Crafts Archives - Mamas Like Me

The Best Window Treatment Ideas: Top 6 Trends to Follow

Make this 2020 the new year you start shedding light into your home with newer window treatments. Whether it’s to give your windows a facelift or purchase new curtains, something’s got to change for the better.

Even the smallest alterations can spruce up your rooms! But where can you start? Read on to find out the top six window treatment trends you can follow today!

1. Home Renovation to Welcome the New

I’m sure you’ve watched home improvement shows at least once in your life, and that you, or someone you know, is addicted to it!

The old home restoration trend goes beyond our favorite shows and will continue in many homeowners this 2020. While some renovations start to modernize, others will want to stick with the older home’s foundational design, utilizing what they have at home to make into something new.

You can incorporate traditional window treatments such as box, pencil, or pinch pleat curtains. These are perfect for older homes.

2. Open Floor Plans For More Light

Open floor plans are already becoming very popular because of how it adds flexible space, making a home look bigger. It also adds in more light and a nice view of your garden or backyard for a more positive ambiance.

You can embrace the open space and let even more light in by adding lightweight window treatments and pair it with breeze, open curtains without any blinds or sheers. This accentuates a good view while having a home look even brighter and more open.

3. Palettes Go Coastal

Did you know that Classic Blue is Pantone’s Color of the Year this 2020?

That’s why it’s time to usher in coastal-inspired colors, such as blues, crisp whites, and/or fresh greens! You can do this with your window treatments as well, which can make your home look stylish and trendy.

For those who have the neutral decor in their home, opt for a blue accent in your window treatments, accessories, and pillows. You can even opt for trendy patterns while matching the color trend, whether you want stripes, plaids, florals, or whatever design you want to achieve. This will give the area a peaceful and tranquil vibe while connecting all parts of your room and personality together.

It isn’t just the curtains and blinds to think about, but your curtain rods as well. Pair your coastal-colored window treatments with steel hardware, which is becoming bigger than ever. The curtains will embellish the simple and sleek rods, so look into bronze, nickel, or chrome materials that will give your windows a significant upgrade.

4. Shutters Start to Gain Popularity

Blind products are beginning to grow in popularity, and it’s going pretty quickly! Blinds and shutters offer classic style and more privacy to a home, as well as shade during the hot, sunny days. However, shutters alone can have your room look a bit cold.

Soften the look of the shutters by adding drapes or curtains, with your rods long enough to clear your shutters, easily opening and closing it. The curtains or drapes won’t only add design and color, but more privacy as needed!

Extra tip for those who want shutters: If you want wood shutters but are on a budget, go for 2-inch wood blinds!

5. Rattan For Added Texture

Rattan and wicker furniture was once a trend that faded out but is now coming back this year. The all-natural and eco-friendly look adds more warmth and beauty to a home, having you feel like you’re away from home and in the tropics.

If you want to try this trend, invest in woven wood shades in bamboo or rattan for the textured and casual look. You can choose between dozens of colors and weaves to suit your preference! For those with a more traditional style, add contrasting binding tape to Roman shades, which adds formality.

Note that rattan and woven shades are usually see-through, depending on its weave. If you don’t want liners (these block-like completely and are visible from the outside of your home), opt for curtains over the shades, adding privacy and some softness.

6. We Go High-Tech With Our Curtains and Blinds

This is an exciting new addition to this 2020’s trends that we haven’t seen from previous years. If you have a device-activated home, you can invest in motorized blinds or curtains, the latest home technology rising in popularity today.

Activate the window treatments using a remote control, your smartphone, or your home devices like Alexa and Google! While enticing, the downfall is its cost, which can go around $300 to $1,000 per window, depending on the size and window treatment type you want. This doesn’t include special hardware and installation fees!

But if you have the budget, then it’s time to give your entire home an upgrade, including the windows. No need to walk up to them to draw curtains out or cover your windows anymore!

For those who don’t have the budget, not to worry. You can simplify the function and look of your blinds by investing in cordless lifts from Shuttterup Brisbane Blinds. These window treatments are easy to use and are a safe choice for children’s rooms and nurseries. Furthermore, they give the windows a clean and modern look.

So if you want to give your windows a new look, don’t wait any longer and try any of these treatment ideas today.

Why it Is Important to Get Your Air Conditioner Service Time to Time

Maintaining your air conditioner can be a bit of a pain. There are many pieces of equipment within the unit that require cleaning like the filters, coils, and fins. So it’s understandable to want to procrastinate till it slows up or starts making a weird sound. However, there are several reasons you should consider and also take action to service it from time to time. In this article, we’re going to be giving you six solid reasons to schedule AC maintenances in your calendar. So let’s get started.

Safeguards vital equipment

Replacing an air conditioner can be a costly endeavor to undertake. However, you don’t have to budget for this high need when you service your AC regularly. You might find it interesting that HVAC professionals agree that regular servicing can prevent you from replacing your AC so quickly. Why does this happen, you ask? Well, regular servicing reduces the risk of your unit suddenly acting up.

Energy savings add up

An essential component of checking up on your unit includes cleaning the blades, cooling the coils, monitoring the coolant, and other equipment. You’ll find that frequently checking up on the various parts that make your AC and ensure they are always at full capacity. That means nothing is overheating or overworking just to keep you fresh in the summer. So in that manner, full size can easily translate to energy efficiency. Think of all the money you could save on electric bills with an AC that functions at optimum capacity. It’s quite a bit in the long run.

Extends your air conditioner’s lifespan

As earlier mentioned already, frequent check-ups will protect and prevent vital parts of your AC from breaking down. Not forever, obviously, as all machines eventually break down after sustaining years of wear and tear. On average, air conditioners with regular check-ups will last a lot longer than their counterparts with little to no servicing. That’s true even when they are the same type and have the same manufacturer. It’s normal for blockages or similar faults to build up over time and gradually reduce inefficiency if you don’t look into it.

Filters your air better

No matter what kind of AC unit you use, blockages will occur, and filters will get dirty. However, when servicing your air conditioner, you can’t help but get your filters cleaned out. Filters are an essential part of our units as they are an integral part of the cooling system and ensure the air is clean. Dirty filters will most definitely do a worse job than clean filters. They even reduce air quality as a whole because of their diminished efficiency. So asides reducing the overall cooling effect of the air conditioner, they end up triggering allergies and other respiratory symptoms.

Maintains the warranty on your air conditioner

It’s not uncommon for air conditioners to come with warranties. Although how long it extends is at the discretion of the brand and manufacturer. You’ll find that most of them will come in at about 1-2 years. But did you know that sometimes warranties are considered void? One of the most popular reasons is an AC unit that is poorly maintained. So yes, the problem with a relatively new AC malfunctioning might have nothing to do with your maintenance, it is still virtually impossible to prove that you haven’t been servicing it often enough in the first place. Hence, irregular servicing of your air conditioner can cost you your warranty. That can be a costly way for you to learn the importance of a check-up.

Gives you comfort and peace of mind

So far, we’ve talked about how ACs functioning at optimal capacity can ensure you breathe in cleaner air and save more money. We’ve also highlighted that it can be an effective way to ensure you get the value of your warranty. All those reasons combined are sure to give anyone the comfort to be at peace. Your home should always be a safe zone. An air conditioner that doesn’t leave you stranded due to overwork in during summer is undoubtedly more convenient than one continually breaking down. Plus, cleaner filters mean you’re not recycling allergens and debris, which can trigger allergies and other complications. Going through the trouble of servicing your AC often can save you a lot of stress later on.

Conclusion

So there they are—six solid reasons for you to book an appointment to have your air conditioner serviced right now. We sincerely hope you found all the reasons convincing enough. So while getting a frequent check-up for your unit is essential, finding the right electrician to do it is also vital. You’ll want to look around your vicinity for services like Brad Gall Brisbane Electrician that make cleaning up and proper care of your property a priority.

How to Unclog Your Drains Without Dangerous Chemicals

Sometimes it happens that our drains get clogged. The water drains slowly and it can sometimes have a bad smell. It leaves us with a number of problems like not being able to use the sinks, bath or toilet. This situation usually sends us running for a bottle of chemicals for unclogging the drain. It is one of the most common methods for cleaning the drains. But, it’s also one of the very dangerous ways of resolving this problem. These chemicals are caustic, meaning they can damage your skin and eyes, and they can damage certain types of pipes. But, there are many ways with which you can unclog the drains naturally, without using dangerous chemicals. Read on to find out what they are.

Baking Soda and Vinegar

These are the two simple ingredients you probably already have in your home, and that don’t cost much. They create a chemical reaction because the soda is the base and vinegar is an acid. When you mix them together, a chemical reaction happens that will bubble and eat through the clogs. To unclog the drain using this method pour ½ cup of baking soda down the drain and ½ cup of vinegar after that. Plug the drain and leave it in for an hour. After the hour, pour a pot of boiling water down the drain. Continue pouring water until the drain is unclogged.

Dish Soap and Hot Water

If you know your drain is clogged by grease, a good method is to use your regular dish soap and hot water to unclog it. To use this method, pour a good amount of dish soap down the drain. After this slowly pour a pot of boiling water down the drain. This should break up any grease clogs in your drain. This method should be done once a week to prevent clogs.

Hydrogen Peroxide

Another method of unclogging your drains with ingredients you already have in your home is using hydrogen peroxide. It’s good for disinfecting and can be great for unclogging your drains. Mix a cup of hydrogen peroxide with a tablespoon of baking soda and pour it down the drain. Let it foam and it should break up any clog in your drain.

Baking Soda and Salt

Another mixture for unclogging your drains that involves baking soda is adding salt to the mixture. Mix about half a cup of soda and half a cup of salt and pour it down the drain. It would be best to leave it overnight, or at least an hour. When the proper amount of time has passed, pour down a boiling pot of water and your drain should be cleared out.

Professional Help

If you have tried everything and your drain is still clogged, consider hiring professional plumbers that can solve your problem. Hiring plumbers that have all the right tools and don’t use harsh chemicals for unclogging blocked drains can be a lifesaver. They can solve your problem very quickly and efficiently. Not every clog is possible for a do-it-yourself unclogging, so save yourself the hassle and frustration. Another reason for hiring professionals is that having clogged drains increases the possibility for your pipes bursting and adding to the problem and whole cost of the operation.

Wire hanger

If the clog is persistent, it may be better to use a physical approach to the problem. Everyone has a wire hanger in their home, and it can be the perfect tool for unclogging the drains in your home. Take the wire hanger and straighten it as much as you can and then bend one ned to create a hook. Remove the drain cover and start fishing around. The hook of the hanger will catch hair and any big stuff that is clogging your drain. Try not to push the gunk further in. Have a bag to discard everything you pull out. When you are finished, run hot water and everything should be working nicely after.

Plunger

Plungers are one of the tools for unclogging drains and toilets that first come to mind. They are fairly simple to use, and you can do this very quickly. There are two types of plungers, one for the toilet and one for sinks. The toilet one is bigger and usually has a black cup. The plungers with shallow cups are for sinks and tubs. In order to use the plunger and for it to work, there should be water covering the drain. Place the plunger over the drain and push until it makes a vacuum seal over the drain. Grasp the handle and pump the plunger up and down quickly a couple of times. Pull it out and see if the drain has opened. If it’s necessary, repeat the process until the drain is opened.

If you have successfully unclogged your drains, there are steps you can take to prevent them from getting clogged up again. Swap out your normal sink stopper for a one that prevents any unwanted materials from going down the drain. Clean your drains regularly with baking soda and hot water. If you follow this advice, you won’t have any drain problems for a long time.

5 Essential Scrapbook Embellishments

Are you looking for the 5 essential scrapbook embellishments? Would you like to invest in a good quality scrapbook kit that won’t break the bank? We’ve got the answers to your questions right here.

Scrapbooking or memory keeping has been a popular crafting hobby for quite some time now. Even with the rise of social media and technology, most people still prefer to document their precious memories using paper, stamps, stickers, and other scrapbook embellishments.

If you are new to scrapbooking, you might not be familiar with the essential and must-have scrapbook supplies. This post will help you figure out which scrapbook embellishments are necessary and which scrapbook it will suit your needs. Without further ado, here are the 5 essential scrapbook embellishments that you must have right now.

Paper, Paper, and more Paper!

When it comes to scrapbooking, it is a no-brainer that you need PAPER. Everything starts with a blank piece of paper – whether it’s a plain white paper, a colored or textured paper, or a patterned paper. Without paper, you pretty much won’t be able to create anything. It is one of the basic scrapbooking supplies. However, it can also be used as a scrapbook embellishment.

Scrapbook paper comes in all shapes, sizes, colors, and designs. Patterned or designer paper usually have, well, patterns and images that you can fussy cut and adhere to your scrapbook page. This will save you the trouble of looking for images or stickers for your page. You may also create your own scrapbook embellishment by using colored or textured paper to die cut your stamped images!

Stickers

Obviously, stickers are absolute must-haves in your scrapbook kit. Whether it’s a chipboard sticker, a clear sticker, or a die-cut sticker, stickers will be your new best friend when you start with your memory keeping journey.

Collecting unique and versatile stickers is advisable especially if you tend to document various events and occasions in your life. This will help you create scrapbook pages easily without searching your scrapbook kit for the appropriate sticker. Make sure you don’t go overboard with your stickers though. You don’t want your scrapbook page to appear too heavy on the eyes.

Alphabet Stickers

Having alphabet stickers on hand is a must when it comes to scrapbooking. While most scrapbookers rely on their handwriting or journaling, it is still better to add something different to your scrapbook page every once in a while. Alphabet stickers are great for scrapbook page titles – they add that extra jazz. They are also pretty easy to use and not so expensive. There are a variety of font designs and colors available out there so you won’t have a hard time choosing the best alphabet stickers for your scrapbook kit collection.

Wood Veneers

Like stickers, adhesive wood veneers can add flow and movement to your scrapbook page. It can make certain areas and spots on your page pop! These scrapbook embellishments come in different shapes, sizes, and colors! Some wood veneers in various shapes like triangle, circle, square, rectangle, hearts, etc. There are also wood veneers that form words – from family and love to sweet and hugs. These wooden adhesive veneers will surely add dimension and texture to your scrapbook page.

Enamel Dots

Never underestimate the power of enamel dots! They might be tiny but they do pack a punch! Adding a few enamel dots here and there will add interest to any scrapbook page. These colorful scrapbook embellishments usually come in different-sized circles, but there are other shapes like heart, diamond, triangle, etc. Enamel dots are must-haves in your scrapbook kit. They are so useful and versatile that you can even make them the focal point of your page! Don’t have alphabet stickers or sentiment stamps for your titles? Use enamel dots to spell out words! Want to add movement to your page? Try creating shapes using enamel dots! The creative possibilities are truly endless.

Now that you know which 5 scrapbook embellishments are essential, don’t waste any more time looking around. Grab these from your favorite online store and grow your scrapbook kit collection!

Important Things To Consider Before Finally Deciding On Your Embroidery Design And Pattern

Not all types of embroidery will be made in the same manner – there will be good ones and there will be bad ones as well. You may not be able to recognize a poorly made embroidery all by itself but if the same thing is kept beside a good quality one – that has been made and designed by Brisbane embroidery services, then only you’ll be to know the differences.

It’s always the small and little things that matter when planning to opt for your embroidery design which is why you need to find the aptest embroidery services to perform your work. The following are some of the most crucial factors that you need to consider before choosing your embroidery pattern or even design.

The Factors To Learn Before Finally Deciding Upon Your Embroidery Style

1. The Overall Pricing

It should be remembered that the pricing of your embroidery design will depend upon the overall stitch count, the kind of colours you’ve chosen, the overall size of the design, whether the design is complex or not and so on.

If you plan to minimize the overall price that is being charged for your embroidery design, then the best option for you would be to reduce the number of colours that are associated with the design and also lowering the overall size of the design too. These are some of the factors on which the price varies greatly.

2. The Colour That You’re Choosing

Before you plan on going out for your first embroidery design, it should be noted that embroidery is more suitable for designs that have a separation between its colours clearly and there is the presence of solid colours (and not different colour variations). If the design has various colour shading and gradients, then it can be hard to reproduce that type of embroidery – in its entirety.

You should also keep in mind the colour of apparel on which you’re planning to get the embroidery as well. For instance, if the embroidery design colours are dark, then it will not look good on apparel whose colour is also dark as well. You need to choose contrasting colours if you want your design to be visible and look good as well.

3. The Size Of The Embroidery Design

Different sizes of the embroidery design will provide separate results in the end. For example, if your embroidery design is around four inches or even less, then such design size will not be able to integrate any sort of complex designs in it.

If you want your designs to have complex patterns, then your embroidery design size should be more than eight inches in overall size.

4. Using Of The Main Photograph As A Base Model For The Embroidery Design

Before you plan to provide your copy of the photographic design that you want to consider as the base model for the embroidery design, you need to ensure that the photography is of high-quality resolution.

It’ll not be possible to work with artworks or photographs that are low in resolution and the overall quality is less. In case you have such low-resolution photographs or artwork that you want to be considered for an embroidery design, then such artwork or photo will have to re-drawn so that colours and solid lines could be easily differentiated from one another and the task of embroidering becomes a lot easier as well.

Moreover, ensure that your photograph or artwork doesn’t contain any distressed fine details or textures, as such details will get lost in the embroidery process.

Measuring The Out Chairs Is Essential To Get It Properly Covered

You will have to consider a whole lot of things when you want to buy covers for your outdoor chairs. This will make your investment high yielding as well as ensure that your outdoor chairs are well protected against the environmental and natural elements, especially during the winter months.

As it is, it may be an overwhelming task to consider the types, the material, the color, and most importantly the size of the covers to ensure it fits onto your chairs well. Measuring the garden chairs can be the most difficult part of all because chairs cone come in different shapes and styles.

Some may have straight back while others may be inclined and
Some may have larger seats while some be designed for a single person to sit.

All these factors will really make it difficult for you to determine which particular type of chair covers you should buy and especially how exactly you can measure the chairs.

Tips to measure

All outdoor chair covers are designed to fit in a large variety of chair shapes, sizes, and styles. In order to ensure that you get the correct size of the covers and a good snug fit, you should measure your chairs by following these tips and instructions:

Start with measuring the height of the chair. This is actually the straight line from the top of the back of the chair to the ground, whether the back is straight or inclined.
Next, you should measure the width of the chair. You can do this by measuring the back of the chair from one end to the other. Make sure that it is a straight line.
Follow it up by measuring the depth of the chair. This is measured from the front of the seat of the chair to the backrest of it.

This will give you the exact measurement of the chairs in your garden that you want to cover properly to protect it from the natural elements and the harsh sun rays that contains harmful UV rays.

Tips to buy

Ideally, the chair covers will come with a set of unique strap and buckle system. This system will ensure that the cover is secure on the chair and will not be blown away in a stormy or windy condition.

Though you will get a lot of cheap covers on the market that may seem very enticing to buy these are not usually worth spending your money.

All cheap covers are highly unlikely to last long, not even to the first winter because these are made from low-quality materials.
These cheap materials may not be waterproof as well which is the prime requirement for outdoor chair covers.

All these will eventually cost you more than you save. Therefore, always choose the expensive ones, preferably the branded ones to make your investment worth.

Look for the range of outdoor chair covers and select the right one for your type of chair. Give some time to it and research well to protect your garden furniture and make it look best for a long time to come.

6 Easy Tips for Entertaining at Home This Summer

This summer is set to be a blazing hot one. In fact, June this year was the hottest on record. So, it all points towards high temperatures persisting all the way through summer. And that means there’s never been a better time to help people cool off by entertaining them at your home.

But you need to keep everyone comfortable, so they have the best possible time. Here are a few easy tips for you to make your next event a memorable one.

Do the Work First

Don’t be that person who tries to prep and plan in the minutes before your guests arrive. Prep and plan well in advance so everything is ready and you don’t have to worry about anything.

After all, don’t you want to join the party and enjoy it with your friends and family?

Decorate with Your Flowers

Nothing says summer like flowers. But before you decide to waste money on buying them from the store, look closer to home.

Take a glance at the leaves and flowers in your garden. A few minutes spent making some strategic cuts can create a few small bouquets for your event. Tie them together with some pretty ribbons and you have your decorations ready to go.

Invest in Some Outdoor Cookware

Some people decide to pull out the grill. But why not do something different and consider pulling out an outdoor pizza oven from Forno Venetzia instead?

Other options might include a premium grill or a minibar so guests can serve themselves.

Keep Your Guests Cool

The latest heatwave has been blamed for at least six deaths already. It’s important to keep cool if you’re hanging out this summer.

Make sure you have a lot of ice on hand. Have more than you need if the temperatures start to soar.

Offering some summery cocktails to your guests is an excellent way of making sure everyone is comfortable.

Make Things Cozy at Night

Maybe you decided to hold an event in the evening instead? During the summer season, people always underestimate how the temperature can change at night.

Nothing creates some awesome summer memories like a campfire or a firepit. They are a great way to end events that you may host as the summer season ends.

Just make sure you check to make sure your local town or city doesn’t prohibit fires on residential property to avoid being fined.

Keep the Bugs Away

Unfortunately, summer also brings bugs. Mosquitoes are perhaps the biggest nuisance, especially at sunset.

Not all your guests are going to be well-prepared for this apocalypse. Try to have lots and LOTS of insect repellent to stop your guests from becoming uncomfortable and packing up early.

There are plenty of insect repellents on the market, but you should choose only EPA approved repellents, so you know that they’re safe and that they actually work.

Last Word – Creating the Best Summer Gathering Ever

Good friends, good food, and good drinks are the only real things that people expect when they go to a party.

Provide all these things and your party is always going to be a success. Do everything you can to make your guests comfortable and they’ll want to return every weekend!

Have you started planning your summer party yet?

Fresh Gardening Trends for 2019

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As one of the most precious hobbies out there, gardening has a special place in our hearts. It allows you to get closer to nature right there in your backyard, lets you care for something important, and gives you the opportunity to watch your hard work grow. Though cultivating plants and flowers may seem rather straightforward and boring, gardening is actually one of the most creative hobbies out there. It allows you to experiment with nature in a safe and pleasant way while improving your mental and physical health.

It’s no wonder, then, that there are constantly new gardening trends that you can try and fall in love with. Each year brings a new and refreshing perspective on gardening and makes you see a side of the hobby that you never thought was there. 2019 is no different, as it allows you to play with your design and concept in many new or improved ways.

If you’re at loss for ideas but want to do something amazing with an existing garden or with a completely new one, these trends will show you the way to happiness and prosperity. Let’s see exactly why they’re so popular.

1. Giving back to nature

Up to now, gardens have simply been something pretty to look at. Some have even seen them as ways to take away from nature and tame it. This view is considered rather outdated in today’s garden community as people have found ways to give back to nature and the community with their gardens.

Even though you’re working with nature, you’re still going to create waste. Whether it’s garden clippings, weeds, or leftover and rotten produce, it’s bound to end up in the trash. Well, not anymore. With a composting bin, you can build yourself, there isn’t a thing you can’t recycle. The benefits are endless because now you don’t have to spend money on fertilizer, either.

As well as that, you should focus on making decor yourself and using recycled materials. This way, you’re fully supporting your self-sustaining eco-system and making sure the Earth stays cleaner one garden at a time. The more gardeners take to this approach, the cleaner and greener the Earth becomes. It’s a good thing, then, this is becoming one of the most popular ways to decorate your garden today. Soon enough you won’t be able to find a garden without recycled furniture and a compost bin in it.

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**2. Finding the focal point**

Focal points are the basis of any good design. If you have certain things the eye can focus on, you can create stunning visual effects. It works both ways: it can either make your garden look more spacious or make a huge vast space look more complete. The focal point of 2019 is definitely the garden structure. Whether it’s the pergola or closed pavilion, it has the power to bring the indoors outside and completely transform your garden.

Garden structures are rather stunning and offer you a unique experience of your garden. Not only do they give you somewhere to hide from the sun, but they also make the garden enjoyable in cold winter days. As well as that, they can make the perfect venue for your new social event.

On top of that, garden structures are an extension of your style and personality. You’ll get to play with interior and exterior design all at once and create something you’ve always dreamed of. If you want to completely incorporate your garden structure to your garden, you can even decorate it with climbing plants.

From a modernistic to a fairytale look, whatever you imagine can be yours in a few steps. You can also either match your structure to the interior of your house and tie it to your home or create your own little world outside different from anything you have inside.

3. Make way for minimalism

Minimalism may have started in the 20th century, but it’s more relevant than ever today. In the age of capitalism, when consumerism seems inescapable, it’s your job to rebel. Say no to tacky decorations and excessive decor. It’s time to show the world that your home can be just as stunning stripped down to its bare beauty.

Don’t limit you minimalistic tendencies to just your home, either. Your garden deserves to feel the love, too. Gardeners everywhere are sick and tired of putting so many things in their garden and positioning their flowers a certain way just to make room for more. An overstuffed garden isn’t a synonym for excellence any longer.

Even if you’re new to minimalism, you’ll be able to pull off a decent outdoor design. The most important thing is that you believe in it and trust in its effectiveness and power. Minimalism can set your garden free from the expectations of society, give you a new perspective on beauty, and leave you with a breathtaking garden that’s easy to take care of.

This is, therefore, also an ideal solution for a busy individual who still likes to keep a neat back yard. You won’t have a lot to tend to, but it’ll still be magnificent.

4. Landscaping on a new level

In 2019, it seems that playing with just garden plants isn’t enough anymore. Landscaping and garden architecture is also very important today. In that spirit, we can see that a lot of new landscaping trends are on the rise. This is especially noticeable when you take into account the fact that you need something edgy and cool to set aside modern gardening from traditional designs.

One of the most popular and easiest landscape gardening trends of today is combining the landscape with your plants. Edges and boundaries are no longer a thing, and you don’t have to worry about having a clean cut architectural design. The era of combining even those things we thought could never be combined is upon us.

This trend is especially appealing to those who have a big yard and don’t know what exactly to do with it. With a little work and creativity, you’ll have the most unique design on the block but won’t have to invest a lot of money or time into it. Simple yet effective, this remains one of the most popular trends of 2019.

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5. Bring the outdoors in

Indoor gardens have become more and more popular in the previous years, only to reach their peak and become a trend in 2019. With small or no spaces available for garden cultivation today, it’s no wonder that the average person decides to bring the plants inside. Not only does that save space, but it also gives you something very unique to work with. As well as that, it can be very practical.

Depending on the type of space you work with, there are different indoor garden ideas that you can choose from. Before you bring in the plants into your home, you need to scout the premises and figure out where they’d fit in.

Some people choose their living rooms as their garden space while others prefer being greeted by their garden at the entrance of the home. There are also those who think the bedroom can benefit from some plants. Whatever you decide, your garden is bound to make a valuable addition to the room. Make sure that your pots and plants match the design and style of the room you’re incorporating the garden in.

As well as that, you can take things a step further. Who’s to say that you can’t transform your whole house into an indoor garden? You can place a few plants here and there and create a agree on a path that envelopes the entire premises. To really show your design is connected throughout the whole house, make sure that each room has one key plant in it.

Corners, windows, and desk sides are also great places to put your new potted plans. As well as tying the rest of your design together, plants can refresh your home entirely. They produce oxygen and take in monoxide, meaning that you’ll be rewarded with fresh and clean oxygen. In other words, your cognitive function will be improved and you’ll be living a healthier life just by cultivating plants inside.

6. Perfection is overrated

Up to now, we’ve witnessed that most garden designs were perfect. Each plant and flower had its specific place in the garden, and there couldn’t be a petal outside its rightful place. Though such gardens are stunning, they’re also kind of ridiculous. The whole point of nature is to let it be as wild and free as possible, not to contain it. Plus, who has time to take care of every little petal and leaf?

Thus, the trend of asymmetry was born. People have gotten bored with the whole being a perfect ordeal and have quickly moved on to the most asymmetric designs you can think of. This gets off the responsibility to take care of every inch of your garden. Whatever seems out of place can just be prescribed to asymmetry and imperfection.

There truly is beauty in chaos and wilderness, and your garden can be a testimony to that. That being said, you should have at least one feature to tie the whole design together. This key feature gives the garden a sense of completeness and lets the onlooker know that you intentionally designed it the way you did. Otherwise, it may just look like you have no idea how gardening works.

Conclusion

Some of these trends are brand new while others have just been improved upon. Regardless of which category your favorite ones fall into, you’re bound to find something truly wonderful for your garden. You’ll never see it shine brighter than after you’ve rejuvenated everything on the premises and made it into something even more beautiful.

You may think that there’s only one way your garden will grow, but you’re wrong, there are many. With every new trend, you’ll find a new way your garden can grow and shine. Don’t be afraid to experiment even when you don’t think a certain something will work. Soon enough, you’ll have the recipe for the perfect garden in your hands, and the only thing left to do will be to use it.

3 Fun Woodworking Projects with Kids

Creating fun woodworking projects with kids is a great way for parents and little ones to bond while you are teaching them how to create wood based crafts for around the house. These easy projects below are great for kids to get involved with since they all use limited power tools and have easy assembly.

Bird House

Making a birdhouse is a right of passage for little ones and adults who are learning how to create crafts from wood working. The most basic design for a birdhouse is to create a standard box with an A frame roof. You can easily use an untreated 1×8 wood board to measure the birdhouse walls, roof and floor and then cut it with a chainsaw for cutting firewood.

Once cut, you will want to assemble the birdhouse with nails or wood screws. Adding some wood glue is always a good step to ensure that your woodworking projects have a stronger adhesive bond.

You will also need to have a power drill with a 1 inch to 1 ½ inch sawing bit to create the entry and exit hole. Once the hole is made you can pre-cut or drill a much smaller hole and stick in a slim wooden dowel as a perch for birds entering and exiting. If you cut the hole the right size compared to the dowel, then it should give you a tight fit, but again adding in a dab of wood glue will give it a better hold once weight is added.

With the basic design in mind, you can add onto the birdhouse by painting it a bright color, adding slats to the walls or shingles on the roof to create more layers in the overall finished house.

Tool Caddy

For girls and boys alike, creating this basic caddy is a great woodworking project that you can make together to help them store and carry important items. This basic box design is fairly easy to make and requires cut pieces of lumber plus a circular dowel that will become the handle.

To create a simple tool caddy, you will want to purchase and cut down a few 1x6s. You can then trim them down to your desired length for the width and height for the caddy. The sides of the caddy should be trimmed to a slimming angle going up to the predrilled holes for the dowel.

To attach the sides and the bottom you will want to use a brad nailer and some wood glue to give it an extra strength hold. The top handle dowel can be slid into the cutouts, which if cut to the dowels size will already be a snug fit. Adding in a few dabs of wood glue will ensure that the dowel handle doesn’t spin or slip with frequent use.

Soccer Goal

For the soccer star in your home, this is a great DIY project to make together before starting some basic soccer drills. You will need a few 2x4s to create a sturdy goal that can take a hit from the soccer ball being kicked into it as well as some soccer goal netting.

The basic shape of the goal is a rectangle in the front with two triangles on the side. The triangles need to have a right angle from the frame going up and the base on the ground. From the back bottom corner of the triangle you will want to add in a final long board that reaches from end to end of the triangles, this will create your steady goal stance. Finally use nails or screws to attach the netting, not allowing it to be too loose.

The age of your child will give you the best recommendation for goal size. Starting at age 9, your kids will need a goal that is 6 ½ feet high. The width of the goal will change as they age. For standard soccer practice at home, you can build a smaller framed goal.

Conclusion

These fun DIY woodworking projects for kids are a great start for families that want to learn how to woodwork. After you have tackled these projects, you will have the basic idea and skills to move onto more crafts that you can do with your kids help.

Learn The 5 Easy Hacks for Cleaning Blocked Drains

Everybody is well aware of the warning signs associated with a clogged drain. The signs include excess water, pooling around the feet in the washroom or in the kitchen sink, the foul and unpleasant odour, excess hair, etc. Often, we tend to feel too lazy to do something about this and sometimes, we just wait for the plumber to arrive and do some work. This is not a wise decision and requires immediate attention. The blocked drain can be a source of severe problems. Take a close look at 5 easy hacks through which you can clean clogged drains.

Clean the Drains Using A Bent Wire Hanger

This is a simple and quite an effective method to clean the clogged drains. Use a simple wire hanger and straighten the entire thing as much as possible. Now you need to bend one end of it to form a hook. Push this end through the drain cover and begin fishing. The ultimate goal is to pull out all the hair and dirt. Be careful not to shove it down further inside. After you manage to get everything out of the drain, pour clean water to end the process.

Cleaning the Clogged Drains While Using Common Ingredients

Even if you don’t know how to master the art of plumbing, you can still manage to clean a blocked drain by using household things. Here are some examples of such ways:

Take 1/3 of a cup of vinegar and the same amount of baking soda in the measuring cup. It will fizz and you have to pour the entire thing down the blocked drain. The fizzing part is supposed to remove the hair, grease and the excess dirt inside the pipe. You need to wait for a couple of hours, or you can wait for an entire night also. After that, use hot water to clean the entire mess.
Apart from vinegar, you can use table salt also. You need to add ½ cup of table salt to ½ cup of baking soda and pour the mixture down the blocked drains. After twenty minutes or so, pour boiled water. The chemical reaction between water, salt, and baking soda are supposed to clean the blockage.
For particularly the toilet and kitchen sink, add ¼ cup of liquid dish soap in a bowl and add some boiling water to it. The soap helps in clearing the greasy dirt. You can use a plunger or a rubber glove to clean.

Cleaning with The Help of Caustic Soda

Caustic soda is known as sodium hydroxide. Since it is capable of causing a problematic chemical burn, you need to make use of protective rubber gloves as well as adequate eye protection. You can get it from any local hardware store. Add ¾ gallon of clean and cold water in a bucket and add 3 cups of caustic soda to it. It will start fizzing and heating up. Then pour the mixture inside the blocked drains and let it sit for twenty to thirty minutes. At the end clean it with boiled water. You can repeat the entire action if requires.

Using A Drain Snake

If you want to use a reasonably priced tool you can use a drain snake. It is a long and flexible metallic rope with a metal shaped like a spiral at its end.

Cleaning the Pipe Inside

You need to place a bucket under the pipe beneath the sinks. The bucket is used to collect the spilling water. Then use a wrench to lose the slip nuts of the pipe. After the pipe is free, remove it and pour the content into the bucket. Then rinse it with boiling water.