If you are not a professional home improvement worker, there is always information that will help you complete your jobs. If you lack some knowledge, the improvement could turn into a catastrophe. This article will provide you with information that will help you defeat what used to be challenging home improvement ventures.

Keep tabs on how much you spend on your home improvements. It is really easy to nickel and dime yourself with small details and not realize how much you have totaled. A simple spreadsheet or budgeting tool will help you keep track of all this information. It will be much easier at tax time too, to be able to get all of the deductions you deserve.

You can greatly enhance your home’s value by adding another bathroom. Adding a second bathroom can really up the value of your home. It is very likely that multiple household members will need access to the bathroom simultaneously.

Children tend to stick their fingers where they don’t belong and touch things they shouldn’t. Leaving your outlets uncovered leaves the chance of your child getting electric shock. You can buy small plastic covers from your local store for electric outlets to keep your child from reaching in and getting shocked.

One or two bold accent pieces can help bring out the best in any room. Leopard or zebra prints can pack a punch in moderation.

If you want to change the design of your kitchen, try out new handles and knobs on your cabinetry. Changing the hardware on your kitchen cabinets is an inexpensive way to spruce up the room. Take the time and clean out your cabinets as well when replacing the knobs. Simply screw the new knobs on and presto, you’re done!

If you are improving your landscaping, discuss drainage with your neighbors prior to beginning the project. You will want to get rid of all water from your property. The best method for doing this is to pour all the water on your neighbor’s property; however, your neighbor probably won’t enjoy this. You can create drainage plans that is beneficial for both parties; however, if you don’t talk with your neighbors, this won’t occur.

While new home builders are now required to install only low-flow toilets, older homes rarely have efficient plumbing; an older toilet can use more than three gallons of water per flush; a new low-flow commode will use less than half of that amount, making it a wise investment that can save money on your water costs.

To save on energy costs, consider adding a series of small fluorescent lighting fixtures under your cabinetry. These lights consume less energy than your overhead light and can cast a glowing light on the counter surface that is ideal for preparing food or illuminating a richly colored counter top or decorative back splash area.

Create a yard that does not require a lot of maintenance if you do not have a lot of time to spend on gardening and yard work. This type of yard is made of rock beds that contain plants which require very little amounts of water. This helps save you time and costs on water.

Find ways to decrease your water consumption, thereby decreasing your water bill. For example, repair leaky faucets as soon as you discover them, as those wasted drops can add up on your bill over time. Make sure water children are instructed to be careful to not leave water faucets on when not in use. Finally, consider putting in low flow shower heads to decrease water usage.

Before you get started on any project, you need to first understand what you’re getting into. Going into a project without knowing everything will result in a half-finished set of cabinets and granite tiles without any grout in the seams. Go through the project first and work up a blueprint before you start on it.

As was said earlier in the article, home improvement can turn into a great catastrophe if you do not have the knowledge necessary for some of the jobs. Now that you have the knowledge, apply it to your specific needs of home improvement. Don’t let setbacks get you down, trudge through and the practice will make you better.