Embarking on a home improvement project can be an exciting endeavor. These projects offer homeowners the chance to add value, functionality, and a touch of their personality to their living spaces. However, without proper planning and execution, these projects can rapidly go over budget. So, here are some common home improvement mistakes to avoid to ensure the remodeling journey is smooth, satisfying, and adds lasting value to one’s property. Underestimating the budget Homeowners often make the mistake of underestimating the total cost of their project before embarking on it. It’s essential to create a detailed budget, accounting for materials, labor, and any unexpected contingencies. One should allow for a buffer in one’s budget to tackle unforeseen challenges that may arise during the renovation process. Skipping research and planning Jumping into a home improvement project without proper research and planning can lead to inefficient use of resources and unsatisfactory results. One is advised to take the time to thoroughly research design ideas, materials, and potential contractors. One can plan out the entire project step by step, considering timelines, permits, and potential disruptions to one’s daily life during the renovation. Hiring the wrong contractors Selecting the right contractors is crucial to the success of one’s home improvement project. Avoid the mistake of hiring the first contractor one comes across or solely considering the lowest bid. One can take the time to interview multiple contractors, check references, and review past projects to ensure one is hiring a reputable, experienced, and licensed professional. Sacrificing quality for cost While it’s essential to stick to one’s budget, compromising on the quality of materials and workmanship is a mistake that can cost one in the long run. Inferior materials may wear out faster, requiring expensive repairs sooner than expected. One should thus invest in durable, high-quality materials and skilled labor to ensure one’s renovations stand the test of time.

Day or night, making frequent bathroom trips can be annoying for any individual. A symptom of an overactive bladder, frequent urination can affect one’s work and personal life. However, with proper treatment, it is possible to control frequent urination. Various home remedies, including nutritional changes and behavioral therapies, can help retain the bladder and prevent the need for frequent bathroom visits. Keep reading to learn about a few such helpful home remedies. Kegel exercises Kegel exercises can be beneficial in managing frequent urination problems. They repeatedly contract and release the pelvic floor muscles, building their strength. The increased strength can help improve bladder control and lower urination frequency. Bladder training Bladder training goes a long way in helping patients with an overactive bladder. At first, patients might find it difficult to hold in their urine for longer than usual. However, maintaining this practice for weeks retrains the bladder and reduces the urination frequency. Eating healthy foods One cool trick to managing frequent urination is avoiding foods and drinks that act as a diuretic or could irritate the bladder. It could include caffeine, carbonated beverages, spicy foods, tomato-based foods, and even chocolate. Adding more fiber to the meal can help relieve constipation and frequent urination problems. Being constipated can add more pressure to the bladder, causing the individual to make multiple bathroom visits. Adjusting the amount of fluid intake and doubling down on food that relieves constipation can also help with bladder issues. Stop the “just-in-case” visits One mistake people often make is going to the bathroom when there is no need to. The “just-in-case” visits might, in fact, be worsening the problem. Routinely trying to empty your bladder before it is necessary can retrain the brain and the bladder to signal early elimination of urine. Kohki tea Kohki is a sweet beverage that comes with an abundance of antioxidants.

Home lighting plays a crucial role in making a space inviting and comfortable and helps enhance its overall aesthetic. Lighting can either make or break the mood and feel of a home – it sets the tone, adds a finishing touch, and makes the space appealing. Homeowners unintentionally make a few lighting mistakes that can be easily addressed with proper planning. Continue reading to find out some common home lighting mistakes and how to fix them. Not considering the size of the lighting fixture Large and magnificent chandeliers or pendant lights are highly desirable but may not suit every home space. Therefore, consider the size of the lighting fixture and choose the ones that complement the space. Adding an oversized light in a small living room will eat up the whole space. Similarly, a tiny fixture will not provide adequate lighting to a large room. So, it is best to measure the size of the space when picking the lighting fixture for the room. One can also consider the furniture and wall colors to pick the most appropriate fixture that helps accentuate the whole area. Adding too many recessed lights Recessed lighting is the fixtures installed in the wall or ceiling. These lights are undoubtedly used to light up the entire space, but it’s better not to get too enthusiastic when adding these. Too many recessed lights can make the living room too bright, or too little can make the room dim. The best way to avoid this mistake is by creating a lighting plan to see how many recessed lights need to go into the hallway, bedroom, or kitchen. Ignoring dimmers Many homeowners may ignore the advantages of adding dimmers to their lighting setup. When it comes to flexibility, dimmers can be the saviors! Dimmers provide the option to adjust the brightness levels according to the mood or time of the day, making them a versatile option in modern lighting solutions.

Signature scents have been around for a while, and despite new additions and formulas, they are still among the most coveted perfumes. Getting our hands on one of these fragrances is something we all look forward to. And if you are confused about where to begin, don’t worry because we have got you covered. Top five luxury perfumes Here are some of the most iconic and beloved perfumes from the most popular fragrance brands: Marc Jacobs Daisy Eau de Toilette Marc Jacobs Daisy, a creation of master perfumer Alberto Morillas, screams sophistication. This beautiful fragrance has subtle notes of strawberry, violets, grapefruit. The white accords of cedarwood and birch add a nice, earthy contrast to the floral smell. The perfume comes in the fanciest packaging possible–a beautiful glass bottle with golden and white daisies spattered on top. 1.7 oz of Daisy Eau de Toilette is priced at approximately $86 dollars. Bond No.9 New York Broadway Nite – Saks Fifth Avenue The Broadway Nite by Bond No 9 is a seductive fragrance with rose, honeysuckle, and vanilla notes. The perfume has a long-lasting floral scent and is inspired by the iconic Broadway theater in New York. The bottle is stunning and looks like a piece of art. Who wouldn’t want to get the much-coveted Broadway Nite? A 1.6 oz bottle of this perfume costs around $260 and can be bought in Saks Fifth Avenue. Coco Mademoiselle Eau De Parfum Spray This modern yet classic perfume has a strong and fresh fragrance with base tones of vanilla and tonka bean. The mild floral citrus perfume is available in four sizes, including a compact bottle to carry it when you travel. A 1.2 oz bottle is priced at approximately $80. Yves Saint Laurent Mon Paris This exquisite perfume has fruity and floral notes of ripe red berries and datura flowers.

You can’t build the perfect house without gutter guards. They seem unimportant but play a vital role in maintaining the structural integrity of your home and keeping your gutters free from rodents. They’re installed on the roof and are tasked with allowing the right amount of rainwater into your drains. Meanwhile, other materials, like leaves, pests, and debris, are prevented from entering the gutters. This ensures proper drainage even during heavy rains. Today, many companies have gutter guards in their product line, but not all are equally good. Here’s our guide to the best gutter guards for low-maintenance homes. 1. Raptor gutter guard This gutter guard features a micro-mesh design, which helps keep out the tiniest particles from your gutters. It easily fits into any five-inch wide drain and can be installed without professional help. The guard is made from stainless steel, so it doesn’t erode quickly, either. Besides, the company behind the product has been in business for more than two decades, so that you can trust their expertise. 2. FlexxPoint gutter cover system You want your gutter guard to complement your gutter, allowing it enough time to drain itself. Very few guards can do that, and the FlexxPoint gutter cover system is one of them. It has an intelligent three-point design that prevents water from pouring into the gutter. The guard has tiny holes, which ensures that the water trickles down at an acceptable pace. This improves drainage and prevents unnecessary clogging. 3. A-M aluminum five-inch gutter guard Unlike many others, the A-M aluminum gutter guard isn’t visible to the naked eye. It camouflages against the roof, ensuring the beauty of your house remains intact. It’s designed to allow rainwater to flow steadily and not swiftly, which helps your gutter’s drainage system. Besides, the guard comes with four-foot strips that fit perfectly in five-inch drains.

Dry eye syndrome is a condition characterized by the tear glands not producing adequate fluid to keep the eyes lubricated. This condition can lead to symptoms such as scratchy eyes, eye fatigue, heavy eyelids, pain, light sensitivity, and even blurred vision. These can disrupt one’s daily schedule and be very painful, causing further distress. This article shares some home remedies that one can try to relieve the symptoms of dry eyes. 5 Tips and Home Remedies to Manage Dry Eye Syndrome Use warm compresses Warm compresses basically stimulate the tear glands to promote the production of tears. This can be a regular practice and can provide great relief when done every day. Have a good night’s sleep Lack of sleep can instigate dry eyes and eye fatigue in people who would not have the condition otherwise. It is recommended to take short breaks between screen time and get some shut-eye. Use a humidifier People who reside in a region that is dominated by dry and cold weather must invest in a humidifier for it retains the moisture in the air and helps relieve the discomfort caused by the dry weather. Stay hydrated An adequate intake of water is essential for everyone, but it’s especially important for patients with dry eye syndrome. Having enough water can further help to keep the eyes lubricated, which helps in soothing the dry eye symptoms. Use eye drops or ointments Any over-the-counter eye drops available can help soothe the dry eye syndrome and provide temporary relief. You can also opt for eye drops that induce artificial tears to lubricate the eyes; however, remember to buy the ones without preservatives. Foods to Have for Dry Eye Syndrome Foods that are a potent source of omega-3 fatty acids significantly help relieve the symptoms of dry eyes when eaten over a period of time.

You may love a squeaky clean home. To get the job done, you may even have all the essential tools, including the mop, vacuum cleaner, and a broomstick. However, taking the initiative to clean the home thoroughly is no easy feat. The job is tedious and time-consuming. Sometimes, to keep the house clean, people end up making their living space dirtier. Here are five cleaning mistakes that make your home dirtier. Rubbing a stain before blotting Dropping food or beverages on the floor is a common accident in all households. For most people, the first instinct is to scrub such stains instantly. But doing so can cause the spill to spread and lodge its composition deeper into the floor material. Instead, you must blot the stain with a clean white cloth to extract the residue. You must then use an appropriate stain removal method based on the material of your floor. Disinfecting before cleaning Disinfectants are cleaning agents that can eliminate germs. However, the floor is generally masked with a layer of dust and germs. If you use a disinfectant when there is dust on the floor, it may prevent the chemical from working effectively. Therefore, you must sweep off any dust before disinfecting the floor. Using a sponge to clean surfaces If you use a sponge to clean surfaces like the dining table or the kitchen counter, it’s time to stop. A sponge used regularly to clean such surfaces might be unhygienic and infested with bacteria. If you insist on using a sponge, disinfect it regularly. Alternatively, you can use a microfiber cloth to clean these regions of your home. One cleaning cloth for multiple surfaces While using a single cloth to clean all areas of your home may seem like the easy way out, it is unhygienic. Using the same cleaning product may trigger the spread of germs and harmful bacteria from one surface to the next and may lead to diseases.

Home improvement projects are exhausting but can be extremely fun if they are thought through and well-researched. If you want to do some renovation or add a new touch to your home, we recommend starting with something small and seeing how far your DIY skills and ambition take you. Of course, the sky’s the limit but let’s start with your door for now. Here are some easy home improvement hacks that you can try. Statement doors This is the first thing anyone notices about your home, so wouldn’t it make sense to work your DIY magic here? Statement doors are a rage right now, and the beauty of it is that while it’s in style, you don’t have to follow any particular style or design. Just go with what resonates with your home decor style. Color it bright, add an expensive door knob, make it look vintage – endless choices to make a statement in your home. Lighting This is very important. Make sure you invest time, money, and energy into adding warmth and ambiance to your home with just the right lighting. The lamps are great; hanging lights are super, too – ensure you can create a comforting and homely vibe. Wouldn’t it be lovely if your guests felt right at home when they visited? Paint color and texture This doesn’t have to be too much. Unless, of course, you are looking to follow any particular theme, a well-painted home does combine everything. If you’re not a fan of any textured walls, pick a pastel, calming color that you can add to your wall. Accessorize the wall with the right paintings, wall hangings, and shelves, and you have an elegant setup. Flooring You’d be surprised at how much character this adds to your home. You can choose several options like wooden, marble, or tiles and decide what theme you would like to go for.

Despite the advent of cutting-edge security systems, jewelry theft remains a prevalent issue across the country. Therefore, homeowners should exercise caution while storing jewelry at home. Although these security systems allow for efficient prevention and detection of such crimes, failure of these systems increases one’s susceptibility to jewelry theft. Consequently, one should not only be alert at all times but also avoid hiding their jewelry at specific spots that thieves almost always remember to check: Toilet tank Although the toilet tank was once considered a good jewelry hiding spot, it has become a popular location due to its portrayal in movies and TV shows. Unfortunately, this makes it an obvious target for thieves. Moreover, there is an added risk of one’s jewelry getting tarnished due to excess moisture in the tank. Drawers Drawers are among the most obvious places to hide jewelry; therefore, robbers are sure to rummage through drawers when trying to steal one’s valuables. Hence, one should avoid hiding jewelry in drawers, even if it is kept inside boxes or sub-lockers. Freezer It is estimated that over one in four individuals hide their jewelry in the freezer. Hence, it has emerged as a common place for homeowners to hide jewelry and one of the spots that seasoned burglars typically do not miss checking. CD and DVD cases Burglars usually check drawers and shelves thoroughly upon breaking into a house. Hence, CD and DVD cases are likely to be scrutinized by them and are not good places to hide jewelry. Under the mattress While mattresses conceal the items hidden underneath them quite well, they have become common places to hide jewelry. Thieves who understand this tactic would surely check under mattresses for hidden ornaments. The jewelry box Although, as the name suggests, a jewelry box is meant to store jewelry, it is ironically one of the most obvious places robbers would check first.

The need for sustainability and building sustainable habits keeps growing. As consumers, it is their responsibility to make environmentally conscious purchase decisions, such as buying products that have a low impact on the environment. Many eco-friendly alternatives are available for products that are used at home. Studies also suggest that consumers are willing to spend more on eco-friendly products if it means safety for those living at home and the environment. Here are a few eco-friendly products that one can use at home: 1. Refillable bottles Refillable bottles can store drinking water and cleaning solutions, like homemade detergents and shampoos. Refillable spray bottles are also quite popular. This is mostly because many people want to make their own cleaning solutions, as they are affordable, sustainable, and not filled with chemicals that can harm one’s health when used in excess. Refillable bottles ensure that one does not have to run to the grocery store every two weeks to buy a product packaged in a flimsy, disposable plastic bottle. Plastic bottles are disposed of after a single use and find themselves in landfills. 2. Reusable silicone bags Many people use plastic bags to store their produce in the fridge. Sometimes, they also wrap the leftover food or fresh meat to be stored away in the freezer. One can instead opt for reusable silicone bags. They are sturdy, do the job well, and are good for the environment. These bags can be stored in the freezer, microwaved to reheat food, or cleaned in a dishwasher. Furthermore, they can withstand harsh temperatures and do not lose their integrity when put in boiling water. So, they are a versatile product that can be part of your kitchen essentials. 3. Swedish dishcloth Swedish dishcloths can be used as sponges and cleaning cloths for kitchen counters. They are reusable, so one can easily wash them.

There is no telling when home appliances will malfunction, or systems will unexpectedly falter. This makes having a safety net for these appliances a necessity. This is where home warranty plans come into play. These plans are designed to provide financial security to homeowners. They offer a buffer against the inevitable wear and tear on property. The average coverage cost of the home warranty plans can amount to $250 to $600 annually. What is a home warranty? A home warranty is a contract of residential services that covers the cost of maintaining appliances and household items for a specific period of time. It is important to note that a home warranty plan or home appliance warranty plan is different from a homeowner’s insurance or structural warranty plan. It is often advised to buy a home warranty plan when purchasing an old property, especially when there is little information available about the appliances. How does it work? As the name suggests, a home appliance warranty covers damaged appliances and system repairs. The warranty company works with a network of home service providers. Once a claim has been received, the warranty company sends one of the providers to assess the damage. This partner provides a report to the company. What is covered? The report received by the warrantor helps determine the potential cause of the damage and the extent to which it has affected the appliance. The company will then confirm whether or not its contract provides coverage for the kind of damage suffered by the system or appliance. If the claim is approved, the warrantor sends back its partner professional for the repair and replacement. Most home warranties provide coverage for stoves, water heaters, and refrigerators. They may also cover systems like electrical, HVAC, and plumbing. Before signing up, one should check the plan to see if it also covers garage door openers.

If you purchased or are planning to purchase a home, you may have wondered what a home warranty covers. A home warranty can save you money when any systems and appliances break down, preserving your home and budget. However, it doesn’t cover every element of your home. Some aspects that a home warranty doesn’t cover, like leaky roofs and cosmetic damage, are listed below. Scroll down to uncover the limitations of a home warranty plan. Walls, doors, and windows A home warranty usually doesn’t cover walls, windows, and doors as they are considered structural elements. However, based on the age of your home, these items will be covered by a homeowners insurance policy or builder’s warranty. Cosmetic damage If the damage, like scratches or dents, is caused by natural wear and tear over time, it is the homeowners’ responsibility, not that of the warranty provider. Pest damage Home warranties are not designed to cover and repair/ replace the damages caused by pest infestations like rodents or termites. Leaking roofs A home warranty doesn’t cover leaking roofs since this is a structural problem. Hot tubs and swimming pools Pools and hot tubs are some things not covered under a home warranty, but certain companies might extend their coverage at an additional price. Sprinkler and septic systems Water-related systems, such as sprinklers and septic systems, are excluded, but a manufacturer or installer can guarantee their protection. Installation of new equipment When you replace a home appliance, it may necessitate structural changes according to new building codes. However, home warranties won’t cover any modifications when installing new replacement equipment. Pre-existing problems Home warranties are unsuitable for systems and appliances with existing issues before you get the coverage. Typically when you sign the Home Warranty Service Agreement, these elements should be in good condition.