Style Blog

Home improvement – 5 Expert tips and tricks you should know

It’s a daunting task indeed to get projects done in and around your home. This can get all the more challenging if you aren’t sure about where exactly to start. However, at the same time you can’t afford to forget that home improvement is one such task that can’t be ignored. Moreover, there’s a geneneral misconception that home improvement means unnecessary expenses, which isn’t always the case.

Tips and tricks for effective home improvement

Read on to find out 5 expert tips and tricks that you can use to give your home the much needed boost.

1. The door bang: If you’ve got a door that shuts with a bang, then you could try and place a couple of beads along the jamb. Now, you should make sure that the beads you place are short ones and most importantly these beads should be made of silicone caulk placed at a few points. This helps in softening the blow actually. Leave the door propped open until the silicone beads are completely dry.

If the windows in your home are of an odd size, you should not be upset. You can still give your room an exquisite look by getting customised curtains for your imperfect-sized windows. Custom-made curtains are window treatments that can provide you with a look precisely in accordance with your needs. Not only odd-sized windows, but very large or very small windows can also have made-to-measure drapes. You just need to measure the length and width of your windows to order the customised curtains. Once ready, you can install them to enjoy a charming and neat look for your home.

Made to measure curtains can be easily ordered from online stores. Image attributed to Wikimedia AncientNicosia

Measure the size of your windows carefully

It is important that you measure the size of your window carefully to avoid having any discrepancies in measurements. The window’s height and width should be measured from left to right accurately. The correct window dimensions will let you have the right-sized curtains for installation. Otherwise, all of your expenses and efforts will be in vain. You will have to again find another set of curtains for your home, which will be a time-consuming and costly affair.

No doubt you've noticed that when you have guests over, no matter where the party starts, inevitably they end up in your kitchen. It seems to be instinctive in all of us to want to head to where the warmth and food are. So it's doubly gratifying when you can have a kitchen that is not only welcoming but expressive of your personality, an enjoyable and functional space in which to cook, eat, and socialise.

Making the Most of Your Space

The best kitchens feel cosy — not cramped! But what if yours is more the latter than the former? Can you do anything to fix that, short of knocking out walls?

Yes, you can. Fairly modest 'makeovers' — rearranging the position of appliances, removing a cabinet or two for extra 'head room,' or inserting a cooking or serving 'island' — can open up even a tiny kitchen and  make it seem bigger than it really is. Oftentimes, it's not how much space you have available but how you use the space that counts; minimising steps for food prep, having work spaces clear and convenient to the stove and refrigerator, and having deep enough sinks for easy cleanup don't require any more raw space…just careful planning.

Remember, too, that in a small space, every detail counts. Keep your kitchen neat, free of clutter, and sparking clean. This makes it feel open, airy, and ready for your next gourmet creation. With a little ingenuity, that minuscule space can give you some pretty 'maximum' results.

There are those occasions when simply raising your voice during an event will not do and then one needs to hire an audio and/or sound system. However, the question arises, out of the vast resources available, which piece of equipment is best suited to your particular function?


Audio hire is based on crowd numbers and space. The larger the space, the larger, or louder, the equipment required. It also depends on where the event is - is it outdoors or indoors? If outdoors, check if there is an electric outlet and how far it is from the sound system. Take note of the distance from the electric outlet to the equipment as it may necessitate either buying or hiring extra cabling. It is also worth noting that some companies will provide you with additional cables at a low cost. If there is no electric outlet, you may need to hire a battery-powered sound system.

When dealing with a large crowd of people in an open-air environment, it is good to take into consideration that you may have to hire, not only the sound system itself, but a technician to set it up for you. Some organizations offer a full package that is inclusive of a technician. However, there are other companies that provide the technician and equipment as separate offers.

You may also contemplate simply hiring a 'DJ' and that he/she provides his/her set-up. The DJ may ask you how many people are attending the event so that he or she may have an idea of audio-reach. This may make things simpler for you - the event organizer - even if it is slightly more expensive, as the DJ in turn may hire the equipment they use and charge you a lump sum.

Indoor spaces require slightly smaller sound systems as opposed to outdoor events. Here again, a technician may be required to check the effect of 'echo' and other small but important details. Small gatherings of up to 100 people rarely require the use of an audio system, but then again, the speaker may be a whisperer and it is advisable to hire a sound system regardless. Before you assume you dont require one, you should ensure you put factor all considerations.
At times, audio hire includes acquiring video- audio equipment. As with sound systems, the hiring of video-audio equipment largely depends upon crowd size. The bigger the crowd, the bigger the screen. There is absolutely no point in hiring a 'movie' screen for a small 50 people crowd.Projectors come in a huge variety, from low-density to high density out-put. You could hire a drop-down screen, or you may have a wall that is suitable for showing a screened image. If the latter is true, do not hire a screen. Walls should be white, preferably smooth and clear of blemish or wall fixtures such as sockets, switches or wall lamps. However comfortable you are with the 'set up' always make sure you have all the necessary cables and do a 'pre-test' prior to the function.

If you are charged with organizing an event audio hire should be one of your top priorities. When hiring audio/ video systems ensure you bear in mind a number of key factors such as the size of the crowd, the venue of the event and the type of event.

France is much more than the Eiffel Tower, but many tourists miss to appreciate the true nature of the country they do not speak French. Being bilingual has many benefits, such as vacation more enjoyable, or enhances workplace. Consequently, programs abroad can be the ideal to combine both advantages.

There are many ways to learn a language. Many people are self-taught, and have the ability to learn with an online course or just reading a book. However, these methods are not suitable for all people, because for those who have difficulty learning a foreign language or are laborious learning process, will soon be frustrated by the lack of progress in their learning, moreover, in this way difficult to practice the language spoken, one of the most important aspects of learning.

Programs abroad provide a number of comparative advantages undoubtedly make this learning method in one of the most efficient. On the one hand, allow you to enjoy amazing cities like Paris, greatly enriching the learning experience, providing a significant exposure to the local culture, making effective progress in the student's communication skills.

Moreover, the experience of performing abroad program often faces the student with the need to live with people from very different cultural backgrounds, other native languages, and other ways of looking at life. This type of experience could be the differentiating factor when it comes to getting that dream job because, usually international companies seeking employees who have had contact with other cultures, improving understanding when negotiating a contract , open new markets, or export products.

Kelly Wilson is a professional writer who has years of experience writing about Chinese Courses London and many other topics.

Now that spring has finally sprung, we can now spend every moment of our free time in the garden. Whether you choose to invite your friends and family round for a BBQ or just sit back and relax in a lounger, you need to make sure your garden is in tip-top condition for the upcoming summer season. Here we take a look at some of the ways that you can enhance your garden to make your neighbours envious!

(Image Source - http://vithouse.com/redecorate-patio-design-paving-garden-designs/)