Forget the Open Floor Plan--It's Time to Bring Back Walls

  1. Adding a deck or patio: Good ROI Spending time outside with friends and family is much more convenient if you have a deck or patio. “Patios or decks can provide a gathering place for  outdoor entertaining  and increase the value of your home,” says  Martin Boonzaayer , CEO of the Trusted Home Buyer in Phoenix. Homeowners who decide to make the investment can expect to recoup about 65% of their investment, Boonzaayer says. How much should you budget? According to  Remodeling Magazine’s Cost Vs. Value Report , homeowners can expect to spend about $16,000 on a 16-by-20-foot wood deck with pressure-treated planks. A composite deck is more expensive, but the ROI is comparable. 2. Installing a sprinkler system: Good ROI A dry, brown lawn is quite an eyesore. Installing a sprinkler system is a great investment that prevents unsightly patches and delivers a killer ROI. “A sprinkler system can help keep your lawn and plants healthy and looking great,” says Boonzaaye...

1. Trying to organize your entire home in one weekend One of the biggest mistakes people make is thinking they can organize their whole house in just a few days. “Similar to losing weight, getting organized takes time and many minor adjustments,” says  Katherine Lawrence , certified professional organizer with  Space Matters  in Richmond, VA. To fix this, Lawrence suggests focusing on smaller goals, like clearing out one room a month or one cabinet per week. “Think [of it as a] lifestyle change,” Lawrence says. 2. Not purging before organizing Juliana Meidl , founder and owner of  Serenity at Home Detroit , recommends paring down household items before organizing them. “The key is to purge first and then organize what remains,” says Meidl. Meidl suggests decluttering your household items “ruthlessly and frequently.” This might look like getting rid of clothing that doesn’t fit, donating toys your children no longer play with, or tossing old kitchen gadgets. Reducing ...

  Getting Started: Turbocharge Your Decluttering If you’re feeling inspired and motivated by the new year, take advantage of that energy and spend a few weekends clearing clutter throughout the house. Making noticeable headway will help motivate you to keep up the decluttering effort in the coming months. Try to get the other members of your household onboard — but if they are not interested, don’t try to force it. Hopefully they will see the positive changes happening around the house and change their tune! Habit to cultivate:  Keep an empty reusable bin in a closet, and use it to corral items you plan to give away. CKS Residential January: Kitchen and Pantry Give yourself a fresh start for the new year with a clean kitchen, decluttered cabinets and a healthy pantry and fridge. Toss worn dish towels or cut them up to make rags Sell or give away specialty small appliances and tools you seldom or never use Recycle or toss freebie cups and Tupperware containers without lids Toss...

  Outdoor Lighting Basics Take the same approach to outdoor lighting as you would for interior lighting. You’ll want a mix of lights, depending on the areas you want to illuminate. Lighting for safety and security should be your top priority. At your entry areas, you’ll want lights that are bright enough to illuminate both the entry and who is at the door. Overhead fixtures and sconces that cast a broad light work well for these areas. Lighting tip:  Illuminate house numbers so that emergency vehicles and guests can easily find you. Groff Landscape Design, LLC You’ll also want lights along pathways and steps. Choose fixtures that will cast the light onto the walking surface or the steps, especially if there is a grade change. You also might want to have lights at other entry points, such as gates and driveways, and around any pools or ponds, for both security and as an indication of boundaries. Motion-sensor lights will alert you to movement in different parts of your yard wit...