When you’re renting and it seems that you want to make your rental apartment decor to look luxurious. Being aware that you’re actually living in somebody else’s apartment, investing in décor is always something you have to think twice about. You might be forced to move sooner than you expect and you don’t want to waste your hard-earned money on something you’ll have to leave behind. However, you still want your living space to have that luxurious appearance. So, what you can invest in are materials and items that you can carry with you or repurpose in another home one day. After all, luxury doesn’t mean crystal chandeliers and another upscale expensive décor anymore, but rather quality materials, smart combinations of different styles and being able to follow the latest trends with the space and the budget at your disposal. Here are some luxurious décor-related investments which can make living in your rental much more comfortable without setting you back financially.
Get some new knobs
Your kitchen cabinets are boring for you? Or the ones in your bathroom? Well, if you want to make a subtle change which will refresh the way they look and make you feel a bit happier, replace your old cabinet knobs with some new, elegant ones. You can save the old ones in a box or in one of your drawers and simply put them back onto your cabinet doors once you decide to move, while you take the new, better-looking ones with you to your new place. Similarly, if your doorknobs are old-fashioned nickel ones, already polished with years of use, you can invest in new ones, made from porcelain or brass. This is also something that’s easy to do, it’s affordable and can instantly add some glamour to an otherwise monotonous space.
Hide your worn-out floors
While getting new flooring in a rental apartment would be an utterly reckless investment, there are still ways to make your floors look beautiful without spending too much. With a few stunning area rugs in exactly the texture you prefer, you’ll add to the appeal of your entire apartment. If you can’t make up your mind about it, you should know that the latest trends are on your side, since you can now layer rugs in different textures, styles, colors and patterns to make your living space as sophisticated as you want. Don’t forget, bright colors and bold geometric prints are all the rage right now. You can even put some rugs where people least expect it, on your kitchen floors. Plus, nowadays you can choose jute rug made of natural materials and add tranquility to your home. And the best thing is that you can move them from one room to another, as well as from one apartment to another.
Add splashes of colors
If your whole living space is dull and depressing with plain white walls, adding some color here and there can make a huge difference and make the place more cheerful. Plus, it can reflect your own vibrant personality. Your landlord may agree to you painting an accent wall, but if they don’t, or if this is not something that you’re ready to do, you can always get some colorful artwork, as well as cushions, towels or even new curtains. As far as your bedroom is concerned, you can simply add color by investing in some new sheets and covers and enjoy the new life you’ve given to your apartment. Plush materials and trendy patterns will add some style to any of your rooms. And did you know you can get removable wallpaper now? Perhaps you should get some and have fun decorating.
Create additional storage space
If you feel that there’s a tad too much clutter in your rental and you want to have more storage space, but your mind is set on keeping it tasteful, pleasing to the eye and modern, there are several good solutions for you. First of all, floating shelves are something that’s ridiculously cheap, but can add some charm to any space if you’re careful with what you place on them. Similarly, if you lack closet space and you don’t know what to do with all those clothes, get a garment rack or two and put them in the corners of your bedroom. They are a fashionable way to store your garments, especially if you also invest in some lovely hangers. Finally, several stylish storage boxes or bins you can place underneath your beds can help you get rid of the mess and find the right place for all those little things which are currently annoying you all around your apartment.
With these guidelines, turning your rental apartment into a luxurious oasis you’ll love can be as simple and as affordable as you only hoped it could be.
Moving into a new home can be a wonderful feeling. Few things can beat looking around and seeing that everything in the house is brand new. However, it’s inevitable that the like-new feeling will fade over time. Luckily, it’s possible to keep your home looking like new for a long time to come. These are a few tips that can help you do just that.
- Have Your Carpet Professionally Cleaned
No matter how careful you might be to try to keep your carpet clean, odors, dirt and more are going to happen. Of course, you can implement a no-shoes policy in your home, and vacuuming your flooring regularly can help. However, even with all of this, your carpet can begin to show signs of wear and tear over time.
If you have it professionally cleaned, however, you can keep it looking great for years. Having it cleaned is a good way to get rid of deep dirt that you can’t remove with your vacuum cleaner. Plus, it can help get rid of odors and can overall make your carpet look and smell like new again.
Different people have to have steam carpet cleaning done with different frequencies. For many, simply having your carpet cleaned once per year is sufficient. If you have kids or pets, however, you may find that having your carpet cleaned more often is a better choice.
- Wash Your Windows
It can be easy to forget about chores like washing your windows. However, they can get dirty on both the inside and outside and will start to look older than they are if you don’t take care of them. Even though it can be a big chore, it’s important to clean your windows both on the inside and outside at least once per year. In-between these cleanings, using a little bit of your favorite window cleaner and a paper towel or old piece of newspaper can allow you to get rid of any smudges that you see as they pop up.
- Clean Your Walls and Baseboards
It might seem like a really big job to clean your walls and baseboards. However, even if you keep a nice, clean home, walls and baseboards can become dirty. Dust and cobwebs can accumulate, and you might leave fingerprints and smudges on the walls. Once per year, using your favorite all-purpose cleaner, you should clean your walls and baseboards with a clean cloth. If you have trouble reaching the higher areas of your walls, you can use a step ladder or a clean, brand new mop to get the job done.
- Clean Your Light Fixtures
Many people never think much about cleaning their light fixtures. However, your brand new light fixtures can begin to look old and dirty if you don’t take care of them. Climbing up on a step ladder and dusting them regularly is a good way to get rid of dust and debris. Periodically, you may need to clean your light fixtures a little more thoroughly in order to make them look good, however. Using glass cleaner or your favorite all-purpose cleaner can be a good solution for getting your light fixtures nice and clean.
- Get in the Habit of Picking Up as You Go
One of the things that many people love about a brand new house is the fact that it’s not cluttered with a ton of “stuff” yet and that it’s kept neat and clean. As time goes on, however, it can be easy to get into the habit of putting things in the wrong places or otherwise not cleaning up after yourself. Unfortunately, this can lead to your home becoming a lot messier than you probably would like for it to be.
If you and your family members get in the habit of picking up and cleaning as you go, however, you can save yourself a whole lot of work, can prevent your home from getting out of control and can help ensure that your home is always “company ready.”
As you can see, there are a few steps that you can take that can help you keep your home looking new for many years. If you follow these tips, you can help ensure that your home looks great for a long time to come.
Some home buyers are able to purchase their first home for as little as three percent down or less. However, three percent on a decent home can still cost a small fortune. In some markets, it may equate to tens of thousands of dollars or more. You also have closing costs to pay for when buying a new house, and these can easily cost you another three percent of the sales price or more in some cases. Saving up enough money to purchase your first home can seem like an impossible feat, but you actually can accomplish this goal if you put your mind to it. These steps can help you to reach your goal more easily.
Determine Your Goal
Establishing a financial goal gives you a target to reach for, and it can help you to more easily focus on saving. First, research homes that you would like to purchase, and pay attention to their approximate sales price. Then, research loan programs that you may qualify for, and pay attention to the down payment requirements. Using this information, you can determine the approximate amount of money you need to save as a down payment. In addition, factor approximately three to five percent of the sales price for closing costs. It is always better to estimate on the high side so that you are not caught off guard by extra expenses. In addition, most lenders want to see that you have at least three to five months of the estimated mortgage payment available in savings after the down payment and closing costs have been taken into account. When you add all of these figures up, you will determine your financial goal.
Create a Detailed Budget
Now that you have a firm goal in mind, you need to review your monthly budget. Some of the most financially successful people have a rolling budget that extends for many months. This is because expenses can vary from month to month, and an extended budget gives you the opportunity to budget for these fluctuations. Take time to look for ways to trim back your expenses. For example, you could shop around for more affordable auto insurance or switch from cable TV to Internet-based programming. Many people can easily trim several hundred dollars or more from their budget with proper effort. Allot this money toward regular savings. It is wise to include a line item in your budget for savings and to consider this is a necessary expense.
Make Automated Savings Transfers
Some people find it difficult to adjust to saving money. It essentially takes a large chunk of money out of your budget each month. However, when you scale back your regular expenses, such as by eliminating your cable TV plan, you do not necessarily need to adjust your lifestyle and regular spending habits to save money. You can easily set up an automatic savings transfer that moves the money to your savings account on each payday. This way, within a few months, you will easily become accustomed to saving money.
Save Your Windfalls
Many people receive windfalls throughout the year. For example, you may receive a production or holiday bonus from work, a tax refund or holiday or birthday presents in cash. In some cases, this can add up to several thousand dollars or more over the course of a year. Rather than spend this money, add it to your savings account. This is a great way to see an instant increase in your account balance. In addition, if you receive a raise, increase your savings transfers by the amount of your raise. This way, you will increase your savings contributions regularly without impacting your current lifestyle.
It may take you several years to save up enough money to purchase a house. When you follow these steps, you will see your savings account balance grow over time. Eventually, you will reach the goal you have established.
The real estate market is constantly changing, and home prices are skyrocketing in many cities. Every year, there are new trends. Some people choose to purchase used homes, but most people prefer new homes. Depending on the location and the materials used, a new home can be very expensive. Fortunately, improvements in technology are paving the way for more affordable housing. In the real estate industry, 3D printers are changing the way homes are built in cities and suburbs.
More Affordable Real Estate
When it comes to real estate prices, the land is usually more expensive than the actual house. Population density, proximity to restaurants and retail stores, the local economy and the education system are all factors that affect property values. Homes in rural areas are usually more affordable than homes in urban areas. In recent years, 3D construction has been introduced to the real estate industry. The automation process is making homes more affordable in suburban and urban communities.
The City and the Suburbs
Every year, millions of people decide to purchase a new home in the city or the suburbs. In the near future, many people will be able to afford homes in affluent neighborhoods. Mortgage payments will be more affordable. Suburban families will be able to afford larger homes, and urbanites will have more expendable income. Low-income people will have better housing options. Millions of young adults are having a difficult time reaching important milestones. When 3D printing becomes mainstream, young adults will be able to live in safe and affordable neighborhoods.
Desirable Neighborhoods and Luxurious Features
A decade ago, construction workers were having a difficult time building affordable homes in desirable neighborhoods. Currently, a 3D printer can build a luxurious home in a desirable neighborhood. The new technology will not eliminate construction workers. Construction workers have to oversee the project.
Boosting the Local Economy
In addition to making housing more affordable, the affluent population will have access to more luxurious features. High-quality construction materials and intricate designs will be more readily available. This technology will have a positive impact on the residential and commercial real estate industry. Commercial buildings will be more affordable and business owners will spend less money on overhead costs.
Quality Construction Materials
The new technology can build pre-assembled HVAC systems and pre-insulated walls. The materials are environmentally friendly. When 3D printers are standard construction industry tools, construction workers will be able to reduce the number of tedious delivery trips. Since many of the construction materials can be loaded into the printer, the materials can be shipped to the construction site. Construction workers can transport lighter loads. This will help construction workers increase their productivity and reduce fatigue. Shipping and handling systems can transport the 3D printer.
Less Wasteful
Currently, most printers can only print materials individually. In the future, the printers will be able to perform multiple functions. In the next few years, the technology may be able to print reinforced plastics with graphene materials. The printers can already build strong concrete walls. This construction method is also less wasteful. Until recently, excess materials were a necessary expense. When a printer handles the construction work, raw materials are not wasted. This construction method will increase the production speed, and it will reduce the construction costs by more than 30 percent.
The new 3D printing technology will benefit real estate professionals, homeowners and construction workers. For many people, owning a home will become an attainable goal. This technology will help create thousands of new jobs in the real estate industry.
Most people spend their entire life working, but don’t finish their life rich. That doesn’t mean it is impossible, however, and millions of people manage to join the world’s millionaire list each year. For many, it is only after a lifetime of hard work, saving, smart investments, and job dedication. For others it happens in a stroke of good fortune, while they are still young enough to enjoy the benefits of their money.
Often the first thing people start thinking about when they come into large sums of money is their home. How are they going to build a luxury home that fulfills all their dreams and fantasies. Home building is a process and making the wrong decisions at the beginning can lead to regret and annoyance for years to come. Here are a few things to consider when building that very first luxury home.
Location, location, location
This cannot be stressed enough. The most important factor to consider is the location of the home. Do you care more about being close to family? Are you a hot or cold person? Do beaches matter, or are the mountains more inviting? Remember, this home will be customized to your tastes, so it won’t be as easy to sell as you would like to think. Choose the right location and enjoy years of no regrets.
Size
Many people think that all they care about is having a big home, only to be disappointed when they are not happy in their extremely large home and don’t like the empty feeling that occasionally accompanies it. Figure out everything that the home should have, then choose a size that can accommodate the things you would like as well as the number of people you would like to host. For some, they don’t feel comfortable with more than 5-10 people in their home at once anyway, so why built a mansion?
Style
Choose a consistent style throughout the home. Spend a significant amount of time doing research online, in home tours, and on Pinterest and find the style that can suit you for years to come.
Entertainment
The best part of a luxury home room is often the entertainment. Have you always wanted a home theater? A game room with ping pong and pool? Or an indoor hot tub and pool combo that comes with a waterslide? Maybe all three appeal to you. Spend some time deciding if you want each one, and do research so you know what you are getting into. Pools are great, but require maintenance. Theaters are fun, but you may not like yours, or others kids using it constantly.
Kitchen
The kitchen is one of the most important places in your new luxury home. You’ll be there multiple times each day and things need to be perfect. Think about where you want everything to go, how many people will be eating and cooking in the kitchen. If you plan on celebrating Thanksgiving with family in your new luxury home make sure the kitchen is built to accommodate. One of the most frustrating aspects of most kitchens is the lack of space. Make sure there are plenty of cupboards, nooks, and spaces for any appliance you may purchase in the long future.
Bathroom
The next most important thing is the bathroom. Bathrooms can be a place of comfort, despite what you may remember from previous low-budget houses. Think jacuzzis, soft rugs, multiple shower heads, and relaxation. Your bathroom can provide all of these.
It’s a great time in life if these are all options for you. You’ve likely had hard times in the past and have looked forward to this a large majority of your life. Enjoy every minute of it.
