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Tuesday, November 15th, 2016
This FFDM Hyde Park piece has a small yet significant silver element that makes this drawer a beauty to behold.
It can be tricky decorating tiny spaces – even interior designers know this – but with maximized storage and correct usage of square footage come effective ambience presentation. So, are you ready to not make the same mistakes that many apartment owners ahead of you have made?
Never Underestimate Natural Light
Any small space must make good use of natural light. Maximize natural lighting in your home by properly placing mirrors on walls that are opposite windows. Doing so will help spread and reflect light in your home.
Choose woven blinds or sheer curtains if you want to filter the amount of sunlight that comes in. Limited light means you dramatize the paint hues as well as the furnishings that you have chosen. Overall, you get to brighten the mood indoors without spending a single dollar.
Let There Be Visual Movement
You can visually connect spaces in your home by using a unified color palette, this is if you have a home with many adjacent rooms. This creates a visual and overall story that will make the rooms appear seamlessly fused rather than having small, disconnected areas.
Use All Available Space
Bring out your creative side especially when to making good use of square footage. Find storage areas such as floor-to-ceiling shelves or a shelf above the window frame.
Kitchen = Clever Storage
Regular kitchen cupboards should be things of the past. While they may be visually appealing, they tend to crowd out space. Add bins under the kitchen sink, also some shelving units where they are unseen. If you have porcelain pieces to display, then that’s the time you invest in an awesome china cabinet.
To make the kitchen space airier, you might want to divide it from the dining area using a small divider.
The Office Nook
Make sure to use every extra space that you see when you have to deal with a small bedroom. You can create a small nook between two closets and turn that into a cozy home office. This is a workstation that requires low maintenance. Just add some shelves and a desk to complete the space. Display some books also.
Don’t forget that you’re still inside the bedroom so the bed should be the anchor piece in that space. Invest in one that won’t eat up the rest of the space.
Storage Space for Bathrooms
Use narrow, water-resistant shelves inside this room. Buy some canisters also which will hold cotton balls, cotton swabs, your favorite moisturizer, and other toiletries. Put the canisters under a lovely vanity table.
Find some wicker baskets which you can place on shelves for additional storage space.
Make Use of Multipurpose Space
This is unavoidable as was discussed in the fusion of an office nook and the bedroom. This same nook can also be situated inside the guest bedroom. Make the best of such situation by utilizing the surrounding walls.
A simple collection of shelves can make ample storage for all your stuff. You can then connect these pieces to the reading or home office nook that you have created.
That space beneath the stairs doesn’t have to go to waste. This can, in fact, be enhanced to become a stylish storage space. Add a shelving unit there so you can take advantage of this awkward space. You can also use this as a mini bar or a space for your book collection.
Light Paint Only Please
If you want to make any space appear bigger, make sure that you veer away from dark hues. Say no to black walls or any punch of dark color. Keep the rest of your space open and bright. Use light-colored furniture and accessories.
Tags: McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, natural light, natural lighting, office space layout, storage, storage advice, storage planning
Posted in Home Maintenance, Interior Design 101 | No Comments »
Wednesday, October 26th, 2016
Look for furniture that could double as a storage unit just like this Jessica Charles Living Room Dare Storage Ottoman 81-SO.
When you’re about to move in to your new home, cleaning up is the primary task that you need to focus on. But this mostly means that it’s time to clear up stored items that have been accumulated over a long time – if not your entire lifetime. So you’re thinking of becoming more organized this time? It’s not impossible, but it’s not easy either.
Here are several organization methods that should help you with your cleanup goals –
Practice One In and Another Out
You may begin with this rule. As soon as you have decided on which things to bring with you to your new place, then you need to make enough room for it. There may be situations when this rule would not apply, though, such as when you’re starting with your first apartment and you still don’t have that many furniture and accessories.
This rule may not apply also when you’re about to move all across the country or the globe. It simply wouldn’t be practical to bring your prized furniture on the airplane or to have them sea freighted. Other than these scenarios, you can make use of this basic rule.
Consider which objects you would need to purchase and what furniture pieces you’d be keeping.
If you’re beginning to think that you’d miss a shirt, a pair of shoes or even a mug, then think if it is a part of a collection. If it’s not, then let go. Even collections need to be evaluated now and then.
Begin with Storage Spaces
Organization is equal to having ample storage space. With this in mind, then you should begin your organization goals with storage spaces. Consider whether your attic, basement, garage or closets would be able to hold some of your not-oft used pieces.
Purge items that have long been stored (a month or longer) and no longer have any use. Unclutter or free up storage areas – not just rooms. This means letting go of stuff that has long cluttered your cabinets, drawers, bins and other such useful storage units.
Organize, Don’t Just Store
What most homeowners think about when organizing their home is simply decluttering. An organized home is a home with ample shelving units, boxes, and cabinetry. Know how to align, stack and heap stuff in a neat manner. Even the greatest storage solutions are useless if you only dump your stuff in them.
The Hickory White Dining Room Quinn China Cabinet 240-44M is the best home for your glassware, cutlery and porcelain ware.
Make Use of Labels
Once you have decided on how to store items, it’s time to have them labeled. It would be pointless to stack storage boxes one on top of the other if you’re not able to recognize what’s in each. You would end up opening every single box looking for an off-season curtain or bedding.
Take the time to attach those labels on every box if you don’t want this scenario to happen to you. Check some label templates online. Print them out and start labeling your storage bins. There are small, medium and large labels, choose which ones you need according to the size of your boxes.
Store Digitally
When you’re thinking of storing stuff, don’t just think of tangible pieces. There are now things in this world that you can’t store in boxes or cabinets. These are things like digital files – from photos to videos, your favorite music and documents.
Declutter
Of course, home organization also means decluttering. So say goodbye to these items (yes, you have to!) –
Broken sunglasses
Wrong prescription eyeglasses
Inkless pens
Unused food containers
Old clothes
Mustard, catsup and soy sauce packets
Salt packets
Scarves that haven’t been used for a long time.
Tags: decluttering, home organization, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, storage, storage advice, storage systems, storage techniques, tips
Posted in Home Maintenance, Interior Design 101 | No Comments »
Thursday, September 1st, 2016
Parents of opposite sex siblings often come to a point in their lives when they contemplate on separating the two from a shared bedroom. How long can they share the said bedroom? At what age is it proper to build a different room for one of them? There are different opinions regarding this topic.
If experts are to be asked, there is no specific age when the cutoff should be. It is best for parents to monitor their children’s individual developments then they can make their decisions from there. More often than not, children who begin attending school also begin to become more aware about the principle of modesty. This is the age when they usually feel uncomfortable changing their clothes in front of their opposite-gender brother or sister.
Know that it would become more difficult for kids to adjust once they reach puberty so design the separate bedrooms as soon as they begin schooling.
The Grown Up Girl Palette
If your concern is how to make a bedroom appear more suitable for a teenager, then you can always deviate from the usual pink palette. There are many other colors to choose from such as a warm chocolate focal wall. This may be experimental but this rich hue will offer a playful aura to a young girl’s room. You can then integrate hot pink to this color scheme by adding sheer curtains, some ottomans that come in a different shade of pink, and a chic floral lamp.
Just be sure to keep the linens neutral-colored so that the boldness of the rest of the colors will be balanced.
Show Much Elegance
Use stylish gray walls together with some adult furnishings. It’s time to shy away from the cartoon character themes. Using regular furnishings will help you keep the bedroom for a very long time. Also, you help your young one transition from a young girl to a teenager.
Wesley-Allen-Bedroom-Twin-Bed-1093 paired with any feminine-colored sheet could easily become the focal point in a bedroom.
A Definitive Line of Demarcation
A child’s room often showcases childish sophistication. You can improve from chiefly pink to a lavender playroom slash bedroom. This space should provide ample room for playtime and a restful nook.
Have a settee and a table lamp set up so that your little one could also spend the nights reading some of her books. In doing all these, make sure that you create a clear separation between the playroom, reading nook and the bedroom. Most of the time, all you’d need is an area rug to separate these spaces.
Stylish Storage
Keep your little one’s space stylish by bringing in more shelves and cabinets. Use narrow shelves to achieve visual interest inside the bedroom. This is also your best way to showcase the young girl’s artwork, books and favorite toys.
Use small wicker baskets for all other organizational needs. ’Wanna be more unique? Use an Indian tepee as a reading nook. Store all the most colorful books there. This is a surefire way to make your little girl swoon with gratefulness.
Added Fun
Most of the modern girls’ bedrooms are no longer just set up for sleeping anymore. This can also be a place where homework can be done. The wall shelves could also be accessed using a painted ladder. Always remember that there should be plenty of storage options and this section could also be filled with buttons, beads, threads, glue, and such. Your little one could then proudly show her cute craft area.
Make the area more exciting by providing the ultimate getaway. Put up a dramatic set of curtains. See if your growing up girl would opt for magenta. The darker the color this time, the more dramatic it is.
Tags: bedroom for girls, elegance, girls' bedroom, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, pink bedroom, storage, storage advice, themed bedroom for girls, tips, woman cave
Posted in Bedroom Design, Interior Design 101, Interior Design Themes | No Comments »
Thursday, August 18th, 2016
Thomasville Bedroom Manyara Media Hutch 46211-365
If you are planning a closet makeover, you should always begin with measurements. You need to measure your current closet. Find out the hanging requirements as well as your storage needs.
Clear out the closet if you want to have the new system installed. This is a great moment for you to look through your items and find those that you no longer use. Once you find those, you can decide if you would want to donate to charity or to hand them down.
Planning the Closet System
A closet system can be the perfect solution to maximizing storage space. You can make use of hanging bars, drawers and a cubby storage. These are tools that can help you organize clothes and accessories.
More Shelves Isn’t Always Better
There is the common notion that more shelves are better. There are instances when this isn’t the case. Shelves can also take up a lot of space especially if you didn’t take the time to plan the ones that you’d use in your home.
Use shelves and stack them in an orderly manner. If you don’t, you would end up using up precious storage space. Invest in shelves that were designed to carry most of the items that you need to be concealed from your line of vision.
Get a Closet Armoire
If you don’t have a lot of closet space, you can invest in an additional storage unit. A freestanding armoire is just the right piece. This can take the place of the usual cabinet. Use wire shelving inside the armoire to maximize storage. You can also achieve a clutter-free room if you learn to classify your clothing pieces. Foldable garments should go inside drawers while those that you can be hung should be, well, hung.
Tiered shelves should house the sweaters and other seasonal stuff at their highest layer. Others that are used more often should be placed in those easy-to-reach drawers.
Universal Furniture Bedroom Tall Cabinet 071160
Manage Your Space
Having a small bedroom means you should consider putting the dresser in the closet. Maximize the space by having shelving units above it; doing this will allow you to maximize the vertical space that closets can offer.
You need to measure every inch of space if you have a limited area to work on. There is also the choice to install an over-the-door storage for accessories such as belts and shoes. These items may be small but these are the ones that usually hog your closet space. Have underclothes and socks folded and placed inside neatly-stacked bins or baskets.
Uniform hangers will also provide a tidy and neat look for your closet.
What About a Kid’s Closet?
Planning a kid’s closet should be no different. There should be fabric storage bins that can make the closet look neat, presentable and organized. You can make use of dual rods on both sides of storage tower. This can be used as an extra hanging space for pants and shirts.
Apply picture labels in front of these bins so that the kid(s) will be able to stick to the set up organization system.
Organizing through Folding
Folding may take a tad longer to accomplish than merely hanging clothes but it can also be a tidy way to organize your clothes. Here are some tips on how you can fold your favorite dresses, blouses and pants –
Tags: armoire, cabinet, cabinet organization, closet, closet organization, how to organize a cabinet, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, organizing the closet, space planning, storage, storage advice, storage planning, storage systems, storage techniques, tips
Posted in Furniture, Interior Design 101, Interior Design Elements | No Comments »
Thursday, August 11th, 2016
FFDM Belvedere Collection offers a lot of drawer space for your storage needs.
Your closet is a reflection of who you are – do you agree? A poorly-designed closet then requires an immediate redesigning task. If you are just starting, then allow this guide to get you through storing and getting the most out of your new wardrobe.
Get Only What You Need
If you haven’t already bought your cabinet, decide how big or small your closet space would be. Think also about the kind of design that you would want to build on. It could be tempting to provide one whole, blank wall to your cabinet without first considering what you would place inside it. So, yes, it is important to consider what the contents are going to be.
Build your closet based on the amount of hanging space that you actually need. Even small spaces can retain their look of spaciousness if you plan your closet space thoroughly. Planning ahead could also allow you to spend less or work within your budget.
Get Organized
Do not waste an inch of closet space – ever. Be sure to maximize space by grouping clothes according to their size. A group of clothing that spans 20 inches when hung should have a separate section. You need to be specific with regard to closet management. The top rod should be high enough so that you would have ample space between the hanging clothes and the second rod beneath them.
Consider Ergonomics
Of course, you wouldn’t want to be crawling on all fours looking for a pair of socks. You should learn to design your closet space ergonomically so you won’t have to bend down and hurt your back just to get a scarf or a hanky. Keeping your closet tidy will also add to the ergonomic feature of your bedroom.
Position the shelves in a more ergonomic manner by hanging them above your closet. Plus, make sure that they are no more than 14 inches deep or you would potentially lose your stuff at the back. Have no less than 10 inches of space between shelves. Stack right to the top of the shelf since you won’t have to reach to the back anymore.
Set up your shelves correctly and you won’t have to reorganize too often.
Get Ample Storage
This is especially true if you have a small space. The secret here is to use every bit of storage to its full potential. Hang clothes in the closet. Some homeowners find it better to hang their favorite clothes as folding them in deep shelves only spells mess in the end. Use deep space, instead, for hanging your clothes and the folded stuff can be placed elsewhere.
Deep drawers can be the home for sports gears and shoes. This allows easy dumping of stuff and finding them when you need them again. This is a better option than having the shoes stored at the bottom of the closet or directly underneath the bed.
Smart Shoe Storage
If you are dealing with a tight space, then storing your shoes inside the closet becomes a problem. You can have regular shelves or drawers house your shoe collection. The drawer method allows you to see your shoes immediately and you even have easy access to them.
If the shoes won’t fit inside the closet, then have some storage boxes brought in especially for them.
No Need for Closet Accessories
Closet accessories may be useful on some instances but be very selective in buying them. Most closet accessories are just a waste of money as well as space inside a small closet. What you should invest in are racks for ties, belts and scarves which would allow you to slide them in or out.
Don’t forget storing elsewhere. It would be unwise to clog your bedroom closet with all your stuff so be sure to use other shelving systems in your home.
Henredon Living Room Armoire 6200-05-93
Tags: cabinet, cabinets, closet, closet organization, dressing up a cabinet, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, organizing the closet, storage, storage advice, storage systems, storage techniques, tips
Posted in Furniture, Interior Design 101, Interior Design Elements | No Comments »
Friday, August 5th, 2016
FFDM’s Summer Home Collection features these wicker chairs and hardwood pieces which lovingly frame the freshly-picked fruits on the glass top table.
It is always nice to come home to an inspiring, fresh entry with summer décor on display. Just imagine walking into this lovely, summery concoction as you come home from a busy day at the office. Just embrace that warm feeling as you step into your home each day. But do you know how to create the summer-themed entryway?
Set a Beachy Tone
Okay, now that you’ve imagined how the summer look is going to be, what elements would you actually like to see? Pick one that represents summer through and through. This should be prominently displayed in your entryway. This can be that unused surfboard or colorful sand complete with seashells right by the entryway corner. A beautiful seaside painting or a stack of beach books and magazines would also be nice.
Other beachcombing finds could also be included such as sea glass, driftwood, and smooth stones. Welcome summer with a display of these beach finds.
Summer Essentials Out in the Open
Apart from the things just mentioned, you can also bring out your straw hats and display them on hooks. Even simple items such as colorful beach towels can also be a soothing, welcoming sight to look at. With your new summer look being staged, it’s wise to leave your beach gears out in the open.
You may also leave a beach bag filled with beach essentials such as sunscreen, swimsuits, and sunglasses. These can be packed and placed right by the door. After every trip that you take to the beach, wash your beach stuff then repack them so that you would always be on the go in terms of enjoying in the beach.
A Relaxing Atmosphere
Summer is a season when you should relax and take it easy. Have a small, woven tray set up by the entryway where your mails could be placed. You could also have a hidden storage and some carefully chosen accessories. The secret is to streamline. Remember that keeping the design simple is the secret to achieving a more relaxing atmosphere.
It would also help if you imagine that a magazine photographer is coming over to shoot a few pictures of your entryway so go ahead and throw all the junk-like stuff that you are still keeping. Get rid of your old mails, ratty shoes and clutter. This way, you get to bring out your creativity.
Smart Storage Solutions
There might be things in your home that are not photograph-worthy. This does not mean that you’d leave them sprawled all over the living room floor. Just so you get to keep the streamlined look, make sure you have ample storage units in your home. The clutter-free look gets covered when you have ample cabinets or shelves to house the unused items.
Still from FFDM’s Summer Home Collection: The decorative jars, green plant and hardwood pieces create a brown-inspired summer vibe.
Go All White
Who says white isn’t fit for a summer theme? You can go for an airy feel even in a small entryway. It would help to put things away, as usual, and then have a whitewashed mirror bracketed onto the wall. Add some baskets on the floor to balance the white mirror. Add shoes and other summer essentials into the baskets.
Dress Up the Stairs
An entryway that opens to the stairwell might look a bit boring. Add bold color strokes then delegate one wall as a photo gallery. You can try painting the runner on the stairs. Do this by taping off the mid-section then coating it with the summery color that you choose. Match the frame color to the runner for a fresher look.
Placing a woven rug at the foot of the stairs can also literally flood the room with a summer vibe. Just make sure that the rug material is sisal, sea glass or jute.
Tags: beach design, beach-inspired interior design, entryway, entryway design, entryway designs, entryway style, entryway styles, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, storage, storage advice, storage planning, storage systems, summer color, summer color scheme, summer hues, tips
Posted in Interior Design 101, Interior Design Elements, Special Rooms In Your Home | No Comments »
Wednesday, June 29th, 2016
Dress up your stairway traditionally with the Accessories Uttermost Greenway Hand Painted Art 31315
Have you ever wondered how else you can make your stairway walls more interesting? Often you see picture frames or mirrors placed there, but what could be done that would make this place more exciting?
The stairs are a vital part of any home renovation project. This is a subject that almost always comes up during remodeling projects for multiple-floor homes. Whether you just have ample budget to rebuild the stairs or to finish them, this is that part of your home that needs your utmost attention.
Refinishing Should Do It
A cost effective way to update your staircase is for you to have it refinished. You can easily transform the look of your stairs by simply painting the vertical parts of the stairs (the risers). Have it painted in the same color as the trim. Have the treads or the horizontal parts of your stairs refinished.
Remember to update the railing by having the balusters painted and the handrails refinished. Choose whether you would want a traditional or contemporary runner to complete the look.
Invest
You might think that a stairs renovation project should be cheap but this is one thing that you need to invest in. New or old, you can update the look of your stairway but it would be a lot lovelier if you are willing to spend time and money on this project. Creating instant drama, after all, requires more from the homeowner.
Consider the Materials
You can also choose to clad your stairs with treads and new risers. This is also a wonderful chance for you to change the look or theme from traditional to contemporary that is if you want to.
Bring in new materials for your balusters. Add steel or iron to the current railing and you get to complete the look with just a few tweaks.
Make Use of Glass
You can also change the look of your stairs by adding glass railings as well as guards. There are some things that you need to think about when considering glass for your stairs. First, glass will definitely show fingerprints so this is not the best choice of material for neat freaks. Glass railings and guards require constant cleaning. If everything else is okay with you, then have it installed and make sure that a handrail is also placed for safety.
Horizontal Is Modern
The popular look is the modern theme offered by horizontal railings. There is just one thing that you have to keep in mind when putting this kind of railing to your home – this can be easily climbed by small kids so choose a different kind of railing if you still have small ones in your home. Instead, you can have the safer horizontal option. The hazardous horizontal railing can be replaced by a railing that goes way up to the ceiling. This means that no one will be able to climb over it.
A horizontal railing also creates a wonderful backdrop to the adjoining room.
Capel Incorporated Floor Coverings Homecoming Rug 0048VS Chestnut Brown
Customize
Don’t let your creativity be hampered. Think of clever ways to achieve a staircase that will awe. Consider having open risers, the floating staircase that requires a steel structure for support. Just make sure that there is limited space between the treads, small enough so kids won’t slip between them.
Custom wood or steel railings can also add visual interest in any kind of home.
Added Storage
Never forget the opportunity presented underneath every staircase – that space there can be used as storage room. Yet again, bring out your creativity by having that part designed and put into good use.
Lastly, what’s important is for you to just have fun. Whether you’re dressing up a winding staircase or an illuminated one, just go ahead and get out of your comfort zone.
Tags: customization, decorating the stairway, design customization, designing the stairway, glass, glass in interior design, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, stairway, stairway design, storage, storage techniques, tips
Posted in Architectural Elements, Interior Design 101, Special Rooms In Your Home | No Comments »
Sunday, June 5th, 2016
Flexsteel Living Room Rocker Chair 3995-14
Setting up the baby’s nursery is a thrilling phase in any parent’s life. It all begins as the mother’s womb grows then the next thing you know, it’s time to bring the baby home. You would, of course, want this experience to become a memorable one. Creating memories is as easy as knowing the nursery essentials.
Choose the Perfect Color Scheme
When designing the nursery, make sure that you find a color scheme that will last for years. It wouldn’t hurt to follow the lead of parents who chose a soft tone for their newborn babies. Infants are only able to see in gray, black and white at first. Pastels and neutrals will work well when it comes to the infant’s vision development. Bolder, more abrasive colors might have an aggressive effect on the child as he grows.
A sturdy armchair is crucial inside a newborn’s room. A mom-to-be knows the importance of sitting in a comfortable chair, one with great back support. This becomes doubly important by the time that the newborn needs to be nursed.
A storage unit is necessary for every nursery. This is especially true when it comes to the changing table. A chest of drawers that works also as a changing table will come in handy. Any kind of organized storage unit can be brought in as a functional and decorative piece. Combinations of storage hampers and wall shelves work wonderfully in organizing baby clothes, toys and shoes.
Hooker Furniture Bedroom Sunset Point Dresser
Basic Nursery Furniture
The design of a nursery offers many exciting opportunities to unleash your creative side. First, you can play with colors, even the furniture that you will bring into that room. You would also want to have furniture that the child could grow into, even a room that he or she could enjoy.
Choosing basic furniture that will last through the years does not mean that you have to choose the boring, traditional pieces. You can still add a bit of your personality and even some colors that represent who you are. Find soft furnishings and textiles that will look great for both parent and child.
In choosing a crib mattress, make sure that you find the lightest and firmest. This means looking for a foamed crib, one that is easy to maneuver during the diaper-changing nights. Should you choose to have a mattress with an innerspring, make sure that you find one that has no less than 150 coils, otherwise, it will be too soft for the baby.
As for the crib, don’t think that the more expensive ones are always better. U.S. cribs are supposed to meet federal safety standards so you can be rest assured that they are safe. Cost shouldn’t be your only gauge for investing in a nursery piece. Read reviews about the crib’s brand name instead.
It is always best to buy a brand new crib. Check that the mattress is firm and tight-fitting. Don’t go for the ones with drop-side as these can be hazardous. Slats should be no wider than one soda can. There should also be no cutouts in the footboard or headboard.
Carpeting and area rugs will help make the room look and feel warmer. You can try layering sheepskins over zebra-patterned rugs. This is a nice way to achieve the safari style.
Baby Lighting and Monitor
Nurseries should have a good source of light. Wall sconces work best since they can amply light a room without causing glare. Adding dimmers will work great during storytelling moments (when the child grows).
Other than the light, another safety essential is the baby monitor. Audio or video monitors can offer peace of mind to any parent. Make sure that you resolve interference issues. Have the return policy on hand so in case the monitor doesn’t work, you can return it for a better model.
Tags: decorating the nursery, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, nursery, nursery decor, nursery design, nursery essentials, nursery furniture, nursery furniture arrangement, storage
Posted in Interior Design 101, Special Rooms In Your Home | No Comments »
Friday, April 8th, 2016
Hickory White Dining Room Bunching China 650-43 stores lovely china ware and crockery.
There is one thing that is common in both lofty homes and posh restaurants – they have a pantry to boost. This is a special closet that is used to store food stuff, even appliances. This was once situated near the food preparation section yet the pantries that people know of today are adjacent to the kitchen or are even found down the basement.
A pantry often has a series of shelves or cabinets as well as an open space for large containers and other storage units. The precise configuration of this room depends on the kind of food that is being served in the household or the restaurant.
The pantry used to be a cool, dark place where foods that easily perish are stored. This was also the perfect spot to store freshly-baked breads. As time passed, the concept of having a pantry expanded from the simple bread room to a place where different foods can be stored in bulk.
Hooker Furniture Dining Room Willow Bend Round Dining Table for pantries with dining corners.
The pantry can be categorized according to its contents. The butler’s pantry is the usual name given to large pantries in large homes. This includes space for household items and trays used by the butler in fulfilling his duties. The baking pantry houses sugar, flour, oil, and other dry goods that are needed in the baking process. Wine collectors can also store their prized bottles in the wine pantry.
These days, the kitchen pantry is the closet located at the kitchen end. It is an overflow of the canned goods, kitchen appliances and crockery. It may also be located anywhere else in your home and is a place where you can store bottled wines and other stuff.
Hooker Furniture Dining Room Willow Bend Round Dining Table for pantries with dining corners.
Creating the Perfect Pantry
You can set up your pantry by investing in ample bins. Just be careful that you don’t turn this section of your home into a chaotic room. It can easily become one if the packages, cookie boxes, cellophane and other stuff begin to pile up.
Take the time to creatively organize your pantry project. The first thing that you will need to invest in is a spice shelf. The roll-out pantry may be great but once the spices get lost in there somewhere, they can become a waste of space.
The rack that you find should be easy to carry into the pantry. It must not need any heavy mounting. A lovely wooden rack would be great. Those made of wire are also a wonderful choice.
Another tip to having the perfect pantry is to keep all items at eye level. Those cereal boxes are potential homes for mold if you are not careful enough. Organize your pantry according to your needs. If you have kids that eat their first meal at the breakfast nook, then the pantry has to have a cabinet to hold cereals, pasta, and sugars. Hotcake mixes should also be stored correctly.
Love ‘em containers – these are your new best friends. Optimize their use by making sure that you need the size that you bought. For example, if your family is a huge cereal eating one, then have large containers for corn flakes or those fruity loops. Make it a point to check the shape of the containers as well. Rectangular or square containers can be easier to store side-by-side than those with rounded edges. If you really want round containers, then you may use baskets to have them neatly stored.
Label the stuff that you store inside your pantry. Don’t just store sugar, salt and flour inside containers that look exactly alike. When this happens, you would find yourself tasting the contents each time that you bake or cook.
Hunt for the prettiest labels or labelled containers that you can find. The sublime pantry becomes one because it has pretty and functional stuff, remember that.
Tags: decorating a pantry, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, pantry, pantry design, pantry essentials, setting up a pantry, storage, storage advice
Posted in Interior Design 101, Interior Design Elements, Special Rooms In Your Home | No Comments »
Thursday, April 7th, 2016
Hooker Furniture Living Room Lift Top Floral Cocktail Trunk can serve as a center table and a storage unit.
One of the latest interior design activities is the downsizing of homes. This is something huge as people tend to prefer smaller homes where maintenance is less expensive and there isn’t a black hole that is waiting to happen in the basement. But going from large home to a smaller one is not an easy move. So what are you supposed to do once you’ve really decided?
Getting Ready to Downsize
Before you decide what to bring with you or what to throw; and before you even sell any of your excess stuff, you need to find it in you to change your mindset. The downsizing could have been brought about by necessity or whim, it really doesn’t matter. What matters is that you are ready to get down and start the whole process.
Going smaller is doable because there’s less upkeep, cheaper bills, and less pressure to host huge parties in a massive room. You can couple this downsizing project to relocation in an urban center which spells less reliance on your car. This is equal to walking when shopping or visiting restaurants. You can say goodbye to exorbitant gas prices.
Prioritize
Living in a smaller space means you have to let go of things that you no longer need or want. You should be honest with yourself when evaluating the stuff that you will keep. You can always stick with your top priorities (whatever these may be). An example is, having a private outdoor space – consider if this is really necessary for you. Do you also need a lot of light? When these are your necessities, then you have to find ways to meet them.
Lighting can be provided by natural sunlight during the morning. You can just resort to sheer curtains instead of the usual heavy drapes inside huge rooms.
One other way to know your priorities is to create an inspiration file. You can save images of the small yet beautiful spaces that you find inspiring. You can also save some ideas on how to declutter your home.
Should you ever feel discouraged, you can clip some ideas from interior design magazines or books. As soon as you are able to accomplish this list, you will be surprised that you can now easily answer what things you will get rid of.
Just picture this – should a fire happen, what things will you cry over? What stuff would you need an immediate replacement of? These are the things that you need to take with you as you move into a much smaller space.
Another thing that prioritizing can teach you is that you get rid of the obvious clutter first – broken appliances, outdated clothing, useless books, etc.
Orient Express Furniture Living Room Lyon Sofa Chair-Premium 7151-1.PRM is the right seating unit for smaller homes.
A huge house with lots of storage could have meant you keeping stock of duplicate items. In a small home, these duplicates should go. Let go of duplicate glassware or chinaware. How about having 20 steak knives? You won’t be needing that much if you will only be entertaining 5 to 9 guests from now on.
Getting rid of stuff means consulting your relatives about heirlooms. Family treasures can be passed on to other relatives which is an effective way of decluttering. If those relatives are too far away or are non-existent, then see if you can rent a storage unit. It’s either this or you can finally let go by selling these antique or vintage pieces. Craigslist and eBay are fantastic platforms for those who would want to sell some stuff.
Try your best to meet the top three stuff that you need; to do this, you will need to compromise on size, style, price, even the location. Shed more stuff as even the best plans can crack in the end. Avoid last minute hassles by learning to let go (some more) and to find ample storage if you can’t.
Tags: declutter, decluttering, decluttering advice, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, small home, storage, storage advice
Posted in Apartment Living, Condo Living, Interior Design 101, Interior Design Themes, Tiny Homes | No Comments »
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