Ottawa Home Renovations

A blog about home renovations and remodeling in Ottawa.

Cut Down Your Utility Bills with Light Paint Colours

Every year, a large number of homeowners spend thousands of euros on home improvement. The most common and worthwhile home improvements till date has been a fresh layer of paint colour in your home. According to experts, a fresh paint job in your home can significantly increase the value of your home as compared to other home renovation projects. While a new layer of paint may increase the beauty of your home, it also helps to curb your utility bills, provided you choose the right wall paint colours. Here are some of the colours that beautify your home and help you save some green in your pocket:
 

Creams and Whites

 

Whites, creams, off-whites, ivory-white and other shades in the white family are light; they make a space look spacious and bright. Use these light shades for walls and especially ceilings to make minimum use of artificial light. They do not absorb light so keep the space well lit for longer without the need for artificial lighting.

 

Soft Pastels

 

Soft pastels paints such as; peach, aqua blue, mint, lemon yellow, etc give your home a cosy yet energetic to your home and simultaneously keeps your electricity bills low as light colours welcome natural light. To balance the brightness in the room, add furnishings in slightly darker colours such as earthy brown, wood brown, terracotta, etc.

 

Neutral Shades

 

When you’re confused with the type of colour you want to choose for your room or home, play it safe with a neutral shade such as browns, greys and whites (mentioned above). Neutral shades are light, not too tacky, are multipurpose, allow you more room to experiment with the interior and keep the temperature indoors cool.

 

Tips to Make the Most of Light Wall Paint Colours

 

1. Use softer shades of colours with an accent colour to tone down the brightness in the room. Too much light can be bad for the eyes; the glare can cause fatigue and be irritating for the eyes.

 

2. Use furnishings in darker shade of the same colour or a soft contrasting colour of the paint that will lift the ambience and aesthetic look of the room.

 

3. Preferably use colours such a blues and greens on the walls to keep the temperature indoors low. Dark colours aren’t reflective like lighter shades, so keep the heat trapped inside.

 

These paint colour tricks and tips are extremely helpful for homes in areas that face hot climates. So make clever use of colours; pick light paints, make your home beautiful and save some on your utility bills.

 

Visit www.ottawahomepros.com  and Find the best Home Painting Company Ottawa.

Home Cleaning Mistakes That You Should Avoid

Home cleaning is an integral part of home renovation. Cleaning your house can be quite a hassle, especially if you have been making some mistakes that are stopping you to the chores out of the way as quickly as possible. If you are committing these common home cleaning mistakes it is something you should try to avoid:
Avoid the Top to Bottom Rule
If vacuuming the house is your least favorite task you might be tempted to get it out of the way. But if you are going to be dusting the top shelf or cleaning the fan after vacuuming, dirt will fall all over your freshly vacuumed carpet. To avoid vacuuming again and again, it is better to do it after the dusting and other cleaning.
Not Sorting the Laundry
Most people usually skip sorting by color to hurry the laundry day along. Some moms find doing the laundry ‘by person’ the better option especially when all the kids’ clothes are similar colors and fabrics. But sorting the laundry is ultimately a time saver in the end and helps keep things organized.
Don’t Clean Windows on a Sunny Day
Cleaning the windows on a hot, sunny day can obstruct your efforts as the heat can cause the cleaner to dry before you are able to wipe it away. This leaves marks and makes cleaning the window glass much more difficult.
Don’t Pre-wash
You should remove any food scraps on your dishes into the garbage but you don’t have to hand wash or rinse your dishes before they go in the dishwasher. Prewashing does not get your dishes any cleaner and it is just a waste of time and energy. Simply load your dishes in the dishwasher and let the device do its job.
Ask Your Family to Remove Shoes at the Door
A common home cleaning mistake and one of the major contributors of the dirt accumulation in your house are the soles of the shoes that come from the outside. The dirt that is tracked in from the outside can really build up over the course of time. The best way to beat this is by placing a shoe rack at the door and asking everyone to take of their shoes when they come inside your house. You can also place door mats outside the door so that they grab the dirt before it reaches your carpet or tiles.
Don’t Rely on a Lint Roller to Clean Up Pet Hair
A lint roller is handy but it is not something for heavy duty jobs. If you have a fur covered couch and need to clear a ton of pet hair at once go for using a damp rubber glove instead of a lint roller, which can be more efficient in removing the pet hair.

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