1. Flowers

Nothing says summer like colorful flowers. Adding floral arrangements is an easy way to give your home a summer touch. Not only does it add style, but creates a welcoming essence. If you’re using flowers that aren’t rooted in a soil, they may eventually die out. Don’t let that scare you! Use this as an opportunity to switch things up and bring in new flowers to create another fun arrangement.

2. Indoor-Outdoor Carpet

Summer is the season of barbecues, pool parties, and other fun outdoor gatherings. If you love the comfort carpet adds inside your home, why not bring it outdoors? Indoor-outdoor carpet, like Empire’s Courtyard, can help you elevate your porch or den decor so you can wow guests beyond tasty barbeque.

3. Bold Colors

We can’t discuss summer decor ideas without mentioning color. Summer is known for vibrancy. Adding bold colors to your home is a perfect way to celebrate the season. You don’t have to go big. Something as simple as an accent pillow or vase can make your home feel especially summery.

4. Outdoor Lights

Because summer means more time spent outside, you may want to add decor to your backyard. Outdoor lights are a fun and stylish way to not only give your backyard a welcoming and laidback aesthetic, but help you and your guests see while you entertain them at night.

5. Summer Wreaths

Door wreaths can set the tone for your home decor before your guests even enter your home. We all know first impressions count, so make your door wreath something that’ll stand out. Going with flowers is a common choice but don’t be afraid to think outside the box. Adding fruits like lemons or oranges can set a refreshing tone for your home.

Adding fresh decor to your home for this season doesn’t have to be hard! Whether its flowers, wreaths, or outdoor lights, these summer decor ideas are a quick, stress-free way to update your home. If you want to go even further, you can always switch up your flooring with the latest summer trend. Schedule a FREE In-Home Appointment to have a flooring professional show you a few summer flooring samples.

The post 5 Summer Decor Ideas to Give Your Home a Fresh Look appeared first on Empire Today Blog.

1. Shop for carpet with built-in stain protection.

Scotchgard 3M, R2X® Protection, and Stainmaster® make it more difficult for puppies to leave permanent stains, odors, and soiling.

2. Always check for “pet urine protection” labels on carpet samples.

Some brands will have different names for it. This can help keep accidents and odors on the surface for easy clean-up, rather than deep in the fibers where it can turn into a tough stain.

3. Scratch, stain, and moisture resistance goes for hard floors, too!

Check for tough protective coatings such as aluminum oxide on flooring samples. This can defend floors with most scratches, stains, and moisture.

4. Aim for darker colors for carpet.

Although it is possible to have a lighter carpet color if you own a pet, having darker or multi-colors can make cleaning and your life in general much easier. Why? Stains tend to stand out more on lighter colors, which can be an eyesore for you and your guests if not cleaned properly.

5. Grooming is everything.

When’s the last time your dog’s nails were trimmed? Long, jagged nails can cause scratches to hardwood and laminate if overlooked.

6. How resilient are your floors?

Dogs tend to follow their own pre-determined paths over and over and over again. Durable laminate, hardwood, or  vinyl flooring are great for heavy foot traffic.

7. Avoid loop carpet.

Even if your dog keeps those claws trimmed, you may want to avoid looped carpet, as nails at any length can snag and rip it easily.

8. Pattern, frieze, and textured carpet can help hide dirt.

Sometimes, it’s nice to not have to clean up immediately. Certain carpet styles conceal crumbs and flecks of dirt better than others.

9. Don’t let sleeping dogs lie.

Not only is sleeping on a hard surface uncomfortable, but a dog’s dead weight could leave an impact on your floor over time. Find a comfy dog bed large enough for the pup to stretch out on!

10. Time to chow down? Use a feeding mat.

Puppy eating and drinking manners are a little different from ours. Opt for a feeding mat beneath the water bowls to avoid standing water on your floor.

11. Floor mats can keep mud and dirt at bay.

There’s no avoiding a little mud or dirt in the house, but strategically placed mats at every entryway and long hallway can make a huge difference.

12. Consider tile or vinyl entrance ways.

Taking the mat concept a step further, tile or vinyl is a lot better next to the backyard door than wall-to-wall carpet. It adds a buffer for liquids, mud, and dirt.

13. Keep bones and toys in one place when you can.

Bones and doggy toys can be pretty heavy! If they’re being knocked off a couch or dropped from a decent height, bad things could happen to your floors.

14. Drink on the edge of the table?

That’s just asking for a tail-whipping! Pets are just like kids in a lot of ways. Lots of sudden movements, not much grace. Keep drinks in hand or away from edges to avoid messes!

15. You can never have enough clean towels.

If you are constantly “acting fast” cleaning up spills left and right, make sure you have a steady supply of towels strictly for the dogs.

16. Where there’s a will, fur will find a way.

While cleaning up shedding, use mops, brooms, and vacuums without the beater bars to avoid scratching your floors.

17. Regular vacuuming is a must.

On both carpet and hard flooring, vacuum twice a week in high traffic areas. Once a week is fine for “pet-free” rooms.

18. Don’t be afraid to deep clean.

Use manufacturer-recommended products for carpet, wood, laminate, vinyl, and tile alike. Absorb stains as much as possible with a towel to remove excess moisture. Avoid abrasive scrubbing. Steam-mops and heavy machinery are not recommended.

19. Hire a professional cleaner once a year.

To keep your floor looking fresh longer, consult a professional cleaning service through the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning, and Restoration Certification. They can get out the doggy bits your deep cleaning missed.

20. Above all else? Be prepared!

Accidents will happen. Don’t panic! If you have soap-free cleaners, mops, clean towels, and a vacuum on hand, you’re already halfway there. Most stains and soils can be avoided if you act fast and thoroughly.

Dogs and flooring can peacefully exist. It just requires a little more effort to keep your floors looking their best. If you need any help figuring out what dog-friendly flooring would be best for your  home, Schedule a FREE In-Home Estimate now!

The post 20 Ways Dogs & Flooring Can Peacefully Coexist appeared first on Empire Today Blog.

Pumpkins

We know this one seems obvious. But step out of the norm this Halloween and add a spin to this traditional decor. Have a family or neighborhood pumpkin carving competition or even add a spooky theme to your own pumpkin carvings.  Your home will definitely be an eye-catcher with this creative flair for the season.

Black and Orange

Implement black and orange wherever possible. A color-themed house looks great for fun holidays like these. Whether it be a wreath, rug, centerpiece, or place mat adding these colors will conjure up the Halloween spirit and catch the eyes of your guests.

Cobwebs

The only time when dusting isn’t necessary! Okay, maybe not quite. Though, artificial cobwebs can be stretched and hung from just about anywhere. Hang them from corners or on chandeliers to add to the eerie feel of Halloween. Want to go even further? Try adding miniature spiders to the webs!

Candles

There’s nothing quite like the scent of warm vanilla, pumpkin spice or autumn leaves to get you in the mood for Halloween. Bring those smells into your house with scented candles and it’ll completely change the atmosphere of your home!

Front Yard Decor 

Do you really want to be the only house with a blank front yard the night of Halloween? That answer should be a definite “No!” Neighbors, friends and strangers alike love to see who has the most creative decorations. Make it scary or quirky with just a few items and your front yard has the potential to be transformed into the ultimate Halloween destination.

Floor Mats

Welcome your guests with a frightening floor mat to let them know your house is ready for Halloween and all its festivities. Not only does this add a splash of spook to your home, but it’s one of the many ways to protect your flooring. This holiday can be full of spills—and due to autumn weather, muddy shoes. Make sure your flooring is ready for what Halloween may bring. Schedule a FREE In-Home Estimate now!

With all the decorations and warm, autumn feel, this is definitely one of our favorite times of the year. Remember to have fun while you get your house ready for Halloween!

The post Get Your House Ready for Halloween appeared first on Empire Today Blog.