For some people, taking on a new house project is like embarking on a thrilling adventure. They find joy in hunting down the perfect throw pillow or furniture piece. For others, tackling a household project is the last thing on earth they’d want to take on. Nevertheless, we love our homes and want them be a space family and friends long to spend time in. In this article we touch upon 5 design spaces to focus on.
Design & photo by www.allaboutinteriors.org
But when it comes to most of the renovations done in Glastonbury CT, whether it means knocking down walls or simply rearranging the furniture, there are three main spaces most people gravitate towards working on: the kitchen, the living room, and the master bath. And this makes since! These are arguably the most important rooms of the house. But, you’d be surprised how focusing on a larger volume of overlooked areas can truly transform a home as a whole.
Check out these five spaces to focus on revamping in 2019:
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The Front Porch
Back in the day, the front porch was the living room of the home. It’s where people sipped iced tea with their neighbors or drank a cup of hot coffee in the still of the morning. Now, we often ignore this area of the home and pray no one rings the doorbell.
But your front porch is the first interaction someone has with your home, so don’t overlook this space. When it comes to re-imaging your front porch, your main objective should be to make it welcoming, no matter how small. Also keep in mind the front porch is the threshold between the busyness of the outside world and the safety and comfort of your home. Consider putting a welcome mat down for visitors to wipe their shoes on, leaving the dirtiness outside. At the same time, remember, you are still outside so adding elements like potted plants are an appropriate and welcoming touch.
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The Entryway
Whether your entryway is a full foyer or a sliver of the wall, this is the first space to greet your guests as they come into your home. That being said, this space should be fun, functional, and above all, a space that tells a story of the family who lives there. There are a thousand different directions you could take the decor of this space, but no one knows you better than you. So rather we are going to give some pointers as to what to focus on when revamping this space.
Design and photo by www.allaboutinteriors.org
First and foremost, nix the clutter! No one wants to be greeted by an elusive heap of stuff. Consider adding a bench with baskets or a buffet with plenty of storage to help stow the clutter. Tidying up this space can even be as simple as adding a tray for keys.
Next, add elements to lighten this space up. Whether loads of natural light floods your foyer or none at all, adding a mirror always amplifies the light you have to work with. If your space leans on the darker side, add a lamp to boost the amount of light in the space.
Finally, make sure this space has a little character. Adding framed photos on a console or burning you favorite candle are both cozy, welcoming touches.
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The Guest Bedroom
Speaking of guests, the current state of your guest bedroom may have been lingering in the back of your head for a while now. This room always seems to be the never complete house project. If you are like most people, your guest bedroom has become a dumping ground for all the items in your home you no longer have a place for. If that’s the case, it might be time to give this space a little TLC.
Design and photo by www.allaboutinteriors.org
Welcoming Ambiance
When you are working on your guest room, think of the people who will be sleeping there. Find a balance between hotel-like order and a welcoming, cozy ambiance. Make sure the bed has crisp, clean sheets, the bathroom is stocked with toiletries, and there are a plethora of clean towels in the linen closet (see number 5). And although you may be tempted to focus on cosmetic touch-ups, focus on the bed. After all, that’s where your guests will be spending most of their time when in this space. Let’s face it: no one likes sleeping on a the 20-year old mattress that’s been passed down in the family for decades. And there is nothing worse than getting bad sleep consistently while on the road. Not to mention, sleep deprivation and in-laws is not a good combo.
The best way to ensure great memories with guests in your home is to make sure they have a positive stay in your home, and that starts with getting a good night’s sleep consistently. If it’s time for the mattress in the guest room to be upgraded, go with a budget-friendly option since this bed won’t be used much. Not to mention, the most common type of sleeper is a side sleeper, so a mattress that suits that sleeping style is a safe bet.
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The Laundry Room
If your house is like mine, the laundry room gets a lot of foot traffic (especially, if you have kiddos running around). Yet, when is the last time you evaluated how functional this space really is? One potential reason this room may fall by the wayside is because redoing it would be an inconvenience. After all, you need somewhere to do your laundry! But if you are up to the task, the laundry room can be a really fun project to take on.
When working on this space, your main objective should be to make it functional. Sit down and brainstorm ways to make this chore more efficient. This can be easily achieved simply by putting thought into the layout and the tasks that need to be done in this room. For example, consider adding an exposed hanging station to air dry clothes that shouldn’t go in the dryer. Consider adding a small table or counter surface to fold clothes or work on getting stains out. Think of ways to conceal your laundry supplies, whether that’s installing cabinets or purchasing a freestanding piece. It’s amazing how paying attention to the things that annoyed you about your old space can help inform the direction of the new space. By the end of the project, you’ll be dying to do some laundry!
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The Linen Closet
Yes. I went there. If seeing that the linen closet on this list made you cringe, then that is the exact reason you should be focusing on this space this year. I know this space, although small, can be a overwhelming task. I mean, let’s be real. It’s probably been 12 years since you last cleaned out this closet. But 2019 is your year.
Tackling the linen closet is all about purging and organizing. So the first step here is emptying the contents of the closet. For this part, you might want to hijack the guest bedroom instead of going at it in the hallway (I promise, your family will thank you). Next focus on decluttering. Go through old sheets and towels. If your kids have all graduated to full or queen size beds, nix the twin sheets. Although you may be saving them for college move-in day, I promise your kids would prefer new, clean sheets. Then consider throwing out ratty blankets, towels and washcloths. Whatever you are left with, fold and place back in the closet! And even if no one notices, you will have peace of mind knowing you did a good thing.
Small changes make a big impact when it comes to revamping your home. Remember that household renovations don’t have to mean completely gutting the inside. Even the small projects count (and they don’t have to break the bank)! I recommend you contact a Glastonbury area designer to make sure you stay on track, choose prudent materials and they will make the project run smoothly for you.
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