Is It Worth Getting A Panic Room For The Home

 Panic rooms are a place in the home that help in scenarios where the household encounters a threat. This threat may be someone breaking into the home in order to cause harm or weather conditions that may be a danger to the home’s structural stability.

A panic room, if constructed correctly can encapsulate the household when needed and provide them with complete protection from the outside if an emergency ever arose.

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How many homes currently have a panic room?

According to companies that supply panic rooms, there’s still interest in homeowners investing in a panic room. 

There are plenty of cities and countries around the world that are actively installing panic rooms. While this may be the elite society, for the most part, it can still be useful for those in the average household. Security and protection are valued by anyone and everyone in this day and age, which is why a panic room of some description might be helpful to have.

Four benefits of a panic room

What are the benefits of a panic room? Is it worth the cost or is it best to just opt for traditional security measures like CCTV cameras and security alarms? Here are four benefits of a panic room for a home.

Keeps the household safe

Of course, the main importance of any home is its household. The family is the most important part of the home to protect and therefore it’s good to have a place that is totally secure from the outside world.

Depending on how much is spent will likely influence the quality of the room or space itself. However, it’s priceless when it comes to the protection of the family and anyone that may be in the home at the time.

It can be affordable depending on the supplies used

Depending on the suppliers used and the materials invested in, it can still be reasonably affordable as a cost to the home. Whether it’s the quality of the security doors to any windows or security systems in place, all of it can be priced to a point where it’s affordable for the budget available.

A lot of people are influenced by the assumption that a panic room can cost a lot to install, but it has its affordability if done right.

Useful for storing valuables

While the panic room is utilised for the sole purpose of keeping household members protected it can also be used to store valuables when it’s not in use. In scenarios where there may be dangers not only to the household but high-value items, it can definitely be useful to have a panic room available.

An alternative to an underground bunker

Panic rooms are just like underground bunkers. They offer security and safety in times of danger, whether it’s from a person or mother nature herself.

With that being said, it’s worth considering whether a panic room is needed for the home. If it is, there are plenty of companies out there that can help with this and security for the home in general.

Easy Ways to Modernise your Home when on a Budget

If you feel as though your home is not as modern as it could be or if you feel like your home is stuck in the past and want to do something about it, then you are not alone. So many people are in the same situation as you are, but believe it or not, making a positive change doesn’t have to be difficult. Want to find out more? Take a look below.

First Impressions are Everything

If you have the budget, it is always a good idea for you to try and stretch so you can get some better windows fitted. You can get hardwood frames if you want as this will make your home look much more modern without blowing your budget. If you can, you need to try and paint the windows that you have now, if you cannot afford to do this. This is the best way for you to add a lot of visual appeal. Getting a pressure washer to blast away any exterior dirt will help you out quite a lot here so be mindful of that if you can. If you want to jazz up your windows a little more, then it could be worth exploring Inspire Plantation Shutters.

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Giving Your Kitchen a Facelift

Your kitchen is usually seen as being the heart of your home. Getting a brand-new one fitted can cost you thousands. If you want to do something about this, then you can easily replace the cabinet handles that you have, and you can also try and repaint your units too. By doing this, you may find that you can easily get the result you are looking for and that you can also make your home look way bigger and brighter. Sometimes it is the simple changes that happen to make the biggest difference, so be mindful of this if you can.

Focus on your Bathroom

Bathrooms tend to be one of the last rooms in a home to be touched when it comes to renovations. If you know that your budget doesn’t allow for a full overhaul, then there are some tweaks you can make. Nothing is appealing about dirty fixtures, so try and replace them or give your grout a good deep clean. If you can focus on more modern features here, then this will help you to have the biggest visual impact so try and keep this in mind if you want to make a drastic change to your home.

Hide your Clutter

There is nothing modern about having a lot of clutter. Clutter can easily make your home look outdated and sometimes it can make it look uninviting as well. If you have a small space, then hidden storage is the best way for you to solve this issue. You would be surprised at how easy it is for you to make a huge difference here, just by stripping your home back a little, so don’t be afraid to experiment by removing items as it could be what is limiting your property potential.

Make Decluttering Easy

Decluttering can feel a little daunting; after all, the more stuff you have - the more you have to declutter. But getting rid of things we don't love or use anymore can make our homes feel more comfortable - and that is a big deal! 

One of the reasons that people choose to declutter is that they want to have a simpler life. With fewer things in your home, you not only have more room, but you have less to clean - and less to tidy too. 

So how can you make decluttering easy and enjoyable? 

Photo by Sarah Brown on Unsplash

Short bursts

Rather than try to slog through 12 hours of solid cleaning and tidying - task yourself with short sharp bursts. Even 5 minutes per day can help you on your way to making the most of your decluttering sessions. 

Using an egg timer or a timer on your mobile phone, you can set short 5 minutes bursts and do as much as you can in a designated room. 

Of course, you won't be able to do everything - but you don't need to. Decluttering is a marathon, not a sprint, so treat it that way. 

Storage 

Storage can significantly impact how you declutter; if you know you have a lot in the home and most of it you want to sell or donate but don't want to wait to have it moved out of your home - put it in storage. Sell and donate as you go until the unit is clear. 

You can also use storage to keep anything you want to hand down to your children but may not want in your home. 

Clothing

Clothing takes up a lot of space, and what's worse is that often we don't check what we have before we buy new. Instead, start going through what you already have and what you don't wear so that you can donate it. 

You can also make use of websites like eBay and Facebook Market to sell your old clothes and make some cash. 

Ruthless 

If you don't love it or use it - it has to go! It is important that everything in your house belongs there and isn't just there because you couldn't bear to give it away. Ruthlessness is the one thing that can ensure your cleaning and decluttering is easier and faster. 

Checklist 

Many people benefit from having a checklist to work through - it helps them stay on track - but if you overload your checklist, you might find that you have given yourself too much to do. 

A too big checklist can make you feel like you aren't making progress - even when you are. 

Stick with it

Don't give up! It is all too easy to stop decluttering because you miss a day or there seem to be piles of stuff happening around the room, and you just can't seem to work through them. 

Stick with your plan and remind yourself what you will get at the end of it. 

As you're decluttering, you'll be cleaning up too, and here are some ways to make that easier: 5 reasons for cleaning your home with lemon.

Five Considerations When Moving Home

 If you don't plan everything out ahead of time, moving can be a very stressful time. Even though it might not seem like there is much to plan, you need to think about a lot of different things before you even think about moving into a new house. Whether you hire a moving company or make a budget, being ready is the best way to make sure your move goes smoothly. 

Photo by Ketut Subiyanto: https://www.pexels.com/photo/multiracial-couple-giving-high-give-standing-near-pile-of-boxes-4246202

So, here are five things to think about when moving house:

What Budget Are You Working With?

When you're thinking about moving, the first thing you need to do is figure out how much money you can spend overall. Moving can be very expensive, and if you don't plan your costs ahead of time, you may find that you can't pay for some things when the time comes. Think of how much the deposit will cost, how much it will cost to hire a moving team, and how much the monthly rent will be. When it comes to making your final choice, all of these things should be very important. Have a look at sydneyutehire.com.au for some ideas of hiring a van. 

When Would You Like To Move?

Considering when you want to move will help you choose which houses to look at and which ones you can't. When you go to look at a house, you may find that some are only accessible after a certain date. If this date is later than when you want to move, you know it won't work. Finding out when you can move in may take a little longer, but it will help you in the long run.

What Type Of Property Do You Want?

Now that you know how much you can spend, you can start thinking about what kind of property you want. Do you have a certain number of bedrooms in mind? Do you want it to have certain things? Are you after a big yard? Would you need a garage? You'll be sure to find the best house for you if you think about all of these things before you start looking. In some cases, you may be able to set your search parameters to leave out places that don't meet your needs. This guide can help you find a new house by giving you tips and tricks.

Will You Get A Mortgage?

When moving, one of the things that worries people the most is whether or not they will get a mortgage. There are a lot of different things that go into this decision, and often it comes down to just one or two bad things. If you need help, you might want to talk to a financial advisor ahead of time. They will be able to tell you what changes you should make to be accepted in the future. You can go to this site to learn more about refinancing mortgage rates.

Where Would You Like To Live?

Last but not least, you should think about where you want to live. Whether you want to live in the country, a city, or a certain part of a city, knowing this before you start looking will help you narrow down your options.

Do you think you might move soon? What do you need to think about before making your final choice? Tell me in the section below for comments

Cool Home Improvements Inspired By New Property Developments

 Obviously, there are loads of ways you can improve your home. So many little things can be added or altered to make your property look better and grow in value. Ironically, the hardest part of home improvements is figuring out what to do. You don’t want to spend a lot of money on a project that barely makes a difference, right?!

One way that we’ve found helpful is to look at new property developments for inspiration. These are the newest and most modern homes on the market, so they’re packed full of awesome features that people will love. If you can add some of them to your current home, it brings it closer to modern times and will boost its value. 

With that in mind, here are a few cool home improvements inspired by new property developments: 

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Wide-open spaces

This is a home improvement idea that’s taken straight out of the luxury apartment book. You see this in new developments, like Meriton Luxury Apartments, all the time. They are designed to have a very open-plan interior, making the most out of the floor space. 

Naturally, you can adopt this approach in your home. It might mean you have to knock down a wall or two, but creating really wide-open spaces makes your home feel bigger and more contemporary. You get more space - which is always a bonus from a resale perspective!

Smart homes

Another very common thing in new developments is creating a smart home. Essentially, new properties are being designed with things like smart thermostats and other smart devices. In turn, it lets homeowners have complete and utter control over their properties. You can adjust everything from your mobile device, and it’s a very futuristic concept. 

Moreover, smart devices can also help you lower your energy bills. A smart thermostat has been proven to do so, giving you more control over your energy usage. So, it’s a big improvement for you as it helps you save a lot of money while also bringing your home into the future. 

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Ensuite bathrooms

Pretty much every modern home will be developed with at least one ensuite bathroom on the property. Usually, this is in the master bedroom. However, older homes might not come with ensuites. So, if your house doesn’t have one, this is such a brilliant home improvement to make. 

It might require a bit of an extension and a fair bit of construction work, but the benefits it provides are massive. For one, your home is way more convenient as you’ve now got two bathrooms instead of one. Secondly, adding this extra room can boost the property value, making it easier to sell your home for more money. 

At the end of the day, we should always think about the resale value of our home. Even if you don’t have plans to make a sale, the chances are you will sell your home at some point in the future. As such, home improvements are crucial to maintaining and adding value over time. Taking inspiration from new property developments is such a smart idea, and these are just three of the many things you can try.

Why Rustic Home Designs & Fixtures Don't Have To Feel Outdated

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It’s very easy to think in fixed categories when considering home renovations and interior design. We might consider one space ‘minimal,’ or another ‘rustic.’ We may say one space has a certain theme, or be designed using a similar design language. That said, while cohesive thematics can make a massive difference in how unified and pleasant a space feels to occupy, it’s true to say that in the long run, this doesn’t matter as much as we may think it does.

For instance, many people think that if they want a fairly modernist home they are barred from integrating rustic-looking fixtures. In a modern kitchen, will an oil-burning stove really work? Well, yes, it could do, and it certainly will do in many properties. Sometimes, a simple rustic flair is all you need to help a property shine, even in ultra-modern surroundings. Sometimes, modern fixtures in a rustic setting can enable a country cottage to meet the current century with care.

How can we approximate this without feeling outdated? In the following post, we’ll discuss that and more:

Fireplace Fixtures Can Redefine A Living Space

Many people think that modernist applications mean that homes cannot have any resemblance to the fixtures of old, but those fixtures are traditional for a reason - they help us live more comfortably and with more convenience. As you can see by these wood heaters, often time-honored fireplace fixtures can still look fantastic while remaining full functional while still providing a traditional logic to the reason fo their installation. A modern take on a classic can still be modern and fit entirely within that environment.

Distressed Furniture Is Making A Comeback

Again, many people seem to think that modern furniture fixtures must be immaculate, without any signs of distress. However, more and more people are seeing the value in designing their home space with a little more character despite enjoying all the latest mod-cons.

 For instance; distressing the wood on a coffee table or dining table can be a great place to start, as can opting for the natural aesthetic variance in marble or even with resin-based back surfaces. Tiles that have been distressed can also be incredibly clean and work to help a bathroom look down to earth, while brick slip covers can provide that false but still functional and appealing sense of exposed surface area while still serving the function of a modern, worthwhile aesthetic.

Modern Appliances Can Fit Comfortably

On the flip side of the discussion we’ve had so far is that of people worrying about their rustic home design and how modern fixtures might ruin it. You’d be surprised, however, just how many modern smart appliances can fit into your overall aesthetic. From simple thermostat digital controls to simplified shower units and retro smart fridges from brands like SMEG, if you look for it, you can see that many companies have tried to solve this problem and to make their devices as simple as non-offensive as possible from an aesthetic viewpoint. Supporting those initiatives is key.

With this advice, we hope you can implement the best rustic home designs for you.

5 Innovative Ways on How to Brighten Up Your Bedroom

Brightening up your bedroom is the simplest way to make it feel more spacious and welcoming. Your bedroom should be a haven for relaxation, helping you unwind after the daily grind and settle down for a good night’s sleep.

Unfortunately, many of us struggle with lighting - a natural by-product of cramming lots of furniture into a small or oddly configured space.

Thankfully, there are several ways to brighten up your bedroom, which we’ll explore in this article to help you make the most of your space.

Let’s jump in!

1. Let your bed set the tone

Beds make or break the ambience of a bedroom. Light oak or pine works well for a natural look, but white and light grey also work well. You can offset a dark bed frame with light bedding but getting a light bed frame is easier.


Pictured: Nordic Mill Shake Low Wooden Bed Frame – White, Available from Bedstar Online.

The most reflective colour is white, so a white bed frame is an excellent choice for brightening up your bedroom. You can brighten up your bed even more with textured white bedding, but other bright colours like yellow and pastels work well.

Thinner bed frames give the illusion of more space and block less light, so if you have a small bedroom, consider a less chunky bed frame.


2. Interesting reflections

One of the best ways to brighten up your bedroom is to reflect light in interesting ways using mirrors and unique light fixtures.

An opulent chandelier will scatter light through your bedroom, and if you choose one with coloured crystals, it will spread different hues.

Mirrors are your best friend for making dark spaces lighter - try placing a mirror on the wall opposite your window to reflect light into your bedroom.

Pictured: The main bedroom with a mirror positioned over the bed, Mirrors create the illusion of space near windows, reflecting light into your bedroom. Available from Bedstar Online.

Other ways to brighten your bedroom without adding more light include metallic furniture, mirror stickers for wardrobes, and reflective art.


3. Pick a bold accent colour

If you follow the tried and true 60-30-10 rule (where 60% of your bedroom is a primary colour, 30% is a secondary colour, and 10% is an accent colour), you can choose a bright and bold accent colour to brighten your space.

The key with accent colours is to ensure they don’t overpower other design elements, hence the 60-30-10 rule. Try brightening up your bedroom with accent-coloured cushions, décor, and a rug - it should make a big difference!

A bright accent colour will brighten up your bedroom without adding more light, creating a design theme that you can play around with.


4. Ditch curtains for blinds

Curtains are either open or closed, while windows blinds can be tilted at an infinite range of angles to reflect light into your bedroom.

To maximise the reflective quality of the blinds, choose white or cream blinds rather than dark blinds, so they reflect light rather than absorb it. You can adjust your blinds throughout the day to increase light levels in your bedroom.


Pictured: The main bedroom with an ottoman bed and window blinds for more contemporary bedroom interior design, available from Bedstar Online.

Fancy a little bit of automation? You can get intelligent electric blinds that operate by remote, and some versions also work with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. Imagine how cool it would be to open your blinds using voice control!

5. Upgrade to smart lighting

You can’t always have natural light flooding your bedroom, so you always need good artificial light to make the most of your space.

The most straightforward upgrade you can make is dimmer switches, which will help you finetune the ambience of your bedroom with adjustable light levels. Decorative
Pictured: Philips hue lighting can change the appearance of your bedroom to reflect your mood.

If you’re up for voice control with Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant, upgrading is also a great way to brighten your bedroom. You can create unique lighting arrangements activated using simple voice commands.

The most overlooked area of bedrooms with lighting is the floor, so consider installing LED light strips under your bed frame and more oversized furniture. LED strips can be made smart with a smart plug socket that connects to your smart hub. If this sounds like too much hassle to do yourself, enlist the help of electricians in London to do the hard work for you. 

If this sounds like too much hassle to do yourself, enlist the help of electricians in London to do the hard work for you.  

How To Make The Home Improvements We Hate Easier

 Many of us despise home improvement projects. While it is important in some cases, it is a duty that many of us despise having to undertake because of the potential financial costs, a lack of understanding about any repairs that are required, and a hectic lifestyle that keeps you from making the necessary repairs. Fortunately, there are actions you can do, so here are three things we all despise about home improvement and how to make them easier.

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When your electrics go wrong

One of your lights will most likely stop working at some point, and a simple light bulb change will not suffice. So, what are your options now? To begin, keep in mind that you should never touch anything electrical unless you have undergone professional training.

If you aren't trained to handle electricity, call an expert to come out and assess the situation. It could be something basic that requires a quick fix, and finding someone who knows what they're doing to do the work for you will be much safer. This website can help you find electricians, and you'll be able to get a quote before any work is done so you don't end up paying more than you should.

For future reference, have someone who knows what they're looking at come and check your electrical items at least once a year to see if they can identify any wear and tear. When something goes wrong, you'll be able to pay out little amounts rather than a massive payment.

Your heating stops working

Heating is an important factor to consider in your home, and do you have a plan in place if your boiler breaks down unexpectedly? Your local plumber can come out and install a boiler for you, repair your existing one, and even provide a ten-year warranty on your boiler.

While reaching into your pockets yet again may seem to be a hindrance, having a backup plan in place in case something goes wrong may save you from having to pay a large payment. Make sure your boiler and heating system are serviced on a regular basis, much like your electrical system.

Blockages and other water problems

Fortunately, there is a bit more you can do yourself with your plumbing before calling a plumber. If your sink isn't draining water fast enough, for example, you can purchase kits from hardware stores that will allow you to clear the blockage at home before calling in the experts. There are even tutorials available online that will walk you through the process of resolving your issue. You could do the task yourself before calling for help, as long as you're prepared for some water spillage.

Final thoughts

Home improvement might be stressful, but if you stay on top of things, you'll be more likely to do simpler repairs, which can save you money in the long run. For your home's peace of mind, try these ideas today, you’ll be surprised at how much money you save!