Does your home make you happy? It should! If you want to live a healthy and content life, you need to know that the four walls around you look good, and that you’re proud of the little haven you’ve created. After all, no one wants to live in a washed out and messy space that has no hint of love and personality incorporated into its design!

However, it can be hard to arrange a home entirely around you and your family’s personalities - a lot can clash, there’s simply not room for it all, etc., but that doesn't mean you have to be unhappy in your own home. There are plenty of smaller ways to help you feel more comfortable with where you live, and with the ideas below, we hope to help you find that balance.

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Keep Storage Simple

How do you put things away? Does every little item have to fit neatly into a category and go in the right drawer? And what if you’ve got a whole wall of drawers and you can never find anything because this system is far too specific? You need to find a good middle ground here, and try to keep things much more simple!

And this is a lot easier to do than you might think. Take all of your miscellaneous wires, for example. A spare charger here, an old video input cable there… instead of separating them by their actual function, just label a box ‘Wires’ and then chuck them all in! Doing so won’t make it any harder to find the one you’re looking for, because you know all of your wires and cords are in the same place, and it’s just the one box you’ve got to look through. Simple and effective!

Make Space for What You Love

What do you love to do? Read? Write? Paint? Model? Pet your dogs? No matter what it is, incorporate these ideas into your home in one of the best ways possible: make a special space for it.

Say, if you have a spare room, it can be a good idea to incorporate a ‘safe space’ that’s just for you. You want to have somewhere a bit private that you can retreat to when a day has been rough, or if you just want to spend some time on self-care, and you deserve to have a little haven entirely of your own. It does wonders for mental health, and you don’t even need a whole spare room to make a private area that’s just for you!

Maybe it’s time to invest in something like a clawfoot tub, to give yourself an indulgent bath time experience? Or if there’s room near the window in the living room, why not think about creating a sort of window seat that you can read or write or nap on? And even just a spare wall you can set a comfy seat and a bookshelf next to will give you the privacy you’re looking for!

Add Plenty of Color

Color is something we’re naturally drawn towards, as humans, and that’s why you should incorporate this design element well into your home. You don’t want your living space to seem dark and dreary, nor do you want it to be washed out and bright like a clinic either. You want it to be a perfect balance of color and comfortableness, and that means you need to know how to work colors together. Even just looking up a few color combinations online can do wonders for your decorating plan.

For example, you can use websites like www.wallpaperboulevard.com to get a good overview of what wallpaper designs and plain paint colors work best together as well. This is good for those who want to build feature walls into their property, and overall give a space more than one dynamic to work with. And a bit of inspiration in this department can make you very happy about the way your home looks!

Get Involved in Your Community

One of the best things you can do, to make yourself more at home within your home, is to really integrate yourself into the area you live. If you want your home to make you happier, you need to feel comfortable living there, inside and out, and that means getting to know your neighbors, and even joining a local club or two.

So, what kind of hobbies do you enjoy? And are there any clubs in the local area that are orientated towards them? Even just finding out if there’s a book club hosted in a house on your street can make you feel so much more happy at home.

Most of all, wou want to feel like you’ve got support within your home area, and that you can reach out to those around you, even if they’re not family or technically friends. You want to know that you’ve got people you can have nice and polite chats with when you’re outside in the front garden or working away in the garage, because that’s what tends to make people happy. Knowing you’ve got this boosted element to your social life can do wonders for your mental health!

Does Your Home Make You Happy?

A home has many functions; keeping you and your family safe and warm away from the outside elements, and giving you a place of your own that you can safely sleep and eat in. However, we should also think about the top of this pyramid, and ensure that the look and feel of your home makes you happy as well.

So think about ways to cut down on the clutter, and keep your storage simple enough for you to simply put things away without thinking too much. Try to get to know who lives near you, and take part in a few community events. All of these things go a long way towards making your home feel like it’s the place you’re meant to be!

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Balancing Your Budget

 

By now, most of us have some sort of budget in place.  You know, the kind where you're SUPPOSED to stick to a set amount for certain expenses each month, but somehow you always come out negative and you can't get your sh*t together enough to have any extra money AT ALL left over to go towards debt or savings.  You aren't alone!

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Saving Money on Summer Entertaining

 

Summer is the best time to host a get together mostly because you can hang around outside so you don't need to clean your home from top to bottom inside.  The problem is, if you don't plan even the smallest of get togethers correctly, you may end up spending more money than you needed to.  Here are 8 simple tips to save money on summer entertaining when you're the host.

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Want to go Green? Here are 5 Eco-friendly Home Updates

 

Homes account for the most significant percentage of greenhouse gas emissions that cause global warming. If you've lived in your home for long or just moved in and you want to make a few updates, consider going green. Making eco-friendly home updates have many benefits, including tax incentives, lower energy bills, and reducing your carbon footprint. Additionally, green is the new norm, so if you're ever thinking about selling your home, being eco-friendly increases its value to potential buyers. Here are some eco-friendly home updates to consider.

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Install solar panels

Solar panels are expensive to install, but that's all the investment you need to save yourself from high energy bills. The sun can power solar panels today and have almost 20% of it converted into electricity for your use. Solar panels also increase your home's value by 4.1% if you ever want to sell.
 

Make bathroom upgrades

There are more straightforward ways to create an eco-friendly home other than having a complete bathroom renovation. In the bathroom, water usage and wastage accounts for the most considerable portion of your water bill, which leaves a dent in not only your wallet but also the environment. Consider replacing your shower head and toilet by going for the touchless bathroom fixtures. Upgrade your toilet to a low-flow one that is WaterSense-rated. This way, you can reduce your water consumption by sixty percent. Similarly, low-flow showerheads cut down wastage even more.
 

Insulate your home

If your home has crevices and cracks, it lacks proper insulation. Heat escapes fast, causing an uneven temperature in your home. Lack of adequate insulation is prevalent with older homes built before the 1990s. Areas such as the attic and basement that face the most neglect are responsible for much of the heat loss and air entry. Fill these cavities with insulation material, such as rubber strips or caulking to retain indoor temperatures and keep HVAC system air clean.
 

Replace your windows with energy-efficient ones

If you want to save some pennies from your utility bills and go green, replacing your current windows with energy-efficient ones can do the trick. A lot of heat escapes through your windows, causing significant losses. Consider making replacements with recyclable steel or uPVC windows, and if your home is rustic or historical, use sustainably sourced wood. Also, consider coating your windows with insulated cellular colors to reduce energy costs by up to 20%.
 

Use products or appliances with an Energy Star rating

Your home appliances, especially those in the kitchen like your refrigerator, account for the highest percentage of your energy use. Fortunately, over seventy percent of your home products and appliances are energy-efficient and eco-friendly versions; consider upgrading them. If they aren't, swap them with eco-friendly Energy Star-rated appliances. Also, switch your bulbs to LED or CFL, and upgrade to energy-efficient ceiling fans.

Live an eco-friendly lifestyle by making simple upgrades to your home fixtures, like windows and bathroom utilities, and replacing your appliances with Energy Star-rated ones. Although the initial investment may be high, especially for things like solar panel installations, it can save you many costs in the long run and increase your home's value.

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How To Decorate Your Home on A Budget

 

One of the things that any homeowner will tell you is that a house costs money long after you move in.  It's not just maintenance and upkeep, but adding personal touches to your home can really break the bank.  If you're like me, you love decorating your home and making it beautiful inside.  Being the budgeter that I am, I put together some ways you can decorate your home without spending a ton of money.   There are always cost saving alternatives to look into.

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A Beginners Guide to Improve Your Health the Right Way

 

If you're looking for a way to improve your health but don't know how or where to start, this guide is perfect for you. It'll take you through all the steps it takes to get started on a healthy lifestyle and give tips on what foods are best for your body.

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Go for Health Checks

Do you struggle to keep up with your health? Maybe it's time for a check-up. Sometimes, you may get so hung up in your day-to-day life that you forget to care for your body.

So, if you want an easy way to monitor your progress, then book yourself a health check-up today. These are often free, and a doctor, nurse, or healthcare professional of your choice can perform the various tests.

A basic exam will cover everything from heart diseases to diabetes and high blood pressure - so you'll know exactly what's happening inside your body. Remember, many health checks are free and will be worth your time in the long run.

Besides, a health check-up can uncover mild infections or issues that will save you massive medical costs and time when treated early. For example, your doctor may recommend tonsil surgery to correct your constant sinus congestion before the condition ultimately diminishes your breathing.
 

Work Out and Eat Healthily

There are a few ways to improve your health. One is by working out regularly and eating well. If you find yourself not having enough time for the gym, there's no need to worry because you can do plenty of exercises from home like yoga or Tai Chi. Working out with a friend is also great as you can motivate each other.

Additionally, eating healthy doesn't just mean cutting out all the junk food, but replacing it with nutritious ones like fruits and vegetables. If you find this unsuitable, you can always increase your whole foods and reduce junk foods.
 

Avoid Excessive Smoking and Drinking

Another way to improve your health is by avoiding excessive smoking and drinking. Not only do the two habits affect your body, but also the people around you. So instead, try cutting down on the frequency and type of substances you're consuming.

For example, if cigarettes interfere with your sleep, cut down to fewer packs a day and don’t drink more than the recommended two drinks per week.
 

Effects of Drinking and Smoking

Excessive smoking and drinking can lead to several different health problems. For example, smoking can cause cancer, heart diseases, and respiratory diseases, whereas alcohol links to brain damage and liver failure. So it’s crucial that you recognize the effects before they become worse.

Smoking often links with anxiety or depression, while alcohol can lead people towards addiction. Therefore, it's important that you know about these effects to stay clear of any detrimental habits like smoking and excessive drinking.
 

Things Smokers Should Know About Quitting

If you're considering giving up cigarettes, it might be good to read up on the things smokers should know before quitting.

Some of these are: managing urges, withdrawal symptoms, and coping with cravings - which is why it's essential to reach out for help if you're struggling.

There are also plenty of online resources that can provide support, such as forums or articles from people who have been in a similar situation.
 

Maintain a Healthy Weight

Another way to improve your health is by maintaining a healthy weight. You must keep an eye on this so that any unhealthy habits don't get out of hand. One easy and free way to do this is with the BMI calculator - which should be available with your doctor/nurse when you go for check-ups.

The BMI calculator works by using a person's height and weight to establish the healthy range; if you're outside of it, you can plan to rectify it.

You can also get an idea of what your ideal weight should be, which is why people use the calculator when they start losing too much or putting on weight.

Maintaining a healthy weight can reduce your risk of different diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease - so it's worth checking out.
 

Promote Healthy Skin

Another way to improve your health is to promote healthy skin. A good way to do this would be by keeping hydrated, which can benefit the whole body and more so on your skin. Drink at least two liters of water a day, or maybe even more if you find that it doesn't satisfy your thirst (some people need four or more).

Working out with a friend is also great as you can motivate each other and work together. On the other hand, eating healthy doesn't just mean cutting out all the bad food, but replacing it with wholesome foods like grains, high protein foods, and supplements.

There's so much you can do to promote your skin health, like using a moisturizer, practicing safe sun exposure, and wearing clothes that don't irritate the skin.

There are also some great beauty products to help with this, too, if you're looking for something more intensive (like an exfoliator or mask).

The benefits of promoting healthy skin include preventing acne, aging, or premature wrinkles and reducing the risk of issues such as dry patches and dermatitis.

There are many options you can try to foster healthy skin. Ultimately, you'll be so much happier with the way your skin looks!
 

Benefits of Improving Your Health

There are plenty of benefits to improving your health. For one, you'll feel better, have more energy, and live a much healthier lifestyle which is all worth it in the end.

There are also some benefits to your wallet, like reducing your risk of hospitalization or being absent from work.

There are many ways to improve your health, and with the correct information, it’ll be easier than ever. First, read this article for a beginner’s guide on how you can get started today! Then, ask your friends and family to join you in this journey. Indeed, nothing can go wrong when you take good care of your life.

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