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5 easy tips to de-clutter your home

You’ve just moved into your new home and everything’s looking great, except the mounds of stuff you thought you’d have room for, now beginning to pile up in your closet. Where do you put it all? Here are our 5 easy tips for de-cluttering your home.

Schedule a de-cluttering weekend

Working all day leaves little time or motivation to start tidying the house. So to avoid putting this annoying task off a minute longer, schedule a date in your diary. And if you can, get family and friends involved too. The more hands, the easier the work.

Organize first, buy second

The worst thing you can do is to go out and buy a ton of storage boxes before deciding what’s staying and what you are throwing out. Once everything has been sorted through, buy a few containers, and if that’s not enough, you can buy more. Otherwise, those empty containers will take up the space you wanted to make in the first place.

Give away one item each day

It’s always hard throwing out things you have become accustomed to over the years, but giving away things gradually, whether it be to family, friends, or thrift stores, makes the process that much easier.

Fill one trash bag

If you want a tidy, spacious home, you’re going to have to be ruthless. The easiest method is to grab a large trash bag and see how quickly you can fill it. It’s a great de-cluttering trick and the best place to start.

Three-year rule

Sure, those old roller skates may come in handy for the future, but when is the last time you picked them up and dusted them off? A good rule for de-cluttering your home is: ‘If you haven’t used it in three years, chuck it’. Whether it’s clothing, kitchen gadgetry, gardening tools. If you’re not using it regularly, it isn’t worthy of your space.

Don’t know where to start? How about the bathroom? Check out our great range of storage accessories on our website.

4 ways to save money on new flooring

Our ATR Tile Leveling System DIY Kit can help you save on new floor installation

Home renovations can be expensive, and that includes new flooring. How do you get the look you want without the huge cost? Follow these handy tips and find out!

Install it yourself if possible

Without taking into account the cost of the materials, one of the biggest expenses of a new flooring project is the labor involved. Doing it yourself is the best way to cut back on cost. Our ATR Tile Leveling System DIY Kit is one of our best-selling products. Check out its great reviews!

Shop around for contractor

If your flooring project is a little too large for you to do alone, do your research to find a suitable contractor at a reasonable price. Our Contractor Locator finds you the best person for the job. And if you are happy with the contractor’s performance, make sure to let us know and we will reward that contractor with gift certificate up to $500.

Keep to your budget

Set yourself a realistic budget to ensure you don’t overspend. No idea how much everything is going to cost? Use our Flooring Calculator to determine the number of tiles and other product amounts required to complete the job

Get value for your money

It’s easy to pick the first materials you like the look of, without much thought to the cost, but doing a little bargain hunting might save you those few extra cents for your budget. Our bathroom and flooring sale items are sold at a fraction of the price without compromising value or quality.

4 signs it’s time for a new floor

Madison — Photo by Andrea Brooks Interiors

Home improvement is one area most people are guilty of procrastinating around. We make excuses we don’t have the ‘time’ or ‘money’ to spare, but there are some occasions when you simply can’t ignore those annoying nags a minute longer. Here are 4 signs it’s time for a new floor.

Your floor is old and outdated

Naturally, floors wear down with age. We walk across our homes everyday, often in our shoes, but it’s true that some materials show signs of wear and tear more than others. When looking to replace your floor, consider choosing wood or ceramic over vinyl and carpet, for example.

You’re looking to sell your property

Think back to when you first bought your property. Was the floor clean and inviting, or dirty and worn? Not only will installing new flooring improve the appearance and therefore appeal of your home to potential buyers, but it will also increase the value substantially.

Your floor is looking a little uneven

If your floor is made of wood, for example, water damage can cause its surface to warp, and individual pieces look as though they don’t fit the puzzle. Not only does this look unattractive, it is also hazardous, a particular concern if there are children running around the house.

Your floor stands out for the wrong reasons

It’s possible your current flooring remains from the previous owners, or perhaps you installed it when you first moved in. Either way, if you’ve updated your colours or accessories, perhaps it’s time to do the same with your floors. No matter how attractive one particular room is, unattractive flooring will alter its overall appearance.

Looking to install a new floor? Check out our great range of flooring or contact us with any questions.

Planning a smooth home renovation

Whether you’re planning for a new kitchen or bathroom, living through a renovation can be stressful, despite what you see on TV. But with the right decisions, budget planning, and style choices, renovating your home can be an extremely rewarding project. Below are our best tips to help your renovation dreams become reality.

Make sure your budget is realistic

The most common mistake homeowners make is maxing out their budget on materials, without putting aside extra for unexpected costs. Do your research before you commit to a number, and make your budget 80% of what you can afford, to allow room for surprises. And remember, most budgets on TV are not realistic!

Draw up a timeline for completion

Even if you have planned to the best of your ability, delays happen. Materials might be out of stock, or contractors may underestimate the time needed to complete a project. Before you get started on renovations, draw up a timeline with the contractor so you know what to expect.

Use expert help where possible

Before choosing to hire someone because they offer cheap labour, make sure they can provide references and draw up a formal contract. Draw up a list of questions you have for them and communicate any concerns you have before starting renovations. And remember, if they sound too good to be true, they probably are!

Find temporary living arrangements if necessary

It’s important to be realistic about living through a renovation. If work is likely to be disruptive to you and/or your family members, consider moving out for a temporary period. Often, the job site will also operate more efficiently without other people being in the way.

Think beyond current trends

Are you choosing a design that can be easily adapted to current trends as they change? Or will your design look dated within a few years? If you’re not sure, often hiring an interior design or decorator is a good investment. They will make sure your visions become reality while offering their expert opinion.

Stretch your budget with our special offers on flooring: Shop now!

Tag: home renovation