Five Quick
Ways to Change
a Room’s Look
Looking for a change, but don’t have
a lot to spend on new furnishing and
decorations? These five tips will help
give your home a fresh look without
breaking your budget.
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MOVE THINGS AROUND. Swap out furniture from another room for
a new look. Try using some pieces in unusual ways. For example, a dresser
can look great in a living room or an entry hallway and is a great way to add
storage.
Good Clean Funnies
Significant Other
As midnight on New Year’s Eve
approached, a woman stood up in
the local pub and said that everyone
should go stand next to the one
person who made his life worth living
in the past year. As the clock struck,
the bartender was almost crushed to
death.
The Good Life
ADD ANOTHER LAYER. An extra layer of curtains can add interest and
color to a room. You can tie back the layer on top to still allow the inside
curtains to show. On top of a table or storage piece, place a small tablecloth
or placemat to brighten the area. Add fringe or trim to pillows, curtains, or
lamps for a new look.
REPLACE THE LITTLE THINGS. Change out the hardware on dressers
or cabinets to give your pieces a new look. You can also add or change a
throw rug and throw pillows. Get a new vase and add some seasonal flowers.
Replace the pictures in your picture frames with new ones.
VISUALLY EXPAND YOUR SPACE. Move furniture around to make
better use of your space. Add a mirror or two to expand your room visually. If
your rooms feel too small, store some items temporarily to remove clutter and
open up your spaces.
ADD SOMETHING NEW. If your budget doesn’t allow for a new sofa or table,
find a cheaper alternative. Shop thrift stores or antique stores. Let friends know
that you will take and renovate their discards. Get a slipcover instead of a new
sofa or simply refinish or paint your existing furniture for a whole new look.
Catching Snowflakes
Snowflakes are fascinating things. To really
understand what they look like, you need to see
them up close. But how do you do that
when they melt so quickly? You can
catch them!
Mount some black construction paper
or velvet to a piece of cardboard. Place
your board outside where it can come
to outside temperature without getting
any snow on it. Once your board is
cold enough, you can use it to catch
snowflakes. To move them around, use a
toothpick or a small soft paintbrush. Use
a magnifying glass to get a close up look at
your snowflakes.
Want to keep your snowflakes longer? Get a small piece of glass or a microscope slide
and place it in the freezer. When you are ready to catch your snowflakes, take the
glass out of the freezer and spray it with hairspray or artist’s fixative. Catch snowflakes
on the glass and then bring it indoors. After the snowflake dries completely, you will
have a permanent shape on the glass. Use a microscope to get an even closer look.
Quick Tips
Home Tip
Next time you vacuum, take your
vacuum cleaner into your laundry
room. Pull out your dryer and vacuum
behind it. Pull off the tube that runs
from the machine to the vent and
clean it out too. Finally, take a shop
vac and clean out the vent from
the outside opening. Do this about
twice a year. Not only does this help
prevent a fire hazard, but you’ll save
money because your dryer will run
more efficiently.
Organizing Tip
If you’ve been putting off a home
organizing project, now is the time
to tackle it. Many home improvement
and organizing stores hold their
best sales on containers and
organizational products in January.
Since the holidays usually mean an
influx of more stuff, January is a good
time to evaluate what you want to
keep and what you should be getting
rid of.
H E A LT H Y, W E A LT H Y & W I S E