Savvy Storage for the Smaller Home

Many homebuyers may hesitate to consider a smaller home that lacks sufficient storage space. While this often means getting rid of—or acquiring fewer—belongings, there is still a need for accessible, efficient storage throughout the home. Short of adding or constructing areas specifically for storage, there are ways to coax more usability out of existing space.

Most people use a back or garage entrance to the home far more often than the front door. These entryways can often incorporate “drop zones”, where everyone can unload their backpacks, shoes, bags, sports gear, and outerwear. Baskets under benches provide both seating and storage. Some drop zones incorporate shelves or cubbies for each family member’s gear.

A tray or shallow box for mail keeps it visible but doesn’t let it pile up too high. As a high-traffic area, a drop zone should be well organized and systematic in order to really work. If one system doesn’t quite function well for a particular family, it will always be better to try another arrangement until settling on one that really works.

Home offices are another area where storage is at a premium as functionality changes. These spaces are now used not only as an office, but for homework, projects, and more. Effective storage can now mean adding shelving and drawers to a closet to replace hanging rods. A dresser can be used to store project materials for easy access. With multiple users, this multi-function room, like the drop zone, needs to have a workable system that everyone can follow.

In the kitchen, pantry space has become more important as cooking becomes more popular. In large homes, a pantry might even be a separate room with plenty of space for storing everything from china to dog kibble. Smaller homes, generally with smaller kitchens, need to at least accommodate kitchen staples and larger, bulky items that aren’t often used such a large mixing bowls, seldom-used small appliances, and serving pieces.

Pantry shelving for food items should be somewhat shallow so that everything is easy to find and reach. This type of shelving can even be added to a niche in the wall between two studs. Websites such as houzz.com and apartmenttherapy.com are great resources for useful small-space storage ideas.

A smaller home will often require a creative approach to storage solutions. But with efficient, practical planning, even a smaller home can accommodate the needs of almost any family.

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Ideas For An Eco Friendly Interior

As more people become aware of their carbon footprint, many are looking for home interior alternatives that allow them to live consciously while still creating a beautiful home. With the growing number of products that are making use of byproducts or recycled materials, you won’t have to sacrifice appearance or comfort for an eco-friendly home. In fact, you’ll feel better about your home knowing it’s environmentally friendly.

1. Organic Fibers
When buying linens, pillow covers or woven area rugs, opt for those made of organically grown cotton or other eco-friendly fibers such as hemp, bamboo, tencel or wool. Not only are these textiles less often chemically treated, but many of these natural fibers are highly resistant to wear and feel better too.

2. Recycled Materials
This could mean choosing recycled or eco-friendly materials for new additions or flooring, as well as simply buying furniture made with refinished wood, or used furniture. Eco-friendly doesn’t necessarily have to mean new; reusing and repurposing furniture is a great way of making your interior more environmentally friendly, and goes well with vintage or rustic themes.

3. Look for Low VOC
VOC stands for “volatile organic compounds” and are commonly found in house paints, as well as building materials and carpeting. These chemicals are released when the products are used or stored. Look for “low VOC” next time you want to paint a room in your home or carpet your floor.

4. Creative By Products
Many byproducts are being converted into household materials instead of being discarded in landfills or burned. An example would be coconut tiles, which use the shells of coconuts to make decorative tiles with intricate designs or weaves. Each tile is finished with low-VOC resin and set on a backer made of sustainably harvested wood. These tiles shouldn’t be used in any place where they can be become wet, but otherwise they make unique design pieces.

5. Strand woven Bamboo Flooring
Strand woven bamboo is made from plantation grown and sustainably harvested bamboo, and also has a a zero-VOC finish. When some people think of bamboo they think of soft wood that might easily take damage, but strand woven bamboo is incredibly hard and durable, and can take a lot of wear. Bamboo also has a very attractive grain and comes in both light and dark finishes.

6. Bio-Glass
Beautiful sliding barn doors or glass pantry doors can also be eco-friendly, and post-consumer recycled glass is the perfect material for your kitchen or bathrooms. This heated and compressed material contains no binders, colorants, fillers, or other admixtures and has no off-gassing. You can choose from colors of white, green, blue and brown, and they make a unique addition to any home interior. Many home decorating pieces such as vases, glassware or decorative bottles come in recycled glass too, so take that into consideration next time you’re shopping for glass.

7. Eco lights
There are a few ways of making your lighting more eco-friendly. You can choose LED or energy star rated bulbs, as well as install motion-detecting light switches in your entryway, halls, or any place with frequent foot traffic. Motion detecting lights will turn off automatically at a set amount of time, preventing them from being left on longer than needed.

8. Decorate with Plants
Put plants all over your house for a natural and uplifting atmosphere as well as for a natural way of increasing air quality in your home. Flowering plants will add color to your interior, or if you happen to have a garden outside you can add some color and aromas with your own freshly cut blooms.

9. Insulation Windows
A well insulated home uses less heating and cooling energy, which is not only good for your wallet, but also good for the environment. Updates like these are always worth the investment as they end up paying for themselves over time. Another bonus is new windows, which will make your home look a bit shinier and new.

10. Keep your Outdoor Trees
If you have any trees looming around outside, definitely keep them! These not only help to keep your house cool during the warm months or your grass from drying out, but they turn carbon emission into oxygen, so you’ll definitely want to keep those around your property.
There is so much that can be done to make eco-friendly changes to your home, and as you can see, they aren’t that expensive either. You can take it one step at a time to gradually transform your home into an environmentally conscious abode, and you’ll feel good about your decorating decisions.

Have A Counter Top Project? Here's 6 Reasons To Pick Quartz

Countertops can be one of the most important facets of your home in terms of both appearance and usability. Whether they are being installed in your bathrooms, your kitchen or otherwise, their ability to withstand regular wear and tear will add to the value of your property and leave a good impression on your guests.

That being said, selecting the right material to construct your countertops is critical to their longevity. And, as tests by Breton Spa in Italy have proven, man-made quartz surfaces perform outstandingly next to other countertop materials in several departments. Its engineering process combines ground quartz (one of earth’s most abundant minerals,) resins, polymers and pigments to produce a stone that is essentially a composite of many of the best qualities of each countertop material.

1. Scratch Resistant
Compared to granite, laminate and solid surfaces, quartz countertops are extremely durable and more resistant to scratches and dents—meaning it will be less likely to chip if items are accidentally dropped on it, and its appearance will maintain its characteristic brilliance. In fact, quartz is nearly indestructible.

2. Low Maintenance
Quartz surfaces do not require much upkeep; because of their manufacturing process (having been engineered to perfection in a factory,) quartz countertops are very easy to clean and preserve requiring only water, soap and a soft washcloth for cleanup. They also resist stains or corrosion from cooking oils, cleaning products and liquid.

3. Mold & Mildew Resistant
Similarly, the nonporous construction of quartz countertops leaves no room whatsoever for mold or mildew to form—a common pain for many homeowners in several aspects of their house. Moreover, they do not require to be sealed or resealed.

4. Flexural Strength
Similar to its scratch resistance, quartz countertops possess far more flexural strength and are impressively durable next to other materials—especially when compared to granite, likely its closest competitor—accounting for their recent popularity. In addition, you can customize the edges of the countertop to your liking.

5. Color Consistency
Quartz surfaces are among the most visually dazzling available on the market, showcasing outstanding definition and—also thanks to their engineering process—an almost endless variety of colors available to choose from. And, as the material has been perfected, manufacturers can now emulate the patterns, swirls and subtleties of other stone materials, making quartz nearly indistinguishable from the real thing.

6. Immunity to Freeze
Quartz, like granite, is immune to freezing and thawing—withstanding dropping temperatures to ensure countertops uphold their appearance in winter months.

DIY Home Project: Floating Secret Shelf

Today were looking at how to build one of those cool shelves that open up to reveal hidden storage! You can build it to hide essentially anything, which is pretty cool! Check it out Here!

DIY Home Project: Magnetic Bottle Opener

If you are looking for the perfect addition to any man cave you can stop the search here, this is what you're looking for, the magnets catch the bottle caps so they don't go all over the floor! Check it out Here!

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DIY Home Project: Double Bench Chair

Today were looking at building a double bench chair, they are very easy to build and can be stained or painted to match any color scheme you have going. Check it out Here!

DIY Home Project: Tool Cabinet/Workbench Combo

Today were looking at a convertable workbench, thats a tool cabinet that converts into a workbench, its the ultimate workstation and space saver all in one! Check it out Here!