Home security is important to everyone, and if you have children or elderly family members living at home, it’s likely even more of a concern. Ensuring that your house is well guarded against would-be intruders can be a big job, however, especially if you own a lot of property or are on a tight budget.

The good news is that there are many options available for those who want to amp up their home security, from simple DIY projects that can be done in a weekend to more involved, professional jobs. The key is to sit down with your spouse or partner and talk about what you want, what you need, and what makes sense for your budget. Work out a timeline to get everything done in and do some research on different companies around town that can help you out.

Once you’ve got a plan, think about these options for home security.

Continue reading “Home Security: When To DIY And When To Call In The Pros” →

They say a car starts to lose its value the moment you drive it off the lot. Thankfully, your house is entirely different. Now that the housing market has recovered, your home should be increasing in value a little bit each year.

The key word there is “should.” If you do not take good care of your place, it can start to lose value as amenities and structures begin to age. Regular maintenance like cleaning can help a lot, but so can the right home improvement project. Read on to learn more about what remodeling you can do, including which project to pick.

Continue reading “Great Home Improvements You Can Do Yourself” →

If your home doesn’t have much storage space, or if you like to add touches of style throughout your home, consider hanging various types of shelving. Fortunately, adding shelves to your home is a fairly simple process that is relatively inexpensive. This ultimate guide to DIY shelving will get you started on making a space more functional or decorative.

1. Open Kitchen Shelving

Open kitchen shelving is on trend and is a fantastic way for you to add more storage while adding some decorative touches at the same time. You may have dishes or drinkware that you love and want to display, or you may want to add pops of color with funky bottles or mugs. No matter what you choose to display on your shelves, be sure you are ready for the visual impact open kitchen shelving makes and that you are ready to do a little more dusting and organizing.

One of the quickest, easiest, and least expensive ways to create open kitchen shelving is removing a pair of cabinet doors from your existing cabinets. Give open shelving a test run this way before putting holes in your walls. This Old House design editor Tisha Leung points out that it’s simple to put the doors back on if you feel too cluttered.

For a quick and easy solution, install a couple brackets and place planks on top for a rustic open shelf. Be sure to measure and use a level when installing your shelves, and use a stud finder and then screw the brackets into wall studs to make them sturdy. To make your shelving functional in addition to decorative, put frequently used items on bottom shelves and decorative or less-used items on higher shelves. Mix decorative and functional pieces or add antique or vintage items to your open kitchen shelves.

Continue reading “Ultimate Guide to DIY Shelving” →