by R D | Mar 13, 2022 | Homeowner Tips, Handy Home Tips
During the pandemic, many people expected that getting a new home would be difficult or even impossible. However, according to experts, the housing industry showed resilience with double-digit home appreciation and low mortgage rates one year after the start of the pandemic. Moreover, Fortune reports that homes sold at the fastest pace in history in 2021, with average listings finding buyers in just one week.
Many individuals and families were able to purchase their dream home even during uncertain times. If you are one of these families, you may already have moved into your new house. You may also think unpacking is the easy part of the whole moving-in process.
It can be quite challenging, especially if you’re particular about certain rooms, such as organizing a kitchen. Having a well-organized kitchen can instantly make you feel more at home in your new space, since it’s where most people gather to eat and bond. By having a plan before unboxing your kitchen items, you can have a wonderfully organized kitchen that feels warm and inviting.
Keep Essentials Within Easy Reach When Organizing a Kitchen
While unpacking your kitchen equipment in your new home, it is best to immediately sort them out as you take them out of the box. First, identify the most essential items, which are the kitchen items that you would use on a daily basis. These essentials usually include cutlery, dishtowels, kitchen cloth, the coffeemaker, knives, mugs, and the like.
Then, you can sort the seldom-used items, like big pots, pasta maker, and special cooking tools in a different pile. Finally, you can place the special occasion items, like fine china, on a third pile. Having the items sorted this way will make the next steps in organizing the kitchen much easier.
After sorting, you should properly organize your everyday items. To enhance the functionality of your kitchen, arrange your tools based on your lifestyle or your activities in your cooking space. Do you cook daily? What are the spices you frequently use? Which items do you reach for all the time? You should keep all these things out of your cabinets and within easy reach, and store them in accessible drawers or attractive containers.
This will help your family spend less time searching for them, making the kitchen space more functional. Try organizing these items using some organizational tools. Consider using magnetic caddies for spices, cabinet racks for daily use utensils, or magnetic bars for knives when organizing a kitchen. You can also create specific zones by using racks to hold other essential items, like pitchers and cups for drinks, on the kitchen island. This technique will make items easily accessible, but conveniently out of the way at the same time.
Sorting Items In The Cabinets
Cabinets are still the number one storage space in the kitchen. Homeowners today even ask builders to upgrade their cabinets, with 63% of them adding pullouts for waste and recycling, and 40% wanting deep drawer storage. If your cabinets do not have these features, there are other ways to make it as functional and as organized as possible.
First, you need to take inventory of your dishes and other items you want to store away when getting your kitchen cabinets organized. Identify which of these items you will use frequently, like pots and other cookware. These are the items you should place on the bottom shelves where they will be easily accessible. You can stick special occasion items, like porcelain servers or crystal bowls, on the top shelves, so they’re out of reach of little ones.
Display other items, like patterned china sets and mugs, on open shelves to enhance your kitchen’s aesthetics.
Do Not Overbuy Organizing Products
In your goal to keep the kitchen organized, you may have bought many items for organization, like baskets, bins, containers, and trays. You may have even bought them because they’re pretty and they improve the aesthetic of your kitchen.
However, these items often become part of the clutter problem rather than the solution. According to pro-organizers, less is more in organizing, and having containers that feel like a hassle to maintain can set your system back. Before buying organizing products, make sure that you have maximized your shelf and cabinet spaces first.
Now that you’re living in your new home, it’s time to organize it to match your family’s lifestyle. This does not have to be stressful or complicated, especially when it comes to your kitchen. With a bit of planning, you can easily make the heart of the home organized and functional.
by R D | May 10, 2022 | Kitchens, Interior Decorating
Renovating or designing a completely new kitchen takes a keen decorative eye — and a knowledge of function, style, and cabinet hardware along the way. When you are planning your kitchen cabinetry design you want it to be functional (with plenty of room for storage and organization), as well as with a timeless design that suits the style of the rest of your home.
While it may seem like an intimidating choice, there are a few basic guidelines to consider that will help you make the right choice on this statement kitchen accessory.
Your style is a reflection of you and your personality and when you get it right, that’s what will make you feel comfortable and at ease. We’ve shared some of our best tips for choosing a kitchen cabinetry design below.
Determine Your Budget
To start, you’ll want to consider your budget. If you don’t mind paying extra, custom luxury kitchen cabinets is a great option that will elevate your home aesthetic.
A professional designer will carefully consider your space, needs, and budget to maximize your storage, play up your interior design style, and create an efficient set of cabinetry that meets all your needs.
Custom cabinetry will fit perfectly in your space with drawers, doors. Keep in mind that this bespoke option may require some lead time!
If your budget won’t allow for custom luxury kitchen cabinets, you can always go for stock cabinets and do some customization to get them looking the way you want.
Consider crown molding or finishing your new cabinetry with your favorite colors, or making small adjustments to the size so that they fit perfectly in your space.
What Will Be Your Kitchen Style?
Consider how your kitchen concepts will fit into the design of your home. Is the rest of your home traditional, modern, boho, farmhouse or other?
Both custom and prefabricated cabinets can fit in an endless variety of design styles, whether you prefer a traditional or more contemporary look.
Consider kitchen concepts that complement the rest of your home. Choose the style that resonates with you and speaks most to you.
There are several different styles of kitchen cabinets that you’ll see commonly available in big box stores as well as custom kitchen stores.
A popular traditional cabinet is the craftsman style, which uses sturdy tongue and groove joints. Slab cabinetry which has a flat front that is great for modern, contemporary kitchens.
They don’t have any bevel so it’s a very clean and modern chic style. You also might find a Shaker, beadboard, handle-free, or raised panel style for your space — and all are worth considering.
Kitchen Cabinetry Design For Maximum Convenience
Of course you want a beautiful kitchen cabinetry design and this is your chance to make things more convenient for you.
Consider your kitchen style and what would be the ideal location for your appliances, cutlery drawers, dishes and pantry. Kitchen cabinetry makes it easy to store things efficiently — but its design can have an impact on this function.
If you need more storage in your kitchen, there are a few things to consider. First, think about higher cabinet placement. This will help make your kitchen appear larger while providing an enhanced amount of storage and effectively using your space.
If there is extra wall space available, consider wall cabinets or open shelves for even more storage space.
Add the Finishing Touches
Now that you’ve determined the cost, style, and size of your kitchen cabinetry design, you can think about adding the finishing touches to your cabinetry design.
Take a good look at some of the new hardware available, door handles, hinges, and beautiful light fixtures. You don’t necessarily have to buy custom cabinetry to have high-quality, luxury features.
Consider the color palette of your kitchen, too. If you are planning a traditional kitchen, choosing white cabinetry will compliment the brightness and make the kitchen feel open.
If you are working with calming neutrals, try a monochrome look in a subtle off-white or sage for a beautiful piece of cabinetry that will add to your kitchen’s already stunning design.
As you determine style, hardware, and color, it’s also important to consider what finish your cabinets will have.
Go for a glossy cabinet look if you’re a fan of sleek modern designs, or if your room leans more traditional, a semi-matte paint.
Whatever style you choose, make sure it speaks to your unique tastes — after all, you want to love your new kitchen!
The Takeaway
There are so many unique kitchen cabinetry design styles, with hundreds of options for customization.
Whether your kitchen cabinetry is for practical purposes, storage, or just aesthetic design, we hope our cabinetry design tips will help you make the perfect choice for you and your family.
Try these room planning apps to design your kitchen concepts.
by R D | Feb 25, 2022 | Homeowner Tips
Moving into a new home can be stressful. As a matter of fact, doctors at University Hospitals list moving as one of the five most stressful events in a person’s life, along with the death of a loved one, divorce, having a major illness, and job loss. This stress is mainly due to the things one has to do prior to a move: the planning, the packing, and then the move itself.
When you get to your new home, you also have to think about decorating your new place to make it homey. And then of course, there’s unpacking, which can be daunting, given how time-consuming and energy-draining it is. However, unpacking does not have to be so overwhelming and stressful. Here are some things you can do to make unpacking easier.
Start Clean
New houses often look clean enough that it is quite tempting to just immediately unload all your things in it. However, no matter how clean your new place looks, you can never be too sure about all the dirt, germs, and bacteria that have been left behind by the previous owners or renters. You’ll want to do a deep clean before moving in, especially since it can be extra frustrating to come across a sticky floor or a mold-infested wall when you’re in the middle of unpacking.
To save time when deep cleaning, you might want to start when your new home is still empty. This gives you an opportunity to really check if every nook and cranny of your new home is free of dust and grime. You can also make a checklist of the areas in the house that you need to clean, and then use this as a guide when cleaning and disinfecting. This will not only help you speed up the cleaning process, but it will also ensure your thoroughness.
Have a Place for Everything
One of the most time consuming things when it comes to unpacking is deciding where things go and then manually taking them there. As such, to save time when unpacking, it is important to be as organized as possible. This means that organizing your things should begin way before leaving your own home. Map out all the rooms in your new home, and then pack your things based on which room they will go to.
Once you are sure that your new place is clean and you are ready to move your things in it, you might want to make sure that each box goes to the room where it will eventually be unpacked. For example, the luggage that contains your clothes should go into your bedroom. The box that contains your kitchen utensils, on the other hand, should be placed in the kitchen. Similarly, the container of your living room décor should be placed in your living room. Putting containers in their respective rooms allows for less clutter, and it will also lessen the effort that it would take to move stuff around when you’re unpacking.
Make Your Essentials Accessible
Unpacking your things when you finally move into your new home can take time. With your things still in a disarray, digging through boxes and luggage for the things you immediately need can be stressful. This is where your essentials bag or box comes in handy. Having a separate box or bag for your essentials ensures that you can still function for the first few days (or even weeks) after moving in. This also alleviates the pressure to immediately unpack everything on the first day of moving.
Essentials can be items that you use daily, such as your toiletries, the things you need for work or school, and the clothes that you most often use. It should also include some of your food, some utensils, and a first-aid kit, among other things. By having a separate bag for your essential items, you won’t feel pressured into unpacking everything at once. In turn, your unpacking experience significantly becomes less stressful.
Unpacking your things after moving into a new home does not have to be stressful; if you take some time to plan, it can be an enjoyable experience. After all, it signifies the start of something new. Once you’ve applied these suggestions, you can then take your time in unpacking and organizing your other things. Make sure that you like where you put each item in your new home, and carefully decide where your things go. These decisions can have long-term effects on how you perceive your new home, so take your time in making them.
by R D | Nov 21, 2021 | DIY, DIY Room Decoration Ideas, Living Room Ideas
Is there any such thing as too much storage space? Most people would agree that it is in fact an on-going challenge. Whether you live in a modest house or apartment it never seems like there is enough storage space. If you live in one of the small condo apartments that are being built these days then you really understand the need to maximize living space. Am I right?
We gathered some storage Ideas for small apartments to help you face this very challenge so let’s go…
Try These Simple Storage Ideas for Small Apartments
You can find all sorts of clever home storage ideas that you can implement for your own convenience. A coffee table with drawers and extra storage is a great option for any living room. These tables are convenient for keeping books and magazines, as well as your television remote. Having multiple tables is also a great home organization idea for families that want to maximize the space in their home. You’ll be amazed at the amount of space these items can save.
Closets are an obvious place to keep all your household items. But they don’t have to be crowded. Even basic cleaning supplies can fit in a small closet. A clever way to utilize unused space inside your walls is to install a hidden door. You’ll love the privacy that a secret door creates. In addition to hiding clutter in a closet, you can also create an attractive and functional under-stairs bookshelf for bathroom accessories.
Box shelves are great storage Ideas for small apartments. A box shelf can hold magazines, books, and other objects. It can also be placed on the floor or mounted on a wall. They’re easy to move from room to room and keep your home looking tidy. You can even assign different baskets to the different members of your family. If your kids have a special basket for their toys, you can place a smaller one for them.
Besides the usual closets, you can create a storage space for extra items in your home. A small shelf in a corner of your home can be a great option for extra storage space.
Make use of the space under your bed
We discovered some very creative DIY decor ideas at Grillo Design. Check out these beautiful drawers to go under your bed. They have a full tutorial if you want to build these yourself.
You can even add shelving in your storage locker. Then, you can make use of a storage unit to store off-season items or the things you don’t use very often. When it comes to home storage ideas, remember to incorporate organization into your plans. It is easy to forget what you put in your locker so do yourself a favour and take photos of what you put in there. You’ll be glad you did.
Creating a shelf above your door frame can also help you use the space above the door as a storage area. It’s a great place to store items that you don’t use every day. Besides, you can use the space above your door frame to place decorative baskets or other things that you don’t use regularly. You can also create a shelf above your kitchen sink to store the items you’d like to keep in a permanent location.
A storage bench is another one of the great Ideas for studio apartments when you need to conquer clutter. You can place it in a hallway, living room or bedroom. It can double as a seating area. Pair it with a coat rack for additional storage. If you have kids, a storage bench is the perfect solution for organizing the kids’ toys and cleaning supplies. If you’re looking for a classic home storage idea, you should look for a built-in shelf in the living room.
You can also use a storage bench to hold your shoes. You can use a travel organizer to store all your important items. You can also use a storage bench to store your kid’s toys. A travel organizer is a handy place to store things such as toys and blankets. Lastly, you can use a jewelry armoire to store all the entertainment technology you need. It’s a great way to use the space under the stairs.
Be sure to check out these Inspired Decor Ideas To Decorate a Small Room
A coat rack can be mounted on the wall and serves as a great storage solution in the living room. They can be used to hang rain boots or other items, and they can save a lot of floor space in a small living room. If you’re short on closet space, consider hanging a fruit basket to store items that aren’t so pretty. It’ll add a nice touch to any room. A simple, functional storage solution is a canvas tote. These bags are great for storing things, and they’re also more space-efficient.
Another great home storage idea is to use your living room’s space. With storage solution above you can buy one unit and add on as needed. It’s a great modular storage solution for shoes or anything else you would like to store.
The Family Handyman website has a post with practical and easy storage ideas. Check out 17 Home Storage Solutions.
These are just a few of the many ideas for studio apartments you can use to make your apartment a more organized place.
Be sure to check out as Bedroom Storage Solutions as well Your Dream Decor Realized in 7 Easy Steps