Tricky Tuesday: Extravagant Homes On A Budget

There are lots of ways to make your home look more expensive than it actually is without breaking open the piggy bank. This kind of thinking is especially helpful to those with children who may, over the years, have accidents around the house causing things to eventually be replaced.

Image via www.lowes.com

Laminate Wood Flooring - Hardwood flooring is gorgeous, but let's face it - between the kids and the dogs there's just no saving it. As an alternative to real hardwood floors, you can install laminate flooring that appears wood. Laminate wood floors not only look attractive, but they will also help you stay within your budget and last longer because they're meant to take everyday wear and tear. Laminate wood flooring can be as cheap as .25 cents per SQ FT at Lowes.

Image via www.downhomeinspiration.com

DIY Window Valance - Window valances are commonly used to cover up the ugly metal bars that hold up your curtains. At a low cost, you can make your own, and you can design them however you so choose. Most people choose a fabric valance, but you can get creative and make them out of recycled palettes, painted wood, or anything else you can find to add flair to your decor.

Image via www.homedecorideas.club

Upgrade Switch Covers - Taking off old switch covers and investing in some newer, fancier covers is an excellent way to make your home appear more elegant and composed. As pictured below, you can pick up switch covers super cheap at places like craft stores or special sales at hardware stores. For just a couple bucks you can spruce up any room in your house, and all you'll need is a screwdriver!

Sources
www.pinterest.com

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Light Up Your Kitchen

You can have the most beautiful kitchen in the world, but if it's poorly lit, you'd never know - what a shame! Avoid this common problem by installing appropriate lighting in your kitchen and dining area. There are two questions to ask yourself when you're adding lighting in to your kitchen: what kind of lighting will I choose, and where will I decide the lighting should be? Get some inspiration for your lights, below. Image via www.bestofdiyideas.com Image via www.homebunch.com Image via www.doctorkish.com Image via www.wayfair.com

#SolarSunday

Having a pool to cool off and relax in is a luxury that is especially nice during these hot summer months. But, like most luxuries in life, time, energy, and money must be put into owning a pool. One of the costs associated with having a pool is the money it takes to heat a pool. If you are interested in swimming in your pool after the sun goes down or during cooler months, heating your pool is a viable option to consider. Check out some information about how solar hot water collectors can heat your pool. How does it work? Pool water gets pumped through a filter into a solar hot water collector. Solar hot water collectors are thin and generally mounted on a roof. Thin pipes of water then run through the collector. When the sun's rays hit the collector, they heat the running water inside. Image via US Department of Energy Solar pool heaters use the heat from the sun direct...

Monday's Maintenance: Sealing Your Driveway

An asphalt driveway can be a real luxury if you're used to driving on rocks or dirt; however, asphalt does require a little extra work. There is no secret time you should seal your driveway, but the typical suggested time to wait is three years. Depending on how you use your driveway and where you live, you will want to adjust your timing accordingly. Follow these tips to seal your driveway successfully! Image via www.seawayhandyman.com Pick out the problem areas and fill in the cracks. This will help prevent small cracks from expanding into bigger, more problematic cracks. Get rid of stains. You'll need to really scrub, but with a little elbow grease, soap, and hot water, you can get rid of those nasty grease or oil stains. Fill in potholes. Hopefully you don't have many, or any at all, but if you do you'll need to fill them in prior to sealing the driveway. Make sure it's hot outside! It might be tiring to work in the heat, but the higher the temper...

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