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As we become more of a home-based society, many more of us are pouring money into our houses with DIY renovations. Do it yourself home improvement projects are both rewarding and usually will give you a good return on investment should you decide...
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Home Improvements - Making Decisions
If you have a family, planning home improvements should be a
family matter. Still, you want to stick to ideas that work.
Ideas That Work
We've all seen families who get along well most of the time and
families who are constantly at odds with each other. One common
denominator among families who get along are homes that work for
them. Let's talk about ideas seen more than once in homes that
work. It may help you explore what will work for you.
Many families with school age children have a computer and
homework area near the kitchen. It's often a computer desk and
the breakfast area table. This is usually sandwiched between the
kitchen and family room, and all three areas are open to each
other. It's an easy area for parents to make themselves
available to help and supervise the children while they
themselves perhaps cook, talk, read, or have a cup of tea (or
other beverage) before or after dinner.
Family rooms are also great for TV, movies, and computer games.
A finished basement provides an ideal place for a "home theater"
for the same sorts of things, but supervision becomes tougher.
Unfinished basement areas can be just what's needed for a
workbench, an artist's studio (especially walk-out basements
with big north facing windows), a sewing area, a place to
practice a musical instrument, a place to refinish furniture, a
potting bench for plants, a place for the pets when the family
has guests. I've seen all of
the above work well alone and in a
variety of combinations.
Many modern homes have a "formal living room" that is too small
to really work as a living room. It can be set up and decorated
as a library or study and be the perfect place for a parent to
do some serious work and not be interrupted too frequently.
Master bedrooms are getting larger and larger. They often have a
small seating arrangement included in their design. This can be
a parental retreat for quiet conversation.
Master bedrooms can also provide a quiet corner for a computer
desk and work area. If looking at work space isn't relaxing to
you, you can always shield it from view with a decorative
folding screen.
Don't forget the importance of family dinners. Studies show that
children of families who have dinner and conversation together
several nights a week, week in and week out, tend to be more
successful and happier than those who don't. It can be at the
kitchen table, in the breakfast area, or in the dining room, but
plan for it and make it happen if you value the success and
happiness of your children.
Every home is unique and so is your family. When improving your
home, look for ideas that work.
About the author:
Raynor James is with http://www.fsboamerica.org - FSBO homes for
sale by owner. Visit our "sell my home" page at
http://www.fsboamerica.org/seller.cfm to sell your own home
yourself with a free 1 month listing.
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