Design Tips

3 Ways Vertical Storage Can Help Reduce Clutter In Your Home

Reduce Clutter In Your Home

Whether you live in a small apartment or a home that is a bit short on storage space, clutter can be a major issue. From all the small appliances you use daily in the kitchen to the tons of accessories and supplies you keep in the closet, all those everyday extras need a place to go. If your closets are overflowing, your cabinetry is stuffed, and you're running out of places to stick all that extra stuff, it's time to start looking at storage from a different angle—a vertical one. Check out these cool vertical storage ideas to help you find out how to reduce clutter in a new way. 

Implement Vertical Kitchen Storage Racks

People struggle to have ample storage in their kitchen perhaps more than any other room in the house. Vertical kitchen storage racks are a good solution, and these can be found in a range of styles and sizes. These racks can reach all the way to the ceiling and give you multiple tiers for stowing away your excess items, but they can also function as a designer element. You can pick up storage cabinets or create your own out of an old wardrobe and make the new storage an attractive part of your overall kitchen design.

Take Advantage of Vertical Plastic Storage Containers 

Storage containers are not at all hard to find, and there are tons out there which are designed to be stackable and stable even if several are stacked on top of one another. You could use something like these stackable storage cube shelves from Home Depot and create new storage possibilities on empty walls in your bedroom, utility room, or kitchen. Even small and inexpensive plastic storage containers can be stacked, and even though these aren't the most attractive, they can be concealed in a closet or behind a decorative wall. 

Utilize Vertical Storage for Small Space in a Creative Way

Even if you have a small space with an empty wall, there are ways you can implement vertical storage. For instance, a narrow pegboard can be installed in a small closet or bathroom to create a space where you can hang everything from tools to kitchen utensils. For instance, if you have a small pantry in your kitchen with a free wall, covering this wall with a pegboard would give you a spot to hang small baskets to house single-serve pouches of food, spare utensils, or even pots and pans. You could also pick up some of these creative knobs from IKEA to add a few ways to hang items in a vertical space. In a closet, for example, a series of knobs could be used to hang up coats, ties, belts, and purses. 

Takeaways to Remember About Vertical Storage to Reduce Clutter 

• Implementing vertical storage can be done without a big budget 
• Blank walls give ample opportunities for storage all over the house 
• Vertical storage can be integrated into closets where there is a wall available
• Creating storage that reaches from the floor to the ceiling is perfectly doable
• Pegboards, stackable cube storage, and vertical shelves are excellent storage solutions

Living in a clutter-free home helps make you feel more comfortable and confident. No matter how small your space is, vertical storage may be a logical solution if you feel overwhelmed by clutter. Reach out to RWC Windows, Doors, and More to talk about how we can help you with having more space. 

by RWC

What Can We Learn From Tiny House Designs

Traditionally, Americans have associated large homes or mansions with wealth and luxury. However, the modern trend of tiny house designs and floor plans has proven itself a worthwhile concept which deserves consideration. Small house design ideas have proven themselves a viable alternative to traditional homes, especially for the eco-friendly homeowner who desires a quality built home which serves their daily needs and suits a modest budget.

Determining What Has Value and Is Important

The idea of tiny home solutions comes into play when someone really considers what they need to live comfortably, and what space in a house might be excessive. The money spent for the extra square footage of guest bedrooms isn't really needed unless a person routinely entertains overnight guests, but even then, there are other ways to provide sleeping spaces without specific rooms dedicated only for guests. Of course every home requires a kitchen, but it doesn't have to have storage room for every ridiculous cooking gadget sold on tv. Cooking can become quite simple once the homeowner realizes how little space is actually needed to prepare food. Minimalism is the basis of small home living and tiny house designs.

Efficient Use of Space

The real concept behind tiny home design is how to efficiently use space and how to make every area perform multiple tasks. There doesn't have to be a living room and a separate office, as office furniture can easily double for regular living when someone has finished working for the day. A fold-up bed can allow for a bedroom to actually just be the size of the bed -- which is all the space needed when sleeping. And when the bed is removed, the room can have other purposes. Alternately, a sofa or cot can even be used for sleeping in the “living room”.

Eco-Friendly Footprint

A large consideration by many people who choose to live in smaller homes is that of being environmentally friendly.  The basis of an eco-friendly lifestyle is simplistic in nature. Not only does the smaller home use fewer materials to build, it takes less energy to heat and cool, less energy to light, less power to heat smaller batches of water, and often has a smaller stove and refrigerator which are likely to incorporate energy efficient designs. Tiny house decorating ideas include simply having less artwork, decor and junk, as there is only room for what is absolutely necessary. 

Incorporating Tiny Home Solutions with Traditional Design

Tiny house designs for families can be a bit more difficult than preparing a small home for a single person or young couple, but can definitely be accomplished. The key is to determine what spaces are really important for everyone to be comfortable. Children can typically share bedrooms, but that may change around teenage years. A larger family might think they need a living room and a den, but perhaps not if the kitchen can also serve as space for regular activities. The key here is having items or spaces that are multi-functional, that can benefit many every member of the household.

Takeaway Points

A tiny house may not be for everyone, but the ideas can be applied to any home.

• Determine what is important, valuable and functional - and get rid of the rest!
• Utilize eco-friendly designs and multi-functional objects
• Understand a tiny home isn't for everyone, but aspects of the concept can be made suitable.
• Condense and combine furniture and other large objects if possible.

Conclusion

For designs and ideas about how to incorporate small home concepts into your next renovation or home building project, give us a call at RWC Window, Doors, and More. We are fully licensed and insured, and one of our professional representatives will be happy to discuss your plans and needs with you and describe how we can help fill your goals.

by RWC

How to Make a Small Living Room Look Bigger

Introduction

Smaller houses are advantageous in some ways: less space to clean, less junk to manage, and lower energy costs compared to larger homes. But it can be tough feeling cramped within your own home. If you’re a little pressed for space in your home, you may have wondered how to make a small room look bigger. Fortunately, there are ways to utilize the function of a smaller room while incorporating design styles that provide the illusion of spacious living.

General Tips

There are a few simple things that make a room feel more spacious. Keeping things in their place allows for space to be used more efficiently. Books, for example, take up less space on a shelf than when they are scattered across every table and surface in the room. In general shelving is a great option for smaller rooms as it provides a simple way to stay organized.

Positioning furniture as to allow a clear pathway makes the room feel less cluttered and gives the impression of having plenty of space. Plain and simple textures and color schemes are easier on the eyes, and allow people to focus on the available space rather than the items which are taking up that space.

Paint Schemes

There is also a practical solution concerning how to make a small room look bigger with paint. Lighter colors feel more spacious, as opposed to darker tones which draw the room in upon itself. If there is a view to an adjoining room or hallway, matching colors, or complementary colors, can make the adjacent space feel like part of the same room and increase the perceived space available -- rather than making a distinct boundary where one area ends and the next begins.

A good trick when wondering how to make a small living room look bigger is to open the curtains (try sheer ones that run floor-to-ceiling), use rugs to accent the space, and display large pieces of art or hang plants/paintings on the walls.

Wallpaper trends come and go, but there is a solution concerning how to make a small room look bigger with wallpaper. Intricate designs are interesting to look at, but also can close the room in upon itself. Choose a light color with a simple pattern to expand the room into a more spacious area.

Mirrors and Lighting Design

Mirrors aren't just for the bathroom or for looking at oneself in, they inherently add space to a room. How to make a small room look bigger with mirrors is always an interesting question and design choice to approach. Placement is fundamental to using mirrors. When a mirror reflects the room itself, instead of the people in the room, it can perceivably double the amount of space available.

Mirrors also reflect light, so a lamp can double its illumination with a mirror. Appropriate lighting is a final factor toward making an area feel comfortable. Too much light makes the space uncomfortable as does not enough light, and more important than the size of the room is how comfortable it feels to spend time there.

Takeaway Points

• Understand the size of the room and how to make it feel accessible.
• Utilize storing and multi-functional furniture to stay organized
• Try light paint schemes and curtains
• Reflect and allow light in with mirrors and lamps

Conclusion

Trends come and go, but a great home is timeless. What's most important is how the home suits the family who lives there, and the professionals at RWC: Windows, Doors, and More are familiar with those needs while understanding how to provide great designs to make your house not just a house, but a home. Give us a call and one of our professional representatives will be happy to discuss your needs at a time of your convenience.

by RWC

Unique Door & Window Pairing Designs

Most people don't tend to think about window and door design pairings for their house, as they assume what was there when they bought it is the only option. However, that's not exactly true. You don’t have to settle for the door and window designs that came with the house, or even the basic layout of them when you decide to upgrade. Unique doors and windows are available and the house can be altered to accept a different layout if you have either a need or personal preference toward what you think looks and works great for your home.

Types of Doors

There are more unique door ideas than you might realize, especially when you consider more than front entry doors but also patio doors or back doors with perhaps a mudroom or pantry involved. The best door designs can be made of wood or metal, and utilize built-in security measures in which steel reinforcements are added to the structural framing of your house around the door. Patio doors can be sliding or French style swinging doors, and there are new designs available which lock the hinges so they can swing to the outside instead of taking up room indoors when opened. Sizes of course are always a consideration towards ease of use, and might become especially important if you have a friend or family member who has handicap needs.

Door and Window Design Combinations

Beyond the specific options for doors, they can be further customized with windows. Assuming the area where a door stands is large enough, the door can be surrounded by windows on the left or right side, above, or any combination of those. Stained glass is especially popular as an accent to front doors, frosted glass might look amazing by a back or side door. Your imagination is the only limit, as unique door designs for house can make you stylish home really stand out.

Deciding What's Right for You

Whether you're having unique windows for home installation designed and built or following a template of putting together a combination of windows and doors, you ultimately have to decide what looks best on the house and best suits the needs of you and your family. Unique window designs for home use can really look great and add interest to the front of your home, but they might not be for everybody, and certainly not every window and door pairing is going to look appropriate for every home. Be sure to discuss your ideas with your contractor and listen to their experience and feedback concerning what has worked well in their experience with other customers who have similar needs and tastes as your own.

Things to Consider

• Look around for ideas of options which might interest you, including other houses in your town along with pictures online and in magazines.
• Think about what you like from a cosmetic perspective and consider how it might work in practicality.
• Be aware of how a window can let light in, but can also be a source of lack of privacy. Consider what can be seen through the window, or what kinds of drapes and curtains it might require.

Takeaways

The fact is, you want your home to be as nice as beautiful while being comfortable and relaxing for yourself and your guests. Adding unique doors and windows don't just increase the modern aesthetic of your home, but they have practical considerations about moving furniture in and out, the ease with which you can get from your car to your house, or simply opening up for a fresh breeze when the weather is nice. If you have any need for windows and doors to your home give us a call at RWC. A representative will be in touch and you'll find them helpful and excited to answer any questions you might have.

by RWC

How to Incorporate Farmhouse Home Design Trends in Every Room

Plenty of people have heard about farmhouse design as a popular trend in housing, but may have different perceptions of what it includes. Modern farmhouse designs don't have to feel like you live in a barn, but can rather be quite fashionable with the convenience of today's available technologies and resources. Farmhouse home design tends to be practical and comfortable, making the home feel inviting to guests while suiting the needs of the family who lives there with a nice relaxed feeling about it.

The Appeal of Farmhouse Design

Other than being a practical means of building and decorating your home, farmhouse home design trends can look great and add a rustic appeal to the home. Don't make the mistake of assuming everything has to be an antique, as farmhouse design has more to do with using styles reminiscent of traditionally used building styles while incorporating modern amenities into the overall plan. Often, a farmhouse design uses new materials which appear old without being worn out, and can often remind people of their grandparents' house and how much they enjoyed visiting when they were children while still remaining chic.

Using Reclaimed Wood and Materials

One way to achieve that sense of an older decorative style is to use reclaimed materials. With a great designer and talented craftspeople, old farm equipment can be turned into useful furniture. Antique wood can be refurbished and refinished to make custom cabinetry, doors, or accent pieces which maintain a look of the old growth lumber traditionally used in farmhouses rather than the new growth woods more readily available in today's lumber yards. A further consideration of repurposed materials is that they not only look great and function well, but are environmentally friendly by reusing the materials instead of throwing them away and buying new.

Adding Personality

One of the main reasons people like the farmhouse design choice is that it adds a touch of your own personality to your house. It sets a theme which is going to accent your style of decorations, whether a formal setting on the mantel or a furniture style used throughout the home. Whether you use stained wood moldings and exposed ceiling beams, or choose a paint palette using traditional colors, you'll feel comfortable when you come home after being away and your guests will recognize your personal style and preferences in the décor.

Specific Styles

The fact is, there are as many different farmhouse styles as there are farmhouses. The design tends to be more casual, as farm workers would use the house differently than an urban person who spends their day in an office. When farming was one of the more common jobs, people would come in and out of the house all day, so it made more sense for the home to be exceptionally comfortable and less formal than many current design trends. In today's world, farmhouse design might not be for everybody, but there are aspects and inspirations it can provide which can be incorporated into any home design.

Further Considerations

• Consider what you hope to accomplish and design your home with that in mind.
• Don't be afraid to mix and match styles, there is no reason to feel obligated to strictly follow one set of rules in your home.
• As with any design style, be sure to discuss your goals with your contractor to assure you both understand what the plan is going to be.

Takeaways

If you're looking at renovations or upgrades to your home in a farmhouse or any other style, give us a call at RWC in New Jersey. Our representative will be happy to discuss your needs and how we can help fill them.

by RWC

How to Turn Your First Home into Your Forever Home

In most cases, many people consider their first homes as starter homes that they would wish to upgrade from and move into bigger or better houses in a few years, say 2 or 5 years. However, moving into a bigger and cozier house is not always the true definition of getting a dream/forever home. If you love your first home and it is possible to remodel it into a dream home, why not try it?

It is definitely easier and cheaper to make your first home a place that you would like to live in for the rest of your life. All you need is make some necessary renovations in key areas of your house such as the kitchen and bathroom to accommodate the growing needs of your family. You also need to consider adding necessary room additions that will make the starter home fit the criteria of your dream home.

Here is how you can remodel your home to fit your family’s growing needs while at same time making it a dream home:

Kitchen remodeling

Many first home buyers know that this is one of the most critical and valuable spaces in a house. It is also one of the areas where most focus on home renovations is directed. To make your kitchen fit the growing needs of your family as well as fit into your dream home’s plan, consider revamping its appearance, functionality, and storage capabilities. Opt for a timeless, classic style that will not easily go out fashion for the next 30 or 40 years.

Consider having an open kitchen with a functional, larger island kitchen that provides adequate space for all your family members to sit and have breakfast. Add a second sink, plenty of cabinets with accessories such as drawers and spice racks to increase your storage space, a dishwasher, additional space for a larger refrigerator, and more. You can get a lot out of your kitchen space with a good remodeling design.

Bathroom remodeling

Bathrooms are another key area of interest during first home buying. However, while having many baths in a home is essential, a constrained budget doesn’t always offer that luxury when buying your first home. It is up to you to upgrade and add more baths to your house if your family grows and you wish to make the house your forever home.

For a family of more than 5, having around 3 bathrooms is essential to avoid inconveniencing each other during bath times. Consider adding an extra bathroom if you consider the current one is inadequate. For the existing ones, consider undertaking bathroom renovations that help accommodate your growing family needs such as additional faucets, sinks, storage cabinets, and more. Also consider installing a privacy glass shower stall so that the bathroom can be used by two individuals at the same time.

Creating additions

With a growing family, it is inevitable to have extra living space requirements. Moving is a common option, but making renovations to your current home is  also a great idea to consider. You can easily renovate your basement and transform it into extra living space for your family and kids. You can also create extra space in your roof’s attic to create extra space that can be used as a playroom, office or guest room.

Don’t forget about the outdoor spaces too. Transform your porch into livable space, or build a deck or patio, in your backyard to add much needed living space.

Takeaways:

Here are the key places to focus on when turning your first home into your forever home:

• Revamp the kitchen
• Create additional baths
• Renovate current baths
• Get additional living and bedroom space through a basement or attic remodel
• Consult a professional to guide you through

There are countless ways to turn your first home into a dream/forever home. With the right professional advice and renovation services from experts such as RWC Windows and Doors New Jersey, you can easily renovate your first home to become a dream home. Contact them today!

by RWC