What is the solution? The answer is recycling. You don’t have to keep hold of everything you own forever, but neither do you have to throw it out and contribute to the waste problem the world is experiencing. What you could do instead is recycle as much as possible. In this way, you can be responsible and enjoy your home. Here are some great recycling tips so you can get started. 

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Have A Recycling System

To ensure that you are recycling as much as you can in your home, it’s good to have a recycling system in place to follow. This might mean having smaller recycling bins inside the house, which you can then empty into the larger containers that are usually kept outside. This will help to remind you that recycling needs to be done every day. 

You might also have a list of items that can and can’t be recycled posted near these bins. Remember, if you put one thing that can’t be recycled into a bin of recycled waste, everything then has to go to a landfill. 

When it comes to the larger items, one great way to have a good system in place is to empty each room entirely, one at a time. This includes the furniture and anything else you can move. Store everything in a secure storage locker, and only bring back the items you need. By the time you’re done with the property, you’ll have a storage locker full of items you can sell or recycle or even give away, and your home will be much more comfortable for it. 

Extend Your Mindset

Most people are getting good at understanding that they need to recycle paper, plastic, tin cans, and other similar waste. But what we’re not so sure about is all the other items in our homes. This could include clothing, shoes, and furniture. To be able to prevent as many of these items from going into the trash as possible, we have to know how they can be recycled. It’s not as though we can put these items out with the standard garbage to be collected during the weekly routine. 

What you can do is, as we’ve said above, collect everything in your storage locker so that it’s out of the house. Once you have enough items there, you can organize a sale or put everything online so that you can sell it digitally. Either way, if you can make money from the items you no longer want, that has to be a positive thing. Something else you can do is offer the items for free if you prefer; they will undoubtedly be out of your life much more quickly and could help someone out, whether they need the things for their own homes, or they plan to upcycle them and sell them on, at least they aren’t going to landfill. 

In this blog, we’re going to take a look at some of the most common focal point selections. 

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A Work of Art

In our opinion, not enough people make the most of all that a work of art can bring to a room. In a living room, all eyes seem to go to the television, but that’s just a blank screen. A work of art is a conversation starter, interesting, and, provided that you’ve bought a good piece, pretty darn beautiful too. If you’ve never bought art for your home before, then fear not -- it’s easy enough. The key is to buy something unique that you like. If you trust your taste, then it’ll be a great focal point!

Big Window Space 

The focal point doesn’t necessarily need to be something that’s sitting inside your property. It can be the natural world! If you have a big window space, then why not let the view do the talking? Of course, you’ll need to live somewhere beautiful for this to work. It won’t be a good focal point if it’s just pointing out to the street. But if there’s a lake, field, or another scenic view to hand, then it’ll make a big impression.

Infrastructure 

The focal doesn’t necessarily have to be an item that you buy specifically to be a focal point. It can be an element of the infrastructure of the room. These elements primarily have a separate function but can also be used to make a standout contribution to the aesthetics of the room. Take a fireplace, for instance; it’ll keep you warm, but it’ll also make a big impression. If you don’t have a fireplace in the room where you want a focal point, then look at electric fires that look like real fires. Other infrastructure focal points include exposed brick walls, a bold lighting fixture, or a shelving unit stacked with books.

Large Furniture

Another option is to look at adding a bold piece of furniture to your living room. This can work extremely well, no matter what type of decor you’ve opted for for your property. For instance, if you’ve gone for modern decor, then you could look at adding a vintage standalone chair to the room. It’ll primarily provide a functional use, but you’ll also find that all eyes are drawn to the standout item when you enter the room. Take a tour of local vintage or antique markets and see what you can find.

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Van life is one of the fastest-growing travel trends worldwide, and the pandemic has only continued to fuel it. And the reason to transition into van life - or van dwelling - is not so difficult to guess! Buying and converting a van is relatively affordable; it allows you to feed your travel bug and gives you the chance to spend more time outdoors. 

Downsizing is an attractive alternative, especially for those millennials who have started to work remotely and are looking at cutting down on living costs. Essential, once you have a good Wi-Fi or phone reception, you can do anything you want from the back of a converted van!

While for some this sounds like a dream, van life is not suitable for everyone - and it undoubtedly comes with downsides! Here are just a few of the aspects to consider before you commit to buying a van!

Be Ready To Make Compromises

Sure, living in a van gives you all the independence you need to travel and when and where you want! However, this kind of alternative lifestyle does come with considerable downsides. Firstly, you are trading in comfort, privacy, and space. Even an incredibly spacious van requires you to limit your living space, have less storage, and live more frugally. If you are already into minimalism, this certainly won’t be a problem for you. In any case, you should always allow for a transition period. 

Where Do You Plan To Go?

Van life is undoubtedly a trend born in the US, which is taking over Europe and many other countries. However, travelling between states in the US is not the same as crossing European countries! When doing so, you will need to ensure that you are up to date with the latest visa requirements and not going against the local travel restrictions. Additionally, not every country allows wild camping - so you should always check where you can stay before setting off on the road. 

Ensure You Have Enough Space

Finding the perfect compromise between a small van and a lot of storage space can be challenging, especially if you don’t have any experience living on the road. However, when living in a van, you can enjoy every aspect of your adventure, just like staying at a hotel or hostel. Yet, it is essential to plan for your future trips. Firstly, you should consider hidden and smart storage options. 

Additionally, you might look at whether a toilet is necessary for your van. This is one of the greatest dilemmas for many van lifers. Naturally, everyone needs a bathroom - but will you be wild camping enough to need your own? If you are planning to stay often at a campsite, a toilet in your van won’t be of much use - but it will certainly eat into your available space!

Finding the Perfect Van

Lastly, it all starts with the perfect van. Whether you are looking for a readily available option or you want to convert your own, you should always start by assessing how much space and what facilities you actually need. If you are unsure whether van life is for you, you might consider used van finance alternatives, convert your vehicle on a budget, and upgrade it in the future!

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A Major Leak 

One of the biggest reasons to need an expert plumber to help you is if you experience a major leak anywhere in your home. Even if you have some plumbing experience, a major leak probably indicates additional problems, so it’s worth hiring someone who can investigate those other issues as well as fix the major problem that you spotted initially. 

You might see water leaking from a pipe or faucet, or you might just see a large pool of water where there shouldn’t be one. In either case, an emergency plumber is probably the best option to go for. It’s true it might cost you money, but leaving the issue or trying to do it yourself could lead to much more expense. 

Strong Odor 

Have you ever walked into a room in your home and noticed a strong odor of damp or mildew? If so, then you should call an expert plumber as soon as possible, as you will need to find the source of the smell. If you have a leak in your home that you haven’t noticed, or if you have a hole in your roof that you weren’t aware of, water can easily pool behind walls or even under the floor. Eventually, this will cause mold and could, if left long enough, damage the underlying structure of the home. 

When you smell something damp and can’t see a reason for it, then a plumber is going to be able to help you. In fact, even if you can see a reason for the smell, a plumber is the best person you can contact. 

Broken Water Pipe 

A broken water pipe can occur for all kinds of reasons. It might be that the Denso tape used to keep the pipe protected has come loose and needs to be replaced, or that it was never used in the first place. Or perhaps there has been some work carried out in the property and a pipe has been broken by accident. 

Whatever the cause, a plumber will be able to make the repairs in a timely manner, saving you a lot of extra work and expense. Not only that, but they will also be able to make the repairs professionally, ensuring that the problem doesn’t reoccur. 

Invisible Dripping Sound 

Drip… drip… drip… Does that sound familiar? An invisible dripping sound anywhere in your home is never a good sign. It means that water is leaking from somewhere. You don’t have to see it to know there is a big issue here; the sound is enough to give you a clue that you need an emergency plumber right away. 

The experience that a plumber will have will help them to find the cause of the dripping sound; they will more than likely have seen a similar thing before and be able to fix the issue without too much disruption.