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Neat and Nifty DIY Projects for Your Kitchen

May 5, 2016 by

While you may not be able to pull off a full kitchen renovation in your rental, you can make the space function better for your needs by crafting up a few simple projects. Here are just three useful DIY projects that will improve your kitchen space and help make it your own.

Dip-Dye Wooden Spoons [housebeautiful.com]
Looking to add more color to your kitchen without going overboard? This simple tutorial will add rainbow hues to your wooden kitchen utensils, and best of all, it takes less than an hour to complete. Store them upside down in a large ceramic jar to show off their fun new makeover.

Additional Cabinet Storage [lifehacker.com]
If the items in your kitchen cabinets are always stacked precariously on top of one another, you could likely benefit from additional storage. Add a tension rod for additional storage, or add a classic Lazy Susan so that you can reach things like spices and small jars with ease.

Cutting Board Tablet Stand [countryliving.com]
If you frequently use your iPad or other tablet to look up recipes or listen to music in the kitchen, keep it protected by creating your own stand out of an old cutting board. Simply attach a wooden Scrabble tile stand to the bottom to hold up the tablet, then prop up the entire cutting board using an old door stop on the back.

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How to Squeeze Every Inch Out of Your Closet Space

April 29, 2016 by

If you have a messy closet, your whole room can feel off, and putting outfits together can be difficult when you can’t find what you’re looking for. Organizing your wardrobe can be a little overwhelming, so follow these tips to achieve an orderly, well-maintained closet.

  • Donate or get rid of any clothing items that you haven’t worn in more than two years.
  • Keep out-of-season clothes in large plastic bins and place them under your bed or on high shelves to make space for items that you’ll be reaching for during that time of year.
  • Use a shoe hanger to place over your closet door to free up some floor or shelf space.
  • Hang your most worn items at eye level where you can see them.
  • Keep your folded clothes and accessories neat and tidy by using shelf dividers.
  • Hang hooks inside your closet for extra storage space. These are great for jackets and will clear up a lot of space for your clothes.
  • Color-code your clothes so you’ll know exactly where everything is when you need it.

20 Ways to Organize Your Bedroom Closet [Apartment Therapy]
The Experts Spill Their Tips For A Clean, Well-Organized Closet [Who What Wear]
How to Organize A Lot of Clothing in Very Little Closet Space [Lifehacker]

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Breathe New Life Into a Tired Sofa With These Styling Tips

April 22, 2016 by

A well-styled sofa can really make a difference in the over all look of your living room. Even a perfectly good, beautiful sofa can seem dull without the right styling elements. Follow these simple tips to help spruce up your sofa.

  • Update your rug to one with a bold pattern. This can define a neutral area and help complement your sofa.
  • Replace your lamp with a floor lamp that’s taller and sleek to polish the whole look around the sofa.
  • To balance the space around the sofa, add a plant to the opposite side of the sofa.
  • Add a large framed piece of art above the sofa. You want to keep it simple so one piece of art is plenty.
  • For a quick update to your sofa, add a blanket or throw. Draping the throw over your sofa can soften up the design.
  • Use four to five pillows to add comfort. You’ll want to use different shapes and sizes to fill the sofa out. Try mixing a few different patterns or shades. This can add comfort and really transform your seating space.

BEFORE & AFTER: How To Style Your Sofa [Elle Décor]
Throw Pillows: 4 Tips to Style Your Sofa [Huffington Post]
Guest Post: How to Style Your Sofa [Pottery Barn]

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What You Don’t Know About Plastic

April 21, 2016 by

Plastic is an important part of your life whether you realize it or not. The world today consumes 600 billion pounds of plastic per year, and this number is anticipated to grow. Since we use plastic so much, we should at least know a little bit more about it! Here are some must-read facts about plastic.

1) The most common form of plastic is polyethylene. This plastic is typically found in grocery bags and water bottles. In fact, it's estimated that more than 100 billion plastic grocery bags are used annually. The average person uses 290 bags per year, and these plastic bags are typically put into use for only 15 minutes.

2) Plastic is forever. Plastic does not decompose naturally, which is why recycling plastic is so important. Recycled plastics are given new life as bottles, fleece jackets, and fiber fillings, among other uses.

3) Plastics represent 13 percent of total solid waste. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency reports that in 2012, the U.S. produced 32 million tons of plastic waste. Of that 32 million tons, only nine percent was sent to be recycled.

20 Things You Didn't Know About… Plastic [Discover]
Plastics [EPA]
Plastic Facts [Kids Go Green]

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When Life Gives You Lemons, Use Them to Clean! Here’s How!

April 15, 2016 by

Did you know that lemons work as a natural disinfectant, a stain remover, a polish for metals, and so much more? Try these simple cleaning tips using the power of citrus!

  • Scrub your dirty dishes or plastic containers with a recently juiced lemon and a little bit of coarse salt to remove any stains or smells. This also works for wooden cutting boards.
  • Rub some lemon juice on a sponge and leave it in your refrigerator for several hours to remove any odors.
  • Give your microwave a good cleaning by mixing three tablespoons of lemon juice and one and a half cups of water into a microwave-safe bowl. Place the bowl into your microwave and put it on high for five to ten minutes. Then just wipe away any remaining spots with a dishrag.
  • Make your own eco-friendly household cleaner with citrus peels and white vinegar. Simply place citrus peels in a glass mason jar, then pour enough vinegar over top to cover the peels. Let the mixture infuse for two weeks, then strain out the vinegar into a spray bottle!

Cleaning With Lemon Juice [DIY Network]
10 Clever Ways to Clean With a Lemon [The Kitchn]
34 Useful Reasons to Load Up On Lemons [Reader’s Digest]

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Bring the Outdoors In: How to Decorate Using Natural Elements

April 8, 2016 by

One of the simplest and most inexpensive ways to decorate your home is with natural elements. Use natural materials from the outdoors and colors inspired by nature to decorate for any season. If your space could use s breath of fresh air, follow these tips and get this organic look in your home.

  • Use unique pitchers or containers to keep flowers in to give any bouquet a fresh look.
  • Add three-dimensional antlers or any kind of faux taxidermy to your wall to break up some of your framed pictures on your wall.
  • Gather some branches in your backyard to put in a vase to make a centerpiece for your table. You can also use a piece of driftwood for a centerpiece as well.
  • Use a large twisted branch to hang on the wall to add some modern dimension to a room.
  • Use clear glass lamps and fill them up with pinecones, seashells and sand, moss, or anything else you can find.
  • You can also use bowls or trays to fill up with the pinecones or shells.
  • Hang artwork with an earthy theme to hang on your neutral colored walls.
  • Place a collection of small green houseplants in different sized pots on your wooden table to add some natural character to your dining room.

15 Ways to Decorate with Natural Elements [Ebay]
Decorating with Natural Elements [Better Homes]
12 Easy Decorating Ideas Inspired by Nature [Houzz]

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Want to Decorate Your Apartment Without Emptying Your Wallet? Here’s Where to Shop!

April 7, 2016 by

Want your apartment at BLVD l Loudoun Station to look like something out a home design blog? If know the right places to shop, you can transform your rental into the home of your dreams — without emptying your bank account! Here are three great stores where you can buy stylish home decorations for less.

Pier 1 Imports
Pier 1 Imports isn’t exactly a budget store, but with its frequent sales and affordable versions of designer pieces, it can save you a great deal anyway. Shop here if you’re looking for a gold metallic side table, plush faux fur pillows, or luxurious frames for dressing up your walls. Don't miss the clearance section for even deeper discounts!

H&M Home
That’s right: the trendy clothing store now offers an equally affordable selection of home decor items, and they’re just as stylish as you might expect. From bedding sets for less than $50 to funky shower curtains and even marble print kitchenware, this is the perfect place to find all of the hottest decorating trends.

Z Gallerie
If your style is a bit more luxe, you’ll love the upscale touches without the upscale price tags that Z Gallerie has to offer. This popular home goods store is well known for its ornate wall mirrors and elegant tableware, but you’ll even find sofas, sectionals, and other affordable furniture pieces.

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Today’s Imponderable: Do Penguins Ever Get Cold?

April 1, 2016 by

Penguins sure are adorable with their silly waddle and their tuxedo-inspired coloring, but they’re actually much tougher than they seem. These cold-climate birds live in the snow and ice, and they make it seem pretty effortless. Don’t penguins ever get cold?

First of all, penguins are quite hefty for their size. Emperor penguins weigh around 66 pounds, much of which is a thick layer of fat underneath the skin, which means that it takes them quite a bit longer to cool off than it would smaller birds. Penguins’ feathers also help to shield them from the Arctic climate. Unlike most birds’ feathers, the feathers on a penguin are very short and have an under-layer of wool-like down, which keeps them warm and dry. As for their feet, penguins have a much more developed circulatory system that enables them to adjust blood flow to the feet depending on the temperature. And, if you’ve ever watched penguins in a zoo or on television, you know that they have the impressive tendency to huddle together in a group to keep one another warm!

Penguins don't freeze, but they do get very, very cold [New Scientist]
Do Penguins Get Cold? [Super Science]
How Penguins Survive Cold Conditions [Cool Antarctica]
Why Penguins’ Feet Don’t Freeze [Today I Found Out]

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Expert Tips for Creating an Eye-Catching Vignette

March 25, 2016 by

If you have a hallway table or bedroom dresser that could use some sprucing up, the table vignette may be the way to go. A vignette is simply an embellishment that consists of different elements arranged harmoniously, from blooming flowers to vintage picture frames. The exact contents of the vignette are up to you (consider shopping around at thrift stores), but there are a few rules you should follow when you actually go to create the vignette. Here are four of the top suggestions, gleaned from the internet's interior design experts.

  1. Pick a focal point. Before you randomly start arranging knick-knacks on a coffee table, pick an element that will anchor your vignette. For example, it might be a vintage vase filled with flowers or artsy twigs. It could be a pretty picture frame with a personal photo or postcard. Regardless of what it is, make sure the focal point meshes with the colors and style of the rest of your home.
  2. Let light win over dark. If you don't already have a focal point in mind, consider using a cool lamp. When creating a vignette, it's imperative that you put it somewhere where the light can accentuate it—and what better way to do that than to make the light a part of it?
  3. Use the rule of threes. Interior design experts often adhere to the rule of threes, which essentially states that when grouping design elements, you should opt for odd numbers over even numbers. It creates a focal point that naturally draws the eye.
  4. Create depth and texture. You should also vary the arrangement of your vignette elements in order to intrigue onlookers. Instead of placing each piece in a straight line, pull some forward and push others back. Pick candlesticks or books of varying heights. Choose different textures. This will keep your vignette interesting and eye-catching.

Creating a Well-Styled Table Vignette [Jenna Burger]
8 Tips for Making Beautiful Vignettes [HGTV]
Rule of Three and Odd Numbers [Cecilia Walker Design]

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Follow These Tutorials to a Cool and Kitschy Macrame Plant Hanger

March 18, 2016 by

Macramé may have originally gained popularity back in the 1970s, but the kitschy weaving craft is coming back in a big way. If you love plants and you’re always looking for fun new ways to display them, you may even want to try making a macramé plant hanger of your own. Here are a few tutorials to help you get started!

Colorful Polyester Rope Hanger [hgtv.com]
With this tutorial, you’ll learn how to make a macramé hanger using only a few colors of polyester rope, a carabiner, and a screw hook. The actual plant hanger itself is fairly simple, but wrapping the multicolored string around the top adds a fun pop of color.

Sturdy Macramé Plant Hanger [lowes.com]
If you’re looking for something that’s a bit sturdier to hang a particularly heavy plant, this is a great tutorial. It uses clothesline instead of the usual yarn or polyester rope, as well as 18-gauge steel wire and a chain ring for added reinforcement.

Mini String Planters [blog.freepeople.com]
For something quicker and easier, this cute tutorial from the Free People blog uses standard yarn that you might already have stashed away at home. This is a fun tutorial to do while you relax in front of the TV, and the finished product is a great way to hang small air plants or succulents in miniature pots.

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