   
|
 |
Here are the latest month's daily tips from Right at Home Daily.
 Start a paperweight collection to add sparkle and color to a room. Every time you take a trip, buy a paperweight. The collection can then become a visual reminder of your travels.
Consider purchasing a stained glass window to either replace a window in your home or to hang over a window. Stained glass can be designed to fit virtually any size window in the house.
Get ready to dig up spring bulbs that need dividing. Plant annuals to cover bare areas for additional color. Also, plant a new crop of vegetables such as beans or cucumbers.
Tenting your ceiling with an inexpensive and durable fabric will have an enveloping effect -- turning a bedroom into a more private, romantic spot.
Buy a pen with green or purple ink to write your grocery lists (makes items pop off the paper, so you won't forget anything). Buy a shopping list pad with a magnetized back and stick it your refrigerator -- handy for jotting down items.
Make eating inside an art by investing in some funky flatware and an inexpensive set of salad plates in a shape that's different from your regular pattern.
For all your outdoor entertaining, consider purchasing a new set of plastic glasses. They don't have to be expensive, but they should be distinctive. You could have hot pink fish swimming around glasses complemented by hot pink geraniums in the center of the table.
May is the perfect time to picnic outdoors on your patio or in your backyard. You can pack up food and dine outdoors, or perhaps grill or smoke your meal outside.
If you have high ceilings, you can make any room seem cozier by adding beams, coffers or planks to the ceilings. Also, add crown moldings and generous trim around doors and windows to give the space an intimate feeling.
Slipcover an old sofa in an animal motif, or add throw pillows in animal print fabrics and a shaggy fake fur rug.
Host a Mother's Day lunch or brunch for your mother, aunts and the other favorite women in your life. Ask each to write something special about their mother or grandmother(s) and bring along photographs. You'll toast one another.
Check your driveway for wear and tear. Snow plows, blowers and the cold are tough on asphalt and may have caused it to crack over the winter. If your driveway looks worn, consider resurfacing it this spring.
Buy a new bicycle or peruse ads in the newspaper for a pre-owned bike. Biking is a great family activity, even if you only ride in the neighborhood. Or, consider a longer trek to a special park or historic site.
Put chairs on casters to prevent scratching the floors. Swivel chairs allow guests to swing around to talk to other guests. Lightweight ottomans also work well.
Replace wood staircase spindles with wrought iron ones to add old world charm.
Buy a new phone with caller ID to be more productive if you work from home, so you don't interrupt your workday with social calls. It also can be a way to avoid telemarketers at dinnertime.
Use a stairway landing as a small, cozy getaway space. Build a window seat or install a love seat and built-in bookshelves.
Keep a stack of crossword puzzles in a quiet corner of your kitchen or house. Crossword puzzles are a great way to increase your vocabulary.
Start a family quilt, incorporating recycled remnants from favorite outfits everyone has worn. It'll look great on a wall or a bed.
Buy one piece of exercise equipment and create a space where you'll use it regularly. Be sure you have access to a TV or music to keep you motivated.
Scrub and repaint your outdoor furniture and buy new cushions. Check for sales. It will look like a new set for your new abode.
Organize your CDs, videos, cassettes, and DVDs as a part of your early spring-cleaning. To display them, purchase wood or metal stacking shelves and organize them by size, type, or alphabetically.
Don't let anything obstruct your view: Have your windows washed, inside and out. If you can't do it yourself, hire a company.
Have you ever wanted a pet? The best time to train a dog is during the summer. Set aside an area of your house where you can set up a dog crate, water and food bowls, and keep the leash.
Add mulch to your garden. Many communities offer it for free and will even deliver it. Once it's spread, you can consider what flowers and shrubbery you'll want to add to your yard. Make a list and set a budget.
Paint hallways in bold colors to liven up the rest of your house. Stick to one or two colors.
Line window curtains with yellow material to enhance the sunshine effect.
If you have a large bay window or a window with a big ledge, display funky feather and star lamps instead of odd knick-knacks.
Add a few accessories in the trendy colors for spring, orange and periwinkle blue.
To add cache to your window treatments, consider a short valance that hugs the window's frame without hiding it. There are various styles and shapes of valances from pleated ones to tailored or boxy valances or a playful swag trimmed in colorful pompons.
|
|
|
