Foreclosures Open Up New Market (326) (NewsUSA) – To some, the current real estate market looks dismal. A weak labor market, rising mortgage rates and high energy prices have caused many American homeowners to lose their properties. To others, the real estate markets looks ripe for investment. Deer Park Development Corporation, a company with over 30 years of experience in the real estate market, has developed a new approach for investors hoping to purchase and resell foreclosed properties for profit. Foreclosed houses sell at lower prices, helping investors buy properties with less money upfront. In the past, housing prices reflected overinflation -; as the market evens out, the mortgage crisis might actually help stabilize home prices. Marty O’Malley, CEO of Deer Park Development Corporation, noted that the current real estate market represents a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the astute buyer. “With one in every 360 homes in foreclosure nationwide, the opportunity to buy distressed property at significant discounts to their original appraisals is extensive,” said O’Malley. “In Clark County, Nev., one in every eighty homes is in foreclosure, and on top of those statistics, one in every two homes is underwater, meaning that it’s not worth the amount of money owed on it.” With this amount of inventory on the market, there are situations out there that present themselves as profitable ventures. Not all of the foreclosures are money-making deals, but with experience, professional investors know when and what to buy, so they can make successful ventures. Being an individual investor in the real estate market can be a dangerous proposition for the inexperienced. But investors, in tying themselves to a group of experienced real estate players, can use experts’ hard-earned knowledge to turn a profit in the down real estate market. “Allowing individual investors to participate in ownership through direct partnership creates a risk-free vehicle for foreclosure players to work with,” said O’Malley, For additional information, visit Deer Park Development Corporation’s Web site at deerparkdevelopmentcorp.com or contact Capital Group Advisors at 954-297-0706.

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Facing Foreclosure? Don’t Lose Hope (334) (NewsUSA) – Homeowners struggling to meet their mortgage payments should not wait until they default on a payment before speaking to their lender. Hope and help are available. Hope Now, a private alliance of mortgage services, non-profit counselors and investors helped 270,000 homeowners keep their homes in April 2009. The organization reaches at-risk borrowers through its Web site, www.hopenow.com and community events, where homeowners can meet their lenders directly, as well as speak to representatives from Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and Legal Aid. Hope Now also operates a telephone hotline, where homeowners can speak to non-profit counselors, at 1-888-995-HOPE. Before calling their lender, homeowners should compile their financial information. Before restructuring a loan, lenders will want to see hard numbers stating income and expenses. Homeowners also need to be savvy — scammers have found endless ways to profit from the housing crisis. Scammers sift through public foreclosure notices in newspapers or use advertisements to reach desperate homeowners. Then they take mortgage payments, home equity or ownership of the home. To avoid being scammed, Hope Now suggests homeowners be aware of potential “red flags”: * The service guarantees to stop foreclosure, no matter what. * The service collects an upfront fee. * The service tells you not to contact your lender, lawyer or credit or housing counselor. * The service only accepts payment by cashier’s check or wire transfer. * The service encourages you to lease your home so you can buy it back over time. * The service wants to collect your mortgage payments. * The service tells you to transfer your deed or title to it, or offers to buy your home at a fixed price. * The service offers to fill out paperwork for you, or pressures you to sign paperwork that you have not read or do not understand. To find legitimate help, homeowners need to contact their lender directly or call 1-888-995-HOPE to speak with non-profit counselors. To find out about foreclosure prevention options, read “Mortgage Payments Sending You Reeling? Here’s What to Do” at www.ftc.gov.

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NAPSI)-The right deck can offer hours of enjoyment to you and your family-and add value to your property. In fact, some say adding a deck is a proven way to add value to a home in an uncertain market.

According to the recent Cost Vs. Value Report completed by the collaboration of Remodeling magazine and Realtor Magazine, homeowners can expect to recoup a national average of more than 70 percent of the value of adding a new deck when they go to resell the house. In some areas of the country, that recoup value is more than 82 percent of the original cost.

However, great decks don’t just happen. They require imagination, planning and the right materials. If you are thinking of adding a deck to your property, here are some tips:

• Start by checking with your homeowners’ association or local authorities to determine specific rules, zoning or building codes. These may affect the size, height and safety features of your deck.

• How you plan to use the deck can play a big part in the design. Entertaining, dining, family activities and relaxing can all place different demands on the design.

• When you’ll be using your deck is also a factor to consider. You’ll want to position the deck in an area that will receive the appropriate amount of sun and/or shade.

• Do you want your deck to adjoin the kitchen, living room, family room or your master bedroom? Accessibility will influence both design and location.

• Decide what size deck you want. Many builders suggest the deck be the same size as the largest room in your home. Be sure you have enough room to comfortably fit your deck furniture.

• Keep the physical features of your yard in mind, including trees, gardens and hilly areas. Some items may need to be moved or removed before you start building.

• Be sure to consider your privacy, traffic noise and the local climate. Often, you can add screens and landscaping to solve problems in these areas.

• When it comes to selecting materials, your lifestyle, as well as your budget, can have a lot to do with deciding which materials work best for your deck.

For example, many homeowners are turning to composite deck materials made from plastic and wood fiber–such as EverGrain from TAMKO Building Products–because the decking is low maintenance in that it requires no staining or painting, just periodic cleaning.

Plus, this compression-molded decking features true-to-life lasting grains with no rotting or termites. It also offers coordinating railing systems.

To learn more, visit www.tamko.com or call (800) 641-4691.

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Three tips to make your utility meter run backward

(ARA) – What would you do with an extra $2,200 per year? That is the annual energy bill for a typical American home, according to the U.S. Dept. of Energy (DOE). Dramatically reducing that cost, or even selling power back to the utility company, could mean having enough money for a vacation, a down payment on a car or a boost to your child’s college savings.

If you are wondering how this can be done, a trend emerging in new home construction, “net-zero energy,” is helping homeowners keep energy dollars in their pockets. Builders construct such homes with highly energy-efficient materials, and with the means to generate their own power. The goal is to reduce the yearly total energy bill to zero, and perhaps make the meter run backwards at times.

Lowering heating and cooling costs is critical to achieving net-zero energy, since these typically account for nearly half of a home’s energy use. Keeping warm air in during the winter and cool air in during the summer is key, along with adding on-site power systems. Steps can include new construction methods for greatly improved insulation, using energy-efficient windows, and installing solar panels or other renewable ways to heat water or create electricity.

1. Build with SIPs

Most homebuyers are familiar with “stick framing” – construction using numerous individual sticks (boards) with the insulation added between them. Yet an increasingly popular building method for high energy efficiency involves a different approach.

Known as structural insulated panels  - or SIPs – the body of the house is made of large-size prefabricated wall, ceiling and floor sections with built-in insulation. SIPs work like a giant insulated cooler. They are made of wood panels sandwiching a rigid insulating foam core. The result is fewer gaps in the home and more continuous insulation. Homes built with SIPs are 15 times less leaky and have 47 percent greater insulating capacity than conventional construction, according to DOE.

“SIPs can be used to build any style of home, and are generally stronger than stick framing,” says James Hodgson of Premier Building Systems, North America’s largest SIPs manufacturer. “They can cut heating and cooling costs up to 50 percent, and can even help save money by speeding construction and allowing for smaller furnaces and air conditioners.” SIPs also contribute to healthy indoor air by sealing out pollutants, and create up to two-thirds less waste during construction. (For more information on SIPs, visit www.pbssips.com or call (800) 275-7086 to speak with Premier Building Systems).

2. Install energy-efficient windows

In addition to well-insulated walls, ceilings and floors, another key consideration for net-zero energy homes is efficient windows. Such windows may have double or triple panes with gas fillings and special coatings to help resist heat gain or loss. Specially constructed frames help seal against air leaks.

How the windows are installed in the wall is also important, since much of the heat loss can occur around the window rather than through it. Proper mounting and sealing of the window in the wall can help protect against air leaks.

“Installing windows for high energy efficiency can be tricky,” says Jim Crowley, owner of Crowley Builders in Grass Valley, Calif. “If the window opening isn’t right, it’s like putting a round peg in a square hole; there are going to be gaps.”

Crowley addresses this by using SIPs for the walls. “In addition to providing insulation, SIPs have pre-cut window openings that are straight, square and properly sized. Combine this with proper sealing of the window and it’s the best way we’ve found to get a tight fit.”

3. Generate your own power

More new homes are using environmentally responsible, renewable energy sources on-site to further reduce reliance on utility companies. These systems can include geothermal heat pumps that obtain warmth from the ground, solar panels for electricity or heating water, and windmills that convert wind to energy. When combined with home construction methods like SIPs and energy-efficient windows, such systems can help the home achieve net-zero energy use. In some cases, homeowners have even reduced their consumption enough and generated sufficient power to make the meter run backwards – in essence selling electricity back to the power company.

“Achieving energy self-sufficiency in homes and other buildings seemed pretty radical not too long ago,” says Hodgson. “But building methods have advanced greatly in recent years, saving energy without homeowners having to sacrifice comfort or style. Why build with methods that have been around for a hundred years, when newer, proven methods are available that will outperform what can be done with conventional framing?”

Courtesy of ARAcontent

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Understanding your credit opens the door to home-buying success

(ARA) – With many signs pointing to the beginnings of a recovery in the housing market, potential home buyers can still find plenty of selection, low prices and low interest rates. If you’re thinking of buying a home, now might be the right time, but before you contact a real estate agent or apply for a mortgage, your top priority should be checking your credit report to see if your credit is in good shape.

Credit – specifically misuse and misunderstanding of credit – spurred the housing crisis, many experts agree. The consequences have included tighter standards from lenders and the need for borrowers to better understand how to use credit wisely.

Interest rates remain low and those with good credit will be better positioned to take advantage of the opportunities currently available in this unique housing market. A good credit report and score can open doors for you in the real estate world, and empower you to secure the best loan and terms possible before you ever tour a single house. Being preapproved for an affordable mortgage can help you move quickly to secure a deal when you find the home of your dreams.

If you’ve already assessed your finances to determine how much mortgage you can afford, you’re ready for the next step – making sure your credit is in top shape to help you get the best possible loan.

Understanding your score and what it means

Lenders consider your credit score and your current credit report when deciding whether or not you’re a good credit risk. Your credit score is a number generated by using statistical models that factor in elements from your credit report. The number can change when information on your credit report changes and it’s calculated at the time a lender requests a copy of your credit report. Different lenders may use different scoring methods, so your score may vary from lender to lender.

Because credit scores are objective and are based on the information in your credit report, they are fairer than the old opinion-based ways of determining a person’s risk level. Your score is a prediction of your likelihood to repay debt responsibly, based on your past credit history and current credit status.

Before you begin contacting potential lenders, check out your credit report, which can be accessed online at Web sites like FreeCreditReport.com.

Know what’s on your credit report

Your credit report is the other major piece of information a lender will consider when deciding whether or not to give you a mortgage loan. Your credit report is basically a summary of your financial behavior, including how you’ve used credit in the past and how well you manage repaying debt. The information on your report comes from creditors, public records and other reliable sources, which report it to the credit bureaus through automated processes.

Credit reports generally include personal data such as variations on your name, your driver’s license number, Social Security number, birth date, current and past employers, and current and past addresses. You’ll also find a listing of your credit accounts, when each account was opened and your payment history for each. If you’ve been involved in court action like bankruptcy or monetary judgments, this information will likely appear on your report as well.

Your report will also show past requests for your credit reports (inquiries) that might come from lenders, insurers, employers or stores. Too many inquiries on your report might make potential lenders think you are trying to overspend, so think carefully before applying for new credit; inquiries stay on your report for two years.

Because your credit report changes every time you use credit, it pays to enroll in a credit monitoring product. Web sites like FreeCreditReport.com make it easy to track both your score over time and monitor your credit report, ensuring you know what’s on your report before a potential lender looks at it.

Buying a home is likely the largest investment you’ll ever make – one that will impact your credit for many years to come. Before you jump into the process of applying for a loan to buy a home, it pays to understand credit, review your report and know your score.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

RALEIGH – After decades of hosting and producing home and garden television programs, Pat Simpson has earned the reputation as “Television’s Most Genuine and Trusted Home Improvement Expert.” Show guests visiting this year’s Southern Ideal Home Show, which runs April 9-11 at the NC State Fairgrounds, can enjoy that expertise firsthand.

Thanks to James Hardie Building Products, Simpson will appear Sunday, April 11 at 12:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. in the Jim Graham Building.

At 12:30 p.m., Simpson will present his entertaining and educational program entitled “Name that Tool.” Using an interactive game show approach, he’ll test audience knowledge, award prizes and use fun and humor to teach the best application of various tools and building gadgets.

Simpson’s 2:30 p.m. talk called “Little Projects … Big Impacts” is another popular offering, which he says especially resonates with audiences in the current economy because so many are choosing to keep their homes. “Everyone is interested in learning about projects they can complete on their own in a reasonable amount of time and with a reasonable amount of money,” he said. “The home projects we’ll talk about are all under $1,000, will go a long way toward making a big difference – and most anyone can do these upgrades and improvements,” he said. When Simpson is not on stage, show guests are invited to meet him between presentations at the James Hardie exhibition area nearby.

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Home exterior colors reflect style, personality and environment

(ARA) – Building or renovating a home is a decision-filled process. Some decisions, such as location, size and layout, tend to be more family needs-based than desire-based. But other decisions are based primarily on preference and offer the opportunity to express a homeowner’s design style. One such decision that can cause particular anxiety for people who are building or renovating is choosing an exterior color. After all, this element creates a home’s “curb appeal” and the first impression visitors and passersby will have of your home and you.

Identifying color trends
According to Pat Verlodt, president of Color Services & Associates – an organization that identifies color trends and educates consumers and manufacturers about those trends – one of the reasons that choosing a color for the exterior of your home is so difficult is because it is one of the longest-term decisions people make.

“The average length of time a homeowner will own a new car before buying another is shorter than the amount of time that the homeowner’s house will remain the same color,” says Verlodt.

Home colors follow various trends and begin years in advance before becoming mainstream.

“Siding color trends are slow to change because the trends themselves are long-term,” says Verlodt. “They often begin in fashion or accessory colors, then neutralize over time and become popular home colors.”

Some color trends are regional, such as sandy colors in the Southwest, or bright, tropical colors in Florida. Currently, a social movement is influencing the hottest home color trend nationwide. People throughout the United States are choosing shades of green siding and paint for their homes because of the color’s association with the environment.

Identifying color trends for homes involves investigating other industries such as fashion, cars and interior home colors. Within the last 10 years, the variety of home color options has grown immensely due to increased technological capabilities. And if you are looking for a low-maintenance solution, vinyl siding manufacturers can now meet this need with virtually unlimited styles, designs and color options.

According to Jerry Blais, vice president of marketing for Ply Gem, a building products supplier, manufacturers were unable to produce darker colors years ago to meet the stringent performance requirements in the field. Now, manufacturers such as Ply Gem use a co-extrusion process that combines a sturdy inner substrate with a weather- and fade-resistant capstock on the outside. The capstock layer is produced from acrylic polymers that hold their color and reflect ultraviolet and infrared light to increase the lifespan of the siding.

“Color is infused into the siding during this extrusion process. It is not painted or coated later,” says Blais. “These technological advancements have greatly increased the color palette available to homeowners, including darks, blends and even weathered cedar colors.”

Personalizing your home
Technological advances in siding colors allow homeowners to choose richer hues to suit their taste. No longer does vinyl siding need to come in bland beiges or grays. And because vinyl siding typically holds up to weather and sun better than paint, homeowners don’t need to worry about the need to re-paint every couple of years.

“People want to buy products that will last a long time,” says Verlodt. “But personalization is key.”

Color technology has advanced so much that the range of colors now available for vinyl siding, trim and accents is nearly limitless. Homeowners can actually customize their home to be almost any color they wish.

“We use a color customization process in our Mastic Home Exteriors by Ply Gem  brand called DreamColor,” says Blais. “The DreamColor process offers over 700 colors in siding, trim and accents and allows homeowners to send in an item in a color they love, such as a favorite shirt, and we can customize a siding color to match that item.”

Add this capability with cedar shingle and stone veneer accents also available from Mastic Home Exteriors and homeowners can now create the designed and color-coordinated exterior they have always wanted without the maintenance.

The most important aspects of choosing a siding color are picking something that you’re comfortable with and that makes a style statement about you, yet doesn’t stick out like a sore thumb from your neighbors. Take your time when choosing a color and consult a color expert or siding manufacturer to learn about the latest trends. For more information on vinyl siding colors and options, visit www.plygem.com or www.mastic.com.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Is Your Home in Need of a Home Design Stimulus Plan?

(ARA) – These days bailouts are common, but not many Americans have considered it for their home design. Does lifeless and cluttered design leave your home in need of a makeover?

Lifestyle and design expert Susie Coelho is out to change all of that with a sweeping Home Design Stimulus Plan that offers immediate and effective relief for homeowners to boost their surroundings, both inside and out, without busting their budgets.  

“Homeowners have been clamoring for widespread reform both inside and outside of the home,” says Coelho, who has provided guidance and support to homeowners for years with her best-selling books and HGTV makeover shows Surprise Gardener and Outer Spaces. “This plan will refresh any home design.”

The five key components to Coelho’s Home Design Stimulus Plan are as follows:

1. Provide immediate relief to family and living rooms with the removal of excess furniture.  

Provide relief to living and family rooms that have been over-taxed by excess furniture and accessories. Space is the basis for contemporary design and this look can be achieved by trimming down. Stimulate and breathe new life into rooms by cutting back on anything that has become a liability instead of an asset. Remove that extra wing back chair, the torn ottoman, those pillows that swallow up the sofa, and maybe even that old carpet so that you can actually see some floor.  

2. Cutback on spending with the addition of only inexpensive or handmade decorative pieces.      

Fool guests by creating pieces of art for little or no money. Look for branches that can be put in a vase, a painting from a garage sale or flea market, a beautiful fabric piece, or even a great piece of wallpaper that can be framed. Find large pieces that make big statements. Light the art from the bottom with a small spotlight that can be tucked behind the piece. Let the art be the star of the room.  

3. Infuse natural light into the home for an immediate morale (and energy efficient) boost.      

Bring natural light into the home simply and affordably, and watch spirits increase as the energy bills decrease. Windows are a piece of art and can be used to showcase an outdoor tree or plant and create that seamless look between the indoors and the outdoors – but they must be clean. According to a recent survey, almost half of homeowners (48 percent) would rather clean the toilet or shower than their outdoor windows. For many that may be because of the time and effort that goes into the chore, but it can be simple and the results can be dramatic. I recommend using a new quick, easy and affordable solution for a streak-free shine in half the time – the Windex Outdoor All-in-One Glass Cleaning Tool.

4. Give outdoor areas some incentives by taking the best of interior design outside.

Bring change to your home by styling the outdoor spaces using simple indoor techniques. Add an outdoor rug to soften the patio floor; bring in a side table as a focal point or even an outdoor leather ottoman. Elevate the planter to the status it merits by placing it on a table instead of the ground. Add some decorative pillows to make the outdoor furniture more inviting. If in the market for furniture, choose those pieces that have the flexibility to be used either indoors or out.

5. Bailout your backyard!

No backyard challenge is insurmountable with these helpful hints for bringing quick relief to the outdoor areas. No place to plant? Go vertical in your garden with trellises, walls, arbors and planters. Use ivy, ficas, bougainvillea, night blooming jasmine, gardenias, and other fragrant species to stimulate the senses. Small spaces? Give the illusion of space by using a mirror to reflect and open up areas, adding an entirely new dimension.

With these easy tips, the indoor and outdoor spaces will look fabulous in no time. Next on the to-do list: find an excuse for a party to show off the beautifully refreshed home.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Start Spring Early with Indoor Gardening

(ARA) – Let’s face it — February, March and April can be gray and dreary months. You’re more than ready for spring to begin, but Mother Nature is on a different schedule. But you can jump start the season of growth early and bring it inside where you can enjoy it through those last moments of winter.

Stale, polluted air happens frequently when homes are closed up for the winter months. But houseplants help to lighten the mood and purify the air. A NASA study found that houseplants remove up to 87 percent of toxic indoor air inside a sealed chamber within 24 hours.

Start your spring season early by planting vegetables, herbs and flowers while winter is still in the air, so they’ll be primed for transplanting when the spring season actually arrives. You can watch the plants as they shoot their little green stems out of the fresh dirt, monitoring them as they grow larger and larger.

* Use loose potting soil to promote root growth. Outside, worms and insects tunnel through the dirt, naturally breaking it up to help plants spread their roots. To mimic their effect indoors, use potting soil mixed with peat moss, vermiculite and perlite to create a light texture that won’t compact after a couple of waterings.

* Keep the humidity level above 50 percent with a humidifier. Not only will your plants appreciate the extra moisture, but so will you. When the humidity drops below 50 percent, most plants suffer from water loss through their leaves, and it’s difficult to regain that water balance, even with frequent watering.

* Really bring spring inside your home with beautiful pots and decorating accents. Visit Montgomery Ward (www.Wards.com) to find unique gardening accents. A garden gate gives vines a place to climb and you can also use it to decorate your walls as a headboard or wall hanging. Imagine waking up in the morning to see the vine stems spiraling around the gate toward the window. Or search for elegant and decorative plant stands that match your decor, and bring to life a beautiful and scented herbal garden to spruce up your kitchen counters.

* Check the nutrient levels for your plants. Outdoor plants get nutrients reimbursed naturally, but indoor plants don’t have that luxury. Every time you water your indoor plants, you wash some of the fertilizer out of the soil. Not all plants like the same amount or kinds of fertilizer, so do a little research.

* Make sure the natural light is adequate. Some plants like direct sunlight and must be located near a south-facing window, while others prefer a few hours of indirect light. When plants don’t get the light they need, they start to appear very thin and frail. Also make sure as your plants begin to grow, that you rotate the pots so they grow straight, rather than bending unnaturally toward the source of light. If your house does not have enough natural light sourcing, artificial lights work as a good supplement.

* Take care of your plants when you leave home for more than a couple of days. You can always ask a neighbor to come in and make sure your plants get a good drink of water, or try the Oasis Plant Watering System available at Montgomery Ward (www.Wards.com ). Place drip lines in each of the plants, set the system for the number of days you’ll be gone and the gravity-fed system will irrigate your foliage twice a day. For plants that require more water, double up the drip lines, and enjoy your time away. When you return home, spring will await you inside.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Beat the Winter Blahs with Home Decorating Projects

(ARA) – For many of us, the return of winter means six months of snow, sleet and colder temperatures that force us to take cover indoors. Being stuck inside month after month can leave anyone a little bored. That’s what makes winter an ideal time to tackle easy, do-it-yourself indoor home improvements.

Staying busy with interior projects will not only help break up the monotony of the winter months, but will also increase your home’s value and aesthetic appeal. Plus, you’ll have more time to spend doing the things you enjoy when the warmer months of spring and summer arrive.

So, get ready to pick up that paint brush and hammer and battle the winter blahs with the following projects:

Paint
Long gone are the days when you had to wait until you could open the windows to paint inside. Today’s no-VOC paints don’t contain harmful volatile organic compounds that can evaporate into your home’s air, which means you can paint year around with the windows closed. There are many low- or no-VOC painting products on the market, but Dutch Boy’s new Refresh paint is the only no-VOC paint that’s been independently GreenGuard Certified and offers exclusive Arm & Hammer odor-eliminating technology. Ideal for kitchens, basements, laundry rooms, family rooms and bathrooms, the technology actually captures and removes common odors from the air, leaving your house odor-free.

Add Crown Molding
It’s often said that good design is in the details. Crown molding is an ideal way to add architectural detail and sophistication to your home. As the popularity of crown molding has grown, so have the options. There are several companies that offer pre-packaged crown molding made from materials that can actually be cut to size with household scissors. There’s even Styrofoam crown molding made from high-density polyurethane foam that you can install with caulk. Or, you can stick with the more traditional crown molding made from a variety of softwoods such as poplar, pine, spruce and oak.

Install Flooring  
Much of today’s new laminate flooring is a DIYer’s dream. It doesn’t require many tools, can be installed quickly and easily because it’s not nailed, screwed or glued down like traditional flooring and is inexpensive — especially when compared to “real” hardwood replacement floors — thanks to tongue-and-groove pieces that simply click or snap together. And for great looks, the new North American Collection from Tarkett Residential offers patterns that include dark wood grains to warm and light tones in a wide assortment of grains and textures. Plus, its new laminate collection provides high durability to better resist scratches and indentations.

Change out Curtains
Curtains serve as the framework for our view to the outside world. Most of us hang curtains when we move into a home or undergo a major redecorating project, and then we tend to forget about them. We don’t realize that changing out curtains can be a cost-effective and relatively “anytime project” that can dramatically transform the appearance of a room. By changing your curtains you can update your style, add visual interest or even create a new focal point in a room. In addition to new curtains, you can create a fun, personalized look by using everyday items as curtain rods. To establish a high-end customized look, spray paint plumber’s PVC pipe and use it as a curtain rod. Or, if you want to bring a bit of the outdoors inside and create a rustic, yet contemporary look, you can use a tree branch as a curtain rod.

Organize Closets
Short on closet space? Most of us are. Winter is a great time to go through your closets, weed out what you don’t wear anymore and get things organized. To keep it clean and clutter-free well into the spring and summer, consider installing a closet organizer system. Today’s closet organizers are versatile and offer adjustable shelves, cabinets, drawers, shoe racks and sliding baskets. With a few tools and a free Sunday afternoon, you can install a closet organizer for all of your clothes, shoes and accessories.

This winter, don’t be lulled into hibernation. Take the time you have indoors and put it to good use. Tackling interior projects will not only keep you busy, but once you’re done it will leave your home looking beautiful for years to come.

Courtesy of ARAcontent