Category Archives: Home Tips

The Key to Storing Your Keys

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We would be lost without our keys. Your keys can be an extreme asset to your life. Not only are your keys essential for transportation, but also allow access into your home, work, and even in some cases, your place of education. Where would we be without our keys? Too often people misplace or lose them due to oversight. Establishing a designated area in your home is the first proactive step in not losing your keys. We put together our top most convenient places to store your keys so that you never find yourself without them again. Let’s take a look!

Key Hook

The key hook is a phenomenal resource to facilitate storing your keys inside your home. Our team of experts has found it to be the most beneficial to place your key hook near your primary entrance and exits of your home. For example, if you exit through your foyer, your keyholder should hang closest to your foyer door. Whereas in some households, residents may exit their home via the garage. Establishing what the best location in your home is essential to keep your keys from never being lost.

Key Drawer

A key drawer has also been found to be helpful in family homes. Like anything in life, developing the habit is crucial to success.  Assign a drawer in your home where you keep all of your keys.  Make sure it is the first place you go when you come home to put your keys away.  The closer your key drawer is to your entrance and exit the better.  Not only is does this grant more convenience but also prevents you from getting caught up or distracted from putting your keys away.

Your Nightstand

So, this one may not be the closest to your door but serves a valuable second purpose.  Having your keys near your bed allows you to have instant access to your car alarm.  You would use this clever hack if you were to need quick access to your car alarm, for example, a home intrusion.  Just reach over and turn on your car alarm and you have your own home security system.  This is also probably where you are charging your phone at night making it easy to grab both before you get up and start your day.
Having your keys always in an assigned location will prevent you from losing them.  This is an easy habit to develop that can prevent a ton of unnecessary hassle and stress.  Also, creating spare keys and hiding them outside your home is an excellent preventive measure you can take to stay proactive from losing your keys or any spontaneous situation where someone else may need into your home.  For more great tips and tricks, visit us at Fulton Homes.

Professional Moving Advice for Homeowners

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The word “moving” has a stressful connotation associated with it. We think of moving, and we think of the massive amount of work and preparation that will be involved. Do not let the idea of moving into a new home stress you out and keep you worried. We want to help your move be as smooth and comfortable as possible.

Tips for a Successful Move:

  • Create a schedule and checklist.
      • Schedule: To reduce stress caused by moving, create a schedule for moving day and the days leading up to it. If you plan on hiring a moving company, write down all appointments in your moving schedule. Your moving schedule will help prepare you for the big day.
      • Checklist: Certain things must be done prior to the move as well as after moving day. Create a checklist to make sure you have completed all the necessary tasks. For example, make sure all the kitchen cabinets and drawers are emptied.
  • Gather the necessary items.
        • Boxes: Boxes are a moving day necessity and can sometimes be challenging to find them for free. Excellent places to check for free boxes are grocery stores and liquor stores. You can always purchase boxes at various general merchandise stores.
        • Etcetera: Other important items to have on hand are scissors, permanent markers, masking tape, bubble wrap, trash bags, a toolbox, and cleaning supplies for last minute cleaning needs.
  • Use a color-coded box system. When you go to unpack, it can be difficult to know what box belongs in what room. To save yourself the confusion, create a color-coded box system. You will need to create a moving legend to establish which color goes with what room. After you have created the legend, place colored stickers on the box that goes with the assigned color of the room. For example, the kitchen is represented by a blue sticker on the legend; all blue sticker boxes will go into the new home’s kitchen on moving day.
  • Do not do it alone. Invite your friends and family to help with the move in exchange for a free dinner. People are usually receptive to helping out a friend in need and who wants to turn down free food? To keep dinner costs though, you can buy some pizzas for everyone to eat.

Take a deep breath before moving day. It will all be alright, and everything will get done. It is a lot of work, but moving into a new home brings new adventures. Think of the great times to come and all the memories that you and your loved ones will share. 

Best wishes, and thanks for choosing Fulton Homes. 

How to Prepare Your Home for Cold & Flu Season

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Cold and flu season is amongst us! With kids being sent home early from school and you potentially missing work, the season can hit us fast and hard. Fortunately, there are some preventative measures that you and your family members can take. Instead of worrying about getting sick, it is time to take action and remove those unwanted germs.  To help homeowners, we created a simple guide to help you prepare for cold and flu season. Let’s take a look! 

How to Prepare for Cold & Flu Season:

  1. Buy Medicines in Advance. When you are feeling under the weather, there is nothing worse than having to go to the store to pick up medicines. For your convenience when you are ill, stock up on medication now. Buy the basics: pain relief, decongestants, antihistamines, and cough medicines.
  2. Have Supplies around Your Home. Make sure to sit out tissues and hand sanitizer around your home. Encourage your family members to use the sanitizer after they sneeze, cough or blow their nose.
  3. Wipe Everything Down. With everyone coming home from all different places, there is no way to know what germs they are bringing with them. To prevent the spreading of germs, take a disinfectant wipe and wipe down everything. Try to focus on objects that multiple people touch like door handles, television remotes, and light switches.
  4. Stay Healthy. A great way to prevent illness is to stay active and eat healthily. Encourage yourself and your family members to drink plenty of water and to get a good night’s rest. Also, you may want to talk to your family doctor about daily vitamins. Ask your doctor what vitamins your family members should be taking to help stay healthy.
  5. Wash Your Hands. Out of habit, we may not wash our hands as long as we probably should. Washing your hands can genuinely help prevent the spread of germs. To stop germs in their track, make sure that you wash your hands for a full twenty seconds. According to The Center for Disease Control, you want to make sure that you get between your fingers and under your fingernails by scrubbing for twenty seconds.

Remember to keep your floors clean and free of dirt and dust. For carpet and wood floors, be sure to vacuum/sweep daily regularly. Removing those unwanted particles can help promote a happy and healthy home. Thanks for reading!

How to Organize a Kid’s Room Like a Pro

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Let’s be honest; a child’s bedroom and playroom are not the most organized room in the house. They tend to get messy, fast. But fear not, there are ways to avoid the messiness and focus on maximizing the room’s organizational potential. For tips on how to organize your kid’s bedroom like a professional, keep on reading! 

How to Organize a Kid’s Room Like a Professional:

Tip #1: Hide-and-Seek.

Hide-and-Seek is not only a kid’s game, but it can come in handy when organizing your child’s bedroom. You want to “hide” the toys and only “seek” them when it is playtime. A great way to hide the toys is by putting them in plain sight. Fun animal-themed baskets and decked out treasure chests will do just the trick. If you are blessed with a closet in the bedroom, you can replace the closet door with a curtain. The curtain will provide a little more leeway for extra room. You can also place a dresser inside of the closet and use it for extra storage. For your kid’s more attractive toys, like toy firetrucks or dolls, you can place them on a shelf to be displayed. By utilizing toys for decor, you keep them off the floor while adding to the overall design. 

Tip #2: Get Hooked.

Wall hooks are a fantastic storage technique. They provide a place for winter jackets or dress-up costumes. Whatever your use may be, consider using hooks in your child’s bedroom for storage. Plus, you can buy wall hooks to fit the style of your kid’s bedroom and help add to the overall design. 

Tip #3: Labeled.

Label your child’s items to help them during the cleaning process. Bins and drawers can have small, clear labels placed on them for reference. By doing this, you can help your child take responsibility of their room.

Tip #4: Where Monsters Go.

The space underneath your child’s bed is the perfect place to store items you do not use frequently. Out-of-season clothing or underused toys can be placed underneath the bed. Be sure to buy roll-out bins for easy access.

Tip #5: Double-Duty.

Wherever you can add extra storage, do it. You can purchase cubed chairs that are hollow on the inside of them, and use this empty space to store your kid’s reading books and coloring items. Plus, they can use the cube chairs for tea parties or storytime. It is dual-purpose and twice the fun. 

We hope you enjoyed these tips and tricks. If you are looking for more expert advice, please check out our blog hug. Thanks for reading! 

Inspiring Design Hacks to Transform Your Patio for Autumn

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When it comes to home investments, you may not think of exterior modifications right away, and maybe, it is time to change your way of thinking. Autumn is the season to enjoy the outdoor weather and experience the beauty of change. Hosting outdoor festivities and gatherings is a great way to encapsulate this change through your home. Tailoring your patio for the seasons and adapting to different criteria can be a daunting task at first but the reward is well worth the time invested. As some of the Arizona trees begin to alter their leaves with a crimsons and golds spectacles and the nights grow longer, change is inevitable. We put together three simple fall patio changes worth your investments. Let’s take a look!

Fabulous Firepit

A great social modification to your patio is adding a firepit. Yes, even in Arizona. Plus, there are so many budget-friendly options as well as some very classy, elaborate setups for homeowners to select their favorite. Decide which investment best suits your house, design, and budget. Also, consider the number of people you plan on hosting. If you plan on entertaining large groups, you will want to add more seating to accommodate everyone. Lastly, make sure the firepit is well kept, and no trees are overhead that could catch fire.

Feature Fall Decor

Exterior decor can make a powerful statement outside your home. Adding hay barrels and pumpkins is an easy way to adapt your home for the fall season. Fall is harvest season and adding creative reflections of that around your outdoors can boost your home’s exterior value and fall pride. Try incorporating scarecrows and even decorating for Halloween to add flair. Plus, with Thanksgiving around the corner, it is also an excellent opportunity to add other festive pieces to your design.

Functional Furniture

Make sure you get the proper patio furniture. This is your chance to add your taste and design style outside. The exterior design option can be branched from bar seating to chairs or even stools. Designing your patio with the right seating and furniture is crucial for adapting your patio to become an outdoor hangout. Try buy autumn theme cushions or even a fun fall colored umbrella to help amplify your seasonal pride. Make sure you have different gathering spots and tailor your patio to accommodate the events you may host. You may also want to get a grill or set up an outdoor kitchen to make cooking and serving easier outdoors.

Investing in your patio this season is a great way to improve your home. It shows you care about your home and take pride in even the exterior.

Inspiring Ways to Add Bold Color Outdoors

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So you have finally ventured outside your comfort zone and added color to your home’s neutral palette. Now it is time to focus on your home’s exterior. Injecting vibrant hues into the landscape is not as difficult as it may sound. Whether it is through furniture, plant pots or tiles, color can come from a variety of sources. Check out these six simple ways to make an impact with colors outside:

Colorful Patio Furniture

The sitting area is one of the focal points in the landscape. This is an ideal place to add color. Opt for a table or set of chairs that feature a bold color. If you are on a budget, you can consider swapping out the seat cushions for ones that have a refreshing hue. Adding a pattern or bold colored pillows is another inexpensive way to create interest without breaking the bank.

Accent Wall in an Eye-Catching Color

Accent walls are not just reserved for indoors. Consider painting a garden fence or exterior wall a lively color that is bound to capture one’s attention. All you need is a can of paint and a few spare hours to create the look. A color wheel can help you decide what hue you should choose. Opt for a color that will complement the patio furniture and plants that you have chosen.

Decorative Tiles

Make an impact with decorative tiles. You will find that tiles are produced in many different patterns, colors, and designs. You can make a mural with tiles on the exterior surfaces outside, or you can always opt for a unique tile flooring solution for the patio; however, you will want to make sure that you choose a tile that is appropriate for an outdoor environment.

Bold Decor

Use colorful and bold decor that adds interest to the landscape. Unique mosaic art, pottery, and colorful stepping stones are just a few bold decor ideas. Invest in garden art that can stand up to all kinds of weather conditions.

Outdoor Rug

Adding an outdoor area rug to the patio or deck is an opportunity to enhance the dining or seating area. In addition, opt for a rug with an interesting design and pleasing shades to add style and meaning.

Colorful Flower Pots

Love your garden? Well, you will love it more if you incorporate beautiful, colorful flower pots. Can you imagine just how beautiful your plants will look in bright, beautiful containers? It will create the perfect statement piece outdoors.

How do you add interest and creativity to your outdoor area? We would love to hear below in the comment section. Thanks for reading!

Must-Know Professional Refrigerator Organization Hacks

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Keeping an organized refrigerator can be a little tricky at times, especially when you have a diverse eating style and bring takeout boxes home. A clean fridge can say a lot though and help you easily find food when you are hungry. Also, it will help prevent old food from going unnoticed and starting to smell. Maintaining a clean refrigerator becomes easier after you set yourself up for success. Here are a couple of professional organization tricks you can use on your refrigerator or freezer today to begin making it more organized. Let’s take a look!

Print Labels

Labeling your drawers and shelves before loading them is vital to make sure everything is easy to locate. Make sure you choose the proper drawer sizes for what you will be putting in them. Do not designate a small drawer or shelf with food categories that will quickly outgrow the space after your next grocery store visit. You want to be cognitive of your refrigerator’s size and the items being used.

Eliminate Prepackaging

Putting prepackaged sodas or yogurts is a quick way to take up access space. Try eliminating all group pre-packing when loading your refrigerator. This is a great way to make grabbing your food and monitoring how much is left quick and easy. Plus, you can stack bottles and cans on their sides to save space.

Make a Kid-Zone

If you are not the only person going in and out of your refrigerator, you may want to designate a shelf for the kids. Put snacks and their favorite cravings in an easily accessible spot. This is an excellent way to make sure the rest of your refrigerator does not become a total mess after someone else visits it.

Tupperware

Meal prepping can be a great habit to start. You may want to invest in all uniformed Tupperware. This can easily give your many meals a more aesthetic look in the refrigerator. You can go a step further and label shelves by days in your fridge. Organized storage bins that can be easily stacked and are transparent are great to keep your space neat and well maintained. You may also want to install a drink dispenser and pour your favorite beverages into them.

A clean refrigerator will take maintenance. Try to dedicate a little time each week or thirty minutes at the end of each month to keep your refrigerator in check. Check expiration dates and fruit and vegetables often. Always keep up on your fridge to maintain a clean and inviting area every time you open it.

Home Hacks

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Moving into a new home is an adventure and a great opportunity.  Having a clean slate to decorate and add your furnishings is a tremendous privilege; however, there are some super simple mistakes people make, time and time again, when moving into their new homes.  Sometimes, simple home hacks and lifestyle tricks can really showcase your home. We put together three quick techniques to showcase your pride in your new home and to help keep it looking clean and dapper. Let’s take a look!
 
Home Hacks:
  • Wire Tuck
So many people ignore the eyesore that wires can create.  Remember to tuck away all wires running to and from electronic devices. Prevent any tripping hazards by cognitively placing furniture over or around exposed wires to lamps.  If wires have been exposed running to a television, consider getting clips to consolidate the exposed wires.  You can even paint the wires to match the wall paint to help them blend better with the atmosphere. Making sure your wires are all properly hidden in your lamps, computers, and televisions is essential to showcase that you care about your home.
 
  • Make Your Bed
This cost you absolutely nothing but shows your proud to be in your space.  Making your bed not only is a great style habit to develop but always leaves your room looking clean and fresh.  A tidy room will also look bigger.  So, make your mom proud by making your bed this year and keeping a neat looking bedroom.
 
  • No More Clutter
Minimalism is a great habit to develop.  It can keep the functionality and aesthetics of your home always in check.  For example, do not keep clutter on your tabletops or shelves. A clean, minimalistic atmosphere is ideal for allowing your homes openness and architecture designs to take the spotlight.  Limit the decor to only the essentials needed to strengthen your environment and understand that less is more.
 
These simple but effective habits can help your home feeling clean and always welcoming.  Try incorporating these into your home in any stage, whether you have lived there a day or a year to help strengthen the space. For more home hacks, visit us at Fulton Homes.

Fabulous Fire Pit Ideas

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Whether you are hosting your family or friends, a fire pit is an excellent addition to any patio or backyard oasis.   Fires are relaxing and captivating to sit back, relax, and enjoy.  The mix of tranquility and destruction has always had a psychological effect on the mind.  Adding a fire pit to your home is the perfect way to unwind at the end of your day and experience the outdoors.  We put together a couple of our favorite fire pit designs for you to add to your home to help transform your yard into a gorgeous, welcoming outdoor haven.
 
  • Classic Fire Pit
The classic design can be made from traditional fire pit stones which you can purchase at your local home and gardening shop.  This round design gives you the capability of building your fire pit to the size you want.  These stones can be loose-laid or sealed to provide a more permanent feel.  Classic round fire pits are great for hosting events because they give the most freedom of seating.
 
  • Gravel Fire Pit
If you put your fire pit in your yard, graveling the surrounding area designates the area.   You can make the space as large or as small as you desire.  Purchase seating you think helps enhance the look that you are going for in your yard. Whickered chairs, rustic logs, and modern stools are great accessories. The freedom is yours to amplify your yard.  Contain your fire with the classic design or use some loose boulders.
 
  • Earthed Fire Pit
Submerge your fiery design with an earthed fire pit.  Dig a hole to the desired depth to use for your fire.  You can put red stones or reflective fire glass of your color preference to help this look.  This is a great looking design which contains the fires width as well as height impeccably!
 
  • Modern Concrete Bowl
Modern designs have been flooding the market.  For this look, invest in a gas fire pit or concrete bowl design. These modern designs work great on any patio. You can choose even to use mosaic tiles to add to the patio’s fire pits design.  
 
 
All fire pit designs give you the freedom to express your style.  Adding a Rustic style fire pit or a Modern themed one is your personal preference.  Adapting your yard to how you seem fit is a fun and great way to get to love your home.  So, spend some time outside this autumn, find your place of solitude or host a social gathering with a beautiful fire pit. Believe us; your fire pit will be a home investment you will use for decades to come.

Tips for Cleaning Your House

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We want to share some easy tips and tricks for cleaning your home so that you spend your free time doing the things that you love. As we all know, time is a very precious commodity and anything that we can do to save time is certainly valuable. We have listed a few tips below for cleaning the home quickly that you must try:
 
  • Start at The Top – Always start at the top and clean your way down the room. This way dirt and dust fall to the lower-level, uncleaned surface. For example, you will want to begin by dusting your ceiling fans first, then cleaning the furniture below it. This way you do not have to do double the work in the end. Once the dirt and debris fall from your ceiling, you can wipe them away while you clean your furniture. 
  • Kitchen – In the kitchen, you will want to begin by loading the dishwasher. Fill the sink with hot soapy water and a small amount of cleaner. If your stove has burner frames, remove and put in the sink’s soapy water. Next, you will want to dust off your ceiling fans, light fixtures, and windowsills then clear off all of countertops and tabletops. After they are cleared, dip a clean sponge into the soapy water and wipe down cabinets and counters from top to bottom. Be sure to rinse the sponge in hot water, and you will be amazed at how much dirt rinses out of it. Lastly, wipe down all kitchen appliances from top to bottom. By wiping down appliances, you will help to eliminate fingerprints and remove excess dirt. 
  • Bathrooms – Cleaning all bathrooms at one time is vital. Dust light fixtures and windowsills, clear and wipe down counters, and clean the bathtub and toilet bowl with cleaner. Allow the cleaner to sit while you go to the next bathroom to clear clutter and spray down the areas. Go back to the first bathroom clean and wipe down the mirrors. You can also wipe the bathroom’s baseboards and floors before you have clean the floors to help not add extra work for yourself. After you wipe the baseboards, you can take a broom and dust away any debris. Lastly, you will want to mop the space working your way out of the room. 
  • Living & Dining Room – Clear all clutter before you begin the living room and dining. Start dusting in one corner of the room and work clockwise. Clean ceiling fans, light fixtures, and dust windowsills and all furniture from top to bottom. Use your vacuum cleaner attachment on upholstered furniture for an extra good cleaning. 
  • Bedrooms – In your bedrooms, you will want to strip bed linens, wash the sheets, and remake bed. Clear all visible clutter by placing it into a basket or its designated area. Dust ceiling fans, light fixtures, window sills, and all furniture top to bottom with dusting spray and microfiber cloth. Afterward, you will want to use a vacuum or dustpan to remove any leftover dirt and debris from the floor.
  • Floors – We recommend cleaning all of your floors of the same type at the same time. For example, you would clean hardwood floors at one time and clean tile floors at one time and so on. When vacuuming carpeted floors, work your way backward out of the room and try not to overlap with a vacuum; this eliminates dust settling in the air.
  • Steam Mop– Steam mops make cleaning floors much faster than using a basic mop and bucket. Plus, you are using water to steam away dirt and germs, instead of cleaners. We recommend investing in a steam mop to help speed up your cleaning routine. 
Do you have any cleaning hacks that you cherish? We would love for you to share your tips and tricks with other readers below in the comment section. As always, thanks for reading, and be sure to check back weekly for more expert advice.