Ways To Boost Natural Light at Home.

Bringing natural light into your home is both economical and enjoyable. The level of natural light in your rooms can really affect your mood. Those blessed rays, filled with sunlight and vitamin D make you feel positive. So, it’s natural that bright rooms make us feel happier, more alive and vibrant. Plus, you get to save a little cash and reduce your energy usage by increasing your home’s natural light.

There's not a lot you can do to increase the amount of sunlight coming into your home — unless you're planning on a major remodel. But if you're low on natural light, there are a handful of small things you can do to be sure you're using it to your advantage.

Let’s check out some of the ways to increase and maximize the natural light in your own home:

Use mirrors & other reflective surfaces in your décor

Shiny surfaces—especially mirrors—reflect light. Place them strategically to fill your home with new spots of brightness. Mirrors close to your windows amplify natural light by bouncing it into your space, making windows feel bigger and brighter. You can use smaller mirrors to line the backs of bookshelves, or arrange several of them on one wall. Another idea is to buy furniture with glass, chrome, or mirrored accents.

Pay attention to paint

Paint color, and finish have a big effect on how bright your room looks. Lighter colors reflect natural light better than darker tones. If you prefer a darker palette, remember that shinier finishes will help brighten things up. This is especially true for ceiling paint. White ceilings are popular because they reflect ambient light down into the room. Boost this effect by choosing a ceiling paint with a satin or high-gloss finish.

Work with your windows

Some window treatments, such as Roman shades, block sunlight even when they’re open. But sheer draperies hung on rings are easy to open fully to let in light. Hang a single drapery rather than a double set. Venetian blinds are also a good choice. They allow you to control the amount of light that comes in, and you can angle them to direct the light into a particular area.

Keep it Clean!

Keeping your windows clean to allow in the maximum amount of natural light. It may sound simple but cleaning windows, blinds—even lampshades, and bulbs makes a big difference. Tip: wash windows on a cloudy day to minimize streaking.

Move your furniture

Inadvertently blocking windows when arranging your furniture can cut into a room's natural light. Rearrange your space to keep natural light sources free and unobstructed. Keep larger pieces toward the center of the room. Even knick-knacks on a windowsill block a surprising amount of light.

Add a Skylight

This is a pricey option up-front, but because a skylight can help naturally heat a room, it could save you boatloads on your electricity bill over time! If you’re ready to take the plunge and add a skylight to a room, hire a contractor for the job – don’t try this one yourself!

Think outside of your home

For best results, don’t forget to maintain your outdoor spaces. Trim hedges or branches away from the windows. Also, carefully consider the placement of porch swings and other patio furniture. These steps will increase natural light inside your home.

Boost up the look of your home and add more cheer and health by following above tips. AJ Lamba Team walks with you through every step of your life’s most important decision to buy or sell home. Contact us today at 905-502-9944 for all your real estate queries.

Keep Your Houseplants Happy During Winter.

Houseplants deal with winter the way we wish we could—they sleep right through it! That means they should not be fed until spring arrives, it'd be much like forcing a sandwich on someone who's sound asleep. Their metabolic processes are slowed down hence they cannot accommodate regular watering and fertilizing. With minimal daylight, dry air and cool temperatures – not perfect growing conditions, it’s the best time for houseplants to take rest.

In the meantime, if you want to do something nice for those hibernating houseplants, here are some ways to keep them happy in winter:

SUNSHINE

Put houseplants in the sunniest spot you have, move them to follow the sun if necessary. Most plants fails to thrive in a north-facing window because they need more sun. The best is a window facing east which will get sun from 7 am to 11 am and it's not harsh.

LESS WATER

Many plants need water once a week in winter. They will go dormant, especially if they're plants that grow outdoors in summer and they've come from that bright light into a home with lower lighting and lower temperatures.

MIST THEM

Outdoor plants experience fog, rain, and mist. Indoors? The air is dry from your heating system. Give them a little spritz from a mister every few days to keep houseplants happy.

HUMIDITY

Make a humidity tray for plants to add moisture to the air. In a low-sided tray, place a shallow layer of pebbles. Add water to the height of the pebbles. Set plant pots on pebbles and put the tray in a warm sunny spot. Or get a desktop humidifier to direct moist air toward plants. Most plants thrive with levels of from 50 to 60 percent humidity; in a house the humidity level can go below 35 percent.

TONICS

The most common disease that plagues houseplants is leaf spot—yellow or brown spots that develop on an outer leaf and move inward. If your plants are suffering, mix a tonic and spray it on their leaves: Dissolve 4 teaspoons baking soda in a gallon of water and add a few drops of Murphy's oil to make a suspension.

DUST THEM

Keep plants clean. When they get dusty, that causes plants not to breathe. It plugs their leaves, which have little pores called stomata. If you cover a leaf surface with dirt, it won't get the full effect of sunlight and photosynthesis will be slowed.

BATHE THEM

For smaller plants, give them a bath in a sink with a sprayer. Larger plants can go into the shower. Wipe leaves with a damp sponge. Then off their leaves so they don't drip all over the floor.

STOP FERTILIZING

Many plants go dormant in the winter. Don't fertilize—and don't give up on them. On arrival of spring, set dormant plants outdoors in warm sunshine and feed them a superfood such as sea kelp.

CRANK UP THE HEAT

Turn the heat up high during the day, then way down at night. The temperature variance feels familiar to plants because it mimics the conditions they would experience outdoors in the course of a 24-hour period.

GET RID OF BUGS

Make your own sticky traps to catch tiny black bugs—they're fungus gnats—that buzz in the air above houseplants. Other solutions are to bury a garlic clove in the soil, make an apple cider vinegar trap, or repot plants.

It’s a new year!! Time to give a fresh start to all unfinished chores. Don’t let the season be an excuse for the delayed real estate decisions. Market is STILL HOT with amazing deals. Contact AJ Lamba Team today at 905-502-9944 for any home buying/selling queries.

Affordable Home Improvements that Can Save You Money

Are you searching for some ways to spruce up your home without putting a strain on your finances? Regardless of if you are about to sell your home, or just want to spiff it up for your own enjoyment, some affordable strategies to consider are highlighted here. While the actual cost and payback for each of the projects will vary, it is safe to say the investment you make will be small compared to the value that is received.

Spice Up Your Kitchen
The kitchen is the heart of the home and a huge factor that is considered if you are trying to sell. For a small investment, you can replace your kitchen faucet, add new handles to your cabinets and even install more energy efficient lighting fixtures. A few hundred dollars will cover all these improvements and you will see a huge improvement in aesthetics and value.

Update Your Bathroom
For most people, the bathroom is one of the busiest rooms in your house. If yours seems a bit tired or uninspired, you should consider adding a few new features. Some affordable changes you can make include installing a new toilet seat or even a pedestal sink. You may also want to consider purchasing new vinyl flooring to improve the look further.

Consider the Carpet
Unfortunately as time passes your carpet can take quite a beating. If you have noticed certain areas that look significantly worse than others, you can purchase quality, but affordable, area rugs and hide any unsightly areas. Another option is to invest in professional carpet cleaning. While this may seem like a simple fix, the fact is the effect it can have is quite impressive in many cases.

Add New Lighting Fixtures
Do you have boring recessed lights in your living or dining room? If so, consider installing a chandelier in this space. There are quite a few inexpensive but great looking options at most home goods stores for you to choose from. If you have a ceiling fan, consider replacing the blades and bulb covers, which can add a whole new look to the space.

Update Your Front Door
Is the knob on your front door looking a bit flimsy and uninspiring? If so, you should consider purchasing a new handle and lock set. When you have a nice, heavy piece of hardware on your door, it shows newcomers that you have a solid, secure home.

Enhance Your Home's Curb Appeal
While this may sound a bit obvious, having a nice looking lawn can go a long way in attracting potential buyers, or just ensuring that your home is nice to pass by and look at. If you do not have a green thumb, you should consider hiring a professional landscaper for assistance with this process.
As you can see, improving your home and increasing its overall value does not have to cost a fortune. With a few hundred dollars and a little elbow grease, you can easily update your home while increasing its worth. Implement some of these tips and see the difference you can make.