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6 Ways To Use Contemporary Area Rugs In Your Home Decor
Whether you are in a brand new home or one that's had some
years providing a cozy environment. If you are looking to change
the look of a room, add a focal point, or update it contemporary
area rugs can do the job. Here are 6 ways to use...
Are Homes Toxic?
My husbands cigarette box, courtesy the government, lists a handful of ingredients: Tar, Nicotine, Carbon monoxide, Formaldehyde, Hydrogen cyanide, and Benzene. There are probably more to list, but the flap is only so big. Many families with...
Bathroom Vanity Cabinets -
Bathroom vanity cabinets are considered bathroom furniture, and usually range from simple two door storage units with a wood veneer or a single color paint to exquisitely detailed richly carved hard wood cabinets, with hand applied finishes and...
Decorating A Child's Room
Decorating your child's room should be fun and exciting for all involved. The most important thing to remember when planning or decorating your child's room is to keep the decor age appropriate. You wouldn't want to decorate your 3 year old...
Decorative And Faux Painting Is Fun But Don’t Start Until You Read This
I think decorative and faux painting techniques look great, are fun to do, and add a personal statement to a room. I’ve been adding my personal look to the walls in my homes ever since my husband and I purchased our first “fixer-upper.”
When I...
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Unlocking Your Dungeon: How to Finish a Basement Without Finishing off Your Checkbook
One thousand square feet, fifteen hundred square feet, three
thousand square feet--however big your home is, you know it
could always be a little bit bigger. Whether you're in the
throes of parenthood and trying to find spaces to stash your
kid's toys, or you're starting a home business, and you could
probably use an extra room or two. One way to get more space is
to buy a whole new house. For those of us in the real world,
though, a far more economical and practical solution is to
finish the basement.
Yes, that creepy, crawly dungeon can be turned into a playroom
for your children, a home office for your bustling new business,
or an entertainment room for the weekend's big game. You'll just
need to cover over the cold concrete floors and the gray
foundation walls. Then there's the pipes hanging from the
ceiling that you'll want to hide, and the washer, dryer, and
storage boxes that you might want to section off.
OK, maybe this project isn't sounding so practical or economical
anymore. But actually, despite the time and effort that goes
into it, finishing your basement is basically easy and cheap--if
you know how to go about it the right way. There are eight key
considerations you ought to make if you're down with finishing
your basement. They'll help you figure out how to go about it,
as well as help you decide if you really want to go about it in
the first place.
No. 1: Just how much value will the basement add to your home.
Chances are, a finished basement will make a "cellar" want to
offer more to buy your home. But by how much? To be worthwhile,
make sure the increase in your home's value will over-compensate
what you spent to finish your basement. Talk to neighbors who
have finished their basement, or do research online or with your
real-estate agent to see what houses are worth in your area,
with and without finished basements.
No. 2: Have a good sense how long you will be in your home after
you finish the basement. Sure, a finished basement will bump up
the value of your house, but you also want to be sure you will
get some value yourself out of all that new space.
No. 3: Be realistic about costs and work time. Depending on your
basement, finishing it could be more intensive than you first
imagine. Can you really spent (or borrow) $10,000 at this time?
Do you want contractors in your home for two weeks?
No. 4. I don't need a contractor to do work I can do myself!
(Oh, really?). Even handymen or women can get themselves in over
their heads when it
comes to major projects like finishing a
basement. And don't get us wrong. You may be capable of doing
all of the necessary work. But are you able--meaning, do you
have the time and energy after your 9-to-5 job, your children's
sports practices, and a few hours of sleep?
No. 5: Local laws may have something to say, too. Hiring a
contractor or doing it yourself--whatever way you decide, you
may have to comply with local or state codes for such
construction. Again, a neighbor who's recently done a similar
home renovation could be a wealth of information, as well as
municipal or state Web sites. Following such regulations may
seem like a pain, but they may help you prevent real pain that
comes from injuries if you carry out your project without safety
codes in mind.
No. 6: Sure, it's a good idea to finish the basement--but
exactly how? Here's the fun part. Once you determine that it
will be worth it to go through with the project, now you need to
figure out what sort of room you want down there. Will the theme
be a spare bedroom, a playroom, work-out gym, office, home
theater, etc.?
No. 7: Are you being realistic about the basement's new theme?
OK, it would be great to have a fitness room down there, but do
you really have the room for the treadmill and the weights? Do
you have the square footage for two couches and a 60-inch
high-definition TV? Will you have the ceiling height to fit your
7-foot-tall bookshelves?
No. 8. Your basement can handle your vision of finished
glory--great, now make it happen. Start shopping around for all
your necessary appliances and furniture. Do your research on
price and selection and get your best value. In many cases--such
as with office furniture or fitness equipment--buying used is
the way to go. Used stuff can be none the worse for wear, and at
online classifieds or auction sites, you can more often than
not--get great deals on it.
Steps 1 through 8--just like that, it's simple to make your
house that much closer to being that figurative castle, or that
is, to turn your castle's dungeon into the king's (or queen's)
court!
About the author:
Donald Lee is the public relations manager for
Buysellcommunity.com. Buysellcommunity provides free classified
listing services. Buy, Sell and trade: auto, computers,
household items, real estate, pets and much more. For global and
localized classifieds, please visit http://www.buysellcommunit
y.com - Free Buy & Sell Classifieds
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