Looking for a way to make your living room cozier or wanting to add some softer touches to your family room. These great ideas will get you started.

Find your fabric

• Faux fur – check out the furry rugs and pillows available at your favorite home goods stores. You’ll find animal print plush the add some luxe to your leather sofa. Or choose a bright-hued long-haired cushion to add that punch of color to that monotone sectional.
• Real fur – Well … real hair, anyway. A fringed coverlet of llama, lamb, or another high-loft wool brings warmth and texture to any space.
• Velvet or velour, or even fuzzy microfiber or shag adds a softer touch, so think floor pillows, bolsters, or shams.

Natural woods

Wood has natural warmth that adds a subtle glow to otherwise stark contemporary décor. And if you add a touch of antique oak, walnut, or pine into the mix, you’ve created a space with depth and character. So, bring out that side table you inherited, or frame your contemporary print in a simple wood frame. Set the walnut dish your dad carved in high school shop on the mantel. 

Holistic elements

In addition to wood and fabric, other natural features can warm up your motif. Think a bevy of baskets, dried or faux but realistic willow stems, a cluster of beautiful stones, or even a collection of shells gives character and interest to a design.

Opt for an Ottoman

Everyone loves a place to put their feet. An upholstered ottoman in a comfortable fabric gives instant comfort to the room. If you'd rather have a more durable cover on your footstool such as leather or vinyl, the add a plush throw to it to bring in the warmth.

Collections

Sometimes, collections get out of hand, so we’re not talking about taking over every space with your blown glass figurines. But a lovely jar filled with sea glass from your last beach trip puts a warm glow in an otherwise serene bath or bedroom.

Group larger collection pieces in threes. If you inherited Aunt Mildred’s red glass vase, and another blue one from your grandmother, add a third one (even from a thrift store) to give interest to the collection and set it on a sofa table or in the center of the coffee table. Avoid putting more than three (at the very most four) items on any surface to avoid a cluttered, disorganized look.

If you plan to place your home on the market, ask your realtor to recommend a professional home stager to help you add that coveted coziness you crave.

Tweet

Many people shy away from this topic; they think it’s something way out of their league. Deciding to buy a home requires a lot of planning and saving, it’s not a decision made over the night. Remaining a tenant is not bad especially if you can’t afford to buy a house just yet. However, deciding to stay a tenant forever without any plan to get your property is not a great idea.

Buying a house and continuous mortgage payment especially during the first year is capital intensive, but over time, you would begin to enjoy the benefits of the decision to buy. Living as a tenant has its advantages; however, becoming a homeowner has more advantages. Below are reasons why you should buy rather than rent.

Allows You Save Over Time

When you become a homeowner, the word ‘forced to save’ comes to play. For you to be able to make your monthly mortgage payments, you would keep a certain amount aside which would go into your home. Economically, this is a wise decision as it helps you build ROI and equity unlike when you pay for a rented apartment.

Creates Stability

Becoming a homeowner gives you a sense of balance and security. If you decide to get married or if you are already, owning a home eliminates the burden of moving from one location to another. When you become a homeowner, your kids grow up in a stable and secure environment.

Freedom Of Activities

Living in rented apartments limits what you can do. Many landlords have rules they put in place to keep their property running smoothly. When you decide to take a mortgage, it gives you the freedom to customize your space the way you like; it allows you to decorate, you can choose to invite guests over or even get a pet. 

Allows You To Get A Second Stream Of Income 

Deciding to take a mortgage allows you the opportunity of having a second stream of income. The property is yours, and you can choose to let out a room, rent out the garage, rent out a part of your yard or your driveway. The whole idea is that you can monetize your property without having to report to anyone.

The Cost Of Mortgage Remains The Same, Unlike Rent That Increases

Fixed mortgage rates do not increase irrespective of the economic position. Landlords are not bothered about if you got a salary increment or not at your job; they typically tend to increase the cost of your rent yearly. Paying for your mortgage is settling the bulk of your housing payments which helps you attain budget stability. 

If you are in doubt about which decision to make (rent or buy), speak to a real estate agent today to help you assess your readiness to own a home.

Tweet

In today's real estate market, hardwood floors are a highly desired feature in a house. Potential buyers are often turned off by homes with carpeted floors because it's almost impossible to keep them clean. Time is not on your side when it comes to maintaining nice-looking carpeted floors!

No matter how careful you are, sooner or later someone's going to knock over a glass of grape juice or wine -- and that's only the short list of accidents waiting to happen! While dogs and cats can be a wonderful addition to any family, they are not a friend of floors -- either carpeted or hardwood.

In theory, hardwood floors are easier to clean than carpeting because of the absorbency factor. If your carpeting hasn't been treated with a stain-resistant chemical, it will quickly absorb stains, spills, and pet accidents faster than you can clean them up! Although the latest carpeting materials are much more stain resistant than earlier versions, spills that are not noticed and cleaned up quickly may cause permanent damage.

Spills, water, and pet urine can also wreak havoc on hardwood floors, so a quick response is essential to preventing damage. Here are a few other tips for keeping your floors looking clean and beautiful.

• Door mats can be helpful in minimizing the amount of dirt and grit that gets tracked into your home. What homeowners and even housekeepers sometimes forget is that door mats need to be shaken out on a regular basis. If they're not, dirt, soil, and other debris will accumulate on the mats, causing them to create more of a problem than a solution! Door mats need to be replaced periodically, too, when they become too worn down or wet to be of any use.
• Shoe removal: This is a difficult policy to enforce, but it will make house cleaning and floor maintenance easier and more effective. Whether you're talking about carpeting or hardwood floors, shoes are invariably going to track in dirt, grime, water, mud, and other miscellaneous contaminants!
• The right cleaning methods: Although it's always a good idea to follow manufacturer recommendations when cleaning any type of flooring, hardwood floors often need to be treated with more care than their carpeted counterparts. Since there are a lot of ways to scratch, dent, or gouge hardwood floor surfaces, it's crucial to avoid trying to scrub away spills or stains with any abrasive material. To remove potentially damaging grit, floors should be regularly cleaned with a soft dust mop or broom with soft bristles. Ideally, your vacuum cleaner should also be padded on the bottom to avoid scratching the finish of your wood floors.

Tweet