How To Maximize Your Home's WiFi

Reliable WiFi is critical in most homes today as it is the communication vehicle for numerous electronic devices. Without it, much of our technology grinds to a halt.  

Not only do our smartphones, tablets and gaming devices connect via WiFi but 4K televisions, smart thermostats management, multi-room speaker systems, laptops and printers also use WiFi. The bandwidth demands placed on your home's WiFi system are taxed by these devices so it's crucial to optimize it's output and performance. 

1. Place your router in a central location in your home

2. Invest in a wireless extender (also called a repeater) to boost WiFi reach, especially if you live in a larger home or have areas with poor reception.

3. Check with your Internet service provider to see if they offer faster Internet service

4. Make sure you have the latest router with 802.11ac speeds to boost reach, support simultaneous users and increase speed 

5. Choose a router that offers dual connection options of both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz.  This minimizes device interference. 2.4 offers slower speed but wider reach while 5GHz operates faster. Connect cordless phones, baby monitors and microwaves to 2.4 and devices requiring higher speeds to 5 GHz.

6. Password protect your WiFi network so others don't 'stow away' on your service and slow it down. This also keeps you from being liable for illegal content unwanted users may download from your WiFi.

7. Set up a guest network password for friends and visitors to use.

8. Make sure your modem is also up-to-date. If you also need to upgrade your router, consider a bundled option.

There are a number of free 'apps' to test WiFi speed, such as speedtest.net, that will give you an idea of the bandwidth of critical devices.

Common sense tip: When using public WiFi, never enter in personal or sensitive information, such as passwords, bank accountor credit card details. Its best to do that off WiFi or using your own, secure network.

14 Paint Colors That Make Rooms Look Larger

Just like furnishings, materials and artwork, paint gives our home a very specific feel and ambiance. A crucial part of our decor, paint color conveys personality, warmth, and can lend a feel of spaciousness or make a room feel dark and closed in.

Pros in the know including designers and top paint companies like Benjamin Moore have insights into colors that have both staying power and the ability to make rooms look larger.

1. Light colors & neutral tones are perfect options for small spaces but if you choose a bold color, offset it with softer tones for furnishings an accessories.

Best All-Around Colors

2. Paint the walls and trim the same tone in small rooms that don't have much natural light. This minimizes 'breaks' by offering one consistent color palette. It can also make ceilings look higher.

Colors for Both Walls & Trim

3. Bold accent colors can be used to make spaces feel cozy and intimate. The hues you use depends upon the 'feel' you're trying to achieve, be it warm, relaxed, energetic.

Bold Accent Colors

4. The key factor in choosing the perfect palette for your home is how much natural light each rooms receives. The lighter the color, the larger and brighter the room will appear. In general, the less natural light, the lighter the hue. If your goal is to boost the feel of spaciousness, opt for bright colors with a light reflectance value higher than 50. These reflect more light than they absorb, making that tight space feel more open and airy.

Colors to Create Illusion of Spaciousness

These classic colors are sure to enhance the rooms of your Marin or San Francisco home! 

Article excerpt from Huffington Post.

How to Enhance Your Open-Plan Living Spaces

The open, free-flowing floor plans offered by many of today's homes offer a wide range of lifestyle possibilities. To make the most of your space, use light, layout and designated 'zones' to create deliberate layers.

Define your zones

The relationship between different zones can be manipulated by varying degrees, to emphasize their separation or integration. Changes in floor level, floor finish, ceiling condition, furniture arrangement and many other devices can all contribute to this fine-tuning.

Create layered views

Look for opportunities to create layers within each space to give an illusion of depth. Layering using changes in color, furniture arrangement and flooring, especially when there are multiple rooms that all flow together. 

The home in this image illustrates the layer idea. You can see across a dining area (first layer), through the kitchen (second layer) and to a garden beyond (third layer). 

Use natural light as a highlight

Sunlight coming in through skylights or large windows can accent spaces, giving them a sense of separation and depth while at the same time maximizing the sense of space in an open floor plan. This does need done properly to avoid too much daylight, which can be overwhelming. 

Islands as separation

In open plan kitchens, an island creates a defined space and purpose from adjoining rooms. It also helps outline other areas connected to the kitchen.

For more tips on how to make the most of your home's open environment, read this article on Houzz. 

Preparing Your Home For El Niño

With talk of a "Godzilla" El Niño, it pays to prepare your home now to weather the coming storms. 

The forecast for this winter seems to bring with it a prediction for a new El Niño. With that in mind here are 15 tips to prepare for the anticipated downpours. Getting these things in place before the rain begins can help avoid issues in your home and garden.

• Clean out your rain gutters and downspouts. Clean all of them before it rains, then check and clean them after the first rain. Leaves and debris from your roof may have accumulated in rain gutters after the rain. Make sure your rain gutters aren’t damaged.

• Fix any leaks before it starts to rain. Check your roof for any trouble areas.

• Invest in an emergency generator. Think about a portable generator or permanent standby generator that comes on automatically when the power goes out.

• Check any decks and balconies. Make sure water flows away from your walls and foundation.

• If your crawl space, garage or basement could be flooded, think of installing a sump pump. El Niño rains can cause water to gather where you normally don’t find it.

Read the entire article here.