Home Improvement

Designing A Beautiful Home Made Easy by Karyn Winrich

Remodeled kitchen in white
Photo by Pexels

As homeowners, we all want to have the perfect home. But over time, our homes can become outdated and in need of a little TLC. However, there are some simple and creative ways to revive and refresh your home without breaking the bank in designing a beautiful made easy. In this article from Shippy Realty & Auction, we’ll go over some practical and inspiring ideas that will give your home the facelift it deserves.

Set Up A Backsplash

The kitchen is the heart of the home, and adding a colorful backsplash is a great way to give it a fresh look. With so many options available, you can choose a design that suits your taste and personality. Whether it’s classic subway tile or a unique pattern, a backsplash is an affordable way to give your kitchen a new lease of life.

Upgrade Your Bedding

Investing in new bedding is a great way to revamp your bedroom’s style and overall comfort. High-quality bedding made from soft and breathable materials can improve your sleep quality while also elevating the look of your space. For those who love to switch up their decor frequently, a two-sided duvet with designs that can change according to mood is an excellent choice. If you want to add a touch of personality to your bedroom, this deserves a look. This versatile option allows you to create different looks for your room without having to buy new bedding repeatedly.

Transform A Wall with Removable Wallpaper

An accent wall can really transform a room. But if you’re not quite ready to commit to painting, consider using removable wallpaper or decals. They are easy to install, come in a variety of styles, and can be changed in a matter of minutes. Plus, they won’t damage your walls.

Create Your Dream Home Office

As more people work from home, it’s important to have a comfortable and well-designed home office. Consider swapping out your old office chair for an ergonomic one to support your back and neck. Get more natural light by moving your desk closer to a window or investing in a daylight lamp. A well-designed home office is not only functional but will also boost your productivity.

Change Up Old Fixtures

It’s amazing how much of a difference updating your light switches, faucets, and cabinet handles can make. Opt for sleek and modern designs that will add a touch of elegance to your home. It’s a small investment that will go a long way.

Brighten A Room With Mirrors

Mirrors are a secret weapon in interior design. They can brighten up a room, making it feel larger and more spacious. By strategically placing mirrors, you can reflect natural light and create the illusion of extra space. Whether it’s a full-length mirror or a decorative one, consider adding one to your home.

Invest In Closet Organizers

One of the biggest home challenges is that closet space is often limited. However, there are ways to optimize your closet space and make it work for you. Invest in closet organizers and shoe racks to keep your space tidy and functional. Utilize vertical space by adding hanging organizers and extra shelves.

With these creative ideas, reviving and refreshing your home has never been easier. You don’t have to be an interior designer or spend a fortune to make your home feel new again. By making small changes and adding personal touches, you can create a space that is not only functional but also beautiful. So, get started today and give your home the makeover it deserves!

For real estate services in South Dakota and Nebraska, contact Shippy Realty & Auction today!

The author of the article is Karyn Winrich at [email protected]

Garden almanac

This Week in the Garden

This week in the garden, some people who bought or raised pepper plants from seed are getting different types of peppers than they anticipated. They call this Jalapenogate, Peppergate, or the Great Pepper Mix-up of 2023. This happened when a seed supplier mislabeled pepper seeds and then distributed the seeds to vendors and consumers. Various pepper varieties were affected especially jalapenos, poblanos, and some bell pepper varieties.

Chiggers' life cycle

With the moisture, chiggers are back hiding in the lawns and gardens. They are tiny mites that you cannot see but leave an itchy red spot on your skin. Chiggers will attach to your skin and feed for up to four days then drop off and become adults. They do not burrow under the skin and lay eggs. The adults will lay eggs in overgrown vegetation or debris. There may be 2 or 3 life cycles depending on the weather. Jiggers will burrow and lay eggs under the skin, but jiggers are found in the Caribbean and Africa, not in the United States. Prevent chiggers from getting on you as you would do for ticks, wear protective clothing, and use a Deet-containing product, and shower after being outside.

Getting iris divided and transplanted

Iris can be dug and divided now because they are dormant. Leave 4 to 6 inches of leaf area on each plant with 4 to 5 leaves. When you plant the rhizomes, do not bury the top of the fleshy root, leave exposed.

Suckers at the base of an apple tree

If your fruit trees have suckers coming up from the ground, remove them because they take energy from the tree itself. While you’re doing this, remove any sprouts growing straight up from branches. They are called waterspouts which will never bear fruit. Avoid any major pruning till next spring.

Buffalo grass lawn

A couple of people were wondering if warm-season lawns would do well in our area. You will find a few Zoysia or Bermuda lawns east river in places like Sioux Falls, they are not hardy for western South Dakota. The one that will grow is Buffalo grass. It is very drought-resistant, slow-growing grass forming a dense sod requiring fewer mowings. It has been growing east of my house for years. The cons of the grass is the seed is more expensive, it does not green up until the temperature warms up, and it will not grow in the shade. The variety ‘Prestige’ matures at 4 to 6 inches.

Angular leaf spot in cucumber leaves

Angular leaf spots are more common on cucumbers now. Usually, this bacterium is not a problem since many cucumber plants are at the tail end of their production. The only remedy is to avoid overhead watering. There are resistant varieties like Diva, Fanfare, Marketmore, and many others.

Katchy indoor fly removal system

My problem this week is the number of flies outdoors and indoors. I do not like to use sprays indoors. As for the sticky tapes or pads, if you ever had a dog attached to one of these, you will never use it again. I have been seeing indoor bug zappers ranging from around $40. I am going to order one and see what happens.

Garden almanac, Garden Pests

In the Garden this Week

In the garden this week some vine crops, especially cucumbers have been forming brown to black spots on the leaves. This is a fungus disease called anthracnose. Usually, the disease shows up after the plants have mainly produced their season’s crop. The best remedy is to rotate the crop each year and not overhead water which spreads the fungus. If you want to control this, a copper-based fungicide works well.

Anthracnose on cucumber leaves

The next problem coming up is sunburning of tomatoes. This will appear as a discolor of the tomato skin at the shoulder or side. It is different from blossom end rot which appears on the bottom of the fruit. This is the main reason not to prune tomato plants. Also, I have noticed the beginning of blight on the lower leaves of the plants which I have been picking off and discarding to prevent the spread of the disease.

Galls on a linden leaf

People have noticed bumps on the undersides of Linden and some maple leaves. These are galls caused by a tiny fly or wasp laying an egg on the leaf as the tree was leafing out. The leaves grow around the eggs which hatches into the tiny adult. They will not harm the tree.

Summer patch fungus on a bluegrass lawn

If your lawn is patchy with irregular light brown patches with wilted turf, you may have a fungus called summer patch. This is a fungus that attacks the roots of the grass spreading outward. It is particularly bad in all Bluegrass lawns that are drought stressed. To control, water deep but infrequently and fertilize regularly. There are turf grasses that are resistant to the fungus. This damage looks similar to grub damage but pull back the turf and you will see the grubs underneath. Also, grub damage shows up later in the summer.

Black swallowtail caterpillar

I was going to give some dill away but noticed I have swallowtail caterpillars on them. Think I will let the caterpillars have the dill so I will get the swallowtail butterflies. Thinking back to pollinators plants bringing in butterflies and hummingbirds, I need to plant more butterfly weeds (orange-flowered milkweed called Asclepias), Echinacea (coneflower), Phlox, Flowering Onions, and Trumpet Vines for the wildlife.