The Key to Storing Your Keys

Posted on by
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.

Must-Have Home Accessories & Decor Pieces

Posted on by

A room can appear rather dull without accessories and decor pieces. What was once boring can be brought to life with a few key pieces. If you are searching for design inspiration, we have created a guide of seven must-have home accessories/decor pieces. Let’s take a look!

Must-Have Home Accessories/Decor Pieces:

1. A Natural Element.

Plants can create a beautiful feature piece within a space. From succulents to flowers, plants provide a delightful, refreshing twist to the classic decor pieces. Plus, with plants, you can bring in natural elements. The things that we all love about the outdoors are featured when you incorporate a plant in your decor. The plants will help to create an inviting, refreshing space that cannot be mastered by any other decor piece.

2. Window Treatments.

The stylish treatments that you use for your curtains can help elongate the space while incorporating a vast amount of natural lighting. Curtains can be a great accessory piece for all homes because whether you choose patterns or a pop of color, it can provide a flattering finish to your space.

3. Light The Way.

Lighting is essential for setting the mood and overall tone of the room. Not only can you incorporate stylish fixtures, but you can install light options that help create a sense of completeness. For example, you could install dimmers for the night time or track lighting in dark areas of your room. Lighting is all about your perspective and personal opinion.

4. Added Comfort.

There is something oh so comforting about a cozy area rug. Area rugs are great ways to add that homey look you desire without taking away from the current flooring. Plus, they can help dress up the space. They provide a much-needed backdrop to your furniture pieces while blending into the overall decor.

5. Wall Pieces.

Do not let your walls be bare this season. Walls are the perfect opportunity to add a little bit of flair and fun. From large mirrors to stunning artwork, your walls can express a fun, creative nature and add to the overall decor.

6. Make a Statement.

No matter what, we recommend finding a focal piece to make as the statement of the room. Whether it be dressing up the fireplace or framing the gorgeous bay window, find your focal point and run with it.

7. Play with Texture.

Texture can play an important in the overall design scheme. Most homeowners breeze past the thought, but it can help create a sense of comfort. Try adding pieces that incorporate unique textures into your space. It does not even have to be an area rug or blanket; you can add texture through artwork, light fixtures, etc. Get creative with it.

What accessory could you not live without having? We would love to hear your feedback in the comment section.

Professional Moving Advice for Homeowners

Posted on by

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

Posted on by

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!

Inspiring Seasonal Colors that Work Year-Round

Posted on by

Fall is the perfect season to gain design inspiration for your home. During these breezy months, you can find beautiful, warm colors and hues that can work in your home’s design. For fall inspiration, stayed tuned because we have six fall colors that work year-round: 

  1. Espresso Brown. Inspired by the deep tones found in nature, espresso brown can make a subtle appearance in your space as an accent color or even a wall color. For a dramatic look, you can purchase furniture in this deep shade. This color looks almost black; therefore, it goes with nearly every color out there, and you do not have to worry about it clashing with anything.
  2. Burnt Orange. The autumn trees inspired us to love this particular color because of its warm and breezy hues. Burnt orange looks great as an accent color in patterns or as a statement piece. You can transform an entire room with this beautiful “orangey” hue.
  3. Sienna. We like to think of Sienna as a more natural color that does not stand out as much as burnt orange but helps tie together your browns, oranges, and reds. It works well as an accent piece to tie together other hues. 
  4. Mustard Yellow. If you are looking for a statement, mustard yellow is here to take charge. Using yellow in your decor is anything but subtle, and that is why we love it. You can try using this color in areas of your room that you want to draw attention. If you are feeling extra trendy, you can try to use it as your base color.
  5. Garnet Red. This is a beautiful, deep red that embodies elegance and power. We absolutely love this color for sofa chairs, decorations, or a wall color. Garnet Red needs a powerful place for its compelling look. 
  6. Plum. If you are looking for a deeper shade than garnet red, plum purple is the shade for you. This rich color is soothing to look at and provides a full body of drama in one shade. The deep plum may be too dark for a wall color but works well for decorations and accent pieces.

For more design and color inspiration, be sure to visit our blog hub. 

How to Organize a Kid’s Room Like a Pro

Posted on by

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! 

How to Repurpose Your Old Candle Jars

Posted on by

Candles are great, but would not they be better if we could reuse the jars? Actually, candle jars are an item that can be easily repurposed. The best part is that you do not have to be a craft wizard to master it. Once the candles are repurposed, they become fantastic containers for extra storage. You can place the jars on your countertops to hold q-tips, cotton swabs, floss, etc. Plus, you are not paying any extra money for a cute, stylish container. If you are eager to learn how to repurpose your candle jars, you came to the right place! 

The Supplies Needed:

  • 1 Candle Jar (Size May Vary)
  • Goo Gone
  • Boiled Water
  • An Old Butter Knife

1. Know When to Repurpose Your Candle.

Wait to repurpose your candle until your candle has fully lived its life. There will be a small amount of wax at the bottom of your candle that is unable to burn. Once your candle has hit this point, you can begin the process.

2. Make Gentle Cuts into The Wax.

Do not apply too much pressure on the glass, because it can break or get damaged. Make small incisions throughout the wax until it begins to break into pieces. Continue this process until all the wax has been broken up then throw away the excess wax.

3. Add Your Boiling Water.

Gently pour your boiling water about 1/4 of the way up the jar. Let the water sit in the container until the metal wicks loosen. You will also notice that excess wax will begin to release from the bottom of the jar. Remove the metal wicks with a pair of kitchen tongs or your butter knife. Be cautious since you poured boiling water into the glass jar. 

4. Remove The Label.

Now it is time to remove candle’s label. Removing the label is pretty simple, you will just need to peel it off. Unfortunately, it leaves behind residue, so this is where your Goo Gone will come in handy. If you have leftover residue, run the jar under hot water.

5. Fill The Jar.

Finally, you have a clear container to store all your items. Now when you are complimented on your cute jars, you can tell all your friends that you repurposed them all by yourself.

Why spend money on buying storage containers when you create your own from items you already have around the house? 

We hope you enjoyed this simple DIY guide. Be sure to check out our other posts here.

Inspiring Design Hacks to Transform Your Patio for Autumn

Posted on by

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.

Must-Have DIY Exterior Doormat

Posted on by

Doormats can be the first thing people see when entering your home. Stores tend to sell generic doormats, but would not it be fun if you could make your own? Plus, personalizing a doormat is even easier than it seems with these simple steps:

Supplies:
Plain Coco Coir Doormat
Painter’s Tape
Adhesive Stencil Paper
X-Acto Knife
Cutting Mat
Foam Paintbrush
Exterior Paint

Step One. Download a template from online. The template will serve as your “greeting” on the doormat. You can choose words or an image. Print out the template and lay it where you would like it to sit on the doormat.

Step Two. Take your adhesive stencil paper and place it over top of your template. You want the sticky-side of the stencil paper to be facing downwards.

Note: You can find adhesive stencil paper at any local craft store.

Step Three. Using painter’s tape, fasten the adhesive paper on top of the printed template.

Step Four. Take an X-Acto knife and cut around each letter.

Note: You may want to place a cutting mat underneath your printed template to avoid damage to your table.

Step Five. After you have cut around the letters, peel the adhesive backing off of the stencil paper. You will then place the sticky part on top of the doormat where you think it looks best.

Step Six. Secure the adhesive paper by pressing it down into place.

Step Seven. Take your stencil from before and line it up with your recently pressed down adhesive part.

Step Eight. Grab your foam paintbrush, and in a light bouncing motion, you will begin to paint over the adhesive.

Note: For the best results, move in up and down directions for neat lines.

Step Nine. Allow the doormat to dry for 24 hours.

Step Ten. Place the doormat in front of a door, and voila, you have your own custom doormat.

Custom doormats are the perfect gift for newly-weds or new homeowners. The next time you are looking for the perfect gift, try making a personalized doormat! You may be pleasantly surprised with the results. Thanks for reading!

Decorating with Antiques: Mixing Old and New

Posted on by

Perhaps one of the biggest interior design myths is that you should not mix old pieces with new ones; however, there is no reason that your grandma’s “old” plates have to be confined to the attic. The easiest way to create a monotonous room is by sticking to pieces that reflect a single style period. In fact, the most stylish rooms are designed with different design elements that are both old and new. While you are shopping for edgy, modern items, you will want to consider how you can pair the new pieces with antique accessories.

If you live in a standard space that lacks unique architectural elements, adding vintage items in the midst of contemporary pieces will add character to your home. Antiques are great decorative pieces because they usually tell a story and the fact that they have stood the test of time is just amazing. It is essential to utilize a neutral color scheme to pull off this effortless look. Neutral colors will not distract from the design, instead contribute a beautiful canvas space for the pieces. Now, decorating with antiques does require some skill. While you do not want your home to be a recreation of a museum, it is also dull for your room to look like an exact replica of the furniture store’s showroom. To master the balance, here are some tips for mixing old items with the new pieces in your design:

Repurpose

Many antique collectors like to purchase vintage items and convert them into something more useful or display them in a way they were not created to use. For instance, a vintage dress can be cleaned and used as a hallway table, old Victorian chairs can be reupholstered entirely with a funky patterned design to look completely different, and a treasure trunk can be used as a coffee table.

Grouping Similar Items

If you have a few vintage items you want to showcase in a room, you can try grouping the “like” items in one area. You can give your antique dishware a home in the dining room armoire or build a shelf to hold your antique collections. This way, they are displayed in the same area and create a feature piece rather than a sporadic design.

Mixing Elements

The best way to make antique items stand out in a room is by combining them with contemporary pieces. Modern furniture enhanced with vintage accessories is a great way to start. A modern coffee table with an antique lamp makes for an eclectic design and beautiful balance. If you feel a little unsure, mix in old decor pieces slowly. You can build up the room over time to help your space remain balanced.

While mixing old with new sounds like a challenge, we hope our top three tips make you confident to tackle this project. For more expert advice, please visit us at Fulton Homes. Thanks for reading!