Category: Home Improvement

Making Your Bathroom Safer For The Elderly

Posted on by Jenny Zamora

It is easy to understand all of the dangerous things that can happen in a bathroom. Water and electricity do not mix, and the possibility of slipping getting in and out of the tub is always present. These things are even more difficult for elderly individuals. The typical bathroom set-up does not give elderly people the easiest route to get clean and beautified each day, but there are some things that can be done to make this room safer and easier for elderly people to use. If you’re looking to buy a home that is handicaped friendly, you should consult with ORC

The shower and bath situation is definitely the biggest concern. If you have the ability to install a walk-in shower with a shower seat, than that would be your best option. These showers have a door that can open, or they could simply walk into it without having to raise their legs up to get over the tub. For ideas on the most suitable type of bath or shower ideas for your bathroom you should do a Google search.

A shower seat can be added to practically any shower without too much difficulty. This gives the elderly person a place to sit, and it makes it easier for someone to bathe the individual if needed. The seats can be anchored several different ways, so research the best way to fit your situation.

A hand rail can also be added into your existing shower and tub. Some of these can simply be suctioned onto the wall of the shower. There are other types that can be screwed into the existing tub surround to increase the safety of the apparatus. These rails make it easier for the person to get in and out of the tub. They are especially useful when someone is attempting to get up from a bath. You simply need to remember to put it at the right location to maximize the efficiency of the rail.

You can also install some ramps to help make things easier. The ramps will require a little more room, but they can be very helpful to increase a person’s independence. The ramps are great for a variety of different reasons, but you need to make sure that you have enough room before going this route. If you are going to do a complete overhaul of the bathroom, a ramp would definitely be a good investment.

You can also get some higher toilet bowls. These higher bowls make it easier for the elderly person to get on and off of the toilet. It may seem like an oddity, but sometimes getting up and down on a toilet can be a real safety hazard. You could also put a rail near the toilet to help the person be safer.

It is also possible to automate much of the room. You could install automatic sinks that work with motion, and you could do the same with the toilet. You basically need to make things as simple as possible for the elderly individual. The automated features can really help anyone that has trouble turning knobs and handles.

The elderly person in your life needs to be given the best possible care. More than likely, that person helped you become who you are today. Talk to your local hardware improvement store to help you get some more ideas about keeping your loved ones safe in the bathroom. Remember to allow them to be as independent as possible. Take the time to think things through before you begin your project to ensure that your loved one is as safe as possible in the bathroom.

Let's Keep In Touch!

New ORC Form Lead

"*" indicates required fields

8 Awesome Ways To Pep Up Your Sunroom

Posted on by John Conde

The main purpose of the sunroom is not just to bring outdoors into your house, but also to allow the natural sunlight to enter and gleam the entire room. So it is imperative to furnish or deck up your sunroom just as you would do to your outdoor patio.

Here are some awesome ways to deck up the sunroom for making it highly inviting and attractive:

1.    Select furniture pieces that are able to resist the constant rays and heat of the sun. Here, you may consider your outdoor patio furniture pieces, as the materials used to make these pieces are sustainable to all the weather conditions. Furniture pieces made from aluminum, wicker, or wrought iron are a few excellent choices when it comes to sunroom furniture.

2.    Add some cozy pillows and cushions to your sunroom furniture for a more comfortable and cozy experience.

3.    Arrange your seating area in such a way that you can easily interact with the visitors or guests in your sunroom. Position a couch against your wall with a table placed in front of the sofa. Place a couple of chairs around the sides of the table for an organized and purposeful look.

4.    Talking about the floor, it is always a superb idea to have a nice and cozy area rug to provide uber coziness when walking in your sunroom. You may opt for an outdoor rug to get a hang of the outdoors in your sunroom. However, make sure to clean your rug on a regular basis.

5.    Paint up your walls with a light shade for keeping the feel of your sunroom cheerful and vibrant

6.    Add some window sheers of white color to render some privacy when needed as well as to allow the sunlight to enter as well as filter the sunroom.

7.    Place a number of potted plants for keeping the outdoor feel alive in your sunroom.

8.    You may place a small-sized bistro table and a couple of chairs to enjoy a nice cup of coffee in the evening.

Just imagine how it would be drinking your favorite coffee in your wonderful furnished sunroom. It never gets better than this. However, when deciding to refurnish your sunroom, it is advisable to take into consideration the amount of natural sunlight that you wish should exude the room.

These are eight amazing and awesome ways to pep up your sunroom. Consider these suggestions to furnish your sunroom this spring.

If you’re looking to buy a house with a sunroom, contact the professionals at https://orlandorealtyconsultants.com/

 

Let's Keep In Touch!

New ORC Form Lead

"*" indicates required fields

Home Improvement Advice For New Homeowners

Posted on by John Conde

When you buy a house, many people feel the need to make changes to it in order to make it their own and to give the house a homely feeling. Personality is a great thing in a home. Changes can also be made to a home to make it more secure or to give a room more space.


There are many different home improvements that prove popular in the months after a house is purchased. It is not only the inside of the house that can be changed but the gardens and the driveways that come with it.


Some people take the immediate aftermath of the purchase as the perfect opportunity to extend the house, to add conservatories, extension or garages – in short, to make an immediate investment that will instantly add to the value of the home while making it more fit for purpose.


When deciding to make these changes it’s important to make sure they are well-planned and thought through to ensure nothing is forgotten about and no costly mistakes are made. Choosing contractors isn’t always easy and the matter of trust is a major issue for homeowners when it comes to building work. Most people act on testimonials and word of mouth, seeking out builders and contractors who have done a great job for someone they know. In some cases, respected companies can take care of the work.


With a garage, for example, there are many different aspects to be thought about – who will build the new room, what sort of roof will be best, whether an upstairs room will be added at the same time or considered for some stage in the future and of course what sort of garage doors will be used.


Every single piece of work done to the new house has this sort of list attached to it and the one above relating to garages is not exhaustive. The key is to think of all aspects of the job you are about to have done and this means giving an answer to each of the following matters: what, where, why, when, who and, finally but perhaps most crucially, how much.


Homeowners that are able to answer all of these questions to their own satisfaction will have made all the necessary deliberations and will be able to press ahead quite confidently with the work they need or want to have done on their new homes.

Let's Keep In Touch!

New ORC Form Lead

"*" indicates required fields

Modern Chic – A Guide To Getting A Cool Modern Look In Your Home

Posted on by Jenny Zamora

Whether you live in a huge house or a tiny flat, there are plenty of ways to inject a cool modern look into your home. Whether you’re starting from scratch or just looking to update the existing tired decor, turning your living space from drab to fab is easier than you might think- regardless of your space or budget.

Colour Scheme
If you are looking to completely overhaul a room, updating the colour scheme is a perfect place to start. Most rooms, especially those on the small side will benefit from bright neutral decor which will really open up the space and give a light and airy feel. Don’t confuse neutral with bland- cream or ivory walls and flooring will go with just about any accent colour, and also means that you can easily update your soft furnishings in the future without having to worry about redecorating. White walls are also a good choice, although be aware that they can look quite stark when the room isn’t properly accessorised.

Your accent colour will provide a beautiful contrast with the neutral colour scheme, and add some depth and personality to the room. This is the colour of your accessories and soft furnishings, and could also be incorporated by adding a feature wall to the room in this colour. Whether you go for deep blues, purples and reds or contrast with chocolate brown or black is entirely up to you.

Chairs and Sofas
Your chairs and sofas are without doubt some of the most important pieces of furniture you will buy for your home; not only have they got to be comfortable and practical they also need to look good, and potentially last through a number of decor changes over the years. Again, neutral colours can be easily accessorised with any other colour in your room; cream, brown and black always stay classic and can be updated and modernised over a number of years with throws and cushions. Investing in a neutral sofa that will last is a great idea, you are then able to have fun with colour with occasional chairs. Choosing an occasional chair in a bright accent colour that matches the rest of your colour scheme will give the room a vibrant and modern twist.

Soft Furnishings and accessories
Your soft furnishings and accessories are where you can really have fun and let your personality shine through. They will add splashes of colour to your room, and you can play around with all kinds of patterns, prints and textures. A gorgeous thick rug in the centre of the room, cushions in different colours and textures and thick curtains hung up at the windows will give your home a cosy and expensive vibe. Don’t neglect the wall space, whether you’re a lover of enormous lavish mirrors or cute canvas prints it’s these finishing touches that will completely change how a room looks- even without redecorating or buying new furniture. So if you’re looking to update on a budget this is the way to go.

With just a few changes you can completely modernise your home, and update it with a brand new look. Best of all once you have your permanent pieces, accessories and furnishings can be switched up whenever you feel like it so your home always looks modern and fresh.

Let's Keep In Touch!

New ORC Form Lead

"*" indicates required fields

Choosing The Right Lighting For Your Home

Posted on by John Conde

Choosing The Right Home Lighting
Home lighting is one of those things that, when everything is working and the lighting scheme has been well designed, you rarely even notice. However, when a fault occurs, or if the lighting solution for your home has not been designed sensibly and sensitively, that is when you begin to understand how important your home lighting is. To avoid the distracting and unpleasant experience of a badly thought out or implemented lighting scheme, it is vital that you do all you can to ensure that you have your home lighting system perfectly designed. Remember that lighting is not just for the primary goal of lighting your home but is also fundamental to creating ambience and driving the overall aesthetics. Here are a few things to bear in mind when you are choosing your home’s lighting system.

Understand Your Needs

It may seem obvious but the most important thing to consider when designing your home lighting scheme is this: what are your lighting needs? Getting the right lighting to suit the way you live and work is essential. So, for example, direct or task light ought to be directed on the spot from where you are performing your tasks. Indirect light, on the other hand, is not meant for lighting a particular sport but is best suited to lighting a large or small space for sheer aesthetics. Once you have chosen the goal for your lighting, you will be easily able to choose the kind of lighting to install. Since every room in your house is meant for particular purposes, the kind of lighting you use should be specifically tailored to meet its particular utility.

LED Lights – A Lighting Revolution!

Nowadays, LED lights are becoming as popular as old-style filament bulbs and are much more energy-efficient and cost-effective.  LED lights are available in a range of colours and intensities now and can achieve a really soft light rather than the harsh bluish light with which they used to be associated. If it’s been a while since you bought lighting for your home it is worth doing some research into the significant transformations LED lights have made to the home lighting scene.

The Great Outdoors

Once your house is well lit, it is imperative to recall that the outside lights for both security and safety are equally important. The perimeter of your house, the sidewalks and the driveway always ought to be well lit. Whether you use LED lights or fluorescent lights, your home compound needs to be illuminated. Lighting some areas because you are going to be working in them while neglecting others is going to compromise your security. You should remember that using security and safety lights that are too bright is a needless waste of money. You should also bear in mind that using lights that are excessively bright on the outside may well disturb your neighbours. You should therefore carefully light every area around your home without incurring unnecessary expenses and without annoying your neighbours.

Since need to be one of your main concerns when designing your lighting scheme, it is worth paying the same attention to the visual appeal of your outdoor light sources. Remember that the lighting outside of your home should not only be in place for utilitarian purposes. Directional and attractive sconces will enhance the architectural design of your home and emphasize any decorations and plantings you may have within your compound.

Get It Right

For the inside lighting, you should ensure that you make use of multiple sources to light particular spots in your house. For rooms such as the kitchen, bedroom, sitting room, bathroom etc, use multiple sources of light to achieve different effects. For example, a floor lamp might be the most appropriate source for some intimate, ambient lighting in the sitting room. In the kitchen, making use of under-counter lighting and directional LED spotlights will help provide adequate light for preparing food just where you need it.

Lighting the home is as important in terms of creating ambience and aesthetics as any other element of home decor. But lighting also needs to be functional. Take some time to think about what will work best in your life and then explore the latest trends in lighting. You may start to see your home in a whole new light!

Let's Keep In Touch!

New ORC Form Lead

"*" indicates required fields