Category: House and Home

Lighting is the least seen but also the most important aspect of interior design. It aids in color management of the space, highlighting key features of the room, creates functionality in all the spaces of a room, and can give the illusion of more space in a smaller area.

The living room, second only to the kitchen, is the main space of a home. If the kitchen is the heart, the living room is the heartbeat. It’s where we hang out with family, enjoy one another, relax after a hard day of work, and is the primary shared space.

Choosing the right living room light fixtures is imperative in making the space as cozy and welcoming as it can be. Here we give you our tips on choosing the best ones for your space.

The Types of Lighting and What They Accomplish

There are three main types of lighting in any interior design. Each should be used in every room to get the most out of your space.

Ambient Lighting

The ambient light is the functional light in a space. It’s what will give the main light in the room and allow the most visibility. It lights up the entire room and can have a varying level of brightness.

To get the amount of ambient lighting needed you’ll need to measure your room in what’s known as “foot-candles”. So, what is a foot-candle? It’s a unit of measure that reflects how bright the light is one foot away from its source.

Living rooms tend to require fewer foot-candles than utilitarian spaces like kitchens and bathrooms. You can get away with around 20 foot-candles of light in a standard living room.

To get the total amount of light you need multiply the number of foot-candles recommended for the room by the actual square footage. This will give you the number of lumens needed for your room. A typical 40W bulb will produce about 450 lumens and a 60W 800 lumens. 

This clues you in on how many of these bulbs need to be in the room wither through overhead lighting or lamps to give you a decent amount of light.

Task Lighting

This is light you place purposefully over spaces you’ll be completing tasks in. Have your desk in the living room? You’ll want a light over it so that you’ll be able to see what you’re working on.

Task lighting is also great for breaking up a large open concept room into usable spaces. 

Accent Lighting

This is light that is purely decorative. It’s the lights you put in hutches to showcase sculptures or the lights placed above paintings to keep them illuminated.

The Right Living Room Light Fixtures for Your Space

Now that you know how much light you need, and are done doing the math phew that was a doozy, on to the fun part – picking the fixtures!

Here are a few of-the-moment options and classic standbys to fill your space with light and sophistication.

Hanging Pendant Lights

Hanging pendants are a great option when you want the lights themselves to make a statement in the room.

They can be pieces of art in and of themselves. Also, vintage bulbs are all the rage. Put your einstein bulbs in there and wow your friends with how chic you are. 

Sconces

These are wonderful for rooms with lots of wall space but lower ceilings. Vaulted ceilings need elaborate hanging lights but more intimate spaces need a subtle approach.

Modern sconces are also very beautiful and can either blend into the wall or become accent pieces themselves.

Floor Lamps

Nothing is more dependable. Floor lamps are reliable and have stood the test of time. When you’re designing your room, consider placing outlets in the floor under where your furniture will sit. That way no one has to see the plug.

Floor lamps go from elaborate to utilitarian so they can really transform a space while giving you the option to only put one or two on at once.

Chandeliers

Depending on the size of the room a grand chandelier might be just what’s needed to set off the space. Rooms with vaulted ceilings and a lot of square footage benefit from the extra light and heft a chandelier adds to a room.

Now, chandeliers have come a long way from the time of gold and jewels. Modern chandeliers are chic accent pieces that vary from large wooden ones that mimic candlelight to sculptural metal pieces that showcase vintage bulbs.

Whichever you choose a chandelier makes a statement.

Ceiling Fans

If you live in the southern climates a fan is a necessity in a room you spend a lot of your time in.

Luckily, ceiling fans now come in a variety of beautiful designs and almost always include a light fixture in the middle. So, you can be cool and not be in the dark.

Lighting Brings a Room Together and Your Family into the Living Room

We hope this gives you some great ideas on how to choose your living room light fixtures. By accurately measuring beforehand you’ll know you’ll have enough light in the end. 

Consider the lighting in the original design to give yourself the option of adding additional outlets, if needed. Having the option of hidden cords is always a great idea especially if you have little ones running about.

Looking for more reading material? We’ve got you covered. Check out the rest of our blog for information about everything you’re interested in.

If you are having a baby soon, you need to start preparing your baby’s nursery ASAP!

The last thing you want to be worrying about as your due date approaches is whether your baby will have a comfortable and calming space to live and sleep. 

To ensure that your baby has a nice, homey nursery, we are giving you a list of the top 9 nursery must-haves.

1. Crib

Your baby’s crib is the most important item that will be in your nursery. This is because this is where your baby will sleep.

According to BabyCenter, newborns sleep around 16 -17 hours a day. Thus, it is vital that you get a quality crib. We suggest getting a crib that has a secure frame and stationary sides.

We also suggest that you purchase a crib whose sides are not too closed off so that you can easily see inside the crib with your baby monitor.

A possible substitute that you can have for a crib is a bassinet. Although you will need a crib as the baby grows, a bassinet is a great miniature bed for your newborn.

2. Baby Monitor

Our number 2 choice for baby nursery must-haves is a baby monitor. A baby monitor is a technological device that has a camera and a radio system in it so that you can see and hear what your baby is doing in its nursery when you are not in the room. Although mothers in the olden days were able to raise their kids without baby monitors, you would be a fool to not take advantage of this technological safety tool today.

3. Changing Table

Until your baby is potty trained, you will be spending tons of time changing your baby’s diaper. Thus, it is vital that you purchase a changing table.

A changing table is a stationary platform with a bed-like table on top of it for you to lay your baby down and change his or her diaper on. Below the bed-like table of a changing table are small drawers for you to place the baby’s diapers and objects into. A childrens dressing table is one of our top baby room must-haves because it makes the diaper changing process easier on parents.

4. Nursery Chair

Our number 4 item on our nursery must-haves list is a nursery chair because this is the place where you will sit while performing bonding like activities with your baby like breastfeeding and rocking your baby to sleep. Other names for a nursery chair are a breastfeeding chair and a nursing chair. Many people refer to a nursery chair as a breastfeeding/nursing chair because this is where most moms find themselves breastfeeding their newborns late at night.

5. Diapers and Wipes

Two things that you can never have too much of when you have a newborn baby are diapers and wipes. Newborn babies are known to go through around 10 to 12 diapers in a day. Thus, we cannot stress more how important it is to stock up on diapers and wipes prior to your baby being born.

6. Diaper Pale

A diaper pale is a special sealed trash can made to hold diapers. What makes diaper pales specific for the use of holding used diapers is the fact that they are manufactured to trap odors. That way, all the stinky and poopy diapers that you throw out each day will not stink up your nursery room and home while sitting in a diaper pale.

Other features of a diaper pale that make it suited for holding used baby diapers are their foot pedals and flip lids. The foot pedals and flip lids on diaper pales allow parents to easily throw away diapers with one hand. That way you can throw away a used diaper in a diaper pale while still holding onto your baby.

7. Dresser

A dresser is a nursery must-have because it is where you will hold all your baby’s clothes and objects. You can purchase a dresser in whatever style matches your nursery. As long as you have as many dressers as you need to hold your baby’s clothes and objects, you are good to go.

8. Clothes

Your baby can’t be naked forever. Thus, you are going to need to buy some newborn baby clothes and onesies for your child to wear. Babies grow out of their clothes quickly, so make sure to buy some clothes for your upcoming baby in sizes for every month your baby will be alive, for up to 6 months.  

9. Nightlight

A nightlight is our final nursery must-have because it is a great tool to have when you are up late with your baby in the nursery, and you do not want to turn on a full light. You can also use a nightlight as a source of comfort for your baby as he or she is sleeping in his or her nursery alone at night.

Nursery Must-Haves: The Rest Is Up to You

Now that you know the top nursery must-haves that you need to purchase, the rest of the design of your nursery is up to you. If you want a nursery with a minimalistic aesthetic, make sure that all your key nursery items are in neutral colors. If you want a girly nursery, incorporate pink in your nursery’s design.

At the end of the day, you can design your baby’s nursery however you please. To learn more about nurseries and how to save money as a mother, check out our other blog articles.

Do you like the story your front yard is telling?

Is it a fairy tale lawn or more like a horror story mess of weeds? Growing up, people tell you not to judge a book by its cover. Yet, that’s what human brains are hard-wired to do.

Studies show 90% of the information our brain processes comes from what we see. Every day we decide what we like and dislike, desire or disdain, based on our sight.

When you think about it, your lawn is the first thing people see about you, it’s a reflection of who you are. If you want to make a great first impression, you’ll need your lawn care to be up to date.

If you’re like many people though, high costs and lack of time can make keeping up on yard care overwhelming. Don’t worry though, we have the best tips to help you have a lush green yard, without breaking the bank.

Read on to find out the top 5 tips to take care of your lawn on a budget.

1. Dare to Negotiate Lawn Care Costs

Are you going to be hiring someone to assist with your lawn care? If your budget has room to hire help, that doesn’t mean you have to take the first offer that comes your way. Dare to negotiate with your local yard care companies.

We recommend you never take the first bid that’s offered to you. Instead, kindly and politely decline. Let the company know you’d like to work with them but your budget won’t allow for such high costs.

One trick is to find out if you can pay for your lawn services a year in advance. Oftentimes, a company will offer a discounted rate if you’re willing to pay in one lump sum.

It’s reasonable to expect to save anywhere from a few dollars to a few hundred dollars by paying in advance. The exact numbers will depend on what type of services you’re looking for and the average lawn service rates in your area.

Remember, the worst thing that can happen is they tell you, “no”. While the best thing that can happen is you cut your expenses down and who doesn’t love saving money?

2. Create a Compost

What’s the last thing you threw away? There’s a good chance that it was some type of left-overs from a meal. According to the EPA, 30% of our garbage comes from leftover food and yard scraps.

Throwing away leftover food and yard waste might not seem like a big deal. Yet, what if we told you there was a way you could use this garbage to help grow plants in your backyard?

Instead of pitching old food and yard waste, a lot of it can go towards making a compost.

What exactly is compost? Compost is a completely organic material. You can add it to the soil to help promote plant growth. Here are some of the benefits of having a compost can bring:

• Moisture-rich soil
• Natural fertilizer
• Prevent plant disease

Having a compost will help you save money on fertilizer and grow heartier plants that are less prone to disease.

3. Get a Mulching Mower

What if we told you that you never had to rake again? Save money on buying rakes, or removing grass clippings by getting a mulching mower. To understand mowers better, check out these riding mower reviews. 

A mulching mower will work very similarly to a regular mower. Yet, instead of cutting the grass like normal, the mulching mower will use special blades. 

Then, the special blades will cut the grass clippings over and over. Along with the grass clippings, any leaves will be chopped up into itty bitty pieces. The finely cut clippings will then shrivel away throughout the day until they completely disappear.

4. Learn Your Soil PH

Buying new plants can be expensive. Avoid wasting your money by making sure you’re putting your plants in the right type of soil. To fully understand the type of soil you’ll need, you first have to understand how soil works.

The soil has minerals, water, gases, microorganisms, and organic matter. Similar to other living things, soil can have different pH levels. The lower the pH level, the more acidic the soil is.

Different types of plants prefer different pH levels to be present in the soil. Not only do plants have preferences, but they also have specific pH needs. For any nutrients to be available to the plants, the pH level has to be just right.

Unfortunately, changing your soil’s pH can be hard, time-consuming, and sometimes impossible. Yet, the good news is that just knowing what pH level you have can help.

Instead of blindly purchasing plants and hoping they’ll survive, get a kit to test your soil. Find out exactly what type of pH levels you’re dealing with in your front and back yard. If you find you have highly acidic soil consider planting azaleas or rhododendrons.

5. Choose Perrenials

If you want to get the most bang for your buck, go ahead and steer clear of planting annuals. Instead, invest your money in long-lasting perennials that won’t break the bank.

Unlike annuals, perennials won’t require any replanting. Once you have them firmly planted, all you need to do is properly care for them.

Annuals, on the other hand, require that you replant them annually. Of course, that also means going through the seedling process, and purchasing additional soil.

Reward Yourself With a Freebie

Now you know more about how to have the best lawn care on a budget. Make sure you’re also taking the time to reward yourself for your hard work!

Thrifty Momma Ramblings is proud to help our readers live fabulous lives while still being frugal. Treat yourself and check out our deals section.

In our deals section, you’ll find freebies, giveaways, coupons, and more! You deserve a little something special, and with our help, you won’t have to pay for it!

For many, moving is one of the most exciting but also most stressful life events. It needs detailed organizing and a hefty budget, but luckily, it doesn’t have to be a dreaded day, nor does it have to take a toll on your wallet.

With a little planning and the right moving company, you can settle into your new home hassle-free and happy.

Start by doing thorough research on the companies you’d like to hire. Ask family and friends for recommendations, and don’t go for the cheapest option.

Keep reading to discover 5 ways to lower the cost of hiring movers and find the most affordable moving company.

1. Do Proper Research

Moving on a budget doesn’t have to be low-quality or stressful. In fact, with proper research, you can find a great affordable moving company. Start by looking for local companies online and look through their websites and social media channels.

There’s a lot to discover about a company through their online presence and the way they talk to their customers. Read customer reviews thoroughly, and contact potential companies to see how they communicate.

2. Ask for Recommendations

The safest way to find a reliable moving company is to ask for recommendations from family and friends. Write down every detail you learn about the companies, write down contact information, and anything that might be useful for you.

When you narrow down your choice, make a list of the companies and contact each one individually to get an estimate. You’ll get the most accurate quote if you can get an in-house estimate from the movers.

3. Compare Movers

Once you have a list of cheap moving companies, take some time to compare them. Compare prices, online reviews, availability, and offers/packages.

This will give you a better feel of value for money, and what you’ll need to do yourself, and what to delegate to the movers.

4. Reduce the Amount of Stuff

During moving, you’ll realize just how much stuff you’ve accumulated. The best way to start fresh and save money is to reduce the load. As you pack each room, set aside all the things you don’t use anymore, and that are broken, old, or outdated.

This will help you snag a great deal with the moving company because the less stuff you have, the lower the price.

5. Choosing the Right Time to Move

The time of year you choose to move can affect hiring movers cost, with peak season being between May and September. During the off-season, moving companies typically lower their prices, and if you move in the middle of the month, you’ll save even more money.

Make sure to book the movers well in advance so you can prepare better and have everything ready on moving day.

Get the Best Cost of Hiring Movers With These Tips!

Whether you’re moving across town or to a new city or state, moving is rarely easy and hassle-free.

These tips will help you lower the cost of hiring movers and reduce the stress of moving day.

Need more thrifty tips? Check out some of the other money-saving and frugal living articles we’ve written.

Americans spent roughly $340 billion dollars on home remodeling in 2018, a number expected to grow by more than seven percent in 2019. If you’re planning to join the ranks of the fixer-uppers, it pays to know what you’re getting into.

Renovations can be expensive. In fact, the average price for a kitchen reno is $23,307. A bathroom remodel costs, on average,$10,301. We’ve put together our top home renovation tips and 13 ways to save money on your next project.

1. Set Your Budget

The easiest way to keep your costs from spiraling out of control is to decide up front how much money you can spend. Then when you’re looking for appliances, fixtures or flooring, you’ll know right away if you can afford to do everything you want to.

Here’s a kitchen remodeling budget you can use as a guide for creating your own. 

Tip: pay cash for everything to avoid interest charges on your credit cards. You’ll also be much less likely to impulse buy an expensive light fixture if you have to hand over the cash.

2. Do Your Research

Once you have your budget set, start window shopping for the items you’ll need. Get a sense of the prices by looking both on line and in stores. A lot of people underestimate the price of kitchen cabinets or counter tops. Hint: granite can be expensive! 

Research the prices of the items you really, really want and then see if you can find something nearly identical for less. You might be surprised how many look-a-like faucets there are.

3. Hire a Professional 

This seems counter-intuitive to your goal of saving money, but a contractor can save you money in the long run, especially if this is your first major renovation. Contractors will know what permits you’ll need from your local government, for example. They’ll also be able to tell you if that wall you want to knock down is load-bearing and therefore, an extremely expensive project.

Get bids from three reputable contractors and check their license.

Tip: Hire a contractor and do the work during the off-season. If you live in an area that gets a lot of ice and snow during the winter, contractors don’t get as much work. You might be able to negotiate a lower price, if you hire a contractor during the slow months.

4. Reuse and Recycle

You save a lot of money if you’re willing to re-purpose cabinetry. If you’re renovating your kitchen and bathroom, see if you can use the old kitchen cabinets in the bathroom. They may just need a coat of paint and some new hardware.

Even if you have to cut them down to fit, it will still be much less expensive than buying a whole new set.

If you’re only remodeling your kitchen, you might just need to refinish or repaint the existing cabinets. Fresh paint and new handles can make old cabinets look brand new.  You might also remove some of the old cabinets and replace them with open shelving.

Tip: Cut the center out of an old cabinet door and replace it with a glass pane for an upgrade that only looks expensive.

5. Don’t Pay Full Price

You can save a pile of money by shopping at salvage warehouses, auctions and at resale stores. Habitat For Humanity ReStores are filled with new or nearly new building materials, light fixtures and appliances. Many of the items are donated by builders who simply ordered too many sinks or bathtubs.

Check on those buy/sell/trade websites. It’s not unusual to find a set of bathroom cabinets or a box of hardware listed for a fraction of the cost to buy new.

If you’re looking for specific building materials, ask your contractor exactly what he needs. Then, shop around for the best price and order it yourself. You’ll avoid paying the contractor to shop, along with any additional costs he may add to the product.

6. Pick up Your Supplies

You can save a small fortune by picking everything up, rather than having them delivered. Unless you can negotiate free delivery, you’re going to save money by lugging everything home yourself. Most of the big box stores rent trucks by the hour, which will be much less expensive then paying the store to deliver your items.

7. Don’t Move Plumbing

Moving a sink from one side of the room to another or relocating the bathtub can add thousands of dollars to your project. If possible, preserve the original footprint of the room and avoid having to re-pipe the whole thing.

8. Plan for Standard Sizes

If you’re replacing doors and windows, use stock or standard sizes whenever possible. You’re going to save money if you can simply pop in a new door, rather than have to cut it down or order one custom built.

9. DIY 

The more you can do yourself, the more money you’ll save. It really depends on your experience. Painting is relatively easy to do, even if you’ve never repainted a room before. Wiring and plumbing, however, require a specific skill set and in many cases, a professional license. 

For basic projects, you can find a ton of information and how-to videos on line. If you’ve never replaced a bathroom faucet, you can watch a video that will walk you through it step-by-step.

We even have some great tutorials on our blog. Here’s one that’ll walk you through concrete stamping, if you’re looking to spruce up the outside of your home. 

10. Sell What You’re Getting Rid Of

If you’re replacing light fixtures or cabinets, don’t toss them. Take a few pictures and try to sell them on sites like OfferUp or even Facebook Marketplace. You won’t get full value for them, but you might make enough money to pay for upgraded faucets for your newly remodeled bathroom.

If you don’t want the hassle of selling, donate your old items. Habitat’s ReStores accept donations of materials that are still in working order. You’ll even get a tax deduction for donating to a nonprofit.

11. Do the Prep Work Yourself

The biggest cost in a home remodel is often labor, so why not save some money and do a lot of the prep work yourself? If you’re having your living room repainted, you can prep the walls yourself.

Wipe them down with a lint-free cloth and fill in any nail holes or scratches with a little spackling putty. Then, sand the area where you filled in the holes and wipe it down again to remove the dust. It may take several hours to prep the walls, so you could save hundreds of dollars doing it yourself. 

12. Improve Your Lighting Without Adding Windows

Before you start knocking holes in the walls to let in the light, play around with light fixtures. By adding a few ceiling lights or floor lamps, you can save hundreds of dollars. Even if you need to pay someone to wire your ceiling, it’s still cheaper than having new windows installed.

13. One of Our Best Home Renovation Tips – Focus on Cosmetic Upgrades

If you’re working with a limited budget, you might not have the money for a full renovation. There are plenty of ways to update your space without remodeling it.

Inexpensive lamps can brighten up a bedroom, along with some new curtains and pillows for the bed. While you’re at it, go ahead and replace your bedding. Shop the sales for inexpensive sheets and comforters. Don’t worry if you’re not sure how to buy a mattress or get it home. Most places will deliver the new one and take your old away.

Wrapping It Up

We’ve got some other great home renovation tips on our blog, including a few ways to spruce up the inside of your home using design tips from the experts!