image from Sico Paints

During these darkening days that more becoming more and more gray and chilly weekends make for more homebodies, it’s the perfect time to get started on perking up the home.

Quick & budget Ideas to improve curb appeal:

* Paint the front door - A high-gloss bold colour that complements the exterior material or coordinates with the garage door will instantly create a sense of new. Perhaps a perky new welcome mat would be a nice accessory.

* Add potted plants around the entrance way. For a greater spruce up, tidy up the landscaping. If you haven’t done so yet, it’s also a good time to get your plants ready for the winter. Trim unwieldy branches, lay down mulch, or rake up those soggy fall leaves.

* Brighten up with lights. Light up your walkway or backyard patio with a landscape lighting kit or install post lights, ceiling, or hanging types at entrance ways. Look for Energy Star rated designs.

*Upgrade fixtures: How is your doorknob holding up? How would a classic door knocker suit that new paint? New hardware can show off your individual taste or consider a new mail box or window boxes to dress up your home’s facade. At the very least touching up paint chipped spots and rust can go a long way.

If however, you’re more of a condo dweller, new light fixtures and fresh paint can do wonders.
What’s the best colour to set off the new mini chandelier in the dining room or trio pendant lights over the island? Whether it’s a neutral tone or dramatic hue, when it comes to a professional looking paint job, proper prep really makes a difference. Washing walls and lining edges with tape (or more taping over areas like light switches that you want to keep paint free) will make for better paint adhesion and straight edges. If you’ve decided to go with low or VOC-free paint, eco-friendly masking tape goes in tandem. Made of 30% post-consumer waste, recycled fibres and natural rubber adhesive, 3M’s Scotch (R) Painter’s Masking Tape is a greener choice.

If winning free paint however, is the impetus that you need to redo the living room, enter BEHR’s Paint Your Room Contest. Entrants are to submit a picture of the room in question and explain in 50 words and under why it needs a makeover. The winner scores 3 gallons of  BEHR’s PREMIUM PLUS ULTRA™ Interior paint.

Wondering about what the hottest colours are for 2010. A recent report from Sico Paints sho

wed that mood enhancing palettes are what homes will be dressed in. Deep, vibrant, or calming hues make the home a refuge from the tumultuous year we’ve all faced. Colour psychology has been referred to by many designers and homeowners to create rooms that evoke cheeriness (yellow), calm (blue), and warmth (reds and oranges).  For more details, read the rest of the article.

Once the painting is all done, it’s time for the wall hangings. Whether it’s a mirror to bring in more light, favourite framed photographs or art, it’s always been more of a two person job because it’s not that easy to know how high to hang it or just where to hammer in the nail.

The Hang & Level tool by Under The Roof Decorating is a handy item to fix your hanging woes. The tool helps you to mark where th nail goes, has a built in level to keep things straight, and works with horizontal or vertical mounts, and is great for groups of hangings. Remember that positioning pictures higher up on the wall can create the illusion of a higher ceiling and that an interesting montage of sepia tinted photos can really dress up a naked wall.

The same company that makes the Hang & Level also manufactures the Stoppy - a door and window stop that comes in a variety of colours. It’s more becoming than an old school wooden wedge under the door and works for all types of surfaces and doesn’t mark.

To help with your decor dreams, Chatelaine and Home Depot are offering 4 prizes of $5000 certificates in their Home For The Holidays Contest. The contest closes January 5th.

For more painting or interior decorating articles, visit HRG’s article library. Check out our Hot Products section for more ideas from the latest in hot home products.

Want a free quote? Submit your project here and get contacted by local contractors.

image from www.BriarRenos.com

Dreaming of a large, luxurious spa bathroom? Or are you an avid DIYer that wants gorgeous results while sticking to a strict budget?

Here are some tips that can save you money if you decide to give the bathroom a makeover.

1. Go Green: Yes it’s the trendiest term this year, but it’s a frame of mind that if taken seriously and sensibly (instead of for militant show - you know who what type I’m talking about) it can also save you money. Try to keep your existing materials - that coat of no-VOC paint and finish may make the cheap but cheery difference you’re after. Visit your local Habitat for Humanity ReStore for materials, or donate any left over that you end up with. Water saving toilets and shower heads are the easiest ways to conserve; look for government incentives for when you install them.

2. Keep the layout: One of the biggest costs when it comes to renovations is new plumbing or re-wiring. If you don’t have to move the sink or toilet, you can use that extra money saved for replacing crumbling fixtures.

3. Think flair: You may be surprised by how simply switching hardware like faucets, etc., or installing more lighting can revamp the bathroom. Two sconces on either side of the mirror can brighten the whole room or a dimmer switch can create a calming ambiance. The right lighting can make your face lit up like a movie star.

4. Air quality: Insert joke here, but seriously, the bathroom is clearly the one place in the home that fears moisture the most (second only to the kitchen). Over time, the moisture can cause mold and mildew which will not only eat away at your shiny new fix-ups, but is also dangerous to your health. In order to prevent this, make sure your bathroom has appropriate ventilation and that the exhaust fan gets routinely cleaned.

Thinking more of a professional job? Here are two contests to enter to win an amazing dream makeover. In Canada, enter the Style at Home Dream of a Lifetime sweepstakes to win $25,000 to build a dream kitchen. In the US, the diy Ultimate kitchen and bath giveaway is offering a grand prize of $100,000.

If you’re ready to find a professional, get a free quote here. Or find your renovation inspiration in our article library.

Got a few minutes to kill? Why not enter some lucrative contests to win the home decor of your dreams? Find the sweepstakes links below:

Canadian contests:

Ikea $15,000 Makeover Contest, ends Aug 31st, http://www.anyspacecanbebeautiful.ca/

Home Depot win a 48hr Renovation, ends Aug 20st http://contests.citytv.com/homedepot08/homedepot_registration.aspx

Home Hardware “Drive a Toyota Home”, ends Aug 31st http://www.homehardware.ca/Sweepstakes/index/toyota

in the US

Win $5000 worth of products each from Sears Home & Lumber Liquidators plus 1 year supply of Pledge. Ends Sep 15th, http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv-design-star-2009-sweepstakes-enter/package/index.html

HGTV Win $10,000 towards a home reno, ends Aug 31st, http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/landscaping/text/0,,HGTV_32656_73335,00.html

Win $150,000 Home Makeover from the National Fix & Flip Network http://www.nfafn.com/giveawaysignup.aspx (must register to enter)

3 Day Blinds $15,000 Sweepstakes, ends Oct 31st, http://sweepstakes.3day.com/default.aspx

Fine Living Channel’s Summer on the Rocks, ends Aug 15th, http://www.fineliving.com/fine/pac_ctnt_988/text/0,,FINE_26036_88800,00.html

TiVO Staycation dream package:  http://www.tivo.com/whatistivo/tivo-tips/staycation-ideas.html?WT.z_links=whatistivo_staycationsweeps

If you’ve spotted any other contests or sweepstakes you’d like to share, please comment! Good luck to all.

It’s gorgeous out today and thoughts of revitalization via chilling out on a patio is just as strong as a compulsion to do some spring cleaning. Do I want to test spend Saturday afternoon at the Mill St. Brew pub, or get a couple of cans of paint to freshen up the bathroom?

Perhaps, if I had the “stinkiest” room in America, I would choose the latter. The My House Stinks challenge offers contestants who post pics of their rooms to enter and win a room maker over. You can also vote for the winner. I wonder if corporate Canada has some like-minded contests afoot?

Those who forgo the public humiliation and prefer to DIY may find the new IPhone and IPod Touch level application created by Stanley Tools helpful. While it may not 100% accurate, reviewers say it’s quite handy and hey, it’s free.  Here’s a Gizmodo.com story for more details, including a link to the download.

image from http://www.i.gizmodo.com

Whatever your choice may be, A or B or none of the above, here’s to warmer and longer days for finally getting around to fixing up the homestead and other good stuff.

Got a couple of minutes right now?

Why not make someone a winner? No it’s not a television singing or dancing competition you’ll be texting some inane code to.

The Arbor Day Foundation in conjunction with Rohm and Haas held the “Spruce Up Your Home” contest this winter and are down to the 20 finalists:

One Grand Prize winner will receive a package valued at more than $20,000, including an exterior home paint job and $8,000 home improvement gift card. Eight first place winners will receive a new paint exterior for their home. Each winning family will receive a young spruce tree on behalf of the Arbor Day Foundation. The Arbor Day Foundation will also provide 10,000 trees to the winner’s community through the foundation’s Trees for America program.

Voting ends on March 6, 2009, and winners will be announced on National Arbor Day, April 24, 2009.

Visit the page to check the finalists and click on the submit button to vote for your favorite house. Remember, March 6th is the last day to vote.

Good luck to all the finalists!