Everyone wants to improve their home – let’s be honest. Unless you built yours from the ground up, the chances are you haven’t found an absolutely 100% perfect home for your family. As times move on, your home may need freshening up here and there. Unfortunately, we don’t all have the luxury of being able to afford all the home improvements we want. So, we’ve got to get our savvy hats on to think of a solution. 

Instead of buying any old thing for your home, think about what improvements are great value for money. This doesn’t mean that they’re cheap, it means that you get a lot out of them, which makes the value seem very impressive. Looking for inspiration? Check these ideas out:

A garden patio

Adding a patio to your back garden definitely falls under the value-for-money bracket! What’s great about this improvement is that you will get so much use out of it. It turns your garden into something special and fun. Not only does it look beautiful, but you now have an outdoor living area to take advantage of. Extend your living room into the garden during the sunny months for total relaxation. Bring a table out there and have dinner in the sun. The opportunities are endless, and there’s one other key consideration. A patio adds value to your property, meaning you can get more money if you sell it. Therefore, this is the definition of value for money!

A real fireplace

Fireplaces are absolutely beautiful and will instantly turn your living room into a brand new place. Yes, they can be expensive, which makes them a great example of when spending a lot of money can still be beneficial. With a fireplace, you’ve got free heat. All you have to do is buy the logs to burn, and your home will get free heat during the cold months and evenings. This means you may not need to turn your central heating on at all for long periods of the year. Therefore, you save an incredible amount of money on your energy bills, making the fireplace pay for itself! Again, it also adds massive amounts of value to your home, so it’s kind of a win-win. 

A new roof

Roofs are designed to last for a long time, but yours could be on its last legs. You don’t need your roof to fall through if you want to replace it. Over time, it can get really horrible and have so much dirt or fungus or whatever else those weird stains are, all over it. Small cracks may appear, and pieces of it might have fallen off. Regardless, a new roof adds serious value to your home, makes it look so much nicer, and traps all of your heat in. So, you’ve got outstanding value for money right there. 

The next time you think about improving your home, think about what provides you with the most value for money. Especially if you’re going to spend a lot of your hard-earned cash – you want to ensure you’re getting something from it!

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With the weather warming up and long, hot summer days fast approaching most kids are already counting down to spending time at the pool with family and friends. Diving, practicing their cannonballs, racing and seeing who can hold their breath for the longest.

Summer is all about getting wet and enjoying yourself, but what happens when the fun stops? A day at the pool or at the beach can seem perfectly harmless, but children and water can often be a dangerous mix, especially when their parents aren’t supervising them fully – they don’t know their own swimming limits, or they don’t appreciate how dangerous water can be. This isn’t to say that you can’t enjoy a day at the pool, you simply need to ensure that your kids stay safe around water, that way your family day out won’t be marred by tragedy. This content is full of helpful ideas.

Here we’ll look at how to keep your kids safe around the pool.

Teach your kids basic water safety

Basic water safety is essential for any child. And they’re never too young to start learning. Let them know the following:

• Running around the pool’s edge is dangerous. 
• They should never enter the water without permission. 
• They should only swim in water that is supervised. 
• They should always swim with an adult present.

Get them swimming lessons

Swimming is a basic life skill that all children should have. Being able to swim and stay afloat in the water when they get into difficulty could mean the difference between life and death. As soon as your child is ready, you should introduce swimming lessons into their routine. You’ll be able to find a swimming school or instructor who can tailor your child’s lessons to their abilities and confidence and help them understand and respect the water. All whilst having fun of course!

Supervise!

You’re probably well aware of the importance of supervising your children around the pool. However, it’s incredibly easy to get distracted and that’s when accidents can happen. Young children, in particular, are at risk here, so if possible, ask another adult to help you supervise your children. Keep your younger children within arms reach and set clear rules for your older children to help keep them safe. Avoid drinking alcohol as this can impair your judgment or make you sleepy.

Ensure pool toys are put away

If you own your own pool or you’re swimming in a public pool, remember to keep the poolside clear of trip and slip hazards. If you’re in a public pool highlight any issues or dangers to the pool staff or lifeguards.

Keep your pool covered

If you have a pool at home, you’re visiting relatives with a pool or holidaying in accommodation with a pool then ensure that it is covered when not in use. Or that there is a secure fence around the pool to prevent curiosity leading to accidents. 

Remember buoyancy aids

Buoyancy aids are a life-saving piece of equipment, so if your child is young or is a weak swimmer then a life jacket is ideal. Make sure it’s worn even if the child has gotten out of the water. 

 

 

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Some might argue that there is more skill required for decorating a small space. You’ll need to have a good eye for what is going to work or what isn’t. And spatial awareness is going to be a must. The focus, however, when decorating a small room will be different from that of when you have all the space in the world to play with. 

However, a small space doesn’t mean that you have to compromise on comfort, luxury or personality. 

Here are a couple of simple tips that can change your space with ease. 

Mirrors

Mirrors are both functional and add plenty of additional light to any room. They create the feeling of extra space because they reflect all of the light from the room back into the room. By using one large one, and a range of smaller ones, you can increase the amount of light in the room when using a mirror. Combining the mirrors with a gallery wall will make this a less obvious trick. 

Clutter

Less is more, and less is better. Although it isn’t always as achievable as we might like because having a family tends to come with a lot of ‘stuff’. In general, keeping the number of things that you own, and are in any given room is much about discipline and a lot about the right storage options. It is even more critical in a small house that you leave plenty of space available, declutter when you can. Have a look at countertops, under beds and sofas too. They tend to be the main spaces where excess things are placed. Start looking at everything you own and make a decision about how much you need it, want it or use it. 

Creative

You can get very creative with your furniture and your storage too. A little bit of research, and you will be able to find the perfect space-saving dining room ideas and the easiest ways to make more use of your kitchen cupboards. Try to opt for furniture that comes with an extra storage option. 

Consider beds and sofa that have extra storage hidden in the base and ottomans that can store bed sheets. This will give you more options than just having to pack everything directly into the wardrobes or drawers. 

Brights

Small spaces work very well with a mix of bright colours, a touch of pattern and plenty of neutral colours too. Accent walls, when in the right place, can make a room look much bigger than it really is. If you don’t want to risk getting the colour or the shade of colour ‘wrong’ although you can’t really go ‘wrong’, then think about adding colour in your decorative items. Plants, plant pots, rugs, cushions and blankets can be your source of bright colours and texture. Going bright and bold comes down to finding a balance that works. 

There aren’t really design rules, but there are theories about colour, the use of vertical space that can help you maximise the space you have in smart ways. 

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When you have a large family with small children to cook for, clean up after and generally take care of, you’re going to need a considerable amount of storage space around your home to cope with the sheer number of things that you need to live your lives normally. The average home doesn’t come with a ready made storage area for you to work with, so it’s likely that you’re going to have to get creative to make the perfect space for your family to utilise. So, if you’re ready to create the perfect pantry and storage areas inside your home, then read on to uncover some of the best tips and tricks that you can make the most of today! 

A Food Pantry 

Stocking up on food and different ingredients is a great way to save time as a family, as one big shop can sustain you for much longer than you might think when you plan your trip property. Finding the right place to store all of your food can be tricky, as it usually has to be kept in a cool, dry and preferable dark location to keep them fresh for as long as possible. In most cases the basement is an ideal food pantry location, or perhaps an outbuilding that can be renovated with LEpro LED high bay lights installation to take your stock to a whole new level. You’re going to need some shelving units and other box storage space to organise all of your items so that you don’t spend hours searching for whatever one item you are looking for, otherwise this can defeat some of the purpose of your time saving pantry creation! Make sure that you’re on the ball always checking expiry dates of the food inside your pantry, as stockpiling can sometimes lead to overbuying, which then means you just have too much food to eat before they are no longer any good. 

General Home Storage 

Whether you’re tripping over toys, piling up clothes or generally getting tired of the sheer volume of ‘stuff’ that seems to be floating around your home, it can be a nightmare trying to figure out ways in which you can utilise some functional storage options to help declutter your home. Luckily, there are so many great options for you to choose between which are perfect for family life – for example, there are storage benches that double up as cupboard space as well as a seat, which are perfect for children’s bedrooms to key toys and treats out of the way. As well as this, most kitchen cupboards are a very inefficient use of space, so you may find it useful to create some more storage space above or below your current cupboards to get far more room without feeling as though you have compromised on living space.

Creating the perfect pantry and adding amazing storage space inside your home has never been so simple when you are able to make the most of the top tips and tricks detailed above! 

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You’d think that after a long nine months and intensive labour, that you’d deserve a well-earned rest. Well, it goes without saying that you do deserve one, however, when you have a newborn at home it’s much easier said than done! Now, you need to focus on not only recovering from birth but also bonding with your little one. When it comes to bonding, we’re talking about establishing and then cementing a strong unbreakable bond with your baby. Of course, you may already feel incredibly attached to your baby, or perhaps you’re a little wary and questioning every action you take. All these emotions and thoughts are valid. 

Bonding can happen straight away, or it may take a little longer for you to establish that strong connection. There is no time limit, and sometimes, if your child was taken away from you due to medical reasons at birth – click the link if you’re looking for a cerebral palsy lawyer – then you may be worrying that you’ve missed out on a crucial bonding opportunity. The fact is that as long as you don’t put pressure on yourself, adhere to your newborns’ needs and take your time, the feelings will come. 

Remember, if you are struggling, then speak with your midwife or doctor. There are plenty of professionals who are more than happy to help. Read on for 5 simple ways to bond with your newborn.

Skin to skin

When your baby was born, they were probably placed directly onto your chest. This skin to skin contact is soothing and calming for both of you. It helps you get to know each other! Hold your baby often and let your skin touch. Skin to skin can help to reduce your baby’s heart rate, regulate their temperature, their breathing rate and it helps them to keep calm knowing that they can smell and hear your heartbeat. It’s such a simple way to bond. Get your partner in on it too! 

Feeding

Breastfeeding releases hormones that help to create feelings of love and attachment. Of course, not every new mum wants/chooses to breastfeed and that’s fine! You can still make feeding time all about bonding by talking softly to your baby, looking into their eyes and holding them close. 

Talk!

Of course, they probably don’t understand a single word you’re saying, but by narrating what you’re doing, chatting to them, singing, telling stories and smiling at them you’re continuing to build a strong relationship. 

Read

Again, it doesn’t matter how old they are! Picking up a colourful or textured book is a wonderful way to bond. You can look at pictures, explain what’s going on, make funny voices and just enjoy cuddling together. Bliss.

Ask for help

If your baby is in special care right now and the traditional bonding methods above aren’t appropriate right now, don’t worry. Ask a nurse or medical professional how to safely touch or hold your baby whilst they are receiving care. Let them hear your voice, sing and make as much eye contact as you can. Don’t be afraid to take photos and document these incredibly important moments from their early life. 

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