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There are many reasons why a vanity under a sink might be a good idea. Some decide to put one up for storage purposes, or simply for making sure cleaning supplies are out of sight, while others may opt for one in order to make sure they do not accidentally lean on a pretty sink and cause it to fall off its attachment. Whatever your reason to add a vanity beneath a bathroom sink, you may find it very expensive to buy as a ready-made item; besides, buying ready-made may not always give you the size that you want for your particular needs. As such it might be a wiser choice to make your own vanity. Even if you have little or no carpentry experience, the task is actually very simple, as long as you do some advance planning.
Step 1. Make careful drawings of the vanity you would like to put. If you have no prior experience with carpentry, it would be best to make it simple: that is, simple lines, with little or no mouldings or other extra decoration. If you would like to have mouldings on the vanity door, do put it in as an extra add-on you might want to undertake after you finish the main frame.
Step 2. Measure the space underneath your sink. Note that the vanity will need to take into account the space taken up by the plumbing system of the sink. As such, you might have to leave space for the pipes to go through within your vanity. You might opt to keep an empty space behind the storage space, or just note some holes you will need to drill. Of course, most likely that not, your vanity will attach with the sink forming its top portion, so you will not have to drill any hole onto your work; instead, measure out the pipes to make sure they have enough space within your vanity.
Step 3. With your measurements, calculate how many sheets of plywood you will need. A size 3/16-inch with dimensions 4 x 8 feet would typically be enough, unless your vanity comes with shelves and other compartments. In that case, you might need two sheets of plywood. If your local hardware store stocks up on spare, cut pieces, you will generally find these to be a better price: just check if the pieces can still accommodate each panel you need for your vanity.
Step 4. Mark off the sizes you would need to assemble the vanity, and use a power saw or a handsaw to cut the size you need. Use sandpaper to smooth the edges off.
Step 5. Assemble the pieces as you would a toy model before you actually nail them. Nail the pieces at right angles using size 1-inch to 2-inches common wire nails. Install the door with the type of hinges and closers you would need. When you have fully assembled the vanity, apply wood putty to the nail heads.
Step 6. Finish up the work with varnish, wood stain, or paint. When it is completely dry, push it into the space underneath your sink.
If you live in a relatively small home or simply that you’re not getting the best use out of your available space, there are a number of fun and aesthetically appealing changes that you can make. If you’re looking for creative ideas for how to maximize your home space, here are some ideas to consider.
1. Find unused space: Because you’re so accustomed to the space inside your home, it can be difficult to step back and view it with a fresh eye. But give it your best effort. Go through your home and try to identify spaces that aren’t being used. For example, maybe you have a few square feet around a heating vent that you don’t store anything in and that no one ever walks through. The reality is that you can use this space without blocking the heating vent. Try to identify all areas like this in your home, and put them to use.
2. Look high and low: If you don’t mind having a little overhead clutter, you can use the tops of your kitchen cabinets as storage spaces for items that you don’t use very often. Meanwhile, you can also store things under stairs and beneath pieces of furniture that have at least a few inches of ground clearance.
3. Buy efficient storage items: Head to an innovative modern home goods store, and invest in some types of storage compartments that can double as other items. For examples, you can find storage compartments that double as couches or chairs, and there are other special tools that are designed to help maximize closet or bathroom space.
4. Use the attic: Many homeowners consider the attic to be off limits due to the fact that it’s difficult to reach and often doesn’t have a controlled climate. But if you items that you don’t need very often and can withstand hot or cold temperatures, put them up in the attic. At least check things out up there—it could be that there’s room for storing things within reach of the attic door.
5. Get rid of unused stuff: This tip may seem a little obvious, but it helps to be reminded from time to time. It’s a good idea to try to purge your home of all unneeded things at least a couple of times a year. Every time you do so you will feel lighter, and your home will feel much clearer.
Old appliances tend to contain a lot of heavy materials, and they’re not exactly the greenest things to simply dump into the landfill. That’s why many governments and environmental organizations recommend that people follow certain procedures when getting rid of old appliances, especially larger ones such as refrigerators, ovens, air conditioners, and water heaters. If you’re not sure what to do with your old appliances, here are some of your options.
1. Recycle: Find out if your local waste disposal organization picks up old appliances for recycling. In most cases, you can’t simply put out the appliance on the normal trash-collection day, and you may need to go through some extra steps. Go to the organization’s website or give them a call to find out what your options are. You may have to cart it to a recycling facility yourself.
2. Place an ad: If you have an old appliance that either still works or could potentially be salvaged put an ad up on Craigslist or any local classifieds service. You can try selling it for a low amount of money at first, and if this doesn’t work, just give it away for free to anyone who is willing to come and pick it up. If the appliance is pretty junky, skip trying to get money for it and just offer it to anyone who will haul it away for free.
3. Ask your appliance dealer: If you’re going to have a new appliance delivered, ask the company if they take away old appliances. They may do so for a little extra charge, but sometimes it’s worth paying that fee just to get the cumbersome old appliance off of your hands. Some appliance companies even do it for free. In any case, it can’t hurt to at least ask.
4. Donate appliances that still work: In the even that your old appliance may still have a couple of good years in it, then you can donate it to a charitable organization. Contact the Salvation Army or Goodwill (or the equivalent local charity in your area) to find out if they can take it off your hands. If you can get rid of it this way, you may even be able to get a tax deduction.
Choosing a color scheme for your home is not as difficult as one might think. It starts with a very simple visualization—just close your eyes and imagine the color scheme that you see in your home. No doubt it’s possible to put together an unappealing color scheme, but if you use your intuition and rely on your personal tastes, there really is no wrong set of colors. It’s all a matter of what you like and what you don’t like, and if you can achieve your vision, you’ll be happy with your colors.
Most interior designers consider one of four different approaches when choosing a color scheme:
- Monochromatic: In a monochromatic color scheme, all the colors in a room are different shades of the same color. For example, you might have light green for the baseboards, a darker green for the walls, and shades of green for many of the furniture items.
- Analogous: In an analogous color scheme, you’ll pick one color that you want to emphasize in the room, and then you’ll choose two or three adjacent colors on the color wheel to provide highlights.
- Complementary: In a complementary color scheme, you’ll choose two different colors that complement each other—for example, orange and purple—and use two or three different shades of each of those colors. This is a great approach if you have two favorite colors that go well together.
- Triadic: Triadic color schemes are a little more advanced. As the name implies, a triadic scheme involves three different colors—for example, red, blue, and yellow. It’s hard to do this without going over-the-top, but if you don’t mind the risk, it’s a fun adventure to try.
If you’re not sure how to choose your color scheme, start with existing pieces of furniture or rugs that you already have. Use them as starting points, and find colors that complement them.
Also, it’s a good idea to check decorating magazines (both paper and online) to get a look at different color schemes that people are using in their homes. Not all of us are good at simply imagining an appealing color scheme. In this case, there’s nothing wrong with using some photos to help you come up with ideas. If you find a photo of a room that you like, take it to the paint department at your hardware store, and they should be able to help you identify the perfect paints to use.
Having a bad odor in the home can really put a damper on one’s life. It hangs in the air and can’t be escaped, and it makes you reluctant to have anyone over. All in all, it makes the home a much less pleasant place. And because many home odors are so difficult to get rid of, they can also be endlessly frustrating. Fortunately, there are some tried-and-true methods for getting rid of home odors. If you try one and it doesn’t work, move on to the next one. In fact, many people find that they don’t get good results until they perform several different methods multiple times. That’s how persistent home odors can be.
1. Scrub: The first thing you’ll want to do to get rid of an odor is to scrub the surface where it’s coming from. Even if you suspect that the odor is coming from deep in the floorboards, you’ll want to give the area a good cleaning. The best way to do so is to use multiple different materials. Use the traditional store-bought cleaner for the surface, then clean with a specialized odor-removing product, and finally scrub with a half-water-half-vinegar mixture.
2. Cook: Next, if you have an odor in your kitchen, you can try to neutralize the smell by boiling some water on your stovetop. You can also make a natural air freshener by putting a few tablespoons of vanilla extract in some aluminum foil and cooking it at moderate heat in the oven.
3. Freshen: There are a number of air conditioners on the market that do more than just cover up smells, but also emit freshening agents in the air to help completely neutralize the odor. Place a few store-bought air conditioners around the home, with an extra freshener or two around the area where the odor is worst.
4. Other scents: In addition to fresheners, you can also use things like incense and scented candles to fill your home with pleasant smells. These will help cover up the odor in the short-term, and if you use them persistently, they can actually help to permanently bury the bad smell in the long run.
5. Be persistent: If you try all these different cleaning methods and the bad smell doesn’t go away, don’t give up. Take a couple of hours every weekend to repeat your steps, and keep it up for several months. It may seem like a lot of work, but you will eventually begin to make headway.
Due to the rise of telecommuting and the explosion of web-based small businesses, more people than ever are finding opportunities to set aside the daily commute and work from home. Naturally, this shift involves a lot of changes to one’s life and routine, not least of which is the necessity for a home office. When beginning to work from home, many people quickly discover that working in any old room of the house just doesn’t work. To stay focused, one needs a dedicated space that’s for work and work only. When making your home office, here are some things to keep in mind:
1. Offices need privacy: If you don’t have a lot of room to spare, then this will obviously affect how you set up your home office. Of course, the ideal scenario is to have a separate room that can enable you to completely shut out the outside world while you’re working. If this isn’t possible, then you’ll have to set aside a space within a room that is devoted to nothing but your office. There are different things you can do to set it apart from the rest of the room. There are partition walls, or you can use a row of tall book shelves.
2. Make it look nice: If you’ve been an office drone for much of your live, then you may just assume that all offices need to be drab and boringly decorated. But you are in charge of this office, so you can do anything you want with it. Paint the wall a fun color, hang up any decorations that make you feel good, and make sure the furniture is appealing.
3. Keep it well lit: Mood lighting is nice for creating an aesthetically pleasing atmosphere, but when it comes to working, you’re going to need to have plenty of light so your eyes don’t get tired. The best home office setups usually have multiple light sources, including a lamp on your desk and a brighter overhead light.
4. Make it ergonomic: Since you’re going to be spending lots of time sitting in your office, you want it to be comfortable. Of course, it can’t be too comfortable or else you’ll fall asleep, but see if you can invest in a nice desk and chair that are designed to create an ergonomic workspace.
5. Get your deductions: Most tax agencies allow small business owners to deduct expenses related to home-based offices. For example, you can calculate the portion of your home devoted to your office and deduct a corresponding portion of your rent and bills. However, the catch is that the office has to be devoted exclusively to work purposes, or else it doesn’t count as a business expense.
Having an outbreak of bugs in the home can be infuriating because the little critters can squeeze through the tiniest holes, and they just keep coming by the thousands, no matter how many you kill. These problems tend to peak during the warmer and more humid months of the year—especially the late spring and summer—but it can happen any time. The important thing is to keep a cool head and not get too angry or grossed out by the bugs. There are ways to get rid of them without paying for an exterminator. Here’s what to do.
Step 1: Head to the hardware store and purchase two types of bug spray—one for the outside of the house, and one for the inside. Spray along the perimeter of your house in the outside, and then come indoors and spray along the door jams and any windows where bugs may enter.
Step 2: Make sure the home stays clean. It’s important to get old food out of your home as soon as possible. Keep your trash and recycle bins outdoors—even outside of the garage, if you have one—and take your trash out every day. Don’t leave old or rotting food inside overnight. Also, while it may not seem quite as important, one should also try to keep the home uncluttered, as many types of bugs like to hang out in dark places. Take a minimalistic approach to your home design, and be sure to let in lots of natural light.
Step 3: Cut back on the moisture in your home. If you live in a humid area, or if your home often feels quite muggy, you might want to invest in a dehumidifier. When the dehumidifier is not running, just make sure to get lots of air flowing through the rooms by opening windows in all sections of the house and keeping doors open. Bugs like humidity, so all of these things will help.
Step 4: Try to identify the exact locations where the bugs get in. For example, if you have cracks in the foundation, these could be the entry points. In this case, you’ll want to seal up the cracks. Also look for spots around doors and windows where the clearance is large and seal them up wherever possible. Replace any ripped or broken screens, and make sure that doors close as they’re supposed to.
Most handy people have a full set of tools that they use for most purposes. But working with electrical circuits and wires requires a whole separate set of tools that many people don’t have. For the most part, people who don’t have a lot of experience with DIY repairs should avoid working with electricity due to the safety risks that it involves, but if you are an advanced handyperson and know how to stay safe when working with electricity, then you can get into this realm yourself. Before getting started, you’ll need a few crucial tools.
Here are the main ones to have.
- Wire stripper/cutter: When you’re working with wires, there will be times when you need to cut wires, and you’ll sometimes need to strip away the rubber insulation to expose the end of a wire. For this purpose, you can use an all-in-one wire stripper and cutter, which is usually relatively cheap.
- Voltage tester: Having a voltage tester is crucial for safety. Many people assume that it’s enough to simply flip the switch to shut off the power to the room, but you can’t rely on this. Some rooms are not wired properly, or there may be an electrical problem causing power to flow into the room even when the circuit is off. Before you ever come into contact with an element that usually has live electricity, be sure to test it with a voltage tester. These tools are very cheap and easy to use, and they can save your life.
- Electrical tape: When you have to bunch wires together, using any old type of tape won’t do. Electrical tape is specially designed so that it doesn’t conduct electricity, while helps prevent short circuits and other problems when the power is turned back on. Most electricians use electrical tape for one reason or another on practically every job.
- Needle-nose plier: When working with things like electrical outlets and power switches, you’ll find that some of the wires can be hard to reach. In this event, you’ll want to have some long pliers to reach into any small openings and pull the wires through.
- Rubber-handled screwdriver: After shutting power off, it’s best to test the voltage from as close to the power source as possible, which usually means removing the plate to an electrical socket or light switch prior to testing. For safety, it’s best to use a rubber-grip screwdriver to remove these plates just in case there is any lingering electrical charge.
Do you have a home repair task that you can’t do yourself? If you’ve gone through all your options and have decided that it’s time to hire a professional, now you will face the challenging and often stressful process of finding a good person to work with at a fair rate. However, you can ensure that you get the best possible quote by following these very simple tips.
1. Know what the project costs: Before you start calling people for quotes, try to get a good sense of how much it should cost. Ask around to find out if any family or friends have had similar work done, and find out if they can remember the price. Another option is to go online and do a little research. You probably won’t be able to pinpoint an exact price, and of course prices vary in different places, but it’s a good idea to have a general sense of what to expect.
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Old furniture often has a special hand-made quality that you just don’t get from mass-produced modern furniture, which is why antiques are so popular (and sometimes expensive). The problem is that old furniture is often so worn out that its damage negates any of the positive qualities it may have. If you have an old piece of furniture that you want to fix up to put in your home, here are some ideas for things you can do.
Old wooden chairs: With old wooden chairs, use a fine-grained sandpaper to smooth out all the rough patches, and then use either a finish or a paint color of your choosing to make the chair look good as new.
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