5 Remodeling Ideas for A Clutter-Free Kitchen

Tiny kitchens don’t seem like a bad idea in theory. When you think about it, how much space do you really need to cook a meal? It turns out that you actually will need more than expected. 

Many times, having a tiny kitchen can be more difficult than anticipated. After all, there are a lot of things that go in the kitchen that we don’t realize. From small appliances, a gadget for every need, plus food and dishes for the entire family. 

Having a tiny kitchen means that space gets easily cluttered, provides limited space for cooking large meals, and prevents you from being able to socialize and gather in the kitchen.

If you desire a clutter-free kitchen that is more conducive to your lifestyle, consider these five kitchen remodeling ideas. 

1. Flooring

Flooring can make or break a cluttered look. Even if everything is completely organized, if the floor is busy, a small kitchen will still look cluttered. Consider simple flooring like vinyl kitchen flooring in a solid color. We will talk about colors down below, but simple colors or patterns when it comes to flooring are best for a clutter-free kitchen. Flooring is a vital part of tying a kitchen all together, making the space usable, and easier to clean. 

2. Organization

Let’s face it-- if things aren’t organized, they are always going to look cluttered. When remodeling your kitchen, including elements of organization is key. Maybe you choose taller cabinets so that more things can be off of the countertops, or you could remodel an unusable space and make it into built-in shelves for better storage.

 Another idea is to rearrange the order of the kitchen. For instance, for maximum efficiency, the sink, the fridge, and the stove should be in a triangle shape. Having everything in the best place possible can really help with clutter because you no longer have to keep things near certain areas for convenience. 

Keep in mind to use every little space you can from additional storage on an island to the space above the fridge. Organizations can be implemented in a variety of ways. 

Regardless of the layout of your kitchen, there is always room for improvement using remodeling when it comes to organization. 

3. Fixtures

Remodeling your kitchen to have more minimalist fixtures can be a simple upgrade to make your kitchen look clutter-free. Fixtures include everything from lighting and faucets down to the drawer pulls and handles on the cabinets. Be sure that at the end of your kitchen remodel that you replace all the fixtures to update them. Choose fixtures that have simple lines and are the proper size to avoid a cluttered look. Don’t forget to have plenty of light to make the space feel more open.

If you don’t have a window, consider having a few different light sources like different combinations of an overhead light, under cabinet lighting, or pendant lighting. 

4. Colors

Colors, patterns, and textures do a lot for the look of a space. When remodeling your kitchen, go with light colors to reflect light and simple, classic patterns to avoid the cluttered look. Add a subway tile backsplash for a quick remodel project that will bring your cluttered kitchen to life. Also be sure that the look of fixtures, walls, backsplash, cabinets, and flooring is all cohesive so that the eye isn’t drawn to as many places at once giving the appearance of clutter. You could even consider going with a monochrome look where everything is different shades of the same light color. For instance, shades of gray, white, or beige. 

5. Open Up Space

One of the biggest things you can do to remodel and create a clutter-free kitchen is to open up space. If there is a wall to take out or additional space in the dining room that you can use, you should consider opening up that space. Adding more space in an area decreases the look of clutter because things can be spread out more. If you can’t gain any more space in the kitchen, then consider creating flexible spaces.

Flexible Spaces

Flexible spaces are exactly how they sound. Spaces that can be used for multiple purposes. One flexible space that is common in the kitchen is a kitchen island. Many larger kitchens have permanent kitchen islands, but even if you don’t have space for a traditional kitchen island, a prep cart can do wonders for creating more space. 

Additionally, you might add a countertop and cabinets in the dining room which can be used as a prep station, a dining bar, and storage all in one. When remodeling your kitchen, think about how you can create flexible spaces that can help declutter and open up space. 

Need Help Decluttering?

Achieving the goal of having a clutter-free kitchen can seem like climbing a mountain. If you are struggling with decluttering, call House to Home Organizing, your expert in home organization. They are ready to help!

Common Types of Garage Accidents You Can Prevent With Proper Maintenance

Many home accidents happen in the garage, and that's no surprise. Often used for storage for large vehicles, countless types of tools and chemicals, plus a range of other objects that have no other place in the home, there’s a lot that can go wrong. Each is an accident waiting to happen. When you're aware of the following potential garage accidents, though, you can take action to prevent them.

Slips and Falls

The garage floor can become slippery from vehicle fluids, water brought in from wet roads, and more. Hosing down the garage floor frequently and then leaving the door open for a few hours for it to dry is the best way to keep your garage clean and fresh while preventing slip and fall injuries. Engine oil and other greasy spots may require scrubbing or a specialized cleaner to remove.

Fires

Vehicles can sometimes catch on fire, depending on the conditions, and so can many of the other things commonly stored in a garage. Keep in mind that paint, wood, paper, gas, and other flammable products in your garage are a safety hazard for your family. Each flammable material should be stored properly to maintain the safety of the garage. You may find it best to move some things to a storage building that isn't connected to your home. Better yet, get rid of unneeded flammables.

Garage Door Accidents

Regular inspection and garage door repair are crucial to safe use of an automatic garage door. Damage can happen when you hit the door with your car, when moving large items, or simply when old components wear out. When you notice damage, contact a reputable garage door repair company. Trying to fix the door yourself may result in some safety features not working properly. Tiny fingers can be trapped under a closing door or a pet can be crushed when safety features malfunction.

Chemical Exposure

Part of garage maintenance is taking care of chemicals you store there. Get rid of chemicals and fluids you don't need, clean up spills, and make sure anything toxic is locked up inside a high cabinet to prevent accidental access by children or pets. Be sure there is enough ventilation in your garage to prevent airborne chemical exposure too. Also, avoid running a car in a closed garage, which can lead to carbon monoxide poisoning.

The garage may not be the best place to store the things you don't want in your house. Whatever you do with your garage, however, make sure you're doing all you can to prevent injury by keeping it clean and well-maintained. It may take a bit of effort, but you'll never regret doing everything possible to prevent garage injuries and accidents.

What You Should Look for When Touring a New Home for Sale

If you are in the market for a new home and find one you like, having a walk-through is certainly an important way to find out if it is indeed your dream home. Yet while you may be mesmerized by certain aspects of the home, it is also important to keep an eye out for potential problems. Before you set out to embark on your next home tour, keep these important tips in mind as you walk around looking at various nooks and crannies.

Cracks in the Walls

While a small crack here and there in drywall is likely nothing to worry about very much, larger cracks or ones found outside on the home's foundation are another matter. Should you spot these, it may be an indication structural damage exists, or that leaks are a recurring problem.

Examine the Electrical Box

When you head down into the home's basement or utility room, take a few minutes to examine the electrical box. To begin with, look to see if there is any exposed wiring, or if the box looks like it has not been upgraded to match current technology. If you have any questions about this, make sure you address them with the real estate agent before you ever sign on the dotted line.

Check the Windows

While this may not sound extremely important to you, checking the home's windows can give you insight into many areas. For starters, making sure the windows open and close properly will mean the home likely has no structural problems regarding foundation movement. Also, making sure the windows appear to be of higher quality will mean your heating costs will probably stay lower in the winter.

Look for Fresh Paint

Even though you certainly want to see plenty of fresh paint inside any home you are touring, too much of a good thing can mean the house has issues. For example, if you see fresh paint in a room that otherwise looks as if it has not had much done to it recently, this could mean something needed to be fixed, or that the owners are trying to cover up something until a new buyer comes along. Rather than be left wondering, talk to the agent in charge of your tour.

By having a keen eye for the smallest of details when touring a home, you may be able to spot potential problems. Whether it is the windows, fresh paint, or cracks that look suspicious, addressing these concerns early on can help you avoid unexpected and potentially expensive problems later on.

Got a Hole in Your Roof? How to Patch It up Quickly

The purpose of a roof is to protect you from bad weather. But, wear and tear, elements, and age can damage your roof, resulting in water getting inside your home. Once you notice a hole in your roof, you should move to patch it up quickly to avoid severe water damage. If the damage is not extensive, you can repair it by yourself as you await the arrival of a roofing expert. Follow the steps below to patch a hole in your roof.

Locate the Damaged Area

The first thing is to identify where the hole is located. You already know there is a problem because of wet walls or ceilings, but you may not know the actual source of the leak. Therefore, it is essential to narrow down the location of the leak. Go to the attic and look for wet stains or leaks. You can also look outside to look for penetrations in the roof and damaged or missing shingles. Do not forget to check vents and the chimney too. If you cannot identify the source of the leak through your attic, run water on different parts of your roof. Have someone on the inside to watch for water drips.

Patch the Hole

The simplest way to prevent water from getting into the house through a hole in your roof is to cover it before you seek the help of roofing contractors. You can cover the hole using a tarp. Place the tarp across the damaged area and reinforce it with things that can withstand wind. The tarp should lay with its upper edge overlapping the ridge of your roof. By doing this, water will not run down your roof, under the tarp, into the hole.

If you know how to use tools around the house, there are other ways to patch a hole in your roof. You can start by removing the shingles in the area surrounding the hole. Next, plug the hole with roofing tar and wood, or purchase a customized roof patching kit.

Having holes in the roof is a common problem. Patching the hole involves observing safety precautions and taking a lot of care. Therefore, you should ensure that you do not further damage your roof in the process of patching up the hole. If you have never repaired a roof before, it would be safer to call a roofing contractor to fix the damage.