A recently renovated home in Minneapolis, Minnesota features interior and exterior french doors allowing natural light to flood the room.

The Aesthetic Benefits of French Doors

Interior and exterior French doors have become a popular staple in home design over the years and they are easily recognizable by their rectangular window frames that extend down the door’s length. French doors made their first appearance in architecture in the 17th century and as France’s Baroque period flourished, so did the exploration of new artistic and architectural styles. Back then, French doors were really just full-length windows that led onto balconies. They were later modified into operable doors, which allowed access to the balconies while letting in plenty of natural light. Their versatility and beauty makes them an ideal choice for patios and more.  Thinking of adding an interior or exterior french door to your home? Read on as we discuss a few reasons why you should make them a part of your dream home makeover. French Doors Provide Functionality French doors were originally created to make small balconies accessible, but today, they aren’t only used for exterior purposes. Interior french doors can be used to connect rooms in your home and enhance the visual flair of your space. They can make rooms feel and look more spacious when opened up and create a cozy, comfortable space when...
A kitchen with natural light recently renovated by House Lift Inc of the Twin Cities.

Getting the Most Out of Your Home’s Natural Light

If you own a home, learning how to increase its natural light is likely on your wishlist. A home flooded with natural light is welcoming and makes us feel rejuvenated. Exposure to daylight has been linked to better moods and overall well-being. Increasing the natural light in a room makes colors more vibrant and décor more eye-catching. For many people, natural light is a “must-have” feature in a home, followed by a large garden and an open-plan kitchen or dining room.  Poor natural lighting is often a reason why homeowners feel unhappy with their home’s appearance. Homebuyers also tend to find brighter homes more appealing than darker ones. When it comes to home design, we are always thinking of ways to boost natural light. If you are considering a dream home makeover, read on for the best ways to add more light. Update Your Flooring You’d be surprised how much of an impact the right flooring can have on your home’s natural light. Flooring can be transformed into light-friendly reflectors by choosing wood, ceramic or stone with a polished finish. Light wood floors, especially whitewash wood floors, have been around for centuries. Home renovation companies often suggest wood flooring because...
A young woman dusts her TV screen with a dry cloth

Spring Cleaning Tricks for a Modern Home

Are you looking for great spring cleaning tips? Look no further. The days are getting longer, the temperatures are getting warmer and the air is filled with fresh fragrance. This means one thing: it’s time for spring cleaning! Spring cleaning is deeply rooted in human history spanning every culture and country around the world. As winter turns to spring, we feel an energy of renewal that drives us to refresh and revive our homes. The dwellings we clean today, however, are quite different from those of our ancestors. Modern homes are larger, with more spaces and items to clean, including technology and appliances, making the task of spring cleaning a much larger undertaking. While doing a full-home spring spruce-up is a lot of work, the reward is spending those precious first warm days in a sparkling clean home. And with a few easy tricks, you can make the spring cleaning a lot more manageable. We know the value of feeling great about the home you’re in. Keep reading for our spring cleaning tips. 1. Start With a Game Plan Before you embark on your spring cleaning journey, you need to map out your path and make sure you have all of...
A couch with a throw blanket and text Hygge Home Ideas to Warm You Through Spring

Hygge Home Ideas to Warm You Through Spring

“Hygge” is a Danish and Norwegian word that defines the feeling of a warm, cozy, welcoming environment that inspires a sense of wellness, comfort, and conviviality. Hygge is a year-round value in Denmark and Norway, but as they enter their long dark winters, hygge goes into high gear. While Minnesota winters aren’t as intense as these northern neighbors’, we could learn a thing or two from them about how to prioritize the sense of hygge in our homes during the cold seasons. The House Lift team loves inspiring a sense of comfort in homes, and we’d love to share some hygge inspiration to make this season bright.  1. Embrace Warm Lighting Lighting has a transformative effect. Candles are considered hygge because of the gentle, warm light they provide. Proven to inspire relaxation, comfort, and light-heartedness, bringing out the candles in winter can ease the stress of cold commutes, uncooperative appliances and vehicles, and winter storms. In addition to candles, utilizing your fireplace and setting up twinkle lights are great ways to create hygge lighting and add a spirit of warmth and magic to your winter home.  2. Get Snuggly The comfort provided by blankets is so profound that’s been the...
A House Lift blog banner featuring an image of three potted plants with text "5 Tips For Making A Kitchen Herb Garden"

5 Tips for Making a Kitchen Herb Garden

When it comes to creating a perfect home-cooked meal, fresh herbs are the perfect addition. The refreshing combination of rich flavors that a small amount of herbs can add to a dish and define it. When it comes to herbs, fresh is best. If you are cooking regularly, or crafting meals for a larger family, having your own source of fresh herbs might make sense. This will allow you access to a plentiful supply of the freshest ingredients, livening up your meals and saving you trips to the grocery store. However, creating a kitchen herb garden is no throw-away endeavor. A garden that flourishes takes time, intention, and the right knowledge. Let us help with that! Here are 5 tips for making your perfect kitchen herb garden.  1. Choose the Ideal Location If possible, consider keeping your herb garden outdoors. Herbs require large amounts of sunlight (ideally, more than 6 hours per day), and this is often hard to achieve in a kitchen. If you are lacking the outdoor space, choose the room with the most natural light indoors to house your herbs. You can always invest in a lighting setup to ensure your indoor herbs grow healthily as well....
A House Lift Inc. blog banner features a Christmas tree with text "Ways to Prep Your Home for The Holidays"

Ways to Prep Your Home for the Holidays

The holidays are upon us here in the Twin Cities and whether you are able to celebrate with family and friends this year or your holiday plans have been postponed, what better way to add some cheer to the season with some easy home upgrades and festive decor!  Here are 3 ways to prep your home for the holidays: Winter Cleaning Giving your home a deep clean prior to the arrival of guests goes a long way. Of course cleaning the main rooms of the house where guests will congregate first will allow you to feel more prepared, but doing a deep clean on corners and closets and other out-of-sight locations will help relax your mind so you can focus on spending quality time with your family, rather than worrying about what the guests think of your home. A clean home promotes a sense of well-being that will carry over into your holiday. Consider it your early spring cleaning.  Stock Up On Supplies To avoid the unwanted stress of holiday shopping, try stocking up on necessary items well in advance. Items ranging from food, to household supplies, to holiday gifts can be purchased before the holiday season so that when...
A House Lift Inc. blog banner features a recently remodeled living room and text "5 Home Projects"

5 Home Projects

There’s only so much Netflix you can watch before you start getting restless. Renovating your entire home or yard isn’t likely right now, but that doesn’t mean you can’t make some great changes while you’re at home. Here are five home projects that the whole family can do together: Straighten, Fix, or Redo Your Wall Decorations From TVs to artwork to photos, wall decor becomes crooked after a while. Take a moment to stroll through the house and straighten them all up; it makes a big difference in the overall look of your home. If you’re feeling especially motivated, take down all of your old decor and rearrange it, or create a new gallery by moving art around the house to keep things fresh. Rearrange the Furniture One of the easiest ways to freshen up your home is by rearranging your furniture. Try moving the couch to another wall, adjust your armchair, or mix and match prints from another room. This is a great way to introduce your kids to interior design and home projects, so let them take the lead on this project. Touch Up Your Paint Most of us have at least a few cans of paint stowed...
A House Lift Inc. of Minneapolis blog banner features an image of an attic bedroom with the text Your Attic Space - A Transformable Room

Your Attic Space | A Transformable Room

Attics are no longer the place of dust-ridden antiques and mice. This home space is an easily transformable room that offers a prime opportunity for remodeling and creativity. Check out the ideas below for how to turn your attic into an aesthetic feature of your house. A Bright Dining Room If your attic is like most people’s, it has a few windows and room for improvement. You can create a unique dining experience by transforming your attic into a place where your family enjoys sun-filled meals together. Carve out space for more windows and let the light in! Workspace Whether it’s an in-home office or an art studio, use your attic as a productive and creative space. Dedicate the top level of your home for your passion or your obligations, and make it your own. Entertainment Center Who said your primary television area has to be in the living room? Turn your attic into a hangout space and fill it with board games, comfy bean bag chairs, and a stereo system. Designate this area for your kids when they invite friends over so they have their own space and you can relax downstairs. A Guest Suite Your family likes to...
A House Lift Inc. blog banner features a modern living room couch with coffee table with the text Living Room Trends - Must-Haves In 2019

Living Room Trends | Must-Haves In 2019

The people have spoken, and the hottest trends for 2019 living room design are in. We picked some of our favorites, so read below to learn about how you can bring your A-game to the interior decorating department. Compact Side Tables These are ideal for freeing up space in your living room while also offering a functional furniture piece in the space. Structures made of metal with gold, silver, and bronze colors are very trendy right now, and these give your living room a clean-cut and chic look. Ditch the Couch No longer are couches a necessary staple for living rooms. Break the rules and invest in furniture that speaks to your style and personality instead; perhaps buy a intricately-designed yet comfortable bench or a group of fuzzy and frilly chairs for lounging. Depending on your space availability and the amount of activity that usually goes on in your living room, you can opt for fewer, smaller, bolder seats or you can offer one long, functional piece to provide comfort to your frequent guests. The More, The Merrier While minimalism had its day in the sun, maximalism is here – and homeowners are loving it. Instead of naked surfaces, muted...