Using Your Home for Organization

School has been back in session for about a month, which means your organizational system is probably starting to get disorganized. What if strategic home design could help keep your schedules and stuff in order? We have a few ideas to use the space in your home to make sure everything has a place so nothing gets lost.

Mornings are always a shuffle of looking for coats, shoes, and backpacks. Avoid the chaos with cubbies by the door. Make sure everyone has their own space, and get in the habit of putting away coats and shoes as soon as you come in the door. Backpacks should be placed in the cubby after finishing homework so they’re ready to go in the morning.

You might also add a “command center” to your home. Turn a wall into a central message board with storage by using chalkboard paint, corkboard, and a filing system. Use the chalkboard to write down a daily schedule and meal plan to avoid questions about “where’s mom?” and “what’s for dinner?” and use the corkboard to post important forms like permission slips that need to be returned. Use the filing system to separate mail and other papers so the whole family can easily see what they have.

If you have space by your message board add a shelf with phone chargers and key hooks. By designating one central location you always know where you can plug in your phone and keys can easily be grabbed on the way out the door.

We know that organizing your home can be easier said than done, but hopefully these ideas will help keep your home in order as the school year continues.

Design Trends – Updated Bathroom Tiles

There are lots of decisions to be made when designing a bathroom. You’ll likely use tile, and the good news is you have more options than ever. Tile is an easy way to bring color and design elements to the bathroom using a material that is sure to stand up to steam from the shower. Read on for some of our favorite trends.

Bold Patterns
Who says that bathrooms need to be simple to be relaxing? We’ve seen big, bold patterned tiles recently, and love them on either the floor or the walls. Large patterns, whether they’re brightly colored or monochromatic, add drama to any bathroom. Let these statement tiles stand out and use simple materials in the rest of the room.

Wood Look
Hardwood floors are beautiful, but they don’t always work well in bathrooms. There are plenty of options that truly looks like hardwood, but are much more durable. Because wood is neutral, you can add colors and patterns to the rest of the room, and even use some of the bold patterned tiles.

If you like the wood look but want to be a little more unconventional, consider using it on your walls instead of your floor. It can make for a stunning and unexpected effect.

Insets
Sometimes it’s the smallest things that have the biggest impact. Breaking up one style of tile with another catches the eye. Consider adding a rug-like pattern of decorative tile to the floor or adding an artwork-like feature inside the shower.