Beautify a Balcony

A balcony can be transformed into a cozy oasis with little work, and little expense. Get the ground in shape for bare feet by covering it with outdoor carpeting or rattan mats. For low-cost comfort, choose a chair or lounger with weather resistant cushions and add a small table for placing books or drinks. For year-round greenery, buy a large synthetic tropical plant and use planters to add seasonal colour. Top it all off with an interesting bird feeder, a small water fountain, or some wind chimes for interest and relaxation.

Personalize Porches

If front porches could speak, they should say “welcome”. Choose simple furniture that is inviting and relaxing such as rocking chairs or compact swing gliders. Put one or two large planters or urns near the entrance to your porch or home to greet visitors and use them to make a statement with seasonal arrangements that reflect your personal style. Add colour with bright containers of flowers until spring colours emerge from the garden view. Complete your work of art with the one thing every porch needs… a welcome mat!

Perk Up Patios

Patios are a place to escape from the bustle and activity of the home. To help you get a little closer to nature, consider adding an arbor over your patio. Attach climbing plants or vines around your arbor and scatter container plants of seasonal colour to soften your hardscape. Stepping stones angled away from your patio adds dimension, even in the smallest of areas. Add a birdbath or water fountain for tranquility and your patio haven becomes the ideal spot for relaxing solo or a serene backdrop for entertaining.

To spring ahead, think ahead. Start sprucing up your outdoors now and you’ll extend your enjoyment right through to the warm, sunny days of summer.

House Owners

Take a peek inside many Canadian garages and chances are you won’t see a car. Garages and basements often become a dumping ground for all the things we rarely use. Here are five quick ways to makeover your garage and/or basement:

• Clear the clutter! Have a yard sale, sell your unused goods online, or donate items to your local charity.
• Add tall utility shelving to free up floor space, keeping any hazardous cleaning, garden, and automotive supplies out of reach of children by placing them on the top shelves.
• Store lesser used items on utility shelving in plastic storage containers with lids to keep out dust and moisture. Use bigger bins on casters for more frequently used items and roll them out of the way, such as under a worktable.
• Clear off your workbench and use a wall or pegboard to hang frequently used tools and store the rest in a tool chest. Use jars or plastic bins for storing and organizing smaller items like nails, screws, and nuts.
• Hang skis, bikes, brooms, shovels, wheelbarrows and other unwieldy sport, garden, and household items off purpose-built wall hooks or in specialty containers to keep them free from damage.

Condo Owners

• Even in the smallest of condominium units, there is often under-utilized space. Here are a few ways to help you optimize it:
• Transfer your music collection to a digital format and sell your space-hogging records and CDs.
• Keep out-of-season clothes and spare linens in vacuum-sealed storage bags under the bed. Use hooks for bathrobes, clothes, purses, or even jewellery.
• Use decorative baskets for small items like magazines, hats, scarves, mittens, and children’s toys to keep things neat and organized.
• Open or floating shelving will create the illusion of space while providing stylish storage for household and decorative items.
• Invest in multi-functional furniture versus individual pieces which can take up valuable floor space. For example, a padded ottoman can be used as coffee table, storage space, and extra seating.

The Bathroom

Want to bring out a natural shine to your sinks, toilets, and tubs? Create a gentle scouring paste by mixing 4 tbsp baking soda with 1 tbsp water. Generously sprinkle either table salt or baking soda into the sink or tub and use the cut end of half a fresh lemon as a scrubby-pad. Rinse with hot water and your ceramics will be gleaming! Undiluted lemon juice can also be used to dissolve soap scum and hard water deposits.

The Kitchen

Vinegar, a natural antibacterial, has a high acid content which makes it an effective alternative to caustic cleaners for the kitchen. Mix together 1 part water to 1 part vinegar in a new spray bottle and you have a natural solution that will clean stovetops, appliances, countertops (except marble), and floors. For troublesome stains, add a touch of baking soda to the mix.

To help remove finger marks from stainless steel appliances use a microfibre cloth or try a dab of baby oil on a clean cloth. For microwaves, put a few slices of fresh lemon in an uncovered bowl of water and cook on high for about three minutes. Grease and dirt should wipe away easily.

Windows

Let the sunshine in by washing away winter’s grime. Fill a bucket with 25 per cent vinegar and 75 per cent warm water. Put on rubber gloves and soak an old cotton towel in the solution. Rub on windows, and then scrunch up some old newspaper to buff up a shine. If there are any streaks, simply finish off with a dry cloth.

Fabrics and Carpets

Have a stubborn fabric stain? Dab white vinegar onto the stain followed by a mild soap solution such as all natural dishwashing liquid and water. Rinse with a clean damp cloth and blot with a dry towel. Salt can also be used to soak up fresh carpet stains such as red wine, coffee or ink. Simply pour salt on the wet stain, let dry, and then vacuum. Natural ingredients can not only get rid of stains, they’ll help eliminate odours from fabrics too!