Category: Home Improvement

There’s no getting around it, the bathroom can be an expensive room to renovate, particularly if you’re starting from scratch. However, there’s a lot to be said for a successful renovation – least of all the satisfaction of a job well done, and the prize of a relaxing space that you can call your own. An attractive bathroom could even add value to your home, and so any makeover is worth doing well.

The bathroom is fast becoming so much more than a functional space, to which very little artistic thought is given. We want our bathrooms to speak for and to us, and to be able to harness all of our creativity to fashion a space we’ll want to spend time in pampering and preening. Homeowners now spend hours poring over the right fixtures and fittings, colors and finishing touches, all in an attempt to create something wholly perfect. If you’re hoping to give your bathroom a unique new look there’s a lot to take in. It will all be worth it in the end, though. We promise!

Theme your space

Your bathroom, your rules. One of the most striking ways to create a unique bathroom space is to choose a theme that will best reflect your use of the space. Would you prefer the calming colors and plush fixtures of a relaxing spa bathroom, or the energy and bold hues of something more contemporary? The colors, fixtures and fittings, and accessories that you choose will all contribute towards your bathroom’s overarching theme and help to create a space that you’re proud to call your own. Consider your new bathroom’s theme and layout very carefully.

Splash out on fixtures

You don’t have to alter your bathroom’s layout or theme to make it uniquely yours, of course; choosing different fixtures and fittings can make a world of difference to your own oasis of calm. These fixtures are the heart and soul of any bathroom, and selecting a different toilet, sink, faucets, shower, tub, or radiator could affect how dramatically it beats. There’s a whole world of unique fixtures and fittings waiting to be discovered, including faucets that appear to be works of art as well as a means of dispensing water. The fixtures and fittings you fall in love with will determine your bathroom’s finish.

Choose distinctive window dressings

Giving your bathroom a unique, new look could be as simple as replacing dated curtains, which are usually the first victims of damp and humidity. Blinds, too, are prone to mold, and can be difficult to keep clean. Plantation shutters are a great move towards making the most of light in your bathroom, and are effortlessly stylish, too. Shutters are waterproof and durable and tend to hang well away from fixtures and fittings. What’s more they’re easily wiped clean and hygienic, and can be used to create light, airy spaces without sacrificing your dignity.

Consider stylish storage

Clutter is the scourge of most modern bathrooms. It makes very little sense to spend hours choosing color schemes, themes and fixtures, only to bury your brand new bathroom beneath a pile of mismatched toiletries. The good news is that many contemporary storage solutions are as stylish as the bathrooms they’re designed for. Wall-mounted cupboards, under-sink storage and glass shelves will give clutter a home without diminishing your bathroom’s unique new look. Meanwhile glass jars, vintage baskets and wooden boxes can wrangle almost any loose item with style and success.

Accessorize your space

There’s absolutely nothing as unique as your personality, and your bathroom’s finishing touches are as important as the essential fixtures when it comes to transforming your space. Perhaps you’d like to create an oasis of quiet and calm with scented candles and soft, mood lighting. You might choose to hang a statement mirror or piece of art, or bring the outdoors inside with tropical plants, cuttings from the garden or subtle animal prints. Some choose to store books and magazines so that their bathroom becomes a real retreat from a busy lifestyle. Whatever you do, remember that your bathroom is your haven.

Bathrooms are a necessity; an essential part of any home; however, that doesn’t mean they deserve any less thought when it comes to renovations and interior design dreams. Yes, it is possible to combine style and functionality. Bathrooms are increasingly regarded as safe spaces from stress, as well being the place where we become ourselves for the day or evening ahead. Renovating and decorating a bathroom can become a true labor of love, but we promise you it will be worth it.

I love a good party. The types of parties that end up in everyone drinking a bit too much which requires them in staying over are the best. Knowing that when we all wake up the next morning, it’s going to warrant a very hungover trip to McDonalds. However, in my pre-party, sober ‘planning state’, I am sent into a frenzy trying to allocate guests to rooms without overcrowding each other. This ultimately ends up in a guest or two being given the dreaded sofa bed. All of my memories of sofa beds have been more than unpleasant which has made me determined to provide my sofa guests the best night’s sleep I can possibly give them with these seven tips. Obviously, it starts with a quality sofa bed, so Visit Domayne Australia for a great range of sofa beds online and in store.

Fresh Bedding

There is nothing like getting into bed with beautiful fresh clean sheets so a sofa bed should be no different. Investing in quality bedding such as sheets with a high thread count means that your guests can drift off to sleep in pure comfort and not feel like they have been designated the ‘old’ sheets.

Fluffy Pillows

One thing that sofa beds are known for is the lack of support. That is why it is crucial that you provide your guests with quality, plush pillows that will give them a good night’s sleep. Don’t sacrifice comfort for style and make sure that you keep it soft and simple for your guests.

It’s better to have too much than not enough!

Even if you’re nice and warm in your bedroom upstairs, there’s a big chance that you guests on the sofa bed downstairs might be catching a lot of cold air. Always give your guest the option of more blankets by storing them close to your sofa bed. The Domayne exclusive Avellino Fabric Sofa Bed features an in-built storage compartment so that you can keep extra pillows and blankets close by. With a bold structure and neutral colours, this sofa will maintain style while still delivering on exceptional comfort.

Mattress Toppers

While mattresses overtime can wear out, you don’t need to splurge on an entirely new one to provide your guests with quality comfort. By adding a mattress topper, you can revitalise your current mattress and strengthen the support given to your guests as they sleep.

A Quality Frame

It’s hard to get to sleep in a bed that isn’t your own. The start of the night usually consists of a bit of tossing and turning until you can get that spot just right. The last thing you want is for the frame to squeak all the while you try to drift off to bed.

Clean It!

Ensuring the mattress and lounge itself are clean are one of the most important things to keep in mind. Even if you go to the trouble of dressing your pull out lounge with high quality sheets, your guest will immediately feel uncomfortable if they can sense that their bed for the night isn’t clean. Image is everything so it is crucial that you keep style in mind. This Lex 2 Seater Sofa Bed is a great example of contemporary style without the ridiculous price tag that sometimes accompanies it. Visit Domayne.com.au to learn more.

Good Lighting

Staying on a sofa bed is unfamiliar enough as it is. Giving your guests soft lighting so that they can get their bearings in the middle of the night is a must. Make sure that your guest can easily turn the light on and off so they aren’t disturbed throughout the night.

Staying on the sofa bed doesn’t have to be the curse that many make it out to be. While there are many negative connotations and memories attached to the idea of a sofa bed, if you invest in a quality set and put a little extra effort into maintaining it, you might even have guests fighting over it. Find a piece that conveys style, practicality and comfort today thanks to Domayne Australia.

Few potential renters will want to move into a fixer-upper. More often than not, renters seek out a move-in-ready home with clean floors and a beautiful curbside appeal.

Renters expect to move into a home they need only to decorate and make their own — for the life of the lease, anyhow. While a free rental application is appealing, it might not be enough to lure potential renters without the proper curbside appeal. When it comes to large repairs and structural damage, these necessary maintenance tasks are vital for getting tenants into your rental property.

Here are some of the top home fixes to perform before advertising your rental property.

The roof

The roof is one of the most obvious features on a home. It’s often the first thing that potential renters will see when they walk up to the front door. Curling shingles, moldy tiles, or a bending gutter can be enough to dissuade any renter, even if the inside of the home is perfect.

Replacing the roof on your building will help improve its appeal to renters, and it can even give you a great return on investment. Spending $10,000 to install a new roof might just tip the scales in your favor. At the very least, performing a thorough cleaning of the shingles to rid them of mold and fungus will look better to potential renters. Ridding your home of unsightly features is a great first step to improving your home’s curb appeal.

Flooring

The flooring of your home can make or break a potential rental. People want to see the same floor extending throughout the house. Even more, they want to see a fresh floor without any dings, dents, or urine stains from when you were training your new puppy.

Hardwood floors have become a particularly hot commodity after the flood of carpeting in the 1960s. Homeowners are tearing up old carpet to discover hardwood gems underneath or install new hardwoods to replace the old. Though oak is among the most popular, vinyl flooring can mimic the appearance of hardwood without the high costs. There are a few different ways that you can achieve great-looking floors without spending a fortune in the process.

Plumbing

Checking the water pressure is an essential feature to test before trying to rent a home. Savvy tenants also check for leaks, cracks in the home’s foundation, and any bumps in the yard that foretell potential disasters in plumbing.

Relying on an Edmond plumber to inspect your rental property is a great option before you seek renters. Many older homes haven’t had a plumbing inspection in years. Potential tenants will love to see the promise of new plumbing on a rental ad or listing. This could be a major component in standing out among the rest of the houses on the rental market, especially if you live in a historic area that’s known for its older homes. Plumbing repairs can get pricey, but this kind of project has a high return on investment.

If only the work stopped once the big repairs were made. As with any house, a rental property needs regular maintenance. You’ll need to check filters, fix cracked caulking, flush the water heater, clean the gutters, and much more. Remember that performing these fixes regularly will nearly always save you money in the long run.

Making these three necessary home repairs — and then maintaining other areas as needed — can truly make or break the rental of your home. Consider investing in these large repairs when you want your rental property filled with the best tenants.

People like to hold on to certain things for different reasons. Nostalgia can hit at any moment, and when it does, we want to have things that can give us a feeling as close as possible to the first one we experienced.It can be your first suit that you wore to your high school graduation. It can be your study lamp that got you through many tough nights in college.It can even be the first couch you bought after getting your first job.

However, life moves fast; you may not always have space in your home to keep all these things that have sentimental value to you.

Enter public storage spaces, the answer to your storage problems.For a small monthly price, you get to keep all the things you value in a small enclosed area where only you can access.These storage spaces are not all the same. Some companies provide better storage spaces than others.
Here are the best five public storage Miami spaces:

1.Storage Post Miami–Little Havana

Security is a prominent feature of this company with surveillance cameras placed in several areas around the building. They accept cash and checks as well as Visa/MasterCard, AMEX, and Discover. A security deposit will be required before moving in.You can access your valuables at any time of the day.The smallest unit is a four by four for $42 while the largest is a ten by twenty-two for $219.

2.Value Store It – Little Havana

This storage facility accepts both cash and checks. You can also pay via Visa/MasterCard.You will not be required to pay a security deposit before you move in.However, they do not have 24-hour access, and the kiosk in the facility does not operate for 24 hours.Their smallest unit is a five by five for $35 while their largest unit is a ten by twenty for $349.

3.Extra Space Storage – Miami Gardens

This company is keen on ensuring a risk-free reservation. You do not have to pay until you move in and you can easily change your reservation online.A security deposit is not required. The payment methods are cash, checks, Visa/MasterCard, AMEX, and Discover.

However, it does not provide 24-hour access to your storage space, and the in-house kiosk does not operate for 24 hours.Their smallest unit is a five by five for $48 while their largest unit is a ten by thirty for $357.

4.Safeguard Self Storage – Design District

Cash, checks, Visa/MasterCard, AMEX, and Discover, are acceptable payment methods for this facility.You will not be required to pay a security deposit before moving in.Only business users can get 24-hour access to their storage space, but they have to pay an additional monthly fee.Their smallest unit is a one point five by five for $41 while their largest unit is a fifteen by sixteen for $467.

5.Extra Space Storage – Hialeah, 6th Street

The rent at this facility is due on the same day each month when the lease started. Payment methods are Cash, checks, Visa/MasterCard, AMEX, and Discover.No security deposit is required. The facility does not have 24-hour access, and the kiosks in the premise do not operate for 24 hours.Their smallest unit is a five by five for $31 while their largest unit is a twenty by twenty-five for $456.

Sometimes your home or office might need a professional touch. It saves you the hassle and the stress of cleaning your entire place all yourself. The cleaning professionals have the special tools necessary for cleaning every area of your home. Most of these services are very fast and effective. However, there are tens of cleaning and restoration services in Meridian city. Some of these companies may only damage your property in the name of cleaning it. This makes it almost impossible for you to choose the right company to clean your home. This article will guide you on how to pick the best cleaning and restoration services.

1. Enquire About the Services Offered By the Company

Before you hire a cleaning service for your home, ask the potential agency about the nature of the services they offer. Depending on the nature of the cleaning you want for your home, know if they will clean offer you the services you need. They should be able to offer both outdoor and indoor services. The company you need to hire should be able to offer services such as water damage restoration in case of flooding, black mold removal, smoke odor removal services, water cleanup and rebuilding of homes.

2. Interview More Than One Company

Different cleaning companies have different cleaning plan and services. The advantage of talking to more than one company is that it leaves you with a choice of a company that offers the exact services you want for your home. Ensure the staff of the company you are about to hire is well trained in dealing with water damage restoration, black mold removal, smoke odor removal services, water cleanup and rebuilding of homes.

3. Is the Company Committed to Green Cleaning?

Consider hiring the company that is sensitive about protecting the environment. An example of such a company is the ServiceMaster Meridian. The company should use the cleaning methods and products that are environmentally friendly. Enquire the company that supplies the cleaning agency with their cleaning products. Are they sensitive to keeping the environment safe? This to avoid damaging your property and causing negative effects to your health. The cleaning products should be safe for your kids and pets. If the company is insensitive about preserving the environment, avoid hiring them.

4. The Costs

Check out for the costs of the potential agencies you need to hire. Compare the prices against the services offered. How do they charge? Is it hourly or based on the size of the house? Do not go for companies that charge too high. Stick to your budget. Get different price quotes from different companies. Settle for the company that satisfies in terms of the price and services. Remember, in most cases, low costs may mean poor services. Ensure that the company does not have hidden charges. Confirm that the quote they give you is the cost you are going to pay for the services offered.

5. Referrals from Family and Friends

The best way to find good services is by asking people you trust and who have used the services in the past. If they were satisfied with the services, they will recommend it to you and vice versa. This is the best way of getting genuine references.

6. Online Reviews

Another way of picking a good cleaning and Restoration Company is by checking the online reviews for the potential company. The online reviews are honest. Pay attention to what is being said about the company. If the majority of the reviews are negative, that is a red flag, their services were not impressive. And you would not hire the company with a tainted reputation. Go the company with positive reviews.

Remember, the process involves letting people into your personal space. Ensure you pick the ones you are comfortable with. Take your time to put these things into consideration.

A good kitchen design enhances the process of cooking and eating for a home. Most people are specific on how their kitchen is designed. If you are building a house you will on the plan for it to be attractive as well as practical. The eating and cooking zone should be spacious and well-ventilated. Additionally, it needs to incorporate beautiful and long-lasting materials for kitchen floors and surfaces. The five qualities to look for in a kitchen design include:

1)Conducive KitchenWorkspace

An ideal kitchen can comfortably hold a minimum of 3 people at a time. It should not be restricting in space when occupied. If you are looking to build a house, make sure you put extra money and attention to your kitchen. A well-spaced kitchen is comfortable to cook in. You can also share the kitchen with your family or friends and enjoy the cooking experience together.

You should consider hiring experts to design your kitchen professionally. German Kitchen Center is a reputable expert in modern kitchen design.

2)Satisfactory KitchenStorage

Enough storage is essential in every kitchen. You need adequate space to store kitchen accessories and groceries. Having sufficient room ensures that you store and place kitchen products thoughtfully. Proper storage will allow you to locate your items in the kitchen quickly while orderly arrangement will add beauty to your kitchen.

3)Proper KitchenVentilation

Ventilation is vital in your kitchen. A proper flow of air ensures that the kitchen smells good as the ventilation allows escape of stale air and fresh air occupies the room. A stuffy kitchen is not a good environment to cook and eat in. To enhance the eating and cooking process, the kitchen needs to have a conducive environment.

4)Kitchen Cabinets, Floors, and Surfaces

Surfaces and floors need to contain or be made of long-lasting materials.The materials used to make sinks, kitchen tops, and other surfaces need to be of durable materials. Materials that are not prone to easy or fast decay for example a water-resistant material. Don’t be hesitant to spend more on the contents of your kitchen since the results are bound to be practical as well as beautiful and will bring you satisfaction for years to come.

5)Easy to Clean Kitchen

A kitchen is a place that is prone to get dirty often and very fast. The floors and surfaces should be easy to clean. They should not stain or hold debris. A perfect kitchen should not give you a headache in cleaning it. See that the designer of your kitchen shows options of materials that are easy to clean and maintain. Additionally, a spacious kitchen is easier to clean since there is less room for debris to hide. If you are looking for a comfortable cooking experience, a well-designed kitchen will bring satisfaction with small details like that.

Bottom Line

Every household has to have a kitchen; the only difference is the cooking experience. A stuffy and dirty kitchen will make the cooking experience unpleasant. The best way to get joy out of your kitchen is to design it so that it does half of the work for you, making the experience less of a chore and more of an easy and fun engagement.

Take time, money and effort to ensure the state of your kitchen is friendly to the needs of you, your family and your friends. The above five characteristics are a must for a good kitchen and good experience in that kitchen. If you incorporate them, you will be glad you made the investment in the kitchen made specifically for you.

When it comes to maintaining your home, your chores are usually split into two categories. Issues like squeaking door hinges, dripping faucets and chipped tiles can be shifted to the back burner without any consequence. Then there are the Real Problems™ that can’t be treated like annoyances you put on a to-do list and forget about — these situations need to be addressed the moment that you notice them. Let’s take a look at these issues, so you know when you should take action — and when you can take a break.

Dangerous tree branches

One of the red flags that you should never ignore as a homeowner is a dangling tree branch — a long and precarious limb can tumble during a harsh winter storm with strong winds or heavy snowfall. The branch can cause a lot expensive damage by landing on your house, your garage or your car parked outside.

People who have homeowner’s insurance may have their costs covered, if the situation is discovered to be an unpredictable accident. When investigations reveal that the branch fell due to negligence, the costs come out of your pocket. The same is true if it crashes into your neighbor’s property, and neither has the right coverage available.

Black mold

Black mold creeping up walls and parts of your ceiling is one of the home issues you shouldn’t ignore — this is especially true when it is in a spot like a living room or a bedroom. If it’s a couple of spots along bathroom tile, you can clean it all on your own without any worry. If it’s a sizable patch that can’t be quickly scrubbed away with a toothbrush, you need to contact a professional to evaluate the problem.

Even if you can’t see any black spots, you could still have black mold hiding in the corners of your house, behind walls or underneath the carpet. If you’re worried, check to see if the following signs of toxic mold growth are taking place in your house or if the physical reactions are all too familiar:

•  Bubbling paint
•  Squishy floorboards
• Lumpy insulation
•  Musty smells
•  Frequent asthma flare-ups
• Itching or burning skin
•  Stinging or watering eyes

Termite infestation

Ants, cockroaches and fruit flies may be upsetting to see swarming through the kitchen, but they have nothing on these critters. A termite infestation is one of the biggest house problems to never put off fixing because they can do extensive structural damage in a short period of time and they are incredibly difficult to get rid of all on your own. You will need to hire an exterminator to get rid of them, which means they will likely have to tent the entire house and fumigate it.

Colonies can be underground or in the structural elements of your property, so you have to look for clues of their existence. People who spot any of these signs of termite infestation should call pest control right away so that they can salvage as much of their home as they possibly can:

•  Rotting or hollow wood
•  Powdered wood shavings on the floor
•  Miniature mud tubes around the foundation

Another reason why you have to deal with termites as soon as you spot the warning signs is that insurance often doesn’t cover damages from them. This would be the opportune time to dip into your savings and call exterminators to save yourself extensive costs in the future.

If you spent your monthly budget on essentials and the initial payment for pest control is too much, you can turn to MoneyKey for a cash advance. The loan can give you support with this urgent house problem, so that you can get it fumigated and cleared of pests. What’s helpful about this service is that you can skip the long applications processes of traditional banks and make the payment in a flash.

The company is good for more than quick loans and relief during stressful situations. They offer plenty of practical advice for people who want to take care of their household and save their money. You can browse their website to find great tips for reducing monthly bills and what smaller repairs can make a huge difference to your bank accounts like insulating windows and getting programmable thermostats. The savings that you gain can be directly put into your emergency repair fund, in case the above problems ever happen again.

There will always be chores and household issues that can wait a couple of weeks before you pull out your toolbelt or call a professional, but dangling branches, black mold and termites are not worth the cost of waiting. In this case, time is of the essence and you will need to get those problems solved before they get bigger.

Renovating your home from time to time can really enhance and remake your home. However, the cost of it all as well as the time that goes into professional renovations can nothing short of daunting – and sometimes, frustrating.

But you’re in luck! There are so many do-it-yourself projects and ideas that are simple to follow and implement. What’s more a DIY project, if performed with creativity and passion can easily rival those performed by industry professionals.

So, in this day and age, were technology and innovation as excelled boundaries of conventional thinking, you don’t really have to waste your time and money calling in professional contractors or designers. There is no point in adopting that sort of upheaval, which by the way, could last for weeks! Fortunately, for you, I have outline some of the best DIY techniques and updates that will guarantee an aesthetically pleasing and functional living room.

1.Swap the Lighting!

Is it really possible to redefine your living room by just changing one lamp? Well, yes you can! Your living room is where your family gathers to watch movies, host parties, celebrate birthdays, have dinners, etc. It is an area where you kick back, relax and let all the negative energy flow out. The room communicates various aspects of the overall tone of your humble abode.

By just simply replacing your floor/table lamp with something an attractive, captivating and invigorating item, you can actually alter the entire look and feel of the room. For a more tenor or dramatic effect, try opting for something that has a bold or deep color – or go for something that has an oversized base or has a beautifully textured or patterned design.

I’ll throw in another DIY lighting tip that will transform your room – replace all your lighting fixtures. It doesn’t matter whether your living room inspires a minimalistic, boho or Victorian style – getting overhead fixtures for your lighting will set a new living standard for your house.

2.Time for a Change in Color!

Get a drop cloth and some paint brushes and dedicate an entire weekend to painting your living room fresh. Changing the color of your walls can added a significant difference when it comes to visual aesthetics, design and the overall aura of the room. Moreover, if you can’t wait to renovate your living room but aren’t sure if you should hire professional help, coating the walls with a fresh, rich and deep tone can truly leave an everlasting impression.
Go for a bright colors and paint just a couple of walls to bring a snazzy and abstract change to your living room – or if you have time – just paint everything anew! You won’t regret it, I promise you that.

Furthermore, if you’re good at DIY projects, you can, at the same time, consider reupholstering your furniture, adding materials, textures and patterns in contrast to the colors you’re splashing your walls with. And don’t forget your window blinds. Changing out your living room blinds, even to another color can dramatically change the look and feel of the room.

3.Shaking Up TheAccessories

Making small changes to all the necessary accessories can drastically enhance your interior design. And by accessories I mean your murals, wall paintings, picture frames, window dressing, pillows, etc. The point is to unify everything in contrast with your living room. Thrift stores are a wonderful place to find breathtaking items and materials. You could also try your luck at estate sales.
If you’re short on time, the best you can do is shift all the accessories around. Another brilliant way of sprucing your living room is to creatively integrate some flora into it. Botanical decorations provide a fresh and earthy feeling and cheer to the room, especially when you’re sitting in your accent chair, reading a newspaper and having a delicious cup of coffee. You can add a bit of color and texture to the pot materials and match it with the interior décor of the room.

4.Fresh Floorings

If you want to tackle a substantial DIY project, start with investigating everything that lies underneath those carpets. If you’ve just bought the place, it will be worth your while looking at the condition of the floors. If you have that “what the heck is this” impression on your face, starting with your living room flooring is the best way to enhance it.
Oh so the floors are concrete. Well, that really doesn’t matter because you can still renovate it. All you have to do is pick some skills online and laminate the concrete floors with something exciting and invigorating. It’s not rocket science.

Even if you’re having second thoughts about touching the flooring, you can still wrap your head around smaller changes – like adding a beautiful rug or changing the carpeting to complement the fresh coat of paint on the walls.

Some Additional Tips!

Because I love you guys, here is a short list of some additional things you can do to transform your living room, take pictures and put professional designers to shame!

• If you like coffee tables, I adore them, then best thing you can do is to add a pendant lamp, just above the coffee table, not too high. Pendant lamps add a degree of sophistication and make the room more intimate.
• If you’re into abstract decorations, fill one whole wall in your living room with a spectacular series of rectangular frames – this is if you truly want to make a huge impact.
• Or you could add a one-off, large painting or mural.

Bottom Line

There is no limit to what you can do to transform your living room, save money on it and laugh out loud at how much people pay professionals to transform their homes. With these simple and creative DIY living room projects, you can really change the entire look and feel of your house!

Sleep is vital to our health and well being. When we sleep, the brain sends and receives signals from parts of the body regarding health and pain and resets itself to face a new day tomorrow. This process resets the body to peak health.

All this happens every night in the eight hours we’re in bed sleeping. When we’re sleep deprived, it can’t happen, says the National Institutes for Health (NIH).

Many sleepers still wake up unrefreshed, achy, and grumpy. They fall asleep mid-afternoon, eat sugary snacks and drink energy drinks for energy, and can’t mentally process things without a lot of thought.

“Our doctors may think we’ve caught something,” said Martin Regueiro of PangeaBed, “but what we’ve caught is lack of quality sleep.”

Our mattress could be the culprit. Here are four signs it’s time to splurge on a new one.

1. You Have Chronic Back Pain

If you wake with lower back pain, you should get a new mattress. When you stand up and stretch, does your back pain ease? As you move around, does your back pain disappear?

The natural S curve of your spine should be visible if you sleep on your back. Side sleepers’ S curve should be straight.

Too soft or cheap mattresses won’t sustain this curve.

2. Your Asthma Or Allergies Get Worse

Beds and pillows are a haven for dust mites. They leave behind waste which, when added to the dust, makes life worse for asthmatics and allergy sufferers. To avoid these things you can use anti allergy duvet.

As sleep science has advanced, so have mattresses. They contain materials now that fight dust, dust mites, and other allergens. We can’t see it, but beds get filthy.

Pangeabed offers copper-infused mattresses that are hypoallergenic and antimicrobial.

3. Your Mattress Is Over Eight Years Old

The National Sleep Foundation recommends replacing your mattress every eight to 10 years. Many things affect this such as the size of the person, if the person sleeps with someone, manufacturer and mattress type.

Also look for things like sags, stains and rips–that could be a sign that it’s time for a new one.

Of course, wear and tear will age a product faster. Remember that old cliche, “You get what you pay for.”

Cheap mattresses will wear faster than quality ones, but even quality mattresses will wear out one day. Remember the age of your mattress, and you might find it’s time for a new one.

4. Your Mattress Is Uncomfortable

Even if your mattress looks brand new, you could still wake up sore and stiff.-

Memory foam, gel memory foam (polyurethane and gel beads and polyurethane respectively,) and latex generally last longer than innersprings, but you should still replace that at least every five to seven years, especially if you’re over 40.

Our health and how well our body works during the day owes a lot to what we sleep on.

The PangeaBed mattress contains a layer of Cloud Foam. It stays cool and maintains pressure points so you won’t be tossing and turning, or sticking your foot out, as you try to get comfortable or stay cool.

If you’ve been putting off getting a new mattress, it’s time to make the leap. Your body and mind will thank you.

One of the main reasons that your home continuously smells so nice is that the air coming through is cleaned up by your air filters. The tight mesh weaving is used to keep incoming airflow clean so that you do not have to worry about any allergens or pollutants. This great for your home and makes sure that the air outside does not bring in any issues that could lead to lower air quality in your home. However, the air filters in your home become dirtier over time, and eventually require replacement. Otherwise, the resulting issues build and cause problems throughout your home.

Cleaning Up Airflow

The air filters in your home are capable of trapping and absorbing the particles that travel through air while letting fresh air flow through. This process means that your home stays smelling fresh and clean while becoming healthier to breathe. The filters ability to clean up incoming airflow is rated on the MERV rating system. This system actually rates the filters based on the tightness of their mesh weaving. The tighter the weaving, the higher the rating, but that is not always a good thing. Higher rated air filters run into the issue of having problems allowing airflow to pass through easily into the home.

The air filters in a system for your home are usually rated at more average ranges on the MERV range due to the tightness of their weaving. When the weaving is too tight, then air has trouble coming through and they become dirtier at a much faster rate. But you do not want the filter to have too low of a rating either or the particles will travel through without any problems. Either way, the filters become dirtier over time and require replacement in order to prevent the systems from struggling with pushing air flow through. The result of this extra effort being additional energy billing and repair damages.

Installing New Home Air Filters

During the ordering process for  new air filters you will be asked several questions in order to gauge just what air filters you will need. These questions include size and MERV rating, the former you will be able to read form the system owners manual and the latter being commonly in the average range. If you do not have the manual, then check the cardboard edge of the old filter for the numbers and use them to order new filters of a similar size. The new filters that come in are usable upon arrival, so all you need to do is swap out the old ones for the new. Afterwords, be sure to check on the filters since they may need to be swapped out as often as monthly.

Steam Cleaning

Dust building up over time is an inevitable part of living anywhere. No matter how clean we are, our floors will eventually start to show signs that dust and dirt are present. An easy way to combat this is a steam cleaner, which allows you a quick, effective method of cleaning floors that doesn’t involve getting on your hands and knees.