Making a Big Impact with Small DIY Projects This Winter

As the winter weather moves us indoors, it’s important to focus on simple ways to boost the look of your interior space. The changing of the seasons provides the perfect opportunity to get away from the cold and spice things up inside. This winter, why not try a simple DIY project? With our Christmas bills still hanging around, a DIY project will not only save you some money but will also add some interior flair to your home.

Adding an Accent Window. It’s no surprise that adding a bold accent can really boost a room. Adding a new focal point brings a pop of colour to a room, livening it instantly. If the idea of painting a whole wall seems a bit daunting, try painting an accent window. If you can balance it with the other windows in your space, painting the window trim a bold colour will achieve everything an accent wall does without the hassle of a big paint job.

Image via Apartment Therapy

Creative Lighting Cover-up. To bring a new dimension and life to any room, try drawing eyes up to the ceiling with a statement lighting fixture. A simple switch of fixtures can make all the difference in livening a room. But wait! If a whole new fixture isn’t in the budget this season, the same thing can be accomplished by adding a DIY drum shade to your pre-existing fixture. Using embroidery hoops, fabric and ribbon, you can make an incredibly simple drum shade for any fixture in your home. The shade will cover the old fixture and give the illusion of a fancy, modern addition to your room, for under $50.

Image via Ebay

Make a “Brand New” Headboard. To refresh your bedroom this winter, try updating your headboard. Though it may seem like a big task, a DIY headboard is an inexpensive way to bring new colours and textures into your bedroom. To keep things simple, reupholster or paint the headboard with an updated fabric or colour. For the more daring DIYers, create a unique headboard out of repurposed wood, painted window shutters or even shelving units!

Image via Homedit

Give Cabinets a Facelift. We can’t forget the kitchen! Change things up with updated, polished cabinets. You don’t need an entirely new set of cabinetry to make a big impact in the kitchen. By simply repainting or staining your pre-loved cabinet doors, you can brighten the entire room while also giving it a more polished, modern look. Switching out the hardware on your cupboards and drawers can also do wonders in making a kitchen feel more modern. Bold, uniform hardware paired with the updated cabinets is sure to make a huge impact with minimal effort.

Image via Nina Hendrick

Don’t miss the all-new Ottawa Home & Remodelling Show, January 21-24, 2016, for the latest trends for 2016 and over 150 renovation experts from the Ottawa region to help you accomplish them. Don't have tickets yet? Get 2-for-1 on Facebook and treat a friend or family member to the show. We can't wait to see you there!

EY CENTRE
JANUARY 21-24, 2016.

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New Year, New Room: Interior Design Trends for 2016

The New Year offers the perfect opportunity to update your living space with the latest trends. We’ve outlined 5 of 2016’s top interior design trends to help you bring your home into 2016!

Bring the Outside In. Maybe the simplest home trend of 2016 to incorporate into your home is the concept of bringing the outside, inside. Be prepared to see a definite increase in plant life being brought into inside living spaces this year. Small plants, succulents and flowers are coming in full force, with a twist. This year, trade in the classic pots and vases for more eclectic, creative displays. The inside plant life trend is being taken just a few steps further by displaying the plants in everything from antique bird cages to rustic crates and everything in-between.

Mixed Materials. In 2016, mixing design materials will make a huge statement in any room. Don’t be afraid to pair different metals with wood, marble or even ceramic elements! This design trend is breaking all the rules of mixing and matching materials – and we love every bit of it. Instead of limiting yourself to all gold accents or all wood touches, get creative! For example, gold and silver mirrors can be perfectly balanced out by rustic, wooden bowls or frames. By ignoring the interior design laws of mixing materials, you’re on the fast track to the most modern living space around.

Image via Lush Home

Ethnic Fabrics and Textures. Get ready; this year will see a huge rise in the use of ethnic fabrics and textures. Design influences from across the world have come together to bring us the inclusion of an array of different patterns and textures into this year’s hottest designs. Aztec patterns, woven wood furniture and colourful, bright carpets are only the beginning of this new design trend. These new patterns and textures are sure to bring vibrancy and life into any room!

Image via Lush Home

Warm Colours. Say hello to warm-toned colours again! 2016 is ushering in a new slough of colours to pick from when redesigning any room in your home. From light pinks to burnt oranges, 2016 will feature every warm, cozy colour you could ask for. We suggest using these warm-toned colours in the “social rooms” of your home, such as living rooms, dining rooms and kitchens, as the warmer colours evoke a comforting, welcoming feeling.

Image via SB Digs

Don’t miss the all-new Ottawa Home & Remodelling Show, January 21-24, 2016, for the latest trends for 2016 and over 150 renovation experts from the Ottawa region to help you accomplish them. Haven't got your tickets yet? Get 2-for-1 on Facebook and treat a friend or family member to the show - we can't wait to see you there!

EY CENTRE
JANUARY 21-24, 2016.

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John Gordon’s Top Tips for a Successful Contractor-Customer Relationship

It is easy to become overwhelmed when trying to choose a remodelling expert or contractor for your next home renovations project. Many homeowners have the same worries and reservations. First, it is hard to find an expert you trust and know can do a great job on your particular project. Second, many homeowners don’t know their rights in terms of what they should be asking for as they move along in the process.

John Gordon, Owner of Your Reno Guys, takes the guesswork out of starting your next renovations project, providing you with his top tips for a successful renovations relationship.

• Research potential renovation companies by using websites that rate and review contractors in your area such as the Home Stars Website and ask for recommendations from family and friends
• Meet with two to three contractors in person before choosing one for your type of renovation
• Ask about permit requirements in your area
• Inquire about qualifications and insurance of the people who will be doing your work
• Make sure the contractor has liability insurance in case of accidents or damage in your home
• Ask for a written estimate and accurate breakdown of what is included
• Obtain and call references and ask as many detailed questions as possible
• Once the written estimate is agreed upon, request a written contract
• Be sure to communicate about the progress of your renovation frequently
• Keep a record of the payments along the way
• Provide any final feedback you may have upon completion of the project
• Always be in control of the money; never release more money than the services or materials received

John Gordon will be sharing his tips and advice at the Ottawa Home & Remodelling Show, taking place January 21-24, 2016 at the EY Centre. Don’t miss his presentation “Building Permits: When Do You Need One?,” Friday, January 22 6-7 PM, and Sunday, January 24, 3-4 PM. John Gordon will also be available at the Your Reno Guys booth at the show to answer all of your questions. Don't have tickets yet? Get 2-for-1 on Facebook and treat a friend or family member to the show! 

EY CENTRE
JANUARY 21-24, 2016.

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Top 5 Tips for Building Consciously from Casey Grey, “The Conscious Builder”

Homeowners generally think of living “consciously” in terms of reducing their energy use with LED bulbs, or getting their family in the habit of recycling and composting. However, there are many more ways you can make environmentally conscious decisions in your home, especially if you’re starting a remodel.

Casey Grey is the owner of Cornelis Grey Construction: The Conscious Builder, which focuses on building homes “consciously,” and to a higher standard, using environmentally friendly and health conscious products. Casey shares his top 5 tips for building consciously in your next remodel.

Buy Quality Windows

The fact is, windows are the weakest point of your home. They have little thermal resistance and are often positioned in places that affect the performance and comfort of your home. When purchasing windows, be very wary of what manufacturers tell you. I’m not saying that they are lying to you but they may not be telling you the complete truth. For example, window performance is based on the complete window assembly. This means that the glass, spacers and frames all need to work together. Great glass and spacers with a poor window frames only addresses part of the issue. No matter what, I would always suggest triple glazed windows at the very minimum. Make sure to do your research or find a contractor who can help you with these decisions.

Insulation From The Exterior

If you have the opportunity to add insulation to the exterior of your home, DO IT! This will eliminate Thermal Bridges which will make your home much more comfortable and will help it perform much better. Understanding the difference between Effective R-Value and Nominal R-Value will help you with this concept. For example, a 2”x6” wood framed wall with studs every 16” and an R-22 batt will give you an effective R-Value of R-17. That same wall with an addition R-10 (2” of foam) on the exterior will give you an effective R-Value of R-27! Here it is in point form:

Wall 1 (Typical 2" x 6" wall)

• Nominal R-Value = R-22
• Effective R-Value = R-17

Wall 2 (Additional 2" of foam on the exterior)

• Nominal R-Value = R-32
• Effective R-Value = R27

Eliminate As Many Holes As Possible

The tighter your home is, the better it will perform and the more comfortable it will be. If anybody tells you your home needs to breathe, chances are they don’t understand the basics of building science. Yes, your assembly may need to have the ability to dry out or have vapour travel through it BUT you do not want air to travel through your wall. When air leaks into your home, not only does it make it less comfortable and less energy efficient, it also opens up the potential for major structural damage and adds to poor indoor air quality.

Think of this for a second. When you turn on your bathroom fan or your huge kitchen exhaust fan, where do you think the air is coming from? Air is being blown out of the house so it needs to be coming in somewhere, right? Well that air is going to come in wherever it can which usually ends up being through plugs, switches and other exhaust openings, such as those that are required for gas appliances. This means you have all the chemicals from your walls and potentially Carbon Monoxide coming into your home. The solution is to eliminate as many holes as possible and mechanically ventilate your home with an HRV or ERV. Any contractor or HVAC contractor who understands building science should be able to help you with this.

Think of Where Your Products And Materials Come From

When building consciously, we also want to think of where all the products and materials we purchase come from. Ultimately we want to purchase quality products but we also want to make sure we’re lowering the carbon footprint of our build. For example, if you’re thinking of a stone counter top, where is that stone coming from? Is it being cut out of the ground on the other side of the world, being packaged and shipped here and then cut and polished just for your kitchen? We live at a time when we have more options than we know of. You can get counters made from paper or recycled content now! They may even be made closer to your home than you think. You can do an easy online search or ask your contractor or designer for some other options.

Think of The Air You Breathe

You may have heard of off-gassing or VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds) before. If you haven’t, I suggest you take a look. Unfortunately most homes have terrible indoor air quality and one of the reasons is because of off-gassing. There are many products out there that have many different chemicals in them and they often continue to off-gas for years to come. The most common ones you hear of are paints, stains, laminates and spray foam insulation. Be wary of other types of insulation and even your furniture as well. For example, fibreglass insulation and certain fabrics are sprayed with fire retardants that are full of hormone disrupting chemicals. Make sure to talk to your contractor about the materials that are being used in your home. Healthier materials may cost more but the health of you and your family is invaluable.

Casey Grey will be sharing his tips and advice at the Ottawa Home & Remodelling Show, taking place January 21-24, 2016 at the EY Centre. Don’t miss his presentation “Conscious Strategies For Remodelling Your Home” at the show, Thursday, January 21, 6-7 PM and Saturday, January 23, 10:30-11:30 AM. Casey Grey will also be available at the Cornelius Grey Construction booth at the show to answer all of your questions. 

Don't have tickets yet? Get 2-for-1 when you connect with us on Facebook. Treat a friend or family member to the show - we'd love to see you there!

EY CENTRE
JANUARY 21-24, 2016.

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Ottawa Home + Remodelling Show Exhibitor Spotlight: Synergy 3 Construction

We're excited to have Synergy 3 Construction joining us at the all new Ottawa Home & Remodelling Show. With over 35 years of experience in residential and commercial construction projects, including kitchen renovations, basement renovation, bathroom renovation, new additions, custom decks, and more, their skilled team is ready to help with your next home improvement project.

Synergy 3 Construction is committed to personalized and quality customer service, and they see the end product as a statement of their worth as a creative, dynamic, and trusted local business. Nothing is more important to them than their customers' complete satisfaction.

Learn more about this company when you visit them in Booth #1307 at the Ottawa Home & Remodelling Show. But first, get to know them a little better in our brief interview below.

Please describe your services.

"Design - Build renovation services in the Ottawa area. Kitchens, Bathrooms, Basements and Home Additions. Our qualified and licensed team of Carpenters and tradesmen will take your renovation dreams and turn them into reality!"

What are your best home or garden tips for the season?

"Use LED lights everywhere - save your hard earned money!"

Will you have any show specials? What are your featured services?

"Show Special - Buy one, get one free - LED potlights in a renovation. Spring Special - Free upgrade to Triple Glazed windows for your home renovation/addition."

What are your home or garden pet peeves?

"Disorganization is the worst!"

What is the strangest client request you've ever received?

"The strangest request we have ever received was when we were asked to install 'Hello Kitty' backsplash tiles in the kitchen."

What is your favourite part about the Ottawa Home + Remodelling Show?

"We love interacting with potential clients, hearing their stories and offering our advise and expertise even if they aren't ready to pull the trigger on that renovation just yet."

Is there anything else you think folks should know about your company?

"We provide free in-home consultations with free quotes."

The Ottawa Home & Remodelling Show takes over the EY Centre January 21-24, 2016. With hundreds of home improvement experts, design professionals, and gardening gurus ready to help you refresh your space, it's a must-attend event for Ottawa homeowners.

Don't have tickets yet? Save $3 when you buy online! Get your tickets today.

EY CENTRE
JANUARY 21-24, 2016.

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The 5 Features to get Excited About at the Ottawa Fall Home Show

The Ottawa Fall Home Show is getting closer and our excitement is mounting! We’ve come together with some amazing features to make this Ottawa Fall Home Show one to remember. From DIYs to awards, here are some of the top features gracing The Ottawa Fall Home Show, September 24 to 27, 2015.

Ultimate Upcycle Challenge: Take a Seat presented by Rust-Oleum in support of

Habitat for Humanity National Capital Region

Do-gooders, take note! We’ve recruited 10 of Ottawa’s top media personalities, designers and tastemakers to turn drab into fab for a cause. Armed with a black box of Rust-Oleum products and a small design budget, each participant will upcycle a pre-loved piece from ReStore into a swoon-worthy seat that’s fit for a second chance at love. Bid on your favourite seat at our silent auction (100% of proceeds benefit Habitat for Humanity National Capital Region) and rest easy knowing you’ve made a difference by going green and giving back. It’s design, with a conscience.

You can bid on chairs upcycled by Delaney Holley, Diane Deans, and Lois Lee - among others!

Micro-Loft: Presented by Bonneville Homes

Have you heard about the new renovation trend, micro homes? A home doesn’t always need a thousand square feet of space, lofty rooms and gilded toilets to be considered luxury. New this year, Bonneville Homes will be introducing their HALO micro model loft. Home show visitors are sure to be inspired with big ideas for their small spaces with the help of some incredible home furnishings by Artemano and Direct Buy Ottawa. Permacon and Landscape Ontario will also be providing a landscaped area giving home show visitors the fullest effect.

The HALO micro loft

The Housing Design Awards: Presented by the Greater Ottawa Home Builders Association

The ever-increasing battle for design excellence will be in full force during our Housing Design Competition! Local designers are invited to show off their talent and design genius in a competition among 125 home designers, all vying for the top spot of the People’s Choice Award. Come get inspired by the innovations and vote on your favourite.

Hi – Low Feature Room: Presented by La-Z-Boy and the Ottawa at Home Magazine

Can you spot the bargain? This feature room will be an interactive space for visitors to figure out which section of the room is decorated with high end pieces and which section with bargain pieces. Visitors will have the chance to vote on which section they think is which and will be entered into a draw to win a $10,000 shopping spree at La-Z-Boy Furniture Galleries!

Put your bargain hunting skills to the test!

Main Stage Features: Presented by Across Ottawa Home Staging

Just can’t get enough of home design? Check out the Main Stage to be inspired by shows on everything home; from remodeling and home staging to decorating on a budget! Visitors will be able to learn and take inspiration from some of the best. Local experts will be sharing their fresh ideas and creative solutions for home-related projects from the Main Stage vantage point all weekend long! Come be inspired with us! 

See Sarah Richardson, Leigh-Ann Allaire Perreault, and Tanya Collins!

The Ottawa Fall Home Show takes over the EY Centre September 24-27, 2015. Don't have tickets yet? Get 2-for-1 when you connect with us on Facebook and bring a friend or family member to the show - we can't wait to see you there!

EY CENTRE
SEPTEMBER 24 - 27, 2015.

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6 Spooky Recipes for Your Next Halloween Party

With fall comes one of our favourite holidays: Halloween. From candy galore to cute kids in costumes, there’s nothing better. This Halloween, impress the whole neighborhood with our six spooky, Halloween-themed food and drink recipes; sure to promise the Halloween party of the year!

Candy Corn No More!

Who says you have stick to candy and chocolate on Halloween? Try some scary twists on old Halloween favorites and watch the amazement on your guests’ faces. 

Poison Caramel Apples

Image via Simply Delicious

1. Place bamboo skewers in six granny smith apples and set aside.

2. In a pot, combine 2 cups of sugar, ¾ cup of water, ½ cup of corn syrup and 3 drops of black gel food colouring over medium heat.

3.When the sugar has dissolved, turn up the heat and allow the caramel to boil until it reaches approximately 150°c/310°F.

4. Dip the apples into the candy mixture and leave them to cool on a lined baking tray to prevent sticking.

5. Serve after at least an hour of cooling time. 

Spooky Spider Seven Layer Dip

Image via Our Best Bites

Layer 1: 16 oz of refried beans mixed with taco seasoning

Layer 2: 1 cup of sour cream

Layer 3: 1 cup of guacamole

Layer 4: 1 cup of salsa

Layer 5: 1 cup of lettuce

Layer 6: 1 cup of Mexican olives or jalapenos

Layer 7: 1 cup of diced tomatoes 

Finishing Touch: Pipe sour cream in a spider web design on top and add plastic spiders just before serving

Witches Wand

Image via Our Best Bites

1. Melt one package  of white chocolate chips.

2. Dip pretzel rods into the melted chocolate. Use a butter knife or spoon to cover the rod evenly. Make sure to leave half of the pretzel plain to avoid sticky fingers.
3. Shake Halloween themed sprinkles onto the pretzels, turning the rod to catch every side with some sprinkles.

4. Leave to cool and harden for 24 hours.
5. Try milk and dark chocolate too, to have a variety for all chocolate lovers!

Creepy Cocktails!

All of that delicious food will need an excellent drink to accompany it. Forget the red wine and orange drink this year – mix up your Halloween drink menu with a splash of something a little more festive.

Black Widow Cocktail

Image via Pink Recipe Box

1. Pour ½ oz of strawberry vodka, ½ oz of white rum, and ½ oz of triple sec into a glass.
2. Top up with cranberry juice and stir to mix.
3. Tip: Add licorice lace to the sides of the glass to make spider legs!

Hocus Pocus Fizz

Image via The Little Kitchen

1. Mix together 1 cup pineapple juice; ½ cup rum,¼ teaspoon coconut extract, 3 drops of red food colouring, and 3 drops of yellow food colouring.
2. Add 2 oz of the rum mixture into a glass and top with sparkling wine.
3. Tip: Rim the glass with black sugar for a festive finish.

Wizard's Potion (non-alcoholic)

Image via City Line

1. In a large pitcher, combine 6 cups of apple cider, 2 cups of orange juice, ½ cup of lemon, and stir to combine.
2. Add chilled sparkling white grape juice and serve immediately.
3. Tip: Add a few drops of orange food colouring to ramp up the Halloween effect!

We hope these ideas help make your next Halloween party a hit! For more decor ideas that are sure to wow folks regardless of the season or holiday, make sure to check out the Ottawa Fall Home Show! We'll have design and decor professionals, landscaping experts, home improvement gurus, and more ready to help with your next home project. 

Don't have tickets yet? Get 2-for-1 on Facebook and treat a friend or family member to the show! 

EY CENTRE
SEPTEMBER 24-27, 2015.

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5 Essential Front Porch Pieces for Fall

Fall is upon us and with the season comes a myriad of new ways to decorate your home. Who doesn’t love mixing things up now and again? One of our favourite places to makeover in fall is the front porch; with good reason too! There’s so much room for creativity and originality, which makes this project so interesting (and fun). In this article we share with you the five aspects of porch decorating we just couldn’t live without!

Pumpkins, Pumpkins and More Pumpkins

Nothing quite says fall like a huge, orange pumpkin on the stoop. That being said, this fall try a new spin on the old classic. Spray paint your pumpkins gold, white or black to make them stand out or use several different sized pumpkins for a less uniform look. The possibilities are endless.

Image via Home Stories A to Z

Rustic is the New Chic

The ‘rustic’ trend looks like it’s here to stay, so why not incorporate it into your porch decor this year? Adding rustic pieces can accomplish a homier, more relaxed look that will welcome just about anyone! Use natural pieces such as hay bales, dried cornstalks and pinecones or include some bigger items like distressed urns and furniture, apple baskets, or even a straw welcoming mat. 

Image via Country Living

Lead the Way with Lanterns

Whether they are paper, metal or glass, lanterns always pull together a porch space beautifully. Try hanging the coloured paper lanterns in all sorts of shapes and sizes from the roof above your porch to create depth in the space and catch the eyes of your guests. Glass lanterns look wonderful with candles or sticks inside. Place these on your porch beside your pumpkins or hay bales to make the space look polished.

Image via Better Homes and Gardens

Wreaths are Vital

Your door is what every person sees first when looking at your porch. Make sure it's looking its best by putting a festive wreath on it! You can find wreaths made of almost everything that makes us think of fall, from leaves to pinecones, to mums. If you're craft-oriented, try making your own. Just make sure it ties into the overall theme of your porch before spending much money; things can get pricey!

Image via Refresh Style

Don’t Forget to Leave Some Leaves

Coloured fall leaves are arguably the first things on everyone’s mind when fall is mentioned. Bring your childhood nostalgia of jumping through piles of leaves to the forefront of your home by adding a scattering of leaves across your porch. Add them to baskets or bouquets for the perfect finishing touch to any space! 

Image via Sweetopia

For more home decor and advice make sure to visit the Ottawa Fall Home Show! It's the place to discover the latest home and garden trends for this season. This exciting event is taking over the EY Centre September 24-27, 2015. 

Don't have tickets yet? Right now you can get 2-for-1 on Facebook. Treat a friend or family member to the show - we can't wait to see you there!

EY CENTRE
SEPTEMBER 24- 27, 2015.

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6 Games & Decorations to Revamp Your Halloween Party

Halloween parties are some of the best events of the year! Neighbours, friends, and family filling your home in costume – what could be more fun? This year, why not try some new additions to your old party favourites? We’ve put together six ways to help you throw the best Halloween party you’ve ever seen. 

R.I.P Boring Decorations

This Halloween steer clear of the typical plastic bats and black and orange balloons strewn across the room. Wow your guests with three of our favorite Halloween Decoration DIYs.

Black Cat Pumpkins: We love this DIY as a new twist for the classic carved pumpkin, inside the house or on the front porch to greet trick-or-treaters. Start with two pumpkins; one significantly smaller than the other. Cut the top off of the smaller pumpkin and clean out the insides. With the same pumpkin, trace and carve eye holes onto one side. Add ears by cutting out the shapes from black felt or card stock and attaching them on top of the pumpkin. Next, spray paint the two pumpkins black. After they’ve dried, attach the head with floral picks and remember to set a lit tea light in the head. Bye-bye boring pumpkins!

Image via Sunset

Slithering Wreaths: Welcome your guests with this super creepy, snake covered wreath. Grab a grape-vine wreath from your nearest craft store as well as several rubber snakes. Spray paint the wreath and snakes black and allow them both to dry. With a hot glue gun, begin attaching the snakes in every which way; overlapping, hanging off, whatever you like. Hang the wreath on your door to make your guests shudder! 

Image via Martha Stewart

Blood Soaked Candle: This DIY leaves you with creepy candles in under ten minutes! Start with a couple of tall, white, cylindrical candles and one bright red candle. Light the red candle and several minutes for a small pool of wax to form. Once it has, start holding the red candle on an angle above the white one so the coloured wax drips onto it. Move the dripping candle around so that the red wax ‘blood’ is dripping down the whole candle. Continue doing this with all of your candles until you’re left with several ‘blood’ soaked creations. 

Image via Sous Notre Toit

Games for Ghouls

Halloween games are often the most fun of the night! Including some games in your party plan will bring your guests together and is a great way to get the conversation flowing. These games are simple to put together and will guarantee a laugh out of anyone playing; kids or adults alike!

Costume Bingo: Our twist on the classic bingo game is nothing short of a Halloween hit! Before the party, make up bingo sheets with a different popular costume in each square. As guests walk in, hand them a sheet and something to mark the squares with (magic markers work the best!). When they see a guest wearing one of the costumes on their sheet, they mark off that square. This continues until someone has 5 squares marked in a row. The first person to get the Halloween bingo wins a prize and bragging rights for the rest of the night!

Image via Crazy Little Projects

Candy Corn Count: Fill up a large bowl with candy corn (or your favorite Halloween treat; it’s up to you!) and as you’re doing so, count how many pieces of the candy corn are going in. Leave small pieces of paper beside the bowl, inviting guests to try their hand at guessing how many candy corns are in the bowl. Once everyone has voted, reveal the number you originally counted and whoever had the closest guess wins the bowl of candy corn!

Image via Better Homes and Gardens

Guess Who? Halloween Edition: This game is a fun way to have guests talking in no time! As each of your guests comes through the door, place a sticker on their back with the name of a Halloween character on it. The guests will mingle around the room, asking yes or no questions to figure out who they’re supposed to be. Once a guest has guessed the character on their sticker, they remove it and continue to help others in guessing their character by answering questions. The game continues through the night until everyone has guessed their character. 

Image via About

So without further ado, let’s get party planning! For more holiday decor ideas make sure to visit the Ottawa Fall Home Show. The home and garden event of the season takes over the EY Centre September 24-27, 2015.

Don't have tickets yet? Well that's scarier than any Halloween decoration could be! Get 2-for-1 tickets when you connect with us on Facebook and treat a friend or family member to the show!

EY CENTRE
SEPTEMBER 24-27, 2015.

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Get Up & Upcycle at the Ottawa Fall Home Show

"Upcycling" is very quickly becoming the most talked about trend in the renovation and design world. Upcycling is repurposing a tired or discarded item that you would otherwise throw out, into something beautiful and functional. You can upcycling almost anything, big or small, old or broken, whatever you can think of!

For this year's Ottawa Fall Home Show, we've teamed up with Habitat for Humanity to bring you the Ultimate Upcycle Challenge! Local celebrities, design experts, media personalities, and DIY bloggers will be put to the test.

Armed with a small budget, some paint from Rust-Oleum, and all the creativity they can muster, the participants will be sourcing and repurposing a previously-owned item. Entries will be displayed at the show where visitors will have the chance to bid on the items with all the proceeds being donated to Habitat for Humanity.

So how can you become a part of the upcycle trend? With almost anything! We've put together some ideas to help you get started.

Calling All Old Denim

We all have that pair of jeans that are a torn, worn mess, but no matter what, we can't seem to get rid of them. Now you don't have to! You can repurpose denim into almost anything; decorations, pillow cases, totes, and even blankets!

Image via Brit + Co

Too Many Pillowcases?

Find yourself with too many empty pillowcases hanging around the linen closet? Pillowcases make great DIY materials because they are made up of so many patterns, textures, and sizes! This leaves you with a realm of possibilities to try! Why not sew them together and stuff it to make a sleeping mat? Or use them to make garment bags and painting smocks for kids? Try adding a pocket and handle to a case for the perfect kid's traveling pillow!

Image via Better Homes and Gardens

Mason Jars for Everyone

Mason jars are perhaps the most universal DIY item there is. Don't throw them away once they're empty, put them to good use! Bringing a rustic feel to any project, mason jars are super easy to repurpose into almost anything. We love them as storage, candles, and vases.

Image via The DIY Playbook

Holey Knit Sweaters No More

You know that old, yet super soft sweater that's been shoved at the back of your closet for a year because of the giant hole in it? There's a million and one ways to reuse it and rekindle the cable knit love affair! With just a needle, thread, and a bit of finesse, you can fashion all sorts of cozy knit accessories. Turn your old sweaters into Christmas stockings, slippers, boot socks, mittens, a hat, and the cutest baby clothes you've ever seen - you can do almost anything with it!

Image via Saartje Knits

Visit the Ottawa Fall Home Show to get more upcycling tips and DIY project ideas. The home and garden event of the season takes over the EY Centre September 24-27, 2015. Don't have tickets yet? Right now you can get 2-for-1 tickets on Facebook. Don't forget to share this awesome deal with a friend!

EY CENTRE
SEPTEMBER 24 - 27, 2015.

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