A Guest Post by Steven Athea
For the everyday parent on the go, it can sometimes be difficult to keep your living space orderly and tidy. Maintaining a clean and organized atmosphere does not mean having to lose out on modern day décor. There are innovative ways to keep your home well kept, while still being stylish in your own right. From getting a handle on the craziness in the children’s playroom to organizing your personal bedroom. I would recommend these practical everyday tips to make your home as functional and clutter free as possible.
1. Play Room Madness
It can be challenging keeping a home clean and organized with little ones constantly running around the house. Often, parents can feel as though they are continually picking up after them. A great and stylish way to keep the mess off your floors in the kid’s playroom area is to incorporate decorative shelving, such as this Ikea Expedit Shelving Unit. These sturdy shelves are a useful way to divide up large rooms, as well as provide extra shelf space to place kids toys and even family photos on. As your family grows and gets older, we tend to still hold on to old furniture pieces that we aren’t quite sure what to do with. A fun DIY project that will provide a unique twist on organizational shelving as well as utilize your children’s old plastic play chairs is to nail the foot of the chairs to the wall. The back support of the chair will face down and provide a flat space to place stuffed animals and decorative pieces.
2. Mommy Time
As a parent, your children have a tendency to come first, and at times you can neglect your own space. Don’t just add organizational pieces to the kid’s rooms, bring it into your bedroom as well! Purchasing large under the bed storage containers is an extraordinary way to keep seasonal clothing out of the way, and allow for additional room in your closet. Hanging shoe racks have freed up an abundance of space in my own closet. I have found it doesn’t have to be utilized for only shoes, it can be used for organizing belts or even scarves. Each cubby has enough space to keep your accessories in order. If your jewelry area is beginning to look a bit too crowded for your liking, invest in jewelry tree’s to hang anything from long necklaces to multiple bracelets and keep from misplacing your pieces of jewelry.
3. Too Many Hands in the Pot
It’s never bad to have extra hands in the kitchen assisting you, but it can get a little crowded if your cooking area isn’t organized. Visit your nearest container store and purchase plastic and reusable containers that have a space in the front for labeling individual products. From your cereal to your pasta, this will remove the clutter of large boxes, and keep your pantry clean and neat. Don’t think we forgot about that junk drawer that you have, unfortunately I myself am guilty of having one. While you’re at the container store, pick up a drawer organizational piece to help harmonize the disorder in that pesky junk drawer. This tiny detail will make it easier to find extra batteries, Chinese take-out menus, or any other loose ends you have in there! Do you have extra space near your stove top or on an empty wall in the kitchen? An alternative way to decorate this area, as well as add practicality to your kitchen accessories, is by nailing hooks on the wall to hang your pots, pans and even oven mitts for easy everyday access.
4. Living Room De-cluttering
Living rooms are the central focus for a variety of homes. This is the comforting area where everyone gathers around for some quality time. From watching movies with the kids to entertaining guests, it can sometimes seem like your living room is not only cluttered with things, but numerous amounts of people. How many times prior to guests coming over, have you had to rush to clear away the kid’s toys, hide magazines or blankets from site? Pieces such as a Coffee Table with a Lift-Top from Wayfair.com is a dream furniture piece. This table provides a stylish way to tuck away your conventional items that are not necessarily needed while entertaining guest. Additionally this table even doubles as an added area to place hors d’oeuvres for your dinner parties!
In order to achieve a dynamic livable space, you must think outside of the box in terms of decorating. Don’t stick to the norm! Incorporate DIY projects throughout the house in which your little ones can help with, and add a personal touch to your living space. As parents we know our children come first in the household, so it is important we provide them a space that is functional for both them as well as you.
Steven Athea is the co-founder of Modani, a contemporary furniture store with locations across the U.S. Steven has a degree in Design and Architecture from The Architecture School of Antibes in France. He has designed and decorated several high-end night clubs and restaurants in Miami Beach. Steven’s eye for design has helped launch Modani into a national success, attracting the attention of celebrities such as Sean Combs, the Kardashians and Lady Gaga.
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