When remodeling a kitchen that’s small or moderately sized, it’s important to make every square inch count. For a kitchen makeovers refacing cabinets, introducing lighter color palettes and boosting storage to create spaces that are updated, brighter and more user-friendly .

Check out the before-and-after photos of these three kitchen makeovers that are 185 square feet or less, then let us know which one you think saw the biggest gains.

Refacing Cabinets

If you like your kitchen layout, but feel the finishes need updating and want to give the kitchen a fresh look, refacing the cabinets rather than doing a full renovation maybe the way to go. Along with new countertops, flooring, backsplash and a new fridge and dishwasher can transform your kitchen.

To be good candidates for refacing, cabinets should have solid wood boxes in good condition. If the existing boxes are made of birch, then the wood grain won’t show through paint so they can just be painted. But if they are made of oak or another wood that paint won’t hide the wood grain, you will have to do some prep work, like sanding them, before painting. 

If the cabinet boxes are in good shape, remove the doors and drawer fronts and pick the style you prefer. Paint the box frames and exposed sides to match the new cabinet doors.

Refacing is much more cost-effective. Yet, you still get all the benefits of a new kitchen without a huge renovation. 

Create a more cook-friendly layout with new appliances and a fresh color palette.

A single small window over the sink doesn’t let in much sunshine increasing light always helps to brighten and expand a space. 

A u-shaped counter can divide a space, creating a narrow kitchen and a tight dining area. By eliminating a u-shaped counter a kitchen can be extended by adding cabinetry and countertop space along the wall, increasing the size of the existing kitchen.

Putting in an island with the ability to eat on, can help increase the feeling of space while doing double duty - more cabinet and work space.

A central theme in decor, design and lifestyle is “Desirable Development,” highlighting consumer interest in ethical products and solutions. What are the key features of this core trend?

What Is Desirable Development?

This theme reflects a basic premise: Consumers want solutions that are simple, positive, fluid and do them good. Until now, sustainable development was often a moralizing injunction. Desirable development gives pleasure pride of place, while respecting nature in a beneficial approach. It’s an idea that is at once positive and creative.

Today, consumers are conscious of global warming, of the need to limit their consumption and its waste and carbon footprint…. From now on, the idea is to place desire once again at the heart of these environmental stakes, by avoiding catastrophizing discourse or assigning blame.

Desirable development responds to a subtle equilibrium that translates to a lifestyle in harmony with nature, by leaning on technologies while preserving traditional know-how. From now on we will talk about alternative consumption rather than de-consumption.

How Does “Sustainable” Transition into “Desirable”?

The need for desirability and the quest for meaning is already part of the trend. The pandemic overturned what was fundamental to us and placed many of our patterns in question, accelerating the need for humanity, simplicity and solidarity.

2021 is marked by resilience, just as 2022 will be synonymous with rebirth, re-creation and reinvention marked by positive energy — redefining our manner of living, consuming and inhabiting. It’s time for optimism!

What Are The Key Ideas?

Redefining Geography

We are noticing a need for proximity, the new development of connections over shorter distances, in reaction to globalization and internationalization. This implies a new relationship to space, a relocalization, a redefinition of geography and a new closeness.

While more and more city dwellers are leaving the large urban areas, we are seeing at the same time an urgent need to re-tame the city, to appropriate the urban, by placing value on proximity and restoring the life of the neighborhood. Local manufacturing, deliveries by bicycle, urban farms or terraces with edible plants illustrate this trend.

Retraining The Senses

The senses, sensation and sensitivity are at the heart of the desirable. The pandemic made us lose our benchmarks and restricted our senses: our relationship to taste, smell but also to vision and touch.

During the lockdown, we were deprived of the people close to us, of everything that surrounds us. The idea emerging from this crisis is sensitivity, even hyper-sensitivity. We must also retrain these senses, which have been undermined by the digital, by placing the human once again at the heart of our lives.

Valuing Learning

At the same time, we need to place learning and knowledge back at the heart of production and manufacturing processes. Now, consumers inform themselves about the materials used and their orgins, the different stages of production, the packaging or the transformation of a product.

Reinventing The Artisan

Removing the inhibitions around consumption and injecting fantasy, audacity and fun into the artist, recycling and upcycling are part of the central tendencies of desirable development. The result: pieces that are unique, spontaneous and creative in new ways, committed and sensorially rich.

The success of recycling studios, creative ateliers, needlework like crochet or macramé, along with objects with pictorial dimensions and totemic furniture pieces, demonstrate the resurgence of artistic reference points in the world of decoration.

We’re getting closer to holiday events, and if you’re hosting a gathering at your home this year, you’re likely starting to feel the pressure of throwing the perfect party. Undoubtedly, “clean the house” is on your checklist for things to do.

While that task probably isn’t your favorite, you know it has to be done. Here is a whole-house cleaning guide that will help you decide when to start, what supplies to use and which rooms to tackle to get your home ready for any festive event. Let the countdown to a clean home begin!

Plan Before You Clean

You don’t want to start cleaning too early as things start getting dirty really fast, especially if you have kids.

So instead of busting out your cleaning spray and gloves, review your event checklist. Once you have the party day outlined, you can better plan your future cleaning time.

◦     Pick your date, and notify guests. Not everyone will be able to make it, and it’s

       helpful to have an accurate headcount as soon as you can.

◦     Reserve party supplies. You may want to rent a coat rack for your guests coats.

       This will help keep your home tidy during the event.

◦     Hire help. If you’ll be serving drinks at your party, it’s a great idea to hire a

       bartender. That will free up your time as the host, and your guests will

       appreciate the prompt beverage service. A bartender will also ensure you’re

       stocked up on ice and have clean glasses.

◦     Ask for help. If you have good friends coming to the event, see if they can let a

       hand. If they offer assistance, take it! You can start coordinating with them now

       on setup, guest-greeting and postparty cleanup.

◦     Start a playlist. Set the party mood by creating a playlist on your phone or

       favourite music-streaming site, and load it up with your favorites.

Stock Up on Supplies

You can start gathering extra supplies now. You’ll want to consider supplies for the party, cleaning (before and after) and overnight guests.

Top items to stock up on:

◦     Toilet paper. It’s always better to have too much than too little.

◦     Garbage bags

◦     Your most-used cleaning products

◦     Paper towels

◦     Resealable plastic bags for leftover food

◦     Cleaning wipes

◦     Basic toiletries in case an overnight guest forgets anything

Clean Five Areas in Five Days

You don’t want to start cleaning too early. Instead, wait until the week of the event, and then follow this day-by-day plan to help keep you focused. Before you start, enlist the help of family members, and then give them assignments on each day.

Day One

Start with the porch, foyer, entryway and central closets. The tasks to prioritize are:

◦     Clean up and organize any clutter. You want the entry points of your home to be

       easy to navigate and clear for guests if they need storage. 

◦     Wipe down the door, windows, light fixtures and doorknobs. 

◦     Vacuum or sweep, and then mop if needed.

Day Two 

Turn your attention to bedrooms, hallways and staircases.

◦     Dust the tops and bottoms of ceiling fans, light fixtures, vents and all the nooks

       and crannies that usually get ignored.

◦     Always dust before you vacuum. 

◦     Wipe down doorways, furniture and any knickknacks. Vacuum the floor,

       especially under the bed and along the baseboards. 

◦     Lay out fresh linens and towels in the guest room.

Bedroom Cleaning Tips:

◦     Mattress: Use the vacuum hose and attachments to clean the top and 

       sides of your mattress, and to get the dust between your mattress and the bed

       frame. It’s also a great time to rotate the mattress, if needed.

◦     Kid-Friendly Tasks: The bedrooms are also the perfect place to enlist family

       help. Even if your kids can’t dust the ceiling light, they can pick up their toys

       and clothes.

Day Three

Clean the bathrooms guests will be using. 

◦     Pull out all the towels and mats, and run a load of laundry.

◦     Dust the light fixtures and vents.

◦     Disinfect the toilet, tub, shower and other hard bathroom surfaces.

◦     Wipe down cabinets and doorways.

◦     Clean the mirror. A solution of one-quarter cup vinegar, one-half teaspoon of

       dishwashing liquid and 2 cups of water. Place mixture on a paper towel and

       then apply to mirror.

◦     Vacuum or mop. Use a handheld vacuum or vacuum hose to quickly suck up

       any hair or debris near baseboards.

◦     Replace shower liner with clean or new liner.

◦     Return freshly laundered towels and mats.

Bathroom Cleaning Tips:

◦     Hard Water Stains: For stubborn buildup, fill a spray bottle with equal parts

       vinegar and hot water. Spray the solution on the shower and tub walls and

       base, and then let it sit while you do other cleaning. If you have extra-stubborn

       spots, you can soak a paper towel with the solution and place it on the buildup.

◦     Toilet: Add two denture-cleaning tablets to the toilet and allow their fizzing

       reaction to remove stains. If you have little kids, they may enjoy adding the

       tablets. 

Day Four 

Now it’s time to focus on the gathering areas of the home, such as the living room and dining room.

◦     Declutter the space so that you have plenty of room for guests.

◦     Dust the tops and bottoms of ceiling fans, light fixtures and vents.

◦     Wipe down doorways, the mantel, furniture, and cabinet exteriors.

◦     Vacuum the floor, furniture, baseboards and under the furniture.

◦     Go over any surfaces with a dryer sheet. This will prevent cling and keep dust

       from collecting.

To keep these areas clean for the next day or two, set ground rules. You could make these areas completely off limits until the party, or set up guidelines, such as no food or no shoes in them.

Day Five 

It’s time to tackle the kitchen. It’s the main hub of activity, so that means it’s almost impossible to keep the room spotless for long. That’s why you want to leave it until last.

◦     Dust the ceiling fan, light fixtures and vents.

◦     Clean All The Appliances: This includes the stove, fridge and microwave.

◦     Freshen up the garbage disposal, by cutting up a lemon or two and running the

       pieces through the disposal. Also, wipe down the rubber piece attached to your

       sink. It collects food and can be the main source of unpleasant smells.

◦     Wipe down the countertop, sink and cabinets.

◦     Clean The Garbage Can: You can do this by taking the can outside, adding some

       dishwashing soap and spraying the inside with the garden hose. Let the power

       of your hose provide the elbow grease.

◦     Vacuum and mop the floor.

Kitchen Cleaning Tips:

◦     Fridge: After cleaning the fridge, line the shelves with cling wrap. Then, after the

       party, you can just remove the cling wrap and won’t have to scrub off any spills.

◦     Microwave: Place a glass bowl filled with diluted vinegar in the microwave. Run

       the microwave on high heat for two to three minutes. The steam will loosen any                 stuck-on food.

◦     Silverware: Remove tarnish from silverware without any elbow grease. Start by

       lining a cookie sheet with aluminum foil. Then, mix together 1 tablespoon of

       baking soda and 2 cups of water. Add the mixture to the cookie sheet until it

       nears the top. Add a layer of silverware to the pan. Place in the oven preheated

       to 150 degrees Fahrenheit. Check the silverware every five minutes until the

       tarnish is gone. Use tongs to remove the pieces, as they will be hot.

Host Like a Pro

Now that you’ve planned the party and cleaned the house, it’s time to host your family and friends. On the day of the event, here are a few tricks to have up your sleeve to help the event proceed more smoothly.

◦     Offer to take empty plates and cups if you are free. You know exactly where

       they go, and your guests will appreciate the gesture.

◦     Have fun! It’s your party too, so make sure you enjoy it. If the host isn’t happy,

       it’s hard to make others feel welcomed and happy. Remember, not every

       gathering goes perfectly, and that’s OK. The most important thing is that

       everyone feels welcome.

Cleaning Tips:

◦     Spills: If someone spills wine or grape juice, immediately but calmly put table

       salt on the area. This will stop the stain from soaking in. Then, you can come

       back later and treat the stain with club soda or carpet cleaner.

◦     Dishes: At the end of the night, let the dishes soak overnight; clean them in

       the morning.

◦     Cleanup: Enjoy the party and save the majority of the cleanup for the next day.

       It can be helpful to recycle or throw away disposable plates, cups and other

       trash, and then corral the rest so that you’ll have a starting point in the

       morning.

Artificial trees may have increased in popularity, but for some, only a real tree will do. No matter how realistic it looks, an artificial tree can’t compete with the scent and feel of a real evergreen. It’s a living part of nature that, for a short time, we give a place of honor in our homes.

And no matter which kind of tree it is — spruce, fir, pine or cypress — once it’s indoors, the goal is to keep the tree fresh and green. This means keeping the needles pliable and on the tree until the holidays are over. And the only thing that does that is water, lots of it, every day.

Get the Tree in Water Immediately

Once you get your tree home, put it into water as soon as possible, within eight hours. If the trunk wasn’t freshly cut at the place where you bought the tree, then saw an inch or two off the bottom of the trunk and put it in a tree stand filled with fresh water. If you’re not ready to set it up, put it in a bucket of water in a cool place. The water temperature doesn’t matter.

Use the Right Stand

It should comfortably fit the diameter of the trunk. Whittling the trunk down will only dry the tree out faster. The National Christmas Tree Association recommends that a tree stand should provide 1 quart of water per inch of stem diameter. Be sure the tree stand you choose has a large water reservoir. A tree can take up a gallon of water in its first few hours in the stand.

Water, Water, Water

Big trees mean lots of water. Watch that the cut part of the trunk stays below the waterline. Adding aspirin, lemon soda or other concoctions to the water won’t extend the tree’s life, but it might sicken pets or children if they drink out of the water reservoir.

Once indoors, a live tree’s branches will relax and open. Allow enough space when siting the tree for the lowest branches to fall open and not get in the way of foot traffic.

Keep the Tree Cool

To an evergreen that spent years growing in a field, your house is as dry as the Sahara Desert. Position the tree out of the sun and away from heat sources. Keep the temperature in the room as low as is practical.

As magical as it seems to come home to a sparkling tree, don’t leave the tree’s lights on overnight or when no one’s in the house.

Even with daily watering, cut trees will eventually dry out. When needles drop when you touch them, and branches droop so low that ornaments are hitting the floor, it’s time to take off the lights and decorations, wrap the tree in an old sheet, and take it outside.

You can saw off some of the tree’s branches and cover garden beds with them to protect plants, or turn them into mulch with a chipper or shredder. If you have the acreage, drag the tree to an out-of-the-way spot for birds and animals to use as cover. Most communities now collect spent Christmas trees and make mulch or compost from them, which they offer back to residents. The saddest end for a tree is for it to be hauled off to a landfill, instead of being turned back into soil — allowed to decompose and feed living creatures, the way nature intended.

Moving to a smaller home can be a great opportunity to take stock of what you have and start fresh in your new space

When it comes to downsizing space, moving may not be as simple as just packing everything in boxes and unpacking them at your new home. Moving in any situation can be overwhelming. But if the new space is smaller or the room configurations aren’t the same as in your current home, it will take some planning and thought on where you should place and store your belongings.

Moving may feel intimidating, but it’s also a great time to take stock of what you own and to start fresh with your new home layout. Here are a few key considerations to think about before and after your move.

Declutter Before Downsizing

There are so many details to manage and tasks to complete during a move. It may be tempting to quickly pack everything in boxes and deal with decisions on what to keep and toss later on, after the move when you’re not on a deadline. In reality, I’ve found that post-move decluttering takes enormous discipline and motivation and rarely gets completed. Therefore, if your moving timeline allows, I recommend putting in the hard work before the move to review your belongings and decide if they belong in your new home and your life.

Keep Your New Home in Mind

Potential Lifestyle Changes

If downsizing reflects a lifestyle change for you, such as moving to a retirement community or splitting households due to divorce, your new home will serve you differently. Social gatherings may take place in restaurants, so it didn’t make sense to keep home entertaining items such as punch bowls and large platters, or multiple sets of dinnerware and glassware if you don’t have the space.

Multifunctional Spaces

If your new home is much smaller or if you’re losing rooms, the new spaces may need to do double duty and cover multiple activities. For example, will your dining table also serve as your work desk? Will your bedroom also include an exercise spot? If so, consider if there are any duplicate items you may be able to eliminate. 

Home-Specific Decor

Sometimes decor and holiday items can be very home-specific. What worked in your old home may not work in your new one. If you have much less wall space, your artwork and wall decor may not all fit. If you’re losing any outdoor space, you can perhaps pass along your outdoor decorations to a neighbor who will appreciate them. If you have beloved framed photos that you don’t want to dispose of but don’t have the space to display, consider saving the photos only and donating the frames.

Remove Unwanted Items Before Moving

I recommend removing all items marked for donation, recycling or trash promptly and before moving day. This will eliminate any confusion about what you’re keeping and minimize the risk of accidentally moving unwanted items to your new home. It may also be helpful to schedule several donation pickups so you can remove items in stages.

If your timeline is short, consider donating to one organization that will take a variety of items instead of splitting up donations to several specialized organizations that take limited items. Return all items that belong to others.

Consider Outsourcing Tasks if Necessary

Downsizing and moving requires a lot of energy. If it’s beyond what you can manage and if you have the budget, it may be worth outsourcing these tasks.

Professional organizers can guide you through the decluttering process, pack for moving, unpack and organize your new home, space-plan for efficiency, create a functional storage system and arrange for disposals.

Movers and freelance labor can provide the muscle to move your items quickly so you can spend your time and energy setting up your new home.

Incorporate Storage Units When Necessary

Keeping long-term storage units for housing items that need to be reviewed is not ideal. Many “I’ll-look-at-them-later” boxes kept in storage units contain items that are ultimately unwanted. Consider the cost you may be paying to store potentially unwanted items. Of course, there may be situations where renting a storage unit temporarily is the best option, when you’re unable to review and edit your belongings at the time.

Longer-term storage units may be necessary, in cases such as temporary downsizing due to home construction or remodeling or when the storage unit is used as an addition to a small home with inadequate storage. If the latter scenario describes your situation, consider organizing your storage unit so it’s truly a working, active extension of your home. Shelving units that allow easy access to boxes — as opposed to stacking boxes — make retrieving and putting things away relatively easy.

If your storage needs are potentially long-term, investing in shelving units may save you time and energy. If your items are organized and easy to locate, it may even save you money: You won’t repurchase items you can’t find buried in a chaotic storage unit.

Occasional Use

If space is limited in your home, review which items are truly used daily and which don’t need to occupy prime space. For example, items used solely for planned entertaining, such as tablecloths, napkins, serving bowls and platters, can perhaps be packed in storage, along with extra dinnerware and flatware. Likewise, suitcases and travel accessories can take up valuable space and may be better kept in storage if you don’t travel often. Keep these types of items within easy access in the storage unit for when you need them.

Annual Items

Holiday decorations, seasonal clothing, sports equipment and other items that will be used for only a small portion of the year can be stored away and taken out as needed to free up space in your home. Think beyond the obvious holiday items and consider how often you need to use other household things — guest bedding, camping equipment, portable heaters or fans, vacation-only items — and whether it may make sense to keep some of these in storage.

Deep Storage

You may have some items, such as sentimental T-shirts, childhood and school mementos, photos, wedding keepsakes, archived files and documents you don’t plan on using any time soon but are too sentimental or important to part with. Categorize these items as deep storage and place them in less accessible parts of the storage unit, saving the easier-to-access spots for actively used items. Other items that you might use only once every few years or less can also fall into this category, such as baby clothes and equipment reserved for another child.

Be sure your items are packed properly before storing, using the appropriate containers or boxes that will protect any valuable contents from moisture, pests, temperature extremes, acid and light. Remember that you’re paying to store your belongings, so assess whether the items are worth storing. Where possible, and if it makes sense for how you plan to use your storage unit, place boxes on shelves around the perimeter to allow for easy retrieval.

If you have a lot to store, you can maximize your space by using deeper shelves, which can accommodate two or more layers of boxes. The deep-storage items can be stored in the back, keeping more frequently used items in the front. Keeping the layout efficient and convenient will allow your storage unit to serve as a truly functional addition to your home.

Organize Your Downsized Space

One of the keys to staying organized, regardless of the size of your space, is to have a system where every item has a home and items go back to its home after use. Spend some time evaluating how you use your space and your belongings, and keep these guidelines in mind when deciding where to place things.

Keep categories together. Organizing your items in categories makes sense and may make locating what you need easier. However, be sure you’re categorizing correctly. Think more about how you use your belongings and less about what the actual item is. You may want to store all your drinking glasses together in your kitchen cabinets. But if you have 20 glasses and regularly use no more than eight, perhaps 12 of those glasses can be stored with your entertaining supplies, freeing up space in your main cabinets.

Store Frequently Used Items Within Easy Access

Prioritize what you use most frequently and be sure to reserve easy-to-access space for these items. Your daily dinnerware and drinkware deserve prime space. But perhaps your coffee bean grinder that you use every day can also take a spot conveniently in the front, whereas your less-used water pitcher can take a back seat.

The priority list will differ for everyone, so decide what yours is. You can also switch out what occupies your prime space seasonally if that makes sense for you.

Make It Easy To Put Things Away

A system only works if it’s actually being used. In the case of keeping organized, success occurs when you’re able to maintain your space by putting things back where they belong.

When thinking about storage, consider what it will take to create an easy return system. This may include using open baskets, where you can simply toss things inside, or making sure you don’t store an often-used kitchen appliance in the back of a crowded corner cabinet.

For some, seeing empty space feels like an invitation to fill it. I recommend leaving some literal wiggle room and not packing your spaces, if possible. It’s much harder and more discouraging to put things away when you have to squeeze them in. 

Create a Flow

Finally, try to create a flow when deciding where to situate your belongings. This goes beyond keeping categories together and means thinking more about the big picture. I don’t keep my sunglasses and knit hat with my accessories and I don’t keep my wrist weights with my workout equipment. Instead, I put these items in my entryway cabinet as I always use them on my walks, and the cabinet nicely corrals them for me to grab on my way out.