All posts by Jonathan Clark

Jon Clark is an Internet Marketing Consultant, Entrepreneur and current editor of the Facebook Marketing Blog. Jon loves coffee, sports and NY. You can follow him on Twitter @jonleeclark or circle him on Google+.

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Image by: sturti

Over 14 million men in Britain have admitted that, when DIY work has gone wrong, it resulted in wrecking their home. More than half confessed to still having at least one DIY project unfinished in their property. Each job on average totals up to £170 – which means that there’s an enormous 2 million pounds worth of DIY fix ups to be done in the UK!

Most people prefer to do their own handy work instead of calling in the professionals. This may seem a cheaper alternative since it would save money to do it yourself rather than paying somebody to do the same job.

But this is how DIY disasters are caused. Electrician Martin from MF Electrical in Heanor agrees: “It is whether it has been done safely and won’t endanger a life. Is it worth taking the risk rather than getting a professional in to do it?”

We asked some professional electricians about some of the worst DIY attempts they had seen. Here’s what they had to say.

Dangerous

“A couple had an immersion heater wired in coax TV cable, an 8.5kw shower wired in orange lawn mower flex. One of the classics we used to see regularly was tin foil wrapped round the old style cartridge fuse in fuse boxes.” – Martin from MF Electrical in Heanor

“I think the worst thing that I’ve found would be a ‘junction box’ in a loft. This was basically the connections snapped out of a light fitting and left underneath loft insulation live and with all the live parts exposed.” – Kirsty from Kirsty Cockerill Electrical

“My friend’s husband took some power out to the garden deck. He ran a socket out there and then ran some lights off that. He did it all in 1mm lighting cable and didn’t consider IP ratings (protection from moisture). He plugged in a couple of heaters. There was a big bang!” – Karen from She’s Electric

Bizarre

“I was called out to a home where the lady of the house was getting a shock as she washed her hair in the kitchen sink. It turned out to be a DIY light at the bottom of the stairs her husband had installed – I’ll leave it up to you to decide whether or not it was intentional!” – Roger from C.J. Timms

“Joists catching fire, since the builder drilled half of it out so that his downlight would fit, sockets and showers with no earth, whole houses with no earthing, circuit tripping as a socket under sink was full of spilled fabric conditioner.” – Donna from ATB Electrical

So now you know how not to do it, here are few sage words of wisdom from those electrical pros in the know.

Helpful Tips

“If you have an old-style fuse box, get it replaced. It could save you and your family’s lives.” – Roger from C.J. Timms

“Never risk it and check it yourself. Most electricians will give you free advice, so if in doubt just give someone a call. It could end up costing you more in the long run if you try to fix it yourself.” – Kirsty from Kirsty Cockerill Electrical

“Just because it works doesn’t necessarily mean its safe. If you are at all worried about your electrics, get them properly tested.” – Donna from ATB Electrical

So what’s the moral of the story, boys and girls? Don’t try attempting any DIY work if you’re not 100% what you’re doing. You may end up paying out more to repair any faulty D.I.Y than actually having a professional do it for you.

Have you ever had a disastrous DIY attempt? Or got any of your own tips? Let me know in the comments below.

Sarah Garvey has a fair share of knowledge of electrician DIY work, especially about ICT and from her own personal experience. She recommends Alert Electrical.

Apartment

5 Ways To Reduce Your Cable Bills

September 3, 2013 Jonathan Clark

I remember the first time I paid my own cable and Internet bill. It was my senior year of college and I was super excited about living “on my own” – meaning in an apartment off campus with one of my girlfriends. No more parents, or Resident Assistants (“RAs”) or even the official campus rules. We were adults. (Or at least we thought we were.) We spent hundreds of dollars buying used furniture, dishes, and other decorations to make the place feel like home. We painted the walls and invited friends over for dinner parties. We also paid our own rent and utilities, and at the time, this seemed like a great thing; until we got our first cable and Internet bill.

Between the set-up and installation fees, the cable box, and of course, the cable and Internet, the total was more than $200 for one month of cable and Internet. That was more than we spent on food. We were shocked. We called up the cable company and cancelled the service. We simply couldn’t afford it.

That, however, was already many years ago and luckily for students and anyone else that wants to save some money, there are plenty of ways to cut your cable and Internet bills. Here are five excellent ways to reduce your bills – many of which simply weren’t around back in college.

1. Start watching TV online

You would be surprised at how many of the shows we pay to watch on television are actually available for little or nothing online. These days there are a number of services that you can use for less money. For basic television, check the station’s websites for current episodes; and a lot of cable channels (e.g. Lifetime) have their shows available online for free as well. Hulu streams a number of current shows, and Hulu Plus, which has a low monthly fee, has even more.

2. Make friends with your neighbors and share wireless

If you live in a large apartment building or even in a small house divided into apartments, chances are you see a lot of WiFi networks that you could sign into – if only you had the password. Try knocking on your neighbor’s door and asking if they want to split their Internet bill with you. Most people are happy to save a little money! Unless they’re using a lot of bandwidth by video calling all day or gaming, you’ll be fine.

3. Join Amazon Prime

If you are not yet an Amazon Prime member, you should seriously consider becoming one, especially if you order a lot from the online giant. Your annual Amazon Prime membership costs less than a month of cable and will not only give you free shipping on most Amazon orders, but will also give you access to a huge library of television and movies available for free to all Prime members.

4. Ask for a discount

Many people would be surprised to learn how easy it is to get a discount. Sometimes all it takes is asking for one. If your bills are higher than you can afford, call the customer service department. Be polite, courteous and grateful for the representative’s time. Explain your situation and ask if there is anything he/she can do to help. There usually is. If not, thank them for the time, say you will need to consider whether you can afford the current rate and hang up. Don’t lose your temper or say anything rude. Remember, you are asking for a favor!

5. Get rid of extra channels

Though I could watch HBO all day long, I have little need or tolerance for sports channels. It was only when I realized I was paying for those channels that I noticed I even had access to them. Take some time to figure out if you are actually using what you are paying for, and then cancel any channels you consider extraneous.

About the author: Stephan Jukic is a freelance writer who generally covers a variety of subjects relating to the latest changes in white hat SEO, mobile technology, marketing tech and digital security. He also loves to read and write about location-free business, portable business management and finance. When not busy writing or consulting on technology and digital security, he spends his days enjoying life’s adventures either in Canada or Mexico, where he spends part of the year. Connect with Stephan on LinkedIn.

Apartment

Experience Upscale Living at Levanto Townhomes

September 1, 2013 Jonathan Clark

Located in one of the most versatile districts in San Diego, Levanto luxury townhomes are positioned between the historic Gaslamp District and Mission Valley in Downtown San Diego. If you desire the privacy of your own home and the amenities of living in an apartment community, then the townhomes at Levanto is the realizations of your dreams. With world-class amenities and floorplans designed to satisfy even the most selective of tastes, Levanto townhomes are a far cry from the traditional townhome or apartment community.

Townhome Amenities

Once you pass through the entrance of Levanto, you are immediately greeted by expansive grounds highlighted by contemporary architecture and a welcoming atmosphere. With five floorplans ranging from 1,127 sq. ft. to 1,680 sq. ft. the modern townhomes at Levanto provide dramatic visuals while simultaneously offering quiet and warm spaces. Available in two and three bedroom designs, the luxurious accommodations rival those found in even the most spectacular townhome community.

Every townhome is adorned with the small touches that make a home awe-inspiring. With gourmet kitchens designed to house even the most demanding of cooks, chefs may enjoy a streamlined cooking experience through luxury stainless steel appliances, and the spa-inspired bathrooms offer an exotic and elegant escape to start and end your day. Every townhome comes equipped with an in-home washer and dryer as well as a spacious attached two-car garage. If you are wary about living in a townhome, visit Levanto and realize what living in true luxury is all about.

Community Features

While the Levanto townhome community is designed to give residents a suburban feel, the amenities found throughout the community are created to conjure sensations of staying at a five-star luxury resort. Residents are encouraged to take advantage of San Diego’s beautiful weather by lounging at the resort-style swimming pool and spa. With barbeque and picnic areas, this community encourages residents to spend time outside of their home and interact with neighbors. The state-of-the-art fitness center is well-equipped with the latest in fitness equipment while the E-Lounge offers all the amenities of a high-end business center.

While the community amenities may be difficult to leave, if you’re in the mood to explore some of the most popular attractions are within walking distance. With more than eight restaurants and bars in a two mile radius and pulsating nightlife options at your doorstep, living at Levanto is just that – living.

Home Improvement

Top Five Reasons Why You Shouldn’t ‘Do It Yourself’ When It Comes To House Painting

August 30, 2013 Jonathan Clark

In these times of economic hardship, it is often very tempting to do as many things as you can yourself when it comes to home improvement or household tasks, rather than paying the professionals to do it for you. In many cases this is absolutely fine and does make monetary sense, but when it comes to external house painting, it can very much be a false economy. There are a number of reasons why this is the case and this article will run you through the top five in the hope that you will be dissuaded from making the mistake of trying to take the task on your own shoulders.

You Should Never Bite off More than you Can Chew

The fact of the matter is that some decorating jobs are a lot simpler than they first appear, but exterior house painting does not fit within this category. To get a good, or even an acceptable final result takes a great deal of expertise and skill. If you do not have the experience of carrying out house painting regularly then you are unlikely to possess the prerequisite skills.

Do You Really Have Time?

If you look at the exterior of your home it may be easy to misapprehend just how large the surface area that requires painting really is. If you take the time to really think about it you will realize that there is in fact a lot of coverage required and, when you consider that more than one coat is likely to be required, you start to get the picture of just how much time you will have to set aside to paint it yourself. Add to this the fact that any work done at height invariably takes a lot longer and you really do have to ask yourself whether you really have time to do it yourself.

The Weather is a Factor

Feeding into the fact that doing it yourself will take longer than having your house painted professionally, is the fact that you have to consider the weather as an extra factor. You simply cannot re-paint exterior walls in the rain or wet weather and, as such, the quicker that you can get the job done when the sun does shine, the better hope you have of everything being finished and dry before the next shower.

It May Not be as Cheap as You Think

Whilst the main reason you may be tempted to paint your house yourself would be the fact that you believe it will be cheaper than bringing in the professionals, you may be surprised at how little difference there may be. This is true as, unless you happen to have the kind of specialist equipment and ladders required for working at height, buying these can be very expensive and almost wholly destroy any economic benefits of doing the job yourself.

Working at Height is Hard

A final point to remember is that even if you don’t believe to have a fear of heights, doing work and decorating at height is difficult and, if not done correctly, can be dangerous. If you have any concerns in this kind of area then you shouldn’t, therefore, even consider taking on the task of painting the exterior of your house yourself.

James is a writer, blogger and DIY expert having cut his teeth at Never Paint Again. An exernal wall covering and coating specialist in Plymouth, Devon.

Apartment

Escape into Heavenly Views at the Dana Point Apartment Community

August 28, 2013 Jonathan Clark

Dana Point, California is arguably the most beautiful city in this state as it is positioned along the coastline and offers picturesque vistas of the Pacific Ocean that borderline fantasy. The Dana Point rental community delivers some of the most awe-inspiring views from its community grounds and apartment balconies. With luxurious amenities, unique floorplans and beautiful architecture, residents at Dana Point are given an opportunity to take advantage of heavenly seascapes highlighted by five-star amenities.

Apartment Features

As a resident at Monarch Coast you have a choice of six unique floorplans that range from the economical 691 sq. ft. Avalon unit to the sprawling 1,217 sq. ft. Newport rental, which feature two bedrooms and two bathrooms. No matter the rental, you will be ushered into a life of true luxury as each apartment home is designed with elegant touches and contemporary flares unseen in other local communities.

Each rental at Monarch Coast immediately transports its residents to a life suitable for royalty through its captivating vaulted ceilings, designer cabinetry, designer-inspired light fixtures, wood-burning fireplaces and enormous walk-in closets. The gourmet kitchen is constructed to support even the most demanding of cooks through its industrial quality cooking appliances and breakfast bar. Select units at Monarch Coast provide skylights, which fill the rental with natural sunlight and with two-toned color schemes the home is inviting while still holding true to its contemporary nature.

Community Grounds

Although the actual rental homes are quite impressive, the true beauty of the Monarch Coast apartment community lies beyond your front door. Enclosed within the gated community are two resort-style swimming pools highlighted by two hot tubs where residents can unwind after a long day at the office. The state-of-the-art fitness center invokes all residents to maintain a healthy lifestyle while the Yoga and Pilates studio ensures tranquility becomes part of your life.

Monarch Coast desires all of its residents enjoy every day to the fullest by connecting them to the wonders of nature. Connected to the community are various walking and biking trails, and if you’d rather explore the world through the comfort of theater seats, the exclusive movie theater room will be your haven.

With draw-dropping views of the Pacific Ocean and walking and biking trail access to Laguna Beach, Salt Creek and Dana Point Harbor, residents at the Monarch Coast apartment community are ushered into a life of beauty, relaxation and culture.

Room Design

4 Quick And Easy Living Room Makeover Tips

August 26, 2013 Jonathan Clark

“I have company coming this weekend and my place just does not look right …” How often have we spoken these words to ourselves when we have important visitors coming over for the weekend? And how often have we struggled to make our homes presentable and appealing for these guests? You have cleaned every single room, top to bottom, rearranged furniture and even swapped old photos for new ones in the photo frames in the living room. Yet, there is still something missing and you just can not put your finger on it. You know that your home needs something, yet sometimes the only thing it needs, is a quick makeover.

Quick Home Makeover Tips On A Budget

Who said that you can not give your home a quick DIY makeover under a budget? Perhaps that person needs some lessons in the creativity department. You can easily do a quick makeover for your home even if you are on a budget, because all you need are simple additions that can bring a significant amount of style and comfort to your home.

1. Fresh Flowers

You do not have to spend so much on perfect and expensive flowers and you do not have to place them everywhere in the home. Purchase some dull or neutral looking flowers for about $20 and then mix them up with some vibrant fresh flowers and greenery for about $20 as well. You can fill them in a large vase and place it in an empty corner of your living room.

2. Throw Pillows

If your living room seems a little dull, then why not bring life into it by adding some throw pillows? Opt for light colored pillows for a dark room and darker colored pillows for a lighter room. You can also blend in some trendy or vibrant colors to a neutral colored room. Better yet, your visitors will certainly feel comfortable as they lean back on your couch. For as less than $50, you can find two to fours throw pillows depending where you buy them.

Extensive Home Make Over Tips

If you have time and money to spare, you can always splurge on your quick home makeover. These are changes that can last for a longer period of time and you can always mix and match to complement them.

1. Paint

For a more ambitious makeover, you can always create a stunning look in your home with paint. You can choose a more contemporary color if your furnishings are more on the modern side, but you can always stick to neutral if your furnishings have a more rustic appeal. You can also experiment by painting a feature wall, such as the fireplace wall or use color blocking to highlight a certain wall and its decor.

2. Custom Furniture

Another quick makeover option is to have custom furniture or accessories made. Custom pieces can add character to a home and speak about the personality of the people living inside the home. By simply having a few pieces of custom furniture and accessories incorporated into a living room and dining room, you can achieve an artistic environment to entertain visitors and succeed in impressing them with your home.

Valerie Kandria is a freelance writer specializing in home design and custom made furnishings. She offers advice on home makeovers, how to create extra spaces and add style to a cramped home. Click here to learn more about custom furniture and accessories.

Mortgage

4 Property Investment And Loan Management Apps For Your Smartphone

August 24, 2013 Jonathan Clark

Smartphones are really clever these days. They get to predict correctly what you are about to do, your favorite pages, and other essential services you might want to learn about. The smartphones are also home to many efficient apps that can practically help you in so many ways when it comes to your daily life. In this article, I am going to focus on 4 great apps that help you deal with your investments and loans as well as highlight the best reasons to go for each of them.

Mortgage and Home Loan Calculator

This application can be downloaded in the iTunes or from App Store downloads. It is one of those calculators you can’t afford to put down especially if your money comes from investing in real estate or you have taken a mortgage which has payments you feel do not add up.

Why do you need this?

This app is designed to make you easily keep track of your spending habits so your financial status is easy to handle by sorting out bills, payments, the mortgage and all that.
You become more cautious of where you invest because the app prompts you to make informed decisions.
They help you compare between mortgage payments of one financial services provider to another, bearing in mind the entire quantifiable variable so that you choose the cheapest option.

Real Estate Search

This application is designed and developed by app developers from LoopNet.com, aimed to be used by would-be investors and other businesspersons to find houses, or property to lease or sell from your phone or any other device you could be using.

The other convenient thing about it is the fact that after you have selected a few properties the app can help you manage, filters, and view photos of the property you want to buy or lease. Being an iPhone app, ‘Real Estate Search’ is suitable for anyone who wants to invest in real estate.

Why do you need Real Estate Search?

It will help you get the properties you want by detailing their location and asking prices.
It is convenient since all you need is your gadget in order to know what properties are available and where they are.
Real Estate Search is a cheap app, considering the profit it might bring you when you resell the property or rent it out.

Wikinvest Portfolio Manager

This app is developed to help you manage all you investments in one touch. It classifies all your equity, your real estate, your stocks and other valuables in its portfolio and helps you know how each is doing. This means that you can go on a do the things you like to do such as golf, a drink with friends and other social affairs while the app keeps track of any changes in the market and gives you notifications as it interprets stock markets for you in form of charts, graphs and in written form.

Why do you need Wikinvest Portfolio Manager?

It is an application worth buying and subscribing to because it keeps you ahead of the market by giving you information that your competitors might get to hear of latter, since it is always on the lookout for anything that might affect your portfolio. Wikinvest Portfolio Manager makes it easy for you to find what you are looking for and with time, it knows what you prefer in terms of property and other investments.

Craigslist

Craigslist is popular for advertising, buying and selling things; it is an app with buying for anyone interested in rental, and property that is on sale. The good thing is that everyone uses it, therefore you can use it to advertise the properties you want to sell or rent out or conversely you could find the property you are looking for and therefore have a chance to meet the seller or buyer. It is a free app in iTunes but it offers you many advantages:

Why do you need it?

It is pretty popular with buyers and sellers and therefore offers a ready market for your property and can also help you find other properties you can invest in.
It is free, and easy to use and every property or item displayed has a clear photo from different angles to further feed your curiosity and help you know the state and determine what to do.

You can manage the advertisements on your phone and therefore you will be in a position to choose the categories of the items you want to buy so that you do not get things that are irrelevant to you.

Nancy Baker has contributed today’s article, which she wrote for Benson Mortgages, a firm that caters to mortgage refinance in Toronto. She is a warm hearted person with a lot of extensive knowledge on the current financial trends.

Green Living

The Smart Homeowner’s Guide To An Energy Efficient Roof

August 22, 2013 Jonathan Clark

At a time when energy costs for home heating/cooling are ever-increasing, any efforts that you, as a homeowner, can make to lower these expenses are worth consideration. Not only can more energy efficient options help you to stay cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter, but they can also help you to save a lot of money on your heating and cooling costs.

Some Energy Efficient Options

Replacing older, low SEER-rated HVAC equipment with a new, high-efficiency unit is one popular tactic for lowering energy consumption and also improving indoor air comfort. Another, less-expensive alternative is to do some air sealing around your home, looking for places where air infiltration is robbing you of cool, conditioned air in summer and expensive, heated air in winter. Caulking, sealant, weather-stripping and insulation are all inexpensive ways of protecting yourself from energy losses caused by air leaks.

One energy-conservation step that can make a huge difference, especially during warm weather, is the installation of a “cool” roof. Just like wearing light-colored clothing on a hot day will keep you cooler and more comfortable, a light-colored roof on your home will help keep it cooler and more comfortable during hot weather. Besides the obvious comfort benefits, a cooler roof will also allow your air conditioning system to work less in keeping the indoor temperature at a desirable level, save energy dollars, extend the life-expectancy of your cooling equipment and reduce your home’s carbon footprint.

What Exactly is a Cool Roof?

Roofing material and special coatings that may be applied to it are what determine the energy efficiency of a roof. There are lots of options. Two factors that play a major role are:

Reflectivity – the amount of sunlight that is reflected (rather than absorbed) by a roof.
Emissivity – the amount of time required for a roof to release absorbed heat.

The U.S. government’s Energy Star Program, which is well-known for rating home appliances for efficiency and economy, also has a rating system for roofs. According to Energy Star, with an energy efficient “cool” roof, the temperature of the surface can be as much as 100°F lower than a conventional roof. Added benefits outlined by the California Energy Commission include:

Savings on air conditioning and peak electricity demand costs.
Extended roof life and fewer maintenance costs.
Increased indoor air comfort.
Reduction of air pollution and smog formation.
Less waste materials from roof replacement going into landfills.

Low- or Steep-Sloped Roofs

Roofs generally fall into one of two categories: low-sloped or steep-sloped.

Low-Sloped

Low-sloped roofs are typically found on commercial and industrial buildings or on multi-family dwellings. The most practical method for making these roofs “cool” is to apply one of the many cool coatings available. These coatings, which come in liquid form with the consistency of a super-thick paint, can be applied over almost any surface, including gravel, metal and asphalt. Besides adding a reflective capability, additional benefits include added durability, retardation of algae growth and the ability for the surface to basically clean itself when it rains.

As an alternative, reflective, prefabricated, single-ply membrane sheets may be glued or fastened to cover the roof surface.

Steep-Sloped

Sleep-sloped roofs, typically found on homes, commonly incorporate the use of painted metal or tiles to gain increased efficiency. While ordinary tiles made from clay or concrete may only reflect an average of 10-30 percent of the sun’s rays, pigments added to special “cool” tiles can achieve as much as 25-70 percent reflectivity. Metal roofing containing special pigments can reflect as much as 20-90 percent of radiant heat, depending on the color used. They are also very durable.

Any company that offers professional roofing services should be able to advise you on what’s best for your particular climate, aesthetic desires and budget requirements. A “cool” roof is an investment that returns in energy savings and comfort level, plus it’s a green alternative that’s beneficial to the environment.

Nicole loves her beautiful little home that she shares with her husband. She enjoys nothing more than spending the weekend drinking lemonade and doing DIY projects around the house.

Apartment

Delve into True Luxury at The Lofts at Promenade

August 21, 2013 Jonathan Clark

Your home is not only shelter from the environment, but it acts as an extension of your personality, goals and dreams. The Lofts at Promenade is not your typical apartment community. With amenities found at five-star resort hotels and loft designs that rival even the most luxurious and contemporary Los Angeles pad, The Lofts at Promenade deliver the best of apartment living – luxury, convenience, style and a true urban atmosphere.

Loft Amenities

Located on Long Beach Boulevard in Long Beach, California, The Lofts at Promenade are created to enhance the lifestyle of all its residents through innovative designs, chic interior spaces and a world-class location. Constructed for residents who crave a vibrant, social lifestyle this loft community offers designer floorplans constructed to integrate the vibrant lifestyle of Long Beach into your home.

Every loft at this community features modern concrete flooring, light-filtering roller shades as well as industrial light fixtures and hardware. Although each loft comes with standard items, the goal of The Lofts is to spark creativity among its tenants by allowing residents the option of upgrading fixtures or adding unique additions to their home.

No matter how you customize your living space, each loft is designed with dramatic panoramic views of Long Beach, 10-foot ceilings with exposed metal ducting, in-home washer and dryer, two-toned color schemes and a gourmet kitchen highlighted by European-style cabinetry, granite countertops and stainless steel appliances. With 13 unique floorplans, The Lofts at Promenade are far from your cookie-cutter apartment community, and whether you’re a single professional or a contemporary family there is a floorplan designed with you in mind.

Living Your Life

The Lofts at Promenade understand that your home is only one facet of living in an apartment community. Upon leaving your contemporary loft, you may take the elevator to the Rooftop Sky Lounge where you can indulge in the rooftop swimming pool, spa and lounge in one of the cabanas. The Sky Fit Health Club is a fully-functional fitness center with Yoga and Pilates classes and equipment.

While residents may never want to leave the posh and fashionable amenities found within this community, exploring all Long Beach has to offer is as easy as hopping onto the “Passport” shuttle. From The Lofts, residents can easily explore all 5 Districts of Long Beach, visit the Queen Mary or relax on the pristine sands of Long Beach, which is only a few blocks from the community.

Green Living

Five Ways To Go Green On House Designs

August 20, 2013 Jonathan Clark

Each year, it seems that we all want to change a thing or two in the home. And then there are times when we want to change the entire design, especially of the home’s interior. But when considering some changes in the home’s designs, do you take going green into consideration?

As more and more people are aiming to have a part in saving the environment, green home designs are gaining in popularity. If you are looking for ways to go green on house designs, check out the tips below.

1. Green up with hardy house plants

Setting up some greenery in the house is a sure-fire way to add a green element to your home’s design. There are a wide range of house plants to choose from, but be sure to choose those that are easy to maintain and the hardy types. You can choose spider plants, pothos, snake plants and philodendron. The plants should ideally be set on areas of the house where there is sufficient natural light so the plants can grow and survive. With a small patch of greenery in the home, your house will come to life and you’ll always wake up to a refreshing morning.

2. Decorate your home with local furniture

One of the best ways to reduce your carbon footprint is to buy home furnishings that have been manufactured locally. That’s why the next time you shop for a piece of furniture, make a point of checking where it’s made. Ideally, the furniture you should buy is made in your own state, city or town. In fact, ask around if there are furniture manufacturers near your neighborhood. Or, you can look around for local antique stores to see if they have tables, sofas or chairs that you can refinish.

3. Use organic interior paint

Did you know that the home’s interior is three times more polluted than the exterior? That’s an amazing fact according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Some of the hazardous pollutants to the home’s interiors are paints with extremely toxic finishes. That’s why it is highly recommended to use organic paint to minimize the toxic load. Organic paints such as those from BioShield and Ecos are free of poisonous toxins.

4. Consider environment-friendly flooring

If you are considering replacing the home’s flooring, go green instead of buying conventional materials. There are various options to choose from such as linoleum, bamboo, reclaimed wood and cork. These are naturally occurring materials and are highly sustainable.

5. Try the minimalistic approach

The less you buy unnecessary home decors, which actually significantly contribute to the growing environmental issues, the more you will be able to help in saving the environment. Only buy decors that are absolutely necessary to complement the home. Don’t clutter your home with too much furnishings and decors, because if you think about it, the more minimalist your approach is in decorating your home, the better it will look.

There are lots of other practical ways to make your home greener and more environment-friendly, but the above tops our list of practical tips for greening the home.

This article is written by +Christine Cooney , the writer for www.DFDHousePlans.com an online home and floor plan website. She has written about everything from craftsman house plans, architectural home designs, floor plans, blueprints and small green home plans. Christine, a writer in this industry for many years takes pride in what she writes and pride in the company she writes for.

Dangerous

Bizarre

Helpful Tips

1. Start watching TV online

2. Make friends with your neighbors and share wireless

3. Join Amazon Prime

4. Ask for a discount

5. Get rid of extra channels

Townhome Amenities

Community Features

You Should Never Bite off More than you Can Chew

Do You Really Have Time?

The Weather is a Factor

It May Not be as Cheap as You Think

Working at Height is Hard

Apartment Features

Community Grounds

Quick Home Makeover Tips On A Budget

1. Fresh Flowers

2. Throw Pillows

Extensive Home Make Over Tips

1. Paint

2. Custom Furniture

Mortgage and Home Loan Calculator

Why do you need this?

Real Estate Search

Why do you need Real Estate Search?

Wikinvest Portfolio Manager

Why do you need Wikinvest Portfolio Manager?

Craigslist

Why do you need it?

Some Energy Efficient Options

What Exactly is a Cool Roof?

Low- or Steep-Sloped Roofs

Low-Sloped

Steep-Sloped

Loft Amenities

Living Your Life

1. Green up with hardy house plants

2. Decorate your home with local furniture

3. Use organic interior paint

4. Consider environment-friendly flooring

5. Try the minimalistic approach

Information and Reviews of California Apartments