Small Spaces

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.

Simple Guide to Cleaning Out Your Closet

September 14, 2020 By Broadlume Leave a Comment

Part 1

Women are notorious for closets that are bursting with apparel, but in most cases, they are only wearing about half of it on a regular basis. We’re all guilty of saying, “I don’t have anything to wear,” while staring at a closet chock-full of clothing. The problem lies, in part, with not knowing what needs to replaced or filled in.

If you were to get rid of all of the garments you don’t actually wear you’d have a much better idea of what you need to buy on your next shopping trip. Here’s a handy list of questions to help you clean out your closet fast, so you can create an immediate excuse for saying, “I simply must go shopping! I don’t have a thing to wear!” What woman doesn’t want to be able to say THAT in good conscience?

Does it fit? If it’s within one size either direction you can keep it because our weight fluctuates all of the time. For example, if you’re a size 8, and you have things you like and will wear when a size 6 or 10, go ahead and keep them. But get rid of anything that’s off size more than that.

Do you feel amazing in it? If you don’t feel amazing make room for something that makes you feel good about yourself.

Have you worn it within the last 12-18 months? A lot of organization experts recommend making this judgment based on just the past year. However, there are events and occasions that happen less frequently and they often require a specialty garment. So give yourself and 18-month window, but then be strict with getting rid of everything you haven’t worn for longer than that.

Does it have sentimental value? If so, but you don’t actually wear it you can still keep it. However, it now belongs in a box with your other keepsakes. Not clogging up your closet and brain when you’re trying to get dressed for the day.

Stay tuned for more closet tips in Part 2!

Ideas for Designing a Small Kitchen

May 15, 2019 By Broadlume Leave a Comment

Breathtaking Backsplash

Do you like things that sparkle? How about adding your own sense of glam to the kitchen by creating a custom, showstopping backsplash from glass tiles. Experiment with color and patterns when installing glass tiles. In a small kitchen, even a small glass tile while behind the kitchen stove can bring loads of personality to the space while not overwhelming the decor.

Display Dish-Ware

You know that special dishware you have been collecting for years that you only bring out on holidays? You can implement it into your kitchen’s decor by displaying the collection on an open shelving unit. Do something different by putting your collection on display in front of the kitchen window on a built-in shelf. Just imagine how beautiful your dishware will look when the sun hits it.

Accessories

Like any other room in your house, you can add accessories in your kitchen design. You can create an art gallery right in your kitchen by dedicating a wall to a mix of different prints and framed artwork then add pops of color to your kitchen furniture. For instance, bright red tables at your kitchen table make the environment feel fun and lighthearted.

Color on the Wall

Apply a bright and cheery color on your kitchen walls for a contemporary look. Colors like kiwi green or muted yellow are ultra-modern and exciting. Not to mention, bright colors can make your kitchen look bigger.

Bold Window Treatments

Steer clear from your standard white roman shades and opt for something festive. Bold window treatments featuring a vibrant textile is likely to be an attention grabber.

Functionality

Of course, your small kitchen needs to be super functional so that you can get the most out of it. Use pot racks to hang your pots and pans since cabinet space may be limited. A tool basket to hold your cooking utensils can also be stylish and functional. Additionally, you can glam up your kitchen with countertop storage solutions that add to the overall while incorporating functional elements for your small space.

What are your thoughts on the ideas we listed? Have you implemented any of them in your home? Let us know your thoughts below in the comment section.

No Space? No Problem!

February 7, 2019 By Broadlume Leave a Comment

When designing a room, it can quickly become over-cluttered not feel “big” enough. One of the most limiting factors in interior design is a room’s size. Space is a luxury, hence why the larger the space, the large the price tag. Unfortunately, we cannot all buy a home to accommodate the proportions we desire. We can, however, change the perception of the space. To help you master your current space, we have created a must-read guide. Let’s take a look!

Portions vs. Perception

Portions are considered the constants and the fixed floor plans. You cannot alter the dimensions of your room easily; however, perception is our eyes’ take on space value. Interior designers love to play with perceptions to give the illusion that a space is bigger than it actually is. For example, hardwood flooring is usually put long ways down a hall to “perceive” the hallway as longer. Our eyes take a 3-dimensional world and portray it to us in 2-dimensions. Our brains then use perception tactics to convey size, height, and distance. Stripes running horizontally on a long wall will give the make the wall seem longer and lines going vertical can make the wall appear taller.

Lights, Glass, and Views

Our eyes take or attracted to views. If a wall has a picture on it, we would prefer to look at the picture rather than stare at the blank wall encompassing it. Who is not to say that a window cannot be utilized like a gorgeous portrait. When natural light comes in through windows and reflects on bright surfaces, it gives our eyes the perception that a room is bigger. The more light in a room, the bigger it will feel.

Textures and Dark Colors

Dark textures absorb more light and take away from the room’s size. If you paint the whole room black, it will feel confined and smaller than if you paint the whole room white. If a rectangular room has the long white walls and the short walls dark, it will visually create a long room and widen it. When flipping the concept though, if the side walls are dark and the short length walls are light, the room will lengthen. Plus, ceiling height plays a significant value in how grand a room feels. Try keeping light colors on the ceiling to maximize the room’s height.

Multipurpose Storage

Consider having versatile storage/furniture in your room. Perhaps a coffee table that doubles up as a storage compartment or seat with storage under the cushion. It will allow you to keep everything in the room the is needed to keep the room functional without eliminating space. Decluttering an area is the easiest and fastest way to make a room feel bigger!

Do not feel limited by your space but understand how to give off the perception that your space is open and welcoming. Thanks for reading!

Useful Tips for a Mudroom