I also love that you could do this in an apartment setting if you have an outdoor space. It’s simple and since you have many options with a gutter garden you can choose to either hang the gutter or put it along the side of your home or balcony. The possibilities are really endless!

Another great reason to try a gutter garden would be to keep clutter from taking over your outdoor space. Pots and other containers used for gardening can sometimes make an area look messy, but with a gutter garden you don’t have to worry about it.

Copyright 2009 Home Style Tips

Gutter Gardens and Saveing Space

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You could also install Laminate hardwood flooring throughout your home as hardwood flooring is more appealing to buyers and homeowners. Hardwood flooring is better for your health as the dust, bugs and other allergens that are in carpet are not going to live in your hardwood flooring. It’s also easier for people with disabilities to move around on hardwood and as you get older hardwood can actually be easier to keep clean. I own a hoover floormate that works great on both hardwood and laminate flooring.

Another way to improve your home is to add on outdoor space. If you live in a warmer climate this is really a great way to improve your home and add more living space. Outdoor Kitchens and living rooms are a huge trend and a great way to improve your home without having to knock down walls and put up new ones.

Copyright 2009 Home Style Tips

Great Ways To Improve Your Home

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Conservatories are extremely popular in the UK and if your looking at building one there is a great website can help you.  The site is called Conservatory Designs, it is a comparison site that will allow you to search though various conservatory designs and compare them with others. The site itself is very easy to use and should be very helpful in finding a conservatory that will fit your needs.

You may be very interested in  ability to design your own conservatory, you can find this section on the site and it will lead you though the process of requesting a quote for your project. It’s handy to have this ability as not all projects can fit into the mold of prefabricated products. You can also c heck out the DIY conservatories and use your own building skills to create your own outdoor space. Personally I would choose this option for myself as I am a big DIY person and would love to see my hard work pay off in a brand new room for my home.

The only downside to this site is that the companies do only ship in the UK, other then that it is a great site for anyone looking at conservatories or are new to the idea of them and are looking to see what they are all about. The site really does provide great information for anyone looking to learn about this type of construction.

Copyright 2009 Home Style Tips

Create More Space With A Conservatory

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One thing to me that always completes an outdoor space is a fire pit, but many places do not allow burning so your really very limited as to what you can do. That is where a really cool table top fire pit may come in handy. I just bought one and I think they really are a great investment. I got my locally, but you can find the one I have pictured on Amazon.com. It’s $82.97 and really is a great investment if you spend a lot of time outside and can’t have a fire.

Copyright 2009 Home Style Tips

Warm Your Nights With A Table Top Fire Pit

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What they are saying is that green and small will be in. Gone are the days of extravagant homes and way too much space. Open floor plans will still be a must and more people will want home offices as more people will be working from home. Now one thing I do agree, but at the same time do not agree with is the outdoor space idea, yes I’m sure in sunny warm climates outdoor space will continue to be a big deal and everyone is going to want outdoor kitchens and a pool. In the colder areas of the world outdoor space means nothing as you can really only use it for about 4 months, then you have to pack it up and clean up the mess. This is why I want to move to a warmer climate, I want to be outside, but it just won’t work where I live.

What about you, do you think these are the hot 2010 home design trends or is there something else your going to look for in your must have home?

Copyright 2009 Home Style Tips

2010 Home Design Trends and You

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Decks are a great way to improve the value and usability of your home. If you don’t have a deck you may really want to look into getting one as it really does help turn the outdoor space you have into an outdoor room. I love our deck, even though it is very small it’s still nice to go out there in the summer and watch the scenery. The kids play in the yard and the birds hang out near the pond and life just seems to move a little slower.

You don’t have to add on a huge deck but you do want to make sure the deck is a good size for what you plan on doing out there. Here is a short list of things you should think about when designing and building a deck.

How often do you plan on using it

Will you have a table, chairs and a grill on the deck

What areas of the yard do you want to see

What areas do you not want to see

How many people will be using the deck on a regular bases

Do you entertain a lot

How high do you want or need the deck railing

After you ask these questions its time to take a look at the type of deck you want. I love the new stain resistant decking materials as they look amazing and they stay in good shape for a long time. They tend to look better then real wood decking mostly because it’s a smoother service. If you like the more rustic look of real wood, go for it, but remember you will be doing some maintenance on it to keep it looking good. With some of the new types of decking products you won’t have as much to worry about as these products can be scratch, stain and wear resistant. It’s a great time to do some research into new deck products and I encourage you to check them out anywhere you can. Having a deck can really change how you feel about your home.

Copyright 2009 Home Style Tips

Spring Will Come Plan Your New Deck Now

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Adding a kitchen to the outdoor space is probably the best way to add value to your home. If you live in a warm climate it will really help the value. If your in a colder climate I would still recommend putting in a kitchen area, but maybe one that is smaller and located under an overhang area. You also may want to add a pizza oven or bar area to complete the feel. I suggest using stone or treated wood for your counter area as it will hold up well against the elements.

You also will want to invest in landscaping. If you don’t have much money I would suggest checking out a local technology center or collage that offers landscaping classes, these student need real world experience and you may be able to get the job done for a lot less.

Many people also think that adding a pool will help increase the value of their home, it does depend on the area you are in and if most of your neighbors have pools then go ahead, have fun and enjoy cooling off.

If you need some design ideas for your outdoor space check out these outdoor spaces.

Copyright 2009 Home Style Tips

Move Outdoors

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