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Great Design: How To Create A Cohesive Great Room Space

In the past, rooms were mostly closed off and kept completely separate from one another. This meant if you wanted a blue living room and a red kitchen, you could have a blue living room and a red kitchen.

Today, the goal is bright, open spaces and the result is often a great room. Also referred to as an open kitchen or open concept design, this style brings multiple rooms (the kitchen, living room and dining room) together. Because each room is visible from the other, cohesiveness becomes key to achieving a successful design. In other words, you’ll probably have to decide between that blue living room and red kitchen.

A great room is one of the wonders of the modern day design world, so if you find yourself seeking this style in your home, know you’re not alone. Here, we’re going to share a few tips that will help you achieve that allusive cohesiveness we mentioned before.

Cohesiveness is about complementing not matching.

One common great room design fail is mistaking cohesiveness for matching. These two terms are not one in the same. When thinking about creating cohesiveness, think about complementing elements.

For instance, when choosing cabinets in the kitchen, you don’t want to select a finish that will clash with the living room hutch only feet away — but they don’t have to be identical either. Pick a few common elements and then play with them. Maybe navy, metallic, and white wood can be found in each space, but they are all dressed up in different ways.

The spaces in your great room live in the same city but have different zip codes.

Keep this in mind when considering a theme, such as modern, country, or industrial. Each space may live in the same city (have the same theme) but they each have a different zip code (defining elements).

This analogy is to guide you, so that you don’t end up with an Old World kitchen and a super contemporary living room. You should maintain the same theme throughout all of the spaces in your great room, but don’t be afraid to color outside of the lines.

For instance, if you were choosing cabinets that have a rustic, country vibe you wouldn’t want a matte black TV stand in your living room. But it doesn’t have to be made of barn wood either.

Maybe your theme is country — but your kitchen is a little more rustic and your living room is a little more modern. That’s okay. Remember: same city, different zip codes.

Give each space a unique “wow” factor.

In many cases, homeowners fall into the matching trap because they aren’t sure how to make each room individual despite being connected. The best way to accomplish this is by allowing each space to shine in its own way.

That may be a chandelier over your kitchen island or an incredible floor to ceiling mirror in your dining room. Whatever that “wow” factor is, it’ll give each room its own individuality despite having similar features with its neighboring spaces.

Welcome to Willow Lane Cabinetry — the #1 place to buy affordable, semi-custom cabinets online! Let us help you create the kitchen, home office, bar room, laundry room, TV room, or bath of your dreams with our 100% free room design tool. We offer all wood, semi-custom cabinets, fully assembled and delivered for free. Plus all the accessories you need to complete your remodel. Visit our website to see our products today!

3 Tips For A Clutter-Free Bathroom Vanity

When you walk into the bathroom, you should be greeted with calm, not chaos. But maintaining order is not always as easy as it seems — and towels and toiletries often win the war against clutter. This is especially true with bathroom vanities, as we tend to leave odds and ends on their countertops and use their cabinets as thoughtless storage solutions for anything and everything.

Surely, we’d all like to put an end to this type of mindless disarray once and for all. Who wouldn’t prefer bare countertops and organized cabinets and drawers over mess and confusion? With these tips, you can stop the endless cycle of cleaning, organizing, and disordering your bathroom vanity and finally be clutter-free.

Choose bathroom cabinetry that accommodates your needs and complements your lifestyle.

When choosing cabinets for a bathroom, it’s important to keep your daily routine and lifestyle in mind. Do you and your partner share a master bath and both get ready in the morning? Then a double sink vanity with clear cabinet separation might be best. This type of divide lets each individual organize his or her own toiletries and belongings, so that every cabinet and drawer has a purpose and every item has a place.

Also consider adding a makeup table when choosing cabinets. One reason many vanities become cluttered is that they are also used for hair and makeup. A makeup table gives you extra space and cabinets specifically to suit these additional items and uses.

If you are choosing cabinets that accommodate your needs and complement your lifestyle, you’ll find that you have adequate storage solutions and a lot less clutter.

Keep the countertop of your bathroom vanity bare.

Clutter attracts clutter, so it is a good rule to just eliminate the possibility of leaving things on top of your vanity entirely. Don’t even allow for the smallest lipstick or comb to make its home there. If you do, it won’t be long before your entire makeup bag, blow dryer and hairspray have found its way there as well.

As a reminder to keep your vanity bare, make it part of your morning routine to wipe down the countertop after getting ready. Just stow a package of all-purpose cleaning wipes right below your sink for a quick spruce up before starting your day.

Put in some under sink organizers and drawer dividers.

If you want to maximize space, there are plenty of great inside cabinet storage solutions that can help you systemize your bathroom cabinetry.

Start with some basic under sink organizers, which are typically multi-shelved units that fit perfectly in your standard cabinets. These let you take advantage of all of that vertical space you’re likely losing under your bathroom sink.

Drawer dividers are also great for keeping cosmetics and other items orderly. Your typical style is a multi-compartment tray that you place right in your drawer.

Most insider cabinet storage solutions don’t require any installation and offer an easy way to combat disorder in your cabinets and drawers.

Welcome to Willow Lane Cabinetry — the #1 place to buy affordable, semi-custom cabinets online! Let us help you create the kitchen, home office, bar room, laundry room, or bath of your dreams with our 100% free room design tool. We offer all wood, semi-custom cabinets, fully assembled and delivered for free. Plus all the accessories you need to complete your remodel. Visit our website to see our products today!

5 Genius Ways To Update Your Home Office Space

If you work from home, you’re well aware of the importance a home office holds. Even when you drive to your office every day, it can be very difficult separating your work life from your personal life. When that office is just feet away from where you eat, sleep, and relax, the need for balance becomes mission critical. Here, you’ll discover how to update your home office space to a place for productivity — with storage solutions and decorating tips.

Add some cabinets.

If the other habitants of your home are famous for stashing their odds and ends in your office, it’s time to install some permanent storage solutions — and boundaries. Cabinetry is one way to rent out some of your office space without turning it into a storage unit. Your desk should be just for you, but a wall of cabinets offers more than enough space to share.

When choosing cabinets, determine how many drawers and cabinets you need, and then multiple that by two. Whether you need a filing cabinet for the decade worth of bank statements your spouse is hoarding or toy storage for your toddler, extra cabinetry can keep the arsenal of things out of sight and under control.

Follow a design that doesn’t resemble that of your home.

You want a clear distinction between your office and the rest of your home. One way to achieve that is by designing the space to be drastically different. When you walk in the room or sit down at your desk, you should actually feel as though you’re no longer in your home.

The purpose of this is to change your mindset. You want to think, “I am no longer at home, and I am now at work.” When you experience this shift in your surroundings, it’s easier to make this shift within yourself.

Out with the ordinary.

There are many office essentials, such as pens, paper, tape, and staplers. These items may seem ordinary, but they don’t have to look that way. Upgrade your office supplies and turn ordinary items into desk décor.

Acrylic desk accessories with metal accents are currently trending, and when your stapler is accented with bling it is anything but ordinary. Find supplies that you love, and that inspire you, because these necessities aren’t going anywhere.

Splurge on the stuff that matters to you and you alone.

We are all guilty of seeing something in someone else’s home and instantly assuming it is what we want. But just because something looks beautiful, doesn’t mean it will make us happy. Avoid falling in the trap of buying the big leather desk chair or fancy gold globe if it has no meaning to you. Really think about what makes you work best, and invest in those items. They will undoubtedly give you the biggest return, paying you back in endless productivity.

If you get antsy sitting in a chair all day, a standing desk may completely change the flow of your day. If you often find yourself distracted by what’s going on outside your window, hang up some heavy drapery and install some good lighting. Splurge on what you love, not what looks nice in your neighbor’s house.

Create clutter fighters.

Nothing is more of a nuisance than literally being buried in paperwork. Find a way to fight against common clutter by setting your desk up for success.

Creating storage solutions doesn’t just mean choosing cabinets that will hide everything. It’s also important to have places in arm’s reach that you can turn to. Adding a wire hanging filing basket on the side of your desk can be your go-to for clearing your desk off in a hurry. A desktop organizer that has a designated space for your pens, phone and sticky notes is a simple way to maintain order. Little things can go a long way when it comes to clutter.

Sleek City Style: Minimalist Design For Small Kitchens

Big city, little kitchen. It’s a common complaint of urban dwellers living in cramped quarters — but with a few modern design hacks you can create a comfortable kitchen with any square footage. Here are a few tips to get you there.

Let Function Flourish

It’s natural to want your kitchen to be a lot of things, like a place to do work, a place to relax, and a place to entertain. But if space is limited your best bet is to forego those luxuries in lieu of a kitchen that can serve its purpose — being a place to store and prepare food. Opt for smaller appliances (think two burner ovens and compact dishwashers) so that your kitchen can serve all your needs and not lack in function.

Create Style in the Foundation

The floor plan of a small kitchen is typically very simple. The goal of the designer was to get you a nice row of kitchen cabinets, a little room to walk around and enough space to accommodate appliances. Since small kitchens lack that oomph some larger kitchens offer, your kind of interesting has to come in a different form. Pick a pretty tile and install an eye-catching backsplash or put in flooring that really steals the show. When the foundation of your kitchen is creative and beautiful, that awkward floor plan will be overshadowed by style.

Put Your Eyes on the Portable

Lack of countertop space is a common conundrum with small kitchen designs. The easiest way to crush this problem without putting any more clutter in your kitchen is a portable island or cart. A kitchen island that you can roll out when you need it and hide in a closet when you don’t? I can’t think of a more spot on solution.

Open Your Heart to Open Shelving and Glass Front Doors

With open shelving and cabinets with glass front doors, you see the space where your dinnerware is stored and create a more airy feel to your kitchen. Open shelving and glass front doors offer ways to decorate a small kitchen without drowning it in disarray. I doubt you want to share your limited countertop space with a decorative vase, but placed among your plates? I don’t see why not.

Look Up for Great Guidance

A ceiling is probably the most overlooked storage solution. But install a rack and the wall above your head turns into the perfect place for hanging pots and pans. There are tons of sleek options that let you arrange cookware in an organized fashion that accents your kitchen without making it feel like a hoarder’s paradise.

Let Your Theme Lead the Way

If you’re going for minimalistic and modern, accent lighting is a great way to enhance your contemporary theme and also make your kitchen appear larger. Strategically use incandescent lighting by placing it above and below your upper cabinets. This will create the illusion of more space — and it also just looks really cool and sleek in modern kitchens. You can even put spotlights beneath your base cabinets to create a more dramatic look.

Welcome to Willow Lane Cabinetry — the #1 place to buy affordable, semi-custom cabinets online! Let us help you create the kitchen of your dreams with our 100% free kitchen design service. We offer all wood, semi-custom kitchen cabinets, fully assembled and delivered for free, with standard features like soft closing doors and drawers, and 6-way adjustable steel hinges. We give you more and save you money! Visit our website to see our beautiful products today!

Written by Tiffany. Tiffany honed her skills as a writer and editor working in the fast-paced newspaper, magazine, and television industries. Tiffany is also an award winning graphic designer, with extensive experience in the worlds of mass media, publishing, and advertising. As a designer, she also has a strong eye for interior decorating and color. Tiffany has a BA in Communications and a minor in Fine Art. She is a natural cook just like her mother, and rarely uses a recipe. She also enjoys reading, photography, painting—and most of all, spending time with her husband (a skilled DIY’er) and two sons.

How To Make The Most Of A Galley Kitchen

You say small, we say cozy! The galley kitchen, which earned its name after the tiny quarters where food is prepared on a ship, may have once been a hindrance to a home but today that is no longer the case. Transforming a snug kitchen into a free flowing galley design is a popular and functional way to make the most of skimpy square footage. Follow these tips and find out why homeowners with small kitchens are going for the galley.

Keep Things Straight

A galley kitchen is traditionally narrow and runs vertically. The floor plan consists of two rows of countertop with the walkway in between. Appliances are typically installed following a triangular design so that the range, refrigerator and sink are all centralized. Kitchen cabinets can run on both sides or just one, depending if your kitchen opens up to a living or dining room, or if it is enclosed.

Get Creative to Create Space

Just because your kitchen is small doesn’t mean it has to look that way. There are tons of “design hacks” to make a room feel and appear much larger than it actually is. Start with your color scheme, which should be light and bright. Dark colors can confine a room, while light colors open it up. From the paint on your walls and your cabinet finish to the counter tops and backsplash, choose pale shades to give the illusion of more space. Another easy hack is mirrors. If your kitchen is too crowded to hang mirrors, try a reflective or metallic tile instead. The reflective surface will have a similar effect, and tiles can be placed anywhere — walls, backsplashes, floors and countertops.

Let The Light In

Replace the blinds in your kitchen with semi-sheer curtains to allow more natural light to peak in. If you’re remodeling your entire kitchen, ask your contractor if putting in a skylight is an option. Any way that you can increase the natural light in the room will enhance a galley kitchen design. If a lack of windows or red tape is standing in your way, artificial light will have to suffice. Go with bright white bulbs to mimic sunlight as closely as possible, and consider installing under cabinet lighting for extra glow.

Color Outside The Lines

There’s nothing wrong with straying away from the traditional galley design. Depending on your home, your family and your needs, you may need to make some adjustments to make the galley kitchen work for you. If you can only afford one strip of counter top, a kitchen island might be a close second to achieving the corridor floor plan. Extending to an L-shaped design is okay, too.

Achieve Your Galley Kitchen

Whenever setting out to achieve a specific kitchen style, design is key. Take advantage of Willow Lane Cabinetry’s free kitchen design service, which will get you a custom layout based on your measurements, budget, and style. You will also receive photorealistic renderings so that rather than imagine what your new kitchen will look like, you can see it right before your eyes.

5 Simple Laundry Room Solutions

Feeling like your laundry room needs a little TLC? Unsure of what you can do to better organize and decorate such a small but important space? There are a number of ways you can take control and utilize your space to the fullest extent. Here are a few simple laundry room solutions to help you get started:

The Right Appliances

If you are still at the point where you are looking for a washer and dryer, or are overdue for a new one soon, then consider installing a stackable or all-in-one machine. This will leave open space available for adding vertical shelves, storage towers, ironing boards, and more. You could also install flip-down drying racks or drop-down utility tables. If you opt for contemporary side-by-side units, upper cabinetry is a great solution to house detergents, your iron, and other household needs. For front loaders, you can even install a floating countertop above, for folding clean clothes.

Smart Shelving

Open wall shelving combined with bins and baskets can be a lifesaver when it comes to keeping your laundry room organized and accessible. If you prefer to hide necessities neatly behind closed doors, consider hanging a pair of upper kitchen cabinets above the washer and dryer. This space-saving solution also keeps your items dust and lint-free. If you have a traditional top-loading washer, and a little bit of room to spare, a portable island or cart can be a clever addition to your laundry room. Perfect for storing baskets and cleaning supplies on the open shelves or inside cabinets, the top can also double as a folding area for clothes coming right out of the dryer.

Simple Storage Solution

Have extra floor space you’re not sure what to do with? As an alternative to large and unattractive laundry baskets on the floor, add two or three pretty hampers with lids to coral dirty clothes instead. Designating separate laundry bins for colors, whites and darks helps make washing time more efficient, and hides those unsightly (and not-so-pleasant smelling) piles of worn clothing.

Designated Drying

Keep in mind that some clothing needs to avoid the heat of the dryer. Take advantage of extra wall space, and install pretty and functional bars and hooks for hanging damp clothing to dry, or add an open shelf with a bar that allows for hangers to slide.

Play Up the Pretty

Give your laundry room a fresh coat of paint in a cheerful color. Search online sites like Pinterest and Houzz for ideas as to how to organize your laundry room in pretty and creative ways. If you’re good at crafting, create DIY signs with fun slogans, such as “lonely socks seeking soulmates” with clothespins for lost socks. Store pods and powder detergents in glass penny candy jars. Keep a piggy bank on hand for lost coins, or a small decorative trashcan for containing lint and used dryer sheets. Family photographs or childrens’ artwork also instantly add personality to a workspace.

When it comes to freshening up your laundry room, there are a variety of small steps you can take to help you get started. Consider these simple solutions to give your space the makeover it needs and deserves.

Written by Bridgette. Bridgette Wagner is a freelance writer and English M.A. student with an interest in writing on DIY, travel, and family fun. She loves reading, spending time with her two kiddos and living near the beach in Wilmington, N.C.

Top 4 Decorating Tips For Renters

Choosing to rent over buying a home doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice personal style. While your rental may be temporary, there are still plenty of creative ways you can decorate the space and make it your own! Here are the top four decorating tips every renter should know.

Emphasize Lighting

Lighting sets the tone in your space, and makes a huge impact. Find floor and table lamps that brighten your room, while adding to your aesthetic style. Or hang a pendant lamp to create a pop of color in an otherwise beige area. Battery operated under-cabinet lighting is a great addition to any kitchen, and is easy to install.

Dress Windows

Consider taking down generic vertical blinds or hiding them under curtains, but remember not to toss them out! You’ll need them again when you move out to get your security deposit back. Make sure you measure the width and height of your window before shopping. In addition to providing privacy and décor, many drapes have thick liners that will help insulate your rental’s heating and air – meaning lower utility bills. For smaller rooms, long curtains will give the illusion of taller ceilings, while sheer or linen curtains allow more light to enter a darker room. Choose decorative rods to complete the look.

Accessorize, Accessorize, Accessorize

If your landlord will allow you to paint, create a strong color scheme throughout and find accessories to match. Paint is inexpensive and is the easiest way to change the look of a room. If painting is prohibited, add color and personalization with beautiful throws, pillows, and decorative objects to match your style. Using a few consistent pops of color around the room helps to unify the space, and keeps the focus on the areas of your rental you can control. Complete your design with artwork to tie it all together.

Little details make a big difference, so be sure to replace pulls and knobs in the kitchen and bath to update existing cabinetry. Remember, you can take them with you, so save the old in case you decide to move.

Invest In Area Rugs

Finding the right rug is worth the investment: go for a sturdy rug with natural fibers, or thicker rugs with rubber backing. Not only will your rental appear more stylish and pulled together, but also the rug will help with the noise level if you’re on the second or third floor.

Renters have plenty of options when it comes to decorating. With a little creativity and personalization, your rental will start to feel like home!