Owing to the increased versatility of swimming pools, the popularity of remodeling of swimming pools has also seen a surge. Resorts, as well as individuals, are seeking innovative and appealing methods to modify their pools. Mosaic tiles are a wise choice due to its iridescent appearance and high preference rates.

Pool tile mosaics are also an excellent choice for home pools. If you are thinking of redecorating your mini pool, you can deduce several designs and patterns. These natural panels can help you transform your home into luxury with a cost-effective contemporary method of mosaics.

Benefits of Mosaics

There are at least 3 important benefits of mosaics tiles compared to porcelain or ceramic tiles:

Sizing

Owing to the small sizes of the mosaic tiles, people prefer these tiles for smaller surface areas. A mosaic can fix on a narrow surface, whereas conventional ceramic tiles would not.

Durability

Mosaics possess high durability levels. Also, natural stones are known for no maintenance for more than five years.

Safe

Mosaic floors offer more traction than the conventional hard flooring, and as a result, they are safer as they prevent slipping.

Customizing the Surroundings of the Pool

Small means of landscaping around the swimming pools are a great idea to attract influencers and photography enthusiasts.

Adding natural or artificial lawns beside the pool can create a soothing environment.

Also, fountains and waterfalls made of natural stones are at the entrance are a mesmerizing attraction. Striking and eye-catching designs can attract people to your set-up. You can do it yourself or take aid from a professional service provider. Optimize your pool color with the surroundings, and use mosaics of similar shades.

Moreover, finalize a theme, for instance, beach, mountains, or luxury, and tailor it according to the theme. For a beach-themed set-up, you can add sand and use mosaic tiles for the pools’ edges. For a luxury one, add sidebars decorated with mosaic tiles. Such ideas bring out the freshness and look attractive to the opposite person.

Glass Mosaics vs. Ceramic Tiles

In general, glass mosaics are preferred more than porcelain or ceramic tiles as they seldom fade and require little to no maintenance. In addition to that, glass mosaics rarely fade or warp. Moreover, glass reflects light better, making it appealing for the viewer, offering the swimming pool an inviting appearance.

Low Maintenance Factor with Mosaics

While using traditional ceramics, it becomes tedious to maintain the swimming pool now and then. By installing mosaic tiles, you can sit back and relax and not worry much about the maintenance part every month. The cleaning process of a glass mosaic-installed pool is easy, unlike traditional ones. Apart from the standard quality checks, you will not have to spend on your pools now and then.

The installation of these tiles is easy, and you do not have to invest in millions. A mosaic tile readily beautifies any exterior or interior areas of the swimming pool, providing it with a fantastic look and feel. A swimming pool with mosaic murals can lead to a breath-taking experience for your visitors.

One of the best moves you can make for your home is to add value through home improvement projects. A remodel or renovation has benefits now and into the future.

You can enjoy the fruits of your labor now and sell your house for more than you bought it. But to get the most value out of your home improvement project, you have to choose the best ones. Because the truth is, not ever reno will add value.

As a homeowner, you want to create the best home possible. You should know the areas of your home to upgrade, which spaces to spend the most time and money on, and what spots are better left alone.

Here are 7 home improvement projects that will add the most value.

1. Kitchen Remodel

One of the first places homeowners think to add value in the kitchen. A kitchen remodels will almost always add value because homebuyers and homeowners alike are always looking for an upgraded kitchen.

But you also have to be careful in the kitchen because a remodel can quickly get so out of hand you won’t recoup any of the money. Keep your home in mind before adding all the bells and whistles and be smart about the upgrades you choose.

You don’t always have to rip out the kitchen and put in a brand new one to add value. Sometimes you can paint and replace the cabinet doors and add new hardware. New fixtures like a sink faucet or lighting can go a long way in kitchen design.

2. Bathroom Upgrade

If the kitchen is the first place homeowners think to add value, the bathrooms are second. Just like the kitchen, homeowners are looking for updated and well-designed bathrooms. But also like the kitchen, a bathroom renovation can go overboard.

A bathroom home improvement project doesn’t have to have the fanciest fixtures and most recent gadgets to add a lot of value. Refreshing the room with new paint or tiles, and updating the features can transform the space.

If you have space and money, you can also add a bathroom to your home. Whether it’s a half bath or an en suite, homeowners will also love what a new bathroom will bring to the table.

3. Improve Energy Efficiency

As people become more environmentally conscious, they want their homes to reflect this. Not only does saving energy benefit the environment, but it can also save a homeowner a ton of money. So this is a must-do home project.

Seal up cracks around your house that might leak air. Check around doors and windows, around electrical sockets, light switches, and recessed lighting. The attic, basement, and anywhere ducts or wires lead outside can be sneaky places for leaks.

You can also add energy efficiency with CFL lightbulbs, which can save you in cooling costs as well as in energy usage. A programmable thermostat and a high-efficiency water heater are also great ways to improve the way your home uses energy.

4. Invest in Outdoor Living

As more homeowners look for space to entertain, an outdoor area has risen to the top of the list. Creating an indoor-outdoor living space in your home will go a long way in adding value.

Create this outdoor living space by adding a deck to the back of your home. Wood decks have a better return on investment than any other material. For your deck, consider spaces for both eating and lounging for the most use of the outdoors.

The best decks have unique features like built-in seating or a fire pit. These great ideas can help you transform your deck into the ultimate outdoor living area.

5. Add Accessibility Features

These are features you may have never thought about, but they can add so much value to your home. Accessibility keeps in mind people of all ages, sizes, and physical abilities when designing the space.

Universal design principles help create a space that anyone can access. This means that if you choose to sell your house, a buyer won’t have to modify the design to fit them.

Having accessibility in your home also means not having to modify for yourself should anyone who lives in the home have a change of mobility. This may seem like a huge extra step, but with a little creativity, it can be easily accomplished.

6. Bonus Spaces

Investing time and money in a space that’s a little unexpected can have big rewards. Remodel the attic or basement and instantly add usable square footage to your home. This is a great alternative to expensive additions.

Attics and basements are great bonus spaces for the home. Attics are great for guest rooms, home offices, and children’s playrooms. Basements make wonderful family rooms, entertainment areas, and workout spaces.

The more versatile space is, the more value-added. While you’re living in the space, you’ll benefit from being able to spread out; homebuyers will love to imagine personalizing the space. So it’s really a win-win.

7. Basic Maintenance

You’ll be surprised how far basic maintenance can go in adding value to your home. Think of these home improvement projects as anything going on behind the scenes that keep your home running smoothly.

Get rid of mold, fix leaks in the roof and pipes, keep the exterior paint fresh. These are the projects that make a home look well kept, creating a safe and durable home that all homeowners want.

Keeping up with these projects will make your home healthier to live in. And when the time comes to sell, these finished projects can tip a buyer’s scales in your favor. A home that’s well-cared-for is at the top of all homeowners’ and homebuyers’ lists.

Added Value With Home Improvement

These home improvement projects can not only transform your home but add value to it. But you should also enjoy living in the home with all the upgrades if you don’t plan to sell right after renovating.

It’s important to remember that not every project will add value. You should aim to strike a balance between value and personal taste. Not every house needs all of these upgrades, so choose the right one for your home.

Whether you plan to sell or live in your home a few more years, these upgrades are great ways to add value to your home.

Are you looking for better ways to store items in your garage? If so, you aren’t alone! Two-thirds of homes in the United States have a garage or carport but many of them don’t have items stored in an efficient way.

A garage is a great place to keep belongings that are important to you and your family. Knowing how to store items can be the difference between an orderly garage or one that’s not used to its full potential.

Read on to learn about 5 common garage storage mistakes and how you can avoid them today!

1. Too Many Belongings on the Floor

The floor is an important part of your garage that you can’t afford to clutter a lot. You and your family need to be able to walk through the garage safely. If you’ve got items all over the floor, it decreases the amount of space you have to walk around and park a vehicle inside. 

You can avoid this issue by installing shelves and hangers-on on the walls of your garage. This gives you the ability to pick things off the floor and elevate them so that they are still accessible but out of your way!

2. Keeping Too Much Stuff

Your garage can be an area of your home where you end up putting extra things that you don’t want in your daily living space. While this can be convenient for you and your family, it can also become a big problem when it comes to clutter in garages.

One of the ways to avoid putting too many things in your garage is to make it a point to go through what’s in your garage every year. This will help you limit the amount of extra stuff that’s finding its way into your garage. 

3. Storing a Fridge or Freezer in Your Garage

Sometimes homeowners decide to move their old fridge or freezer (or both) into their garage. One of the most popular reasons to do this is for additional food storage outside of the kitchen.

While this may seem like a good idea at first glance, doing this can increase your energy expenses and cause you to buy more food than you need. You can avoid this storage issue by ensuring you do not move a fridge or freezer into your garage. If you do, use appliance hand trucks to move them out for good!

Challenge yourself to only keep the food you need in the lone fridge and freezer – located in your kitchen!

4. Not Organizing Your Storage Containers

Storage containers are a great way for you to keep your belongings organized but you’ve got to keep them in order to get the most use out of them. If your storage containers aren’t arranged by size or by the kinds of items in them, you may be losing out on valuable storage space you need!

Avoid this issue by arranging your storage containers in a useful manner with a focus on maximizing the amount of space in your garage.

5. Not Using a System for Bike Storage

Bikes are a great tool for staying healthy and having fun in your neighborhood. Bikes are also an odd shape and this can cause problems when you are trying to store them in your garage.

Use the vertical space of your garage by hanging your bike(s) on the wall to keep them off of the ground!

Wrapping Up: Avoiding Garage Storage Mistakes

Avoiding garage storage mistakes will help you maximize the use of the garage in your home. By being aware of these storage concerns now, you will be best prepared to take steps to avoid them and have the most enjoyment from your garage.

Are you interested in learning about other home improvement tips and tricks? Check out our blog post section for other great suggestions to begin putting to use in your life today!

Building a home from the ground up can be incredibly rewarding, especially if you’ve designed the home yourself. If you choose to design a home, you can customize every square foot of it to fit your family’s needs and lifestyle.

There’s a lot of planning that goes into designing and building custom homes. However, if you’re up for the challenge, the end result could be a dream that exceeds your expectations. But where do you start?

Don’t worry, we are here to help. Keep reading for a quick step-by-step checklist on how to design a home.

Determine Your Budget

First, you need to know how much money you’re working with. We recommend getting pre-approved for the home construction before talking with any contractors or home builders.

You don’t want to work with a company designing a home you can’t afford. Once you know your budget, you can start the planning process.

Stay Organized

Next, learning how to become a home designer means learning how to stay organized. There are a lot of details that can slip through the cracks. We recommend downloading online checklist templates to help you out.

During the designing and building process, expect for things to come up and throw you off course. Staying organized will help you handle big and small issues as they arise.

Find the Right Property

The property you choose for your future home can have a huge impact on the design of the house. For example, if you have a landscape with natural hills, you may want to incorporate a multi-level home. You could build a new home with one exterior door on the lower level and one on a higher level.

Additionally, you wouldn’t want to design a giant home on a tiny property. You’ll want to maintain a certain structure-to-land ratio.

Figure Out the Logistics

Learning how to design a home is easier once you figure out the basics. For example, start by determining how many bedrooms and bathrooms you want. Then, think about common areas like living rooms, dining rooms, kitchens, etc.

Figure out how big you want these rooms and how you want them laid out. The layout of your home should maximize flow and function. However, don’t limit your thinking to just your family, think about how your home will function with guests and dinner parties as well.

Identify Your Design Theme

Finally, you should start thinking about how to design a home in regard to theme and decor. What is the overall feel you’re going for? Do you want a modern look or something more vintage?

You can always change things like paint, wallpaper, and other decor elements. However, the architecture and layout are relatively permanent.

Do You Want to Design a Home?

Are you planning on building a custom home soon? If so, we can help. Our online design platform can get you started.

You can build your layout, choose real-life furniture, and more. We will help you design a home that’s perfect for your family. And if you need more tips, be sure to check out some of our other articles before you go.

Back in the early American settlements, when wood was abundant and easy to harvest using saws and axes, people used wood shingles called shakes for their roofing material. These were irregularly-shaped and the predecessor to uniform wood shingles that came later.

How many types of roof shingles do we have today? How many types of metal roofs are available? Depending on the climate, what you want to spend, and the style of the house, there are so many different types of roofs from which to choose.

Is it time to replace your roof? The type of roof you choose will determine its longevity and quality. Keep reading to learn about five roof types to consider.

1. Metal Roofing

Do you equate metal roofing with farmhouses, barns, or commercial buildings? That is no longer the case. Many homeowners have chosen to replace their roofs with metal.

In many cases, this type of roofing can be installed over the existing worn-out roof. Whether you choose interlocking metal panels or stamped metal shingles, they are fire-resistant and extremely durable. 

2. Asphalt Shingles

You are very familiar with asphalt fiberglass shingles because of their popularity. They come in a variety of colors and are most commonly used on sloped roofs.

They are affordable, easy to install, fire-resistant, and are durable in harsh weather conditions. 

3. Rubber Roofing

That is a relatively new choice in the roofing world. It took a lot of research to engineer a thin rubber membrane that could perform as well as other roof types when it comes to durability and waterproofing.

Rubber roofing is best for a flat roof or one with a low slope. 

4. Clay or Concrete Tile

Of all the roof tile types, these are more specific to homes in hot climates. These beautiful tiles are often referred to as Spanish or barrel tiles.

Clay tiles are low-maintenance, durable, long-lasting, and aesthetically pleasing. They last longer than most other roofing materials, lasting up to 100 years.

They help to insulate the home and withstand extreme temperatures. 

5. Slate Roofing

Slate isn’t often considered when choosing a roofing material, but if you’re looking for a long-lasting, durable roof, slate might be for you.

It is rock, and most of it comes from slate deposits in Pennsylvania and Vermont. It is very heavy, so if using it as a replacement roof, it’s a good idea to have a structural inspection before considering using it. 

It is more expensive than other choices, but it’s been dubbed the “forever roof” because it’ll last your lifetime.

Need help choosing between the various types of roof materials? You’ll want to click here for tips.

Choosing Between the Different Roof Types

Now that you know some of the roof types you can choose for your roof replacement, you can decide which one seems to be the best for your home and your budget.

Be sure to bookmark our site for easy access to our great content. Our blog articles will answer all of your home improvement and home maintenance questions.