Home Owner Guides

Your Guides to Happy Homeownership (beta)

Main navigation

Bedroom

Bedroom FAQ: What color should I choose to paint my walls?

by

Is your favorite color the “right” color for the walls of your bedroom? We spend one-third of our lives asleep, so it’s important to take every aspect of this space into consideration. A bright red bedroom will create a much different mood than, say, a lavender or a chartreuse one. What makes you feel most at home? Here are a few points to help guide your color choice:

Consider neutrals: One easy way to go with is a with a neutral color like white, beige or gray to give your room a clean canvas.

If you want color, narrow to cool or warm colors; you’ll cut your color choices in half. If you’re going to go with a bold color, I suggest going all the way. (In other words, if you want bold, go for that bold shade that’s dark and dramatic; don’t wimp out and pick a paint chip a few shades lighter.)

Remember that the sheen of a wall can have a huge effect on how a color is perceived in a room, so know the finishes available and how they might transform your room.

Finally, don’t paint an entire room before stepping back to see if you like a color: Use paint swatches to test small areas of the color in all different types of light. And be sure to seek out color suggestions by finding out the colors used in your favorite house tours.

Thanks, ApartmentTherapy!

Check back for more Bedroom FAQ’s as we continue to collect information to create the ultimate Bedroom Homeowner’s Guides.

Bedroom FAQ: What should I think about before remodeling?

by

If I don’t get a good night’s sleep, I already know the next day is going to be rough. A dark, depressing, cluttered bedroom is, truth be told, pretty bad for your health. But even if you know you need to make some changes, it can be challenging to decide where to start — especially if you’re on a tight budget. So how can you proceed with remodeling plans to create the sleep space you deserve? Here are a few key questions to keep in mind:

1. Do you have ample space?

  • Does your bedroom comfortably accommodate the bed and other furnishings, such as dressers? Would you like to have space for a window seat or a seating area?
  • If you’d like a more spacious bedroom, can you expand into an adjoining area, such as an underutilized guest room or another space?
  • Is adding on your best option? How will an addition affect your outdoor living space? Would you like to have access to the yard from your bedroom? How will this affect privacy? What local codes and regulations may influence the design?

Also, think about:

2. What are your furnishing needs? 

  • Would you like a larger or smaller bed? Do you need additional storage pieces, whether for clothing or the television?
  • If you have space for a seating area, how do you like the furnishings? Do they need re-covering or replacing?
  • What’s the condition of the room’s furnishings in general? Do the pieces suit your style?

3. What are your storage and display needs?

  • Is your bedroom cluttered with books, newspapers, DVDs, CDs, or other items?
  • Do you have good storage on each side of the bed, or are the nightstands laden with books and clutter?
  • Are you able to personalize the bedroom with special belongings?

4. Do you like the current style?

  • Does the look of the bedroom work with the style of the rest of your home?
  • Is the bedroom palette and design restful?
  • Is the style updated and a true reflection of your tastes?
  • How do you feel when you wake up in the morning?

And last but not least:

5. How’s the lighting?

  • Are you reading or doing other relaxing tasks in shadows?
  • Do bedside lamps glare in your eyes?
  • If you dress in the bedroom, do you have lighting to assess how you look?
  • Can you adjust lighting levels to suit the time of day and mood?

Thanks to HomePortfolio.com for shedding light on these tips!

As part of our efforts to create the ultimate Bedroom Homeowner’s guides we are constantly searching the web for great pieces of advice.

Check back for more Bedroom FAQ’s as we continue to collect information to create the ultimate Bedroom Homeowner’s Guides.

Bedroom FAQ: How to Get More Storage in a Small Apartment

by

As part of our efforts to create the ultimate Bedroom Homeowner’s guides, we are constantly searching the web for great pieces of advice.

A friend once told me that the state of his bedroom reflected his current state of mind. If he felt messy and out-of-control, his room would look as if it were hit by a chaotic storm. But on the other hand, if he was in a positive and productive mood, the contents of his bedroom would be neatly organized and arranged.

I keep this in mind whenever I try cleaning up my space. Ideally, I want it to always be a haven for relaxation. But even in my calmest moments, there seems to be too much stuff blocking my way to bedroom enlightenment. What to do? Here are a few excellent suggestions:

Stick it under the bed

“Under-bed containers can hold the shorts and tank tops you’re not wearing in January and make more room for what you are wearing,” says Kristine Becker of Closet & Storage Concepts in Voorhees, N.J. “Flipping your seasons is a great way to save space.”

Maximize your closet

“Before buying bulky dressers or armoires, make sure you’re getting the most out of your closet — especially when it comes to hanging space,” says Kristine Becker. “You can always add drawer or shelf units, but it’s harder to change the rods.”

Think vertically

Despite its limited square footage, Denise Schipani’s first apartment had very high ceilings. So when she and her husband ran out of storage space, they looked skyward. “We installed deep shelves high above our heads,” she says. “They were great for stuff you don’t need often, like luggage and boxes of off-season clothes.”

Found at HGTV.com

Check back for more Bedroom FAQ’s as we continue to collect information to create the ultimate Bedroom Homeowner’s Guides.

 

4 Energy Efficient and Inexpensive DIY Projects

by

Many people are aware of the importance of green living but aren’t exactly sure what they can do to reduce the negative impacts they have on the environment. Fortunately, there are plenty of small steps that regular individuals can take to alter their lifestyles in accordance with eco-friendly principles. Embarking on do-it-yourself projects at your home can make it more energy-efficient and therefore contribute to the well-being of the planet.

 

Check and Add Insulation

 

Inadequate insulation leads to air leaks and causes your HVAC equipment to work overtime trying to keep your residence at your preferred temperature. Examine the areas around your doors and windows, and if necessary, apply caulk to seal them properly. Silicone caulk is recommended for use with metal, glass and other water-impermeable surfaces while masonry caulk is ideal for plugging up gaps in walls, bricks and concrete. You can obtain caulk from your local home improvement store for a few dollars a tube.

 

If your water heater is warm to the touch, then you might be able to cover it with an insulating blanket and thereby prevent heat loss. Contact your utility company because it may offer to do the job for you or at least provide you with the necessary supplies for a low cost or even for free. You can also insulate your hot water pipes at a trivial expense with pipe sleeves or fiberglass.

 

Install a Smart Thermostat

 

Some people opt to conserve energy by setting their thermostats a couple of degrees away from what’s most comfortable, but you don’t have to do things manually any longer. With a programmable thermostat, like Google’s Nest or the Ecobee3, your heating and cooling systems will automatically regulate themselves to not waste energy. You’ll probably be able to recoup the cost of the unit within a single summer or winter.

 

You can set up schedules so that your machinery won’t run as frequently when nobody is at home or during the night. In the event that you demand AC or heating service when your thermostat is programmed for a low temperature, you can temporarily override its settings with the touch of a button.

 

You won’t ever have to waste electricity anymore because you forgot to adjust your thermostat before leaving the house. If you do nevertheless need to make changes while you’re away, you can access a connected “smart” thermostat from anywhere through your mobile device.

 

Change Your Lighting Setup

 

Old-fashioned, incandescent light bulbs have adorned homes of all kinds, spartan and luxurious, for more than a century, but their usefulness is now coming to an end. Newer types of lighting, such as compact fluorescent and LED bulbs, consume much less electricity and are therefore good for both your pocketbook and the environment.

 

While both of these types of newfangled lighting have their advantages and drawbacks, LEDs are probably the way to go for most consumers. Don’t be put off by the fact that they cost several times more than regular light bulbs: You’ll recoup your investment in the form of lower energy expenditures in as little as a year. Also, bulbs made of LEDs tend to last quite a bit longer than incandescent ones, so you’ll save on the expenses of replacement too.

 

Get Low-Flow Plumbing Fixtures

 

Upgrading to low-flow showerheads and water faucets will cut down on the water you consume while taking a shower, brushing your teeth and engaging in other similar activities. Not only does this mean that your water bill will be correspondingly lower, but you’ll also be doing your part to alleviate water scarcity.

 

Most of these fixtures can be had for prices below $30, and they could save you hundreds of dollars per year. Look for the WaterSense label on fixtures, which indicates that the device in question complies with the relevant EPA guidelines for water efficiency.

 

There are also low-flow toilets, but they’re a bit more expensive than faucets and showerheads. Replacing your toilet with a low-flow unit might not be a cost-effective step to take unless you’re in the market for a new toilet anyway.

 

By starting on one or several of these four projects, you can save some money while caring for your natural surroundings. For even more ideas on how to improve energy efficiency, you can obtain a comprehensive energy audit of your home from a professional for a few hundred dollars or less.