Luxury Housing Trends & Home Improvement Ideas

Want to live like your rich? One way to get luxury items for less is to keep an eye out for upscale auctions. If you’re a fan of Bravo’s Real Housewives of New Jersey, you will definitely want to mark your calendar for August 22.

Teresa Giudice is the New Jersey housewife famously known for flipping a table in a restaurant. On August 22, she is putting several of the family’s possessions on auction. According to iVillage Entertainment, the following items are going to be up for grabs: chandeliers, wine-making equipment, leopard print loveseat, solid pine kitchen table, gilt-framed mirror, two all terrain vehicles and his-and-hers gold wedding rings.

Apparently, the housewife is selling this luxury items in order to pay some family debts.

You never know when an accident will happen, which is why it’s so important to be as prepared as you possibly can be. The first thing on your list would be to stock up on a first aid kit. Maybe you already have one, but when is the last time you checked to make sure it was filled with supplies?

The Elite Home or Office First Aid Kit can be used for every day cuts and burns as well as more severe accidents. The compact container has several compartments for storage, so it’s easy to find things. The kit measures 12” x 5” x 6”, and it weighs 2.7 lbs.

The kit contains several essential items such as bandage strips, pain relievers and instructions, but it also comes with some things you might not think to stock such as irrigation syringe, instant ice pack, pair of tweezers, safety pins, tongue depressors, latex gloves and more.

It’s hard to be a gracious host when you find out last minute that you’re having a couple extra guests spending the night. However, you can avoid these stressful situations by having supplies on hand, especially if your family or friends are known for those last minute changes.

The Intex Comfort Rest Foam Raise Airbed Mattress will turn into a queen-sized bed when you’re all out of space. Since it has a built-in layer of memory foam, your guests will sleep soundly and peacefully as if they were in a traditional bed. It even comes with a built-in high-powered electric pump, so you can inflate the bed in no time.

A comfortable airbed like this is convenient to have in a closet, and along with using it in your home, you can also take with you when you travel.

Patio furniture isn’t cheap. Some run between $500 and $1,000. Although many of them are treated for outdoor use or are constructed from durable materials, it’s still beneficial to protect them when you’re not using them so the set lasts longer.

The Garden Oasis Round Patio Furniture Cover from Sears is an inexpensive accessory that will keep your patio table shielded from elements such as the sun, rain, snow, etc. It measures 96” in diameter and is 30” high. When the cover gets dirty, you just wash it with soap and water.

Covering chairs, tables, outdoor sofas, etc. is a wise decision not only to protect the furniture, but it can also prevent pillows and cushions from getting blown away or dragged through the dirt on a stormy day or night.

Of course, you want your home to look amazing before you throw a housewarming part, but it’s also important to invite guests with style too.

One option is to send out a mass email to friends and family so everyone knows your new address. This is a great way to spread the word, because people can forward on the email, and it won’t cost you anything in postage.

For an intimate housewarming party, you might want to take it a step further and send the guests paper invitations. This Happy Home housewarming party invitation has some personality, and the rhyming poem says it all, “Clothes aren’t hung, Books aren’t stacked, Doggie bowls aren’t unpacked. Counting up the broken plates, Never seen so many crates. But that’s ok it it’s a mess…We love it here at our new address!”

This charming invitation says it all, and your immediate family and best friends will have your new address handy.

Did you know that devices plugged into an outlet still use up energy even when they’re not in use?

Instead of letting these unused energy go to waste, find out where it’s coming from so you can do something about it.

The Kill-A-Watt EZ will help you cut standby energy use, because it monitors how much you use and how much you can save by eliminating those devices that are draining your energy.

This monitor costs about $35, but it can save you up to $360 per year. There could be so many appliances and electronic devices in your home that are literally sucking up your electricity without cause, and you can finally detect these problem devices and prevent yourself from wasting and spending unnecessary money on electricity.

How many people do you have living in your home? You’re probably flushing more gallons of water down the drain that you really need to. Fortunately, you can upgrade your toilet to a WaterSense labeled one that is certified by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

The Kohler K-3609-0 is from the Cimarron series, and it is one of many water efficient toilets that can help you save money. This model can save you up to 16,500 gallons of water per year, and in certain municipalities, you might even quality for a rebate. This Kohler toilet also easy to install because of its DryLock attachment plate, which also prevents leaking.

Now you can save money and the planet with every flush and not have to worry about an old leaky commode. So if you’re going to upgrade, look for the WaterSense label.

One of the easiest ways to ensure that your heating/cooling system is working at its highest efficiency is to change the air filters regularly. Since the filter traps and collects airborne particles and odors, it becomes clogged by all of this material. Instead of letting it build up to the point where it can’t trap anything else, you reduce the amount of heat and air coming out of the system.

The Honeywell HEPA-Type Replacement Filter is one of many types of filters that you can use. This particular one is 99 percent effective at removing unwanted particulars and odors from your air. Having quality air for you and your family is a worthy expense.

If you want to keep extra filters on hand, it’s a great way to keep up on changing the filter. You can even put a note on your calendar as a reminder.

Painting is an easy way to breath life into a stale room, and as long as you know what you’re doing, it won’t take you too long. Below are some eco-friendly painting tips to help you get the job done in a sustainable way.

• Always enlist some help from family or friends, because they can prevent you from making extra messes and mistakes. You don’t want to waste your paint.

• Purchase a paint with a primer so you don’t have to worry about buying two separate paints.

• Line your paint tray with foil so that you can continue using it over and over again. Foil takes up less space in a landfill than a paint tray.

• Try to avoid taping off the walls, especially if you have a steady hand. Depending on what type of paint you’re using, small mistakes can be wiped clean with soap and water.

Have you ever wanted to try Feng Shui in your home? Well, with these simple tips below, you can increase the flow of energy and light in your living space.

• Ensure that the objects you’re displaying are ones that symbolize something important to you. Whatever you display should remind you of your own goals.

• Add a fire element to your home such as candles. You can find Feng Shui candles in a variety of colors and meanings.

• Hang a wind chime near a window so that when you have it open during the spring and summer, you will have a sense of tranquility and relaxation from the music.

• Decorate an entryway with a small fountain, so you can hear the soothing sound of water rippling.

• Create a small family shrine, which is dedicated to photos and sentimental possessions. This can also be a place for burning incense and meditating.