Next we will look at heating and cooling, another big energy cost. Did you know my setting back your thermostat that you can save money while helping with environmental issues? You can also purchase a programmable thermostat which will allow you to set different temperatures for different times of the day. Say that you work during the day; you can set back the temperature and then set it at a different temperature when you arrive at home. The next time you purchase an appliance make sure that it has the energy star label. This will assure you that you have purchased a product that meets government standards for energy savings. Another way that you can cut energy usage is to take advantage of free cooling by opening your windows instead of running your air conditioning. This also is good for giving your house a fresh clean smell.

Have you checked your insulation in your attic to make sure it has the proper amount of cover for optimum heat and cooling loss? If you live in an older home then you might want to add insulation to your walls also. There are many companies that specialize in insulating older homes and bringing them up to current R value. R value is way that insulation is categorized by amount and type. Another energy-saving item I must not forget is the use of modern double pain windows that keep heat in during the winter and cold in during the summertime. Also modern-day shades and blinds to help keep rooms comfortable all year-long.

Second step- redecorating to whole house, or just part of it. This is something that you have to think about after you find out how much time and money you can afford to spend on this project. Choosing the entire home project may be expensive and it will definitely take a longer period of time than, let’s say, redecorating a single room. Third step- what needs to be changed. After you have decided to go for either to whole house or for the single room project, you have to think what needs to be changed. First of all you have to repaint the walls. Fresh paint, in a fantastic color, can definitely transform the way a place looks like. Some people are afraid that fresh paint stinks, but this is no longer true, because innovations led to an almost odorless paint formula.

And painting is a crucial step you have to take for a successful redecorating project. Then there is the furniture issue. If you think it is too old, or you simply don’t like it anymore, and you have enough money, you can replace it all. But if you have to work on a low budget, then there is still a solution. You can simply rearrange it in the room, and together with the new color on the walls, you may get a totally new look. Whatever you choose to do, or have someone else do it for you the important thing is the result. And the result must be a wonderful place, where you can feel you can enjoy fantastic moments with your family, in one word a home.

Even if you are not a builder the cottage playhouse is easy to assemble. There are easy to follow instructions for assembly in a timely manner. It is quick and easy to put it all together. You can also paint the wood whatever color you wish – you could even match your home. Or you could leave the wood natural. Consider your budget and the amount of space you have available for the play house. The prices range from around $50.00 to upwards of $1,000 for a wooden cottage with great detail. There are also Little Tykes play houses for around $300 that can be indoor or outdoor.

The important thing to consider is how big your child is in comparison to the play-house. It makes sense to get one that the child can play in for years to come. Another consideration is if you have a small backyard it may be better to purchase an indoor one that can be put up or taken down. Indoor portable ones made of fabric can easily be stored away when the child is not using them. Caring for the toy playhouse is easy. You simply wash with mild soap and water for cloth. Wooden ones are easy to care for with wood soap cleaner, like Murphy oil soap for wood. A little cleaning product goes a long way.

Don’t feel that there is a need to get it done immediately. There is no rule that say you must immediately transform your child’s bedroom in one go. You can start with removing the oldest items first and replace with some newer pieces. It is good to begin with essential items like bedspread and curtains, and then move on to other items. Introduce new items slowly, just in case your child changes his mind about his favorite cartoon character after a while.

Do it yourself. If you are quite a hands-on person, you may consider making your own decor and furnishings instead of buying. No doubt it may take some time but it will be less costly. If you know how to sew, making curtains will be simple for you. You can also make use of fabrics which are printed in the theme that your child likes to make a quilted bedspread.

Reuse and recycle. If you have an old calendar or picture book that features characters that your child currently likes, cut the pictures out and frame them up using nice and DIY craft materials to create wall hangings. For fabrics with cartoon character motifs, you can cut them out and add them to your quilted bedspread, curtains or use them in some handicrafts to decorate the room.

Don’t overspend on storage. Look for inexpensive ways to store your child’s toys, clothes and other stuff. You can find great savings in thrift stores and garage sales. The second-hand storage unit may need some repairs and repainting but they help you to save more money than if you were to spend on new ones.