● Laura Thornberry ●: home

Are you thinking of making improvements to your home in the future? Making improvements to your current or new home can be a difficult challenge to get correct, but with the right planning in place, the process can made be a lot easier and smoother. Home improvements and renovations are often expensive, disruptive and stressful, so it’s imperative and important that you take every possible step to suitably prepare yourself for the journey ahead.

Maybe you’ve got some home improvement projects of your own that you're currently thinking about and unsure where to start. With the warmer weather on its way during the spring and summer months of the year, many people start to think about decorating, transforming their homes and making their home dreams a reality. Whether you're adding an extension, rebuilding your kitchen space, changing your garden space or giving your bedroom a makeover, there are a number of things to consider before jumping straight in.

HAVE A DETAILED PLAN

Whatever the size and scale of your home improvements project, it can really help to get your layout thoughts and design ideas down on paper, to help plan and visualise your proposed suggestions. Having a number of drawn out plans and sketches can help you figure out what is best suited towards your needs and will also help you work out how to get the most out of the space you're working with. It's also quite essential to make notes of the amount of space you have, so taking measurements will help you to figure out your future layout plans and what will work where. Another important part of the planning process is to keep a list of everything you're doing or planning to do, and tick if off once it's complete as this will help you to keep on top of the overall project.

COST AND BUDGET

Many home improvements come at a high cost, so it would be best to have a reasonable budget/enough savings in place for your projects. The cost of home improvements will also be looked at during the planning stages of your projects so you can estimate the costs of each step of the plan. You'll obviously be looking around to get the best deals, best materials, and if you're hiring professionals, you'll want the best quotes for the job. Whether your budget is big or small, the cost of your home renovation plans can quickly add up, so it's important to make your future plans work in a way that is financially sustainable for you.

CONSIDER SELF-STORAGE

Whether you're only decorating one room of the house or making improvements to your entire home, self-storage might be something worth looking into to free up some much needed space to allow you get work started. Now Storage self storage in Reading offers self storage solutions for both personal and business use, and can tailor the cheapest quote for your personal needs, which could be very handy for keeping larger items safely stored during the home improvements process.

DO YOUR RESEARCH

Every home project starts with extensive research, carried out long before you commit yourself to spending any money. You can research your desired home improvement plans through various means, whether that's viewing houses for sale/your dream home for interior ideas, looking online on websites such as Pinterest, or even looking through home magazines and catalogues. Making sure to do enough research into your future home improvement projects can save you time, money and energy. With making changes into your home a reality, it's important not to rush into anything, as this is usually where things go wrong and complications happen due to poor planning and research.

HAVE REALISTIC TIMEFRAMES

We all know that home improvements don't happen overnight. All building work, renovations and DIY projects can take a substantial amount of time, depending on what ideas you have in mind. Again, it could be worth while using your plan as a way to measure the amount of time each job requires and if you have any specific deadlines that need to be met.

THINK ABOUT THE FUTURE

If you think that you may wish to sell your house in the future, it may be sensible to think about how the proposed home improvements you wish to make could affect that. There are many home improvements that you could plan for and implement that can really benefit and add value to your home. If you don't believe that your current space is your "forever home", this can change and impact the home improvement plans you currently have.

What home improvements are you planning for the future?

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Recycling at doesn't have to be a time consuming and complicated process. The best place to begin making a difference to the environment is right in your very own home. You'd be surprised with the amount of household packaging waste that can actually be reused and upcycled. By putting more thought into the way you manage your household waste, you'll be able to save money, reduce the amount of waste you're piling up and have a less damaging impact on the environment.

Being more eco-friendly, sustainable and preserving our environment are becoming more important and more necessary than ever. Simply by incorporating a few small changes in your daily routine can really help look after our environment and reduce the amount of waste that ends up in landfills and our oceans.

Glass Jars

You can recycle any glass jar for a number uses, but I've found that some are more useful than others based on their size and shape. Glass packaging is definitely better than purchasing plastic, so next time your in the supermarket, see if you can be more sustainable with the way you shop. Some good examples of glass jars that a great to be reused include pasta sauce jars, dessert pots, chutney and jam jars and salad dressing bottles. These glass jars can be used for a multitude of things including storage for dry food items, containers for your overnight oats, or making your own jams, chutneys or sauces to be stored away.

Cardboard Boxes

Cardboard makes up a huge percentage of household waste from Amazon parcels, shoe boxes and cereal boxes, you can often find yourself stacking up quite the mountain. However, cardboard boxes can be extremely handy in the home and can be reused and recycled for a number of things. For example, cardboard boxes can donated to small business or even be used for storage, presenting birthday presents and gifts, and even artwork. Bespoke packaging is totally custom-designed, and could be something to research/be of interest if you're using your cardboard boxes to present gifts for loved ones. You could design and tailor the box for any occasion, and it could end up being a completely unique gift box that didn't cost a penny.

Egg Boxes

You may never have thought of ways egg boxes can be reused in the home, but there are a few simple things you can do than require them. Firstly, if you have children, you can use the egg boxes for arts and craft activities to keep them occupied. They can be cut up and made into different models or even used as a paint palette. Another idea for reusing egg boxes could be using them as storage holders for little bits and bobs you have lying around the house. For example, you could use them for storing jewellery, stationary or even decorative tools such as nails, nuts and bolts.

Glass Bottles

Glass is better than plastic when packaging pretty much anything. It's definitely much stronger, more durable and can be reused in a number of ways, you'd be surprised. Make sure to rinse them out before upcycling into something new. A few creative ideas include using the bottle as a vase for flowers, use them as candlestick holders, insert some fairy lights and use as a table centrepiece or even fill them with oil and add chilli or garlic to infuse with flavour.

Wine Corks

For those who love some wine in the evenings, saving the corks for your bottles could come in handy, especially if you're very artistic and creative. Wine corks can be used for a number of quick and easy DIY projects, where the end result can be simply stunning. You can create your own cork stamps, use the corks to decorate picture frames or even create your very home art installation feature by filling a large glass container with plenty of wine corks.

What other ways do you recycle your household waste?

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When winter winds pound your home, you know the time has come to add some cheer and cosiness to spruce up the interiors. This seasonal change reflects in every room and alters the way they usually look. To make your private burrow visually appealing, try out these basic cosmetic improvements, that will keep you warm and snuggled up, till well after Santa has bid goodbye.

Set the tone with the living room

The living room is the best place to relax on the sofa with a good book in winter, and is normally a place you spend a lot of time in. Since comfort and warmth is the priority, pile up your sofa with cushions and blankets or add a stylish throw. Roll out a carpet to keep your feet warm with a rug that matches the colour scheme of the living room. To avoid a running nose, put on some socks and strut around in total comfort.

Update the bedroom

If you want your bedroom to replicate the vibe of a luxury hotel give it a quick upgrade by layering it with throws and pillows. Curtains, throws along with velvet pillows, will not only add a touch of luxury to any room but will convert it into a place of cosy refuge till the temperature starts to rise again. Moreover, these simple accents can be easily removed whenever necessary.

Infuse cheery colours

A splash of colour can instantly change stark and cold spaces into a cheerful environment. Add a few bold designed pillows or a bright throw to get rid of the winter blues and glam up the room. If you mix the right warm terracotta and cool grey tones, the shades can last you well up to spring. The best part is that they are hardly a major investment.

Don't forget the kitchen

Winter months take their toll on the kitchen, so it is important to give a little makeover to this place as well to give it a new look. You can add a patterned shade to your kitchen windows, to make it look bright and cheery for many days. You can even stitch your own curtains by purchasing the fabric and colour of your choice and hang it from the rods using clip-style curtain rings.

Install a good curtain

Curtains help insulate a room by preventing the loss of warm air and in turn beat the cold. Thermal curtains are not only aesthetically pleasing, they also provide the utmost privacy as they are made of thick materials. Select the style that complements your room the most, and determine the correct length to increase the look of your windows.

Transform the bathroom

After returning home exposed to freezing temperatures and hostile winds, it is the time to treat yourself to the luxury of a steaming hot bath. Turn your bathroom into a spa by putting on the stereo, light scented candles, add a few drops of your favourite aroma to the foam and enjoy a steamy downpour in the backdrop of a printed shower curtain. When you finish, wrap yourself in a soft fluffy towel featuring your favourite print.

Add a touch of greenery

How do you get some freshness into your home with all windows closed and the outside world is like a part of the North Pole? Exotic plants will purify the air and add a touch of greenery into your interiors and allow you to drift to sleep dreaming of warmer climes. Try adding plants like lavender, eucalyptus or jasmine to infuse a nice aroma into the surroundings.

What features would your cosy winter home have? Do you have any other tips?

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The most important decision when beginning to create and make your dream garden a reality, is simply deciding what type of theme/layout you would like to create in the space that you have. Gardens coming in all shapes and sizes depending on where you live and what type of property you own, so it's definitely important to think ahead and plan what you want to ensure it fits nicely.

Essentially, your garden is an outdoor extension of your home, it's the area of the house you would spend the most time in during the warmer months of the year, so you'll want to make it as aesthetically pleasing and welcoming as possible. This doesn't have to prove costly, as there are a number of tips to take into consideration, for your dream garden to be created on a low budget. When you do your research and plan things well, you can figure out your layout/design, find building materials suitable for your budget, and ultimately have your dream garden exactly how you want it.

With the resources out there today, you don't always need to hire professionals and many gardening jobs can be done by yourself. Looking online for help and tutorials is a great place to start if you're ever unsure about certain tasks. You'll be able to learn new skills, and feel a sense of accomplishment when you can finally look at your finished garden, and feel extremely proud that you were part of the successful process.

Search for Inspiration

Before designing your garden, looking for ideas and inspiration is something that can really help open your eyes to a variety of themes, styles and layouts that you could potentially bring to your own back garden. There's so many possibilities for what kind of atmosphere you want to create in your dream garden, it can be a real struggle to know exactly what you want. However, there is so many places you can seek inspiration from, and some of them are even free or just require internet access. Pinterest and Instagram are both great online resources when it comes to finding inspiration for certain tasks. You simply type in what you want to look at, and thousands of results come up. Another place to find inspiration is by exploring the area around you. Have a look at neighbours front gardens, have a walk around a local area or even visiting parks. There's so much variety in the environment that it will definitely help you narrow down your design inspiration for your dream garden.

Measure Up and Plan Your Layout

Having a rough layout guide and taking measurements of your garden area are definitely ideal methods of beginning to create your dream garden. This allows you to understand what space you have to work with and also to be able to visualise on paper what elements you could bring to your dream garden before starting any work. You will also be able to come up with multiple drawn plans, helping you to try out different design/layout options before you commit to the final design. You could hire professionals for this, but keep the costs low by doing it yourself. All you need is a tape measure, some pens and paper and you're good to go.

Consider Adding Multiple Textures

Creating your dream garden space doesn't just have to be a grassed area and nothing else. Consider adding multiple textures and materials to create a dynamic atmosphere and interesting look. Adding things like grass, gravel, concrete slabs and wooden patio areas help to add texture and create interest in your outdoor space. With your outdoor space more inviting and exciting, you're bound to want to spend more time outside and admire your handy work.

Incorporate Plants

Adding greenery, shrubs and flowers to your garden is the perfect way to inject some colour, texture and life into your outdoor area. This helps make your outdoor space that little bit more colourful, inviting and appealing. It's also a key visual element when planning your garden set up, and you should pick the right plants that you feel will be suitable, manageable and maintainable for your lifestyle. Things to consider whilst deciding on the plants you would like to use include the area where you live, the weather conditions and the amount of space you have.

Create Seating Areas

Don’t forget to create a space to enjoy your efforts. Having somewhere comfortable and welcoming to spend your time in the garden is an essential must have, and something that can be made quite affordable when on a budget. A patio or concreted area is a perfect set up for your garden furniture and a lovely place to relax and look out across your beautiful garden. Choosing a professional domestic concrete supplier might be a great idea for this, as they will offer you the best pricing quotes and use high quality materials to ensure longevity of your building works.

Paint Outdoor Buildings and Fences

Finally, if you're garden is in need of a freshen up, adding a splash of paint to garages, sheds, and fences could just be the answer to all your dream garden needs. By doing this, you can really liven up your outdoor space and give it that TLC it really needs. These outdoor buildings could be the main focal areas of your garden, so it's important to keep them in good condition and well looked after. Paint can be found very affordably at any DIY or home store, and it might be just what you need to make your outdoor garden space go from 0 to 100.

What features would your dream garden have? What low budget tips have you used?

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Ready to buy a your first home? Buying a home is one of the most significant and important financial decisions you'll make in your lifetime, and you need to make sure that you know what's going on.

It's definitely an extremely exciting time during anyone's life but it can also be super stressful if you aren't well informed about the buying process. It's also a great goal to have set yourself, but there's definitely a lot of work involved in the house buying process to make it actually happen.

First things first, savings. It's important to have a substantial amount of money saved up to make sure you're financially stable and to help you secure your first home. Once enough money has been saved, it's then time to decide on the budget that you can realistically afford, and will be able to manage payments for. Take a look at your finances to see what you can save each month, and how long it’ll take you to get to your target. Saving up for that house deposit can be an extremely difficult challenge, but it's what is needed to make that dream home a reality.

Something else to consider is income protection. Income Protection is one of the most important insurances, as without a regular income you could be hard-pressed to pay the bills. It simply pays out a percentage of your salary if you’re signed off of work through illness or injury, so whether you’re self employed or work for someone else, have a family or live alone, this could be something to look into.

When deciding on the type of home you want to buy, it's really important to think about the long term future of where you want to live. There are many options to consider; are you buying for yourself? Will you be living with a partner? Do you see yourself having a family in the near future? Will you have pets? All these things will make you think of the amount of space you will require, and sometimes it's better to pick something that will reflect your future plans.

Another important factor to consider when buying your home, is choosing the perfect location for your needs. This could be depending on your job, your budget or your lifestyle. It might also be wise to look at a few different areas and see which you like the look of the most, and has the best environment for you. Similarly, once you begin the house search in the areas you've selected, it's important not to settle for just one house, you should ideally view multiple properties to get better judgement of what you can get for your money, and what type of property will work for you and your needs.

One of the main things throughout your first home buying journey, and one of the most important and necessary things to do is to simply ask questions. There may be a whole array of silly questions, important questions, or even things you just don't understand, but as a buyer, you should make sure that you're fully confident when starting your journey into purchasing your first home.

Have you purchased your first home?

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Is it just me, or do we seem to spend so much time during the winter dreaming of summer? Summer is 100% the perfect time of year to really relax and indulge in what you really love doing in the garden whether that be gardening, cooking, playing games, outdoor arts & crafts, or even sunbathing on those really warm summer days.

Especially as the garden really becomes an extension of our homes during the summer, and we spend many hours soaking up the sun outside. It's definitely important to make sure your garden looks well looked after, and the best part about it is that it doesn't have to cost a lot of money to have a successful transformation.

So ultimately, it’s really worth taking some time now to tidy up and prepare for the summer months and here's a few tips to get you started on how to get your garden summer ready!

First things first, get the lawn mower plugged in and get grass cutting, as this is the first essential job in transforming your garden, especially after a cold winter where it's been left untouched. Mowing is the key to a healthy, fresh lawn, and can help keep your garden looking neat and tidy, as well as keeping out any weeds. Plus, it just makes your garden feel more welcoming and attractive, that you'll be wanting admire it more and spend the summer months in it!

Now, is it really summer if you don't have the barbecue out at least once a week? Barbecues in the summer are just the ultimate chilled out, culinary experience, and a great way to enjoy great food, great company, as well as great weather. For me, barbecues are a great time to experiment with new ingredients, recipes and marinades. From grilled meats, vegetables and kebabs, to burgers and hot dogs, as well as side salads and pastas, there's so much choice with what to cook, you'll definitely be spoilt for choice!

During the summer months, we spend a lot of time outdoors, so it's definitely important to have some comfortable furniture at the ready, and easily accessible for when the weather starts to pick up and get warmer. Garden furniture can really help transform your garden, and can make you feel like you're living the dream in some idyllic beach resort, when in reality, it's just from the comfort of your back garden. With the addition of some luxury rattan furniture, you can bring that stunning vacation spot a little closer to home whilst relaxing in style.

Another quick way to transform your garden is including flowers to bring some vibrancy and colour to your outdoor area. As well as this, they help to make your garden space, however big or small, feel welcoming and they can also help you to feel calm and relaxed, plus they are extremely pretty to look at.

Finally, to give you that real vacation feel, inflatable swimming pools are just a must have! Inflatable pools are the best way to cool off in your garden and enjoy some much needed family fun during the summer. They give you that pool side/beach feeling from the comfort of your garden, without the travelling and the expensive holiday price tag.

What ways will you transform your garden for the upcoming summer months?

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