From the Floors Up

Useful Tips for a Mudroom

By Leave a Comment

Choose Appropriate Flooring

The first useful tip for mudrooms is selecting the most appropriate flooring option. Ask us about the best flooring choice for your lifestyle. More than likely, the answer will be luxury vinyl, laminate, tile or stone, but it’s important to know how you live before choosing the right floors for your space.

Consolidate The Mud + Dirt

The best way to keep dirt and mud out of the rest of your home is by consolidating it to one central location. When using your mudroom, you want to make sure you take advantage of a wet shoe bin. Whether your shoes are covered in sand, mud or snow, the bin will collect the unwanted dirt and debris. This way you and your family do not track any excess dirt into the rest of your home.

A Place to Tie Your Shoes

It is always a good idea to have a place to sit down inside of a mudroom. You can add a pair of chairs or even incorporate a bench. Once you add a seating area, it will give you a place to tie your shoes and even take off your shoes.

Get Hooked

Hooks are a mudroom’s best friend. They can be used as wall decor as well as a functional staple piece. Be sure to add hooks to your walls for extra storage. Hang purses, backpacks, grocery bags or anything you use often on the way out the door.

Minimize On-Display Items

Speaking of hooks, we want to be sure that we do not overload the walls with coats and purses. You don’t have to hang everything in every category. Instead, we recommend only having a light selection of outwear and handbags out in the mudroom. Store all of your other jackets and bags inside of your mudroom or coat closet.

Store Seasonal Items

Seasonal items can be stored away until they are needed. Whether it is winter or summer, you can store the out-of-season items in a hall closet or basement until the weather changes.

Gate The Entrance

If you have a furry friend that tends to get muddy when they go outside, we recommend installing a gate at the entrance of your mudroom. This way, when your dog comes in from outside, they will be stopped at the gate until you have the chance to wipe their feet.

Wipe Your Feet

Not only is wiping your pet’s feet important, but it is essential that you and your family also have a place to wipe your feet. Be sure to place a doormat outside of your mudroom’s front entrance to avoid tracking dirt inside. Tracking dirt and debris into your home can damage your floors.

Factors to Consider When Purchasing Shower Tile

By Leave a Comment

When renovating a bathroom or building a new one, one of the most important decisions you’ll make is selecting the right shower tile. The shower tile you choose will have a significant impact on the overall look and feel of your bathroom. Here are some factors to consider when purchasing shower tile:

  1. Material: Shower tiles come in various materials, including ceramic, porcelain, natural stone, and glass. Ceramic and porcelain tiles are the most common and affordable options, while natural stone tiles like marble and granite tend to be more expensive. Glass tiles are also becoming increasingly popular for their unique appearance and easy-to-clean surface.
  2. Size and shape: The size and shape of your shower tile can also affect the overall look of your bathroom. Larger tiles tend to make a small bathroom look more spacious, while smaller tiles can add texture and dimension. Rectangular tiles are popular for their modern and clean look, while hexagonal and subway tiles can add a vintage touch.
  3. Color and pattern: Your shower tile’s color and pattern will set the tone for your bathroom’s overall design. Neutral colors like white, beige, and gray are timeless and versatile, while bold colors like blue and green can add a pop of color to your space. Patterns like stripes, geometric shapes, and floral designs can add visual interest and personality to your shower tile.
  4. Slip resistance: Safety should always be a top priority when selecting shower tile. Look for tiles with a slip-resistant surface to reduce the risk of falls and accidents, especially if you have children or elderly family members in your home.
  5. Maintenance: Some shower tiles require more maintenance than others. Natural stone tiles, for example, may require regular sealing and cleaning to maintain their appearance. Ceramic and porcelain tiles are generally easy to maintain and clean.

Selecting the right shower tile requires careful consideration of material, size and shape, color and pattern, slip resistance, and maintenance requirements. By keeping these factors in mind, you can choose a shower tile that meets your design preferences and practical needs.

Should I Remodel the Laundry Room?

By Leave a Comment

For a room that is always in use, laundry rooms tend to be an afterthought when it comes to decorating or remodeling. Most homeowners don’t take the time to design or decorate the laundry room. After all, these utility spaces are often awkwardly shaped and small. Since we tend to spend a lot of time in them, it is time to show it some special attention! Remodeling the laundry room is a great way to improve function, make it look better and feel nicer so that spending more time in there is more enjoyable. Are you ready to do laundry in style? Here are some features you should think about when remodeling the laundry room:

Function

Often, we do more than just wash clothes in this space. Laundry rooms are usually used to store cleaning supplies, random goods, and they sometimes double as a mudroom. While planning out how you want to remodel the room, make sure you design a space that is able to handle a variety of activities. You might want to implement more storage nooks and shelvings or switch out the flooring for something that is easier to maintain.  

Do have a proper place to wash the dog? When remodeling the laundry room, consider adding a pet washing station since there’s already plumbing in this room. Why not take the steps to make your life easier?

Make Laundry Day Easier 

When remodeling the laundry room, you will definitely want to consider how you do laundry. Yes, the way you wash, dry and fold are important factors because the new design should make these activities more manageable to complete. If you have a large family and you tend to do laundry a few days out the week, implementing individual hampers or baskets might be more efficient. If you prefer to fold clothes in the laundry room, adding in extra countertop space would be ideal.  Mounting a television in the laundry room could also make laundry days go by much faster.  

Investing in New Appliances 

Tired of the clunky washer and dryer that just does not work like they once did? If you have decided to switch out your old appliances, you will have to determine what kind of washer and dryer you want. Stacked appliances can save on space, but you might need a stool to reach the controls. Front-loading machines allow you to expand countertop space over them.  Many of today’s appliances are manufactured in bold hues which are great for adding style or brightening the laundry room. If you’re planning on moving the appliances out, this is a great time to also replace the floors.

Decorating

Decorating the laundry room does not have to be expensive. Experiment with color, and personalize the area with rugs, artwork, and signs and photos. Use decorative or colorful tile on the walls to add a pop of color.

Three Bathroom Problems Solved

By Leave a Comment

Do you feel you like you barely have room to move around in your bathroom? If you are tired of bumping into the sink every time you hang up a towel, it may be time you employ techniques that enable you to increase your sense of space. From smart storage solutions to visually enhancing your space, you can turn a small, awkward bathroom into something comfortable and chic with just a bit of planning.

Problem # 1: Lack of Storage

Is your bathroom vanity cluttered with products? Does it seem like there is no place to store extra towels, toiletries and cleaning supplies? We understand that there is nothing like a clean, streamlined bathroom, but finding space to store those extra items can seem impossible.

The Solution

Steal space from territory that has not been used in the bathroom. This can be the blank walls next to your vanity mirror, the area above your toilet, or corners that go unused. You can even consider adding a shampoo niche inside your shower so that you can keep soap and shampoo off the countertops and floors. Also, be sure to use baskets to keep small toiletries and items neat and organized. Lastly, do not forget about the space behind the toilet. Perhaps, you can add some style and storage with a beautiful shelving system or cabinet.

Problem # 2: Tiny Blueprint

Are you adding a master bath to your bedroom but find that there is little room to add in a toilet and sink? Do not worry this is a common problem that several homeowners will face.

The Solution

Try expanding the sense of floor space by keeping everything off the floor. Opt for a floating toilet and sink. By suspending these items, it will help make the room feel much bigger. Additionally, keep furniture to a minimum. Furniture and bulky items can create an overwhelming atmosphere. Opt for lightweight, smaller pieces to create a sense of balance in your small space.

Problem # 3: No Room for Separate Shower Stall

Do you want a separate shower enclosure but there is no room? If your home has one main bathroom, you may find that keeping the bathtub is necessary.

The Solution

You can turn that small space between the bathtub and the sink into a shower stall by installing tile or other wet-room flooring. Use a frameless shower stall to avoid making a visual interruption, or you can do something traditional by combining the bathtub and shower. You might think that a small bathroom would require the use of smaller tiles, but often the opposite is true. The less visual interruptions or lines that your eye has to dissect, the larger the room will feel. Work with your flooring professional to determine the best size tile for your space. You might be surprised!

Tips for Clearing Clutter

By Leave a Comment

If your New Year’s resolution is to get more organized and clear out the clutter in your home, then you came to the right place!

Getting rid of clutter can be very freeing! Find out how to get rid of clutter the easy way. The best way to cut ties with things you have been holding on to is to ask yourself a few of questions about the item in question.

Do I have the space available to keep storing this item? If the answer is no, then toss or donate the item. Space is so valuable and you always seem to need more of it. If you could store other things, which you use on a regular basis, clear out this space and put it to good use. Your closet is a great place to start with this one!

Do I have another item that serves the same or similar purpose? If yes, then you need to consider which item is more practical. Also, consider which item is easier to store and takes up the least amount of space.

Am I holding on to this broken item with intentions to fix it? If yes, then you need to consider if it is worth saving. Ask yourself: “Can I fix this in the next two weeks?”  “Do I currently have the resources to fix it?” if your answer is no to either question then you should let the item go.

Have I used this in the last year? If you have been able to go about your day-to-day life without using this particular thing for a year, then chances are you do not need it. You may want to consider tossing it even if you have only used the item once or twice during the past year.

Have I been keeping this for sentimental reasons? We can become attached to things easily. Just by looking at an item can create a sense of nostalgia and we are leery of losing those feelings forever. Keep smaller sentimental things that can be put into a scrapbook or a small box. Take a photo of other items and create an album of photos of those things instead!

Why am I keeping this item? If you’re keeping something in case the person that gave it to you comes over, let that thought go. If you’re keeping it because you don’t have enough items to make it worth a trip to the donation place, simply find more things to declutter!

Keep this list of questions so you can de-clutter throughout the year. This list will help you keep the important items and cut ties with the rest!

A great step in sticking with your New Year’s resolution is to try to throw away or donate one trash bag worth of items each week. When you do this for a full year, you’ll find that the only things left in your home are things you really love and appreciate.

From the Floors Up

From the Floors Up blog was created with the goal of providing a destination for consumers, designers and those interested in the flooring, design, and kitchen and bath industries. Here you’ll find, current, accurate and informative information that is always just a click away!

Recent Comments

Subscribe

Enter your email address to receive new post notifications via email.