The wonder of gift-giving is not just about showing thoughtfulness, love, and affection but also about establishing and creating a strong connection with others. Thinking of an ideal gift is one of the challenges you may face, and the other would be choosing an item that fits to your budget. 

In this article, we’ll have an extensive list to make gifting on a budget feel effortlessly gracious.

Image by: Freestocks / Unsplash 

Introduction

Having trouble finding the ideal yet affordable gift for your loved ones? Worry not, for you are about to embark on a journey where thoughtfulness and budget harmoniously coexist. Prepare to explore the world of economic and meaningful gift-giving.

Challenges in Finding Budget-friendly Ideal Gift

One thing you must remember is that showing love and appreciation doesn’t mean you are required to spend a huge amount of money just to buy an extravagant gift. Always try to find a balance between the desire to give a meaningful gift while maintaining your allocated budget. This dilemma will have its solution when you realize that gifts should be all about sentimental value and not hefty price tags.

By engaging yourself in DIY, you can create inventive gift ideas that can serve as your present. Aside from being easy and affordable, it is undoubtedly made out of effort, dedication, and love. Things such as knitted scarf, personalized design mugs, picture frames, candles, and flower pots are some of the ideas you can choose from. 

Top 10 Gifts That Don’t Hurt Your Pocket

Here is a list where you can select your ideal gift.

1. Personalized Mug

This gift will surely be a memorable one that you can give to someone. You can customize a mug with a heartfelt quote, a memorable photo, or the name of the receiver itself. If the person you are giving is a coffee lover or a mug collector, this is the kind of gift you are looking for. Personalized mugs are one of the everyday cherished items that are intended for daily use. 

2. Scented Candles

If your friend loves making their living space filled with inviting fragrances, this item is perfect for them. Aside from the pleasant smell it emits, scented candles also set a relaxing and comfortable ambiance to anyone’s place. Your recipient can place this item in their kitchen, toilet, and bedroom. Make this on your list as an ideal gift for your loved ones. 

3. Jewelry and Other Accessories

From elegant pieces, such as rings or pendants, to trendy pieces, like necklaces or bracelets, these accessories can be your next item on the list. Surprise them with these beautiful yet budget-friendly accessories. 

Find out more about where you can buy cost-effective yet chic pieces by further exploring many store options and online shops. These products will surely complete their wardrobes without emptying your wallets! 

4. Book

If you have a friend who finds solace in reading books, then this item is perfect to buy as a gift for that person. Opt for book genres that resonate with the recipient’s preferences, whether from captivating novels and fiction to enlightening non-fiction. You can also choose books that provide both entertainment and knowledge. Take note that there are many options you can choose from, and it is important to take note of your receiver’s taste.

5. Plant

For people who have green thumbs or have a love and liking for plants, this is an ideal gift for them. Gift a lively potted plant like a succulent, which will continually enhance their space with natural beauty and freshness. 

Besides succulents, you can also choose potted herb plants as your gift, as it can be very beneficial, especially if the receiver is also a health enthusiast who consumes herbs for their well-being. The other benefit of it would be it is low maintenance, wherein they can just place it on their window, and lastly, it is easy to pick up whenever they want to add fresh herbs such as rosemary, dill, and thyme to their dishes. 

6. Picture Frame or Photo Album

Make an unforgettable impression and show your thoughtfulness by gifting an exquisite photo frame or album to someone close. They can fill this with their treasured photos that serve as a timeless keepsake that preserves memories from love, friendship, significant milestones in their life, or special dates. 

Determine the correct designs, materials, and sizes that suit their home decor or personal aesthetic. If your friend is extra creative in making albums and frames, you can incorporate stickers for decoration purposes and craft items to make your gift a truly one-of-a-kind item!

7. Sustainable Shopping Bag

You don’t need to buy expensive branded bags when you can choose a fashionable yet eco-friendly reusable bag. It is a practical, daily-use item that subtly promotes environmental consciousness. They can use them whenever they want to go to the grocery store, shop at malls, or even a bag that they can use when they want to go on a vacation. You only not save your wallet but also help the environment by reducing your ecological footprint. 

Make your friend happy and, at the same time, encourage them to be environmentally aware by gifting them economically sustainable shopping bags. 

8. Art Materials

Do you have someone who draws like Da Vinci and sculpts like Picasso? The number eight on the list is for the artistic souls in your life. Consider gifting a set of quality art supplies like colored pencils, sketchbooks, sculpting materials, or painting sets to make their lives extra colorful. You can buy these items personally in-store or through online platforms. 

By giving them this as a gift, you only not satisfy their driven to do art things but you also showcase to them your full support for their passion, making them happy and grateful. Add this to your cart and pave way for your recipient’s artistic endeavor.  

9. Puzzles and Board Games

Consider adding to your gift list an item that provides entertainment and stimulating challenges. Jigsaw puzzles and board games are the ideal candidates for that. Other than giving amusement, it also fosters their cognitive and strategic thinking skills. 

On the other hand, it is also a great factor in encouraging friends and family to gather, interact, and bond together. This affordable and thoughtful present will contribute both to individual growth and create memorable shared moments of togetherness.

10. Jar for Herbs, Spices and Sauces

The last on our list is for your culinary enthusiast friends. With these vacuum-sealed jars, they can put their herbs, spices, and sauces without worrying about the freshness of it. Opt for a jar that is made of glass since it offers an air-tight seal compared to plastic. Glass jars are also suitable especially if they want to put sticker labels for their herbs and spices, as they can easily be removed compared to jars made of plastic. 

How to Make Your Gift Extra Special

Include a handwritten note expressing your feelings, practice creative wrapping techniques, or add other personal touches, as this adds value to the gift itself. Remember, it’s not about just delivering a gift, but you also need to put a piece of your heart in it. These small but essential upgrades don’t need to require additional spending but significantly increase the emotional value of your gift, making your recipient happy and thankful. 

Online and In-store Shopping for Gifts

You have a wide choice of places where you can buy your gift from. It may be through online shopping or physically going to a store. E-commerce is a diversified field of online shopping centers. It can simplify your work, where you can just input the name of your selected gift item, and it will automatically provide you with all the shops and recommendations that you can buy from.

However, you should not underestimate the significance of visiting local stores. By wandering their aisles, you could reveal unique and affordable gifts within your budget, adding a personal touch to your shopping experience!

Conclusion

Keep in mind that when you want to give something to someone, there are things that you should consider: your budget and the gift itself. Think of something that whenever they see it, you will instantly pop up in their mind. You do not need for it to be expensive and extravagant, as you can still provide an affordable yet aesthetic gift for your friends and loved ones. 

Continue to spread the joy of giving by creating an environment in which thoughtful yet reasonably-priced gift exchange occurs for everyone.

Blogs often talk about hygge in the context of interior décor. But it turns out that it extends into all aspects of life. Like minimalism, it’s something you can apply to pretty much anything, once you understand the basic principles. 

Hygge comes from Danish culture. It developed to help people survive and enjoy the long, hard Scandinavian winters. It basically means doing cozy and comfortable things to enhance your well-being and make your life more enjoyable. It’s kind of an older take on the idea of being “kind to yourself,”

Psychologically, the idea of being more hygge around this time of year makes sense. The autumn months are always about a retreat from the summer and slowly getting ready for the colder months ahead. It is a sort of primordial mimicking of hibernation but to a lesser extent. 

So how do you make hygge a way of life? Let’s take a look. 

Start Reading Hygge Books

Unsplash – CC0 License

One of the best ways to get into the hygge mood is to start reading books that evoke feelings of hygge. The more you can whisk yourself off to some fantasy realm, the more likely you are to feel cozy, well, and warm. 

Hygge books come in all sorts of shapes and sizes. For some, it might mean reading something geographical, like an atlas of the world. For others, it could be a fantasy novel. Whatever it is, hygge gets you in the mood for it. 

Embrace Fur-Lined Style

Another way to start feeling more hygge is to embrace fur-lined style. The more clothes you have featuring faux fur, the better!

For instance, you might want to experiment with wearing fur-lined slippers, coats, leggings, crocs, and jean jackets. Adding this volume to your clothes will make you feel warmer and cozier, even when you leave home. 

Get A Special Mug

Unsplash – CC0 License

You can also start feeling more hygge by adding a special mug to your hygge adventures. You want something you can wrap your hands around and feel connected to all winter long. 

Fortunately, you have a lot of choices. There are all sorts of mugs you can embrace on your hygge journey. If you’re someone who loves big cups of tea and coffee. But you could also get a more unusual mug with a symbolic shape that appeals to you, or one that simply makes it easier to hold. Having a mug with a custom photo or personalized lettering can also help to make it special and easier for you to feel attached to. 

Leave Work On Time

Hygge is also something you can incorporate into your daily routine. While staying in the office until late might be fashionable and could potentially help your career, it’s not a great way to embrace hygge.

Danish people are wealthy and work productively, but they don’t embrace the 70-hour work week. Instead, they keep their working hours to around half that figure yet still manage to get everything done. Hygge is about knowing when to work, and when to rest. You can have both in balance to live a fulfilling life, the philosophy believes. 

Spend An Evening With TV And Takeout

Another option to be more hygge is to simply enjoy an evening with family in front of the TV with takeout. Enjoying a simple meal of delicious food can be an excellent way to bring everyone together and feel nested in your home. 

Why is this activity hygge? Simple. First of all, it’s cozy. But it also involved taking some of the burden of preparing food after a long day at work off your shoulders. Embracing hygge means that it’s no longer your responsibility. Instead, someone else can do it for a change. 

Get A Roaring Fire Going

Okay, this idea is vaguely related to interior design, but it is also a lifestyle feature that everyone should embrace. While electric fires are trendy, one that’s real and produces the crackling sound of logs and the faint smell of burning wood is truly unusual. 

Many people who embrace hygge start preparing for the winter in the spring. Enthusiasts chop and split the wood early in the year and then leave it to dry over the summer until autumn arrives. This way, it is ready to burn by October and November after several months of higher temperatures. 

Don’t worry, though, if you don’t have pre-dried wood available. You can purchase it from many stores. 

Bring It Into Your Jewelry Collection

You can also embrace hygge in your jewelry collection, which is something you can find out more about online. The basic idea is to buy jewelry that evokes a sense of comfort and warmth. Naturally, gold is a great color for this. 

Being hygge also means feeling more relaxed about your jewelry. Not everything has to be color-coded. 

Listen To Music On A Record Player

Unsplash – CC0 License

You can also add hygge to your family weekends together by playing music on an old-fashioned record player with a turntable. Somehow, the sound is more analog and natural than a digital CD player or computer. 

You can ramp up the coziness by playing older vinyl. These often have an old-time feel about them that immediately transports you back several decades to a simpler time. 

Go To An Indoor Swimming Pool

If the weather is unrelentingly miserable outside, you might also experiment with going to an indoor swimming pool. Why? Because these are usually warm and are essentially a giant greenhouse that totally escapes the cold, harsh weather outside. You can just float around or have fun like you do in the summer without having to buffer yourself against the outside cold. 

Go Ice Skating

Another hygge idea is to go ice skating while wearing your furriest, fluffiest clothes. Sure, the ice rink itself might be cold, but when everyone is wrapped up warm, it can be an exceptionally fun thing to do as a family or with friends.

So, there you have it: some of the ways to make your life more hygge. We hope you enjoyed that!

Whether you’re new to the real estate market or are looking to get started by selling your first property, it’s really important to get to grips with how people perceive properties and the ways in which they’re discovered. After all, even if you agree to sell your property, how will you let people know and what will attract them to buy your property over others?

There are a number of factors that you can and can’t change, but understanding how to take advantage of them and play to your strengths can help make your property stand out and get sold faster. This will lead to smoother capital gains and will greatly improve your success in the real estate market.

Source: https://unsplash.com/photos/XcVm8mn7NUM (CC0)

Understanding what your audience is looking for

Your property appeals to a certain kind of audience, and it’s your duty to figure out who they are! For instance, if your property is a high-rise apartment located in a busy city, then there’s a good chance that your buyers or tenants are going to be people who work in that city and have bustling lifestyles. They probably travel around a lot and they don’t spend as much time in the home as a family would. Chances are they’re single, or may have a partner, but they might not be married or have kids–especially if it’s a one-bedroom property.

As you can see, it’s a helpful and fun practice to think about the ideal tenant or buyer for your property. You have to put yourself in the shoes of others so you can see what they like or dislike about your property. This can take a bit of practice and not everyone has the experience or knowledge to pull this off. However, it’s never a bad idea to get started! Learning what other people see in your property and understanding their needs means that you can tweak your properties and add (or even more) things that would make it more appealing.

And just remember–even if you miss out on a potential sale, there are probably lots of other people who have the same search criteria. There are likely hundreds, if not thousands, of people looking for one-bedroom apartments in major cities, so it’s not like you’ll be struggling to find potential buyers. But with that said, it’s never a bad idea to consider how you can make your property more appealing to everyone!

Working with the right real estate agent will help a lot

We also can’t forget about the real estate agent that you work with. Unless you’re planning to list and sell your property yourself (which will take a lot of work) you’re probably going to be using some kind of real estate agent to help you. This isn’t a bad idea by any means, but it does mean that you’ll need to find one that has a good reputation.

There are a couple of things to consider when looking for someone to sell your property. Reputation is one thing, but you also have to consider how much commission they’re taking and also their experience. A lot of people are attracted to low commission fees, but this may result in a much worse experience for you as the owner of the property. Low commission fees don’t really mean much, but in the same vein, neither do high commission fees. You’re really just at the mercy of these estate agents, hoping that they’ll provide a good service. This is why looking at their reputation and reading reviews is such a great idea.

You could also speak with them in person. A lot of people tend to find it easier to gauge an estate agent’s capabilities if they first speak with them. Discuss the process, talk about the more technical aspects of selling a home, and use that interaction to gauge if they know what they’re doing and if they’re the right people to sell your home for you.

But if you’re willing to do it yourself, then there’s always the option of selling your property yourself. This is a multi-step process that you’ll need to manage by yourself for the most part. You’ll have to collect and request a lot of documentation, so don’t take this lightly! It’s usually a good idea to have legal assistance to ensure you’re doing things correctly. However, if you master this, then you could take advantage of much lower (or even zero) commission fees and complete control over the selling process.

Source: https://unsplash.com/photos/tHkJAMcO3QE (CC0)

Tips to help you prepare your home for sale

So now that we’ve covered some of the more technical and behind-the-scenes aspects of selling a home, it’s time to talk about some practical things you can do.

A lot of people underestimate just how much of a difference a good-looking home can make. So here are a few things you should do around the property to make it more appealing.

Clean up the front and back yards

A lot of people forget that it’s not just the inside of the house that matters, but also the outside. It’s what people will see immediately when they come for a viewing, and it also affects how the public perceives that property. From cactus removal to gardening and landscaping, hire services (or do things yourself) to make the outside of your home look just as good as the inside! Failing to do this can put people off viewing your property before they’ve even walked through the front door.

Repair things around the home

You should also think about repairing things around the home and getting work done as quickly and as efficiently as possible. There’s nothing worse than a potential buyer coming in for a viewing, only to notice that lights don’t work, your appliances are broken, and the windows are letting in a big draft. Fix things up as soon as possible if you’re serious about investing in property. Don’t let your buyers discover that you haven’t put much work into the home, and don’t try to hide problems in your property as that’ll just lead to legal issues in the future.

Home staging can be really effective

Staging your home is essentially just arranging furniture in the property to highlight the features and give viewers and potential buyers an idea of what to expect. For instance, you could leave the TV on and put some books around to make a space look like it’s being lived in. You could place some random kitchenware around, such as appliances, to give people an idea of where they can keep their things. Giving little hints like this can really improve someone’s vision of your home, and it’ll give them ideas on how they can improve or use those spaces.

Photography makes a big difference

Lastly, don’t forget that taking flattering pictures and recording informative videos on your property can make a big difference. It helps people get interested in your property before they’ve seen it in person, and there are loads of unique technologies that we can use today such as 3D viewings. All of these new features can make it really convenient for someone to gauge if they want to engage further in discussions when looking at a property.

Conclusion

Selling your first home can be a daunting experience, but we think that there are plenty of ways to speed up the process and make it a lot simpler if you have the right knowledge.

Unless you have a huge interest in gardening, plants, and everything in between, your garden may become a wasted space. Sure you might spend some time sitting outside on a warm day, or let your children play out, but have you ever thought of designing your garden to make an outside space you can spend more time in? You don’t need to be green-fingered to make the most out of your outside space. Here are some of the top tips to help you get the best out of your garden. 

Image source – Pixabay – cco license

Artificial grass versus real grass

One of the first things to think about would be whether you want to consider artificial grass or real grass. Perhaps you already have a lawned area but are not sure what to do with it. The truth is, that a lawn can be high maintenance. You need to regularly cut it, and then let’s not forget how pets and children can ruin it. Artificial grass is an easy option. It always looks good and can be easily maintained. Real grass is great if you have the time and will always make your garden look picture-perfect. However, if you want to get more out of your garden you will have to consider what is more practical for you and your family. 

Create zones in your garden

No matter how big or small your garden is, you can always create usable zones to help you get more out of it. You may want an area where your children can play. Perhaps have a trampoline, football net, or even a swing set. If you are not too good at building those things then hiring someone who can help with playset installation could be the way forward. You might also want an area to grow vegetables and fruit, perhaps a place to sit where you know you get the afternoon or morning sun. Figure out the areas in your garden and how best you can use them. This will help you to design those specific areas with that function in mind. 

Keep things tidy and organized

It is no good creating a beautiful garden space, but then you have kids’ toys lying around or nowhere to store your garden furniture, cushions, or appliances like the lawnmower. This is when you need to think about keeping things tidy. You might want to look at a new shed to store everything in or even a storage box where you can keep things tidy and dry. Having a place where you can put things away at the end of the day, especially during the summer months when you will be using the garden more often, will help you to maintain the garden and keep on top of it. 

Low-maintenance plants and flowers

Are you green-fingered? If so then you may not be bothered by what you plant because you know you will keep things in check. But if you are not an avid gardener then do some research into low-maintenance plants for your garden. There will be plants that won’t require you to water them or trim them regularly, as well as flowers that you can plant for the summer and then get rid of during the winter months. A gardener could help you choose the right sort of plants for you, or seek advice from your local garden center. You could even consider artificial plants and flowers which will look great all year round. 

Patio and decked area

Another thing that you could consider would be a patio or decked area. This would help you to enjoy being outside a lot more. You can use this area to have some garden furniture such as a table and chairs, or a sofa and sun loungers. Sitting outside in the morning for a nice cup of tea or enjoying your food al fresco, having the option to do those things will encourage you to get out in your garden much more. 

Selecting the appropriate patio furniture is crucial for creating a comfortable and stylish outdoor space. Firstly, consider the climate in your area; materials like teak or metal are durable and weather-resistant, ensuring longevity. Additionally, prioritise comfort by opting for cushions and seating with ergonomic designs. Assess the available space and choose furniture that complements the size and layout of your patio; versatile pieces like modular sets can adapt to different configurations. Style is essential, so you may consider some selected items from an Amish furniture store that will assist you to coordinate the furniture with the overall aesthetic of your home. Maintenance is another factor; low-maintenance materials like aluminium or resin are excellent choices for those seeking easy upkeep. Lastly, budget considerations are vital; striking a balance between quality and cost ensures a satisfying purchase. By combining these factors, you can curate a patio that not only suits your lifestyle but also enhances the appeal and functionality of your outdoor living area.

An outside kitchen 

If you love a BBQ or like to cook then an outside kitchen could be a great option to consider. You could look at having an area just for your BBQ or even have hookups for an outdoor fridge and gas hobs. Some even have a pizza oven built. There are so many ways you can utilize an outdoor kitchen and it can be the perfect way to get the best out of your garden. 

Let’s hope these tips help you to get the best out of your garden. 

How To Make Your Home Dog-Friendly 

Getting a dog is certainly exciting, and it’s something that a lot of people are keen to do. Dogs give you constant companionship and unconditional love, so they’re great if you live alone and want some company, but they’re also the perfect pet for families, especially if you like spending time outdoors or you want your children to learn some responsibility. No matter what your reason for getting a dog, it can often be the best thing a person can do. 

Of course, there’s a lot to think about and just bringing a dog into your home without any planning or making important changes could be a disaster for you, the dog, and even your home. That’s why it’s best to take your time over the whole situation and ensure that you have everything in place before they arrive – in that way, you can just enjoy being with them and learning about who they are, and everything else is already dealt with. With that in mind, keep reading to find out a few of the things you’ll need to think about before your new dog arrives. 

Photo by Samson Katt

Your Flooring 

Your flooring might not even make the list of important things to think about when you’re assessing your home, but it’s actually one of the most important things you can consider, and if you do need to make changes (which you might), then it’s also potentially one of the more expensive and disruptive things you’ll need to do, which is why thinking about this well in advance is a good idea. 

If you want to create a dog-friendly home, you’ll need flooring that’s easy to clean but that’s also durable, as it’s going to take a lot of wear and tear; think of a dog’s feet – their claws and paws make direct contact with the floor all the time, and that can cause damage if you don’t choose the right surface. 

Some of the best surfaces to invest in when you have a dog are hardwood, laminate, and tile. Although these might seem as though they would be hard for your dog to walk on – they might be slippery, for example – they’ll soon get used to the floors in your home, and those floors are going to last much longer than carpet, for example. Plus, they’ll be a lot easier to clean, which is important if you consider anything from outside can be tracked inside on your dog’s feet and cause a mess. 

Don’t Use White

Many people like using white in their interior design ideas. It’s chic and elegant, and it’s neutral too, and since we’re often told that neutral colors are best, it makes sense that so many people would have white in their homes that they can use as an ideal base for anything else they want to add. 

That might be the case if you don’t have a dog, but if you do and you want your home to be more dog-friendly, using white is probably not such a great idea. In fact, white can be a real nightmare with a dog around because their fur and muddy paws will quickly turn it from white into something grubby and mucky, whether it’s your flooring, your furniture, your curtains, or even your walls, to some extent. 

Instead of white, try something more dog-friendly that still looks great. Some options to think about could be grays, browns, greens, or perhaps even patterns that don’t show the dirt so much. You can also invest in slipcovers for your sofas and chairs because not only are they easy to clean when you need to, but you can also pick a variety of colors and patterns and change the look of your living room when the mood strikes – it’s dog-friendly and gives you the opportunity to make your room look just how you want it. 

Get A Good Vacuum 

One thing that can’t be avoided when you have a dog is mess; not only will their feet be dirty (sometimes more than others, depending on where they’ve been and what the weather’s like), but they’ll shed their fur all over the place as well. Unless you want your home to be furry and potentially grimy all the time, you’ll need to do a lot of cleaning, and that means investing in a high-quality vacuum cleaner so it can do the job well. 

It might be tempting to buy a cheap vacuum because it’s going to be picking up so much dog fur and that’s its main role, but if you buy cheap, it will likely get clogged up quickly, and might even stop working altogether because the motor can’t cope with the work you’re asking it to do. It’s far better to invest in a more expensive (and well-rated) machine and keep it for years rather than keep buying cheaper ones – in the end, it will only cost you more if you go for this option. 

When you’re looking for the right vacuum, look for ones that have a special attachment for cleaning up after pets, and specifically getting fur and dander off your furniture and floors. Plus, you’ll also want to buy one with a HEPA filter (that stands for high-efficiency particulate air) which will remove tiny allergens from the air, improving your health and maybe even your dog’s health too. 

Once you have your vacuum, you’ll need to use it on a regular basis, otherwise the mess will build up and the chore will become a much harder one that’s easier to put off, making things worse. 

Install A Doggy Door

A doggy door is a great addition to your home as it means your dog can come and go as they like (of course, they’ll need a secure outside space to go to – they can’t just be allowed to wander the streets). This means you can get on with your own work or even leave the dog for short periods of time, and because they can go out when they need to, your home won’t have any problems. If a dog is left inside for too long, they might need to go to the toilet, for example, or they might get bored and start chewing things and making a mess; a doggy door can stop this from happening. 

Even if you think you can’t have a doggy door because you don’t have what might be thought of as a traditional door to your yard, it’s not a problem; you can have a special dog door sliding door installed by professionals. Whatever your home setup is and whatever door you have, you can still make sure your dog has as much access to the garden as they’ll need. 

Once your doggy door is installed, it’s wise to put a mat outside or some pet-safe artificial grass, for example. This makes a much more comfortable ‘landing’ area for your dog, and when they come back inside, some of the dirt from their feet will be wiped away. Some people even train their dogs to wipe their feet, so that’s another possible option – if you have the time to do it! 

Keep Important Things Out Of Reach 

Dogs are curious creatures by nature, and they’ll happily explore whatever they can get their paws on and noses into – although this keeps their brains stimulated and even gives them some physical exercise, it can also lead them into trouble, especially if they decide they want to chew or rip up things that are important to you. Not only would this be upsetting, but it could be dangerous for your dog too. 

Because of this, you’ll need to take a good look around before your dog arrives and do a risk assessment about everything in your home. These will be things you never thought of as dangerous or as being at risk of damage before, so you’ll need to look objectively at your possessions and make sure you take everything into account. 

Make sure that you move important (and potentially dangerous) things so that they’ll be out of reach of your dog – put them in cupboards and cabinets (with the addition of childproof locks to make sure no dog can get inside), or install shelving so you can store things at a higher level. 

On the same note, you should always keep your dog’s toys, blankets, and other things they might want to play with in a place they can easily reach them. If they can get to their toys, they’ll usually decide to play with them, and they won’t go looking for anything else, meaning your home stays much safer, so your dog stays much happier. 

Use Non-Toxic Cleaners 

Cleaning is a crucial part of living anywhere, and as we’ve seen, if you have a dog, it’s probably more important than ever to do on a regular basis. However, if you’re using any kind of chemical cleaner to make your home look and smell good, it’s time to have a re-think if you also have a dog – those cleaners can be dangerous to them. 

When you’re shopping, make sure you read the labels properly, and only buy cleaning products that have been certified as being safe for dogs – they’ll usually also be environmentally friendly products, which makes them even better anyway. If you can’t find anything or those products are out of your budget, why not make your own? You can combine normal household ingredients, like vinegar and baking soda, and create a natural cleaning solution that really works and won’t cause your dog any harm.