9 Tips to Help You Create the Best, Coziest Home Library Ever!

Are you a book lover? Are you someone who craves a comfortable location for you to unwind and relax after a long day at work? Then a home library might be needed in your future!

When considering how to create your very own home library, it might seem like quite a daunting task to undertake. You’ll need to pick the right space, colors that suit you and your home, and even how to organize your books.

Luckily, we’ve made a list of 9 tips to help you create the best home library for your home ever! Check out our tips below to help you get started today!

Pick the Right Location – The location of your home library is the first thing you need to figure out before anything else happens. Depending on your home’s layout and how much space you have, you should try to select an area that isn’t loud and isn’t very heavily trafficked to be your home library. If you don’t have much space, you don’t have to give up an entire room – a corner of a quiet den or guest bedroom works well, too!

Assess Your Storage Needs – After you’ve selected the location for your library, you should determine how many books you have and assess your storage needs. Do you want your library to store all the books you own? Would you prefer your library to just be a peaceful sanctuary? Answering these questions will determine if your library is better suited to having floor-to-ceiling bookshelves or something as simple as open shelving.

Choose a Color Scheme – Now it’s time to get creative! In the past, libraries were traditionally adorned with burgundy, hunter green, or dark brown walls, but these days, it’s quite common to find libraries in light, calming colors or bright hues. Choose the color scheme that you feel represents you and your library. Remember what you want your library’s purpose to fulfill in your home – the color can help you achieve that feeling!

Figure Out a Furniture Plan – Next is figuring out what to do with your furniture. You’ll want to make sure you provide yourself with a great place to sit to relax or to read. Determine how many chairs, tables, lamps, or sofas you will need according to your square footage to make your library comfortable, cozy, and functional. If you don’t have much space to play with, a few oversized chairs and a small table can work perfectly. Make sure you have enough lighting to suit your needs!

Secure the Bookshelves – Your shelves will be holding quite a bit of weight, so make sure that your bookshelves are secure with proper anchors and supports into the studs. If you aren’t sure how to determine the weight and point loads, ask a professional carpenter to lend you a hand in hanging and securing your shelving.

Light Up the Room – Lighting is essential in a library. You might have sufficient daylight during the day, but you will probably need more than just a simple lamp come nighttime. Consider adding side table lamps and accent lighting to complement your overhead lighting so you may have better reading light. A dimmer to your overhead light can also make the room more versatile for snuggling with a book and hot chocolate or partaking in board games as well.

Combine Your Library and Office Successfully – If you want to make your home library act as your home office as well, ask yourself a few questions before putting the room together. How many people will use the space at a time? Will the room require a computer, printer, fax machine, printer, or other large equipment? Will there be enough room to share with the library? After you answer these questions, you should be able to successfully combine your library and home office to serve two functions in one room.

Look Up for Optimum Space Saving – Is your space limited? Why not use the height of your room to store and display your books? Don’t forget that the space over your doorways can be used as an additional area for storage or display as well!

Maximize the View – Even though constant natural light can be very detrimental to books, you don’t have to shut your library in a dark room. Besides, who doesn’t love reading and daydream by a bay window or a picture window? A little bit of natural light will lift your spirits and raise your creativity level while your relax or enjoy your favorite books. Just don’t display your books in direct sunlight!

You don’t have to be a total book enthusiast to have a home library. Create a relaxing haven for yourself by using our tips above to help you create the perfect home library for your home!

Looking for a home with more space (perhaps to have an expansive home library)? Can’t wait to find your dream home? We can help! Just call us at (618) 791-5024 or (618) 791-9298 or visit us online to see our homes that we have available at http://www.dianamasseyhomes.com! We will help you find the home of your dreams in no time!

Crucial Tips You Need to Help You Move to a New State

Moving to a new state can be exciting and full of adventure and new memories. It can also be quite scary and take a toll on your stress levels, especially if you don’t prepare properly for the move. Luckily, good planning and a thorough checklist can help you stay on track with your move, keep your stress in check, and help you stay within your moving budget.

There will be many things that you will need to consider when you move to a new state, including how you can move your family with the help of reliable professional movers and how you can save money without sacrificing quality. Moving doesn’t have to be so scary with some very important tips from the Massey Team Real Estate. Read all about what you should do before, during, and after your move to a new state to see how you can move without all the stress (and without burdening your wallet)!

Before the Move

Plan Your Move First – Moving anywhere be it across the street or across the country requires effort in order to make it a smooth transition. Before you begin packing, you should plan your move and do your research on the state itself. Visit the state if at all possible before you move, and learn about the cost of living, the economy of the state and taxes, and the various neighborhoods in the city you want to settle in. We also suggest that you find a job in that state before moving; it takes the burden of job hunting off your shoulders while you’re moving.

Check Moving Reviews – Before you settle on a moving company, try to get reviews and estimates. Oftentimes, reputable moving companies will offer free estimates. The cost is based on weight, so try to hold a yard sale or donate some of the things you don’t want or need anymore before you make the appointment.

Get a List Going – Lists will be your best friend in this instance. Make a list of all of your accounts and services that will require address updates and take care of it as soon as you can. Remember also to either cancel or transfer your utilities, if necessary.

Tune Up Your Car – Before the move, get your car to the mechanic for a tune-up or full service. Tell your mechanic that you will be moving out-of-state and that your car will need to have a thorough road safety check before leaving, including tire pressure and wear assessment and windshield wiper replacement if needed. Be sure to check your car emergency kit to see that you have flares, jumper cables, and a reliable spare tire in case you break down on the road.

Take Care of Pets and Houseplants – Make sure your pets are up-to-date on their rabies and other vaccinations and that they meet the requirements in your new state. Try to accommodate them slowly to the idea of moving so that they won’t be too nervous on the road – pets don’t quite care for change. If you have houseplants, make sure that they fit securely in your car or find them a good home to go to. Movers will not move your houseplants in the van for you. Before you set them on the curb, think of someone who would be happy to have the plants in your home and give them away to that person.

Keep the Essentials With You – Before leaving, make sure that you have the essentials with you in your car. This can range from a change of clothes for a day or two, basic cooking equipment and utensils, medication, and your valuables. Also include your passports, extra checks, tax records, and other essentials on you at all times just in case some of your belongings go missing during the move.

Be Extra Kind to the Movers – A little bit of kindness goes a long way, and this is also true with your movers. Be sure to pay them gratuity or even spring for their breakfast or lunch. Also, give them water or soft drinks while they’re working. You’ll find that they will be sure to take extra special care of your belongings if you do so.

On the Way

Plan Time for Breaks – No matter how badly you want to get to your destination as soon as possible, road fatigue can really take a toll on you and those who are moving your belongings. Take plenty of breaks on the road, and if you can’t get there in one day, spring for a cheap motel to get a good night’s sleep.

Do Your Research – Before you hit the road, try to plan out the routes that you will need to take. If possible, try to take the routes that have great scenery or are at least not too terribly boring. Highway hypnosis is a real thing and can make you zone out behind the wheel before you know it. If you find that you or whoever is driving is getting sleepy, stop for a break or switch spots.

Properly Prepare Yourself – Before leaving, pack bottles of water with you and some snacks to minimize unnecessary stops and to tide you over in the event of a breakdown or other delay. If at all possible, avoid driving at night and be sure you know what to do in case your vehicle breaks down on the road. Always let someone know your route, your estimated time of arrival, and where you plan to stop.

Upon Arrival

Show Kindness to Movers Again – Once you get to your new abode, you will more than likely have a different set of movers who will be offloading your belongings, so you will need to tip again. Be sure to figure in the distance they had to drive as well, and offer them drinks, if possible, whenever they are unloading your things.

Follow Up – Not that it’s mandatory, but following up with the moving company’s office with praise or constructive criticism is always greatly appreciated. Additionally, if any damage to your items occurs, do you best to fill out paperwork before the movers depart.

Unload Box by Box – While unloading your things in a new place may seem incredibly daunting, it doesn’t have to be, especially if you took the time to label where each box is going. Go room by room and unbox your boxes leisurely. Remember, the hard stuff is over, so feel free to enjoy yourself on your new adventure!

Are you moving to the St. Louis area from out-of-state anytime soon? Call the best real estate team in the Metro East St. Louis region – The Massey Team! Contact us today at (618) 791-5024 or (618) 791-9298 or visit us online at www.dianamasseyteam.com to see our listings!