. Use the same de-clogging solutions as with a sink clog, and if the problem persists call a specialist who can dismantle the tub and fix the clog properly.

CLOGGED TOILET

A toilet making strange noises, refusing to flush, or water leaking from the toilet tank or bowl, are all signs that your toilet might be clogged. In case this happens, you should use a plunger to push the blockage out of the pipe, repeating the action until you resolve the clog. A clogged toilet can lead up to structural damage and raw sewage backups, so when you get the chance, contact your local plumber.

LEAKY FAUCET

Leaky faucets or toilets hasten the growth of mold and development of rust in pipes, suggests a Sydney-based emergency plumber, so you should address one such issue promptly since it can damage the entire pipe system. Additionally, it can also take a substantial share of your annual water bill. To deal with the problem, use a wrench to tighten every pipe and bolt. If the faucet continues to drip, you will probably need to replace the seat washer in your faucet handle or faucet.

LEAKY WATER HEATER

A leaky water heater is yet another plumbing problem that lose you money. The leak causes the heater to continue using both water and power to heat up the new flow of water. A cause to the leak can come from a leaky water heater valve. If the problem is not fixed, you will need to purchase a new water heater. Keep in mind, that this is a better investment than wasting money on unused heated water.

LEAKY WASHING MACHINE HOSE

Albeit, the washing machine is a long-lasting, reliable appliance, the hose is usually made from rubber or plastic and does not have the same properties. First off, check all the connections between the hose, machine and water supply are tightly hooked up. If the problem is not fixed, inspect the entire length of the hose for cracks or bulges. Rust and mould are also good indicators where the leak comes from. To fix it, stop using your machine and upgrade your washing machine hose as soon as possible.

Whenever there’s a plumbing problem you are unsure of, you should contact your local professional plumber. However, you should also remember that some plumbing emergencies are easy fixes, and all you need to do is roll up your sleeves to get the job done.

Guest Contributor, Lillian Connors

If you liked our post, please visit our Home Improvement Advice and Plumbing Tips Blog

BATHROOM DESIGN TRENDS TO LOOK OUT FOR

Long gone are the days when bathrooms were seen as nothing but places which you needed to have at home, deprived of almost anything which would improve its aesthetics. The only focus was on functionality, with little attempt at making such places pleasant to be in.

Whether we like it or not, things have changed a lot. Today’s bathroom is a potential place of luxury, which increases the value of your home like no other room except, perhaps, the kitchen. So, what are the modern trends in bathroom design?

INTRODUCTION OF HIGH-TECH

Built-in audio systems are pretty standard and there are many options for listening to music while having a shower or a bath. Some more advanced features make it possible to answer the phone from your shower booth, without interrupting your shower. Speaking of showers, the latest designs also allow us to regulate the water pressure and temperature, and select our favorite mood-enhancing color just by using an LCD screen mounted on the wall.

While having a relaxing bath, you may wish to treat yourself to a nice cool drink from a tub-side refrigerator. However, the innovative use of cooling equipment doesn’t end there. Apart from cooling beverages, some state-of-the-art medicine cabinets also keep your nail polish, organic skin products and medications cold.

SAVING WATER

The increasingly strict standards related to energy and water consumption have forced manufacturers to come up with ideas that would reduce the use, but provide the same or even better quality. Luckily, developments in various fields of industry have brought about many new options for your bathroom.

For example, low-flow toilets and faucets significantly reduce the amount of water used, thus lowering your utility bill significantly. Also, low-flow aerators can now be easily installed on both old and new faucets, which means you don’t need to change the whole fixture.

Another useful feature is an activation sensor, which is also supposed to contribute to reducing the water waste. Similarly, some contemporary shower heads can actually regulate water droplet size and speed, spray coverage and temperature, thus giving you the good old feeling with far less water used.

FURNITURE DESIGN

The idea is to go for a minimalist look and conceal as much as possible. Sliding panels are used to hide various fixtures and provide new functions, such as those of a powder room bench or a surface to lay on and sunbathe.

Cabinets are designed to revolve 180-degrees in order to provide easy storage access, while shower seats, towel bars and walk-in tubs are no longer aiming to provide only functionality, but they are quite stylish, as well.

Finally, hand grips are designed not only to provide safety, but the materials used (chrome and brushed nickel) give them the contemporary look which suits pretty much any bath design, while more and more companies are producing foldaway seats for showers with limited space.

TILES, WONDERFUL TILES

Most modern bathroom designs are aiming to create a spa-like atmosphere, both in terms of the feeling you get and the aesthetic component. In order to achieve that, large tiles are used and the most popular look is metal. Some manufacturers combine traditional ceramic tiles with metallic granules and the result is a clean, industrial look.

So, as you can see, the trends are developing in two major directions. The first one is related to efficiency and environment-friendliness. Everything is done to minimize the unnecessary waste of energy and water, thus reducing your utility bill.

Another direction is the appearance. Clean, simple lines are used to create a minimalist look, while options to conceal fixtures that are not in use are fully exploited. The use of color and lights is there only to enhance the spa-like atmosphere, which is the ultimate goal of modern bathroom design.

Guest Contributor, Lillian Connors

If you enjoyed the post, please visit our Home Improvement Advice and Plumbing Tips Blog

DIY THANKSGIVING DECORATIONS

Thanksgiving is crammed between Halloween and Christmas and hardly gets the attention it deserves. Décor often switches from cobwebs and pumpkins to garlands and Christmas trees, giving no thought to the holiday that lies in between. In reality, it’s impractical to spend lots of money on decorations that can only be used for a few weeks out of the year. Luckily there are a variety of things that can be done to reuse some of the decorations you already have (even ones you might not be aware of). There’s an abundance of unique, creative ideas floating around cyberspace, but we’ve saved you the hassle of searching by compiling this list of our top seven.

1. Festive Candle Holders
Hollow out the center of your small pumpkins or apples (it’s done easiest with a drill). Use them to make candle holders, and embellish the base of the candle with leaves, berries, mini pine cones or whatever else you find lying around. Try grouping a few together and using them as a centerpiece for your big feast.

2. Candy Corn Flower Pot
Fill a glass jar or trifle dish with a bag of candy corn, and use it as a base to arrange several flowers. The corn is a festive tribute to the Indians, and the plant will add a little greenery. Be creative when you plant selection – add some fall leaves, fresh flowers, or even an arrangement of twigs.

3. Fall Leaf Lantern
Add a little ambiance to your room by creating a lantern with leaves you’ve gathered from outside. Start by pressing the leaves, to get them nice and flat. Then glue them to a clean, glass jar using Modge Podge. Wait 20 minutes for it to dry and then layer another coat of Modge Podge on top of the leaves to seal them. Lastly, place a candle in the jar and your lantern is complete. Adding a variety of leaf colors looks best and adds a subtle, warm glow to any room.

4. Metallic Pumpkins and Gourds
Give all your pumpkins, squash, and gourds a makeover by coating them in metallic or glitter spray paint. Shades of gold, bronze, and sunset orange are perfect for Thanksgiving, and the sparkly luster adds a regal air. Arrange your finished beauties in a large glass tumbler, apothecary jar, or atop a cake stand to complete the look. If you’d like to take it a step further, paint pumpkin stems brown to really make them pop.

5. Colored Pine Cones
Nothing says fall quite like pine cones, and they can be a stunning decorative piece when given a coat of paint. A selection of contrasting fall-hued colors look beautiful on an entry table. Pick up a combination of small spray paint cans in maroon, gold, dark brown, sunset orange, mustard yellow, mossy green, or cream, and color pine cones to your heart’s content. Be creative with color combinations – you can’t go wrong! Cones can be displayed in a large bowl, glass vase, or even strung as a garland.

6. Pressed Leaf Art
Display the beauty of the outdoors by creating focal pieces with colorful fall leaves. Press leaves between books, and wait until leaves are fully dry. Place the pressed leaves between double sided glass frames to accentuate their silhouettes and bold colors. The simplicity of this decoration creates a tranquil, relaxing environment.

7. Corn Wreath
There are a couple different options for corn wreaths, depending on the look you’re going for and the amount of money you want to spend. You can make your wreath out of candy corn or Indian corn. The candy corn wreath is simply a Styrofoam wreath covered in black duct tape with candy corn attached by a hot glue gun. Hang the wreath with a giant brown or red ribbon to give a Thanksgiving vibe. The Indian corn wreath is even easier. Purchase a straw wreath and hot glue the corn to a straw wreath with the husks pointing outward.

Decorating for Thanksgiving can be easy and frugal when you take advantage of items you already have around the house or the yard. What better way to celebrate the season of thanks than the beauty of the outdoors? So open your mind, take a walk around the block, and visualize what you can create.

Guest Contributor,

Article By Anastasiya Johnson
Anastasiya is an interior designer and smart home planner for http://hdhomeautomationsystems.com/. When she is not planning out smart homes she is spending time with her husband and two kids.

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Top Ways To Deal With Blocked Drains And Get Some Relief

Top Ways to Deal with Blocked Drains and Get Some Relief

As the drain is an important outlet in your home, blockage can cause a great deal of inconvenience to any homeowner. With the condition of the blocked drains, even the sink and shower water drains slowly. Even the water in the toilet might rise when the toilet is flushed. The combination of these things might result in a foul smell throughout the home and the surrounding. Therefore, it is important to clear the blocks and clogs in the drain at the earliest. If you make efforts to clean your drain regularly, chances are that you will not have to face any inconvenience with your drain.

Causes of Blockage

Prior to anything, you will have to understand the cause of blocked drains.This in turn might help you to prevent those conditions in the drain.

· Oil and greases are often the main cause for blockage. Unlike water, oils stick to the inside of the pipes, and over time these accumulate to cause blockage.

· At times, foreign substances often get stuck into the drains causing a block. Hair is one of most common substance that might accumulate and block the drain.

· If the drains are exposed, dry leaves often fall and get accumulated in the drain. This is also a source of blockage of the drain.

· At times, the slopes of the pipes affect the flow of waste from the drain into the sewer line.

· If the pipes are not installed correctly, the pipes might get misaligned resulting in poor drainage. In the course of time, it will result in blocking of the drains.

· Sometimes, the pipes might break down and the drain might collapse completely.

Now that you know some of the common causes of blockage, you should try to prevent them, which will cause less hassle.

Clearing A Clogged Drain

As soon as, you notice the signs of blocked drains, you should try to clear them at your home.

· If you find hair or any other foreign substance trapped in the drain, you can try using a wire or a plunger to remove the foreign substance. If you find corrosion in the fixture of the tap, you can put a bucket to hold water and disassemble the parts to get a new one.

· There are some drain cleaners available in the market and these are known to work effectively. However, you should get the one suited for the specific type of blockage to get the best results.

In fact, if you have some knowledge along with some plumbing tools, you might try your hands on clearing the blocked drains. Otherwise, the best idea is to call a professional plumber. The professionals are highly skilled and experienced, and they can identify the cause to help you fix the problem. Therefore, you can be certain of getting a clean drain without any kind of foul smell from the drains.

Emergency Cleaning Service

However, in some situations, you might notice that the blocked drains have created huge mess. In such a situation, you will require emergency cleaning services. There is no point trying to self-clean the drain in such a situation because you might make more mess out of it. On the contrary, the best thing that you can do is to call a professional plumber to resolve the issue at the earliest. The plumber with their years of experience will not only clean the drains, but also give you some of the most effective tips by means of which you can maintain the condition of your drain in the course of time. Thus, you will benefit from it.

-Guest Contributor, Evan Javier