Many of these improvements are inexpensive and can be financed when you apply for a Plain Green Loan.

1. Doors and Windows

Doors and windows should let light in and keep your heated or cooled air in. Even small breaks in their seals can result in a major drain to your pocket book. Consider inspecting all your doors and windows. Check their seals and any weather or pest strips. Replace seals or re-caulk as needed.

2. Gutters

Gutters can become clogged with leaves and other debris. Not only does this impede the flow of water during rain storms, but it also can cause additional problems, like ice dams, in areas that are snowy. Instead of regularly cleaning out your gutters, install leaf guards. They are inexpensive and easy to install.

3. Insulation

If your home has an attic space, take the time to inspect the insulation and reinstall it if needed. This is a simple and inexpensive way to help keep your heating and cooling costs down.

4. Basements

While finishing a basement is a bit more expensive than the previous repairs, a finished basement will add a lot of value to your home. In some cases, it can double the living space. Keep costs down by using a drop ceiling. Consider working on this project over several months and apply for a Plain Green Loan to defray the costs.

5. Plumbing

Consider replacing the plumbing under all of your sinks with PVC and changing your fixtures. Updated fixtures look great if you’re attempting to resell your home. Additionally, while you’re making the replacements, you can address any leaking or dripping faucets.

6. Lights

Change all your lights over to LED lights. The bulbs put out far less heat than traditional bulbs, are less expensive to run, and are environmentally friendly.

If you are having difficulty financing any of these home improvements, apply for a Plain Green Loan. Each of these home improvements will add value to your home and, in many cases, save you money.

1. Purples

Purple is definitely making a comeback as far as interior decorator colors go. You can work with a mix of different purples including rich plums and vibrant violets. Purple is always popular for interior design and decor, but usually only in small amounts. For 2010, on the other hand, purple began to see dramatic changes in its use, and now purple is breaking into the decorating scene in a very big way, especially since purple is often associated with luxury and royalty.

2. Pinks

Pink may once have been utilized only in bedrooms designed to suit little girls, but now it is beginning to take the decorating world by storm. Pink on pink in various forms is becoming increasingly popular, especially when dealing with bold and saturated pinks that are feminine but strong in nature. Pink makes a statement in a bold, warm and sophisticated manner, especially when paired with softer pinks like pastel tones.

3. Soft Greens

Soft green tones are increasing in popularity, especially when you consider their link to “green living.” Soft and diluted greens are at the head of the pack when it comes to home decor and interior design with an earth-conscious bent. Avoid deep-forest and jewel-tone greens in favor of soft hues to create a soothing palette, especially in combination with brushed metallics, wrought iron and deep wood colors.

4. Orange

Orange cannot always stand on its own, but it does work well in conjunction with other colors, especially when combined with purples or pinks. Orange is a bold color that you can use sparingly to make a splash in any room. Try adding orange into a room through accents and bold patterns, especially when using other bright, bold or saturated colors.

5. Earth Colors

Earth colors come and go as trends from year to year, but because there is such a big focus on green living and eco-friendly design, they are gaining notoriety again in a big way. Rich greens, rustic woods, clay reds and similar colors are excellent for these purposes because they tie in well together and can really bring an interior design to life.
This is just a brief glimpse of some of the hottest interior design color trends over the past year. These color trends are already shifting and evolving for the next season, and it is always interesting to see what the new year is going to bring in terms of interior design colors. What will you choose as your next color palette?

However, a lot of basements are more akin to caves than family rooms, and only washing machines and old stuffed animals are making use of them. If that sounds like your lower level, maybe it’s time you reclaimed it…right? You don’t have to bring in a crew to make your basement functional; just check out these 5 simple improvements that will let you take the fun—not just the laundry—downstairs.

1. Protect Against Water Damage

Basements have an unpleasant tendency to attract water—and who wants to spend time in a damp, drippy basement? Assess problem areas and bring in professionals if necessary to patch or fix them. Invest in an excellent sump pump, back-up system, and warning system to thwart flooding. Do you have flood insurance for your home? Considering a basement’s tendency to flood, it’s a safe-guard worth going for.

2. Take Advantage of Pluses – Natural Lighting

Most basements these days are equipped with an egress window—a place for easy exit if necessary. That means there’s some natural light to use. Walkout basements have plenty of light, but the small egress requires a bit of creativity to take full advantage of it. Arrange spaces so all can have some light if possible. You may even consider enlarging your window or having one installed—talk to a pro for the how-to and pricing.

3. Fix the Negatives – Cold, Hard Flooring

Unfinished basements have the trademark concrete flooring; uncomfortable, cold, and hard isn’t exactly welcoming, especially if anyone has foot problems. Once you’ve waterproofed your basement, put in some inviting flooring. Carpeting is great, but go for something you won’t mourn the loss of should some unexpected water show up. Tile, laminate, or hardwood can be softened with cushy rugs.

4. Purge and Rearrange

No one will want to take their party to the basement if the poothat l table is covered with boxes of old scrapbooking supplies. Basements are great for storage, but there should be some method to the madness. Devote an area or room to storage and invest in tidy containers. As for other stuff… have a garage sale, hock it on eBay, or make use of the local dump.

5. Talk to a Pro

If you want a truly functional and finished basement, you may want to bring in a pro. A professional can help you plan your lower level, install walls and drywall, take care of plumbing and electricity, and advise on tricky spots. Some of this is DIY if you have the right tools and a little know-how, but some stuff requires a professional job. It’s probably best not to guess with those wires…

With these steps, having a basement you can actually enjoy isn’t just a future dream after all! Now, you really can have that music studio you’ve always wanted… just double check on flood insurance for your home…

You don’t want it to end up looking tacky, but having a few personal touches here and there let you feel more comfortable in your office. Since most people spend a large portion of their lives at work, it is essential that you feel at ease. Following are four ways you can keep comfortable in your office, without going too far.

1. Decorations

There are some types of decorations that are great to have, and others that go a little too far. It’s great to have a few birthday decorations, for example. These are a great way to let other’s know you are thinking about them as well. You may not feel appropriate decorating your own desk with Happy Birthday stuff, but you can have fun with a coworker’s desk on their birthday. You may also want to consider holiday decorations, but make sure that you talk to HR before you put any of these up.

Since there are so many holidays, and a majority of them are religious in nature, you will want to make sure that there are not any policies against holiday decorations.

2. Pictures

Having a few pictures of your family, pets or friends is a great way to personalize your office. When you are picking out pictures or putting together picture frames, make sure that you do consider the fact that you are in a professional environment. The picture of your bachelorette party may not be the best option; a family picture with the kids would be much better served for this purpose.

3. Plants

Many people today like to have a small plant at their desk. Depending on the size of your desk and the size of the plant, this could be a great idea. You want to make sure that it is something that can go a few days without water; you don’t want it to die when you take a vacation! Having a cactus, a bamboo shoot or something similar can help brighten up your work space.

4. Organize

Organize your office the way that works best for you. Find a place for everything, but keep the things that you use on a regular basis in a quick-to-grab spot. This will help you be more efficient, but it will also give a bit of a personal touch to everything. If you are always scrambling to find the pens that you need, you will never feel comfortable in your own office.

Having your personal touch in your work space can keep you working better. When you are comfortable with where you are, you are much less likely to get off task. Having these personal items and touches can keep you happier in the work place, as well. Make sure that you find out the rules for personalization in your company before you take on a huge project of personalization.

What ways do you keep your office personal?

They will feel less left out when you move them into different rooms or redecorate their existing rooms. From the most organized toddler space to the trendy teen bedroom, some of the best decorating tips for children’s rooms are listed below.

Double Up

If you find yourself having to move two children together to make room for the newborn, there are fabulous ways to do this. One trendy way to combine living spaces is to add a sliding room divider to the room. The divider can be pushed back for spending time together and extended for private time. You should start this project early, depending upon which stages of pregnancy you are in at the time (or even after you have your baby)

Double Time

If your children’s new room is small, find creative ways to make the existing space perform double duty. A great decorating tip for children’s rooms involves using furniture items that double as organizers. Beautiful headboards are available that incorporate shelving and drawers for the child to use for storage or personal items. Some have a mirrored background and can take away the necessity for a wall mirror. Drawers under beds can also allow for stylish storage and functionality.

To Do or Not to Do

The following list of do’s and don’ts include additional advice and decorating tips for children’s rooms.

Do:

• Do ask their opinions on the type of room that they would like to have. From the overall theme to the colors of the walls, everything can be based on their own sense of style.
• Do make a room for them they will remember and treasure, even after they have kids of their own.
• Do let the children help, especially if you are in the later stages of pregnancy. You may need an extra hand or two.
• Do shop around before making big purchases. Second-hand stores and discount shops are good places to buy dressers, toy boxes and bookshelf units. Also, friends and family members may have items they’re not using anymore.

Don’t:

• Don’t overcrowd the room with unnecessary things just because you think they are adorable in the store. Try not to over accessorize the room or it will just look cluttered.
• Don’t wait until the last minute or you could get overwhelmed during the last stages of pregnancy.
• Don’t try to make the children’s room something that you enjoy as an adult; make it uniquely theirs and let their personality dictate the theme.
• Don’t try to fit growing teens into twin beds or you may be shopping for a new bed in a couple of years.

Let your children help design the room of their dreams. Taking their thoughts into consideration and shopping together will also build lasting memories for all of you. There are as many decorating possibilities as the mind can imagine, and these are only a few. What additional advice or decorating tips for children’s rooms would you like to share?

Now that you own a home, how do you want to improve it? When thinking about whether you want to enhance your home through remodeling, construction or repairs, be sure to include a budget for all those glamorous home improvement projects.

Thinking of using a credit card?

Before jeopardizing your financial freedom with high credit card payments and overspending, consider saving for your home makeover by putting money on aprepaid card or locking it away in a savings account until you really need it.

Follow these money saving tips to ensure you have the funds to build your dream home:

Consider the Cost

Financial experts warn that homeowners should anticipate the added costs of annual maintenance, repairs and upgrades when buying a home. It is estimated that homeowners annually spend $100 to $3,000 on routine maintenance, and $2,000 to $10,000 on enhancement projects. To afford these costs, you can use prepaid cards and put money on the REACH card to get the security of a bank account without the bank fees.

Prioritize

Another money saving tip for remodeling projects is to make a list of all the changes you’d like to make to the home and then prioritize that list based on what is needed vs. what is wanted. According to Remodeling magazine’s cost-to-value ratio, homeowners nationwide can expect an average of 60 percent return on their remodeling investments.
That’s why it’s important to prioritize home renovations that will not only look nice, but also improve the quality of your home – for example, adding new granite kitchen countertops.

Make a Plan

After prioritizing your list, the next step in beautifying your home is to create a budget. Develop a plan that will allow you to save what you can and spend where you need it most. Setting aside money and putting it on a card like the REACH card will allow you to use funds you’ve already budgeted, reducing the chance that you’ll overspend. Smart money management is key to affording all of your glamorous home improvement projects.

Save, Save, Save

It’s recommended that homeowners save about one percent of their home’s purchase price per year. It’s best to start saving from day one so that you’ll have money when an emergency arises. Use prepaid cards to save money for all your home improvements with the freedom to spend without accumulating credit card debt or maintaining a bank account- they make it easy to save by allowing you to make direct deposits from paychecks, government checks and even tax refunds right to the card.

If you’re using the REACH card, you can transfer money from one card to another- making it easy to build a home improvement savings fund.
Now that you own a home, make sure you have the funds to make it a dream home.

Realize your goals, set priorities and start saving to improve your house- now and in the future.

Start With Your Kitchen

If you’re thinking of doing some home improvements on your own, the kitchen is a good place to start.

Whether you’re looking to sell your home or increase it’s value, your kitchen should always look its best. It’s fairly easy to make a few improvements, and the best part is that you don’t have to spend a lot of money to improve your home’s value.

Although you may need to hire a plumber to do some of the work, the key to saving money with home improvement is to do the work on your own. Keep in mind that if you need to purchase fixtures and fittings, it’s important to find good quality ones. Don’t try to cut corners, because poor quality items will defeat your purpose.

Redo the Surfaces

The cupboards may be in good condition, but may still suffer from the popular seventies dark brown laminate. You can always cover them with a new laminate paint of your choice to give them a newer appearance. You might also want to replace the door handles. Your out-of-pocket cost will be for the primer, paint, and door handles.

As long as you are willing to do the work yourself, the only cost is the time you spend doing the work. You shouldn’t pay any more than $40 for a small can of laminate paint, and about $20 for a can of primer. The cost for door handles varies, but if you want to go cheap, you can always buy wooden ones and paint over them. If you want to get really fancy, you can always add some beading around the doors.

Polish the Flooring

Many kitchen floors have either linoleum or vinyl flooring that covers really nice hardwood floors. If this is the case in your kitchen, you can simply remove the linoleum or vinyl and polish the hardwood flooring underneath. You can rent the equipment you need to polish the floor from a local equipment rental store in your area. It may be a time consuming process, but the result of your work can be very satisfying.

Solid hardwood floors will provide beauty and sustainability to your kitchen for the years to come. Beautifully polished floors will add a lot of value to your kitchen, and will undoubtedly increase the value of your home.

And there you have it! Try utilizing a few of the tips above and it can save you tons of money and time when looking to spruce up your home. Surfaces and floors make a big impact

Just imagine yourself joining those around you as you enjoy immersion in visual media, treating your eyes to sharp images with rich colors, and as you treat your ears to full, sumptuous sound.

When comparing HDTVs worth more than $2K, certain criteria separates the best from all the rest.

Of course, the definition of “best” also refers to your unique criteria and situation.

Here are some factors to consider when buying the best HDTV for your living room revamp.

Brand Name

When you are in the market for top-notch, pricey products, it’s generally a good idea to make sure the product comes from a company with a good reputation. You don’t want to deal with cheap components or poor customer service. When looking for an HD TV, some of the companies with the best reputations are Vizio, Toshiba, Samsung, Mitsubishi, KLG, Sharp, Panasonic, Sony, and Pioneer.

Energy Efficiency

When looking for a HD TV energy efficiency can be a big deal. The smaller screens consume less energy, but it’s possible to find good energy deals on larger TVs, also. You can cut costs and also help the environment when you factor in energy efficiency. Some of the best flat screen HDTVs on the market (over $2K) are the LG Infinia 47LE8500 and the Vizio VF552XVT.

Images

Perhaps one of the most important features of a HDTV is the visuals. LED models tend to offer deeper blacks since they offer local dimming. If you plan to use the HDTV for brighter content during daylight hours, the deep black issue isn’t as critical. When you compare images, you might also want to look into bit depth (also known as color depth).

Some of the best HDTVs on the market for images include the Panasonic TC-PVT20/25 series, the Samsung PNC8000 series, and the LG PX950 series.

Video Processor

Processor speed is critical when you plan to watch DVDs, play games, and surf the Internet on your TV. Look for an HDTV with a fast scan rate and a quick refresh time. The larger the television, the faster you will want your processor to be. Use widgets, use Wi-Fi, and enjoy 3-D technology with ease with the HDTVs such as the Sony XB’sR60LX900.

Sound

Sound quality is another extremely important feature you want to factor in when looking for the best HDTV for your purposes. Some TVs have internal speakers, while others have external speakers. Many of the more expensive HDTVs have external speakers that are wireless. The Samsung LN52A650 stands out as one of the best HD TVs for sound as well as picture quality.
The term “best” is very subjective. All of these areas are critical when looking at the many HDTVs that stand out in the market. The big question is not just “Which HDTV is the best?” Rather, the question should be, “Of the HDTVs worth more than $2K, which is best for you?” Post a comment about your favorite HDTV model.

Home renovations can quickly add up to thousands of dollars and months of mess. The following seven tips will help you give your home a face-lift without spending thousands and with results that you can see immediately.

1. Repaint Cabinets

New kitchen cabinets can cost thousands of dollars, but you can make them look modern and brand new in a single weekend.

Repainting the surface of your cabinets will make them look stunning; simply clean the cabinets inside and out, then sand them with fine sand paper, add a layer of primer and then paint the cabinets using a high quality brush or pneumatic sprayer.

Two coats of paint work the best.

2. New Hardware

Adding or changing kitchen cabinet hardware is another easy and inexpensive way to spruce up your kitchen.

New knobs and handles can be quite expensive and new faucets even more costly, so shop around. Check sources like offers.com for great deals, or check thrift shops and other bargain stores.

3. Inviting Door

Painting your front door is an easy way to totally change the curb appeal of your home. Exterior paint is somewhat expensive, but the effect will be worth so much more.

4.Discount Molding

Keep your eye open for sales and purchase molding if you find a great deal. Adding a chair rail to any room will instantly update it, especially if you paint the upper and lower portions in different, yet complementary, colors. Molding is easy to install and the strips are sold already finished, usually in high gloss white.

5. Slip Covers

Old furniture in the living room can be livened up and modernized with slip covers. Slip covers are easy to put on and most are machine washable, and certainly more affordable than buying new furniture. Slip covers are available in a myriad colors and styles so finding the perfect fit for your living room shouldn’t be difficult.

6. Bathroom Accessories

Bathrooms are easy to spruce up. Replace an old, ratty shower curtain with a new one.

Bath mats are a simple way to cover up what would otherwise be an eyesore. A new rain showerhead will quickly liven up your shower, and adding new toothbrush and soap holders will add extra style.

7. Rearrange

Bedrooms can get a new look with a little effort and very little money. Reducing the clutter in any bedroom will instantly make it appear larger, and rearranging the furniture will give the room a new look and feel.

Decorative pillows, bed skirts and bed covers can be bought from a second hand store and can considerably jazz up the room.

Making any of these inexpensive changes to your home will instantly change its look and ambiance.

These additions don’t need to be time consuming or costly; keep your eyes open for materials that are on sale, and frequent local garage sales. You never know what you’ll find.

Therefore, there are a lot of neutrals and vibrant colors used in interior design for 2010.

Going Green

One contributing factor to top interior design color trends of 2010 is the “going green” movement that continues to sweep consumerism. The desire to aid the planet by using environmentally safe product produces neutrals like browns and creams, as well as shades of green and yellow. Neutrals make for a great pallet for other color accents, while greens is calming and soothing to the mind and yellow is stimulating and motivating.

Yellow is best served in a kitchen, as it can even help digestion. You’ll find green the best compliment to a bedroom setting. Use the two color schemes together in a room such as an office, to create an environment that is both soothing and motivation, resulting in better work flow. Just be careful not to overpower with yellow, since no one likes to be over-stimulated.

Other colors in the “going green” trend include gray, white, maroon, brown and even orange. When you’re shopping for colors in this scheme, think moss on the forest, tree bark, leaves and even rocks in a riverbed. All of these colors, of course, go wonderfully together.

Global Influence

Shades of purple, such as deep plum and bright violets, represent global diversity – a growing trend in the both the cultural and business world. Additionally, purple has always been associated with romance and royalty. State your claim in the living room with a purple color scheme or seduce your senses by using purple in the master bedroom. Orange provides a great accent color when paired with purple – bringing vibrancy to seduction is never a bad thing.

Global market trends have also accentuated the power of a woman in recent years, and that is now showing itself in interior design colors – specifically, pink. Pair dark pink and light pink shades in a room, on a canvas of white or gray neutrals, and you’ve created a strong and feminine look that is also sophisticated. Accents of metallics and modern, straight lines add to the strength of this color scheme and make it older, bringing it away from the look of a little girl’s space.

Other colors in the “global” color scheme include bright blue, gold, black, lavender and gray. You can easily combine these colors for a feel of richness, passion, and a little bit of romance.

Color Combinations

The most popular interior design color trends for 2010 actually complement each other well. The earthy tones of the “going green” trends make a somewhat neutral canvas that accentuates the vibrant tones of the “globally focused” trends. Don’t be afraid to combine neutral green tones with vibrant purples for an exciting look.

Just be sure to avoid making it look like Barney, the popular dinosaur from the children’s show. When it comes to interior design, Barney is not trendy at all.