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It is only natural that we want to have the best home imaginable. Our home is where we hide from the world; our retreat that is always welcoming. It’s also space where we can be ourselves and invite the people we care about to share; an entertainment venue all of our own making.

 

The desire to create the perfect home is therefore understandable. We all rely on decor and design to achieve this. Get these aspects right, and it’s possible to transform an empty space with a few pieces of furniture in it to an actual home. We use renovations, updates, and decorative touches to achieve this, often constantly updating our homes to reflect the latest interior design trends or adapt the available space to more suit our needs.

 

Unfortunately, there is one potential side effect of all these adaptations, modifications, and home decor perfections: they’re expensive. From renovating an entire floor of your home to just adding a few decorative touches, there’s no denying the fact that a beautiful home can be extremely costly.

 

However, the key word here is “can”. Yes, a beautiful home can be expensive, but it doesn’t have to be. If you want to achieve the perfect look without spending a fortune, then here are a few tips you’re going to want to keep in mind…

 

1) Focus on improving your DIY skills

 

There are thousands of renovation tasks that can improve your home no end, from installing new flooring to fitting an entirely new set of kitchen cupboards. These kinds of changes can make your home look as good as new— but you tend to need to hire a professional to do them.

 

However, it’s worth running the math the next time you hire a professional to perform work on your home. Let’s say you took the funds you’d pay to a pro, and used that money to attend training courses that could teach you basic-to-medium renovation skills. You’d actually get far better value for money from the latter because your newly-learned skills can be used again and again, whereas paying a tradesman to do a single job means the money only lasts for that job.

 

Of course, there will always be some renovation tasks you should never attempt to DIY; there’s a useful list of these at architecturaldigest.com, so take note. However, for flooring and other medium-skill tasks, attending a course and learning how to DIY safely and effectively is a great financial investment.

 

2) Shop at the right stores

 

As with most things, where you shop for home decor and DIY equipment will govern how much you pay for it. It’s vital that you find stores that are looking to sell items at a reasonable price, rather than charge a huge markup.

 

For DIY supplies, it’s usually more affordable to shop at stores that are targeted towards tradesmen and high-skilled DIYers. These stores tend to forgo the expensive advertising and jargon in favor of just providing the best deals for people in the know about the items they need. In terms of home decor, that means focusing on the likes of Deconovo.com; places where you can buy great soft furnishings without the extortionate markup of some stores. By ensuring that you always shop at stores who focus on value rather than extreme profit margins, your budget for all home renovation and decoration will go much further, which should mean that your home looks nicer as a result.

 

3) Look for inspiration from blogs, and social networks— but never purchase directly

 

If you head to sites like Pinterest or home design and decor blogs, you’re going to be encouraged towards high purchase prices. While there’s the occasional bargain-focused account or blog out there, most focus on high-end items. Often, these items are provided to the person making the post for free, as part of an influencer arrangement. That’s fine of course — provided the relationship is disclosed — but it does tend to mean that the items featured on top blogs aren’t exactly accessible in terms of price. Only high-end brands can afford to partner with the most popular influencers, so the price of the items featured tends to be in the high-end bracket too.

 

It’s nice to see social media and blogs as inspiration for your own home design, but you should never see them as purchasing guides. If you see a look you like on a blog or social network account, then use it as inspiration to create the same thing yourself from more affordable stores. Clicking through to buy the exact items featured in these kinds of posts is almost certainly the most expensive option. Take the inspiration, but don’t be tempted to buy the exact same items— you’ll almost certainly be overpaying if you do.

In conclusion

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By following the above, you should be able to achieve the home aesthetic of your dreams— but without breaking your budget to make it happen. Enjoy!

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Let’s face it, moving home is never a pleasant ordeal. While you will be excited about your new home and the joy it will bring, it will be hard to focus on the bright side of this journey while you’re in the thick of it. There are loads of jobs which need to be done, along with countless documents and pieces of paperwork which have to be completed. Altogether, this makes for a truly daunting task, and a lot of people don’t feel up to it. Thankfully, this post is here to help you out, showing you how to put all of this weight on someone else’s shoulders.

 

Finding Your New Place: You won’t be able to move home until you’ve found the new place you’ll be living in. This process has to be completed before you sell your old place properly, or you could find yourself having to stay in a hotel between homes, and this will be expensive. The hardest part of this sort of job will be keeping your eyes open for new properties as they hit the market. An estate agent can handle this work for you, providing an invaluable resource when you’re trying to handle this complex process.

 

The power of an agent doesn’t stop here, though, as they will also be able to help you with the paperwork you have to complete for the sale to go through. You may also need a lawyer for this, but your estate agent will be able to help you find one who charges fair rates. With all of the hard parts taken care of, you will be able to focus on the fun part of the new home selection process; the viewings. You will have the final say in the purchase, but it is still nice to know what you’re getting into before you get started.

 

Selling The Old One: The old home will also have to move into new hands if you want this process to go smoothly. Like buying a place, this always comes with loads of legal red tape, and it will be hard to find ways to get around it. Your estate agent should also be able to help you with this, finding buyers on your behalf. You should be careful at this stage, though, as a lot of buyers will work hard to make the price of your home go down. It will take a strong negotiator to get the best price, making it important to research the person you choose for the job.

 

Performing Renovations: When you move into a new home, it’s unlikely that the place is actually new. Instead, other people will have been living there, and this means that there could be some room for improvement when it comes to the decor. Making some small renovations will be a lengthy process if you do it on your own. To handle this job, you will have two choices; pay a professional or get some friends to help. Paying for this work will always get better results, but may not fit into your budget.

 

Packing Everything Up: Putting all of your possessions into carefully laid out boxes will be a challenge. To make it as easy as possible, it will be worth coming up with a strategy beforehand, enabling you to put things away in a sensible way. Along with this, you will be able to enlist the help of a moving company for this stage of the job. Businesses like this specialise in helping people to make their move as easy as possible. It can be easy to make your life very hard by accident if you don’t follow self-imposed packing rules.

 

Moving It All: This is where your moving company will come in really handy. Most people won’t be able to lift sofas, TVs, and other large items in the home on their own. Instead, you will need a lot of help for this process, and a company like Big Man Movers could be perfect for you. Giving you the chance to help as much or as little as you’d like, services like this can be a blessing when you’re moving. Some are better than others, though, so it will be worth reading some reviews, especially if you have particularly tricky items like pianos.

 

Unpacking At The Other End: Once you get to the new place, you will be faced with the challenge of dealing with all of your possessions once again. This time, though, you will be unpacking it, and this can be even harder. Making sure that you keep your original packing order in mind, it should be easy to move boxes into the right rooms. From here, you can work to position furniture correctly, filling it with items as you go. As long as you brief them correctly, your moving company should also be able to help with this stage of the move.

 

Keeping It Cheap: When you’re moving home, you will often be working on a tight budget, and it will be hard to make sure that you’re spending as little as possible. A lot of people go over their allotted pool of cash, and this can be hard to deal with. To avoid this, working hard to research the companies you work with can make life a lot cheaper. There is nothing stopping you from getting quotes from every company you can find, ensuring that you only choose those with the best deals.

 

Hopefully, this post will give you everything you need to begin the process of moving home. When you have a busy life, struggle to move, or simply don’t want to deal with this, getting help to handle the hard parts is a great way to make it less daunting. This sort of approach will always cost more, even if you work hard to keep it cheap. In reality, though, the money you spend will always impact the experience you have, and it could be the difference between loving and hating your new home.

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Your home is probably the biggest investment that you have ever made, and this is why it is vital to do everything in your power to protect it. Home security does not need to be over complicated and expensive either. There are a number of things you can do to improve your home security today. Read on to discover some easy suggestions.

Change your locks – If you have not changed your front door locks for quite some time, now would be a good moment to do so. This does not require a lot of effort, and there are companies like All American Locksmith that can do this for you. It is definitely worth upgrading to a more secure lock, especially if yours are pretty dated.

Make sure outdoor wires are not easy to access – Another step you can take to improve home security is by ensuring that your electrical wires and telephone lines are not easy to access by burglars. Why is this important? Well, if they are easy to access, a criminal will simply cut the wires in order to disable your security systems, rendering them ineffective.

Get your neighbor to pick up your mail when you are not about – Another easy change you can make is getting your neighbor to collect your mail whenever you are not home. This is especially important if you are someone that travels regularly. It is easy to get the mail company to deliver your letters and alike to your neighbor, and this will ensure that burglars do not realize you are out of town. After all, accumulating mail is a clear giveaway.

Use exterior lights intelligently – Nowadays, most lights come with a timer so that you can schedule when they come on and off. This is something that you should use to make it appear like you are at home when you are not. It is also a good idea to get motion sensors installed for the parts of your garden that are not very visible.

Put together a security checklist – Last but not least, it is a good idea to put together a security checklist that you can use whenever you leave the house. This should include checking all of the windows and locks, making sure your security system is turned on, and anything else that applies to your home. A quick check around the house can make all of the difference.

As you can see, it does not require a lot of effort in order to improve the security of your home. If you follow the advice that has been provided, you should be able to add further security to your property without breaking the bank or having to go through a lot of hassle to do so.

Do you want to live in luxury in your home? You should start with your bedroom. The bedroom is actually one of the most important areas of your property. You need to make sure that it’s set up in a way to get the best, most comfortable night of sleep that you can. As well as this, a bedroom can be a great personal space and a fantastic place for relaxing. Here are some of the ways you can upgrade your bedroom to make sure that it’s the ideal place for you.

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Get Rid Of Those Lumps And Bumps

 

Are you tired of waking up in the morning with a sore back? If so, you should think about upgrading your mattress. There are lots of different mattresses to choose from, but we recommend looking into one with memory foam. Memory foam provides the perfect cushion and support for you, molding around the shape of your body. It will provide the ultimate level of comfort and make sure that you don’t wake up with aches and pains. Of course, if you suffer from back pains, you can also search for a mattress that provides more support for your body and is slightly firmer.

 

Add A Little More Space

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Kings and queens never have to worry about fighting for space on the mattress at night. That’s because kings and queens sleep in large beds and you should too! King beds provide plenty of space for both you and your partner so you can roll away when it’s time to snooze. You’ll wake up in the morning feeling refreshed after being able to stretch out through the night.

 

Walk Into Fashion

 

You might also want to think about adding a walk-in wardrobe to your bedroom. You can do this if you have enough space in your room to convert an area of it into what is essentially a separate room. It’s a great way to make sure that the rest of the room stays clean, clear and minimalistic as you can essentially use this area for all your storage. Typically, this type of redesign can cost up to one thousand so make sure that there’s room in your budget.

 

Add A Few Spot Lights

 

If you are more interested in how your room looks, you should think about changing the lighting. You can add spotlights to your room to give it a more modern feel. If you use LEDs, you can also make sure that the room looks bright and beautiful. You can even add a dimmer switch to provide an additional level of control or opt for smart bulbs if you love easy home living.

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Get Electronic Blinds

Last but not least, you should think about adding new blinds to your windows. With electronic blinds, you’ll have the perfect way to wake up to natural light. You won’t have to worry about sleeping in because these blinds can be set to rise automatically like an alarm. It’s a great feature to think about investing in, and you can bet a lot of royals have this option in their own bedrooms.

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If you are constantly feeling like you are in a state of chaos at home, there is plenty that you can do to make like just a little bit easier for yourself. Though we can’t do anything about the demands of your kids or the mess your pet makes, we can give you a few pieces of advice that should help you to save time and not feel as if you are running around like a headless chicken all the time. Here are just a few useful points which are worth following.

 

Don’t Multitask

 

Some people think that they are multitasking masters, but in reality, they could do things so much quicker if they simply focused on one task at a time. So, instead of leaving a hundred jobs going at once, try finishing what you start instead. For example, you are not finished with breakfast until the minute that the dishes are done. You are not finished getting dressed until the dirty clothes are put in the hamper etc.

 

Keep Everything in a Place

 

There shouldn’t be anything that floats around your house without a place to be kept. If something doesn’t have a clear place, the first thing to ask is whether it is worth keeping at all or if it is simply cluttering up your home. If you decide that it is, you need to work out exactly where it should be stored. You should also get into a system which involves grouping similar items together so that they can be found easily.

 

Put Your Phone Away

 

Even if you think that you are only checking Facebook for a minute or two, if you do this 20 times a day, it will quickly add up! To avoid temptation, it may be worth keeping your phone in a different room entirely. You are likely to find yourself with so much time on your hands simply by reducing your temptation to procrastinate.

 

Never Go Anywhere Empty Handed

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The best way of cleaning is little and often, rather than letting everything mount up and tackling it all in one go. If you never go anywhere empty handed, you are cleaning up as you go. It may take a bit of time to get into this habit, but once you do, you may wonder how you lived any other way. If you feel like the household chores are getting on top of you, you could always look into home cleaning services. A clean home goes a long way towards creating a clear mind.

 

Make a List

 

For the larger tasks that go beyond the regular household chores, you should make a list and tackle it step by step. You are better off taking on the bigger jobs first so that they are not left looming over your head.

 

Hopefully, this list has given you a few ideas that you can put into practice when it comes to staying more organized in your home.

Many homeowners underestimate just how much they can do with their homes. Just because things have been one way for a long time, that doesn’t mean you can’t make big changes if you really want to. It’s certainly possible to make this happen, but it’s easy to overlook what’s staring you in the face sometimes, and we understand that. It’s time to start looking at the various ways in which your home can be adapted in order to meet your needs.

 

If you’re thinking about moving out because your current living space isn’t really working for you, you should hold off that for a second. Before you make any rash decisions, it’s always worth looking into the various ways in which you can change things for the better and get your home on the right track for you and your family once again.

 

Read on now and start learning about what you can do to make your space work for you, and at the same time expand the horizons of your home. It’s a lot easier than you might think, so scroll down and prepare to be enlightened.

 

Embrace Its Quirks

 

Every home is unique and different; that’s something for you really embrace and work hard on realizing. Just because your home is not ideal in every little way, that doesn’t mean you can’t do interesting and creative things with space you do have available to you. Try to emphasize the things that make your home stand out from all the others out there. It could really enhance your appreciation of the home in general if you put in the effort.

 

Get Creative With the Layout

 

Rather than taking issue with the size and shape of your rooms, you should think about how you’re currently using them. The layout of your furniture will ultimately be the thing that dictates how you use your space, so if you’re not being creative and making the best possible use of the space you have, of course, it’ll feel unsuitable for you. Read about some great design ideas and switch things up. It’ll have a huge impact on how you view and use your home.

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Take Inspiration From Other Homes

 

If you’re someone who watches a lot of home design programmes or simply likes visiting other people’s homes and seeing what they’re doing with their space, you should try to take inspiration from those things. When you see how people are making the best of their unique situations, you can very easily get inspired to take the same approach to your home. It should make you more willing to embrace that challenge. And there’s nothing wrong with stealing ideas from others.

 

Look for Wasted Space and Start Using It

 

Every home has certain areas in which space gets wasted. That’s just the way it tends to be. If you’re considering making big changes to your home, you should start with the ways in which you’re currently wasting space. Perhaps your furniture is too big and is not making good use of the space you have. Or perhaps you have whole rooms that are being used for storage when they could be used for more productive and interesting things instead.

 

Avoid Problems by Choosing Sturdier Materials

 

If you are tired of things breaking and not lasting as long as you want them to, you should start using more strong and sturdy materials in your home. You can make the whole place feel more long-lasting and less temporary by using materials that are made to last. This could mean switching your floors to hardwood floors or choosing marble for your new kitchen countertops.

 

Consider Knocking Through Non-Supporting Walls

 

When your rooms are beginning to feel too confined and cramped, it can be really frustrating. It can start to feel like the whole home is simply too small for you, but that might not actually be the case at all. Instead of getting down about the whole situation, you should look for ways to open up space a little more. This could involve knocking down non-supporting walls that are unnecessarily breaking up space into smaller zones.

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Try Decorating Ideas That You Normally Wouldn’t Dare To

 

By stepping outside of the ordinary and trying decorating ideas that you would normally never even consider, you could stumble across some surprising results. This is what tends to happen, so don’t feel a need to stick to your tried and tested ways of decorating the home. If they haven’t worked for your space up until this point, it’s only sensible to switch direction and try new things that might produce better results for you in the long-term.

 

Add Additional Functions in the Corners of Rooms

 

Every single corner of your room should be getting used. It should have a proper purpose, and it’s more than possible to add entirely new functions to a room by making use of these corners. So if you have an empty corner in your living room for instance, you could change things up by adding a chair and a bookcase. It then becomes a space where you can sit and read whenever you feel like it.

 

Don’t be Afraid to Break Conventions

 

Breaking conventions is essential if you want to come up with a unique space that works for you. Why follow conventions so stringently when all that really matters is your opinion. You’re the person living there and making use of the space on a day to day basis, so the conventions set by other people really don’t matter all that much at all. It’s something to keep in mind when it comes to making changes in your home.

 

Your home can probably do so much more than you give it credit for, so don’t assume that you have to move out if you want to do new things with your living space. Just make changes to the home you have and enjoy not having to go through the stressful ordeal that is moving house.

I never thought I would be one of those people who not only have one but have two inside dogs. Growing up we never had animals in our home. So in adulthood, I really never liked having inside pets. That is of course before I met Buster. Buster was a tiny pound puppy Dachshund mix that I fell in love with at first sight. He was so tiny, I had to keep him in the house and of course, if he wasn’t sleeping with me he would cry. Shortly after Buster, my husband decides he had to have a Dachshund too so we bought Butch, this was over ten years ago.

Needless to say, I spent many days vacuuming up dog hair. I wanted to make sure my dog-friendly home, didn’t look like a dog home. I have major allergies and sinus issues so it was important for me to keep dog hair to a minimum. I would vacuum almost daily to assure minimum dog hair. Recently I was introduced to the Shark® APEX™ DuoClean® Powered Lift-Away® Vacuum I was so shocked at how much dog hair my other vacuum missed.

It literally looked like a brand new carpet when I was finished vacuuming. This vacuum is the best vacuum I have ever used. I have stairs and always hated dragging the vacuum up and down. With this vacuum, you are able to lift just the canister and take it upstairs. I could vacuum spots I haven’t been able to in years because of how flexible the Shark Apex is.

Details
Shark® APEX™ delivers Shark’s ultimate cleaning experience in a full-sized upright vacuum. Equipped with DuoClean® Technology, it grabs large particles, pulls in piles, and directly engages hard floors for a beautiful, polished look. Powered Lift-Away® Technology allows you to clean under furniture and above floors with the push of a button. LED lights on the handle and floor nozzle provide visibility in dark spaces, allowing for a thorough clean. The Deep-Cleaning Motorized Pet Tool stores onboard the vacuum and is perfect for quick pickups on upholstery. Advanced Anti-Allergen Complete Seal Technology® traps dust and allergens are trapped, emitting 10x fewer particles than HEPA standards require*.

Shark’s ultimate full-size, multi-floor, pet-and-allergen cleaning experience.
DuoClean® Technology features a bristle brush to deep clean carpets and an additional soft brushroll to pull in larger particles and directly engage floors for a polished look.
Deep-Cleaning Motorized Pet Tool removes deeply embedded allergens, dirt and hair. Stores onboard the vacuum for cleaning convenience.
Powered-Lift Away® Technology. The canister detaches to deep clean hard-to-reach areas while still delivering power to keep the dual brushrolls spinning.
Advanced Anti-Allergen Complete Seal Technology®. Emits 10x fewer particles than HEPA standards require*.
Noise Reduction Technology. Expertly tuned to reduce noise and soften pitch.
Active-Glide™ Technology provides smooth maneuverability on floors and carpets while maintaining powerful suction.

 

It is the room in your home where everybody hopes to socialize and relax. From peering into the fridge for a quick afternoon snack to perching on a stool whilst browsing through the morning newspapers, it is arguably the most utilized area of your abode. This means that your kitchen may need the most upkeep and attention to preserve its fresh and vibrant look. Whether that means adding color to the kitchen with new accessories or changing up the overall design, you need to give your kitchen a makeover every so often. There are many ways you can transform from dreary to dazzling and often it doesn’t take up too much time or money. We all know what it is like to have your kitchen out of use during renovations, so you need quick and easy changes which will cause minimal disruption to the daily flow of your home. Thrill your friends and please your partner as you perfect your pantry and glamourize your galley in a few simple steps.

Stylish Surfaces

They are growing dull, dreary and downright outdated; your kitchen surfaces have lost the life they once had. It is time to strip away the bland and boring style and replace them with something fresh and exciting. Marble Kitchen Countertops are the new design that every fashionable homeowner needs to have. The sleek and sophisticated designs are guaranteed to suit everybody’s taste and the high-quality material means it will last almost a lifetime. Choose a timeless and smart countertop and modernize your kitchen in an instant. You won’t remember your kitchen without it, so make the change today.

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Chic Color

Neutral tones such greys, creams, and browns are ageless and well suited to many home interiors, but it is important to pair these muted shades with a pop of color. By adding a hint of brightness to small elements in the kitchen you will create a cool and contrasting feel. Sleek grey countertops and flooring would look perfect with a flash of red from a toaster or kettle. Perhaps you need a new refrigerator or freezer and you are willing to make a bold statement with a bright color instead of a standard boring white one. Small but effective pops of color in your kitchen will be sure to make it a more vibrant place to hang out.  

 

Fashionable Furniture

Your chairs are mismatched and your table legs are wonky; you will you had a tall breakfast bar to sip your morning smoothie before you head to work. Get rid of your ancient wooden furniture and swap it for a stylish new set. Opt for a sturdy style which will last you for years to come and grab some funky cushions to vamp up your seating. If you have the room you could add some additional items, such as a tall bar-style table with a matching stool; ideal for a quick and casual sit down.

Savvy Storage

It is not just the look of the kitchen which is important, but it is also the way in which you store your pantry products. Instead of having half empty packets and messy tins strewn across your countertops you should consider buying some new storage jars to jazz up your food storage. Fill a set of clear glass jars with pasta, pulses, and spices and you will instantly have a chic storage idea which looks way better than your current cupboard stash.

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Glam Gadgets

No kitchen is complete without the latest hip kitchen gadgets to keep your band on trend. Blitz up your own breakfast smoothie using a brand new blender, which will look perfect on top of your new kitchen counters. Hop on the food trend of zoodles and courgette by making spaghetti with a spiralizer. Feed a selection of vegetables through your new device and you will have extra veggies in all of your meals. Save yourself hours of slaving over the stove with a stylish slow cooker. Throw in your stock, sauce and spices and your dinner will cook whilst you’re out at work!

Now is the time to refresh your kitchen with this handful of sensational ideas. Not only will you be able to sit back and relax in a sparkling new atmosphere, but you will also astound your loved ones with this brightened makeover. Make your kitchen a more homely, productive and sophisticated place to be with these transformations. With just a little splash of color and a sprinkle of style, you will be able to enjoy a fresh and elegant place to

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Air Wick®. The opinions and text are all mine.

I consider my home my sanctuary. I love walking through my door and knowing that it is time to relax and unwind. My home brings me happiness from the time I walk through the front door. I do worry though about others’ impressions when they walk into my home. You see I have two inside dogs. I love my two dogs and they are part of our family, but I don’t want everyone who walks in the door to automatically know this is a dog home. I prefer them to have the same impression as I do.

I love walking into a home that smells welcoming and has a fresh scent which is why I decided to try Air Wick Essential Mist Kits. One try and I was hooked.  From then on, I’ll never have to worry about visitors stopping by unexpectedly or what they will think as long as I have my home protected by Air Wick Essential Mist. I love the Lavender & Almond Blossom scent which I find calming and is conveniently available at Walmart. From 2/23/18 – 4/30/18 you can get a $1.50 off coupon here when you enter a sweepstakes for a chance to win a $50,000 Air Wick Home Makeover or a $5,000 Air Wick Room Makeover.

I entertain a lot and am always prepared with Air Wick Essential Mist Kits. They are the perfect solution to refresh your home before entertaining, and they have other varieties such as Fresh Water Breeze and Mandarin and Sweet Orange. Everyone always compliments on how great my house smells, although we have two inside dogs, people don’t even realize it until I tell them.

I love knowing I am getting this at Walmart for the best price! I also love knowing Air Wick Essential Mist diffuses a natural essential oils infused fragrance. You can experience a divine blend of freshness and softness – the fresh aroma of lavender wrapped with the delicate, sweet and creamy floral of almond blossom – bringing you a feeling of freshness and cleanness.