If you are embarking on some work in your home, whether it is a small or large project, it is important to make sure you have chosen the right contractor to carry out the work. If you have decided to do the work yourself then you need to make sure you know exactly what you are doing and have laid out a clear plan of how you intend to do the work, the stages of each part of the job and also where you intend to get suppliers.

If you are brave enough to attempt some self improvements at home, make sure you know what you are doing. I am not talking about rearranging furniture but more the work that is semi permanent or permanent. Some of us think we know what to do and always say that we can do better than the average contractor but when it actually comes to the work we cut corners as we think certain things are unnecessary and in the long run it can cost us more money and has to be fixed by a professional. If you are intending to do some major construction work or even things like knocking down walls, it is a good idea to at least consult with a professional before you attempt the work yourself. Make sure you know where the supporting walls are and that you use materials that are compatible with your home and the environment you live in.

If you are not brave, like me, and prefer to employ contractors then you need to have a slightly different checklist. One of the important things is to speak to other people that have used the contractor you are thinking about using, go and see their work, don't take someone's word for it. What may be excellent work for some could end up being sub standard for you. It is always a good idea to have a plan drawn of what you want to do, to scale, it will help when describing to the contractor what you want to do. This also forms a basis for the price quotes you will get. Make sure all your price quotes also include materials and there is a leeway for small extras so you don't end up paying through your nose for something extra that was not previously agreed. Always get more than one quote, even three or four if possible so that you can compare and play each one off against the other. Also make sure you are comfortable working with and in the presence of the contractor and his workers as you will be spending a lot of time with them.

In order for a good job to be done, you need to be confident in what you are doing and who is doing it for you. This way you can ensure a good job is done and you will be happy with the end results.

Do you have a beautiful home but somehow you are lacking space? Do you need an extra room for a Grandparent or an older child to have some privacy, or maybe you just simply want a nice room for you and your partner? Well building an extension could be the answer if you have the finances or are able to get a loan to cover it.

Before you even start the process it is important to examine exactly why and what you are intending to build an extension for. Work out if the money you will have to invest is readily available to you. If you have close neighbors mention the idea to them in passing to see if they have any real objections - if they do then find out what they are and if you can get around them. Once you have cleared the way and you have money in the bank then start doing some real groundwork.

Most importantly meet with an architect and building engineer who will be able to tell you if what you are thinking of is at all possible. Get an estimate of how much it could cost and add on another 10% to make sure you have the funds necessary. Be prepared for a long haul. You will need to get numerous approvals and pay endless charges before you even lay one brick so be absolutely sure that this is what you want.

If all goes well and there are no hitches you could end up with a very nice extension to your home and it becoming even more desirable as well as adding value to the place but most important in the whole process is to be sure that this is exactly what you want.

Yes your home is your haven but that does not mean you don't need an office. Even if it only for personal details, files, bills and so on, it is always necessary to have somewhere to store this.

I have been to some houses where they have papers thrown all over the place, files out and it looks such a mess. To keep a good order can be as simple as putting up a few shelves. If you want something more substantial than shelves then you should look at getting yourself a whole desk unit.

Find an area in your home, whether it is a niche close to the living room or a small room that is not used or even a corridor space and decide if that is suitable to make into a mini office. If it is then you can start measuring up and deciding what you want to put there. You can either go with a ready made desk with drawers and shelves or try one of the DIY places to put together a whole system. Whatever you do choose to go with make sure it is practical and has enough room for you to add things at a later date.

For example you may need a computer there so make sure your desk is large enough to house a computer and a printer still leaving you space to write and do work. I stupidly bought a computer that I thought would fit into a niche on my desk with the shelves above it and because I did not measure properly, my computer does not fit under my shelf and I do not have any writing space since I also have a large fax/printer next to the computer.

Another thing to think about is to make sure you have enough leg room. If you are planning on working in your office at any time you want to be able to sit comfortably and not be squashed. Choose a material for the unit that is hard wearing and will not chip - wood is probably best if you can afford it and make sure the shelves are thick so that they don't bow when heavy books and files are put on them.

Having a convenient and easy office space is important for an efficient running of the household and should not be belittled. So think very carefully when choosing where and how you make an office.

You may have a beautiful home with everything almost perfect to look at to the naked eye but when someone opens your cupboards it is a disaster. They are a mess, pots and pans all over the place, plates are chipped and cutlery is not matching and dirty and stained.

How many of us pay attention to our crockery and cutlery on a day to day basis? We are so busy plumping up the cushions that we don't think about what is behind the cupboard doors. A house can look amazing and be very comfortable to live in but if you serve a guest a drink from a chipped glass or food on a chipped plate then your whole image is ruined.

Thanks to commercialism, today you can find beautiful crockery, cutlery, pots and pans and all sorts of dishes at very reasonable prices. You don't have to get designer stuff just to make it look nice. Many of the good supermarkets also stock cutlery and crockery and all sorts of kitchenware at very reasonable prices and so do the home center shops. Supermarkets also offer bonus schemes with your weekly purchases in the form of stamps or points that you can collect and then be eligible for one of the prizes which is invariably kitchenware. There are numerous ways you can improve the contents of your cabinets without spending that much money.

Many of us used to pull our noses up at disposable paper goods when entertaining but nowadays you can get such nice stuff that looks so real, there is no need to be snobby about it If you have a lot of people it is sometimes nice to have all matching tableware that is disposable rather than non matching real crockery and cutlery. Making your table look nice can make the whole place look nice and give a lovely aura. It is well worth looking at the contents of your cupboard next time you open them to make sure they are neat and tidy and not cracked.

Many of us are not fortunate enough to own our own homes and be able to decorate and change things to our own tastes. But, that is not to say that when you rent an apartment or house you cannot do things to it. When you sign your rental agreement it is a good idea to discuss with your new landlord what are your limitations and what you can and cannot do.

Many landlords are quite happy for you to decorate and put up pictures and so on whereas others are very fussy and will insist on doing the decorating for you and making holes in the wall for you or giving you special screws and so on to hang up your pictures. If you are thinking of painting in an unusual color it is a good idea to check with your landlord first as they will more often than not have to paint over it when they try to rent the place again or sell it.

Remember that white walls are often the best and you can decorate and make the place look more homely with ornaments and accessories such as throws, floor cushions and so on. If you are allowed to put up pictures then you can put up brightly colored pictures that make your place look more attractive and interesting. If it is small then mirrors always make it look bigger and brighter. Often apartments and houses come with some furniture so you can always add or jazz up the furniture that exists by changing handles and so on.

If you have couches that are old and dreary a simple fabric throw can make it look much nicer and you can even get some rugs to match for the floor. Homeliness is not always about pretty walls and new furniture it is about comfort and making you feel welcome. What you do with your rented home can be done on a small budget and you can end up making the place look fantastic without spending a lot and too much effort and most importantly keeping the landlord happy.

So many of us want to decorate and make our homes look nice but we don't have the money for it. Even paints with special textures are expensive and as for buying new furniture and furnishings it is out of most of our budgets. But there are some helpful ideas that we can use and put together to jazz up our homes on a tight budget.

If you want to repaint and would like a texture it can often be very expensive to buy textured paint. An old fashioned way of making paint with texture is by adding some sand to the paint, mixing it well and then using it. This gives a mottled look to the wall which can be quite interesting and is a lot cheaper than paint textures that you buy. Using masking tape you can make stripes on your walls or even stick items on your wall and paint over them and it will look like features. You can buy plastic shapes that are used for moulds for cooking and artwork, stick one of these on the wall and paint over it and you have added an interesting piece to your wall.

If your sofas are looking a little bit worse for wear but are still comfortable to sit on then why not recover them with fabric that you can buy cheaply in markets. Or even buy a white sturdy fabric and paint it yourself with fabric paints. It may look a bit abstract but it definitely adds a new look to your worn couches. Cushions can be updated in the same way, you don't even have to change the cushion covers just buy some cheap accessories and trimmings and you can sew them on, making the cushions look different and giving a whole new look to the place.

There are many ways to update and change your home on a low budget. You don't always have to buy the most expensive things that you see in the shops. Look at them and figure out how they are made and then you can make them yourself, it might not be the same quality but it will look just as good and you will have a lot of fun making it too.

Furniture is an investment and needs to be looked after and nurtured just like any other investment. On the whole it costs a lot of money and it is a shame to let it get damaged and ruined by not looking after it correctly. I am not just talking about a quick clean with a damp cloth, there is much more to furniture cleaning.

Depending what furniture you have will determine the cleaning materials and methods that you use. If you have upholstered furniture then you have to use special detergents and cleaning materials so as not to damage the fabric. Make sure whatever you use has been tested on your fabric and if you are still not sure then test a small corner that is not visible to make sure the color does not run or disappear. Upholstered furniture should also be vacuumed once a month to get rid of dust and crumbs, make sure you use an attachment that can get down all of the cracks and small spaces. Once you have cleaned your upholstered furniture, air it by opening all the windows in your home and having it as close to the window as possible to give it a fresh clean smell.

If you have leather furniture, the best way to clean it is with a special leather polish or cream that you can get from most supermarkets and specialist cleaning shops. Leather furniture should be polished once a month in order to keep it moist and stop it cracking. As with upholstered furniture, you also need to vacuum out the crumbs and dust that has settled in the cracks on a regular basis.

If you have wooden furniture, tables and chairs around the house make sure that water is not spilt too close to it as this can seep into the pores of the wood and warp it. If you need to clean in the area of the furniture and it cannot be moved then use a damp cloth rather than splashing water near it. There are many wood oils on the market that you can invest in which give your wood a shine and also are very good for it, but these should be used sparingly so as not to overdo it. If you have Formica units anywhere, the beauty of that is that you can just wipe them down very easily and they will look clean again. It is important to look after your furniture as it is an investment and you want it to last.

How many times have you heard someone from the older generation telling you ?they don't make them like they used to"? Too many times because unfortunately it is true. Not only is furniture not made like it used to be but also fabrics, carpets, tiles and even houses. Materials today are more mass produced and manufacturers are always looking for cheaper ways to make things which unfortunately leads to lower quality.

There is no shame in buying some old furniture and restoring it. Old furniture is usually very sturdy and made from solid materials that are built to last. By sanding down wood and repainting you can restore a piece of furniture to its former glory and even make it look like it is new. Older designs are more classic and tend to suit most types of decor, whether it is modern, retro or classic. There are many new exciting colors and finishes on the market that you can use to make an old piece of furniture look like new again with a totally innovative look.

Often you can find old pieces of furniture in flea markets and at car boot sales. But before you actually purchase an item make sure you know what you want to do with it. There is no point having a warehouse full of old furniture if you don't know what you want to do with it. If for example you are buying an old stool, make sure you know where you can get new padding for it and how you want to cover it. Imagine the color of the wood stain you want to use and be sure that it is available. There are so many options with old furniture and cupboards, such as plain white with pretty stencils or colorful rainbow colors, that the sky literally is the limit. It is like you are creating a new piece exactly as you want it but from something that is old and established. A restored piece of furniture also provides a great talking piece when you have guests over!

Your home often reflects the stage of life you are at. For example you are not going to have a house filled with china and glass breakables when there are young children running around or have a house painted in bright vibrant colors when you are getting on in years. Your home decor often reflects the stage of life you are at.

When we were students and having just moved out of our parental home, none of us cared really about how the place looked. The norm was to find a dirty and old apartment with run down kitchen and ropey carpets. The joy of being away from our parents compensated for everything else. But as we got more mature we began to appreciate more the surroundings we lived in and tried to make the places look better and more appealing.

Then we get to the stage where we are trying to buy our own apartment or renting one when we have just started working. Here we are trying to impress our friends and family, showing them we are successful so we live in a clean place with lots of ornaments and interesting decoration, sort of art nouveaux. The classic term" bachelor pad" is derived from this period in our lives when a young man has an impressive home to impress the girls with.

The next stage has to be thought of as the nesting instinct. Here we have just settled down with our partner for life in a nice apartment or house and want it to look homely and comfortable while also being practical. Hopefully children will come along soon, so there are little reminders all over the place of potential play rooms, soft carpets and so on.

The young children stage is when the house really could look nice but the parents just don't have the energy to keep it tidy any more since they spend most of their time running after the little ones. There are often pen marks on the walls and toys all over the place. Soon the kids grow up and instead of toys you see computer games and computers all over the house. Doors are kept shut as teenagers want their privacy.

The last stage is most definitely the one with the most potential. The kids have moved out and occasionally come to visit; you now have more disposable income to use and time on your hands. Your house is a dream, everything you ever wanted it to be and it is kept spotless. This might be an emotionally lonely stage but for your home it is the most beautiful and inspiring stage.

Making a home look beautiful and inviting is not just about the look of the place you also have to think about the textures. Remember that you and your visitors touch many of the walls, furniture, floors and cupboards in your home so they all need to be touch friendly.

If you have wooden furniture and cupboards make sure that the wood is smooth and there are no sharp or rough edges. The last thing you want is for a guest to catch themselves on a splinter from the wood or scratch their leg on the dining room table. If the wood is soft wood then it has already been treated and you will have no worries of splintering but it may warp. If this is the case, try and keep water away from it as the warped wood has a rough texture and also does not look nice. If you have wooden parquet floors make sure it is made from smooth wood.

Wood is not the only texture in a house, think about the furnishings. Your couches are made up of many different textures whether it is leather, fabric or suede. If leather is not treated properly and polished on a regular basis then it becomes rough and begins to crack, not only does it not look nice but it also does not feel nice. Fabrics can wear with time and begin to be ropey which is very uncomfortable to sit on, so this needs to be watched and if necessary replaced or covered.

Floors come in all sorts of textures and materials. If you have stone or ceramic floors, make sure that they are filled in correctly with grouting, every couple of years you should re-grout to give a cleaner look and also a smoother finish. If you have linoleum or Amtico make sure that you do not drop hot liquids as this can ruin the floor. Carpets come in all different piles and textures, some shaggy and some short. What you have is a personal choice but be aware that shaggy carpets tend to malt hair and wear much more quickly than short hair carpets. Although a shaggy may seem softer to begin with, in time if it becomes patchy it is not so nice to the touch or the eye.

Taking care when choosing and using the different textures in your home is very important. Touch is very sensitive and often sits in our subconscious, you can love the look of a home but if it is rough and uneven then you will always have a nagging doubt about it in the back of your head.