Children certainly have a love-hate relationship with the bathroom. As babies, they love splashing in the tub and playing with all of their bath toys. In fact, a bubble bath was probably one of the highlights of their day.

However, as they get older, the bathroom tends to hold less and less appeal for them, resulting in lightning-fast showers after endless requests to get clean after epic mud fights.

If bathtime is a bone of contention in your home, perhaps it might be time to spruce up the bathroom and make it a place that kids will enjoy spending time in. Let’s look at some ways to do just that.

Let’s get practical

While you may be tempted to go crazy with bright paint colors and a Little Mermaid theme, it’s important to get the basics right, and that starts with ensuring that your bathroom is a safe and practical space for your kids.

It may seem cute to just downsize everything from the basin to the toilet. However, your precious four-year-old will be 14 in the blink of an eye and then a miniature bathtub won’t be so cute anymore. Rather get regular-sized bathroom essentials and invest in colorful footstools to help your little ones reach the vanity or toilet.

It’s also important to consider the type of flooring. We don’t mean the color of your floors; we mean making sure that it’s non-slip. The same goes for bath mats. They need to have a rubber underside to prevent slippery accidents.

Lastly, while they may eventually grow up, they’ll still need some help when they’re younger. Make sure that towels, toothbrushes, and bath toys are easily accessible.

Maximize space

Having more than one child getting ready for school in the morning can be nothing short of chaotic.

Investing in a trough sink is a great way to allow more kids to brush their teeth, wash their faces and do the hair at the same time. A bonus is that you’ll only have one sink, and one mess, to clean after the school run.

Strategic color

Painting bright blue waves on the wall might seem like a good idea until your toddler turns into a teenager.

As with most rooms in a house, start with a blank canvas and then add strategic, and temporary, pops of color. Think printed towels, funky mats, colorful shower curtains, and even wallpaper. In this way, you can swap them out as your kids get older depending on their tastes.

Whatever you decide, make sure that you discuss the options with your children as they’ll be the ones making use of the space. Once you have your ideas, give us a call and we’ll set up an appointment to help you turn their dreams into a fun and colorful reality.

Images courtesy of Pixabay.

References

https://www.hgtv.com/design/rooms/bathrooms/12-stylish-bathroom-designs-for-kids-pictures

https://www.houzz.com/magazine/the-family-home-kid-friendly-bathrooms-stsetivw-vs~1628902

https://www.hgtv.com/design/rooms/kid-rooms/kid-friendly-bathroom-design

14 Tips To Organize A Child-Friendly Bathroom

As technology continues to move at a rapid pace, so do efforts to negate the harmful impact that this causes to the environment.

Living consciously is becoming a way of life and not just when it comes to choosing organic food. It is filtering into many aspects of our lives, including the way we design our homes and even renovate our kitchens.

Have a look at some of the ways that you can make the heart of your home eco-friendlier.

Take your time with your design

This means thinking about how your kitchen has the potential to evolve with your style and your needs.

Ideally, you should only be doing one major kitchen renovation in your home. It doesn’t make sense to build a green kitchen only to remodel it and use more power and energy in another couple of years.

Make sure that your design is timeless and has the potential to be transformed with non-permanent fixtures that you can add or change as time goes on.

Invest in long-lasting kitchen items

While obviously convenient and cheap, plastic is not long-lasting and is, of course, hazardous to our environment.

While perhaps more expensive, glass, cast iron and stainless steel are much better alternatives. Because they are long-lasting, you won’t have to replace them which will actually save you money in the long run.

Energy-efficient appliances

From dishwashers to refrigerators, manufacturers are creating more and more energy efficient products.

Determine what your needs are and don’t be tempted by the flashiest and most expensive model that you see. In addition, only use these appliances when they’re at full capacity. This advice is aimed more at your washer, dryer, and dishwasher.

Use no-VOC paints when redecorating

A coat of paint can make the world of difference to any space giving it an almost-instant makeover. However, it is important to only use paint with low or no Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs).

Paints with VOCs are not only harmful to the environment but also to the health of you and your family.

Go for green

Having a kitchen garden is a great way to bring the lush outdoors inside. We’re not just talking about herbs, although these are great to have in the kitchen.

Depending on your space, you can grow vegetables like carrots and even bok choy. Have a look at our blog to find out more.

Incorporate a recycling station

You could either put recycling bins on the floor or dedicate a long cabinet to recycling with stackable bins.

However you choose to do it, just make sure that they’re easy to access.

If you’re ready to do your part for the environment, simply contact All About Bathrooms and More. Our team has many exciting ideas for making your kitchen as eco-friendly as possible.

Images courtesy of Pixabay.

References

https://www.hgtv.com/design-blog/design/make-your-kitchen-greener

https://www.hgtv.com/design/rooms/kitchens/how-to-design-an-eco-friendly-kitchen

As much as we know that our kitchen is viewed as perhaps the most important room in our homes, it can also be a dumping ground for long-forgotten spatulas, lidless Tupperware dishes and empty mason jars that were once destined to hold our homemade strawberry jam.

The amount of clutter that we collect in our kitchen can make the space seem claustrophobic and impractical to work in. On top of that, you may have a small kitchen, which can make finding space even more difficult. We’re here to help you maximize the space in your kitchen with some helpful tips.

Clear the clutter

This may seem obvious but you’ll be surprised at how much previously essential items you can collect in your kitchen.

Take some time to determine what you actually need and what you’re holding onto even though you know you’re never going to use it.

Open shelves

This is not only aesthetically pleasing and contemporary, but it is also extremely functional. These shelves will allow you to store what you need without taking up valuable counter or cabinet space.

Just be sure not to put your lidless Tupperware dishes on display. That’s not a good look for any kitchen.

Hooked on coffee mugs

We know how all-important that first cup of java is every morning. Perhaps you need a soothing cup of tea to get your day started. Whatever your beverage of choice, you need a mug.

As essential as they are, they can take up quite a bit of cabinet space. After hanging up your new open shelves, why not add some hooks to the underside for your mugs? They’ll be out of the way while still being within easy reach in the morning.

Using your cabinets for storage

We don’t mean in an obvious way. We mean actually using the inside of the cabinet doors to store some smaller kitchen essentials.

Invest in some narrow racks for spices and condiments. You could even use it for your baking goods like food colorings or measuring cups and spoons.

Incorporate a multi-functional kitchen island

If you have a small kitchen, this may seem counter-intuitive to saving space. For this reason, it’s important to ensure that you have enough space to add an island while still have enough space to move around.

That being said, a multi-functional island could be just the answer you’ve been looking for. If you have a look at one of our previous blogs, you’ll see just how many ways you can use an island, all of which will increase space and efficiency in your kitchen.

All About Bathrooms and More are experts at maximizing spaces and utilizing them effectively. This is exactly why we’re the first choice for all of our clients here in Colorado.

Contact us today to schedule an appointment with our fantastic team.

Images courtesy of Pixabay.

References

https://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/kitchen-organization-ideas-to-maximize-storage-space

https://www.realsimple.com/home-organizing/create-extra-counter-space

https://www.thekitchn.com/9-ways-to-squeeze-more-storage-out-of-your-tiny-kitchen-223232

Ah, the joys of having children! They may drive you up the wall sometimes, but there’s no doubt that your life would be quite dull without them.

Apart from loving them with all of our hearts, we also want to keep them safe and make sure that they grow up to well-adjusted and responsible. This starts with nurturing their independence in a safe space, like your home’s kitchen.

Let’s have a look at some of the ways to encourage this.

Consider an open-plan concept

Not only will this make your living area appear more spacious, but it will also give you an uninterrupted sight line to keep an eye on the kids.

In addition, because we spend quite a lot of time in the kitchen, whether it be cooking or making school lunches, an open-plan kitchen still gives you an opportunity to chat with the kids while you’re busy.

Add an island

This goes hand-in-hand with designing an open-plan kitchen as it’s a great way to separate the living area and kitchen while still opening the space up.

However, a multi-functional island is also a great child-friendly addition to your kitchen. Firstly, it could be a space for the kids to do homework while you’re cooking. It could also act as a storage space for all of their craft items or even books. Thirdly, it gives them a bit of space to test out their own culinary creativity while you keep a close eye on them.

Kid-friendly countertops

While rustic wood and contemporary stone might add to the aesthetic appeal of your kitchen, it might not add to your child-friendly ambitions.

You need to think of easy-to-clean materials such as quartz and even stainless steel if you’re looking for something modern.

Take it to the floor

Easy-to-clean surfaces need to extend to the floor. Accidental spills happen all of the time in kitchens. This could become even more common once your little one starts experimenting.

Ceramic tiles are a great option and the bigger the better. Larger tiles mean fewer grouting lines which means less potential dirt trappers.

Take care arranging your cabinets

Keep your kids’ crockery and cutlery in easy-to-reach low drawers or cabinets and place any harmful items or breakables higher up.

This would also be a great time to invest in some child-proof locks for cupboards, drawers, the dishwasher, and even the fridge.

Allow All About Bathrooms and More to design a child-friendly kitchen that takes the needs of you and your little ones into account. Enjoy safety and convenience without sacrificing aesthetics. Get in touch with us today and see why we’re the best in Colorado.

Images courtesy of Pixabay.

References

Counter Top Guides

Rookie Moms

Eating has become more than just a way to nourish our bodies. It is a way to connect with our friends and family while enjoying a delicious meal. However, this process doesn’t start with the end product of a scrumptious dish, it starts with the preparation thereof.

The kitchen becomes a hive of activity as we prep the vegetables, season the meat or fillet the fish. This is even more evident if you have an open-plan kitchen as you’ll be getting meals cooked while conversing with friends and family in the living area.

A kitchen island is a major part of this picture as this is where you’ll most likely be doing all of the above prepping. However, this increasingly popular addition to kitchens can be so much more than just a space to prepare food.

Its versatility means that it can act as a dining area or even a bookcase. Let’s look at some of the ways that you can use your kitchen island

Room divider

Open-plan designs have become increasingly popular over the last several years and with good reason. It allows those who are cooking in the kitchen to still be a part of the conversation and activity of the rest of the house.

That being said, having a kitchen island as a subtle room divider will still give this important room in your house some independence.

Dining table

This is a great option if you’re a bit short on space. Whether you have high chairs on just one side of the island or elect to have dining chairs all around it, this could be a great way to enjoy a cohesive dining experience without losing any space to a formal dining area. 

Bookcase or Storage

A beautiful bookcase adds so much character in a room and gives your guests a glimpse into your reading repertoire. However, it can take up quite a bit of space on a wall.

Instead, you can turn the living room-facing section of your island, and even the sides, into a bookcase. You can also store other items here such as colorful bowls or even some indoor herbs.

All-in-one Prep and Cook

Depending on the surface area of your kitchen island, you could use it to house your stove top, your kitchen sink, or even just a prep bowl.

This is a highly efficient way of cooking as you can cut your veggies, rinse them and then put them straight onto the stove top.

If you’re ready to transform your kitchen with a versatile island, then we can help. Here at All About Bathrooms and More, we have the skills and expertise needed to give you a beautiful kitchen that you’ll never want to leave.

Get in touch with us today and find out why we’re the preferred choice in Colorado.

References

https://www.homedit.com/10-practical-versatile-and-multifunctional-rolling-kitchen-islands/

https://www.durasupreme.com/blog/versatility-kitchen-island#.XFVZmFwzbIV

https://homemademodernblog.com/2015/03/kitchen-island-with-bookcase.html

Images courtesy of Pixabay.