Format: The size and shape of a tile. Formats range from tiny half-inch-square mosaics to 2-foot-square tiles and larger. Tiles come in square, rectangular and many other shapes. Format strongly affects the perceived size and shape of a space. As a rule, it’s best to use small tiles in small zones, such as backsplashes or feature areas. Large tiles are suited to spacious rooms, adding to the sense of openness and flow.When Bigger Is Better: The Dramatic Look of Large-Format Tiles
Batch: A lot of identical tiles from the same production run. Colors vary from batch to batch. For a consistent look, use tiles with the same batch number in one area, especially with plain tiles.Body: The primary structural part of a ceramic tile, excluding the glaze.Bullnose: Trim tile with a rounded finished edge, often used on kitchen counters. Also known by its Italian name, battiscopa.
8. Fairer faucet. Minerals building on your shower faucet? They can easily be removed with distilled white vinegar. Look for bottles labeled “cleaning vinegar,” which is more acidic than cooking vinegar. Place the vinegar in a sandwich baggie and wrap it around the faucet head with a rubber band for the evening. The mineral buildup should be gone the next morning.Browse rain showers for your home
6. Last year: You earmarked unwanted items for family and friends, assuming they would want your things.This year: Send photos first and ask if they actually want or need those items. It’s not uncommon to declutter and want to pass on your beloved items to family and friends. But consider why you are doing this. Is it because you think they will really love it, or because it is worth a lot and you would feel less guilty giving it away if someone you know could enjoy it? Marie Kondo, author of The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up, notes that giving your items to friends and family may be your way of avoiding those feelings of guilt and could even be burdensome for the receiver. So ask first. If they do want your item, be sure it is picked up within a reasonable amount of time; otherwise, your decluttering effort is defeated. I’ve had friends say they want my items, only to forget about them for a couple of months, indicating to me that they really didn’t love them in the first place. Then I know that I can go ahead and donate or sell it.Simplifying: How to Get Your Grown Kids’ Things Out of the HouseMore12 Gardening Ideas You Can Count as New Year’s ResolutionsKick Off Your New Yea...
4. Last year: You kept unwanted toiletries items until they were clearly past their prime. This year: Multitask while you are brushing your teeth and take a quick assessment of your toiletries drawer. Discard any items that have expired or that you realistically will never use again. If you don’t love that lipstick color, chances are you won’t suddenly change your mind. It serves no purpose for you to hang on to it — even if it was expensive. Declutter to Get That Spa-Fresh Feeling in Your BathroomFind bathroom organizers
Warning: what not to do. The temptation to buy more stuff to help you get organized is strong, but resist! “I’m a big fan of using boxes and bins you can find around the house,” Ley says. “You might think some magic shoe rack or a set of beautiful little acrylic boxes with lids will solve all your problems, but it probably won’t.” She has made this mistake herself. “Now I have like 16 little acrylic boxes with lids in my bathroom and it just doesn’t work, you have to pull them out, remove the lids … I tell you, The Container Store is just full of hope,” she says with a laugh.Find a professional organizer in your area
10. Clear a shelf — then leave it empty. Let an empty shelf you’ve cleared off breathe awhile. “Our first instinct is to go buy something to fill it, but let it just sit there empty, even though that can feel oddly uncomfortable,” Ley says. “This is how it feels to have a margin at first, whether it’s an empty shelf or a free hour in your schedule. If you take the time to figure it out, these things will fill up in a better way naturally.” Other chock-full areas can spread out a bit, or something interesting and unexpected will turn up to place there. For example, after completely clearing her kitchen counters, Ley let them stay uncovered for a bit. Later she unearthed a tattered and beloved recipe box of her grandmother’s, and now it sits proudly in the kitchen and she admires it and uses it every day.How to Conquer Kitchen Counter Clutter, Maybe for Good
9. Clean out your computer. Delete unnecessary files, clean off your computer’s desktop, empty that little wastebasket, complete your updates and then restart your machine. Ley likes to clear the photos and videos from her phone and computer, uploading keepers to an online storage service (a.k.a. the cloud) and creating a family yearbook every year. (She uses Dropbox and Artifact Uprising.) Finally, just as you did with your snail mail, prevent more junk from coming in by unsubscribing from those that email too often, setting up Smart Mailboxes to have tempting deals stashed out of your main inbox and getting some help from an app. Ley recommends Unroll.me.Great Home Project: How to Organize Your Digital Photos
7. Attack the closet. Now that you’ve got your feet wet and eliminated some distractions, you’re ready to tackle your closet. “We have an emotional connection to some of our clothes that makes it hard to get rid of them,” Ley says. “We think ‘when I get skinnier these pants will fit,’ or ‘this doesn’t look good on me, but I paid too much for it so I have to keep it.’” Let go of those kinds of thoughts. Then cherry-pick only your favorite things that make you feel confident and put the rest into the donation bag.7 Habits to Help a Tidy Closet Stay That Way
4. Organize your food. Once you’re done with the drawers and cabinets, attack the food in the pantry, refrigerator and spice cabinet. (You can break this down and shoot for doing just one of these a day for a while.)Take it all out and chuck anything that’s expired or stale. If there’s an ingredient that works only for that impossible recipe you’re never going to whip up or is something your family just won’t eat, put it in a bin for the food bank.Get It Done: How to Clean Out the Pantry
2. Stop stuff from coming in. You can get started by curbing junk mail. Register at DMAchoice.org to help stop the flow, and then take it a step further. “If you notice certain companies sending you catalogs too often, take the time to call them up individually and get off the mailing lists,” Ley advises. “And put your number on the National Do Not Call Registry.”
1. Grab a trash bag. “Go through all the rooms in your house and look for trash,” Ley says. “You’ll be surprised at what’s just lying around.” Whether it’s expired coupons, boxes, empty shampoo bottles in the shower, dry-cleaning tags, a dead plant or wastebaskets that need emptying, just making this first step will make you feel better. You may even decide you’re ready to make a second round with a light look for items you can donate, like books you’re never going to read again. “This will ease you into the process,” Ley says.
Day 2: Make some space.Decluttering tasks: Pour yourself a big cup of coffee or tea, because you’ll need the boost to get through today’s task — but when you’re done, your workspace should be feeling significantly better.Pull every (nonpaper) item out of your desk and office storage and sort it into piles, placing like with like —for instance, all letter writing supplies in one pile; everything computer related in another.Now take a closer look at those piles, removing unneeded duplicates (do you really need three staplers?) and anything that doesn’t belong in your office.Armed with the knowledge gained on your fact-finding mission on Day 1, dip into your files and see if there are papers you can safely get rid of. If you want to move toward a paperless home office, go online today and set up paperless statements and billing.
Cleaning tasks:Wipe the shelves of the fridge; wash crisper drawers with warm, soapy water. Degrease the stovetop. Clean out the microwave. Clear the crumb tray under the toaster oven. Pull your fridge away from the wall and vacuum the space behind it and the coils. Run your oven’s self-cleaning function (be sure to consult the manual for instructions first).Run the dishwasher without anything in it.Spring Clean Your Kitchen
Set goals that make sense for you. Setting a goal that relates to how you want your kitchen to function better is more helpful than blindly tackling a long list of cleaning and decluttering jobs, so consider what you personally want to get out of this week. Want help getting through hectic mornings? You may want to focus on clearing the kitchen cabinet and pantry clutter. Wish your evenings felt more peaceful? Getting the fridge and surfaces clean and clear so you are ready to cook could help. Dream of hanging out in the kitchen more? Focus on the social areas of your kitchen by sprucing up the island and breakfast table.
Make a plan of attack. Of course there are certain things you already do each day and week to help keep your kitchen running smoothly, although the specifics differ from person to person. Make a quick mental list of the tasks you’re on top of already and focus instead on the jobs you haven’t done for a while. Plan to spend more time cleaning and decluttering during the first two days (plan these for a weekend or days off) to get a jump-start on the week; smaller tasks can be squeezed in on weekdays.
Stash fabric-care tools on a tray. Create a visual reminder to care for your clothes with a tray of tools kept within reach. If you can see your lint roller, sweater comb and steamer, you’re far more likely to use them. A jar of safety pins or clothespins is also good to have on hand for clipping onto clothes that need special stain treatment or repair.How to Care for Your Clothes to Make Them Last Longer
Stuff You Reach for Every DayPut a wardrobe rack to work as a getting-dressed helper. Make it easier to plan outfits in advance by stashing your choices on a wardrobe rack stationed in your closet, dressing area or bedroom. Sort through your clothes on the weekend when you’re more relaxed and you can avoid the frantic, early-morning “I have nothing to wear!” blues.See more of this space
Current-Season WardrobeKeep your favorite current-season clothes out in the open. As with shoes, when it comes to clothes, open storage is best for your most-reached-for items. Think open shelving for folded items like jeans, and matching hangers on rods for clothes that wrinkle easily.A set of good-quality hangers is a worthy splurge: They slide more easily across the rod, won’t snag delicate fabrics and help clothes keep their shape. Wood hangers are best for suit jackets and clothes with more structure; slim, velvety-coated hangers will help slippery tops stay put.
9. All-season sun and snow shade. To enter this modern mountainside home in Montana, you cross the mountainous terrain via a wood and steel bridge. To handle the additional weight that comes with deep winter snow, this covered walkway is made from steel I-beams, steel tubing and corrugated steel roofing.
6. Modern sail shades. To complement the clean modern lines of the desert modern home, the walkway is covered with custom sail shades. Not only do these provide an abundance of shade from the desert sun, but they also add an unusual style element that you would not achieve with wood or metal. Shade sails have become increasing popular and are available in numerous standard sizes and colors, as well as custom sizes.
The sectional, which was vital to the design, was on back order, so the homeowners had to wait for it. When it finally arrived, a huge chunk of the fabric on the back corner was damaged. “Accidents happen like that a lot in this industry,” Bendewald says. “But we are used to it and know how to handle it. I assured my clients that we would get it resolved. They were able to keep the damaged sofa until a replacement could be delivered a few weeks later.”MoreKey Measurements for Designing the Perfect Living RoomGood Furniture Combos for Tight Living RoomsBrowse living room products
The existing wall color worked with the new design scheme but, as Bendewald says, “We backed the TV area with a removable wallpaper so it didn’t feel like a big black floating box, as TVs often do.” The back of the shelves were painted black to help balance the weight of the TV.Twisted Stripe wallpaper: Etsy; wallpaper installation: Jodi; drapery: Teigen from Ballard Designs; Ellis tripod floor lamp: Target
After. The owners worked with designer Kate Bendewald to transform the room into a bright, modern space for watching football games and other sports.Bendewald replaced the existing sectional with one that was a better scale for the room. “Choosing the right scale furniture is always critical to making a space feel right,” she says. She also flipped its layout to orient toward the TV and the view outside instead of the bar. The area rug became the statement piece of the room and a jumping-off point for a modern, global style inspired by the homeowners’ world travels. Built-ins were critical to the success of the design, offering open and closed storage for TV components as well as the games and Legos that the homeowners knew would eventually flood the space.“We chose to float the built-ins for a more modern feel,” Bendewald says. “Designing them to go to the ceiling while floating the bottom visually elevated the space and made it feel more grand. The only tricky part was getting the scale just right with the TV.”Lightweight wooden stools take the place of a coffee table for a versatile option to hold drinks or act as extra seating.Alice sectional, AllModern; built-ins: California ...
Budget advice from a kids’ space designer. Alon specializes in rooms that are for young, growing humans. Here are her recommendations for creating kids’ spaces while keeping costs down. Invest in quality pieces. When you buy a large piece of furniture or a window treatment, make sure it’s worth the investment and can be used for a long time. Transform a dresser. Buy a dresser you love instead of a specific changing table. You’ll be able to add a changing pad to the top while they are young and then use it as a dresser later. Go neutral. Stick with neutral colors and room themes if you can. If your kid wants a monkey room, use monkey pillows, blankets and art that can be switched out easily, instead of putting up monkey wallpaper.MoreRead more stories about kids’ spacesFind baby and kids’ products
Glider. In the corner across from the crib, Alon added the glider. She wanted to place it in a spot where it could easily move and glide. “Make sure it’s a cozy corner that is comfortable for rocking, feeding and eventually for reading books,“ Alon says. She paired the glider with a small table that’s great for holding a glass of water and bottles. Accessories. The mother-to-be had a couple of small trinkets of sentimental value that she wanted to include in the room. Alon worked them into the design around the glider by hanging up artwork and installing a pink house with shelves. House shelf: petite house shelving, RH Baby & Child; books: Juniper Books
Color scheme. The couple wanted the room to be mostly white with pastel accents. Because of this color direction, Alon did not have to have the walls painted. Instead, she injected the pastel colors into the taupe room with a mint-colored rug and changing table, and pink details on the crib sheets and decor. As for the furniture color, the couple liked the look of light, unfinished wood. Pro tip: For bedrooms, Alon advises clients to go neutral with larger items, such as wall color, main furniture pieces and window treatments. Then, add in color with lamps, pillows and decor — items that can more easily be swapped out. Rug. This 9-by-12-foot rug grounds the room and brings in the pastel colors the couple wanted. Alon says she will generally purchase a rug that fills most of the floor, rather than a smaller rug that can end up making the room look choppy or small. Having an almost wall-to-wall rug also will give the baby a softer space for crawling.Art. To bring in even more color, the client called in a favor from a friend who works as a street artist. The friend then used the already purchased items for color inspiration and painted the canvas for the baby girl’s room. Window trea...
Crib. Alon has used this crib model in many of her nursery designs. She likes how its slim rails and spindles make a room feel airy and how the natural wood makes a space feel warm and comfortable. She finds it works well with simple, clean room designs.Beyond style, Alon says many clients ask her about conversion cribs, or cribs that will turn into toddler beds. While you can find many that do convert, not every crib will. Often “by the time the child is old enough to have a full-size bed, the crib is pretty worn down anyway,” she says, “so I wouldn’t let that deter you” from buying one that does not convert.Pro tip: Really research your crib and its brand before you buy, Alon says. This will help you avoid recalls and find the sturdiest crib for your budget. Crib: Oeuf; browse nursery furniture
Photos by Full Spectrum PhotographyNursery at a GlanceWho lives here: A couple expecting their first child Location: Los Feliz neighborhood of Los AngelesSize: 130 square feet (12 square meters)Designer: Naomi Alon of Little Crown InteriorsWith a new baby on the way, this couple found themselves moving into a new home and in need of a nursery for their soon-to-arrive baby girl. They didn’t know exactly what they needed for the space, and that’s where Naomi Alon’s expertise as a nursery and kids’ spaces designer came into play. To start, she knew they needed the three main pieces: a crib, changing table and glider. Then she added accents that pulled it all together in a cohesive design.Changing table. Alon made a dresser work for both holding clothes and functioning as a changing table. She simply added a changing pad to the top of the dresser. Chandelier. To tie in the natural wood of the changing table and crib, Alon added the wood-beaded chandelier. It’s a mostly decorative element, she says, but the house was wired for it so she thought it was a good opportunity to add a little more natural wood to the space.Changing table-dresser: six-drawer dresser, Rhea collection, Oeuf; ani...
After. Taller windows around the new freestanding tub let more light and views in. “The bathroom is upstairs and looks out onto trees, so it’s very private,” Treadgold says. “I wanted the homeowners to be able to see outside while soaking in the tub.”Bathtub: Seamount freestanding tub, Hytec; Bath fixtures: Kubik deck-mount faucet, Riobel Pro; Turkish towels and bath rug: Home Sense
The new steam shower is almost four times larger than the homeowners’ original walk-in.Shower wall tile: Chic flat and relief tiles, 5 by 15 inches and 3 by 15 inches, in matte white, Eurotile; flooring tile: Provenza Gesso in pearl grey, 12 by 24 inches, Tierra Sol; handheld slide bars and ceiling-mounted rain head: Kubik, Riobel Pro
While the designer’s original plan called for a pony wall separating the steam shower from the vanity, a happy accident led to the framing of a full floor-to-ceiling wall on the end of the vanity. “The owners ended up loving it as it gave them an opportunity to have a bit of privacy if needed when using the slide bar on the vanity side,” Treadgold says.Shower door hardware: Grazia collection, Agalite Hardware
The addition of a window by the vanity helped balance the windows around the new tub, shown below. It also allows natural light to flood into the steam shower.Windows: Westeck Windows & Doors; sconces: Fulton, Savoy House; mirrors: Stockholm, Ikea; countertop: Organic White, Caesarstone; sink: Studio Carre, American Standard; lavatory faucet: Kubik single lever, Riobel Pro
After. Designer and general contractor Tara Treadgold stole about 70 square feet from an adjacent guest bedroom to push the vanity area back and expand the bathroom. Now, a new walnut double vanity, eye-catching sconces and a dramatic wall color spans the entire back wall. “The wrought-iron-colored wall behind the mirrors over the vanity really makes the white shower tiles pop and makes the vanity look extra luxe,” Treadgold says. Solid slab walnut cabinetry: Pure Woodcraft Custom Cabinetry; brushed nickel and chrome pulls: Marathon Hardware; paint colors: Ultra White (trim), Barren Plain (main walls) and Kendall Charcoal (accent wall), all Benjamin Moore; ottoman: Home Sense; flooring: Provenza Gesso flooring tile in pearl grey, 24 by 24 inches, Tierra Sol Browse double-sink walnut vanities
Photos by Showcase PhotographyBathroom at a GlanceWho lives here: A couple in their 50s whose kids have grown and moved out. She owns a local juicery and he is a self-employed entrepreneur.Location: Kelowna, British ColumbiaSize: 180 square feet (17 square meters)Designer and general contractor: Tara Treadgold of Clean Lines Design
15. In a drawer. This one is a no-brainer, but recent developments in inserts and containers have taken the herb drawer to the next level. For example, by labeling the tops of these containers they are easy to store upright in the drawer, rather than on their sides. Also note that this large drawer front actually conceals two drawers.Find spice drawer organizers
11. Herb niche. Every inch counts in this compact kitchen. Creating a shallow niche in the wall not only provided room for the herbs but also turned them into a stylish composition.
10. Herb wall. This artistic wall combines cute wooden racks, nice matching herb and spice containers and chalkboard paint. Writing the names in chalk on the wall adds to the charm.
3. Behind secret doors. This solution is extra slick. A pocket door covered in tile that matches the backsplash conceals the fact that there are spices here.
2. Within a range alcove. Range alcoves have been trending for the past few years. They help emphasize the area as a focal point and provide plenty of clever ways to stash the herbs, spices and oils. In this Texas kitchen, recesses in the limestone surround keep ingredients handy.
Special features. Paneled wainscoting painted in a classic gray (Sabre Gray by Benjamin Moore). Watercolor-style wallpaper. Large amber crystal chandelier. Vintage rug. Washed oak table. Modern credenza with wavy textured front. Feathered juju hat decor on wall for warmth and depth. Designer secret. “Originally we only were going to put one juju above the credenza, but during the install we felt two were necessary,” Widell says. “Layering adds so much depth to the room and is sometimes necessary to make a space actually look complete.”Rug: vintage; Zinnia dining table in washed oak: CFC; Finley high-back dining chairs in worn velvet: West Elm; credenza: via Surroundings; Royalton chandelier: Rejuvenation; Margate wallpaper in neutral: Thibaut; panel, baseboard and trim paint: Sabre Gray, Benjamin Moore; juju hats: Cost Plus World Market and vintageSee more of this homeMoreKey Measurements for Planning the Perfect Dining RoomHow to Choose a Dining Table Light5 Questions to Ask Before You Design Your Dining RoomOther Resources on HouzzFind a designerBrowse dining furniture
4. Transitional TreasureDesigners: Barette Widell and Christina Boschetti of Widell + BoschettiLocation: Glen Ellyn, IllinoisSize: 210 square feet (19.5 square meters); 14 by 16 feet (4.2 by 4.8 meters)Homeowners’ request. A more comfortable room that would work with the rest of the home, with higher-quality furnishings. Style. “The style of the dining room is modern chic,” designer Barette Widell says. “We wanted to keep the dining room warm, so we chose elements like washed oak, feathers and wool.”
3. Classic and CurrentDesigner: Michael Carter of Carter & Co.Location: Wellesley, Massachusetts Size: 342 square feet (31.7 square meters); 18 by 19 feet (5.4 by 5.7 meters)Homeowners’ request. Add more interest to a boxy dining room inside a house that was originally a contractor’s model home. Style. “Modern classic, incorporating family antiques with contemporary art and classic detailing,” designer Michael Carter says. Special features. Geometric plaster ceiling tracery. Textured wallpaper. Wingback and Chippendale chairs. Designer secret. “Hands down the ceiling detailing was truly transformative,” Carter says. Window treatments: Barbara Barry for Kravet Fabric; custom hand-knotted rug: J.D. Staron; custom wingback chairs in Zoffany fabric: Gina Berschneider; chandelier: Niermann Weeks; buffet lamps: Visual Comfort; artwork: Jules Place; dining room table and side chairs: antique; wallpaper: Phillip Jeffries See more of this home
Special features. Light blue walls (Benjamin Moore’s Palladian Blue). Town gave the table a fresh coat of white paint, added user-friendly chairs and placed two slim acrylic console tables on either side of the archway to give the family additional tabletop surface for serving. Designer secret. “I think the gallery wall is what really makes this space stand out and be special,” Town says. “The client really wanted a space to display family photos and, being that this is the heart of their home, I love that we were able to give her a personal space but also blend in different art mediums to create a cool focal point.”Chairs: Cost Plus World Market; consoles: CB2; stools: Target; rug: Rugs USA; table lamp: Circa Lighting; face artwork: Sally Benedict; abstract paintings: Amanda K. Hawkins; frames: West Elm (brass), Ikea and Target (white); table and buffet: homeowners’ existing; chandelier: original to the home; see more chandeliersSee more of this home
1. Modern FamilyDesigner: Barbara Town of Town Lifestyle + DesignLocation: HoustonSize: 189 square feet (17.5 square meters); 13½ by 14 feet (4.1 by 4.2 meters)Homeowners’ request. “The family entertains a lot, and this room sits in the middle of the house and acts as a main hallway to get to the kitchen and the family room,” designer Barbara Town says. “They were hoping to bring in a more finished look, add a pop of color, [and have it] be kid-friendly and be a space that blended with the rest of the home design.” Style. “The style of this space is transitional,” Town says. “We have mixed the traditional-style dining table and chandelier with a midcentury buffet, modern consoles and dining chairs. The pop of bright colors also helps tie these two styles together, being a mix of sophisticated and youthful.”
These are just a few of the solutions I’ve found useful for cleaning my own home over the years. Through trial and error with myriad recipes and combinations, I have found what works best for my home. Hopefully, some of these will save you some time, research and trial and error of your own. There are definitely concessions to be made when ridding your home of chemical-laden products. Finding the proper DIY cleaning solutions for your specific needs may require time and research. You could also check out the EPA’s Safer Choice program or the Environmental Working Group’s Guide to Healthy Cleaning section to assist you in purchasing the safest products found in grocery stores.Your turn: Have a go-to DIY green cleaning solution? Post it in the Comments.More: Read more about cleaning in the Housekeeping section
First, clean the surface of the stainless appliance with the distilled white vinegar and water cleaner. Next, spray lightly with coconut oil cooking spray. Yes, the same cooking spray that helps to create a nonstick surface for your pans will give your stainless appliances a beautifully clean and shiny surface. With a clean dish towel or paper towel, rub it into the full surface of the appliance in a circular motion. Buff the appliance with a clean dish towel or paper towel and you will have a clean finish for a week or two. Anytime you catch a fingerprint, take a clean cloth and buff it right off in a circular motion. Don’t worry if you’re not a fan of coconut — the smell dissipates quickly.
For a stronger cleaning option, fill a 24- to 32-ounce spray bottle with water, leaving some room at the top. Add 4 to 5 ounces of rubbing alcohol, six drops of Castile soap and several drops of your favorite essential oil. Tea tree, peppermint, rosemary, eucalyptus, lavender and lemon essential oils are all excellent cleaning oils with antibacterial properties.
Marble, Granite and QuartzMarble is a beautiful, ever-popular countertop choice, but it is a soft stone made of calcium carbonate, and it can easily be stained and scratched. You don’t want to leave anything acidic sitting on marble. Vinegar, lemon and tomato sauce are all enemies of marble. Spills should be attended to immediately before they soak into the marble’s surface. The easiest cleaning solution for marble is just plain old soap and water.
Honed: A semipolished finish that gives a smooth but softer look than polished tiles. Honed tiles are less slippery and show dirt less readily than highly polished tiles. A good choice for high-traffic areas, it is mostly used with natural stone materials.Inkjet printing: A printing method that has opened up a huge diversity of tile options. Stone and wood textures, as well as images like graffiti, fabrics and scenes, can be replicated on ceramic tiles. Printing is surface-applied and may eventually wear with heavy use.
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