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‘Tis the season for… houseguest! As the holidays approach, you may already be preparing to welcome friends and family into your home. “My home is your home” may be implied, but there are simple things you can do to let guests know you really mean it. Whether they’re staying a night or a few weeks, here are some tips for making your guests feel so welcomed, they may not want to leave!
Of course you’ll want to tidy up before welcoming guests, but pay special attention to common areas like the kitchen, bathrooms, and the room where guests will be sleeping. Giving your home a good deep cleaning before guests arrive will give you more time to enjoy friends and family, and less time spent worrying about your to-do list. So that your guests immediately feel at home, set the stage for a cozy welcoming:
It doesn’t have to be fancy or expensive, but adding a thoughtful welcome basket in the guest room lets your guests know how happy you are to have them in your home. Personal items you know your guests love add a special touch, but you can also include:
Create a simple guide to help guests become familiar with your home. Add “need to knows” like:
If your guests will be staying for more than a day or two, you may also want to provide them a key to your home or garage door opener so they can feel free to come and go as needed.
So that your guests don’t have to live out of their suitcase during their stay, make space in a closet and chest of drawers so they can feel free to unpack.
Help guest feel at home by giving them free reign in the kitchen. During the holidays, having plenty of food around shouldn’t be much of a challenge, but you can help guests feel at home in your kitchen by keeping essential items easy to find.
It’s a good idea to stock up on your guests’ favorite food and drinks before they arrive, but you may want to consider letting them join you for shopping. My in-laws are from a small town, and whenever they visit we all take a trip together to Trader Joe’s. They enjoy shopping at a place they don’t often have access to and stocking up on plenty of food to enjoy during their stay.
Maybe the most important tip to help guests feel welcome in your home is to simply relax and enjoy their company. Opening up your home to friends and family gives you the special opportunity to carry on old traditions and start new ones of your own. There may be hectic moments and plans might go array, but the time spent together and new memories made is priceless. Enjoy!
As anyone who is a Back to the Future fan will tell you, we are officially living the future! Much of what only seemed like impossibly cool ideas in 1985, are now real innovations you can buy today. Smart home products are all about using technology to make your home more intuitive, efficient and convenient for you. Plus, there’s the undeniable “cool factor” you don’t have to be a techie to love. Popsugar put together their own list of the best smart home gadgets for 2015. Do you own any of these items, or are you now inspired to raise your home’s IQ?
The vision of the future spelled out by The Jetsons may not be so far off after all. A big theme this year has been connected high-tech household. Futuristic thermostats, security systems, and even washing machines can now work together to make your digs more digital than ever. Ahead, we collected 12 new gizmos that are going to catapult your abode into the future.
The Ring
This wearable turns Muggles into wizards. With the swipe of your hand, you can open your curtains or turn on your TV with the Ring, a gesture-controlled device. Many actions can be programmed into the wearable, and it’s not just limited to the home. With a wave, you’ll be able to hail an Uber or save a note to Evernote. Ring is on sale now for $150.
Petcube
Feeling guilty about leaving your furry friends at home? Petcube is a video-camera system that allows you to remotely tune in to what your pets are up to. There’s also a built-in mic so you can talk to your pup or kitty. You can even enable a laser pointer to entertain ’em! So fun. It’s available now for $199.
Welcome Camera
The Netatmo Welcome is a smart-home security camera that uses facial-recognition technology to alert you when your family members are home. If it sees an unknown face, you’ll get a ping. The smartphone app also provides a timeline of who arrived when. You can also view a livestream at any time! The best part is that the videos are recorded to a local SD card, which means you don’t need to pay for a subscription service. Buy it now for $199.
H2O Smart Pot
If you’re just as guilty of killing too many houseplants as we are, this H20 pot accessory is your savior. Attach a water bottle to the Bluetooth-enabled device, and it’ll use its database of over 7,000 plants to release the ideal amount of water into your pot. If you need a little extra help, the Parrot Pot (shown here) is a container that has the technology of the H20 built-in. It releases water from a hidden ceramic chamber through four spouts.
{See the full list: 12 gadgets that will raise your home’s IQ}
If you’ve avoided wallpaper in the past because of the time and design commitment required, it may be worth considering removable wallpaper. Available in a huge variety of styles, from graphic patters to mural-size landscape prints, temporary wallpaper can be easily removed when your tastes change or when moving to new home. Plus, this wallpaper isn’t just for walls! Decorate the back of a bookshelf, install in place of a headboard, or makeover an old dresser from the flea market. This article from Freshome guides you through the world of removable wallpaper, explaining how it works, showing examples from the wall and beyond, and even provides a list of wallpaper companies for your next home project.
Wallpaper is one of the top home design trends; the gorgeous textures and patterns can really make walls pop. But many renters might assume that wallpaper is a design dream exclusive to homeowners. Others may worry that the patterns they love today will be passé tomorrow. Those worries are over, thanks to removable wallpaper.
Removable wallpaper, also known as temporary wallpaper, is the ideal design upgrade for renters. It uses special adhesives to stick to the walls permanently, yet peels off effortlessly when it’s time to move or remodel. Landlords won’t even know that it was ever there. The nightmarish days of steaming, scoring and removal tools or painted-over wallpaper are over.
If you’re not sure you’re ready to commit to an entire wallpapered room, consider using wallpaper as an accent. Here are some creative removable wallpaper ideas for your next project.
{Read more: The ultimate removable wallpaper guide}
We’re passionate about beautiful homes! For more home decorating ideas and trends, follow Lennar on Pinterest or check out our Secrets from the Lennar interior design pros on the blog.
If your sweet tooth is in high gear in anticipation of Halloween, there’s no need to go door to door with a pillow case in hand. You can make your favorite candy and Halloween treats from the comfort of your own home. Besides knowing exactly what ingredients are going into your sweets, you can make them anytime a craving hits. No need to wait for October 31st!
Here are a few of our favorite fun and creative recipes for making your own sweets at home. Great for your Halloween party or a fun weekend project with kids.
During October, there’s no avoiding this classic Halloween candy. Kids will love rolling out and cutting the shapes, just as much as they love eating their sweet creations. This tutorial by The Kitchn provides step-step step instructions for a fool-proof recipe.
Attention chocoholics! How Sweet Eats shows you how to make your favorite chocolate-carmel-nougat treat. Thankfully, this complicated looking confection is easier to make than you may think. No fancy cookware required!
In the mood for a super simple and quick recipe? Check out this 2-ingredient candy bar from Back for Seconds.
You either love it or hate it. If you’re part of the population who can’t get enough black licorice, Food52 shows you how to make this Halloween treat in your own kitchen.
Exercise your creativity with these fun and delicious lollipops from Martha Stewart. The possibilities for decorations are unlimited. If candy-making feels intimidating, take advantage of a candy thermometer. This inexpensive tool can be a candy-making lifesaver.
This sweet and salty snack isn’t just for the ball park. Serve in paper cones or wrap up in cellophane bags for a fun party favor. So deliciously addictive, you won’t even miss the prize at the bottom of the box! Brown Eye Baker has the recipe.
On November 1st when you’re wondering what to do with all the leftover Halloween candy, check out this brilliant idea from Epicurious. Think of this as more of a guide than a strict recipe. Customize as needed to accommodate your favorite candy, chocolate and nuts.
What’s your favorite Halloween treat? Do you plan to make your own this year?
As most 5 year olds are these days, my son is pretty technologically savvy. With no shortage of games available to him between the gaming console, smart phone and tablet, I’m always surprised how much he enjoys an old fashion game night at home.
We have all the classics, including Monopoly, Candy Land, and Hungry Hungry Hippos (a personal favorite), but unfortunately they stay packed away at the top of the hall closet, hidden by all the stuff a family accumulates over time. Out of sight, out of mind. I cherish the (few) times we make the effort to climb in the closet and dig out the games. I know that a few years from now the last thing he’ll want is to stay at home and play board games with mom and dad.
That’s why this idea for a DYI board game storage unit from Home Made Carmona is such a great find! She has devised a system to keep games easily accessible, even for little players. With busy schedules, ideas like this make it just a little easier to postpone the to-do lists and chores in favor of family fun.
If you have a game collection to organize, here are a few tips for storage shared in the post:
Store Games Upright: In our opinion games should never ever be stored on their sides. Game pieces are jostled about when flipped on their side and you open to a chaotic mess. Um, no, not ok.
Avoid Direct Sunlight: Games must be stored out of the sunlight to avoid fading boxes.
Avoid Stacking: When you stack games one atop the other, over time the roof of the box below begins to sag. The only games I stack are lightweight.
Line Shelves: Over time boxes tend to “stick” to painted shelves and can risk peeling your game box. Shelf liner works wonders to keep your boxes protected.
Use Flat Pull-Out Shelves: Don’t use drawers or pull-out shelves that have any lip to it, it makes it difficult to reach in and grab a game. Straight flat shelves enable you to slide a game out without having to “claw” at it to get a grip. Also be sure that your drawer slides are the correct length to pull shelves out far enough to allow the game behind to be easily lifted without having to move other games out of the way.
Personalize Organization: We opted to organize our games by categories then from top to bottom by frequency of play. Our categories are “Family Games”, “Friend Favorites”, “Rosenburg Games”, and “Everything Else”. Whether you go by alphabetical order or categories, customize it to how you and your family thinks. And definitely label!
Add the Bells & Whistles: Add door pulls to the pull-out shelves if it makes it easier for you to grab…my husband preferred it without, but find ways to customize your storage to be most effective.
{Get all the details: DIY board game storage unit}
Did you know that October is the National Popcorn Poppin’ Month? Yes, it’s a real thing and became official in 1999 when the Secretary of Agriculture declare the month as a time to celebrate harvest and one of America’s favorite snacks.
Popcorn is an enjoyable treat any time, but goes especially well while nestled in your favorite spot to watch a movie at home. In honor of this national celebration, we’ve gathered up ideas and inspiration for a popcorn and movie night at home.
A great movie night can happen anywhere, from a cozy spot on the couch to joining the whole family in the media room. Get inspired by these Lennar home theaters from across the country.
Where is your favorite place to watch a movie at home?
What’s movie night without the popcorn? A bag of your favorite butter popcorn from the microwave is always a good idea, but if you’re looking to take your popcorn game up a notch, check out these recipes.
Carmel Corn – A quick and easy recipe, you’re likely to already have everything you need to make this sweet treat at home. For a sweet and salty snack, add in your favorite nuts, like pecans, peanuts or almonds.
Buffalo Ranch Popcorn – This adventurous and savory take on popcorn is packed with flavor thanks to the addition of ranch seasoning and your favorite wing sauce.
Popcorn balls – If you really want to impress the kids (and honestly, the adults too), give these sweet and sticky treats a try. Customize by adding your favorite candy and nuts. Just be sure to have extra napkins on hand!
Now all you need is the perfect movie. At home with your favorite snack, there’s no better place to enjoy movie night.
What’s your favorite movie to watch at home? Let us know in the comments!
A frequent request by new home shoppers is an open floorplan, where the living room, kitchen and eating areas flow easily from space to space. The flexibility of an open living space offers many benefits, but can also present some challenges. This article from NewHomeSource.com provides tips and ideas for making the most of your open floor plan.
Open floor plans — the new standard of home design. An open floor plan allows for lots of space and an uninterrupted flow between the rooms in your home.
For those who are used to placing a sofa against a wall, however, an open floor plan may be a challenge to furnish. So, how do you get the most out of a floor plan that allows for open living? In this article, we’ll discuss how to utilize this type of plan in terms of decorating, differentiating spaces, keeping the space tidy and for entertaining.
One reason many homeowners appreciate open floor plans is that this floor plan is ideal for entertaining. Guests have enough room to mingle in a large space without being separated by walls and you’re able to serve food, drinks, play music, etc., all in one space (or even entertain while cooking, making the kitchen a gathering space for host and guests alike). Also, rooms are expandable for your needs — you can have a dining space for small gatherings or move furniture out of the way to expand the space for large amounts of people.
Another advantage of an open floor plan is that it’s a great layout for families. Open floor plans provide the ability to babysit easily, because you can keep an eye on the kids from any part of the living area. Or for older kids, you’re able to communicate with them or monitor what they’re watching on TV — all while cooking dinner in the kitchen.
“The open plan works well for the modern family,” says Patricia Brown, who owns her own interior design company, Patricia Davis Brown Designs, in Vero Beach, Fla. “Families today are typically multi-tasking between kids and working. It is helpful to have a room that sponsors many functions, such as preparing dinner for the family while helping children with their homework.”
While an open floor plan is ideal for hosting guests and staying connected with family, decorating can be an issue. There are fewer walls to hang artwork and it may be difficult to differentiate each space. You also may have to commit to one overall design theme, which could mean buying more cohesive furniture if you’re coming from a home with separate rooms.
The questions that need to be answered in an open floor plan are, “Where does one room stop and the other start? Or, how do you fill up such a large space?” says Tori Toth, a certified home stager. “One of the easiest ways to break up an open floor plan is adding rugs in certain areas of the room to define each space. Overhead lighting, like a chandelier, easily suggests where to put the dining room.”
Other issues are unsightly backs to couches and chairs and color schemes throughout the rooms. Kasia McDaniel, a certified interior designer, suggests low bookcases or console/sofa tables against a couch to combat outward-facing furniture backs.
“With such a large space, you will more than likely have a column or two,” says McDaniel. “Use those architectural features to help define the space as well. You can use color to help separate each area as well. Use the same color palette such as blues, greens and browns, but use blues in the living area or green in the dining area. They still complement each other, but the colors help define the space.”
Lots of organizational planning needs to happen to keep such a large space tidy. Built-in storage shelves are optimal, but movable shelves work as well and can double as a way to divide the rooms. A large space means you can take full advantage of every corner — add that study area that you’ve never had space for by adding a desk and bookshelf to an unused area. Or make a breakfast nook out of that space in between the kitchen and family room.
Another useful item is a storage ottoman, where you can store throw blankets, coasters, toys or anything that you need easy access to but don’t want laying around. An entertainment center with concealed shelving is useful and will give you a little wiggle room to hide things when guests come over. Dual-purpose furniture helps keeps your home decluttered and visually pleasing.
As mentioned previously, an open floor plan can be especially useful for entertaining.
Toth puts it well by stating, “The possibilities with a floor plan like this are endless. You can serve cocktails in a bar area, have appetizers on the kitchen island, sit down dinner in the dining area and then plop on the couch for a night cap, chit-chat, maybe a game or two.”
{Read article on NewHomeSource.com}
Article by Maria Galizia for NewHomeSource.com
If you have a coffee table and about 15 minutes, you have everything you need to makeover a room. A living room staple, coffee tables offer an easy solution to tie together the look of a room, add color to a neutral palette, or show off you favorite accessories. Plus, no commitment required! Give your coffee table a makeover any time to spruce up your space, change with the seasons or display new keepsakes. The article from BrightNest shows you 5 easy ways to make over your coffee table for a whole new look.
Your coffee table isn’t simply a place to eat dinner in front of the TV – it’s a gold mine of design opportunity! With the right objects and a little creativity, you can transform a ho-hum piece of furniture into a powerhouse of personality and color.
1. Pick a palette. For a cohesive look, pick three colors for your coffee table. Follow the 60-30-10 color rule for your table in the same way you’d use it when decorating a room, with 60 percent of your table’s décor being one color, 30 percent a secondary color and 10 percent an accent color (like gold or silver).
2. Think green and potted. Fresh flowers are a beautiful addition to a coffee table, but they can get pricey week-after-week. Instead, think green and potted. Adding a potted plant or a succulent to your table is a great way to add some life without also adding a lot of effort or spending a lot of money. For a list of affordable, low-maintenance plants, visit: Houseplants on a Budget: 5 Cheap and Easy Options.
3. Add books. They’re called coffee table books for a reason: because they look perfect on this space! Three books in a stack are thought to be most visually pleasing. Choose hardback books that are image heavy and have covers that fit within your color palette (see step #1). Some of our favorites include Domino: The Book of Decorating and Design Sponge at Home.
4. Grab a tray. You have your plant and your books, which is a great start. But there’s probably still a lot of empty space on your table. To fill it, grab a tray! Not only will a decorative tray fix the empty-table conundrum, it will also be an attractive catchall for things like remotes and keys. For a cost-effective tray option, make your own with an old cookie sheet.
5. Include personal details. At this point, your table is 99 percent there! You could stop now. Or you could add a few personal touches – items or knickknacks that say “this is my table” like a candle of your favorite scent, a trinket from a recent trip or a matchbook from your favorite restaurant. Have fun with it!
According to this article from U.S. News, buying a new home is one of the best investment decision millennials can make. The benefits of buying now are numerous – from taking advantage of tax savings and low interest rates to the positive emotional return on your home investment. If you’re thinking about making the move into a new home, see why there’s never been a better time to buy.
Millennials are swarmed with investing advice – start saving early, take advantage of your employer’s 401(k) match and for heaven’s sake, dump those high-interest credit cards! But for many who are looking to build a retirement nest egg, financial advisors say purchasing a home is one of the best investments millennials can make.
“Buying a home is one of the smartest financial decisions you can make as early as your 20s,” says Riccardo Ravasini, managing director of Rava Realty, who handles properties in New York and Florida, “because it is inflation-protected and a physical asset that doesn’t disappear like stocks can do.”
Nationwide, millennials have been reluctant to buy homes for various reasons, including a volatile job market, high student debt and the delaying of life events, such as marriage. The rate of homeownership for millennials dipped to a low of 36.2 percent in 2014, according to U.S. Census data, although it’s also worth noting that the millennial generation represents the largest percentage of first-time homebuyers.
Financial and real estate professionals say the numbers are now slowly improving, and they are hopeful that more millennials will soon recognize the benefits to homeownership. Here are some reasons why financial experts say young adults should be investing in the housing market…
{Read more: Why buying a home is a smart investment for Millennials}
