It?s time. We?ve made it through the long stretch of winter. While it may take a few more weeks for the warm sun to thaw us out, it?s time to think about getting your house on the market.

Is the thought of it overwhelming? Are you tempted to just throw a sign in the yard and see what happens?

Beach air. Waves crashing. The expanse of the ocean as far as the eye can see. Can you picture it?

The coastal place we visit in our minds is imaginary, but that doesn?t mean we can?t bring some of it into our homes right here in the Midwest. Follow these tips and you can make your very own beach retreat.

Think water. Your color palette should be a nice mix of sea green, subtle blues, and beige. Why? We?ve all experienced in the calming effect of ocean waves crashing on the shore. That happens for many reasons, but one is that milky blues can affect your mood. Incorporate this color scheme into the space with furniture, fabric, and rugs.

Think treasures. Thick, dense dcor just won?t do in a coastal getaway. Instead, find glass fixtures, intricate vases, and other accessories that make the space feel airy and fresh. Include pictures of you at the beach, of course!

Think natural. You won?t find real driftwood in Illinois and Iowa, but incorporating woody elements (wicker, driftwood, etc.) into the room can really tie the look together. Distressed wood furniture, picture frames, and clocks are easy ways to make it happen.

If the holiday season left your house in a state of disarray, join everyone else! When December 28 rolls around we find ourselves trying to exhale and collect ourselves for the impending new year.

Here are some quick, time-saving tips to help you organize your home on a daily basis.

Bed making. One thing you should do every day is make your bed. It may sound trivial, but by accomplishing this small task right away in the morning, your room will be tidier and you?ll feel motivated to take on the rest of the day.

Declutter the counters. Counters are difficult to keep clean because it?s so tempting to leave every loose paper, toy on the floor, or kitchen utensil on that wide-open space. Don?t do it! Wipe down the counters every day and put that extra ?stuff? in its proper place. You?ll be amazed at the difference it makes.

Plan for tomorrow. Take a few minutes every evening to purposefully organize your mind for the next day. Make a list of errands, kids? activities, or noteworthy occasions. Offering yourself the opportunity to unload your brain onto paper can bring you peace.

Every once in a while. Embrace the chaos. Life is messy sometimes and running around the house playing with your kids will be more rewarding than making sure every pillow is in a place every day.

For organization and remodeling inspiration, check out our Pinterest page!

Chip and Joanna Gaines and the Property Brothers create masterpieces in just one hour on HGTV. Inspiring. Innovative. For most of us ? impossible!

Electrical work ? Unless you?re simply flipping the switch of the circuit breaker, please do not attempt to wire or re-wire anything on your own. Call an expert electrician for any work you need done. If you try to DIY, you?ll be shocked at the damage you can do to your entire home?s electrical work and, potentially, yourself.

Windows ? You live in the Midwest. That means you know how unpredictable the weather can be, from intense heat to bone-chilling cold. Properly insulated windows can save you tons of money, so if you?re ready to replace the ones you have just call in a pro. Specialized tools and methods are required to securely install new windows.

Floors ? Floors are tricky. Without proper tools to stretch, cut, and lay your new material, you could leave your room looking incomplete. Not to mention the unexpected circumstances that might arise when tearing up the old floor, the clean-up, and debris removal. With something so prominent, it?s best to leave it up to the experts.

What?s more? We offer free measures and estimates so you?ll know how to properly prepare for your project. Once we?ve completed the measurement, we?ll give you $50 off your flooring purchase, too!