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Choosing house paint may be just another errand for some while for others it is a terrifying experience.  The colour of a house can make it very welcoming while it can also make it equally uneasy.  Choosing the right colour will add luster to your home.  Below are some tips when choosing paint colour for the exterior of your home:

1. Balance the Roof – The colour of the roof is most times already established. You’ll want to choose paint colour that complement your roof or roof shingles.  The paint colour doesn’t have to match the roof colour but it should harmonize. Some ideas:

• Green roof – Gray, green, or white house colors
• Black roof – Gray, blue, or white house colors
• Brown roof – Brown, tan, yellow, or white house colors
• Gray roof – Gray, blue, green, black, or white house colors
• Red roof – Gray, black, or brown house colors

2. Look for things that won’t be painted – Choose a colour scheme that will complement objects with colours that are unlikely to be changed e.g colour of steps and wooden doors.

3. Tips from your neighbours – You can get ideas from the neighbour’s house, not necessarily to paint your house similar to it but by choosing different colours that will make your home look very different and stand out.

4. Make use of environment – Say, in areas like Giraudel, which is decorated with beautiful flowers, ideas can be developed from the natural environment. Colour ideas can also be inspired by looking at other present natural resources like the sea, sky, sun etc.

5. Use of different colours for different finishings – You may want to make your house look more interesting, by using more than one colour but not too many. The window sashes, brackets, columns etc could be painted in a different colour from your wall.

1. Paint to compensate for poor architectural details – On occasions where there is a lack in your architecture, use bold colours to create a pleasant diversion. White and beige tend to bring out architectural faults on surfaces.

7. Effects of light colours – Light colours tend to make things seem large while dark colours do the opposite. White or pale cream colours are also used to create a sense of class.

8. Dark colours – Dark colours don’t easily show stains and dust. It can also add a sense of drama, however much consideration and control must be applied when painting in dark colours since they are more likely to fade, and attract heat.

9. Use a colour wheel to choose paint – Know the rule that saying “opposite attracts”? Pairs can be found at opposite ends. When put together, they bring out the best in each other, making both colours look clean and bright.

10. Paint Color Deceptions – Paint colour looks different depending on circumstances or areas, therefore it’s advisable to test your selected colour in one area before buying gallons e.g. colours look very different when they are brought out of the store and viewed in natural sunlight.

Hurricanes are powerful tropical storms which attribute heavy rains, strong winds and surging waves. Hurricanes occur anytime and anywhere, therefore the most important thing a person can do is prepare beforehand. Everyone who lives in an area highly affected by hurricanes needs to take personal responsibility and accountability by planning well before the storm season begins.

Start With a Plan:

• Think about whether you will evacuate or stay at home. If you are unsure whether your home is able to withstand the storm, it is important to make note of the nearest hurricane shelters or alternative options and be prepared to leave as soon as possible.

• Have disaster supplies on hand; Flashlight and extra batteries, Portable battery-operated radio, First aid kit & essential medicines, Canned food and water.

• Document valuable items (passports, credit cards, birth certificates, money, licenses, etc.), and guarantee their safe keeping.

• Perform an inventory of your home’s contents (electronics, jewelry, appliances, clothing, etc.) and store in safe place in case a damage claim has to be made.

Prepare Your Home:

• Protect your windows. Permanent shutters are the best protection. A lower-cost approach is to put up plywood panels.

• Trim branches away from your home and cut all dead or weak branches on any trees on, or in close proximity to your property.

• Secure or remove all items outside of your home to avoid them being a cause of damage during strong winds.

• Install straps or additional clips to securely fasten your roof to the frame structure. This will reduce roof damage.

• Clear loose and clogged rain gutters and downspouts.

During a Hurricane:

• Regularly listen to your radio for information and updates related to the stop.

• Turn off utilities if instructed to do so. Otherwise, turn the refrigerator thermostat to its coldest setting and keep its doors closed.

• Avoid using the phone, except for serious emergencies.

• Stay indoors during the hurricane and away from windows and glass doors. Ensure that they are all closed, including interior doors. Lie on the floor under a table or another sturdy object if the conditions get dangerous.

When your kids are ready to have their own bedrooms, for sure, they are excited to have a well-designed bedroom done according to their likes.

You will also be excited on how you could make your kid happy by decorating his or her bedroom.

Of course, the first thing you need to do is ask your kid what he or she really wants.  Then you conceptualize on how you will do it.  Think of what you already have and what you still need to acquire.

Depending on the theme of the bedroom, it could be expensive or affordable.   It is up to you to create a budget that will be enough to give your little ones the bedroom of their dreams but as you design your kid’s bedroom, bear in mind that as he or she grows up, the design of the room will also be altered.  A teenager wouldn’t want to sleep in a childish bedroom so for now, here are tips for designing your kid’s bedroom:

1. Use bright colored window treatments.

Use colorful curtains for your child’s room.  See to it that the color you will use will match with the theme of the entire bedroom.  Stick with bright colored window treatments for it can give the room a sharper and cleaner look.  You can place a valance to lessen light that comes from overhead during the day.  Also, place a shade to be used in the evening.  Use a shade that has a color that complements to the room.

2. Use the child’s toys as decor.

Your child’s toys are colorful and they also come in different sizes and shapes. They can serve as a decoration for the room. This way, you can save storage space by using hooks to hang large toys and open shelves for small toys. It actually looks great especially if the toys are arranged well.

3. Use prints and paints.

For the wall of the bedroom, choose a bright colored paint and combine it with some prints. Aside from the wall, you can also use it for cabinets and other accents. You can try using a mural instead of prints. Let it show your kid’s favourite theme like flowers, race cars and others.

4. Use fabrics that fit the room.

For the beddings, you can use one that match with the theme of the room.  Select your bedding to match the theme of the room as well as for comfort.  Mix and match sheets, pillows and comforters. You can even have some extra pillows just for accent. Aside from that, you can also match your curtains. This can give the room a united look.

5. Decorate the ceiling.

You can also make the ceiling suitable for a kid’s taste by decorating it with glow in the dark items. They would enjoy staring at it while they are about to sleep. It would seem like they are gazing at the night stars.

6. 6. Place educational things in the room.

Do not just stick with the design. Be sure also to place things that could aid for their learning like books, charts and toys for education. This way, your kid can have fun while learning.

7. 7. Use photos for decorating.

Make use of pictures of your child’s fondest moment. You can include photos taken while you were in vacation, activities in school, achievement day and many others. You can create an accent wall using these photos which are framed in various sizes.

8. Use innovative storage.

Storage areas are important for a kid’s bedroom in order to keep your kid’s things. Allocate different areas for their toys, books and clothes. Train them to return the things they took. Teach them how to be organized.

9. Cover the floor.

Since your kids will surely crawl on the floor to play. Place carpet to protect your kid’s feet, knees, hands and other parts of his body but suits the design of the room. There are many options to use in the floor. You can also use rubber mats in lieu of carpets.

10. Place a lampshade.

To give just enough light during bedtime, place a lampshade. It can also be good as an added decoration for the bedroom. There are decorative lamps with creative shades which you can use for your kid’s bedroom. But you can also buy plain lampshades and decorate it yourself.

There are two main ways to create balance with your design. The first is SYMMETRICAL design and the second is ASYMMETRICAL.

Symmetrical design is achieved by placing identical objects on either side of a central point. Also referred to as formal balance, this design creates a quiet and restful feeling and suggests restraint, orderliness and formality.

With symmetrical design, everything is perfectly balanced. There is roughly two of everything or items are mirrored in the room. For instance, one chair is placed exactly opposite another one just like it. Identical light sconces are placed on both sides of a framed picture.

While this creates balance, it can also make a room look static and lacking any visual interest or energy.

Experienced designers use asymmetry to create this interest. Asymmetrical design is achieved by placing different objects of equal visual weight on either side of a central point.

Objects balance well because they are judged by their visual weight, not pairings. For instance, you have a large sofa on one side of the room that is balanced by two large overstuffed chairs with an accent table in the middle and floor lamp behind. These pieces balance the sofa visually, even though they aren’t equal in size or shape. The design works because there is balance in the asymmetrical layout of the furniture.