The Home Know-It-All

Using Feng Shui in Your Home Office

Working from home can be enjoyable for you and your clients if you make your home office a positive, balanced space for doing business. It's easy—apply basic feng shui principles, which improve your mental and physical well-being, stimulate your productivity and creativity, and boost your prosperity. (Not familiar with feng shui? We've got the basics for you here.)

Ready to whip your office into shape, feng shui-style? Keep these considerations in mind.

Location. You know the phrase "don't mix business and pleasure?" Apply it here. Ideally, you should carve out a designated room for your home office so that you're not distracted from household noises—and you don't dwell on work after-hours. If your home office must share space with another room, use a screen or other partition to separate the two areas. Get the scoop on more location considerations here.

Desk position. Situate your desk so that your back faces the wall rather than the door. According to this Care2 article, business symbolically comes to you through the door, and the last thing you need is to turn your back to it. Can't avoid facing a wall? Remedy the situation with a plant or pretty picture in your line of sight. Read up on the dos and don'ts of desk placement here. 

Furnishings. Surround yourself with things that make you happy, and make sure your furnishings flow rather than look out of place. Potted plants and fresh-cut flowers are a must. Consider investing in an area rug, which creates warmth. Complete the look with a luxurious touch, whether it's an expensive piece of art or crystal bowl—this is believed to bring prosperity.

Color. The hues you choose can impact your productivity and your mood. If you're planning on hosting frequent team meetings in your office, opt for orange, which is conducive to collaboration. If you have a hard time staying focused, or if your office lacks a window, try yellow, which encourages discipline and is cheery. This article explains feng shui color, so you can choose the hue that's right for you and your office.

Storage. Corral distracting clutter with storage bins, trays, and cabinets. Need inspiration on getting organized, once and for all? We've got you covered with this post on tackling home office clutter.

Until next time,
The Home Know-it-All

Survive Remodeling Construction

Whether you're revamping your kitchen or adding another bedroom, remodeling projects require patience—especially if you're planning to live on-site. Want to continue to live your life as normally as possible during that time? Consider the following.

Plan, plan, plan. Before the project begins, make sure you know exactly when your water, power, phone, and other utilities will be disabled so you can make other arrangements. If the project hinders traffic flow, make a game plan for how you and your family will get from Point A to Point B in your house. And make sure you have access to the basic living essentials--a fridge, toilet, sink, etc. If this is an extensive remodel, you may want to consider renting or staying with friends until the project is over.

Set boundaries. Since you'll essentially be sharing your living space with your construction crew, it's a good idea to designate one working entrance for your team (one that's not typically used by your family, so you don't hinder the construction process) and specify which rooms the remodelers will be working in and which are off-limits. Be sure to provide on-site storage for tools and other materials. Set specific working hours with your contractor, and make sure the crew sticks to them.

Protect your furnishings. Pack up and store smaller items so they don't get in workers' way. Cover furniture and carpeting with tarps, sheeting, or blankets. And to prevent dust and construction debris from spreading throughout the house, close off doors with plastic sheeting and duct tape. Typically, your contractor will do this for you. Don't forget about your landscaping, either.

For more information on surviving construction, check out this story from RemodelingCenter.com. When you're in the midst of a remodel, you'll be glad you did!

Until next time,
The Home Know-it-All

What We're Loving: Freecycle.org

As I'm sure you've figured out by now, we here at The Home Know-It-All love to recycle. In fact, we've already taught you how to recycle everything from your Christmas tree to your batteries, but now we're going to teach you how to recycle just about everything else. 

Simply visit freecycle.org. The website is "changing the world one gift at a time," by letting its members (membership is free too!) post items they're willing to give away for free. Other members can then send messages and organize a pick up time for the item. It's that easy! And your saving landfills from hundreds of reusable items—for free. (Did we mention that this is all for free?) 

You can even post items you want, and with any luck, another member will contact you with it. So what are you waiting for? Check it out! Let us know if you snag any good finds we're always on the hunt for one ourselves. And pat yourself on the back for seeing the treasure in another man's trash.

Until next time, 

The Home Know-It-All 

Redecorate Your Bedroom

It's been about two months since I moved to my new place, and I've pretty much got the main living areas whipped into shape. My bedroom, however, still looks rather blah. With the exception of essential bedroom furniture and a Picasso "Petite Fleurs" print framed above my bed, I'm surrounded by expanses of white walls.

If you're in the mood to makeover your bedroom like I am, take this BHG.com quiz, which will help you figure out what bedroom decorating style is right for you. Then you'll definitely want to check out this Real Simple bedroom decorating photo gallery. Thanks to the inspiring ideas, I'm ready to stock up on a new bedspread, colorful accessories, and a cozy corner chair to create a reading nook. 

Got the green light to paint? Try a new hue, or, for even more impact, just paint the wall behind your bed a vibrant color. It's an easy, inexpensive way to wake up the most boring of boudoirs. If you wish your bedroom was lighter and brighter, but lack lots of windows, try this clever mirror trick from John and Sherry at Young House Love. Even a new headboard can spice up a tired bedroom. Lucky for you, we've got several DIY ideas here and here. Be sure to balance your bed with a right-size night stand or two (if you've got a queen-size bed, for instance, make sure the stands look proportionate).

Perhaps most important, you want your bedroom to feel serene. It is your sanctuary for relaxation, after all. Move the TV to another room, relocate your home office if it currently coexists with your sleeping space, and add light-blocking window treatments (also a good way to gain a splash of color!). This iVillage article gives you 10 tips for achieving sweeter dreams.

Until next time,
The Home Know-It-All

Tips for Transitioning Your Garden from Summer to Fall from Joe Lamp'l

If your late-summer garden looks more scraggly than spectacular, it's time to give it some much-needed TLC. And while you're at it, why not start planning your fall garden? Nationally recognized gardening expert Joe Lamp'l, author of The Green Gardener's Guide and founder of joegardener.com, explains how.

Q: What do you recommend for reviving a late-summer garden?

A: You can still grow stuff into fall and add new life into it. I love adding compost, any time of year. Essentially, I'm a green gardener, so I use natural amendments any time I can. Compost has all the beneficial microorganisms in it and all the structure needed to improve the soil. This time of year, organic matter can decompose to the point where it's essentially gone, and you need to restore that. Late summer is a great time to add it into the top layers of the soil.

If you need a jumpstart, add soluble fertilizer. Fish emulsion fertilizer works great because it's fast-acting and high in nitrogen, but there's one caveat: It stinks for a couple days. Also refresh your mulch. It's really hot and dry late in the summer, and the mulch helps hold moisture into soil and moderates soil temperature. Plus, it keeps roots near soil from cooking and drying out too quickly.

Q: What is the biggest gardening mistake people make this time of year?

A: Many people over-water or under-water. The key to proper watering is that you water deeply but infrequently. If you don't do this, the water doesn't soak deeply into the soil, and that causes the roots to hang out at the surface where all the water is. So if you leave town for a few days, your plants dry out faster and may even die.

Q: Looking ahead to fall, what should people do to prepare their garden?

A: One of the most important tasks is to clean up your garden as plants start to decline. Cleaning up is an eco-friendly form of pest control. A clean garden is a healthy garden. There's a lot of decomposing plant debris where pests can overwinter. You really want to get those out of there. If you've got perennials, cut them down close to the ground, because the top part will die anyway. Then add a good bit of compost and work it into the soil. In about five months, all the soil microbes have improved the soil, so when you're ready to plant again, it's restored and ready to go. You should also pull up and remove annuals and summer vegetable plants, as well as any remaining plant debris. And don't forget the weeds!

Q:  What are the best items to plant now? 

A: Fall is a great time to garden. There are so many awesome things that grow in the fall. With the exception of tomatoes, my favorite crops are fall crops. I've got broccoli, Brussels sprouts, spinach, lettuce, peas, cabbage, cauliflower, kale, collard, and turnip greens, which don't like summer heat. Plus, a lot of the bugs are gone, so you don't have the pest issues to deal with like in the summer.

If it's not too hot, throw seeds into the garden now. Otherwise, put seeds into seed trays indoors to get them started. You can start taking things outside at the end of August or mid-September. Fall gardens thrive in mid-September when the soil is still warm but the air is cooling off.

Until next time,

The Home Know-it-All

Picnic Pointers

In just a few weeks, the kids will head back to school and summertime fun will come to end. But before you let summer slip through your grip, bottle up as much sunshine as possible by spending your days outdoors. Try your hand at an old-fashioned picnic.

Make sure you're outdoor extravaganza goes off without hitch by borrowing from these perfect picnic ingredients. 

What
Sometimes the best picnics are the most uncomplicated, especially in the food department. Rather than spend time whipping up a four-course meal, stick with whole grains, lean meats, and fruits and veggies. Swing through your local farmer's market before heading out to find some of the season's finest. 

Where

Although there's nothing wrong with a picnic in the park, spice up your outdoor party by choosing a more unusual locale. Check the paper for seasonal activities, such as free concerts, parades, and festivals. If you live in an urban setting, head to the rooftop or a green patch in a courtyard. Lounge by a fountain or set up shop on a balcony. Want to make it romantic? Contact local vineyards and orchards. Many offer tours of the grounds with meals overlooking the acreage. 

How 

Safety comes first, so when you're packing your picnic, avoid mayonnaise, raw meats, and other foods that spoil easily. Load your food in an ice-filled cooler to keep the temperature below 40° F. Store each food item in separate containers to prevent contamination. Place perishable items at the bottom of the cooler to keep them colder, and pay attention to how long food has been left out. An hour or more? Toss it. 

For more ideas on how to plan the perfect picnic, read this Taste of Home article. Having difficulty choosing the right meal? This article can help you out. 

What are you waiting for? Get outside while the gettin' is still good. 

Until next time, 

The Home Know-It-All 

Green Around the House Challenge: Green Your Cooking Process

The next time you're about to whip up dinner for friends and family, reconsider your cooking methods.

According to this Mother Earth News article, the average family cooks 1.5 meals a day, and preparing those meals uses 30 minutes of energy. Continue that trend for a year, and you've spent $150 or more to serve up tasty meals—and that figure doesn't include the cost of food! That's why this week's Green Around the House Challenge is devoted to energy-efficient cooking ideas.

Get rid of grime. I admit it—I'm messy when I prepare meals and desserts. Think lots of olive oil splattered on my stovetop and butter splotches in my microwave. But I always clean up after myself. Here's why: Grime and spills—whether inside your microwave or on your stove's burner pans—absorb heat and reduce energy efficiency.

Size up cookware. Match pots and pans to the heating element or you'll waste energy by eating empty space. Case in point: using a 6-inch pot on an 8-inch burner squanders more than 40 percent of the burner's heat. Yikes! Another consideration: Use a pan with a slightly concave bottom that rests evenly on the burner, because the bottom will flatten out as the metal expands from increased heat. According to the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, boiling water for pasta could use 50 percent more energy on a warped pan than on a flat-bottom pan.

Pick the right materials. Whipping up something on the stovetop? Reach for a cast iron pan or copper pan—the former retains heat better, the latter cooks faster. If you're popping a dish in the oven, use glass or ceramic pans, which reduce cooking temperatures by 25 degrees Fahrenheit with no extra time needed. Who knew?

Rethink cooking methods. If you're preparing a small- or medium-size meal, pop it in the microwave rather than in the oven. Microwave ovens can slash energy use by two-thirds compared to a conventional oven. And they generate a lot less heat—a definite plus during these remaining summer days. Another energy-efficient cooking option? Pressure cooking. It reduces stovetop energy use by 50 to 75 percent. If you hand-wash dishes, fill your sink to wash dishes rather than letting water run. Using the dishwasher? Scrape food off dishes without pre-rinsing and fully load the racks.

There are oodles of other ways to green your cooking process—just check out this Chow article for further inspiration. Need to stock up on eco-friendly dishware too? Get the scoop here.

Until next time,

The Home Know-It-All

DIY Curtain Call

I'm back on the DIY bandwagon, and after reading this previous post, I'm brainstorming curtain ideas for my apartment. I'm on a tight budget, so anything I do must be kind to my pocketbook, and I'm not much of a sewer, so I've been eyeing no-sew projects. Here's what I've come up with. Do any of these strike your fancy? 

SCARF VALANCE 

To make this curtain, all you need is an old scarf and two wall corbels. Hang your corbels and thread the scarf through the holes—and you're done. Choose a scarf with bold colors and interesting patterns to make a statement in a neutral-color room or opt for a scarf with fringe for added flair. Try this technique out with other fabrics like a tablecloth (for bigger windows) or dish towels and vintage handkerchiefs (for smaller ones).   

TWIGGY CURTAIN ROD

An interesting curtain rod can make cheap-o curtains seem especially elegant. For a rustic look, try using a branch or twig from your backyard, or to add to the ambiance of a themed room, try out a golf club, oar, or even a pool cue. Make sure you find curtains with large loops to fit over your custom rod. 

PAINTED VINYL

If you like your curtains a tad simpler, try your hand at painting plain vinyl shades. Regular acrylic paint should work fine, but you may want to give it a coat of matte sealer afterward to make sure your artwork sticks. 

Any more DIY curtain ideas? Send them my way. 

Until next time, 

The Home Know-It-All