Whether you are decorating your budget garden with decor or you are trying to keep your gardening herbs and plants beautiful, there are tips that can help. Your garden can be beautified with recycled decoration, and your actual plants can use these green tips to ensure it thrives during the season.

How to Maintain your Budget Garden this Season

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Here are effective landscaping ideas to help your garden efforts:

Cheap Garden Pots Save Money:

One of the best ways to organize your plants in the garden is to place them in pots. Instead of buying commercial pots, recycle your empty cans, containers or jars. You can use empty milk cans, coffee containers, noodle cups, cracked jars and many other materials you can use as a flower pot. You can wrap it with colorful foils if you want to cover the brand name and have them arranged in different colors. Try these helpful budget garden ideas for saving water with your plants.

Budget Gardening Starts with your Own Compost:

Making garden compost is not that difficult to do. An effective compost heap can be done through a mixture of most organic waste in your kitchen. It can be a mixture of vegetables, egg shells, coffee grounds, food scraps, and vegetables. Mix it up with your garden soil and use it as a fertilizer. This is a great alternative to commercial fertilizer and saves a lot on your gardening budget.

Cheap Landscaping Ideas: Remove grass and weeds

This is quite a simple yet effective way to save water consumption. Grass and weeds can create competition in terms of water absorption with your plants in the garden. Other than water consumption, grass and weeds can acquire nutrients from the soil intended for your plants. Try these cheap landscaping ideas to beautify your outdoor home.

Being green with your garden is not only a budget-saving practice but also a satisfying means to help our environment. Always remember to reuse, reduce and recycle! Your garden is where you enjoy beautiful blooms, delicious scents, and a refuge from the everyday world. Use these ideas to bring decoration to your outdoor home and eco-friendly tips to your garden practices.

Looking for another budget gardening tip?

Try a pallet garden!

For more outdoor home ideas on Stagetecture, visit our gardening tips archives.

How to Make Eco-Friendly Easter Baskets for Kids

So this season, to honor both the Mother Nature and Easter bunny, we bring to you these eco-friendly Easter ideas. From candy selection to egg decorating, these will keep your holiday safely in the green zone

Image via: BHG

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Reuse Easter Baskets for Kids

Unless this year is your kid’s first Easter, you probably have some baskets in perfectly good condition at home. So, why not re-use them? If you have more than one child, consider swapping baskets each year. In case if you must buy a new one, opt for handmade wooden baskets or sew fabric baskets so that it can be used for years to come. Instead of Easter Baskets why not try this cute idea from Kara’s Party Ideas? Refill a mason jar with trail mix or your favorite mix and attach a wooden utensil!

Image source: Kara’s Party Ideas via Brit.co

Say No to Easter Grass

Instead of filling the baskets with traditional plastic Easter grass (which is not quite eco-friendly as it cannot be recycled), fill the baskets with colorful shredded paper or holiday themed flyers. Alternately, real grass is a great way to create a wow factor. If you need creative Easter egg decorating ideas see them here.

Creative Easter Decorating Ideas

Easter Gift Ideas – Fill Easter Baskets with Healthier Treats

Easter would not be the same without treats, so this season fill up those baskets with organic or fair trade candies. Even better, ditch the candies and opt for healthier alternatives like fruit treats, home-made marshmallow peeps or carrots with hummus.

Dye Easter Eggs with Natural Ingredients

If you are going to dye eggs for Easter Egg hunt, consider making your own with all natural ingredients. The process is relatively simple, affordable, and of course greener. There are plenty of ready-made ingredients that bring out beautiful colors including beets, spinach, turmeric, blueberries, and more.

Image via: Door To Door Organics

When it comes to environment friendly holidays, it’s not necessary to green up every aspect of your celebration. Even the smallest effort can make a big difference. Each year you can make a few green changes like beginning with an eco-friendly Easter basket or organic candies and gradually work your way up!

For more Easter baskets ideas on Stagetecture, click here.

Home Decor: 3 Ways to Use Old Wooden Crates

1. Use wooden crates as shelves

This one is so easy, anyone can do it. All you need are some wooden crates and the hardware to secure them on the wall (e.g. driller etc.). You can also choose to give them an extra twist using a couple of beautiful brackets for each crate. Another way to make the crates look even better is to give them a nice wooden finish with some wood paint or give them a pop with brighter colored paint. Also, you can choose to cover the back of the crates with some kind of liner, like wallpaper, fabric or other material.

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You can use a self-adherent type to make the make-over even easier. Once you are happy with your crates, you can hang them on the wall either in a nice lined order or mix things up a little and go for an unconventional look by placing them in a more chaotic order. It’s really up to you and on the look you are going for.

2. Make a bookshelf or shelving system out of the wooden crates

Another idea is to use more crates and secure them together to build a unique bookshelf. Painting the crates with bright, fun colors would make them an ideal addition to any kids’ room! You can choose by either stack them on each other or make a more unsymmetrical arrangement by arranging some of the crates horizontally and others vertically. The outcome will be fantastic in any case.  Remember: to keep things nice and organized don’t overfill the crates with books and items.

3. Create some unique space saving furniture

When it comes to using crates, your imagination is the limit. You can put some console legs under a slim wooden crate to create a wonderful console, or just add some smaller legs to make a side table or night stand. Another option is to use the wooden crates almost as they were designed to be used in the first place; to store stuff. Just add some wheels on the bottom of the crate to give it some mobility and you will have the perfect rustic looking storage.

Implementing any of these ideas will add a unique personal touch to your home decorating. And if you really like using wooden crates, think about using them as table décor by adding vases or plants, using them as coffee tables (one large crate or more of them nailed together) or in any other way you choose.

For more home decor ideas on Stagetecture, click here.

Need an Eco-Friendly Roof? Choose Between Green, White and Solar

Green Roof

Green roofs, also known as living roofs, are roofs that are partially or entirely covered with vegetation. They offer shade and rid the air of heat through evapotranspiration. They lower the roof surface temperature and that of the surrounding air. During hot days, the surface temperature of green roofs is cooler than the air temperature. On such days, the surface temperature of traditional rooftops can be 90⁰F warmer than the air temperature.

Image via: Architizer

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Green roofs offer a host of benefits. They provide insulation, absorb rainwater, create an environment for wildlife, and provide an aesthetically pleasing landscape that reduces stress. They also decrease city air temperatures and alleviate the heat island effect. The heat island effect is a city or urban area that is considerably warmer than its adjacent rural areas because of human activities. Green roofs make use of the natural functions of plants to treat air and filter water in urban areas. They lower both heating and cooling costs.

The great thing about green roofs is that they can be installed on different types of buildings – from private homes to industrial facilities. Some are made up of simple vegetation while others are comprised of fully equipped parks.

White Roof

If there is one thing black roofs are good at, it is trapping heat. They heat houses in warm weather and waste lots of energy in the process. A lot of rooftops in the US are made with tar and absorb plenty of heat during the warm seasons. Coating these roofs with a solar-reflective paint helps decrease temperatures both indoors and out. White roofs, also referred to as reflective roofs, have been around for a long time. They are ideal for eco-conscious homeowners as they are better than black roofs which only reflect 20% of sunlight. Their solar-reflective white coats enable them to reflect up to 90% of sunlight.

Image via: Vang Viet

White roofs rely on the age-old principle that white items soak up less heat than dark ones. They lower air conditioning costs by about 20% in hot weather. Reduced energy consumption means fewer carbon dioxide emissions. A white roof costs approximately 15% more than a dark one – depending on the materials you use – but slashes your electricity bills. Some local utilities and state energy offices offer financing for white roofs and homeowners can get tax credits if the roofing materials they use adhere to the EPA’s Energy Star program. The only downside of white roofs is that they are not ideal for cold climates as they can increase heating requirements during the cold seasons.

Solar Roof

What could be better than using free electricity from the sun? The dream of every homeowner is to lower their energy bills, and a solar roof helps you do just that. The sun exudes about 1,000 energy watts for each square meter of the earth’s surface. If all this energy was collected, homes and offices could be powered for free. Solar roofs are usually fitted with solar panels or shingles which convert the sun’s energy into electricity. The panels and shingles are made up of special materials called semiconductors which absorb light and emit electrons which are put into an electric current.

Image via: I Green Spot

Solar roofs are the most popular eco-friendly roofs – and with good reason. They can be installed on any building as long as there is enough space and sun. A solar roof can decrease your energy consumption and lower your high power bills. Solar panels are very durable and last for more than 25 years. They are light in weight and require little maintenance. A solar roof augments the value of your home, reduces your carbon footprint, and saves you money for years to come. The US federal government and a number of states give tax credits to sustainable energy systems. You might also get incentives from your utility company.

When white, green, and solar roofs are pitted against each other, solar roofs take the top spot. Green roofs take the second spot and white roofs come in third. While all three roof types are becoming increasingly popular, it is important to choose the right eco-friendly roof for your location. Both green and white roofs perform an excellent job at cooling buildings, but solar roofs are more effective at defying climate change.

For more green living tips on Stagetecture, click here.

The thought of living in an eco friendly manner may fill you with dread. The immediate picture tends to be a life of no electricity and basic clothing, devoid of luxury. But don’t worry, you can relax, as eco upgrades are perfect for even the most stylish of homes. Most eco solutions work behind the scenes, so you can focus on your fashion forward interior.

With that said, consider these eco upgrades so you can live in a cheaper and more environmentally friendly way, while still enjoying a stylish home.

Stylish Homes and Cheaper Living: 5 Eco Upgrades for Your Property

Image via: Home Ideas

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1. Use an Electricity Monitor

It can be frustrating when you receive an energy bill and can’t work out how you have used so much electric. To avoid surprises in the mail, you could buy an electricity monitor. As the name suggests, these allow you to track your home’s energy consumption. By tracking usage, the average household consumes 15% less energy, saving money year after year.

2. Install A Programmable Thermostat

In the cold months, it’s often a case of leave the heating on all day, or arrive home from work to find icicles. A programmable thermostat can solve all of that, as the majority have 6 daily adjustable time slots, meaning you only have to turn the heating on when it’s needed. Basically, it’s a simple digital eco conscious solution that promises comfort and savings. It also allows you to remove that old, bulky thermostat from the living room wall – bonus!

3. Increase Your Insulation

There’s three different areas you can utilise insulation: in walls, under floors and in the loft. There’s also a number of methods – each carrying different price tags – including fibreglass, blanket rolls, spray foam and reflective systems. However, depending on the type of property you own, some may be of more financial benefit than others. For example, if you own a period property, external solid wall insulation could save you up to £450 a year.

4. Upgrade your Kitchen Appliance Technology

When it comes to buying new kitchen appliances and technology, make sure to purchase those with a high energy rating – the best being AAA. By doing so, you will be reducing your carbon footprint as well as helping to minimise your monthly energy costs. Plus, even the best and biggest refrigerators, dishwashers and televisions are available with top energy ratings, meaning you don’t have to sacrifice on style.

Image via: Sub-Zero Wolf

5. Choose Dual Flush Toilets

As the name states, a dual flush toilet has two different settings: one for low volume and one for high. This clever mechanism reduces water usage, as the lower setting uses an average 1 gallon per flush, while traditional systems can use up to 5. This can save thousands of gallons of water per year, leading to huge annual savings, as well as reducing environmental impact.

For more energy savings tips on Stagetecture, click here.

Green Living: Summer Energy Saving Tips

Image Via: Fabrizia Frezza Architecture & Interiors

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Use Your Home Appliances Wisely

Appliances are meant to make your life easy and a correct and wise use of appliances can even bring the energy bills down. Use the dishwasher to wash dishes, it uses less water than washing the dishes by hand. The key here is to run full loads and air dry the dishes. Similarly, make proper use of your microwave, try and cook in it. The subsequent bills will be lesser than the stove. Likewise, when using a washing machine run full loads and dry the clothes in the sun rather than using a dryer.

Image Via: Classic Homeworks

Green Living By Minimizing Energy Wastage

One should habitually turn off appliances, fans and lights when not in use. It is also a good idea to unplug appliances and chargers when not in use as they keep on drawing energy from the source if not unplugged. Computers and printers must also be switched off right at the source.

Replace The Necessary Equipment

Dirty air-conditioner filters restrict the flow of cool air and unnecessarily burden the machine with more load. You will need to run the air-conditioner longer which will in turn generate a higher bill. Regular cleaning of air-conditioner filters results in effective running of the machine and one should habitually clean filters at least once a month.

Image Via:Rill Architects

Smart Buys For Summer Energy Savings

Whole house fans are very effective in summers as they draw in cool air and throw out hot air. You can easily install one in your attic and have them working in the early mornings and late evenings when the air outside is cooler. An old air-conditioner is also a big energy consumer and it is worth the effort to exchange it for a new, energy rated one. Talking of energy rated appliances, a star rated refrigerator is also going to save you big time. Awnings, patio covers and strategically placed plants on the outsides can help keep the insides of your home cool, reducing the need for artificial cooling. Solar control window films are also very effective in summers.

Image Via: Tim Cuppett Architects

Have The Ducts Sealed And Get On The Solar Energy

Leaking ducts and pipes are responsible for half the energy loss in a household. It is worth the effort to have a qualified person check and repair leaky ducts by sealing them. Having your ducts checked periodically for leaks can keep this problem at bay. Summers also present a lot of scope for using solar energy. You can use your sloping roofs to install solar panels and harness solar energy to run your basic electric appliances and light fixtures.

Image Via: Birdseye Design

Green living is more or less a way of life now. Homeowners are trying their best to conserve energy and bring down energy costs. Using these tips and tricks is sure to help them in a positive way. Do share with us what green practices you adopt at home to save energy and how effective they have been in your daily routine. Waiting to hear from you.

Click here for more Green Living Ideas on Stagetecture!

]]> https://stagetecture.com/green-living-summer-energy-saving-tips/feed/ 0 76336 https://stagetecture.com/use-repurposed-materials-improve-decor/ https://stagetecture.com/use-repurposed-materials-improve-decor/#respond Tue, 22 Jul 2014 11:56:12 +0000 https://stagetecture.com/?p=67448 Sometimes when designing or re-doing your home, one can overlook all of the possibilities that home already has. We can get so caught up in having the new and improved that we may overlook the great possibilities that are already there. Re-purposed materials are beautiful solutions to adding personality, history and creativity to your space. By taking things and recycling them into different uses for your home will not only create an Eco-friendly perspective but a custom design for all to enjoy. So let’s take a look at some ways to use those re-purposed materials to upgrade your home décor.

How to Use Repurposed Materials to Improve your Decor

Image via: Houzz

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Recovered Furniture

Perhaps you have those furniture pieces that were handed down to you or maybe you purchased the furniture from a good yard sale. Well whatever the case maybe with the furniture, take what you have and expound on it. There are plenty of DIY projects and tutorials online that can teach you how to revamp your furniture selections that may be outdated or un-usable for what they were originally designed for. Each piece of furniture has its own character that it brings to the space so don’t just get rid of it, instead try designing it another.

Image via:  DIY Inspired

Regained Accents

Repurposed materials help to make the décor of the home to match with your own unique personal style. Many of these materials are one-of a kind which will help your décor truly stick out in a pleasing way. Believe or not the ordinary items found in an antique store, thrift shop, yard sale or even within your own home are all game. Look around and get creative. Take something like a suitcase and turn it into a chair or intro shelves for a dresser drawer. Check out different websites to help you to become creative about the different ways to break down and rebuild the accents you have collected.

Image via: Pinterest

Re-create Something from Nothing

From over the years one can collect quite a bit of miscellaneous items that may seem useless. However, that is not entirely true. Say you just moved into a new place that didn’t carry as much shelving that you might have desired or even enough storage space that you preferred. Did you know that from the re-purposed materials you can create your very own unique shelving and storage cabinets from items like a baby bassinet or even from a ladder? The opportunities are endless.

Image via:  My Modern Met

Every now and again we all want to spruce up our interiors. But that doesn’t necessarily mean that you have to go out and buy the whole store, you can get all that may need with just a few re-purposed materials. Just tap into your creative spot and see what ideas you may come up with. Now I ask you Stagetecture readers, what re-purposed ideas will you use for your décor?

For more green living ideas on Stagetecture, click here.

Indoor Gardening: Nurturing Houseplants without a Green Thumb

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Temperature

Temperature is important because most of the houseplants are tropical. Hot and dry conditions do not suit most of them. A moister and cooler environment helps them growing better and they thrive well in colder nights. If you have an adjustable thermostat, reduce the temperature almost 9-10 degrees at night. Plants like moth orchids will bloom early in this temperature.

Image via:  Flickr via Sheree

Light

Light is an essential element for plants. However, the requirement varies from plant to plant. Some plants need more direct light while some others need indirect light but for a longer time. Ferns grow well in darker places but carnivorous and succulents need bright light. On the other hand, plants with plain green foliage need light for a shorter time than flowering plants. South-facing windows will be better for plants that need brighter light.

Humidity and Water

Tropical plants like orchids, calathea, orchids, and ferns enjoy and respond better in a humid condition. Regular hand-held spray will fulfill their daily moisture need. This humid condition can also be created by grouping the plants together on a tray full of damp gravel.During the summer, the houseplants need more water than in winter. However, do not kill them by overwatering. Just keep the compost moist and do not water again until the soil almost dries out. To allow excess water to drain away, put saucers under the planters.

Image via: Mother Nature Network

Feeding

Except flowering plants, most other plants do not need to be feeding to grow. However, a weekly dose of liquid feed will help them grow better. It will always be effective to add a few granules of slow-release fertilizers into the compost of the plants at the time of putting them in the planters. As summer is their growing season, fertilize them during this time. In any case, follow the manufacturer’s guidelines so that you do not kill them by overfeeding.

Pruning & Cleaning

If dust gathers up on leaves, clean them with a piece of damp cloth. Unclean condition hinders the plants’ growth and makes them look ugly as well. On the other hand, it is also necessary to keep them in shape by pruning the wayward branches. Plus, remove the damaged leaves and dying flowers too.

Image via: Homeideasmag

Houseplants can brighten the dark corners, add visual interest, and bring color and texture to your home. Transform your house into a home by applying these tips for nurturing your houseplants.

For more gardening tips on Stagetecture, click here.

How to Cool Your Home for Less This Summer

Image via: Inhabitat

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Start with the Heat-Producing Appliances

Start your energy-saving and home-cooling mission with all the appliances that produce heat. Setting a thermostat at a low temperature does not cool down a room quickly. It rather makes the A/C run longer. So, set it at a comparatively high temperature if the humidity is low enough. If you live in an area with high summer humidity, run the A/C fan on low. It will help the A/C to dehumidify.

Image via: Houzz

Shut down the fireplace damper because it sends cool air up the chimney. Turn off your furnace pilot light too. In fact, turn off any device that produces unnecessary heat. Put off the electronic gear when they are not in use and change the incandescent light bulbs with fluorescent bulbs because the former ones generate a great amount of heat.

Change Your Habits

Some changes in your working and day-to-day habits will be helpful in keeping the temperature low. Covering up your windows, especially the ones on the home’s west side, with curtains, shades, or blinds will keep the outside heat from getting inside. Keep them open during the nighttime. When you take shower with your bathroom window closed, the heat and humidity get inside the house. So, keep them open during the shower. If there is a privacy concern, open it after dressing up but keep the door closed until the heat vents outside.

Image via: Pinterest

Do Laundry and Cooking Differently

Do your laundry late at night or early in the morning of a comparatively cooler day and dry the clothes by using clotheslines. On the other hand, do not use conventional method of cooking on stoves because it dumps heat in the house. Use microwave because it cooks the food directly.

Install Ceiling Fans

Ceiling fans are a blessing in really hot areas. They are a great way to reduce your home’s temperature by one to two degrees, which is huge in a scorching summer day. Fans move your body heat away and provide evaporative cooling when you sweat. In addition to the ceiling fixtures, have one or two portable fans too that you can move around the house. Plus, do not forget to turn on the exhaust fans in the bathrooms and kitchen. They will circulate heat and humidity out of those places.

Image via: Houzz

These home cooling ideas are mainly passive cooling techniques, which do not require professional installations or costly retrofits. So, you can really try them to keep both your home and pockets cooler this summer.

How to Create an Organic Herb Kitchen Garden

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Choose the Perfect Place

Your first step to your kitchen garden is to choose the location where to place the plants. Try to choose a sunny spot with the facility of controlling the light and shade because almost all herbs and vegetables require considerable sunlight to flourish. So, your windowsills or the place near the kitchen window will be the best place for the gardening. Curtains, blinds, or valances on the window will allow you to control the sunlight and shade.

Image via: Todds Seeds

Choose or Make the Containers

At the beginning, you do not need to spend money on fancy containers or earthen pots. To grow the herbs, use buckets, plastic bottles, or even a small or medium sized bathtub. You can even make small square or long rectangular sized planters. Use wood planks, plywood, or plastic for this purpose.

Prepare the Soil

The most important step in kitchen gardening is probably to make or arrange for nutrient-rich soil. The soil should be filled with plentiful microbial life to support healthy growth of plants. Do not buy earthworms or any other stuff for this purpose. Instead, use your kitchen waste, mushroom compost, or animal manures for filling the soil with organic nutrients. To enrich and insulate the soil, mulch it with crushed leaves. Reduce loss of water due to evaporation by adding dry leaves, soil, and newspaper. Mulching will provide the organisms and microbes with food and protect them from direct heat.

Image via: Gardenista

Choosing the Plants

Starting with a few herbs and vegetables will give you confidence as your garden grows. When planning your edible garden, think which vegetables and herbs you eat and buy regularly. It will also be fun to experiment with a few unfamiliar ones. Grow basic vegetables like lettuce, mint leaves, lemon grass, chilies, and various types of spinach. They are easy to grow and do not require too much sunlight. Try to buy open pollinated seeds, not the hybrid ones.

Watering your garden

Proper watering is very much needed for the perfect growth of the plants. Morning is the best time to water plants. Try to pour the water directly to the soil, leaving the foliage. It will help water to reach the roots, enable the plants to tolerate high temperatures.

Image via: EHow

Following the above steps will help you making your first kitchen garden in a fun and cost-effective way.  Do you have any tips for creating an organic herb kitchen garden in your home?

For more kitchen & bath ideas on Stagetecture, click here.