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Foolproof tips to punch up your home’s palette

(NC) Prepare your paintbrushes: colour is back. Neutral aesthetics have dominated for seasons on end, but design tastemakers have shifted their focus to adventurous interiors.

Sharon Grech, Benjamin Moore colour and design expert, shares how to confidently move on from neutral tones and kickstart a colour revival.

Balance a room
“Colour has visual weight, so be mindful of the size of your space,” Grech advises. Larger rooms can handle darker tones and strong saturation. Smaller spaces can benefit from airier, pale tones; but with ample lighting, a bold hue can be a joyful transformation.

Make a statement
There is something alluring about a room that is bursting with colour. Be bold in your expression and have fun. Instead of using an oversized piece of art for your wall, create an area of interest by painting a wall section behind a favourite piece of furniture. Paint unexpected corners of your home, like a bookcase, chimney or ceiling, to add a splash of colour and inject your personality.

Amplify the colour you love
Your home is your haven. Consider the emotional and subconscious impact certain colours have on you and let them guide your choice. Grech suggests, “Consider a shade like Raspberry Blush 2008-30 for your living room or kitchen to energize or New Age 1444 for a calming bedroom.” Colour has the ability to evoke emotions and affect mood, so consider how you use the room and want to feel in it before selecting a hue.

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3 easy backyard DIY upgrades

(NC) Embarking on a DIY project can offer lots of fun and learning for a couple, family or just for yourself. Consider taking up a project for your backyard that you can enjoy with the people close to you all year long.

Here are three unique ideas for backyard DIY projects that anyone, from beginners to seasoned builders, can do.

Re-home your garden
Make gardening even more personal and rewarding this summer by building your own planter box. Making a planter box for your favourite veggies or flowers is great for a beginner or seasoned DIY-er. With several wood and composite material options and various design configurations, you have the freedom to match your planter to your outdoor space.

Elevate your patio with a pergola 
There are few things that add to the charm of a backyard like a pergola. Whether you want to provide shade around your bistro set or give your plants room to grow to the sky, there is no shortage of ways to build a pergola or trellis in your outdoor space. Pergolas aren’t just meant for large backyards, either. Your local Home Hardware Building Centre can help you pick out the right materials and tools to build a pergola that fits your lifestyle and needs.

Build your own storage space 
A storage shed might not be the first thing that comes to mind when planning out your backyard. But, whether it’s shielding your bikes, tools or furniture from the elements, or acting as a place to keep extra chairs or cushion covers, a shed can be a game-changer and a fun DIY project. With a wide range of sizes and designs available, you can build a shed that fits all of your storage needs.

You can find more project ideas at homehardware.ca

 
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Designer advice for choosing the right white paint

(NC) Ready to repaint but not sure how to pick the perfect neutral? Benjamin Moore colour and design expert Sharon Grech shares her top four tips to help you choose the perfect white paint for your space.

Know your exposure.

Overall lighting and the orientation of your room are the most important considerations when choosing paint colours, especially when it comes to selecting the right tint of white. Whether your room faces north, east, south or west, there is a white paint designed to bring out the very best in your space’s natural light.

“If you have a north or east exposure, opt for warmer whites. Look for options with cooler tones to counterbalance south and west exposures, such as Decorator’s White OC-149.”

If you’re in a space with limited natural light such as a basement or small den, consider Chantilly Lace OC-65, a bright designer favourite to bring an added sense of space and light to any room.

Pay attention to the undertone.

When selecting neutral paints, one of the key differences to keep in mind is the undertone. From pink to green and everything in between, you can find a white paint with an undertone to suit your space. When selecting a white paint, consider the colour of the furniture and flooring in your space — if you tend towards warmer hues, opt for a white paint with a warm undertone to create a cohesive feel.

Express your sense of style.

From modern to traditional, white paint can bring out the best in a range of design styles. Express your personal taste and give your neutral space a warm and inviting feeling by adding texture with throw blankets, cushions and rugs in natural fibres. To accentuate architectural details and add extra dimension to neutral walls, Grech suggests painting details such as trim, mouldings and even furniture in a high-gloss sheen to add a striking contrast to matte or eggshell walls.

Test before you paint.

Sharon’s top piece of advice? “Always test a few variations of white paint on your walls before painting the whole room.” A white paint that looks perfect in the store could look totally different once it’s in your space. 
Once you’ve found your perfect tint, make sure to prime your walls if you’re painting over a bold colour. Choose a paint like Regal Select interior paint to achieve professional results and flawless coverage.

 
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Give your home new life with these tips

(NC) As the change in weather has us retreating indoors, take some time to spruce up your interiors with these design ideas.


Play with paint. One of the most budget-friendly ways to change up a space is with paint. You can use it to refresh antique or dated furniture, or you can create a whole new ambiance with a new wall colour. For the cooler months, try dark, nearly black walls to add depth to a room. Keep it warm and inviting with lighter furnishings and décor; the deep shade will accentuate their silhouettes for a striking finish.


Re-theme a room. Whether it’s your bedroom, kitchen or living room, switching up the style of a room can dramatically improve the overall look and feel. Try a new colour palette, or a different aesthetic like rustic, contemporary or cottage to create a renewed environment. For an affordable makeover, focus on smaller but impactful elements like textures, accents, furniture and décor.


Frame your view. Transform a boring basic window with gorgeous shades that do more than add style and polish. Hunter Douglas’ innovative custom window treatments offer light control for the perfect amount of natural sunlight, elegant performance fabrics for energy efficiency and UV protection, and intelligent shade operating systems for convenient smart home integration. Purposeful, polished window coverings give any room a finished look.


Organize chaos. Improving your home’s organization can make your entire living space feel fresh and welcoming. So take some time to clear out the clutter and use drawer and closet organizers to find an out-of-sight place for every trinket. If you have a small space, choose smart storage solutions that work double duty. And don’t forget your entryway. As the first impression of your home, it’s essential to keep neat and tidy. Use a coat rack and bench that doubles as shoe storage for an organized and seamless appearance.

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Simple tips and tricks to update your home – just using paint

By: Scott McGillivray


(NC) Looking to update your home but don’t have the time or money for a full-on renovation? Not a problem. With the right application of paint, you can breathe new life into your home, inside and out.


Consider these five painting projects to boost your home’s appeal:


Reimagine your space. One of the easiest ways to add personality is to refresh the walls by adding bold and contemporary colours. Try highlighting a focal point or niche with a fresh pop of colour, or paint an accent wall to command the eye’s attention.



Make a statement in your bathroom. People generally limit the amount of time they spend in their bathrooms. But what if you could make it a room you actually want to spend time in? With a coat of paint in just the right colour, anything is possible. Turn your bathroom into a statement room with a dark shade. Forgoing the usual neutral finish, this bold approach catches the eye and can create a sense of class and drama.


Revitalize tired cabinets and furniture. Bring old cabinets and furniture back to life with a fresh coat of paint. Choose a colour theme that complements the rest of your home or room. You can accentuate little details, hide imperfections and create great conversation pieces. I recommend using Para Paints Ultra melamine hybrid cabinet and furniture paint in a neutral colour that complements your style.


Captivate with a stylish doorway. The front door is the focal point of your home’s exterior, so you want it to look as good as possible. If yours is looking a little tired and a new one isn’t in the budget, a coat of paint is a terrific option. A brighter hue can add energy, while a more subdued one plays up a traditional feel. Top it off with some stylish hardware and accessories and you’re good to go.


Update exterior trim and accents. There’s a connection between outer upkeep and what a visitor can expect inside. Painting your exterior windows, trim and shutters with the right colour palette can greatly boost your home’s curb appeal and make it more inviting for you and your visitors. Experiment with colour to create a playful welcoming effect or opt for a more subtle palette to create a formal or classic look. Remember, first impressions matter.

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How to put out a fire at home before it starts

(NC) For many of us, the aesthetics of our home –– a colourful garden, new furniture or trendy appliances –– often become our primary focus. But this can leave little time for unseen elements that can become a safety hazard.


Something overlooked like a loose or frayed cord can spark a house fire, and this happens most frequently during the winter months, according to the Canadian Red Cross.


It doesn’t take much for a fire to start in your home, but it doesn’t take much to prevent one. That’s why around this time of year, it’s crucial to take small, precautionary measures that will keep your family out of harm’s way. Here are four easy steps for a fire-free home:


  1. Develop a fire escape plan. Should a fire occur, it’s important to evacuate the home as quickly as possible. Creating a fire escape plan and practicing that plan twice a year will help ensure the safety of your loved ones in the event of a fire.
  2. Check smoke detectors frequently. A functioning smoke detector can be the difference between a false alarm and a life-threatening scenario. Install them on every level of the house and take the time to test them monthly, replacing batteries at least twice a year; daylight saving time always serves as a good reminder.
  3. Store and recycle batteries the right way. Once you have changed the batteries in your devices, be sure to recycle the old ones. Used batteries that are disposed of or stored incorrectly or damaged can be a safety hazard. Keep your home and the environment safe by recycling all your old batteries. Call2Recycle Canada has more than 8,000 drop-off locations across the country, so one is bound to be close by. You can visit their website at call2recycle.ca and plug in your postal code to find one closest to you.
  4. Pay attention to detail. Have an eye for the little things. Make sure your home’s heating sources are clean, as many house fires are started by poorly maintained furnaces or stoves, or chimneys with buildup. Check wiring and cords and fix or replace any frayed extension cords, exposed wires or loose plugs. Finally, make sure to store combustible materials in open areas and away from heat sources.
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