Design Tips To Create Space in a Crowded Home

Trying to accommodate children, personal relics and long-time furniture in your apartment can be a paramount challenge.

Here are some tips to create space in a busy apartment.

Lighting is everything! Flat overhead lighting makes your apartment seem smaller. Accessorize your apartment with separate light sources and lamps. Not only will this ‘stretch’ the corners of your room, it will give you control over your atmosphere, allowing you to conceal cluttered areas and highlight others to get the best and most flexible use out of your space.

Strategically place mirrors in your apartment to capitalize on natural light. This also creates the impression of extra space by tricking the eye into believing there is a twin room.

Pale furniture will open up the room. You should also look for furniture that serves more than one purpose and will free up space in your busy apartment. Find a coffee table with built-in drawers, tables with enclosed cabinets, a couch with drawers underneath. Note that cabinets with sliding doors will save space because they do not encroach on the room when opened.

Position your couch facing the living room entrance to increase the sense of space and give your apartment a welcoming feel.

Choose lightweight, versatile furniture that can be moved around easily. Floor lamps and tables can be moved between studying and socializing areas as needed in your apartment.

Double up on apartment space by using a futon instead of a couch in your living room. This will come in handy for extra guests. Use bunk beds if you have multiple children sleeping in a single room, to create more floor space.

10 Innovative Ways to Maximize Space in Your Apartment

Cluttering your apartment with odds and ends is not just messy but can be hazardous to your children. Follow these suggestions to streamline your apartment and save space.

1. Use empty jars, margarine containers and ice cream tubs to store your buttons, threads, nails, screws and other odds and ends laying around your apartment.

2. Cut plastic milk bottles in half and use them for storage to keep puzzles, marbles and other small toys off your apartment floor.

3. Keep your kids’ backpacks in an easy-to-find location to reduce last-minute rushes when leaving the apartment. Backpack Racks sell online for about $5.

4. Donate clothes to charity if your kids have outgrown them or if you haven’t worn them in the last year.

5. Reduce paper clutter in the kitchen by hanging a bulletin board (or adding fridge magnets) on an unused wall in your apartment.

6. Donate or discard multiple kitchen items, or items you haven’t used in a year.

7. Buy a cheap wine rack to store your bathroom towels. You’ll be surprised to discover that rolled-up bathroom towels fit surprisingly well in a wine rack, creating extra space in your cupboards!

8. Hang a rack in your shower to store soap, shampoos and conditioners. Make sure razors are kept out of reach of children.

9. Throw out expired medicines and old makeup. Expired medicines can be dangerous in your apartment if your children discover them, and ineffective if you return to use them. Makeup that is past its best is not good for your face!

10. Keep a watch in your neighbourhood for free furniture. Many people leave unwanted furniture at the curb, particularly the night before garbage collection.

Sleep Easy With Platform Beds - Great Storage Options Too!

Let's start be describing what platform beds actually are and why they are such a good idea. Basically they are beds consisting of a mattress on a solid platform raised off the floor by legs or framing. This allows for the floor space beneath the platform to be used for either living or storage. If built correctly, they can really give a lot of extra living or storage space to any bedroom, although they are chiefly used in kid's rooms to accommodate all their clobber.

The great thing about platform beds is that the frames come in a wide variety of sizes and styles so that they can fit different personal tastes and requirements. You can also choose a platform bed frame complete with wood posters and curtains to make it immediately functional. These types are typically known as a canopy platform bed.

Years ago, the first platform beds were known as loft beds as they were elevated way off the ground, so you may hear both terms used when scouting for more info, but they are really one of the same. Platform beds are also extremely versatile and easy to maintain, so if you're getting a little squeezed out by all the homely junk that so many of us tend to collect over the years, then you might want to take a look at the range of these special beds.

A lot of folks are drawn to these beds not only for the practicality but also the simple, elegant styling found with the latest options available. This especially makes them popular among discerning homeowners. But apart from the simplistic look that these beds offer, where they really come into their own is for those people who live in tight spaces or small rooms.

What's quite common these days is for people to equip their platform beds with special mattresses made of memory foam. Memory foam is a gel-like substance that conforms to the curves of the body while at the same time offering full support for the skeletal structure. It seems to be the latest craze in bedding right now. It's particularly beneficial to folks who suffer from neck, back, and shoulder complaints, but even if you don't, it'll guarantee you a good night's sleep.

Another reason why memory the foam mattress is a good idea is because a platform bed is a bed that has no box spring, and some people find it difficult to sleep easy without the standard box spring mattress.

Many Handy Andy's these days try to save costs by building their own platform beds. If you do you want to try your hand at building one, you could actually save quite a bit of money as many beds can cost thousands of dollars or more for queen and king sizes.

It's important to get your plans right before starting your construction so that you avoid any costly mistakes. A platform bed for under-bed storage will obviously be a different construction to a loft style which is simply a raised platform bed. Raised types are where you acquire the extra area underneath for desks, entertainment centers, or whatever use you might have for the extra floor space.

I Discovered My Million Dollar A Year Interior Designer's Bathroom Designing Secrets Portfolio

Design ideas for the Bathroom

When you are designing you’re bathroom you’ll first have to decide the style, color and theme for your room. Yet, as you are choosing the perfect design for your bathroom please keep in mind that everyone in your family, as well as guest who come in your home use this room.

After choosing your design or color scheme make a bathroom plan as drawn out in the example. If you don’t have a toilet, shower, and sink then you’ll need to place them where the plumbing has been stubbed.

If this is merely a redesign and you already have the shower/tub, sink and toilet in place then you will only lay out where your accessories, cabinets and wall hangings will be placed. Using a pencil and paper design the floor plan and where things are currently located, see example.

After you have completed your floor plan, draw out where you would like other things to be located, perhaps you’ll have a wicker laundry basket, small garbage can, elegant bathroom stand, cabinets, etc. Remember to have every object or accessory you purchase to coordinate with your theme or color choices.

If you will be redoing your flooring as well, as you have your colors and theme in mind, also keep in mind a floor that will work well with water and won’t wilt or will hold the water as to not seep through to the underlying. Your flooring choice should also be easy to clean and take care of, especially if your family includes young children. If the flooring is slippery be sure to buy a rug that matches your theme.

The lighting for your bathroom should also have top priority as you redesign your bathroom. For larger bathrooms you may need lighting in a few different areas, although if you use a larger lighting structure above your mirror or ceiling you may be able to use one lighting structure. When you are shopping for light fixtures it would be a good idea to take with you the square foot of your bathroom and your drawn design, that way you can ask a specialists advice at the hardware or department store.

Whatever you decide as far as colors, styles or accessories the most important part about designing your bathroom is giving it that personal touch that incorporates comfort, warmth and a welcoming atmosphere.

Choosing The Right Bed Frames

Bed frames are an incredible part of the process of building a bed. Most don’t realize the vast number of options that you have. A quick search though and you are sure to have hundreds of styles, sizes and types to consider. But, how do you choose and what differences does it really make? There are some important considerations for this purchase, but overall, the needs and desires that you have also play a role in what you decide on. Often, just browsing through the options can help you to decide.

Selecting For Quality First

No matter what type of bed frames you do end up purchasing, you’ll want to consider the quality of them. If you select a steel bed frame, you need to know how much weight is can support as well as how it is built. If it is a simple model that is weak, you may be looking for a new frame within just a few weeks or months. But, if you purchase one that has quality to it, and possibly even a warranty of some type, you’ll be able to secure the frame that fills your needs as well as having the long lasting qualities that are quite important in a mattress and bed frame.

Considerations For Your Needs

The right bed frames will depend on several key elements. For one, you probably need a bed frame that is strong and study. But, you may also have a style of bed that interests you. If there is a type of bed that you are after, for example, you may be interested in a platform bed instead of a standard model; the frame must meet this need. In addition, you’ll need to take into consideration whom the bed is for. A child’s frame can be purchased as a bunk bed set or even with considerations for their size. Still, there are plenty of other options out there.

It is quite important that the frame that you do purchase fit the bed that you purchase. For example, you need the frame to adjust down or up to the size of the mattress you are purchasing. A frame for a queen sized bed doesn’t help you at all if you have a king sized bed or even a twin size. Many frames will be able to adjust to one size up or down, though. Check this out before purchasing it especially if you want it to be flexible.

Remember, bed frames are the frame of your bed. They are required to provide your body and your weight with a place to rest. The higher the quality of the frame that you purchase, the more likely you are to find your bed relaxing and not worrisome. With so many types on the market, you may have to invest in a few minutes to consider your options. That’s okay because the end result is that you get the bed that you want, in the style and color that fits you as well as having the security and safety of a quality product.

Princess Theme Toy Box

As parents, we are more than happy to allow our children to enjoy the day, busy at play and developing her imagination and creativity in the process. There’s only one rule: at the end of the day, even princesses need to put away the “royal” toys, lest the kingdom deteriorate into a “royal” mess.

But clean up becomes a little more fun with a Princess Theme Toy Box. Toy boxes keep everything nearly organized until the next “once upon a time”. Large and roomy enough to hold an assortment of tea sets and all the bulky toys that won’t fit on the shelf, they can make clean up incredibly easy. Just open the lid, and put things back in. Even very young children can manage that (and they should, because Queen Mothers have better things to do than continuously pick up after her—that chore quickly becomes a “royal” pain).

However, the Princess Theme Toy Box is more than just a functional container. Painted in a bright and happy shade of pink—because we all know that princesses must love pink—it literally becomes a treasure box for all her most beloved playthings. The words “The Crown Jewels” are stenciled in the front, two beautiful tulips decorating the corners.

But there’s more. The princess theme toy box doubles as a love seat. Soft purple cushions and spindle backing make it the perfect place to read a book or watch a favorite video. There’s also room for another friend to sit next to her—where they can whisper the secrets that only princesses are allowed to know, or pretend to rule the kingdom from the royal throne.

The princess theme toy box is constructed out of quality wood and handmade by skilled craftsmen who put careful attention to every detail. From the beautifully painted flowers to the adorable princess crown on the back rest, it is certainly “fit for a princess”. No worries about any hidden peas, either—the soft purple cushions are as comfortable as a princess deserves.

The princess theme toy box can be placed at the foot of the bed, out of everyone’s way. It instantly adds a touch of whimsy and femininity to the room, and the design isn’t something she’ll get sick of right away. In fact, even when she’s outgrown her love for teddy bears and dolls, she’ll treasure the princess theme toy box (everyone’s a princess at heart). Instead of blocks and puzzles, she’ll put photo albums, trinkets and accessories, prom dresses and other keepsakes of her youth. Years from now, she may even pass on that princess theme toy box to her own daughter—who will have her own adventures, her own day dreams, and this delightful treasure chest to hold her best memories.

Retro Rocking Chair

Are you ready to rock? The Retro Rocker is the perfect addition to a child’s bedroom. Not only is it functional (perfect for reading bedtime stories or watching favorite videos) today’s designs add instant charm to a room. Why get a generic bean bag when you can soar to new heights on an airplane retro rocker or race away on a motorcycle retro rocker? And let’s face it—one of the toughest challenges of parenting is to get our active little darlings settled down for a nap. Retro rockers lull them to sleepy contentment, until they’re ready to get tucked into bed without any fuss at all.

Rockers have been used for centuries. Who hasn’t seen those traditional paintings and illustrations of a mother in her rocking chair, singing her wee one to sleep? They were said to have been invented by Benjamin Franklin, but historians believe that they were developed in England in the early 1700s and used in the garden (where one could relax while enjoying a light summer breeze). Furniture companies started making them in bulk in the 1800s.

The first rocking chairs had six legs. Later on, furniture manufacturers started using spindle-backs, which was called the Windsor rocker. The Boston rockers used arm handles that curved downwards, while the Salem rockers used straight wood panels instead of spindles. These were all developed in the 1800s.

While there have been several modern and contemporary designs, which look more like art statement pieces (complete with fiber glass and steel materials), the retro rocker is great for any child’s room. There’s a retro charm and innocence about them, harkening to simpler, more serene times. However, there’s nothing dowdy and old-fashioned about a retro rocking chair—not with the incredible artistry with which it is made.

For example, there are tractor retro rockers made to resemble a John Deere. There is the carousel retro rocker that is quite popular for its unique design and looks great in any child’s room or nursery. There is even a retro rocker that looks like an airplane ready to soar your child to new heights of imagination.

Decorating In A Style That You Love

When you walk in to your home after a hard day at work, do you feel instant relaxation? Entering in to a place that you really love being, A place that fills you with calm and ease? A place you hate leaving and can't wait to get back to?

If not, you owe it to yourself to make it so. Why? Because you deserve it! You deserve a place of beauty that truly appeals to your emotional sense of well being. A place that you feel proud of, a place that shows off who you are.

Many times we feel restricted in our decorating. People who rent homes or apartments, spousal disapproval, lack of funds, fear of trying something new or just being lost in what should be done to accomplish that goal.

But there is always a solution if you just look for it. Apartment and rental home dwellers can decorate with removable decor, spouses can be compromised with, budgets can be adjusted to acquire the necessary instruments needed to design your dream home (other than expensive furnishings, most decorating can be done on a very limited budget) and as to where to start to improve your surroundings, look within yourself and ask yourself: "What do I dislike about my current decorating?" and "What type of decorating do I love?" Look to magazines for help and clip photos of styles that appeal to you for guidance.

Change the things you dislike by adopting the things you love.

Our home in Seattle, Washington is quite lovely and it was surely a labor of love. You would never tell that I did it all on a shoestring with paint, plaster, fabric and color choices. Even much of the framing for art came from thrift stores and was re-gilded or repaired. Many of my treasured furniture pieces were yard sale items that I will keep forever.

But I made a mistake with the Seattle house and that was to hold the reins on some of the decorating I would have loved to do. Why? Because I knew at some point we would sell that pretty place and move in to our dream home, recently purchased in the mountains of Idaho. My thought at the time was that if I decorated in too much ornate plaster, if I painted murals on the walls and ceilings or if I used a little too much "gold" accent , that the house would somehow be less appealing to potential buyers.

As I've spent the past few years making the Idaho house a true extension of my personality and my art with cast columns, wall and sky murals and gold decor items in nearly every room, I've realized that I shorted myself in not doing the same in our Seattle home.

I've found that though I decorated that house to please myself and my husband, I was also decorating it for potential buyers from the moment I moved in. By doing that, I kept myself from enjoying things I am now creating in Idaho. Things that make me happy, things that I have loved in other homes but didn't feel I could do to my own because it might displease a future owner.

My whole point is that your home really is your "castle". No matter how long you are meant to be there. Decorate for YOU. Decorate to please and comfort YOU and your family. Don't worry about what the future might hold.

The most important thing is to make your home a special place that is meant to be enjoyed "today". So if you want brilliant red walls, go for it... If you want to decorate in high style, have a ball! If you want to paint your walls black and carpet in white shag, then that's what must be done! In closing, I want to quote Eleanore Roosevelt: "Life has just got to be lived ~ Thats all there is to it".