Home Upgrades

Measuring for curtains & blinds

Measure width and drop to the nearest quarter-inch. For full curtains, width should be 2–2.5× the track width to give proper gather. For roller blinds, measure the exact recess width and subtract 0.5 inch.

Rug sizing

In a living room, the rug should be large enough for at least the front legs of all seating. Common mistake: too-small rugs. For a sofa-and-two-chairs setup, 8×10 ft is usually the minimum.

Lighting layers

Most rooms need three types, ambient (overhead), task (desk/reading), and accent (lamps, strips). Don't rely on a single ceiling light. Check lumen output, not wattage: 400–800 lumens is good for a table lamp.

Storage

Measure the space carefully before buying. Check the product dimensions in the Amazon listing against your shelf, alcove, or cupboard. Read assembly reviews, they tell you how hard installation really is.