Amazing DIY Bathtub Design Ideas and Cost

Is this the time you replace that dingy bath tub to give your bathroom a touch of beauty and style it deserves? 😉

amazing-bathtub

Between your budget, personal needs, space limitations, materials and aesthetic design preferences, this guide will help you zero-in on your dream bathtub.

bathtub surrounded by natural stones and design candles

Placement Options

If you are replacing an old tub, or installing one into an existing bathroom space, than you may face certain limitations as to the type of tub you may be able to install.

Your existing tub, especially if it was a built-in one, walled from three-sides, may only allow you to install the same size/type of tub, only a different material.

Similarly, the size of your bathroom and its other fixtures such as a shower, toilets, sink and cabinetry may limit the location and size of your new tub.

You can significantly increase your bathtub options, if you are willing to spend more money on major modifications to your electric wiring, plumbing, possibly rearrange/move other fixtures or do a gut renovation.

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Top 10 Home Improvements to Increase Home Value

Planning to Sell or Refinance? Improve Your Home First!

Some people will do home improvements because they want to live in a nicer home. Others will complete them so that they can sell their home for a more. Still others want to refinance, and need to increase the value to get rid of that pesky PMI. And there are even those that are seeking a reverse mortgage soon, and they want to make sure their monthly checks are large enough.

No matter your reason, you don’t want to dump a bunch of time and money into little improvements that won’t affect the value of your house very much. You want to focus on the top improvements to increase your home’s value. Here are a few things that you can do.

1. Paint the Walls

via Gacek Design Group

Paint is still the easiest, and cheapest, way to take your home from drab to wow. Getting rid of the boring “off-white” is a sure way to make things look fresh.

Touching up that paint that has been marred, chipped, scraped, and scuffed over the years makes the home feel new. Just don’t get too crazy, an orange, yellow, and green living room is probably too much for potential buyers. 😉

Cost: $3.00 to $6.00 per sq. ft. on average, depending on the paint quality, amount of prep work required, and overall size of the project. A typical interior remodeling painting project for the whole house may cost between $3,000 and $6,000 on average.

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20 Benefits and Advantages of Strip LED Lights for Homes

When deciding to make the switch from conventional incandescent lighting to an Eco-friendly alternative, don’t limit yourself to CFLs or LED bulbs. Instead, consider using LED strip lights. They are an excellent choice for functionality, as well as for a variety of decorative uses.

And thanks to their overall durability and longevity, range of colors, and LED strip lights can be used almost anywhere. Here are more reasons why you should consider them:

1. Easy Installation

Most LED light strips come with adhesive on the back that allows you to “peel and stick” them wherever you like to place the strips.

led-tape-under-cabinet-lighting-installation

2. Energy Efficient

LED lights use up to 75 percent less energy than incandescent lights and up to 50 percent less than CFLs, making them a superior lighting source for energy efficiency.

3. Flexibility

The central feature of LED strip lights is their flexibility. Unlike bulbs, they can be attached to curved surfaces, corners or molded into almost any shape.

4. Non-Toxic

Unlike fluorescents, LED lights do not contain mercury or other harsh chemicals. Therefore, they don’t require special disposal or pose a health risk if dropped.

5. Durable

LED lights are built with durable components that are made to withstand harsh conditions. They are designed to hold up to heavy vibrations, outside elements and external impacts.

6. Cost Effective

Although the initial cost of LED lights is more than their counterparts, their long-life, durability and energy-efficiency make them more cost effective.

If the sticker shock is still holding you back, LED light strips may be the best way to begin. Most will be less expensive than LED bulbs and a great way to see the value before making a complete switch. You will also save money on maintenance, tools and lighting fixtures.

7. Environmentally-friendly

LED lights can be recycled since they have no harsh chemicals. Plus, their longevity and low energy use make them the ideal solution to Eco-friendly lighting.

8. Low Temperature

Conventional bulbs use 90 percent of their energy as heat and CFL’s use 80 percent, whereas LED’s stay completely cool. This makes LED’s excellent to use in children, pet and heat sensitive areas.

9. Waterproof

Strip LED lights are available in waterproof tubes or ribbons. They are excellent to use in fish tanks, on vehicles and in outdoor areas.

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