The meeting room is often ‘where the magic happens’ for many businesses. Whether you’re impressing potential clients, masterminding smart strategies that will take your company further or nurturing your team with inspiring training, meeting rooms help make it all happen.

That’s why a well-presented meeting room is a crucial asset for any ambitious company. From winning new customers to cooking up creativity, it’s not easy to be at your best when your surroundings are lackluster.

There are all sorts of ways meeting rooms can let you down. Some are stuffy with a distract scent of stale coffee and lunchtime sandwiches. Others feature noticeable rings from last week’s cups of tea. Some spaces are little-used and dusty, while others are multi-purpose and show signs of scruffiness, wear, and tear.

Our team has some expert pointers which will leave your meeting room spick, span and perfectly professional.

1. A breath of fresh air

Many 21^st century offices are open plan these days – with the exception of closed-off meeting rooms. This means that many meeting spaces can feel stuffy and feature-poor ventilation. Stuffy, stale-smelling rooms are not conducive to creativity or productivity, which is why it’s so important to keep them feeling fresh.

Consider adding a subtle plug-in air freshener or reed diffuser to your meeting room (as long as it’s not too overpowering). If your space has windows, air the room out an hour before any visitors arrive. You may also consider banning food from the area to make sure space smells inviting at all times.

2. Clear the decks

Clean, tidy meeting space is far preferable to a cluttered space which feels neglected. Make sure you keep these spaces free of surface clutter and take a moment to wipe down all surfaces before or after each meeting so that it’s ready to go for the next session. A twice-weekly vacuum (dependent on the amount of foot traffic) will keep the floor clean too.

3. It’s the little things

Although many meetings are productive, we’ve all sat in sessions which seems to last an eternity. In such meetings, there’s ample time to really scrutinize the room you’re stuck in. That’s why it’s important not to overlook the little things which can make meeting rooms look less-than-lovely. From mildew on the inside of window frames to unsightly bundles of wires and dust-besmirched TV screens, pay attention to the little things – your guests are likely to notice them all.

4. Finishing touches

From wiping down the whiteboard so that every session feels like a fresh start to adding welcoming touches such as fresh flowers, a water cooler or a bowl of snacks, “little extras” can really make a difference to how people feel when they visit your meeting room. Invest in these extras to get more from every meeting.

So, after years and years of struggling with my grass, I decided to do something about it. My grass was always getting brown and it never seemed to get enough water.  Finally, someone said to me “are you watering your grass during the day? in the sun?” I had to say yes, because it was, you know, well, true.  And I wanted good advice on what to do.

It turns out that if you water your lawn under the hot sun, the water evaporates very quickly, and a lot of it does not even end up in your soil.  Worse, the water acts like tiny little magnifying glasses and can magnify the sun and burn your grass blades.  So not only is my grass not getting water, I am also wasting all this water that doesn’t even get used.  My water meter does not care that the water is evaporating.  Once that water passes through that little gear in my meter, I get charged, even if the water is steam in the air one minute later.

So what do I do? Get up late at night and water my lawn, or do I get a sprinkler system of some kind.  I had heard that they were really expensive, and required a lot of digging.  So, I did some research and it turns out there is a really cool solution, and it is really easy to install, and really easy to operate, and it does not cost an arm and a leg. Its Called LAWNBELT and its a DIY sprinkler system you can do for your house over a weekend.  The hardest part is visualizing and then laying it out on paper so that it covers your yard with sprinkled water.

Anyway, I got a plumber to come out and install a new custom hose bib in the right part of the front of my house (the other outdoor faucet hose is in a bad place) and that turned out to be my worst expense.  Once that was done, the rest was easy, and I even got a wifi timer. So I can control the water on my lawn, from anywhere. And it is finally getting green.  Almost!

There are a lot of ways for a budget-friendly curb improvement – you just have to look at the right blog. And here you are – lucky you! We’ve rounded up the easiest and cheapest ways on how to level up on that curb game. Take pride in the looks of your home and increase its selling value (if you plan on selling it). Get reading and start adding some magic to your home without breaking the bank!

1.Paint and Glam the Front Door and Trims

Revive your home by adding brightness to it. Painting your front door with a popping color will do the trick! Opt for a contrast between the front door and facade. Just remember to keep the colors complimenting each other. This may cost you as little as $20 or much less!

2.Light it Up: with Outdoor Lighting

Always keep in mind the style and function of the light. You want some nice looking lights that can adequately light up your entryway and give highlights to your home. This just doesn’t add up to the ambiance, but may help in preventing accidents and keep intruders away. Exterior lighting can be bought in any home improvement shop and will only cost you $20, more or less.

3.Mailbox Makeover!

Add some accent with this simple and essential accessory! Making your mailbox standout can act as a statement piece to your home’s curb. Be sure to follow your community’s regulations, though. You can get a brand new mailbox for around $20.

4.Prune and Tend to Those Beds

Attending to your garden and regularly grooming them can always bring a fresh vibe to your home. Always remove growing weeds and clear out other debris. You can change flowers, too, according to the season. Go for colored flowers and bring some vibrant and lovely touches to your garden that people will surely love to notice!

5.Clear the Driveway

The driveway can easily accumulate dust and dirt. Remove stains with a high-pressure washer. Store items, tools, and pieces of equipment that aren’t being used, in the garage or shed. Keeping the view simple and decluttered can make your home look much cleaner and organized – which reflects the homeowner’s personality and lifestyle, too!

6.Add Some Outdoor Art

Have some of those architectural pieces of art displayed in front of your home or in the garden. Fountains, statues, window boxes, house numbers, door knocker, and a lot more! You can find these items at an affordable price in a resale shop, or in the local flea market.

7.Trim Trees and Bushes

You want people to see the front of your house. Trim those overgrown bushes, cut those branches – just be sure the front porch and windows are seen and are not being blocked by plants and trees. If you want to do this on your own, expect to buy your own sheers for around $10 at least.