Kitchen Design on the Cheap with Flea Market Finds – Home Solutions
Renovating your kitchen can cost an ungodly amount of money, and given the current economic situation, a full kitchen overhaul probably isn’t prudent. Thankfully, there are very affordable ways you can infuse some design into your kitchen. Our favorite solutions: flea markets and yard sales.

The idea of shopping at flea markets is somewhat dreary, especially if bargaining is not your cup of tea. But if you gather a little courage and visit a local flea market, you’ll likely find lightly-used appliances and decorative items selling for pennies on the dollar. The trick is to look past the inevitable junk and focus only on worthwhile items..

Popular buys at the flea market include decorative items, colorful fabrics, china, crockery, linens, and cabinet hardware. With a well-trained eye, you might even find some luxury items and antiques at a nominal expense (we’ve found antique Fiesta dinnerware selling at about 95% off its value!).

Don’t be afraid to add a few well placed knick-knacks to your kitchen. Unique salt and pepper shakers can give the room some character, and a collection of such items on a shelf makes a great display. You can also find quirky canister sets of different sizes available at incredibly low prices. Release your inner artist and paint those canisters in bright colors to make your kitchen bold and attractive.

Another decorative idea is to use linens and fabrics in kitchen. Although oil and food splatter is likely to occur, today’s fabrics are light and easily washable. Using fabric adds a romantic charm to kitchen décor (just make sure to keep all fabrics away from an open flame).

Look for table cloths, napkins and towels that go well with your kitchen’s color scheme. If you have a traditional home décor, embroidered linens with lace borders can enhance your home’s classic look. For contemporary kitchens, look for colorful washrags to hang from your dish rack, a surefire way to add charm to your decor.

If you have any other tips for redecorating a kitchen on the cheap, please share them in the comments below. Thanks!

Creative space management is essential in small apartments – especially so in the kitchen. Every appliance should be purchased with size in mind – no measurement overlooked. In a galley kitchen, you might only have inches to work with, so you better make them count.

Here are a few tips to help you optimize space in your kitchen:

Shelves: Adjust the spacing between your shelves to fit your needs. If you’re storing spices, sugar, teas, and coffee, you’ll want to keep your shelves closely set. For larger items, like cereal boxes, make sure that your shelves are set high enough to accommodate the biggest sizes.

Wall Units: Most kitchens are built around the oven and the sink. The better you manage the space surrounding these fixtures, the better off you’ll be – we recommend wall units.

Wall units with an exposed front are ideal for storing tea sets and cutlery, while tools and utensils are better to keep concealed behind wooden shutters. If you’re stuck working with an inconvenient corner, carousel shelves are a viable solution.

Racks: Racks are essential for storing kitchen tools that you use most often, like graters, peelers, colanders, scissors, and chopping boards. Stainless steel racks are ideal to prevent rust and simplify cleanup. Remember to always keep knives and forks in drawer to avoid potentially dangerous accidents (especially important while working in a narrow space).

Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, don’t over organize your kitchen to the point that it feels sterile. When properly managed and decorated, the kitchen should be one of the most inviting rooms in your home.

No matter how large a closet is, it’s never big enough…or so it would seem. Closet space management is a basic necessity of home organization that many of us have never learned correctly. Rather than purge your closet once per year, we suggest sticking to a simple space management plan that you can use everyday. Of course, this plan starts with a purge:

• Begin the re-organization process by labeling 3 large boxes labeled “Give away”, “Put aside” and “Throw out”.
• Don’t pull everything apart at once. Instead, work on one area at a time, moving from shelves, to shoes, to drawers and so on.
• Fill the “Throw away” box with anything in wretched condition, and not worth donating. Seasonal items like umbrellas, woolens, scarves, and mittens go in the “Put aside” box. Anything that you aren’t likely to wear, but is still in decent condition, goes to charity.
• Use shelves to store books, handbags, jewelry boxes or any other item that you might want to retrieve quickly.
• A shoe rack is a must.
• Only keep in the closet what you use on a regular basis, storing out-of-season clothes elsewhere. You can also add an extra shelf in the ceiling space of the closet, perfect for storing items that you use less frequently.
• Finally, your closet needs to smell fresh. Spices such as clove and cinnamon are known to keep away moths, so try wrapping them with paper and stashing them in the corner.

Of course, you can always apply the same method to organize the kids’ closets, teaching the next generation how to stay organized. Hey…it’s worth a shot.

If you’ve been dreaming of a redecorated home, but hiring an interior designer isn’t in your budget, you might want to consider taking an interior design course. Now, if juggling work, chores, kids and a class sounds like a stretch, you can always opt to take a class at home.

A wide variety of remote/online interior design courses are being offered these days. These courses are ideal for home makers and/or working mothers – allowing you to study at your own pace.

Try searching for “online interior design course” to get a feel for what your choices are. Before you settle on any program, check to make sure the school is accredited (you can do this by visiting http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/Search.aspx). Inquire about a course’s curriculum to find out what type of assignments you will be responsible for, and most importantly, how much time you’ll need to commit.

Most courses help you get familiar with the nitty-gritty details of interior decorating – like space management and organization. You’re also likely to learn how to use color, fabric, furnishings, and home decor accessories in a cohesive way. Ideally, your course should culminate with a well-decorated home that perfectly combines colors and light, creating a positive impact to your lifestyle!

Your home should be the place where you find comfort after a stressful day. But for your home to be a peaceful escape, it needs to be a reflection of you. Home decorating is all about individuality – finding the items that best represent who you are.

A well decorated home will increase your overall wellbeing. The proper combination of colors, furniture, and frills should dramatically impact your lifestyle for the better. Not only will you feel more comfortable at home, but you’ll also feel more comfortable inviting others to your home – an essential ingredient for a good social life.

The first step in developing a home decorating plan is deciding whether you are traditional or contemporary.

Traditional décor is usually based around a color scheme of rusty, bronze, or warm tones. Traditional elements include:

• Wooden furniture
• Antiques and antique furniture
• Ornate cushions and throws
• Heavy curtains
• Accent walls
• Oil paintings
• Decorative mirrors
• Hanging Plants

Alternatively, contemporary décor is based on cooler colors and/or heavily contrasting tones. Contemporary elements include:

• Minimalist furniture
• Light Curtains
• Show pieces
• Modern art
• Piano finished furniture
• Small potted plants
• Multi-colored walls within a room

Try to visualize each of the above items in your home. If you can visualize the scene easily, the item probably fits your style. Make a note of the items you’re most interested in and keep a list for each group – majority wins.

So are you traditional or contemporary?