Thinking about how to make the space in your home work better for you?
You’re not alone.
Early fall to winter is always one of the busiest times for interior designers to be sought by Angie’s List members.
In the last five years September through November searches for these professionals grew by 95 percent.
These days many homeowners have a room that seems cluttered or they think is too little to do anything with.
According to a nationwide Angie’s List poll, more than a quarter of respondents feel their space is too small.
Living in a small space can be quite challenging, but there are ways to make any home feel more spacious.
You can live comfortably in a small area and stretch the square footage by making the space work for you.”
Angie's List.
consulted the
experts and put together 11 tips to help make the most of small spaces:
1. Be cool: Light and airy colors will help small spaces feel just a bit larger. Stick to cool colors like blue and green.
2. Go monochromatic: Think soothing tone-on-tone for paint techniques, fabrics, and patterns. Cream and white, icy blues, pale greens, and butter yellows are just a few of the combinations that can open up a small room.
3. Keep it open: Whenever possible, arrange furnishings to open up areas of floor and avoid blocking views to windows and doors. The farther you can see into, and through, a space, the larger and more open it will seem.
4. Make a match: Consider painting or staining some of your furniture to match your walls. Even large chests and armoires will seem to melt into the background when finished in a color that's close to the wall tone. Add tone-on-tone stencil details to doors for added interest.
5. Lighten up: Uncover windows and add additional light fixtures to avoid dark, dreary corners. Brighter spaces will automatically make the room feel larger.
6. Clear the table: Bring in some see-through style by using glass tables. They'll provide useful surfaces as dining or end tables, yet practically disappear in a visual perception of the room.
7. Two-in-one: Maximize space with furniture that serves multiple functions. Some headboards double as bookshelves, for example – or try an ottoman with built-in storage space, which can also function as a coffee table.
8. Living’ large: A few larger pieces of furniture will reduce the visual clutter that can result from several smaller items. Stick with simple lines and shapes to create a sense of calm and space. Avoid small artwork. Larger pieces can make the space feel larger.
9. Keep it simple: Cover sofas and chairs with plain or textured upholstery rather than vibrant prints. Neutral tones in lighter colors will usually make a room feel larger.
10. Reflect your style: Add sparkle and reflection to your space with mirrors. Place mirrors on a wall opposite the windows to increase light and reflect outside scenery.
11. Go to great heights: Take advantage of the height in your room. Install shelves all the way up to the ceiling.
Avoiding Crummy Contractors
The $214 billion U.S. home remodeling market is booming, but only about half of the homeowners involved are joining the do-it-yourself movement, opting instead for the assurance a professional contractor seems to offer.
Too many of these consumers are disappointed in the services their contractor offers, or worse, are ripped off by the person they trusted to help improve their home.
Some states have no licensing requirements for contractors, which can make it difficult for homeowners to check up on contractors before they hire.
But separating the good contractors from the bad isn’t as difficult as it might seem.
With just a bit of effort, you can save, time, money and a lot of stress while turning your home into a haven.
Angie's List.
Hiring a Contractor 101:
• Clearly define your project.
Before you begin talking with contractors, pick up remodeling magazines, search the Internet for information on designs and materials, and then put your ideas on paper. Even rough ideas on paper are better than nothing at all. It will give a potential contractor a better sense of what your expectations are and what you are hoping to accomplish.
• Do you need a general contractor?
Once you know what you want done, consider what you realistically can accomplish on your own. For larger projects, especially those that may involve more than three different service providers, a general contractor to oversee your project may be required.
• Consider an architect.
If you are eliminating walls, adding rooms or doing anything that impacts the structure of your home, an architect or structural engineer may be a good idea. Some larger remodeling firms have these professionals on staff to review possible options, finalize plans and ensure the structural integrity of your home.
• Ask around.
Ask neighbors and friends who’ve had work done for references. If you’re new in town, or don’t know anyone who has had similar projects done, check Angie’s List for references.
• Do your research.
Don’t just hire based on a conversation. Check the performance record of the contractor you plan to hire through Angie’s List, the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI), and the Better Business Bureau.
If your contractor balks at providing references, move to the next one on your list. Get names of previous customers and find out if they were pleased with the work and the timeline of the project, as well as if they’d hire the contractor again.
Get the names of subcontractors and ask if they work with the contractor often and does he pay on time.
• License for hire.
In states or cities where licenses are required, don’t rely on the contractor’s word to know whether his or her license is valid: check it out through the appropriate agency.
Check the status of the contractor’s bonding and liability insurance coverage too.
• Know your budget. Remember that even the most careful budget will change.
Experts warn to expect an increase of 10 or 15 percent on top of the proposal – more if your project includes hidden problems.
• Review all aspects of the contract before you sign.
Often, homeowners assume certain specifics are included, such as appliance installation. Know the details of the contract, as well as how any change orders will be handled. Check that your contract includes a lien waiver, covering payments to all subcontractors who worked on the project.
• Confirm the “punch list” procedure.
Basically, this is how the contractor will deal with the list of small items remaining to be completed at the end of the job.
A good rule of thumb is to determine the cost of those items, double it, then withhold that amount from the final payment, until the list is complete.
• Prepare your family for the stress.
This is one of the most overlooked, but critical considerations.
How will the project change your routine, especially if it’s a kitchen or bath?
Where will materials be stored?
What are the working hours for the crew?
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