Need a quick trick for decorating your Sierra Vista home in a way that promotes health and wellness for the entire family? Houseplants. Incorporating houseplants into your interior design improves air quality and reduces stress. Plants are also visually appealing and add beauty and vitality to your living space. Here are some tips for choosing and caring for houseplants.
Choosing Plants
What Kind of Light Do You Have?
Determine the amount of natural light available in your home and choose plants that thrive in those conditions. For low-light areas, consider plants like pothos, snake plants or peace lilies. For bright indirect light, options include spider plants, philodendrons and ZZ plants. High-light areas can accommodate plants like succulents, cacti and certain varieties of ferns.
How Much Time Do You Have?
Some plants require minimal attention, while others may need regular watering, pruning or fertilizing. Choose plants you have the time and energy to care for. If you’re new to houseplants, start with easy-to-care-for varieties like pothos, spider plants or snake plants.
How Much Space Do You Have?
Consider the size and layout of your home when selecting houseplants. Choose plants that fit the available space and complement your existing decor. Tall, upright plants like fiddle leaf figs or palms can add height to a room while trailing plants like ivy or philodendron can be displayed on shelves or in hanging baskets.
Do You Have Children or Pets?
If you have pets or young children, research the toxicity of houseplants before bringing them into your home. Some plants can be harmful if ingested, so it’s important to choose pet-friendly or non-toxic varieties.
Caring for Houseplants
Remember to Water Them
Pay attention to the watering needs of your plants and water them accordingly. Most houseplants prefer slightly moist soil, but overwatering can lead to root rot. Water thoroughly when the top inch of soil feels dry and allow excess water to drain away.
Some Plants Need Humidity
Some houseplants, especially tropical varieties, benefit from increased humidity. Mist your plants regularly with a spray bottle or place them on a tray filled with pebbles and water to create a humid microclimate. Humidity-loving plants love bathrooms.
Get to Pruning
Remove dead or yellowing leaves and spent flowers to encourage healthy growth and maintain the appearance of your plants. Prune as needed to control size and shape and repot plants when they outgrow their containers.
Feed Them
Feed your plants regularly with a balanced liquid fertilizer during the growing season (spring and summer). Follow the instructions on the fertilizer label and avoid over-fertilizing, which can cause nutrient imbalances and damage roots.
Pests Get Inside
Keep an eye out for signs of pests such as aphids, mealybugs or spider mites, as well as common diseases like powdery mildew or root rot. Treat infestations promptly with insecticidal soap or horticultural oil and adjust care practices as needed to prevent future problems.
Keep an Eye on Them
Finally, pay attention to your plants and observe their behavior and appearance. Notice any changes in growth, foliage color or overall health, as these can indicate underlying issues that need to be addressed.
If you want to skip crowded restaurants and movie theaters on Valentine’s Day, there’s no better place to celebrate than your new Sierra Vista home. Doing so can be incredibly romantic. Following are some ideas to make it special. (Pro tip: Send the kids to Grandma’s house).
Make a Romantic Meal
Nothing says love like preparing a meal together in your beautiful new kitchen. Choose a recipe you both love or try something new. Set the mood with romantic music and a glass of wine while you cook.
Picnics Are for Lovers
Picnics are romantic and your game room or family room is perfect for an indoor one. Lay out a blanket, grab a bottle of wine, prepare a charcuterie board, dip some strawberries and get ready to dine and snuggle.
Open Bottles of Wine
Get out your wedding toasting glasses and arrange a mini-tasting event at home. Each of you choose a favorite vintage, cover up the labels and see how well you know each other by guessing what it is.
Sweet Movie MarathonTurn your media room into romance central. Pick your favorite films to watch together. They don’t need to be romantic just something not created for kids. Set up a cozy movie area with blankets, pillows and popcorn.
Send a Love Letter
Write love letters to each other. Share your feelings, memories and dreams for the future. Exchange the letters and read them aloud to each other over a candlelit dinner.
Romantic Song and Dance
Create a special playlist of songs that mean something to both of you. Curl up on the couch together to listen and reminisce or clear some space and enjoy a private dance.
Get Creative
If you are both of an artistic bent, unleash your creativity. Paint, draw or craft together. If you enjoy writing, agree on a romantic theme then take turns adding a sentence or paragraph. Read the finished product out loud.
The Lovely Stars
When the stars align, romance is in the air, so why not grab some blankets and view them from your patio? Set up a telescope or just try to decide if that light in the sky is a star, planet or satellite.
It’s pink, red and white season! What will your family be doing to celebrate? If you aren’t sure, the Sierra Vista parents have a few ideas.
Homemade Valentine’s Cards
Help the kids create personalized Valentine’s Day cards for their friends, classmates and family members. Set up a crafting station with colorful paper, markers, stickers, glitter and other decorative materials. Here are four super easy, cute ideas.
Valentine’s Day Baking
Spend some time together in the kitchen baking Valentine’s Day-themed treats like heart-shaped cookies, cupcakes with pink frosting or chocolate-covered strawberries. Try these no-bake recipes with your youngest helpers. These Food Network recipes will have your kids making gift baskets in no time.
Valentine’s Day Crafts
Get creative with Valentine’s Day-themed crafts such as making heart-shaped garlands, paper flowers or DIY heart-shaped bookmarks. You can find plenty of easy and fun craft ideas online that are suitable for different age groups like these from PureWow.
Valentine’s Day Scavenger Hunt
Plan a scavenger hunt around the house or in the backyard with Valentine’s Day-themed clues and hidden treats or small gifts at each stop. This activity is sure to keep the kids entertained and excited. Not sure how? Try this free printable hunt.
Valentine’s Day Movie Night
Set up a cozy movie night at home with Valentine’s Day-themed movies or family favorites. Prepare some popcorn, snacks and hot cocoa, and snuggle up together. Some great kid-friendly options include Elemental, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, Winnie the Pooh: A Valentine for You and Lady and the Tramp.
Spread Kindness
Teach the kids the importance of kindness and empathy by encouraging them to perform random acts of kindness for others on Valentine’s Day. This could include making cards for elderly neighbors, delivering treats to local firefighters or healthcare workers or donating toys to a children’s charity.
Family Game Night
Gather the family for a fun game night with Valentine’s Day-themed games or classic board games. You can also incorporate love-themed trivia questions or charades for an extra dose of Valentine’s Day fun. If you don’t have time to create something from scratch, Amazon has several games that might tickle your family’s fancy.
Valentine’s Day Photo Booth
Set up a simple photo booth with Valentine’s Day props like heart-shaped glasses, red lips and love-themed signs. Let the kids dress up and take silly photos together to capture special memories. If you do it a few days early, you can send them out as Valentine’s Day cards.
What’s new in hues? Quite a lot, it seems. The watchwords for 2024 include “high-contrast,” “tone-on-tone” and “tranquility.” There’s also going to be a lot of blue. Read on to discover what’s trending, then speak to your builder representative to see how you can get the look for your new Sierra Vista home.
New Shades of Blue
We could say blue is back, but blue never really goes out of style. Prognosticators predict a shift from bolder blues to lighter, more ephemeral ones. A prime example is Sherwin-Williams’ color of the year, Upward. The soft color is perfect for adding a touch of tranquility to bedrooms and home offices.
Color Play
It’s always fun to play with color, but this year, designers predict people will be drawn to tone-on-tone color palettes. This type of decorating creates a sophisticated look by layering colors from the same family. Choose a warm earth shade for the walls then add furniture and rugs in a similar shade for a chic look.
Bolds Go Neutral
The new year is going to switch neutrals up in a big way with beige being replaced by rich purples, deep greens and vibrant yellows. These bold neutrals won’t be found all over the house, just in small rooms homeowners want to make a big statement in. Use bold colors in your guest bath, office or laundry room.
Getting Warmer
Homeowners are gravitating away from cool grey toward warmer creams, browns and rusts. One of the main reason warmer neutrals is trending is the ubiquitous presence of LED lighting. This type of lighting tends to cool colors down, so get the shade you want, you need to go warmer.
Opposites Attract
Dark, rich colors are going to play huge role in taming the lighter, brighter colors that will be popular this year. While much of the heavy lifting will be done by chocolate browns and forest greens, black is set to star. Behr’s color of the year, Cracked Pepper, is the perfect accent color as it is soft enough to be inviting and timeless.
Prepare for Pink
Thinking of building a dream home? You can’t go wrong with pink. This year pink hues are set to be alluring and sophisticated — think mauve, not bubble gum. It’s an excellent color for intimate spaces like bathrooms but done right, it can enhance entire game room.
Choosing a new home often means choosing a new community. That choice will have a significant effect on your family, including the schools your children attend, your work commute and your lifestyle. How do you go about choosing the right community for you? Here are five things you should consider:
Where Do You Want to Live?
Location is important. Consider factors such as proximity to schools, workplaces, shopping centers, healthcare facilities and recreational areas. Sierra Vista, for example, is located just 20 minutes from downtown Houston so you can easily get to work, enjoy urban activities and shop ‘til you drop. Children attend highly regarded Alvin ISD schools. Going on a trip? Hobby Airport is nearby.
How Do You Like to Play?
Communities like Sierra Vista offer many amenities. When choosing a community, look
for features that align with your lifestyle and preferences such as parks, walking trails, fitness centers, pools, golf courses or community centers. The Island Amenity Village at Sierra Vista caters to the needs of all family members with a heated lazy river, sports courts and more.
What Do You Want in a Home?
Builders offer a range of home options including different floor plans, architectural styles and customization opportunities. A good community only works with reputable builders with a proven track record of quality construction and customer satisfaction.
Does the HOA Fit Your Lifestyle
A homeowner’s association (HOA) helps keep your community looking beautiful. However, you should review the rules and regulations so you understand the fees associated with living in the community and what services or maintenance are covered. Ensure that the HOA rules align with your lifestyle preferences and that you are comfortable with any restrictions imposed.
What Does the Future Hold?
If you are moving to a community that is still under development, you want to take a look at the master plan. See if there are plans for additional amenities, schools, commercial spaces or infrastructure improvements. Consider how future development may impact property values and your overall living experience.
Choose Sierra Vista
Before making a decision, take the time to visit a variety of communities, talk to current residents and gather as much information as possible. Once you do, we’re sure you’ll choose Sierra Vista. Visit us today.
