Aging in Place
If you are remodeling, building, or buying a home that you know you are going to stay in for a while, the best advice you could take is to design it for every stage of your life, not just the one you are in now. We all age, and to do it well we have to plan ahead. Your home is no different and you want to age well in it. Universal design is a design principle that incorporates safety and functionality for all ages as the first priority in home design. Universal design is not meant to make your home look like a public restroom with its safety rails and grab bars, but it does allow for versatility as you age. If you are serious about aging well in your home, here are some simple tips to get you started.
Watering plants is a task that may seem simple, but you may be surprised to find out that 80% of gardening problems are due to overwatering. Overwatering not only drowns and kills your plants, but it also wastes water, especially if what you are overwatering is on an automatic watering system. Sprinkler systems are not perfect. Automatic timers and sprinkler heads are difficult to maneuver in just the right way to ensure that every drop of water is being distributed to where it is needed most. However, there are automated systems that you can buy that consider the specific needs of your lawn, calculating slope, water absorption and systems that even include a wireless download of weather conditions to determine how much water is necessary for your lawn. All this information is then translates into directions given to your sprinkler system. By determining you specific watering needs and cutting back when watering isn't necessary, it is estimated that you can cut your water usage by as much as 30% and still maintain a beautiful and healthy lawn and garden area. If an entire automated watering system is beyond your reach, they now make standard sprinkler heads that you attach to your hose and that use a programmable disk to avoid watering driveway or deck. The sprinkler simply works off the pattern that you give it.
The most difficult part of gardening is preparing your garden plot. If it is done right, it cuts back on the work you have to put into keeping your garden maintained and increases how much you get out of it. Half a day of work in preparation can have you enjoying your garden's fruits for months. Here are some simple steps to help you prepare your garden plot for a great summer of gardening:
Watering your yard and garden during the summer is not always an option. When a dry spell hits, you don't want your garden to be the one on the block suffering. Keep you garden an oasis all summer long with these drought-proofing ideas that will add sparkle and character to your yard.
One of the biggest challenges every homeowner faces is the need to organize. No matter how large your home is it always seems like there just is not enough space. This is especially true in the main living areas where everyone in the family tends to gather. Yet by taking a few simple steps you can organize your living space to make it much more comfortable and effective for everyone who lives there.
One of the easiest and cheapest ways to renovate your home is to add some color. You can paint, stain or faux finish your walls, add pillows to your sofas and give light fixtures and other pieces of furniture a refreshed look and still only spend a minimal amount of money. Adding color is also a great way to express your personality and style. Best of all when you are tired of a color it can be easily changed out for something new. But still many people are afraid of adding color to their homes and even if they want to are unsure of how to go about it. Yet by following a few easy tips you too can become a color expert. Here are some easy tips for adding color to your home-
