Lazy summers are quickly approaching an end, and with that, the hustle bustle of the new school year is all set to take off. This time is perfect for the entire family to get organized for home and school.  Apart from other parts of the house, one area that requires your key attention is your kitchen space. In order to feel less stressed during those rushed mornings, follow these tips to get your kitchen organized.

Image credit: Michelle Moore

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Evaluate your needs

Before hitting the stores, evaluate what is required. Make a list of items that you use and need such as sandwich bags, snacks, cook books, utensils). Once you are done with your list, segregate items that you use daily or frequently and the ones that are used occasionally such as holiday dinnerware. This will help you decide what needs to stay in the kitchen and what can find a home elsewhere.

Store smartly

When organizing your kitchen for those busy days, it’s important to place the items according to their usage and not according to their sizes. For instance, to prepare lunches, create an area in your kitchen that has items like sandwich bags and snacks within reach. This will surely help you save a lot of valuable time.

Kitchen printables

Image credit: Chrisa Kargiotou

Kitchen printables is one of the most easiest and inexpensive ways to stay organized. Use them to plan meals, categorize your recipes and keep up with your stock in kitchen.

Plan Lunches

It’s safe to start planning lunches before the craziness hits. Have a session with your kids and decide now what you will be doing for the meals. This will help you save the horror and criticism of boring lunches. Take the stress out with weekly meal planners. Finally, take out the lunch boxes and water bottles, wash them, and make sure everything is all set to go.

With some planning, organization, and creativity, the transition to a new early schedule will be much smoother for the entire family. So, take the matter in your hands and start preparing.

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Making your Kitchen More Functional with a Kitchen Island

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Determine the Functions of the Island

Before setting up the island, think about the functions that you want the island to perform. While islands are mainly used for both cooking and eating purposes, determine the aspect on which you are going to put emphasis. You can put emphasis exclusively on any single type of work – preparation, cooking, eating, or cleaning. Otherwise, it can be used for all the functions including house projects and homework. So, set up your target first and then work according to it.

Add Appliances

Adding kitchen appliances to the island is a nice way to increase its functionality. You can add appliances depending on the functions for which you will use the island. If the sink is installed in the island, you can add a dishwasher to it. If you want to use it mainly for food preparation, you have to arrange for recycling, trash, and compost areas nearby. You can install cook-top too and store pots and pans in a deep drawer under that cook-top. You can also hang the cookware over the island on a pot hanger. In accordance with priority, make a list of everything you want in your kitchen island and then, add one by one.

Image via: Kohler

Storage Space

A kitchen island can be used as a nice storage too. Though island storage is not a priority if you have a fine cabinetry, you can store some things in it in order to get them at hand during prep or cooking time. Install cabinet style drawers and shelves, possibly with glass doors, in the lower side of the island and keep glasses, cups, and breakfast dishes there.

Ensure your Island is Placed for Efficiency

A kitchen island can make or break the traffic pattern in a kitchen. You can shorten the distance between workstations by installing custom-designed kitchen island. Readymade islands can also be used if you can match them with the design of your kitchen. If not planned well, islands can increase the distance between workstations besides creating obstacles in your works.

Movable Island for Small Kitchen

Setting up an island often becomes difficult if you have a small-sized kitchen. In that case, you can add function to your kitchen with a movable island with wheels. These islands are extremely handy as you can use them for adding workspace near the sink for food preparation and then simply moving them to another space for performing another function. This type of islands can be used in any type of kitchen – L-shaped or U-shaped.

Image via: Homedit

Just a good sense of proportion and careful planning will be enough to turn your island the main gathering and work spot in the kitchen.

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As you are probably aware, kitchen renovations often come with a hefty price tag. This is likely because most of the products in your kitchen are so expensive, from cabinets and counters to appliances. The upside, of course, is that kitchen remodeling tends to show better return on investment than just about any other type of home upgrade. But still, if you don’t have $20K or more to drop on an overhaul you might not think you can get the kitchen you want. The good news is that if your cabinets are sturdy and your tile is intact, you can save some money and still update your kitchen to create the custom space you’re craving. With a few inexpensive DIY projects you can perform a kitchen exorcism that rids you of the awful decor of yesteryear and delivers a modern room that you can really enjoy. Here are a few ideas to get you started.

Image via: Kim Duffin for Sublime Architectural Interiors

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1. Paint.

Is there any easier way to spruce up an interior space than by slapping on a fresh coat of paint? It’s not only inexpensive, but anyone can do it. And by choosing a bright, modern color you can totally transform the look and feel of your kitchen, creating a room that not only belongs in this decade, but also making the space appear larger, depending on the hue you choose.

2. Reface cabinets.

Replacing your cabinetry could cost you upwards of $10,000 (and that’s on the low end). Even replacing cabinet doors could run into the low thousands. But refacing your cabinets will only cost you a fraction of what replacing them will, and it can totally change the appearance of your kitchen. Of course, you might also paint or stain them on your own at slightly less expense. But refacing is an affordable option that will save you some work and deliver more dramatic results.

3. Install a new backsplash.

You might be surprised by how easy it is to get rid of your outdated backsplash and replace it with modern stone or tile that better suits your taste. You can start by taking a class at Home Depot, finding an online video tutorial, or simply picking up a home repair guide. Then it’s just a matter of purchasing materials (mortar, trowel, tile sheets, etc.) and getting to work.

Image via: Renaissance Kitchen and Home

4. Update fixtures.

Whether you find yourself bemoaning the scuffed faucet or the ugly, fluorescent fixture overhead, you’ll find that it’s not all that difficult to replace these items with some help from online tutorials, a handful of tools, and of course, the modern fixtures you’ve been eyeing down at the hardware or home goods store.

5. Add storage solutions.

Technically, this won’t make your kitchen more cosmetically appealing. But it will help to make your space more functional. This can improve your life while you’re in the house, but once you start checking out fsbo website reviews in preparation to sell, you’ll no doubt discover that buyers find this extra attractive. And it won’t cost you that much to add drawer organizers and install lazy Susans and pull-out shelves that make it easier to get at the items in the back of your cupboards.

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When it’s time to sell your home, you might discover that the years have allowed for a lot more buildup of clutter than you realized, and even if you keep your kitchen relatively clean, you may still suffer from serious disorganization in this oft-used space. Paired with unsuitable storage, this could become a major problem when it comes to piquing the interest of buyers. While you don’t necessarily want to drop the dough for an overhaul that will create a more spacious and efficient kitchen, you can definitely make some cosmetic changes that will help to organize the space you do have and make it appear larger and more appealing. Here are just a few staging tips that are sure to make a difference and help you to sell your home faster.

Image via: SVOYA Studio

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Clear the counters

The first order of business when dealing with a disorganized kitchen is to clear out everything that isn’t absolutely necessary. You can start by packing up dishes and small appliances, leaving just a few items that you absolutely can’t live without (like the coffee pot, for example). This will help to make cupboards and countertops look a lot more spacious and less cluttered, as well as allowing prospective buyers to picture their own items in the newly-cleared space (instead of seeing only your possessions). You should also empty the pantry and fridge as much as possible, getting rid of anything expired, at the very least. And you might also reorganize every cabinet and shelf in order to make the kitchen appear neat and functional (even if it isn’t).

Deep clean

Perhaps the worst thing that potential buyers can be confronted by is a mess in the kitchen. And don’t think they won’t be poking around in cupboards and closets. You need to pull out everything and deep clean your kitchen before you start showing the house, and this includes wiping all the shelving, scrubbing the microwave, cooktop, and oven, and even cleaning behind the fridge and under the trash cans. It’s probably been a good long while since you got on your hands and knees to clean every nook and cranny, but with dirt, grease, and grime in this space it is imperative that you get the kitchen spic and span.

Paint

If you last painted your home when you first moved in several years ago then it’s probably time for a fresh coat all around, including the kitchen. This will allow you to select a neutral shade that brightens up the space, making it appear large and inviting. Or you might choose a trendy, modern color that compliments the other materials in the room, such as the cabinets, counters, and backsplash.

Image via: IKEA

Odor

The kitchen can harbor plenty of unpleasant odors thanks to splattered cooking grease, old garbage disposals, and of course, trash. You can combat these odors not only through rigorous cleaning, but also by replacing any linens (like curtains) that could hold scents, installing a new garbage disposal, and using deodorizing sprays in the trash area. You should also scrub with lemon-scented solvents for a fresh, clean smell and think about adding fragrant, flowering plants before an open home. Some people even bake cookies to give the whole house an attractive odor.

Accessories.

The accessories you choose to leave in the kitchen could affect how people see it, so before you decide to leave old blenders and toasters on the counter, consider what you might think if you walked into a home and saw these items. Your best bet is to keep such accessories out of sight (in cupboards or boxed up in storage) while decorating the space with herb trays, new linens, and a bowl of brightly colored, fresh fruits. These touches will make your kitchen appealing but generic, rather than imposing your personality on prospective buyers.

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The interesting thing about the kitchen is that it’s the one room that we tend to spend a lot of time in. But when it comes to decor, it’s oftentimes the one that falls to the bottom of the design list (usually right before the bathroom). Yet, due to the fact that we cook and eat and create so many lasting family memories in that space, wouldn’t it make sense to put a concerted effort into making it be just as delightful and aesthetic as every other room in the house?

If you agree and you’re curious to know what kind of unique design ideas that you can apply to your kitchen, we have five of them below:

Paint your cabinets.

Honestly, the “painting them” part is not all that unique. The unique angle comes from picking a color that is not a neutral. If you are someone who likes a vibrant vibe, consider painting them purple, green or blue. It will definitely cause your kitchen to stand out in a very signature way.

Play around with glass.

Oftentimes, we only associate glass in the kitchen with the glasses in our cupboard or china cabinet. However, just think of what a stained glass window over the sink would look like or perhaps a chandelier over the kitchen table. Glass doesn’t have to be just used for dining. It can also be a wonderful decorating accessory.

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Create your own island.

A lot of larger kitchens tend to come with their own island. But, if you have a nice-sized space that didn’t (especially if you’re someone who caters or hosts big events often), you can certainly create your own by putting a wooden or metal table in between your cabinets and your multi fuel stoves. Make sure to get a table that has a shelf under it so that you can store the fruits and vegetables that you’ll be using to cook with. You can also purchase a hanging rack for your pots and pans to hang from. It can go right over the table. Not only is this a practical design, but it really is nice to look at as well.

Try some tile.

Tile is definitely a great way to go for the kitchen floor, but it’s also something to consider when it comes to the wall space that is right above to stove as well. Plus, being that tiles come in so many different styles, you can share a piece of your personality with a mosaic, floral and checkerboard print.

Don’t forget about being eco-friendly.

Something that more and more people are doing is purchasing energy-efficient appliances. Not only do they look modern, but they also can help in keeping your utility bills down. When it comes to having an eco-friendly kitchen, you don’t have to stop at the kind of refrigerator you buy. Another very attractive option is to incorporate bamboo either as an island or a table. If you go with the end-grain kind, it’s resistant to scratches and moisture while still sending a message that you support the environment. And that’s always a beautiful thing to do.

Image sources: 1, 2

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Finding a place for everything can prove to be an arduous task in any part of your home, but when it comes to the kitchen the challenge steps up a gear. The summer sun inspires us to entertain, but when your guests arrive you don’t want them to be greeted by a cluttered kitchen. All those food essentials that you wouldn’t necessarily want on display – the tins, the bags of pasta, that ever increasing cereal collection you just can’t seem to stay in control of… these things don’t make the best centrepieces, but what can you do if you’ve more food than space?

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Modern kitchens, such as those available at Wren, include some great features such as ‘magic’ corner cabinets which pull out to reveal shelves mounted on the back of the door, and the ever-impressive carousel cabinet. For kitchens with curved edges, rounded doors can be fitted over shelving space to make the most of every nook and cranny, offering you even more scope to hide those less-glamorous items.

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There are some items you won’t mind being on display when you’re hosting your summertime dinner parties; open front wine racks set into your kitchen units look sophisticated when laden with fine wines, bubbly or just some beautifully-bottled cordials.

Once you’ve disguised as much of the day-to-day clutter as possible, your best bet is to embrace what’s left. Baking materials like flours and sugar placed into jars can become a charmingly quaint when placed on a wall-mounted shelf or along the back of your kitchen worktops. For an extra edge of farmhouse-chic, attach brown card labels to jars stating the contents and expiry date. You’ll be surprised at just how many people will be delighted to see your collection!

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If you could do with some extra chopping space for preparing your seasonal delights, you might want to consider installing a kitchen island unit or breakfast bar, as long as your room has the space. If you’re not sure if you’d cope with the loss of floor space, stick down a paper template as this article from Channel 4 suggests, making sure you will be able to work around the new addition.

For more kitchen & bath ideas on Stagetecture, click here.

With April  just around the corner, it’s time to put away the heavy decorations of winter and switch them out for lighter, airier spring adornments for your home. It’s so much more fun decorating a clean house, so here are ten spring cleaning tips to get you started.

Image via: Parkdale Ave

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1. Formulate a plan and set goals

Cleaning the entire house can be a daunting task, and going in blindly may cause you to become exhausted after only a few hours. Come up with a plan for each room and list down what you’ll need and how much time you’ll be taking overall. Organizing your thoughts first will help you organize your home, in turn.

2. Check your supplies

There’s nothing more annoying than being in the middle of a task only to find that you’re missing an essential component, whether it’s glass cleaner or a new broom. Before doing anything, make sure you’ve got everything you need. If you do find yourself in a situation where you really need a particular cleaning aide and come up empty-handed, look through the internet for alternatives that are already available, like white vinegar or baking soda.

3. Involve your children

An extra set of hands will lessen the burden on you, and also teach them the value of responsibility and cleanliness. Delegate small jobs that can easily be done according to your children’s ages and put them to work.

4. Do not try to take on everything at once

Focus on a single area at a time, and don’t leave that room until you’re sure everything is done in it. It’s more efficient, and saves you valuable time.

5. Declutter, then clean

– Get rid of the garbage and clutter before you start cleaning in-depth. There’s nothing more annoying than being all ready to dust only to find that you need to move a million things from the surface that you want to work on.

Image via: Helena.Pinterest

6. Organize, organize, organize

A great way of saving yourself the time and frustration of sifting through piles of “keep” and “do not keep” after your cleaning is by using plastic bins or boxes and depositing the items accordingly. Recyclables, donations, or things that you can put up for sale can be organized in this manner.

7. Open the windows

Let the air and sunlight in! After being shut in for months, the most refreshing thing in the world is to have a nice spring breeze inside.

8. Clean from top to bottom

Start from the upper floors and work your way down. Climbing up stairs expends more energy than climbing down them, so let gravity make your job easier. Begin with light fixtures, sweeping off cobwebs, work your way down the walls, then tackle the floors. Your body will thank you later.

Image via: Bhg

9. Try a new look

For spring, switch out your dark, heavy home accessories for light florals and pastels, and take that spring feeling from the outdoors into your home.

10. A daily cleaning schedule, and stick to it

– You don’t want to have done all that cleaning only to have all that grime and dirt accumulate again until the next spring. Deep-clean once, and then set small, daily tasks that will keep your house in order, reducing the need for hardcore cleaning next year.

George is an advertising consultant who occasionally writes for PlasticPlace.net, a wholesaler of eco-friendly trash bags and garbage bags.

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For many of us, our homes simply do not have enough storage space. If you are lucky enough to have a shed or exterior storage space, the last thing you want is to find your stored items over run by bugs and spiders or ruined by mice or rats.

This can happen in storage areas outside of the home and with storage areas in the attic, crawl space, or basement. The goal is to store it safely so that when you go to use the item it is there and undamaged.

Image via: My Home Ideas

No matter how well protected your storage area appears, rodents and insects seem to have no problem infiltrating these areas. At times, these pests can invade your home itself.

However, with a few simple precautions, you can safely store your items away.

Use Common Sense When Storing Items

The first thing to do is make sure that you do not store anything that will attract bugs and rodents. Make sure that any opened bags of grain, seeds, or other similar items are stored in airtight, plastic containers or not stored in this area at all.

Keep in mind that pests are attracted to items that have an odor. Either do not store these items or protect them from infiltration by placing them in airtight, plastic containers. Make sure to properly close the containers before leaving the storage area. What they cannot smell cannot attract them.

Consider Using Bait Traps & Insecticides Pro-Actively

Be prepared. Just because there are no pests when you placed your items in the area doesn’t mean that none will ever enter the space. Therefore, you should go on the offensive and place contained insecticides such as ant baits or roach traps to catch these pests. You should also consider placing mousetraps as well. There are mousetraps that do not require that you place any food in the trap as bait.

Image via: My Shed Plans

When storing kitchen appliances, make sure that you have thoroughly cleaned them first. Small kitchen appliances are notorious for hiding small food particles that are sure to attract ants, roaches, and mice. A thorough cleaning of these appliances will also rid them of any lingering food smells as well.

You should wash any clothing, curtain, blankets, etc., before storing them. If you do not have any airtight storage bags or containers for these items, be sure to store them with mothballs to protect them from pests. Be sure to read the instructions before using.

Natural Pest Repellents

Herbs such as lavender, tansy, and mint repel many pests. If the thought of using commercial products because of potential side effects, then these herbs are a natural and safe way to protect your belongings.

Finally, yet importantly, no not forget that you have items in storage. Even the best system is not foolproof. You should periodically check on your stored items to be sure that they are still safe. As the saying goes, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. To further protect yourself, be sure to have an inventory of what you have in storage. Doing so will add an additional layer of protection for your belongings and you won’t forget what you have stored away.

• By Evan-Amos (Own work) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

Aaron Garcia is a DIY expert who has completed numerous home improvement projects. He has experience in remodeling home interiors, landscaping front and back yards, as well as building and installing aluminum sheds and storage space.

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One of the factors of a great kitchen is how well it is organized, you may have the best finishes, but once you get in the kitchen to cook, you’re ready to get out because you can’t find anything! An organized kitchen is essential for enjoying yourself, being productive and not spending needless hours, as well as optimizing space to store food, dishes, and miscellaneous kitchen essentials.

Image courtesy of Our Little Nest

Today, my Guest Blogger, Lisa Harris Gore gives you 6 tips to ensure your kitchen organization suits your lifestyle needs and keeps it easy at the same time!

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Have you ever been in a friend or family member’s kitchen and thought, “WOW!  Everything is in the perfect place…exactly where it should be!”  For those of us that are somewhat obsessive, I bet you’ve noticed when things are in their proper place or not.  I love it when my friends or family members know me well enough that they never have to ask where to find the glasses, plates, or silverware.  “So how can I organize my kitchen to make sense?” you may ask…let me further explain in the next 6 easy tips.

1.) First you will want to examine your kitchen.

You want to start with a plan.  In order to organize things properly you will want to place them in locations that are convenient to grab or use in the most common space.  Begin to imagine the everyday “work flow” of your kitchen, and begin to formulate ways that you can “optimize” the locations of your kitchen utensils for convenience and ease of use.  For example…if you have a dishwasher, the most common drawers and cabinets that are closest to it would be the silverware, glasses, and plates.  This will ensure that putting them away will be fast and easy.

2.) Minimize

Now that you have a plan of where you will be putting things, you will want to minimize the amount of unused items in your kitchen.  We all have those small kitchen appliances that we “had to have” (you know, the ones you’ve used a few times or on rare occasions).  If you absolutely MUST keep your waffle maker, your food dehydrator and the juicer you rarely use, then place it in a closet or pantry area away from the main cupboards that you will be using regularly.  If you can let go of unused dishes, cups, pots/pans and other kitchen items you will find it much easier to organize and keep organized.

3.) Drawers, Pantry, Cupboards

Next you will want to go through all of your drawers, cupboards and pantry.  Go through all of the boxed and canned food.  Many years ago people thought you could keep canned items forever, but that is not the case.  You will want to either eat or donate the food that is close to their expiration date.  You will want to look at each item and if donations are possible, local food pantries are always in need of donations.  If you find items that are expired, please take caution and toss them away.  Room in any of these areas is a good thing.

4.) Clean & disinfect

After or during these three steps you will want to clean and disinfect each of the cabinets and drawers.   You should do this twice annually.  It’s easy to do and can be done as you go through each space.  The best way to do this is simply taking a small bucket of water and a ¼ cup of bleach with a washcloth to wipe each area down.  If you’d prefer there are disinfecting wipes that come in convenient containers that can be used as well.
After the plan has been made, the cupboards and drawers have been de-cluttered and disinfected you will want to begin to relocate the items you plan to keep.  Do so in a manner that again, makes the most sense.  You will want to place the hot pads next to the oven, the knives near the cutting boards, the baking utensils near the baking items, and the cups and glasses near the sink/dishwasher or the refrigerator.
Since each kitchen is different in layout and space, you will have to do your best to place items in the most “common sense” locations.  The final tip is to walk everyone that lives with you through your new organized kitchen.  You may want to explain why things are placed where they are so it makes sense to other and they remember where items go as well as why.  By doing this you will have an organized kitchen for a much longer time than if you didn’t.
If there’s any room that needs to be organized, it’s your kitchen and your home office, but that’s for another time.  Good luck and if you don’t use it, get rid of it!  Donations are great and tax-deductable! Less clutter = more organized space.  Good luck and have fun in the kitchen!

Lisa Harris Gore is an Award Winning Educator, Wellness Consultant and has experience in both home and office organization.  She is also an author for PSCLife.com – the web’s leading retailer of Pegasus Labs Tyme Zyme – an enzyme supplement designed to improve the body’s response and healing time to injuries.

For more kitchen & bath ideas on Stagetecture, click here.

We are into our first official week of the New Year! How are you doing with your organization resolution? If you still are trying to figure out where to start, what to do, or just how to wrap your mind around it, today’s Guest Blogger will help!

Abigail Llewellyn-Kodua from The Indigo and Co. Inc, has some great suggestions to starting your new year of organization out on the right foot. Abigail’s belief is “..In order to cleanse yourself inside and out, it is imperative that you also cleanse the environment you live in.”

I couldn’t have said it better.

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With the New Year finally here your resolutions should be in full swing.

You’ve decided that you’ll start a new & positive approach to life. You’ve already made a resolution to keep fit & eat healthy, quit smoking and treat others with kindness and respect.  In the process of trying to become that great person inside and out, keep in mind, that your surroundings play a big part in your overall well being.
I’ve listed a few tips on what I believe will assist you on your journey in creating the new you and your positive approach to life.

• De-clutter: Throw away those little “nic-nacks” you’ve accumulated over the year. If you haven’t used them throughout the year, chances are you don’t need them.
• Store seasonal items: If you live in a seasonal country, store away the items you are not using at that time.  Heavy duvets are not needed in the summer, so pack them up in vacuum sealed bags until the time comes to use them.
• Discard the junk cluttering your office drawers! (No, you don’t need 7 packets of ketchup and 10 packets of sugar in your drawer!).

• Keep your space smelling fresh by either adding scented candles or reed diffusers.
• Purchase new bed sheets – Throw out the old tattered sheet and indulge in good quality bed sheet sets.
• Let the sunshine in! – Constantly surrounded by darkness is not always healthy, open up the blinds at work or buy lighter curtains for your home! – Sunlight gives you a good source of Vitamin D, it lightens depression and aides in improved digestion!
• Keep plants or fresh flowers in your space all year round. – It’s a fresh way to brighten your day and create clean air for your home or office!
• Frame those family photos you’ve got tacked on your wall divider at work.  It’s great to have your family & pets surrounding you but limit the amount of photos you have.  1 or 2 framed photos should be sufficient.

Follow these tips and you will be well on your way to a brighter, healthier future!

Abigail Llewellyn-Kodua is the founder of The Indigo and Co. Inc., she has worked at the grass roots of the company to make it what it is today. By specializing in her stellar consultation services, home decor & product design. Abigail’s keen eye for design has brought the company success and has turned The Indigo and Co. Inc. into a reliable source to exquisite interior design, decor and staging. She establishes fresh ideas, keeping on top of the latest styles, products, and information to always provide the best design options. Abigail has never ceased to maintain a great relationship and strong credibility amongst her team and her clients.

For more New Year Resolution ideas on Stagetecture, click here.