If you are not an avid reader, you may find yourself with a lot of empty bookshelf space. Bookshelves can be a fantastic decor piece for homeowners who do not own a lot of books. Decorating your bookshelf can be a challenging process. There may be a lot of designs and ideas already running through your head, but before you dive into decorating, we have nine brilliant tips to help you! 

9 Tips for Beautifying Your Bookshelf: 

1. Less is More. When decorating anything in your home, you always want to keep in mind that less is more. It is easier to add later than it is to take away items you just purchased for your space. Try to keep your design simple then add more as you go. 
2. Add Purpose. Your bookshelf’s design can be whatever you desire. From a place to display your personal photography to a place to store your books, your shelf can have a solid purpose. Display whatever you are passionate about and the rest of the design will follow.
3. Display The Room’s Style. One of our best piece of advice for you is to use the room’s style in your bookshelf design. Let your bookshelf continue the flow of the room’s design by incorporating similar pieces. If you decorated with gold fixtures in the room, continue that style choice by adding gold decor pieces to the bookshelf. 
4. Create Depth. An easy and beautiful way to add depth to your bookshelf is to place wallpaper or a different color paint on the back wall. This will add a creative twist to the bookshelf and instantly adds design and depth. 
5. Get Seasonally Inspired. Let the holiday seasons inspire your bookshelf design. Instead of adding more each holiday season, swap out current decor for holiday items. For example, you will want to take away one item for each piece of holiday you add. 
6. Layer Photos. Layering photos is a trendy design that we love. You basically take your current photo frames and overlap them on top of one another. It creates a unique design that pairs well with the wallpapered background. 
7. Visual Appealing. Try not to use items of the same scale and size. To create the ultimate bookshelf display, you will want to incorporate decor pieces of all sizes and varieties. Also, be sure to not use the same items over and over. You want to include different items that play off of one another’s features. For example, you could use a light blue vase that pulls the blue color used in one of your picture frames. This will help create a more visually appealing bookshelf. 
8. Hang in There. A lot of homeowners will only focus on the shelf space available, but there forget about all of the wall space. For a unique and creative twist, try hanging certain items off of the bookshelf’s wall. Items like mirrors and picture frames will do just the trick! This idea will help add depth to your bookshelf without distracting from the other decor pieces. 
9. Monochromatic. Using different shades of one color can create a clean and visual-appealing bookshelf. If you are a fan of one particular color in your space, try to use it throughout your entire bookshelf’s design. 

Looking to take your creativity to the next level? Try adding a customized backsplash to the back of your bookshelf’s wall. To help you complete this design, our expert staff is ready to work hard and get the job done professionally and efficiently. Contact us today for more details.

Aiming for the most comfortable nights’ sleep? Then you probably know that quality sheets can contribute significantly to a good night’s rest. What many people don’t know is that when shopping for high-quality sheets, the thread count isn’t the only important factors.  While a high thread definitely makes for better sheets it’s the quality of the thread that really matters. In fact, sheets with a lower thread quality but higher quality fiber will be much more comfortable than bedding with high thread count. Let’s break it down.

It’s About the Fiber

Polyester and cotton blend sheets are popular because they are an inexpensive bedding option. Polyester blend sheets are durable, generally, wrinkle resistant, and they are less expensive.  However, blended fibers are not quite as comfortable as real cotton bedding. If you’re searching for sheets that feels super soft against the skin, invest in sheets that are made up of 100 percent cotton.

What sets cotton fiber apart from a polyester blend? First, you can say goodbye to waking up on clammy sheets since cotton tends to absorb moisture from the skin. Also, cotton is more stain resistant than polyester-cotton blends which means that they look cleaner than their less expensive counterparts.

The Weaving

The weave of the material also affects the way sheets feel against your skin. This also affects the aesthetics and the longevity of your sheets. Basic, plain sheets use horizontal and vertical yarns and are generally less expensive than bedding with patterns, designs, and colors. Percale weaving is more upscale and usually comes with a thread count of at least 180.  Sateen weaves are the most expensive. It utilizes more vertical yarns resulting in a higher thread count with a softer feel but with a longer life since it is not as susceptible to tears and rips.

Final Finish

Most sheets have been chemically processed with chlorine, silicon and other types of substances to prevent wrinkling, shrinking, and to keep them from losing their shape. If your skin is highly sensitive than you may want to consider purchasing organic pure finish sheets that haven’t been chemically enhanced. Pure finish sheets can be more expensive but they are definitely worth the price. Always remember to wash new sheets before using them for the first time.

As the cold weather begins to make its way back, homeowners can begin storing their gardening tools and supplies. There is nothing quite as nice as opening your shed in the springtime and having a completely organized, well-kept space. Before you dive right into the project, we gathered several tips for you to use while you organize and store your belongings. We hope you find these tips and tricks helpful! 

Storing Your Gardening Supplies:

Tip One: Create a System. 

Map out what you would like your shed to look like. Add function by putting in adjustable shelves and a shelving system on the walls.

Tip Two: Get Hooked. 

A great shed storage idea that we love is hanging your gardening hose on a wall hook. Be sure to purchase a large enough hook to hold your entire hose. But once you add this genius trick, you will never have to worry about a tangled hose. 

Tip Three: Magnetized. 

Are you looking for the perfect way to store your tools? Try adding a magnetic strip to one of your shed’s walls. Most of your tools will be magnetic, but if they are not, you can add a small magnet on each of your tools. Once the strip is added, you can properly hang all of your tools for quick access and have an easy clean-up.  

Tip Four: Ramp It Up.

Storing your larger items can get tiring. By adding a ramp to your shed, you can help make organization less work. Wheel barrels and lawn mowers can be easily stored and accessed with this ramp! 

Tip Five: A Good Cleaning. 

While storing your supplies for winter, it is a good idea to focus on cleaning your tools and supplies. This way dirt and grim will not be left on them while they sit unused during the winter months. For help cleaning your gardening tools, we have created a simple three-step system: 

• Step One: In a large bucket, pour in dry sand. Moisten the sand with vegetable oil. 
• Step Two: Remove dried-on gunk from your tools with a putty knife. Afterwards, you will want to submerge your tools inside of your sandy mixture. Make sure that the wooden handles are outside of the sand for easy access. Let your gardening tools sit inside this sandy bucket for approximately ten minutes. You will want to keep putting the tools back in the bucket until all the residue is gone. 
• Step Three: Once all of your tools are cleaned, wipe them off with a piece of burlap. After they are wiped down, you will want to store them on your magnetic strip. They will be cleaned and ready to use once spring arrives. 

How do you prep your outdoors for winter? Let us know your thoughts and comments in the section below. We look forward to hearing from you!

The holidays are the most joyful time of year. The holidays reunite the family and bring seasonal cheer. With the holidays, some homeowners can become stressed and overwhelmed trying to get their house in sorts. Luckily, we have created a guide to help you through this busy season! Here is how you can get your home ready for the holidays:

Getting Your Home Ready for The Holidays:

1. Focus on Your Main Rooms. 

During the holidays, your main rooms will do most of the entertaining. The spaces like your living room and kitchen should be your main focus. Before your guests arrive, begin clearing the clutter out of these spaces. Make room for your company by providing extra chairs and storing bulky items. While you declutter your space, this is a great time to create a donation and discard bin. As you go through all of your stuff, you can begin placing items in their appropriate bin. This will help make cleaning up after the holidays faster and more efficient. 

2. Decorating. 

Once the clutter is cleared away, you can begin decorating your rooms. Design experts recommend replacing current decor with decorations instead of adding more to the room. For example, you have a clock and some picture frames on your mantle. Instead of adding decorations in between and around these items, store the clock and picture frames. Then you will want to add your seasonal decor in place of those items. 

3. Know Your Space. 

It is important for homeowners to recognize the amount of space they have before the holidays. Make sure you are not biting off more than you can chew. You want to be assured that you fit all of your guests with a good amount of wiggle room. Once you have assessed your space, you will want to begin to factor in your gifts. How much room will your gifts take up? Where will you store your gifts? 

4. Make a Holiday Game Plan. 

The best way to get ready for the holidays is to create a game plan. Make a list of everything you want to accomplish. From baking cookies with your kids to caroling with your neighborhood, you will have everything laid out for the holidays. Just remember to add a little bit of wiggle room for unforeseen circumstances and new activities. 

We hope you enjoyed these tips on getting ready for the holidays! We wish you and your family a safe and happy holiday season! 

Some homeowners have the magic touch when it comes to growing plants indoors. Other homeowners may struggle a little bit with letting plants flourish and grow to their full potential. We have three tips and tricks on how to keep your plants alive and well this fall! Let us get started:

Tip No. One: Water only when needed (not necessarily when you think): Watering plants can be one of the most tricky things for homeowners to get right. Homeowners tend to lean towards overwatering their plants rather than under watering the soil. If you want an easy trick for watering, stick your finger into the plant’s soil. You will typically want to place it near the edge of the pot to get a good read on its dryness. If the soil is dry, you can water your plant! Experts recommend doing this until you understand your plant’s watering schedule. When you water your plants, lift up the leaves and, using a watering can dampen the soil. You can have a little bit of water underneath your plant, but clean up any excess water that may have occurred. 

Tip No. Two: Use something to help with drainage: From pebbles to gravel, there are solutions for you to help your plant with its draining system. The key to proper drainage is to keep water from your plant’s roots. The excess amount of water can lead to rotting and that means bye-bye plant. If the pot for your current plant does not have holes, you will want to replant in a pot with holes to avoid rotting.

Tip No. Three: Understand what your plant likes: Whether you bought it from a local florist or at a grocery store, you will want the rundown on your plant. You will want to research your plant to the best of your ability to learn things like: does it prefer direct sunlight? Once you understand its lighting and eating preferences, you will be set up for greater success. Say that you do not know what type of plant you own, you can always take it into your local nursery and ask them. They may even give you some tips and tricks that are personalized to your plant type. 

We hope you enjoyed these three easy tricks. Make sure to check back weekly for more blogs and updates.