12-30-17 At Home

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HOME

Tidy Up

Get your home organized for the new year

Beat Cabin Fever Simple renovations to do while you’re stuck inside

A special publication of the Owensboro Messenger-Inquirer

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WELLNESS BEGINS

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LETTER from the

EDITOR The end of 2017. A new beginning starts Monday. All of those things you wanted to get done to your house can happen in 2018 and we can help.

In this edition of At Home, you will get tips on how to organize your home for the new year, ways to update your kitchen and bath and simple renovations you can tackle during winter.

I am still looking for homeowners who have tackled a big DIY or home renovation project or anyone who has an interesting story about their home. If you would like your story told, please contact me at mrichardson@messengerinquirer.com or 270-6917233.

— Meghann Richardson Special Publications Editor

Five tips for a healthier and happier home

BY BPT

From diets to exercise routines to standing at our desks while we work, we do a lot to stay healthy.

Most of the time this involves focusing on what we eat and how we move. No doubt this is an essential component to good health, but increasingly, people are realizing their home environment can have a big impact on their mood, their health and how they feel.

The following are five changes in your home environment that can have the biggest impact on your overall well-being.

1. DECLUTTER

Over the years, the stuff we own starts to pile up. Most of it we don’t need, but it’s hard to get rid of a lot of things. Maybe it was a gift, or has sentimental value. Whatever the case, it can be difficult, but going through your house and getting rid of the clothes, kitchen appliances and general clutter can be a transformative experience that reduces stress and creates a calmer home atmosphere.

2. HOLISTIC HEALTH IN YOUR BATHROOM

Your day begins in the bathroom, so why not start it off right? You shower and brush your teeth, but are you aware of the health and cleansing benefits of using a bidet seat? Gynecologists, obstetricians and urologists all

recommend cleansing with water, and a high-tech bidet seat like TOTO’s WASHLET S300e offers a luxury personal cleansing system to make you cleaner and more refreshed than you’ve ever felt after a bathroom break — and it’s more eco-friendly than using toilet paper.

You’ll be surprised by how this simple addition to your bathroom can benefit men and women at all stages of life.

To discover more life-changing alterations to make to your bathroom, visit totousa.com and discover what their people-first innovations can do for you and your home.

relaxing activities such as reading or meditating.

3. THE BEDROOM IS FOR SLEEPING

It sounds simple, but it’s easy to overlook this one. Indoor plants provide the double service of boosting your mood and cleaning the air. For instance, common house plants such as a spider plant, peace lilies and a number of ferns naturally remove toxins such as formaldehyde, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and more from the air. This is a vital service, especially in winter.

Your mood, energy level, ambition and so much more depends on getting a full night’s sleep. To help ensure you get enough sleep, transform your bedroom into a sanctuary. If you have a TV in it, take it out and leave your phone in the kitchen when you go to bed. Your bedroom should be a spot for sleeping and

4. COLOR MATTERS

The color of a room has a huge impact on your mood; in fact, the color of a room can make or break a space. As a rule of thumb, many interior designers break colors into warm and cool. Warm colors such as yellow, orange and red create an energized space and may be great options for a family room or home office. Cool tones such as blue or green create a calming atmosphere, perfect for spaces where you go to relax and unwind.

5. PLANTS

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Prep for extreme winter weather

BY BPT

cooling systems can be installed in a wide variety of climates, including As winter approaches, many cities places that experience extremely in the U.S. have already started to low temperatures. They provide 100 experience the winter chill with percent heating capacity down to 5 temperatures below freezing and snow degrees Fahrenheit, and continue to fall. But cold weather isn’t exclusively heat reliably even when the outside a northern phenomenon as the temperature is as low as -13 degrees. majority of the country experiences extreme temperatures at some point TAKE CARE OF YOUR ROOF during the winter months. Remember Inspect your roof and repair any in January 2014 when all 50 states damaged shingles before winter logged below-freezing temperatures storms arrive. Be sure gutters are on the same day? clean to help prevent an ice dam and Cold weather can wreak havoc on trim any tree branches that could fall your home and your comfort if you on your home if they break under are not well prepared. That’s why it’s heavy snow and ice. important to prepare your home for winter and take extra precautions TACKLE INSIDE GERMS for when the temperatures drop, no Extreme temperatures often force matter where you live. us indoors for long periods of times.

Here are some tips that can help With the LG PuriCare Air Purifier, protect your house and comfort this you can leave your home feeling fresh winter: and clean while sterilization removes floating viruses and germs.

INSTALL A SMART THERMOSTAT

You may not always be home when you learn of a coming cold snap or hear that temperatures have plummeted. Using an app on your smartphone, a smart thermostat can allow you to make adjustments to your home’s temperature from anywhere, which means you can always come home to a toasty warm house.

SEAL WINDOWS AND DOORS

Check weather stripping around windows and doors. If you find worn, cracked or inadequate sealing, replace it. Sealing around windows and doors helps prevent heat loss in the winter.

PREP YOUR PIPES

Below freezing temperatures can cause water pipes to crack or burst.

Insulate any water pipes that are exposed, winterize outdoor faucets and turn off the water to your home if you plan to be away for a prolonged period of time.

MAKE SURE YOUR HEAT SOURCE MEASURES UP

Older, traditional HVAC systems can struggle to keep your home comfortable when temperatures dip below freezing. Consider installing LGRED-enabled HVAC technology to your home. LG’s Reliable to Extreme Degrees (RED) heating and

ADD INSULATION

The Insulation Institute estimates 90 percent of American homes have less than the minimum recommended insulation. Check out the U.S. Department of Energy’s home insulation guidelines to see if you need to add more in your home.

Having adequate insulation ensures your home efficiently retains heat and keeps the cold out.

Happy New Year!

GATHER EMERGENCY SUPPLIES

Extreme weather could leave you without power or unable to leave your home to get supplies or help.

Keep a well-stocked emergency kit, complete with bottled water, non-perishable food, extra blankets, a battery-operated or hand-crank radio (for weather report updates), a battery or solar light source, and a solar charging device that can be used to power your smartphone. If you have a wood-burning fireplace for supplemental heat, be sure to have a supply of dry firewood on hand in case of a power outage.

Extreme weather can happen anywhere; in 2014, even Hawaii recorded a below-freezing temperature of 21 degrees. When it comes to home comfort and keeping your family warm during the winter, it’s a good idea to prepare for what is to come!

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Kitchen and bath remodeling trends to watch

BY FAMILY FEATURES

Investing thousands of dollars in a kitchen or bathroom remodel can be daunting, but it doesn’t have to be. Check out some of these trends from the National Association of the Remodeling Industry:

from your smartphone.

DESIGN WITH ACCESSIBILITY IN MIND

Getting older may not be fun, but universal design can help support accessibility. However, accessible design isn’t just for aging in place. Adopting universal design and accessible components can provide not MAKE YOUR HOME SMARTER only safety but comfort as well — no matter your age.

It used to be that internet meant high-tech. Now, Through its Universal Design Certified Professional especially with the Internet of Things, it means easier program, NARI offers training and certification for access to entertainment and home security. Home professional remodelers. These remodelers not only automation is now a consideration when remodeling know what options are available but typically have as WiFi can be used to connect affordable, their fingers on the pulse of products that can make easy-to-install smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. your life better, from scald-proof faucets to appliance These safety tools can be accessed from any types and installation, and grab bars in bathrooms. smartphone or device, and should be considered when remodeling. Many of these smart devices, EXPRESS YOURSELF WITH TILE including thermostats and lighting fixtures, can While materials like stone and granite remain support an energy-efficient home by allowing you popular, additional trends for kitchen and bath to adjust the temperature or turn off lights, directly remodels include textured tile and patterns in all

shapes and textures. Changing tile in a kitchen or bathroom can add visual interest and be an easy way to express your personality.

PERSONALIZE WITH COLOR

Design trends continue to revolve around color.

Color options range from the deep, saturated tones of ruby, emerald and sapphire to a soft and delicate palette of pastels. Whether you prefer strong, bold, intense colors or are looking for a more neutral palette, there is a hue to fit your style. Color can be used on everything including cabinetry, walls even including the “fifth wall,” or ceiling, to appliances, tile and furnishings. The options are nearly limitless.

Good design doesn’t have to be a fad. Today’s trends provide ways to customize your home that reflect your personality, add comfort and create a safer environment. Find examples of how each of these trends can be included in your next kitchen or bathroom remodel at nari.org/consumers/trends.

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NEW YEARS HOME RESOLUTIONS 4 RULES TO KEEP YOUR LIVING SPACE ORGANIZED

BY STATEPOINT

After the hectic holidays, it’s no surprise that many people commit to getting better organized in the new year.

There are plenty of reasons why people obsess over organization and resolve to master it year after year. Household items become easier to find. Rooms all of a sudden seem bigger and more welcoming.

Each walk past a tidy linen closet — where there was once an avalanche waiting to spill forward — comes with a small sense of accomplishment.

Whether you’re after smarter storage or looking to cut clutter, successful resolutions begin with a thoughtful approach.

THINK SMALL

While it’s fun to dream about a large-scale routine reset, smaller sustainable actions are key to lasting change. Take it one room or even one drawer at a time to keep momentum positive and to avoid feeling overwhelmed. Doing so also allows you to focus, leading to more creative solutions for taking advantage of under-utilized areas. For example, you may find using over-the door organizers a great way to free up space in home offices and craft rooms.

SAY “NO” TO CLUTTER

Everyone has items they keep around for no real reason that aren’t particularly meaningful and don’t serve a purpose. Being able to objectively identify these items makes everything easier.

Paring down possessions doesn’t have to be painful. That cardinal shaped cookie jar that you’ve always been on the fence about? It would make an incredibly thoughtful “just because” gift for an ornithology-obsessed aunt. Often, less can literally be more: Consignment shops and eBay make it easy to turn four or five pieces of furniture you “kind of like” into one piece you absolutely love.

STORE DÉCOR WISELY

Everyone loves holiday decorating. Taking down decorations afterward ... not so much. It’s difficult to preserve items in a haphazard collection of cardboard boxes, plastic bags and mismatched bins, all crammed into the corner of a garage or basement.

Stepping up storage containers can make a big difference. For a wide selection of storage solutions specifically designed for holiday décor, check out Improvements, which offers everything from ornament and gift wrap organizers to wreath and garland storage bags.

KEEP A PLACE FOR EVERYTHING

Nobody likes wasting time gathering or searching.

Make storage more convenient and efficient by streamlining. Items frequently used together should be kept together, from coffee supplies to vehicle

maintenance tools.

MAKE A PLAN

Create a schedule so nothing is overlooked.

Knowing which project is next gives you time to prepare and purchase any storage items you might need. When scheduling, designate specific rooms and spaces for certain seasons. For example, the first

warm days of spring are made for cleaning out the shed or garage.

More organizational inspiration can be found by visiting improvementscatalog.com.

Successful resolutions are essentially new habits that become part of a lifestyle. Deliberately choosing to incorporate small acts of organization on a daily basis will pay off tremendously throughout the year.

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Beat cabin fever with winter renovations Saturday, December 30, 2017

Messenger-Inquirer

When the weather outside is frightful, homeowners and renters can turn their interior spaces into something delightful.

Residents can banish feelings of cabin fever by using time spent inside to make subtle or even substantial improvements to their living areas.

Individuals may find that winter is a great time to tackle delayed or unfinished projects or to put plans for major renovations in motion. Homeowners may find that they have some extra time on their hands when weather and early evening darkness reduces how much time they can spend outdoors. The following projects can help homeowners make the most of their time indoors.

those who are happy with the lines and scale of their current furniture, a facelift may be all that’s needed to give rooms a new look. Slipcovers can make sofas, love seats and chairs look like new or blend with an entirely new color scheme.

Slipcovers come in fitted and loose varieties and in many different materials.

Other pieces can be updated with throws, new linens or a coat of paint or stain.

ADDRESS DRAFTS AND OTHER INEFFICIENCIES

Colder temperatures alert homeowners to drafts, leaks and even insect or rodent infiltration. Homeowners can scout out rooms and remedy situations.

START PAINTING

One of the easiest ways to transform the look of a room is with a fresh coat of paint. Painting a room or rooms is an inexpensive project that can be completed may want to sand and paint furniture to over the course of a single weekend. give items a trendy arts-and-crafts feel.

Painting in lighter colors can help illuminate dark spaces and make a home REIMAGINE FLOORING feel more vivid and inviting, especially Thanks to the bevy of laminate, during the winter. And painting need not composite materials and vinyl flooring be reserved for walls only. Homeowners

ORGANIZE THE HOME

options, homeowners can engage in do-it-yourself flooring projects to perk up tired interior spaces.

REDRESS THE FURNITURE

New furniture can be expensive. For

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Rainy or snowy days are great moments to address organizational issues, such as messy mudrooms or cluttered kitchen cabinets. Get a jump-start on spring cleaning before the warm weather arrives.

Time spent indoors can be put to good use by engaging in renovation projects.