How To Make Your Room Look Larger

Although many new houses today are large, unfortunately they may contain small rooms, a little smaller than we'd like. Small rooms can feel confining and uncomfortable. Luckily we can utilize certain design concepts that fool the eye and make our rooms seem larger. Try these inexpensive decorating tricks to make your rooms live bigger.

1. Use Light Colors

Light and brightly colored walls are more reflective, which will help to maximise the effect created by natural light. This does not mean you have to live with white walls. There are a wide range of light colors paints available, such as light green or cream beige.

Once you've chosen your wall color, choose your trim and moldings colors. Paint your trims and moldings in either the same hue as the walls, or a lighter color. Lighter objects appear closer while darker or shadowed objects appear further away. When you paint your moldings a lighter color, the wall appears further back - thus making your room appear bigger.

Now, don't be worried that your room is going to be bland and uninviting, bolder and darker colors can be be used in furniture, artwork and accessories.

If your colors are already dark, try to move the darker colors to a 'background' role while maximizing your neutral white or ivory.Be careful when using wallpaper. Solid colours are the safest, with tiny patterns taking a close second. Whatever the wall color or finish, we recommend the ceiling in a small room be painted stark white to maximize brightness.

2. Mirrors

Mirrors can have a favorable impact on a room's appearance. A large mirror in the room will reflect light around the room. The mirrors also reflect both natural and artificial light to make a room brighter during the day and night. They bounce light deep into the room, making it appear larger. This is especially effective with near a window so the outdoors can be reflected.

Use glass-front or mirrored cabinet doors to make spaces feel large and uncluttered. Large, expansive mirrors over vanities, mirrored wardrobe doors or a floor-to-ceiling wall of mirrors (combined with our decorating suggestions) can make even the smallest of spaces seem larger.

3. Arrange Furniture At Angles

Arrange some of your larger pieces of furniture at a angle. You don't have to place the furniture at an exact 45 degree angle, often a lesser angle looks best if you can balance the look with another furniture piece.

Setting your furniture at an angle works because the longest straight line in any given room is it's diagonal. When you place your furniture at an angle, it leads the eye along the longer distance, rather than the shorter wall. As an added bonus, you often get some additional storage space behind the piece in the corner, too!

4. Scale Furniture

Keep furnishings in scale with the rooms. In small rooms, use slim rockers, open-back chairs or a simple sofa or love seat rather than overstuffed furnishings to avoid overpowering the space.

There are stores that deal exclusively in furniture for apartments and mobile homes. Despite its slightly smaller size, scaled-down furniture can be beautiful. An open headboard is best for a small room. When furnishing, keep the view at eye level unobstructed. Taller furnishings should be placed at the end of the room opposite its main entry.

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Water Damage Restoration - QCI Online

Water damage restoration is the process of bringing back assets and material goods back to its original state right before it was damaged or ruin by water. As of now, the US government does not have standards and policies as to how water damage restoration should be carried out. However, there are two certifying agencies that advocate criteria as to how restoration is to be implemented, the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC) and RIA. Most companies like the QCI (Quality Check Inspection) use the IIRCA and adheres to the standard operating procedure of the said certifying body. The Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration uses a procedural standard known as the S500 which is based on consistent and dependable reinstating concepts, study and work-able practice with wide-ranging discussions and data accumulated from various origins.



OCI offers water damage restoration assistance in a 24 hour basis. The company is able to handle any water and flood damage, wet carpet or even water extraction at times of emergency in order to help curtail the spoilage and destructions at an individual's house, business establishments or even belongings brought about by flood water. The company abides with the IICRC guidelines in reliably drying and sanitizing damages caused by flood or other water damaged areas using state of the art extraction and drying tools and techniques.





IMMEDIATE ACTION IS REQUIRED

Time is of the essence with water damage mitigation. Most insurers cover the cost, but require policyholders to act quickly to prevent secondary damage. Mold is more likely to grow if expert water removal and water extraction is not performed, also if water damaged materials are not dried within 48 hours.

QCI WATER DAMAGE SERVICES:

• Emergency Water Extraction • Emergency Board-ups • mold remediation



• Structural Drying • Roof Tarping • Storm/Wind Damage

• Dehumidification • Debris Removal • Mold/Water Restoration

• Sanitization / Disinfecting • Hurricane / Flood Damage • Infrared Thermal Imaging



QCI water damage professionals have the proper equipment and expertise necessary to handle any water damage losses. No water extraction or drying job is too big or too small - we are always ready to help. We can respond to emergency water removal calls 24 hours a day; 365 days a year. Prompt action by experienced water damage and flood damage restorers makes a true difference you can notice in mitigating structural property water damage.

QCI's technicians concentrate on IICRC and MICRO industry guidelines for your safety by drying, deodorizing and disinfecting the areas flooded or damaged using only time tested procedures. Dedicated response teams are available around-the-clock to help minimize water damage to your belongings, walls, floors and ceilings. The QCI advantage combines our team's professional know-how with state-of-the-art equipment and water restoration products.

Equipment:

• Hi-power portable extraction units perform optimal wet carpet water removal.

• Submersible pumps are used for continuous pumping of deep water flood damage situations.

• Moisture detection equipment such as hygrometers, moisture meters, and infrared thermal imaging cameras measure the extent of moisture saturation. Necessary structural repairs may then begin when the water damage area is cleared of excess moisture and humidity.

Sanitizing Agents, Germicides, Fungicides & Anti-Microbial Treatments:

• Deodorization products control foul odors emanating from microorganisms and bacteria which flourish in excessive moisture from wet carpet, water damage, flood damage areas.

• Disinfection products deter the growth of bacteria, fungi, mildew, and other harmful microorganisms.

Cutting Edge Drying Equipment:

• Industrial-grade dehumidification units reduce humidity levels, producing dry air and minimizing secondary water damage to your contents and structural materials.

• High-speed Turbo Dryers create airflow across walls, wet carpet, pads, and furniture, evaporating moisture.

Our state of the art drying equipment controls temperature and humidity, helping water restoration efforts by preventing swelling and warping of floors, walls, and furniture.

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Mold Exposure

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Effects of Vacuum Cleaners to Your Indoor Air Quality

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Water Removal

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Water Removal

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Checklist For Buying A Home

I had a client who called saying that his bath tub just fallen through the floor in his new home (new to him). Mold had eaten away the floor from the crawlspace up. The seller had placed a few 4x4s under the floor to hold everything up long enough to sell the house and get out of town.

I asked if he had the house inspected before he bought it. He said, “no, was that important?”

Even if you do get a home inspector, look for these things yourself. Some home inspectors don't look for these items. Some never go into the house.

Mold test

The number one problem faced by new homeowners is mold. You read about it in the news. Every week I get a call from an attorney gathering info for a lawsuit against a home seller and their real estate agent. The topic is always mold.

You can get inexpensive mold test kits at http://www.tennesseemold.com

Gutters

The number one cause of mold in a home is improperly installed or damaged gutters. They allow water to pour into the walls. And water causes damaging mold to develop inside the walls. Make sure the gutters are level and aren't bent.

Mud on walls

This goes back to gutters. If the gutters are undersized, excess water pours over the edges of the gutters and onto the ground. This splashes mud against the outside walls. BUT the excess water also seeps into the foundation of the house.

Plants too close

The new owner, of course, can correct this, but did the previous owner allow the plants to trap moisture in the walls? The damage from this moisture may already be there waiting with costly repairs. There should be at least 18 inches between the plants and the outside walls.

Foundation vents

These vents are designed to let air flow through crawlspaces. This house may not have a crawlspace. But if it does, check the vents. Do they open and close? Some builders slop concrete on them and they are permanently open or closed. Potential mold and wood rot problems can result.

Sump pump?

A sump pump is there to remove water from your basement. If there is a sump pump, then there has been excess water in the past. To work, a sump pump needs some water in it anyway. This standing water can lead to mold and termites. Avoid houses with sump pumps.

Yard drainage

Does the yard allow water to flow into the house?

Blown in insulation

Most blown in insulation is cellulose or ground up mold food (wood). Yes that deadly chemical they put in it will stop mold for a few years but not forever. And even the cellulose free insulation sends particles into the air that we can breathe. This is a major problem according to lung surgeons.

Do attic vents work?

Is the attic hot? Just because the attic has vents doesn't mean they work. Motors rust or burn a fuse.

Crusty stuff on basement walls

If you see crusty white stuff on the block in the basement, it means long-term water problems. That white stuff is minerals deposited over time by drying moisture. RUN away FAST!

Water spots on ceiling.

These always hold mold. You only have 48 hours after a leak before mold begins to grow. After that drying won't help.

By all means, hire a home inspector. Don't use a home inspector recommended by the seller or their agent. If an inspector says something bad about a house, they don't get future referrals from the agent. And make sure the inspector goes INSIDE the house.

Sounds stupid but I have been in lawsuits where the inspector did all his work from the yard or even worse, from his car.

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