4 Tips for Finishing a Basement

17 June 2019

Some homeowners are completely content to keep their basement relatively out of sight and mind. They don’t really mind that there’s an unfinished or partially finished space right underneath them, because, frankly, they don’t have much use for it.

That doesn’t make a whole lot of sense. With the scarcity of great real estate in modern urban centers and the skyrocketing price of homes, you would think that a homeowner would want to squeeze some life out of every little, liveable corner of their home.

That’s why many experts recommend you consider finishing your basement, making it either liveable (in which case you could rent it to help pay the mortgage, or offer it to a family member), or recreational (in which case it functions as a rec room). To help you on your way toward a finished basement, this article will discuss four key tips to bear in mind.

Plan the Layout for Usability:

Planning the layout of a basement is often the most consequential part of the process – it creates a blueprint for everything to come. Have utility and functionality in mind when planning the layout: if it is meant to be liveable, how can you make it more liveable? If it is meant to be recreational, what would you like the basement’s centerpieces to be? In either case, plan the main areas around natural light and open space. Give thought to the flow of rooms, starting with when you walk downstairs.

Protect Your Basement from Water:

The single greatest threat to a finished basement is water. Being the lowest space in a house, a basement is also the most susceptible. Hire a professional to consult on waterproofing, and get yourself two sump pumps, including a battery backup for your existing sump pump – you’ll need a plumber to aid in installation, but it’s worth it for sheer risk management.

Budget for the Use of Professionals:

Working off that last point, here’s an important, broad tip that homeowners should keep in mind: budget for bringing in pros. So many homeowners convince themselves that DIY construction, electrical, plumbing, etc. is going to be easy, only to find that it is incredibly complicated and that incorrect execution can have big consequences for the final product. There’s no shame in calling in pros, and, in fact, it might save you money in the long run.

Don’t Discount Looks:

As discussed, functionality is a crucial part of putting together a finished basement… but so is aesthetics. Consider trim for the walls, wainscoting, good flooring, and pleasing light fixtures. Put thought into the color and brightness of the room, as well as the arrangement of its furniture and components. Install and maintain good windows and, as a final touch, add some art to the walls. Don’t be afraid to head to the internet for inspiration. This collection of 50 basements remodels in a great place to start!

Don’t leave a whole floor of your home unfinished –start thinking about your dream basement today!

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Ariana Smith

I enjoy writing and I write quality guest posts on topics of my interest and passion. I have been doing this since my college days. My special interests are in health, fitness, food and following the latest trends in these areas. I am an editor at Content Rally.

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6 Upgrades to Make Your Bedroom Seem Like a Luxury Hotel

Most people love the luxury hotel experience. The bed is large and comfortable, the robes are ultra soft and the toiletries smell like a dream. With just a few days to indulge in all the comforts, you may not even get to try all the features of the shower or tub. When you return to your regular digs, you find yourself missing the hotel experience. But what if you could recreate the luxury experience at home? Read on for six tips on how to do so. 6 Upgrades to Make Your Bedroom Seem Like a Luxury Hotel Source Egyptian Cotton Bed Linens: You may want to start with the bed. Look for genuine Egyptian long staple cotton bedsheets and duvet covers to make sinking into bed feel like a dream. Get a thread count of 300 or more and a breathable cotton duvet for the ultimate in softness. Stick to white linens to really recreate the hotel look. Luxury hotels know crisp whites convey a feeling of freshness and cleanliness so you would do well to follow their lead. Purchase a Hotel Grade Mattress: If you want to go all in, get a new mattress. Many hotels actually get their mattresses made exclusively for them so it’s not your imagination – they really do feel more comfortable. With mattresses, you will almost certainly get a high-quality one if you are willing to pay more. With a little research, you may also be able to get an actual hotel bed. For example, Fairmont Hotels and Resorts sells its Sealy mattresses. Choosing the right mattress can make a huge difference in the quality of your sleep. Get Cozy Lighting: Luxury hotels know how to use the right lighting to create a cozy atmosphere. Swap your bright lights for lamps and sconces with low-wattage, warm bulbs. Not only does this instantly relax you but it puts you in the mood to sleep. Of course, there will be times when you need brighter lights in your bedroom. Try to install the right balance of ambient, task and accent lighting to keep things practical. Add Some Nice Touches to Your Bedside Table: It’s easy for the bedside table to become cluttered with to-do lists and receipts. However, hotels are known for their clutter-free surfaces. Pare down to the bare essentials and a couple personalized items. You may need a lamp, an alarm clock, and a décor item. This can a photo of your partner or family, a small piece of artwork or a vase of fresh flowers. You can also opt for a beautifully scented candle or a gratitude journal or devotional. You can add a small luxurious hand cream as well so you can use it as part of your bedtime ritual. Give Your Feet A Treat with Fluffy Rugs: This is a small touch but it can make a lot of difference. When you get out of bed in the morning, your feet will feel like they are enveloped in a soft cloud. If you can’t make large-scale changes to your bedroom just yet, a plush rug can make a big difference in the interim. Consider placing small sheepskin rugs at each side of your bed. Your bare feet will thank you, especially during the colder months. Invest in Luxe Bathrobes: Some hotels sell their soft fluffy bathrobes since guests often love them so much that they try to take them. If you have a favorite hotel, check to see if they can send you one. Otherwise, search your local home store or online for a hotel or spa-quality bathrobe. It may be a splurge but it can help you to keep that luxurious holiday feeling going for a little bit longer. You may not live in the lap of luxury but with a few choice purchases, you can make your bedroom much comfier. If you’re craving the hotel experience, take our advice and get started on some of these upgrades. Read Also: How To Make Your Home Look Like A Splendid Hotel? Preparing To Stay In A Luxury Apartment On A Vacation

How to Keep Your Carpet Clean

With all the indoor and outdoor activities, kids, pets and so many people going through your house, it’s not easy to keep your carpets clean. You keep your shoes on, or often let your guests do it, your kids play and make a mess, your pet shed and make a general mess, and your carpet gets the short end. If you don’t maintain it regularly, the damage is often irreversible. That’s why it’s important to follow a few steps in order to keep your carpet in good condition for as long as possible. Of course, having someone to keep your house clean is always the simplest option, and regular deep cleaning is indispensable, but there is still a lot you can do in meantime to keep your carpet clean and fluffy. Here’s what experts at Deluxe Maid had to say about this topic. No Shoes : This can seem like a nuisance at the beginning, both for your family who lives there, and for the guests who come to visit, but your carpet will be very grateful. It’s already normal and accepted in many houses, but there are still people who find it awkward to ask their guests to take off their shoes. Well, you shouldn’t feel awkward. Provide enough comfortable, clean slippers for everyone and they should have no complaints. With their shoes off, they can feel more relaxed and at home, while your carpet is spared all the dirt, mud, germs, dust and other “presents” the guests usually bring on the soles of their shoes. Your carpet will retain its color for a long time and won’t become all faded and shabby so fast, thus its cleaning and maintenance won’t require so much time and effort. Vacuum More Often : Vacuum your carpet whenever you catch a moment. It would be perfect if you had one smaller, more convenient hand vacuum cleaner which you could use more often, especially, but not only in emergency cases of spilling something. It’s important not to let the dirt grind into the carpet, as it becomes close to impossible to completely clean it. So it’s much better and efficient to vacuum often, even just superficially, and have the deep, detailed vacuuming whenever it’s possible, that’s the way the cleaners Indianapolis residents trust the most do it. Again, it will mean less time and effort, and your carpet will look decent for a longer time. Clean the Spills Immediately : Regardless if it’s something liquid and sticky that requires rubbing, or some particles that require vacuuming, do not postpone at any cost. If you leave it unattended, there are great chances that you or someone else will step in it, spread it, grind it into the carpet, and simply make it worse. You might forget about it, and if it’s a stain, it will dry and merge with your carpet pattern. And you don’t want that. What’s worse, if you let it happen once, you will easily do the same again, and that’s where the real problem starts. It will gradually destroy your carpet without you even noticing it. So don’t postpone the cleaning, take care of those spills immediately, or you will regret later. Get Some Mats : Your carpet should not be a mat, that’s why it’s important to ask your guests to take off their shoes, as already mentioned. But if you really don’t want to do it, at least make sure you have proper doormats at the entrance to your house or apartment. That should at least reduce and mitigate the dirt spreading and the overall damage. You should have good doormats if there’s the “no shoes” rule in your house, as you probably have a carpet in the corridor as well, and your living room carpet isn’t the only one which needs to be kept clean and in good condition. Read Also : Best-Corded Vacuum Cleaner Run Cleaning In Dallas: Why A Professional Cleaner Is Better Benefits Of Having A Cordless Vacuum Cleaner At Home

Top Reasons To Install A Lightning Arrestor Today

If you are considering installing a lightning arrestor or conducting rod then you should speak to a qualified electrician in Sydney first. This will ensure that the arrestor is fitted properly and is effective. After all, there is no point going to the trouble to fit it and then finding it is ineffective as it hasn’t been done properly. What Is A Lightning Arrestor A lightning arrestor is a piece of metal attached to your house. It is usually situated at the top of the house, making it the highest point. This ensures the lightning hits it before it hits the house. The metal rod is attached to a cable that goes down your home and into the ground. It effectively completes the circuit. When the lightning hits the rod the electrical current is sent straight into the ground, rendering it harmless. There are several reasons why you may choose to fit a lightning arrestor. Protect Electrical Appliances Lightning happens when freezing water in the atmosphere starts to fall to earth and rubs against other small particles of ice. This creates a negative charge, much like static electricity. However, the rising warm air associated with storms also creates positive energy higher in the clouds. The result is an electrical charge that moves between the two points, creating a lightning bolt. If it is close enough to your house it will hit and surge through your electronics as it finds the shortest route to the ground. This surge is usually enough to damage any item plugged in. Although you should unplug items when not using them, if you are not there and unable to unplug the items they can easily be fried. An arrestor prevents this by directing the electrical charge away from your home. Reduce Likelihood of Damage To Your property Lightning doesn’t just pass through your electronics and damage them. It can also hit the roof of your house. The lightning bolt hits with a considerable shockwave, potentially causing a significant amount of damage to your home. It can destroy roof tiles, be hot enough to ignite wood underneath or simply blast a hole straight through your roof, which causes you spent much expenditure on roofing materials again. You’ll then be facing a sizeable repair bill and the rain that accompanies a thunder and lightning storm. Avoid Power Outages The lightning strike won’t just damage your adorable electronics, which you might buy from any online store with great eagerness. It can pass through the supply wires and find another route to the ground. Unfortunately, the high voltage charge will overcome the supply charge but the resistance can damage the supply lines. This can then leave you without power. How long it takes to repair will depend on the amount of damage the storm has caused. The damage caused can be significant yet installing a lightning arrestor is very simple and surprisingly low budget. It’s a worthwhile investment and something you should be talking to the specialists about today. After all, you never know when the next storm will hit, the meteorology department doesn’t often know either! Read Also: Things You Can Do to Your Apartment to Raise Its Value Foundation Moisture Maintenance: 6 Tips for Home Repair

4 Tips for Finishing a Basement

Plan the Layout for Usability:

Protect Your Basement from Water:

Budget for the Use of Professionals:

Don’t Discount Looks:

Best Carpet Maintenance Practices

Ideas to Give Luxury Feel to Your Condo

Tags

Ariana Smith

I enjoy writing and I write quality guest posts on topics of my interest and passion. I have been doing this since my college days. My special interests are in health, fitness, food and following the latest trends in these areas. I am an editor at Content Rally.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

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Related

6 Upgrades to Make Your Bedroom Seem Like a Luxury Hotel

How to Keep Your Carpet Clean

Top Reasons To Install A Lightning Arrestor Today

4 Tips for Finishing a Basement

Plan the Layout for Usability:

Protect Your Basement from Water:

Budget for the Use of Professionals:

Don’t Discount Looks:

Share this Article

Best Carpet Maintenance Practices

Ideas to Give Luxury Feel to Your Condo

Tags

I enjoy writing and I write quality guest posts on topics of my interest and passion. I have been doing this since my college days. My special interests are in health, fitness, food and following the latest trends in these areas. I am an editor at Content Rally.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Popular

Follow Us

Recent

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