A resource for those seeking information on organizing and transforming spaces.

Design Ben Soreff Design Ben Soreff

Decoration on a Budget: How to Style a Girl’s Room without Braking the Bank

Decorating your little girl’s room is a fun way to spend quality time with your kid and provide her with a useful and beautiful space. Creating a space that’s fit for her age and her interests will inspire her to spend time in her space and practice her independence. However, decorating a kid’s room can be very expensive—furniture, bedding, lighting and decoration can cost a lot of money if you’re not careful of your budget. If you need a few tips on how to create a room worthy of your little princess, here are a few tips that won’t break your bank.

Decorating your little girl’s room is a fun way to spend quality time with your kid and provide her with a useful and beautiful space. Creating a space that’s fit for her age and her interests will inspire her to spend time in her space and practice her independence.  However, decorating a kid’s room can be very expensive—furniture, bedding, lighting and decoration can cost a lot of money if you’re not careful of your budget. If you need a few tips on how to create a room worthy of your little princess, here are a few tips that won’t break your bank.

Make it colorful

Kids usually love bright colors, that’s why their spaces are so much fun to decorate. But don’t automatically reach for pink for girls. The world is full of interesting and unique color schemes and your girl will definitely find something she likes. If you want to save money long-term, it’s best to choose a more neutral color combination and brighten it up with color accents, wallpaper and art. Adding splashes of color with bedding, curtains and rugs is also a great idea. This way, you don’t have to repaint her space every time your child changes her mind about her favorite color.

Be smart with the furniture

Kids can be very persuasive, but don’t get bullied into buying a princess bed or tree-house desk. These novelty furniture items might be cute, but your kid will grow out of them in no time. Instead, focus on functionality and timeless design with larger items—something she will be able to use even during her teenage years. If your baby girl insists on a spaceship bed, add canopies to a regular bed to simulate a rocket and finish the scene with NASA bed sheets.

Be mindful of her interests

Every girl is a unique flower, so if she’s old enough to express her interests, consult with her about the decorating process. You can even opt for a theme! All in all, if you include her interests in her room (gardening, unicorns, soccer, guitar, etc.) it will make her rooms feel unique and fit for her life. She will rush to invite friends over and keep the space clean…hopefully.

Add some prints on the walls

Prints are a great way to add personality and color to a space, so why not surprise your girl with a few interesting pieces of art? If your kid loves fashion and all things girly, you can find original famous fashion illustrator prints to grace her room. These prints will add color and interest to her space, but also encourage her to follow her dreams. Plus, if you choose signed pieces, you might even be giving your kid a piece of smart investment that will go for thousands in the future!

Light it up

Little kids love night lights, but pre-teens and teens might be embarrassed to use them. Regardless, it’s important to illuminate your girl’s room with proper general lighting, task lighting for studying, as well as soft lights to add safety and ambiance to the space. Today, fairy lights, LED strips and nightlights come in all shapes and colors imaginable, so you will definitely find something that fits your kid’s space and preference.

Add a relaxation corner

If the room in question is spacious, it’s a great idea to add a fun relaxation corner for naps, reading sessions, studying, texting with friends or daydreaming. No matter the age, kids love forts, and you can easily install a teepee into her space. With a few modifications, this relaxation corner can grow together with your child and change purposes.

With these tips in mind, you’re ready for a fun remodel of your little girl’s room. In no time, she will have a fun and cozy space and you will still have some money left in your bank account.

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Home Maintenance Ben Soreff Home Maintenance Ben Soreff

Best Tips for Deep Cleaning Your Home’s Woodwork

While upkeeping your home’s exterior aims to boost curb appeal, the inside of your residence should aim to provide a well-kept environment that makes you happy.


Best Tips for Deep Cleaning Your Home’s Woodwork

Your home is your safe space and haven. While it’s subject to the occasional mess, you should aim to maintain its tidiness. A neat living space keeps your mind at ease and your morale high. Dusting and mopping are always necessary for removing dirt and grime, but there are times where more thorough cleaning and detailed work could be of use. Check out these best tips for deep cleaning your home’s woodwork to add an extra touch of cleanliness to your routine.

Dusting

Start the deep cleaning process by dusting woodwork details like baseboards, doors, and cabinets. Using a dry microfiber cloth, wipe the surfaces to remove some accumulated dust and dirt.

Feather dusters work exceptionally well for dusting baseboards. Consider quality dusters that extend to avoid bending over and straining during the task.

Cleaning

If you find yourself looking at wood details with heavy grime and dust accumulation, you might need a bit of elbow grease to remove buildup efficiently. Since you want to preserve the wood’s quality and integrity, you should focus on removing as much dirt as possible without using water.

Afterward, spray distilled white vinegar to the cloth and wipe it on the door to remove additional layers of grime. Remember to mix the vinegar with a single drop of dish soap to enhance the cleaning effect. Large amounts of detergent can be harsh on wood and affect its quality.

Be sure to spray the mixture directly onto the cloth instead of the wood surface to avoid streaks and stains.

Polishing

Using oil to polish woodwork protects the finish and enhances minor details. You can restore interior wood doors and other wood structures this way. Once you finish dusting and cleaning the area, allow the surface to dry before polishing. Oils like coconut and carnauba are fantastic options that clean, feed, and polish the wood without adding too much moisture.

Beeswax also works well to protect the wood and leaves it looking in great shape. This polish is excellent for kitchen cabinets.

Deep cleaning your home’s woodwork is essential for prolonging its appearance. With routine touchups and maintenance, the finer details can last for generations.

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Home Organization Ben Soreff Home Organization Ben Soreff

7 DIY Organization Hacks for Your Home

Organizing your home can be tricky, but it can make your life 10 times easier. Clearing up the clutter alleviates stress. It will put you and your housemates at ease. Read on for some tips on how to hack home organization and storage.

Organizing your home can be tricky, but it can make your life 10 times easier. Clearing up the clutter alleviates stress. It will put you and your housemates at ease. Read on for some tips on how to hack home organization and storage.

  1. Hang clipboards—hanging clipboards is a great way to keep track of important information. You can either buy different types of clipboards and get creative to make your own. 

  2. Fridge magnets—if you don’t have fridge magnets, make some! Get creative, and try making your own out of bottle caps. You can also get a cute set from the store. Then, set up an organizational system for your magnets. It’s a great way to let everyone know what’s going on in the house, because everyone has to visit the kitchen at some point!

  3. Repurpose tin cans—if you put some cute paper over a tin can, it can make for a great pencil or pen holder. It can also hold less obvious things, like flowers, scissors, or whatever fits best.

  4. Food labels—you can make your own, or you can try out food label templates. There are different styles to choose from, ranging from vintage to minimalist. If you use a lot of bins or jars, you (and your guests) will be satisfied with this organizational system. 

  5. Bread tags for cord organization—okay, hear this one out: write on old bread tags, and wrap them around cords. You’ll know exactly which cord goes where, and you won’t waste any more time unplugging and replugging each one to see what lamp it corresponds with.

  6. Repurpose an old drawer for underbed storage—if you have a piece of furniture you don’t use anymore and you’re lacking bins, try taking it out and using it under a bed. Chances are, it’ll look nicer than a storage bin. If you need it to move more easily, try adding padding or wheels to the bottom.

  7. A wine rack as a towel holder—if you roll up the towels correctly, they’ll fit perfectly on an old wine rack. It's a great way to get some extra storage, especially if your bathroom is a small space. 

Hopefully, you can use at least one of these to make your life a little easier. Now start storing!

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Design Ben Soreff Design Ben Soreff

4 Tips for Adding More Storage Space in Your Bathroom

Even though your bathroom is likely the smallest room in your home, it doesn't mean that you don't have to sacrifice storage space. You might want to keep items for your nighttime routine in a separate area from what you use for getting ready in the morning, which means that you would need a few additional shelves or cabinets. Here are a few ideas to consider that can give you more space while also giving your bathroom a stylish look.

Even though your bathroom is likely the smallest room in your home, it doesn't mean that you don't have to sacrifice storage space. You might want to keep items for your nighttime routine in a separate area from what you use for getting ready in the morning, which means that you would need a few additional shelves or cabinets. Here are a few ideas to consider that can give you more space while also giving your bathroom a stylish look.

Racks

From wooden towel racks to metal racks to store shampoo bottles and makeup, there's an assortment that you can install on your bathroom walls to give you more space. This technique allows you to utilize the vertical space that's available in the room instead of taking up more space moving out horizontally. If you choose to use wooden racks, you can paint them or add details to match the decorations in the rest of the room so that everything blends together.

Storage Bins

If you have empty cabinets, then utilize the space by putting storage bins in them. These can be colored bins to keep everyone's items sorted or baskets with fabric in them to give more of a neutral and sophisticated look. You can sort everything from makeup and moisturizer to hair supplies and toiletries in the bins so that you're not hunting all across your bathroom for one thing that you need. If you have children, then you might want to use colored bins that they can put stickers on so that they have their own space for what they use in the bathroom.

Cabinets

Adding cabinets is one of the bathroom renovations that can be quite easy to do if you have the proper tools. You need to measure the space where you plan to put the cabinets and find just the right size for the room. Consider finding taller cabinets as they won't stick out as much as those that are boxier. If you install cabinets that have a metal backing on the inside of the door, then you could use magnetic strips to hang scissors, clips, and other metallic items that sometimes get lost in drawers.

Rolling Away

If you have a small bathroom, then you might not be able to add a lot of permanent details. However, a beverage cart can add a touch of class to your bathroom for the duration that it's in the room. It can be used to store towels, toiletries, and other essentials that you know you're going to need when you're getting dressed.

When you look around your bathroom, you might not think of some of the simple ways that you can add more space. Utilize the walls as much as possible so that you can add items vertically. Take the time to consider what will benefit your family when you begin the process of adding more storage.

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