Home Care | Page #6

Home Care

Did you know that Calgary has one of the highest people : dog ratios in all of Canada?

That is right! Here in YYC we love our furry friends. Part of caring for a dog is making sure they have the space to roam and play outside to get some fresh air. That being said, here is how to make your backyard dog-friendly:

Purina writes, “Keeping your backyard fenced in is a great first step to creating a dog friendly backyard and ensuring that your dog is safe during his time outside. Make sure your fence is: Tall enough for your dog (some larger breeds of dogs need considerably higher fences, especially if they are energetic and like to jump around), free of gaps (it’s important to make sure that there are no holes or gaps in your fencing for your dog to…

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Gardening season is upon us now that the ground is thawed and the trees are starting to blossom. Gardening in Calgary is an interesting endeavor with how short our summers are. However, many Calgarians turn to it as a more sustainable, ethical, and cost-friendly means of collecting fresh vegetables and fruits!

Here are some gardening tips for those of you who are looking for some inspiration and education:

  • "Make the most of your time and space by growing vegetables that produce a high yield. At the top of the list are tomatoes, onions and lettuce. They require the least amount of space and time, but give the most valuable yields in return. Melons, winter squash and pumpkins are fun to grow, but take much more space and produce very little." -…

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We've all heard it before: that house has good bones! But what are good bones? Today you're going to find out. 

First, what does it mean when someone refers to a home having good bones? Moving.com defines it as this: "In general, a home with “good bones” is considered to be a good home with the potential to be a great home. It typically describes a fixer-upper or some sort of neglected house (think: diamond in the rough) that features quality, well-made construction – hence the good bones meaning."

A home having good bones is a great thing! You certainly shouldn't buy a home with bad bones. However, you need to proceed with caution. A home having good bones can sometimes be another way of saying that the home needs a lot of work; the bones are good,…

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Bedrooms are a place for ultimate rest. Here are some ways to make yours more cozy and restful:

  • Create Ambiance with Lighting: "A cozy bedroom needs light, but not just any kind of light. Turn off the overhead fixture after dark and concentrate on low light. The key to an intimate mood is incorporating various sources of lighting, including soft bedside lamps and strategically mounted ceiling lights for a touch of drama." (Architectural Digest)
  • Use Dark & Warm Colours: "While light colors are great for making a room feel larger, a darker hue envelops the bedroom, creating the perfect space to relax and slumber." (HGTV)
  • Choose Calming Art: "Art selections are intensely personal and taste-driven, but Julie Daniel, from Los Angeles-based…

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The 2023 trends for home styling could best be described as Cottagecore. Gone are the days of minimalism, block colours, and sharp edges; it's time to usher in a softer era of warm textiles and heirloom pieces. Cottagecore is the aesthetic of an idealized countryside lifestyle. Does this mean you need to start churning your own butter? No. You do not have to abandon the modern age to embrace this new style. In fact, you do not need to embrace this new style at all! However, if you're feeling trendy or looking for inspiration, here are some of the design elements experts are predicting will make a big splash this year:

  • "Delicate wallpaper in pastel tones, white furniture and gilded mirrors are the mark of this home trend" (HGTV).
  • "Think organic…

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Winterizing your home is important because by doing so you are protecting your greatest asset. There are many items to winterize before a deep freeze: you should clear out rain gutters, flush outside hoses, finish any paint touch ups, do a landfill run if necessary, and so much more. Again: this is all about making sure your home survives the extreme cold. Especially in a country like Canada, where such extreme weather is experienced, winterizing is key.

One major winterizing task people are quick to forget about is their outside doors. While it may seem simple enough—they close, they lock, you move on—these are crucial to prepare for winter.

First, you want to make sure that your door closes easily and the hinges are well greased. Stiff doors…

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With Albertans feeling the crunch of utilities, here are some easy tips to save this winter:

Get an Energy Audit: Save On Energy writes, "you can't save on energy unless you know how you're using it. Getting an energy audit is the best way to understand what upgrades you should be making and it helps to identify if your home is running efficiently and effectively." Some households may be eligible for a free audit, so get some quotes today to find out where your home is expending the most energy!

Add Property Insulation: "None of the changes you make on your roof will improve home energy efficiency unless you have a quality ventilation system. Make sure all areas in your house such as attics, basements and crawlspaces are properly insulated. This…

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Staging your home in the summer, spring and fall is easy(er). The weather is temperate, the days are long with light, and there’s no reason for extra clutter in your home. Staging your home in the winter can be a totally different story. Here are some tips for staging your home in the winter:

1). Keep the holiday décor to a minimum. We are not saying do not decorate at all; in fact, prospective buyers often love to see how magical their future home could be during the holiday season. However, keep it minimalist. Setting up your tree and lights is fantastic, but scale back on all the little holiday knick-knacks and figurines. Staging is about opening up your space, not filling it with even more items.

2). Ensure your entryway is clear. In the…

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Gardening season is upon us, and the secret to a great garden is great soil. What makes soil great? Compost!

Thanks to the City of Calgary, every home has a Green Compost Bin. You can regularly put compost waste in it for collection, or you can keep it inside your yard and do your own thing. If you choose to make your own compost, here is what you need to do:

Add Base: Food scraps are the base for your compost. You can basically compost any kind of food, except for meat & dairy products. This is because meat and dairy will attract rodents and maggots, but also compromises the nutrient balance of the compost. Have a mini compost container in your kitchen for easy access, then regularly dump it into your compost bin outside and clean it to reduce…

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It's still a little chilly outside, which means that most of us would rather be curled up inside with a warm drink instead of out in the cold. While temperatures are expected to rise soon, you can never be too weary when it comes to weather in Calgary, Alberta. Our friendly groundhog Phil may have promised winter was at it's end, but that does not mean our toes will be thawing anytime soon. For now, we're going to keep our sweaters on.

During cold winters a fun pastime is scrolling through Pinterest, dreaming of all the fun projects you can do once it is warm enough outside. This is especially true when it comes to home renovations, which most people tend to complete during the summer months before a big freeze. After all, most home renovations…

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