When it comes to renovating your home, it can be difficult to decide where to put your money. While you may want to make updates that reflect your personal style, it’s important to also consider which renovations will add the most value to your home. Here are the top 5 renovations to add value to your home:
Adding square footage: The most sure-fire way to add value to your home is to increase the legal, permitted square footage. Homes are valued in dollars per square foot, so you will force appreciation this way. Adding a permitted bonus room, extra bedroom, or living area will appeal to people that want a larger home.
Kitchen renovations: A well-designed kitchen can greatly increase the value of your home. Updating cabinets, countertops, and appliances can make a big difference in the overall look and functionality of the space. Additionally, adding an island or open shelving can add functionality and charm to the kitchen.
Bathroom renovations: Like kitchens, bathrooms are also a major selling point for potential buyers. Updating the tile, vanity, and fixtures can give the room a fresh and modern look. Adding a double vanity or a walk-in shower can also be appealing to buyers.
Basement finishing: Finishing a basement can add value to your home. Whether you create a cozy family room or a fully-equipped home theater, a finished basement can increase the overall square footage of your home and make it more appealing to potential buyers.
Landscaping and curb appeal: First impressions are everything, and the exterior of your home is the first thing potential buyers will see. Updating your landscaping can make a big difference in the overall appearance of your home. Planting a few trees or flowers, or adding a small garden can add character and charm to your home. Investing in a new front door or repainting the exterior can also make a big impact.
It is worth mentioning that these renovations may vary in their impact according to the real estate market of your area, the condition of your home, and your budget. It is always a good idea to consult with a real estate agent or a home appraiser to determine what renovations will add the most value to your home.
When considering a renovation, it’s important to keep in mind that the goal is not only to increase the value of your home, but also to make it more livable and comfortable for you and your family. The key is to strike a balance between personal preferences and what will appeal to potential buyers. By focusing on these top 5 renovations, you can be confident that you are making smart investments in your home that will ultimately pay off in the long run.
Preparing your house for sale can be a daunting task, but it doesn’t have to be. With a little effort and some simple changes, you can make your house more attractive to potential buyers. Here are 5 quick and easy ways to prepare your house for sale:
Declutter and depersonalize: The first step in preparing your house for sale is to declutter and depersonalize. Remove any unnecessary items and personal items such as family photos and personal collections. This will make your house look more spacious and open, and will help potential buyers to envision themselves living in the space.
Make repairs and updates: Fixing any repairs and making updates to your home can increase its value and make it more attractive to potential buyers. Consider painting, replacing old flooring or updating light fixtures.
Clean and declutter inside and out: Cleaning your house inside and out can make a big difference in how it looks to potential buyers. Make sure everything is clean and tidy, including windows, carpets, and even the exterior of your home.
Stage your home: Staging your home can make a huge difference in how it looks to potential buyers. Consider hiring a professional stager to help you make your house look its best.
Highlight the features of your home: Highlight the features of your home that make it special. If your home has a great view, make sure to showcase it. If it has a unique architectural feature, draw attention to it.
By following these tips, you can prepare your house for sale quickly and easily. Remember, decluttering and depersonalizing, making repairs and updates, cleaning and decluttering inside and out, staging your home, and highlighting the features of your home are key to make your house more attractive to potential buyers.
Another option to sell your house, is to sell to a local home buyer such as Penny Modern Properties. We will give you a fair offer for your house or condo, WITHOUT you needing to make any repairs. No staging, no cleaning, and you can even leave any unwanted items behind.
Call today at (619) 719-1820 to get your offer before spending your hard-earned cash on a bunch of repairs and upgrades.
Well, how would it help you if I told you the 5 biggest mistakes I made when remodeling our TWO bathrooms last year?
It would totally help you out right? I’m sure it would give you more confidence in doing your own DIY bathroom remodel, so you can create the bathroom of your dreams (on a budget of course).
Well today I am going to cover 5 different mistakes we made when we did our own DIY bathroom remodel last summer. Some of the bathroom remodeling mistakes we’ll cover are:
Not budgeting enough time
Not building a solid budget
Improper planning for storage
Dim vanity lighting
Choosing too trendy of features.
We learned a lot, and I wanted to pass on the biggest bathroom renovation lessons I learned to you. So read on, and let’s get started droppin’ knowledge.
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases, at NO extra cost to you.
Mistake #1 – Underestimating how much time everything takes to DIY
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We are not hard core DIY’ers so everything took longer than expected, and we only took 1 week off work for remodeling TWO small bathrooms (except for the shower/tub area).
We built a little timeline at the beginning (based on loose estimates), but the DEMO day took way longer than we thought. We did find asbestos flooring almost immediately so that put us a stop on one bathroom, so we switched to working on the other one.
More tile = More time
Another thing we underestimated on our timeline – tile!
Tile requires TONS of prep work: leveling the floor, laying backerboard (which has to be mortared then dry), laying the mortar and tile (which then has to dry 24 hours before grouting), then applying grout.
Here are a couple of awesome YouTube videos about prepping and laying tile, they should totally help you budget enough time:
Anyways – make sure to budget AT LEAST an extra day in your timeline to cover for any unexpected delays. Maybe more if this is your FIRST time remodeling a bathroom.
Mistake #2 – Not building out a solid budget
Changing the design plan can blow your budget
We definitely spent more money than we thought we would. Part of what threw us over is we decided to do a pocket door mid-way through the project. That really threw us over budget.
Sometimes you get going on your project and a contractor might say, “it’s better to do it now, while the wall is open.” Or at least we did.
Maybe you’ll find something nasty that you have to fix: dry rot, termite damage, water damage, mold, asbestos, etc.
Or maybe you want to change something at the last minute, or someone suggests a better finish or newer gadget halfway through the project.
So to stay within a set budget – add at least 10% contingency to your bathroom remodeling budget for the unexpected. Running out of money (or going into major debt) is a major bathroom remodeling mistake.
No towel bars for bath towels in our guest bathroom
Storage is super important in any bathroom – especially if it’s small. Make sure you plan storage solutions for all your grooming supplies, makeup, cleaning supplies, etc.
In the shower/tub area – make sure you plan a spot to put shampoo, body wash, and so on. Just putting stuff on the floor is no bueno.
When we re-did our tiny guest bathroom we left one thing out – somewhere to hang our bath towels! The previous owners had a towel bar above the toilet and I hated it. I just think it’s gross to put your towel over the toilet but there is literally no other good spot to hang it.
We previously had a hook on the back of the door for towels. However, when we decided to put in a pocket door, that option went away.
I did find some suction cup hooks from Amazon that work pretty well for towels. I just stick it to our acrylic shower wall. These are similar to what I bought:
My advice is to think about wall your storage solutions well in advance when you plan out your space – even down to placing towel hooks and bars.
Towel bar above the bathtub is a good spot
Mistake #4: Dim Vanity Lighting
Make sure lighting is bright enough for grooming
So we decided to use a “sconce” in place of a traditional vanity light. This sconce has 2 light bulbs with a crystal clear globe shade. When I put the first light bulbs in, it was WAY too bright. So I had to use 40 Watt equivalent warm light bulbs to avoid searing my eyelids off.
Anyways, these “naked” bulbs are not the most ideal light to see to do makeup, grooming, etc. A more traditional “frosted” lamp shade (like below) would help diffuse light properly, and might have been a better choice.
More traditional vanity light helps diffuse light properly
Mistake #5: Choosing too trendy features
So we all want our bathrooms to be “in style” right? Well, I love embracing trends, but I am a firm believer that choosing classic, timeless features will not only improve the home’s resale value, but will help your bathroom design stand the test of time.
I mixed classic and more trendy features with my bathroom design
One bathroom remodeling mistake I made was buying a more trendy mirror and vanity light (above) that are black metal finishes. I mixed this with my more classic vanity in marble and white.
My thought process was, if the mirror and light go out of style, they are MUCH easier to change than an entire vanity.
So if you want to embrace trends – pick items that are easy to change out: mirrors, lights, faucets, paint, etc.
Patterned tiles can be trendy – choose wisely
Pick more classic, timeless finishes such as your vanity, countertop, flooring, and shower/bath design. The patterned tile floors I see so often today make me cringe as I fear they will be out of style quickly. Changing out tile is a huge pain!
Wrap Up
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Well I hope this “reveal” of my biggest mistakes helped you out in designing your bathroom of your dreams.
The biggest bathroom remodeling mistakes we reviewed were: Not budgeting enough time, not building a solid budget, improper planning for storage, dim vanity lighting, and choosing too trendy of features.
Which mistake makes you cringe the most? I’d love to hear in the comments below! Also feel free to ask me any questions if you think you are making a mistake in your own bathroom design – I’d love to help!
So, it’s almost Mother’s Day – are you still thinking about the best gift idea for your mom or mother-in-law?
Does she happen to be a home decor enthusiast (aka freak like me)?
If so – read this post now for 7 awesome home decor Mother’s Day gift ideas to help you look like the bestest, most thoughtful daughter or daughter-in-law in the world. We will cover decorative and useful gift ideas such as vases, throws, serving dishes, and baskets.
I’m uniquely qualified to create this list since I’m A. a mom, B. I’m a home decor freak, and C. I’ve been buying Mother’s Day Gifts for both my mom and mother-in-law for many years now.
Bonus – all clickable links are included for your shopping ease – and most items are from Amazon so shipping is fast and easy.
Pin it for later!
Read on for the best home decor gifts to arrive just in time for Mother’s Day!
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases, at NO extra cost to you.
Grow: Ceramic Vase or Planter
Photo: Norwood Themes (Unsplash)
A unique ceramic vase or special planter is great whether she has a green thumb or not. You can fill w/ fresh cut flowers, a pretty plant, or even an artificial plant, if she’s like me and kills every plant she touches.
Here are a few from Amazon (each photo is a clickable link to shop now) all under $40.
Drink: Pretty Teapot or Coffee Maker
Having a nicer quality teapot you can also use to decorate your kitchen is always a win. For coffee loving mother’s – a French press is a great gift that not everyone already has. Plus it can help her craft a stonger brew just for her, if that’s what she wants. Both are under $40 from Amazon.
Smell Good: Diffuser and Essential Oils
A diffuser is great Mother’s Day gift idea to have mom try out aromatherapy. These diffusers on Amazon are amazing and have amazing ratings. I love how they look beautiful and are functional too. Plus they are very affordable, each under $40.
Comfort: Luxe Throw
OK, so I definitely love a good throw, and most mom’s probably won’t mind the extra warmth a beautiful throw brings to a room. I chose these Mother’s Day gifts because they are stylish, and look very soft and warm. Plus, they are all neutral so will go with almost any home decor.
Eat: Wood Serving Dish
Photo: Tatiana Rodriguez (Unsplash)
So this may seem a little odd but having a beautiful wood serving dish will help her make a great display or focal point in a room.
A great wooden tray can help her display anything from bathroom decor, to kitchen items, and even create a catch all for things like her watch, jewelry, and water glass on the bedside table.
Serving bowls or fruit bowls are also great ways to display things like lemons, apples, or decorative items to add a little warmth to her dining room or kitchen.
Carry: Basket or Picnic Basket
A nice basket is a great way to give her a DIY Mother’s Day gift basket type arrangement of her favorite wine, cheese, crackers, etc. She can use it in her home to store blankets or just about anything.
A picnic basket is a great idea since it’s not something that everybody already has on hand. Might be handy too if she takes the kids to the park on outings.
Read: Design Books
I, personally, would LOVE to get a new design book, not only to read, but to display on my coffee table. Any design lover in your life would love one of below books…
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Well that about wraps things up. I hope you found this list helpful to get your mother something fabulous for Mother’s Day. We covered everything from baskets to bowls, to vases, and some other Mother’s Day gift ideas in between.
Which Mother’s Day gift idea do you think your mom would love? Let me know in the comments below.
Do you love coffee, but are starting to hate your Keurig (or maybe it recently went kaput)?
Do you already have a coffee maker, but are thinking about getting an espresso machine or iced coffee maker?
Well I have a great solution for you: the Ninja Specialty Coffee Maker.
This baby is epic. It is four machines in one: Single cup maker, it makes multi-serving carafes, specialty foamed coffee drinks, and even iced coffee. This product review will give you all the pros and cons of The Ninja Specialty Coffee Maker CM400 and CM 401.
Check out my full video review (and Demo!) of the Ninja Specialty Coffee Maker CM400 on YouTube:
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases, at NO extra cost to you. I did not receive any compensation for reviewing any of these items, all opinions are my own.This is NOT a sponsored post.
Makes both single cups and full carafes of coffee.
You can use any type of coffee you want, not just coffee available in K-cups.
Has a milk frother and specialty concentrate feature to make coffeehouse style drinks like lattes.
Fairly quick brew time, especially for single cups.
Not overly expensive, at around $150 or less for models CM400 and CM401.
Comes with a scoop to tell you exactly how much coffee to use for both cups, carafes, and half carafes.
Easy to clean with a cleaning button and some household vinegar (no special cleaning solution required). The cleaning cycle takes 60 minutes, then you brew one carafe on “classic” with only water (no coffee grounds) to rinse.
Takes the place of 4 kitchen appliances: K-cup maker, Traditional Coffee Pot, Espresso Drink Machine, and Iced Coffee Maker.
Requires a little more prep thank K-cups since you have to measure the coffee out into the filter.
A little more cleaning than K-cups since you would have to clean the carafe if you make a full pot.
Is a little bigger than your typical Keurig classic K-cup machine.
Is a little more expensive than a bare bones Keurig K-cup machine at around $150.
Recommendation
Overall, if you can’t tell, I would highly recommend getting the Ninja over a Keurig K-cup machine.
The fact that it’s 4 types of coffee makers all rolled into one provides an exceptional value. We use the carafe feature during the week. Then on the weekends, or when we have guests, we bust out the “fancy” specialty coffee drinks like lattes and espresso shots.
If you would like to buy, and use my links below or above, I would get a small commission as an affiliate. But this is NO extra cost to you.
Want your kitchen to look fresh and clean for spring?
Not sure where to start when it comes to the perfect decor for your kitchen countertops?
Look no further because I have got just the thing for you. I’ll show you fresh ideas to decorate your kitchen counters for spring, or really any season.
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Winter’s almost over, and my own kitchen was looking a little drab and sorely in need of a spring makeover. So, I gathered a ton of my favorite kitchen decor pieces (mainly from Target and Amazon) and created a bunch of different options to show you the freshest kitchen decorating ideas for spring.
This post will give you kitchen counter decor ideas and sources for:
Focal points
Cutting boards and trays
Cooking stuff
Sink stuff
Greenery
If video is your thing, check out my YouTube video where you can decorate with me in my kitchen, plus get a full kitchen tour:
Let’s get cookin’!
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases, at NO extra cost to you.
If you have a large island or peninsula, or maybe an eat-in kitchen with a table, a focal point may help create a more beautiful kitchen. A focal point can be a larger vase (like above stonewear pitcher, from Hearth & Hand at Target) with flowers or olive branches in it, or a large fruit bowl with delicious fruit. Even large jars with cookies or fruit in it could be a focal point.
Here are some ideas for focal points:
Cutting Boards and Trays
Cutting Boards
First off, my kitchen is white and grey so is in the more “cool” color palette. A great way to “warm up” a white kitchen is to add real wood elements. Cutting boards and trays are perfect for warming up a cool toned kitchen.
Cutting boards add warmth and natural elements to your kitchen counters
Trays are an excellent way to “corral” smaller items to make things look purposeful and planned. They help organize items into groupings instead of having a counter look cluttered.
Some excellent wood cutting boards and trays to add warm, natural elements to your kitchen:
Cooking Stuff
Ok, so cooking stuff is pretty broad. But think of it as useful stuff you might put around the stove to use while cooking. So the perfect kitchen decor would be: wood salt and pepper shakers, pretty olive oil jars, a ceramic spoon rest, and a pretty crock for your cooking utensils.
Use crocks, vases, and trays to decorate around the stove
I have a cute potted (fake) plant and a pretty crock (Stoneware Genesis Stripe Utensil Holder – Threshold™, from Target) to put my utensils, but you could add even more pretty (and useful) details like below:
Sink Stuff
OK, so this is more utilitarian, but we want our sink area to look nice too, right? We can’t leave the sink area out if we are talking kitchen counter decor, right?
Getting a pretty soap dispenser and place to put your scrubber is a great kitchen counter decor idea. I got an amazing clear glass soap dispenser from Target – $12.99.
The little gray stoneware vase and faux flowers are also from Target – from Hearth and Hand with Magnolia.
I like to “hide” my scrubber in a suction cup sponge holder in my sink. It helps minimize clutter on my counters.
Getting some pretty tea towels or kitchen towels for spring is a great way to freshen up your kitchen. Some beautiful options from Amazon:
Greenery
OK, this is probably my favorite kitchen counter decor idea for spring. Who doesn’t want pretty plants or flowers in their kitchen? It just screams “fresh” and helps adds natural elements to your space for character.
My kitchen sports fake plants only, as I am not blessed with a green thumb. The vases are all from Target: Hearth and Hand Tall Ceramic Pitcher, Threshold ceramic plant pot, and Hearth and Hand Grey Ceramic Vale.
Here are some excellent artifical greenery options below, all from Amazon.
Conclusion
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We covered a lot of ground here covering all things kitchen counter decor. I showed you ideas for focal points, cutting boards, cooking stuff, sink stuff, and finally, greenery.
Thanks for hanging with me and I hope this makes your kitchen feel fresh and ready for spring. Want more ideas to makeover your kitchen? Check out: 7 Best Cheap Kitchen Makeover Ideas next!
Let me know in the comments below if you have any other great ideas for spring countertop decor. I’d love to hear what you do to celebrate spring in your own home.
Is your laundry room more utilitarian than bohemian, and in desperate need of a makeover?
Do you want to freshen up your laundry room to make it a “destination” spot versus a depressing place you have to go every weekend?
Then look no further, this blog post will have 5 affordable and easy laundry room makeover ideas to try out this weekend. I’ll take you through my own laundry room makeover and give you the best ideas that I learned from my own laundry room transformation.
If you’d rather watch the video version of this post, check it out here:
The laundry room ideas I’ll be covering are:
Before we get started, here’s a sneak peek at the before and after of my recent laundry room makeover, full reveal down at the conclusion.
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Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases, at NO extra cost to you.
Shelving
Shelving is a must-have for your laundry room
Ok, so in my humble opinion, shelving is one of the most important features in a laundry room makeover. You need a place to put detergent, stain sticks, dryer sheets, whatever.
I chose the Rubbermaid white closet shelves from Home Depot, that I cut to size. They are super cheap (ranging from $6 – $15 depending on the size) and come in a ton of sizes and colors. I paired it with these inexpensive white brackets to make a very affordable and cute shelf for my stuff.
For the top shelf I used a wider 12″ shelf from Rubbermaid, but chose shelf brackets that also hold a closet rod. I wanted a place to hang my drip-dry stuff and this was perfect!
Closet rod was essential to hang delicates
Cabinets
Cabinets are a great way to hide bottles and stain sticks
Cabinets are a great laundry room makeover idea because they add storage for all your bottles and junk, but hide it so it still looks nice and organized.
The laundry room cabinets I chose are in stock, pre-assembled pre-painted 15″ Hampton Bay white shaker cabinets from Home Depot. Super easy for my hubby to install, you just screw them into studs.
We added cute brass handles from Amazon, which are a great value and match the brass ones in my kitchen. They are only around $16 for 5 handles, so a great deal.
Utility Features
Hooks, Rods, and Racks
Ok so I knew I needed plenty of hooks, rods, and racks for drying my drip-dry clothes. I installed an adjustable closet rod under my top shelf, then added two peg boards from IKEA.
I love the IKEA Skadis peg boards because they have a ton of useful accessories – everything from hooks, to shelves, to clear plastic containers. I wanted to be able to put a few useful tools, as well as hooks for brooms, dustpans, or even clothes. IKEA came to the rescue.
Ironing Area
The other super basic thing I did was gave my washer/dryer a good cleaning. I used a magic eraser to get off all kinds of mark, drips, and rust. It wasn’t in the budget to get new ones, so I made my existing machines look nice.
I bought this magnetic ironing pad for the top of my dryer to hide a bunch of scratches and dings.
Storage Ideas
Laundry room storage ideas
Ok so cute storage is essential in a laundry room makeover since you want this to be your zen place. I chose some beautiful hyacinth woven baskets to store random stuff so I didn’t have to look at it all day.
Here are a few similar style woven baskets:
Decor
Now we are at the fun part! Making your laundry room a zen place requires a little pizazz.
Paint
Before and After painting our laundry room
First things first I had to paint my laundry room, and chose the same color paint, stone white, as the rest of my first level (the previous owners had never painted it, so mine was an ugly brown color). You could go wild here but I recommend a color the same or similar to other rooms in your home for harmony.
Create a focal point
To create a focal point on the wall with my washer/dryer, I chose this beautiful marble look herringbone peel and stick wallpaper by Threshold from Target. It actually almost matches my real backsplash in my kitchen and is a fraction of the cost.
You can pick literally any peel and stick wallpaper or peel and stick backsplash for your own laundry room makeover, feel free to do something whimsical – this is for you after all! Check out my post, Peel and Stick Wallpaper Pros and Cons for more options.
Decor elements
Natural decor elements like woven baskets and signage help make your space unique.
I also added the hyacinth baskets to add a more natural element, along with some fake plants, and a little sign I had. Some cute plants and laundry signs from Amazon are below to help you add some fun elements to your laundry room.
Just click on each image if you would like to check it out on Amazon.
Conclusion
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Wow that was a lot but I hope that helped inspire you to create the laundry room of your dreams! We covered shelving, cabinets, utility features, storage, and of course, decor.
Here’s my full before and after laundry room makeover reveal:
What do you think? These are all really easy ideas to execute, and most options are very affordable. Plus, I did the whole project in 1 weekend.
What do you want to try this weekend to spruce up your space? Leave a comment below and let me know.
If you are looking for more easy and affordable home makeover ideas, check these posts out:
Interested in making your home a smart home, but not sure where to begin when it comes to home automation?
Do you love gadgets and technology, but not sure which smart home gadgets are really “worth it”?
If you answered yes to either question, then this post will be perfect for you.
No time to read now? Pin to Pinterest for later…
I’ll review seven of the best, most affordable smart home ideas to make your nest smarter and your life easier. I’ll give you the benefits of each smart home gadget, an honest review based on my personal experience, along with shoppable links to the best smart home automation devices in 2021.
Here’s what I’ll cover:
Let’s go-go gadget arms and get started creating the smart home of your dreams – in true Penny Modern style – on a modest budget.
If you prefer a video format for this post, check out my YouTube Video:
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases, at NO extra cost to you. I did not receive any compensation for reviewing any of these items, all these opinions are my own.
Voice Assistant or Smart Hub
Our voice assistant, Alexa.
To enable your smart home, it will be key to FIRST get a Voice Assistant or Smart Home Hub. This will allow you to control some or all of your smart devices with your voice.
We have a couple of different Amazon Echo devices and I really like the ones with the screen, especially when paired with a video doorbell (you can see who’s outside, which is cool).
Amazon Echo 8 – around $129.99 from Amazon. I picked up an Echo Show 8 to give to my mom and dad to make video calls with us, then picked up an Echo Show 5 myself. The Echo Show 8 is a little bigger than the 5, so I actually like it better.
Google Nest Hub Max – around $229 from Home Depot. This device connects with a variety of smart devices (including Google Nest devices) and also allows you to make video calls. This is a good option if you prefer Google devices such as the Pixel phone, Google Chromecast, etc.
Video Doorbell
Ring Video Doorbell guarding our front door.
Video doorbells are essential smart home devices because they help serve as a doorbell, as well a provide some security to a certain extent (especially if you get a lot of packages). You will get notified (via the app or voice assistant) if anyone approaches your home.
Ring 3 has 1080p HD Video Quality, which means better visibility if you need a recording due to a security issue.
It had very good reviews on Amazon – 4.5 stars
Has options for both no monthly fees, or very low fees for added services ($30 per year for the basic “Ring protect” plan, or $100 per year for an enhanced plan)
It comes with these little wedges so you can position your doorbell in optimal ways to see a larger area.
If you pay a a small fee (only $30/year), you can access recordings if someone were to steal a package or try to break into your home. For a slightly larger fee ($100/year), you can opt in to professional monitoring. This is still way less than ADT or something like that.
Google Nest Hello Video Doorbell – from Home Depot – around $229. This is a great option if you have the Google Nest voice assistant. It’s very similar to the Ring doorbell but has some extras. It has 24/7 streaming, and can identify when packages are delivered to alert you. Their subscription service starts at $6 per month.
Smart Lighting
Ok so why get smart lights? Well there are two main factors: one is convenience, the other is security. Smart lights can be set to automatically turn off or on via an app or by your voice assistant. That way if you go out of town, it will look like someone is home.
The convenience factor is that you can control smart lights with your voice and turn on your lights by simply saying “Alexa, turn on the living room light.” If you have an older home without much overhead lighting, this is very convenient.
Smart Light Switch
There are so many options for smart lighting for your smart home. We tried to install a smart light switch, the Kasa 3 Way Smart Switch Kit but our home is older (1974) and the wiring would not support it (no neutral wire was the issue). It’s a great option if you have all the wiring already there, just check the specs first. No hub is required so it just hooks up to your wifi.
Smart Light Bulbs
Another great option is to use Smart Light Bulbs. I am getting these Treatlife Smart Bulbs when some of our existing LED bulbs die. At 4 smart bulbs for around $28 it’s almost the same price as getting LED Bulbs. They don’t have full color but offer a variety of shades of white – from cool to warm white.
Smart Flood Light
Smart Flood Light for Outdoors
To enable smart lighting in our older home, we opted for a smart outlet (which is next), and the above Secur360 smart flood light, for out patio.
We bought the SECUR360 Wi-Fi Connected flood light last year from Home Depot, for less than $60. I love it because it has a motion sensor and is very bright, plus it can be controlled via the app or a voice assistant.
If this flood light senses motion, it turns on the light and I also get an alert on my phone, through the Secur360 app, which helps me feel more secure. You can use the app to control the light, put it on a timer, apply dusk to dawn settings, or use Alexa to control it.
Smart Outlets
We purchased these inexpensive TanTan smart plugs from Amazon in February 2019 and they are still working very well. We paired them with our wifi and our Amazon Echo, and simply plugged in our floor lamp to the outlet. Now we can control our floor lamps with our voice, or even set them on a timer.
TanTan smart plugs from Amazon – $16.99 for a two pack. I also used one of these smart plugs for my Christmas lights and it worked well as a timer to only turn on at night. I plugged it into our garage as these are not rated to be used outdoors.
Robot Vacuum
I have owned 2 different robot vacuums so have a lot of experience with these awesome helpers for your smart home. The main benefit is you can let this baby clean for you, while you do other things. Here’s the scoop.
Most recently I purchased the 360 C50 Vacuum and Mop. I recommend getting the Vacuum and Mop combo as it’s just more convenient to have something that can do both household chores. This thing is smart because it’s controlled by a remote, a phone app, or your voice assistant (like Alexa).
360 C50 Robot Vacuum and Mop ready to do my bidding!
The 360 C50 won’t completely do all your cleaning for you, but it will help keep your floors clean in between “deep cleaning” day. Check out my full review here: Product Review: 360 C50 Robot Vacuum Mop
Smart Thermostat
OK, so why do you need a smart thermostat for your smart home? Well the biggest reason is to save money.
A smart thermostat will help you save by allowing you to put your HVAC on different timers, or allow you to turn it off remotely if you leave, and forget to turn it off.
The Emerson Sensi from Home Depot is one of the best value smart thermostats on the market at around $129. A lot of other smart thermostats are over $150, with many in the $200 range, so the Sensi is a great deal.
I had the Emerson Sensi in my previous home and loved it. I love how you can control it from your phone with the app, so you can turn off your heat or A/C if you have left the house and forgot.
It’s also able to connect to Alexa, Google Home, or Apple HomeKit which is great to be able to control the thermostat with your voice.
Smart Locks
Smart locks make your life easier because you don’t have to fumble around with keys, and you can make sure your doors are locked from your phone or with your voice.
Our front door with the Kwikset Powerbolt
We have keyless locks that are not true smart locks. But I think keyless locks are super smart since you don’t need to pull keys out of your pocket to get in and out of your home. Plus they are way cheaper than actual wifi smart locks.
Keyless Locks
I’ve used several different brands of keyless locks and Kwikset Powerbolt Keyless Entry Deadbolts are the best by far. They are the most durable, reliable, and don’t get jammed. Plus they are cheap – less than $70! I love these locks and have bought them for multiple homes.
Smart Locks
If I wanted to spend a little more money, I’d definitely get true wifi smart locks. The one I want, when I’m ready to upgrade, is the Simplisafe Smartlock for around $100 from Amazon.
The Simplisafe Smartlock is sleek, and sophisticated. I love that you can use the keypad or the phone fob to unlock and lock it. Also you get notified if your door gets unlocked or locked, which is great to keep tabs on kids or whatnot. You can also pair the smartlock with the Simplisafe security system to help make your home even more secure.
Conclusion
Well there you go, I hope you feel smarter, armed with all these super affordable smart home ideas. We covered everything from voice assistants, to video doorbells, to smart lighting, and smart locks.
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My favorite smart device is actually the robot vacuum and mop. It really helps free up my time and I can avoid breaking my back from vacuuming and mopping all the time. My second favorite are probably the power locks/smart locks – who wants to fumble with keys anymore?
Which smart gadget do you want to try first, to make your home a smart home? Leave a comment below, I would love to know.
Check out some of my other popular posts, while you are here:
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases, at NO extra cost to you.I did not receive any compensation for doing this review, all these opinions are my own.
Are you sick of vacuum and mopping your hard floors all. the. freaking. time to keep up with your kids/pets/husband’s mess?
Do you not have $800 lying around to buy a name brand robot vacuum, along with a separate robot mop?
If you agreed, then look no further! I’ve got the best product review for you today.
Today I’m reviewing the 360 C50 Robot Vacuum and Mop. I’ll be providing the basic stats, pros and cons, and my assessment of this little robot’s performance after using it for about a week.
Pin to Pinterest if you don’t have time to read now…
My full video product review of the 360 C50 Robot Vacuum and Mop is right here on YouTube, if you want to jump straight to that.
In the video, I give you a full review, plus show you how the vacuum performs on both hard floors and carpet, along with a demo of the mopping feature.
Now, let’s get to all the dirty details about this little cleaning robot…
Basic Stats of the 360 C50 Robot Vacuum Mop
The 360 C50 is priced at around $159 on Amazon as of February 2020.
It’s a 2 in 1 robot – both a vacuum and a mop. You change out the dust bin for the water tank and voila!
Suction Power: 2600 Pa. The suction has 4 different settings: quiet mode, standard mode, powerful mode, and MAX.
The default cleaning pattern is a methodical zig zag route.
Other cleaning modes include spot clean, deep clean, and edges.
Can be controlled with the included remote, the app, or via voice assistant (or just press the “clean” button on it’s top).
You can schedule cleanings for different times with the app (360 Robot).
You can connect the robot to Alexa and Google Assistant to use your voice to control the vacuum/mop.
3.1″ tall so it can get under furniture easily
510ml dust bin is very large so it can clean large spaces without the need to stop and clean it out.
300ml water tank for the mopping function and it’s an “intelligent” water tank so you can adjust the water flow for deeper/lighter cleaning.
Holds a charge to give you 90 minutes of vacuum/mopping action.
Pros and Cons of 360 C50 Robot Vacuum Mop
Pros
You don’t have to break your back vacuuming and mopping with the 360 C50 Robot Vacuum Mop doing the work for you.
It’s a great value for a robot vacuum/mop combo – a little over $150 on Amazon. A lot of similar items are $400 – $800.
It’s very effective at both vacuum and mopping, all in one small device.
It does a good job vacuuming low/medium pile carpets, and has a roller brush in addition to powerful suction and side brushes.
The quiet mode is very nice if you need to run it while someone is sleeping in the home. I love it has 4 different suction/noise settings.
The default pattern of a zig zag is very methodical and helps ensure your whole room gets cleaned.
Being able to adjust the water flow on the mop is great if you need a deeper clean.
The app and Alexa connectivity is a nice feature to help control and schedule cleanings.
Cons
The mop does not allow you to put cleaning solution inside the tank, only water (which is honestly pretty standard with all robot mops).
Does not vacuum and mop at the same time.
Needs more standard maintenance/cleaning than a standard upright vacuum.
Had a hard time getting over the edges of thick rugs so may need some “babysitting” if you have a lot of rugs.
Performance Assessment
After using the 360 C50 Robot Vacuum Mop for a week, I feel its performance is on par or better with more expensive robot vacuums. I owned a Deebot N79S prior to this machine, and the 360 C50 was just as good in the vacuuming department.
I did a few tests where I put some sand and rice on the floor, and the 360 C50 easily picked these items up. For the rice, some did get kicked around by the side brushes, but that is an issue in most robot vacuums.
I used the 360 C50 after dinner one night this week, and also on the weekend and it was able to both vacuum and mop my kitchen and dining room on a single charge. It took maybe 20 minutes for it to both vacuum AND mop these 2 rooms.
The mopping function did really well, and my floors dried quickly. It also was very quiet when mopping. The water tank and pad are very easy to clean afterwards, and it’s much easier than dealing with a bucket of dirty mop water.
Conclusion
All in all, I highly recommend the 360 C50 Robot Vacuum Mop. The pros definitely outweigh the cons, and the price ($159 on Amazon) is super low compared to $400 – $800 competitors.
If you would like to buy the 360 C50 right now here is the link to buy directly from Amazon:
I hope you enjoyed this review and would love to know if you have any questions about the 360 C50 Robot Vacuum Mop. Please put your questions in the comments below and I’ll get back to you as soon as I can.
If you want to check out my other product reviews then check out my Product Review page next.
Want a bathroom makeover but need ideas that are quick, easy, and will fit into a tight budget?
You are in luck because today I will share SEVEN of the easiest and least expensive ideas to makeover your bathroom into a modern spa-like retreat.
I’ll give you ideas, inspiration, and clickable links to affordable sources for everything from bathroom accessories and lighting, to faucets and mirrors.
Let’s get this party started!
Idea #1: Paint the walls
Before: Walls a Khaki Green
After: Walls Behr Swiss Coffee
Ok, so this seems like a no brainer but paint can be REALLY difficult to choose for a bathroom.
If you have a small bathroom, lighter colors will make it feel larger and more airy. You can see in the photos above, our bathroom was a khaki green on both walls AND ceiling (who paints their ceiling khaki green?).
When we painted the ceiling ultra white and the walls Behr Swiss Coffee it made the whole space feel bigger, lighter, and brighter.
Some great colors for bathroom walls are warm white, light grey, sea salt, and blue.
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases, at NO extra cost to you.
Upgrading your accessories such as a toothbrush holder and soap dispenser is a great way to change the look of your bathroom. Here are some modern accessories from Amazon that will help update your space.
If storage is an issue, you can kill two birds with one stone and display items in glass jars or apothecary style containers. Here’s a few links to ones I love from Amazon:
Soft Goods
In terms of soft goods, new towels are a great way to make a space feel fresh.
I love these Turkish Cotton Bath towels from Amazon – they look modern since they have a diamond pattern in the cotton. They also are thick and high quality feeling, even after a lot of washes.
Going from dated glass bathtub doors to a pretty new shower curtain can make a huge difference. Removing old bathtub doors is pretty easy and we have done it on two different bathrooms.
The best thing about a shower curtain is you can change it out frequently at very little cost, to keep things interesting.
Photo: Meghna R via Unsplash
TIP: Hanging your shower curtain up high will help hide ugly, dated tile or an old shower enclosure.
Here are a couple of affordable classic neutral shower curtains from Amazon:
Idea #3: Refresh vanity
Photo: Chastity Cortijo via Unsplash
A vanity can be easily freshened up by a coat of paint (use cabinet paint specially designed for cabinets, like Rustoleum Cabinet Transformations).
Even just changing out or spray painting the knobs and handles on your vanity can make a big difference.
In my post, DIY Budget Bathroom Remodel (for under $350), I spray painted all the knobs of my vanity to change them from brushed nickel to matte black. It was so easy and super cheap!
Vanity pulls spray painted black
Another option is to upgrade the faucet to a more modern style.
Home Depot online and Amazon all have awesome options for affordable modern faucets. We have purchased below faucet from Home Depot and love it! I can personally attest to the quality (which is great).
A great budget bathroom makeover idea is to add art and plants. Adding a clear vase with a few plant stems will help elevate your bathroom.
Below are some awesome artificial greenery stems from Amazon to help get this look. Or you can grab some greenery from outside by snipping a few stems off of a bush.
A focal point is something that draws the eye, like the wood framed statement mirror above. Creating a bold focal point in your bathroom is a great way to change the look, and also help distract from other areas (like ugly shower tile, for example).
A super easy and cheap way to add a focal point is to add wallpaper or a backsplash to the wall behind your vanity, or adding a statement mirror.
Lighting is key in a bathroom, since a lot of them don’t have any windows.
Replace your old light with a new one with the same type of base to save money and time.
Trying to go from a single vanity light to two sconces can be difficult and may need an electrician. To DIY it, get the same type of light, but with an updated style.
Another way to add more light to a dark bathroom is to add a light to your bathroom fan. I found this inexpensive bathroom fan upgrade at Home Depot that fits right into your old fan’s box and comes with an LED light.
Changing out a mirror is very easy, and can be fairly inexpensive depending on what you choose. We did our full bathroom makeover using a beveled edge mirror from Home Depot.
A builder grade mirror can be quickly updated by adding a new frame or painting the existing frame. Hello Hayley has a great tutorial on how to add a frame to a builder grade mirror for $10: DIY Bathroom Mirror Frame for Under $10
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