The Best Way To Clean Your Antique Mirror

Michelle from Modern Architecture Concept

Antique mirrors are one decor accessory that add glam, sophistication and style to any home. Maintenance and keeping them looking as good as when you first purchased them can be a little tricky. Here are some tips on how to clean your antique mirrors!


Photo: VSP Interiors

Having an antique mirror in your home is an excellent addition, and mirrors can be used to give a room the illusion that it is larger than it is. The one thing with mirrors though is that they do show smudges and dirt if they are not kept clean. If you have an antique mirror in your home and you are looking for advice on how to clean it, below are some cleaning tips that you may find useful. With a bit of know-how and elbow grease, you can get your mirror sparkling again.

For more information on how to clean your mirrors, you can also look for related articles online and you will surely find plenty of useful advice.


Photo: Tanya Capaldo Designs

First Consult An Expert

When you hang a mirror on the wall, the back of the mirror can get exposed to moisture, and over time this moisture can hurt your mirror. When the mirror has been exposed to moisture for too long, the silver layer which gives the reflective properties of the mirror can start to peel off. If you find that this is the case with your antique mirror, then you are best off contacting an expert to get them to add a new silver layer to the mirror to keep it shining like new.


Photo: Historical Concepts

Cleaning The Glass

If you have something like an antique overmantle mirror which is in fair condition, but the glass needs a good clean, then you will want to make sure that you do not use any strong chemicals on it. Using strong chemicals can affect the silver layer at the back of the mirror and force you to seek the help of an expert and get it recoated. All you need to clean the glass of the mirror is a soft cloth, rubbing alcohol, and water. Mix the alcohol and water and dip the soft cloth in the solution, use the cloth to wipe away all the dirt and grime on the glass.


Photo: Nathan Taylor for Obelisk Home

Removing The Film On Mirrors

If a film has built-up on the surface of your mirror, there are several ways that you can get rid of this. You can try using newspaper and white vinegar. You will want to use a spray bottle with vinegar inside and apply this to the area with the build-up, and then use the newspaper to rub the area without applying too much pressure. You can also use shaving cream and a microfibre cloth to get rid of the film that has built up using the same technique. If the build-up is not too bad, then you can even use water and a microfibre cloth which should be good enough to get rid of the film. Just remember not to apply too much pressure when cleaning your antique mirror.

Cleaning The Frame Of The Mirror

You must be very careful when cleaning the mirror frame as many shop-bought, and home remedies can end up damaging it. The best solution to get your mirror frame clean again is to take it to a local expert and have them clean it for you, especially if the frame is ornate.

How to Create a Well-lit Room

Michelle from Modern Architecture Concept

Transform any dull room in your home by installing lighting, the right way. Here are some ideas to create ambiance, mood, and make your space look twice as big with the right lighting!


Photos By: Living Etc.

How to create a well-lit room

Nobody ever really noticed good lighting, unless they make an active effort. That’s because when lighting works, it fully works. Everyone in the room is fully relaxed, and they might not even realize it. Change the lighting in your home to create a space that feels cozy and welcome. A well-lit room can really mean all the difference in the world, and for many reasons. There are several ways how a person could go about that, and here are a few.

Always use a dimmer

No matter the reason, dimmers are always an essential part of lighting. They allow the room to become much more flexible than before, and they’re great energy savers on top of that. For some rooms, it might take a bit of electrical work, but it’s completely worth it in the end. They not only increase the longevity of the bulbs, but they’re instrumental in creating mood lighting for any time of day.

Known which bulbs you’re using

A key mistake people make is they opt for either the cheapest or the first bulbs they find. Think of lighting as a home improvement investment that will truly pay off in the long run. That can create all sorts of problems down the line. Cheaper ones tend to malfunction very sooner than most, and they don’t always look the best. Aesthetics are an important aspect of lighting too. Sometimes you just want the bulb to make sense in the room. There are plenty of different light bulbs to choose from, each with their own distinct style and look.

Have several points of light

One of the most basic mistakes a lot of people make is to make their lighting central. There is a general feeling of discomfort when there’s only one source of light in the room. That’s why using several points of light can really create a better atmosphere. Also, not every source should have the same strength. A fun way to play up a room with lighting is using neon lights. My favorite neon lighting is the ‘I licked it so it’s mine neon sign‘ which really brings in some fun and color to a room. Aesthetics play an important role in lighting, and options like vintage filament lamps can be a great addition, like the ones from Lampwise.

Don’t forget which room it is

Every room should have its own distinct sense of lighting. Not every space is created equal or has the same use. Sometimes you need to work, and sometimes you need to relax, and there are different lightings for those. A living room should have a good combination of dimmable sources, as well as lamps, down-lights, and even candles. Kitchens tend to be the most difficult to create good lighting for, and it should ideally light up your workspace.

Consider using incandescent lighting

Every home should feel inviting. That means that warm lighting is a necessity, otherwise, a home might feel like a waiting room. The key for incandescent lighting is to use bulbs that have a softer, yellow light emission. Yellow light tends to feel much more relaxing, which is the opposite of blue light, which can suppress sleepiness. It’s an important distinction to make, especially if the room is somewhere you spend lots of time in.

Having a well-lit room can work wonders on the well-being of everyone that spends time in it. It can really create a good feeling of comfort in a room or make a person feel much more productive. Lighting is an important aspect of every home and should be utilized to its full potential.

Lighting in a Jar: Unique Lighting Solution

Michelle from Modern Architecture Concept

If anything sets the tone of a space, it’s lighting. The shape of the shell that lightens up the house, even in the absence of a shell, the temperature of the light and its intensity brightens it up.


Photos Via: Living Etc.

And when your lighting complements the purpose and the furniture of the space, you are all set to enjoy a coherent theme and atmosphere that it provides. If you are a fan of unique, quirky, and exceedingly cheap lighting solutions, you are in for a treat. Usually, when you encounter lighting with intriguing design and functionality, you are forced to pay through the nose, just for daring to thread outside the established design path. But not this time!

Stand Out from the Crowd

If you have paid attention to lighting at your friends’ or your family’s homes, you must have noticed that almost everyone has the same sterile, oblong or square lighting shell, which offers no atmosphere to the space it lights up. It’s just functional. Moreover, if you are lucky enough to have utilitarian spaces, like a garage, storage room, or a toolshed, it would be far more appropriate and cost-effective to also procure a unique lighting solution.

Jam Jar Lights

Yes, the same container that you use for delicious jams, honey, chocolate cream, pickles or peppers, can be used to house a light bulb. What a clever DIY project! Such hardened glass shell offers a robust protection for the light bulb, while also preventing insects from settling themselves inside the lighting shell. You might think that it would be easy to make this by yourself, but you would be wrong. After all, you have to ensure that there is a tight seal for the wire attached to the light bulb, in addition to the connected ceiling fixture.

Jam jar lights from Spares2You offer a complete package, without any further fiddling necessary. They come in different designs and sizes, perfectly fitting a steampunk theme of a space. Moreover, jam jar lights are amenable to further unique touches as you can easily paint the jar with a specific colour pattern or just splash it with paint entirely. They can also serve as both indoor and outdoor lights. For instance, just imagine a differently coloured jam jar light adorning your patio, garden shed or garden flower area. Instead of installing fragile, naked light bulbs for those areas, as people tend to do, jam jar lights protect light bulbs from all the nature’s elements.

Parting Thoughts

Unique lighting solutions don’t have to cost you an arm and a leg. In particular, always look for non-mainstream, more specialised shopping spaces, like the Spares2You, in order to find something interesting and compelling. In addition to finding uncommon items, you also end up on saving money.

6 Home Security Measures To Take To Prevent Intruders

Michelle from Modern Architecture Concept

Security is often a concern of many homeowners, and there are many things that you can do to improve this. Below are some ideas to help improve the security in your home that you should maybe consider following.


Photo: Lagois Design Build Renovate

Secure Lock & Window Locks

A straightforward way to improve your home security is to upgrade the locks to all your exterior doors and ensure that each window has a lock added to it as well. When you go to sleep at night, ensure that all windows and doors are locked, and make sure you do not leave the keys in the door. A burglar can use a blow torch to make a hole in your door and use the keys to open it, making very little noise.

Install A House Alarm

Another item which can often deter people from trying to burgle your home is the installation of a burglar alarm, like the ones from Verisure’s home alarms UK range. There are many different types available on the market, and you can even have a security firm monitoring your alarm so that if it does go off, they will send a security team to your home to ensure that everything is okay. If this is going to be out of your budget, then you can install a simpler alarm which goes off if a window or door is breached, or movement is detected inside in the monitored areas. If you already own a home or just when you are buying your first home, an alarm system should be your number one priority.


Photo: P. Scinta Designs LLC

Exterior Lighting

You can also look to add exterior lighting to your home that is activated with motion using passive infrared sensors. You will want to place these in strategic positions around your house, ensuring that your property is covered with these lights entirely. These lights can be found at most DIY stores and are simple to install. Lights coming on can often deter would-be burglars so are an excellent addition to your home’s defence.

Install Fences And A Gate

You can also surround your property with a fence or a wall and include electric gates. You can activate the gates via remote control when you get to your drive, which means you will not have to get out of the car to open them. These types of gates are also handy if it is raining or cold outside! Obstructions to getting access to a home can often deter burglars and encourage them to move on to an easier target. 


Photo: Mirador Builders

Use Automatic Lights When Travelling

When you are going on holiday, you can also have automatic lights come on and go off to give the impression that someone is at home. You should also refrain from advertising on social media when you are away, as some people may target you because of this. If possible when going away for some time, have a friend or family member come to the house to check on things.

Get A Dog

Another excellent deterrent to prevent burglaries is to have a dog in your home. Many burglars will avoid a house that has pets as these can make a lot of noise and draw attention. You do not even have to get a large dog as small dogs can also make a lot of noise and alert people when something is going on. You also get the added benefit of having an additional loving member of the family who also looks cute!

You can get plenty of more excellent advice on keeping your home secure by checking out various guides available online.

Interior Design Ideas for Beginners

Michelle from Modern Architecture Concept

Make your space work to it’s full potential with these easy and simple ideas for decorating beginners!

 


Photos By: Living Etc

There’s something uniquely exciting about having the freedom to decorate your own space – whether you’ve just taken ownership of your first home, or you’re renting out an apartment from an understanding landlord. And while paint colors might be the first thing that springs to mind, making the space work to its full potential is not always as simple as it appears! Here are some basic dos and don’ts, suggestions for those on a tight budget, and clever tricks to make the most of your space!

Pick a Theme Before you Pick Paint Colors

Before you rush off to the paint store, take some time to think about the bigger picture. What mood or feeling do you want to create? Do you want individual rooms to stand out from each other, or would you like a common element to run right through the home? If you’re not sure quite what you want, then flipping through home décor magazines and clipping out designs you particularly like can be very enlightening. Websites like Pinterest can be great sources of inspiration too.

If your favorite color is blue, for example, but you want your home to have a warm, cozy feeling, then using blue as an accent color rather than over all the walls can give you the best of both worlds. Most professional interior designers will create a palette for the whole home before deciding on how to use it in each room.

Work Around the Furniture You Already Have

As much as playing with the aesthetics is fun, a home needs to be functional too. The best design in the world is going to get old very quickly if actually living in the home is difficult! This means you have to consider the placement of furniture before deciding where to place pictures, hang photos, place potted plants, etc. You also need sufficient floor space around furniture so you can access it easily. This includes sufficient room for wardrobe doors, desk drawers and windows to open. Want to play around with different options in a virtual environment? There’s an interior design app for that!

Create Unique Pieces on a Budget by Upcycling

Every year, thousands of people throw old furniture and appliances away because they don’t know how to fix them or just don’t have room for them anymore. A lot of the time, however, all that’s needed is a bit of imagination and a lick of paint to completely transform them. New furniture is very expensive, and your local online classifieds are probably crawling with bargains and even freebies – so take a look before you buy new. It’s more sustainable and kinder on the environment too. Even if an item needs appliance repairs or minor fixes, you can still make a huge saving, improve your living space, and acquire an item that has a story to tell too!

Don’t Follow Trends Just for The Sake of It

Trends, by their very nature, come and go with the seasons – but your home should work for you over the long term. By all means take inspiration from trends you like, but never design a room with colors, textures, patterns or furnishings you don’t like just because they’re ‘in’.

Create a Focal Point

By drawing your eye to the best feature of a room, you lift the entire space. The focal point should let you know at a glance what the function of the room is, and make it an inviting space for that activity. If you’ve got a beautiful fireplace or a lovely view out the window in the sitting room, then try and create a natural flow that encourages the visitor to focus on it.

Make the Best use of Natural Light

Rooms like studies, home offices and kitchens are much more pleasant to work in when they’re flooded with natural light, so avoid the use of dark curtains or blinds that can limit this. You can illuminate darker corners with the clever placement of a mirror or two to bounce light to where it’s needed most. If there’s not much natural light to work with in a particular room, then try and keep it as uncluttered and minimalist as possible to give the illusion of airiness. Another clever technique is to paint the ceiling in a lighter shade than the walls, which makes it look higher and bounces light back down too.

Go Bold!

Your home should be a reflection of your spirit, so if you’ve found a dramatic piece you love or want to do something a little crazy, then take the plunge and go for it! It’s your space, and your opinion is the only one that matters.