Home Improvements: 7 Short Ways to Make Your House Unique
A house can be as unique as its inhabitants, and your home can become a direct reflection of your personality. Each decorative element and accent can contribute to making your home extraordinary. You may not be the only one on the planet with your particular floor plan (if you are, you’ve got a head start), but the difference is in the details.
For A Unique Exterior
Adorn your lawn with interesting ornaments you haven’t seen elsewhere. Small fountains, a colony of garden gnomes or artfully arranged bird feeders are not as common as plain grass or stone. To ensure your yard is as unique as you, choose ornaments that you enjoy. If you prefer a whimsical look, statues of fairy tale creatures may be nice accents to your front yard. Those who want a dignified, somber look may add a wrought-iron fence and a large, crystal gazing ball as the lawn’s centerpiece.
Repaint or side the exterior of your house using a color that doesn’t already appear in your neighborhood. If changing the color of your home isn’t an option, you may elect to paint your front door.
Add shutters to your windows or remove existing shutters. Outdoor window treatments can drastically change the face of a house.
Add decorative accents to the front, back and sides of your house. Wrought-iron street numbers or sculptures of wildlife may be in order, or you may choose more colorful options like a few vines of carefully placed ivy.
For Unique Interior
Add mirrors, paintings, photographs or tapestries throughout your home. Mirrors, for example, can create the illusion that your home is larger than it is or be arranged to reflect your favorite pieces. Frame and mount several rare, antique posters to form an unusual pattern that will become the focal point of the room.
Create a focal point in the main rooms of your home. For example, place a large easel holding a painting you created, a tall bookshelf or other attention-grabbing object beside the television in your living room. Add oddly shaped lamps around your dining table. Place an antique dressmaker’s mannequin in the corner of your bedroom (but only if it won’t keep you awake at night).
Arrange a custom lighting scheme in your home that highlights your uncommon objects. If you have track lighting, point it toward the focal points you have chosen. Place lamps in front of mirrors. Add a colored hood or cover to hanging lights to change the feel of a room.
A wax hand statue can capture a moment in time. This unique art form is ideal for making casts of children’s hands to make comparisons as they grow. Wax hand statues can also make statements through different hand gestures or sign language phrases. Wax hands have a striking visual impact, and they look more difficult to create than they actually are. Wax hand statues or candles are easy to make at home with only a few craft supplies.
Here are the instructions:
Heat wax in a saucepan over low heat until it is liquefied. Pour the melted wax into one bucket and hang the candy thermometer on the side of the bucket so the probe is in the wax. Fill the other bucket with water.
Rub hand lotion all over the hand and wrist of the hand you want to cast. Apply a thick layer of lotion; the idea is to keep wax from sticking to your hand and breaking during removal of the statue.
Watch the thermometer for the temperature to read between 105 and 110 degrees F. If the temperature drops below this point, put the wax back into the saucepan and reheat to this range.
Dip your lotioned hand in wax to above your wrist. Dip your hand into the water bucket immediately after to begin cooling the first layer of wax. Continue alternating dips between the wax bucket and water bucket until the wax becomes thick enough to remove, about seven to nine dips.
Wiggle your fingers gently inside the wax mold while your hand is underwater. Pull your fingers up slowly into the hand area of the mold. Once the finger areas are empty, dip the wax hand in water only to the knuckles to harden the fingertips.
Hold the wax mold from the back of the wrist area and carefully slide it off your hand. Submerge the wax statue in water until it is fully hardened.
Dip the wrist of the finished wax hand into warm wax to melt it slightly. Gently fold the edges of the wrist inward to create a solid base for your statue to stand on.
Sand dollars are beautiful treasures easily found on many beaches. The ones that wash up onto the shore are only the husk of what used to be a living sea creature. All sand dollars are round, white and have five small holes. These pieces can be used in many ways to create beautiful artwork.
Instructions:
Lay out three to five sand dollars face down and next to each other. Line up the side holes on the sand dollars, making sets.
Clip a piece of wire 2 1/2 inches long. Put the wire through the back of a side hole in one of the sets. Thread the wire into the front of the hole in the sand dollar next to it and close the ends by twisting them together several times.
Repeat Step 2 until all of the sand dollars have been linked together in both holes on each side.
Connect the free ends in the chain of sand dollars with a long piece of wire in only the top side holes. This long piece of wire will be used to hang the wall art.
Cut a piece of hemp for each sand dollar in the chain. Vary the lengths but don’t make any very short. Arrange the pieces below each sand dollar.
Tie a knot at the end of the hemp string and thread each string through the back of the hole in the middle of the sand dollar. The knot should be in the back of the sand dollar.
Thread the unknotted end of the hemp through the front of another sand dollar and tie a knot as you did before. Add more dangling sand dollars by tying hemp to the pieces of wire and attaching to more sand dollars.
In 1989 NASA released the results of a two-year-long study on the effects of indoor plants. Their findings proved that growing certain common varieties of plants indoors (including philodendron, spider plant, and golden pothos) help to reduce indoor air pollution. Their study was mainly focused on office buildings and the phenomenon known as “sick building syndrome,” but growing an indoor garden in your home can help improve the air quality and possibly your health.
Purchase plants that will grow well indoors. All of the plants listed in NASA’s study grow well indoors. Most varieties of ivy, as well as most tropical plants, will grow easily indoors.
Use quality containers. An indoor garden should make a homeowner or visitor feel relaxed and peaceful. Cheap, lightweight plastic containers (such as those in which the plants are transported to gardening centers) are too light to properly support a growing plant and will end up being knocked over time and again.
Use potting soil for houseplants. Do not use topsoil from your yard, because it is devoid of the nutrients needed to grow healthy houseplants.
Find an area of your home that receives a lot of sunlight during the day. An eastern-facing window gets a great deal of sunlight in the afternoon and is ideal for an indoor garden.
Mist your plants frequently. Most modern homes have air conditioning, which saps the indoor air of humidity. This makes the air pleasant for humans but can make plants uncomfortable. To make your plants happier, mist them daily (or as often as possible) with a spray bottle filled with filtered water.
Arrange the plants in an attractive way. Consider hanging some plants from the ceiling (especially those that like to grow downward, such as spider plants and ivies). Place taller plants in the back of plant groupings, so that the smaller plants can be seen.
A birthday party doesn’t have to be limited to having cake and ice cream at someone’s house. There are a number of ways to celebrate a birthday, ranging from traveling to trying a new activity to celebrate. Whether you’re into romantic dinners or thrilling adventures, there are places that can provide the perfect birthday location for you, no matter what your interests are. Take your friends or go with a date, and make it a day to remember.
Party Locations
If you’re tired of your usual hangout, try a different spot to celebrate your next birthday. If your budget is limited, find free places around your town. For example, you could visit a local park, or drive to a recreation area in a nearby town. Many parks offer gazebo rentals, which are ideal for a large group and to protect against the rain.
The free picnic areas are also an option for smaller groups or to save money. If you enjoy roller skating or laser tag, big cities often have a laser tag building or a roller rink. Chuck E. Cheese’s offers a variety of activities for children, and will organize and help you throw a birthday party there for a price of around $15 per child attending. Bowling, a trip to the pool hall or a drive to an arcade are also good options. For a 21st birthday, going clubbing is a way to relax and enjoy good music and dancing.
Traveling
Consider saving money to travel when you want a birthday to be extra special. A cruise is the perfect way to celebrate, whether it’s with friends, family or your sweetheart. Smaller cruises are available in certain cities that last only a few hours and provide dinner. If you’ve moved far away from home and haven’t visited recently, consider taking a road trip to see friends from your hometown.
There are other shorter adventures you can find in nearby large cities too. For example, you can go skydiving, rock climbing or even visit a cave. These vary in price depending on location and group size. Think about what interests you, or the person you’re planning the party for. If he likes golfing, pay to take him out for an afternoon on a golf course. If she enjoys shopping, buy her a gift card and plan a weekend at the mall.
Romantic
For couples celebrating their partner’s birthday, a romantic dinner for two is a great way to mark the occasion. Pay to take her out somewhere special, or cook dinner yourself at home. You can also base your plans around the season. In the winter the two of you can go ice skating or skiing. Cuddle up by the firelight afterward and drink hot chocolate. In the summer, swimming and fishing are options. Rent a cabin in the woods and enjoy the nights alone together.
Make frozen mocha latte treats. Mix two cups of old coffee with one pint of your favorite ice cream. Use chocolate ice cream for a true mocha flavor. Try vanilla for a creamy, coffee-flavored treat. Add two tablespoons of sugar and one tablespoon of chocolate powder. Pour the mixture into a container, seal a lid on the container and freeze. Serve the recycled coffee treat when it is slushy.
Pour the old coffee and grounds on your potted plants. Stale coffee and used grounds help condition the soil. Alternate the plants you pour the coffee onto, so you don’t overwhelm the soil.
Use the grounds as ant repellent. Recycle old coffee by pouring it over the ant mounds in your yard. The strong scent of coffee helps repels ants.
Touch up wooden furniture. Use stale coffee to fill in scratches in wood furniture. Dip a cotton swab in the stale coffee and gently rub it over the scratch. The coffee fills in the scratch with a brown tone.
Rejuvenate your hair color. If you have brunette or dark red hair, wash your hair in coffee to brighten your color. Rinse the used, stale coffee through your hair for added shine.
Eliminate refrigerator odors. Place a bowl of used coffee grounds at the back of your refrigerator. They help absorb odors and keep the refrigerator smelling fresh.
Reuse packing peanuts yourself or take them to local packing and shipping stores for reuse. The Plastic Loose Fill Council operates a 24-hour hotline to direct consumers nationwide to businesses that reuse polystyrene peanuts. The organization’s website also offers a list of drop-off sites.
Recycle molded polystyrene packaging–the rigid blocky Styrofoam used to protect electronics and other delicate products–by sending it to the Alliance of Foam Packaging Recyclers’ Mail-Back Recycling Program. Check that the polystrene packaging is marked with a recycling symbol and the number six. Remove any paper labels, plastic film or glued-on cardboard from the polystyrene.
Break the polystyrene packaging into smaller pieces if desired. Pack the polystyrene into boxes or sturdy plastic sacks to mail to recyclers. The Alliance of Foam Packaging Recyclers’ Mail-Back Recycling Program accepts clean expanded polystyrene at any of their 47 participating locations across the country which are listed at epspackaging.org/images/stories/National_Mail_Back_Locations.pdf.
Recycle material such as Styrofoam cups and pressed polystyrene egg cartons, meat trays and other foam food containers at recycling centers operated by Dart Container in 15 states, Canada and Mexico.
Empty and rinse the Styrofoam cups, egg cartons, meat trays and other foam food containers. Make sure they are free of food remnants.
Pack the cups and containers into transparent plastic bags and write your name or organization and phone number on the front. Take it–or package and mail it–to one of the recycling centers found at dartcontainer.com/web/environ.nsf/pages/drop-off.html.
Recycling materials instead of letting them sit in a landfill has led to the development of new technologies to deal with almost any type of material. According to Seawolf Design, fiberglass insulation and pressed panels used to be difficult to reuse but now can be used in many ways. Most homeowners encounter fiberglass material when removing and replacing old insulation, or in the form of corrugated panels. Both of these materials can be remade into boats, spray insulation, and many other items.
Call your city or county waste management office. Ask if any of the recycling centers in your area accept fiberglass insulation.
Contact the state environmental protection department and ask about hazardous waste recycling. The United States Environmental Protection Agency website explains that each state has at least one office that can help you find a proper recycling outlet for your fiberglass.
Find a company or association that specializes in recycling fiberglass. The experts at Fiberglass World maintain a list of such organizations from all around the world.
Wrap the fiberglass insulation or paneling in heavy plastic garbage bags and seal them with duct tape. Wear work gloves, safety goggles and a respirator while handling insulation to avoid eye or skin irritation.
Salvage and reuse the fiberglass panels or insulation. If the batts of fiberglass insulation are still intact, they may be able to be used again as they are. Broken pieces of fiberglass paneling can be reused for smaller projects, such as a miniature greenhouse.
Time required: 10-15 minutes, 1-2 times per day (may take several weeks)
Here’s How:
Choose one simple word for the bark command. The word should be easy to remember and used consistently. Good choices: “speak,” “bark” or “talk.”
Choose one simple word for the quiet command. This word should also be easy to remember and used consistently. Good choices: “enough,” “quiet,” or “hush.”
When your dog barks, briefly acknowledge it by checking for the source (look out the window or door, go to your dog). Then, get her attention with a clap, whistle or similar sound.
Immediately after the barking stops, say your quiet command in a firm, audible and upbeat voice while giving a treat.
Practice the “quiet” command frequently. You can do this anytime she barks, but keep sessions brief.
Once your dog seems to understand “quiet,” you can move onto the bark command.
Create a situation that will cause your dog to bark. The best method is to have a friend ring the doorbell or knock on the door. As this occurs, say your speak command in a clear, upbeat voice.
After your dog barks 2-3 times in a row, say “good speak!” in a clear, upbeat voice while giving a treat.
Repeat the speak command process several times until your dog seems to understand.
Once your dog learns “speak” and “quiet” separately, you can use them together – have your dog speak a few times, then tell her to be quiet.
Kids find painting fun and relaxing. Why not try making a different kind of painting. Did you know you can create a masterpiece with some paint and a toothbrush? You can. It’s easy and entertaining, but very messy. You are going to have to do this craft in a area that can get splattered. The best place to do this outdoors.
Find a location that can be easily cleaned. The outdoors for this project is ideal. If not, make sure you completely cover all areas with newspaper.
Make sure you are wearing old clothes that you don’t care about. Or if you are doing this activity outside you can wear a bathing suit and a plastic smock.
Design some shapes you can use for your painting. Draw those shapes on one of your pieces of paper. You can have two or three big shapes or five to seven small shapes. Your shapes can have a theme such as fish in the sea, or animals in the desert. Once you are done drawing your shapes cut them out.
Place your shapes on to another sheet of paper.
Dip your toothbrush in to your paint. Whatever color you like is fine. Now splatter the paint across your paper by running your fingers across the bristles of your toothbrush. Don’t worry if any paint gets on your shapes at this point. Do this as many times as you like with as many colors as you like. You can do one color across the top and another across the bottom or do them both all over the page. You are the artist so you choose.
Now remove your shapes to see that your painting is now complete. The spots where your shapes were are now white and they stand out. Isn’t that neat?
Leave your paper out to dry and then hang up or place on your refrigerator.
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