Thursday, May 31, 2018

Yard Gnomes Planning – Location & Points to Consider

You decided to have your own garden or perhaps, you are looking to improve its overall look. One of the things that you can invest in is a garden gnome. Since they have become so popular, you can actually buy them right here. But before you commit to buying yard gnomes for the garden or yard decorating, it is important to take a closer look at what you want to achieve with the decorating. What are the points that you need to know if you are going to buy a yard gnome?

Planning Your Yard Gnomes Locations

First, you have to make sure that you are going to have them in the right places. Where exactly is the best place for a yard gnome? The good thing about a yard gnome is that you can have it in different places of your garden or yard. For some homeowners, they have the yard gnome somewhere in the bushes hiding and smiling. Also, you can buy a garden funny gnome that carries a lighted welcome sign. And if this is the case, you might want to have it near your door or found in the garden’s pathway towards your door.

Among the most common locations where you can place the yard gnomes is at the bottom of a tree. Here, they look natural, like they always belonged there.

Don’t overpopulate the yard too much

Though it is quite fun to include the garden gnomes in your yard, you have to understand that you shouldn’t overpopulate to the point that your garden no longer looks aesthetically appealing. As rule of thumb, stick with one or two gnomes before you decide to buy more. Also, you can try to plan everything first from how you want the garden to look in the first place. This way, you don’t end up buying more than what you need in your home.

Set a spending budget

You also want to make sure that you are going to set the budget. Size and materials are among the things that will dictate the price of your gnome.There are individuals who go overboard with their budget simply because they enjoyed buying more garden gnomes than they should. Also, you can buy used gnomes from your local garage sale. Keep in mind that these statues are actually built to last the elements.

Combine flowers and gnomes together

One of the best combinations that you can include in your garden or yard is to have flowers and gnomes mixed in together as if they were hiding and playing in the flowers. Here, you will be able to beautify the garden with greens and smiling and funny gnomes.

Take a closer look at the materials

There are various materials the garden gnomes are made of today. You’ll want to make sure that you find the right gnome that suits your needs. There are those that are made of wood while some are made of stone or clay.

Now, the location where you plan to place the gnome will most likely dictate the best material for these statues. There are different types of paints(1) but if you want a long-lasting yard gnome, it is a good idea to invest in a gnome that is painted by a UV resistant paint. This way, you can guarantee that the yard gnomes are going to last for years. Gnomes are fun, they help to brighten up any gloomy day and they are great discussion starters as well.

Visit our Home Decor Blog for More Great Yard and Garden Decorating

 

article resource: (1) https://www.domain.com.au/living/understanding-the-different-types-of-paint-and-how-to-use-them-20161209-gt7hsc/

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Thursday, May 24, 2018

Why Would You need an Indoor Thermometer?

Have you ever wished you could have an accurate tool that would tell you exactly about the outdoor and indoor temperature without having to leave your bed or couch? Knowing the temperature is extremely useful for planning your day and week ahead. People sometimes use their smartphones to tell them about the current temperature but unfortunately, these don’t provide your own current location readings. The best thing is to install an accurate indoor thermometer in your home.

A modern indoor outdoor thermometer provides an accurate reading of the indoor and outdoor humidity and temperatures. These will help you set your central cooling or heating system(1), as well as help you decide on the outfits you can wear once you step out of the house.

In the past, people usually used a glass thermometer to tell the temperature. These were convenient to use but didn’t provide accurate readings. A glass bulb thermometer contained a liquid, usually mercury that changes volume with the change in temperature. Mercury was used for long years because it doesn’t boil or freeze but moves up and down a capillary as the temperature changes.

Nowadays, people go for the electronic digital thermometer models that are more accurate and also safer to use. These are usually wireless models where no connection is required between the outdoor sensor and the indoor monitor. If you need to know the temperature, you will just have to check the easy to read screen that displays all the current readings. Your indoor thermometer will provide an accurate reading of the temperature inside or outside your house depending on how you set it up.

How to Choose the Best Indoor Thermometer?

With a lot of products on the market, finding the best indoor thermometer can be a complicated undertaking. All the more modern product brands have some important features in common. In this section, we list them to help you pick a good indoor thermometer that actually works:

Convenient Design: You need to pick an excellent thermometer that is light and easy to use. Most modern thermometers are sleek and stylish.

Affordable: You don’t have to spend a lot of money in order to buy a good indoor thermometer. There are a lot of affordable high-quality thermometers that you can buy.

Easy Use: Pick indoor outdoor thermometers that show an easy to use screen. You should make sure that the thermometer features an easy and practical interface that you can use on easily on your own.

Multiple Features: Although your indoor thermometer is mainly designed to provide information about the temperature, most of the good models will provide more relevant data like humidity, barometric pressure and wind chill factors. These will include information about wind speed and time as well.

Some Top Models include:

AcuRite Home Comfort Monitor

ThermoPro Wireless

So next time you want to set and plan the temperature of your heating or cooling system(1) or want to know if you should get out the heavy jacket, just take a look at your new thermometer.  Take a look at a great selection of indoor and outdoor thermometers today. Knowing the temperature will help you make better and more informed decisions that could help improve the quality of your day.

Visit our Home Decor Blog for More Garden and Home Decorating Ideas

 

(1) https://home.howstuffworks.com/home-improvement/heating-and-cooling/heating-and-cooling-system-basics-ga1.htm

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Thursday, May 17, 2018

Birdhouse Designs Tips

Adding a birdhouse to your garden or backyard allows you to create a safe haven for your little flying guests. It is a chance to give it back to nature by offering shelter and protection to birds that are always in danger because we mess with their natural habitat.
Coming up with the most practical design is not difficult. As a matter of fact, birdhouses are not very difficult to build. You can go for a simple box design or you can consider something more complicated.

Nevertheless, there are some easy tips that will help you come up with the best birdhouse designs.

Understand What Attracts Birds to the Birdhouse:

What you think is attractive might not be so desirable from a bird’s point of view. Just like humans who think about the flooring, kitchen size and bathrooms available before purchasing a house, birds will also consider special features that will make a house more attractive:

Entrance Hole Size:

This will determine the type of birds that might find your birdhouse suitable. You need to make a research about the species of birds that live in your neighborhood. Pick a hole size that will allow one adult bird to get into the birdhouse with no problem.
A hole that is too big might be a hazard. It might let bigger birds inside which could harm the little birds or they might fall off the birdhouse. If the hole is too small, the birds might get stuck inside the birdhouse or they might not use it in the first place.

Size and Height of the birdhouse:

The size of the empty cavity inside the birdhouse should be suitable for the size of 2 adult birds and for their little fledglings. If the birdhouse is too small, birds will not consider it comfortable enough and it might not be safe to keep their little chicks. Birdhouses should be placed at the optimum height for birds to get inside. For example, if you want bigger birds like ducks to nest in your birdhouse you might want to place your birdhouse lower or even at ground level.

House Location:

You need to strategically position your birdhouse at a safe distance from plants. If it is too close, some predators might use nearby plants to ambush the parents or the little chicks. At the same time, it should be close enough to plants so that parent birds can safely find food. Place your birdhouse so that the opening doesn’t face direct sunlight or strong winds. This will provide better protection to the little chicks. Partial shade is a good idea to keep the birdhouse cool. You can also use an overhang to provide more protection from sunlight.

An overhanging roof is also a good idea to provide better protection from the rain. You should also angle your birdhouse so that rain doesn’t get through the ventilation holes as this might hurt the little chicks. Following these easy and practical tips will make your design more successful. Building a birdhouse is not such a challenging task if you know what to look out for.

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Thursday, May 10, 2018

The Best Birdhouse Ideas

Bird lovers enjoy building birdhouses to watch the birds laying eggs and the fledglings growing and playing. It is a great opportunity to get in touch with nature. But in order to make sure that your birdhouse is welcoming and appropriate, you need to build it right. In this article, we highlight some of the most interesting birdhouse ideas that you can simply execute on your own.

Simple Design:

The simplest birdhouse design would resemble a box. This should have a front opening with extra holes for drainage and ventilation. The front opening’s size is a huge factor that your birds will consider before picking your birdhouse. Most birds will only pick a birdhouse with an opening that will allow one bird at a time. This will ensure that bigger birds will not attack the eggs or the fledglings.

House Design:

This is one of the most popular designs that people use. People usually build a birdhouse that resembles a human house, provided that it has a suitable opening at the front side. Most houses will also feature a backdoor or opening. This will come in handy when you are trying to clean the house or take a closer look at the eggs or the fledglings.

Most birdhouses of this kind will feature a sloped roof and a recessed floor that doesn’t allow predators to stand next to the house. This design should also feature holes for ventilation and drainage. The young chicks need to have access to fresh air without having to leave the birdhouse when they are still weak and unable to fly. The drainage holes will keep the birdhouse clean, dry and healthy.

Ventilation holes should be strategically placed on the upper sides of the walls. This will help with air circulation and will prevent heat buildup that might suffocate the young chicks. Avoid drilling ventilation holes in the roof of the house as they may lead to leaks in case of rain. In that case, the young birds might drown.

Complex Designs:

It is a good idea to choose natural colors that will blend in with the background environment. Most birds will prefer these birdhouses because they feel like home. You can decorate the house using natural colors and materials to keep it looking attractive without jeopardizing its efficiency.

But you don’t have to stick to something ordinary. The sky is the limit when it comes to being creative with your design. You can choose to customize your birdhouse the way you want to, so that it matches the overall decoration of your garden or backyard. You can add ornaments, plants and even graffiti designs to make your birdhouse stand out.

Nevertheless, you need to make sure that your birdhouse idea is practical, safe and will not harm your birds. Stay away from chemicals and poisonous paints if your birds have already laid eggs inside the house. Make sure that your paint has completely dried off before set up. It is also advisable to stay away from sharp objects that might hurt the birds or their baby chicks.

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Thursday, May 3, 2018

Everything You Need to Know About Birdhouses

A birdhouse is a great addition to your garden or backyard. This is a great idea to preserve the population of birds in a certain area and will also make your garden a birds-friendly space. Birdhouses were invented in the 19th century to protect birdlife and wildlife. But now, people use them to make their gardens more attractive. The original ones were usually made of wood. These are still used by most people. Some people also mix wood with concrete or use metal to build their birdhouses.

Why Should You Build Your Own Bird House?

A birdhouse will give you the chance to watch birds. If 2 birds choose your birdhouse to make it their home, then you are in for an extremely rewarding experience. Once the birds are comfortable, they will lay eggs and raise their babies in your birdhouse. It will be a great chance to teach your kids something about animals, life, and compassion.

Not all birds will use birdhouses. Some birds will not be able to use your birdhouse no matter how attractive you think it is. But a lot of species will feel extremely thankful that you’ve made a special place for them to rest and protect their babies.

General Construction of Birdhouses:

Most birdhouses are made of untreated wood. This is extremely safe and suitable for birds and they will feel comfortable to use. A birdhouse should have a sloped roof and a recessed floor. It is very important to make sure that it has enough holes for ventilation and drainage. These will keep the birdhouse clean and healthy for the birds to use. There should also be an anterior opening that you can easily access to clean the insides of the birdhouse every now and then.

You can either go for a simple design or get creative. Some complex designs will resemble human homes, feature decorations or paintings. A lot of wildlife lovers also install small cameras to watch the activity inside the birdhouse.

The opening front of the birdhouse is the main factor that the birds will consider before nesting in. Most birds will choose a house with an opening only big enough to let one adult bird in. This will prevent other and bigger birds from raiding the birdhouse, eating the eggs or harming the babies. The overall size of the birdhouse will also influence certain species to consider it as their new home. A very small box will be more attractive to smaller species like treecreepers while big birdhouses might attract bigger birds like owls or ducks.

Some species will prefer woodcrete, a mixture made of concrete and wood while other prefer wooden birdhouses. Woodcrete makes the birdhouse warmer. Ducks might prefer their birdhouses to be low or even at ground level, while birds of prey prefer their houses placed at optimum height.

It is very important to keep an eye on the birdhouse and clean it after your birds have flown away. Make sure that you remove all old nest material to keep it ready for the new guests and a new experience.

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Things to Consider Before Getting Indoor Thermometers

A lot of the things that we do are going to be dictated by temperature. In fact, it is important to find out about the temperature simply be...