(ARA) - When you flip through any home magazine, one of the first things you notice from the pictures is the color scheme of each room. Color is a major factor in the aesthetics of a room, and interior designers work hard to choose color combinations that reflect each room's atmosphere and purpose.

The color of a room impacts how you feel when you spend time in it, so interior designers spend a great deal of time matching colors to their clients' specific needs for each room. However, the color combinations in individual rooms must also come together to create a comprehensive color scheme for the entire home or business. A series of rooms with colors that do not work in tandem with one another creates a jumbled and disorganized look.

(ARA) - Spring cleaning has become a ritual in homes across America. But as families focus on decluttering closets and revitalizing their indoor spaces, many overlook simple, inexpensive outdoor projects that can give a home a real "facelift" and make it look and feel like new.

"Some homeowners shy away from outdoor projects because they think they're difficult, time-consuming or expensive. Nothing could be further from the truth," says Rust-Oleum home improvement expert and PaintIdeas.com blogger, Angie. "There are some easy, inexpensive projects that can enhance a family's enjoyment of their outdoor space and significantly improve their home's curb appeal so it makes a welcoming first impression for neighbors and friends."

(ARA) - While many homeowners like the warmth and comfort of carpeted floors, they are often hit with the harsh reality that carpet comes with a host of problems. Besides being very difficult to clean, carpeted floors can also be a health concern. Bacteria, dust, dirt and odors can easily become imbedded in carpeting and beyond the reach of vacuuming. What's more, homeowners with carpet could also run into problems when trying to sell their home; many new homebuyers prefer the more modern look of hardwood flooring or other comparable options.

Replacing carpet with another type of flooring doesn't have to be an investment - or time-consuming. There are hundreds of flooring options - materials, colors, textures - for all homeowners, project parameters and budgets.

(ARA) - For all the time-saving benefits that a durable home exterior can bring, homeowners never want to sacrifice curb appeal. Beyond that first requirement of a great-looking home, a growing number are focusing on features that give them back more time with maintenance-free living.

When it comes to the popular aesthetic of cedar siding, The Foundry is one siding choice that manages to create discerning authenticity with a design that requires virtually no upkeep - a combination unheard of to homeowners who have had to sand, scrape, stain or pry-off damaged cedar shingles.