A mix of overhead lighting and potlights in our old basement. How I miss this hard-working space!

I'm glad you all liked the office wallpaper. There's still more to do - build the storage cabinets, mount the shelves - but any sort of progress feels good! This house is giving us lots of opportunity to try out new skills, like wallpapering. And while we love DIYing, there are a few things we leave to the pros.

Whenever we have electrical work to do around the house, we bring in a Licensed Electrical Contractor (LEC) to do the job instead of attempting it ourselves. Painting, tile work, laying brick... I'm up for it. Electrical work that done incorrectly could possibly shock you or start a fire? No thanks! Bring in the experts.

The Electrical Safety Authority (ESA) reached out to me recently to help spread the word about their site, poweryourreno.ca. It's fun to think about all the pretty things but electrical safety should be a part of your design plan too. That's where poweryourreno.ca comes in. The ESA and design expert Kimberley Seldon have joined forces to create a renovation resource filled with design tips and electrical considerations for homeowners, whether you're updating an existing space or building a brand new one.

Renovations can be a scary thing. We've found that taking the time to plan and ask the right questions upfront always creates a better result. In our previous basement, our LEC was invaluable in coming up with an electrical plan for our multi-functional space. From in-floor heating in the laundry room to dimmable lights for movie nights, it was important to take all of our needs and wants into consideration and find a way to combine good design with electrical safety.

Nighttime ambience in the old dining room

If you are planning a project of your own, head to the Power Your Reno panel taking place at the National Home Show at 1pm on March 18th. Moderator Tracy Moore from CityLine, Kimberly Seldon, and ESA expert Steve Smith will be talking about design trends, key questions to ask, and how to avoid costly and unsafe reno mistakes. Have an electrical question? You can ask an ESA Inspector at the show. Electrical safety experts will be on hand for one-on-one consultations at the DIY Centre from 11am -1pm and 3pm-5pm.

The Home Show is a great place to get a head start on your spring projects and I've got a pair of tickets to give away. To enter, leave a comment below or on my Instagram telling me about one project you're eager to get started on. One winner will be selected and announced on March 10th. Good luck!

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Disclosure: This post was sponsored by the Electrical Safety Authority. All opinions and words are my own.