Design & Decorating

Useful Tips for a Mudroom

May 30, 2023 By Broadlume 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.

Should I Remodel the Laundry Room?

March 31, 2023 By Broadlume 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

February 17, 2023 By Broadlume 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!

5 Remodeling Projects To Take On Before the Holiday

November 28, 2022 By Broadlume Leave a Comment

Is your list of home improvement projects piling up? If you plan on hosting guests in your home during the holiday season you no doubt want it to look its best. Since it can be a huge challenge to get everything done in the nick of time, we’ve created a list of home improvement priorities you’ll need to focus on in order to get your house ready for visitors.

Below are five home improvement projects that will make a huge difference in your holiday season and for years to come.

Get New Floors: Now is a great time to get new floors! New flooring can change the entire look and feel of your home. Many flooring retailers offer financing programs that can help you get the floors you really want before the holiday. When you get new floors it also provides great timing for changing furniture layouts, cleaning out drawers and cabinets – all good things to do before the end of the year.
Upgrade Your Kitchen: Since there will be a lot of food preparation during the holidays you’ll want to ensure that your kitchen is both functional and stylish. Now is the time to invest in a new backsplash. Be sure to select a pattern that best represents your personality or that will be a timeless choice for resale, depending on your plans for your home.
Install A New Stair Runner: Do your stairs look old and tired? Chances are your staircase is in the middle of your home where everyone can see it. Stairs get so much traffic it’s expected that after a while, they begin to look used, worn and even dirty despite regular cleaning efforts. Before your guests arrive, wouldn’t it feel great to update your stairs with a new runner or new carpet? There are numerous style options when it comes to choosing a stair runner. Will you choose a pattern? Or something with color?
Make Over the Fireplace: Who doesn’t love to gather around the fireplace during the holidays? Give your fireplace a modern look by making an update. You can update the existing tile or stone that you already have. You can add more tile or stone by running it all the way to the ceiling creating a dramatic focal point for the room. You can add or update a mantle and change the look entirely!
Create A Focal Point in the Room: Why not do something to wow your guests a little and create something that you can enjoy the rest of the year and for upcoming years? Do this by adding a focal point to the room. A focal point could be painting an accent wall a bold color or even a beautiful painting. You can mix prints as well as layer different shades within the same hue.

Give yourself the gift of something new for your home this year! You’ll be glad you did!

Choosing the Perfect Bathroom Tile

September 19, 2022 By Broadlume Leave a Comment

When deciding to begin a bathroom remodel, we get excited to explore all the different ideas that can be incorporated. We look at countertops, sinks, cabinets, bathtubs, but most importantly, we look for the perfect tile. Tile is a timeless bathroom remedy that can functionally enhance the aesthetics of the the room. We generate a theme from what we have seen before and have liked. Maybe you saw a rustic design at a restaurant, or perhaps your friend’s house has a simply beautiful, all-white design. While we search through a plethora of Pinterest pins and available options in a store, you begin to form an idea of the direction you want your bathroom design to go. To help you guide you during your decision process, here are our top three rules to follow in choosing the perfect bathroom tile.

Design

The first step is that you will need to select a design style that is meaningful to you. Decide if you want dark or light tiles, ceramic or stone, a lot of character or simple, textured or smooth. Perhaps you want a patterned tile to be the focal point of the room. Try not to select more than three tile types in your bathroom. It’s not cost effective and as a general rule, too many styles can feel busy and chaotic. To make your design feel more uniform, you will want to pick a primary tile and secondary tile. Your other tile choices can be used for trim, accent, and added character throughout the room. Use accent tiles to create a dramatic effect or a custom look on the floor, in the shower, around the tub and even as the sink or tub splash.

Scale

If you are stuck on the size tile, consider the relative scale. If you select a 12×24, you can use it to accentuate the length of a room or give interest to the space. You can use more uniform and symmetrical options like 12×12, 16×16, 18×18 or 24×24 tiles if your bathroom has multiple fixtures to cut around in a small space. If you go with a larger tile, it can make a small room feel larger. Don’t be shy about using a large format tile in a small space, but be careful not to go too big in very small spaces, or it can look out of balance. Another general rule of thumb to consider is to never put larger tiles on the walls than the tiles on the floor.

Maintenance

Ask about the maintenance for different types of tile or stone. Be sure that the maintenance of the products aligns with your commitment to maintaining the product! Glass tiles are beautiful and can make great for accents but require a little more maintenance to keep them clean and bright. Look into some mosaic glass designs to add even more character in your showers or bath and only add a small amount of overall maintenance.

Picking the perfect tile can be fun. Trust your instinct, but do the math. Take the time to create a rough layout to make sure the size and pattern of the tile make sense for the layout of the space. Tile can be a significant investment so lean on the experts to help guide you. With these simple guidelines in mind, you are ready to create your bathroom that feels like your own personal sanctuary!

Useful Tips for a Mudroom