Whether winter or summer or any time in between, sealing doors and windows with self-stick foam is a simple and fast way to not only ward off the chill during the winter time, but also to save money on electric bills.

Unsealed doors and windows during the winter can mean bitter drafts, while during the summer precious air conditioning can be foiled by unsealed areas. To counter this, your best option it to head to the hardware store and purchase a roll of self-stick foam insulation.

Self-stick insulation consists of one side that is obviously foam while the other has adhesive that can be exposed by removing a paper backing. First, if sealing a door (for example) measure one side of the doorjamb. Specifically, measure the area where the inner part of the door touches the frame. Measure twice so you don’t have to later run out to buy more foam. This is where you will apply the foam.

Next, measure the same length of foam and cut it with scissors. Finally, apply the foam, adhesive side touching the door frame. When applying the foam, don’t remove all the paper backing at once -If the adhesive touches anything else it will adhere to it immediately and you will loss that piece when you have to tear the piece off. Instead, put just the top piece in place and remove the paper as you go.

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A relatively inexpensive home improvement that can add both value and relief at the same time is a wet bar. The official definition of wet bar is a bar with running water. Wet bars are placed all over the home. Often, bars are found in a basement entertainment room, near the kitchen, in the family room or sometimes even in the bedroom. But there are no rules, and dimensions can be as large or small as you like.

One choice is to just build an area where drinks can be mixed. For larger designs, a separate counter where drinks are served to guests sitting on barstools might work best. Requirements are a counter space, sink and place to stow liquor, mixers, mixing glasses, wine openers and whatever else suits you.

A popular idea when designing a wet bar is to build it with a theme in mind. A 50’s retro theme, for example, utilizing old school mixing glasses with pictures of that ‘49 Ford you love so much hanging up behind. Then decide how you would live to display your liquor. Some opt for a cabinet below the sink where it is out of sight while others prefer it to be just like their favorite pub and display bottles and stemware on open shelves or wood boxes.

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A home office is efficient way to take care of business at home. Though most people shudder at the thought of bringing their work home with them, having a home office can be both beneficial and another angle for design in the house. Whether actually working from home or just using the space for keeping tax records and bills in the same place, a home office can make life a bit easier.

The first question that might come to mind is where to put the office, especially when every room is already occupied. In this case, pick a section of a particular room. A corner of the family room perhaps.

Then decide how you would like to outfit the area. The desk can be anything from a simple table to an antique roll top desk.

Another consideration is a quality light source. This can mean overhead lighting or some type of lamp, whatever seems more comfortable. Make sure you choose a source that will light the area well so when pouring over important bills everything can be seen clearly.

Other considerations include file cabinet, printer/scanner/fax machine, a lockable, fire-proof box for extremely important documents, and any other office supplies that might be needed.

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The basement of most homeowners are often filled with all manner of packing boxes. But a good way to improve on the value of a home is by renovating the basement space into an entertainment center. Here are some suggestions.

● When the guests come over, send them to the basement for drinking and dancing. As most basements do not have walls dividing the space they automatically qualify as common areas. One great use of the space would be to build a wet bar and lay some sort of flooring suitable for dancing. A stereo system can then be brought in, as well as a disco ball and the mood is set.

● Another worthy idea is to turn the space into a movie room. Choose the appropriate size television, lay a thick, comfortable shag rug and a couple of inviting couches to curl up on too. Then consider purchasing a surround sound system to complete the project.

● Another idea is to turn the basement into a guest house. If the idea of the in-laws spending six weeks at your house terrifies you than perhaps this is a good alternative. Building a bathroom and shower as well as a modest size bed, chairs and table can make the visit that much more bearable. Alternatively, using this space as a rentable apartment can also mean financial reward.

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The EPA now suggests that homeowners upgrade their fireplaces to avoid burning less efficiently. One way to do this and at the same time create a nice ambiance in the home is with pellet stoves. Pellet stoves burn much more efficiently than regular fireplaces and also release less pollutants inside and outside of the home. Additionally, with the cost of both oil and natural gas skyrocketing, it makes sense to at least consider the option.

Pellet stoves come in a wide variety of models and are run on electricity. Models include handsomely-designed standing models, which are the norm, and wall mounting pellet stoves, which can be set into the wall of an existing fireplace. Standing models are usually black, and can have a pot-bellied design or, more regularly, a square or box-like design.

Before purchasing one, it’s important to understand that most pellet stoves do have some moving parts and that regular, routine maintenance will be a part of owning one. Besides being attractive to look at, pellet stoves are used often as a primary source of heat in the home. In conjunction with an overhead fan, this is a great option for heating your home for less.

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Painting is a simple way to improve the value of a home. But reaching up to paint a ceiling can be a bit awkward. Here are some suggestions to make the job a little easier:

1. First, clear the room of everything and stow items in a few packing boxes to keep track of them.
2. Next, protect the floor with a canvas drop cloth and set it in place using blue tape, a quick release painter’s tape, which is less adhesive than normal tape and will not damage your floor.
3. Purchase a roller with suitable texture; for drywall use short nap, for uneven surfaces use a heavy nap. Also, pick up a roller extension so you can easily reach the ceiling.
4. Use a primer with some type of stain blocker before painting and less coats of paint will be needed.
5. When ready to begin painting, start with a ladder and brush to work on cut-in lines. Cut-in lines are the outermost portions of the job and include the corners and perimeters. While the cut-in lines are still wet begin painting the ceiling using the roller with the extension attached. If you don’t do this you usually end up with visible lines. This is easiest if working with someone else. One person cuts the area while the other rolls. Avoid cutting the entire perimeter at once as the paint will dry to fast. Instead, do this as you go.

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Why spend hundreds of dollars on a medicine cabinet if you do not want to? Instead, grab a pen and some paper and design your own.

1. First, draw your idea for the cabinet.
2. Once you have a picture, measure the wall with a tape measure. Write down the width and length. Also, figure the number and width of shelves.
3. Don’t worry about using power tools –There is no need. Head to the lumber yard and ask for the cuts you want. Top, sides and back mounting. If there is a door, have these cut at the same time, this way all that’s left is assembly. Place everything in a packing box to keep track of all you will need.
4. Using glue, a drill and screws, assemble the pieces. If the door is to have a mirror then order this now at the nearest glass shop.
5. Purchase hardware such as fasteners, hinges and knobs too.
6. Once the the cabinet is built, sand everything using first a heavy, then a light grit sandpaper.
7. Next, prime the cabinet, preferably one that includes some sort of stain resistance, then paint it and lastly install any hardware and the mirror.
8. Once this is complete it is then ready to be mounted.

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If you’re moving cross-country and are carrying a significant amount of items, you should talk to your moving company about the possibility of temporary storage. This is a service offered free of charge by many companies, in which your belongings are stored in a facility, rather than delivered to your new address. This is a great option if you’re moving to a new city but don’t have a place to live yet, or if your new house needs repairs before you can bring your items in.

Temporary storage has its drawbacks, such as reduced insurance (your boxes may not be protected against damage), limited access (you may not be able to go back and forth to the storage place to retrieve items one at a time), added costs (when it’s time to move your moving boxes, you may need to do it yourself or pay an extra charge) and other considerations.

Finally, companies may refuse to store valuable items for you, including pianos, pool tables or electronics. If those are among the items you packed in your cardboard boxes, you need to find out what happens with them and whether the temporary storage option is a good one for you.

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Drywall has been used to form walls in homes since World War II. Much easier to use than plaster, drywall, also known as gypsum and sheetrock, is easy to repair and just about any job can be handled by the homeowner with even a modest amount of dexterity.

For small jobs, like nail holes, you will need some sand paper, joint compound and a putty knife. First, clear the area if any loose pieces of drywall are hanging. Next, sand the area to roughen the surface a bit. Grab the putty knife, dip it into the compound and draw it across the hole or dent. Remove the excess with a second pass. Let it dry. Sometimes the compound will shrink a bit and if this is the case just apply a second coat when it dries. Once completely dry, use fine grit sandpaper and gently sand the area. A sponge dipped in water can further smooth out your work. Before repainting, make sure to prime the area first.

Somewhat larger holes can be repaired in much the same way with one addition. Iron on patches can be bought from most hardware stores and will act as a backing for the application of compound. Using a regular iron, set it to medium heat and then apply the patch. Afterwards, apply the compound in the same manner described above.

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A relatively simple way to spruce up the bathroom at low cost is to re-grout the tile. Over time, bathroom tile can crack, lose its color or become full of mildew (which can become a health hazard). This job does require a little elbow grease and a few basic hand tools but is otherwise not difficult.

You will need the following tools: grout saw, chisel, utility knife, latex grout, grout float, grout sealer and a tile sponge.

• Clean the tile and grout thoroughly.
• Grab the grout saw (a sort of serrated knife) and begin scrapping back and forth between the tiles on the existing grout.
• Use the utility knife and chisel to remove the excess grout.
• Mix the grout (though there are other types, latex is best as it resists moisture more) and spread it evenly over the cracks using the grout float at an angle of close to 30 degrees.
• Press the grout completely into the cracks using the grout float.
• Next, remove the excess grout by drawing it across the top of all areas covered.
• Following the directions on the container of grout wait to allow the grout to set. Usually about 5 to 10 minutes. When this has been done take the tile sponge, wet it and then draw it over the entire work area. Your trying to smooth out any rough areas in the grout you have just laid.
• After 3 to 5 days, gently scrape away any grout left on the tiles themselves and then brush on the grout sealer. The sealer will further prevent the absorption of moisture and mildew.

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