Home ownership is expensive and time-consuming, as any homeowner will tell you. Statistically, homeowners spend about 1 to 3% of their home’s value each year on home repairs. Luckily, there are ways to lower these costs.

You might have to repaint your porch. Make sure to use quality outdoor paint. The new paint should have the same base, be it oil or latex, that the existing paint does. Oil-based paint should be used for trim, but not on walking surfaces. It does last longer but can get slippery.

To lower the electric costs associated to illuminating your yard, you can change your regular light to one that contains a motion sensor. The light can still be turned on manually, and you can adjust the sensitivity on most models.

Use nails to drill some holes in your paint can’s rim. The channel near the top can fill, when replacing the lid that paint is pushed up and over the paint can’s sides. With a nail, put several holes in paint can’s perimeter, in the bottom of that channel, to avoid a problem.ne

Small rooms are often gloomy, but you can change that! Incorporate light into this room to add a vibrant atmosphere and positive feel. Open blinds, tie back curtains and clean the glass thoroughly. Rooms appear much larger and more open with good natural lighting. Stick to lighter colors on the walls, and diminish clutter in the room. Your small room won’t seem cramped anymore.

Coffee Table

Instead of utilizing a commonplace coffee table, select something more unique. An old storage chest can actually be an attractive coffee table. Place magazines and books on top of your coffee table to give it definition. You can even give it a country feel by including some teacups and a tablecloth.

Your first tool purchase should be a great drill. This tool will create different-sized holes by using screws, as well as utilizing special attachments for driving the screws. You should have a cordless, 9-volt power drill that come with a variety of drill bits and bits for Phillips and flat-head screws.

You should avoid furniture with a busy upholstery. Buying items with floral print, geometric shapes and patterns can pre-determine what your home decor must look like. Purchase furniture in solid colors and use accessories to add interest. You can use pillows and blankets to combine and create muted patterns.

Chair cushions begin to flatten out over time with heavy use. Set them in some sun if you want to bring back their shape. Bright sunlight will significantly improve the cushions’ fullness by thoroughly drying out the material with which they are stuffed. Use caution, though. If you leave the the cushions outside too long without flipping them, they can fade from sitting in the direct sunlight.

After reading the home improvement tips written in this guide, you can now be sure that your future trip to home improvement stores will be as cost efficient as can be. You will be able to complete the desired home improvement projects while saving money.

You should avoid furniture with a busy upholstery. If you buy busy-looking pieces, you’ll end up decorating your rooms around them. Buy your furniture in solid tones such as green, brown, blue, black or beige and use your accessories to benefit your furniture. Create patterns with pillows and throw blankets, and do not hesitate to change patterns regularly.

There are tremendous opportunities for small businesses and social entrepreneurs to support their communities through community foundations, donor advised funds and other means of giving back. Find the neighborhoods in Erie, Pennsylvania where you can make the most impact on the youth in the community.