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Both aesthetic and practical factors need to be taken into account, including the positioning and power sources of each light, and you’ll also need to factor in external lighting from any streetlights or neighboring properties as these affect a home’s light levels come the evening. These outdoor lighting ideas will provide a warm welcome to guests, help make a home more secure, and look good to boot. Front yard lighting ideas Front yard landscaping ideas must include lighting for both aesthetics and safety....

In fact, the garage can be the ideal venue for a mudroom if this is the way you usually come into your home, or one or more members of the household often spends time in a garage workshop or comes in from the backyard that way. Mudroom ideas can help you keep your home cleaner, tidier and more organized and the garage mudroom ideas here will make the very best of your location – and ensure your mudroom looks good, too....

In the middle of summer, you’ll want to spend every moment possible outside. Whereas in the fall, sometimes nothing can be better than cozying up around a fire with friends to enjoy the crisp air. There are ways to make a garden party decor work for (nearly!) any time of year or space available. So, from intimate moments to family extravaganzas, we’ve curated our favorite garden party decoration ideas for every type of party....

You’ll need to make a few practical considerations to your hallway flooring ideas to ensure your carpet ideas can keep up with your lifestyle and stay looking its best, but the aesthetic benefits include the chance to add color, texture and crucial visual interest to either the first part of your home anyone will see or the easily forgotten areas that connect your rooms. Hallway carpet ideas From densely patterned runners to staircase carpets that will take your entrance hall to the next level, we’ve put together a selection of inspiring hallway carpet ideas, and asked the experts for their advice....

The benefits of a well-organized home are well documented. Studies have shown that our surroundings can have a huge effect on how we think and feel. As the experts say, ‘tidy home, tidy mind’. The key is to find an organizational system that works for you. We can help with that. Whether you’re starting small with cabinets and closets, or tackling an entire room, we’ve compiled a list of effective home organizing ideas – with help from the experts – to ensure every space in your home stays organized, and beautifully organized, at that....

While air conditioning may be the first port of call, finding the best fan for your home could help reduce your energy costs – but how much can depend on several factors such as the efficiency of your fan and how much you pay for your energy. According to the American Energy Information Administration (opens in new tab), 90% of US households turned to air conditioners when it came to how to cool down a room in 2020, and the number of homes using these devices increasing year on year....

Electric blankets are fast becoming a great alternative to the best throw blankets as we try to make a house look cozy and feel warm this season and, luckily, they are some of the cheaper plug-in heating appliances to add to your home. Understanding how to work out the cost of running an appliance is one of the best ways of working out how to cut energy bills. Although math is a worrisome task for many, it is luckily an easy calculation that you can apply to all of your electrical items to help save money at home....

On an esthetic level, you’ll also need to consider how to bring your renovation or extension in line with the history of the property to ensure a seamless and quality finish – whether that’s through restoring and enhancing run-down features or installing new ones in their likeness. Read on to discover how to make the most of the period features in your home or add authentic ones to a new extension, with advice from architects who are experts in the art of caring for a period home....

From tiny box rooms to awkwardly shaped loft spaces, small bedrooms all come with their own unique set of problems. People often struggle with storage, how to create an effective furniture layout and finding small bedroom ideas (opens in new tab) to make these compact spaces look bigger than they really are. Bunny Turner, of Turner Pocock, explains why small bedrooms can actually be a blessing. ‘We actually really enjoy designing small bedroom spaces as it’s much easier to make them feel cozy and inviting, and it forces you to put the practical wardrobe storage elsewhere....

When it comes to creating the perfect space for entertaining there are lots to think about, from the fundamentals like the floor plan and furniture of your kitchen, dining space, and living areas, through to New Year decor ideas and last-minute New Year party decorations, and tasks like prepping drinks and nibbles. Whether you’re looking to have a relaxed family gathering or a big house party, planning New Year can be stressful on top of all the Christmas organizing, so to help we’ve rounded up some ideas and key things to think about for how to celebrate New Year at home along with some advice from the experts....

Spend a few hours at least once a year – more if it becomes clogged – and clothes dry quicker and more evenly. If the vent does get clogged and it’s not cleaned out, you could be running the risk of your dryer overheating, which can start a fire pretty quickly. To clean out a dryer vent, all you need is a vacuum cleaner with a long hose attachment and a brush to remove stubborn lint from the vent....

If you’re looking for Easter egg ideas that are stylish as well as enjoyable to make, then painting or decoupaging on to eggs is ideal, as you can choose pretty colors and prints, and tailor the designs to your other Easter decorations and Easter craft ideas. You can arrange your decorated eggs together on a plate to make an Easter table centerpiece. Alternatively, paint on names and use them to make place settings for a celebration dinner....

While getting rid of a waterlogged lawn is not necessarily easy, there are a few clear steps to take to protect your backyard landscaping ideas from ruin and your grass from dying. Using these expert tips, however, can help to get rid of and prevent waterlogging so that you can make your lawn green and thick once again. So, if you notice the common clues your lawn is in trouble such as yellowing patches in your grass, puddles of surface water, or excess mud, act quickly to prevent further irreparable damage....

‘It is important to remember that bats are protected animals in many states and parts of the world, especially in the United Kingdom,’ advises Rachel Crow, Garden Editor for Homes & Gardens. ‘Because of this, it is strongly advised to check your local area laws regarding bat removal or disturbance before you do anything to prevent ending up in legal trouble or harming the bats.’ If it is legal to move bats on in your state, much like getting rid of raccoons, it is important to remove these mammals humanely....

Commonly used to create walls and ceilings, it is often part of the core structure of a building, but can also be used to create architectural features like eaves and arches. Usually made of gypsum plaster, it’s also commonly known as plasterboard. While it may not be the most exciting project on your interior decor DIY list, it’s an important step and will certainly leave you feeling rather accomplished afterwards....

If you have learned how to grow sunflowers for the purpose of harvesting the seeds, then there are a few key rules you must follow. However, as they are among the most attractive summer flowers – and vital flowers that attract bees – it’s important to enjoy them in your garden too. ‘Nothing says summer like the bright sunny face of a sunflower, which makes them one of the most popular genera of flowers to grow in any garden,’ says Gail Pabst from the National Garden Bureau (opens in new tab)....

Unlike painting a wall, a door is rarely a flat, uncomplicated surface: there is door furniture and paneling to negotiate. Then, there’s the paint finish, too. ‘Window casings, doors and trims are most often painted with a higher sheen, as the glossier paints are the most durable,’ says Ed Edrosa, project manager at BEHR. ‘The sheen also works to highlight architectural features.’ Discover top tips to bring your door paint ideas to life, below....

If adopting a healthier eating plan is one of the many New Year’s resolutions you strive to stick to but ultimately fail at, then you’ll be pleased to know that help is at hand. Enter the Vitamix Ascent A3500 Series Smart Blender (opens in new tab) – the best blender I have ever used. If you know me, you’ll know that I very rarely sing the praises of a kitchen appliance....

‘When most people consider interior design trends, they think of passing fads that will quickly become tired and dated,’ says interior designer Emma Sims-Hilditch, founder of Sims Hilditch (opens in new tab) design agency. While this certainly can be the case, it is possible to choose the trends you follow carefully, allowing you to keep up with the latest fashion, while maintaining a timeless home. 1. Decorate with antiques ‘Ironically, the inclusion of antique furniture into interior design is very en vogue this year, particularly when paired with more contemporary touches,’ says Emma....

The 73-year-old monarch is now the leader of a multi-billion dollar real estate portfolio that includes property in England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland, and Romania. The entire collection consists of palaces, castles, cottages, and ancient ruins, some of which serve as royal residences for King Charles and his wife Camilla, Queen Consort. While many of these properties are known as the world’s best homes, it is important to note that some of these estates are not used as domestic spaces by the King....