There is always something that you can do to improve your home. Do not put off home improvement projects because of cost or time; maintaining and improving your home is necessary. If those reasons are holding you back, then read on to find ways to get past them.

One way to lower your electric bill is to install a motion sensor on your outdoor lights. This way, the bright spotlights only come on when someone is outside and needs the light and then, turn off when not needed, saving on energy. Also, motion-detector outdoor lights can act as a deterrent against theft.

Have a missing or damaged tile? Take a sample to your local home improvement store to see if they can match the color. Replacing an entire floor of tile is expensive as well as a heinous chore. Save money and time by finding a tile that is a close match to the existing tile.

Aluminum foil can be used to cover up electrical outlets before painting commences. Tin foil is more easily applied than tape and can protect outlet covers from accidental paint splatters. That makes cleanup much easier. Just let all of the paint dry prior to removing the foil, then recycle it.

Consider a truly "green" makeover to your landscaping. A popular new trend in landscaping is to make your garden fit the climate and area that you live in. Gone is the need for the perfect green lawn all year round. If you live in a dry climate, consider creating a landscape that are tolerant to drought and you will save money in watering costs and help the environment.

If you don't like to nail pictures to the wall because of the holes the nails make, an easy solution is buying mounting squares. Mounting squares can easily hold a few pounds and can be quickly removed without damaging your wall. Stick four squares altogether, one in each corner of your frame to mount your picture properly on your wall.

Take steps to ensure that your floors are protected from any stray drips while painting. This will be your front line of defense against paint stains. A few layers of old newspaper is an affordable means of protecting surfaces underfoot. Plastic sheets and paint cloths will also work.

Refurbishing an unfinished basement floor can bring the space together while increasing the functionality of the basement. Family members and friends will want to go down there more than they did before and one can create a new area to entertain guests. Putting down a wood, carpet, or synthetic floor will really improve ones basement.

Instead of investing in all new furniture, you may consider having your current furniture repaired and reupholstered by a professional. Many times older furniture is higher quality and with some affordable repairs and refurbishing you will have better furniture for less money than when you invest in low-price new furniture.

Before you start painting a room, it is best to know about how much paint you need. Measure the length of the walls in the room you plan to paint and add them together. Next, measure the height of the room. Multiply the height by the length. The square foot of the room is the answer you get. One gallon of paint will generally cover 350 square feet.

Cleaning your decanter can be made quite easy with the following steps. Fill up your decanter up with hot water halfway and add several drops of dishwashing liquid inside. Add two or three tablespoons of vinegar and one cup of raw rice (doesn't matter what type). Swirl the concoction in your decanter until clean. The rice helps rub off the excess dirt while you're swirling the liquid.

Give your porch an "up" as well. It is the first thing visitors see and creates their first impression of your home. Clear out any clutter and add personal touches such as flowers, plants, patio furniture. You may also want to add new light fixtures and a nice wood varnish. Fix any obvious issues such as broken boards or unstable steps. These things add value to a house.

One of the easiest ways to improve your living space is to simply keep your home as clean as possible. If you keep your home clean, your home will automatically look much nicer. Sometimes improving your home is as easy as keeping your living space free from clutter and dirt.

Do not get too personal. When you over-personalize your home to fit old brick house exterior makeover the way you want it to look, it is very doubtful that you will be able to recover your investments once you attempt to sell your home. Opt instead for a timeless look that you still enjoy, and you will quickly make your money back if you have to sell.

Before beginning a kitchen remodel, make sure you have all the necessary tools and materials in place. Shims are items that are easy to forget, but are vital if you want to have level kitchen cabinets. Shims are tapered pieces of wood that allow you correct for minor imperfections in your walls and floors.

In order to make a living running a home improvement gig, you must know the proper rates to charge. This includes being able to give your customer a detailed report of the expenses that they are incurring. These rates include materials and labor, so make sure that you don't charge them too much or you will not get the job.

When you are hiring a contractor to do your home improvements, make sure that he is fully insured and has all of the licenses that your local and state laws require him to have to run a business. Do not face the risk of losing your warranties, insurances, and guarantees.

If you plan to sell your home in the near future, you should avoid expensive home- improvement projects that cater to your unique personal tastes. Such projects will often be a waste of money in the sense that they will not correspondingly raise the value of the home. For example, installing expensive custom-made bathroom tiles from Italy is a poor choice for a home-improvement project because potential buyers will rarely agree with you on their value. Prospective buyers will have their own personal tastes and will already be planning to incorporate their tastes into their own projects.

As mentioned in the beginning of the article, it is important that you know what you are doing. Whether you are a beginner or a pro, this is useful information to know. Apply what you've just learned here, and you can't go wrong.