Category: Home and Garden

Tidying up a studio-type quarter might be one of the toughest things to do. When you have such a small space, it is crucial to think of how and when to use plastic storage baskets for organizing purposes.

Most people who reside in a studio are city dwellers who are usually busy with work life. And for any city person, keeping a studio-type home is a challenging task. While not many consider it, keeping a tidy space after a long hard day can be good therapy. For this reason, it is important to note a few steps of how to tidy a studio like a boss.

Always Keep the Mess

The most basic tip in tidying a studio is always knowing how to keep the mess. It is so easy to get topsyturvy with a cramp and small space. But just as it’s easy to mess things around, it is also easy to declutter things up. Having the right storages for dirty laundry or office supplies can make or bend the interior design of the room.

For starters, it is essential to have storage boxes that would match the paintings or wallpaper of the wall. It would not be a good idea to have a rainbow laundry basket when the theme of the room is gothic – just for the sake of giving examples.

Also, avoid piling things up in a corner or on top of the desk. Taking some time to organize a couple of things can make room for some beauty in a room. Decluttering stuff is psychologically evident to be promoting well-being. Technically, keeping the mess off the little studio room is like allowing both the owner and the room to breathe. So, breathe out the mess and breathe in the fresh vibe of a tidy room.

Get Shelves

Shelves are important elements in a house. People who are not a fan of shelves tend to have a messy and disorganized arrangement that may one way or another reflect their personalities. Stacking up things with a plastic storage basket may be a good storage idea for tools, laundries, and winter clothes but not for books or office supplies.

Having a couple of shelves also makes the room look spacious since you are arranging things vertically and not horizontally. On a more unique note, shelves can be walls to divide the space between a mini sala and the bedroom. It’s a cute combination of organization and style at once.

When picking a shelve, always consider its size, color, and design. Matching it with the color of the bed is a good idea to keep the motif of the room glowing. Think about having a mini succulent in the middle of the shelve to add a bit of greenery in the surroundings – it helps!

Black and White and Nudes

The color of the room gives off a professional vibe when it is complementary to one another. Also, sticking closely with the colors of black, white, and nude hues creates an elitist atmosphere. These colors are monochromatic in nature and are not hard to blend with each other. They are usually the color that expresses authority and elegance in one.

A black shelf matched with a white bed and off-white painted walls is a great tidying idea. To top the interiors, collect plastic storages that are only in colors of black or white. This concept will make stuff around seem mysterious and clean.

Some people find the black and white combination to be too rigid which is why the nude motif is a choice for them. The nudes of hues are close to earth tones that range from deep dark brown to flesh colors. Mixing it with nature-green hues like having succulents around helps make the room look more vibrant.

Under Bed Storage

Since we are thinking of ideas to tidy up a studio unit, it is essential to maximize every space possible. For this reason, even the space under the bed can be ample space for other things. It can be installed with a separate drawer where clothes, extra sheets, and other stuff can be kept.

If installing a secret drawer under it is an expensive thought, keeping a couple of storage baskets under it is a space-saving thing. Depending on the size of the bed, it can handle at least two or three storage baskets for whatever stuff needed to be secured somewhere. Instead of imagining that there may be monsters under the bed, imagine how space under it can be maximized posture corrector.

Takeaway

Tidying a studio flat can be a tough task considering the cramped space and the design an owner wants. Not to mention, it is also quite expensive to hire someone to do the interior design. While it may take a bit of time and perseverance to tidy up a whole flat, it sure is worth it to see everything in place through exerting personal efforts.

Having an architectural or interior design background is not a mandatory skill for tidying up a mini flat – although it would be a huge help. But with a little bit of research and a couple of storage ideas, fixing up a room or two could be done in no time.

The world of athletics is very diverse, each sport has its very own rules and characteristics, therefore, the different sports will require different types of surfaces for the players to perform on. With any sport, injury is always a concer, especially with professional teams where players are physically pushed to the limit. One of the most effective ways to prevent injury, is to make sure that athletes are playing on the right type of surface for their sport. Sports flooring is specifically designed to provide shock absorption see more at junckershardwood.com.

Hardwood sports floor

If you are looking to buy a new sports hardwood floor, there are a few things to keep in mind to ensure that you will be happy with your perchance for many years to come. There are many different manufactures how sell sports floor with different materials and designs, so it is easy to get confused about what they want you to buy and what you actually need.

It is probably safe to assume that you want your floor to be long-lasting, allow good performing, and it should look good. Hardwood sports floors are the most durable, and resilient play surface. This type of floor is ideal for, among other sports, basketball. Besides the already mentioned benefits of hardwood sports floor, this is also visually the most attractive play surface.

Questions to ask before buying new sports floor

The most important aspect to consider before purchasing a new sports floor, is what activities will take place on the floor? Perhaps you are looking for a standard hardwood sports floor that can be used for different types of sports. Or maybe the floor is intended for athletes of a specific sport. This is significant since, resilience, traction, slip resistance, shock absorption, and ball bounce is customized the specific sport that regularly will be played on the floor. So in order for you to get the best floor, you need to talk to your manufacturer about the intended activity on the floor.

Additional points to consider

When talking with the manufacturer of your new hardwood sports floor, you should also touch on topics of safety, the life expectancy of the new floor, and maintenance.

When choosing a floor, it is crucial that the floor provides the right level of friction, in order to assure fast and safe movement for the athletes so they are less prone to injury. A sports floor is a big investment, and it is important to discuss with your manufacturer how you ensure your new floors will last as long as possible. It is important that sports floors are durable and easy to keep clean.

The various elements of a retail store’s interior design all play an important role in its success. From fixtures and décor to layout and ambiance, retail design is crucial for any brick and mortar store. In order for a store to profit from its aesthetic appeal, the design must be planned and implemented creatively, carefully, and strategically. To do so, retailers of every industry turn to the expertise of retail interior designers who understand the importance and benefits from good retail design.

What Is A Retail Interior Designer?

Retail interior designers specialize in the design and construction of a retail space. Using a combination of decorative and functional elements, a retail interior designer create retail spaces that will represent the brand, showcase products, and engage customers.

Retail interior designers have a unique expertise that allows them to transform a space from simply stocking products to showcasing merchandise. To create these spaces, a retail interior designer must coordinate a number of different elements into one cohesive and attractive store.

The job of a retail designer goes beyond color schemes and decorative finishes. Retail interior designers must coordinate the various elements of the store’s to design to simultaneously showcase and promote the store’s products while creating a space that will deliver a positive experience for the customer. They do so through a number of different strategies and techniques. They must integrate the elements of ambiance such as lighting, music, and scents with the physical elements of the store including fixtures, displays, signage, color schemes, layout, merchandising and much more into one project. Each element must be carefully developed and implemented in order to achieve an effective design.

Their scope of duties is not limited to creativity however. They must also deliver efficiency through project management and budgeting. In a single project, a retail designer may be required to contribute in finding a prime location and then planning, developing, and designing the interior of the space. They must have an understanding of the space’s construction and architecture while adhering to building codes and permit requirements. A retail designer also has to coordinate efforts with other professionals such as engineers or construction project managers or contractor.

Las Vegas Retail Interior Designer

With the services, expertise, and creativity of our team of retain interior designers at Heather Allen Design Group, you can create a store that will uniquely portray the individuality of your brand and make your retail store clearly distinguishable from competitors. You can also create a space that will attract and engage customers providing a shopping experience that caters to their needs, desires, and expectations. Customers prefer stores that offer an environment and atmosphere that offers what they need, while making them feel valued as they shop. With the right interior design, you can greatly influence a customer’s decision to linger in your store, make a purchase, and even return on another occasion.

Heather Allen Design Group in Las Vegas provides you the best opportunity for creating a store that is unique and set apart from others. Call us today at (702) 547-1616 or contact us online to learn more.

Buying a good location for your house is, no doubt, a huge task. While constructing a home of your dreams, you put all of your time, money, and effort into it. Thus, it is the ultimate goal to have the best of it. Before buying a site for your house, you must evaluate some of these factors that can help you construct a suitable home.

You must carry out the krundi ostmine wisely since the locality must be looked after thoroughly before buying the site. After all, a home should always be a place that fulfills your personal needs as well as preferences.

Centrally located

The location of the house is significant to choose from, as a lot depends on the surrounding. While looking for the ideal place, figure out your preferences based on your personal needs like school, grocery store and departmental stores, hospitals, etc.

An environment with all the facilities provided to you nearby is probably the best you need and surely is a pick. These not only make your life more comfortable, but you can viably remain at such particular locations for long. Such places are easy to access, and improved connectivity makes it easier for you.

Developments

Well, it is not just you who needs an upgrade now and then but the locality as well. It is also an essential factor to assess before purchasing a site for your house that you must look for. For this, you need to evaluate not only the recent developments but also the upcoming development projects.

It further includes a proper drainage system, cleaner and greener environment, and less polluted sites. These are all critical factors to look at when you decide to build or buy a new house. A healthy environment is a growing environment. Whatsoever the location you choose, there should always be some source of development with it.

Lot location

Since you are looking for the best place for your deal home, it sometimes does matter to compare the prices of other sites too, with each other. A busier or centralized location will always have a higher rate of houses surrounding schools, hospitals, shopping complexes, etc.

While on the other hand, places that are near busy roads or backyard of a complex are comparatively at low rates. Therefore, such homes are usually rentals. And so, it’s advisable to exercise such comparison and idea of lot locations before you finalize a site for your house.

Age of the site

You must know the age of the location that you are willing to buy for your house since it impacts the living experience significantly. If a plot is left over for the long term, it is essential to inspect whether it is capable of building a house or not.

Alongside this, also keep an eye on the occurrence of various other developments or projects. If the property passes the inspection, get that site for your house; and if it fails, jump to another place. Just be careful with such factors while buying a location for your new house.

You can also take the crucial help of renowned platforms like veskimöldre.ee when you’re puzzled about narrowing down to the perfect site for your dream home.

Your home is probably the largest purchase you ever make- and you will do it with debt. A mortgage is a loan which is used to buy a property. Since it is such a large amount; you want to make sure you are getting at the lowest mortgage rates. There are so many mortgage companies in Bellevue, which are willing to offer you a loan at the best mortgage rates. Before you apply for a mortgage loan, shop around to see if you can find the ideal mortgage company that perfectly matches your requirements, and can work with your situations. Below we have mentioned six useful tips to find the best Bellevue mortgage company.

• Understand your credit score: Your credit score is one of the most important factors lenders will consider, and some lenders in Bellevue won’t work with you if your credit score is poor. According to the FISCO, your credit score must be higher than 720 to get the lowest mortgage rates. So, before availing for a home loan, it is advisable to make your credit score high.
• Look online for the mortgage company: The internet offers ultimate opportunities for the borrower when it comes to getting information about the mortgage companies. All renowned mortgage companies have their websites, through which you can see their products and services. You can visit an aggregator, share your information, receive several quotes back. It makes it easy to compare internet rates options.
• Compare mortgage rates and terms for several companies: Get some quotes for an online mortgage and then bring that information to two or three lenders in your hometown. In some cases, local lenders can meet or even beat what you see online. If you want to get the best local lender services, then try this option.
• Look for a lender that understands your situations: Be upfront about your situations and challenges. Always find a lender who understands your financial status. Ask potential lenders questions about your financial conditions and what they can do for you. Many mortgage companies design special loan programs for the first time home loan buyers to help in their circumstances.
• Don’t hesitate to share your financial situations with the lenders.
• Play FAQ with the lender: Always ask questions of your potential mortgage lender before you commit to a loan. In the event, if you don’t like the answer you receive, it’s a red single to back away and go to another lender. Ten questions one should ask the lender before borrowing loan-

1. Type of Loan Is Best for You?
2. What Is the Interest Rate and the Annual Percentage Rate
3. How Much of a Down Payment Is Required?
4. What Are the Discount Points and Origination Fees?
5. What Are All the Costs?
6. Can You Get a Loan Rate Lock?
7. Is There a Prepayment Penalty?
8. What’s the difference between a fixed-rate and an adjustable-rate mortgage?
9. How many points does the rate include?
10. When can I lock in the interest rate?
11. What is the estimated closing costs?
12. Is there anything that could delay my closing?

• Look for the excellent interest rates and terms: Always approach a lender who offers you the excellent interest rates and his terms are acceptable. You should choose a lender with whom you feel comfortable. The lender should be knowledgeable and approachable. If the lender you are talking is confident and understand your financial situations, you have probably found the right mortgage lender.

Everyone struggles for a quality life and if it is about their children, they never compromise on it. A better lifestyle is right for everyone. If you are a New Yorker, you might have observed a busy, white-collar life for your whole life. The life in New York or any other main city of America is the same. People work around the clock to earn bread and butter while waiting for retirement to live somewhere with peace. Not everyone is fond of the same lifestyle. Some of us want a life among nature, mountains, and landscapes. Idaho is a great place for it. There are small towns that have been offering great offers to find homes for sale in Eagle, ID or to look up for the jobs around any municipality of the Boise.

The cities of Idaho are full of adventure. If you are planning to move to a place that brings life into your family, any city would work for better. Some of the best towns are full of life. You want to settle down at Nampa, Caldwell, Sandpoint, and Moscow or to the all-time favorite Eagle. Every city has its benefits and charm to attract the attention of visitors.

What to consider while looking for a house?

Before you get into the reasons for moving from one city to another, you should know about the important factors to consider in advance. Preparation and not getting things up to expectations is much better than diving into it without prior information. So, get the following factors to fix in your mind so, you can calculate the possible consequences while questing for a house in Eagle, Boise or anywhere in Idaho.

There are many options for buying a house and taking a house loan is one of the common methods for most people. However, whatever the way you choose you should be aware of the main terms while dealing with the lenders. A lender will ask for the 4 things and that is:

• Your capacity for return payments
• Savings and Investments
• Collateral (the property you are interested in purchasing)
• Your history of payments (it can involve bank statement and bills)

Home loan has many benefits and it serves in a better way than relying on your savings. You get the fixed amount for the house that gives a clear idea about your options. Other than the dealing with lenders, you should collect information in detail about the properties, their owner and what are the nearby facilities such as hospital, markets, schools, and playing areas. Relocating with a family is a whole new experience, you have to be careful about all the essentials of life. You may not get everything, but basics should be in your mind before finalizing for a property.

Above mentioned factors are not only while looking for homes for sale in Eagle, ID, but for anywhere in the world. These are common factors and also in practice in many places. So, watch out for the obvious!!

What do you need to know about Eagle Idaho?

It will take a lot of time to take you through the stunning beauty of Idaho in a single article. Let’s just talk about one town at a time. Right now, we can talk about the Eagle. How it is to live in such a rich culture and adventurous place. Every morning brings a ray of happiness and joy through the door of your house. So, are you ready to take a ding on Eagle, ID for opting a better lifestyle? We have some amazing pieces of information and that is enough to convince for moving to Eagle as soon as possible.

• Mild Temperature of the Town

Eagle is famous for the tourist’s spot, especially in September, May, and June. Families love planning their vacations there. Mostly, they are unable to forget the delightful and happening life out there. However, the temperature in December is less likely to be in favor, but then who likes the same temperature for the whole year? Change is important to life and climate can evolve lives for better.

• Attractive Landscapes in and around the town

Backpacking, hiking, and biking are the favorite sports when you are in Eagle. It is just quite an amazing thing to be surrounded by nature. You got off from work, you can plan a trip to the nearest place. No worries for the commute and family can always tag along too.

You can always keep a long list of places to enjoy hiking, river sports or any of the biking trails for the fun and adventurous trip. So, Eagle is full of life for the enthusiast. If you are artists or photographer, you will love the whole Idaho for that. Creativity just blooms when you are there.

• Housing facilities

The place is less populated, yet more expensive. The average home cost in Eagle is affordable for an average lifestyle. You will find schools, recreational sports activities, supermarket, amusement parks and above all the nature for a healthy lifestyle. So, it is just like a gift for spending or investing in a house in Eagle. The average turnout of the house sales has increased in the past few years so, it is now easy to find homes for sale in Eagle, ID at a better price rate.

• Cost of living

Cost of living sounds a little expensive to many people, but every penny is worth it. It is higher than most of the cities in the U.S. then again, we know that other cities are fighting for survival. Climate is changing and nobody is talking about it. Eagle has a different living style. It is just as living in a greener and pleasant environment with lots of health benefits.

• Transportation

Public transport is convenient. Even if your life far away in the town, it may take 25-30 minutes for reaching the main city. Other than that, it is also safe and affordable.

Final Thoughts

Nature is a friend to everyone. Eagle is not limited to nature, but the job growth is also increasing by time. The town is now capable of anticipating needs of more people. So, if you are aiming to provide a healthy and happening lifestyle to your children, this is the place to plan your relocation. Life is evolving and you should know about the best for your family. Start looking up for the options now and you may land to the exceptional offers for a house and a life.

The first thing that comes in mind after hearing about Florida is sunny climate and vintage culture perfectly blended with the modernity. Beaches and nature is another love for so many people and they tend to plan their dream vacations to such places. Florida can be your chance of living in a dream place. Yes, moving to a foreign place, believing the science of stress caused by the memories, you can face the symptoms of trauma after moving to another place. But a place like Florida that is full of life can be less of the stress.

Moving to another place after spending good years in one place can be a serious reason for feeling low. However, getting a cool offer of Homes for Sale in Champions Gate, FL can change your mood in a minute. This is one of the finest places to choose for living an exciting life in Florida. Most people prefer Miami, Naples or Orlando for living with families, but Champions gate is located in the neighborhood of Orlando. If you are having a problem in shortlisting places to live in Florida, we can help you by providing an amazing list of places. First, you need to learn the overall benefits of moving to Florida.

Why Moving To Florida Is an Amazing Idea?

Sandy shores and sunny days of Florida attracts many people from the Globe. The seasons of Florida re mostly warm and mild. The feeling of walking around the streets in the warm temperature is splendid. This season allows people to explore every corner of the city and be an outdoor enthusiast.

Florida is also a great choice for the one who wants to save money as there is no state income tax. You can enjoy strolling on the beaches because they are awesome. Sarasota’s Siesta Public Beach, Delray Beach, and St. George Island is few of the famous and award-winning beaches in Florida. Apart from it, the land is full of diversity in cultures and it is the reason that makes Florida as an interesting place. There is also plenty of outdoor adventures and facilities with a discount offer. If you are living in Florida, your children will receive a tremendous level of adventurous life by enjoying sports and a lot more at this amazing place.

If you are trying to make up your mind for moving there, we are here with some of the top and the best places to live with your family. You can look up for the easy deals like homes for sale in Champions gate FL, in house rentals in Orlando or villas in Valrico for living the best life.

Here is the list of 7 best places for families to start a new life in Florida:

Orlando

Orlando is famous of all and it provides you the best family entertainment, reasonable house rental, markets with complete facility package and nearby schools with quality education. You can choose Sanford or Champions gate for living close to all the basic life facilities. Places in Orlando are also different in lifestyle and one can select accordingly.

All of the places are quite affordable for everyone. Theme parks are great for both entertainment and part-time or temporary job. You will enjoy convenient public transportation too.

Valrico

It is a place that offers you quality life along with the amazing amenities and essentials of life. The lifestyle is not basic, it is luxurious, but at a reasonable rate. The crime rate in the town is low. You will find some exceptional schools. So, hope for the best family town.

Weston

Weston is a small municipal in Broward County and the most fascinating thing about it is museums. They can teach you about interesting stuff in the city. Biking and hiking are common sports for families. Houses are available at reasonable prices and the cost of living is impressive as compared to other cities around. The unemployment rate is lower and schools are rated as best too. What else a family needs to live in a place like Florida?

Naples

Naples is not only beautiful but a stunning place to start your new life with a family. We all strive for a better lifestyle and affordable essentials of it. Naples gives you everything you demand from life. Luxurious lifestyle along with the highly-rated schools. You can enjoy your vacation, sports and also live the happiest life in Naples.

Jupiter

It is a small town, but worth considering for the fresh start of a new life. While the world is fighting for green, this area is already living in green. Ultimately, you get the healthiest environment to live with your family. Music festivals, events, and other cultural celebrations keep this town alive and the bonding among the community is enhanced by these little celebrations.

Winter Springs

If you want to rank the winter springs for living, it is 9/10. Families feel safe and get numerous options for educational institutes. Schools and colleges are providing quality education. If you are a white-collar job worker, you have a better chance in this town to live happily and healthy lifestyle.

Dunedin

It is a small town near Tampa with affordability. The walking and biking trails in this municipality make the place more interesting and happening for physically active people.

So, either you are looking for the homes for Sale in Champions Gate, FL or a life-changing lifestyle in Orlando. You can choose by considering the choices of every person in your family.

Final Thoughts

No one wants their children to stay behind in the race of the world. They want the best schools, amenities and they will do anything to give them a quality life. Florida is giving you some of the best options to start a brand new life with your family. It is your chance to provide an amazing life to your kids and build their future. So, enjoy blending with the modern societies that are constantly changing for better and helping you to evolve with time too.

If you’ve ever worked at home, you know what a tricky game it can be. It’s lonely. It offers no motivation. And it’s dangerously close to the couch and the pantry. While at first you might have looked forward to working from the comfort of your home, it soon gets old. Before you know it, you’re feeling pretty bleak about the whole situation.

But what if we told you that you could create an office space that you actually wanted to work in? One that puts you in a better mood, leaving you ready to get started and then stay on task? It all starts with setting up a bright and cheerful working environment. A bright environment means a bright mood and a bright mind (cue the lightbulb). Let’s look at a few ways you can brighten your at-home office to reap the benefits of productivity.

Add Color

Not only can color make an office space visually more interesting, it can affect your mood, as well. Ever heard of color psychology? It’s the theory that color can impact mood, actions, and even physiological functions. We won’t go into the science of it here, but we will give you a crash course on which colors do what:

• White: Gives a sense of freshness, cleanliness, and modernity.
• Black: Signals luxury, mystery, and power.
• Silver: Feels innovative and modern.
• Red: Evokes boldness, action, confidence.
• Orange: Arouses energy, enthusiasm, and happiness.
• Yellow: Associated with warmth, energy, and attention.
• Green: Conjures associations with nature, safety, and luck.
• Blue: Elicits feelings of productivity, stability, and calmness.
• Purple: Associated with imagination and mystery.
• Pink: Feels romantic, calm, and nurturing.

If you want to create a bright space, add a splash of color with a fun chair, a pair of curtains, or a whole wall. Pick a color that stimulates energy, productivity, or any other mood boost you think is essential to your work life. Choose light or vibrant shades of the color so that you don’t end up making the room darker with, say, navy.

Go Green

In honor of the current obsession with succulents, we decided to add plants to our list of office must-haves. But seriously, it’s about more than a corny cactus. Plants add life —literally!— to a home office. The pop of green adds a hint of color to your desk. Plus, an interesting texture always makes a space feel more dynamic.

In addition to aesthetic powers, plants can also impact your mental and physical health. According to studies completed by the University of Exeter, the Human Spaces report, and the University of Technology, Sydney, plants boost productivity and creativity while reducing stress. Adding greenery also helps clean the air naturally by removing carbon dioxide and other toxins from the air. In short, it’s not just a silly succulent. Plants benefit both your physical and psychological health so that you can keep your headspace and your air clean as can be.

Illuminate with Natural Light

Embrace natural light in your home office. Natural light brightens a room more effectively and naturally than artificial light. While you can still supplement your lighting with a lamp, creating a natural lighting situation will prevent your room from feeling stuffy or cramped. Keep your room bright rather than dingy with a few helpful hints about window treatments.

• The more versatile, the better. Choose blinds, shades, or curtains that you can adjust depending on the time of day.
• Choose an option with slats for the most mobility. Wood blinds, commercial metal blinds, and plantation shutters provide a full range of motion, from open to closed to everything in between.
• Light colored wood feels natural and organic if you want a fresh, beachy vibe. Or, if you’re going for a sleek, classic feel, you can choose commercial blinds made from aluminum.
• Vertical blinds draw the eye side to side, making the room appear wider than it is. The roomier your office looks, the brighter and more airy it will feel to you.
• When it comes to shades, roller shades can help keep a space clean and fresh due to their minimal shape. Shades are also ideal because they come in a variety of semi-transparent materials that create soft, rather than dreary, lighting.
• Curtains help introduce color (here’s your chance to add that pop of color that we talked about), texture, or pattern to a drab space. This type of window treatment comes in the greatest variety of designs, so have fun with it. The other tremendous thing about curtains is that they still look stylish while pulled completely open to allow natural light in.
• When it comes to the materials of curtains and shades, choose light colors and fabrics that aren’t completely opaque. You want to filter, not block, the natural light.

Do a Clutter Cleanse

A cluttered space equals a cluttered mind. Keep your space mess free to relieve both stress and visual chaos. Piles of paper and junk add visual weight to the room. They crowd the space, making it seem smaller. As soon as you remove the clutter, your space will feel instantly larger and more spacious. In general, keep all visible spaces clear to give the space a neat, light feel.

Sticky notes everywhere? Paper? Knick knacks? These can also mess with your carefully created color scheme and draw away from the desired look you’re going for. Furthermore, your extra efforts to brighten your office have gone to waste if you can’t find anything in it. You’ll be more frustrated than before if you don’t organize your own chaos. No space can be bright if you have a dark cloud over your head.

Creating a productive space doesn’t require an entire overhaul of your current office. You can brighten your office, and your mood, with a couple small tweaks. First, add color and natural light with an open window framed by colorful curtains. Next, clear off those stacks of old papers and replace them with some greens. Finally, experience how it feels to be productive while working from home.

As landscaping Toronto experts who have installed many pools in small backyards over the years, we would like to share our knowledge and experience so that others may benefit from our unique industry perspective. After reading this article, we recommend approaching pool and landscaping companies in your area if you are serious about installing a pool in your compact yard: they will be able to help you choose the best solution for your property, needs and personal preferences.

Yes, You Can Have a Pool in Your Yard

If you have always thought that your backyard was too small for a swimming pool, it may be time to think again. The range of fibreglass pool designs available today includes many shapes and sizes that are ideal for properties with small yards, and contractors that specialize in their installation can easily solve restricted access issues to ensure that nothing gets in the way of your dreams. However, some designs work much better than others when it comes to swimming pools for smaller yards so you need to choose your new pool carefully if space is really at a premium. Below, we look at some of the best ideas for small backyards and outline what they have to offer.

The Best Pools for Small Backyards

The best type of pool for your home will depend on the exact dimensions and layout of your backyard but you should find one of the following ideas suitable for your needs:

• Kidney-Shaped Pools – If you plan to spend more time relaxing around your new pool than swimming in it, a kidney-shaped pool will leave you with more space for decking. This type of pool is popular with homeowners who like the idea of being able to take a dip when the weather is warm but are not likely to be doing 50 lengths before breakfast every morning. Swimming pool contractors who specialize in fibreglass installations will normally have a selection of pools in this particular shape and because fibreglass pools are the easiest to maintain, they are a good choice for people who want something they can spend more time enjoying than looking after.
• Small Rectangular Pools – Generally speaking, a rectangular design will provide the greatest volume of water for any given space, making it the best choice for keen swimmers. You may not be able to fit an Olympic-sized pool in your backyard but if you go for narrow decking and a rectangular pool, you should still be able to have a pool that is big enough to use for both daily exercise and weekend fun. If you want the lowest maintenance option available, fibreglass will again be the preferred choice but with this shape, any type of in-ground pool will be relatively simple to install. All landscaping companies and swimming pool contractors in your area should be able to provide you with quotations for in-ground pools of this shape.
• Freeform Pool – Owners of homes with odd-shaped backyards may find that a freeform pool is the best solution to their needs. By having a pool designed to fit your backyard, you can make the most of the available space in a yard that is not square or rectangular. The main downside of this option is cost and maintenance: you will probably have to have a concrete pool, which is the most expensive and highest maintenance type of pool. Another option for odd-shaped yards would be to have 2 or more smaller fibreglass pools, arranged to make the most of the available space. If your yard is a very unusual shape and you are finding it difficult to imagine how any size or shape of swimming pool will fit neatly into your outdoor space, consulting a local specialist should prove useful.
• Semicircular Infinity Pool – A small semicircular pool with a straight infinity edge on one side is a great choice for those who have a small back yard but would like a pool in which they can sit and relax on warm, sunny days. The infinity edge gives the impression of an endless horizon as you sit in the cool water, creating a feeling of spaciousness and freedom that is almost impossible to replicate with any other type of pool in a very small yard. Additionally, a semicircular pool will double as an attractive water feature, enhancing the appearance of your backyard.

Working with Local Landscaping Companies and Swimming Pool Contractors

Unless you have years of relevant industry experience, you are going to need to hire a local contractor to install your new swimming pool. Whether you are looking for companies that specialize in pools and landscaping in Toronto, Los Angeles, London or Sydney, you should approach 2 or 3 at least, to make sure you get a competitive quotation. You should also ensure they are all fully insured and accredited.

If you are thinking about building a new green home, a LEED For Homes certification may be just what you are looking for. LEED—which is the most widely used green building rating system in the world—has a rating system called LEED for Homes that is specifically created to certify homes. The LEED for Homes rating system is designed to certify single-family and multifamily homes that are between one and eight stories. Residential buildings over eight stories should use the LEED BD+C: New Construction and Major Renovation rating system.

How can I get a LEED certification for my home?

The first step in certifying a home under the LEED for Homes rating system starts with project registration and payment of the registration fees at LEED Online (https://lo.usgbc.org/).

At the beginning of the project, project teams will need to hire a LEED for Homes Provider Organization, which will be responsible for overseeing all the certification process and incorporate the rating system requirements into the project’s design and construction. The LEED for Homes Provider Organization will employ a LEED for Homes Green Rater, who will conduct the in-field verification, and an energy rater, who will conduct the performance testing. Energy raters will need to have the Home Energy Rating System Rater (HERS Rater) credential, which is an energy rater credential administered by the Residential Energy Services Network (RESNET). Let’s take a look at the certification steps of a LEED for Homes project:

1. Registration

• The project is registered at LEED Online and registration fees are paid.
• Project teams select a LEED for Homes Provider Organization.

2. Verify

• Preliminary Rating: The project team, the LEED for Homes Green Rater, and the energy rater will set project goals and the targeted LEED certification level.
• Midconstruction verification visit: The LEED for Homes Green Rater and the energy rater will verify certain building systems while the building walls remain open.
• Final construction verification visit: Once the construction is over, both the LEED for Homes Green Rater and the energy rater will verify that all the rating system requirements have been met. The energy rater will conduct the required performance testing.
• The LEED for Homes Green Rater will complete and submit the LEED for Homes workbook, which is basically a template book that contains all the requested information about the project for LEED certification.

3. Review

• The LEED for Homes Provider will submit the LEED for Homes Workbook to Green Business Certification Inc. (GBCI); the project team will pay the certification fees. (GBCI is responsible for reviewing the submitted documents and granting the LEED certification).
• Preliminary design review is conducted by GBCI.
• If additional information is needed to evaluate the application, GBCI will ask for clarification, and the project team will send the clarification.
• GBCI will proceed with the final design review to evaluate the clarifications and report the awarded/denied prerequisites and credits to the project team.
• The project team will either accept or appeal the result.

4. Certification

• GBCI issues the final certification report, which shows the level of LEED certification awarded unless the certification is denied. The project teams can appeal the results if needed, and if no appeals are made, then the project will be deemed “closed out,” and the project team will no longer be able to appeal the certification level.

Getting a LEED certification for a home is a different process compared to other building types. The major difference is that LEED for Homes rating system requires in-field verification and performance testing to ensure the rating-system requirements are met on-site (which is a great think). Some activities that take place during the in-field verification may be the on-site verification of modeled building energy performance, on-site verification of the building insulation, on-site air tightness and leakage testing, and more.

If are new to LEED and want to learn more, feel free to check out our “New To LEED?” blog. For specific LEED questions, we also have a LEED blog that features different types of articles about green buildings.

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