Bring a Wooden Floor Back to Life

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Starting an extensive renovation or replacement of hardwood flooring can be costly. Thankfully, there are other ways to bring your floors back to life if they are not deeply damaged. If you want to give your floors a facelift, try out these tips. 

Give It A Good Clean

Sometimes, all a dull hardwood floor needs to help it sparkle again is a thorough cleaning. To begin, remove furniture and rugs from the space. Lift your furniture to avoid additional scratches or damage. Once the room is empty, vacuum and wipe down the floor with a damp cloth. If your wooden floor is very dirty, use a gentle cleaning product, but in most cases, warm water alone works well. Take care to use cleaning products formulated specifically for wood surfaces. Consider steam cleaning but only if the seal on the floor is in good shape before you begin. Otherwise, the added moisture may worsen the condition of the floor.

Screening and Recoating

Screening and recoating your floor is an effective way to bring the sparkle to your old wooden floor without completely refinishing it. This process works well on floors that are not deeply damaged. The first step is to lightly sand the surface with a buffing machine to prepare the floor for a sealant like polyurethane. Hiring a buffer from a hardware store is reasonable if you have a large area of wood flooring in your home. Once the floor has been buffed, apply a new coat of finish. Be sure to allow for plenty of drying time before bringing your furniture back in. If you have a few smaller areas that are dull or distressed, you may be able to sand by hand then apply a sealant product with a rag.

Consider A Full Sanding and Refinish 

If there are deep scratches or other similar damage on your floor, you may consider working with a flooring contractor for full sanding and refinishing. This project can be daunting, but the result is a consistent finish and color. For those that have engineered wood flooring, ensure the veneer or solid wood top layer of your flooring is thick enough to withstand a sanding.

Visit your local hardware store for supplies and advice if you choose to DIY. Otherwise, ask your real estate agent for recommended contractors in your area.

Why now’s the perfect time to purchase a Florida luxury home

Top signs to purchase a Florida luxury home featured image

Florida, also known as the Sunshine State, has loads to offer – with beautiful beaches, state parks and entertainment, homebuyers are drawn in from all over the world.  

Now may be the perfect time to purchase a luxury home in Florida, whether it be in Fort Lauderdale, Tampa Bay or another Florida city or town. There are many signs to help you determine whether now is the ideal time to pursue a Sunshine State luxury house, and being able to identify them can help you initiate the move. 

You’d like to upgrade your current residence

If you find your current residence no longer fits your needs, there’s many exceptional Florida luxury homes available, offering space, comfort and proximity to amazing resources.  

Before making a purchase, consider making a list of must-haves you’d like for your new residence to possess. Perhaps if you enjoy sports, you may want a home with a basketball court or if you enjoy movies, a home with an indoor cinema may be to your liking. Having a clear picture of your wants and needs can help you find the perfect home. 

You wish to live in a warm weather area

For those who are tired of living in areas with colder temperatures, buying a luxury home in Florida may be a wonderful choice. The Sunshine State boasts warm temperatures almost year-round, providing those who prefer higher temperatures with sunlight and heat.  

As you start your Florida luxury homebuying search, consider homes equipped with amenities to help you deal with the warmer weather more comfortably.  

It may be beneficial, for example, to buy a Florida luxury home with a central air conditioning system. Or, you may want to consider a Florida luxury residence featuring a swimming pool.

You enjoy all Florida has to offer

If you want convenient access to world renowned attractions, pursuing a luxury home in Florida may be most ideal.  

Perhaps you enjoy some of their famous resorts or want to get closer to nature by living in proximity to one of their beautiful national parks. Florida offers so many resources to fit varying aspects of your lifestyle.  

Ready to purchase a luxury home in Florida? Start your Sunshine State luxury home search today, and you may find your dream residence in the near future.

How to Create Your Own Accent Mirror

A mirror is one of the most underrated pieces of home decor. Not only does a mirror serve a useful purpose by giving you and your guests an opportunity to catch a quick glance of your reflection, but it also helps to increase the perceived size of your room. A mirror can be a valuable accent piece, as it complements other types of decor such as wall art, monogrammed letters and more.

Instead of opting for a standard accent mirror that can be found at any department store, you can follow this step-by-step guide to creating your home.

Step 1: Find a Mirror that is the Right Size and Shape for Your Space

Accent mirrors can range in size and you need to find the one that fits the space you are designing. You can go looking for old mirrors at thrift stores and you may even find mirror pieces that can be designed into a truly unique decorative display for your wall.

Step 2: Brainstorm Materials for Designing Your New Mirror

Once you have a mirror that is ideal size and shape for the room you are decorating, you should begin thinking about materials that you can use to finish the mirror. A few examples of ideas that you could consider include:

  • Decorative beads or gems
  • Wooden frames
  • Shells or stones

Step 3: Gather the Materials You Need and Make a Plan

After you have decided on the materials that you want to use, get what you need to complete your project. Come up with a plan for how you are going to put your new mirror together, and don’t forget to allocate the space you will need in your home or workshop to finish it.

Step 4: Get to Work on Your Accent Mirror

With your materials and plan ready, you can begin working on the mirror itself. Many people find that designing a custom creation and making it themselves is both therapeutic and rewarding.

Step 5: Display Your Mirror with Pride

Your accent mirror could take anywhere from hours or days to complete, but when it’s done, you will have a beautiful mirror that no one else has in their home. Display it in your chosen spot with pride, and be ready to tell your guests about how you designed the mirror and completed it yourself.

Accent mirrors are one of the simplest DIY projects that you can take on. There’s nothing better than making a custom creation that works perfectly with the existing color palette and theme in your home.

Top items to sell to help simplify your moving process

Top items to sell to help simplify your moving process featured image

Selling your home and moving away can be stressful. Packing up all your belongings and moving them takes much time,
organization and attention to detail. However, to lessen the strain of this task and perhaps make a few extra
dollars, it pays to sell items that are no longer needed. 

Furniture

Have an old couch, bookshelf or sofa that simply doesn’t fit the aesthetic of your new place or would take up too
much space? It may be time to sell these pieces of furniture so they can be made of great use with another household
or donate them to charity organizations.

Appliances

Appliances such as  refrigerators,a washer and dryer as well as other home features can be too large to move to
your new place. They may also prove extra difficult to move if your new home is far from your current one. 

For this reason, it may be more efficient and time saving to purchase new appliances or your new place, and sell your
old ones, especially if you’re in a time crunch. There are many online services to advertise your appliances,
however as mentioned previously, you can donate these items to charity. You can also offer them as an added benefit
to whoever purchases your current home. 

Home decorations

Your home decor may be well-suited to your current residence, however it may not have the same impact in your new
home. This may be a sign that it’s time to let these items  go to make room for new decorations.  

If you would like a more hands-on approach to selling these items, consider costing a yard sale or dropping them off
at a local thrift store which can also be used as a tax deduction. 

Moving away can be stressful, however by letting go of the old, you make room for your new adventure.