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About The Siuslaw news. (Florence, Lane County, Or.) 1960-current | View Entire Issue (June 20, 2020)
Summer SIUSLAW NEWS | SATURDAY, JUNE 20, 2020 | 3B Home Improvement Improve storage at home Décor ideas to give homes a fresh look W Homes are getting bigger, but it seems like people are still lamenting a lack of stor- age space. National Public Radio says the average American home has nearly tripled in size during the last 50 years. Despite that, 10 percent of Americans still need to rent off-site storage. Improving storage at home can be a cost-effective al- ternative to renting storage space. With these easy tips, homeowners can maximize space immediately. essary and be put to use in awkward wall areas, such as in corners or under eaves. While in the attic or ga- rage, add hanging shelves to rafters or exposed beams to create off-the-floor storage as well. Storage benches A stopping area inside the front door replete with a stor- age bench can house shoes, umbrellas, hats, backpacks, and other items, keeping them tidy and out of sight. In living rooms, look for chests or ottomans that are decorative and functional. Track storage systems Closets may be plentiful, Store throw blankets or board but if not efficiently utilized, games inside. space may still seem lacking. Track closet storage systems Recess drawers or shelves often make greater use of Gain more storage by re- closet space than traditional cessing a chest of drawers into shelf and hanging rod sys- what is called the “knee wall” tems. Customizing closets of homes that have sloped using track systems or other ceilings in attics and upstairs modifications can improve bedrooms. Utilize these short utility of all closets in the walls in an efficient manner house. by sinking drawers or shelves into them, without taking up Under-the-bed storage floor space. Storage beds typically fea- In the kitchen, add drawers ture cubbies or drawers with- to the space (toe-kick) be- in a platform-style bed frame. neath lower cabinets to store It’s a practical home storage rarely used items. Shelving solution, and does not require and bookcases, either built-in any building. Another option or freestanding/open or en- is to purchase containers for closed, will transform unused under-the-bed storage. Often wall areas or sections of large including wheels, these easy closets into instant storage. slide-outs are great places to put seasonal clothing, spare Finding more space to bedroom linens and other store and display all the stuff items. used for day-to-day living can be an adventure that ends Think vertically with everything in its perfect Maximize spaces by look- place. ing up and down for storage There are fun ways, too. possibilities. Items that are Nooks cut out of the wall not used frequently, such as and covered by pictures offer seasonal decorations or trav- one of many concealed stor- el suitcases, can be stored age options that also include in high spaces. Shelving on nooks or drawers in the sides walls can go as high as nec- of enclosed staircases. arm weather and lon- ger hours of daylight make summer a perfect time to imagine a home’s interior design in a new light. The following are a handful of decor ideas that may inspire homeowners to give their homes an entirely new look. Wall treatments Wallpaper fell out of favor years ago, but new styles that aren’t so heavily patterned can make for wonderful ad- ditions to any room. Large-scale prints can give a room a whole new feel without giving homeowners or their guests the impres- sion that they have stepped back in time. A simple, mu- rooms that could use a lift. ral-style floral wallpaper on Declutter the walls surrounding a table Clutter is often conquered in a breakfast nook can bring during spring cleaning ses- nature inside. sions, but homeowners who want to create more Pastel colors If colorful, bright flowers free-flowing interior spaces dot the garden in the back- can downsize their furniture yard, homeowners can bring and/or look for multipur- those uplifting pastels inside pose features that make it by painting an accent wall or hard for clutter to take over even adding some brightly a room. Create more open space in colored accent furniture to entertaining areas by mount- ing the television and getting rid of a bulky entertainment center. Create even more space by replacing rarely used end tables with a stor- age ottoman where books and magazines can be stored to give a room a fresh, clean look. make the biggest impression. Replace dated accents like vases and table lamps with newer items that reflect the latest styles and trends. Such adjustments won’t break the bank, and they can give rooms a whole new feel. Summer is a great time to reconsider home interi- ors. Homeowners can em- brace various strategies, both Accent features Sometimes the smallest big and small, to give their changes to an interior space homes a whole new feel. Safety a vital component of DIY projects Many homeowners en- joy DIY projects around the house. Weekend warriors should recognize that hav- ing the right tools and using them in a correct manner is essential to successful, safe projects. Tools are vital for projects, but without proper under- standing and usage, they can cause grave injuries. Studies published by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Con- mission found that certain sumer Product Safety Com- tools are more likely to cause injuries than others. Pow- er nailers, for example, are among the most dangerous tools DIYers can use. Chain saws, table saws, circular saws, and riding mowers are some additional tools that have very high injury rates. The following are some safety guidelines all DIYers should heed when using Florence Janitorial Services Robyn, Jason and Connie “Clean as a Whistle” New Contruction Clean-Up Commercial P. O. Box 3257 • Florence, OR 97439 541-997-2385 Licensed, Bonded & Insured Property Services Contractor #39458 • SAM: #831298500/7E6J9 City License #2578 power tools. • Use tools that are the right size and right type for the job. If you are uncertain about which tools to use, watch online tutorials, con- tact tool manufacturers or seek advice at home supply stores. • Always wear eye pro- tection and the right safety equipment when manufac- turers recommend doing so. Gloves, sturdy work boots, hearing protection, and hard hats can protect DIYers from injury. • Keep cutting tools sharp and in good condition to re- duce kick back and potential injuries. • Regularly inspect tools to make sure they are in work- ing order. • Never carry tools up a ladder by hand; use a bucket or bag to hoist tools. • Never leave tools lying out in any area where they Tips on how to level an uneven yard Many things can cause a yard to be uneven. Drainage problems, leaky pipes beneath the grass and pests can wreak havoc on a yard, resulting in uneven turf that can be both unsightly and unsafe. Addressing an uneven yard might be homeowners’ ultimate goal, but the home experts at BobVila.com note that homeowners should first figure out what’s causing the problem and make fixing that their first task. Fixing uneven ground above leaky pipes will only be a temporary fix if the leaks themselves are not ad- dressed. Professional contractors might be necessary depend- ing on what’s causing the problem. However, once the underlying issue has been ad- dressed, many homeowners can handle the task of leveling an uneven yard on their own. • Leveling an uneven yard may require various tools. Thatch will likely need to be removed from the lawn before it can be leveled out, so home- owners will need a thatch rake or dethatching machine to get this task started. Dethatching machines are generally necessary for espe- cially large lawns, and these can typically be rented from home improvement retailers. A shovel, bow rake and push broom are other tools home- owners will likely need. Mate- rials such as topsoil, compost and sand will be necessary as well, and these are typically sold at local garden centers. • Areas beneath the grass can be filled in with a mixture of sand, topsoil and compost. The experts at BobVila.com advise using two parts sand, Insect & Pest Removal Jim & Jerry Since 1983 Trapping Mole/Gopher Dead Animal Removal Honey Bee Removal Crawl Space Cleaning Exclusion Work Fumigation of Antiques and Commodities. (541) 997-4027 Neil’s Carpet & Upholstery Cleaning 541-997-3825 Certifi ed – Bonded – Insured Property Services Contractor #39458 • SAM: #831298500/7E6J9 City License #2578 “Our commitment is to our customers cleaning needs with honesty and integrity” can present a hazard. Unplug power tools when not in use. • Secure work with a clamp or vice grip when appropriate to keep things from slipping. • Ensure that the handles of tools like hammers and axes fit tightly into the head of the tool. • Keep work environments tidy to avoid clutter, as clut- tered workspaces can con- tribute to accidents. • Read the manual and operate the power tool as in- structed. • Do not force open a safe- ty on a power tool or modify a tool to override safety fea- tures. • Cut away from yourself when using chisels and other edged tools. Let common sense prevail when using tools. If it doesn’t seem like a good idea, it prob- ably isn’t. Safety is important to avoid injuries and help prevent delays on the job. It’s Always Buck’s Season! Special Events • Weddings Construction and Agriculture Restroom Trailers • Shower Trailers Earth Friendly Practice Family Owned & Operated two parts topsoil and one part compost. Each of these components plays its own role in restoring the yard to full health. Sand helps the ground stay level, while the topsoil and compost provide the grass with valu- able nutrients. If the low spots are not especially deep, this mixture can be applied with- out removing the grass. How- ever, before filling in holes when addressing spots that are deeper than two or three inches, remove the grass then place it back in place once the hole has been filled. To dig up the grass, put the blade of the shovel at the outside of the low spot before sliding it un- der about two or three inches so you do not upset the grass roots. • Spread the top dressing. Once the holes have been filled and the grass has been placed back on the ground (if it was removed), spread the top dressing mix with a shovel. The mix should be spread evenly with the back of the bow rake at a depth of no more than half an inch. Make sure the mix is worked into the low spots and that it’s not completely covering the grass, as that will suffocate the lawn. If necessary, use the push broom to work the mix into the soil. • Water the lawn. Finally, water the lawn to help the top dressing settle into the grass. If necessary, repeat the pro- cess of applying top dressing and watering until the lawn is even and has returned to full strength. Fixing an uneven lawn is simple once homeowners dis- cover and address what’s be- hind the issue.